The Good Times

Posted on by Sarah A. Hoyt

So, it’s 2024, and we know — we know — it’s going to be a hell of a year, unless several miracles occur.

But frankly, the way it’s been stacking up, and the way things have been going for 3 to 4 years (yes, before that too, but it’s been weaponized since) this was going to be a bad year either road: the increasing incompetence of the “elites”; the increasing panic of the “elites” as the system they’ve been relying on fails, the increasing insanity of their “solutions” and simply the culmination of a hundred years of having the “men of system” in charge, and their having way more control over the dissemination of news and ideas than they ever should have had.

Most of us who keep track of such things, and even those who don’t have been getting that bad feeling at the back of the head, the feeling of something wicked this way comes, and something is about to pounce out of the dark.

Actually most people who saw the rapidity with which the power-seekers moved to lock us down and the intensity with which they hate every smidgen of human freedom and enjoyment — truly. Who could have imagined under the excuse of a communicable virus they’d arrest people surfing, alone on the beach? Or the signs on the highway, directed at people in their cars, ALONE, saying “safer at home”? — are expecting things to go very very bad, very very fast at any minute.

I know I am. And if I tell myself not to think about it, it just means my subconscious worries about it, and it comes out in technicolor nightmares, which are always fun.

I’ve told you to prepare. I probably didn’t need to. I mean it might help someone who wanders in, unannounced, for the first time. But most of you have been on the edge of the seat and following this the same way I’ve been. Someone who shall remain husband asked me why I’m stocking up food in the basement if I don’t intend to eat it. Ah…. I wish I had that unsuspicious a mind.

Anyway, I was talking to a friend and I told her the happiest years of my life, in retrospect were in the late nineties. We weren’t swimming in money, but we had got out of the “can’t buy a paperback, or I’ll starve this week” phase. My stories had started getting accepted, and I was making about enough for a weekend in Denver a year. We had a group of friends and even we all had different politics, it didn’t seem to matter. The kids were small, and though the school could be annoying it hadn’t yet been fully weaponized against boys. We liked the house we lived in, even though I was rebuilding it from inside out while living there. And our first batch of cats was alive, so we hadn’t yet faced the fact they live such short lives and leave us bereft.

And then I said that despite everything we’re in what is starting to feel like that sort of halcyon times again. We have a little group of friends locally. I’m starting to write regularly again (having dealt with some long term health issues, which, probably, in retrospect were brought on by living about 20 years too long at high altitude, judging from when the symptoms set in.) The house ain’t ideal — we moved fast, and well, at the time no one was doing close inspections — but I can deal with most of it, a little bit at a time. And we’re not so old yet that I can’t deal with that stuff, and we can’t take the occasional weekend and go explore a museum or a thrift store, or just find a nice place to walk. The boys aren’t both close — which I’d love, but you know, they have their own lives to live and their own adventures to have, and it might be possible, maybe, but on the other hand, it might not. I have in mind the gentleman who used to comment here and who spent half the year with each son, in different states — but right now, they can sometimes both travel to our home for holidays, which is a special sweetness and joy.

If it weren’t for both of us working too much, and the looming sense of impending doom, we could be very happy right here and now. And I said how happy I was that at the end of the nineties I didn’t know 2001 and the complete mess of politics were in our future.

… And then she said, at the same time it occurred to me, that we should cherish the good times anyway.

And you know? She’s right. It’s not a pollyannish thing. We should still prepare, and we know there’s howling winds and snow ahead.

And I know that many of you aren’t experiencing halcyon times, or at least not most of the time. I know some of your struggles and I know what the job market looks like — yeesh — but–

But even in the middle of slogging through hell, while your galoshes get eaten by pesky duck demons, there are moments of peace and contentment and at times even joy. I know because I’ve gone through these times myself.

2018 between getting “fired” twice on the same day, and house repairs that let us strapped and much bigger than that troubles that are not (and were not back then) for public consumption, came very close to being annus horriblis.

But I had Greebo, you see. And in self defense, I started a prayer life. I’d start the morning by praying for half an hour to an hour. It was time alone, time to organize my thoughts, time to reach for something bigger than myself. It helped me face the rest of the day.

And I don’t remember how it started, but Greebo would come as soon as I was awake and praying, and sit by my knee, very still, not moving, just being warm and being there with me.

In that year of horrors, those hours in the morning, with my cat and praying became distilled sweetness, golden drops of happiness in a world that seemed grey and full of spikes.

Cherishing those brief moments, before the day’s slog began, gave me the strength to slog through the meatgrinder, and come through the challenges almost — practically — intact.

So… learn to recognize the good times. Even if it’s a few minutes with a cup of coffee, in a ray of sunlight, on your back porch. And relish them. Enjoy the heck out of them.

Even if you know they’re brief and limited and going to end permanently soon. Perhaps more if you know that.

Don’t mourn them ahead of time. Don’t anticipate the evil.

Sufficient onto each day the troubles, etc. Find those moments that are golden drops of sweetness and hold onto them, and enjoy them in and of themselves.

If they’re things you can make happen more often, at little sacrifice, do so too. Collect as many of them as you can.

And when they’re over, tuck them away in memory.

It should be considered part of preparing. We don’t live only in the rational side of life.

Stock up on happiness and joy, and carry it with you. Because we all know the road ahead is dark and dreary, but taking warmth and light with us will make us reach further.

And perhaps come through this more or less intact. And ourselves.

151 thoughts on “The Good Times”

  1. You ever notice that when you pray for patience, pray for strength, pray for just about anything, that you end up in conditions that are even worse? It’s almost like He is saying, “Ah ha! Let’s create a situation where Michael is going to have to develop that patience or strength.” 

    I fear that far too many of us have been praying for wisdom for our ‘leaders’; because is sure as heck seems like every bit of wisdom has been tossed out the window by most of them.

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    1. NEVER pray for patience. The Author will happily grant you the circumstances where you have no choice but to develop it or go crazy. It’s His way of getting you to exercise those patience muscles, if you will.

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      1. I didn’t have to pray for patience; I decided to work in IT. 8-)

        “The years may not bring wisdom, but they bring a man patience or he doesn’t live through them.” — Lazarus Long

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        1. I’ve been praying for patience, but God keeps noticing that I’m adding a “right now”. Heavenly humor in response can be interesting, both in itself and as the Chinese curse.

          I’m finally getting another step in trying to figure what do do with a bum knee. The first CAT scan was informative, and now they’re going to do a more involved test. OTOH, the side issues that have cropped up are reflecting that heavenly humor. (I have a nodule WHERE? OK, yet another test.) It’s not serious, but best to get a baseline reading. The previous side issue seems to be less nasty than originally thought, and a 30 day supply of the relevant medication costs all of $1.13. Glad I’m not insured for meds; the copay would likely be $20.

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      2. In one of Mother Angelica’s books she mentions a priest from Iowa who had determined that he was afflicted by pride and asked her to “pray for scorn”. Mother thought this was kind of strange but dutifully prayed for his scorn anyway. A few weeks later the priest called to state that everything was going wrong with his parish and he couldn’t do anything right. “But Father, you asked us to pray for scorn,” she said. To which he replied, only partly in jest, “Scorn? I’m from Iowa, I asked you to pray for CORN.”

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    2. Job and Jonah went through H – E – double hockey sticks before God relented. He’s very good at trying us to the breaking point, just to remind us that he’s the one in control, not us.

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      1. Well…

        Job had stuff thrown at him as a test. Jonah, on the other hand, had stuff thrown at him because he kept trying to be an intransigent twit.

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    3. Patience is in horribly short supply across the board right now.

      Most of the younger folks I know have next to none, and the few who do have it are getting REALLY pissed at their co-workers who can’t stick to a task and finish it.

      When the really bad times come, a lot of people are either going to learn patience, or learn how to bleed profusely.

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  2. My husband calls home every day at lunchtime, and we talk for half an hour. I grew up either genetically predisposed or behaviorally acclimatized to live in the negative, but over the past few years have been inspired/determined to seek out and talk about the upsides of everything, after realizing how excruciating it is to be around people like the one I was becoming.

    Anyway, while briefing my man (heh) on the day’s news, I have made a habit of pointing out that while we’re not booking any grand tours, we’re fed, we’re clothed and sheltered and healthy, we all get along and enjoy each others’ company. In short, things aren’t ideal, but we’re still sitting pretty, so to speak, even when I’m short on lip gloss.

    Pointing it out seems to help stave off despair, which means that when the Comanches DO ride up, we’ve still got the wherewithal to square up and gouge a few eyeballs, maybe rip off a few goolies. Thank you for this.

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  4. Stock up on happiness and joy, and carry it with you.

    Yes, this! I deliberately pay little attention to the news these days. It’s all going to hell, but all I can do is write, so I do that. I try to write about the deeper issues rather than the slings and arrows of the moment.

    Be the cat! Sit and purr and keep company with those you love.

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    1. Be the old cat and aloofly supervise as your people clean up your daily vomit while your sister tries to “help” them.

      :P

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  5. Happy Easter!

    Little update: We survived January, just barely. Wife is feeling better, but still having digestive issues. Mom is ahead of schedule on healing, and has been able to put just a wee bit of pressure on the leg. Little Britches caught a cold, but is better and dealing with the adjustments to her braces quite well.

    Wife’s uncle passed away last week (was given 5 years to live 20 years ago) due to cancer from Agent Orange. She and her parents went down, then made it back just before the storm was to hit this past weekend. I have a lot to be thankful for. Easter is my favorite holiday, as it means we’ve been saved.

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  6. The last time I prayed as much was right before the election in 2016. Praise the Lord, we received a brief respite before the storm that ended up exposing more worldly demons and red-pilling even more good people.

    Most of the truly wise people in our life have moved further out from danger or are battening down the hatches. A few older ones have decided they have had a good run and are staying in place to see what happens.

    Between being busy with life and taking precautions for the future, people are still connecting and enjoying others fellowship and company. There seems to be an atmosphere of one last hopeful, joyful dinner party before going moving away for long awhile as the illustration depicts. There is a family reunion at the end of next month and we are going whole hog with the food and love. (Everyone loves my smoked pork butts.)

    As for leaders, I’m going to talk to the city again. It’s about time for my annual gripe/praise rant, while purely therapeutic, has yielded very good results on occasion. (Yes, I’m one of the 15 non-gov people that attend, in person or view on the internet, all the meetings I think are important. I also spend a weekend reviewing the annual city budget like a possum flipping logs for grubs.)

    Who knows? Maybe I can get them to consider some more city prep and outreach under the guise of storm prep/crime watch? Even if the 3% that vote in local elections notice, we will be that much further ahead.

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  7. This is and will be an amazing year. I’m not sure what that means, but this post was pretty terrific. I got fired a week ago Monday, from a “good Christian woman,” after I told her I was on the autism spectrum.

    Opportunity abounds, and money’s been tight before this.

    God is good, regardless how difficult things are, and this year that remains is going to be something else.

    Hang on, love who you can, and treasure what can be treasured. Yep.

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        1. I’m very grateful to you both for the wishes and prayers. It’s tough, but it’s mindset more than anything else. And this has to be for a good reason.

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    2. This is the catch-22 of having a disability. Do you disclose it to your boss, or not? Especially when it comes to autism, a heck of a lot of people get fired after they let someone know. 

      I hope you get a better job soon!

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      1. I didn’t initially, then, about a week before I was heaved out with no notice, I had occasion to fess up. I thought I was building the relationship. Ah, well. Everything for a reason.

        Thanks for the well wishes! Encouragement helps. As does watching mowing videos.

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          1. Dang, this was perfect. And I laughed and cried all within 3 minutes. I’m sharing hell out of this one. Thank you.

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              1. Until I watched the vid I’d never heard of the Titans or Raven. See? Good stuff I’d not have seen without the love and affection of the Huns.

                And, I’ve filed a complaint with the Idaho Human Rights Commission; I think they fired me because I told them I’m on the autism spectrum, and they decided I had insufficient capacity to do the work (I’d been doing for the past three days before I got the boot). They honest to goodness waited for me to get all the shipments booked (I was the shipping department), then fired me, and out the door with you. No discussion. Now they get to talk to Mister Idaho.

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                  1. That should be added to the book of common prayer: “Father, give them a jaundiced eye and an ugly disposition….”

                    The cool thing about bureaucracies is that they exist to perpetuate themselves and grow. I trust completely that they will take the full 6-9 months to examine the situation. And I trust that God is in control of the outcome. Thanks for the prayers.

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          2. And in another interesting twist, my spirit animal is a bird. Raven Trickster. :) Much of my native artwork shows Raven.

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        2. Dang. Any reason to think the firing was because you disclosed? That has consequences to the employer.

          Not just autism spectrum but those who request reasonable accommodations. Biggest one I hear about (pay attention to) is service dog accompanying handlers. Yes, there are jobs where denial can be expected automatically. Others? Kind of go, “Huh?” One of the reasons I like Home Depot, even though they are not one of the smaller local hardware lumber stores, is because they hire the handler and their service dog.

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          1. Could be yes, could be no. It was such an absolute surprise. Since conversation wasn’t to be had, I’ve filed a “Hey, can you look at this for me?” with the Idaho Human Rights Commission. Everybody gets to present their side, and I already had my say. Takes… 6-9 months. :)

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            1. If you can, speak with an attorney. If you’ve been doing the job satisfactorily for three years, you may well have a good lawsuit.

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      1. Thanks. It was just stupid, being thrown out like a sack of yesterday’s trash, after 2 1/2 months’ hard work. I’m certain everything is for a reason, so I’m not angsty about it.

        Thanks much for the hugs and prayers, it isn’t easy. We knew these times would be hard, though.

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    6. Man, that really sucks. In my experience, people who proclaim themselves “good Christians” are usually just horrible little people who want to feel righteous about mistreating others. (Not to be confused with people who will talk about how they’re _trying_ to be _better_ ones.) That’s my perception of it, anyway…ymmv and all that.

      I dunno if you’re tied to the specific area you’re in, but there’s a company called Schweitzer Engineering Labs — SEL — that employs a lot of people in Moscow & Lewiston, ID, and might be worth looking into. I know several people who work there (including my son), and by all accounts it’s a very good company to work for.

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      1. The last two times I’ve been fired it’s been a “good Christian woman” behind it. And thanks for the recommendation, I’ll definitely be checking out good companies to work for!

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        1. I’ve heard good things about SEL. When I applied they had everyone start as an assembler, and even just talking about the job bored me to tears so I didn’t end up even finishing the interview, but they may have changed their hiring practices since then.

          Fair warning though, real estate in Moscow is <i>stupid</i>expensive, possibly even worse (for the size of town) than Coeur d’Alene.

          Lewiston is a bit cheaper, but it has a paper mill that gets pretty whiffy when there’s a temperature inversion.

          On the plus side, they should be finishing the highway reroute between Moscow and Lewiston within the next couple of years, so any commute between the two will be less likely to send you flying off the road into someone’s wheat field.

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          1. Yeah, Lewiston stinks. Literally. But it’s not a bad place otherwise…I guess. :) I didn’t know they were redoing the highway out there — it definitely needs improvement. The sibling towns of Pullman, WA and Moscow, ID are the other major company locations (Pullman being the biggest one), both relatively small college towns, with all the benefits and drawbacks that entails.

            I don’t think SEL does the “everybody starts as an assembler thing” anymore, unless maybe you’re going to work in manufacturing. My son started as an assembler because that’s the job he actually applied for. :) Way back in the day, I had an assembly line job, and for me it was hell; not allowed to talk or even really think, basically treated like a defective machine. (I didn’t last long.) From what I’ve heard from my son, this place doesn’t treat people like that. They have machines do everything it’s practical for a machine to do, and the things that are done by humans _need_ to be done by real, thinking human beings.

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    9. Kathy I am so sorry to hear that. You will be in my prayers. I am afraid some (perhaps many) of my evangelical coreligionists are idiots (this being a family blog that’s the strongest language I will use). They’re quite willing to understand that you have a physical issue if you have say a lame leg but with anything they can’t see or of a mental nature they’re like the Disciples in John 9:1-2

       Now as Jesus was passing by,[a] he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him,[b] “Rabbi, who committed the sin that caused him to be born blind, this man[c] or his parents?”[d]

      Be it depression, ADD, OCD, Autism, or a myriad of other mental ailments they seem to think the failing is with the person afflicted and that THEY do not have sufficient control or faith rather than it being an actual physical issue. It is usually part and parcel of the Health and Wealth gospel wherein they believe that If you find favor with the Author he will give you what you want like some mystical Santa Claus. Apparently, their teaching missed the 40 or so chapters of Job along with the story of Ruth and others in the Old Testament. Sadly I’ve seen this far too many times.

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      1. For that matter, they seem to gloss over the life of Christ. Overworked, constantly pressured for help, let down by His closest friends, railroaded through court, killed by crucifixion…do they think none of that *hurt*? And He certainly wasn’t shy about telling His disciples what they could expect…

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        1. Indeed they are fairly clearly heretical. That however seems not to have stopped many folk for the better part of 2000 years. Heck Paul writing his epistles in 50-60 AD had to refute heresies when Christianity was less than 30 years old. I would say it probably annoys the Author but He does have infinite patience, and He often needs it I fear.

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  8. In the long run, all we have is today, and the attitude with which we face it. I’ve often thought that the way to happiness is to take joy from the little things, encountered day to day. Don’t live looking forward to the big joys … just appreciate the heck out of the little joys and satisfactions.

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  9. I strongly identify with the “apocalyptimist” meme. And also the one which says: “I have a pretty good feeling about 2024” underneath a screencap of Grand Moff Tarkin from Star Wars saying “I think you overrestimate their chaunces.”

    On the subject of enjoying what we have while we have it:

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  10. Yeah… enjoy the good times and remember that a whole lot of the times really are good. Just got home from the dentist – cost me 37 bucks is all and the front tooth is now all fixed up (see, good times as insurance covered a lot of it and there is still a dentist to go see). 

    As I sat in the waiting room I was thinking that all of “this” could go away tomorrow and dental work would be a pair of pliers and a shot of gin. Also had a heart echo thing done last week (a just in case thing) and again, all that tech and those medical people keeping an old plugger like me still chugging along is amazing. 

    We can pay the bills every month, save a bit too and still eat out and/or send a little something to the grandkids just because. I figure we are better off than about 90% of the rest of the world… maybe even higher. Worries? Sure, I’ve got a few but I’ve done what I can to be ready for most stuff and come what may I and the wife (little dog too) are all happy and very glad of our current circumstances. Thank you Sarah for the reminder. 

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  11. “and it comes out in technicolor nightmares, which are always fun.”

    -It’s kind of a relief to know I’m not the only one? Kind of….

    I was getting maintenance on the car done (only a few extra problems found, whew!) so I took the time waiting to get farther in this book.

    If there’s one of my favorite kinds of golden moments, it’s learning new ways things and people are and have been connected through time.

    And if you just need a laugh… I got the sample of this one, and plan to get the book when I get a chance!

    I mean, when you have recipes listed with info like, “Serves 8 As a Horrible Warning To Others”….

    If we’re going to get through the bad times, we have to be able to laugh at them. ;)

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    1. “Serves 8…”

      In which sense of ‘Serves’? Like ‘To Serve Man’? :-P

      ———————————

      Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Give a man to Cthulhu and he’ll be devoured for eternity.

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  12. I play darts once a week, it’s my escape/socializing night, yes adult beverages are involved. I drink beer but are far to old to spend the night doing shots. Sometimes I can barely walk up to the line (Bad Back), nerve damage in my left leg and the right is about shot. Each time I stand up there and clear my mind and let the darts fly. We faced the worst team in the league on monday, they got six marks in cricket, (Handicapped league as it should be, it wouldn’t be fair for beginners to play some of us old hands without one), even more in the 01 games. For the first time in weeks we lost, we both played well, just not well enough to overcome the handicap. We were in first place* another team had a statistical advantage but had missed a couple of weeks. It made the team we played happy to win, it encouraged them. Good, next time they’ll have more fun. And that is the whole point, having fun. Everyone loves to win and likes it better when they do. I shot better on monday, my partner not so much. I gave it my all and had a blast, threw a couple of hat tricks (Three Bulls Eyes) and several High Tons, (over one hundred and fifty points), one cricket game I threw a 3.46 for the whole match, so the night wasn’t a total loss. We probably went into third place behind another team and *. But we had fun, that’s the point, we had fun, even losing. Because life is about having fun, and enjoying yourself even when you are struggling to win. You don’t give up just because the climb is steep or the walk is long, just remember to have fun along the way and the trip will be that much more enjoyable.

    P.S. I don’t stop to smell the flowers anymore, with my back I doubt I’d get back up again. But it hasn’t stopped me, and that is the bigger point.

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  13. To all of you who read this:

    The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;

    The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;

    The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

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  14. Some crazy person just posted the original ABC airing of Salvage-1, on the Sunday Night Movie. In 1979. With all the original ads and news bumpers.

    Very close to the beginning, there’s an ad for the 1979 Pontiac Catalina. Check the stats that they brag about.

    Yeah, some things have gotten better.

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    1. I had forgotten we still had ‘boats’ of that size in 79. I initially missed the Catalina ad and found the Gran Prix ad; I was sort of shocked by that, too; THAT is supposed to be a Grand Prix? I guess it was: I had forgotten how huge the model had gotten between 69 and 79. I mostly remember the 89 and newer styling, or the much older styling. But, yeah, bragging about 18Mpg; was that city AND highway?? I had a 1967 Oldsmobile Delmont 88 with a 425 V8 that reliably got 23 mpg when I travelled between my folk’s place in PA and where I was stationed in Connecticut. Now, my 2019 Honda Insight can get better than 65 on trips. This winter weather really kills it; my mileage will drop to around 45 running back and forth to work. The first few miles never show better than 50 on the instantaneous meter, because the motor is always running to get warmed up. And interior room wise, I suspect it is close to what that Grand Prix offered! Though I will admit, the trunk was probably half again as big, and you could park a Civic hatchback on the hood. My wife’s previous Elantra could get 40 mpg on a trip, and for such a ‘small’ car, was surprisingly roomy, too. And it WASN’T a hybrid, just a very efficient 2 liter engine. She got about 25 running it for work, sometimes as good as 30, and it was only rated for 24/34.

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      1. Elantra could get 40 mpg on a trip, and for such a ‘small’ car, was surprisingly roomy, too. And it WASN’T a hybrid, just a very efficient 2 liter engine.

        We bought an ’03 Elantra *manual for hubby’s “commute car” when he was transferred to Randle WA (from Eugene). The monthly payment was less than fuel for either the 2000 Durango (small version), or our 1998 4×4 Chevy. Not only for work (all of < 10 miles round trip from where trailer was parked to the ramp where he mostly worked) but the 900+ round trip home every weekend. Rules for commuting cars, he has to fit comfortably. He is not tiny, and is 6’2″. He fit comfortably. Our son took over the car when he turned 16 (dad had been transferred back). It had 48k+ miles on it, in 18 months. Son drove it until it had 125k miles on it, by early 2020 when he traded it in. Got a “pitty” trade in on it. No way were we selling it to anyone. It ran fine, but due a new chain (again, every 60K). Interior falling apart. Top had little dents all over it (how we know that parking vehicles under Giant Sequoia’s was a bad idea).

        ((*)) Not because of better MPG because any more automatics get better. Wanted son to be able to drive a manual stick.

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        1. A friend of mine has an Accent with over 300000 miles on it. Hyundai has really gotten their quality control together compared to what they used to have. I hope my wife’s present Elantra makes 200K; it is the hybrid, with the 100K warranty. She probably won’t drive it enough to make more than 125K, though. We’ll see how my Insight does; it is only up to 60K so far.

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          1. Hyundai has really gotten their quality control together compared to what they used to have.

            Big difference in quality between the 2003 Elantra (which to be fair is a lower end vehicle for Hyundai) and the 2015 Sonata (sold to a golf buddy of hubby’s), let alone 2019 and 2020 Santa Fe (what we have now. Yes. We have two.), and son’s 2020 Veloster.

            Even in 2003 finding a manual shift was difficult. Let alone a manual shift with a lot of, then, new safety features. In fact, other than the backup camera, and screen display for phone, his 2020 Veloster, also manual doesn’t have a lot more safety features (because require automatic) than the 2003.

            Off topic. But involving our Santa Fe Hyundai’s. This last Sunday while going to dinner we took a road rock to the windshield, the 2020 Santa Fe. Spider chip, spread fast. New windshield needed. Appointment today at Safelite. Fine. Pickup car. Hubby and I head home, me to make a stop at Fred’s. Guess what? Yep. The 2019 Santa Fe takes a rock to the windshield. Spider chip. Good so far, just need to know how close to edge (< 1″, with spider arm < 1/4″ from edge) before spider chip requires new windshield. Before got home, it had already spread. New windshield required. Our insurance hasn’t processed the First claim. Oh. Joy. Appointment is April 9th. Monday when I made the appointment the local Safelite shop was open all week, and next week. Today? First day I could get an appointment was April 8th, and limited (also golf day).

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            1. The Veloster is probably more fun with the manual. I had a 78 Civic 5-speed ( their first 5 speed model, so it was the top of the line at the time ) and that thing was a BLAST.

                Bummer about the windshield rocks. Where do y’all live? (Oregon, I’m guessing, but…) Last time I got a rock to the windshield, it had flown off a dump truck, The crack went across the windshield sensor array, so THAT required a new windshield. We’re in Pennsylvania, but travel a lot. It’s hard to live in the US without a car, but that doesn’t make them much cheaper.

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              1. Yes, Oregon. Particularly Eugene. Beltline, between Expressway and River Road, or to Willamette River, seems to be our trouble spot. Not helped that there are two different gravel companies (deep gravel pits) on both the East and West side of the Willamette. Beltline is their only route. Not known for a lot of spillage on the beltline. But rocks end up there non the less. Both rocks weren’t ever seen. Just “Thunk”. Then, “well crap” (spider crack), followed by “son of a b*” (spider ran). The one that nailed hubby 3 years ago happened somewhere between K-Falls and Oregon border headed to Reno and St. Georges Utah (winter golf trip). That one had the crack running almost completely across the windshield. It too did not wait to go from tiny spider hit to crack. Since he was gone for 14 days, the crack ran twice the original distance over that time. This time we aren’t getting OEM glass. One can hope, but doubt it’ll make any difference.

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              2. Son likes his Veloster. Not that he drives it a lot (still < 20k miles on it and he’s had it since Jan 2020). He was looking at the Veloster and the Honda equivalent. Came down to which one he could actually get. I liked the look of the Veloster better. But not my choice to make.

                Was hilarious. When he and dad were doing paperwork someone else had gotten a sales rep attention because he wanted to buy the car. Just had been detailed for official delivery (loan approved, just final signatures). Only one on the lot. His sales rep did not know car had sold. Since I’d overheard. Told him I knew the car was sold. Look on his face was priceless.

                Nice roomy car inside. A bit noisy and rides a bit stiff for me. But that is that style of car. Son has learned the price of that style of car. Car itself is fine. But has to be double aware of high edges on driveways, and if he hits a pothole wrong he is calling a tow truck and needs new tire. He has better tread on his front tires than what came with it. Which is better able to handle the potholes without splitting.

                FYI. Try to find a manual shift these days. Not being made except in these type of high performance cars.

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  15. Something happened in early January, and I stopped fearing what would come this year. I can’t explain why, it’s not “everything will be fine, la, la, la!” tuning out the world, but more “don’t sweat what you can’t affect personally.” I also had several unexpected income opportunities or refunds come in when I needed it, or someone else needed a hand.

    It’s been a good year thus far, for which I give thanks. I hope I’m able to stay as productive as I have been.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Cheer up! If things go sour, Commie Season opens. No game limit, either.

    Having said that, I expect that things will NOT go sour. A couple of hard years, yes…I lived through the 1980s. This reminds me of 1980, and things didn’t get better until mid-1983, about 2 years after Reagan took office. But they got better. A whole lot better. Culminating in those magic days…the day the Berlin Wall came down, and that first night of DESERT STORM.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ya know, the lesson on 1989 in Europe is my single favorite one to teach of the whole year. It is so happy (even Romania), and positive, and I still feel the crazy disbelief and joy and wild hope of October-December. I love doing the cultural history classes, and some of the others are fun for other reasons, but “the End of the Cold War – Eastern Europe” is special.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. It felt like that wall would be there forever… and then one night people were dancing on it and other ripping bits of it away.

        One argue as to Reagan or Thatcher or Wałęsa or John Paul II, but the tell?

        “…and SOLD THE PIECES!”

        Not “distributed” but SOLD. Choke on it, Marx!

        Liked by 1 person

    2. A couple of hard years, yes…I lived through the 1980s.

      Same. We were just starting out together, late ’78. We had to get startup loans from his parents just to go to work. Agree. Feels like the Carter years. FYI. So did Obama years. Just we got a 4 year respite with President Trump. We need another 4 year respite + another 8 from whomever follows him. Hopefully some voting protocols can be slammed in. And yes, I know that is controlled by the states. But the south were under federal restrictions. The blue states, with mail in, and computer, voting, need to be slammed with oversight.

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  17. You’re writing like you just reread “Vintage Season by Lawrence O’Donnell (Henry Kuttner & C.L.Moore). Timescape(1992) was a nice adaptation but with a happier ending than the story. Never read Silverberg’s sequel “In Another Country” though. As for the person who thinks it’ll be like hunting season: it’ll just be endless SOCMOB* crap. You’re going about your life and crap happens. Stay alert, stay happy.
    *Standing on Corner Minding Own Business.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. If someone wants to get froggy, I can do plenty of crap. I prefer own-business-minding, but if someone insists on preventing boredom I will oblige and make their times interesting. Volens et Potens and all that…

      (grin) (goes about peaceful boring business…)

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    2. So back in October, there I was, with my wife and daughter. . .

      I was standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona.

      It was such a fine sight to see.

      A statue of Glenn Frey just Southwest of a flatbed Ford

      Parked in front of a mural.

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        1. I can guess. First time I went through there years ago was very late in May, and it was already quite warm.

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  18. Ecc 7:10 ISV Never ask “Why does the past seem so much better than now?” because this question does not come from wisdom.

    The Lord made us for the time we live in. Keep seeking him for wisdom. Keep seeking him for mercy and justice and grace. Keep seeking him for protection and provision. Keep seeking him to confound every evil plan. Keep seeking him to intercede for the nation and especially those who hate you, for as scripture says, you will pour coals of fire on their heads.

    Again, we are made for the time we live in. We can bemoan the fact or embrace our role in His story. May it be said of us in eternity that we shined as lights in the darkness and were more than conquerors!

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  19. It’s hard to remember the good times, because we’ve had such a big run of the bad ones.

    But there are good memories to be had.

    Clam Chowder with Dad and my sister on Mom’s birthday last year. Bitter-sweet, but it mattered because Mom loved clam chowder and this was good stuff.

    Dragon Con 2016. Definite eight out of ten convention for me. Worried that if I go back, it won’t be as good, but I want to go back.

    …one girlfriend that I had. Wasn’t going to go anywhere further than what we had right then, I knew that, but there were times it was worth it.

    London and the UK, 2012. I can pick up three books that I got from that trip and remember exactly where I got them. Surprised a girl at a bookstore with a California ID. Bletchley Park. Walking around Oxford. Camden Lock and thinking about the people I wish I could have had there with me.

    Christmas lights with my family.

    There’s a reason why I try to write characters that can see the good, even in the bad. It’s very easy for me to see the bad in the good.

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      1. I was wondering if you’d get that reference and I’m *still* not sure if you did. Well played.

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  23. Why is the comment I just sent with my Proton e-mail in moderation? I know I’ve been away for a while, but I was a regular here!

    Also, why is wordpress now making me enter my comments on a white background with gray text? I can barely read that! Anyone know how to turn that off?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. WPDE on the commenting on the main page (Reader works better for me personally, but reverses the commenting order) they did more “upgrades” no one wanted or likes. Email? No clue, more than one link? WPDE? random weirdness? Reader mode has changes too that are annoying.
      Forget it Jake. It’s WordPress. (~_^)

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    2. Very likely WPDE if you didn’t violate the link law. I love (for values) how it alternates between normal comment boxes, complete with html-supporting tags and the fancy “we’ll do it for you” B&D version that has one or two “enhancements”.

      At least it stops offering the subscribe popup after several instances of posting at a site. Resets if I restart the browser/laptop or whatever, but it’s consistent. Just like WP; it does the expected when it’s not terribly important…

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    3. Lots of folks are getting shunted to spam, nobody’s sure what triggers it.

      For the other, WordPress ‘upgraded’ the input. Have you got it set so your text is gray, for a dark layout?

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      1. [sigh]

        Modern software is terrible.

        No, I’ve never messed with WP settings. Guess I’ll need to check that out.

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        1. I think that one would be in browser settings.

          Or might be computer settings, hwo knows what they set to “help us” this time.

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  24. On the subject of savoring the moment, the other day Sarah posted a meme that said:

    “You can’t buy happiness. But you -can- buy a motorcycle, which is basically the same thing.”

    Which it turns out is pretty much true. As long as I stay off roads with cars on them, pretty easy to do around here, I’m transported back to the days of my youth. Blitzing through corners. Lean over, drop a knee and grab a handful of throttle. Even the wind buffeting and cold is nice.

    Take that, black dog.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. There are some things you shouldn’t eat no matter how long you cook them.

        Joe Biden wouldn’t be edible even if you deep fried him in bacon grease and covered him in chocolate.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Dang it. Don’t make me laugh. Makes me cough.

      Over whatever I had, just the cough won’t go away. At least it takes an outside trigger now, laughing is one.

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  26. OK, I normally don’t comment on images since it’s AI, but this one has been percolating in the back of my brain, so…

    ”The family was all together, celebrating the holiday around the table on deep space station Fred, and at first nobody noticed out the windows as the Great Perfectly Roasted Space Bird menacingly approached the planet from ecliptic south…”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I was just trying to figure out why the bird is floating above the table, while everything else is SITTING, including the guests. Did I miss the seatbelts? It hadn’t occurred to me to consider the bird could be OUTSIDE the window……that would allow for everything ELSE to be secured by some form of artificial gravity!

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        1. Not quite as many as the famous six-legged chicken developed by Texas A&M. The good news was that drumsticks became a lot more available. The bad news was no one has been fast enough to catch the &*($ chicken!

          Liked by 1 person

            1. It’s very much a cultural index fossil. If you lived in a certain place at a certain time it’s obvious, but to everyone else it’s a mystery.

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  27. I encourage anyone who wants a very clear view of exactly how the enemy thinks to read a transcript of Bankman Frieds sentencing testimony. It’s all there in its strengths and its weakness.

    BTW. China Country Garden will not file financials this year and has been delisted. As bad as we may have it China has it much worse

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Thanks. I really needed this. The black dog has been biting harder than usual lately, and the meds mean I’m just keeping my nose above water so I don’t–quite–drown. And depending on the results of a medical test in a couple of weeks…well, we’ll see.

    But today (a day late, heh) I needed this, and this is why your blog is so important to me, Sarah.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. There is a childrens book that I used to read to my younger cousins (and later read to my daughters) called Fredrick by Leo Lioni. In it, Frederick is a field mouse part of a group of field mice and the group is complaining that Fredrick isn’t doing his part to gather things for the winter that is quick approaching. He sits on rocks in the sun gathering warmth, he looks at the meadow gathering colors, and similar useless tasks. Except when winter comes he tells the other field mice about what he did and it gives them warmth and light and color to their delight. It’s Aesops fable of the ants and the Cricket except the cricket isn’t a lazy slob he’s a poet. Lovely illustrations to boot.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Grasshopper…. Bernie Sanders got kicked out of a Hippie Commune for being too lazy. (!) he insisted his self-declared job was to teach communal theory and build morale, not scrub the latrine or do field work.

      Bernie! Too lazy for Hippies.

      Liked by 2 people

        1. I was paraphrasing, but one bullshit label is as good as another. “Advanced Ass-Hattery” would suffice.

          He wanted to be the Zampolit. Every wannabee commie wants to be a Commissar or Zampolit.

          Key concepts of Communist Revolution:

          You are not part of the “small self-selected elite”.

          You are a useful idiot.

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              1. Weren’t you complaining just last month about the FBI not going in and being pro-active about talking to people and stopping issues?

                According to the tweeter herself, they showed up to ask… IF SHE KNEW ANYONE THAT MIGHT HAVE SENT DEATH THREATS TO THE JUDGE.

                Which I guess is just a little too much detail, “FBI actually went and asked people if they knew someone that should be investigated when there’s a death threat.”

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                  2. If by “finally” you mean “when you literally just click on the tweet instead of believing a screaming clickbait article,” sure.

                    Most people would consider “investgators asked relative of a dead woman involved in a judge’s case if someone might want a judge dead” to be a bit more relevant than “woman posted mean tweet.”

                    Doing that thing you keep saying you wish the FBI and such would do, where they investigate threats before there’s a corpse.

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                    3. “Wanted to know if I knew who might have threatened a judge.”

                      Oh. So not that SHE had threatened a judge, but that some rando (if actual and not pulled out of their Stasi asses as an on-the fly justification) might have.

                      Gotcha. I wonder if you have the first clue how much you’re stretching for that straw.

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                    5. Well, I have hundreds of J6 political prisoners, not to mention pro-life protesters, conservative Catholics, etc., who are living witnesses to the accuracy of my projection. I’ll take those real world examples, thanks.

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                    6. The attempt to change the subject where, once again, when you make a specific claim that can actually be checked, it is other than as you wanted it to be, is noted.

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                    7. Typical. Accuse others of what you’re doing.

                      You said I was projecting, and I say I’m not. Your subject, my response.

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                    10. There’s also note in early rounds of freak-out that the FBI had contacted her relatives, as well, <I>on the subject of who would threaten to kill the judge</i>.

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                    12. The driver who murdered my cousin. Hit and run.

                      The 3 12 year old girls with her older brother were walking the edge of the 30 MPH rural road (instead say, on the roadside edge of the large ditch separating property fences and the road) single file with traffic (this is how this road is walked, even now). They heard the vehicle coming. Stepped closer to the ditch. Driver barely misses big brother, side mirror hits the two girls in the middle, hits cousin hard enough to throw her 20′ over the ditch and the fence of the property, knocking her shoes off. Dead when hit. Takes off. Got caught a week later because the driver of a company rig was stupid. He and passenger had taken the work van to a party down the road. Drinking was involved. But because not caught for a week could not prove DUI. Passenger (who was not suppose to be in the vehicle) lawyered up and refused to speak. All they had driver on was reckless disregard and failure to preform driver’s duty. Driver got 30 months at the then low security farm type incarnation, and lost driving license for 30 month plus ten years. System tried to release driver early on good behavior. Judge stomped on that. Driver had to return to finish the full 30 months (not counting the two months driver had been out). The other outrage? When the latter came out, people who had been in required counseling with driver, stated by driver’s telling the death was a passenger in another vehicle, not a pedestrian. Number of things since then.

                      1. New law in Oregon. Hit and Run with a death or major live altering injuries sentencing is as if guilty of DUI and the same injuries occurred. This means a lot more than 30 months in prison, as well as lost of drivers license after release for minimum of 10 years.
                      2. While driver wasn’t caught, no one believes driver actually gave up driving, or DUI, even though driver did not have a valid, and could not have a valid, drivers license, anywhere.
                      3. Since requiring drivers license in 2012 (ish), driver has been in the news at least 4 times for DUI. No one (based on comments) believe that driver has gotten caught every time driver drove DUI.
                      4. Aunt and Uncle did get money from the company who driver was driving for. Driver’s driving record, while no prior DUI’s, driver’s driving record was very bad, at best. Which the company knew or should have known had they done due diligence. Never should have had a driving job.

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                    13. Neither one of those is a threat, against a judge or anybody else. So the question remains: was there ever a threat for the Fibbies to be ‘investigating’ in the first place, or are they just harassing somebody for making an inconvenient post?

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                    14. One dweeb coming to knock on your door and ask if you have a clue who may have threatened a judge for a case you are connected to, when it’s known they’re asking other folks who are connected to cases with the judge, is not “the FBI investigating someone for a post.”

                      Which would have been obvious to Snelson if he’d taken two seconds to see if there was any kind of information, instead of latching on to what he “knew” had to be true, and running around with his hair on fire.

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  30. It’s that one day in spring and fall when you can sleep with the windows open, enjoy the fresh air all night and not wake up either frozen or sweating.

    You know it won’t last, but that just makes it better.

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