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JACE  Author Icon
We've arrived at our hotel having driven some 300-plus miles west across Kansas. Dang, Kansas is one flat state, and we still have 60 miles to Colorado.

At one point, we experienced something we've only seen on the TV news. We drove through a quarter-mile long dust storm hitting the edge at 65 mph with a visibility of about ten feet. Fortunately, traffic was very light and I was able to slow considerably without fear of being rear-ended. The stiff cross winds really pushed some of those semi's around.

Having been in a whiteout snow storm in the Main woods many years ago, I felt a similar fear and disorientation. Not something I wish to repeat ... ever.

Tomorrow's another day.
  •   4 comments
Glad you made it to your hotel safely!
JACE  Author Icon
Dave Author Icon - I enjoyed that, Dave. But Willie Nelson is not high on my wife's list.
That's some wild stuff right there. I remember when I was a kid, we'd have hail/rail storms so severe, my grandmother would have to pull over on the side of road until they passed. When I was stationed in Germany, the fog would come rolling in something fierce up there in the Munster area and I'd have to drive very slow at night because it was so thick.
JACE  Author Icon
I've added a new entry to my book, "From My Mind to...." Open in new Window.:
         "Vacation" Open in new Window.
JACE  Author Icon
I've added a new entry to my book, "From My Mind to...." Open in new Window.:
         "Some Results Still Pending" Open in new Window.
JACE  Author Icon
I've added a new entry to my book, "From My Mind to...." Open in new Window.:
         "MY News Sources" Open in new Window.

Just a follow-up to my Blog two days ago.
JACE  Author Icon
I've added a new entry to my book, "From My Mind to...." Open in new Window.:
         "Divorce is Such An Awkward Family Event" Open in new Window.
JACE  Author Icon
I've added a new entry to my book, "From My Mind to...." Open in new Window.:
         "How Do You Find Out What's Going On?" Open in new Window.

There's a very short Poll within. I hope you'll respond.
JACE  Author Icon
I've added a new entry to my book, "From My Mind to...." Open in new Window.:
         "Worry vs. Anxiety" Open in new Window.
  •   2 comments
🌖 HuntersMoon Author Icon - I'm a ball of stress myself. Good One!🙂
JACE  Author Icon
I woke up this morning just knowing that I dreamed during the night, but couldn't remember anything of them. That's not usually the case for me.

Do you wake up knowing that you dreamed during the night and remember what you dreamed? Or not?
  •   5 comments
I don't dream. Or maybe I do, but am unaware?
Joy  Author Icon
When I was younger, I recalled almost every dream with its details.
As soon as old age hit, my recall lessened. I still dream, but the dream evaporates as soon as I open my eyes. Yet, I know I have dreamt of something since its emotional effect is still there, while my eyes are closed. Once in awhile, though, I get lucky and I remember at least a bit of it.
At most I remember a few bits and pieces. Just enough to make me wonder, what the heck was I dreaming?
JACE  Author Icon
I've added a new entry to my book, "From My Mind to...." Open in new Window.:
         "I Feel Safe Knowing the Billionaires ..." Open in new Window.

An opinion of current politics. Your buttons may be pushed reading this.
JACE  Author Icon

I've added a new entry to my book, "From My Mind to...." Open in new Window.
"A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste" Open in new Window.

This is a new journey for me....
  •   1 comment
I'm not sure that it's a new journey for you... *Laugh*
JACE  Author Icon
Heading now to the VA Hospital for some medical tests to confirm or deny some things found on a CT scan. Hope I feel up to get back online later today.

If not, see all y'all tomorrow.
  •   5 comments
Praying everything turns out in the best way possible 💞
Sending good vibes for a good outcome.
JACE  Author Icon


Thank you for all the Care, Love and Comments; I love this community.

Test done. Now it's wait, wait, wait for the results. If I felt awful, I might be worrying about all this. My wife told me not to worry--she'd be doing enough for both of us. I love that woman!

Off to finish writing that story I've been putting off.
JACE  Author Icon
There was a maxim in American politics for more than 100 years from 1820 through 1932:

"As Maine goes, so goes the nation."


Yesterday, during a gathering of bi-partisan Governors, Pres. Trump basically threatened withholding federal money from Maine over a specific issue that Maine laws allowed though Pres. Trump via an Executive Order does not.

To forestall the inevitable discussion of that particular law (it's a state anti-discrimination law that protects transgender people), I'm saying that it may as well be a law allowing abortion, or a law on gun rights. It doesn't matter about which law--it's a states' rights issue and money approved by Congressional action cannot be withheld except by further Congressional action, not the President unilaterally deciding that.

While that maxim may no longer have the force it once had, reading between the lines: Is your state next on the chopping block? *Shock*
  •   3 comments
The maxlm I've heard is as California goes so goes the nation
I guess Maine doesn't consider itself part of the Kingdom.

What to do when the peasants revolt? *Laugh*

GO MAINE!
So instead of dumping tea into the harbor as protest, are we dumping canisters of spray tan? *Orange* *EyesLeft*
JACE  Author Icon


It's officially COLD here in south-central Missouri.

-1 with a real feel of -15 degrees.

Yeah, I know its colder elsewhere, especially in the northern states. But I've always thought of Missouri as a (somewhat) southern state. After all, we serve sweet tea down here.
  •   4 comments
JACE  Author Icon
🌖 HuntersMoon Author Icon - Last night's 10pm News said we could expect below zero temps for the next four days. I ain't stepping out for nothin'.
Joy  Author Icon
Not to make you guys envious, but today, we'll be in the low eighties here in South FL. Right now, 10:30 AM, it's 77.
Come summer, however, you can get back at me. *Laugh*
Living in a northern state, I understand completely. We anticipate the cold, it's just our normal winter. Our homes, cars, and clothing are designed for cold weather, yours are not. Stay warm and hopefully it will pass quickly.
JACE  Author Icon
Heard from a friend:

"I've decided to buy a lighthouse ... something simple; nothing flashy."
  •   1 comment
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Good. He's not all at sea, then.
JACE  Author Icon
I read an interesting article today on Yahoo regarding Pres. Trump ordering the U.S. Mint to stop making pennies.



Question: Do you think the penny should go away in the US?

  •   11 comments
A US Penny has to be worth less than a UK penny and i don't know why we still have them to be honest *Facepalm*

When I was a kid you could buy a sweetie for a penny now you can't buy anything!
🐕GeminiGem🎁 Author Icon - I agree if I am buying something for £1.99 in my head it is £2.00 - so just charge £2.00 and have done with it! It's silly.

Jeff  Author Icon
Jayne Author Icon - I agree that it's a legitimate cost savings area to examine... but at the same time, the U.S. federal budget was $6.8 trillion in 2024 and, according to CBS News, "the U.S. Mint reported losing $85.3 million in the 2024 fiscal year that ended in September on the nearly 3.2 billion pennies it produced. Every penny cost nearly $0.037 — up from $0.031 the year before."

That's 0.0013% of the federal budget spent on manufacturing pennies.

Is it better that nothing? Sure.

Can we get by without needing 3.2 billion new pennies being minted every year? I'd hope so!

But given how dramatically defense spending is ramping up, it feels a little bit like your average household canceling a $2.99/month subscription, turning around and upgrading from a Honda Civic to a Mercedes G-Wagon, then patting themselves on the back for the $36/year they're going to save on the canceled subscription. *Laugh*

My guess is that it's low-hanging fruit for the administration to take a victory lap on, even if in the grand scheme of things it's not going to meaningfully reduce our federal spending. It's certainly easier than trying to reform the federal defense budget! *Angelic*
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