My early morning routine was side-tracked when after awakening, I discovered the power to my house and surrounding neighborhood was out, so after getting a few candles lit and a pot of cold water set on a burner of my stove to get heated, I placed a call to Alliant Energy. Of course their creepy computer had to tell me the problem was discovered and their crew was already working on it.
I did manage to get myself shaved and cleaned up enough with the basin of hot water I’d heated, and then proceeded to get dressed and out the door, and while driving, I noticed the outage was contained in a six block area, and in the distance, I could see an Alliant Energy bucket-truck with its caution lights twirling. I suspect it must’ve been a transformer that went out. About an hour later, I did call Alliant back to see if the problem was resolved, and glad to hear it was. Yes, it was somewhat surrealistic when awakening to a dark house and having to alter my normal morning regimen.
Before heading over to St. Paul Lutheran, I placed a call to my dear friend whom I’d not spoken with in over a week. I do enjoy visiting with her because the both of us are very like-minded, and able to speak filterlessly without fear of getting another’s feelings hurt, and in these times, that’s something to be admired.
My suspicion of there being fewer members in attendance this morning at St. Paul Lutheran because of the ice, was confirmed, but at least there were enough to make it feel like I was performing a service. Yes, the music went very well, and from the sounds of it, their bake sale was a success because they’d taken in over $1,300.00 for that particular cause which was earmarked for public school supplies. Good for them.
Before parting company with them, I ended up in conversation about how divided our Country will likely be once ‘D.T.’ is sworn in, and I was quick to mention that it’s been told that if our United States were to fall, it would be from within, which I firmly believe.
I did mention that about a week ago, I made up my mind that I was going to handle the general public in a different fashion whenever I get pulled into conversation with one out of the MAGA group. What I’m now doing, is pretty much asking for ‘help’ in understanding their ways when they start rambling on about the fake news they’d allowed themselves to believe. Now keep in mind, that’s all you have to do is ask where they got their information, along with questioning whether or not they’d fact-checked it before they started to swear it to be true. One particular person happened to say, “Well, you just gotta start watching Fox News.” My reply was, “No matter what news you or I watch, I think it best to fact-check it, and especially if it sounds just a little bit abnormal.” The gal didn’t like what I said, but perhaps at least she’s now beginning to use her brain.
One pattern I’ve started to see developing, is finding those fake news believers to be either elderly people who were afraid a Democratic head of the Executive branch of our Government would’ve taken a big bite out of their wealth, and the other being struggling male and sometimes female workers who’ve come to believe their station in life is everyone else’s fault. Unfortunately, they picked the wrong President to lift them up out of their puddles, because in my book, that ain’t gonna happen. Those radical anti-abortionist also got added to the mix, and as I’ve said before, I’m definitely not for or against abortion, and only because I have absolutely no right to pass judgement on women in such conditions. Just remember, Christ himself said, “Let he who is above sin cast the first stone.” I’m certainly not above sin. Are they? I think it’s now appropriate to share what my mother would say from time to time regarding such radical mindsets which was, “Give them enough rope and they’ll hang themselves.”
The remainder of my day was spent doing a little paying it forward by spending a couple hours as a ‘janitor in a drum’ at a home belonging to one of my clients. That entire family has been very good to me over the years, and today was my giving a little back.
After I was finished with that clean-up, I headed over to my project and worked for several hours until it was time to call it a day, but before heading home, I made a quick stop at Hy-Vee to pick up a few things, and to my surprise they had ‘Eddy’s’ ice cream almost half off it regular price, so I ‘forced’ myself to buy a half gallon, just so I could spoil myself with a bowl of it on this damp and foggy Sunday evening.
Tonight’s One-liner is: Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.
