Memorial Day

The best way to honor those killed while in military service is to stop the senseless, never ending wars.

Rain by Cynthia Barnett

Rain

 It is amazing how one can take a topic as seemingly mundane as "rain" and turn it into an educational and entertaining book. From rainmakers to monsoons to bold literary references, this book held my attention from beginning to end. I particularly enjoyed her Epilog (don't skip it!), describing her adventures in northeastern India, the world's rainiest spot, now impacted by climate change. 

I really enjoyed this book. The documentation in "Notes" is something that only the best of journalists practice. In doing so, the author tells the reader how informed and well researched she is on the history of rain, how various cultures viewed it, how we view it, and the various cycles of rain that misled us in our country's formation.

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Called Rep Pete Olson and Senators Cornyn and Cruz:

I object to imposing asylum application fees on people fleeing persecution and danger. Not only is this amoral and inhumane, the American Immigration Lawyers Association says the president’s plan “contradicts international law” and still “fails to ensure orderly processing.” I want you to stop the president’s asylum fee and instead heal the root causes of life-threatening conditions in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Email to Rep Pete Olson:

I absolutely oppose giving Trump’s deportation machine more money. The administration doesn’t need billions more in DHS funding for detentions, deportations, and immigration enforcement agents. Just say NO to Trump’s supplemental funding request.

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Thank you note to Pat Shanahan, Acting Secretary of Defense, for saying publicly that the military should move away from the border to focus on its primary missions.

Address: 1000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1000

(This phone mail box was full but I will continue to call.)

Called: Deborah Achim, Deputy Field Office Director, 210-283-4723.

I understand that ICE’s Karnes Detention Center is preventing RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) from meeting with individuals detained, denying them their right to legal aid.

I’m a citizen and taxpayer taxpayer from right here in Texas calling to ask you to restore legal access to people detained at Karnes. Thank you.

Spread the Vote and its Project ID initiative helps citizens obtain IDs for required voting. At $40 per ID, today I helped one person get the needed ID to vote.

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Postcard to Rep Pete Olson:

Whether it’s his actions to obstruct the Mueller investigation or his demands that members of his administration stonewall Congressional investigations, Trump has committed acts that should be addressed in an impeachment investigation. Please support Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s resolution, H.R. 257, to open an impeachment inquiry.

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Postcards to Senators Cornyn and Cruz:

I value justice for Native tribes who persist in seeking return of land that was seized decades ago. Their cause finally moved forward when the House passed H.R. 375, which restores the Interior Secretary’s authority to move land into trust for all federally recognized tribal nations and reaffirms existing Indian trust lands. I’m asking you to co-sponsor this “Carcieri Clean Fix” in the Senate and advocate for its passage. Thank you.

Thank you note to Stacey Abrams:

Thank you for working to empower all voters and ensure the protection of voting rights for all. We must end voter suppression and empower all citizens to participate in our democracy.

Address: ℅ Fair Fight Action, 1270 Caroline Street NE, Suite D120-430, Atlanta, Georgia 30307

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

I'm calling today to tell the Congressman to reject the White House’s supplemental budget request for the Department of Homeland Security. ICE and CBP have a long track record of abuse and death, mismanagement of funds, and a culture of violence. My tax dollars should not be spent to detain, deport, or terrorize immigrant communities.

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Postcards to State Senator Joan Huffman and State Rep. Phil Stephenson:

I value nutrition and health for all. The Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) assists people to overcome food insecurity and contributes to more stable homes and better education, I’m concerned that only 57.5 percent of eligible people in our state actually receive WIC benefits. I’d like you to propose new WIC outreach efforts to non-English speakers so that more Texas residents will live healthier lives. Thank you. 

June Menu

June Menu

1. Bacon Sandwiches, Oven Fries 

2. Slow Cooker Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup 

3. Baked Cod/Salmon, GMP, Salad 

4. Chicken-Spaghetti Casserole 

5. Steak, GMP, GB

6. Leftovers 

7. Out 

8. Macaroni and cheese, Corn 

9. Schwan’s 

10. Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Veggies 

11. Oven BBQ Chicken, Beans, Salad

12. Schwan’s 

13. Leftovers 

14. Out

15. Scrambled Eggs, Canadian Bacon, Toast 

16. Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Soup 

17. Baked Fish, Oven Fries, Salad 

18. Chicken Tenders, GMP, Mixed Veg

19. Pizza 

20. Leftovers 

21. Out

22. CB Hash, CSC 

23. Schwan’s 

24. Fried Shrimp, FF, Coleslaw 

25. Schwan’s 

26. Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad 

27. Leftovers 

28. Out 

29. St. Wieners, Corn

30. Pork Roast, Carrots, GMP

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Email to Rep. Pete Olson and Senators Cornyn and Cruz:

I am concerned about how we’re treating asylum seekers. The American Immigration Lawyers Association, the National Association of Immigration Judges, and Federal Bar Association all advocate for creating an immigration court that operates independently of the Department of Justice. I want you to support creating an independent Article One immigration court to give asylum seekers basic respect and a speedy hearing. Thank you.

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Postcard to Rep. Pete Olson:

I am angry at the continuing harm caused by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Working families who rely on tax refunds for major purchases or to pay debts are feeling the pain of receiving less back or even owing more, while the wealthy get big breaks. Now the administration wants to cut healthcare, education, and nutrition programs to pay for it. I’m asking you to introduce a bill to repeal this law.

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Called Senators Cornyn and Cruz:

I’m calling to express support for extending a clear path to citizenship for my neighbors protected by DACA, TPS, and DED. Recipients of these protections need stability, and so do their U.S.-citizen families, co-workers, and communities. I would like you to co-sponsor the bipartisan Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (DACA recipients) and the SECURE Act (for TPS and DED recipients). Thank you. 

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Thank you notes to Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Tom Carper (D-DE): 

Thank you for forming the Senate’s first Environmental Justice Caucus. It is imperative that we address the unequal impact of climate threats on low-income communities and communities of color.

Addresses:

CB: One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, Suite 505, Camden, NJ 08101

TD: 230 South Dearborn Street, Suite 3900, Chicago, IL 60604

TC: 301 North Walnut Street, Suite 102L-1, Wilmington, DE 19801

What Makes A Good Day?

What Makes a Good Day?

I was listening to Krista Tippett’s On Being podcast. Her guest was Atul Gawanda.  The subject was end of life care and one of the goals of end of life care should be to find out what makes a good day for an individual patient. This got me to thinking about what makes a good day for me. So here goes:

1. A truly perfect day would have cool (but not cold), clear, low humidity weather.  

2. An omelette, Toast, and fresh OJ for breakfast.

3. Not going anywhere. 

4. Nature watching: birds, butterflies, bees, trees. 

5. A bit of quilting, a bit of reading

6. A nap with a cat or even better, a kitten 

7. Veggie Pizza and a cold Coke for dinner

8. Several texts with my daughter 

What makes a good day for you??

Wildlife Around OakMeadows—April, 2019

Yes, these too. 

Aves

Mockingbird 

Turkey Vulture

Black Vulture

Meadowlarks 

Collared Doves 

Cattle Egrets 

Barn Swallows 

Killdeer 

Red-winged Blackbirds 

Red-tailed Hawk 

Hummingbird 

Cardinals 

Grackles 

Caracara

Whistling Ducks 

Bluejays

Crow

Mourning Doves 

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 

Insecta 

Queen

Monarchs 

American Lady

Pipevine Swallowtail 

Pearl Crescent 

Little Sulphur 

Tiger Swallowtail 

Mammalia 

Squirrels 

Raccoons 

Coyote 

Green Anole

Green Tree Frog