Almost Wordless Wednesday

Dawn the morning after a snow several days ago.

 

Tracks.

And more tracks.

Sunday

 I've written before about my husband playing the tuba with the local community band. Sunday was the first concert for the 2023-24 season.  There is another concert later this spring and then through the summer they will play in lots of little towns through the Upper Valley.

Dan wasn't sure I'd want to come to this concert as there were a lot of modern compositions. But it was easier for me to come than not.  We had church in the morning then grabbed lunch then he reported to the middle school in Hanover where the concert was to be held.  I brought a book along and sat on a bench with these lovely ladies.

The concert was fine.  The band pulled off the hard compositions with only a tiny few mistakes.

If you click on the photo you can see Dan's tuba just beyond the woman in the red hat on the right.

Interestingly enough the granddaughters music teacher is also in this band.  He's recently moved to the area after graduating from college.  He plays clarinet and his girlfriend plays the French horn.  She teaches music, too at another school.

More From Jennifer Rubin

 Reprinted from The Washington Post

January 2, 2023

by Jennifer Rubin

What caught my eye The media’s obsession with early, irrelevant polling (largely within the margin of error) leads them to conclude that Trump, now the likely nominee after New Hampshire, is the favorite to win the presidency. But if we look past the premature and utterly nonpredictive general election polls to examine Trump the candidate, his weaknesses appear overwhelming. For starters, it is hardly good news for the party out of power when the election already revolves around the challenger’s fitness, rather than the incumbent’s performance. Past presidential challengers such as Mitt Romney, John McCain, John F. Kerry and Al Gore did not have the extra hurdle to prove they were sane, law-abiding and pro-democracy. Trump does, and he reinforces those concerns whenever he opens his mouth. Consider the heavy baggage that comes with Trump. With less than 55 percent of the vote in New Hampshire and Iowa, his results were underwhelming for someone with near universal name recognition. GOP turnout in Iowa was mediocre at best; in New Hampshire, independents turned out in droves but Republicans made up a surprisingly small share of the primary electorate. His weakness among independent voters in New Hampshire should worry Republicans. A small group of committed followers does not mean widespread enthusiasm for the candidate. Moreover, Trump seems more confused, incoherent and feeble than ever. Mistaking former president Barack Obama for President Biden, confusing Nancy Pelosi and Nikki Haley, running on about a made-up questions on a cognitive test (very meta, for him) and getting his world wars mixed up give the impression he’s slipping. Former representative Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) posted on X, “His confusion and lack of awareness is a trend. He’s aging very fast. I hope his family is getting him the help he needs.” Ouch. Imagine if Biden committed even one of these goofs — or slurred his words as Trump periodically does. Beyond that, large numbers of Republicans (and independent voters) say they will not vote for him if he is convicted of a crime. There’s a good chance that will happen in either the New York business falsification case or in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot case. Along the way, outbursts, temper tantrums and bullying courtroom antics akin to those he has displayed in his civil cases will be in the news. And he’s likely to repeat some tirades on courthouse steps. No doubt he will consistently reinforce the perception that he is erratic, irrational, vengeful and unstable. He seems incapable of controlling himself. And, don’t forget, a jury in E. Jean Carroll’s civil case already found him to be an inveterate liar and sexual attacker. A second E. Jean Carroll verdict against him for defamation is likely coming. And the New York case of fraudulent business valuations might underscore his compulsion to inflate his ego with more lies. “Repeatedly adjudicated liar” is not the moniker you want as a candidate. Considering Trump’s specific promises to pursue dictatorial powers, his repeated praise for tyrants, the cast of misfits he would bring to the White House and his actual record (e.g., lost jobs, hundreds of thousands of avoidable covid-19 deaths), his likely opponent, Biden, has an embarrassment of riches. You can then throw in the GOP’s abysmal elections record over the past few years, its losing streak on abortion, House Republicans’ pitiful legislative record and the shrinking number of White Christian evangelicals (his core base of support). It sure does not seem like favorable political terrain for the probable GOP nominee. Finally, the public is catching on to the economy’s strength. And as the Wall Street Journal reported, there is a good chance things get even better. (“Now Americans are bucking up as inflation cools and the Federal Reserve signals that interest-rate increases are likely behind us. And with the solid labor market putting money in the bank accounts of freely spending consumers, recession fears for 2024 are fading.”) Sure, Trump might win in November. Tens of millions of people have been drawn into a fascist movement and have lost their grip on reality (as Romney has pointed out). But we should not confuse the unbreakable support Trump derives from cultist members with general election viability. Looking at the totality of the evidence, chances appear just as high that the former president will lose — and by a larger margin than he lost in 2020. Democrats benefit from not getting overconfident, but they need to get a grip: Their side has many fewer problems than does the MAGA movement. ****** As an aside, I happened to turn on the TV to CNN and they had up a map of the US.  The discussion was sickening - predicting which candidate will take which state in the general election.  Much too early for any of this!

These are Precious

 -HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)

1. You  got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. --  Alan, age 10
 2- No  person really decides before they grow up who they're going to  marry. God decides it all the way before, and you get to find out later  who you're stuck with. --  Kristen, age 10
 
2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you’ve known the person FOREVER by then..  --  Camille, age 10
 
3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
 You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. --  Derrick, age 8
 
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
 Both don't want any more kids. --  Lori, age 8
 
5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
 Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.  --  Lynnette, age 8 (isn't  she a treasure?)
 
- On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.  --  Martin, age 10
 
6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
-When they're rich. --  Pam, age 7 (Love her)
 
-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. - - Curt, age 7
 
-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. Howard, age 8
 
7. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. --  Anita, age 9(bless you child)
 
8. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
 There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?  --  Kelvin, age 8
 
And the #1 Favorite is.......
9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck. --  Ricky, age 9

Thanks Marilyn for sharing these with me to share with others. 

NH Primary

 We did our part but ...

Dan is registered as undeclared/independent.  He got to select the ballot he wanted.  He couldn't comfortably say Republican so he said "Red."  Dan voted for Haley as an anti-tRump vote. He felt like he was holding is nose to do even that.  We know others including our daughter and son in law who did the same thing.  It helped Haley some but not enough.

I'm registered Democrat.  I wrote in Joe Biden.  

How to stop tRump?

I fear for our country and feel so very sorry for those fellow Americans who have been taken in by his lies and the lies of Fox news.

Addendum for Suz-ee's benefit and others unfamiliar.

For primaries when candidates for elected office are selected by party you have to be registered as Democrat or Republican to vote in the respective party primaries.  My husband registered as an independent could not vote in primaries when we lived in Maryland.  In NH independents are allowed to select a party primary to vote in on primary election day which is what he did.  Afterward he changed his affiliation back to Independent.

Who you vote for is still by secret ballot.

Laughs!

 

Another Column from Jennifer Rubin

 From the Washington Post Jan 19, 2024

by Jennifer Rubin

What caught my eye

In response to endless carping about his age, Biden cannot change his birthdate, but he can project an image of vitality and vigor. Indeed, alert voters should have noticed by now the contrast between his cogent, policy-laden speeches and the increasingly unhinged, rambling screeds we get from the GOP front-runner. The contrast might sharpen as four-time-indicted former president Donald Trump launches more rants on more courthouse steps in the coming months. In the new year, Biden already has made headway in blowing away the right-wing canard that he is enfeebled and out to lunch. The president’s strength and decisiveness in support of U.S. interests stand in stark contrast with Trump, who cozied up to dictators, undermined NATO and allegedly purloined national security secrets at the end of his presidency. In the foreign policy realm, Biden answered the Houthis’ Red Sea attacks with military strikes. Decisive action and tough rhetoric undercut the claim that he is feeble. “The operation, short and limited to military targets, and in a nation that cannot control the piratical acts of an unwelcome group, falls well within the legal as well as the traditional requirements for the use of force by members of the international community,” military expert Tom Nichols wrote for the Atlantic. “So far, both American political parties, even with a bit of GOP grumbling, have made the right call to support action against the Houthis.” It didn’t hurt Biden that hysterical voices on his left flankmade constitutionally unsupportable demands that he seek permission from Congress before acting. Also, expect to see Biden’s whirlwind visits to war zones in Israel and Ukraine featured in more campaign ads and speeches. “Twice now President Joe Biden made the decision to visit active war zones not under U.S. military command,” professor and journalist Steven Beschloss wrote on Substack. “These trips, to Kyiv in February and to Tel Aviv … are without precedent in modern American history.” Beschloss added that voters can appreciate the “vigor and guts — and principle — it took to meet American allies in person to demonstrate American support, despite genuine danger.” Punchy speeches with sharp barbs aimed at Trump also show the sort of instinct for the jugular rarely seen during Biden’s first three years in office. Delighting in calling Trump a loser, Biden no longer hides his contempt for his likely November opponent. During his speech last week at Mother Emanuel AME church in Charleston, S.C., Biden declared, “Let me say what others cannot: We must reject political violence in America. Always, not sometimes. Always. It’s never appropriate.” He added about Trump, “Losers are taught to concede when they lose. And he’s a loser.”

The Biden campaign has also embraced the “Brandon” meme, transforming an obscene chant into a winking affirmation of Biden’s strength. As Axios reported, “‘Dark Brandon’ — an online meme that portrays the 80-year-old president as a two-steps-ahead Machiavelli — is driving the Biden campaign’s merchandise sales.” Meanwhile, Biden’s campaign now openly mocks Trump for “confused,” rambling utterances. And when late-night comics pick up the refrain, news outlets and voters alike begin to look for more instances of unhinged, incoherent tirades. Collectively, the predominant “narrative” might shift to match reality. Biden is old but sharp; Trump is out of shape and out to lunch.

Precision Museum, Windsor, Vermont

According to the introductory video Windsor, Vermont and this armory turned into a gun manufacturing plant is where the American method of manufacturing was born. A need for rifles made quickly led to a method of manufacturing that created interchangeable parts and machines run by water power to speed up the time required to make them.

A subsequent show of this method at the Crystal Palace in London - the first World's Fair - had people convinced that a new age of precision was born.

I know you've heard of Silicon Valley, but before that there was Precision Valley starting in Windsor.

The Precision Museum is one of those small museums that packs a lot into it. The focus is machines that made manufacturing and subsequently life easier for all of our ancestors and us, too.

 

There is quite a collection of machines and at least one below, a gift, no one knows what it did.

The one above was a small one.  The one below is a large one and it's use is known I just didn't note what it was.

It was a blue sky cold morning on Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday when we visited.

Here are more of the collected machines.

These are facts I didn't know.

If you visit Vermont make this one of your stops.

I had to take this photo of the rear of the building. It looks like other buildings once were attached and all that's left are the ghost marks.

To end let me share this photo and video. It's a case of miniature machines.

You push a button and the machines start working.

Card-Making Class

 Last Sunday I had the opportunity to finally meet the woman who I've been ordering Stampin Up card supplies from since I moved to NH in 2020.  Lorraine lives about 50 minutes south of me and when she offered this Sunday class I readily signed up.

Lorraine has the entire basement devoted to her crafting. Here is the table all set for the class.

I couldn't capture it all but had to admire all the sample cards including this one I plan to replicate twice for the 10 year birthday of granddaughter #1 and the 2 year birthday of granddaughter #4.

We made three cards together, two birthday cards and a Valentine.

The one below was my favorite.  Before I mail this one off to a birthday recipient I need to make some more.

Lorraine is on the right below.  I'm in the back holding a card over my head.

A good time was had by all.

If you want to see what Lorraine is up to, visit her website HERE.

Groaners

 

Storm

This is our neighbor's tree along our driveway.  So glad it fell towards her backyard.  The other way would have been on our house.

We had quite high winds last night into early this morning.  Lots of rain too. 

I had planned to post this Saturday morning but as I sat to write the power went out.  It just came back on 10 minutes ago - 7 pm Saturday.

Dan was called by fire department (he's a volunteer) at 5 am because of  downed wires on the road south of here.  He didn't get home until 9:30.

We are glad we put in the woodstove.  It kept us warm and I used it to warm soup for supper.

A Must Read Column by Jennifer Rubin

 Reprinted from The Washington Post, January 12, 2024

What caught my eye by Jennifer Rubin After missing the significance of the MAGA movement in 2016, innumerable mainstream outlets spent thousands of hours, gallons of ink and billions of pixels trying to understand “the Trump voter.” How had democracy failed them? What did the rest of us miss about these Americans? The journey to Rust Belt diners became a cliché amid the newfound fascination with aggrieved White working-class Americans. But the theory that such voters were economic casualties of globalization turned out to be false. Surveys and analyses generally found that racial resentment and cultural panic, not economic distress, fueled their affinity for a would-be strongman. Unfortunately, patronizing excuses (e.g., “they feel disrespected”) for their cultlike attachment to a figure increasingly divorced from reality largely took the place of exacting reporting on the right-wing cult that swallowed a large part of the Republican Party. In an effort to maintain false equivalence and normalize Trump, many media outlets seemed to ignore that the much of the GOP left the universe of democratic (small-d) politics and was no longer a traditional democratic (again, small-d) party with an agenda, a governing philosophy, a set of beliefs. The result: Trump was normalized and a false equivalence between the parties was created. Instead of reporting Trump’s wild assertions as legitimate arguments, media outlets should explain how Trump rallies are designed to instill anger and cultivate his hold on people who believe whatever hooey he spouts. How different are these events from what we see in grainy images of European fascist rallies in the 1930s? (When Trump apologists insist that tens of millions of people cannot be part of a cult, it’s critical to remember mass fascist movements that swept entire populations.) The appeals to emotion, the specter of a malicious enemy, the fear of societal decline, the fascination with violence and the elation just to be in the presence of the leader are telltale signs of frenetic fascist gatherings. Trump’s language (“poisoning the blood”) even mimics Hitler’s calls for racial purity. Even as Trump shows his authoritarian colors and his rants become angrier, more unhinged and more incoherent, his followers still meekly accept inane assertions (e.g., convicted Jan. 6, 2021, rioters are “hostages,” magnets dissolve in water, wind turbines drive whales insane). More of the media should be covering this phenomenon as it would any right-wing authoritarian movement in a foreign country. Though polls continue to show Trump’s iron grip on his followers, mainstream outlets spend far too little attention on why and howMAGA member cling to demonstrably false beliefs, excuse what should be inexcusable conduct and treat him as infallible. Outlets should routinely consult psychologists and historians to ask the vital questions: How do people abandon rationality? What drives their fury and anxiety? How does an authoritarian figure maintain his hold on followers? How do ideas of racial purity play into it? Media outlets fail news consumers when they do not explain the authoritarian playbook that Trump employs. Americans need media outlets to spell out what is happening. “Authoritarian, not democratic dynamics, hold the key to Trump’s behavior as a candidate now and in the future,” historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat wrote. “The main goals of his campaign events are not to advance policy proposals but rather to prop up his personality cult, circulate his lies, and emotionally retrain Americans to see violence as positive and even patriotic.” Plenty of experts are available to dissect the phenomenon. Expert Steven Hassan, for example, explained to the Atlantic’s Peter Sagal that, as Sagal wrote, “the MAGA movement checks all the boxes of his ‘BITE’ model of cult mind control — behavior, information, thought, and emotional control.” Sagal continued, “Like all cult leaders, [Hassan] argues, Trump restricts the information his followers are allowed to accept; demands purity of belief (beliefs that can change from moment to moment, as per his whims and needs); and appeals to his followers through the conjuring of primal emotions — not just fear but also joy.” (Another expert, Daniella Mestyanek Young, explained: “The first rule of cults is: you’re never in a cult. The second rule of cults is: the cult will forgive any sin, except the sin of leaving. The third rule of cults is: even if he did it, that doesn’t mean he’s guilty.”) A message from a mentally sound, serious leader (President Biden) cannot be equated with the message of an authoritarian who seeks absolute power through a web of disinformation and, if need be, violence. (When the media doesn’t grasp this, we get laughable headlines such as: “Clashing Over Jan. 6, Trump and Biden Show Reality Is at Stake in 2024.”) Instead of probing why MAGA followers, despite all evidence to the contrary, deny that Trump was an insurrectionist and a proven liar, pollsters insist on asking Trump followers which candidate they think might better handle, for example, health care. The answer for Republicans (Trump! Trump!) has nothing to do with the question (Trump never had a health-care plan, you recall), and the question has nothing to do with the campaign. The race between an ordinary democratic candidate and an unhinged fascist is not a normal American election. At stake is whether a democracy can protect itself from a malicious candidate with narcissistic tendencies or a rational electorate can beat back a dangerous, lawless cult of personality. Unfortunately, too many media outlets have not caught on or, worse, simply feign ignorance to avoid coming down on the side of democracy, rationality and truth.

Need a Laugh?

 

 Becoming a Senior 

COMMANDMENTS FOR SENIORS

 

The ability to speak several languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in any language is priceless.

 

Be decisive. Right or wrong, make a decision. The road is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision.

 

When I get a headache I take two aspirin and keep away from children just like the bottle says.

 

Just once, I want the prompt for username and password to say, “Close enough.”

 

Becoming an adult is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done

 

If you see me talking to myself, just move along. I’m self-employed. We’re having a meeting

 

“Your call is very important to us. Please enjoy this 40-minute flute solo."

 

Does anyone else have a plastic bag full of plastic bags, or is it just me?

 

I hate it when I can’t figure out how to operate the iPad and my tech support guy is asleep. He’s 5 and it’s past his bedtime.

 

Today’s 3-year-olds can switch on laptops and open their favorite apps. When I was 3, I ate mud.

 

Tip for a successful marriage: Don’t ask your wife when dinner will be ready while she’s mowing the lawn.

 

So, you drive across town to a gym to walk on a treadmill?

 

Old age is coming at a really bad time.

 

If God wanted me to touch my toes, He would've put them on my knees.

 

Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet.

 

Why do I have to press one for English when you're just going to transfer me to someone I can't understand anyway?

 

Now, I'm wondering . . . did I send this to you, did you send it to me or have I only sent it to myself.

 

You don't need anger management. You need people to stop irritating you.

 

Your people skills are just fine. It's your tolerance for idiots that needs work.

 

"On time" is, when you get there.

 

Even duct tape can't fix stupid – but it sure does muffle the sound.

 

It would be wonderful if we could put ourselves in the dryer for ten minutes, then come out wrinkle-free...and three sizes smaller.

 

Lately, you've noticed people your age are so much older than you.

 

"One for the road" means peeing before you leave the house. 

***

Thanks to Marilyn for sharing these with me.  I found myself agreeing with too many of them.  How about you?

The Day After

 

Snow ...

 ... finally!

News from Here

 Life is complex! Or when it rains, it pours!

I had on my calendar to call the electrician in the new year to see if we could schedule a visit to add a socket for a new electric dryer.  Current dryer is propane and lots of years old.  We are replacing both the washer and the dryer in our bathroom/laundry renovation.

I got the electrician right away on Wednesday morning but they couldn't commit.  They referred me to someone else with whom I left a long message.  Then Dan suggested I ask Tony, our neighbor, who is very handy with all things electric including putting up solar panels.  He said sure.  As I write he has started work.

While Tony was here scoping out the task Wednesday the plumber called.  They were scheduled to give us an estimate on Friday so I was fearful they were going to push that back again.  Original date had been Dec. 15th. But no, they wanted to come within the hour.  Zach came and stayed over an hour.  He will be in touch next week with estimate and timetable.

With both those trades in the works I had to make some final decisions on which dryer and washer, and vanity.  Did that last night and Home Depot to deliver the appliances on Jan 10th! By bedtime wednesday we were both exhausted from decision fatigue.

As I said Tony is at work now to get socket in place.  Dan has started deconstruction that falls on him to do. He removed the mirror/medicine cabinet. We will replace with a simple mirror.  The vanity will have the storage we need.  Plumber will help remove and replace vanity to preserve the pipes.

Me?  I've been finishing it up the kitchen project painting the chair that we found in the barn loft when we first moved here. It's our extra chair at the dining room table when we have more than 4 to seat.  I decided to keep it in the kitchen instead of the guest room and paint it blue.

On top of all that I needed to be in touch with Untours about booking our flight to Switzerland for our two weeks there with family this summer. Had a long conversation on that this morning.

Finally we had a very light dusting of snow today but now the sun is out and it will disappear.  It is a very strange winter not to have mounds of snow around.

Still on my list, painting the cabinets over the washer and dryer to match the new vanity and stain the table in the kitchen to match the new oak cabinets.