Let's start out with Mountain Family news. I actually got a text from Vergil's mama early this morning answering one I'd sent her a few days ago. She said things are a mess but the family is coming together in "heavy camping mode," working it out. And work it out they will. As I wrote her back, their strength and resourcefulness is humbling.
Vergil has located and bought a generator that he can take up there and he'll be leaving here on Sunday. He has a lot of electrical engineering skills and so will be able to help the family get one of the houses hooked up. I know he feels so much better now that he has a plan. He had actually scheduled a sailing trip with some old friends for two weeks starting on Sunday so he already has the time off. Going to Black Mountain will not be a pleasure trip for him but I know Vergil and there is nowhere he would rather be right now than up on his beloved mountain helping his family.
From the videos I've been watching, people are coming together to help in all of the Helene-affected areas from the west coast of Florida to Tennessee. Roads into the flooded out places are being restored as quickly as possible but there is no doubt in my mind that things are going to be nowhere near "normal" for years to come. If ever.
I keep thinking of the town of Old Fort which is where we rented the same house for two summers. That house had more love and consideration put into it than any place I've ever stayed, from the stuffed animals and books in the children's room to the Kitchen Aid in the kitchen, just in case you need to whip some cream or make some bread. Beautiful antiques, thoughtful touches everywhere and I'm not talking about signs that say things like "Love Makes A House A Home" from the Big Lots store, either.
From what I hear, Old Fort is just wiped off the map. And I'm sure, because I stayed in that house and met the landlady and noticed and appreciated all the love she'd put into the house, I am focusing my thoughts there and up on Black Mountain where my son-in-law was born and raised by his amazing family.
These two things make it all so real and I grieve for all the losses.
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I actually got outside and did some work today. I thinned arugula in the garden and did some weeding. I am the world's worst thinner of baby plants. I admit this every year and every year I swear that I am going to be RUTHLESS when it comes to making room for the plants as they grow and every year I do not.
I guess some is better than none.
After lunch I went back out and finished the branch clean-up in the front yard and moved to the side yard between us and our next door neighbors. I got way too involved in that and started doing things like pulling thorn vines down from trees and bamboo. Those vines are so wicked that as I think I've said before, a good self-flagellating Christian martyr would pay a lot of money for a few yards of these things. But there is something so satisfying about pulling and tugging and getting those things out of the trees they're entangled in. It makes me feel strong and capable of doing crazy things. And then I cut those vines up and put them in the yard cart and haul them to the burn pile. I even broke a very sturdy bamboo with my pulling of vines in it today. I cut the pieces of that up too, and to the burn pile it went. Now none of that is going to do any good. The vines will grow back as fast as bamboo does. And all the while I was working in that area, I was seeing all the damn stinking rose glory bower and I say "stinking" because it does smell nasty and is taking over my entire yard.
As are the pinecone lilies.
I heard someone say of Vance last night that “a smooth lie is still a lie.” JD is all the more dangerous because he’s a slick liar, and a man who has changed stripes opportunistically, and who really, really doesn’t like or respect women. I’m glad Virgil is headed to the mountain to lend his love and expertise. Thinking about your mountain in laws camping out and that house where you stayed being gone must really bring the devastation of the storm close to home.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly true about Vance and lying. And he obviously has a hell of a lot of practice. Have you noticed how he always refers to his wife as "beautiful" as if that's her only needed attribute? Oh yeah, he says she's a good mother, too.
DeleteI'm glad that Vergil's going too. I think he's already been there in his mind for days so it'll be good for him to actually get there.
I do feel so much of a more personal connection to the devastation because of our time up there and because of the fact that family is up there.
Clam spaghetti on the here menu for Friday night here, one of my top favorites; my husband likes it, but I LOVE it, and I’m the cook.
ReplyDeleteVance is truly terrible and such a threat because he’s smart. I’m sure he took the candidacy because he’s counting on the old guy corking off mid-administration (please god there will be no such administration) leaving him as number one, a terrifying thought. Margaret
Let’s make that ‘menu here.’ M
DeleteRemember when politicians at least gave lip service to the idea of serving their country with leadership? These days the Republicans don't ever try to present anything noble as far as I can see.
DeleteUnfortunately he looked straight in the camera and spoke in a loud clear strong voice. And the fact that all he said was lies really didn't seem to make much of a difference.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Trump looks shady when he lies but that's all the time so there's no real change in him. Vance somehow manages to look sane and even slightly honest. I think it's those blue eyes.
Delete183 deaths and mostly in NC ... so sad, so terrible!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are seeing all the new stuff about the Orange Lump and his criminal activities that is on the TV this evening! Newly unsealed Jack Smith filing: Trump resorted to crimes to cling to power!
Tim Walz started off kinda shaky and then he got his footing and I thought he did really well!
I can't help but think that mortality numbers will go up when they are finally able to get to the most remote places.
DeleteI did read about the new charges against Trump by Jack Smith. Smith is not going to give up.
That mushroom looks like a disease! Speaking about diseases, I would like to suggest that the reason for Vance's pretty civil tone at the debate is that he has seen the signs that Kamala Harris is going to win and he's looking four or eight years into the future when he hopes to be the lead Republican candidate. He's playing the long game.
ReplyDeleteVergil's delay in getting up to North Carolina is probably a good thing - giving time for more road repairs.
I think you're right about Vance and the long game but who knows? I am grateful that I have no idea how men like that think.
DeleteVergil is getting up there as fast as he can. He needed to wait until roads up to the mountain are good enough to get all the things he's hauling up there. Also- getting your hands on a generator right now is not the easiest thing. He's ordered one and he's hoping it gets here in time for him to leave on Sunday.
You accomplished a lot in the garden. Anything done in the yard shows and makes a nice difference. Very satisfying.
ReplyDeleteVance is slick and I believe most people are on to him.
I remain firmly in the Harris - Walz camp.
I hope Vergil has a safe trip to the mountain. The damage to roads appears severe but rescue/relief vehicles seem to be getting through.
I do get a sense of accomplishment when I work in the yard.
DeleteI doubt Trump's devotees care a bit about Vance and whether he's a liar or not. Trump could have picked Ronald McDonald and they wouldn't care.
Rescue vehicles are getting through to some places but not all by any means.
The images of Asheville and the surrounding areas are heartbreaking to see. So much devastation. I'm glad Vergil will be able to see and help his family. I also saw on the news about a plastics company that wouldn't let workers go until it was too late and eleven were swept away in the flood waters, five of them were rescued and the others drowned. I hope they sue that damned company into bankruptcy and then distribute the money amongst the families and surviviors.
ReplyDeleteI had to look up rose glory bower. Apparently it's in the same family of plants as mint, nuff said.
The one good thing about Vance, is that he's not insane, which almost makes him scarier.
I read about that factory too. What a horrible thing.
DeleteRose glory bower is related to mint? I did not know that but yes, it explains a lot.
Vance doesn't appear to be insane in the same way as Trump but personally, I think he may be just as crazy.
won't comment at length about debate, just to say that at least they were both *civil*....which is more than I can say for previous debate. And smart too.....also more than previous participant. Glad Vergil will be going to help family and good to hear they are persevering and SAFE,. Cranky as shit today here....106 degrees does NOT make me happy...or make me feel good. Tuna salad and tabouleh for din tonight.....do us just fine
ReplyDeleteSusan M
It was a civil debate and I did have to approve of that.
Delete106 degrees is way too hot. How are you tolerating that?
The fact that Vergil can do things to help his family and is willing to says a lot about him. I hope he has some peace of mind as a result.
ReplyDeleteVergil is very much dedicated to family and not just the one he was born into, either. He is such a good man.
DeleteI imagine that Vergil will feel much better just being there and setting his eyes on everything, and doing his level best to help his family through this time.
ReplyDeleteWhat I loved very much about that debate was that Walz started out kind of tentatively, didn't he? As if he was unsure of himself, but then you could see him visibly becoming outraged, and yet...he didn't! He spoke calmly, but passionately, and his words gathered strength and conviction as the debate went on. His earnestness was touching. And when he said "That's a damning non-answer..." I really could have cheered. It was a golden moment.
I hard that Walz told Harris when she was telling him she wanted him to be her running mate that he was not her guy because he's no good at debate. So he himself does not consider it his strong suit.
DeleteI thought his answers were very good and the fact that he had so many facts from his own state where he is governor, helped him a lot.
I'm glad Vergil has plans to help his family. He'll feel better being there and working with them.
ReplyDeleteSo many places are just gone, hard to really grasp.
I know. Just...gone. "This used to be a road." "This used to be a house." "This used to be a school." It's crazy.
DeleteI've been watching some of the news programmes about the clean up action and while my heart breaks for those affected, seeing how people are pulling together to help each other warms my heart no end!
ReplyDeleteYes. That is the truth.
DeleteIf I had something in my yard that stank to high heaven it would be the first thing I ripped out, roots and all. Are you able to do that or is it too huge and you'd need Glen's help? The mushroom is pretty and probably not at all edible. I read in my newspaper today that Vance actually won that debate which made me mad enough to toss the paper in the air, then of course I had to put it back together to do the puzzle pages.
ReplyDeleteOh, honey. I have spent twenty years trying to get rid of the rose glory bower here and it has only increased. I have pulled truckloads of it.
DeleteIs your newspaper generally right-leaning and if not, what criteria are they basing that judgement on?
I know nothing about my newspaper, I just buy it because it has a double puzzles page that keeps me occupied for an hour a day. I think they write stories based on what the previous night's TV news was showing.
DeleteHow many of Vergil's family are stuck on that mountain? Is it his parents, or are there siblings and kids as well?
ReplyDeleteHis mother, stepfather, sister, her husband and their three children are all up there.
DeleteYour family stories make the disaster more real to me. Otherwise, it’s just reading the news (which is bad enough). Glad there’s some contact and progress with Vergil’s family, and glad he can do something. It’s got to be hell to be helpless. As for your property, I’d pay someone to come in an clean up all the overgrowth and stinky growth. But I’d also be broke!
ReplyDeleteKnowing the people and places where disaster strikes does indeed make it all the more real. Yes, Vergil's mom actually got some pictures through today. They are unbelievable.
DeleteIf I had a ton of money I'd hire a crew to come clean up this yard. That's really what I need to do.
Glad for news of the Mountain Family and Vergil's pending trip up to the mountain. They are well prepared and are Surviviors. My thoughts are with them and you all, as always. x0x0 N2
ReplyDeleteThey really are well prepared. And strong as can be. Still, they need help as do all the people whose lives have been completely altered by that storm.
DeleteVirgil is so smart and it is great that he will be able to get out there and help his family. Good for him!
ReplyDeleteYou and Ellen in Texas put me to shame with all of your work outside. I just look the other way and try to ignore the weeds out there. It's starting to get cooler now so I really have no excuse for not getting to work on my weeds. Maybe tomorrow???... ;)
Vergil is indeed very, very smart. And his work ethic is strong.
DeleteEllen's the one who really gets out and gets things done in the yard but I sure do think of her when I'm out working in mine. I feel a sisterhood with her.
I'm glad Vergil is able to help out and I'm sure it makes him feel better to be able to do something. And I hope your retreat in Old Fort is somehow spared. Let us know when you get an update.
ReplyDeleteThat mushroom is a remarkable thing -- otherworldly.
I didn't watch the debate but I agree with you about Vance. Trump is loathsome but he's self-obsessed and (I'm convinced) not too bright; Vance is another matter.
Yes. Vergil is going to be so happy to finally be where he wants to be to help.
DeleteI don't think Trump is very smart either. He is smart enough to have hired slimy lawyers who are smart throughout his life but even those are failing him now. Plus- the dementia is strong in that one.
Vance ain't dumb.
I'm glad that Virgil has a plan and is setting out to help his family. He is a keeper. sad to think that sweet cottage by the creek is gone. it wouldn't surprise me that is in 5 years or less there were new cottages up in those towns that were washed away.
ReplyDeleteas for Vance, I didn't watch this debate either but what sticks with me is that was indignant when he was fact checked about one of his lies, telling the moderator that was against the rules. thought he could just lie his way through without being called out.
Vergil is indeed a keeper.
DeleteI am sure people will rebuild in those areas. Or, well, I think they will. What else can they do?
Yes! I saw that part of the debate and it was so funny. "You're breaking the rules!" he said. "There was to be no fact-checking!" That was a major faux pas.