The Cat is Out of the Bag, Meeeeow!

We live in a great country, possibly the best in the world. No matter how others denigrate our good name, America is always there to help especially when there is a grave injustice.

I have been troubled and puzzled by the nominee of the highest office in the USA who stands for nothing but himself and has used people viciously: women he has assaulted; workers and professionals who he has stiffed; entire races he has insulted; and the uneducated who he has encouraged to break the law and assault people that don't agree with them.

Perhaps twice as troubling is the people who were elected to office who have either passively or aggressively supported this man. What possible justification is there for supporting a person who is in communication with KKK? I ask you because I can't figure it out. Is this because these people also support the KKK? Remember the KKK is a hate group whose mission is all about hatred of others: especially African American, Native Americans and Jews. Heil! These are hate filled people and if in fact one doesn't denounce them, then the obvious conclusion is that they are for them.


As for any woman who would choose to vote for a man who is a sexual predator, just exactly what are you thinking? I'm not kidding, I want to know. Knowing that we women have had to fight for the right to vote, fight for the right to privacy with our Doctor, fight for justice for the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; fight for health care for all; fight for the poor, the mentally and physically disabled; fight with our letters and our door to door campaigns to win all these rights and more. These rights were never handed to us. And now you want to be in the camp with a man who threatens these rights and is all about himself and hatred? I truly don't get it.

Young, uneducated white males, I can kind of see the appeal for this man. What they see is a man who can get away with not paying his taxes and laughs about stiffing his workers and has a free hand with any woman he desires [including a 13 year old]. Many of these young men are closet misogynists and racists themselves and what their candidate says is what they've been thinking and possibly enacting for years but afraid to verbalize. The, ahem, cat is out of the bag and she's mad as hell for all the abuse. For some young men all these crimes do seem to hold a fascination especially if their candidate then lied and said that you, young man are going to get a job out of the deal. Ha! He'd stiff you too. Look at his history. Manufacturing in 15 different countries, steel from China anyone?

Being a nasty woman has benefits

Looking at someone's history portends what you can expect of them in the future. From my last post, if you need a refresher course on what we can expect of a Presidency from our first woman POTUS.
http://susansmagicfeather.blogspot.com/2016/10/comparisons-though-odious-are-sometimes.html

Let the howling commence that she is not likable. As Oprah said, "hey, she's not coming over to your house for dinner." Hey, HRC, in all her competency and experience and willingness to fight for women and children, will be running the most successful country in the world. Let the criticism begin. She is not perfect, please find me a politician who is. If you suggest Bernie, who I also happen to find likable, remember he was a socialist and oh man, would that have raised an overwhelming howling from the Republicans.

My hope is that after this election there is a peaceful transition. It would be a grave injustice if it is not an a honorable transition. USA is all about helping others and justice. Why would anyone wish chaos on this great country of ours? Join with me in the fight for compassion, love, hope and respect. Simple kindness will do in a pinch. Join me vote Hillary.

susansmagicfeather 2016 copyright Susan R. Grout all rights reserved.

COMPARISONS THOUGH ODIOUS ARE SOMETIMES NECESSARY

Love to hear what my mother would have said about this election, Bet I can guess**...

I have lots of frustration in this campaign and one of the biggest one is the obfuscation, the disingenuousness of the press. They go out of their way, to the point of ridiculousness, to be equal to both of the candidates. When the truth is: there really is only one qualified candidate running for office. The other "candidate" is a showman, a narcissist who is only out for himself. The classic definition of that personality disorder is LACK OF EMPATHY, the inability to restrain themselves from thinking only about themselves. Proof, his unwillingness to pay taxes, to be charitable, his every moment Tweeting about himself and giving himself high scores for being right, [about what?] ad nausea. Hatred created this man as a "candidate" and hopefully all of his narcissistic nonsense is going to defeat him.   

The other night at the VP debate Pence complained that HRC/ KAINE were being insulting of the big T. How is it insulting to quote all of the Donald's own statements back to him? That's called facts. Not insults. I won't bother to enumerate all the bigoted, racist, anti female, stupid comments but just pause for a moment to revel in the man shooting himself in the foot at every opportunity. There is nothing to defend, the man is indefensible. 

Love of reading starts early

So why, in almost every article by the press, do the newspapers go out of their way to point out that Hillary is unpopular? How is it possible for a candidate to gather many, many millions of supporters and still be labeled by this term manufactured by the Republican establishment for over 30 years? SMH. [As my pal Mary pointed out this means shake my head.] Are they just not bothering to interview those of us who respect, appreciate and admire Hillary? Have they lost all confidence in themselves as writers that they are actually afraid to go against the twisted lie of 30 years and proclaim, she is not only likable, she is also ADMIRABLE? [See my article http://susansmagicfeather.blogspot.com/2016/06/dancing-backwards-in-high-heels.html 
Are they so afraid of the T supporters? Well don't be! Sadly, that part of the American public has ceased to read. They watch TV news and call it good. Is it good? In the olden days, the 1940's through the 1990's the TV news was actually using professional reporters, reporting facts with live coverage of important events, not trivia. Then news became a source of "entertainment".  As a matter of fact Fox news is actually listed in their contract as entertainment. Yet some people believe they speak the truth. 

books can be thrilling

Which brings me to the only real candidate for POTUS. By way of contrast and comparison, Hillary Clinton is generous, loving, tough, hard fought, supremely intelligent, caring, effective and so  strong. She is a feminist and has fought for women and children's rights her entire career. Those of us who do support her need to not mince around. Say it loud and say it proud, she will make an excellent President and one we can trust. Let me say that again, Hillary is someone we can trust to run this great country of ours. 

Is she perfect? OMG no. Gee, find me a politician in this country who is. Is Bernie? OMG no. However, everyone who has ever worked closely with her is fiercely loyal to her. That says something. It is not an accident that she has unwavering support from the vast majority of her colleagues. Say it loud and say it proud. HRC for POTUS.

Below is a small list of her accomplishments and further proof of her competence.

• First ever student commencement speaker at Wellesley College.
• Distinguished graduate of Yale Law School.
• Editorial board of the Yale Review of Law and Social Action.
• Co-founded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
• Former civil litigation attorney.
• Staff attorney for Children’s Defense Fund.
• Faculty member in the School of Law at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
• Former Director of the Arkansas Legal Aid Clinic.
• First female chair of the Legal Services Corporation.
• First female partner at Rose Law Firm, the oldest and one of the largest law firms in Arkansas.
• Twice named by The National Law Journal as one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America.
• Former First Lady of Arkansas.
• Arkansas Woman of the Year in 1983.
• Chair of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession.
• Created Arkansas’s Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth.
• Instrumental in passage of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
• First Lady of the United States.
• Promoted nationwide immunization against childhood illnesses.
• Successfully sought to increase research funding for prostate cancer and childhood asthma at the National Institutes of Health.
• Worked to investigate reports of an illness that affected veterans of the Gulf War (now recognized as Gulf War Syndrome).
• Helped create the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice.
• Initiated and shepherded the Adoption and Safe Families Act.
• First FLOTUS in US History to hold a postgraduate degree.
• Helped create Vital Voices, an international initiative to promote the participation of women in the political processes of their countries.
• Two-term New York Senator and the first ex-FLOTUS in US History to be elected to the United States Senate.
• Served on five Senate committees: Budget (2001–2002), Armed Services (2003–2009), Environment and Public Works (2001–2009), Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (2001–2009) and the Special Committee on Aging.
• Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
• Leading role in investigating the health issues faced by 9/11 first responders.
• Worked with Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York on securing $21.4 billion in funding for the World Trade Center redevelopment.
• Former United States Secretary of State.
• Brokered a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in 2012.sS

  

  **My Mother, RIP would be thrilled to vote for Hillary
  
  
  susansmagicfeather copyright 2016 Susan R. Grout   all rights reserved
  
  
  

Dancing Backwards in High Heels

After all, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.

 Ann Richards 

It is well known that the Republican Conservatives believe that Hillary Rodham Clinton is a "left wing insurgent"*. It is also know from the end of this Democratic primary run that the Left Wing Progressives believe that Hillary is a Republican fox in Democratic sheep's clothing "who is a shill for Wall Street".* How can this be describing the same person? Easy y'all, it's called successful vilification. 

The Republicans are frankly thrilled that some of the progressives believe the Donald when he describes Hillary Clinton as "Crooked Hillary." I have never heard a worse case of projection in my life and I was a psychotherapist for over thirty years. [Projection is when you ascribe to another person what you really believe about yourself.] This description is from the man who created "Trump University" and bilked people out of thousands of dollars for nothing, who claimed bankruptcy four times leaving many people and businesses in the financial lurch and who brags about not paying his taxes. Who exactly is crooked? Welcome to Crooked Donald.

Another accusation by the right and far left is that Hillary is dishonest. But check if you will with Politifact. Hillary has gotten better ratings on truth telling than any other candidate and is in fact more honest than most politicians. Jill Abramson who followed Hillary as a reporter for thirty years said, "Hillary is fundamentally honest and trustworthy."

It will be women who'll save the world.                          Jane M. Ricketts [on a discussion of the world's condition]

However something else is at play here with the vilification. Hillary happens to be a successful, powerful woman. The Seattle City Council recently turned down vacating a section of a Sodo street in Seattle for the purpose of building an arena near a maritime industrial center. The proponent wants to build a professional sports arena.  But the street vacation would adversely affect Seattle’s maritime industrial area and a lot of well paying jobs.  The vote to deny was 5 to 4.  Because the five who voted against the arena were all women, and the four in favor were all men, what ensued was a Twitter firestorm of vituperative, misogynistic, threatening comments, largely from young white males who want a professional basketball team in Seattle.  The female council members got no respect for their thoughtful reasons for voting no. They were given no credit for the hard work that they do.  Happily, there was a swift reply from the Seattle Times and scores of citizens.  They condemned the blatant sexism.


Doesn't this sound familiar? It should if you've been paying attention even minimaly to politics. Sure, Donald Trump is nasty and misogynistic and we all have come to expect it. But surprise, so were the Bernie Bros. in reference to Hillary Clinton and threatening the life of Barbara Boxer. Where is the outrage, the apologies, the defense of these women after all the vitriol? Bernie himself has been, and to my knowledge still is silent.

Many Democrats, me included, are grateful to Bernie Sanders for pushing the Democratic Party and Hillary in a more progressive direction.  However, as it became increasingly clear that Bernie would not win the elected delegates (forget the super delegates) his supporters became increasingly angry.  Many of them now say they will vote for the Green Party or they will not vote rather than vote for a capable, hard working woman who has adopted many of Bernie's positions.  What does that mean?  Apparently it means that they’re willing to risk a Trump presidency.  Yet, their candidate stands for everything that Trump is not.

Imagine if Bernie was Bernice. Bernice is a 74 year old with wild white hair, and she's a socialist to boot. Do you believe for one minute that Bernice would get a pass? Would she even be listened to? 

"American loves women like Hillary---as long as they are not asking for a promotion." Sady Dillon

A sad note in our society and many other nations is that women who insist on fair, equal treatment are called 'pushy' at best or _________________________ fill in the sexist comment yourself.

Interestingly Hillary has always been cleared of wrong doing even though there is a "permanent multimillion dollar cottage industry devoted to attacking her," said Hanna Rosin in an article called "Among the Hillary Haters."

Supposedly Hillary is in bed with Wall Street because of the speaking fees of $200,000. This, by the way is the minimum fee for in demand speakers. Rudi Guilani and Bloomberg regularly make $270,000 a speech and Jeb Bush made millions in speaking fees, why oh why is no body howling about that? "Hillary made 100 paid speeches and eight of those were to Wall Street. She also spoke to Canada 2020, so do they own her too?"

Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily this is not that difficult.   Charlotte Whitton 

This woman, Hillary Clinton is a generous, complicated, intelligent, gracious, loving mother and grandmother. She has been Secretary of State for our country and improved our reputation after the Bush/Cheney administration nearly ruined it. She has a long history of fighting for women, children and minorities. She helped save many hospitals in New York by working with them to specialize and cooperate with other nearby hospitals. She championed Universal Health care as early as 1992. Jonathan Bernstein of the New York Times said  Hillary "is probably the best qualified presidential candidate ever."

Here's what is at stake: The Supreme Court Appointment; the rights of women; the rights of LGBTQ Americans; the rights of minorities; the attention to the children of this country. She is a good Democrat. The Democratic party is inclusive and supportive, loving and interested in the rights of all citizens. Hillary is tempermentally suited to hold the office of the Presidency and she will continue to maintain good global relationships. 

Added to all that she is not a narcissistic nut case who is a business failure, a hypocritical money grubber and a sexistist blowhard.

Hillary will be a good President and make us all proud to be Americans.

*Any quotes with no acknowledgement are taken from an article by Michael Arnovitz published in Daily Kos in May 2016

susansmagicfeather copyright 2016 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved

So What If There Are Unkind or Greedy People

A lot of people are afraid of heights, not me, I'm afraid of widths.                                                   Stephen Wright 

Unto whomsoever much is given, of them shall much be required.                                              Luke 12:48

Right now I'm reading Timothy Eagan's book  The Immortal Irishman which deals in part with the sad unnecessary potato famine. It is well known that the failure of the potato crop by a blight caused a famine which killed millions of Irish citizens. What is less well known was at that time in this gruesome history the nasty British government did next to nothing to help the starving Irish people. Indeed the British politicians in particular were treating the entire island of Ireland as their slaves and as if they were subhuman. Worse they wanted all of the starving people to pay for the food that was being grown by them for the wealthy British who "owned" the land. In essence the Irish were serfs. 


Throughout history there has been devastating examples of "man's inhumanity to man": the holocaust, the African genocides, the Bosnian war that wiped out 100,000 Muslims, the British purposefully ignoring the starving Irish during the potato famine that cost the Irish millions of lives, forced marriages of children, the sexual slaves, the corruption in the fishing industry in Thailand, enslaving men for profits, corporations using children to work in factories in foreign lands...I could go on and on. [You probably have your own list.]

As we look on this today with horror I realize much of these absurd attitudes toward humanity are still going on in parts of our globe. This is cruelty and should be called out and fought against by all caring individuals. Where is the PETA for the down trodden despairing humans?

One answer could be from some of the noble people of the past. A couple of years ago I wrote about How the Irish [monks] Saved Civilization after reading Thomas Cahill's marvelous book. To sum up: the wee monks laboriously copied all of the books they could gather knowing the barbarian hordes were threatening to destroy every last one. These hordes came from the parts of Europe that were illiterate, Germany, Sweden, etc. So the barbarians burned all of the books they could get their hand on. Since they couldn't read they were threatened by the people who could. I am getting to a point: Barbarians didn't want the people they were conquering to be more educated and intelligent than they were. 

Hence thank God for the monks who risked their lives for education.  In a sad similarity today, ISIS, the Boko Haram, the Taliban are busily doing the exact same thing. As Malala said, "the scariest thing to the Taliban is a woman with a book." To bullies and thugs, it's too dangerous to have an educated population and most abhorrent, an educated female population.

I might add that this is the hallmark of insanity--- to be fearful and destroy something or someone you don't understand or can't empathize with. To understand an issue or a person you need to research, examine and learn. This requires effort and today my grave concern is people are unwilling to do the work required to stay educated. Sadly they accept what's on the Internet or what the TV tells them without forethought or examination. One of the unfortunate costs of our internet is the obliteration of journalists and newspapers regularly laying off and losing these qualified people. This was brought home so well in the excellent movie "Spotlight". In the movie you followed an team of reporters who researched the reported cases of child abuse by priests in the Boston area. It was gripping. Ultimately another sad note I came away with after watching this movie is how far down our society has fallen in that we no longer have these teams of journalists to count on. The truth suffers a daily fate to the ones who claim to have credentials and have none. It didn't help that the media has been repeatedly sneared at as being "liberally" biased. 

Knowing that journalism has suffered I believe it is important to be a bit skeptical of some of the more absurd "facts" that are dished out so casually on the Internet. One of the example is the climate change deniers.  Fully 99% of the world's scientist know that not only is this happening but it's becoming a crisis. Yet there are a teeny percentage of scientists [and many ignorant politicians] that deny that the world's climate is changing. Interestingly these few scientists and the politicians are accepting money from the chemical industries. Duh. 

President Obama gave an excellent example about accepting facts and the truth when he said, "suppose you have diabetes and you went to 99 doctors and they said, 'yes, you have a life threatening condition and you must follow a careful diet eliminating fried foods and sugar'. Would you really believe the one doctor who said, "don't pay any attention to that you can eat anything you want and continue on with your slovenly ways." Then after that conversation from this doctor you find out he is being paid a stipend from the fast food industry....Hmmm, would you really risk your life on that one doctor's advice? 

When it comes to paying he is the first to put his hand in his pocket. And leave it there.                                  Anonymous

Another thing I find fascinating is the recent release of the information that $11 billion has been stuffed away in Panama by tax cheaters. Did I mention that it was $11 Billion, and supposedly that is an underestimate. Knowing that many in government claim there is no money to prop up our infrastructure, feed the poor, fund the schools, support government agencies that help the wounded Vets, I find it down right hypocritical and cowardly that they do not demanded right now that these taxes get paid. Pronto. Yet who do these tax cheaters routinely want to call cheaters? Single Moms on welfare. 

What is really ironic is that there seems to be a war on women and particularly the poor women. That is really amusing in a twisted sense. Amusing because there this portion of our population, many who say they are devoutly religious, who have decided that generosity and kindness to the less fortunate is not a worthy value. They blame the poor for their circumstances. Worse the focus is turned to the few welfare cheaters which seems egregious when you contrast that with the ones who contributed to the $11 billion tax cheating. Yet who do these tax cheaters routinely want to point a finger at as cheaters? Single Moms on welfare. Go figure. 

We could easily feed every child, the homeless, the old and infirm in this country. Many people who right now live with "food insecurity" do not have to do so. We are the wealthiest nation in the world and yet we have people who go hungry. There are those who turn away from suffering and blame the poor and the unfortunate for the state they are in [the "makers and the takers" in Paul Ryan's vernacular]. How can this seeming contradiction exist? Is it purely ignorance and lack of education? 

They asked Jack Benny if he would do something for  the Actor's Orphanage---so he shot both his parents and moved in.                                                                  Bob Hope

No. Sadly this is based on lack of empathy and an unwillingness to investigate how to better these people's desperate situations. Who, I ask you, is the king of lack of empathy? I won't name names but that's because I'm stumped that anyone with half a brain would fall for a man who is verbally abusive, sexist, racist, had four bankruptcies and three wives who are aliens. Oh and orange hair.

susansmagicfeather copyright 2016 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved

I Know A Young Lady Who Swallowed a Lie

I know a young lady who swallowed a lie,
I don't know why she swallowed that lie,
I guess she'll cry.
I twisted the folk song "I know an old lady who swallowed a fly" by Rose Bonne and Alan Mills

Tina knows she is breathtakingly beautiful. She doesn't have long to live.  She is radiant in her brevity
.

There is an old saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I would like all women to look at themselves differently, through their own eyes, to behold their own beauty even if society tells us we can't be beautiful because--- we're too old, too fat, too skinny, too dark, too loud, too much, too________________. Sadly, society can be a cruel dictator and the constant images thrown at our young women are of anorexic teens posing as grown ups and then air brushed for the glossy page. That is a lousy way to influence young girls. If I were queen I would definitely put a stop to that. Truth in advertising ha!

Above all, don't lie to yourself. The woman [or man] who lies to herself and listens to her own lie comes to a point where she cannot distinguish the truth within her or around her and so loses respect for herself. And having no respect, she ceases to love [herself].                                                                      I monkied with the quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Pow! Grace and beauty combined

Delighting in friendship

The glory of  little girls in our culture, and perhaps globally, is that they are joyfully fearless in their appreciation of themselves and delight in what they can create and do. This gets knocked out of them by the constant bombardment of the advertisers, misogyny and peer pressure to be, look, think a certain way. And with the haters in our and other societies it is necessary to put the female of the species down, down, down.

There is some hope on the horizon: women are fighting the good fight to be heard and understood. Consciousness has been raised and we are inching toward equality in pay, positions of power and respect as human beings. Even Barbie is being remade, she is a bit heftier. This isn't a joke although it is funny. Barbie can now be a firefighter, a hero, a space explorer, a doctor, you get my drift. So much better than Barbie who just can go to the prom in her 5" high heels with her 14" waist. Silly example but it is a step forward. Perhaps Barbies sales were falling off...which would then suggest a marketing tool...but still.

The inevitable outcome---for everyone---is you're going to get older; so don't slide through life. Savor it. Slow down, be kind, pay attention.                      Carrie Fisher

I agree with most of the above from the interview with Carrie Fisher. We are all ageing and wouldn't it be nice to be embracing each era rather than looking askance at the expected decline? My own dear mother told me when I turned 55 "go look in the mirror". I did and came back to the phone, she said, "it's all downhill from here." I tell that story often and it always gets a laugh. Had she been a different kind of mom she might have said, "quit criticizing yourself, you look great and should appreciate it today because you'll look back on pictures and really appreciate your younger self." That was so not her personality but I did get the message. 

The lie says there is no decline, no getting older. You can/should be as youthful looking and perky as a 30 year old even if you are double or triple that age. I must admit I'm not sure I completely agree about the slow down part of the quote. I do know that "slow motion gets you there faster" [Hoagy Carmichael]. This is especially true when it comes to learning something new. At this point in my illustrious life I am attempting to refine my guitar and music writing skills and it ain't easy. The lie would say, "why bother Susan, you're in an enjoyable period of retirement, there's no need to strive". I'm not about to go on tour, or even get one of my songs widely disseminated. So why bother? Because it's important for me to strive, to learn something challenging. Most of all I want to keep that incredibly energetic 10-year-old-tom-boy part of me vital until I die. So there.

To me the best part of life is laughing, talking, singing, playing, romping, hiking, loving, experiencing, rejoicing and being in a calm serene state as long as I am able. In order to do all of the above I have to keep learning, and be quite disciplined especially in paying attention to what brings me energy and joy and focus on that. What helps? Staying aware and amused all the time about life.

SISTERS ARE THE BEST


susansmagicfeather copyright 2016 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved

Happy New Year with Pictures

Happy New Year!

We were traveling during the Christmas season and so didn't get a chance to send out cards [as if we faithfully do this each year] so here is the visual explanation of our holiday. 

At first we were with Josh's family in Larkspur, Ca. and then we traveled to Monterey again to visit their world class Aquarium. Kids look like something out of the new Star Wars set but in fact they are adorned with a get up 
the Aquarium staff uses to feed the various animals, especially the otters. Great fun.  

Gorgeous octapus

 Mr. G and I sincerely believe that we brought the NW weather to Ca. and a partial end to the drought with our visit. Record rainstorms. However, next day was more like what Californians are used to and we went to a lovely beach in Carmel before our trek back to the city.
 





Christmas day was a hit with the kids and the grown kids. Josh cooked up a storm with a rack of lamb, brussel sprouts with bacon and parmesan and a dessert of apple cobbler. Quite a feast.
 Onward to Zach and Anne's house for our extended celebration in Bothell area. We had a grand time with them and the grands. Such good treatment for two very grateful grandparents.  

Blessings and good wishes to you all for a successful, healthy, happy  2016.


susansmagicfeather  copyright 2015 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved

If I Were Queen I'd Have a Scrooge and Mr. Potter Recovery Program

Our beautiful world

A saintly man carrying a sick child

If I were queen I would add a few new rules to the constitution. I would demand that all people who are going into business or into politics watch both Christmas movies that I just watched and act according to the good lessons contained therein. The movies are "It's a Wonderful Life" [1946] and "A Christmas Carol" [1951, written by Charles Dickens in 1843]. The reasons are quite simple, I believe that today many people are turning into the unredeemed Scrooge and the evil Mr. Potter and don't give a fig about their fellow humans. [Which, BTW is the definition of a sociopath.] 

For many reasons this is quite disconcerting and depressing. Examples of the Potter/Scrooge syndrome abound: Walmart forcing most of it's employees to be part time and then making sure they apply for welfare; CEO's of big companies making 1,300 % more than their employees; several of the candidates for the highest office in our country advocating a unfair rejection of immigrants from war torn countries; big businesses regularly reducing their employees benefits and pay; many in the House and the Senate are actively trying to take away medical benefits of the affordable care act; many attempting to erase Planned Parenthood which serves women and finally, many politicians are trying to make voting as difficult as possible for many citizens. In my book this all adds up to the evil Mr. Potter and the unredeemed Mr. Scrooge. Watch the movies if your memories are hazy about these two men and see if you don't agree.

Both stories are uplifting, yet only Scrooge is saved from his cold, narrow, heartless ways. Mr. Potter remains evil/greedy until the end. Depressingly, just imagine if George Bailey was running for office, sad to say he would be castigated for being kind, generous and a liberal thinker. Potter would be praised for his tough minded business sense. As for Scrooge, he got the message, developed a heart and learned to keep the Christmas spirit every day of the year.

I'd like to spark a 'Scrooge redemption' movement. I'd encourage change for good in all the recently produced societal sociopaths. I'd have them volunteer with the homeless and require them to listen to their life stories. I'd have them try to live on the pathetically inadequate pay a single mother receives. I'd have them volunteer in the children hospitals where the parents of very sick children are in danger of losing their insurance. I'd do all this and would it make a difference? I suspect except for the really crusty individuals, it would. 

What's interesting is ironically, study after study has shown that altruism is very rewarding in the here and now, increases your feeling of good will. You'd think the sociopaths would get the message. In the Scrooge redemption center we would have coaches encourage positive changes for the good of all humans. Hopefully this would halt the sociopaths in their selfish, hurtful thinking as  they got to know and serve the less fortunate among us. One also hopes this would revive the feeling of empathy as a positive value.  Remember, I am queen and can command this.

Here is a partial list of the ideas from the two movies that I believe can promoted change.  Remember:

1. Life can be filled with disappointments, unexpected problems, deceitful people, but also remember there are good people who can reward you for your ability to love and be loyal.
2. Do what's right even if you think you may not be rewarded. Life can turn out better than you can imagine.
3. The future is unpredictable [except that we're all gonna die] and life can turn out differently, sometimes sweeter, so it can't hurt to be hopeful. 
4. Problems always seem darkest at night or in bad weather.
5. Family and friends are more important than financial success.
6. Love is much more rewarding in so many ways than hate and selfishness.
7. It's always a good idea to be generous, expecting nothing in return.
8. Worrying doesn't make things better. The illusion with ruminating is that you'll come up with a solution. Better to put your nose to the grindstone, write a list and then brainstorm with others for mutual benefit.
9. It's important to tell the ones you love what your troubles and fears are. It is so much easier to share life's burdens.
10. Remember to ask for help, everyone needs it sometimes.
11. Every time a bell rings, an angel gets it's wings. [I just threw that in].
12. Money can't buy me love. [OK so I threw that in too.]

the pal who hugs is always dear

Remember, kindness doesn't cost a cent and it's rewards are vast and deep. So to all the young people out there, please do imitate the people who are loving, kind and generous instead of all the fear mongers, the greedy ones and the insensitive people. Life can be lovely if you are loving. Get out there and love!

susansmagicfeather copyright 2019 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved

End of 2015, A Goodbye in Pictures

Kauai in  January

April

The holidays are upon us and so here is my annual post on the year that was. Hope you enjoy the viewing as much I enjoyed the doing.
I love looking back on the highlights of the year and feel grateful beyond words that all these people are in my life.

Thanks Juning with Senja, Trisha, Sally and top row he who shall not be named, Oshea, Chin , me  and Bob in background

May in SF with the Josh's and  Jocelyn and Kevin

Yikes! June at the ocean with the Zach's: James, Lauren, me and Anne and shark

We did all are usual trips: to LA for Thanks juning; to SF area to see Josh's family; the tulip fields in April; a resort in June with Zach's family and of course Groutfest here at home and guitar camp with sisters Trisha and Sally.
A new trip for us was to New Orleans for a week with Sally and Kathleen and friends Jack and Eve. New Orleans is luscious and we explored the food and music scene diligently each day. Great fun.

The dance at guitar camp with Sally, me, Trisha and Steve

Fun on boats with Vail and Jocelyn in August

Kathleen comes to save the Day with Chin and Sally and Vail--
helping out Sally after her operation

This has been a wonderful year. One of many visits from family and to family. We are blessed to have a lively group of relatives who we actually like as well as love. We so relish the time we have together.

Seattle with Anne, Zach and Josh and the grands

Highlight of Groutfest a water balance beam

The Josh's in Sept.

New Orleans in November

more NOLA

Thanksgiving at Vail and Jonathan's: John Robert, me, the mystery man, Josh, Uma, Chin, Ella and Jonathan

Than

In all our summer biking glory


Thanks everyone for reading and have a great Christmas and a very happy New Year.

susansmagicfeather copyright 2015 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved.

On Promoting Positive Changes

Another terrorist attack this time in San Bernardino, Ca. and my greatest fear is that the nation will fall asleep yet again and do nothing. It is going to take a huge concerted effort to change this country's mind set from the hopeless/helpless mode into the activitist mode but I believe it can be done.

After the tragedy in Roseburg, Oregon I saw that it's necessary to point out how inadequate our discussion of gun control truly is. I was surprised to read that the spokes person for the NRA wrote an article in the Seattle Times proclaiming that it is not the guns, but the mentally ill who are doing all the killing and we need better care for them. Well, yes, that is partly true. This was certainly not true of the terrorist couple in San Bernardino. On the other hand it is hand guns, assault rifles, machine guns and guns left unlocked in people's homes that are killing our children and citizens. It is not one thing that accounts for all these tragedies. Many changes must be made. It is not an "either/or" argument but a both/and statement. 

Here is the part that is correct: we do need more protection for all our citizens from the violent mentally ill with suicidal tendencies. Here is the part pointedly omited: we need, today, to get rid of the assault weapons, and the machine guns and we need stronger background checks and we need to make it mandatory that every citizen who owns a gun have it properly locked up. So many preventable accidents have happened because guns were carelessly available to children and depressed or violent individuals. What is so frightening about having background checks in place? Why on earth does any citizen need to own an assault rifle or a machine gun? Think people, why does the NRA bribe politicians? who do you suppose are the biggest donaters and promoters of the NRA? Why,  it would be the arms manufacturers! What a stunning suprise! If the NRA and all it's members are so passionate about "it's all the fault of the mentally ill" exactly where are their enormous financial contributions to prevention and treatment programs for the mentally ill? I ask you. Surprised again?

I find it unbelievably sad that one of the richest countries in the world incarcerates the mentally ill in jails all over our country. Ask anyone who works in the prisons and they'll tell you that there are many inmates who just don't belong there. First up are the mentally ill who stop taking their medications and then awful things ensue from them or to them. Mostly they get taken advantage of and get arrested for being out of line. They truly are out of line and out of their minds but no one is asking, that's too complicated. What do we do with them? Into the slammer they go where the possibility of treatment is zilch. No treatment at all. This is not only sad but nutty if you do a cost analysis. [google and see what several years ago Connecticut's Governor concluded]. This has to stop. The truth is a tiny percent of the people who are mentally are dangerous and violent. Still we, thanks to starting with the Reagan administration, are ignoring prevention, intervention and treatment programs for the mentally ill.  Why is no one addressing this issue?  Out of sight out of mind, really simplistic thinking for an otherwise advanced society.

So happily the NRA is going to put their money where their mouth is, right? They claim they are concerned, so it only makes logical sense that they would step up. Right?

Speaking of concern exactly what, if anything, is going on in the heads of many people who value the lives of some animals over the lives of people? These individuals went cuckoo when the picture of the magnificent Cecil the lion was murdered in Africa by the smug dentist and wanted ACTION NOW for that horrible event. [It was sickening...]Yet where are they with all that energy to aid in the fight against the mass murders right here, right now in our own country of innocent people, even children? Is it because it's people and not animals that are being murdered? Surely we have evolved with enough emotional maturity to have some empathy for human suffering. How is praying for the families and then supporting the NRA, or the people who are beholden to the NRA not a travesty?

This can be changed. If the Aussies can do it we can too. It's been almost 20 years since they have had a terrorist attack in their country. They outlawed assault weapons. Who is going to stand up to the NRA, the arms manufacturers?  Clearly we can't count on the politicians who are accepting "donations" from them.  What is needed is outlawing assault weapons, outlawing any future gun that can rapidly maim or kill people, insisting on background checks, allowing for a 72 hour wait period, at least.

What gives with the vehemence and cruelty denying those of us who would prefer some order and sense in dealing with guns instead of this outmoded 19th century old west approach? It shouldn't shock you to know when cars were new in the early part of the last century there was a terrible fight to have no speed limits, no stop signs, no traffic cops...surely you see where I'm going with this. A car can be a lethal weapon and needs to be regulated and those who misuse their privilege are punished. So tell me why this cannot apply to guns? This is 2015, 100 years after the fight for traffic/automobile rules and regulations. We need something this definitive for the entire gun industry and we are going to have to demand it.

Those of you who are in the state of  Washington, please join me in support of the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility with a check. But all of us need to take action. One way is to text 64433, it is for the organization called "Everytown" They state,  "Today and every day we come together to say: WE CAN end gun violence". Please do this, we can't just give up. That is hopeless/helpless thinking and just exactly where abusive people want you to be. Here is a good article about the NRA: Mother Jones piece, “The NRA is Losing Its Grip on Power.”

I just got this update that the US Senate just voted down 2 strong gun bills.  Contact these legislators, tell them they are on notice. Next, encourage them to take MANY steps to eliminate violence and senseless death by guns in this country. Tell them, "the repercussion for these unethical acts, against the will of the people, is that we will donate to your opponents in the next election." 

about to blow my top over the inactivity on the gun issues.

susansmagicfeather copyright 2015 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved

Traveling the South, Adventures in NOLA

Sally, Eve, Kathleen, Jack, Mr, G and Susan

With the Shumans

Now that I'm home and the wind is whipping the deck chairs around like a square dance, the rain is fierce and sideways, I'm thinking back to the trip we just took to the south and the warmth.
New Orleans is a big welcoming city filled with friendly people who said hello to us strangers as they pass by on the street. For me and Mr. G this trip was all about the food: scrumptious and filling and the music, same adjectives.

We arrived and Eve and Jacks, friends from Port Angeles, took us to a favorite BBQ place, Voodoo BBQ. It lived up to its reputation of being wickedly good. We ate and told tales from our respective pasts mostly involving high jinks and much hilarity ensued. 

Got up the next morning and went to the 'Trolley' for the breakfast that included their version of hashbrowns - like mashed potatoes with an attitude, plenty of cajun spices. We took the actual trolley [streetcar] that ran outside our hotel down to the French Quarter. It's been more than twenty years since Mr. G and I were in NOLA and much is the same and much has changed. The houses are still well kept with their balconies overlooking the streets that have flower boxes are filled with plants and flowers. The streets and avenues are still jammed with tourists. Didn't hurt that the weather was perfect. 

We started on Bourbon street and were appauled by the number of drunk, homeless kids we encountered and the sleazy shops with "girls, girls, girls" advertised. We avoided that street after that first day. We walked and ended up at the French market and the six of us had a snack. Some of the group went to 'Central Grocery' for huge Muffaletta sandwiches, stuffed with olive tapanade, cold cuts, vinegrette, tomatoes, cheeses all on a crisp french roll. Happily they shared and Mr. G and I took our part to a bench outside an open air restaurant that had terrific jazz. On the street we ran into Jim and Kate Shuman from Friday Harbor, imagine the odds...

We made our way back in the afternoon to the hotel to swim in the tiny pool. It was too hot for the hot tub. After that a necessary lie down because we were going out that night to hear a band that my brother recommended. We walked and walked and finally arrived at 'd.b.a.' where the band "The Tin Men" played and ecclectic mix of zydeco, jazz, original and traditional tunes on their sousaphones, guitar and washboards. Good dancing music.

Day three we boarded the Steamboat Natchez for a two hour ride down the Mississippi River in all its muddy glory. It was the lunch cruise and the catfish, gumbo, red beans and rice were surprisingly good. Again it was hot so we were grateful to be aboard. Interesting history lesson from the captain about paddle boats and the war of 1812. We won. That night went to a place that Jack found --Deanie's-- and had excellent fish and seafood. We do love to eat.

On the Fourth day we went to a favorite place of Eve and Sally's called 'Cochon' that served, surprise, lots of pork and cajun dishes. We loved all of our meals and passed tastes around the table for everyone to enjoy.  Sally and I went to the Ogden Art Museum,, quite a treat in that they had a lot of local artists represented, unfamiliar to us. One painting in particular I admired. As I was about to snap a picture I mentioned to the woman beside me that the painting looked like a Thomas Hart Benton and she said, "that's because the artist studied with him. He was black, unusual in that era." She is in profile in the picture.

Day five brought the threatened rain and so Sally and I decided to go to the New Orleans Museum of Art which Sally had been to last year but wanted to go again especially because of the outdoor sculpture garden. It more than lived up to the accolades and we were especially transfixed by the special show of masks by a Japanese artist. Didn't hurt that the cafe had a dandy lunch also.

The collection of art from all the centuries was impressive as well. We ambled along and it was a perfect, calm way to spend a rainy afternoon is a city known for its excesses. Sally is great also because she is well versed in art through the ages and it was most instructive to walk with her.  Outside, still rainy but we persisted and went to the sculpture garden and what a garden of delights it was! 

 The above picture is of a Boltero and the one below is by __________, [forgot to write it down] but I loved it most of all. From one angle you can see the man at the bottom and on his shoulders is another man crouching, and on his shoulders is another man [smaller] crouching, all the way to a teeny man on top. Gorgeous. Looks like a spine.

That night, in the pouring rain, we went to the 'Fais Do Do', where there was dancing with several bands taking turns and again good music. The highlight though for all of us was going to hear Delfeayo Marsalis and his Uptown Jazz band. 15 of them: horns, piano, drums squeezed on a not very big stage at the Snug Harbor jazz club. Truly heavenly for two hours. A rich and very full day. Adult stimulation at its finest.

 On the sixth day we rested, not really just liked the sound of that. Instead we headed for St. Augustine church which was founded by the Ursiline nuns in 1823 for aiding slaves and it was and is the most integrated church in the country. We went for the Gospel choir that had a sax as well as drums and the obligatory organ. Lovely. After mass we were starving and decided to go for brunch at 'Buffas' which was jam packed. It was worth the wait. Are you surprised to hear there was a jazz band that played old favorites? "St. James Infirmary", 5' 2" eyes of blue...etc. They call themselves 'Some Like It Hot' and they were. Three women and three men.

Susan, Kathleen, Sally and Eve hiding behind the lamppost.

Next we walked down Esplanade Street which had many lovely historic homes. Because we were so full we skipped dinner and had drinks in the courtyard at the hotel and laughed about everything. Kath left the next morning at 4am. We didn't see her off.

On the seventh day, we still didn't rest and instead Mr. G and I took the trolley down town and walked into the Louisana St. supreme courthouse. Beautiful stately [no pun] building that had a pictoral exhibit of the rights of women starting in 1639. Go figure. We then walked to Herbsaint restaurant and met up with the other three and had a fabulous lunch that we lingered over. Kathleen sent a text that she was enjoying her day at her home in a hammock. Think we wore her out.

Sally, Eve and Jack went to the WWII museum and Mr. G and I went to the part with the interactive films and the airplanes suspended over head and the tanks and ambulances.  The building was gigantic and had cat walks so you could view the suspended planes from above. War tends not to be my favorite topic but since it was almost veterans day and my Dad served in WWII on a ship in Okinowa [the worst place to be in the pacific] I was touched by the stories and the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women. 

view from below of the planes of WWII

 On our last day we rested, no wrong again. Sally, Eve and I went to a small cafe for Quiche and then I walked through one of the ancient cemetaries. They are in very poor repair and sadly neglected though quite popular with the tourists. Everyone has to be buried above ground because the water table is so low. Makes for a moldering experience. Cremation anyone?

sometimes in life things really do line up

Our last excursion was to the Audobon Zoo, a real pleasure. After the rain it was much cooler and we wandered the entire park reveling in the varied wildlife which we just don't see in the NW. My favorite was the Swamp/Bayou exhibit and we got to pet a baby alligator. 

They are quite ferocious, though oddly cute and my fingers smelled like fish even after I washed them twice after the petting. 

Took the trolley back to the hotel to pick up our bags and made a quick trip to the Voodoo for our last Jambalaya, gumbo, pulled pork extravaganza. Had to. 

It was a glorious trip and I would love to return. Since I am still tired perhaps I will learn the value of pacing myself next time. Just kidding.

susansmagicfeather copyright 2015 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved.