Life Rolls On in Day by Day

Social: We went out to eat at the Oyster Bar last night, meeting up with old friends we’d not seen in quite a while. It was a nice visit (loved my Cajun oyster po’ boy and Lisa had high praise for the guacamole egg roll, the men went for grouper sandwiches), but it was noisy and only got louder when the band started playing, so conversation was difficult.

We usually don’t eat out much during season and the Key was PACKED, no surprise during the month of February. I went to high school with John, so we reminisced about the Key in the old days, when the Sandal Hut was the 7-11 and the Wildflower restaurant was next door and Foxy Lady boutique was on the corner. The brick sidewalks are quite wide now to accommodate the crowd of tourists. It resembled a mini-Las Vegas, only the crowd size was smaller, the neon lights were seaside motifs instead of rocking cowboys, and the blaring music was island-themed rather than the bells and whistles of slot machines. No seediness here, no barren humanity, either, but plenty of drinking!

John caught us up to date on his classic cars (going strong) and their daughter (she’s not talking to him because she’s a millennial and knows everything and doesn’t need his advice…wallet, yes, advice, no) and Lisa and I talked about my non-profit and her work with at-risk kids. My husband mostly listened, as he usually does, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the visit. We’ve promised each other to go antiquing soon, but considering our schedules, that might takes months!

Work: Got screamed at last Friday at 5 PM. We’re being blamed because the permit was delayed by the town they live in. The customer is a friend and I did not appreciate her condescending tone. When I talked to the husband, he said he got the same runaround trying to put up a fence so he called a county commissioner and got his permit the next day. So how come they didn’t help this along? The town insisted on architectural drawings, stamped by an engineer, something the larger town WE live in does not require that (this is enclosing a carport to make a garage…a simple job). Is it our fault that their town has extra rules that you only find out about after submitting the permit? Our friends think the architect and engineer took a long time.

Uh, yeah. These guys work on large projects. They’re doing this little tiny job as a favor to my son. So guess how I feel when my friend says in a snotty tone, “I will NOT recommend him to my friends.”? Good. DON’T. My son does commercial work. They asked my husband to do the job. My son was doing the permit as a favor to us. We bid this job at near cost, because, hey, friends get breaks, right? No good deed goes unpunished!

Non-Profit: The non-profit is really taking off. I attended the orientation (after jumping through numerous hoops to get there) and am in the process of filling in over 13 pages of data. I’m about 98% complete (it’s due March 1st). Once completed, we will be eligible to participate in the matching funds drive in the fall and since the profile stays up all year, we also have the chance of catching the eye of various foundations and philanthropists who look for worthy causes to fund. We are also developing a lead with one of the United Way directors, so that’s another funding/additional volunteer avenue.

I’m learning a lot, from filing government paperwork, to running the program in an effective way. While there are many area charities that address issues such as housing and drug addiction, what is setting us apart is our focus on a particular age group (18-35) and that we focus on restoring hope before it’s lost. The downside is that I’m spending around 30 hours a week on it (with no pay), but the upside is I’m loving every grueling second of it.

Weather: We’ve had a week of gloomy, chilly weather, but the coming week should be lovely. Our nephew is coming for a visit, so I know he’ll be happy. Then again, if I lived in Indiana, ANY weather in Florida would be better than what I came from!

The funeral: Claudia’s memorial went very well. The family had piled her numerous hats on a table and anyone who wanted to could take a hat to wear. Several of us did, including the men! I hesitated (I prefer not to wear other people’s hats, but Claudia was a clean woman, so I caved), but finally chose a jaunty little number. Claudia’s head was bigger than mine is, so it didn’t fit well, but I figure I never have to wear it again. The eclairs were a big hit, but I made far too many. Those taking pans home were not complaining. The catered meal was good, but I would have arranged the chocolate covered strawberries in an attractive pattern. They just put on plastic gloves, grabbed them by the handful, and DUMPED them on the platter.

Politics: Trump continues to overstep his boundaries, meddling in judicial matters as if our checks and balances are not mandatory! I’ve never seen a president so thin-skinned, so obtuse, and so self-involved. His announcement of an upcoming announcement for a Supreme Court judge was right out of the reality show playbook. He is openly corrupt, he is in bed with the commies, and he’s probably set the next world war in motion. His needling of our Mexican neighbors is shameful. His disrespect for the military is downright dangerous. And comparing America to Russia is obscene! Putin is a murderer.

The Tea Partiers, who obviously never studied history (or slept through their classes dealing with Problems in American Democracy) since we’re repeating it, have caused this pain upon our nation. I cannot believe that Christians are not outraged that he asked for people to pray to GOD for better ratings! I very much doubt God concerns himself with television ratings or who wins the Super Bowl or if I hit Lotto, but, hey, that’s just my best guess based on what I’ve read in my Bible.

Jesus instructed us to care for the widows and orphans, Trump sends them packing back to the war-ravaged country they’re trying to escape. Jesus instructed his followers to care for the sick, Trump destroys our health care system and puts nothing in its place. Jesus instructed us to respect our elders, Trump cuts Social Security and Medicare. Jesus instructed us to remain morally clean, Trump is guilty of infidelity at LEAST twice! And it is “SECOND Corinthians”, not “TWO Corinthians” and the sacrament is not “the little wine and the little cracker”.

It sickens me to see American values crushed under his self-serving heel. Shall we remove the poem from the Statue of Liberty? Toss Articles of Confederation? The Constitution? The Bill of Rights?

Will we survive as a country? I have serious doubt, as I watch global trade, environmental concerns, and financial mismanagement (already!) go down the tubes. Strong civilizations have imploded before…the Roman Empire comes to mind.

It’s the voters who are already poor that gall me most. I can understand rich Tea Partiers doing this…it only benefits them and if you are selfish, that’s the way you act. But the poor who voted for him? Are they REALLY dumb enough to think he’s gonna make their income better?

Apparently so, and that is their right as an American, but I don’t care to talk to them anymore. They closed their minds and hearts, so I return the favor to them. Ain’t nothing gonna trickle down to their pockets. It didn’t before and it won’t now. I feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole and Trump is the crazy Queen of Hearts.

My step-brother is a partner in a Boston law firm. He said there was an office meeting and the staff and other lawyers insisted the meeting last one hour or less so they could join the protest march at the Boston Common. Tea Partiers tell themselves it’ll go away. Just as the Vietnam War ended after heavy pressure from the American people, Trump’s overstepping will wilt under heavy pressure, as well.

Family: The nephew that was with Nick when he died is coming down this week and will stay with us for a couple of nights. I share a deeper bond with him because of what happened. I love him all the more because he cared enough to try. We are both left feeling helpless, wishing we’d been able to save him. My snowbird uncle is back, as well (different side of the family). I’m trying to decide if I have enough energy to do a huge family supper night.

Church: we’re allowing a community festival on the church grounds and holy cow, you’d think we were committing murder with some of the accusations being hurled. Remember, this is NOT a church-based festival. It IS being held on church grounds and when other churches learned that there will be booths being run by atheists and Buddhists and LGBTQ, the extreme fundamentalists went nuts. THEN they learned we’re allowing a beer and wine truck (along with food trucks), and they went bonkers. Mind you, these aren’t people who even GO to our church. But they ARE calling the church office accusing us of pagan worship (there will be a drum circle there and apparently they think it is pagan worship).

This is a COMMUNITY festival, no different from the seafood festival or the Blues Fest, which most of them attend and look the other way when they pass the beer truck. It is OUR church grounds, not theirs. If we want to embrace groups that are oftentimes ignored or persecuted, what concern is it of theirs?

I’ll be there. Our booth is promoting the non-profit. The festival encompasses 4 areas: social justice (where our booth will be), arts & crafts, music, and kids programs (which end before 5, when the beer truck opens). The booths are given free of charge. Drinking will be monitored and closed down immediately if it gets out of hand, and the music will be varied.

We’re trying to be members of the greater community, just as Jesus was. I think our critics need to hold their tongues. They’ve tried and convicted us before the event has even taken place AND they’re being disruptive with the phone bombs. If they don’t like the idea, they don’t need to come! I don’t go to their church and I don’t tie up their phone lines with nonsense accusations.

Writing: Let’s move on to a happier thought. I sent in the next two articles: one showcasing the non-profit, the other on Snook Haven. I think I posted it here before. If not, tell me and I will. I’d like to work on my manuscript, but there’s so much on my plate, I don’t think I’ll get to it for a while.

Remodel: It’s moving along, but slow, since my husband is fitting it in between jobs. The floor tiling will be finished tomorrow. I’m anxious to try out the new shower, but think I’ll have to buy a curtain. We’d wanted a walk-in, but I don’t think it is deep enough, by an inch or two. I don’t want a door because of mildew build-up. I’m still hoping that once I get in and try it out, I won’t need a curtain, but I’m doubtful.

Joke: Someone stole my mood ring. I don’t know how I feel about it.

I’m out!