Labor Day 2025

Put away those white shoes and slacks and get your mukluks out, as we’re headed in that direction.

Very busy here as we’re down to our last few days before departing for Michigan. So chat away and enjoy your Labor Day!

Bring A Fork To A Knife Fight

The August heat, the political hypocrisy, journalistic dishonesty - is anyone else feeling a bit stabby these days?

If so, I have the perfect tool kit for you.

Practical, portable, legal (for now) and effective. Just use judiciously.

Set also doubles as a useful picnic accessory. And since summer is regrettably – for some of us – coming to an end that could be a good thing.

So stick your feet in the sand, your stablery into some melon or potato salad, your scooplery into a big bowl of ice cream and watch your anxiety and agitation melt away. Summer’s too short to go without the essential utensils.

Too Many Idiots, Not Enough Dignity

Although a lot of the therapeutic effect has been negated by the constant liberal outrage performers ala the Sydney Sweeny eugenics “controversy”  the outrage culture has devalued a scream to the point it isn’t worth more than a Biden buck.

As Marshall McLuhan noted decades ago “moral indignation is a technique used to endow an idiot with dignity.”

I would like to report it’s no longer working.

The vegetables are oppressing me!

And it’s all Trump’s fault; he’s trying to squelch our freedom of speech, put minorities back into a racial caste system and destroy the pillars of democracy. The Nazi!

Stay Resilient And May You Stay Forever Young

Whelp, it’s time to visit our Western bunker. Well past time actually, we haven’t been back since April of ‘22. Yep, 3+ years – for many reasons, all related to cancer. I finally feel strong enough (I think) to make the trip and deal with the physical and emotional trepidation. So, we’ll be in Park City for the next few weeks. It’s glorious this time of year with warm days and cool nights and very little rain. That part will be grand.

My apprehension revolves around all the maintenance and repair projects that we know about - and who knows what we don’t – combined with my inability to do much of anything. We hired a very reliable neighbor to check in on the  house every week so it’s not as if it’s been totally ignored, which is fortunate as he discovered the furnace not running on one visit in the middle of winter. I shudder to think of what would have happened had he not checked at the right time. Still, the “to do” list is long’ and much of what has to be done must be contracted out, as old age, old joints, old vertebrae and poor health change everything, as many of you know. It’s hard to swallow as it seems we were able to do almost everything ourselves just yesterday.

Such is life. We will be busy with contractors for everything from window washing to major stucco repair. Plus we need to meet with some realtors to find out what’s involved in proceeding with a sale, another daunting job as we have had this home for 25 years and now have nearly as much “stuff” here as we do in Michigan. It will be a long process.

Anyway wish us well, we will be busy and time will go fast. I know there’s only so much that can be accomplished, especially on my part, in such a short time period but you have to start somewhere. This is just the first of many trips to get things in hand and I’m very grateful to finally be well enough to begin the process.

As they say, “life comes at you fast.”

Be prepared. Stay resilient my friends.

And may you stay, as America’s best minstrel wishes, Forever Young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
May you stay forever young

What’s Your Question?

Yet another problem with being too literal. Of course being liberal doesn’t help interpretation either.

Of course, they  could always ask Grok. It’s definitely smarter than most liberals.

“What is your question”

AI: blurring the line between Robots and liberals since 1956.

Hanging In There

It’s been awhile and I definitely owe you a health update. I won’t bore you with the details but overall I seem to be doing well-ish. I have scans every three months and MRIs (brain) every 4 months and since the return of esophageal cancer and subsequent radiation last November everything has come back clear, including last week’s scan. MRI not due till September. But things currently good enough that my oncologist has even given the green light to taking a bit of a break (4-6 weeks) from the infusions, That will be quite wonderful as they make me feel crappy for a week at  So once again, a heartfelt thank you to everyone for your powerful prayers,  intercessions and hopes on my which time it’s nearly time for another another. I think August will be a fine month to be infusion free.

I will always have significant balance issues as well as a raft of other not-so-life changing maladies  but like many others here, I wake every day grateful to still be on this remarkable planet despite our bodily infirmities.

What currently plagues me is “cancer related fatigue,” a diagnosis you get when doctors cannot explain the symptoms any other way. What I can tell you is that it is quite debilitating. I am making small, incremental progress which gives me great hope. So once again, I would like to thank all of you who have offered powerful prayers, intercessions, hopes and good wishes on my behalf.

So as summer marches unrelenting on it’s time to get out there and make hay while the sun shines!

These balmy temperatures won’t last forever.

 

Since I finally have the strength to putter around the kitchen again when the heat wave wanes a bit perhaps I’ll feel like baking something - perhaps a peach pie to mark the season.

Note: it’s perfectly fine to use Pillsbury pie crusts. Especially in the summer.

So I hope we all enjoy what’s left of these dog days of summer by living our best life possible.

So hang in there! Trump’s got this.

We Deserve A Do-over

Frankly I’m much less concerned with whether Epstein killed himself or kept a list of pervs than I am about a bunch of high level elected and unelected functionaries who undermined the will of the American electorate.

Does anyone still believe justice will be served? Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results, on the other hand, Trump is a different animal. He doesn't often let his sworn adversaries off lightly so perhaps we will shift to a new paradigm.

Convictions and jail terms would be sweet but minimally we should get a do-over.

Summer Is Fleeting

It’s hard to process the fact that it’s mid-July already. It’s definitely time to stop and smell the roses.

And remind ourselves that the madness demonstrated by leftists on a daily basis is of their own making.

My sincere advice: grab some tomatoes at their peak, some basil (hopefully from your garden),

grill up some halloumi and call it a day.

Or if you’re a  carnivore make this summer sausage tomato and zucchini bake.

Maybe throw in a loaf of crusty bread and a bottle of vino. Summer is fleeting, after all.

Happy Birthday America

Remember this Harvard “study” from 2011 that led to headlines like these all around the country? 

Fourth of July Celebrators More Likely to Become Republicans

July 4th patriotic celebrations create more Republicans, Harvard study warns

Oh no! Another right-wing nut in the making!

Mamas, please don’t let your babies grow up to Marxists. Take them to a 4th of July celebration as often as you can, no matter where, no matter when.

I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July celebration and enjoy all your presents.

 

P.S. That 2011 Harvard “study” that taught every leftist in America to rebuke the 4th of July should tell you everything you need to know about leftists, “studies,” and higher education at institutes like Harvard.

 

 

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The Art of the Real

President Trump would never ask you to do something he wouldn't do himself, whether it’s driving a garbage truck or flipping burgers.

So per the DOGE request Mr. President, list 5 things you accomplished last week:

Closed the border; zero illegal crossings

Brokered the end of the bloody 30 year war between Rwanda and the Congo

Obliterated Iran’s nuclear program and negotiated a cease fire between Iran and Israel

Won his Supreme Court case regarding birthright citizenship which states definitively that federal judges have no authority to issue universal injunctions.

Confirmed NATO members commitment to a 3.5% of GDP contribution and an increase in spending on their own defense

Extra credit:

Gas hits 4 year low

Stack Market hits all time high

The Senate advances the Big Beautiful Bill

We really don’t deserve Trump.

FAFO

 

And of course the Democrats object to America making the world safer.  We live in strange times. Pray for our troops. Pray for our president. Pray for us.

Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day to all our fathers out there! 

To dads everywhere, for all the invaluable knowledge they pass on to their children.

 

 

 

Maybe wrong, but never in doubt.

Ego Tripping

Finally we’ve run into someone who’s even less filtered with his tweets than Donald Trump.

I get why Elon is upset and I guess he thought he could change the legislative process by sheer power of  will.  He’s not into delayed gratification and clearly not used to taking no for an answer. Trump on the other hand is all too familiar with “no” and accordingly has structured his Big Beautiful Bill as a budget reconciliation that requires only 51 votes vs. the usual 60 and limits debate to 20 hours. There are restrictions as to what can be included in a reconciliation bill but let’s not get lost in the weeds. Suffice it to say that in order to get the tax cuts, the border funding and economic growth and investment incentives certain things had to go. I guess Musk doesn't trust that Trump can or will get additional cuts codified with future legislation. I don’t know if I do either the way the Republicans are, but it’s what we can get for now; as they say, it is what it is. I’ll take it as  down payment.

As the infamous Frank Underwood noted in House of Cards: “Proximity to power deludes some into thinking they wield it.”  When Elon realized it does not he got himself into a snit. Trump is a pragmatist and knows what he can get, Musk is a visionary who sees what is needed. We need both so I hope they patch this up, but I doubt they will. Egos, you know.

We’re All Literally Hitler Now

Here’s a shocking headline: “Anti-Semitism on the rise in America” The propaganda machine is working and the useful idiots are filling their role as planned.

Who could have predicted where Antifa, the “antifascist” terror group, would end up? They are about as antifascist as they are anarchists. If we had a functioning media everybody would know that.

Since Hollywood seems short on creativity these days I have a thought: instead of another (woke) reboot, remake or sequel to movies like Ghostbusters, Shrek, Top Gun, Mission Impossible or any of the Marvel comic books, how about an un-woke remake of something like The Diary of Ann Frank. Instead of all the histrionic, hyperbolic bloviating about Trump being literally Hitler it would be wise to educate the younger generations what actual tyranny, genocide and evil always results in.

And remember, despite the left’s insistence otherwise, the only person who is “literally Hitler” is Hitler.

Memorial Day Observed 2025

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." —Winston Churchill

As we do on this day each year, we pause to remember the men and women who died fighting for our freedom.

We stand by humbly, gratefully, silently, to honor their sacrifice.

We remember…

We mourn for those lost…

And we mourn for those they’ve left behind…

As we reflect once again on the the steep price of freedom.

By all means, enjoy your picnics, parades and celebrations today – it is a holiday after all. But do pause to remember and honor all the brave Americans across the centuries who have sacrificed their lives in the fight against tyrants, tyrannies and terrorists; the enemies of freedom who will always be amongst us and will always be a threat to liberty. God willing, America will always be there to vanquish freedom’s adversaries. 

Wishing all a tranquil, thoughtful and reflective Memorial Day this year.

As we do on this day each year, we pause to remember the men and women who died fighting for our freedom.

We stand by humbly, gratefully, silently, to honor their sacrifice.

Originally posted Memorial Day 2018

And because Lantern posts this every Memorial Day but is not able to this year, I’ll post it for him:

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Is Sophistry Sustainable?

Amidst all the other issues facing the country - tariffs, the deficit, a judicial lawfare system, renewed antisemitism, a cabal of unaccountable functionaries that ran the country in lieu of our mentally incapacitated president (aided and abetted by the entire MSM) – we still have to deal with men in women’s sports. And it’s a hot mess.

 

But actually, it’s indicative of a much larger problem:

I was born into and grew up in an era of miracles wrought by hard work, dedication, and dearly earned competence. So it’s a bitter pill to swallow when I look around now and see that our greatest challenge isn’t going to the moon and back with slide rules and vacuum tubes; it’s trying to figure out who gets to use the girls’ bathroom at an Ivy League swim meet. We no longer build aircraft that can fly at 100,000 feet and Mach 3+ because the solar grid lacks sufficient power to replace the AG-330 Start Cart needed to spool up a J58 engine. Also, a snail darter might get harmed by the sonic boom.

We are, these days, a nation in the thrall of lazy, dishonest, spineless, clueless, incompetent, yet endlessly entitled and arrogant academics, bureaucrats, politicians, media figures, and other “experts” who can’t seem to find their way from their heads to their asses with their hands when something important, like, say, COVID or the 25th Amendment, is in play. But it doesn't slow them down in the slightest when they decide, despite millions of years of evolution (and a plethora of other ancillary evidence to the contrary), that men can transform into women, that merit is a manifestation of oppression, that opposing ideas are vulgar, and that disagreement is tantamount to prejudice. How the hell do you expect these nimrods to figure out that men don’t belong in women’s sports?

That’s where we are right now. When you can’t do hard things anymore, sophistry rules. I just don’t know how long that’s sustainable.

When we can’t get the simple things right it’s hard to see how we’re going to work our way through the tough ones.

It’s a good thing Trump is a human dynamo who has lined up a team of human dynamos to assist him in Making America Great Again. May God help him.

Squeezing the Fun Out of Joy Since 2016

Did you know that yesterday was “National bring flowers to someone day”? Of course you did. I got home from infusion day to find the loveliest bouquet of flowers on my porch from the MOTI. What a way to end a not-so-fun day. The arrangement is as gorgeous as ever and will fill the house with color and fragrance, color and joy all weekend.

Multi-colored peonies, light pink roses, dark pink snaps, white anemones and lush greenery create this artful arrangement. Life doesn’t get any better than this.

So thank you for making my day – and Raj’s too – by “bringing someone flowers.”

And now, a note on the passing scene: its hard to overstate the fact that Trump has had an amazing and awesome week. And he has 2 more days to go. I can’t wait. Already we’ve seen economic ties and agreements – like no one has seen before – made. We’ve heard the shut down Iran and the shut down of Iran’s proxies who felt free to attack us and Israel with impunity under the Biden administration.

Peace through strength, such a fascist concept. The Democrats feel required to protest it like it was 1965; singing, whining and stomping their collective feet over everything Trump does. It’s almost as if the don’t want America to be great again.

Squeezing the fun out of joy since 2016

Mother’s Day Redux

It’s mother’s day, don’t forget to get mom some flowers. It doesn’t matter if you pick them, plant them or purchase them.

Every mom loves flowers

To celebrate mothers is to celebrate life itself. Like virtually everything else in life there are exceptions but for the most part mothers are indeed exceptional in their unconditional love and devotion. At a Mother’s Day gathering in 2017 Melania Trump explained it this way:

“Mother is a title that claims your heart and changes your life forever. In fact, it has been said that having a child means allowing your heart to walk around outside of your body.”

So if you’re lucky enough to still have your mom around, grab some flowers and thank the woman who let her heart walk around independent of her body.

And if she’s no longer with you, honor her memory by recalling the good times you had when you were both impossibly young.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there – and to everyone who has, or ever has had, a Mom.

What A Race

I’m sure that I’m not the first to point this out but I see Sovereignty beats Journalism! Even though odds were on Journalism.

 

Sovereignty just beat Journalism to win the Kentucky Derby.

Welcome to America in 2025 pic.twitter.com/g0iIlqzHLh

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 3, 2025

Is this a great country or not?

Dinner Plans

This was my exact day yesterday.

Maybe today.

I think Costco is open.

Easter 2025

Repost from Easter 2024

And he said unto them, Be not amazed: you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he is risen;

He is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. - Mark 16:6

‘I am the resurrection, and the life: He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.’

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? — John 11: 25-26

Christians around the world gather today on this most holy of Christian holidays to celebrate with joy the miracle of the Resurrection and the promise of eternal salvation. And to our Jewish friends celebrating the Exodus and Passover: Shalom aleichem.  For everyone else, enjoy this beautiful, joyful, hopeful spring day to rest, reflect and renew. The old world will pick up and continue on its way tomorrow as, God willing, we shall too.

May everyone enjoy this glorious day regardless of your religion, sugar tolerance or the weather. And please, enjoy your chocolate bunnies. Just beware of the trans-rabbits, I hear they bite back.

This poor bunny is confused on so many levels. Sad.

With any luck he could become the face of Lindt’s white chocolate bunnies.