April...Mushrooms...John's Surgery...and WTF has Happened Our Economy

 

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It's April...

 

The mushrooms are beginning...red-buds are bloomed by the road-side...daffodils are swaying in the warmer Spring air...and Ethel has left the building!!!

Spent a day before surgery just having brunch and playing with Tux... 

even managed a short nap together!

Then Surgery Day arrived.

He was pretty chill about it.

 ...of course, he would be sleeping through the whole business...

The rest of us?

Yeah...not so chill.

Terrified, actually.

Eric and Melissa drove in from Ohio.

May and Amy from Plainfield.

Robert and Jonathan from Indianapolis.

And we waited.

The operation seemed to last forever.

...it was hours...

But the surgeon seemed very happy...and it was non-complicated and successful!!!

ETHEL has left the building.

He thinks all of her!

Better still...John was able to leave the hospital, Friday, and is doing very well!
 

We are thankful...and he knows how much he is loved!

Monday, they will do a scan to make sure they removed all the tumor...also find out if it was benign or malignant.

We are thankful.

But, as in life, there is ALWAYS something~

When they did the PET scan pre-surgery...they found the lung cancer has returned.

Now that we've survived the brain stuff...well they're going to meet next week and discuss what's next.

~sigh! 

...before the surgery John set us up on a Mission Impossible Date when it releases in May!!!!

My eBay mushroom guy was able to send morels early...and sent a pound of grays...my favorite.

Finished the last of them yesterday with rib-eye steak...which was amazing!

And despite the return of the cancer we are staying pretty positive about things.

Watch Cory Booker give his marathon 25 hour speech!!!

 Reminding us to get in Good Trouble.

And a bunch of us listened...and did exactly that!

And the leopards have been feasting...

Mostly on MAGA faces...who have entered the Find Out portion of their misguided voting.

Tariffs are on...then they are off again...the stock-market has been a wild ride...trillions have been lost...in short...

It's a shit-show.  

But, seriously, didn't most of us know it was going to be????

 

Love,

Carla, John, Gadget and Tux

 

 

 

Rain...Rain...and More Rain

 

It's going to rain forever...

 

Tux is settled in his tunnel playing...I'm sipping hot tea with honey and contemplating a relaxing bubble bath.

It's all good.

Spring has sprung in earnest...the grass is bright green and the willow tree has taken on a yellow-green mist.  Pollen is back...and although it is early...the world looks very mushroomy out.

Soon.

Had our (Chris, Lachlan, Don and I) Spring Brunch this week with Chinese and chat.

Plotting and planning for Lachlan's first birthday in May!

 John joined The Euchre Gang where he and our friend, Jan, beat everyone yesterday!

And he pulled together the last piece of the puzzle recently which we have been working on for a few years.

By finding the previous owner of his Charger!

And got a laugh as she sent him a photo she had taken of her own when she owned it.

LOL!

Going to catch up with everyone...get my bath...maybe a good nap with the cat...then fixed pulled BBQ Pork with baked beans and potato salad.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Love,

Carla
 

...not that you asked

 

The Administration this week...

 

And kudos to the Federal judges who are pushing back on some of this clusterfuck...they keep me sane...well...saner.

This week's newscycle seems to be completely orbiting around Signalgate.

...in case you've been in a coma...Signalgate happened when high officials used the app Signal to coordinate attack plans...a few hours before the actual bombing...oh and they inadvertently invited in a journalist...oopsie...

Persons of note on the text were Vance..Rubio...Hegseth..Waltz...and a few others...including Goldberg from The Atlantic.

Mike Waltz admitted he was the one who sent Jeff the invite.

What SHOULD have happened:

Hegseth should have immediately fired Waltz...

Then either resigned, himself.

...not likely...and I didn't expect it...

OR...admit there was a huge cock-up...owned it...vowed to never ever ever use Signal for matters such as these in the future...and apologized.

Was ANY of  this done?

Of course not.

They denied...deflected...blamed Goldberg (how does THAT work???)

and dragged the whole thing out until now it is a major investigation.

Underscoring the absolute incompetence of this Administration.

...they made Mayor Pete drop an F-bomb on live TV for crum's sake...

 

Shaking my head,

and wondering how we are going to survive four years of this...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Springtime...Fred and Ethel...And More

 

Yeah...it has been kinda like this...

I live in Indiana because I love four distinct seasons...just not ALL in the same week, okay????

But the Spring Birds are back...both the lawn and moss are greening nicely...and can

 morels be far behind???

But it is still March, and this week we have literally had everything from sunshine and 80 degrees to 28 degrees and snowing.

So not quite yet.

It is grey and overcast today...cold (40's) and rainy.

Spring in Indiana is a process.

John and I have been dealing with another process.

Recently he has felt a little off...health-wise.

After a fall...some gait issues...some vision issues...and just being a bit off...he ended up in ER for hours.

When they had CT Scanned...EKG'd...MRI'd...and various other tests they concluded it to be a moderate sized tumor on the Occipital area of his brain.

Yeah...I know...

The symptoms we were seeing wasn't a direct result from the tumor, but edema that had built up around it

He is taking a steroid that seems to be handling the reduction of the swelling.

The symptoms are reducing.

A great team has been assembled.

Most of which we knew from the lung cancer team...and a neurosurgeon.

They have surgery scheduled for April 9th.

It has been a week.

Our friend, Kathy, added some levity recently when she reminded us that

"Now...we have FRED and Ethel."

...think The Honeymooners...

                                                              Ethel
 

We are in a more positive mindset.

...it's always something...

And we will, of course, see each other before the surgery...when Ethel gets her eviction notice.

Love,

Carla, John and The Cats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It Has Been Two Months...

 So, why does it feel like 10 years???

If you're not exhausted...I can only assume you haven't been paying attention.

For the rest of us...Oh My God!!!!!!!

Between Trump and Musk...it is impossible to keep up with the insanity (and subsequent lawsuits).

Even Chief Justice John Roberts had to reprimand him recently

"Just because a judge hands you a ruling you don't like...you can't ask that they be impeached!!!"

Predictably, he has already threw Marc Rubio under the bus.

 

...and we knew that was just a matter of time...

Prices are up.

Jobs are down.

Inflation is creeping back up.

The stock-market is down. 

Deportations have started...but it is not just illegals...and in some cases even U.S. citizens.

My middle son described it best.

"It's a shit-show."

And so it goes...

 

 

 

"STEVE...I'm just calling it- Steve!!!"

 

~sigh~

Sunday Respite...More New Stuff...Our Spring Getaway

 

Lachlan is 10 months old, not long until his first birthday!

Back now...and recovering...before the Cinderella Day that is tomorrow.

The Spring Escape was amazing.

...and so are you, honey...

Great food...that Prime Rib Dinner with all the fixings...Waking to you...and breakfast grits swimming in butter...and hashed-brown casserole with bacon, onions and cheese...peach cobbler ala mode...toast with blackberry jam...OJ and coffee!!!!

...going to put back on the weight I lost while I was sick...

The best part was just holding hands and being together again!

 

And I have found/tried some more new-to-me stuff.

The first being Native products.

Which come in an assortment of different scents and deodorants...body washes...shampoo and conditioners...and lotions/skin creams...

Including Fresh Dunkin Doughnuts scents (multiple) and my very favorite Blueberry Cobbler!

...which does, indeed, smell just like hot blueberry cobbler...

Yeah...it is the little things that make life worthwhile.

 

Another new-to-me was Zevo.

Fruit-Fly Spray

...because when you have 5 of them you instantly end up with 500...

Really works quickly...mostly non-toxic...and doesn't have a chemical bug-spray scent!

 

And last...but certainly not least-

Greencastle's newest restaurant, The Lost Hollow Beer Company.

Featuring:

 The Dirty Curdy.

A two-patty cheeseburger topped with cheese curds...and drizzled with beer-cheese...which was okay-

...to be honest...I don't care for beer...

But what made the meal extraordinary was the fries!

Hand-cut, they were cooked in Beef Tallow.

Seriously...it has been years since I have had anything deep-fried in tallow...since everyone went to seed/vegetable oil.

OMG!!!!!

What a flavor difference.

...the best fries I've had in years...

Have a WONDERFUL Sunday!

Love,

Carla

 

 

 

 

March....Family....7th Week...and New Stuff

 

Woke to 40 degrees and the sound of Spring birds!

Next week promises 60 and 70 degree days...and the beginning of clearing the pots and borders...soon to start planting and such.

 Needless to say...I'm thrilled.

...so is the Tux-Cat...

A last bit of snow...and it may be over.

                                                           "...nope..."

Last Saturday was wonderful! The house filled with family...sons...daughter-in-laws...grands...happy chaos!!!

 
And Lachlan passed around like champagne. 

Such a smiley baby!!!!

Tux...who loves people...spent most of the afternoon just winding himself around everyone and getting played with/loved on.

And we've all needed some happy chaos...

Because the last 7 weeks

...how can it only be 7 weeks???? 

has been complete and utter chaos.

Tariffs on...tariffs off...you're fired...you're not fired...five things you've accomplished...you don't have to answer that e-mail...oh yes, you do...and on and on.

MAGA is slowly realizing that except for their votes...he doesn't care about them.

...that has to sting...

So many fired...wanting to cut Medicaid and food stamps...wanting to dismantle NOAA and FEMA...

YEAH. 

And it has only been 7 weeks.

Only 45.5 months to go.

...dear god...

A bunch of new stuff out now.

Arby's has come up with a fish sandwich on King's Hawaiian Bread.

  ...which looks and sounds much better than it tastes...trust me...

 and their new Andes Mint Shake

 ...which is as good as the fish is bad...

Try them yourself!!!

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Love,

Carla & Tux

 

Touching Grass...and Valentine's Day!

 

Sometimes...when you are up to your ass in alligators...it is hard to remember you're there to drain the swamp... 

The last few weeks I've been letting Trump and his Boy-Sidekick (Musk) eat my brain.

Even though I swore I was not going to let that happen.

What did it get me?

Sleepless nights...general grumpiness...feeling overwhelmed and this lovely stress (cold) sore on the right side of my mouth.

...I know...bleah...

Am trying hard to reset over the next few days.

Touching Grass.

...not literally...mine being buried by snow currently... 

Amidst all the chaos and insanity, John and I had a lovely Valentine's Day with heart-shaped pizza and jalapeno poppers and coffee, cards, dark chocolate cocoa and so much chocolate...and stuff for the cats, of course...and even a small cat-nap together.

It was wonderful!

How perfect to share the day reserved for love...with someone you love.

And how easy it is to take that (and so many other things for granted).

Waking up.

A good night's sleep.

Not hurting.

Loving and being loved.

Tux purring himself to sleep on top on me...then falling into that deep sleep where he snores.

Watching his ears, whiskers and paws twitch while he dreams.

A delicious meal.

The return of warmth, the light, and soon Spring!

And a million other moments.

Got to stay focused on these!!!!

love,

Carla

 

One Month...

 

Yeah...it has been 84 years...

 

Well, it feels that way, anyway.

 

Hard...no...impossible to believe it has only been one month.

I think I speak for most of us, when I say we are just exhausted.

So much chaos, and lying and destruction in 30 days. 

 

Freezing funds...court battles...firings...in some (oops) cases re-hirings...verbal attacks on our allies...the whole Panama Canal, Canada, Greenland business...cuts to Medicaid...EBT...siding with Russia...filling his cabinet with incompetents...donors and Fox News Hosts...and I could go on and on.

So tired.

 

Already.

 

And make no mistake about it...that is what is is designed to do.  Exhaust us. Wear us down. Make us comply...or become apathetic...or give up.

Which is exactly why we cannot.

Be tired. Rest. Then return to resist.

I think it is apparent that no one is coming to save us.

So, we must save ourselves, and our Country.

Take care of ourselves...and others.

This, too, shall pass.

In this case in only 47 more months.

Love,

Carla

 

This is today's stock market drop

 

 

So much winning.

Taking a break...need to touch grass.

 

Trump-Free Weekend....Superbowl Sunday...and How About Those Eagles!

 

Okay...so Kansas is my team...but damn!

Face it...we were completely outplayed last night...and the right team won.

There were mistakes on both sides...but throughout The Eagles were a well-oiled machine!

We made Barkley get the smallest number of yards he has gotten all season...and some great stops.

They squished Mahomes at least 5 or 6 times...smashed him flat.

When the dust cleared our chances for a three-peat were gone and Hurts and crew had The Lombardi.

 

...now football is over for seven weeks...

 Took a Trump-Free Weekend and am now looking cautiously around at the newest damage...

Yeah...it's kind of like that.

It seems the orange fellow did go to the Superbowl...but left early on.

...my eternal thanks to Tubi for giving him zero air time...

During which he made the decision to exact 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel...and discontinue minting pennies.

...yeah..

So...here we are.

We now have bird flu in 5 different sites in Indiana and many others in the surrounding states.

The jump from human-to-human is not IF but WHEN.

...and they won't be able to disregard it like Covid...because this has a 50% mortality rate...

There is no cure or vaccine at this time.

 

More as it comes...

Love,

Carla

February...Groundhog's Day...Two Weeks in...

 

And it is...

and Spring is on the horizon!

The rodent says More Winter...but today is in the mid-50's and tomorrow promises to be 60 or over.

My Tux-Cat is always on the wrong side of the door now, and I spend inordinate amounts of time on door-opening duties.

I am regaining my strength from being down sick for so long.

Starting to get the house pulled back together...including taking down Christmas Decorations and the tree,  which was nice.

And then there was the Philodendron.

"Phil" and I have a tenacious relationship, anyway.

...It is more like S&M...John helpfully adds...

"Phil" I water....well...when I remember to.

Not often enough.

"Phil" was a rescue, from my friend Ola, several years back.  Cute. In a six inch pot.

When I think of houseplants for inside decor I immediately think of silk or plastic.

 "Phil" is neither.  

And he has grown...from a tiny cute potted plant to taking over half of my coffee table. Where he sits patiently...probably wondering when/if I will ever water him again.

Sometimes he expresses his disappointment with my lackadaisical watering by drooping sadly and dropping yellowing leaves.

Then I was sick...for a long long long time.

When I noticed "Phil" after a month and a half...well

...He's dead, Jim....

Listless, yellow drooping...a bit like me, at that point.

I watered him soundly...but didn't expect much.

Today, he is back to being green, perky...and you would never know.

...and John and I have re-named him Lazarus...

 

A morbid fascination with the last two weeks with Trump...and the EO's...and cabinet confirmation hearings. 

Which is going about how you would expect, at this point.

The first few days spent signing executive orders faster than a Las Vegas hooker turns tricks.

Constitutional/Unconstitutional...he doesn't know or care.

Sign them all...let judges sort them out.

And slapping tariffs on most everyone.

...you know what tariffs are???? Taxes for stupid people...

When all the prices go up...and they will...and inflation rises...and the already  diminishing stock market drops even further...well I want to make sure MAGA knows this is what they voted for....okay??

 

Only 206 weeks left.

Jesus Wept.

Right now, my main concern is this guy...

Doesn't he look like someone who needs to head up our health services???

RFK JR. is an avowed anti-vaxxer...who doesn't trust vaccines...but shot up heroin for 14 years...

...make it make sense...

With bird flu all around us and Marburg killing people in Tanzania...this isn't the time...okay?

For those who need to hear it...Canada is NOT going to be our 51st state...Denmark is NOT going to sell Greenland...and I doubt seriously that we are going to take the Panama Canal...Products are going to get high prices...Inflation is going to increase...the stock market will probably tank...

And the rest of us...we will survive.

We will.

love,

Carla, John and the Cats!

"Just going to hide in here until it is over."

                                                              Gadget

Sisters Day...Eagles-Chiefs SB...and One Week

 

So...Tina did a thing...

Introducing Charlotte!

When she is a little bigger she is going to bring her out to visit Tux.

We had our first official (just us) Sisters Day since Lisa's death.

Got a bottle of the chocolate wine she introduced us to...and drank a toast to her...and talked and worked through some of our feelings of loss. 

Chad bought a flowering crab-apple and planted it.

It will bloom every year on/near her birthday.

We miss her.

Chris brought Lachlan over Sunday.

What a happy baby.

Over 20 pounds now...one tooth started...crawling and pulling up to a stand!

Looks just like his dad at this age.

And John and I watched the Bills-Chiefs Game.

Allen and Mahomes are so well matched...it is always anybody's game.

Last night Josh Allen threw a Hail-Mary pass in the 2 minute zone...and instead of the TE catching it and making a winning TD...

...he dropped the ball...

He. Dropped. The. Fucking. Ball.

Ending The Bills Season, and so we have an Eagles-Chiefs SB!!!

This may be our chance for a three-peat!

So excited!!!

Well...we are one week into Trump's second term...and predictably it's a shit-show.

MAGAts:  "You lost."

Me: "And you lost, too.  You're just too stupid to know it, yet."

~sigh~

We're going to need more popcorn.

Love,

Carla

2025...Healed....The Mess...Rejoining LIFE...And the Playoffs!

 

...and I've survived.

     It is 3 degrees out today. My goals include keeping the house warm...good food...and a nap with Tux.

And maybe work on the clutter and mess that comes from being really sick for a month, because

DAMN!

Feels good to feel good again, though...and making plans with everybody after mid-week (and a bath).

Teams winnowed down to only a handful remaining.

 

The Chiefs

The Bills

The Eagles

and The Commanders.

 

Watched the upset over the Lions...which was unexpected and quite the game.

Also last night as Josh Allen (who just gets better and better) bested The Ravens in a hard won game.

Our match-up with the Bills,as always, has me more than a little nervous.

But here we are...

The goals fairly simple this year.

IF you would have asked a couple weeks ago...it would have been distilled to a single word-

SURVIVE

Today it seems less...er...fatalistic.

And, therefore, replaced with-

THRIVE

Keep everything paid up...continue declutter and downsize...get back to painting...cooking and writing and photography and gardening.

Virtual Travel...I think Greece is calling!!!

...and all that lovely Greek Food....
 

More friend, John, and family time.

Less stress.

That is about it.

Did manage to get indoor plumbin' for the Tux-Cat before the below 0 temps came...which after several accidents he managed to grasp.

"But...I'm not suppose to shit in the house...okay....but only in this sandbox...."

I SEE YOU...

Off soon, to clean house and make lunch and then get a nap with the cat!

Love,

Carla & Tux

President Biden has freed Leonard Peltier!