Baby on Board

You know, the story has legs, but I'm all about the woman using the HOV lane in Texas, with just her and her baby bump.

Had she done it prior to the Roe v Wade reversal, and being from Texas, we all would have called her "Karen".  But her stance that in the post Row world, her fetus is a person and should be treated as such. 

It's a fucking game changer, actually. Especially if many pregnant women take that strategy.  .....and even take it further. 

Every pregnant person / couple should fuck with the IRS and start filing their unborn as dependents. 

Every immigrant mother who is carrying cannot be deported, as it is a life and on U.S. soil, well.......you can't deport a U.S. citizen.......or citizen to be. 

Flood the courts with these types of cases. Is the U.S. government really going to say, these are not children or lives because they're not yet expelled from a vaginal canal?  SCOTUS has said otherwise. Every state who has since passed a 'heart-beat' bill says otherwise. 

I say flood these fuckers with chaos. 

Also chaos?  Fuck with Brett Kavanaugh's dinner at Morton's.  And yeah, I"m ok with fucking with Morton's too.  Their bullshit about 'he has a right to eat without being disturbed'.    Fuck. You.   157 million women might disagree. Well, you know, 120, since you gotta figure 37 mill are dried up fucking twats who vote GOP, and yet refuse one welfare dime to any of those mothers (and were ok with separating them from their children). 

SCOTUS already ruled that is ok to protest outside a physician's office or house who performs abortions. Again are you really going to have the government say it's illegal to do the same to a justice? 

I mean.......except Congress already helped that along giving them protection when SCOTUS' widdle feweenings got hurt when the decision was leaked a few months back. 

It seems that whole Goose / Gander things only applies when it doesn't affect them. 

And since this SCOTUS is SO interested in the Second amendment, maybe they should look at the First too:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I believe they used that to allow people protest Planned Parenthood and its employees.  No? 

I kid, of course. The Constitution is meaningless except for the Second amendment for any GOP'er. If they could, they'd wipe their ass with the rest of it. Metaphorically, they already have. 

Listen, I'm not out-living the overturn of Roe v Wade, but I'm ok with fucking up city, state and federal government agencies until I take the big dirt nap. 

Song by: the Be-Sharps

My Music Monday

I'm keeping with the theme of "Songs by Which to Run" for this month.  I'm finding a lot of these to be very guitar driven. I think many of you see me as the lover of low key female artists - and I am, but, I do like a good rock song. Good guitar work can really make me smile. 

Drums and bass are key though - at least for me to run. A good downbeat helps me keep pace. 

There is almost never a time when the War on Drugs' "An Ocean In Between the Waves" doesn't make an appearance during a gym visit. Sometimes twice. It's always a welcome selection. 

The band, in many ways, is predictable, but not in a bad way. They don't deviate from their sound very much - and by 'very much', I mean at all.  When one of their songs pops up that I don't know, I don't have to look to see who the band might be. 

The main parts of many of their songs are almost hypnotic. There is an even tempo and a softer but steady rhythm section. Their lead vocalist, I'm guessing, doesn't have much of a range, but it works for them. 

If you're looking for Verse / Chorus / Verse - this isn't the band for you. Or the song. But I like it a lot. 

With many of their songs, which usually track long in terms of time, the last 90-120 seconds is just music. And let's face it, if I can make it through one of their songs, I know I've knocked of 7 minutes of run time. 

While there is no official audio, this does come from the band's account. Whomever did the transfer to audio for the "video", missed the mark. The sound is brighter, clearer and louder on my phone. Maybe it's my laptop speakers.......maybe not. 

Run

It's the small things that matter.  

Unless you're talking about penises, then you're just being nice or lying. 

I am trying not to do too many gym updates here, and I still have three weeks before I can weigh myself, though I'm 99.4% sure I haven't lost the weight of which I've wanted.  Yet. 

Regardless of 'day' (arm, chest, leg, shoulder, back) I always start out with cardio. And sometimes end with it too. Weekdays are different than weekends, as I don't have much time during the former, due to having not been born independently wealthy.  (Thanks for gambling it all away, grandpa!)

When I made it back to the gym at the end of March, I started on a bike, the moved to a treadmill, and then to the elliptical. But I'm back to the treadmill. 

I could have said 'running', but when I got back on that thing, I'm not even sure I could have passed a Silver Sneakers and she'd have lap me somewhere between Orange Jullius and Things Remembered. 

For context, I "ran" cross-country in high school. Being 6'2" and all of 110 lbs, there weren't a lot of sport options open to me (and my parents made me join something!).  

For the record, I hated every step I took during those four years. Every. Single. One. I never experienced a runner's high. I had no focus of any kind. Or determination. I had a 14 year old developed brain.  Maybe. While I'm sure I "improved" during my time, it seemed negligible.   

My first recorded run after being back at the gym (thanks Life Fitness app) had me at a 17:50 minute mile. This was based on if I had actually finished a mile. Which I didn't. 

I'd walk. I'd run. Back to walk. I'd find any excuse to not run walk. I've spoken here about the right music - and sure that's a thing, or I made it one. Like my 14 yo self I still had no focus. At some point I abandoned running and went totally elliptical. Maybe that helped me. Maybe not. 

When we were in Chicago, I used the hotel gym and went back to running. I've been doing it since. 

I really took steps to be successful - mainly not running for more than 20 minutes. Using a pace which I could keep and not get defeated. And yes, the right music. 

Over the course of the last month though, things have really changed.  ...and for the better. 

While spending the morning a few weeks back with Morty, before everyone (read: anyone) else was up, I mentioned something about working out - and he asked if I was running. This could be a dangerous territory with this man - as he's successfully completed a marathon on every continent (yes, you read that correctly).  

Internally (well externally too) my answer was embarrassingly semi-apologetic:  "yes, but only on the treadmill."  His response, while brief  seemingly in passing and non-coach-y, actually would end up meaning a lot to me.  "If your feet are leaving the ground, you're running". 

Yes, I've fallen enough times that my feet leave the ground where running is not involved, but I got the point. 

In the last month, I've carried his words daily. It's the little things. They have big impacts. 

But in the last month, I've gone from 20 minute runs daily, to 30 minute runs on work days and as of yesterday, a 60 minute run.

In the last month, I've increased my speed from 3 mph to 4.9.  And that first 17:50 miles has been shaved to 13:12. 

Those stops and starts, or walks, I had been doing are gone. The music now plays as it will and I don't break stride or slow down for any reason. 

In yoga, when I was doing that all the time, I learned the beauty of the Drishti. It's the practice of focused gaze, used as a means of developing concentration. It helped me immensely with balancing poses. I currently use it now - not looking at the treadmill with its data, time left or graphics of me running through the woods or on a beach.  I pick a spot on the wall in front of me and that is where my gaze is - for 30-60 minutes. Never varying.  

It has made all the difference. 

Music is still important. But less so.  You know I'm not a big fan of streaming services, but I plead guilty to now using Apple Music.  I pick one song, and it kind of sticks with that genre the rest of the time. Much of it not from my liberry. It helps me keep the pace without ever needing to slow down or scroll through the phone for the 'next song'.  For that, you'll be getting a few My Music Monday selections coming your way. 

Now, I have no desire or intention to run a marathon. Yet my brain works this way: while I run, using the previous day's data, I start calculating at x miles per hour, if I could maintain that for 26.2 miles, how long it would take me to finish.  I then shake my head and try to get out it. 

My takeaway is what my 14-17 year old self couldn't do - and what I couldn't do 3 months ago - is focus. That  is key to this. I never enjoyed running because I didn't know how to be successful at it, or at least how to (re)define success.  I'm doing that now. I think.  

And I'm enjoying it - except for the first seven minutes. I find, like clockwork, it takes me that long to get the groove and past some physical, but probably more mental, hump. I actually look forward to the run.  I mean, we'll see how long that lasts, but so far so good. 

Also?  I've never sweated so much in my life. 

Before I used to take Spin, I really had never truly sweated through clothes before. Spin got me to sweat. But now, it's up like 17 levels. There are times in the locker room I struggle to get my shirt off.  And lying on a weight bench like this?  Ick. Cold and clammy. 

So, even if I don't lose all the weight I want, I'm getting something out at my time at the gym. 

Song by: Snow Patrol

Jump in the River

Dogs and Cats.  I don't need the Muses for them. Actually, they might be the Muses.  

Hate Crime !!!!

Love Connection. 

Poor Poor Bailey. 

I should save her from her abusive home. 

We took Shep down to play in the Chagrin River. 

He loves loves loves the water. 

She was halfway up.......and then decided I was not the dad she wanted to see. 

She left me. 

Stolen spot.  Shep gets the floors. 

He was fine. 

Song by: Sinéad O'Connor

Again

Two days in a row: nothing. 

The Muses caught a Trailways to an unknown destination. Most likely somewhere more hopping than my head - somewhere like Muncie. 

Oddly, I have a few ideas formulating in my head, but not gestated enough to actually release them. 

Work hasn't been horrid, so I can't blame that, but the days are long, especially when it's 710's week to actually have to go into the office. 

Everything just ends later. Home. Dog walks. Dinner. Then when it comes to this, well...............then I'm stuck. 

I'll be better. 

Probably. 

I'm not promising you anything, Whoopi. 

Song by: Lenny Kravitz

Nothing

I ran out of time.  

It is 21:25 and I have nothing and it's my bedtime. I got all of 4.5 hrs of sleep last night due to asthma. And the work day was long.  

I'm sure if I did my biorhythms, they'd be off. I don't know how one truly measures that crap, but I'm sure it's wrong. 

Ok Free day for you all. 

Right or Wrong

I'm 91% sure I've used this before - but it still holds true. 

I'm 100% sure I'll use it again. 

Of course, I feel bad for Highland Park folks and their dead. But the guy is white and Republican. Kyle Rittenhouse killed folks - he's white and a BLOTUS supporter and he's walking free. 

I mean, they took him alive, so you know he was white. 

Allegedly, I hear (since I don't really read the news anymore - in detail), the TERRORIST was dressed as a woman to avoid detection. So you just know there is going to be a bunch of transphobia and drag queen comments coming. 

Fuck them all.  Fuck every single Republican fuck face who votes party line for fear of being Liz Cheney. 

Right and Wrong no longer apply. Those words mean nothing anymore. Absolutely nothing. Of course, that is all they were: words. The depths of depravity that politicians and lobbyists (and voters) will go to is just inhumane. 

I don't think there is a better word for it. 

Song by: Rosanne Cash

America

It was a weird 4th. 

"Patriot" and "Patriotic" have taken on different meanings in the last 6-7 years, and even in the best of times, I wasn't considered either.  I'm certainly not even a fringe king of guy right now.  There is nowhere in 'love of country' in which I fit currently. 

But oddly, it's a little more than that, this 4th. 

In normal times. whatever that means - days before, day of, and days after there are always hours and hours of fireworks. Even when it's light outside.  Not so this year.  It's been as silent as a Helen Keller Fourth of July party. 

Yesterday, when we were out and about, no one else was. And nothing was open.  Well, Taco Bell and Arby's, but I don't have much a death wish. 

In the past, it was nearly impossible to identify fireworks from gunshots.  Now, it's sad to say, that I have no problems figuring out which is which. Again, not an issue this year, unless you're in Highland Park, IL, I suppose. Unfortunately, those folks now know which is which. 

I'll be controversial here.   I don't want anyone do die by guns. Let alone mass shootings. But this is now on us. Gun laws relaxed (thanks SCOTUS!), NRA doing what they do, Proud Boys being "patriots". That a mass shooting happened at an Independence Day parade?  PRICELESS. 

Local, State and Federal morons officials won't see the irony in it - which is a shame, but on this day of "being free", maybe someone will see that is not the case. Quite the opposite. But gun lovers freedoms seemingly outweigh anyone else's.  Why is that? 

Ohio has relaxed their fireworks and gun laws. The only thing they've tightened is Susie's uterus.  So, unless you're killing her unborn with an M80 or AR-15 - apparently, you can do anything you want. 

.....except go to Arby's. 

Song by: Simon & Garfunkle

My Music Monday

Today is not part of any theme. Just a song called "Independence Day".

As Neil Finn isn't from the U.S., this song has absolutely zero to do with July 4th, as we in America see it. 

Saw it.  Past tense. 

That women can still drive here or allowed to have bank accounts anymore is beyond me. Not to worry, they're already in the process of taking care to not letting black or brown people be allowed to vote. Or breathe.

Still, I love Finn's last solo disk, Out of Silence, from 2017. All songs were recorded live - and live streamed on Facebook (!) - as the band, strings and backing vocalists  performed. For a bit, most Fridays you could tune in to watch the album being made real-time. 

The tie in for today is really just the title, even if there is no attachment to the day. It's a good song, but not nearly one of the top 5 on the disk. But Finn is a great writer, if I say so myself. 

Walk Right In

The destruction of this country has left me no time to post anything good. So I am two weeks late in this - as it has been pointed out to me by at least one of my friends. 

As you know (or should), I have weekly calls with my closest friends. Call. Singular. But we're all on it. Usually all of us. This has gone on since a month into the pandemic and continues to this day.  

They are Zoom calls and usually last 60 minutes or two drinks, whichever comes first. Truth be told, if Blobby is having wine, I can put away more than two in 60 minutes. Mostly in these dark times, we still find a way for a laugh or 12. 

But two of the Columbus-ites, are in new houses and well, I wanted to see them. While I can't say we 'forced' a housewarming party for them, we did arrange a time for four of the five to come down in June. The fifth, Jon, lives out of state and naturally harder to get to Ohio. 

Dates set, then Jon and I - mostly Jon - conspired to get him up for the weekend. The five of us hadn't been together since my 50th, and even the four of us, it's been well before the pandemic. Three of us got together in early summer 2019 and a different combination of the three made it in May 2021. 

Jon and I met in Columbus the day before. The plan was to surprise, but you know, things get fucked up (Becky!), and we broke it into two minor surprises. Both worked well.  People were thrilled that Jon showed up - and tolerated that I had. 

Fair enough. 

The weekend coincided with Columbus' Pride, but we opted not to go. Actually, I told Morty I shan't be going to that event. That one is great, but it draws up to 500,000 (!!!!) people.  I don't like people that much, let alone that many of them. At once And in one place. And you know - Covid. Superspreader event x 1,093.  As it turns out, no one else wanted to go either. 

The plan was to basically sit at Morty's catch-up and drink. Not necessarily in that order. 

I could say we were a modern day salon or Algonquin Round Table.  

I could say it. But I could say a lot of things. 

And in today's environment, it wouldn't necessarily be untrue. 

I'm sure we discussed current events and our distress at them - and this was before some of the SCOTUS rulings about which I've been writing. And while we have had some time to talk of the past, a lot of time was spent on the present. 

When you've all been friends for ~34 years, and you're all still alive, the topic of age and aging comes up. Honestly, more than I'd like it to, but you know, it's reality of our time and situation. 

No one makes me laugh more than these four others. And many were had, one where I had a hard time stopping and the joke was at my expense. 

I won't lie. Drinking was involved. I believe Morty has a case of wine owed to him - and that's just my share. It started with beer. I even alternated with water. Until I didn't. 

I may - or may not - have walked through Morty and George's screen door.  (psssst......I totally did.)

*

Laughing was had by all. At my expense. Again. Different than the last one. At least Morty asked if I was ok................10 minutes later!  I was. My big ol' nose smarted on the left side a bit, and my pride was mortally wounded, but other than that.............fine.  

....and then we broke open the rosé .......because we finished all the white. Not that just they had, I mean ALL the white. 

And in the light of day (see top pic), apparently my knee went through it too. 

Oddly enough, the next morning I woke up slightly later than normal and with zero hangover. It was like old times with these guys, except now I have no hair and am about 60 lbs heavier than I was "then". 

We all hung out for most of Sunday too. I was the first to go, as Jon wasn't leaving until the next day, but I had work - and had a 2.5 hour drive home. 

We made a promise to do this yearly, and I hope we can. A nine year gap is far too long in between, especially at our advanced age. 

I am glad we did this before the abortion, EPA and gun relaxation rulings. It would have made for a far more sour weekend. And then someone would have had to go buy more wine. 

I had not been this happy in months, so it was all worth it.  Except for the screen. That needs to be rectified. 

* this is a reenactment 

Song by: Dr Hook

Swimming

I'm tired of saying it was a tough week, but it was. Work and SCOTUS have been kicking my ass.  ...and not in that good way.  Dogs and Cats make it better. 

We made our first 2022 visit to Bow Wow Beach. 

Bailey (and my sister) were waiting for us. Bailey hasn't seen Shep since December 2021. She never left his side. 

Soph's evening hang-out. 

We certainly got ourselves non-water, water dog. 

There isn't a body of water he won't try to go into......and usually succeeds. 

When we picnic during the weekends, Shep gets a dog-bagel. 

So refined. 

Sound up. 

This went on for-ever. 

Song by: Florence + the Machine

Silent House

The raping of America continues. 

Restrictions on the EPA being the newest one. I don't have kids with whom to leave this planet, so, I guess I wouldn't have to care, but I do. People (read: corporations) are selfish for selfish sake. Period.  That is the entire story. The entire rationale.  If it costs $0.08 more the make something better, cleaner, more responsible, they won't have it.  Period.  End of story. 

So, change in climate change will happen, but not in the reverse, which should be the case. Nope. Not happening. 

With abortion rights, gun laws relaxed and such, and now the EPA stance, one of the other items that kind of got buried: Miranda Rights. 

You know - that whole: "you have the right to remain silent" thing?  You've seen Mannix, McCloud, Mod Squad, Policewoman and Cagney & Lacey - so I know you can repeat the right word for word.  I also might need to start watching more timely police shows for more modern references. 

in Vega v. Tekoh, SCOTUS backtracked substantially on its Miranda promise. In Vega, the court held 6-3 hat an individual who is denied Miranda warnings and whose compelled statements are introduced against them in a criminal trial cannot sue the police officer who violated their rights, even where a criminal jury finds them not guilty of any crime.

Your first reaction is: ok, so you can't sue the police for not Mirandizing you.  But let's think that through - shall we?

No Miranda. No right. So extracting a false confession out of someone, without your right to a lawyer, you get railroaded, up to and including the death penalty - and there are no consequences. 

Tekoh was not given a lawyer when asked. Miranda wasn't read; so his request wasn't really a requirement. He was threatened with his families deportation and physical violence.  Now Miranda wouldn't really stop the last two things, but if he had legal representation who was there, they also might not have happened. 

It's just fucked up. Miranda was around longer than Roe........so we go back yet another decade in our rights. 

We keep saying with Roe we are back to the 70s, but we're really in the 60s with Miranda. Of course, there is chatter about same-sex marriage being on the GOP agenda, but minorities better be thinking about the 1964 Civil Rights Act.    Tick Tick Tick......with this court.  

Of course, they're already chipping away at that with voter registration laws. 

I'd say it's a slippery slope, but at this point we are hanging off the edge of the cliff by our fingernails. 

Song by: the Chicks

Shock the Monkey

Great. The CDC says they will have 300,000 doses of a vaccine ready in the next few week to combat Monkeypox. 

Monkeypox. 

It's been a thing for like eight weeks, only 300 cases reported in the U.S.  No deaths.  And yet, "they" already have something to inject into you. 

I'm not an anti-vaxx'r, but c'mon.  We are on year 40 (!!) of HIV, and we got nothin'. Substantially more cases and deaths. And a fuck of a lot more time to develop something.  ANYTHING. 

As you might expect, it's a two-shot thing. So.......yay. 

Most of use are not eligible. 

The vaccine will now be given to people with confirmed and presumed monkeypox exposure. That includes "those who had close physical contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox, those who know their sexual partner was diagnosed with monkeypox, and men who have sex with men who have recently had multiple sex partners in a venue where there was known to be monkeypox or in an area where monkeypox is spreading," 

Seriously. 

Let's do the math - shall we?   

300 known U.S. cases.  300,000 doses. And the parameters. Even at two does per person, are there 150,000 folks to whom they could even give this?  Yeah yeah yeah - I get it:  "...... and men who have sex with men who have recently had multiple sex partners in a venue where there was known to be monkeypox". 

I don't know this place / these places. And that would be a LOT of 'multiple partners'...............I've heard. 

As it turns out - currently, I don't qualify.  Right??:  I know!  But as you can see by my pic, I at least stand in support of those who do. 

Song by: Peter Gabriel

Record of the Month

I figured I'd do a monthly 'what I'm listening to' kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it's my blog! So there!

These may or may not be newly released disks. They might not even be a good disk - just what is been in heavy rotation in my car (as usually the iPod is playing anywhere else).   

Lately, my 'shuffle' seems to be mostly about the Black Keys.  I'm not complaining. 

Working out is where I hear the most music these days. 70-100 minutes per day of music passing through the phone of i. 

During this pandemic, the Black Keys have been fairly prolific. Three albums in as many years, though their last one was of other folk's blues material. Their newest is Dropout Boogie. 

The Keys have been knowing for merging Southern rock and the blues. They don't stray from what they know here. It's more of the same - some of it good, some of it fair, some I don't need to revisit. That trait would be different than El Camino or Let's Rock. I continually went (and go) back to those recordings. 

I'd say most of their disks have 1-2 radio friendly "hits" and Boogie is no exception. The first two tracks are unsurprisingly the album's first two releases:  "Wild Child" and "It Ain't Over".  But unless you're my iPhone, you're not really going to hear them on radio - satellite or terrestrial - played to death. 

They are good songs, but there are others. The off-beat "Your Team is Looking Good" and the closer "Didn't I Love You". 

The rest of the sons are serviceable and fine, but 34 minutes of music is a little skimpy. But again - three albums in as many years. Material might be dwindling. And Billy Gibbons from ZZTop doesn't make that big of impression with me. I get he's a good guitarist, but so is the Keys' Dan Auerbach.

Unlike some Keys songs / albums, I will put them on to listen. Boogie comes on while I'm lifting or doing cardio and it is fine. It helps me power through, but I'm not necessarily pulling it back just to play. Again, none of  it bad, but most of it done before. 

App of the Month

Actually this is an app for you NOT to get.  Well, Apps........plural. 

.....and this applies really only to my child bearing years female readers.  You know - probably none of you. Still, it's not bad information to pass along. 

While clearly not in my wheelhouse, or anywhere on my would-be radar, there are any number of apps that will track a woman's cycle - be it for her period or fertile friendly days. 

You can assume one uses them when they want to know when Aunt Flo might be stopping by for a visit.  Some probably do want the stork to stop by, and are gauging that. 

In the past, I've always assumed that whomever can track your phone usage. I just never cared. My thought if they want to see my browser and app history, that's on them on what may or may not shock them. Or bore them. If I shock or bore them to death - either way I win. 

However, in light of recent SCOTUS events, well......and the U.S. becoming more and more of a police state and Germany circa 1932-39; it probably pays to take a few steps to slow them down. 

Women of child-bearing years, who are tracking their cycle should probably delete any of the period tracking apps - and there are many.   Clue. Flo. Eve by Glow. My Flo. Cycles.   The list keeps going. 

Still, if any state is imposing fines for NOT having a child - yes, Texas, I'm looking at you......and I'm sure many to follow......it's probably best you delete those fucking apps and go back to a paper calendar hanging in your office cube with red X's through certain days of the month. 

When SCOTUS and Congress want to control a woman's body and choice, trust me, they seem to be all in, which means you will all be out. 

You can call it paranoia, but these motherfuckers are playing hardball.  

My Music Monday

Music by which to run.  'Tis the theme. 

Thanks to 12 of 12, I only have three entries this month. I suppose I could extend the theme into next month but add "new music" to that too. We shall see. 

One of my go-to songs when running is "Stuck in My Car" from the Go-Go's much ignored last full-length album, 2001's G-d Bless the Go-Gos. 

The song has a good and up beat. It's not for warm-up or a cool down, but for the full-on gait. I don't play it every day, but probably twice per week. 

There are actually a few good songs from this disk for exercise time, but running, "Stuck in My Car" is the best. 

Erase and Rewind

I knew the abortion ruling was coming.  We all did. We knew what the ruling would be - and yet, I took it like a punch to the gut. 

The relaxed gun shit was a bit of a surprise too.  So the week for many of us wasn't great. We are living in the wild west - guns and where women's rights are dependent on white men. 

I will admit, I don't have fully formed thoughts on a lot of this. That gut punch knocked the proverbial wind right out of me. The decision announcement to drafting this has only been 36 hours too. 

Chatter on the intertubes has me up in arms - on all sides I might add. Mind you, I don't know a lot of pro-lifers, or they have the common decency not to say anything to, or around, me.  I stopped self-inflicing wounds by really not looking much at things like Faeebook.  

But butthole politicians are having the nerve to use my phone number to text me: Nancy Fucking Pelosi texting me for $$$ to fight this. 

Sorry you stupid twat, that fight is O-V-E-R. And guess what, it's over for my life time.  It took 50 years to overturn Roe v Wade. Do the math on these asshole judges sitting on that bench and anything that comes before them in their lifetime term.  Oh - and 2024?  Welcome to another republican president who will appoint more republican judges. 

Seriously Nancy - what the fuck are you going to do with the $20 you're asking from me? Building a time machine, are we? 

This was my response to "her":

I knew it was a bot, and I knew no one was actually reading it. But for a nanosecond, it made me feel better. 

I also got one from Ohio's wanna be a senator, pretty much asking for the same thing, but to defeat his wanna be rival.  I feel forced to vote for Tim Ryan in the fall, but honestly, he I believe he will be Joe Manchin II.  His current ads tout how often he agreed with BLOTUS.  I get he's trying to sway fringe righters, but he's alienating me.................big time. One of his sayings is roughly, "I don't represent ANY party".   Clearly.  So - then why should I give you my money? 

Of course, the second sting is from Clarence Fucking Thomas' written decision show way above. He's coming for contraception and same-sex marriage. 

I am fighting making this post about the potential dissolution of my marriage. Don't get me started on a threat to a woman's right to contraception and the pro-life shit. I get they don't see the irony in it, but it is a fucking dangerous irony. 

What they do get is that while saying no to abortion is not saying yes to the child.......after it's born. There will be no affordable housing for the working class (or impoverished) who are forced to have children.No one in this congress is increasing funding for WIC or food or heat for the families of these kids. Schools will not be funded for sex education and contraception (see C. Thomas reference two paragraphs above.

There will be no one picking these kids out for adoption or fostering - which are roughly 100,000 a year for adoption (and that's just US kids, not foreign ones) and the 424,000-672,000 children in the foster care system - depending on the year. 

The social services are not the GOP strong suit. 

The church is loving this though. An endless supply of pre-teen hole for all the priests!

When I say it's too late for Roe v Wade - and it is - it doesn't mean people should stop fighting this. All of it. Each of these things will get peeled away. In theory this could really jack up the mid-terms, but those are months away and we have a strong history of short term memory issues. 

But we are going to have to fight for gay marriage (again), voting rights and no doubt civil rights. More than half the justices lied when they said "Roe is settled law".  Maybe a few follow-up questions would have been prudent. 

So there is no reason to believe other laws in the books are not about to targeted. 

Welcome to the new reality.  

Song by: the Cardigans

Poses

Well, SCOTUS made sure it was. shitty end to a shitty week.  I'll need 48 hours to even think clearly, should I choose to blog about it.   Until then.........cats and dog. 

Shep even looks like a goof. 

She's just hanging - like usual. 

After school pick-up for Dr. Tongue. 

One of Becky's cats. 

She busted into my private time in the bathroom.  She got ear scratches. I got purrs. 

He really should have a modeling career. 

Top of the landing. No one gets past without approval. 

Song by: Rufus Wainwright

Yes, We Have No Bananas

I am exhausted. And I have nothing planned or drafted. 

This the blog version of a 'snow day' for you. 

Count on Me

Inadvertently, I caught snippets of news yesterday. Luckily, it was bad news with a slight bow. 

Well, some of it. 

This insurance guy / agency in Maine who wasn't even passive-aggressive when it comes to his / their racism. 

I get he probably isn't technically employed by Progressive, but they should be cutting ties with him, and would expect that any day now.  I hope. 

On the better news pieces - both revolve around the insurrection of January 2021. 

g-d love the election guy from Georgia (attorney general?) who would not budge and countered each of BLOTUS & Co's lies about election fraud. Of course, BLOTUS lovers broke into his house and threatened his family. But he stuck to his guns - and then testified in Congress about it. 

And then, the British documentary crew who was with BLOTUS & Co on the Ellipse - hearing, seeing and FILMING everything. And that this investigative committee got unaired, unedited footage of these file, law-breaking people.  And I LOVE how the BLOTUS & Co are collectively shitting their pants over this, as his legal team seems to be blindsided.  

Perfection. 

....which is more than you can say about the lying dirtbag of one of the Dakotas (does it really matter which one? I mean, IS there a difference.........really?) who was driving, hit, killed a guy, skipped and lied (because you want a lying legal head of your state government).  I mean, allegedly, the guy's glasses were in the accused's car, either because he picked them up or because the guy's face went through the windshield.  Oh - and he thought he hit a deer.  ......who wears glasses.  

Anyhoo - he was impeached and barred from holding office again.  At least in that state.  A GOP sentator thinks the guy didn't meet criteria for impeachment.  I'm not sure what that threshold would be with this party.  Look at January 6th - there is no criteria for impeachment, even if it's orchestrating a coup. 

Song by: Jefferson Starship