I took that photo less than an hour ago. So yes, we still have some snow hanging about.
Incredibly weird.
I went to pottery this morning. I had watched a video yesterday on how to hand build a bowl (meaning not throwing it on a wheel) that I liked okay and I tried to find it again this morning but did not.
Sigh.
I thought I mostly remembered how to do it though, and so that's what I worked on today. I was not happy with it at all until suddenly, it came to me that I should make the sides into a sort of wave shape and that pleased me. It is now drying and I'll work on it again this week if I go into an open studio session or next week, if I do not.
Sigh.
I thought I mostly remembered how to do it though, and so that's what I worked on today. I was not happy with it at all until suddenly, it came to me that I should make the sides into a sort of wave shape and that pleased me. It is now drying and I'll work on it again this week if I go into an open studio session or next week, if I do not.
A big topic of conversation in class today was the snow event we had last week. And then when Jessie talked about going camping in 24 degree weather, we all might as well have bowed and said, "Yas, Queen!"
We were impressed.
But as she pointed out, it's probably not as uncomfortable as camping in hot weather when all the bugs are out. In fact, I'm sure it's not. But as I said, "Those can't be the only two options."
We were impressed.
But as she pointed out, it's probably not as uncomfortable as camping in hot weather when all the bugs are out. In fact, I'm sure it's not. But as I said, "Those can't be the only two options."
After class we had lunch at a place called Maria, Maria that we like very much. It's a Mexican restaurant but definitely not the Tex-Mex kind although don't get me wrong- I do love the Tex-Mex. But the chili relleno I got was spicy and not overcooked and not deep fried and it sat in a delicious sea of spicy orange goodness where a few tender, chunky carrot and potato pieces bobbed along for the journey.
Meanwhile, word was going out that ICE had come to Tallahassee and was making their way through the restaurants in the very area we were eating.
Meanwhile, word was going out that ICE had come to Tallahassee and was making their way through the restaurants in the very area we were eating.
And now I've just read this.
I have no words.
I am going to have to figure out some way to still talk about my life, my days, my family, my friends, my memories, my philosophies, my struggles, my joys and yet, at the same time, not be completely overwhelmed by everything around us that is falling apart, going insane, and threatening the existence of democracy as we know it.
I have not yet reached any conclusions about how that will happen.
I have not yet reached any conclusions about how that will happen.
I guess it's like everything else right now. We have to adjust to a new reality and we have to find ways to resist that we are capable of and able to do.
With that, I am going to go make our supper and I will be pondering these things. Life does go on, as we love to say, but not as we have ever known it. Tell me, if you want to, how you are managing your life, your mental health, your fears and your worry.
Let us help each other through.
Please.
Mary Moon
I'm trying to adjust, some days are better than others, but I have to say, that each day the news from that orange creature gets worse. That shit he pulled today with the Federal funding freeze is just horrific. It's all about the cruelty, and he does not care. It's affecting his base and one wonders how long it's going to take 'til they figure out that they mean absolutely nothing to him.
ReplyDeleteBy the time his base figures it out, it'll be too late. He doesn't even have to pretend to care about them now.
DeleteI will have to agree with Jim, the funding freeze and everything else especially the deportations are just horrific! And , with the politicians and voters in Alabama , coping is going to be extremely difficult.
ReplyDeleteLinda from Alabama
How deeply ironic that the states which will suffer the most are the very ones that got him elected.
DeleteTake heart. A judge already paused the funding ban. Look for the successes. Cute winter boots, everyone!
ReplyDeleteAy-yi-yi. And now the White House has rescinded the original memo. I suppose this does make me feel a little better. Frankly, I'm surprised.
DeleteAt this point, I do not think that the use of cute winter boots is going to save anyone's ass. But it's something, I guess.
Cute winter boots was the code that ginned up a lot of support to get the thing rescinded. Yes, it's something, I'd say.
DeleteYour snow is really holding on.
ReplyDeleteMA has stated they will not facilitate deportations. Schools and local police will not assist in any way. DJT said Fed funds will be withheld. Out of fear, parents of immigrant children are keeping their children home.
The general public needs to write to senators and congressmen. The outcry must be loud and clear...We do not support these actions. Taking action is key. Every little bit can only help.
Good for MA! Florida, in the meantime, has a governor who is trying to get even farther up Trump's ass by calling a special session to make the borders even "safer."
DeleteEven the Republicans are not happy about that.
Today I am physically sick. My childhood grade school went on lockdown today because ICE was patrolling. These children did not vote. How much more can we do to frighten them.
ReplyDeleteI feel physically sick as well.
DeleteI know. I know. We are all sick. All of us who pay attention. All of us who care. How heartbreaking, Joanne, for you to see that happening at your childhood school.
DeleteToday was a hard day. Not going to lie. It is just cruel. We can only continue on. So much that is happening affects children. Targets them even. We all need to keep our eyes open. People will need our help.
ReplyDeleteCruelty is the point. I've been saying that for a very long time. There can be no other reason.
DeleteAh Mary, I’m struggling too to not become overwhelmed by what is happening, to still talk about life in my little corner and not let the shadow of fear take up residence there. I do fear for some I love, and for many I don’t even know. There is such a lack of human feeling in these orders. And yes, a judge issued a stay on the freezing of federal funds, but now the payment websites aren’t working so people in need of say Medicaid or Snap payments are still getting screwed. But we carry on. We love our families. We care for each other. These are radical acts.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Those are the radical acts. Or at least as radical as most of us can figure out at this moment.
DeleteIgnoring the bad stuff, I am looking forward to seeing your wave bowl.
ReplyDeleteIt is impossible to ignore the bad stuff when you live here. When people you know and love are being affected in very horrendous ways.
DeleteA small spammer in the evil works can be found here: https://fieldfen.blogspot.com/2025/01/todays-act-of-resistance-and-misfits.html I sent Bishop Budde's entire sermon, others have sent the Constitution ...
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Switzerland
a
Thank you, Anne!
DeleteYes. I read Boud every day. She is good at finding ways to get sand in the gears.
DeleteIt's early morning here and I don't have my glasses on, but when I saw that second picture I thought I spotted a pair of skis and thought "crikey, she's going the whole hog on this snow business"!
ReplyDeleteHa! I see what you saw as skis. No. No skiing around here.
DeleteI'm feeling physically sick about it all, as Joanne says above. Just sick. God knows how all this is going to end. I'm sorry I don't have anything better to say. It's all just too much for me at the moment. :(
ReplyDeleteSick. And already exhausted. We have got to figure out how to live in this strange and horrible new world.
DeleteI am looking forward to see your new pottery efforts!
ReplyDeleteYears ago, I sort of read Naomi Klein's book Shock Doctrine and it felt foreign and far away, so I only read it diagonally out of a sense of guilt because my daughter insisted.
Anyway, from what I remember, this is what is happening in your (and my) part of the world, chaos and crisis are created to push through radical changes rendering people so disoriented that they withdraw and cannot see a way to effectively resist. This is a strategy.
A way forward is to concentrate on one or two things what you can do, with others, and to avoid getting even more scattered and scared and angry.
I think that is very wise advice and I know I need to bank the fires of my fear and horror to save for some form of true meaningful resistance.
DeleteI think Sabine is correct, it’s part of the plan. Chaos, chaos, chaos so we don’t have time to think. We either do nothing/comply or get so pissed and fatigued that we act out. If we act out they can call out the troops to take care of us. We need to give ourselves permission to grieve/cry/rant and then carry on the best we can. We still have children to love, supper to cook, dogs to walk. That’s all i’ve got except this immense hatred for maga and all they’ve brought.
ReplyDeleteThe hatred in my case feels almost confused. How is it possible for people to be so cruel, so deliberately evil, so without empathy or concern for others? I really don't understand it so although I feel hate, it is possibly better defined as rage. I don't know. I really do not know.
DeleteOf course, it's rather different for me as I am a foreigner looking in the pet shop window from outside though I have long been an Americophile and follow America's current affairs with keen interest. I just watched Caroline Kennedy eloquently denouncing her cousin Bobby. Sometimes keeping schtum is mere cowardice.
ReplyDeleteWho is going to wash the dishes and pick the crops when Trump's agents have rounded up the so-called "illegals"? They are just trying to make better lives for themselves and their families - not murderers, rapists and drug dealers. They arrived in America with hope like the first Europeans.
And in so very many cases, the people who have come here, either legally or illegally, absolutely do their best to stay under the radar, obeying all the laws they can, doing the best work they can, making themselves indispensable to our country and our way of life.
DeleteLukas Nelson: Turn Off The News And Build A Garden. That's the answer. If I were tech savvy, I would link it here but you can google it.
ReplyDeleteAll You Need Is Love,
Patricia
There's also Keith...
Look to the good
I will listen to that song. Thank you.
DeleteAnd by the way- I do not listen to the news, I read it. I know- same/same. But I also have a garden. I am trying. I am trying. I will admit to you though that I am having a very, very hard time believing that all you need is love now.
Too bad Keith didn't knife Trump when he had the chance. https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64147647/
Do you have a teacher at pottery class? Could they help you?
ReplyDeleteI think there will be many Americans who are deeply shocked when they realize the shitty jobs that illegal immigrants work at, that they will now be expected to work at. Or are they that ignorant of how their country runs?
the frustrating thing is that in the age of instant access to information, if they are that ignorant it's by choice.
DeleteThere is a teacher at the pottery class. Her method of teaching is working on her own projects and waiting until someone has a question.
DeleteAnd I agree with Obscure. People absolutely know who the backbone of this country and our economy is. They would just rather dance in hate.
Lawsuits are being filed. People are speaking up. I'm glad you are speaking about it and sharing the news as others are, Mary.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ellen.
DeleteI have no answers. All I can do is keep trying to figure out a path forward.
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you.
DeleteThey want to enter schools to arrest the children to draw the parents out so they can be arrested. Fortunately some school districts are refusing to comply/ cooperate. The cruelty and hatred is despicable. And yes we can and must resist. My next post is about that.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ellen. The more ideas about resistance, the better.
DeleteLike you, I am appalled and frightened by this. Trying not to be an ostrich with my head in the sand, but the news (and snippets thereof) are making me painfully anxious. Jenny
ReplyDeleteYes. Same here.
DeleteCodex: answered your question in previous post
ReplyDeleteJust trying to live my life as best I can, and not add to the general sense of doom. I avoid Trumpers as much as possible in this very red state. I feel like I am waiting for a call to action; then I will see what I can do. Until then, finding joy in this simple life as long as I can.
ReplyDelete