Have we totally lost our sense of direction?

 I know, what you are about to read is old news. You have heard it in the TV news, newspapers, even social media for weeks. But, I don't believe the majority has actually realized the score of what has happened in the first 100 days of the Trump administration.

Since before Donald Trump took office, he said he was going to 'strip the federal government and reduce the budget and make it more efficient running and good for all.' Well, as they say, "What do think of me now?"  Trump now has the LOWEST approval rating than any president in the history of the United States. 55,000 confirmed cuts, more that 76,000 employee buyouts, and 145,000 other planned reductions still coming. This 34 felon convicted president has cut off people from agencies, closed federal departments, cut off funding for vaccines to child and elderly, cut funds to people starving in other countries and basically closed the door to the entire world like we the citizens of the USA are all alone with no friends. 

He and his clones, like Elon Musk, who are billionaires, think they can slim down what we have busted our butts to build one of the strongest countries in the world, now are a shadow of what we were and possibly weaker that the other two great powers. And believe or not, those billionaires are making money while we, the people, suffer with with the coming higher prices and empty shelves and no trade from other countries that we depend on.. Big box stores like Target and Walmart bring in a lot of foods grown in other countries and goods that will skyrocket with the 100 to 200% tariffs that Trump imposed and says it will make us grow financially. Ask ANY economist how tariffs work and they will tell you they kill the imposing country and hurt the economy and sometime throw the country, and the rest of the world into a recession.  Global trade is an international machine, not for just the USA, we are not alone in this world. We all benefit from global trade.  No one likes to see almost everything coming from China, but the manufactures did that to them self after the American employees refused to do some jobs and ask for higher wages. 

Thousands of USA citizens will suffer from the cuts and defunding the following cuts the Trump administration has made: 

- cuts in the Department of Medicare and Medicaid
- Dept. education
- World Health Agency

- USAid

- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

- parts of the Defense Dept.

- parts the Federal Aviation Admin.

- parts of the I.R.S.

- National institution of Health

- National Ocean and Atmosphere Admin.

- parts of the Treasury Dept.

- International Development

- support to states for free school lunches

- support for agencies that help the homeless

- support for meals for seniors

- Government Oversite Agencies

- and almost anything that are cutting down on our impact on the environment. Instead he says "DRILL BABY DRILL" and dig more coal.

This is truly NOT a president for the people, but who has taken the advice of his billionaire buddies that see a profit off our backs as the people who supply the nation.

Many people see Trump as a savior, but in reality he is a false God (which he would probably like to be called that) and a president who tearing down our democracy, dismantling our government and splitting our country so that rich will rule and we are forced to have the leftovers. 

The ONLY way Trump and his administration will continue is to say nothing, OR tell the courts and your representatives in Washington to block him, and Musk and any of his administration to stop their destruction and listen to the educated people who built this country, and understand the world economy and how it works. Legally allow those immigrates in who are willing to work in the fields, build our homes and do the jobs believe are below them for minimum wages. Maybe then factories will return to the USA and we can again produce our goods instead of China and their off shoots in Asian countries. IT'S A GLOBAL ECONOMY WORLD Mr. President, not USA stands alone. 

Contact your representatives and let your voice be heard. WE ARE THE PEOPLE, not the billionaires. Trump loves to in command, praise and will never admit he is wrong, so don't cross him. He hates people who disagree and will hurt you if he can. 

I am sorry for my rant. Maybe if we all do this, it will be heard in Washington. Take care and be safe. BTW, I am doing with chemo. Thanks for your thoughts and comments.

How old is OLD?

Occasionally I think of myself as being 'OLD'. But, I don't believe I do that very much. Yeah, I am 78 and yeah I have things that make me feel old, but am I suppose to slow down and act old? Hell no!! I had a bad shoulder, got that fixed. I had a little foot problems, got that fixed. I had a back problem, got that fixed too.  I had a heart thing, well, that is a on going fix. And then there is that Cancer thing, OK,  that I am dealing with that too.  Getting old does mean you start having more aches and pains than you did at 20 or 25 years old. But it does not you have to roll over and wait for death to come knocking. It does come with consequences as time marches on. I never thought I'd join AARP or get Social Security when I was 25. Or a lifetime membership to Silver Slippers gym card, but like other seniors, I did.

Now I see my children getting into their 50s, WHAT HAPPENED THERE? Now my daughter is dying her hair so she does not look old. But my grandkids want to grow faster and get to that age where their parents don't have the command over them. I remember that too. And when I was on my own, I called home and ask how to start a checking account and should I get a credit card  or "Can I come home a stay a few days" because I was home sick. I did not do that, but I did ask for advice from not only my parents but other OLD PEOPLE.

Get out on you own is a nature thing that even animals do and want.. Our nearest genetic evolutionary  relative, the Chimpanzee, does that too. Until the parent gets tried of them and literally boots them out of the home tree or nest. But coming back for a visit is also what they do. Did your kids come home and stayed for a while after they left? And when they see their old room was turned into a workout room or home office they got mad. "Does this mean this is not my room anymore Mom?" As Mom and Dad looks at each other and shrug their shoulders, with a smile. I remember when our late son moving out,  then in a months moved back in and we told him, :"You remember our rules, right?" He looked at us and replied, "But I am over 18 now." Yes, but it IS our house and those are the rules."  A month or so, he moved out again after finding his own house, which we gracefully helped him find.

Getting old is NOT what some commercials crack it up to be. "AGE IS JUST A NUMBER" Retirement is good, but, not like being young and physically fit with no pain as you roll out of bed in the morning. Going out most nights with friends partying until 1 or 2 AM, as now you are in bed by 9:30 PM, and falling  asleep at 7.I always crack-up when I hear the phrase, "The Golden Years"  Right? The retirement years are good, but I would much rather crawl under cars at age 20 years old than at 78 years old, eventho I still do it. The good thing about retirement is I don't have to answer to a boss, well, maybe the wife, and the dog is starting to get that way too. But I can come and go, without dragging the kids around, or start work when I want, stop to get a smoothie without asking for an advance on my allowance. Nancy and I do follow the fire house rules of  if she cooks, I wash the dishes. And If I cook, I wash the dishes. Did I get that right? Well anyway, I have a dish washer.

I do love retirement and I except aging and getting old. There are benefits like people getting up to offer their seats, people smile and greet you differently, and there is the AARP discount at a lot of restaurants if you go earlier than 6 PM.  Either way, aging isn't all that bad. I do stop by a firehouse to see how many people don't remember me anymore and tell them how it was when I joined the department. But they just smile respectfully, think I just came in to get my blood pressure taken as a senior citizen.

I read today in 2034, seniors on Social Security will surpass the number of 16 years old. Doesn't matter, I'll be gone by then anyway. JOKE!  JOKE!

Have a painless day, take care and stay safe. Follow me and leave your description of getting old, or not, but leave comments. I WILL answer, if you leave your name.

Another week, another treatment.

When I was still working a real job (on the fire department), all of my time was scheduled around when I worked and when I was off. Now it is around my chemo treatments. I guess that would normal for most people, but it is a little strange how we schedule our activities around our work schedules, or other events. Maybe not but you know, as Nancy always says, " You always notice things other people would never notice." I think she is right. 

Like last Wednesday while I sat there and they plugged me in to the 3rd chemo treatment,  my eyes wandered around looking at the other 10 or so people getting the same things I am getting (I guess their are), I wondered how did we get this thing called cancer? Was it through our occupations, like firefighters, or was passed down through family genes, or just bad health practices? Who knows. I guess they can tell that from research, someone can do the chemistry or 'geneo' thing to find the origin of the cancer cells to find where it came from. I am not that smart. I have not heard or know how I got it, but I do know I consider myself lucky in a sense because I was told it was found in the early stage.  I was never afraid of getting cancer nor am I afraid of dying. But I don't believe either was or is something I should be concerned about at this stage. I DO feel for some of the people in that room with me that are suffering with this ugly horrible disease. 

As I sit there for about 3 hour getting the chemo, that basically kills my immune system, or at least slows its reactivity. I look around at the  other patients. Some look, like sorta me (older) but look really bad, some that are middle aged and look vibrant and health, and then there are the teenagers and adolescences that break my heart. I feel for ALL of them, but the young kids really get to me. I feel I have had a pretty great life and experienced alot, but those kids have alot more living to do before their time comes. But I am not the one who determines that. I believe that is God's job. 

My mind wanders as I sit there watching people come in, get plugged in and how they react to the treatments. Some get warm blankets because it does make you cold, some take a nap for 3 hours, some play on their phone or tables just to kill the time. I have movies on my table that I watch but occasionally glance up to see what everyone is doing, like patients and the great nurses we have. They bring snacks and drinks around, and sometimes if it is not really busy, they'll stop and chat with you about just about anything. of course they want to know about side-affects I am having or if I feel like I need some hydration (IV fluids). I usually tell them "No I am good"

My side affects are minimal as I know. My sensitivity to cold definitely increased. just getting into the refrigerator or getting a milk jug out makes my finger feeling like pins and needles. I wear an extra shirt mostly, and have an extra blanket on my side of the bed at night. These are small inconveniences but can but irritating to some people. I figure if I am going to get through this there has to be some stuff I just have to endure. I NEVER want to make anyone else upset just because I don't feel good. What is the sense in that?

I know since I retired, firefighters have found that they were not as well protected with our equipment as they thought over the years. Our department, like others, have been hit with many MANY cases of cancer due to the carcinogenic agents we were exposed in our normal shifts which have increased in past years. Our department, along with others have joined with cancer researchers  to find out what we did not do to protect our members better and what we can do to prevent future cases. 

Our Union Local 493 has teamed up with some media people to produce a video about the journey of one very brave firefighter who is fighting his unbelievable battle with cancer and the extreme agony he has endured. I hope, if you have not already seen this, would watch this and understand what we as firefighters do to keep you safe. But also understand what people with cancer have to go through. 

Go to Youtube.com, "Dying to save you". Have some tissues.

Thanks for read this blog. And please follow my journey and leave your name so I know who to answer to in the comments. Take care and stay safe.