Reptile encounter

 I usually write about interesting things that occur in my life in these postings.  Yesterday we went to Shannon's program for her IEP and a visit by a fish and repartarium from Utica.  We were seated in the front row with her and got a good look at and interactions with the creatures.  One of which was a bright yellow python, probably 7 feet long and weighing about 40 pounds.  It took two people from the place to hold him up along with peering at this guy, I got to touch him.  The room was a bit warm and he was room temperature.  The skin was quite soft and not much different than the skin of a child.  Prior to this, I had not touched a snake.  Kind. of a remarkable experience.  

That's it.

New resident

We have this little hamster as our new resident.  I assume it is a she as was named Cookies n Cream.  She is nocturnal, eating and running on her wheel at night.  Put in her ball, she traverses the apartment back and forth much to Harrys delight.  Recently taking to climbing up the side of the cage peering out at me.  That is all that is new for me.

Pistons had a good run but ran out of gas last night against Cleveland.  They gave us a lot to watch thru the season.  As we are accustomed to saying around here, "there's always next year."

Bought tomato plants yesterday.  Got a big variety.  We will plant today with no real results till mid July.  Found a good spot with lots of sun last year.  Hoping for big success this season.

I love the trees when the leaves are just developing in the spring.  This is the tree in our front lawn from a few days. ago; a rebirth for spring.  Going to be hot today.  Was already 70 when I took harry out in the morning.  As is the norm these days, things will get hot with no in between temps.

Gas prices are up but my income stays the same.  Food prices are up but my income stays the same.  This war that nobody wanted rages on. The president is praying with Christian Nationalists on the National Mall.  What are they praying for?  Half of the White House is destroyed  for his new ballroom (the people's house).  More gold shit is going up every day. He looked at France and wants to build an arch or maybe it is commemorative of the Golden Arches, his favorite dining spot. 

 

PT

 So I have this new physical therapist in the Corewell system.  She is friendly but not too friendly; a mature woman in her forties.  First she measured the amount of movement in my back and shoulders and determined where I was in need of straightening up.  after more prodding and twisting it was determined that my hips were tight.  That was the factor that was pushing me forward and causing my falls.  She gave me some hip stretching exercises.  They seemed to improve my posture and lengthen my stride, all good stuff.

May 2nd was Shannons 38th birthday.  We are celebrating it today with cupcakes and some presents.  She is as happy and giving as always.  Cannot believe she is 38.  Time flies.

Got back last night from a surprise visit with Paxton and Everett.  I had forgotten all the loud screaming in the current crop of animation.  Used to more quiet.  Andrew's guys are only looking for food with little conversation these days.  

Its good to be home.

What did you think she was going to ask

What did you think she was going to ask you?  about the ballroom or your favorite  color?  daylight savings time? Nora asked reporter questions about the events that just occurred.  She quoted from the writings of the shooter. You called her a horrible person afterward and defamed her in other ways.  She kept her composure and moved on.  Political violence is not the solution. To be honest, security was probably lax in the setting.

This is my Marie in her new environment at McD's on her first job.  I was lucky to get this shot at the drive-thru.  So proud of her and her brother getting jobs this early on.  

Had a nice coffee meetup with my college pal Tom Cameron at Panera.  We discussed our usual battery of topics, books, politics and family.  Tom is one of the most specific people I know.  He spares no details.  That completeness is part o his charm.  His friendship is one of the treasures I hold onto from my past.

I have one remaining uncle left in my family, my Uncle Len who is my mother's youngest brother.  I believe he is going to be 95 this year.  Even after overcoming a stroke, he is still active, driving his tractor maintaining his lawn moving a little slower than before.  He is of sound mind although slightly halting in speech.  We speak on the phone every few weeks.  Len is my last connection to my past and frankly an inspiration.  He is also a gift.

Going to visit my neurologist this afternoon.  She is the only "talking" doctor I have that is not limited to the 15 minute Corewell prescribed appointment time. 

Going back to PT to improve my balance and straighten me up this week too.

Getting old is a bitch.

 

A Visit

 

Went to Jon and Kelly's  this Friday to see the family and go to dinner at Roasted, a restaurant owned by Jamie Clark and her husband John.  It's a friendly sports bar in Walker, Michigan.  They have owned and operated it for about 2 years.  Our grandsons Paxton and Everett are doing fine in the 3rd and 1st grades.  Jamie has been a friend of Katey's since they were little and we lived on Orchard View in Royal Oak.

I have been watching PBS concert for Memorial Day.  It. includes dramatic presentations from notable male actors reading aloud the experiences from the Viet Nam war and others; real stories from combat.  Along with being moved, I reacted with dismay that it took nearly fifty years for these soldiers to be recognized for their bravery.  They fought in an unpopular conflict that had little support from their country.  This was a war that couldn't be won. And still they fought on.  I made the decision to attend college and got a student deferment.  At that moment, it seemed to be the correct choice. Not proud of that decision.

Struggling to be the 9 fingered typist.  Things are much slower.  There are numerous corrections along the way.  I still have something to say;  Katey, along with her colleagues on DHS have still not been paid since Feb 14th.  All these folks need to pay bills, buy food and everything else.  Still they are required to show up for work.  This is not right. 

Election

So happy for the citizens of Hungary with their defeat of the tyrant Viktor Orban yesterday.  I have cousins in Debrecen there that I communicate with regularly after meeting them in 2020..  Bela Salaman, my 2nd cousin was brave enough to tell me about this guy in detail last year.  Equally, I am impressed that the vanquished leader conceded the election to his opponent and congratulated him on the win.  That is what we used to do here.  

There was a participation rate of over 70%.  My cousin in Melbourne AU took a 3 hour train ride to get to a poling place to cast her ballot.  The 45 year old winner, Peter Magyar,  is from a centrist Tisza Party which is a center-right pro European formation. 

My roots on my father's side run deep in Hungary.  His parents came to this country around the turn of the last century.   

Going to PF this morning to work out some of the kinks in my old body.  

nine fingered typing

 

Struggling to write with one bum finger.  A little finger on my left hand is not positioned correctly and The A is difficult to hit properly.  Still have a lot to discuss considering the current state of affairs.  Democrats are calling for his removal.  He has been impeached twice to no avail.  Calling for the 25th amendment to be enacted will not work since the effort needs bipartisan support and we know that is not going to happen.  So the Democrats are going to waste more of the taxpayers money making speeches that will accomplish nothing.  feeling stuck in this quagmire with no real way forward.

Weather here is traversing back and forth; warm and cold, sunny and rainy,
all quite tiresome.  The war we started is going along quite nicely according to the leadership. Daughter Katey was supposed to finally get paid today, but alas another lie from the leadership.  These folks have bills and have to buy groceries.  Kids need clothes and shoes, but still more empty promises. Incidentally, where are the checks from the tariffs? Regular citizens have only achieved higher prices.   Oh wait, Congress is still on vacation cruising on their boats and relaxing at their vacation. homes.  

My cousin in Hungary and his countrymen are having a national election today hoping to unseat their authoritarian president, Viktor Orban.  The middle of the road opponent is 42 years old and said to be poling well before the contest.  Vance went over to pitch for the incumbent.  Europe awaits the outcome.

Not really feeling pleased today for a lot of reasons.