What a difference a day makes

Twenty four little hours
One of life's greatest affirmations is finding

a kindred spirit. With whom we share a deep

bond. The past days many of like mind have

been basking in the thrill that we have a new

President. Collectively enjoying the feeling

that the weight of the world had been lifted

off our shoulders. Said joy is not driven out

of spite. Nor a residual dose of "I told you

so." Rather we're simply enjoying the calm

post Donald Trump's stormy exit from the

oval office. Suddenly all the mania is gone.

Sans Tweets, lies. or drama it's no wonder

that we all feel as if we've just escaped hell.

Two weeks later
Suddenly I've got time on my hands. Rather

than fret all day. Instead of being glued to

the news. I'm finally able to breathe a sigh

of relief for the first time in over four years.

Who knew that two weeks after the crisis

at our Capitol we'd be hopeful? Reveling

in the joy of life as we once knew it. And

at least for a few days - catching up on all

we've missed while distracted. Hence I've

been poking about the house. Free to take

care of my missed opportunities. Feeling

as if I've been given a chance to get back

to normal. And hopefully get a fresh start.

A new day
I'm fully aware that many of my fellow

citizens are still angry. Convinced that

the election was stolen. Yet could they

also be enjoying the silence? Suddenly

Donald J. Trump is nothing more than

a mute (not moot) point. A nuisance

who has suddenly become irrelevant.

Obviously we Americans continue to

differ. The tension of democracy being

anything but sunshine, lollipops and

rainbows. Yet while shell shocked we

are finally exiting our haze. To discover

that America is stronger than ever.

GO TO THE LIGHT...

Change for change's sake
In theory Americans have much in common.

The foundation of democracy being liberty

and justice for all. However everything else

is a matter of choice once we move beyond

it's core. So it comes as no surprise that we

each see things in our own way. To each

their own being a good thing. Except when

it deters the process of evolution. Change is

exactly what this country needs. Which will

at some point require that we each give in.

Rethink preconceived notions. And maybe

alter the course of this nation for the better.

Or watch our American dream reach its end.

Three strikes and you're out
Inauguration night a national celebration was

televised. All of the major networks ran this

star studded homage to America. Plus PBS,

CNN, and CNBC. Yet the Fox News channel

opted to ignore the obvious. Choosing instead

to run it's traditional terrible three - Tucker - 

Hannity - and Ingraham. Thus as the rest of

America reveled in a patriotic panoply, Fox

viewers were consumed with vitriolic anger.

Which went so low it was embarrassing. Thus

I wonder how we can overcome Fox's cultish

rhetoric.Is their futile quest for higher ratings

so important that America must be damned?

Station break
Recently a gentleman wrote a letter to our

local editor. Like many others he rambled

off a raft of second hand falsehoods. Ending

with a statement that "our government has

failed us". Suggesting that consequently - 

"only God can save us." In a way one can't

blame him. If all I did was watch Fox News

each night I would also give up hope. And

so our challenge is how to save those who

purposefully poison themselves on a nightly

basis. It's almost impossible to see the light

if you tune into the dark side. If only there

was a way we could flip their channel....

ORDINARY PEOPLE

Doing what comes naturally
We're all human. Even when at times some of

us don't behave as such. Yesterday we swore

in a new President and Vice President. A man

and a woman. Folks just like us. Who breathe, 

eat, and sleep in order to survive. Thus when

it comes to other humans beings there is little

difference between one or the other. Yet as we

learned all too well it takes a unique person

to inspire, lead, and motivate the rest of us. As

a leader - even the most humble is required to

rise to the occasion. To lead by example. And

if they do their job - to show us the way. Even

when some of us want to do anything but that.

Equal but different
Joe may be just a guy. Kamala just a gal. Yet

I believe both will change America for the

better. Doing their best to help us be our best.

However we all must do our part. To step up,

reach out, and open our minds and hearts.

Nothing good will happen sans partnership,

collaboration, and at times capitulation. As

proven by our track record in Washington

D.C. over the last twelve years. Now is the

time to accept each other as equals. Because

we're more alike than we think we are. And

ready to indulge each other in equal shares

of human decency. It's time don't you think?

All together now
Somehow I feel the weight of the world has

been lifted off my shoulders. Not because

all of our problems are gone. But due to the

fact that our two new leaders have already

proved that they are decent human beings. 

Not perfect. Not always right (nor wrong).

But living, breathing, caring, and evolving

folks like us. And that's the difference. As

of Wednesday it's no longer all about them. 

But rather all about the people they humbly

serve. And what could be more human than

that? Reason enough to be optimistic and

celebrate. God bless them and America!

WALL TO WALL

Major hang ups?

Being forced to hang out at home limits

one's options. Yet self-imposed isolation

enables one to see things for what they

are. Thus rather than climbing the walls

many are painting, papering, and further

embellishing them. C+V HOME has a

plethora of unique wall accoutrements

in-stock. From sconces to mirrors to art

and more. So why not get the hang of it?

Click here to read the latest

C+V HOME BLOG

WHAT'S OUR PROBLEM?

Who, what, when, and where
Racism is by it's very nature myopically inbred.

While most won't admit it - prejudice "colors"

our perspective. Causing many Americans to

see others for NOT who they are. But rather

WHAT they assume they are. Notice I used the

word "what". That's because the deep set roots

of racism's evil is that it dehumanizes any who

differ from the norm. Even when said standard

benefits the lesser of said evil versus those it

penalizes. White America is a fantasy at best.

Lies aside - uur ever evolving nation has long

been a melting pot. A multi-hued melange that

by it's very nature defies unconventional bias.

Hidden agenda
The theory that the color of one's skin makes

them superior is convoluted at best. Hence

since mid-sixties attempts at reform racism

has tried to hide beneath the surface. A dark

secret poisoning society. It's subtle cruelty

tainting laws, leaders, and opportunities.

Then Donald Trump unleashed its evil by

publicly validating known racists. Fueling

their warped perspective for political gain.

Lancing America's bias boil to unleash a

tsunami of purulence. Whose sole purpose

is to strategically eradicate the inalienable

rights of targeted minorities. 

The truth be told?
Which leads us to where America is today.

Some may deny it but white supremacy is

the greatest threat to democracy. In that it's

sole purpose is to eliminate equality. Thus

racism is the cultural gasoline that fueled

Trump's insurrection. Our constitutional

crisis is all about power. WHITE power.

Thus as some argue that "all lives matter"

their true message is that WHITE trumps

black. In that no other race or color could

ever be more important than theirs. Proof

that we still have a lot to learn. Hence our

collective problem is US not just "them". 

TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES

Nowhere to hide
There are times when I wish I lived in another

time. One where a lack of technology offered

some respite. A buffer zone between an actual

event. The subsequent sorting out of what just

happened. And a final fact based analysis that

clearly defines it all for history. Unfortunately

nowadays the immediacy of our instant access

to information throws all of us in the midst of

said milieu. Swept up by the swirl sans being

able to change a channel, put the paper down,

or step aside and somehow get on with life. A

new reality which makes virtual reality almost

impossible to ignore or... escape.

It is what it is
Whether I want to or not I can't stop thinking

about what just happened in our U.S. Capitol.

It's hard to be rational when submerged in the

subsequent deluge of images, video, and data.

All not only confirming what we initially saw

and thought was right. But further reinforcing

just how close we came to the edge. Or as of

now just how fragile the tenuous ties that bind

America together truly are. For all we know -

those rebellious insurgents could strike again.

Threatening the very core of our democracy.

And for what? A plethora of lies propagated

by our President himself. And many more.

Dressed to kill
Stepping back, it's easy to understand why we

didn't consider a herd of MAGA clad clowns

as a threat. When in reality - within said group

were packs of wolves in cheap clothing. Evil

predators, disenfranchised outsiders, and just

plain crazies. All hellbent on doing Trump's 

bidding. Blinded by their devotion to the man

himself, conspiracy theories, and extremist

rhetoric. Yet in the end - somehow they were 

stopped and disaster was averted. A miracle

in and of itself. In that as the dust settles it

what becomes clear is how deep their cancer

has poisoned our nation. And may still kill it.

Guilty as charged
As the facts continue to come out - we have

one choice. Which is to stop this insurrection.

To do what is necessary to stem Mr. Trump's

tide of deception. Hence his impeachment is

a necessary evil. Next - all who helped him

spread his lies must be removed. Including

elected members of our Senate and Congress

who propagated lies versus truths for political

advantage. Then there is the MAGA media.

Those pundits who used their bully pulpits

to promote lies in order to increase ratings. 

It's time we spoke the truth. And hold all of

those liars accountable. 

7th Day Surprise: TRUE BLUE

 

CHILL PILL

The official start of winter is the solstice on December 21st.

However here in rural Montana we're already chilling.

Rather than be blue, let's celebrate the season.

Let it snow,

let it snow,

LET IT SNOW!