I keep feeling compelled to share even though the 9/11 anniversary has passed. I had my wedding shortly after 9/11/01 so am hitting my 20th anniversary. I remember talking to our priest about changing the closing hymn at our wedding to God Bless America or a similar song. Luckily, he specifically opposed the "jingoism" and suggested Let There Be Peace on Earth, which was amazing.
On 9/11 itself, I was several states away from New York sitting in my parent's living room. The doorbell rang. I opened it and accepted two boxes (wedding presents) just as the phone rang. The caller told me to turn on the TV, which I did. I saw the tragedy unfold as I opened the wedding presents. Inside each cardboard box was a Robin's egg blue box. Each box contained a pair of crystal candlesticks. At the time it just felt strange opening Tiffany's crystal candlesticks while watching the horrific events.
Years later I looked at each pair of tall candlesticks and it hit me how symbolic they could be for the Twin Towers and - huh - Tiffany's is certainly associated with NY. Synchronicity? Strange coincidence? Message? I don't know.
So with the whole default thing going on in Congress and the other actions of Mitch trying to stop the government I was wondering if people still feel like he is destined to quit early. That and how things are progressing with the passage of various laws - especially the funding the government one and its related default, since they have to do that before October.
I still think Schumer is doing a fine job of things, especially in confirming judges which is something that is going to help things long term, but the debt crisis is a big issue. That and the whole 'moderates' among Democrats who are threatening to tank the whole Biden agenda.
@herukane For about a week in January, right after the insurrection, I thought he might quit but that window came and went and instead his wife was the one who quit. So I realized that I was seeing her decision when I was reading him, which isn't surprising that it would show up in his energy. I have not thought much about McConnell since, and I definitely haven't thought he would quit.
@lynnventura I also wish he'd go, but then there is no one from that party I can bear. You get ahead in that party by being a cruel inhumane selfish as*hole. I wish I could be more articulate than that. Maybe you or @Coyote can help me out with my words. Even my republican governor Charlie Baker is still a republican. He pretends to be a liberal when he's pushed against the wall by the Massachusetts voters, but at heart he's a republican. Some day, the name of that party will need no derogatory adjectives. Just like the Nazi Party. I still have this photo I snapped at the 2014 NYC Climate March because it fit my feelings exactly:
P.S. The good news is that with McConnell in charge or any Republican who is awful enough to lead in the Senate, they are digging the party's grave, ever so certainly.
Yeah there are no good republicans. Even the ones who aren't psychopaths are enablers. The ones who still seem more reasonable lit the fire that's consumed this country.
Sorry I can't give you better words, Jeanne. You're being too kind to them as it is. I read today that in the new book Peril when Joe Biden saw TFG's large screen TV in one of the rooms in the White House he called him a F-----g A-----e. I laughed when I read that. So deserving. I love Joe Biden.
I hope that grave fills up soon. I've been waiting since the 80s. I'n running out of time!
I'm not sure where to put this but last night, which was a somewhat bad sleeping night, I woke up at one point with a song stuck in my head. I sat there for what felt like hours (but probably wasn't) trying to figure out the song.
I googled the words I remembered and the beat and such.
I then found it.
You'll Never Walk Alone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1WpGqEOCOg
After listening to it for a moment I relaxed and fell asleep peacefully.
Also, as an interesting note, I sat in my backyard yesterday surrounded by trees. I didn't super talk to them but I feel like I reached out anyway.
So to have that song and the feeling it gave me later on was all the more WOW.
We never walk alone!
Hi everyone! Life is crazy where I am (because I live in a red state that doesn't care about its people, so people are getting Covid, shutting down everything, etc.), but I keep telling myself that eventually things will turn around. Doubt I will live long enough to see it, but such is life.
Now, I don't know if anyone has done any predictions/readings on McConnell's recent ploy to shut down government again, but I would like to know your thoughts.
Basically, McConnell and company are refusing to negotiate on the budget plan at all and are daring Democrats to go it alone towards through the reconciliation process. He hopes that Democrats will (1) go through reconciliation and thus he and other Republicans can claim that the Democrats blew up the budget and added to our country's debt, or (2) Democrats will not budge, the country will go into default, and Republicans can somehow blame Democrats for the mess by claiming that Democrats can "go it alone" if they didn't want the country to go into default.
Now, my question is, will this work?
On one hand, I remember all the times that McConnell and Republicans have shut down government and caused untold suffering to their voters, only to suffer for it later. If Democrats were smart, they would counter the Republicans' little trap by saying that since Republicans were elected to work for their people anyway, they should work instead of shutting down the government every chance they get.
And if Democrats were REALLY smart, they would start flooding the airways by saying "Republicans are shutting down the government (again) and this will threaten your social security payments, veteran benefits, millions of public jobs, etc.
We all remember the last time Republicans and Trump shut down the government. Everyone remembers that pain. And because it has been their go-to weapon of choice for almost two decades now, they should feel hard-pressed to blame Democrats.
Or should they? Biden is doing a decent job, all things considering. Sure, the Afghanistan withdraw was a disaster, but I blame that country's former president for not protecting his country more than I do Biden. We can't stay in a country forever, after all (plus, it was Trump's fault as well. He negotiated with the terrorists anyway.
My common sense tells me that most Americans will put the blame on Republicans, but I also believed that America would not have Trump as President, so I no longer trust my instincts. So if anyone has a vision or reading as to whether McConnell's latest ploy will work, I am interested.
Ahhhh it's getting interesting! I love Adam Schiff!!! https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/23/us-capitol-attack-subpoena-mark-meadows-steve-bannon
In the subpoena of the four kingpins by the Jan.6th committee, it is my understanding that if they fail to appear, then the committee may charge them with Contempt of Congress. However, the 1/6committee must then send the Contempt charge to the House and Senate for approval. What are the chances these criminals will actually be charged and not allowed to just ignore the 1/6 committee? I think they are slim with the repugs voting to not charge them and letting them all go.
That particular rendition of You Never Walk Alone, from the musical Carousel, is from Josh Groban's Stages CD and I think it is the best version, but then I am biased. I met him when he was 19, in Pasadena, at the taping of his first PBS special and then again in 2005 before his concert in Phoenix. I was with a friend of mine and 15 of her students (ages 6-15) and we were blessed with an hour with him before the concert. He played the Hokey-Pokey with the young ones, and made sure everyone got an autograph even if it was on a scrap of paper they brought to him, and he accepted the children's gifts—and mine. I gave him a box of Blessings, and he seemed to like it. He gets so many gifts I don't claim to believe he kept mine, but I watched him pour through the little phrases in the box I created for him and he seemed enchanted with them. Interestingly, I had a dream about him last night and was wondering why—other than I always wake up from a dream with him in it feeling I have been in his presence and wake with joy and comfort and trust. Perhaps being connected to this forum even though I can't get here very often, was the impetus. That version of the song is on a subliminal tape I play every night along with my own affirmations and some chanting. That particular song is FILLED with Spirit. FILLED. He always sings beautifully, but there are certain songs on certain CDs that have Spirit woven in-out-and through the vibration and tonal sound. When I was at that PBS concert 20 years ago I met a woman who had had Lupus. She was given his debut CD. She played it every day and when she went back to her doctor he asked her what she had been doing because her blood work or whatever tests they do for Lupus showed NO MORE LUPUS. I have been told by Spirit (and having been embraced in a marvelous full hug in 2005, I KNOW intrinsically) that he is a Master Healer who deliberately came in to heal through music....and humor. He even heard my delighted thought "this is Wonder Full" because he whispered into my ear, "It is wonder full for me too."
The man also has a wicked sense of whimsy and humor AND understands depression and pain. I love all his CDs, but my favorites are his debut album, his Christmas CD which was the highest selling CD I think 2008 even tho it only dropped in October of the year. I nearly wore out my CD of Stages, but then I was brought up on musicals, my Mom loved them. Every album has at least one song that is filled with the power of Spirit aiding and enhancing the already present and powerful healing that his tonal quality does all by itself. Anyway, use the song as a meditation, it is filled with the power of Love, it shines with great Light, and Spirit is totally singing along with—and through—him. He was a delightful marvelous young man when I met him and it seems to me he has grown into his power and uses it with joy and grace, and most of all, with healing and understanding.
Blessings, Karrie aka Tesseract ❤️
@herukane Oh, PS. The song all by itself is of course super powerful, if I didn't indicate that, my bad because the lyrics and the music are in and of themselves magnificent and true. We never walk alone. Ever. ❤️ Karrie/Tesseract
Your story of meeting him, that is simply wonderful. I was fortunate to hear him sing at the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Phil one summer a few years back. He also sang with children on stage. A most amazing night.
I believe you are spot on. Josh Groban is indeed a healer. I never thought about it before, but his music, his voice, his connection to my spirit is so strong. In fact, you made me go back and play my favorite song of his, You are Loved ( Don't Give Up).
I can't tell you how many times I would play that song in the car. I would the whole album all the time, but that song, it became a part of me. I just watched his music video again. 11 years later and it connects with me just like the first time.
If you haven't heard the song, LISTEN TO IT!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGLSk3AVcUU
I am not sure if this is the right place to put this information but I remember the group discussing how our society will become more matriarchal in the future. I found it interesting that fewer men are now enrolling in college. According to the articles and news reports, men are going into the tech and mechanic trades since many can make lucrative salaries in many of the hands on trades. Women now comprise 60% of the college students. If this trend continues, I see our future heading to a better place. Interesting though that some articles are detailing how this is a very bad trend for the future, and most of those concerned about this are men! (But when women were not allowed in colleges, it was okay!!!)
Women Outnumber Men In US Colleges - Nearly 60% Of Students In 2020/21 Were Women - Erudera College News
collegenews.org/women-outnumber-men-in-us-colleges-nearly-60-of-students-in-2020-21-were-women/
We may need to revoke my “Hall of Fame Poster” status given that I just spent a whirlwind 24 hours at my moms to pick up our half a cow (her yearly Christmas present to my sister and I) and I lost it on them about being “those kind of republicans” who don’t see 1/6 for what it was, and still think Trump won the election because…Fox News. Oh am I still fuming from that one interaction, along with their “it’s the Left who keep trying to rewrite history” nonsense. I stopped myself before invoking the difference between Republican Jesus and the real one because my sister is Uber religious and she probably would have had a stroke. I’ll calm myself down by tomorrow but goodness I just can’t even with these people anymore, even if they are my own sister and mother. ??
I keep spitting back nasty comebacks to an empty house right now while I think about it.