. The weeks are so chockful of stuff going on. Tonight a friend is driving over, and then we'll do about a 12-minute walk from my house up to the town flagpole (in the middle of Main St) where we'll attend an outdoor candlight vigil for those who were wrongfully deported and detained in El Salvador.
I started a fundraiser on Swing Left to raise $$ to win back just 3 Democratic seats in the House to take back the House in the mid-term elections next year, which would go a long way in impeding the orange man's Project 2025 plans. Just 3 seats is all we need! (And not to lose any.)
So I made the first contribution; I was so happy to find someone I know in town made the next contribution, but otherwise, it's been quiet. My friend who I'm seeing tonight is chair of the town's conservation commission, and I think I can also count on her for a donation (if she remembers). My goal is to raise $1,000 by the middle of next year, so I have some time, but still, I was wondering how to drum up more contributions as up til now, I had just about 85 or so Facebook friends.
I came up with the idea of expanding my Facebook network by friending more people with similar political views. It was easy to find them. So now I have well over 400 "friends" on Facebook, but so far that hasn't led to any more contributions. I also did 2 posts about why I'm doing this. If anyone is interested, I'll send you a link!
I really hate asking people for money. Back in the day, I used to participate in a lot of MS walkathons where I looked forward to the challenge of a 20-mile walk, yet disliked raising pledge money.
Today I had a handyman come out to repair one of my raised beds. He was very reasonably priced and came out right away. I would love to have him build a platform for my front-loading washer/dryer to save my back. Today was my first time using him. He was recently retired from other work and decided to do handyman stuff and couldn't believe how many single/divorced women have a need for this kind of thing. I know I certainly do.
I've been less successful getting other home projects going. One guy gave me a price to replace vinyl siding in 2 places where there are small holes, and I said great, let's do it, but twice now he failed to show up when he said he would. Becus it's a small job.
My go-to mason gave me a ridiculously high price for rebuilding some old stone stairs here and when I called him on it, he quickly dropped the price by nearly $2,000. This bothered me, and it's still a high price, so i had someone else come out but still waiting for his estimate. The large outfit (that means high overhead) quoted me a price that was even higher than my go-to mason, so that's not going to happen.
And still waiting for a price on front door replacement. I'll wait for Easter to pass, then will start pestering certain people again.
Tomorrow I'm taking my father to a German restaurant that's new to us. It's been 10 years since my mother passed, and traditional holiday celebrations like Easter have come to a grinding halt. It's crushing to me, but it's forced me to find new ways to mark the day. Some years I do nothing and have a pity party, other years a friend invites me over and in recent years, I've taken my father on barn tours and then dinner out. I think we've done 3 barn tours locally here, so I think we're done with that.
After Thanksgiving, Easter has always been my favorite holiday because there is not the pressure of gift-giving and it concides with spring. And what's not to love about bunnies and daffodils and eggs.
I planned to spend some time working in the yard today, and while I did, the time wasn't spent on what I hoped to do. That's because I did one more walk along the road front looking for invasive lesser celandine, which I found last year and dug up as thoroughly as I could. I didn't see any more on my first 2 "inspections," but that's becus it wasn't blooming and is otherwise very inconspicuous without its bright yellow flowers, which could be mistaken for dandelion if you didn't know better.
Anyway, I did find a good size patch of it in bloom near a culvert and wet spot where the skunk cabbage is coming up. It took some time, but I got out what I saw, but walking back I saw yet another largish clump of the stuff that wasn't yet in bloom. Sigh. I'll have to do that another time, but very soon, because once it does bloom, it becomes nearly invisible.
It all came from my neighbor across the street's house, jumping the road. She also has knotweed on her property, which I pointed out to her and she was very grateful I told her about it, but I'm not sure she's sprayed it yet. (Cutting it makes it grow more vigorously.)
So after successfully recruiting someone to serve as treasurer for my litter group, I found 2 more people who expressed interest in serving on our board. One of them will join us at our next cleanup in a week or so so that we can all meet him. The other one I need to talk to on the phone first, and then i will likely invite him to the cleanup for the same reason. Getting both these 2 people on the board would be a real accomplishment, especially since someone else who is currently on the board plans to resign in June.
Update: I would say at least 300 showed up tonight. Here are some pix:
That's my street to the right of the Meeting House (looks light a church).
This is the Episcopal church at the flag pole intersection.
April 19th, 2025 at 10:45 pm 1745102758
This was my first year that I thought I should ask the kids if they're done with kiddie stuff for Easter, and they both said yes they were done with the egg hunt but would still like some candy, so we'll set some out but no basket or eggs. It's a bit bittersweet but I'm also enjoying my kids' older selves and love them as much as I did their little-guy selves, so I'm not too broken up about it. We have other things we like to do together and new ways to relate so it's alright.
April 20th, 2025 at 12:00 am 1745107256
Are you targeting 3 specific districts already? If so, how did you choose them?
I am focused on 2025 state elections in NJ and Virginia - Governot, Lt. Gov, Attorney General, and state legislature.
I think winning those - especially flipping VA Governor and increasing Democrats in the state legislature will send a strong message.
But there are so many worthy places to focus - recruiting candidates, registering voters, building coalitions. Each of us can make a difference with our efforts.
April 20th, 2025 at 12:51 am 1745110266
Swing Left’s target swing districts include:
House Offensive Districts:
AK-AL (Nick Begich)
AZ-01 (David Schweikert)
AZ-06 (Juan Ciscomani)
CA-41 (Ken Calvert)
CO-08 (Gabe Evans)
IA-01 (Mariannette Miller-Meeks)
IA-03 (Zach Nunn)
MI-07 (Tom Barrett)
NE-02 (Don Bacon)
NY-17 (Mike Lawler)
PA-07 (Ryan Mackenzie)
PA-08 (Rob Bresnahan)
PA-10 (Scott Perry)
VA-02 (Jen Kiggans)
WI-03 (Derrick Van Orden)
Ceejay, thank YOU for showing up! I think these protest are very inspirational and motivating. And will send you the link! I was surprised to learn from my friend that she still likes to dye eggs for Easter!
April 21st, 2025 at 08:02 am 1745222523
April 22nd, 2025 at 03:02 am 1745290943
Just wanted to say, again, that deep down, I am sure your father really appreciates the time spent with you. I know I do with mine, and I cherish what little fleeting times I have with mine.
Please take care out there, and it's really nice to see people getting out there and actively doing something about this travesty in American politics.
April 23rd, 2025 at 11:22 am 1745407338
April 23rd, 2025 at 03:46 pm 1745423178
April 23rd, 2025 at 09:04 pm 1745442280
April 23rd, 2025 at 09:29 pm 1745443798
April 24th, 2025 at 12:47 pm 1745498867
Regardless, I agree that if you are going to make a claim, at least provide proof.
April 24th, 2025 at 09:33 pm 1745530411
I think your litter group and weeding is wonderful as well.
April 25th, 2025 at 05:59 pm 1745603955
He’s not a good guy, but that doesn’t fit your narrative, so you ignore the facts. Do you not believe his wife when she filed 2 protective orders against him, claiming he beat her? Now we just found out he was stopped in Tennessee while transporting illegals to Maryland. I guess you don’t believe he is a human trafficker either?
April 25th, 2025 at 06:31 pm 1745605894
April 25th, 2025 at 09:19 pm 1745615990
April 25th, 2025 at 10:42 pm 1745620944
This is not the America I've known all my life. We are better than that.
April 27th, 2025 at 07:36 am 1745739413
The "proof", even if we are to take them at face-value, basically boils down to, and I quote, "Chicago Bulls hat and hoodie, they claim signifies a certain credo within MS-13.", and "Wearing the Chicago Bulls hat represents that they are a member in good standing with MS-13". So, are you (and Trump) saying that a man should get deported, without due process, because he wore a specific type of sports jersey and hat? Do you know who else wears that stuff? Chicago Bulls fans. This is from your own links, by the way.
Oh, but I get it. Maybe he really is MS-13. Maybe MS-13 really is into Chicago Bulls. So much so, that's their... what, war banner and gang sign? Even if that is actually true, and mind you, I actually DO know and have first-hand experience with street gangs, I can assure you that is not always true. The clothes do not always make the man.
But nevermind my own actual first-hand professional experience. Here is the real problem I have with this entire premise, Frank. The issue here isn't whether or not a sport team's apparels equate to international gangs. The issue here is THERE IS NO DUE PROCESS TO EVEN FIGURE OUT IF HE REALLY IS MS-13 OR NOT.
Let me take a step back and make it clear that I actually do agree with you: I think all illegal immigrants, especially ones that are members of an international gang, should be deported. Ok? No complaints here.
The issue, sir, is that we don't know for sure if he really is MS-13 or not, because again, there was no due process to find out for sure.
And please remember, I am also not the only one thinking this. The Republican-dominated Supreme Court of the United States has also come down with the same sentiment, ordering the Trump administration to return him to the states for said due process. One that, despite the checks and balances that are actually designed and written down by our actual Founding Fathers of this country, Trump has conveniently decided to ignore so far.
Come on, Frank. Can we at least agree that while illegal immigrants, especially those with who are violent gang members, should be deported, BUT not until they go through a court trial to verify the actual facts of the matter? Otherwise, what's to stop some shady guy with an axe to grind to spread rumors about you, or worse, depending on what clothes you wear, send you straight to one of the worst prisons on the planet, all the while never even giving you a chance to prove your innocence?
April 27th, 2025 at 03:25 pm 1745767510