December 31, 2025

 Yes, today is my birthday AND coincidentally, New Year's Eve!

There will be a party here tonight to celebrate both. From what I understand (and at my request), The Buena Vista Fusiliers, formally known as The Lincoln Street Light Brigade, will be manning the celebratory cannons this year! HUZZAH!!

The menu for tonight will be prepared by our resident chef, the MITM.

There will be pictures.

On that note, I say,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

and

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL Y'ALL!!!

I'll see y'all next year!

xoxo

It's been a minute

super nana reminded me that it's been almost a month since I've posted, and that she almost did a post letting all y'all know that I was OK. I mean, given the fact that I do live in SoCal, it is possible to assume that, one, I might have been picked up by ICE and was being forcibly detained, or two, I was in hospital with some sort of car related accident, or three, which is actually what happened, I had an adverse reaction to a new med that made me ill. (FYI: There will be no explanation or details to follow.)

I'm fine now, thank you.

xoxo/Savvy

Happy Birthday, Captain Chaos

 Today is his Birthday!

Why use a serious photo when a Halloween photo from a couple of years ago is available? 

Remember, remember the 25th of November... (with apologies to Guy Fawkes Day)

Thanks again to our pal, Bob, for this reminder of an important day coming up! 

Another important thing to remember is not to hoard items in advance of the economic blackout. Increased corporate profits received prior to the boycott will dampen the effect of the economic blackout.  I know Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday are tempting, but try shopping local and supporting small businesses. If you can support local restaurants, instead of corporate chains, that's support! We can all find a way to join this economic blackout. For folks concerned about Christmas shopping, take the opportunity to explain to family and friends WHY gifts this year might not be "the latest, greatest, I saw it on TV" and WHY people across this country are trying to make a difference! This might be the year to visit local small bookstores and purchase from there instead of buying on amazon or shopping at target, etc. Check out an online supporter of small bookstores! They support 1900 local bookstores, and I think you can find one near you.

Not everyone can call out at work for the entire time or even for a day, but we can all find a way to make our power felt!

A real OG

 The MITM (aka creolebebop) was watching clips from Casablanca and said I should post a pic of his Dad in his anti-fascist uniform:

My father-in-law and the MITM's Dad

Let us not forget the men and women who fought bravely against the rise of nazism. 

I know it isn't Memorial Day, or Armistice Day, or Veterans Day, but hearing Rick's words about why he's joining the fight made me wonder how the actual fuck MAGA people can support The Fat Git and his cabal of vulgarians as they tear this country apart piece by piece all the while celebrating the very thing their fathers, mothers, and grandparents fought against? How does someone like that look at photos of family in uniform, medals in shadow boxes, flags folded in memorial boxes, and then raise an arm in a nazi salute?

How indeed?

Language or say what you mean and mean what you say*

 I propose that we start using the correct and full names for people, places, and things. You know, like the:

 Affordable Care Act, instead of Obamacare.

Anti-fascist movement, instead of Antifa

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, instead of SNAP

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, instead of ICE

And all the rest of the alphabet agencies.

Of course, we can't forget

Dipship Deplorable Degenrate Detained Donald, instead of President!

Using acronyms instead of agencies or people's actual titles or names makes us enured to what these groups actually do or are responsible for. The oppressor wants us to think in shorthand, using their terms, their words, so we stop thinking. 

The book 1984 was not meant to be a primer, but to serve as a cautionary tale!

I think I'm going to stop referring to you-know-who as TFG and calling him what he really is, The (monstrous) Fat Git!

*I actually wrote this last night after reading the online New York Times, but didn't publish it because I knew it needed (a LOT) editing, which I did this morning when I wasn't so pissed off  angry.

Halloween 2025

 The scariest things today are currently in the White House, the House, the Senate, and SCOTUS! Everything else pales in comparison.

*********

My hope for Halloween, tomorrow's All Saints' Day, and Sunday's Dia de Los Muertos is that ALL children and their parents can safely experience, in the traditional spirit of those days, grace and kindness from those agencies that would do them harm.

But on a lighter note, please don't hand out packets of candy corn if you see me at your door!

Yesterday was a bit of a rant, I know.

 Some days, it doesn't take much to send me off the rails/into the deep end/screaming into the void, and yesterday was just that. (in case you hadn't noticed) It did raise my spirits to see that I wasn't alone. Other folks were "mad as Hell and not gonna take it anymore." I mean, y'all still read my ravings, even if you don't comment. And we're all the kind of folks who, if we disagree, will speak to the issue/ask questions civilly. I also know that if the differences are too great or harmful or just downright ugly, we will just quietly unfollow because this ain't no airport with departures announced.

Today is Thursday, and I'm feeling much better, but I'm still mad about what TFG is doing. Until he's departed these mortal coils, that's life as we know it.

Get ready to put y'all's spooky on cos it's almost here!

Wednesday or how much farther can TFG diminish the US on the world stage?

 Out of regard for my own personal mental health, I've taken to only reading headlines and the first paragraph of news stories. The MITM, being much more emotionally secure than I, fills me in on important details. Sadly, the videos of TFG in Japan have made the "front page" of messages I've received today. How many more incidents involving Dementia Donald must we endure before he's relieved of duty, so to speak, and sent to the assisted living care facility he so desperately needs? Rhetorical question, I know!

We're days away from Halloween, with the most frightening horror set for November 1, when SNAP benefits will not be released, and 40 million Americans will have to decide whether to pay bills or buy food. If you can't see the immorality of that, or have never experienced the fear of living paycheck to paycheck, then I'm not sure what I can say to you. An old high school friend recently wrote about how, when she and her husband were young, they experienced his job loss and her struggle to make items to sell at local shops, so they could have enough to pay bills and feed their small children. They managed to get by using food stamps until he found a job. Government assistance made the difference for them, as it did for many others. When we lived in Ohio while the MITM finished college, while working a full-time job, and thanks to the information our pediatrician gave us, we were able to sign up for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)* program to augment our food budget, making sure our 3 small children received adequate nutrition. In those days, you had to separate the "allowed" foods from the rest of your items and had to hand the teller the required coupons. This procedure signaled you out as "a welfare recipient" and, sadly, ALWAYS caused some sigh of disgust from others in line. Government assistance helped not only our little family, but also families across this country! Right now, the USDA is sitting on contingency SNAP funds that they say can't be released, but the contingency fund was set up so that benefits would NEVER be denied during a shutdown of the government!

I am absolutely livid that this country, which has always seemed so full of promise, has degenerated into a new Gilded Age, where once again, the rich are getting richer and the poor (and our depleted middle class) are falling deeper and deeper into poverty.

How can we, as a country, celebrate Thanksgiving knowing so many will go hungry? 

It's Monday, right?

It's never a good sign when you wake up to the sound of TFG babbling away and realise he's still around. But then again, even without hearing his voice, knowing he's still around is disturbing, she said ever so sarcastically. 

But on to better things...

The Krewe is well.

BKC and BKM are prepping for high school next year.

No one has eaten all the Halloween candy, so we're ready for October 31st on Friday.

Our mail-in ballots have been received and counted by the state, so I'm hoping that California will stand against the GOP gerrymandering of the 2026 elections. 

TFG seems to be slowly spiraling down the drain...

...and on that note, I have a red dress that's ready to wear...*

*from Moonstruck: 

• Loretta Castorini: In time you'll drop dead and I'll come to your funeral in a red dress!

I can't stop....actually, these are the last pics from the kitchen refresh

 

super nana to the rescue with some backyard before and after photos!!! Surprise Part 3

 

OK, here we good with Part 2, the kitchen refresh and a garden photo aka SoCal living at it's best

I didn't take before photos, so you'll have to imagine a millennial grey kitchen (done by the previous owners at the direction of their real estate agent, who was, in fact, a millennial). Go figure, resale value, right? Anyway, the previous owners had lived in this house for a very long time, so their color choices were, I think, lovely! super nana wanted to reflect her love and appreciation of the North African culture, so the colors are, as I told y'all, reminiscent of a Moroccan home.

Ok, so that's the color background. The photos aren't styled, because this is a working kitchen and was immediately put to use! Did I tell y'all that shortly after all of this was done, not only did we have a major pipe burst in the front yard, and the landscaping had to be redone, but the fridge decided to quit on us! Fortunately, Cap't Chaos has a Yeti cooler, and we have a smaller picnic-size one, so while we lost some food stuffs, the majority were saved.

So, back to the kitchen:

I have lost some photos taken before the Halloween party we had on the 18th, so I think y'all get the idea about the kitchen. I may try again when the kitchen looks a bit neater!

And now the back garden/yard: 

Found a recent pic of super nana and Rockett, the wonder dog! The rest are from the newly remodeled backyard and extended patio. Yep, there's a big screen TV outside, I mean, sweeetpeas, we are in Southern California! The pumpkins were carved by the kids at the Halloween party. Most of them were taken home, but these stayed here!

I need to take more photos of the landscaping because it's really lovely. 

Anyway, this is all I have right now or that I can find...

I think super nana has some really good photos.

Part 1a, the cake or what's left of it

The remains of a very delicious chocolate mousse cake!
 

Besides missing all y'all, I missed a birthday post for super nana, and the photos of the kitchen refresh and the back garden redo! (A post in 2 parts)

 Damn, the title of this post pretty much sums everything up!

Yep, super nana's birthday was October 23rd, and I didn't do a birthday post, which she reminded me of that evening and the next day, and here it is TWO WHOLE DAYS LATER, and she's FINALLY going to have her day commemorated.

There was a cake (no pictures, sorry) (hold on, there's still some left, I'll take a pic of that!!) The MITM and I did give her a birthday present, the MITM made her favorite dish for dinner, and her friends gave her flowers, so it was a good day. 

So please join me in sending the best daughter in the world, 

Birthday Greetings!!

(Yes, I know I've made all y'all a couple of days late to the celebration, but WTF, it's still her birthday weekend, right?)

So, there you go, better late than never, right, sweetpeas???

*next post shortly*

 

Wednesday, October 15th or Sweet Mary Sunshine I have been remiss

 Hey, sweetpeas!

I know it's been a minute, and I haven't posted pics from the kitchen refresh or the back garden redo or given all y'all the 411 on the refrigerator saga!! 

Oh, yeah, it's been wild times here at HQ (Head Quarters)!

This is just a filler post right now. I'm going to try to organize the photos and post them later today. Also, Mr. Mago, I will answer your email today!

Later Skaters

It's been a long time, OK, maybe not a LONG time, but surely a month

 Since my last post a few things have happened.

The kitchen refresh has been completed and looks lovely. It took a week. Pictures to follow because of a tech issue I'll explain later.

There's been a mini update to the primary bathroom. Finding a new vanity, mirror, and faucets wasn't difficult or as time consuming as I had thought!

We also had a MAJOR leak in the water pipe in the front yard which meant that the right size of the garden had to be redone because the force of the water caused a HUGE gully in the stabilized hardscape. 

Then, demolition started in the BACK yard to remove three fruit trees that had turned the back garden into a varmint smorgasbord and a tree that was far too big for the garden. Normally, you'd think that a lovely tree with a brad canopy would be perfect, but the roots on this one were uplifting the tiles on the patio and dangerously close to damaging pipes and the house foundation! Not to mention that it was messy and covered the yard and roof with leaves and sticky flowers. (Don't ask what the tree was called because I don't know.) So now, we're in the middle of redoing the back garden. For some reason, it was so much easier to choose pavers for the new patio and bedding plants, than deciding and finding colors, tiles, and knobs and handles for the kitchen cabinets. The backyard will probably completed this week. The new patio will be a great place for having potted plants, so that bit is exciting. 

We shall see. 

Remember the tech issue I mentioned earlier? Well, once again a computer owned by me, has died a natural death. I truly had absolutely nothing to do with its demise. I took it to an authorized apple repair shop (BIG mistake) and was told they were unable to repair it because (lie #1) they couldn't open it and (lie #2) apple no longer made parts for my 2016 MAC air, and (lie#3) they couldn't remove the data. Mr Matrix not only opened it, but found the problem and the replacement part! At his suggestion, I'm taking it to the Apple Genius Bar and have it done there. We debated about going back to the guys who lied or maybe leaving a scathing review on yelp, but I decide that after my MAC is repaired, I'll send them an email detailing what happened and make sure they know that instead of publicly exposing their incompetence, I was letting them know how disappointed I was in their service. 

We shall see.

I'm currently using super nana's fancy MAC because she uses the one her job has supplied and this one was just sitting unused. I did learn one thing, and that's at my age I need to write down all my passwords in a safe place because I have CRS*!  

No political ranting from me today because I've spent all that venom on that other social media site. One one thing I will say is that I am so happy the media oversees is documenting, commenting , and exposing all the lunacy that is happening here in the United States because we all know TFG** is white-washing/lying/erasing not only current affairs, but history in a massive scale.

  

I missed all y'all! xoxo

*CRS - Can't Remember Shit

 **TFG - The Fat Git

UPDATE on "In case you were wondering" or some design finishes have been chosen, I think

 The 27' of linear tile has been chosen!

The tile will run horizontally along the backsplash and behind the range. The installer will take 2-3 days because he's removing the existing linear tile, but not removing the rest of the tiles. (This will make sense when the entire kitchen job is completed.) 

All the hardware for the cabinets was chosen today in a matte black finish.

Today, the painters are putting color swatches on the walls, and hopefully, an absolute final decision will be made. When the final approval is given, the job is scheduled for 4-5 days because the current chair rail will be removed.

The future is almost here.

For the Bad Bunny party that isn't happening here tonight

a short post for today!

 Y'all have been prolific writers!!

I'm trying to catch up now!

Reading and commenting are taking my mind off looking for tile samples.

And for that I thank all y'all! 

xoxo

In case you were wondering

I've been doing a tiny bit of project management for super nana and haven't had the wherewithal to think about anything other than paint, tiles, and construction.

Sometimes being retired is more consuming than an actual 9-5.

Have y'all looked at a fandeck recently???

Jesus wept.

It's Friday, and you ain't got no job....

 (Can you guess the movie?)

I know I've been MIA for a week, I think, but like everyone in LA these days, I have an excuse. It's called news fatigue, and about the only thing I've been able to do is share "WTF" memes on that other social media platform. 

But today I decided to share something here on my blog for all y'all that live here in this on-the-cusp fascist USofA that is not only informative, but extremely important. This story was featured on CNN and has prompted the homeland security secretary, Kristi "Dog Killer" Noem, to see "if the Trump administration could prosecute CNN for publishing an article about an app that allows users to send alerts about the presence of nearby immigration agents."

CNN responded with: “This is an app that is publicly available to any iPhone user who wants to download it,” the network said in a statement. “There is nothing illegal about reporting the existence of this or any other app, nor does such reporting constitute promotion or other endorsement of the app by CNN.”

If you are stateside, the link is free on the apple app store. It's called ICEBlock.  Here's a link to a video explaining how the app works by the developer, Joshua Aaron.

MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, July 7th, 2025

 I watched this happen on TV.

Every local reporter working this story on the 4 major networks here said that they'd never seen such a show of force on our streets against children playing soccer in a park! Macarthur Park is a large green space in an area of dense population. It, like many parks in densely populated areas, has its problems, but for the majority of its users, it is a welcome and much-needed place to relax and find respite from crowded living conditions.

This article is from our local newspaper, the Los Angeles Times. If you live in the United States, remember the one key line from this story:

“Please understand that what’s happening here in the city of Los Angeles, we are the canary in the coal mine. What you see happening in MacArthur Park is coming to you ... So wake up.”

We are at a pivotal time in our history, and the next steps we take will determine the future of our country.

I'm feeling lowdown and blue, my heart's full of sorrow...

 (Gold star if you can name that tune)

 The other day, a dear friend from across the pond messaged me, feeling sad and angry about the current state of affairs, not only here in the USA but globally. I responded that while I could empathize with those feelings — because I share them — we needed to find a middle ground so as not to become like them: cruel, vindictive, and hateful, in other words, MAGA.

Today, I wonder if it is even possible to find that "middle ground" in this grinding morass of venality we're experiencing. Every single day bears witness to increasing cruelty and inhumanity exercised by this administration and its supporters. The Supreme Court has turned its back on the rule of law, with only Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson dissenting. They have described the majority rulings as "shameful" and warned that some of their decisions could leave no rights safe.

Daily, we observe vulgarity and white supremacy becoming the norm among MAGA followers. The "shining light on the hill" that we once believed our country to be has now been exposed as a façade for corruption and greed, supported by an oligarchy of venal "robber barons" looking to reestablish the Gilded Age.

"Tax the Rich" is no longer just a slogan of the Left; it has become imperative for the continued survival of this country. There is no justification for the wealth of this nation to be concentrated in the hands of less than 1% of the population. I recently saw an illustration regarding Jeff Bezos's wedding in Venice, which compared spending $50 million on his wedding to a household income of $150,000. The comparable amount for that household would be about $32 — roughly the price of a sheet cake and some champagne! Tell me WHY we can't tax the uber wealthy and corporations that pay little to NO tax! Why should a teacher pay more tax than the president of this country? 

The anger that I'm feeling, along with many, many others, across these United States (look at the numbers of people who came out in support of "No Kings Day) must be listened to by those we elected to represent us. It isn't enough for democratic leaders in the House and Senate to raise a fist demanding action, but to use what methods they have at their disposal in the parliamentary procedures of Congress to fight the passage of some of the most brutal and hateful legislation since Reconstruction!

The 4th of July is coming up, and across this country, there will be celebrations honoring the founding. I will be weeping at the slow deterioration of the Democracy we are supposed to be celebrating, and wondering what the future will hold for my children and grandchildren and all the generations to come here in the United States.

This is what happens when Pollyanna reaches her limits of optimism.

Gin time Part 2 where the MITM and Savvy indulge

 Maddie, precious!!

You were so right about Oasium and Fever Tree! We just added a lemon slice and pondered all the delicious flavors!

Cheers, sweetpea!

It's Gin time!

The MITM went to BevMo to take advantage of a nickel sale on Hendrick's Gin and found this interesting little number, also on sale! (He can't pass up a liquor sale even if he's never tried the item) 

So, the question is, have any of y'all ever tried Hendrick's "Curiosity Blends"??? Evidently, a few other blends before this one have been blended for special occasions using different herbs/flavors.
 

P.S. I'll write about what happened here in LA on No Kings Day soon. Just know Americans are just getting started in the process of ridding the United States of our version of "this turbulent priest."

Los Angeles is my home

 By now, most of y'all have seen or read about what's happening here in LA and surrounding communities in SoCal. We've been watching local TV coverage of the protests against ICE roundups and incarcerations of people who don't happen to look like TFG or his cabal of vulgarians. 

To those of you who have expressed concern for our safety, please know we're physically fine. 

Emotionally is another thing.

Friends and family are experiencing anxiety over what could possibly happen now that TFG has authorized the sending of National Guard troops here. Mayor Bass and Gov. Newsom have expressed dissatisfaction with this action (and rightly so, to my mind), saying that it is an unwarranted escalation of force designed to sow fear within the community.

The last time I saw National Guard troops on the streets of LA was after the 1992 Rodney King verdict. At that time, they carried unloaded guns, but had ammo on their persons. It appears that the standard procedure for local deployments is to carry unloaded weapons.

20 shots by Guardsmen were fired during the riots that occurred. That was then. We're not seeing riots here now, but the increased presence of militarized federal agents and the National Guard only increases the chances of confrontation and deadly force being used against protestors. 

It will only take one mistake by the government to change peaceful protests into something else.

I hope that protestors keep in mind the non-violent protest of the Civil Rights era to exercise their First Amendment right to protest, I fear that is no longer an option, given the vigilante mindset of the current administration. 

President Johnson sent the National Guard to Alabama to PROTECT civil rights protestors on their march to Selma.

Trump is sending the National Guard to PUNISH protesters.

Stay awake, follow what's happening here because this is just the beginning of something far worse than we ever thought possible.

Part 2 Where we find super nana in the kitchen

Super Nana is following the great Creole tradition of learning how to make Crawfish Bisque! It's a two-day process (which I've not documented because it's tedious, messy, and I forgot to photograph) that preps all the ingredients for the actual cooking. (mise en place is just a fancy way of saying everything is ready to go) 

Crawfish Bisque is a Louisiana tradition shared by Creoles and Cajuns. Recipes vary based on who taught you, but are basically all the same. (You can find decent recipes online, but I can't give you ours) 

Different members of the Krewe helped on both days in different ways because the old saying is, "Why you eating my bisque and you ain't help me clean my crawfish?" 

 

All the steps have been shown without commentary because the MITM said I can't share his recipe you can find a recipe online, and make it your own! The last photo was styled by Captain Chaos to show the finished dish, but usually the serving is a lot messier!

p.s. As I was putting this together, the MITM said, "Now, don't be givin' away all my secrets!

THERE WILL BE TWO, YES TWO POSTS TODAY!!!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

Man In The Moon

TODAY

Coming soon!

 I haven't forgotten the post I had PLANNED to share the other day! Additional photos have to be inserted, but here's a bit of a tease:

SUPER NANA CAN COOK!

Click on the image for a clue!

Resistance

 I had planned another post for today, but it's sitting as a draft for tomorrow.

I hope you'll take a moment to read Bob's blog today because he shared Scott Pelley's May 19th commencement address at Wake Forest University.

His advice to the graduates is a call to action for all of us!

GREAT NEWS FROM SUPER NANA!!

 super nana asked me to share her exciting news with all y'all!!

super nana has just taken a NEW JOB! 

It's with REDACTED!

In an UNDISCLOSED area!

For an INCREDIBLY OBSCENE AMOUNT!

But she wanted all y'all to know!

Update: What I realize we never told you is that I was laid off along with 2000 other people in August from another place that makes things you watch on TV and in movies.

James Comey should have been a bit more circumspect

 

LXXXVI  XLVII

Bet you wondering where I've been...

Or maybe not, but anyway, the first two photos represent how I've been feeling. 

Day One, hopeful, energetic, vibrant, you know positive. 

Day Two, sad, overblown, faded, you know what I mean.Yeah, I read the news.

I know, whatever, the MITM took these photos and supernana said I needed to share something gorgeous from the garden and cheer the fuck up!! (or words to that effect)

 For some reason, two different shades of poppies seem to grow from the same plant! If you enlarge the photos, you can see the difference. Any ideas as to why, dear gardening pals?

***********