All the news that fits to print—or is it?

 

Watching the nightly news on TV or reading your morning paper can be disheartening. The world, clearly, is in a mess. The former president’s outrageous behavior at his current federal trial dominates the news, but Iran and Israel sniping at each other is a close second. I don’t understand why the media refer to Iran’s “unprecedented” attack on Israel. Didn’t Israel start it by taking out a consulate and killing several of Iran’s leading either diplomats or generals. That seems a bit of provocation to me. And whoever is at fault first, their conflict could escalate tensions in the Middle East. And then we read that famine is about to be declared in Gaza where half the citizens are in danger of starvation—where does starvation legally become famine? Is there some kind of line of statistic? Ukraine desperately needs tangible support—including arms and ammunition—from  the US but the MAGA caucus in the House seems to support Russia’s position in annexing Ukraine. They have voted against several bipartisan foreign aid bills, and hotheads like MTG are calling for us to withdraw from NATO—shortsighted if not outright stupid. Speaker Mike Johnson’s position is in jeopardy, but his removal could once again throw the House into confusion. So far they have accomplished less than any other House in any term.

Closer to home, some conservative states continue to pass draconian anti-abortion laws and voter suppression measures. Inflation continues, but few will believe that it is not government-inspired but due to greedy corporations that are making extraordinary profits. The disaster clock, driven by climate change, continues to click dangerously close to doom for the earth, and yet many don’t believe that either. We are told that if trump wins he November election, he will “Drill, baby, drill” and roll back all climate regulations. The southern border continues to be a mess, with MAGA folk blaming the increase in crossings on Biden, who is supposedly rubbing his hands with glee (please note not all immigrants are illegal—most have legal status pending asylum hearings—the only illegals are those that sneak across the border instead of crossing at checkpoints). Yet the House refused to support a bipartisan immigration reform bill.

Occasionally, the news is more puzzling than frightening. I read that Russian hackers have attacked the water tower in Muleshoe, Texas. Muleshoe is a town of about 5,000 out near Lubbock. Why in heaven’s name would Russian hackers be interested in its water tower? Did their girls basketball team just win a championship? Is Muleshoe the home of a hidden, secret spy group for the US.? Is there something special about the water tower. I’m sorry for the discomfort to Muleshoe’s citizens, but that almost made me laugh aloud. Most of the news does not do that.

So how can anyone, with all this and more, be an optimist? I can be and am. This morning I read a post by an author I know who said every morning she resolves to look for one occasion of joy in the world. As I look out my desk window, I look at those wonderful yellow wildflowers I posted about yesterday. Now they are about to be hidden by the oak leaf hydrangea growing tall and laden with blooms right by my window. Trite to begin with flowers, I know, but they truly do give me joy every time I look out the window at them.

But there are bigger victories: a panel of the 5^th court of appeals has refused to lift an earlier court order that bars Texas from enforcing a ridiculous book law that would have required every vendor to check every page of every book for explicitly sexual images and references before selling to a school district—this would have put many small vendors out of business, besides reinforcing our states already ridiculous book banning laws. A victory for reason.

A new federal order allows the Bureau of Land Management to protect 4200 acres of tribal-owned land from drilling and mining for the next 50 years—a huge victory for conservation. More college loans have been forgiven—not the principal but the outrageous interest rates which had people paying long after they repaid the principal. The economy is on track to best China’s economy for the first time in years, and unemployment has remained at a record-setting low for 50 years.

See? My wildflowers look pretty good. And there’s reason for joy in the world. Now I’ve got another reason—leftover meatloaf and I’m going to go ea my supper. Please remember to look for the joy in your life. It occurs to me that in focusing on national and international things, I have forgotten to mention the joy I get daily from family and friends. Never discount that.

 

A lovely memory and lazy leftovers

 

Would you believe I wrote this blog, went to save it, and lost it? The post was mostly inspired by this picture that popped up on my computer this morning. Now I consider it a challenge to see how much I can recover from memory. Here goes: fifteen years ago, my grands were dedicated at my home church, University Christian in Fort Worth. We had the ceremony in the chapel, not before the congregation, because not all of my children belong to this church. The picture was taken right afterward. Maddie the oldest, is holding Kegan, the youngest. Kegan was then all of three weeks old. Jacob, to my left, was intrigued by this thing called a baby and desperate to get at it. I had my arm firmly around him. To Maddie’s left, Sawyer and Eden seem oblivious to whatever was going on. In my lap is Ford, who was about eight months old and had a dump in his diaper—I handed him to his mom as soon as the picture was done. To my right is Morgan who kept creeping away as though she wanted to pretend she had never seen any of us. They are all now grown or well on the way there. Maddie is twenty-three, Kegan fifteen, and they are all still wonderful. After this ceremony, we had a porch party, of course—a brunch buffet. Such good memories.

I decided today that the day after a party is meant for slow moving. It didn’t help my focus or ambition that Zenaida was here cleaning the cottage, and I could be easily distracted by talking to her. I kept up with emails, read some political articles online, wrote just a bit, and piddled, this afternoon spending a lot of time looking for a recipe I’ve lost and never did find.

It was also a leftover day. Yesterday, despite the party looming in the evening, I had a lunch of leftover salmon, marinated cucumber, guacamole, and some squash and sweet onion I’d sauteed—the squash/onion combination is my new summer favorite. I consider it a blessing when I open my fridge and see leftovers. My neighbor, one of seven children , refuses to eat leftovers because he had too many as a child. I think that's sad.

Today my lunch was a sandwich with the salmon spread I made for last night’s party—it is the best stuff, surely one of my favorite recipes, equally good on crackers or in a sandwich. Tonight, while the family ate brats I had more salmon, this time with lemon and mayonnaise, and Jordan’s good blue cheese salad. I figure tomorrow I’ll have salmon for lunch and serve the spread at happy hour. And then the salmon will have seen its day. But Wednesday, when I’m home alone for supper, I’ll probably put some canned salmon with pasta for a one-dish meal. Thank goodness, it’s good for you.

Christian is a genius at saving orchids to rebloom, and this picture shows one once given to me. When it had seen its day, I turned it over to Christian. He recently sent it back to the cottage, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one with so many full, large blooms that lasted so long. The dog in front is Shea, done by my pal Jean’s late husband, Jim Clark. It’s a treasure.

This promises to be an interesting week of news, what with the national furor over guns and the televised sessions of the House of Representatives Special Committee to investigate the January 6 insurrection. I am geared up to follow all of it. I have strong feelings, as you may have suspected, and I’ll probably rant in this space before the week is over.

Meantime, tonight I plan to go to bed early and wake in the morning full of energy and rarin’ to go. Maybe you should too.

A Cooking Weekend

Where did September go? It may be true time flies when you’re having fun, but I don’t recall having that much fun. In fact, I look back at the month as one of working a lot and being a recluse in my cottage.

This weekend, I tried my hand at cooking. Last night for my supper, I fixed a baked egg—so simple. Buttered sourdough toast in a ramekin, a bit of cooked spinach, grated cheddar. Then crack an egg over it and covered it with just a bit of milk. I should have leveled off the cheese and spinach, so the egg would sit in the middle. As it was, it slid off to one side, and the milk all went to the other side. But I like my eggs soft (my kids call it runny), and I mixed it all up together and thought it delicious.

Tonight a pot of spaghetti sauce simmers on my burner and smells wonderful. Thanks to Carol Roark who shared her mom’s recipe. Christian and I will picnic in the cottage—Jacob has a youth group meeting of some kind, and Jordan has gone off to the opera at the invitation of a neighbor. Yumm—leftovers.

I also made an overnight salad which defies everything I ever knew about making salad but is delicious. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

I’m trying to avoid the news so as not to let it consume every minute, but I find myself drawn to the MSN news banner that pops up when I open Explorer. Several times a day something new comes along—some of it opinion, some of it fact, some of it doubtful. But we sure do live in interesting times.

A former neighbor sent me a Facebook message, saying, “I’m asking politely. Is there a Republican you like?” I should have replied, “Yes, you!” But I wasn’t that sharp. I did answer honestly and politely that I can’t think of one right now. I did not agree with John McCain on many issues, from abortion to war, but I admired and respected him and thought he honestly had America’s best interests at heart—something I can’t say for the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee. I like Jeff Flake, think he’s a man of conscience, but I wish he were a little firmer in his convictions. He goes from one side to the other, though we owe him a round of thanks right now. Other than that, no. I can’t think of a one, but I promised to be on the lookout.

My neighbor did not reply, and I wish she had for I would enjoy a good exchange of ideas and viewpoints, though as many say mine are set in concrete. A friend I haven’t seen in thirty years or more writes that we are still friends despite our differences. It’s hard when she posts, “I’m still for Trump and not ashamed of it.” She truly believes if liberals win in November, we will have no more freedom of speech (where did that come from?), no more SCOTUS appointments (please God), no more immigration laws. I have a hard time dealing with closed minds.

The coming week is a busy one, with medical appointments and dinner plans. I’m looking forward to a more active life—but my writing will suffer. Can’t win them all.

Reading the news

I admit it--I'm a news junkie. When I was young, our entire household fell into a hushed silence when the evening news came on. Who was it in those days? Huntley and Brinkley? At any rate, no one spoke, and certainly not to my father who listened to every word intently. I guess we absorb those things.
Today I read our daily newspaper, which grows slimmer by the day. Thanks for all the suggestions that I take The New York Times but that's not the news I want--I want Texas and Fort Worth. I watch the TODAY show, though often with one eye. But still I try to pay attention particularly to the news portions that open most segments. On weekends I enjoy sleeping late but then am distressed that I slept through the major news of the day.
Facebook is often the first place I hear of things--like yesterday's collapse of a bridge on I-35 at Salado. I know FB isn't always reliable--Love that quote from Lincoln (tongue in cheek) about not believing everything you read on FB, but they do seem to have major news quickly.
Today, as usual unless it's a really slow day, there's much to ponder. I am relieved for Amanda Knox, finally cleared of all charges in the 2007 death of her roommate. I read a comment who said the roommate has been all but forgotten in this tragedy, and I agree--I grieve for her parents. But I never thought Amanda Knox was guilty, and she's been through a horrific ordeal. I wonder how much of a normal life she can lead now, but I hope she will go forward. And a bit of me hopes she won't succumb to the many book deals that must being pitched her way.
The story of the German Airbus that went down in the Alps will haunt us all--how could a man willingly take all those people, many of them youngsters, to death with him. It's one thing, a very sad thing, to take your own life, but to take so many others with you? The news media is playing the story for all its worth without really adding new material. A tragic indicator of our times.
I'm enough of a Midwesterner (Illinois) to be horrified by Indiana's new law essentially sanctioning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, race, religion, whatever--don't like someone? You don't have to serve them. What a hateful world we're living in.
Which reminds me of the woman legislator (I forget what state) who talked against a proposed anti-abortion bill by revealing that she had been raped, impregnated, and had an abortion. And her male colleagues laughed. Once again, I wonder what this country has come to.
Some of the news is so far out that, tragic as it is, it makes you laugh--the Arizona legislator who thinks church attendance should be mandatory. One wonders if she has any familiarity with the Constitution. And somewhere there's a legislator who thinks gays and lesbians should be summarily shot in the head. Appalling doesn't begin to cover the enormity of that kind of thinking.
I'm going to start watch for good-times news in the media--will report back. If there is any.