driving

What? Really. What??

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On the agenda of the TS Fitness Group meeting this Sunday morning was driving. Only two members were present but we both agreed we will never know when we will lose our ability to drive safely and will continue to believe we are the best drivers in the world. The two members combined age is 157 years, and their combined experience should remove all doubt of their commitment to safety.

The meeting veered (without the use of turn signals) into a general concern about when overall cognitive decline would be noticed. Both members admitted the ability to recognize decline in others but allowed that accurate self-examination might be troublesome in the future. Much time was then wasted lamenting the modern era’s lack of adequate road markings, along with a bi-partisan denouncement of modern reflective material, due to the material’s superior nighttime eye-piercing quality. As for the Activities Of Daily Living (ADL), attending members agreed neither was currently concerned about any ADL, but anxious about future needs and costs. A moment of silence was followed by the tabling of further discussions on cognitive decline.

In closing the meeting, this declaration is hereby approved by unanimous consent for inclusion in today’s record: “We, the members of this meeting do demand all future changes to our lives be requested in writing by whatever organization, society, or bodily organ is endeavoring to change, and said entities await the members approval before affecting (effecting?) said change.”

There. No more surprises for us, two old guys.

On the way home a pickup zoomed by with a large window sticker: “F%%$ BIDEN”. It generated all sorts of questions. 1. Is the driver truly entertaining the thought? 2. Is the driver an angry, ex-lover of Joe’s? 3. How much did the driver pay for the sticker? 4. What sex is the driver? (He/She/Them/It was so high up and went by so fast.) 5. Does Joe know there is an offer being made in upstate NY?

Let’s forget the questions and make a statement: Unless you can truthfully, answer any of the questions, you are an idiot for displaying such a sticker. And there are a lot of them in upstate NY. No “F%%& TRUMP” or Bush or Clinton has been witnessed by me but if you happen to be displaying one, you are an idiot, too. No explanation simply: you are an idiot, especially if you need an explanation. No “F%%&ing” any presidents.

A May colonoscopy result had been causing me all sorts of trouble and stress. Since the issue was settled yesterday, it reminds me of the one solution to every problem: good communication. Keep in mind NOT making a problem is still the best way to do things, but poor communication makes everything worse. No advice or lessons here, except learn how to communicate clearly. Oh, one piece of advice: think before you speak. Really, really think. Another piece of advice: Don’t be stupid and not ask questions if you don’t understand. We seem to act the other way around as if asking questions makes us sound stupid. For instance, why would anyone put a “F%%$ The President” sign on their bumper or window? It makes you look like a @$$.

And don’t get me started on pronouns with no preceding proper noun.

It’s interesting the “clawback” recission process our Republican Government just accomplished. To summarize, money was approved and allocated for certain programs by past votes in the Senate and House of Representatives. All members who voted for or against the programs were elected officials of their parties and no gun was held to their head. Nationwide, agencies, schools, organizations, and communities made plans for the money and implemented those plans. Then in 2025, a different Senate and House of Representatives votes to rescind certain monies, and “clawback” the dollars. If this bothers you, so what? If you elected Joe Smith who voted for the money in 2023, and then Bill Smith won Joe’s seat in 2025, is it okay for Bill to vote to take away the money Joe approved in 2023? It’s not right but google the “Impoundment Control Act (ICA)” of 1974 and its history. And voters: beware and be educated.

And, no, the ICA has nothing to do with pronouns…

Benign Bemusements

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After years of complaining about drivers’ inability to understand and use a well-known and researched free life-saving safety device, blinkers, it is time for empathy, time to walk a mile in their shoes. This past Monday, the 13-mile, mainly four-lane highway drive from my home to the Fitness Center at Turning Stone was the time and place. I intended to drive the entire route without ever touching the turn signal arm. It is a drive of very few turns so…and it was performed at 4:30 AM so there were few witnesses…and victims…but…

The first 12 miles were glorious: the sheer audacity and freedom was intoxicating. I changed lanes on a whim. I made my one right turn onto the highway with total abandon and when the two lanes narrowed to one, I shifted over with a youthful, carefree exuberance. That joy filled my soul and I lost myself in it until in anticipation of a left turn into the parking garage, my now-unattended brain fired the nerve(s?) of my left arm. The left hand fell off the steering wheel, my eyes dropped to watch, and the left-hand fingers descended perfectly onto the turn signal lever. Could I catch myself in time to prevent disaster or was I doomed to repeat the past? Would the turn signal lever be strong enough to resist? Would it count if the light bulb was burned out and never flashed? Is Trump ruining the entire world?

I’ll try, again, on the way home.

Speaking of Trump, is it strange he decimates social, educational, medical, and scientific services in the name of “balancing the budget” and then spends billions on immigration deportations, domestic military policing, and parades? The American Public is (are?) the idiot(s) for allowing this to happen, and by electing him in the first place. Will we do anything about it?

Immigration reform is needed, but if we assume 1 in a 10,000 Americans is a criminal, it’s safe to assume 1 in 10,000 immigrants is a criminal, right? So we are deporting them all? Indiscriminately? Court cases alone will cost billions. It is a classic case of mismanagement made sadder by the hurt it is causing innocents. And is a perfect example of baby and bathwater. It is proof we need experienced professionals running our government who understand nuance or at least are willing to learn. HHS Chief RFK firing all 17 members of an advisory board to the CDC? He don’t need no stinkin’ advice.

Political doublespeak and the attendant physical contortions are not unique to the Republican Party, or to this day and age. Democrats are participants, too, as well as being quick learners. But I just watched Republican Representative Loeren Boebert in a US House hearing perfectly detail the causes, actions, and repercussions involved in an “insurrection”. Finally, I said to myself, someone on the Republican side sees it. Finally. But she was talking about Los Angeles. Find it on you tube and watch. It is the perfect example of political…umm…selective memory? Ignorance? Oblivion? She was innocently outraged, positive about all facts, and sure anyone who didn’t agree with her was stupid, unpatriotic, and un-American. Plus, she was shrill, one of her unique skills.  Unfortunately, I cannot remember a Democrat display so completely tone-deaf and absurd, but there probably is one, someplace. It is what politicians do and we reward them for it. Let’s vote them all out next time. All new for the future.

There are so many odd, sad, funny thoughts and things happening to us old people. This post was supposed to be about those things. But Ai is ruining everything, including my brain. Politics is an ear worm, now. Anyone know a cure? Maybe if politicians stopped being stupid and self-serving…?

See? Funny things.