Saturday, January 28, 2017

The Day The Phone Died and Tragedy in America

Today my heart literally hurts so much that there are no words. I am ashamed to be an American. Yes, I know what it means to say that. And I know what it means to say that if you voted for this man you elected a fascist. There is no other word. If you are one of the millions who voted from Trump just because of the choice issue, or because you were afraid of "socialism", you have elected a fascist. I honestly and truly pray (every day) that we make it through the next six months. Not only should Trump hang his head in shame for what he has done to families, refugees and legal residents of this country, he should hang his head in shame because the countries with the terrorists were not banned. You cannot blame this on national security. I realize as I write these things I may lose readers. But the reality must be faced. You (we indir6ectly) elected a racist, sexist, incapable fascist who would like us to return to the human rights stances of Russia or Germany of old it seems. Yes, after today I can compare this guy to whomever I like. At this very moment, all I can do is pray. And pray again.

For those interested, this link expresses my opinion in words better than I ever could:  http://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/01/28/dear-world-from-america/



Meanwhile, I promised you the story of my poor injured phone.  Not too long ago, one of my mentioned goals  was to cut the technology cord for an entire day each week. Let's just say that has not gone well, and that I'm not particularly sorry as such. While I don't want to become dependent on technology, it is a part of my life, and in my case, the way I communicate with family who live all over the world.  Since I am also the Frugal Retiree, it is essential to my money saving and money making efforts.I rarely play games, and I'm usually not one of those people who goes down a "rabbit hole" for hours. I spend a couple hours each morning online, and then except for basic texting and phone calls and calendar checking, I may not be on my technology again until  after dinner (although I do passive earnings on my phone).

And then last week, well..........I was without my phone for three days. Folks, let me tell you, it was not a pretty sight (even for a woman who can receive calls and texts on her tablet). I was not a fun person to live with. Somehow, somewhere, the little button on the side had gotten stuck in the "in" position and nothing done by man or woman would adjust it. This meant that it was always on, the screen never slept, and every time I plugged it in it came on and died, came on and died, came on and died.  You get the idea. There was not a frugal or easy technology fix. It was time thank myself for paying that monthly phone insurance (with a deductible) and move on.

I really do rely on my phone for a great deal-and I have no regrets. Without my phone I could not make calls or text. But oh my goodness, that is not all!  I do a daily guided contemplative prayer break for five minutes twice a day.......and the guiding app is on my phone. I pay all my bills through my phone- and could not because I had no phone (remember, I have no laptop). My phone has a photo scanner on it-and all my family photos that I had scanned to PDF's were on my phone and could not be downloaded to shutterfly.  My grocery coupons and discounts were on my phone. Heck, my music streaming is on my phone.  I don't use a paper calendar, so my schedule was on my phone!!

Fortunately, two hundred dollars (insurance deductible) and three days later, I have a new model of the same phone-and all my apps and information have been returned to the "new phone just like my old phone". While the two hundred dollar deductible was painful for the Frugal Retiree, the alternative was no alternative for me. And for those who 6nare wondering, yes, even with the two hundred bucks I am ahead on the insurance vs non insurance continuum. At ten dollars per month, it would be a long time to break even on a seven hundred dollar phone.

And as for that technology fast a day a week? Truthfully, I am holding off on that one. As long as I'm using my tablet a couple hours in the morning, and another couple in the evening, it works for me. I'm not sacrificing anything and my life is well rounded. For now, I'll stick with what I've got. My late father was in the wine and liquor business for forty years, and as such he and my mother drank wine and occasionally liquor on a regular basis-always the good stuff, but still regularly. Every few months or so they would not drink for a few days to see how it affected them. Right now the frugal retiree is in control of her tech use. If that changes, perhaps I'll follow dad's lead, who knows?

In other news, my new, more streamlined schedule allowed me to read three books this week.  I also completed a quilt top and some other sewing. I finally (remember, all the art studio stuff I got a year ago?) have started a daily art journal. I'm also back to cooking for the church once a week, with last week being a potato bar for forty people. And my commitment to stay in bed as long as I like, and make no outside commitments before lunchtime?  That, my friends is going swimmingly, especially in the cooler (albeit pretty mild) weather. I'm getting up and grabbing a drink and journal, sitting by the front window and chilling in the morning. I've also taken piles and piles of pictures, so starting next week, blog posts should be photo heavy again, and I can amp up instagram a bit.

Hey, it works for me. At least for now.




31 comments:

  1. Glad the phone worked out.

    AND those countries with terrorists just happen to be countries where he has business interest.

    Praying and praying. Praying for all people.

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  2. Amen. These are very scary days.

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    1. You said it. I was ranting on facebook today and then I decided instead of ranting to start doing.

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  3. Glad your speaking up...many feel just like you do. My own relatives voted for him due to the abortion issue. Sticking their head in the sand now.

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    1. Unfortunately the way things are going politics will continue to be a part of what I write.

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    2. And I do think that repubs have so many single issue voters...

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  4. I'm one of those who see things so differently. It was time for a change and I'm glad to see things starting to happen. dee

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    1. Dee - I am in agreement with you this is just another Liberal point to scream about. Slow down people give it a chance to work instead of the Sky is Falling. The only thing you are doing is if a big issue comes up we are all just going to shrug because of all the screaming over nonsense.

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    2. It's a bit disturbing that you view people with green cards (and others) not being allowed back in the country as "nonsense." What is the "it" that we're supposed to let work? The tax on imports that will eat into our hard-earned dollars, the wall that will be paid for by taxpayers, the clean air and water that will be destroyed by rolling back environmental policies? I prefer to be proactive and make sure it doesn't get to that point.

      Sheila

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    3. Well first, if you are going to ban countries that might bring terror, you should include the two biggest, Saudia Arabia and Turkey-but Trump has intersts there. And secondly, denying entrance to people who already have green cards and visas is not nonsense. It's illegal among many other things-which is why the courts stopped it. And as far as liberals not stopping anything, why, they have crashed the government switchboard twice already.

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    4. I agree with Dee and Melissa - give the President a chance to make the changes that need to be made. He was elected because people wanted change. I won't agree with everything he does, but he is the constitutionally elected President and should be given the respect that should come with the office. Linda

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    5. Linda, I have a basic philosphy of do no harm. unfortunately it takes five minutes to do harm and it can take five years to reverse. I see a huge difference between change and stoming on the rights of US citizens and residents as happened yesterday. So while I am open to soem change I am not open to even temporary discrimination or reversal of rights. Just to give an example or two away from the immigration debate, I see appointing a womean who knows nothing about education of any kind, and has promised NOT to follow federal law and protect special students to be a change-a harmful change and one that our education system will not deal with well. As I said, find me one teacher, one single teacer (republican or democrat) who thinks this woman is even capable. Change as such is not welcome. Responsible, thought out change, gone through the proper channels and approvals is a separate issue.

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  5. Hi there Dee. I'm happy for change, but not when it affects the rights of others or endangers the life of others. America is not about hate and fear. Fortuntely it looks like Trumps agenda in the immigration area is on hold.

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  6. And I'd be interested in seeing how you can feel that these changges are not endangering rights, or if you simply do not care.

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  7. I don't see how you think that people coming into our country illegally as having 'rights'. I am not opposed to immigration, just do things legally and set a quota. I support the vetting process. dee

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    1. Acually I think that all human beings have certain rights, period. That is my Christian belief. Welcome the stranger is not just a quote, it's a biblical directive. However, what happened today was not to illegal immigrants. It happened to people having Visas and comping to this country legally, as well as green card holders (some of whome would be killed if they returned to Iraq) not being allowed to re-enter their place of work. As far as illegal immigration I am infavor of a path for people who have been raised here from childhood and their families and tighter control.

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    2. And of course, treating our citizens differently based on race and religion is absolutely affecting rights, basic human rights.

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    3. These were not people coming in illegally. They had valid visas or green cards or dual citizenship.

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  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Madeline, what happened? YOu can always comment here.

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  9. I might be up before noon, but nothing outside the house happens before noon.

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    1. This is what I have learned to be, in my retirement. I dont sleep as late as twelve, but Imay be in my pjs that long, lol

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  10. Barbara, I'm glad you are joining the conversation and expressing your opinion about what's going on in the U.S. You're also offering a place for others to express their opinions, and, I hope, explain how they reached their opinions. On my blog I have come out for the Resistance (thingscouldbeworse.org), and our colleague in Canada,Diane, has as well (stilltheluckyfew.com). We older women have the long memories and the years of experience in dealing with difficult Presidents (e.g., Nixon) who tried to take away people's rights and acted in ways that conflicted with American values. This is going to be a long struggle. And I'm glad you got a new phone!

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  11. I said I would never write about politics on my blog, but I cannot stay silent now. Like you, if I lose followers or readers, so be it. But I cannot be silent about what's going on, and what is most likely to come. This ban is just a toe in the water for what's to come, or what the current administration would like to see done. Illegal immigration is one thing, but denying admission to visa holders ad green card holders is an entirely different kettle of fish. Visas, and the green cards, are a contract with the United States, that these people have been vetted and approved to enter and live here. That contract was broken, and in an especially cruel and heartless way. BTW, one of your senators thinks all the calls to his office have come from non-consituents. I'm hearing calls for people to show up in person in his Denver office. Maybe you can't go, but you might know of others who can!

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    1. You saw that about Cory, did you? I think i will go to his office. I read it on CBS news on facebook or something. I am really, really, really getting sick of people assuming that when women protest we must have been "instigated".

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  12. Thank you for being a spokesperson for so many. Our son is in administration in a school near you. Since the election so many of his young students have been struggling with the fear of what will happen to their families under this administration. These are little children! We as Americans cannot sit idly by while he destroys this democracy. We need to stand up for these children, and all the other groups that need a voice.

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  13. Hi Barbara. I sent you and email but you haven't responded yet.
    I see that you have a link to my blog on your sideline. Can you please remove me from your blog and its connection to my blog?
    Thank you ever so.

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  14. I'm just getting around to catching up on some blog posts I missed, and I'm glad I read this one. I do believe the time has come when we must speak up or be part of the problem. Dealing with a chronic illness, my energies are limited. I don't waste my time trying to convince others. I assume that most have examined the issues and come to their own conclusion that's different than mine, or else are of the type to react out of fear. Instead, I'm keeping my natural optimism alive by spending my energies fighting for the things that matter to me: healthcare for all, protection of First Amendment rights, inclusion . . . . and I could go on and on. I'm hearing impaired and painfully inept in social situations, so calling my representatives on the phone is a scary thing for me. Doing so requires me to first write down the salient point for the day and then practice it, but that's exactly what I do before I call my U.S. senators or representatives almost every day. Sometimes, I'm so scared that I stutter or say the wrong thing and am so humiliated, but I keep going. I am polite, always, but I have not only a right but also now a grave responsibility to make my voice heard. (My signature will show up as "Unknown," but I am Linda P.)

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  15. I am late to this party, but I voted on the right to choose. Abortions are going to happen regardless of laws. I think it ought to be available and safe. Women will die, otherwise. I do agree with all your points in this post and comments.

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Thanks for stopping by! I love to hear from others, and I also love to hear all points of view.. Just leave the profanity and insults at home, OK? Thanks!!