Bird House Days

 

"An hour in nature, prevents a year in the hospital."

~Abhijit Naskar, 

Yarasistan: My Wounds, My Crown

Hubby and I got in the car, pointed it toward the Cosumnes River Preserve wetlands walk, and took a long walk around, just looking at all the birds in the tress and birdhouses, and it was glorious! Just a couple hours of listening to the sound of about 40 different birds, or so, was enough to make my achy body feel better. I unclenched my fists, and concentrated on different angles with my camera, and depth of field shots. This one is not perfect, by any stretch, it just made me happy to try to feel better. Little forward steps. But boy oh boy is that first step forward a difficult one. Depression sucks, but I know with some effort I can move past it toward light and hope. Like with this photograph, I will get perfect this shot as the year moves on, and that's a good thing to look forward to, but if I don't strive for the perfect shot, this scene with remain forever in mediocrity. Who wants that?

Living Life La Vida Tippy-Top

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity;

 and I am not sure about the universe."

~ Albert Einstein

Well That Was Embarrassing!

He did it again. 

He opened his mouth, and the stupid vomited out. 

The look on, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's, face, says it all! I think this incident might just be more embarrassing then the time, Volodymry Zelenskyy, was told he wasn't grateful enough, and followed it with a rabid journalist/podcaster/whatever telling Zelenskyy he wasn't dressed appropriately for a visit to the White House!

 Sigh. 

Welcome to the first day of Spring!

"The earth laughs in flowers."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here's an article with video, which runs a bit longer.

 Read The New York Times Article Here. 

This article and video is where he uses the words,

 "tippy-top."

Spring begins at 10:46 am Eastern Time

Now That Everything's Been Said

 

"Music gives a soul to the universe,

 wings to the mind,

 flight to the imagination

 and life to everything."

~Plato

When I was a little girl, I loved the Mod Squad, and I still do to this day! I mean, how groovy were they? My neighbors lovie that show too. I can remember sitting outside, on an especially hot night in August, listening to my friend's parents discussing trivial things. Grown up trivia. But when they began talking movies and tv shows, my ears perked up! I was really curious about what they watched and why! My friend Wendy had some chic parents, at least by my reasoning as an 7 year old. Mrs. Greg lived for the Mod Squad, and she was miserable that she couldn't just survive the house to watch it. No air-conditioner, meant you toughed it out inside, or took it outside, even if it was still blistering hot at 10:00 pm! I don't why that memory is so sealed in my mind, but it is. I guess it's just one of life's mysteries, what you remember and what you don't. Anyway, years later I bought the full series on DVD for hubby, because he had never seen the show! Can you believe it? So, if you are like darling hubby and you have never seen the amazing hip coolness, of the Mod Squad, here is a particularly wonderful clip of Peggy Lipton, from 1969, singing, Now That's Everything's Been Said, by Carole King. It's truly wonderful. It's peaceful. We need that right now. I need that right now. And the nostalgic feeling and memories it brings up aren't bad either.

Carole King

Now That Everything's Been Said

Mondays, Magpies, And The DMV

 

"Hell is not other people, hell is the DMV."

~Unknown

Actually, I kinda think Hell is both other people AND the DMV. I have to be there in a little while, because it seems that my new license plates have not arrived, and it's been nearly a month! The dealership said it would be in a couple weeks. Sigh. You know how things work, it's a Monday, and I am going to the DMV so that means by the time I get home, the plates will be in the mailbox.

I will report back later on how it all went. 

In the meantime, enjoy these Yellow-billed Magpie photos!

A New Bird

 

"We are nature. We are nature seeing nature. The Red-winged Blackbird flies in us."

~Susan Griffin

It felt good to get out the other day and do a little photography, unfortunately this is the only good photo I got, but I will have more opportunities coming up, so this won't be my last photo this year.

Don't you just love the beauty of the Red-winged Blackbird? And they have a lovely song too!

In Case You Need A Reason To Laugh And Or Vomit

 

New York Times 

All The President's Portraits

By Doug Mills and Larry Buchanan

"Never trust someone who claims they care nothing of what society thinks of them. Instead Of Conquering obstacles, they simple pretend they don't exist."

~Tiffany Madison

Trump's mugshot is my favorite picture of him, but if I just had to pick a different one, I guess I would have to visit the White House in order to narrow it down. There's weird portraits, in what seems like every 20 feet or so, most are merely projections of what Trump believes he is, rather than face the reality that he really isn't a tough guy, MAGA pretends he is. Once MAGA turns their backs on him, gone will be stupid renderings of him in a Superman costume, saving Gotham City from funding schools or medical research, and in will come depictions of him picking up garbage on the side of the road, or cleaning jails. Although, knowing him, he will believe they will make him look awesomely manly and tough. 

That's our hero!

Fear Should NOT Be An Option

 
The Next No Kings Rally Is March 28th 2026

Find One Near You!

"I guess"

~Donald Trump

When asked if Americans should be worried about terrorist threats.

Will you be going to the next, NO KINGS, rally? I hope to be, but as of right now, I am still thinking it over. On the one hand, it's the most important march of my lifetime! We are now living under fascism, but there is still time to pushback against it, and take control of our future, by winning in the mid-term elections. But first we have to make our voices heard. But on the other hand, I am deeply concerned about sleeper cells within the United States, considering Trump has been taking such a cavalier attitude toward possible terrorist threats within the America. Look at all the damage that has been done, both geographically and diplomatically in the middle east, not to mention the continued disrespect of our European allies. You can't be too vigilant, and that can lead to feeling paralyzed. Well, if you're like me anyway. I hate that Donald Trump has made fear an option. And I hate that I feel so vulnerable in my wheelchair.

The Plantain (via Instagram)

MS. Magazine has a collection of signs, from recent rallies,

 that they felt hits the bullseye on messaging. They creativity is awesome!

Rod, Macy And Robert De Niro

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom or philosophy."

~Ludwig Von Beethoven

It's Sunday, which means it's time to just chill out a bit. This past week has seemed four years long, guess why, so I am going to let music, and Robert De Nero take me away from all the stress! Although, if I ever actually met Robert De Niro, that would be it's own stress! As you know, I don't do well in the presence of celebrities. I giggle and stare and stammer, and lets just say...it would be a mess! Why would I do that to him? He never did anything to me. LOL. Anyway, enjoy the music. And maybe join me in getting lost in a DeNiro film later. Maybe Taxi Driver, Goodfellas or perhaps, Cape Fear? Who knows?

 Do you have a favorite?

 

Wednesday, March 4th, 2026

 

"It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished,

 unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets."

~Voltaire

This is how the day begins. How will it end? I'll get back to you!

Air Raid Sirens Everywhere

 

"I know not what weapons WWIII will be fought,

 but WWIIII will be fought with sticks and stones."

~Albert Einstein

I should have know by the ashen face on Marco Rubio, at the State of the Union, that something ridiculously bad was about to happen, in terms of the middle east. Because Trump is a liar, how can I trust anything he says about Iran being a direct threat to the United States? My gut instinct is that yesterday we were in no danger, but now we are. This is very bad. All my questions about this time we are in is like, air raid sirens everywhere.

I'm Still With Her

At some time during the deposition of Secretary Clinton, Congresswoman, Lauren Boebert released these photos, breaking House rules. Secretary Clinton graciously agreed to continue on with the business at hand. I thought Boebert genuinely cared about the victims of Epstein, but when I see a circus act like Boebert, I have to wonder. No, I know the answer... she doesn't. Lauren Boebert can fuck all the way off!

"Human rights, are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights. Let us not forget that among them are the right to speak freely... and the right to be heard."

~Hillary Rodham Clinton

Page Not Found

 

Read the NPR article here.

"There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated 

 under the shield of the law and in the name of justice."

~Charles-Louis de Secondat baron de la Brede et de Montesquieu 

The Spirit Of The Laws

The drip, drip, drip continues. But for how long? When will justice come for Trump? It seems like it will be forever before he faces sentencing for his 34 felonies left waiting for him in New York, let alone the crimes we all know are sitting on Pam Bondi's desk, the Epstein Files. It shouldn't just be former princes and ambassadors under arrest for their connection to Epstein, especially when we know the obvious cover up happening right now. The DOJ isn't even trying to hide it! The State of the Union address, last night, was a joke. It was belligerent, vindictive, and mostly built on fantasy. But, it doesn't matter, because with a little luck, maybe we can survive until next November, when we can find out way back to a just, free and sane nation. However, it's going to have to start with a full and comprehensive investigation into Donald John Trump and his wife, Melania, and their true connection to Jeffrey Epstein.

 Maybe. 

The rebuttal speech delivered by Virginia Governor, Abigail Spanberger.

 

We can fix this mess, I know we can, especially with leaders like this!

Into The Weeds

 

"As one grows older, one should grow more expert at finding beauty in unexpected places, in deserts and even in towns, in ordinary faces and among wild weeds."

~C.C. Vyvyan

This beautiful purple blossom is called, wild radish. It's that gorgeous purple you see dotting fields and roadsides, and that looks so lovely with the yellow wildflower known as field mustard or wild turnip. Both of these flowers grow all over California each spring and summer, but it never occurred to me to look up their stories. Both can be used in cooking, I think they would look beautiful on salads, as well as other uses. How great would it be to have a wildflower salad paired with a chilled soup like Gazpacho or maybe Honeydew mint, on a hot late spring afternoon! I have been trying to do more photography beyond my birding. I used to do that all the time in the Bay Area. Public art. Lighthouses. Flowers in my garden. You name it, I was there with my camera. A favorite was photographing celebrities, but, alas, there isn't much Hollywood north out here. But I am happy finding new things to see. This spring will probably bring some lovely cloud filled skies, and rainbows. So, as the Pacific flyway closes, it's about time I photographed all the colors of spring!

Beautiful, Breathtaking, Woodbridge Road

"Feed the birds in winter; in return, they will feed your soul with the look of gratitude."

~Mehmet Murat ildan

Beautiful, breathtaking, Woodbridge road. There is so much beauty to be found there, no matter what season it happens to be. I think of all the places we do our birding, Woodbridge is my favorite, although, Desmond road is a close second! Moments like this, ethereal and calming, revives me!

More from Thursday's trip down Woodbridge road to come! 

Watch this space!

Little Green Men And Ugly Orange Despots

 

"For although we may not be alone in the universe,

 in our own separate ways, on this planet... we are all alone."

~Jose Chung

The X-Files

Season 3: Episode 20

 'Jose Chung's: From Outer Space'

Well, we could put Mulder and Scully on the case, but, you see, they were fired last year when Elon Musk was wielding his chainsaw, and Kash Patel was firing the FBI's finest. Fear not, Mulder and Scully will always have our backs, despite whatever X-file wins the presidency. 

The Truth Is Still Out There.

99 Red Balloons Go By

 

"It's interesting how every politician starts every conversation with talk of peace, then immediately shifts to investing in more fighter jets, tanks, Rifles and warheads!"

~Abhijit Naskar

Visvavatan: 100 Demilitarization Sonnets

It's 85 Seconds Until Midnight

Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists

Congratulations, MAGA, the man you voted for, the man who said no more wars, is now a full on warmonger! Your tax dollars well spent. Killing people, you don't know in the name of peace, and Trump's next justification for perhaps winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Are enjoying this time with Trump, an obviously psychotic tinpot dictator? 

One day, when the missiles are about to hit America, remember, YOU made it all happen, because he couldn't have got us all killed without you!

Enjoy

Tyler Likes To Help

 

"I believe cats be spirits come to earth. 

A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud, without coming through."

~Jules Verne

Tyler likes to help. He loves my desk. He loves my chair. And he loves my computer. Simon does too, but it's my pink eared black cat that likes to be helpful in my office. All he wants in the way of salary is snuggles, a supply of catnip fish and tinkle balls, and, of course, nom noms.

 A better assistant I'll never find!

Just Remember... your cat likes to help!

Ellipsis Movie Of The Week... Ocean's 11

 

Danny Ocean (answering the phone)

"Hello, this is a recording. You've dialed the right number; now hang up and don't do it again."

Ocean's 11

(1960)

Ocean's 11 the original. The classic. Is it the best version of the story of Danny Ocean and his cohorts, you bet! But only because most of the time I go with the originals, so to be fair, the George Clooney's, 2001 version, definitely hits the mark! I guess it really depends on mood. Angie Dickinson is wonderful as Danny's wife. But Julia Roberts brought the same class as Dickinson did. Both films were made in different eras, so the updating of the story had to be done, and it was done in 2001 without damaging the original feel.  I am not going to tell you what I thought about the acting in either movie, because perfect is perfect. Right? So, here is my current pick between the two, but by the time the week is over, I might just watch the 2001 version. Shrug. Watch them both, but start with this one.

Check them out at IMBD

Ocean's 11 - 1960  Ocean's 11 - 2001

7 Minutes In February

 

Roberto Schmidt, Getty Images

There is really no quote for this post. 

 LISTEN TO THE SURVIVORS...

 RELEASE THE FULL UNREDACTED EPSTEIN FILES!

How To Make A Banana Cream Pie

 

"I'm not a lady, I'm a legend."

~Marlena Dietrich

Get more recipes from the Pet company here.

A little Atomic Jazz, While You Bake Your Pie