This Week's Cup...Antman and Wasp...and Call it What it is...TREASON

Please...No more NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shelby is suffering the burnout of this week's news-cycle and my obsession with the political circus, I think.

We'll get to that later!

Finally some rain today...just the edge of a little cloud. No much more than sprinkles, really. That steamy smell of wet cement and asphalt on a nearly 100 degree day. But after 4 days of high 90's and hauling water, water, and more water to my plants...they are still a bit droopy and the petunia blooms are positively crunchy, it was welcome. The sunflowers are doing great and the first batch is ready to bloom any day.

Afternoon visit by James who brought me fillets from his latest kayak and cat-fishing adventure. Greatly appreciated and I am thinking catfish nuggets cornmealed and deep fried, hushpuppies, cole slaw and sweet tea for Sunday!

Nicki says Sofi's eyes are open now and she is beginning to tumble and play with her sisters.

                                                   "I can haz eyes!" 

                                                "Mom...halp!!!"


John and I getting ready for our Mini-Getaway soon!

Can't wait.

He off on his own adventure with our (mutual) friend Andy...who had not rode in the Charger yet...and photo-proof

of their wild ride.

The Movie this Week:

 I should probably preface this by saying that Antman isn't one of my favorite Marvel super-heroes...but...this was an entertaining and engaging film. Loved Michael Douglas as The Wasp's dad. Good storyline...great CGI...feel good Hollywood ending.

Well worth a watch!

This Week's Book:

Papa's observational humor sets its eye firmly on the ties that bind (and sometimes GAG) us.

This is everyman's family.

Sometimes outrageously funny. Sometimes just outrageous. Often a bit bittersweet. Beautiful ending.

Very good read!

Oh...and FRANCE won The World Cup!

 

Now it's time for

AND NOW WHAT???

Which probably needs renamed for this week...but I have no words.

Well, none fit to print anyway.

How about we sum the whole thing up and just call it

TREASON

okay?

Never mind that Trump started insulting NATO members on his arrival. Or that Angela Merkel (once again) looked like she wanted to slap him into next week but decorum and news cameras kept it from happening.

Forget the fact that Trump blew off the reunification deadline (that was court ordered) for the kids in cages under 5 and that the rest of the kids deadline is quickly approaching...and he is doing fuck all to fix the problem.

Forget the freak-show that was Trump in England...where he proclaimed (before the visit) the people loved him there.

Then the 250,000 protesters showed up...and the Trump Baby Blimp

And at one point he actually said he felt "Unwelcome!

Ya think, Sherlock?

(...and maybe we need a bunch of these Baby Trump Blimps...here...)


Some of the signage was bloody brilliant, though...

Forget the Faux Pas when he referred to Ireland as "Part of Britian"

(...and seriously...where IS Gerry Adams...when you need him the most???)

And don't give me that RETIRED shite, okay? 

Or the fact he strode ahead of The Queen down the line of Beefeater Guards, nearly trodding on her in the process, like a golfer down a course.

"...Unleash the Corgis..."
  

 

Even forget the GOP ~vs~ FBI interrogation of Peter Strozok- where Peter ended up (very satisfyingly) handing Trey Gowdy's ass to him.

I kept waiting for it to be like  the McCarthy trials

"Sir, have you no decency?"

But it was more like

"How fucking DARE you!"

And surprisingly...that worked for me.

Damn near needed a cigarette when the thing was over....lol! 

Yeah...politics.


But I digress...

Forget about Scotland...or the fact Melenia wore the drapes to Europe.

 But remember that President Trump is set to meet Russian President Valdimir Putin in two days. 

Alone.

You will see where I am headed with this in a moment.

Because yesterday, Mueller issued 12 indictments for 12 Russian Operatives for the crime of manipulating the US 2016 Elections.

OMFG.

At first Trump had absolutely NOTHING to say.

Faux News ran a headline something along the lines of finally getting to the bottom of Hillary's Emails...SMH.

And this morning Trump tried to blame the entire thing on Obama (and Hillary) in the same tweet.

Oh...and he is still planning to meet with "his good friend" Putin.

What the actual FUCK?

So let's review...

The sitting POTUS has just been notified that Russia did indeed launch cyber-attacks on our US Elections

(...forget obstruction...forget collusion...forget everything for a minute...)

FOCUS on that.

Our sitting US President has just been given proof that a foreign nation interfered with our democratic election process...

and does he

Immediately return to Washington DC and issue a statement and encourage the FBI and Mueller to find out as must as possible and possibly STOP any tampering with the upcoming November Elections.

Immediately tell Putin the upcoming meeting is off...and maybe ask Congress to invoke even more sanctions and actually see them through this time instead of waiting months and then watering them down.

 Nope.

The giant bloated orange dumpster-fire

Continued his overseas golf game.

Tweets insults at the FBI and Mueller 

Tweets that he will continue to meet with "His Friend" Putin.

Blames Hillary and Previous President Obama for any Russian Interference.

(...yeah...that is pretty much where my HEAD exploded this morning...)

and the Congressional GOP were

*cricket chirping*

And the MAGA people were too stupid to even realize what it all means.

Which is probably best for them...in the long run.

Really.

Oh and conveniently (As Dan Coates pointed out today) we have no Chief of Cyber Security.

One has not been appointed.

Seriously?

So....yeah...I am thinking we are way past Obstruction and Collusion at this point.

We have reached TREASON.

And with their complicity...so has the traitorous GOP.


Now it is time to do something about it and reclaim Our Country!

Virtual Australia: The Outback...Simpson Desert...and The Great Emu War of 1932

Yeah...so now would be a good time to come clean, I guess.  Before this Australian Adventure I honestly believed the entire country was like this.

And a great deal of it (in the middle) is...but there are also rain-forests and mountains, beautiful beaches and waterfalls...just beautiful.

But we won't be seeing those for a while.

We've left the bush and heading across South.

100 degrees plus in the shade.

Iron red clay and dust working its way into every crack and crevasse.

The Fence...stretching from sea to sea across the country.

Desolation, short scrub and the occasional gnarled tree.

All manners of critters and bugs...most of which are poisonous.

Why are we here again?

And aren't you glad this is virtual.

 The Simpson Desert located in the middle of South is beautiful, but brutal. Because of numerous deaths...the area is closed to tourists in high summer
(December to March 15th) when the daytime temperatures reach 140 degrees and the sand can reach 203 degrees and can melt though shoes.

Good call.

The desert has an area of 68,000 square miles. The only semblance of a road is The Donahue Highway...an unpaved trace that runs across.  It is the World's largest sand dune desert.

Sand Dune Climb (Big and Little Red)

https://youtu.be/wTl2U86jhuA

Herds of feral camels are found in The Outback.

These remnants from the early 19th Century when the area was being mapped and explorers used them to cross the vastness. With the replacement by motor car a great many camel were simply let loose (and thrived) in the Outback. So much so, that when their estimated numbers reached 1 million in 2008 (and it was projected to double in the upcoming years)...the government sponsored hunts and they were brought in line to a much more manageable 300,000.

And then there was The Emu War.

(...no...I am NOT making this up...Google it yourself...)

It seems that camels aren't the only creature who found this baked land hospitable.  By 1932 the Emu population was in excess of 20,000 in the Campion district of Western Australia.  The local government decided something must be done. 

They employed soldiers, ex-soldiers and farmers with Lewis guns to solve the flightless bird problem.

The public dubbed the entire affair

The Emu War

The Lewis Gun.

They weren't screwing around.
This was the Machine Gun of the day.

The Battle began on November 2nd decreed by this man, Sir George Pearce...who would go down in history as The Minister of The Emu War.

The troops were dispatched.

By November 8th over 2500 round of ammunition been discharged...and only 50 birds had been killed.

An ornithologist would later remark

The machine-gunners' dreams of point blank fire into serried masses of Emus were soon dissipated. The Emu command had evidently ordered guerrilla tactics, and its unwieldy army soon split up into innumerable small units that made use of the military equipment uneconomic. A crestfallen field force therefore withdrew from the combat area after about a month  

The Australian House of Representatives discussed the matter and Pearce was forced to withdraw his troops.

After the withdrawal Major Meridith would compare the Emus to Zulu Warriors

If we had a military division with the bullet-carrying capacity of these birds it would face any army in the world... They can face machine guns with the invulnerability of tanks. They are like Zulus whom even dum-dum bullets could not stop.  

That is right.

Australia lost a WAR to Emus.

(...and don't even get me started about them bloody 'roos, mate...)

                                           "War is Hell"  Emu War Survivor


More Anon...

July 4th...or Happy Treason Day...Second Civil War...and More

or as Dave, Across The Pond, likes to remind us

Brexit 1776!

It was wonderful...good food...good weather...unexpected but very welcome-John out for the day... chatting with all three boys...and then fireworks (from afar this year) with Rita and Sue. (The Robe-Ann Display)

Also, hilariously started by this guy

The #SecondCivilWar.

And Subsequent #SecondCivilWarLetters.

Alex Jones, a nutjob with his own show ala Rush Limbaugh- who made the mistake telling his followers (which trickled down to the rest of us normal folks) that them "Daymed Democrats and Libruls" (...go with it..it is kind of like everyone South of the Mason Dixon referring to anyone up NAWTH as a damnyankee...and yes, it is one single word...) that we had a Secret Civil War we were starting on the 4th of July.

Anyway, since none of us had got that memo, we were fairly confused for a moment...

But we are nothing, if not resourceful, and immediately went to work on plans for #SecondCivilWar along with Aunt Crabby's food list for the cookout including 36 million of these- Patriotic Jello Shots.

After a wonderful cookout and, of course, nap...the #SecondCivilWar began. This time, safely in the confines of the Twitterverse.

The letters from the front written in the 1st Civil War Style.

#SecondCivilWarLetters

Needless to say...some of these made me laugh until I cried.

Here are just a few:

Polly, I fear you may scarcely recognize me after my time embedded with the enemy. It changes a person. The lack of general hygiene. The saturated fat soaked meals. The loss of vocabulary and punctuation. I would kill for avocado on toast. War is Hell. #secondcivilwarletters

My dearest Madison; Whilst engaging hostiles in Santa Clarita, we found ourselves pinned down between Starbucks, Peets, Seattle's Best and an Einstein's bagels. We are running low of seasonal blends and jalapeño cheddar. Send rations. - Regards, Corey #secondcivilwarletters 

My dearest: I convinced the Redhats to let me teach them fire direction for artillery. It will be days before they realize they are shelling their own positions. #secondcivilwarletters

Dearest, I have been captured by the Red Hats. I cannot withstand any more psychological torture. The barrage of Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, and Toby Keith is starting to have physical effects. I fear that if I escape, I will be unrecognizable with this mullet. #SecondCivilWarLetters

Dearest beloved: The arugula has run out. All that remains is kale, and we must face the truth we have denied for so long: kale is bitter AF. I can only hope that our stock of rosé holds. At the rate I'm drinking, I am not optimistic. #secondcivilwarletters 

Colonel In advance of our campaign into Bowling Green, we have come across a phenomenon to disarm the MAGAts. Our unit wears the red hat of the Incel Btl, walk up to them & say “That there is a sweet gun! Can I see it?” Without fail, they hand them over. #SecondCivilWarLetters


Dear heart, today we took a captive. We forced him to do hard labor. So far he has baked 75 gay wedding cakes. Adam and Steve's battle-side ceremony was beautiful, they thank you for the toaster. #secondcivilwarletters

My Love, Our commanders have become intolerable. General Guiliani has disappeared, Colonel Sanders has lied to us about what we face and Sergeant Cohen gives all indications he may be a traitor. Our supplies were also stolen. We suspect Private Pruitt. #SecondCivilWarLetters
 
Unfortunately, #Antifa has plans and will not make the 2nd Civil War launch. Thus, Ruth Bader Ginsberg will lead the charge. Liberals will first attack Justice Gorsuch’s house at 10:00 am sharp! Ruth has her nap at 2:00 and can’t be disturbed. #SecondCivilWarLetters

Dearest, Today is day three of being captured. I am in a basement of one of the MAGA soldiers. It’s okay...his mom brings snacks down every so often. #secondcivilwarletters


My love, The sun is beginning to set here, and we are encamped in the local Starbucks. Both of the Gay Frog Divisions have finally made it and morale is high. Tomorrow may well be the decisive battle in this war...after the cookout and nap. #SecondCivilWarLetters

Dear Family, I decorate my uniform with the trophies of war. As each day drags on my sympathy dwindles and my necklace of fallen MAGA hats grows. Upon my return I shall wear my prize and glare at you all during Thanksgiving The only liberal of the family #secondcivilwarletters


Dearest Clementine, The MAGA army has decimated every decent pizza parlor for 200 miles. They subsist on Papa John's. Every MAGAt we capture is slick with butter-garlic sauce, so we must hose them down to avoid attracting flies. #secondcivilwarletters

We thought that Jeff Sessions was leading the charge, but it turned out it was a garden gnome #SecondCivilWarLetters


My Dearest MAGA & its red hats have retreated w/their torches into bunkers at Walmart for the nite. Please don’t worry. We are well stocked with everything a Lib could need during these times: avocados, paprika, brie, whole grain hotdog buns, arugula, rosé #secondcivilwarletters

Riding for Bowling Green at dawn. Hybrid charged and latte in hand. RH destroyed our supply lines. We were forced to hunker down in a Starbucks. Have gone without Avocado toast for days, Wifi is spotty at best. Cell is down to three bars. War is hell. #SecondCivilWarLetters

Dear John, In our kitchen full w/child & no shoes a cadet in blue stormed the house. I clutched our bible & NRA membership as he calmly offered me autonomy over my own body, education & healthcare for my child, & equality. I now have personal freedom. I'm leaving you. #secondcivilwarletters

Dearest, Our 1st Sergeant returned from recon and asked, "Why the fuck is there a horse with condoms tied to his tail in our camp?" I replied that the Red Hats thought they would outsmart us and sent us a *Trojan* Horse! #SecondCivilWarLetters

Dearest, I'm afraid I cannot bring you good word. We stormed the beaches of Flagler, only to find the gravest of horrors. No mint for mojitos. This may be my breaking point. #secondcivilwarletters

Darling, A cease from the falling memes and screams of the mortally offended. This Bowling Green Massacre II worse than the 1st, like most sequels. Received the timely supply of avocados and will enjoy an afternoon tea before the shelling begins anew. #secondcivilwarletters

To My Nieces and Nephews, The #SecondCivilWar rages on and I have finally taken the Jack Daniels Distillery. I will not rest until each keg has been personally inspected for weapons. My sacrifice is for you. Be strong. P.S. Please send soda water. Yours in #Resistance, Auntie

To the Next-of-Kin of Private Jones- We regretfully inform you that while bravely engaging Red Hats on the front (web) lines, your loved one made so many typos, that the Red Hats have forced him to a cabinet position. Regretfully yours. #Secondcivilwarletters

Darling, While this war has been tiresome, I don’t expect it to last. Red Hat casualties are mounting. They choose not to treat their wounded brethren, instead they just scream “I’M NOT PAYING FOR YOUR HEALTHCARE” & leave them for dead after the Battle had ended for the day. Yours Always. #secondcivilwarletters

and after the Battle had ended for the day:

As the battle dies down, my ears still ring from last eve's barrage of shell and mortar. An uneasy cease fire now. Casualties are high. All that is left is the Battle of Ballotbox on the 6th of November. We will converge there and emerge victorious. #secondcivilwarletters

 Mother; It’s over. I’m lying under the burnt out skeleton of a meme, the shells of expended, empty rhetoric heaped around me. Our punchlines are depleted, but our logic is intact. We have the numbers. I’m coming home. Your beloved son. #secondcivilwarletters

and the final and possibly BEST tweet of the evening:

She walked to the field, and gazed upon the land her family had owned for generations. She picked up a rotting covfefe. Angrily, with the covfefe clutched tightly, she shook her fist at the sky and cried, “as God as my witness, I’ll never vote Republican again.” #secondcivilwar

And, although I have never actually tried Avocado Toast, I have an overwhelming desire to so now.

Go figure.

A heatwave across the country this week.

My Annual Reminder that it really doesn't matter if YOU believe in climate change-

Because Climate Change Believes in YOU.

And an addnedum to remember that homosapians  (that would be all of us, people) have a very narrow survival range in +100 degree heat.

Idgy has been sending shots as the vendors start filling the newly acquired space she has added. Twelve in all.

Thus the space will pay for itself...and then some!

Can't wait to see it done!

And these...because no matter how many times I look at them I am completely blown away.

Nicole...down from a size 24 to a size 6 now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before 

After

Just wow!

If anyone ever wondered if Bariatric Sleeve Surgery works. 

Here is your answer.

Have a wonderful relaxing Holiday Weekend!

Hannah's Grandma Rose Day...Sofi...and a Bunch More Stuff

This week was Hannah's 1:1 Summer Vacation Grandma Rose Day.


So much fun.

Off to DQ for a brunch that, among other things, has a delicious ice cream sundae with it!

(...and like Emma and I...no way we are going to wait until after our meal...lol)

After some shopping and buying a few ingredients...she showed me how to make Homemade Slime with Glitter!

                                  "Look Grandma Rose...Unicorn Poop"

We picked up all the stuff for her to have an at home spa bath...bath fizzies and masque and such...

Oh and BUBBLES!

  Never get too old to take a bubble bath while enjoying real BUBBLES!

Renay (a friend of mine's daughter) finished Kaylee's Silver KB necklace and we are going to celebrate her birthday late this month with an Almost Home Tea Room Brunch and such...as she will be turning 13.

(...since the day she was born I have called her Kaylee-Bug...now that she will be a teenager it will be KB forever...)

Although it will be almost 6 weeks from now...I am excited to announce my little family will soon be expanding.

Meet Sofi  (So-fee) the tiny calico I have always wanted.

Well, since Hydra (E-dhrah- The Greek Islands) anyway!

 I think Shelby will accept a kitten much better that anything full grown...and like my grands...a baby will keep her amused...or maybe just annoyed...lol!

She is going to be a beautiful cat. Her mom has the clearest blue eyes...hoping that maybe she ends up with them too.

My "Sofi" with all the orange on her!

Enjoyed Saturday with John (here). Baked  bacon/portabella/onion and pepper cheddar quiche...made blueberry scones and had watermelon...

Finishing with was has become

Our Official Summer Drink

Frosty Rootbeer Floats made with Hagen-Daz
   (every bit as decadent as it sounds)

Even more wonderful sharing them together in the summer heat with a cool breeze on the back patio overlooking NPB. He was even able to get a good shot of one of my "Dougs"

It was The Best afternoon! 


We both have countdown counters for our Cave Adventure now.

"...a freaking cave....lmao..."

"...yeah...with a grotto and hot tub..."

Can't wait!

So proud of Idgy who has taken The Toy Room by coup...and soon to expand

THE TREASURE TRUNK 

(beginning vinyls)

And the new space coming along nicely!

I can't wait to see it done, up and running...and, of course, decorated!!!!

You have accomplished soooooooo much in the past few years!

My friend, Loretta, now out of the hospital and has about 4 weeks Rehab ahead of her...she will be staying in assisted living. Although it is much closer for the family now...it is 4 hr. RT from here... We haved been staying in touch by phone and snail mail, and Diane, Sharon, Judy and I are working on the first of many care packages to send. We miss her.

I miss her.

Life Happens.

sigh

A good example is THIS GUY.

Remember Iggy Pop?

During my recent re-watch of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, he had an Episode featuring Iggy.

                                                          Iggy Pop

Where the hell did all the years go?

Trust me...feeling this keenly now that

1.  Next year all of my boys will be 30 or over.

2. In two years I will turn 60  (...how can that be right????)

No worries...it has been (and continues to be) one hell of a ride!

No regrets.

How many people can make 60 and say that?

My Motto: Try Everything

 

This Week:

Season 5...episodes 1-7

Korea, Miami, Scotland, Madagascar, New Jersey, Budapest and Hawaii.

So enjoyable watching his travel and culinary boldness. The man was fearless. Once again, it is hard to believe he is gone.

I find that it is influencing my creativeness in a kitchen in the kitchen, as well. Trying new spices, dishes, flavor or texture combinations. Throwing ingredients together in soup that I have never tried before.

Sometimes it is delicious.

Sometimes it is a train-wreck.

But it is always an adventure!


This Week's Book:

Elizabeth Rush's Rising.

Non-fiction. A great read and reportage from many of the Coastal Regions of the United States where the rising sea levels are already making an impact.

And what coastal people and cities are doing about it while the rest of us argue whether it is happening or who is to blame.

Well worth the time.

And speaking of time...

Now it is time for


NOW WHAT???


This has definitely been a Tale of Two Cities week.

"It was the Best of Times. It Was the Worst of Times...."

A federal judge in California stopped the separation of immigrant children from their parents. And ordered the kids in cages reunited with their families in a certain number of days.

Now they want to cage entire families.

Not optimal...hell..not even American...but at least they will stop ripping babies away from their moms.

And Sarah (I lie for a living) Sanders got her comeuppance when she tried to have dinner with family at The Red Hen

An Upscale Virginia Restaurant

And was REFUSED service...asked to leave (nicely) by management because they don't serve Trump Employees.

Kind of like the whole Wedding Cake Baker she was so supportive of when he refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.

It is embarrassing and kind of hurts when the shoe is on YOUR foot, isn't it Sarah?

But then she was so butt-hurt and "afraid" that the taxpayers now have to foot her Special Service Detail whenever she goes out.

WTF?

And in the midst of everything SCOTUS Justice Kennedy announced this week that he was resigning...before November.

And everyone pretty much lost their damned minds.

It is extremely sad to see the direction of the highest court in the land turning into the same Football Team Mentality that has taken over our Congress and now even the Executive Branch.

We have a President (...such as it were...) who vilifies the Free press...Liberals...Democrats...Black, Brown and Yellow people...Gays.  Apparently. he believes he is only President to the GOP.

and his minions...the eager to serve...Trumpers.

Roughly 32 percent of the total voting populous...and even a few of them are starting to see the light and distance themselves from him.

and yeah...

Some of them aren't.

And Trump enacted tariffs on OUR Allies...so then they enacted tariffs on a bunch of our stuff

And Harley Davidson Motorcycles said

 "Screw it...we will move our base of operations out of the country, then"

And fruit is rotting in the trees and fields because apparently the people who were bitching that

 "Immigrants took mah (our) jobz"

 have no desire to pick in the fields in 100+ degree heat.
 Congratulations and wait for those produce prices to rise.
Because "Merika"



We all have to do our part in November to FIX this mess.

Straight Party Ticket in 2018 and 2020.

Blue No Matter Who.


And a recent shot at Mt. St. Helens...proving that with enough time...everything heals.

More anon.