NEW DAY: LET US START AGAIN

Good morning.

*Please forgive the grammatical errors. 

How long until y'all stop referring to him as "The American Pope". Embarrassing. Just pop open some kegs and have a wild weekend block party at Walmart. Get it out of your system. We can film it and sell the documentary as 'American Pope Parking Lot'. 

Geez Louise. Pope Leo XIV is head of the Roman Catholic Church who happens to be American, although not sure how much weight that has anymore since JD Vance is declaring himself a Roman Catholic because, why not, it's just that easy now apparently, you can get 'er done without catechism training, baptism, confirmation, and communion from a Roman Catholic priest or higher, ooh lala, whatever, hey everyone's Roman Catholic now just by saying so on the internet, and if it's on the internet it must be true. Trust me, if JD Vance was going through legit motions of converting to Roman Catholic, he would be in the news every day promoting catechism, confession, communion by a Roman Catholic priest or higher, making daily tiktoks, something. I mean he's Vice President, he's got time on his hands. But nah, we all know it's a load of stinky Vance cow manure. 

I'm reading, thumbing through actually, pages of the Catholic Catechism, heck no not converting, just reading, and Article 7, The Sacrament of Matrimony, states the following: "The covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." Sooooo, has Usha Vance been baptized and raised by Christ our Lord? Because I thought she was Hindu... OH, that's right I forgot J.D. Vance told reporters they were her kids, not theirs, so maybe it doesn't count as a go against Catholic sacrament. Them be her kids. My bad. I forgot. 

I'm still reading Catholic catechism and in Marriage In The Lord, 1615, it says: "It is by following Christ, renouncing themselves, and taking up their crosses that spouses will be able to "receive" the original meaning and live it with the help of Christ. This grace of Christian marriage is a fruit of Christ's cross, the source of all Christian life."

Soooo who's gonna tell Usha Vance she needs to convert to make their marriage legit in the eyes of the Catholic church? For this reason my dad converted to Catholicism back around 1999 somewhere around there, so he and his second wife, a Catholic, who he originally married in Vegas back in 1989 could finally get remarried and renew their vows in a Catholic church. First however, they both had to annul their first marriages - because they were both married when they met and fell in love - and my dad was raised devout Mormon but chose to not continue practicing as an adult. My dad and his second wife worked together, which I believe was in part why women were not welcome in the work place to begin with, to prevent affairs and divorces. 

Cafeteria Catholics. Americans, as a whole, are the worst Catholics in the world, as in most don't follow scripture, at all. The ten commandments are so hard for Americans. Why is it so hard? If there was another religion based war, American Catholics would die alongside protestants in a hail fire from every other country, everywhere. American Catholics would greet these immigrant Catholics like, "Bro, we're on the same side! Why aren't you speaking English?! And why is your skin so brown?!" 

When the (I think he was a) Bishop started reading the Pope decree introduction thing-y in (I dunno) Latin or Italian with the new Pope's chosen name, you heard a round of "Oooohs" which I thought were "booooos" and I'm clearly not the only one because that Bishop guy stopped reading for a second and angry-momma-snap stared directly at the people making the "Oooooo" sounds. And I knew at that moment, though I don't speak Italian or Latin, the new Pope was def not Italian.

Just please stop saying "American Pope" is all's I'm asking. It's been a few days now. The shock has worn off. Trust me, I was more shook than y'all apparently. Pope Leo XIV is the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, not the Church of America. Give our dumpster fire president some time, he'll invent the Church of America and name himself the Holy Sack of Cornhole, or whatever he thinks religion is. 

Wow, Catholic catechism includes eunuchs in your wedding laws. You guys really jazz it up. Protestants aren't that fancy. I don't recall a single eunuch mentioned in our catechism. I'm going to add eunuchs in my Sunday school teachings should I decide to teach Sunday school one day. I could shorten down the unnecessary paragraph in the Catholic catechism to: "Eunuchs, he who is able to receive this, let him receive it."

Talk about a scare tactic for the kids. There's hellfire and brimstone, and then there's eunuchs. "By birth, God, or man" eunuchs. Yeah, that's right. Man can make eunuchs. Now go clean your room.

You guys go from eunuchs to virgins, no wonder your catechism is over 900 freaking pages long. One repeated message however is husband and wife both need to be baptized in the Catholic Church. And I wouldn't even be making this a thing except those two White House squaters conveniently go through the active motions be it a Roman Catholic, husband, father, or whatever, only whenever it's politically necessary.

PS. A 400M dollar presidential one-way "gift" is called a bribe. In street terms it's called "hood rat for life".

If I'm this offended, little ol' me, by the actions of this entire White House administration, I certainly hope Pope Leo XIV is as well. A man doesn't devote his life to serving God only for it to be dummied down and undermined by a bunch of MAGA stiffs with a camera acting all indignant, "Why didn't he say something in English? He's American. He should have said something in English. Why didn't he say something in English" Oh please, go plastic surgery something and leave the spiritual lifting for those of us with a conscience. 

By the way, for those of you reading this, you've most likely read more Catholic Catechism in this blog than the entire White House cabinet and it's free online. God bless.

There are people truly trying, truly struggling, they wake up every day making an effort to change their lives, live better, they reach out online for support, for a kind word, and I pray people give it to them. One good deed a day changes the world for the better. A minute of your time. That's all. It doesn't have to be anything more than giving a thumbs up on social media to someone living another day drug free and wanting to celebrate it with you. 

Patience. That's God's biggest test for me. Patience. I thought quitting drinking, drugs, smoking, surviving 1 and 1/2 strokes, were going to be the hardest things I do but no, it's patience, and not swearing, both are super hard for me. I F-bombed in a text yesterday and said it several times as my patience wore out - which was a lot - practically all day long. Today is a new day. I'm usually awake to greet the sun. I am a Rooster in the Chinese calendar after all if you believe in that kind of thing. We Roosters crow in the new day. Perhaps it's our duty to remind people today is a new day to begin again. Deep breaths.

As mentioned in the daily prayer:

This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.

Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of Heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 

-- Daniel 2:36-37 

I'm just a simple messenger. 

God bless.

HEY CHICAGO, DEEP DISH ISN'T PIZZA

Good morning. 

*Please forgive the grammatical errors.

Faith over politics, this is my number one worry with this new Pope, will he keep faith over politics. I already saw one Cardinal say he voted for (the now) Pope Leo XIV because he hoped this Pope would "build a bridge between the church and Trump", which is safe to assume he means that giant orange inflatable tube donkey currently sitting in the White House. For this reason among others, an American Pope is a huge mistake in my very humble opinion. If I were a gambling woman, which I'm not, but if I were, the only reason for these Cardinals to vote for an American Pope is to get the church to align with our dumpster fire president. And before anyone challenges my concerns I'll just remind you of all the "WOOoooo! The new Pope is American!" screams as if Pope Leo just won the Superbowl rather than being elected the Papacy. It don't get more Trump-y American than that unless the Pope also signs a sponsorship contract with McDonalds. As a protestant I'll never bow down to a Pope but I respected Pope Francis for not aligning himself with Trump-o. Being a protestant, this was my first time seeing and being spiritually invested in Conclave, and it was... Well, it was... I mean... are they all like this? All the cheering and flags felt like it was the world cup. 

There are automatic political stances I totally expect from the Vatican and all Popes as these are standard Catholic staples:

Anti-abortion

Anti-gay rights

Anti-divorce

Anti-birth control

Etc.

This is not going to change. It's been what Catholics believe and preach since day 1. However, Pope Francis also followed the doctrine of peace and love. That's not just some hippie saying, that's actually in the Bible, repeatedly. It's the teachings of Christ. Among the many other things that separates protestants from Catholics, following the teachings of the Bible and not solely the resurrection (which is self serving for Catholic clergy) is a biggie. I cannot stress enough the importance of a bible based church.  

AND LOOK

I'm pro gay rights and birth control. I don't like abortion but it's a necessary evil. Who's flipping the bill every time an unwanted child is born? Who's flipping the bill when all those unwanted children turn into unwanted homeless adults? 5K for women to give birth? Are you crazy? One million dollars to give birth is an incentive, though it goes completely against the church to have children unless you have first taken a marital vow before God, no out of wedlock children, which Rump-o would know if anyone in his administration were an actual Christian. When it comes to marriage I'm very conservative. Marriage is a vow before God to love, honor, and cherish each other until death do you part, or why do it all. Stay single if you can't hold a marital vow before God. It's still a (somewhat) free country. No one is forcing you to get married. Stay single if you can't keep a vow before God, tRump! I take vows very serious. I'm a firm believer that marriage is between two people, and two people only. None of this "open marriage" nonsense. I firmly believe if you're going to raise children one parent stays home while the other works, although in this day and age remote work is an option as long as the children aren't being neglected.

I got off track.

Regarding an American Pope, I just don't want to see the radicals (both left and right) get even more hysterically insane which, unfortunately, Popes have the power to fuel by their allegiances, and since this Pope is American I can't help but be concerned which allegiance he pledges to first, God or country. According to the constitution laws aren't supposed to be made based on religion yet here we are. Abortion is banned (according to Google) in 41 states, because of religion, and that orange dongleberry isn't even a Christian. I detest hypocrisy.  

Do we follow each other on social media? My twitter (X) page is 98% hiking/walking photos. I'm online pals with other nature enthusiasts. Hailing from land of "ice and snow from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow" well, not really, but back in the day my home state of Minnesota was nothing but actual legit 7 foot tall Scandinavian Vikings and brutal winters. Also explains why I married at 6 foot tall blonde hair, blue eyed Swede. I grew up with slingshots, archery, and snowshoes, but back in the 70's that was called survival training in -20 degree winters with -20 degree windchill. After my stroke/s in 2021, and I say "stroke/s" because while I was about to have a massive stroke on February 26, 2021, the ER neurologist came to my room explained to me while showing an x-ray of my brain, "This is the stroke you're having now. And this is the stroke you had within the last week. See how it's still lit up in your brain. We're going to try stopping the stroke you're having now." And they did stop the second stroke as it was happening which is why I only lost 30% of both leg use instead of being confined to a wheelchair. Medicine is amazing. God bless those who go into it! And so, as part of my ongoing recovery and mental health, I love sharing photos of my hikes and travels with fellow hikers and travelers. We all exchange travel info and photos and it helps keep us motivated. It's fun. Just recently however, one traveler, a gal in Montana, after a year of sharing photos online, rando blocked me from her page. I later learned it's because she's a tRump supporter and she read this blog where I'm constantly calling him a giant orange dongleberry, so she blocked me.  

LOOK

In the grand scheme of things, be a Christian, don't be a Christian, be a Republican, don't be a Republican, whatever, if we have something else in common besides politics and religion, like hiking and photography, then lets focus on that, but no, she didn't want to. Calling tRump the orange Don of Dongleberia hurt her feelings for some reason. She took it personal. Meh, what can you do. 

         

MOVING ON

I have been avoiding (film) Conclave but broke down and watched it, and that particular thing would never happen now. I don't recall the exact time I first read about it, but it is said the church has historic records of that very thing had actually happened in the Catholic Church, once, one time, though as you can imagine the church vehemently denies it. Not the first time the church has been in denial, eh? Regardless, Hollywood took artistic license when making this film and as annoying as it was that the movie went in this direction, people should always remember it's just a movie. Conservative media getting all up-in-arms over a film. Okay, whatever, Tipper!

BUT

Now that I've calmed down I'm going to give Pope Leo the XIV the benefit of the doubt. Just please do not align yourself with that heartless, Godless, useless orange pathetic excuse for a man. 

For people not understanding the Midwest social media joke about Pope Leo the XIV "Putting the ope in Pope", in the Midwest, because the Pope is from from Chicago, the Midwest "ope!" is an exclamation used for many things. Someone tosses you a pen and you miss catching it, "ope!" When your knees crack as you stand up after sitting for an hour, "ope!" If you miss the highway exit, "Ope!" Followed by "Dang it!" And if you miss the highway exit a second time, "Ope! Dang it! What the heck!" 

AND

That woman (whose name I won't say) the one that raised 750K for calling a little boy the N-word at a Minnesota park, the entitled woman who thinks her racism should earn her a 1M dollars, is reportedly being socially defended by the GiveSendGo CFO, Jacob Wells. Both this woman and Mr. Wells will have to square their actions with God one day and believe me God will come to collect. I will never understand how people throw their money away on others for their bad behavior. Pretty soon Jeff Besoz will have to go to a rando Starbucks and lose his mind on a (pick a minority) to keep up with the Joneses. 

I don't care how much of an entitled Karen you think you are, never assault a child. Never, never, ever. No excuse for it. You're an adult! You should know better. Commandment #8: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (And then profit!) See, you would know and practice that commandment if you were an actual Christian. Anyyywayy... 

Ten Commandments, people. Not that hard. There's only ten.

Tomorrow I head back to my beloved desert. Even in the city at 4am I'm about to throw on the AC. "Don't say it, Lisa. Don't say it."

OH, I'm saying it!

Hot enough for you? Yeah, but it's a dry heat!

 I pray thee, from the inmost of my heart, to forgive me all my sins wherewith I have ever provoked thee, and to quicken my heart with thy spirit, that I may daily grow and increase in thy knowledge. Amen.

God bless.

POPE LEO XIV

Good morning.

*Please forgive the grammatical errors.

EDIT TO SAY: I'm watching (film) Conclave, on Prime. I avoided watching this film because I thought I would get annoyed. I thought right. What were those Cardinals thinking today. An American. It takes me longer to buy a purse than it took those Cardinals to decide on a Pontiff. I'm only upset about it because of the current president. Bad choice. Just rename the church the Roman American Catholic Church, I guess. 

EDIT TO SAY: People are saying Pope Leo the XIV is a "woke Pope" who is pro migrants as Jesus was a migrant (agreed) but Pope Leo the XIV was born and raised in America and has no real stakes in the game to contradict and oppose Trump-o with any real passion regarding how Trump-o handles foreign policy. I hope I'm wrong. 

Back to the original blog.

What are Catholics going to do if the Cardinals elect a black or Filipino Pope - aside from completely losing their minds, that is. As a Christian, Not Catholic, I'll never support it. Never. The Pope should always be European, technically should always be Roman hence the Roman Catholic church, with a lengthy European lineage. I'm wholly against missions of conversion to begin with. Going to Uganda, or wherever, to convert indigenous tribes of (say) the Bantu into being Catholics is just... No. Do not betray the Christian faith. Pick an Italian Pope. Any Italian at this point.

I saw a clip of Cardinal Tagle tell a story to his congregants about a little boy who didn't want to sit next to him on public transit after his mother instructed him to. The little boy said, "I hate the Japanese" and that's why he didn't want to sit next Cardinal Tagle. But rather than making his lesson about hate, Cardinal Tagle made it about the little boy not knowing the difference between him (a Filipino) and a Japanese person. Swing and miss, Cardinal. Swing and miss. I'm not a Cardinal, or a priest, but if I were that story would have ended with a homily about hate. How hate dissolves you as a human being. "Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass again us" is part of the daily prayer for a reason. Hate steals your soul. Hate rots you like a corpse while you live. Let it go. Live your life.

Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

-- Ecclesiastes 4:6  

Apparently the media has a saying on the subject of Conclave: "Walk in a Pope, come out a Cardinal." Meaning if the media reports on particular Cardinals as being on the Pope short list, they'll walk out of Conclave a Cardinal. 

Watching Mass before the Conclave, the whole process in the last 24 hours has been fascinating. It reminds me of being that sixteen year old girl I once was, just enamored with the Catholic church, as in the church itself. It was a glorious old building. I was heavily into art back then, an artist myself. The church was very seductive with beautiful stained glass, amazing large paintings, inlaid golden robes, and the best wrought iron and wood carvings money could buy. I could spend the rest of my life devoted to this church, I thought. The Catholic church was my 1985 social media addiction. I blog about it in my first intro blog GREETINGS! AN INTRODUCTION But then one day my eyes re-opened and all that grandeur melted before me. No more fluff. No more ceremony.  No more pretentiousness. Just a love and devotion to Christ/God, the teaching of Christ/God and the scripture. Christianity in its oldest and truest form. If I want to see art I'll support my local museums and art galleries. Get me. Still, I have/will always appreciate and respect the Catholic church, all religions. There's a difference between having an opinion and straight out violently attacking someone because of their faith. "Sticks and stones, love." If they're not violating anyone, live and let live. That said, tell me this Mass before Conclave isn't being "a bit" theatrical. Also, three word put-downs mean nothing. If you're going to be overly-vocal in opposition about something explain your reasoning. Otherwise get out of the ring, you contribute nothing to the conversation. "F you that's why!" is a closer. Not the argument.

I need to stop swearing. Sometimes I really just can't help it. Giving up tobacco and alcohol was waaay easier and I only quit both because they endangered my life. The moment swearing gives me an upper respiratory infection I'm done! Although it did take two serious infections before I quite smoking. I loved smoking that much. I still miss it. 

I have a question. I'm guessing these Conclave masses are being spoken in Latin and Italian but what do the the Cardinals who don't speak either do during this time? Are they just staring straight ahead making their grocery lists? 

MUCH LATER

Black smoke. 

DAY 2

We're all staring at the Vatican chimney, waiting. "Don't make the Pope about politics." The social media priests say. Sorry Fathers, but the church has never separated itself from politics, and politics will never separate itself from church. The constitution protects us from government punishing us for our faiths to practice our faiths freely (or so it says) but every president, regardless of party, attends the National Prayer Breakfast if he knows what's good for him. 

I'm watching the Vatican Chimney on Youtube so naturally I expect white smoke just as an ad pops on.

I just saw in one particular southern California Bible college the gender ratio was something like 58% female 47% male. Apparently women are choosing the bear and/or God over men, and the giant orange dongleberry in the oval office seems to think 5K is enough incentive for women to make babies. That goof really doesn't know how much a child costs does he. Maybe if he had spent more with his own children as they were growing up he would know better. Forget a civil race war, be more concerned with another religious war, WWIII, and those wars are brutal. There are so many different forms of Christianity in America alone the new Pope could really cause an international riot on day 1 if he's not careful. 

A part of me wants to attend Bible school again, which I have not done in yeeears. Being a minister gives me freedom from the church. It allows me to write this blog and to speak more freely. The moment I align myself directly with the Lutheran church I serve the church and its congregants... and not the people, lets not kid ourselves.

Huh. Is that a drone hovering over the Vatican chimney? It is. 

I've entertained the idea many times of starting my own church but that's the last thing this country needs, another church. Instead, I entertain the idea of a nature faith based community in my book. Wait, hear me out first. Don't scoff it off without hearing a little bit about it. Do you enjoy camping and fishing? Are you on the paleo, Keto, or Mediterranean diet? Do you like gardens? Do you think pesticides are harmful to food and thus you? Do you believe bees are an essential part of the Eco structure? Are you pro wildlife? Do you hate litter as much as I do? Well then, you might enjoy this church. I'm curious how long it will take my literary church to grow. My book is part ministry, part philosophy, part sociology, with some poetry, influenced by Shakespeare, E.A. Poe, and Dickens, clearly, those are my favorite authors. I have no formal training in psychology, only what I've read and life experiences, but if you read my last blog of ten years then you know I have theories, oh my dears, lots and lots of theories. Not in a Theodore Kaczynski kind of way, this is a book and not a manifesto, plus he was mathematician and a paranoid schizo... ANYWAY the point I'm trying to make is would a nature faith based Godly church be so bad? Part Mennonite-like, part pantheon'a'litical'istic'ish-y. 

Yes, I was that annoying kid who asked everyone all the time, "What would happen if you did it this way instead?" You know, it's funny, if you ask questions about what's possible people automatically assume you're opposing them.

(sigh)

I ate chicken again. I'm not doing so well with the no bacon and chicken diet. I would love to only eat fish but 1) Its expensive, and 2) It's not convenient. No, that's not true. I just suck at not eating meat.

WHITE SMOKE & BELLS.

That was quick. But who is it.

The drone is back.

WHO IS IT. You'd think this was the World Cup the way people are waving giant flags in the Vatican square. 

"Canada!" Dude holding up a big Canadian flag. Awesome. They keep showing the Canada guy.

The younger priests are all cheerful. The older priests not so much. No, older priests know what's at stake here especially if the new Pontiff is younger than 70, or if he's not Italian. 

WHAT?! AN AMERICAN.

Terrible. Worst choice ever. It's over. He's Trump's Pope. 

Pope Prevost, the giant orange inflatable tube donkey's Pope.

A terrible day. A terrible day for Christians. I wish I didn't quit drinking.

God help us. Evil and corruption are back in the Vatican.

*I can't even write. An American Pope. Who thought this was a good idea??

HARD EARNED YEARS

Good morning.

*Please forgive the grammatical errors.

MSN did a remembrance reel on Les Binks but mistakenly used a photo of John Sykes in one of the clips. Sigh. John Sykes also died, last December. Les Binks died last month. How anyone confused John Sykes for Les Binks, is beyond me. Talkin' 'bout my generation, son! Add to that, a makeup content creator thought Madonna was the go-to 80's makeup icon. His comments, including mine, corrected him by informing him Jon Bon Jovi & Susanna Hoffs (Bangles, Walk Like an Egyptian) are more accurate 80's hair/makeup icons. Madonna, where I grew up anyway, were fashion icons for 8-12 years olds, not older teenagers. Dear younger generations, just go ahead and continue ignoring us GenX'ers. We prefer it that way. Likewise, I'm about to unsubscribe from First We Feast because I have no idea who are in the last twelve videos. My new favorite Youtuber is Ray William Johnson. If you're like me and like a quick story check it out. 

(sigh)

That orange sourpatch dongleberry posted AI photos of himself as the new Pope and then of himself as a Star Wars Jedi Sith, red light saber. You knowww, there are certain things old white men should not do and those are two prime examples right there. I eye-rolled so hard I almost gave thirteen-year-old me a brain aneurysm. 

AND

As I've written before, if the Catholics want to preserve the integrity of Catholicism (yes, this protestant does see the irony of what I just wrote) nonetheless, the Pope should always be European with lengthy European lineage. Non-Christians will never understand why I say this for the same reason kids today don't understand the importance of not tearing down statues like Robert E Lee. By tearing down statues and trying to modernize Christianity you're completely ignoring history and then what happens when history repeats itself (because it always does) or worse when prophecy becomes fruition. Non-Christians weighing in on who should be the next Pope is like women weighing in on how men should get proctology exams - entertaining as that might be. As much as I would love to say only young people don't appreciate the consequences of their actions it's not just pretty young people problems, it's all people problems at every age. On one hand people complain they can't afford a house, but on the other hand they're all Instagram famous going on luxurious vacations and make living out of a van look glamorous. Is it, "My van's espresso machine broke. The struggle is real!" Or is it, "I have to choose between shampoo and body soap this week. The struggle is real."

Between 1999-2003 I had a dream job. I didn't appreciate it then because I was too busy feeling awesome instead of feeling grateful. I worked in a cubical with three other people, all men, one was a left leanings conservative, two were so annoyingly far left-wing Democrat even JFK would have been all, "Get the F out of my house!" five minutes in, and then myself who at the time was a trad-wife in the making. Meaning a 1980's Republican. I was raised in a Midwest Christian conservative environment in the 70's and 80's. Where I grew up even if you voted Democrat, you were still conservative don't fool yourselves. Back then you didn't believe in IR relationships, alcohol and tobacco and firearms were good, drugs bad, you still thought women shouldn't work, you were pro guns and hunting, The word "God" was put on everything, liquor stores were closed on Sundays (still are!) and you thought abortion was worse than cutting off a man's penis. So yeah, Republican. I don't remember what sparked the topic in my cubical, but we got into a rather heated debate over how hippies hurt the anti-Vietnam war movement (Google it) rather than help it. Much like how protests then and now make great news, policies not so much. The problem with hippies, and protests, are 9 times out of 10 you're just a big crowd in the way of people going to work, picking up their kids, going to the doctors, never mind all the traffic jam preventing ambulances from going where they need to go. The point of a protest isn't to hurt the American people from living their daily lives, it's to get the attention of law makers, right? RIGHT? If you're going to protest war, Vietnam or any other war, how much impact are you going to make (to law makers) by getting high, drunk, painting your body and VW bug for photo ops, and blocking traffic? And Hoo-wee! Did I get push-back from the lefties in my cubical! I'm sorry fellas, did I offend? Don't mind me then, I'll just shut up now and go back in the kitchen barefoot and bake a home-made apple pie with cinnamon, and really, would that be so bad? Who doesn't like homemade apple pie with a big ol' dollop of vanilla ice cream? Plus, I'm from the Midwest I like being barefoot.  

In this day and age, the internet is your friend. Use it. Geez-Louise, I liked one comment by an anti-Trumper and now this dude is in every single one of my social media timelines, everywhere. Can't seem to get rid of him. "Get the F out of my house!"

In 2017 I changed political parties. That orange inflatable tube donkey is about as Republican (and Christian) as a box of hand wipes in the San Francisco tenderloin. 

ANYWAY

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. That's it. I just wanted to say his name. Everyone else has been saying it lately. I was feeling left out. From what I've been hearing in his interviews he seems aiight. Some of those other Cardinals though... There will be fighting words for sure if one of them becomes Pope. Look fellas, just do what the entire globe wants you to do and pick an Italian. Why are there so few Italians in the ring? I mean, it's Rome. I thought having a Roman priest in any Italian family was like the Mount Everest of bragging rights. Maybe that's only New York. Whatever. Just pick an Italian even if he has a "China problem", big deal. Half the men who were dating in the 80's contracted a "China problem" and while there is no cure you can discreetly buy medication online that suppresses an outbreak... or so I hear. Regardless, maybe not pick someone over 70 years old. We're dealing with grandpa over here in America and he refuses to take his meds. 

Oooh Dump-o.

Re-open Alcatraz, eh? They can't even keep air traffic controllers employed, what makes Dump-o think he can keep prison staff employed at Alcatraz. This dude reverse Midas touches everything his pudgy orange fingers peck at.

Do I sound grumpy-er than usual? I kind of do, I guess. I thought being old people would automatically just leave me the F alone to die or whatever, but no, people get all in my business for no reason whatsoever. I'm just over here doing my thing, staying out of everyone's way, and people gotta get all into my personal stuff and in my business. Trust me, I'm not an interesting person. I'm boring. I do the same five to eight things every week. Week after week, after week. Nothing exciting. So what's the deal? Even if I advance my religious studies and try being a Reverend by the time I'm 60 years old, I'll be even more boring AF - and yet somehow that will make people even more desperate to get in my business. I don't think y'all understand how it works. I get into YOUR business. Save YOU from yourself. If people lived as boring as I do, crime would be wiped off the face of the Earth forever. I literally have nothing to steal. I live a life of poverty. I attach myself to nothing. Actually, if the orange inflatable tube donkey keeps it up you all will be living a life of poverty too - only yours won't be by choice. This time next year eggs will be $40 a carton.

The LA County fair is in town. After I relocate back to AV next week I'm going to spend a few days in Pomona just to attend the fair. Looking forward! I miss Minnesota state and Valley fairs. They were good times. And, I want to take a few days to go on a camping excursion (somewhere). Spend a few days with nature. I might keep booking a room in AV like I've done before just to keep the room as my base, then hop on a train and travel cross country and back. We'll see. I had a cancer scare back in late March. Got a cancer screening and after a month of waiting I finally got the results back. Benign. That was my second cancer scare since 2012. Back then the doctor found a small tumor on my uterus. Also benign. The clock is ticking down for my generation. 56-years-old and the clock is ticking down, know what I mean. I've been writing furiously. Need to finish my book. At least finalize half of it. Make an attempt to find a publisher before I go through the hassle of publishing it myself. I don't do the business end of my creative works all that well. I'm uninspired and unmotivated to talk to people who aren't artists even if they're the ones who put you out there. It's like chewing gum. I'm cool with it for the first ten minutes and then I need to spit out and do something else.

Did you know there is a pastry called Nuns farts. There is. Nuns Farts. And there is a meatball called Farts of Portingale. You're welcome.

I WONDER

Do kids today have any idea what a woman aging gracefully looks like? If you need a perfect reference of a woman aging gloriously natural look no further than Pamela Anderson. This is a woman who has done questionable sinful things in the past. I am a woman who has done questionable sinful things in the past. For the last five years I have devoted my life to becoming a better person as I believe so has she. I read the comments people left after seeing short clips of the historic "it girl" at the Met Gala and unlike her pinup girl peers, Ms. Anderson has decided to age naturally leaving people (strangely) confused. Why? Still? Even after a few years coming out in public saying she's had enough and is going natural, still people are confused? According to Google Pamela Anderson is 57 years old. I'm 56. I can't speak for Ms. Anderson, but competing with 30 years olds, while I still could for maybe five to seven more years, is a battle I don't care to invest in. I have more important things I want to do with my life. Perhaps Ms. Anderson, and other women our age, can relate. You can still be your best at any age, it just looks different after a woman turns 50. At that age a woman will either choose to battle with 30 year olds for beauty street cred or at last finally be comfortable in her own skin. Those of us who choose to be comfortable in our skin looked at women before us who chose to do battle with women half their age and let's just say the outcome of these battle ridden women legit look like they did battle, many battles, and lost every single one of them tragically. The ones who survived the battles don't look so good now - ten layers of heavy dark makeup to cover surgical scars and years of insecurity, wearing barely-there dresses found only in the poorest third world exotic dance clubs, and hair so terribly over processed nothing would probably grow back if they cut it off and tried starting over. The tragic tale of women growing old isn't the growing old part, it's the not accepting it, part. I was a "face" girl. Some gals are "legs" or "tall & skinny" but I was a "face" girl. The funny thing about that is, I have a big ol' mole on my nose now. Noticed it about ten years ago growing in and it just kept growing. I thought about having it surgically removed but nah. It is what it is. I much rather see Pamela Anderson looking and feeling natural, glowing, and free from battle, than the "it girls" before her who chose battle and lost.

Older women have something young gals won't have for another 25-30 painfully hard earned years, knowledge and wisdom. You can't buy it, my loves. Oh no, you have to earn it the hard way. You have to live it. You can be full of young arrogance insisting you know better. That's okay. We see you and we wish you well. God bless.

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, 
vanity of vanities; all is vanity
-- Ecclesiastes 1:2

HEY WE'RE HOSTESS CAKES!

Good morning.

*Please forgive the grammatical errors. I'm hyped.

I won't say her name because she goes against everything Christ and true Christians stand for, but a woman is quickly making close to a million dollars for being recorded saying the N-word at a children's playground. The clip went viral, and then she set up a givesendgo page asking for money supposedly to move because she says she's being harassed. I saw the video where she calls a five-year-old the N-word, and her givesendgo page. The comments following donations are disgraceful. All hate speech. This woman is making tax-free money for saying the N-word at a playground, for calling a child the N-word. I guess this is the new OF of 2025. You don't need to make nudie adult content anymore, ladies and gentlemen. Just set up a scene at a playground and call a minority child a derogatory name, then create a givesendgo page and let the donations fly in... I guess. You just need a white person willing to go on camera and disgrace themselves.

Horrible.

People are mad at Drew Barrymore for crying over a window she found in her house, but they donate 509K (so far) to a woman who verbally assaulted a child at a playground with hate speech. "GiveSendGo, where racists help racists after they were caught being racist." there's your tagline. You're welcome. 

AND

As I'm writing this, OMG, gunfire! Right outside the gate where I'm staying. Three houses down. Gunfire happened just now outside the gate for the second time this week. I'm glad I couldn't make up my mind what to order for dinner. Poor driver would have been stopped at a crime scene. Good grief. Cops, sirens, and helicopters. Two weeks in the city and I'm ready to go back to the desert, folks. I like the lady I'm renting from in two weeks. She's been a boarder for a long time. Everyone in the AV loves her. She just leaves you alone. As long as you're paid up, clean, and respect her house she don't give AF what you do. She leaves you alone. Plus, I don't think she actually lives there. Who knows. I see her come and go.  

Once upon a time, some woman left me an amazing review on Airbnb after I took off from her house of Hell twelve days before my check out date because the stalker lesbian managing the house would not stay away from me. She followed me in her car when I left the house. She used my brand-new winter air freshener in her car the day after I bought it. No kidding. I left the house, this stalker found me at my bank, insisted on giving me a ride back to the house, and that's when I smelled my limited-edition air freshener that I had just bought the day before. WTF? She would also forget to lock my bedroom door after she lurked around inside my room. Mind you, other guests stayed in this Airbnb who could have just walked into my room. The crazy lesbian knew I left twelve days early and I lost about $750 because of her. It was a non-refundable room which by the way is absolute crap that Airbnb gets away with that. Anyway, the psycho lesbian messaged me with hearts and kissy emojis begging me for a good review. Nutjob. No, I didn't leave one because F that psycho that's why! I didn't leave a bad review. I didn't leave any review and took my money elsewhere. 

I was going to take off to the AV sooner but then I would literally lose out on around $800 on my current room. It's a non-refundable room. And again, it's crap Airbnb gets away with non-refundable rooms. I mean, stands to reason if your room is good no one will want a refund. I only write reviews when my experience is great or just super freaking bad. I need to stay in only refundable rooms from now on for nights not occupied. Not every room is going to be a match for you. Some people are just dirty. When I clean, honey I clean! I didn't grow up in a dirty house. You think gas station bathroom are gross, restaurants have the worst bathrooms. Women are nasty. Maybe it's time to stay in hotels again when I travel. 

I have ten days left here. I can use this time to write which is what I've been doing. I just keep spraying and stuffing everything with dryer sheets, and spraying, and spraying, to make it all smell pretty. I absolutely lose my mind with bad stinky smells like stale urine. Once I get to the AV I'm going to wash everything and immediately plan my next hike/camp trip. Immediately! I'm so stressed out. I need to unclench my shoulders asap. The AV is about twenty degrees hotter now, but I suffered through three Las Vegas summers so far. I think the AV is like ten degrees cooler. I'll live. 

I just extended my AV room for longer than what I need but I much rather have it than not. She's always booked up at $1200 a month.

AND ANOTHER THING

Look, we need to stop Catholic clergy who want to keep reinventing Christianity. You cannot have "liberal interpretations of church doctrine" and have stances against refugee acceptance and then want to be Pope. Cardinal, sir, you need Jesus! Remember, the dude on your crucifix. You cannot have "liberal interpretations of church doctrine" (ever, period!) What in the sainted holy mother Mary is wrong with you. Catholics need to start reading the Bible again. I like the Italian guy for Pope. Matteo-whats-his-name. Zuppi. Then again, it doesn't really matter what guy I like. I'm still not bowing down to a Pope, ever. I would have shaken hands with Pope Francis and been super honored to have met him. He seemed cool. Pope Francis followed the teachings of Christ and was true to his Papal vows. The short list of Cardinals floating around to replace Pope Francis however, not digging most of them. I will die on my protestant hill a violent bloody death in war before ever shaking hands with most of these guys on the short list for Pope.

Keep fighting the good fight Judges, and Harvard! Since that orange inflatable tube donkey won't listen to you or basic law, we can all kiss the constitution goodbye until they drag him out of the White House by his ankles in 2028 kicking and screaming, and then someone needs to put that clown in jail. Preferably an El Salvadorian jail. Titus Andronicus, people! If ever there was a Nostradamus of politics Shakespeare wrote it in Titus Andronicus! Bless this administration's hearts. Bless their hearts. You just know a scandal involving Leavitt and that orange inflatable tube donkey is going to happen. You just know it. "I did not have sexual relations with that woman!" And in the orange inflatable tube donkey's defense that might be true. I don't know how you define sexual relations but I'm pretty sure it's not Trump-o wheezing in pain as he struggles for fifteen minutes just trying to get his zipper down.

AND ANOTHER THING

All these conservative black politico types coming to the defense of this insane woman calling children the N-word, I get it, you're a Ding Dong, a Suzy Q, a Kazbar, I get it because I'm a twinkie, I too grew up in white America. I grew up walking the walk and talking the talk of educated white people resulting with getting super hated on by immigrant Asians, as I'm quite certain black folks hate on you from time to time for being "white". That said, as much as we endured the name calling done by our own racial demographic, it doesn't hold a candle to the name calling, job preventing, housing rejecting, and being physically pushed aside by many o' white folks over the years. All we can do is remember murder is a crime. Thou shall not kill. Thou shall not kill. Murder is illegal. I mean, murder is wrong. Thou shall not kill. (I say in jest. Calm down.) Oddly, white-on-white murder is booming. Not sure what that's all about. That's their battle. Point is, you have no moral or just reason to defend this racist woman. You don't owe her anything. She's not adding any value to your life. Someone donated $100 to this racist woman and commented, "Christ is king." Look, you can donate to her cause, fine, whatever. It's still a (somewhat) free country, but you're not a Christian. If you were a Christian, you would already know and respect using Christ/God's name in vain is a sin. It's the second commandment! "Thou shall not take my name in vain." Y'all need to go back to catechism! You're lucky my dad isn't still alive. He had a blog too and he ripped apart people who said Christ/God's name in vain. Oh boy, don't I know it firsthand! The problem here is, there are actual Catholics in the hierarchy who approve of racism. It's not the teaching of Christ/God. It's the teaching of narcissism. There is nothing Christian about racism. I would pray for these peoples' souls, but they surrendered them long ago.     

The faithful and good are being tested. We must beg Christ/God for forgiveness every day for we are all full of sin. Are we ready for end times, the great tribulation. Are we ready. Christ/God in thy grace unto life everlasting, protect us and keep us. Amen.   

* EDIT TO SAY

Back ten days ago I wrote a blog called: WHAT'S GOOD FOR OZZY and in it I addressed corrupt Cardinals who were found guilty of crimes but still got to be in the college of Cardinals, and I respectfully didn't name names, meanwhile Ozzy Osbourne urinated on a national treasure in Texas and was kicked out of San Antonio for like ten years. Cardinals should be held at a higher standard than Ozzy Osbourne, ya think? Well, I'm pleased to hear that convicted Cardinal Becciu withdrew from conclave. GOOD. Thou should not be eligible for Pope after being convicted of "major Vatican corruption". Savvy. 

 

GOD BLESS CANADA

Good afternoon!

Please forgive the grammatical errors. 

Congratulations Canada! Prime Minister Carney seems like a good guy. You might have to jumpstart him a few times during the day, but you made a wise choice. 

I'm not a Liberal. I'm an independent. Means I think for myself. I'm also a Christian. Means I praise God, not man. Right now, America is the bad guy. It took this president less than 100 days in office to make us the global villain. Even when President Bush was in office, both of them, Bush I and II, America was not the global villain we are today. Let that sink in. The current administration made even Canada hate us. Canada! Nicest people on the planet. The only agenda Trump-o has is to keep America dumb and scared of non-whites. The only problem with that agenda is aside from the fact American is almost half non-white give it five years; we're also not a bunch of uneducated ten-year-olds. Add to that, many Americans who don't travel outside of the country for business, do so for leisure before the age of twenty-five. Global commerce both business and pleasure. "DUH!!" Even Bush I and II knew not to mess that up. This president and his tariffs, and his gripe against Zelenskyy is solely because American loves Zelenskyy for not bowing down to Putin like some people. Trump-o is an absolute disgrace to the American people. Even Bush I and II would praise Zelenskyy. 

AND ANOTHER THING

No one is buying the Trump-o prayer routine. I would love to hear a Trump-o prayer. I would love to see Trump-o visit a Sunday school classroom. Sunday school catechism is no joke. I don't know about nuns, but protestant teachers can be mean AF.  

Catechism: "And now President Trump-o will stand up and explain the Seventh Commandment."

Trump-o: "The seventh... what-now?"

Catechism: "The seventh commandment."

Trump-o: "The seventh..."

Catechism: "Commandment."

Trump-o: "Oh."

Catechism: "Thou shalt not..."

Trump-o: "Thou shalt not... Thou shalt not..."

Catechism: "Steal. Thou shalt not steal."

Trump-o: "Seriously?" 

Catechism: "Yardstick!"

In a week or so I head back to Antelope Valley. Looking forward to it. I hate the commute into the city, but I've stayed with this lady I'm renting from in AV twice before. Love her. She's a very popular boarder. Had she a room available on the dates I needed I never would have come back into the city but, it's only money. No use crying over spilt milk, eh. Although, I did cry two days ago. 

I was shooting landscape and wildlife at the local reservoir when I dropped my phone for the one-hundredth time and 1/3 of the screen shattered. I was due for a new phone anyway I just didn't want to do it right then and there. I had the day planned. Oh well. I have a new phone, and yes, I got a phone case and screen protector. Only problem is, I'm stuck with the broken phone for another month because I just paid the bill, and I don't want to add a second line to my plan, and so now I can't read notifications because that part of the screen is shattered, and I can't tap on the screen because the screen is shattered, and I can't talk on the phone unless it's on speaker (which I don't do even if I could because it's rude), and I can't wear earbuds because the phone is... well, broken. First world problems.

I'm waiting for a delivery as I now type. Groceries. I'm failing no warm-blooded animal vegetarianism. Bacon! I just love bacon. I suck. I'm not supposed to be eating bacon even, but it's air fried and... I suck. I'm thinking of posting pictures of baby piglets all over and naming the piglets to get me to stop eating bacon. This is the second time now I ate bacon. I'm weak! And now that my delivery has arrived, I've come to conclusion I should not buy my snacks online. Since my stroke I have very little distance and depth perception unless it's immediately in front of me. A box could be two foot in front of me, and I'll never be certain if it's two feet in front of me or six feet in front of me, if it's an 8x10 box or a breadbox, I just have to keep walking until I reach the box, and for this reason I really should not order my snacks online. I bought a 27.3 oz box, 1.3 LBS of goldfish just now (I love goldfish) but when it arrived the box of goldfish was HUGE. Like, I have no idea how big in my broken stroked out brain I thought 1.3 pounds would be, but... it's HUGE! I'm 'bout to make it rain goldfish in the street y'all!

NEWSFLASH: It's being reported that RFK JR thinks there is aborted fetus in vaccines. Mm-hmm. Oh, that RFK JR. What, is he mad he can't strap a fetus to the roof of his car and drive it home? I know abortion is no joking matter, but this guy is just out there. Way out there. I don't like abortion. I think it's murder. That said, I also don't want to raise your unwanted children. Abortion is a horrendous method of birth control, but I also don't want a bunch of unwanted babies growing up to be homeless unwanted adults either. Perhaps, if we use the term "murder" when describing abortion, that lingo will stick in the minds of gals who might then be responsible enough in the heat of the moment and say, "Let's not make sexy time without double protection because I don't want to murder any babies." How about that. Of course, saying no and waiting until marriage is also an option. The preferable option.

I want to talk about country music lyrics for minute. I used to listen to country music. Sometimes I still do. The country music I know, however, come from the 50's to 70's, songs about growing up in a particular state, growing up poor, growing up in love with a gal who lives five miles up the road, growing up to regional home cooking, falling in love, heartache, fighting the man aka government, fighting in bars, fighting for love, keeping the farm, keeping the house, every day struggles, family, friends, the simple enjoyments in life, childhood memories... country music was about the part of the country the singer grew up in. Every song painted a portrait. A beautiful emotional portrait. And the best part was it didn't matter if the singer was from Mississippi and you were in Tennessee, or Minnesota, or Wyoming when you heard the song, we all still related. 

Almost Heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River

Life is old there, older than the trees

Younger than the mountains, growing like the breeze

Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong

West Virginia, mountain mama

Take me home, country roads

Amen, Mr. Denver. God rest you.

AND

This administration still won't release Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Still! This administration's erection for this man is... well, it's rape. They're raping his life. They're taking Garcia's life in the vilest despicable way. They're raping him. No one can call themselves a Christian and think raping an innocent man's life is acceptable. You're not a Christian if you think this administration has the right. 

AND ANOTHER THING

YES, a thousand times yes, there's a difference between Catholics and Christians. Catholics used to be Christians. They were the original Christians, but the Catholic church long ago stopped teaching the word of Christ and stopped reading from the Bible. Christ is Christianity. The same, Jesuits teach Jesus. The Catholic church stopped teaching Christ and the Bible, for reasons I don't know why, and they have become the church of Catholicism, not the church of Christ, instead teaching about saints, disciples, resurrection, God and the "holy" interpretation between anointed man and God (aka Popes, bishops, arch bishops, deacons, and priests) that protestant Christians don't believe in because the Bible and the first commandment instructs us not to. Protestants teach Christ and the Bible; that's why protestants are referred to as Christians. Christians = Christ. Jesuits = Jesus. You cannot call yourself a Christian and bow down to a man. All these politicians who claim to be Christians and literally bow down and lay hands upon (any) Pope or president cannot call themselves a Christian. Christians put their faith in Christ/God, and Christ/God alone, not man, as the Bible and first commandment instructs. I'll die a bloody violent death on this hill. Hence centuries of murders and violent bloodbath wars and after violent bloodbath wars when protestants refused to bow down to men of Catholic church power. I hope that clears things up. Come back to the Bible, Catholics. Leave the wealth and hypocrisy. Come back to your clerical vows and the church you started. -- No? Love the money too much? Oh well. What can you do. 

And God saw the wickedness of man was great in the Earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 

And it repented the Lord that he had made man on Earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

-- Genesis 6:5-6 

God bless us and keep us. Amen.