THE TRANSIENT FRIEND

 Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I was working in the yard a few days ago and needed something from the garage. I realized someone was watching me.

I went in and out of the garage for hours, grabbing various tools and then putting them away. He was always there. I got as close to him as I dared. His name is Buddy. We chatted. Penelope and Princess accepted his gentle presence without question or barking.

In the early post-Daylight Saving Time darkness, I bade him good night. 

He wasn't there in the morning and hasn't returned, but I left the door open for him. 

You are always welcome here, Buddy.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

AFTER THE BALL IS OVER

 Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

After the break of morn, after the dancers' leaving, after the stars are gone, many a heart is aching . . . .

After the excitement of Kamala Harris replacing Joe Biden as our nominee (although I love and appreciate Joe Biden and still felt he could do the job) and the thrill of the debate, I sensed her opponent would win.* The people who love him do not care that he is out of his mind, that he will lie when the truth will do. We can't say the media didn't report on the crazy crap he said. It was certainly on CNN.

But the MAGATs don't watch CNN. They laugh and cheer no matter what he says. Some of them repeat lies––such as hurricane survivors only receiving $750––without knowing the lie originated with him. They get their news from click bait and TikTok.

I can hardly bear to look at any news now. I see headlines such as TRUMP PREPARING FOR MASS DEPORTATIONS. 

So good luck to you, ya idiots.

I just deleted the rest of what I wrote about the election because it was bitter and angry and served no purpose. 

The past couple of weeks have been difficult and distressing.

The day before the election, something occurred at work that had me so disturbed I frightened Princess and Penelope with my anger. I hate upsetting my innocent friends. Rebekah kept quiet while I let out my fury and supported me emotionally until the issue was resolved by management. I still miss my first supervisor at this job, Bryan, so much. He was only in his 20s, yet he was the best supervisor I've ever had.

I do not mean to imply the problem was with the supervisor who replaced Bryan. She and I gradually developed a warm relationship. However, we stopped hearing from her around October 10. We were shocked when we learned she passed away October 21. She was 40 years old. 

We don't know the cause of death, but I was aware––and I imagine other members of our team were, too––she wasn't well. 

Rebekah and I went to her funeral in Orlando Sunday. The drive was about 2 1/2 hours each way. The funeral was supposed to start at 9 a.m., actually began about 10, and ended a little before 2. We did not go to the cemetery and the meal after the burial, but we stopped for lunch on the way home. We left about 6:15 a.m. in rain and darkness and returned home in heavier rain and darker darkness a little before 6 p.m. My back and head rebelled after the long day.

We think we will be assigned to the other supervisor in Jacksonville. Rebekah is on his team. He's a pleasant fellow. He's been on vacation and I'm not sure when he'll return, so more to come.

Hang in there, every buddy, as Franklin would have said, and yeah, good luck, ya idiot voters. Franklin would have sneered at you.

Keep kamala and carry onala.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

*Although I realized he would win, I thought the election would be close and we would have to wait a few days before he was declared the winner.

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Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Election day is finally here. I voted by mail weeks ago. If I recall correctly, the election was finally called for Joe Biden on Saturday. I wonder how many days it will take this time before we know the winner.

If you haven't voted yet, of course I urge you to head to the polls and VOTE BLUE. We don't deserve a president who wants to be a dictator on day one or any other day.

Kamala Harris has both sense and sensibility. She can do this job and do it well if we have enough brains to give her the chance.

If you know you're registered to vote, don't put up with anyone telling you that you can't vote. Trump supporters may try to suppress the vote.

1-866-OUR-VOTE

ELECTION PROTECTION HOTLINE

If you don't have to work tomorrow and you're lying on the couch and thinking you don't want to go out to vote, then please think again about what an important election this is. Also, if you just can't make up your mind in spite of all the information against Trump and in favor of Harris, then vote for Kamala Harris because you'll make Jimmy Carter happy. He's 100 years old. He voted for Harris/Walz. He'll be thrilled to see her elected, and he is a great man.

If you aren't moved by the thought of making Jimmy Carter happy, then vote for Kamala Harris because Franklin would have wanted you to, and Franklin was the best boy ever. And he was a damn good driver.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

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I AM WOMAN WATCH ME VOTE

 Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I've written a lot and shared many memes making it clear that Donald Trump is mentally ill. A vote for Trump is a vote for the destruction of democracy.

But I haven't written enough about reasons to vote for Kamala Harris, other than the simple fact that she isn't Donald Trump. 

So here we are, the day before the election and I must take advantage of the opportunity to share some information about Vice President Harris. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but what if someone stops by my blog, looking for a reason to vote for her? As a voter, a citizen, and a blogger, it's my responsibility to write about Ms. Harris.

Kamala Harris celebrated her 60th birthday recently. She is the daughter of a biologist from India, the late Shyamala Gopalan, and a Black Jamaican economist, Donald Harris. Kamala has a younger sister named Maya. Their parents divorced when Kamala was seven years old. 

Kamala graduated from Howard University in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics. She graduated from Hastings College of the Law in 1989.

Harris' work as a lawyer quickly focused on fighting for the rights of victims, including abused and neglected children. In 2002 she was elected district attorney of San Francisco. She initiated a Hate Crimes Unit; one of its priorities was protecting LGBTQ children and teens in school. Harris also fought truancy. She pledged never to seek the death penalty and stood by her pledge. 

 Kamala Harris was elected attorney general of California in 2010. One of her friends was another attorney general, Beau Biden of Delaware. 

Then in 2016, Harris became the junior senator from California. She fought for gun control and healthcare reform, and became known for her adroit questioning of Trump nominees, including Brett Kavanaugh. 

Her run for the presidency in 2020 ended pretty quickly, but can't be viewed as a failure. She became Joe Biden's running mate. 

Kamala Harris was the first Indian & Black American to run for vice president, the third woman to run, but the first to be elected.

As vice president, Harris cast a record number of tie breaking votes in the senate. No such position as "border czar" exists, but President Biden tasked Harris with cutting back immigration from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras––a goal she met with great success.

Vice President Harris always supported President Biden. When other Democrats turned on Biden following his problematic debate performance, his vice president stood with him and did not betray him. 

She has praised the president's courage and intelligence.

Now, Kamala Harris is the first woman selected to run for president as the nominee of a major political party. 

She chose Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, as her running mate. 

Together, they support a woman's right to control her own body, LGBTQ rights, and increases in border security. Harris and Walz are gun owners, but want to increase gun control. They support continued aid to Ukraine and Israel.

She has plans for her administration, not concepts of plans, actual plans. Harris wants to improve the economy by ending price gouging and taxing the uber wealthy, among other items on her agenda. 

Kamala Harris married Doug Emhoff, also a lawyer, in 2014. She clearly takes delight in her role as stepmom to Cole and Ella, who call her Mamala. Doug's ex-wife, Kerstin, supports Kamala's candidacy. 

Kamala didn't cheat her way through school. She's worked hard, including a summer stint at Mickey D's when she was in college. 

She supports faith and hope rather than hatred and failure. She doesn't think America is a garbage can. 

America is a great country. It can be better, but it will not be better if Harris' opponent is elected president.

Kamala Harris had to throw together a campaign for the presidency in a hurry and she did so brilliantly. 

I was worried before her debate with Trump. It's very difficult to hold one's own against someone who's insane, yet admired by people who are caught up in the excitement of the insanity. His ugliness passes as charisma with his fans who love releasing their own bigotry and hatred while laughing and applauding his.

Then the debate turned into pure joy. She laid out the bait and that fat orange rat gobbled up every bit of it.

While campaigning, Harris still managed to assist in recovery efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Kamala Harris doesn't have a perfect record in her political life (no one does), but she hasn't been involved in any scandals. She doesn't call people pigs and dogs. She doesn't threaten people she doesn't like. She remains calm when she's heckled. 

I want so badly to be able to call her Madam President.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

ALMOST . . .

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell, 

Please pardon my absence of late. We've had some strange goings on at work. I look forward to catching up on your blogginess and hope you are all well.

As is her wont (German Shepherds shed approximately 365 days a year), Princess was shedding Saturday. As I brushed large amounts of hair from her, I wadded some of it up and put it on Rebekah's head. She said she will dye it orange and be Donald Trump for Halloween.

Yes, it's almost Halloween. And it's almost election day.

Bob and Annette, who live across the street next door to Maureen, put two Harris signs in their yard. I was thrilled.

I also saw a number of other Harris signs as I drove around the neighborhood but only a couple of trump signs. I've been afraid I might be attacked if I put a sign in my yard, but the other signs made me brave.

Here's my first ever yard sign for a candidate.

I already voted, of course, and my ballot was received.

When I was dusting recently (I know it's shocking but occasionally I clean the house), I found the sad, dessiccateded corpse of a little lizard on a windowsill. I gave him to The Top of Armoire Gang to be their pet. 

The Gang didn't seem him as a pet, though. They turned him over to Vice President Kamala Harris, who pulled off his dried up tail. They all laughed.

Then Vice Presiden Harris and President Biden held the lizard and chortled about its similarity to a certain TV reality show host who cheats, bankrupts his businesses, and lies, but somehow thinks he's qualified to be POTUS.

The end is nigh.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

WE'RE FINE!

 Hurricane Milton decided to take a turn away from us. Although we got quite a bit of rain and have a few branches down, it's not as bad as post-Hurricane Helene. The electricity flickered off and came right back on a few times overnight.

We got off so easy!

Lake Junebug doesn't have enough water for me to bother with opening The Lake Junebug Resort & Rumpus Room. Sorry, everyone. You'll have make your reservations for next summer.

I feel for the people in Tampa, Sarasota, and other locations where the water is deep and they have a lot of damage.

I stayed up until 4 a.m. keeping an eye on things. Keep this top secret, confidential information to yourself: I took a new job with the Biden administration. I'm the one who hooked the weather control device to the giant faucet. I hope I can continue my work when we elect Vice President Harris.

HURRICANE UPDATE

 Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Uncle Milty, as my great good friend Lorraine at Rocking Retirement called the latest and greatest hurricane, arrived in Florida as a Category 3 storm, then settled down happily into Category 2. According to CNN, more than 1.6 million people in the state have lost power. Wind gusts of 100 mph were recorded near Tampa. The center is 75 miles southwest of Orlando. DisneyWorld closed this afternoon. Multiple tornadoes hit other parts of the state today.

In my part of Jacksonville, we had light rain on and off most of the day. Heavy rain started at about 5:30 p.m. The wind picked up a while after that. It's now 11:54 p.m. EDT, October 9.

We are fine. Lake Junebug is very wet but the sparkling waters haven't accumulated sufficiently for me to even consider the possibility of opening The Lake Junebug Resort & Rumpus Room. I'll probably be telling a different story by morning. 

About 7:30 p.m. the power flipped off and right back on three times.  

We filled the bathtub with water. We have water in pitchers and some of my beloved Tupperware bowls. We have plenty of non-perishable food, just in case it gets worse, and it probably will.

Rebekah and I also took showers so when rescue workers find our bodies, at least our bloated corpses will be clean. (I'm kidding!)

Someone who evacuated from another area last night posted on Facebook that the interstate was packed and it took seven hours to travel 200 miles. Plenty of people in evacuation zones don't leave because it's so difficult. And what about people who have no transportation? What are they supposed to do? The governor said the state will have a "robust response" to storm damage, but the issue to work on next is how to get people out of evacuation zones smoothly and safely. At least Ron admitted to receiving assistance from President Biden. DeSantis is such a trump kiss ass that he's been refusing to take calls from the president and from Vice President Harris since Hurricane Helene. Who the hell does he think he is? 

Anyway, the word from the Dept. of Emergency Management this afternoon was if you haven't left, then it's too late. Shelter in place.

I don't know if I'll get much sleep tonight. If the electricity goes off and comes back on multiple times during the night as it did during Helene, I wake up every time it goes off. 

Just to reiterate, I am not in an evacuation zone and never have been. If we were not able to stay in the Little House On The Swamp for some reason, I would find the nearest Hilton still standing and head there with Rebekah and the dogs––Maureen, too, if she needed to leave.

Speaking of dogs, Princess is asleep on the couch next to me. Penelope is hiding in the bedroom closet. Fritz The Wonder Dog is in bed with Rebekah.

It's now Oct. 10 so I'll say good night. If you don't hear from me later, it will be because the internet is out, but that would be very unusual. 

Thank you all so much for your concern and kindness.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug