By the time this is published we should but might not know the winner of our presidential election. I say 'might not' because Trump is planning to gum up the works with charges of fraudulent voting in Republican led states so they won’t have to declaration a winner, and if they can drag it out long enough then it will be up to the party leaders in those states to award the electoral college votes to the candidate of their choice. Same playbook they tried and failed to do with the last election only this time they're operating on steroids with a money infusion from the richest yo-yo in the world---Elon Musk. But with any luck this entire paragraph will get filed in folder labeled "Worried For Nothing!" However, even if a clear winner was declared on Tuesday on election night, I doubt we'll see Trump concede the election and we certainly won't see the end of his drama machine until after January 20th is in the history books and we have a new president installed. God help us if he wins. Edit to add: He did win and I'm sick to my stomach over the fact that I'm living in a country that puts so little value on character that they'd re-elect a scumbag like DJT.
It's been a busy week with the highlight being my Mahjong Tournament which happened to coincide with UTI which added a level of an anxiety wondering if I could sit for four 30 minute games and then beat out the other tournament players for a choice spot in the restroom line during our five minute breaks in between games. I managed to win the latter race that most people didn't even know we were running but I came out of the tournament with a score of five (and dry underpants). I'd won one game with twenty-five points in round two but prompted lost twenty of my points in round three. No one scored super high. Two tied for first place with 70 points each. Our sister campus took first and third place and one of our ladies placed second.
It was a lot of fun and a lot of work of which I did 97% of since it was my idea and about half the ladies had to be coerced, sweet-talked or strong armed into taking part in it. The only help I had was the day of the tournament with setting up the room and game sets and with registration of the players. Judging by the feedback I got everyone had fun, though. Everyone left smiling, laughing and thanking me and of the twenty in attendance ten went home with a prize that ranged from $15 each to $5. At least four ladies in our Mahjong group offered to chip in for what I spent on the tournament but I turned them all down. "Next time," I told them, "now that everyone has had a taste of what a tournament is all about, we can spread the cost and the work around." But I might not live long enough to see that happen since our sister campus is already talking about hosting our 2nd annual tournament.
I wish I could share some photos of the activities but the continuum care facility hasn't posted any on their Facebook page for me to nab. We all had to sign a paper when we moved in to give them permission (or not) to post our photos for their marketing Facebook page and so I know those photos are always fair game for me to nab. Others that were taken that day, I don't feel right sharing because a few ladies living here are fearful of Facebook…and email….and computers...and phone calls from numbers they don't recognize. But the picture to the left is of me at the tournament, looking happy it was over and that nothing went wrong. I didn't work in the wedding floral business for twenty years without learning a few things about long-range planning and making a lot of moving parts fit together.
The photo to the right is a sample of some of the documents I had to create for the tournament---score sheets, table rotation cards, name tags, tournament instructions and rules and welcome notes---and the photo to the left below is of the registration table after just about everyone had already checked in and taken their packets. Oops!
When they were doing a photo shoot of the winners and me at the end I hoped I wouldn't embarrass myself before they finished and I could get to the bathroom. I did do an E-Visit with my doctor a few days before the tournament but the medication prescribed didn't help. An hour ago I went to the doctor's office to pee in a cup but it will take 48 hours for them to grow a culture so they can target a medication more precisely. I was hoping to be able to swing around to the drug store to pick it a new prescription on the way home. Boo Hoo!
But on the good side I finally figured out how to get my face back on my smart watch after the time change. You shouldn't need to go through so much frustration for something as simple as that! It took me deleting and re-installing the app on my phone several times and standing on my head while singing I'm a Little Tea Pot. This watch will take my blood pressure and tell me how many hours I sleep at night vs how many times I get up to pee but it does not like Daylight Savings Time. Go figure! ©
Until Next Wednesday.
Wow! That tournament was a lot of work! Good for you. Unfortunately, it looks as if Trump is going to be the clear winner. And that the Republicans will control both houses of Congress. Fasten our seat belts!
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to bed last night she was way behind and I dreaded getting up to look at the news this morning. I'm in shock that so many people don't mind having that poor excuse for a human being as the leader of the free world!
DeleteCongratulations on the success of your Mahjong Tournament! It was a lot of work for you, but it must have been gratifying. Sorry about your UTI (but I had to smile at your comment about winning and keeping your pants dry--double win, for sure). I wondered why so many of us senior women struggle with UTIs, so I did a little research. Seems that nearly everything I eat/drink is a trigger. And so it goes...As for smart watches, part of me wants one, and the other part of me says NO! I don't know if I can face another device. When they work they're wonderful, but when they don't, it really makes me crazy.
ReplyDeleteTake care of yourself, Jean. I hope your medicine works and helps you feel better very soon!
I'll have to look up those triggers you wrote about. I don't get them often but when I do I'm miserable.
DeleteWe are doomed.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm thrilled the tourney went well, even if you didn't win all the apples. Love the photo too. I just hope the UTI clears up -- and fast.
Lizzie just lays on the bed, purring, oblivious to anything in the world but eating, sleeping and being loved. I want to be a cat.
Being a beloved house cat looks pretty good to me right now.
DeleteIt was clear he was gonna Win to me by only 8:00 P.M. and the Stats rolling in never looked any better until it was announced. To say I felt Nauseous all Evening and Angry as Hell would be an understatement. This is a day of Mourning as our Democracy will Die at the Hands of the Citizenry that chose this outcome and those too apathetic to bother to Vote at all. I will blame every single one of them for destroying what we have always enjoyed and they became too comfortable with to fully appreciate and protect.
ReplyDeleteI hope those who voted for him are the first to feel the hardships his presidency will bring to the world. And he will bring them along with the shame of living in a country that now officially is a country when no empathy.
DeleteFor some reason, Google won't let me sign in with my account any longer. No matter, but weird.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the Mahjong tournament went well. The game still seems mysterious to me -- I'm not sure I ever could figure it out. Clearly, a lot of people do have it 'figured,' and I'm glad you were able to have such a nice event. One day I may bump into an opportunity to give it a try, but I've asked around and have yet to find anyone who plays.
I confess I wouldn't like having to sign an agreement for my photo to be used in publicity materials; I'd never thought of that as a condition of living somewhere. I'm glad there was an option to opt out. I suppose my preferences in that regard could be considered a quirk, since I'm certainly not afraid of social media, email, etc. I suppose part of it might be a higher than usual preference for privacy, since I've posted my own photo on my blogs. Anyhow: yours is lovely; you have such a nice smile!
I have to change servers to comment on my own blog. Google and Firefox don't play well together.
DeleteI struggled with signing that paper. On one hand I don't like to post my photo or have it posted because of my weight but on the other hand I could see the nightmare it presents the marketing department that manages the CCC's blog and other media. Taking a group photo of an activity to feature but being sure certain people aren't in it would not be easy. For that reason I gave permission, but it helps to know they also never put our names with the photos.
Look at this -- it seems I've been accepted by Google again. I stopped by to tell you about a new treasure I found: the Cooper Street Bakery in Birmingham, Michigan. On a whim, I ordered a small package of their cranberry orange biscotti, and my goodness! They're as good as any I've had. It's a woman-owned small business, and seems to be thriving. I had ordered the 5 ounce package, and having worked my way through that, I reordered a larger size. Four or five of their biscotti are only a hundred calories, which makes them an acceptable snack, especially since they're so tasty. Between the American Spoon folks, this new company, and the Trenary toast people in Trenary, MI, my snacking needs are completely taken care of by Michiganders!
DeleteI'm really fond of biscotti so I'm putting these on my shopping list of things I buy myself for Christmas. Isn't American Spoon the best place to get jams. I love their Lemon curd and buy it every Christmas.
DeleteThank you also for letting me know Google is accepting your comments again. I just tried with this comment and it let me too. I hated having to switch servers to first approve a comment for publication then go elsewhere to reply.
I'm glad your tournament went well and everyone enjoyed it. Hurray for you and all the work you did!
ReplyDeleteBy now you have seen the sad news about the election and are probably feeling as disgusted and disappointed as I am. It's awful to think about and that's about all I can say about it for now...
I'm sick over the election. How can so many people not see that man for who he is. I hope it doesn't take them long to see they've made a grave mistake. How so many people could overlook his lack of character is beyond me.
DeleteStill staggering from last night. I guess we all will have to see if RFK Jr. takes away our vaccines and Ukraine falls to Russia for lack of our help. A world turned upside down, as the song goes.
ReplyDeleteVaccines, insurance coverage, Ukraine, the war in the middle East, the impacts on our environment, immigrants----you name it. His impact will not be good for anyone byt his private army of Proud Boys. And the fact that men couldn't back up the women in their lives on the abortion rights issue is depressing beyond belief.
DeleteGlad the tournament went well!
ReplyDeleteAs for the election, I'm really, really struggling today. It's devastating. And I fear for our country like never before.
I'm struggling too. Last night our liberal ladies group had dinner together and we were all so hopeful. I'm really glad I'm no longer in the child bearing years. Those women have the most to fear as does anyone who looks like an immigrant. Harris ran such a great campaign and he got grosser by the day. How could so many people ignore his lack of character is beyond me. Any promise they think he made that will make their lives better was just spin.
DeleteHappy to hear your tournament went so well! You look so happy in that pre-election pic.
ReplyDeleteMy take on the election: we voted for a dictator because the price of eggs was too high.
Savannah Guthrie was explaining this morning how Democracy means different things to different people, which reminded me of the Finnish saying, "You have the right to your own opinion, but you do not have the right to your own facts."
So much of what Trump voters gave him credit for was really the accomplishments of the democrats. We need to get government and civics classes back in the schools so more people understand how things work. And for the election to not even be close is a sad statement about the values of our citizenship.
DeleteGlad your tournament went so well but sorry you had a UTI
ReplyDeleteI am in mourning for my country as I so worry about the middle class and those who fall below that. I question why people think it’s ok to have a President who is a felon, a racist, womanizer, and so many more derogatory things. I am embarrassed to call him the President of the United States and I will never call him my President. Harris put up an awesome fight for the short time she had to convince the American people that there was another way; a kind, respectful, decent, caring way to help the United States be a country that others respect and envy. Now we are the laughing stock for electing a President who lacks so many qualities to count. God bless the USA as we recover from this horrendous loss of our democracy 🙏
I echo your words about the election. I'm sad, mad and in mourning. The America I knew is gone. We are no longer a place that values kindness, empathy, decency, honesty or women.
DeleteThis morning I’d rather be playing mahjong.
ReplyDeleteST-in-NM
I'm playing Mahjong after lunch. And I'm going to buy myself a travel set this coming weekend before the tariffs start in.
DeleteLike my sister said this morning, we didn't die the last time he was president, maybe our luck will hold. I think this country just will not acknowledge the fact that a woman can run things. I'm disgusted.
ReplyDeleteI agree. A lot of people just don't think a woman can handle the job which is ridiculous and they are willing to allow a Handmaid's Tale like-laws to take over a woman's reproductive health.' Disgust' isn't a strong enough word for how I am feeling about DJT.
DeleteI'm so glad the tourny went well! All the work and organization and handouts! You do a great job.
ReplyDeleteI'm embarrassed that the majority of our people voted for such a crude, criminal bully. Simply a lying narcissist. Just so embarrassed.
It did go well. Everywhere I've gone the past few days people have been asking about it or giving me praise if they played in it.
DeleteI'm still in shock that the whole country went for Trump and I can't help wondering what Trump meant when he that he and Elon Musk had a secret they'd tell after the election.
I have heard of mahjong, have no clue how to play it
ReplyDeleteI'm shocked Trump won, but I don't like the guy never have, doubt I ever will
I've never disliked a person more than I dislike this guy. I wish I'd wake up and find his winning was just a nightmare.
DeleteYour tournament sounds like such a success! I am so happy for you; you put some much time and attention into the project and I am so glad you were rewarded. This has been a bright spot in a dark day.
ReplyDeleteI am empty and broken. I just can't even deal with this blow. Last time I was fighting mad. Now I am just ready to crawl in a corner and pull the shades down. So disappointed in my fellow americans.
I just put a sign on my door that reads, "If you can't find me I'll be in France drinking wine for the next four years." "Broken" is a good way to describe the let down and need to heal from what happened. I can't help feeling bitter towards those who helped or let it happen.
DeleteA ray of sunshine happened at my weekly Mahjong group. They presented me with a gift certificate for organizing the tournament.
Hoorah about the Mahjong tournament! Clearly all your hard work and planning paid off, Jean. I have been in a bit of a funk since your election. My fragile thread of hope for human decency is more frayed than ever. I hope this is not the beginning of the end for democracy as TFG wants (I don't want his name in my mouth ever again so I am calling him TFG from now on...short for That Fucking Guy.) Ah well...
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the right drugs for your UTI soon - they are no fun.
Deb
Finally did get the right drugs. Thanks.
DeleteIt's going to take some time to process how disheartened people who supported the Harris/Walz ticket are. My great niece took three sick days off from teaching and several ladies in our liberal ladies group here didn't even come out of their apartments Wednesday. I put a note on my door that said, "If you can't find me I'll be in France drinking wine for the next four years."
How lucky the community in which you are living are to have you. Glad your tournament went over so well and a good time was had by all. I'll join you in France and my passport is up to date!
ReplyDeleteHave not been blogging much as you know. Felt compelled to write after this Nov. event I never imagined could occur. We must stay positive, try to be supportive if appropriate, make the most of any good things if they happen, find ways to keep laughter in our lives, spread our love to one another for their sake and our own health.