...and yet more politics...

Sorry G.O.T fans...saw this and literally laughed out loud.

So...it has been a REALLY chaotic week at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Pre-release coverage and excerpts of Bob Woodward's book

FEAR

Which is interview with pretty much everyone in the current White House...and it is not as bad as we thought.

It's so much much worse.

And Trump flailing away on Twitter refuting a great deal of it as Fake News...except Woodward is a PROFESSIONAL and has 100's of hours of the interviews on TAPE!

Wow.

He can't be happy about that.

But wait, there is more...

NYT published an Op-Ed from an Anonymous Senior White House Staff Member who not only corroborates what we all pretty much knew was happening in there.

MUTINY

and now the already paranoid Trump is on a real Witch Hunt among his own people...at one point asking Jeff Sessions and the DOJ to get involved in finding out who #LODESTAR is...

Seriously?

Somebody needs to take him  aside and let him know this isn't how ANY of this works. The 1st Amendment protects the Free Press. The Free Press protects the anonymity of their sources...and this isn't some tin-horn dictatorship known as Trumpistan. 

It's an embarrassment.

Democrats in Congress finally assembled an ACME spine and have been standing up to his attempts to ram through Kavanaugh's appointment to the SCOTUS. So far, pretty successfully.

This marks Day 4.

With special kudos to Cory "Fine...just exclude me then" Booker for showing us
the emails in question even though it may result in exclusion.

Enjoying the Twitter game of LODESTAR CLUE

(Remember the board-game Clue?)

My guess is General James Kelly in the Library with a Montblanc.

James Papadopolous won the PLEA BARGAIN lottery (...remember the coffee boy...) who was just sentenced to 14 whole days hard time and a 9,400 dollar fine.

Yes...it appears the caged bird has been doing some hearty singing...waiting to see where all the feathers land.

and today...just when we ALL needed it.
 

https://youtu.be/RX1GYkxTAcY

Former President Obama at Urbana, Illinois.

Finally weighing in. 

This is a MUST WATCH. 

Trump immediately stated afterward that he "fell asleep" during Obama's speech...which may actually be true, since Trump tends to have the attention span of high-speed dryer lint.

But it would serve him well to watch it...and take notes.


More as it comes...because...well...it always does!

                                   "YOU...did you write that Op-Ed???"

Virtual Australia: Christmas Island WA- Red Crab Migration

Captain William Mynors of the India Trading Company found and named Christmas Island in 1643...after sailing by it on Christmas Day...so now we know. 

Today's trek isn't really about the island...but a look at its million and millions of red crab inhabitants.

Bright red and measuring from the tiniest (barely 1 mm...to the largest...around 116 mm across) these crabs are the most populous crab species on the island. Usually hidden in shaded areas and forest as they approach maturation (about 40mm) at 4-5 years old and the rainy season begins (usually Oct. or Nov.) they begin their migration toward the coastal waters to mate and spawning the young into the Indian Ocean.

And suddenly they are everywhere!

From the small to the large...

Clogging thruways...barricading  and closing roadways...

Taking over the beaches.

Christmas Island now marks the migration as an important part of its tourist industry.

People come from all across the globe to watch, photograph, video, and sometimes interact (creepily?) with the lust filled crabs.

Bleah.
Face it...I am way too arachnophobia for this!

In 2014 Christmas Island even dedicated stamps to the occasion!

A well documented event...let's see it for ourselves...


Christmas Island Crab Migration Videos

https://youtu.be/AtXDcw34lqI                 (best one)

https://youtu.be/pq98xZuRjV0

https://youtu.be/LNKgh6TfWXo

https://youtu.be/UlSfl-Qt764


Releasing Spawn into the Ocean

https://youtu.be/_Pv3ZxQ0w2A

(...that is a lot a baby crabs...)

The sounds of a Million or so Marching Crabs

https://youtu.be/w1hKbAimjNQ

More of the Migration

https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/171024-red-crabs-christmas-island-migration 

And a Final Video

https://youtu.be/GWcsyU7uCkY


 Hope you've enjoyed this creepy crawly Virtual Adventure!

More anon...

Now I must go shower-

Labor Day...Summer's End...And Sofi

Beginning the day with beautiful blue skies. morning coffee and chat with John and a peach smoothie.

Not sure it gets better than that!

Celebrating Summer's End and BRING ON THE FALL!

So ready for the change of Season...fall foods and baking...redecorating...sweaters and caramel apples with pecans. 
Candles that smell like Cinnamon Sticky Buns or Coffee. 

I'm there.

A late summer visit...then let the decorating begin!

Shelby and Sofi slowly settling into an easy accord with one another, now.

(...after Shelby made clear that she was the Alpha Cat...and Sofi only the auxiliary-back-up kitten...)

Sofi has enough energy for the both of us. "Boinging" through the house while Shel sits on my lap...somewhat bemused at this point.

She pulled an ET the other day climbing up in the lap of a huge Teddy Bear in my rocking chair and falling asleep.

And just when we thought we had lost her behind an appliance or something, she poked her head out.

"Here I am!" ~Sofi

"Oh damn."  ~Shelby

She is having less accidents now...and "boings" her tiny cabbit butt directly to the litter-box after waking in the morning.

Progress.

(...and less wear and tear on me...)

We may survive her kittenhood after all.

"Speak for yourself...if she attacks my tail again, she's toast."  ~Shelby

This week's book...a bubble-gum for your brain summer novel by Louise Miller

A decent end-of-summer read. Nothing heavy. Just a perfect something to sit on the patio and enjoy the cooling temperatures with the last frosty root-beer float before Autumn arrives.

A nice addition...a recipe in the end for Peggy's Burnt Sugar Maple Bundt Cake, which I am going to make.

This week's movie:

 I don't know...maybe it's me. 

Or maybe it's them...and the movie really did suck badly.

The gist of it is that beyond the bottom of the trench...exists another world..the real bottom of the ocean...and like the map always warns us

"Here there be MONSTERS"

From the opening scenes when the actors read their scripts instead of acting...to the bitter end which left The Meg wide open for a sequel as a Meg pup squirms from the destroyed body of its mother just before credits roll...the whole experience was pretty meh...

I certainly won't be bothering with the sequel. I could barely sit through the first.

By the middle to the end I found myself firmly rooting for the giant shark.

"Just kill them. Kill them all. Let's wrap this thing."

Not recommended. 

Although all the Sharknadoes found an audience...so your experience may vary.

No accounting for taste.

Experienced an (albeit too short) return to Decorum and Taste on Saturday with
John MCCain's funeral.

Although he was a lifelong Republican and we rarely saw eye to eye on issues politically...John McCain was an honorable, patriotic man who often put Country over Politics. As well as being a decorated War Hero.

It was nice to see former Presidents Bush and Obama giving the eulogy (as he wished)
and a nice break from Trump who was asked to not attend.

Similarly the request was made at Barbara Bush's funeral and at Harry and Meghan's Royal wedding.

It was nice to see Class and Decorum return to our Capitol...

and it left me to ponder...how horrible a person do you have to be to be asked not to attend 2 funerals and a wedding?

 Trump spent the day golfing.

(...how predictable...) 

More anon...

Virtual Australia: Kalbarri National Park

Today we continue the virtual adventure of Western with a visit to the Kalbarri National Park.

Located 301 miles from Perth to the north, Kalbarri is an edge park. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean at Red Bluff Beach.

Made up of red sandstone. This bluff has hiking trails and there is also fishing, boating, snorkelling and swimming off its coast.

Another well-known feature of Kalbarri is Mushroom Rock

Hikers often making their way to its flat top.

Rainbow Valley is nearby and parts of it are as desolate and dry as the coast is wet...in this land of many contrasts.

Crossbedded Sandstone with many beautiful layers in Rainbow Valley.

And as we virtually hike deeper and deeper in the gorge we come to Pot Alley.

 Locate in Eagle Gorge on the  Murchison River

During the return of the rains a roaring river...but during the summer much shallower and mossy green.

Another geological feature of the park is Island Rock

and Natural Bridge

Probably the best know (and most photographed ) rock formation in the park is known as Nature's Window.  Much like Arches National Park in Utah (USA) this window effect is a result of erosion from the wind.

Unlike Utah...Kalbarri has only one of these Arches. Despite its sturdy appearance,erosion will eventually take its toll and it will collapse into so much sand...to begin again, as so many already have in the Western US.

Perhaps a reminder that everything is temporary.

A favored bush-walking and hiking area in KNP is The Z Bend Gorge and The Loop (shown here)

Where a day's hike might bring you to the top of Hawk's Head...overlooking the river.

Also know as the Ross Graham Lookout.

Hiking Kalbarri

https://youtu.be/ITufelkf3Uc

More of KNP

https://youtu.be/lA8o4nQ6hko


Next:   We will check out Christmas Island WA...during the Red Crab Migration

Emma is Twelve...Sister Time...Sofi and More

Perhaps biggest news is our (Tina, Lisa and I) newly established Sisters Day Out.  We may have had separate childhoods...but we are going to grow old together! At 58, 54 and 52, I am the eldest...so I have a head-start on that...lol!

Enjoyed yesterday's FIRST EVER Sisters Day Out.  Almost Home Brunch...and catch up/chat. Playing with Sofi and Shelby. We are all Cat People. Amazing how similar our tastes, likes & dislikes and interests/hobbies really are.

 We already have next month's Shopping Trip ( ...after realizing we have NEVER  been shopping...or cooked together...ever...) Grocery shopping and bringing back Chinese Brunch...then preparing pumpkin pies together...and some Honey Mead with our chat  :)

Sofi and Shelby are making their peace with one another. My living room seems to have become the DMZ at this time.

John, who was over Wednesday, and brought Chinese (thank you very much)..taught her a new bad habit. (thank you not so much)

And now she is absolutely obsessed with shoe laces!

She has grown quite a lot...but still spends nights and heavy traffic hours crated

"It's a GATED COMMUNITY...not a crate."  ~Sofi

"It's a damned box with bars on the front, you tiny brainless twit."  ~Shelby

to escape being trod upon or rolled over.

"You know you are NEVER EVER EVER sleeping with us...right?"  ~Shelby

So cute.

You can call her name anywhere in  the house now and she comes"boinging" as fast as she can.

Just love the bunny hops!

When she and Shel get the rips at the same time through the house...well, who NEEDS TV ?

Also learned this week she will climb up you and rip your face off for bacon.

Who wouldn't?

After learning this I am exploiting it as positive reinforcement for her training. It works amazingly well!

She will be operating the Keurig in no time...lol!

My grand-daughter, Emma, turned 12 yesterday :)

From this (when we first met)

to this

They just grow up so fast!

Her birthday breakfast...by request...purple biscuits and gravy.

No new book or movie this week...although Nicole and I may have to see the new Aquaman release.

"...yeah..you had me at Jason Momoa...hon..."

 Game of Throne Followers may recognize him as Khal Drogo.

Kind of the ultimate "bad boy".

Most of this week's news taken up by politics...though.

The Loss of GOP Arizona Senator John McCain to his brain tumor.  Although we rarely held the same political position he was a decent, patriotic man who worked hard to put Country (and the well-being of her citizens) ahead of politics...and he will be missed.  He was probably one of the last of the Old Guard Republicans...before the party lost its damned mind.

We also lost playwrite Neil Simon.

In Trumpworld...he is finally realizing the whole Ponzi scheme is collapsing and is tweeting wildly...incoherently...why aren't DEMS being investigated...what about Hillary...what about Obama...it is not fair...rigged witch hunt...et al. 

It is pathetic.

At least Nixon knew when it was over...and resigned.

I would like to think Trump will, as well, but realistically he will probably have to be dragged out kicking and screaming.

Preferably in handcuffs.

Just Saying.

And for those at home playing Trump Bingo...we are getting down to the wire now.

Since Sarah is reported to be leaving us at the end of the year (U-1), a BINGO may be in our near future.

Of course, if not the best news- then certainly the funniest- came, inadvertently, in the form of this guy

 David Pecker, publisher of  The National Enquirer 

(...and seriously...didn't we always know in our hearts that the publisher's name had to be Richard or Pecker??)
Pecker was offered IMMUNITY by Mueller for his treasure trove of killed Trump stories.

IKR?

(Holy Shit)


But the real gem seem to be the immediate sophomoric comic relief his name offered spawning memes like the following

Face it. We ALL needed this moment of lightness.

Yeah...he may be a Pecker...but he is Our Pecker, now.

We are going to need a LOT more popcorn!

Back to Virtual Western Australia tomorrow...