B(N)C

     I miss the good old B(N)C days--Before News Channels. Back then at the end of an election a lot of people did not get the president they wanted but they knew that, except for some impeachable offense, there was nothing they could do about it for four years. By the time you were old enough to vote, the concept that you don't always get what you want, had been drilled deeply into your consciousness by your parents, teachers, and pretty much every adult around you. Presidents were just one more thing in that broad unwanted category. So after an election adults just went on about the business of life--work, family, finances, etc. Politics was just one segment of the evening news.
     Fast forward a couple decades and there are probably dozens of cable channels dedicated to nothing but news 24/7. We do not have cable and I am too lazy to research the actual number, but five spring to mind immediately, so dozens seem reasonable. Being a news junkie is actually a thing now. Many people who consider hours spent on video games a complete waste of time, consider the hours they spent learning about video game addiction on a cable news channel worthwhile. They are not wasting time, they are researching things to be upset about. At best, they are well informed worriers. But the main distinguishing characteristic of news junkies is that they are pissed off. Not only are they addicted to news binge inspired anger, but they want you to be angry too. Thanks for sharing.
     What you have to remember about news networks is that:

                              They are not trying to inform you.
                              They are not even trying to bias you.
                              They are trying to attract viewers,
                              so that will attract advertisers,
                              so they will be well paid
                              to say the same things over and over.

     The best way to make people willing to listen even when there is no new news, is to make everything that happens sound urgent. Some things are urgent, the Thai soccer team trapped in a water filled cave was urgent. Rehashing the hows, whys and whethers of Trump's presidency is a moot point because of the when. Whether you love Trump or hate him, the election is over and nothing will change that for two more years. If no news is good news, then 24/7 news would be. . . really bad. Let's act like adults and go back to the business of life the way we did in the good old B(N)C days.

Unpresidented

     I voted for Trump. I did not want to, because he comes across as an arrogant jerk. I would not have wanted to converse with him at a party, even less at a family reunion. But I liked the things he stood for. Now I am glad I voted for Trump. His term so far has been an unprecedented presidency, so unlike the previous ten presidents of my lifetime. Most presidents spend their entire first term trying not to keep their campaign promises. That appeases the people who did not vote for him into thinking he is not so bad. And it motivates his supporters to elect him to a second term so he can finally fulfill them. Trump governs like a man who is not worried about a second term or a political career. He is a businessman and has, from his first day in office, gotten down to the business of keeping his campaign promises. Naturally, he has been thwarted in this by obstructionist Democrats, who have done everything but throw a tantrum on the Capitol floor, and by amnesiac Republicans, who forgot their campaign promises the instant they were elected.  Trump has governed like a CEO trying to rescue a failing enterprise.
     And we were failing. We were failing to be the land of opportunity, where free education and hard work bring success, because we forced the industrious to provide the same lifestyle for the indolent. We were failing to hold oppressive regimes' feet to the fire because those nations knew our ominous words were not backed with military might. We were failing to protect our own citizens from criminals and terrorists disguised as immigrants because our president refused to secure our borders or even name our enemies. We were becoming more racially divided than in Jim Crow days. And all these failings would have continued had Hillary been elected, except we would have exchanged accusations of racism for accusations of sexism. Jokes about the president, long the staple of late night comedians, are no longer on the hate speech list.
     I see Trump's election as a sign that God has not given up on our country. Not because Trump is a godly man, but because he has chosen to be surrounded and advised by godly men. Frankly, I would rather follow a fool, advised by godly men, than one who would rule with a phone and a pen. (I so badly wanted to post that on Facebook, but I want my testimony there to be about Christ, not politics.) I am no longer afraid North Korea will nuke us in our beds. And if they try, they will only do it once. NATO is beginning to understand America will not continue to subsidize their all expense paid ride. The economy is improving so much that liberals are getting tears of frustration all over their stock portfolios. Our southern border is becoming more like a turnstile and less like a sieve. And I just realized last week that, though I don't understand the complexities of tariffs, I trust Donald Trump to do the right thing. Yes, I like buying inexpensive products, but it might be a nice change to buy something not Made In China. I TRUST DONALD TRUMP. I never thought I would say that about a politician. But then, he is not a politician. He is a business man, and a unique, unprecedented president.

If It Tells You Anything About Me

Tracy's dogs were alarmed when they heard the unfamiliar sound of me setting up the ironing board. They have lived with us two and a half years.

I had to hunt for my iron. The iron was a gift from a home care client. My previous iron died of loneliness.

The first year at our former home, I thought our chandelier globes were frosted. Then I washed them.

I wake up every morning with a song in my head. It could be anything from a commercial jingle from my childhood, a movie theme, or a hymn. It's like a ear worm that crawls in while I'm sleeping and spends the morning with me, like it or not.

When my husband first got his business credit card, I was hesitant to use it. Ex: What if I want to use some of the office supplies we bought on his Visa?  Now I'm like:  Heck yeah the labradoodle goes on the business card. We're on a business trip, aren't we?

I grew up thinking camping was for people who couldn't afford a real vacation. My idea of camping is a cheap hotel. 

I get upset if I discover the gallon of milk I just bought was $.20 cheaper at the next store, but I am not particularly bothered by a $30 discrepancy when I balance the checkbook.

I add up my grocery bill in my head as I shop so there are no surprises at check out. I know exactly how much money I have in my wallet at all times. I also know the best sale price of any item we use regularly.

I wash and reuse One Zip plastic bags, but not ordinary ziplocs, I have some standards.

I seldom pay full price for anything except store brands. I want to be buried in a Costco casket.

I am seldom late, but I also hate being early. Unlike my Dad who would show up 20 minutes early for his own execution. I tell my husband, I don't mind being early for being on time, but I refuse to be early for being early. He doesn't understand it either. I usually arrive right on time.

I love looking at beautiful landscaping, but have no interest in creating or maintaining it. I am relieved when the frost kills my flowers and I no longer have to water them. I love annuals because they die.

When we went on our cruise, I did not want the cleaning staff to see my cracked makeup cases and think I was some poor bumpkin who could not afford makeup, so I went back to the Dollar Tree and bought replacements.

What God Didn't Say

     I was so impressed when I did my Bible study in 1 Samuel by what God didn't say. The people of Israel were no longer satisfied with being ruled by judges, they wanted a king. They wanted a king for two reasons, the first is peer pressure. All the cool nations had kings. They wanted to fit in. Samuel could have used the line from the parents' manual--If all the other nations decided to jump off a cliff, would you? But the reason that had to hit Samuel hard, was that his sons were ungodly, they took bribes and perverted justice and Israel did not want them to lead their nation. Since the Bible does not say otherwise, I assume this is true. Apparently the object lesson of what happened to Eli's sons made no impression on them.
    So Samuel took his disappointment to God. What the Lord didn't say was, "They are right about your sons." Instead he took the rejection on Himself and told Samuel to listen to the people. No condemnation. No shame. He just told Samuel what to do next.
     There are lots of other examples of such compassion of God toward his people. He did not introduce himself to Abram by saying, "Hello moon worshiper." Instead, he chose Abram to be the father of his people and promise. Then told him what to do next. When God came to Hagar as the Angel of the Lord when she fled to the wilderness, He didn't say, "So, how did despising your mistress work out for you?" Instead, he promised her a son and nation of her own. Then he told her what to do next. When Jacob had to run for his life after stealing his brother's birthright blessing, God didn't say, "What a rotten trick to play on your Dad." Instead, he gave him a dream of a stairway to heaven, introduced Himself, and made beautiful promises.
     And then there is me. When I come to God, I do not hear, "You again? Do you know how many things you have done wrong today?" Even when I ask God to show me my sins to confess them, He doesn't dump the truckload on me, He usually just shows me one. I can handle one--although I can multitask at sinning. And perhaps I can show that same kind of compassion to someone who has hurt or disappointed me. To reach out when I want to strike out. To bless instead of berate. Or at least to pray again as I have so often, "If you can't make me saintly, make me silent." Compassion can speak eloquently in the things we don't say.

Geezer Prevention Dress Code

Older women should not wear white pants with adult diapers. They show. Depend on that.

Makeup rule--less is more. Moderate makeup makes you look younger, too much makes you look older. That is probably not the look you are going for.

If you can't tell the difference between your brow pencil, lip liner and eye liner, don't use any of them. Blue eyebrows draw attention to your face, but not in a good way.

If you are still wearing your high school hair color and style, you either looked stupid as a teenager, or you look stupid now.

Gray hair, worn long, makes 99 percent of women look like witches. Most of the remaining one percent are aging fashion models.

If you wear shorts down to your knees and socks up to your knees, they cancel each other out. Just wear pants.

Even if your black socks match your black shorts, they don't go together.

Same goes for socks and sandals. Are you cold or hot? Make up your mind or, at least, make up your feet.

Pearls do not go with a sweatshirt. Frankly, there is very little jewelry that goes with a sweatshirt.

When young people tell older people their outfit is cute, they actually mean pathetic.

Older men--if the suspenders are working, you don't need the belt, and vice versa.

Wearing leggings will make you more comfortable and everyone else--less.

The washing machine does not remove pet hair from your clothing. It redistributes it.

Sense of smell diminishes with age. You and your clothes have not become unscented, wash both frequently.

Sense of taste diminishes also, which is why you need the above guidelines.