THE LONG, HOT SUMMER

 Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

July has flown by. Today is my daughter's birthday. Tears came to my eyes Saturday afternoon when Sweet Cheeks and I discussed our supper plans because he seemed kind of grumpy, but what really bothered me is how much I miss her. I cried over my baby girl this afternoon. 

When we decided we really did want to go out for barbecue, I wore my earrings that feature a quotation from Sylvia Plath:

I want to be important by being different. These girls are all the same. 

My daughter is important by being different. I am not, but I did my best to give her the gift of support, love, and opportunities.

I saw the following Far Side today and shared it on Facebook:

I laughed over it because it made me think of Sweet Cheeks, who does not care to socialize and would probably be happy to hide underground when people come around.

Sweet Cheeks walks through my door almost every Saturday afternoon (sometimes he's on call and needs to be closer to his employer than my house allows) and stays until mid-morning or mid-afternoon Sunday. When he arrives, the dogs are the first to greet him, with tails wagging. He gives each of them some love. Then I get a greeting and a hug. 

We used to spend a large part of our time together dissecting the big stories in the news. Now we speak of the world less. The news is filled with pain. The House passed a bill to ban certain semi-automatic weapons. We know the Senate will cast it aside. As Sweet Cheeks said, Young men have to be able to buy their guns so they can go to schools to shoot children.

It takes a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun? 

In Uvalde,  good guys with guns stood around, waiting. Waiting for what? 

Yes, a man with a gun stopped a shooter at a mall in Indiana. He's lucky he wasn't mistaken for the murderer and killed by the police. 

It's hot. So hot. July ends; August begins. The heat will remain oppressive until October. Then the nights will be a little cooler. The days will be 80 degrees instead of 90 something, and we'll breathe a sigh of relief.

For now, the sheets on my bed are a pale shade of rose and made of Egyptian cotton. They are cool and soft when my lover and I lie upon them to grant each other succor. Instead of talking about the news, we hold one another close.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

CRISIS ON THE MANTEL

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Perhaps you recall that when we last visited the superheroes on my mantel, Barack and Joe were holding hands. I thought it was because they're still happy in their bromance.

It took  Kay G (Georgia Girl With An English Heart) to make me realize that not everyone was pleased. She wrote in her comment: Obama doesn't look happy to hold hands with Biden!

I took a closer look and saw it was Joe who had grabbed Barack's hand. 

He was pleased and continued to smile that big-Joe-grin of his.

Now observe the shock of Barack:

Barack Obama was not a happy camper. What did he do?

 

Yes, it's true. Barack Obama turned his back on Joe Biden. Kamala said, Joe, I'll hug you, while Justice Ginsburg threatened Barack: Former President Obama, turn around right now and offer your hand to Current President Biden. His approval ratings are in the shitter and he needs you. If you don't comfort and support him, I shall knock you on the noggin with my big, heavy gavel!

At the moment she was needed the most, someone new showed up to offer her expert negotiation skills.

Yes! It's Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who entered the fray without hesitation.

Hillary said,  I'm sure we can reach an agreement that will please everyone. President Obama, if President Biden promises not to grab your hand again, then will you turn around and stand by his side? President Biden, please accept Vice President Harris' offer of a hug. She can comfort you in your time of need. Just don't smell her hair. 

And that's where the superheroes stand (they don't bend at the waist so they can't sit down). Will Joe and Kamala hug? Will Barack turn around? Will Ruth put down her gavel? Will Hillary get the respect she deserves?

Will the crisis on the mantel be resolved? 

I sure hope so. It's late and I need to get to bed.

I dissent, says Justice Ginsburg. I don't have to go to work in the morning and I want to stay up late to watch a movie. I haven't seen Dirty Dancing in years. Nobody puts Ruthie in a corner!

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

THE BEST PART OF THURSDAY NIGHT

JOSH HAWLEY HAS NEW BOOK COMING OUT NEXT YEAR:

MANHOOD: THE MASCULINE VIRTUES AMERICA NEEDS

MAGGA

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

 

This gang of geese crossed the road to bully my duck friends, poop all over the place, and eat everything in sight. They bragged, We are not socialist Canada geese. We are members of Make American Geese Great Again and we will drive out the damn Democrat ducks. 

They even put up this sign:

No one ever had cause to praise the spelling of a goose.

I hissed at them and stomped my feet. They acted tough, but the next day they were gone. 

If only hissing and foot stomping could rid of us maga.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS

THESE ARE MY DOGGIES

 

These are my doggies on drugs.

Try to have a safe & sane Fourth of July.

Franklin, Penelope, and I would appreciate it if you'd cease and desist with the fireworks.  We'd all be much happier, and none of us would need sedatives.