"Don't Take the Bait!" - Troops in Portland

Saturday night seemed surreal: at home in my RV, switching channels, I saw Portland's Mayor Keith Wilson speaking, backed by a number of dignataries.  I stopped to listen.

(sic) "We read on social media that President Trump is sending troops in to Portland.  We didn't ask him, and we don't need them."

Senator Jeff Merkeley started speaking, (sic):  "Don't rise to the bait.  The President is depicting Portland like what we saw in LA in the '60s (my interpretation); and it's just not true.  They WANT us to react (negatively) in order to justify the troops being sent in the first place.  (Again), DON'T TAKE THE BAIT!"

I wasn't surprised - we all knew they'd come to our CRAZY RADICAL LEFTIST city, but still, it was a bit alarming to watch it begin; like waiting for a hurricane.  I wished I had someone sitting next to me to help process all this.

Gov. Tina Kotek immediately called the White House and finally was able to speak to the Man himself.  The morning news (local affiliate) reported Trump asked her (sic),

"Isn't it what my people have been describing to me?  Fires all over, riots...it isn't?  We'll talk more."  In other words, he'll continue to spew falsehoods.

There was a small demonstration last night at the ICE facility, where the troops are supposed to be deployed; but it wasn't violent and they went home early to bed.  I was glad to see that people were heeding, "Don't take the bait!"

But the crazies from out-of-state are still traveling to Portland; just as they do with any conflict between citizens and the authorities.  I suppose those are the 'Antifa' guys; disorganized and f__'d up in their dull lives, but able to come together to behave badly in matching outfits, like the KKK.

I always think back to eastern Oregon during the (second) standoff with the Bundys about cattle grazing on federal land.  Here's a brief bit about the ongoing lawlessness-in-the-West, which may make some people think twice befoe taking a roadtrip out here: A decade after armed standoff, the Bundys appear to be above the law.

What I remember most were the complaints from the locals about the influx of agitators in the guise of Patriots, and how disruptive they were in the lives of 'decent, God-fearing souls.'

It will take a little time for the out-of-towners to get here - they've first got to fill their pick-ups with yahoo-buddies; guns and ammo; and beer.  The last will delay their arrival.

So I have no doubt, unfortunately, that Trump will get what he wants; and if by some miracle he doesn't, he'll create the crisis he craves.

Our beautiful state, desicrated by the likes of Trump, Noem and Hegseth.  Blind followers of a power-crazed maniac who is systematically destroying the lives of public servants doing their jobs.

Or anyone speaking their mind.

Charlie Who?

...I asked when I first heard the news of the despicable assassination of Charlie Kirk.  I'm no longer young, nor do I engage in social media, so Charlie wasn't on my radar.  Like most of my generation, I flashed back to childhood assassinations: JFK, Malcolm X, MLK Jr, RFK and even the attempt on George Wallace.  I remember watching the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby in that hallway on Nov. 24, 1963.  It was the first time such a thing was seen on live TV.  I was 8.  At some point I stopped being shocked.

That does not mean I didn't feel profound sadness over Charlie Kirk's murder in Utah.  Now I think you'll agree that this is a dangerous time for people to speak their mind AND be on the wrong side of our current Administration; and I am also terribly despondent over the fact that I had to wrestle with the idea of writing anything at all about Charlie Kirk (CK).  This kind of 'moment' doesn't happen all the time - how can I remain silent?

But after hearing one newscaster note that for the week following the assassination, the stars of ABC's show, The View, which I've never watched, never uttered a word on-air, I considered the current atmosphere of fear in our nation.

Well, I don't want to live the rest of my life (or even the next 3 years) feeling fearful every time I open my laptop to type.  Not all of my friends agree with my views, nor do I expect them to.  By now they know me and my sarcasm, and it's easy enough not to read my blog.    I try not to offend fellow citizens personally, but I do poke fun and direct harsh words towards those who make decisions and influence policies for the rest of us.  That's my right.

Therefore, I will try to be the best Libran I can be and look into both sides enough to gain a general understanding of Charlie Kirk's legacy.  I don't have to have an opinion, that's my prerogative; and if I do, I'm allowed to change it - that's what freedom's about, and what I want to keep. But in the spirit of Full Disclosure, I'll begin by sharing what I've already heard from diametrically opposing views.

"He brought it on himself." Wow, that sounded scary.  The person did add they didn't think anyone should be shot for their views, but CK has said some alarming things, like women belong in the kitchen.  That POV didn't originate with him - it was Barefoot and Pregnant when I was young.

Backstage at the Antiques Roadshow: A Tale of Two Shoes

When I opened the email from Oregon Public Broadcasting, offering one last chance to volunteer at a taping of the Antiques Roadshow at the Lane Event Center in Eugene, I thought it was SPAM.  (Note: story from 2011.)  I’d done PBS telethons in Portland during the 90’s and signed up again when I returned to Oregon in 2010; but I'd moved closer to Ashland so thought that was that.

This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime-opportunities and I wasn’t about to pass it up, despite being a starving artist.  I’d get there somehow. I, 'Yes, please'd immediately and received my handbook, release form and a map of the fairgrounds.  Mandatory volunteer orientation would be Friday evening, with Saturday's shift beginning at 6:30am and running all day.  The taping would be divided between 3 shows.  Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed inside during filming.

Volunteers would be allowed two items for appraisal.  I didn't have anything in my 16' trailer, so I asked Sis in N.J. to mail some of my stored jewelry and a Mizlou Sports poster from Dad’s old advertising business, slightly tattered. We’d be fed and given a blue polo shirt to wear and keep.  Comfortable shoes popped up in every communiqué:  "It’s going to be a long, but fun day."

I (was) 55 and in pretty good shape, but during the 12 years I was absent from Oregon I lived on my boat in Puerto Rico and shoes hurt my feet.  The starving artist reference is not just a joke; I was trying to accumulate enough to drive back & forth to Eugene (3 hrs one way) and hopefully a room for one night.  Buying shoes wasn’t in the budget, but Wednesdays are Senior’s Day at the local Goodwill so I decided to take a peek. 

1995

A brand new pair of white canvas Keds, no laces and a size-and-a-half too large, felt great for $2.99 minus 20%.  Plain shoelaces brought the total close to a gallon of gas, but as luck would have it, the afternoon’s mail brought an unexpected, “I know you’d do the same,” with a check from a friend in Washington who was unable to meet me in Eugene.  Bless her heart, the heat was off.  I stared at my sneakers.

I knew that once a spot got on my nice clean shoes it would make me nuts, so I considered how to 'mask' any stains or scuff marks.

White canvas screams for decoration; so why not paint Roadshow icons for different categories, and maybe leave space for some signatures?

It didn’t take me long to dive into the project, and once I added the beads to the laces on Friday morning, they were finished.

Just Ask the Secretary

 

I'm tired of the Epstein mess, too.  By now this isn't a matter of which side, Republican or Democratic, finally decided to DO something about the predator, but more about watching our President squirm his way out of his lies.

I don't believe Donald penned the note or drew the doodle.  Why not?  Because, based on personal observations from that time period (and surely today, too), no 'boss' would have put that together on his own - he'd have shifted it to his Secretary or Assistant to prepare; based on, perhaps, his guidelines or notes.

I'm an artist, but I doubt I could have drawn the woman's outline as symmetrically as it looks.  In my old company, whose owners were as sleezy as Jeffrey (the stories I could tell!), the Secretary would have gone down to the Art Department for one of the guys to draw the outline.  Then, if (she) couldn't do it herself, yet another person would have inserted the typed words - in just the right position to fit in the sketch.

Whether or not Trump signed it, he surely would have APPROVED of its insertion in the book.  No assistant would make that sort of unilateral decision if (she) wanted to keep (her) job; not to mention asking the obvious:  Could our President really have accomplished all that by himself?

Did he sign it?  Don't screem FORGERY without showing differences in curvature, letter-leanings and then similarities.  But hell, cursive isn't taught anymore, so how could most people tell the difference?  

Listen hard to their suggestive words denying the deed:  "HE didn't draw or write it."  You see how that can be true and not-really.  And they've twisted the "That's NOT the way he signs things."  Haven't we all seen enough TV where signatures have been compared?  Look at the FORCE used in those signatures for proof, if you don't believe the distinctive up-down with the Sharpie.  I've tried forging signatures - my parent's for a school note; my husband's if he wasn't available.  It's not that easy.

But the birthday book looks damned close, considering it would have been the first time Trump's forged signature was attempted; or was it?  Maybe someone else was signing all kinds of documents for him.  I was told plenty of times, 'Go ahead and sign it' when my boss was out of the office.

Consider:  what if someone else WAS pretty good at forging his signature to the extent that Trump passed off a portion of his inane correspondence, or something which might possibly incriminate him?  That would certainly explain why, if there ARE two distinct signatures from that time frame, we see others like this one, and some which are like his current signature.  I think that's a pretty good possibility.

I don't like him, but I don't think Trump engaged in pedophilia.  He seems to prefer more developed anatomies; plus he's got daughters - not necessarily a deterrent, but it would have at least given him pause, one would hope.  Epstein seems to have had no one but who?  His Assistant Ghislaine.

I suspect that was pretty much their relationship after he tired of her sexually; although she can, now that Jeffrey's dead, portray their relationship any way she chooses.  Again, I saw that in my old company in Manhattan (and Yes, I told Sis everything, every night on the hour-long bus ride home.  She was simultaneously amused and appalled.)

Owner Mike kept his Secretary/Lover, Susie, close by for decades.  Susie remained single and infatuated with Mike; and who, over the years, became complicent in Mike's sleezy, behavior: using-then-tossing some young Receptionist or other.  Ghislaine (likely) arranged Jeffrey's calendar, made travel arrangements, went to the bank, forged his signature when necessary - so my original point still stands:

ASK TRUMP'S THEN-SECRETARY OR PERSONAL ASSISTANT about the Birthday Book.  If not bound by any non-disclosure agreement, (as I witnessed; accompanied by a nice fat check), I'd bet (they've) got lots to say,  Office workers gossip, period.  

Go talk to THEM.

A Few Thoughts

Manager Rhonda recently forwarded this cartoon - said she immediately thought of me, she knows me pretty well by now.  Here goes:  Everyone I've spoken to has said they avoid the news, either entirely or for several days, to save their sanity, myself included.  That works for a bit, but then I've got to say something about some things.

I feel very badly for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, et al, who bravely went to Washington to represent their masses; knowing full well the abuse they would receive.  It's not their fault that our wishy-washy President flipped his view on releasing the documents.  Why doesn't he Sharpie-sign an approval already? 

Based on the law of averages, I'm wondering how many girls Epstein attempted to accost but who managed to escape the predator?  I'll ask you women:  how many times have YOU had some jerk grab a handful, or suggested a benign encounter which turned ugly?  JE couldn't have gotten lucky with EVERY child or young woman he tried to f__k - where are they, and why aren't they speaking out?

Fear.  That's what's gripping our nation everywhere - fear of one bully?  What the hell happened to people's resolve?  What if this was your daughter, sister or by-now mother?  Unfortunately, in general the status of women is deteriorating, and I've heard more than one man express their sorrow at what's happening to the rights of women.

I hope Ghislaine receives the same treatment child molesters receive in regular lockups; that would be fair, no?  If it wasn't for her father Robert, Ghislaine would likely not have been in such high society, and she's counting on her snooty friends to help get her off. She did nothing, knew nothing, could only praise our President's gentlemanly behavior, Pa-LEEZE!  And now they're claiming Trump was an FBI informant?  Where's that bridge?

Origami 101, and Other Things

You may recall from my cruise last year that I participated in two Origami sessions on the ship, and I was hooked.  Regardless of my gnarly fingers, I was able to manipulate the paper to create several incarnations, particularly pleased with my Frog, a good luck symbol for travelers.

So when, months ago, Manager Rhonda was jotting down ideas for activities for the park's 25th Anniversary in August, I volunteered to teach an Origami class.

"I didn't know you knew Origami," hairdresser Katy exclaimed.

"I don't - but we all learned those paper-folding-finger-things in grade school (remember?), so how hard can it be to teach?"

I generally leap before looking, so this wasn't an unusual action for me.  Whenever I'm teaching myself something new I generally purchase more supplies than necessary because I hate discovering mid-stream I'm missing something.  I did the same thing with the Origami.

Over the months I ordered a half-dozen types of paper, a couple of books and got crackin' until I had my supplies and 'lesson plan' together.  Spoiler:  the class was well attended, and a good time was had by all.

But in the meantime, I also agreed to make Cake Pops for the dessert buffet, paint some signs for the park and learn new Ukulele tunes for the staff meeting.  Definitely learned a lesson:  Sure, I'll get everything done, but at 69 why should I overextend myself like that?  Nobody really expects anything out of people my age anymore anyway.

I only have to do this ONCE, a statement I remind myself whenever I'm tackling something difficult, unusual, or just a pain in the ass.

First came Ukulele Time, I can't figure out how to upload the video; but I performed, "On Top of Spaghetti" for my co-workers, who cheerfully joined in.  I'm developing a repertoire, should I need to perform on the street some day.

I also played a bit of, "Tiptoe Through the Tulips," a special request from Bill, that was fun, too, even without mimicking Tiny Tim's falsetto voice.