Holiday Roundup 2022

It's hard to believe that it's nearly the end of another year. I had so many intentions to get more done, both in the house, and in my hobbies.

But, no. I did make SOME progress:

• I've improved my general physical condition. I now go up and down stairs with little difficulty, now being able to alternate legs in the process. Previously, I had to take a step, then put the other foot on the same step, just as a child does when first learning to navigate stairs. My knee issues were that great. I've also added to the distance I can walk with ease. For all that, I credit the re-homing of my daughter's dog, Chino. Having to walk him several times a day has forced me out in even marginal weather, and led to regular exercise.
• My house is in better shape. When my husband has breezed into town to drop off more 'stuff' from the other house, I've called over my grandkids to help me put things away in the attic storage area or basement. I've also managed to handle most of the chores and tasks involved with the house with little assistance.
• I made it through another AEP (Annual Enrollment Period) for Medicare and Marketplace/Obamacare plans, this time with no major health issues and in a way that allowed me to file and clear up the paperwork in a timely fashion.
• My dog and I survived his brutal attack by a pit bull. It took 2 operations, over a month of nursing by me and - when in town - my husband, but he is mended almost completely, and recently had an appointment to bring his shaggy, neglected coat into reasonable shape. His spirits are good, he is enjoying exploring the neighborhood, and he no longer jumps at loud sounds or nearby cars.
• We survived over 6 hours without power, in one of the most brutal cold snaps I've experienced in years (Temps in the single digits all day, wind chill around 50 below). The family even cancelled the birthday breakfast we'd planned for my grandson, as the weather service was warning people not to go out unless it was absolutely necessary. The dog kept his outside potty trips to a minimum, pulling to go back inside just as soon as he finished. Just as we were getting our stuff together to head over to my daughter's house to get access to heat, we experienced our own little Christmas Miracle - the lights flickered on!

And, catching up on news of the world:

• TPTB continue to agitate for us to throw in whole hog in the Ukrainian War with Russia. The ID10Ts in government are all-in for Yet Another Military Action (YAMA). Guess their cronies in the airline and other military providers industries need another cash infusion. Pelosi finally found a flag (other than BLM) that she didn't mind displaying. 
  
  
  
• The FBI continues to stonewall, evade, obfuscate, and otherwise keep the truth from the American public about their illegal activities in collusion with Twitter (the OLD Twitter - the new version appears to be making a good-faith effort to clean up the back channels that clamped down on the ability of dissidents to get their message out).
• We all know there is a recession/depression/complete meltdown of the economy coming, the only question is WHEN? Short answer: when the Entitled Elite have had sufficient time to shelter their wealth from the process. If you doubt that, I suggest you watch The Big Short, which centered on the chicanery associated with the mortgage collapse that finalized in 2008. It appears to be only available in DVD version. I have issues with this, as you could lose access to any digital media, should Big Brother decide to clamp down. But, I'd still get a copy - buy, not rent - and use a dedicated player for that purchase. As for the American Public? The unprepared will get hosed. The dependent will become MORE dependent. But, most of us, who are capable of learning from recent events, will come out of this less inclined to vote for either of the two big parties. Which, for me. is a Win-Win.
• The current Congress will long be known for several things:
• The ridiculously huge continuing resolution that they forced through the lame-duck Congress, that will leave the new Congress with fewer options for restoring the economy.
• The January 6 report from committee, which takes 845 pages to repeat just one thing - Donald Trump is a nasty, dirty traitor, and we will twist the truth into a pretzel to make that point. I'm linking to the full text, peruse it as you will.
• The more Stalinesque workers of NBC want lawmakers to have to explain just why they didn't clap enthusiastically enough for the Ukraine dictator. True. And, quite bizarre, which other, less doctrinaire Twits pointed out.
• I'm really getting to like Rand Paul. His 2021 annual Festivus Report, that lists some of the most egregious ways the Feds waste OUR money, is a hoot - linked here. Here is this year's.

And, a VERY Merry Christmas to all!