Word of the Day: April 17, 2020

 Cockwomble
(noun) A person, usually male, prone to making outrageously stupid statements and/or inappropriate behaviour while generally having a very high opinion of their own wisdom and importance.

Hahahahahahaha.  Love it.  

How N spends his time in quarantine

He is such a glorious goofball.  Notice the pile of whoopie cushions next to him.  I miss him.

Getting creative with technology during a global pandemic

We FaceTimed our great-granddaughter, Sweet C, in Kentucky the other day. She was SO cute, and seemed interested in the two old folks yammering at her on the screen. I sang to her, and played pattacake.

Grandson N received his first cell phone so he can interact with the outside world. (When he is allowed to use the phone) he has been texting us with hilarious messages containing no periods or commas. 

I sent a New York State friend photos of our current Florida flowers. She sent me back photos of old friends like blood root, bleeding hearts, and daffodils poking their heads out of the cold, dark NYS soil. Spring is coming!

Great Grandpa, pulling out all the stops to entertain Sweet C
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My correspondence with N.  My comments are in blue.  I'm trying to figure out if he is being a smart aleck when he says "That's fascinating"
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Bleeding Hearts, lifting our spirits as life returns to the frozen northlands

Sometimes

Sometimes I just don't know what to say. 

Too soon

Aaack, my heart!  My youngest grandson no longer thinks I'm the funniest person in the world. 

I knew this would happen eventually.  But I'm not ready for N The Logical. I haven't yet had my fill of N The  Peurile. Not fair!

A couple of weeks ago I picked him up from school. I employed my usual shtick. He did not laugh. Instead, he replied "Grandma, you don't have to try so hard to make me happy." THAT gave me pause. I don't? What if I want to? He's not the boss of me.

Last week I picked him up again. As he climbed into the back seat I said (with great enthusiasm) "Hello, Punkin!"   He took his seat, buckled his seat belt and said "You know, Grandma, I'm 8 years old now. You really have to stop calling me all those baby names."  

Darn it. I'm not ready to grow up.

Today I am practicing my itsy bitsy spider routine so I can Facetime our great-granddaughter.  I'm SURE I can make her laugh, for years and years.

And hey, look!  A new banana blossom in our yard.

It is still beautiful out there

Essential thoughts

Today we would have headed to the airport to pick up our nephew, his wife, and their toddler. I've never met the toddler. I was looking forward to meeting her. Of course that has been cancelled, But it can be rescheduled.

I keep a fervid eye on my toilet paper rolls. I wonder how many my daughter has, but at the same time, I don't want to know, because there simply isn't any more to buy in the stores. What the hell is THAT all about?

I wake up in the middle of the night worrying about what my picky grandson will eat when they run out of his favorite food. I wonder if our great-granddaughter has enough formula. For crying out loud, get a grip, woman!

I am not complaining, I'm commiserating. We are all going through this together, all around the world. And I have it easy. I can stay home. 

In addition to doctors and nurses, my current heroes are hospital and nursing home janitors and cooks. I'm grateful for the trash collectors I see out there, and the delivery people who bring us goods. I appreciate my postman who continues to bring my mail. I feel for clerks behind counters at grocery stores and pharmacies, underpaid, overexposed, and unable to take time off.  Farm workers! 

We all take pride in our work, but it is humbling to discover just who the "essential service workers" are. 

I read a story about a young father crying in the grocery store, holding his infant. He couldn't find any formula.  Does anyone know how to make your own? Didn't our mothers do that in the 1950's? 

This statue is of a vineyard worker in Napa Valley, California.

Hell has frozen over.

Today's headline in the Orlando Sentinel: 

Disney World, Universal Orlando closing theme parks for rest of March as coronavirus concerns swell

But they are keeping open the free, business areas (Disney Springs, City Walk). I'm trying to figure out how that makes sense. 

Still, closing the parks is the right thing to do and I'm happy they are putting the public health before profits. I was wondering if that would happen.

Update: Sea World is closing, too.

Busy, busy, busy

What a week, right?  We live in exciting times, and I experienced all the highs and lows the unexpected excitement all this profound political frenzy generated.

Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar dropped out just before Super Tuesday. Elizabeth Warren dropped out a few days later. These were my top three candidates.

When Pete dropped out, I threw a big stinkin' fit. I'm not bragging, I'm just not going to lie.  This is what I posted:



Then Amy dropped out. Sheesh.

I appreciate the self-sacrifice of these two candidates. I am in awe of the swift strategic brilliance of it all. Who knew the Democrats could still pull together and show unity/strength? Anyway, I still had Elizabeth! She was probably the best candidate anyway, right? And I'm sorry, but I really, really, really want women (plural) to be in power. So I posted this:


I got a lot of sh** with that one from angry, threatened men, and women who do not want to appear threatening. They took their best shots. I took it on the chin. I got way more support and sympathy than criticism. 

Then Elizabeth Warren dropped out. I have no illusions about sexism, or misogyny in American politics. I've been a feminist since 1968. My heart no longer breaks. It pounds, hard and loud. Occasionally it spurts blood. Politics are messy. Some battles may never be won, but they still must be fought. 

I'm feeling pretty good today. I can step back and let the two remaining candidates try to convince me. It's almost a relief not having to care so much anymore. 

I'll vote for one of The Men in November.  I won't be excited for either, but I'll vote. If the winner doesn't choose a woman VP, I will feel betrayed and angry, but I won't be surprised.

My passion now will be doing what I can to ensure that the Democrats take over the majority in the Senate. If you can't do one thing, then look around for something else you CAN do. 

Today's fantasy satire alert

Okay, you guys are going to think I'm a complete nut, but for some reason that doesn't bother me.  Here goes my latest fantasy satire alert:

There's a bill that passed both the Florida State House and Florida Senate. It is being forwarded to our moronic Republican governor, Ron DeSatan DeSantis, to approve into law. It is a bill that, if passed, will require girls under 18 years old to get their parents consent before they can get an abortion. 

It does not take into account that a girl child might be raped, or that the father of the baby might be one of her parents or step-parents. Or a sibling. This is not the kind of information a young girl will want to tell her mother, especially if the mother is abusive. Don't kid yourself, some mother's don't take their daughter's side.

My smart aleck counter legislation:  

If this bill goes through, there should be a companion bill automatically giving the father of an underage child's fetus 9 months jail (for statutory rape) or probation time (if the father is an underage boy).  It takes two to tango.

Remember, if you're a good parent your daughter will always feel free to come to you for help. You don't need a law to make that happen, you just need to be a good parent.