January 18--Break Time

Sometimes when you're overwhelmed by a situation - when you're in the darkest of darkness - that's when your priorities are reordered.  --Phoebe Snow

    I am feeling so much distress and grief relative to our national crisis that I am quite uninspired to write. New horrors and foolishness surface every day. Writing about it does not help me, and right now, my rose-colored glasses are broken. I can't write about peace, love and harmony when all I want to do is kick some ass. 

    I may return.

        Leta

The beginning of my current artwork...

January 17--How Can I Be Bored in Times Such as These!?

Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events.  --Ralph Waldo Emerson

    I have heard and read it many places that every single one of us is here on Earth at this time for a reason. Right now that elicits a couple thoughts: 1) What was I thinking?!?!?! and 2) I'm glad to be closer to the end of my life than the beginning--if I was much younger, I would be even more scared over current events. I'm not even sure that makes any sense.

    I'm starting the last day of my flu-recovery-quarantine. I don't feel bad. My energy level is quite low and my boredom level is quite high. Just like last year, I am back to having the arduous task of regaining my strength and stamina. 

    Fortunately, before I went to Florida, I had started another painting. Below is a page from a Panama City Beach arts magazine touting the joys of creating. It says "Science has found a powerful connection between art-making and emotional well-being -- just 20 minutes of painting, doodling, or other mindful creative play improves brain health." I would add "and saves one's sanity." 

    Let's go with "one hour at a time."

        Leta

January 16--Gratefully Back Home

Let him learn that everything in nature, even motes and feathers, goes by law and not by luck, and that what he sows he reaps. --Ralph Waldo Emerson

    We can only hope...

        Leta

January 15--Paranoia?

Paranoia: a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others. 
--Merriam-Webster Dictionary

    I have been seeing writings online about getting your personal information off the internet and videos explaining how to change the settings on your smart TV so that it does not spy on you. Is this what the hateful savagery of our current administration is reducing us to? 

    I have deleted my Facebook account. I never use it anymore and see no reason for letting it flounder out there. I also don't care to support the billionaire Trump supporter, Zuckerberg who runs Facebook.

    What's that old saying... just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you! At this point, nothing this vile administration does should surprise us. 

        Leta

January 14--Harmony and Balance, Please

The celestials regulate the balance of the terrestrials. The night dusk comes to softly compel all creation to enter into rest and the calm brings about refreshing coolness to the world. The advent of the day provides new life and new opportunities like the embrace of warmth for plants, animals, and humans. The moon regulates all the waters. The sun regulates each season…. Everything created is in harmony and balance with everything else and with the Creator. 
--Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley

    Don't "harmony and balance" sound wonderful, given how far out of balance our country and leadership are right now? 

        Leta

Last night's sunset in Wichita

January 13--Keeping the Post String Going

Bless me to understand that the suffering of one of us is the suffering of all of us. 
--Mary Davis

    I'm still sick, thinking rather than a cold that this is flu. Now the third of our group of four is coming down with something. Being sick on vacation sucks. 

    I would offer up the Substack app (link below the logo). There are subscription options, but I have not investigated those yet. There is an abundance of very well written anti-Trump, save our country pieces along with loads of other good stuff. Don't kid yourself--what happened to Renee Good can happen to any of us. ICE is nothing but a bunch of hyper-macho, fu*ked up vigilantes with no respect for the law or any individual. Oh, that describes the POTUS who deployed them, too!

        Leta

The Substack logo

January 12--The Best Laid Plans

Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today.  --AA Big Book

    Once again I am reminded of how little control I have over anything, especially my body. I acquired the chest cold among us and spent most of yesterday shivering, reading, watching basketball, and sleeping in bed. This is not the "charmed life, especially when traveling" that I expect on adventures. I can sit here and demand instant wellness, but of course, my body is taking its good old time getting there. I do feel better this morning, and I am grateful for any improvement. 

    Hopefully today will be more interesting than yesterday!

        Leta