A Long Thanksgiving Weekend...Bye Don...and More

 The Turkey and Dressing now gone...and even Sofi's Temptation Turkey Treats are past...a single slice of Pumpkin Pie remains for this evening.

Fall is coming to a close...the decorations will be stowed by tonight and Sunday and Monday will be all about cleaning and getting ready for Dec. 1st and the Christmas Decorations.

Re-read my Thanksgiving Blog and realized it sounded a lot more wistful and missing the herd at Thanksgiving...than it did "thankful" so wanted to add a few things before moving on...

 I am thankful.  Thankful that, although we had to celebrate separately, we were all in touch...either by FB...or phone...or videos and snapshots. That we were all healthy, relatively happy, and blessed with more food than any of us could eat in a single day. That we love each other and our friends...and that our friends and family, love us. Thankful that though we may not always have everything....most of the time we always have enough. And we always have each other.

Enjoyed Macy's Parade yesterday...and was amazed at the almost empty NYC streets...another casualty of Covid. And so happy that it was streamed live by Verizon to watch in the warmth and comfort of home.

Several vaccines on the horizon...and thinking by mid to late next year 2020 will just be The Year of The Plague we finally beat.

And someday we will look back and laugh at things like the 2020 Thanksgiving Solo Meal Pack...

 and the lack of TP...Social Distancing...Masks and Hand Sanitizer.

My little sister, Tina, had her 55th birthday.

and was surprised by Chad with these.

Four baby chicks to join her flock.

Except they can't...until Spring.

Right now and for the foreseeable future they are in a spare room in the farmhouse...lol.

She is thrilled. 

When we talked Thursday you could hear them peeping away.

You know who else has been peeping away...but is now getting more and more silent?

That is right.

Oh no...he hasn't offered a concession speech...that would stop the endless milking of his voters...The Uneducated.

But it is over...all the same.

So...Bye Don...

 

and we are so ready to welcome Biden and Crew and a return to decency, sanity, reality and ADULTS back in the White House on January 20th.

Read the last Trump expose this week with Woodward's RAGE.

Well written, a few gasp out loud moments...but I think I speak for a lot of us when I say that we are done now. It is over. I just want him gone.

In queue for Obama's A Promised Land and McConaughey's Greenlights, soon.

This Week's Movie  

Kind of a sci-fi horror things that will eat you while you are trying to escape an underwater earthquake kind of disaster film.

A B rated cast for a B rated film...filmed in the dark.

I'd suggest avoiding it.

By the end, I was just wanting them all to be eaten, so the film would be over.

A disaster of a disaster film.

 

Taking down the Fall Decor today and looking forward to Sunday Football tomorrow-

 

The Colts and The Titans

The Chiefs and The Buccaneers

 

The former, an important game for us as it could put us first in our division if we win.

The latter...a clash between Mahomes and Brady...not to be missed! 

Later...

Love,

Carla

  

 

 

 

 

Postscript:

 

The Colts lost and we are currently 2nd in our division...

 

The Chiefs won!!!!!  Although, Brady did hold his own through most of the game. 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving (...in the time of Covid)

 So different...all celebrating at home in our little tribes.

No Saturday After Thanksgiving with EVERYBODY, this year...sigh.

Damned Covid.

Thanksgivings Past

 

God...I love you guys!

Seemed very quiet this year...too quiet.

Oh sure, there was Turkey and Pumpkin Pie...and Sofi...and phone calls...and I Love Yous and football...and even Alice's Restaurant

And a video from James, Nicole and all the grands...which was wonderful, btw.

Still....I hope this plague is OVER by next Thanksgiving and life can return to something resembling normal.

Wishing Everyone A

 

Oh look, more pie!!!

A Cup of Hot Chicken Soup...

 So...after last week...my immune system said

"...hold my beer and watch THIS..."

Less than Covid...more than a cold or The Flu...the tired, achy, vomiting, fever-so-high you wake up at night with the sheets stuck to you...haven't had coffee in a week...crackers and Sprite...even the cat is alarmed...week.

Grateful that I didn't get Chris sick...who I was around the Thursday or Friday before this really dropped me.

Grateful for check in's by James and Lennon and "How are you doing, Mom?"  "Do you need anything?"

Grateful I am feeling a lot more human.

Really grateful that John was not here to catch this...and for his love and phone calls and even a care package of Sprite and Kleenex and bullion at the beginning of the week...and that our icicles have arrived!!!

Also the TREE,

So, anyway...I've lived...

Now to clean up the mess.

And the remainder of the boxes...

A Cinderella Day, here.

Lennon turned 32 yesterday!!!

Now the boys are 31, 32, and 33.

And no real movie or book this week...maybe next.

This big news is, of course, this:

 

Trump STILL hasn't conceded...

Which is just kind of pathetic in a desperate way...and was expected.

"Don't you people realize I will go to prison???"

Twitter has had to mark so many of his posts fraudulent this week they will probably be using this before long.

 

Biden has just been ignoring him and assembling his own Corona Virus people (experts and such...who would have thought??) and assembling his cabinet...and having pressers and Covid meetings.

Yeah, you know, like a REAL President does.

And with all the recounts we have gotten to see Trump lose Georgia, like, 3 times now...so that's kind of satisfying...

Know what else is satisfying??

Not having to used the cursor to type anymore.

Yesterday, John sent a micro-keyboard and dongle he was no longer using.

(...and kudos to me for actually finally getting it all sorted and linked up to Linux, eventually...and a late night call exclaiming OMG, It works...it is all synched up...)

Thank you soooooooooooooooooooo much, love!

Finally had my "...bird flu,,,bird flu..bird flu..." moment, this week.

Monday night...I was actually sick and coughing and feverish enough to think...

 "OMG...maybe this IS Covid."

And yes...it was pretty scary.

But, now...although I am quarantining...I am fairly convinced it may have just been an opportunistic bug after the exhaustion and stress of the previous week.

If it was Covid, it was very very mild.

Never lost my sense of smell, and no real respiratory distress aside from coughing fits.

COVID...

is exploding around the globe.

We are adding well over a half million cases per day worldwide.

Over 58 Million active cases.

Over 1 Million and 300 thousand now dead.

Here in the US...the numbers have exploded, too...

From the 5th through yesterday we had stayed at a bit over 100,000 new cases per day...

Yesterday, we had 204,000 new cases and nearly 2000 deaths in one day!

The White House is a hotspot...who could have seen THAT coming, eh?

And most of us have hunkered down for the holidays.

The good news?

Pfizer and Moderna seem to be neck and neck with vaccine production.

Pfizer's attacks the RNA keeping the virus from replicating...and is done in a series of two jabs.

 Moderna builds antibodies.

(...can you take both of them????)

Both should be in widespread release by April...a light at the end of the Covid Tunnel.

 

Have a great weekend!
 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What A Week...

 If this week was a chicken...

Slowly recovering.

Slowly, being the operative word here...as my keyboard also took a dump, so having to peck this out using a screen and cursor.

 Chris saved me...couldn't even get into my computer.

[...and that might be why they call it a curse-or..]

The good news?   

The pantry and vanity arrived, and are installed.

Now only the stove, fridge, and some touch-up paint remains.

But just frazzled.

And still enjoying the bare newness of my counter-tops. I may keep this minimalist look for a while.

Still a few boxes to unpack.

Trump has yet to concede, but he did acknowledge that Biden has won...so I guess that IS progress.

And Covid exploding in the US this week...  

with Friday's 187,000 new cases in one day being an all time high.

Noting that since November 5th, we have added over 100,000 cases every day...

When the deaths catch up, this winter will be brutal.

4 out of every 100 will die.

Not an alarmist...just math.

This week's movie-

The cinematography was outstanding.

The scenery breath-taking.

The sets, costuming, props incredible...as well as the storyline.

So why did I find this remake to live action lacking?

I honestly preferred the animated film.

Your results may vary....

 

This week's book-

The latest Grisham novel- set once again in Clanton.

Revisit Jake, Judge Noose, Harry Rex and many others we came to know from

A Time To Kill

Never read it? 

No matter...this book stands alone nicely!  

Great read.  

 

Apple pie baking and house to arrange...

More Anon             

  

 

Virtual Madagascar- Languages

The official languages of Madagascar are French and Malagasy.

French spoken more commonly among the more educated of the population.

Malagasy is derived from Swahili and Arabic. 

And spoken sounds like this.

https://youtu.be/H8t_snz8B5A

Some basic

Hello-  Salama

How are you? Manao ahoana ianano

My name is... Ny anarako dia...

Goodbye-  Veloma

Malagasy translator

https://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&hs=sqg&channel=fs&sxsrf=ALeKk01ZUXILj2yGJhyhF1Mk44RaEW_zVQ:1605290294586&q=malagasy+to+english&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjIjpSujIDtAhUHG80KHXNWBOAQ1QIoAXoECCMQAg&biw=1301&bih=487

 

 

More next week when we check out cuisine.

 

How Can I Miss You...

 If you refuse to GO AWAY????

In an unprecedented (and I know...we've used that term a lot over the past 4 years)  move...instead of losing graciously and beginning the transition process with President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris...Trump is busy rage tweeting...firing people...filing lawsuits...refusing to accept the election results... 

In short, he is acting like a three year old who has been told he can't have another cookie.

 Melania has also refused to meet with First Lady-Elect Jill Biden.

Remember when the Trumps came to the White House and Michelle brought the lovely wrapped Tiffany gift for Melania?

Face it...these are trashy people and we can expect them to act like trash...until the day they are evicted from Our White House.

So, I am over being appalled...over listening or talking with their misguided supporters (...bless your hearts...).

A bright shiny new future!

 Joe has already assembled his Covid Task Team...12 experts in their field. And laid out his plan.

https://buildbackbetter.com/priorities/covid-19/

And moving ahead with his transition team.

Whether or not Trump ever actually concedes...he will be leaving January 20th...at noon. 

Or be forcibly removed.

So there is that...

 

Meanwhile...on the Covid Front...the numbers are grim.

Worldwide we have surpassed 51 Million infected with over a Million deaths, and are averaging a half million new infections each day.

Here in the USA we have more than 10 Million infected and well over  200,000 dead. 

We are adding over 100,000 new cases a day and have been for the past 4 days. 

In my state alone we added another 5,000 new cases just yesterday.

Texas reported over 10,000 new cases yesterday.

The hospitals are on the verge of being overwhelmed.

(and are in some states)

Stay Safe, people.

 We may be "so over" Covid-19, but trust me when I say Covid is not "over" us.

Good news yesterday...as our Duck Couple are STILL around, and the large white abandoned female seems to have integrated into part of the flock...which is neat.

And John getting in some late season fishing before the snow flies...and sending me back some gorgeous sky shots yesterday...

 

So pretty I would like to paint them.

Finishing out that Fall Painting this month...as he wants it.

That is Motivation!

Going to add a personal touch for just US.

Good news on the Household Front, too!

My new pantry and bathroom vanity have arrived...and both will be installed tomorrow!

Leaving only the arrival of the new stove and fridge (both black!!!) and a bit of touch up painting.

Finishing unloading the boxes back in the rest of the cabinets today.

Feels like a light at the end of the tunnel!!!

And already have my 2020 Christmas decorating plans (and a new tree...with clear lights) on the way.

This year's theme...An Old Fashion Christmas.

All the old glass...real lead foil icicles from Germany...popcorn strings and candy canes...and my (inherited) red and white quilt bunched around the base as a tree skirt.

And a teddy bear, of course.

Not sure whether I'm doing a retro-topper yet.

But planning the holiday already...

 

Love,

Carla

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They Called The Election...and Other Observations

After 5 days...the Election has been called!

                                                       

Tears of joy...a celebratory shot of Peach Bourbon...and watching crowds filling the streets...whistles...cheering...laughing and hugging...and although his inauguration in around 2.5 months yet...this tremendous feeling of "It is finally over" and immense relief.

Today (along with millions) I no longer have to hold my breath and wonder what kind of a disaster Trump would mean for Medicare, Social Security and Disability...all which would affect my life profoundly.

 I don't have to wonder if he was going to strip away pre-existing conditions from our healthcare.

 I know that the incoming President is already working to set up his Corona Virus task-force...and he isn't even in office yet...and that Dr. Fauci and real scientist/epidemiologists will make it up...and better still that he will LISTEN to them.

 That he will surround himself with advisors that are the top in their respective fields...and unlike the current occupant of the oval...he will LISTEN to them as well. 

That he won't LIE to us on a daily basis.

Or cozy up to dictators while alienating our allies.

That he and Harris will work for people like you and I, and not the top 1%...and that the tax break will be nullified...and that (not making 400,000 a year) I will see no difference or escalation in taxes.

 I am proud that minutes after the race was called World Leaders congratulated Joe...and Welcomed America Back...and I am humbled to see celebrations all over the world to that effect. 

That he has already say we will rejoin The Paris Accord, and wants to transition to renewable forms of energy...and more importantly believes scientists world over who say Climate Change is real and is already affecting our lives.

So yes...Elections Matter.

              Facts Matter

              People Matter

For these reasons and many more...this is why I voted for Joe and Kamala.

Besides the general return to decency and decorum.

To have a President who conducts himself like a President and not like a Dictator or school yard bully. 

Today we took our country back...

And Donald Trump

 

 

 

Not a lot accomplished this week.

 Mostly waiting for the Election to be called.

John and I lost a good friend  (Andy) and the Mastermind of The Shelburn Bank Job on the weekend...He was a good person and everyone loved him. I can close my eyes and hear him start any story with

"Well, let me tell ya, bud."

or

"It was like this, bud."

Every time.

Curry (also a friend of ours) will be up tomorrow for the service.

Words can't even begin to say how he will be missed. By everyone...but especially by his sidekick- his little grand-daughter.

They were best buds.

Today is the day to unpack all the kitchen boxes except the countertops and pantry.

Get some laundry done.

Cook a good dinner/hot meal

and be sooooo thankful that Biden is the President-Elect.

Back to Virtual Madagascar soon!

love,

Carla

 

 

 

 

 

Election Week (or Day 4 of the Hostage Situation)

 ...and I asked her quietly

"How FAR can you remember back?"

And she twisted her long hair nervously...freckled face breaking into an eager-to-please smile and answered

"Oh...it has ALWAYS been the election."

Yeah...this is me...today.

"For godsake...just CALL the damned thing!!!!"

 

The only thing good to possibly come from this four day wait is the Memes it has generated, okay?

 

And we STILL don't have the election results!

 

and of course

 

And at first it was all cute, like, I've waited almost 4 years...I'm certainly not going to bed until the returns are in...and then when 3 in the morning came on the 4th and it was obvious nothing was any closer to a reveal than it was at 5 PM on the 3rd...dropping on the loveseat in the clothes I was wearing for a few hours...then back to the newsfeed...surely by now, right...

 

Wrong.

Woke up (again) on the 4th...to realize that nobody still knew...soon states were falling...this one red...that one blue...and on and on it went. I had picked up a package of chips, and buns and hogdogs I could nuke on the fly...the leftover Halloween bag of M&M's, Twix, Snickers and such within arms distance.

 

(...little would I know- this would sustain me for 4 days...)

 

The 4th would come and go and it was still anybody's election. Once again it was nearly 3 AM...I had had little more than junk food...no bath...was still in Tuesdays attire and collapsed on the sofa.

Thursday, I woke to find the cat saying

"What is that smell...???? And WHY are you still in these clothes??? And when am I going to get something besides nuked hotdog for a treat????"

All good questions. 

The COUNT had not budged. 

Stuck firmly at 253 and 213.

Took the clothes off...drew a warm bubble bath...and soaked. Tossed on a maxi-tee-shirt dress and then made the mistake of going back to the newsfeed.

OMFG!!!!

Grabbed a dog and some chips and stared in horror as I watched Trump blaming everybody but Santa Claus for his dropping polls...it was fraud...it was the election board's fault...it was the mayor or governors fault...it was a blue state...he was going to sue the states...in states he was winning the cry was COUNT THEM ALL and in states he was losing the cry was STOP  THE COUNT!!!

(on my word)

Wrap your brain around that...a sitting POTUS going to sue the states he had previously sworn to protect and defend. 

A sitting POTUS trying to stop ballot counting.

Seriously???

And his supporters heard the dog-whistle and soon great clumps of them arrived...angry...chanting...carrying weapons...bullhorns...Don Jr and Alex "Fucking...they're turning the frickin' frogs gay" Jones...threatening to shoot people.

Jesus Wept.

Biden and Harris were calm, unflappable.

I was the opposite of that.

(flapped?)

Dropped that night in a troubled sleep...having consumed another day's worth of complete junk food. 

By this time the Sofi Cat was lapping up the remains from the Sour Cream for the chips...but would not touch the bits of hotdogs and went back to her dry food dish, like...

"You have GOT to be KIDDING!!!"

The Mini Snickers Bars were good, though.

Dawn broke...it was FRIDAY the 6th. 

Although the numbers were the same 253 Biden to 214 Trump a huge shift had taken place in the States overnight, and number of votes.

Biden held a good lead in 4 of the 6 remaining states.

Better STILL, if Pennsylvania held on its current trajectory we would only need it

(20 electoral  votes) 

and it would be GAME OVER!!!

We wouldn't even need any of the other five. 

Even if we didn't get PA...a combination of two of the other would give us the  votes. 

In short Trump no longer had a path to 270 without winning all the states left...which was not going to happen...

Finished the hotdogs and buns today...most of the chips and sour cream are also gone...don't even care about the candy, anymore...and here it is...7PM...

And the headlines still scream, in 32 point type, 

Biden On The Brink of Winning!!!!!

 

                        Yes....it has ALWAYS been the election.  

                              as far back as I can remember.

                                         Maybe Forever.

               

 

More Anon...

 

 

Election: Part Deux

 

 

Why, yes...I am a little FRAZZLED...why do you ask???

 

Woke at the butt-crack of noon. Stiff and sore. A bit disappointed in mankind...it should have NEVER been this close. And don't even think about eating or drinking. 

Even toast and water are too much right now.

Recovering.

Still no winner declared....

Eight states still counting.

Trump trying to declare victory at 3 AM...and even his own party having to remind him this is America and we don't declare until every vote is counted.

 

Besides the fact he only had 213 electoral votes at the time...and winning requires 270.

Biden had 227.

Although Trump's path to 270 is getting narrower and narrower...it is far from impossible right now. That is alarming to me.

And he is already lawyered up...because...well...Trump.

Politiphile, like me, our middle son and I chatted through the entire night and well into the wee hours.

Unlike me...he is this night-owl who will be sleeping until 5 or 6 PM...whereas eventually I had to get up today...the cat was getting worried.

I will update this page until this is over.

Eventually...a winner will be declared.

Right?

 More anon...
 

 4PM

Okay, here is the map and the deal-

The front-runner at 248 electoral votes, Joe Biden...having just won Wisconsin

The Senate is now 46-48...and our chances slipping for flipping it. Still possible...but much less likely.

 

More as we know...

4:30 PM

Break out the champagne...we just won Michigan!!!!

We are at 264...and only need 6 more electoral votes!