Leadership

So yet again, there was a firing of a Trump cabinet member.  Tom Price, former HHS Secretary, was fired for using a private plane and running up a large bill.  But other Trump officials have done this and still are, and some have requested government planes for private business.  So my thought on this is that Trump himself does so much questionable activity in relation to his businesses and his travels, including leaving the White House almost every weekend for one of his resorts, which is very expensive for the taxpayers of this country.  I just think the tone set by the leader is followed by the underlings.  And it is very obviously true in the case. 

Traffic

This is a home football weekend for Texas Tech.  The game is sold out.  On home football weekends in Lubbock, the hotel room prices are double and triple the usual price.  I was driving home from work yesterday and noticed there was an awful lot of traffic. I noticed that again today when I was out.  It just took me a couple of minutes to realize that this is a football weekend.  Football is big business in Texas, and this is one way it manifests itself:  increased commercial activity. 

MeTV

My Internet provider is Suddenlink.  It provides me access to a channel called  MeTV.  This channel provides a lot of 50s and 60s TV shows.  One of the shows is  Perry Mason the original TV series. It airs at 10:30 PM or so. I am so disaffected by the late night TV talk shows, that I am glad to have an alternative TV show to watch.  

Warm Up

The weather this past week has been cold and rainy.  I took a bit of a chill last night, but did not want to turn the heater on.  The temperature inside is at about 70°, so the heater probably would not have started any way.  And it is supposed to warm up next week.  

Haiku does not like it that cold, and she has been cranky all week.  She likes to go out in the garage and sit on the warm hood of the car, but because it is wet, I have not let her go out in the garage.

Today at work, I did not feel good. I did not sleep well last night, and I was chilled.  I sat with my jacket and gloves on for a second day in a row, and left work after about 4 hours. 

When I got home, I made some hot chicken soup for lunch.  I have also been drinking hot tea.  And I turned the space heater on in the computer room.   Taki, Haiku and  I have been in that room, with the door mostly closed this afternoon.   Haiku was cranky at first and kept asking to go out into the garage.  But when the room warmed up, she settled down on the chair behind me and would reach out to me every once in a while. I believe to say thank you.  

I  know she really likes it warmer.  She has some nests where she can sit and it will warm up from her body heat after a while:  Behind the towels on the bottom shelf of the linen closet; in the crate in the closet, which has a towel inside, and clothes covering some of the slots, again it will hold in her  body heat; and a soft covered cat bed, which will also hold her body heat. 

I am wearing long sleeves, sweat pants and my long fleece nightgown over that.  Even with the heater on, I am not too warm.  But I am comfortably warm. 

I hope I am not getting sick. I think I will wear my heavy coat to work tomorrow, and not just the light jacket I have worn the last few days. 

Free Speech

The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees free speech.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

It is generally established that some things are not done, the prime example often used is you cannot yell "Fire!" in a theater if there is not a fire. Otherwise, a common comment about the  First Amendment is generally something like "I disagree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it."

Last year, Colin Kaepernick who used to play for the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL, set off a controversy by sitting or taking a knee during the national anthem, in protest of  the treatment of African Americans by police. This year, he does not have a job.  Others joined him in solidarity, but this has set off a storm. I believe he has a right to express himself, and his concerns are justified.  He is a Christian and walks his Christianity with acts of social justice and charity.

On September 22, 2017, President Trump set off a firestorm with his speech in Huntsville, Alabama.  He said the NFL should fire anybody who does not stand for the national anthem.  The NFL has backed its players right to free speech, and teams are demonstrating solidarity, with some players continuing to take a knee during the national anthem. The sports response, in my opinion, shows solidarity, maturity and patriotism in a way that the speech by President Trump does not.  Sports is a unifier, and Trumps continues to sow hate and divisiveness. I believe that Donald Trump has the right to free speech, but I believe the President of the United States has a responsibility to the United States to promote unity and justice, not racism and hatred.  Once again, I believe Donald Trump is not doing his job as President.  

Driving

I live down the street from a fairly new YWCA facility.  In the summer the place is very crowded, and the customers park on the street. The parking on the corners made it difficult to see oncoming traffic. I contacted the city councilman for my district and asked if "no parking signs" could be placed one or two parking spaces in from the corners.  That happened.

Yesterday, I was driving down the street.  A car was coming out of the parking lot to this facility.  The driver came out of the parking lot and almost hit my car, coming into the lane I was driving in.  I slammed the breaks on my car to prevent the accident.  I don't think the other driver even saw me.  

That angered me a little.  This isn't the first time that customers for this facility seem to drive as if they own the street.  Mmmmm.

Minutes

I have been on the board of directors for a local non-profit organization since 2011.  I served as secretary in 2015 and 2016.  My stipulation was that I would have a recording device to help me with the minutes. I was given that. Officers are allowed to serve for 2 years, so I rotated off this year, and the recording device was passed onto the new secretary.  But twice now the secretary has not been present, and no one else volunteers to take minutes, so I do.  The last time I did, I did not have a recorder on my IPhone, this time when I did volunteer, I had the recorder app on the phone, but could not figure it out, mostly because when I opened it, I got a commercial instead of going directly to the app. So, the last board meeting was Monday night, and the last two nights, I was involved with watching stuff on TV and Words with Friends, to meet the challenge.  But, I have not been successful lately with the Words with Friends challenge. There was nothing I wanted to watch on TV tonight so I determined to work on the minutes. I finished typping them, but my process will be to print the minutes, proofread, and when I finish them. I hope to get them sent out to the board by Monday if not before. 

Darkening Skies

Yesterday and today, the sky grew dark in the early evening.  There were storms, and last night, there was thunder and lightning.  So, it delayed the Texas Tech vs. Arizona State Football game.  There was very little rain at my house, but heavy showers in various parts of the city, including at AT&T Jones Stadium.  But the showers were short lived.

Tonight, I heard thunder. There are severe thunder storm warnings for counties west and northwest of Lubbock, moving into Lubbock.  

I went out late afternoon to run some errands.  When I left home, there was no wind.  About 15 minutes later, the wind picked up, but then died down again. Some 3 hours later, things are on hold.  We shall see what these storms produce.  

The Flag Display

So for years, there has been a 9/11 flag display at Kastman Park in Lubbock.  The students from Miller Elementary school participate in setting out the flags http://lubbockonline.com/news/local-news/2017-09-08/flag-tribute-911-aided-miller-students.  

Although I live within a mile of the park, some years I go, some years I do not.  This year I did go to the park.  I am always amazed to see the people who visit:  Seniors.  Seniors with grandchildren.  Young families with small children. Lone visitors.

I am grateful that my community, a bank, and a school supports this display.

A New Tactic

Whether or not you like President Trump, you have to admit he is a very smart man.  And recently, he did something exceedingly smart.  He has not been able to get major legislation passed by the Republicans, so he has started coalition building with the Democrats.  https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/13/trump-and-democrats-reach-a-daca-deal--without-the-border-wall.html  and http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/09/trump_and_the_democrats_strike_a_debt_ceiling_deal.html

The reality is this is how governance used to happen. Not on party lines, but on issue concerns.  And I have to congratulate President Trump for reaching out to the Democrats and restarting governance instead of obstructionism. Hopefully this approach will continue. 

David Ortiz and the Red Sox

So, let's face it.  I am a David Ortiz fan.  I have been for a long time. Long time Red Sox star Pedro Martinez https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Mart%C3%ADnez helped recruit David Ortiz to the Red Sox http://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/columns/story?columnist=mcdonald_joe&id=5299562.  It is a great story. 

I liked the way Ortiz mentored Manny Ramirez, a young, troubled but talented baseball player.  http://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/columns/story?columnist=mcdonald_joe&id=5299562 

I know Boston, if not all of America have a special spot in their hearts for the speech Ortiz gave in 2013 after the Marathon bombing in Boston https://nesn.com/2016/09/david-ortizs-2013-speeches-exemplify-what-he-means-to-red-sox-boston/. His sentiment was so recognized that the FCC chose not to fine him or the Red Sox for his profanity (yeah FCC!) https://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/04/20/david-ortiz-boston-red-sox-speech-fcc/2100051/ 

In 2016, David Ortiz retired from Red Sox baseball. http://www.newsweek.com/david-ortiz-papi-retire-after-2016-mlb-season-395881.  He had an outstanding year, and there was talk of trying to get him to change his mind. But he had some health issues, and I really think the reasons he could have such an outstanding year were because: 1) The adrenalin rush of knowing this was his last year to play baseball helped him play through his health issues and 2) He wanted to go out on top.  Who can blame him.?

When he retired, I thought that surely, he would remain active in baseball, and perhaps even with the Red Sox.  Well, that is now a fact.  It sounds like for all intents and purposes he has a lifetime contract to be a special ambassador for the Red Sox.  http://www.csnne.com/boston-red-sox/david-ortiz-new-contract-boston-red-sox-should-link-him-organization-forever

As far as I am concerned, this is as it should be and all is right with the Red Sox management!

Hurricane Central

So one of the big news stories of the year is the impacting Southeast Texas coastal cities by Hurricane Harvey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Harvey. Lubbock http://www.fox34.com/story/36237396/lubbock-responds-to-hurricane-harvey-disaster-relief sent much help: police, sheriffs, firemen, individuals, agencies.

Governor Abbott  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Abbott of Texas pre-declared a disaster, and President Trump almost immediately declared a national disaster, allowing FEMA https://www.fema.gov/ to start helping almost immediately.  Not only did the Governor deploy all of the 12,000Texas National Guard https://www.nationalguard.com/, Guards from other states helped.  The American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-harvey?scode=RSG00000E017&utm_campaign=Harvey&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3MPNBRDjARIsAOYU6x9ZG5Lc6mUdm6waeS3kaQt3Lpfmf31VZdyJDkbOxDgHGjlSFo0xpy0aAqcJEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CIHajqG3lNYCFU8DgQod1gkPrQ, Catholic Charities https://www.catholiccharities.org/, the Salvation Army http://www.salvationarmy.org/ and the South Plains Food Bank https://www.spfb.org/ all deployed. 

Governor Abbot waived the hotel tax for all evacuees and rescuers.

Many hospital patients were evacuated, and while there was no mandatory evacuation of Houston, people were encouraged to consider it and at least prepare.  Shelters were opened and more shelters were opened.

Private individuals put their boats in the water, and made rescues.  The Louisiana Cajun Navy http://mashable.com/2017/08/29/Cajun-navy-houston-harvey-louisiana/#b4TfxR2mvOqF came to help.  

Corporate America helped.  HEB https://www.heb.com/ donated food and water to rescuers and evacuees.  WalMart https://www.walmart.com/ did a fundraiser.  Local businesses in Lubbock have done fundraisers. To name two:  Cantina Laredo https://www.google.com/search?q=cantina+laredo+lubbock&ie=&oe= and 

West Crust Pizza https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g56208-d2199840-Reviews-West_Crust_Artisan_Pizza-Lubbock_Texas.html.

MLB https://www.mlb.com/ and NFL https://www.nfl.com/ are doing fund raisers.

Congress passed emergency relief  http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/06/politics/house-votes-harvey-aid/index.html  http://dailycaller.com/2017/09/07/senate-passes-hurricane-harvey-relief-bill-raises-debt-ceiling/.

The five living ex-Presidents: President Carter, President Bush (41) and President Bush (43), President Clinton and President Obama  have come together to develop One America Appeal https://www.oneamericaappeal.org/ which was originally specific for Hurricane Harvey but is being broadened to help Hurricane Irma victims and survivors.

Major gasoline refineries were shut down, and gasoline prices have jumped, but the refineries are back on line https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/05/oil-surges-as-refineries-restart-after-harvey-irma-is-trouble-for-gas.html.

And now, Hurricane Irma https://weather.com/storms/hurricane-central/irma-2017/AL112017  is wreaking havoc in the Caribbean Sea , on the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and many other Caribbean Islands https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Caribbean_islands Anguilla, Barbuda, and Turks and Caicos to name a few.

There are the same pre-hit disaster preparations and disaster declarations occurring for Irma as there were for Harvey. Puerto Rico evacuated people inland. Florida has some mandatory evacuations, and is well prepared for evacuations, including of the Florida Keys, but even so, gas is short, prices are skyrocketing and in reality, there is some price gouging occurring.  The Florida attorney general, Pam Bondi http://myfloridalegal.com/ has said that will not be tolerated.

There is another hurricane active more south: Katia http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at3.shtml?cone and Jose https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/tropical-storm-hurricane-jose-forecast-atlantic is in the Caribbean, too.

Such an active hurricane season.  Pray for all in harms way.

Football Season Opening Night

I am not the kind of football https://www.nfl.com/ fan who watches every game, or even necessarily the opening game of the season.  But I do watch the New England Patriots play when their games are available to me.  So, tonight, I am watching the opening game with the Patriots playing against the Kansas City Chiefs. I don't care what anyone says, I am a Tom Brady fan http://www.nfl.com/player/tombrady/2504211/profile! 

A second reason to watch is that the Kansas City Chiefs is this is the team the Pat Mahomes http://www.nfl.com/player/patrickmahomes/2558125/profile is on. He was the star quarterback of the Texas Tech Red Raiders http://www.texastech.com/ for the last few seasons.  

A third reason to  watch is that Danny Amendola  http://www.nfl.com/player/dannyamendola/2649/profile is a starter for the Patriots.  Amendola was also a star for Texas Tech.

I Remember Mama

When I was growing up, one of the TV stations used to show a movie a week, in 5 installations.  We saw a lot of classics and one was I Remember Mama http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040458/.  I do not remember ever seeing that movie before or since. It was a very memorable movie.  I have looked it up on the internet, and watched scenes from it.  But this afternoon, I am able to watch the whole movie.  And it is just as fine as I remember I more than 50 years ago, and some of the scenes are just as I recall.        

Texas Tech Football

The 2017 Texas Tech Football http://texastech.com/ season starts on September 2.  They are playing the Eastern Washington Eagles http://goeags.com/.  The game is being televised at 3 PM, so I will plan my day to allow me to watch the game.  Guns Up!

Plumbing, Again

Friday morning, September 1, as I took my shower, I realized that the shower head had a leak. I have a hand held shower head on a flexi-hose, but mostly use it in the holder. Sometimes, I take it out of the holder and use is as a hand held.  I like having the option. I am not sure how long this leak has been present. The unit is a hard plastic, in two pieces, and the leak was at the seam of the two pieces.  

So, I purchased a new shower head today.  It has 5 settings, including a pause setting, a shampoo setting, a massage setting, and a couple of others. It was easy to disassemble the shower head I had and replace it with the new one.  I did not try it out to see if it is leaking anywhere, but it shouldn't be.  We will see.

Night Driving

I attended an outdoor art exhibit tonight, and went to it wearing my sunglasses.  It ended after dark, and when I started driving home, I realized I was having some difficulty seeing.  I was extra cautious driving home, and arrived safely.  In the back of my mind, I was thinking I might have to be very judicious about my night driving in the future. When I pulled into my garage, I realized that the reason I was having problems with vision was because, although it was dark, I was wearing my sunglasses.  Hopefully, in the near future at least, I will not have these night driving problems again. 

First Friday Art Trail

My place of employment had an exhibit of art at the First Friday Art Trail in Lubbock,Texas http://www.ffat.org/  on September 1, 2017. Patients at the  TDCJ John Montford Unit https://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/unit_directory/jm.html psychiatric facility had made the art to be displayed. Texas Tech Health Sciences Center http://www.ttuhsc.edu/, a contract health services provider for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice TDCJ.state.tx.us/ also sponsored the First Friday Art Trail, and it was the 20th anniversary of the art trail. 

One of the patients on my caseload did a large number of pieces, many of which were displayed.  The man was self-taught, with the help of other offenders, and did not do any artwork prior to coming to prison.  His pieces were praised and admired, and several people asked if they were for sale.  I was so proud to be able to talk about this, but of course could not give out any identifying information, and am excited to be able to tell him this when I return to work after Labor Day!