Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Republicans Are Backstabbing World's Women (And Men)! A Political Opinion Piece! DEI + Women's Health!






I Believe God is Speaking Through His Followers Today Just as
Representative Greene speaks out above, stating clearly that He will Use his rod and staff for his comfort as He walks through the present valley of death facing the World... Each of us must choose. I Speak Jesus... What do you Speak?



Those who are willing to speak out in Truth are needed right now!



DEI and the attack on American immigrants are two of the first horrendous actions taken by the republican president on behalf of the Project 2025 creator billionnaires... since then, it's been a madhouse of persecution, devastation, and unbelievable hate and "assumed" retribution by the president. Yet, those of us who are paying attention, know that Donald Trump has NO RIGHT to claim any form of retribution... He deserved every single action against him, including the civil suits where he was/is being forced to pay the State of New York and the sexual assault/defamation suit won by E. Jean Carroll. When did finally getting caught and having legal actions taken against criminals change? Are we to become a lawless country? 

Well, of course, it happened during the 2025 presidential election! You know, right after the January 6th insurrection incited by DJT! And the Supreme Court granted immunity for actions taken in office... This has been a setup which was instigated years ago, after seeing just how corrupt the president was during his first time in office. Now those who "hate" anybody not of their "status" could quickly be dealt with... All Trump needed was a Plan of Action! But, has having the maniacal actions seen since his first day in office backfired!?! I'm seeing it happen more and more on a daily basis... Watch for next part on book Money, Lies and God...

You know, people being lied to over and over and over can have one of two results... Some people go along with it for whatever various reason they might have personally... Or, more than likely, they will soon recognize the scam and become furious... That is the stage where we now are, in my opinion. Check out the thousands participating in protest meetings and marches on YouTube! Too many people telling lies, which cannot be verified, and/or which actually are contradictive to earlier statements have, in the past, been accepted by most republicans... But, most House of Representatives are now supportive of the skewed nonsense that is being spouted lies within lies...within lies! I believe that Americans--and the world--will not tolerate what has been slowly evolving, only to burst into flames through the Trump Puppet who has been given a "mandate" via Project 2025 written by NON-ELECTED INDIVIDUALS by the richest people in the world... What an insult to the creators of the United States Constitution who, after having immigrated to the new land after subjugation by others, some suddenly decide that they had done their part and now could proceed to lie, steal, and cheat their way through the political nightmare now ruling America... And it happens in a circular time frame... Now is the worst, I believe...

But, I believe there is a "plan" within the plan...Take Trump causing havoc, anger and frustration, while, behind the scenes, those who actually want what Project 2025 proclaimed as what must be done, are proceeding to action... 

Consider this:

The Supreme Court overturned Roe... By demonizing anybody who did not see abortion as a mandate from God Himself... I ask you, if that were True, Why would God have given each of us free will? Surely, if all of this madness were what God wanted, then, don't you think, we would have been created not in the image of God, but as merely servants to the King of Kings? Many behind all of this don't even claim to be religious, or even Christian... They are using religion as a tool, just like many use lies as tools to get their own way, to puff up their egos, or to gain power, preferably political power which would be possibly worldwide--taking Greenland, Canada, Gaza, Ukraine--any place that was deemed to be of value for those having money and wanting more... Forcing their actions through intimidation, fear and, ultimately, violence! We have seen the recent group of immigrants to our country taken and placed in prisons, one proven to have been a citizen, who got caught by mistake...but with the government not being willing to act to get him back! Could it be because he was an immigrant who was not white? You explain if you can...

Don't pretend you don't know what I am talking about... Since 2015, there have been more blatant assaults, as well as retraction of rights to women and minorities, than has been seen since the war fought for Civil Rights! At least when McCarthy was trying to disrupt America, they were claiming everybody were communists--which was not based upon color of skin so could not be proven one way or another! When they decided Japanese American citizens were a threat, at least they allowed them to stay in America, holding them in camps... But, let's face it, right from the start, white men came in from across the seas and decided to ensure the natives would NOT be a problem--they would force them to either be killed in wars or forced to become Christians... And, oh yes, remember way back when the Crusaders were out there traveling across the world known at that time--they also gave orders--become Christians or... Many from Spain can tell stories about their ancestors...

Isn't it about time to really think about who is doing what, supposedly, in the name of "religion"?

Let's face it, Jesus died for All of Us... Yet, a majority, or the very vocal minority, have chosen to continue in the old ways... Rules were established by which sinners could be identified and forced to seek forgiveness. Even a bite of a non-acceptable food was regarded as something which must be forgiven by God Himself...

I don't profess to be a student of all history. But I have read many books where women were abused, murdered, raped, and lied to by men, even within the churches...

Now let's get specific about health in general, and women in particular...

Right now we have an epidemic spreading across the nation and possibly the world, of a disease that had been contained--Measles! We get one guy placed in the appropriate position in government--an anti-vaxer and we see children start to die...and others in the worst cases that have been seen for decades... Will his trip to Texas result in any meaningful actions... like getting shots to every child within those states now infected?  Now he's starting talking about fluoride for children...This man has NO medical training!

Then we also watched that, after Roe was overthrown by the Supreme Court controlled republican base, that women started to die in childbirth due to complications which were routinely being cared for in the past, but which have been banned in every single way thinkable so that even doctors can be jailed! Are pregnant women, unable to get needed medical assistance, going to have to once again use clothes hangers from the dark ages trying to get out a part of a child, which has not been able to  have medical assistance, and cannot be removed due to new laws under republicans that are so draconian that we have gone back before the 1900s?!? Case after case has been publicized--it doesn't matter to any republican now in Congress! 

Planned Parenthood has been defunded and banned... Recently a Resolution has been placed before the republican-controlled House by the party who cares nothing about women... Read it and you will see that they will be funding with OUR dollars the creation of those faith-based organizations who will ensure that no abortions, even those medically declared mandatory for the safety of the mother, will be performed... No, the resolution doesn't say so, but we've already seen how they've been handling problems after the overturn of Roe. Can we honestly believe that God wants a baby that will not live beyond birth to be given priority over the life of the mother? 

You know, folks, I once read a book about this type of support facility. It was well written and, indeed, showed the young girl deciding to have her baby. Believe me, this is not the issue in the minds of most women. In fact, statistics show that the majority of women are pro-choice not because of wanting abortions, but rather to ensure that women are taken care of during routine medical and pregnancy issues and are not prevented from getting appropriate care, even if it turns out to be what is called an abortion, which is a normal routine procedure that is done when the life of the mother is at stake... 

There are as many reasons as there are women in the world that is involved in making medical decisions related to becoming pregnant, yes, becoming pregnant. Right now, there are plans for eliminating the pill as a contraceptive method... and taking some medications off the shelf completely. Folks, I come from two families, both of which had 13 children which included by mother and father... That would have been about 100 years ago! Do we really want to go back to a time where women are forced to have a child every time her huaband wants to have sex? Or, do we really think that men would abstain to ensure their wives would not have to endure having 13 or more children based upon their sexual appetites? And we all know, already, that the average number of children that a set of parents can afford is no where near 13 or more. 

And let's not even go into incest during this particular discussion...

And, face it, teens get pregnant more often because of pressure from their boyfriends, who then refuse to take responsibility for the pregnancy, than for fear of pregnancy... It is quite obvious that we know that the Special Victims Unit Law and Order has stayed on television for so many years--because rapes and more keep happening!

Or will men be allowed to continue to have methods by which they can have all the sex they want as long as the female doesn't stop pregnancies? You know, you really can't have it both ways... Remember that the Bible cuts off the story of one of King David's daughters who was raped by her brother. We who read that story never know if she got pregnant and what happened to that child. Of course, that was at a time when harems existed, kings stole town women, multiple wives for the rich, and many female slaves to handle household chores including child care. But for that girl, it meant that, according to her religion, she would no longer be suitable for marriage...

But Jesus tells us that Love is the key point of decisions on anything, followed by Truth... Let's take one look at the action which was planned for the next step on the Resolution... It was being referred to Commerce!!! 

Why not to Health and Human Services, you might ask... Well, because in the minds of Project 2025 male leaders, it is probably a financial matter first, more than a wellness issue...? Specifically, if you are going to set up clinics or homes for pregnant girls/women who you convince to have every single baby that is fertilized by the males across the nation, to take care of all the babies to be born by "mandate," then that's going to cost a bundle for child care, which previously was never funded by republicans... Most parents cannot deal with total costs these days without assistance! 

Oh, and what about the children who are born with a disability, after the mother was forced to birth each child... Does the government plan to take care of those, especially when the parents are poor and had tried not to have another child because they can barely feed the kids they already have? Will the government take responsibility for every disabled child born under the no-abortion law? Or will additional starving children have to be subsidized by public assistance? Or charitable organizations? Not like present government officials, who don't care? We can't even get republicans to support strong gun control, even though children--who are born--can often be murdered by gun! Now that's a contradiction for another opinion piece!

You know when a group of men, and independently wealthy women, decide that they know best how to run every part of each and every individual's life, while also firing them from their jobs if "king" doesn't like them, or wants to send them out of the country to live, well... Considering that the government, using our dollars paid $6M to have the last group of immigrants returned to South America's prison... we could be making other countries rich in the future since none of these disabled children would be allowed to stay within the sight of the "king." We already know he wanted his own nephew to allow his great-nephew to die rather than keep him alive as a disabled "relative..." (see book by Fred Trump) Or will those sent out of the country merely be executed at the cost of $6M... After all, executioners want to be rich too! And it's cheapter to murder than to feed those in prison, right?

I have purposely allowed myself to roar with sarcasm because the present administration has NO idea what they are doing! And you can be sure that people will suffer in one way or another unless something major happens! 

I hope you will think about even a few of these things as you read and continue to discover--such as eliminating public education schools--what the republican party wants to do: Have religious-based facilities rather than medical-based facilities to help the nation's girls, boys and possible parents... BTW, Did you know that even Musk is openly criticizing Trump re his tariffs!?! Will Trump fire Musk? Drama is great with this administration. Too bad none of us want to watch such devastation and hatred!

GABixlerReviews


H.Res.7 - Recognizing the importance of access to comprehensive, high-quality, life-affirming medical care for women of all ages.

119th Congress (2025-2026) | 

Resolution

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Sponsor:Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] (Introduced 01/03/2025)
Committees:House - Energy and Commerce
Latest Action:House - 01/03/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  (All Actions)
Tracker: Tip

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 7


Recognizing the importance of access to comprehensive, high-quality, life-affirming medical care for women of all ages.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 3, 2025

Mr. Biggs of Arizona (for himself and Mr. Higgins of Louisiana) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce


RESOLUTION

Recognizing the importance of access to comprehensive, high-quality, life-affirming medical care for women of all ages.

    Whereas women of all ages should have access to comprehensive, convenient, compassionate, life-affirming, high-quality medical services;

    Whereas all women should feel empowered and equipped with the knowledge to listen to their body and advocate for their health;

    Whereas health care for women should emphasize the whole woman, including her physical, mental, and spiritual wellness;

    Whereas health care for women should also address the needs of men, families, and communities as they relate to women’s health care;

    Whereas health care centers should include access to social services that empower women to care for their health;

    Whereas Pro Women’s Healthcare Centers is a consortium of centers that serves as an example of the high-quality, comprehensive, life-affirming care that women deserve;

    Whereas every Pro Women’s Healthcare Center certified clinic has a licensed medical professional;

    Whereas every Pro Women’s Healthcare Center offers comprehensive health services, including well-woman exams, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, breast exams, pregnancy testing, prenatal and pregnancy care, miscarriage support, fertility awareness instruction, infertility consultation, and onsite or nearby, direct referrals for material, emotional, practical, and spiritual resources; and

    Whereas Pro Women’s Healthcare Centers has certified health care centers nationwide that meet its standards for high-quality, life-affirming care and continue to do so: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) expresses its support for women nationwide to have access to comprehensive, convenient, compassionate, life-affirming, high-quality health care; and (2) recognizes the high standards established by Pro Women’s Healthcare Centers consortium as standards worth implementing nationwide.



Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Heading to the Beach for Happiness, Heartbreak, Honesty, and Home... The Mendocino Book Club #1 by Nellie Brooks

 


“What’s that book you got?” “It’s a historical account of senate meetings.” He accelerated, and the momentum pressed Sara into her seat. “The Roman Empire, huh?” “Boring, I know. I’m putting a case together and want to make a certain point.”



Happiness

They drove through the last of the dying light, brushing along the coast before turning away from the sea and driving uphill. Hannah, her elbow in the open window and a mild breeze ruffling her curls, didn’t ask where they were going. She didn’t question their destination; she trusted Alex to take care of her, her mind still lingering on the way he had looked at her in the parking lot. Soon, their car pulled into a small parking lot, tires crunching on gravel as they parked. Hannah smiled. “It’s a vineyard! What a view!” She had been to other vineyards in the area, but none as charming as this one. The last light was fading into the lavender-blue of a velvety night, casting a soft glow over the sweeping hills and valleys that spread before them. Row after row of vines covered the land, their branches carrying luxurious clusters of red, purple, and green grapes. “Their wine is great, but the food is even better,” Alex promised. “Come on, gorgeous. Let’s see what they have for us.” 
They got out of the car, and Hannah, still tingling from being called gorgeous, deeply inhaled the warm, fragrant evening air. The aroma of sun-ripened grapes mingled with the delicious smells of a charcoal grill, and she suddenly realized how hungry she really was. When the breeze carried the aroma of rosemary and thyme, garlic and sun-dried tomatoes sizzling in olive oil to them, Hannah’s stomach growled. She laughed. “Oops.” “Don’t worry.” Alex smiled at her. “Same.” They started walking toward the vinery’s roofed terrace. A band at the far end was playing jazz music, and many of the tables were already taken, the soft chatting and laughter of the vineyard guests as welcoming as the view and the fragrant air. A party of four was just leaving, and a young server seated Hannah and Alex at their table by the railing. “Couldn’t have picked a better spot,” Hannah said gratefully. The day had been jam-packed with mixed emotions and complicated feelings, old conflict and new resolution. But now that she was here, with Alex, she felt safe, comfortable, and happy. 
“Good evening.” A new server brought menus, and her face lit up with recognition. “You are Hannah! Aren’t you?” Hannah looked up. She’d seen the young woman before, and it didn’t take long for the penny to drop. “Zoe! From the restaurant in Mendocino Cove!” “Yes, the Mermaid Galley.” Smiling, Zoe pulled out a notepad and pencil. “I work here too. I’m trying to scrape together the money to buy a bakery.” “I’ll be your first customer.” Hannah beamed. Zoe nodded. “I always wondered how you were doing.” “Much better than when we last met.” Impulsively, Hannah stood and pulled Zoe into a hug. “You were the first one to give me a hand when I needed it most. I’ll never forget it.” “Nah, no worries.” Flushing with pleasure, Zoe hugged Hannah back before letting her go. “I’m glad to see you again. 
So, what can I get you?” “Wine?” Alex smiled at Hannah. “I think you deserve a glass of something good. Maybe we can get a recommendation?” “Yes, please. Wine sounds great.” “I’ll bring you something nice to go with dinner.” Zoe thoughtfully tapped her pencil against her lower lip. “I highly recommend the ribeye steak and the grilled halibut with a creamy herb and citrus sauce. The kitchen has outdone themselves with those tonight.” Alex slid his menu back with a satisfied look. “Steak works for me.” “And I’d love the halibut, actually.” Hannah handed her menu back as well. “You had me at cream sauce.” A man in his fifties, with tan skin, silver hair at the temples, and laughing eyes, stopped on his way past the table. “Did I hear someone order the halibut?” “And steak.” Zoe smiled. “This is Jon Donovan, the owner of the vineyard,” she introduced him. “Jon, these are Hannah, of Mendocino Beach, and…um…” She looked expectantly at Alex. “Alex Shaw,” Hannah repaid the favor of introduction. “He owns the bookstore in Mendocino Beach.” “Really!” Jon held out a hand. “I remember the last owner; he was a friend of my dad’s.” His lips curved into a smile. “If I remember right, you look an awful lot like him.” “He was my dad.” Alex stood and shook Jon’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Jon.” “Good to meet you too. I heard something about his son being in the military, is that right? I’m glad you found your way back home. We should catch up sometime soon. The vinery’s doors are always open for old friends.” “Ex-military. Would be my pleasure.” Jon smiled at Hannah. “Do you enjoy Mendocino?” “I love it,” she replied sincerely. “I grew up in Mendocino Beach and just returned to live here. I’m hoping to get our old family home back.” “Ah. Best of luck. My wife, Jenny, also returned here not too long ago.” The look in his eyes softened when he said her name, but then he smiled. “Let’s get you settled for dinner. For the steak, I’d say the cabernet sauvignon. It has notes of dark berries and cedar. Works well with grilled meat.” “Sounds great.” Alex nodded and sat back down. “And for the grilled halibut…” Jon turned to Hannah. “I’ve got a very nice sauvignon blanc. It’s crisp, with light citrus flavors. The perfect match for the halibut.” “Sounds lovely.” Hannah smiled back. She was getting used to having people in the know decide what would be the most delicious food and drink for her, and she liked it very much indeed. “I’ll get to it. Enjoy.” Jon knocked on the table and left. 
Zoe picked up the menus. “Be right back with a breadbasket.” She left, returning her notepad to the pocket of her black half-apron. The jazz music slowed into a new melody. Several couples rose to dance in the center space of the terrace, while others stayed seated, eating and laughing with friends and family. “I love the fireflies,” Hannah said dreamily, propping her chin in her hand and looking out at the rolling hills. “Look, Alex.” She pointed at the rows of vines. The last light of the sun had vanished, replaced with the twinkle of string lights under the roof and the silver glow of a waxing moon. In the grapevines, the dry yellow grass, the branches of the old oaks, and the shadows sparkled and flashed the lights of thousands, if not millions, of fireflies. “Isn’t that pretty?” 
“Beautiful.” Alex smiled, but his gaze was on Hannah, not the sparkling hills. When she noticed it, she smiled back, butterflies stirring in her stomach. “No, really, Alex. Look.” “I am looking. I thought I’d seen enough when I came back from the war, so I kept wearing the eye patch. But I don’t need it anymore, not now that you are home. I want to see you with both eyes, Hannah.” He stood and extended his hand toward her. “I can’t remember the last time I danced. Will you do me the honor?” The invitation startled her. Hannah couldn’t remember the last time she had danced either. Evan had never… She blinked, stopping herself as she rose. It no longer mattered what her ex had or had not done. Hannah’s past had no hold over her here, in this beautiful night, in the company of this man. Smiling, her heart beating a little faster, she gave Alex her hand. “I’d love to dance with you, Alex Shaw,” she said softly, marveling at how alive, happy, and safe she felt with him. He led her to the dance floor and gently took her into his arms. Protected by the strength of his embrace, Hannah relaxed completely. Not caring what anyone thought, she closed her eyes and rested her cheek against his shoulder. 
“You smell of roses,” he murmured, his arms tightening as he guided her steps to the music. “The yellow roses that grow at the bookstore.” “And you smell of books and coffee.” She smiled softly. “I didn’t know you could dance.” Something brushed her hair. His chin—or his lips? “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Hannah.” She lifted her head to look into his blue, starry eyes. “There’s also a lot you don’t know about me, Alex.” He tightened his arms even more, pulling her closer. She again rested her head on his shoulder. “I hate that you are married,” he whispered, his voice so low she could barely hear it. “Only in name. Everything else—it’s all over. I’m divorcing him. Or maybe he’s divorcing me. It doesn’t matter anymore.” 
“Are you going to let him have your house?” “Why?” She smiled. “Because it’s yours. Because you belong in Mendocino Beach. Unless you want to leave again?” “No,” she whispered. “I want to live here. I’ve always wanted to live here.” “Really?” He stopped and gently lifted her chin with his finger. “Do you mean that?” His gaze held hers captive. “Tell me what you really think, Hannah. I don’t play. That’s one thing you don’t yet know about me.” She reached up, burying her hands in his hair. It was soft and full despite its short length, and she ran a finger along the silver strand at his temple, smiling at his earnest face. “I know you’ve been hurt before. But just so you know—as far as I’m concerned, I’m no longer married and I’m staying in Mendocino Beach. Do what you think is right, Alex.” Another song ended, and the music faded. The surrounding guests erupted into applause, the jazz musicians acknowledging the break with quick sips from their wine glasses. And yet, in that moment, it felt as though Hannah and Alex were the only two people in the moonlight on the terrace. “If that is really how you feel…” His chest heaved with a deep, steadying breath. He gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing against her cheek. “But I know how hard it can be to let go of the past. A divorce is one thing. But opening your heart to love again? That’s another thing, Hannah.” His eyes searched her face. “With you, I don’t want just a taste and a trial. I don’t want half-hearted.” “What do you want?” she whispered. “I want it all. Are you ready to give love a second chance?”

Heartbreak
The Worse April Food's Day Joke Ever!
Because it Wasn't a Joke!
Actually, it was Hannah's birthday which was Worse!

The moving truck is not going to get here today, Hannah.” Evan set his phone on the car dash as he stared at the pretty seaside cottage in front of them. Confused, Hannah unbuckled her seat belt and brushed back an unruly corkscrew curl threaded with the first strands of silver. “Was that a text from the company?” After months of planning and arranging their move from San Jose to Mendocino Beach, she’d expected things to work smoothly. That included having the truck get to her mother’s old cottage before she and her husband arrived. “They said they’d be here for sure.” “I know. I know they did.” 
He turned to her, a wary look in his eyes. “Hannah. Sometimes, things change. Sometimes, things don’t go according to plan.” “It’s my forty-fifth birthday today, honey,” she said cheerfully. “I’m no spring chicken. I’m well aware things don’t always go according to plan. But I’m okay. You know me. I’m always okay.” She smiled and, for a moment, cupped his smooth cheek in her hand, giving her husband her undivided attention. To her, it had been a pleasant drive. But Evan’s shirt was crumpled, and he looked sweaty and hot. Maybe navigating the bay area traffic had been more stressful than she’d realized. All the long drive over the mountain range, he had barely talked. Feeling a surge of love, Hannah hummed reassuringly, caressing his cheek with her thumb. Evan was taking the move hard; that was something else she hadn’t expected. He had agreed to it readily enough when Hannah’s old childhood home in Mendocino Beach had come on the market for the first time in decades. Hannah had been beyond excited to see the listing. Her heart had hammered almost painfully hard in her chest when she rushed into her husband’s office, a print-out of the listing in hand. He’d studied the listing distractedly first, then more interestedly—Hannah forever told him stories of the happy years she’d spent there as a child. His bare tolerance of her excitement had turned into questions and interest, and finally a light dawned in his eyes that told her all she wanted to know. They would have a new beginning by the sea! The next day, Evan had called the listing agent and put down an offer; when it was accepted, they celebrated with laughter, champagne, and sushi. 
But now, looking wary and disheveled, Evan frowned. His eyes roamed her face as if he was searching for something he’d lost. “Are you all right?” His voice was quiet, almost as if he was asking himself, not her. Hannah tipped her head, not sure what had changed. Evan grew up in San Jose and loved the bustling bay area. Was he suddenly worried that Mendocino was too out of the way after all? She’d have to make sure that he was comfortable in the beginning. Luckily, he still had his frequent business trips to San Francisco. He could stay an extra week here and there, to catch up with old friends. “Of course I am all right,” she replied lightly. “Look at how beautiful it is, honey. Who cares if the truck and our things are a little late? How can I mind not having a sofa when we have all this?” He drew back, pulling away from her. She dropped her hand on her lap. “Maybe tonight it’ll be a little annoying. But now? Just look at the sea.” She turned to the view and spread her hands to make her point. The cheerful white cottage stood on a sweeping bluff, surrounded by a sprawling garden full of blooming flowers. Beyond the garden twinkled the sparkling Pacific Ocean, with sandy paths running down the bluff to the famous beach that gave the small town its name. “Smell that, honey?” She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. The sea breeze streaming through Hannah’s open window was sweetly fragrant with the scent of honeysuckle and roses, beach daisies and lavender. But best of all was the wild undercurrent of salt and seaweed, of wide-open blue water and golden sand, of crashing waves and screaming gulls, of foggy mornings and sunbaked afternoons. “It’s gorgeous,” he admitted absentmindedly. 
Hannah was itching to get out of the car. But her husband clearly needed a moment. “It really is gorgeous,” she encouraged him. “We’ll make do until the furniture comes.” “Hmm.” She took another breath. “Right now, all I want is to stand in the garden of our new home and admire the view! Come on. Let me show you everything.” Butterflies fluttered in her belly and tickled her throat as she opened the car and got out. Even though they had to sell their apartment in San Jose to afford the cottage, the house had been cheap compared to other places. The reason for the relatively low price was the seller’s condition that they’d buy the small house sight unseen and in as-is condition. The agent had reassured them that it was only because the owner didn’t want to be disturbed and that the house was in fine condition. Hannah could no longer wait for her husband; she had to stand in the garden right now, just as she had in her childhood. She ran ahead, right into the midst of the colorful riot of blossoms and flowers and petals and leaves. Evan’s door slammed shut, and his footsteps came after her. 
“Hannah. Wait.” The sun was hot on her naked arms and neck as she turned, and she felt radiant with joy and excitement. “Darling, really, I don’t mind. We’ll sleep on the floor tonight, like two young lovebirds who just bought their first house!” Hannah beamed at him. That’s exactly what she wanted—a new beginning. A second chance at love and happiness and togetherness. She couldn’t remember the last time they’d slept with each other. Two months ago? Maybe three? Evan’s job had gobbled up his time and energy in the last year, and she’d not wanted to add to it with demands for intimacy. Of course, the many years of unsuccessfully trying to conceive a baby had not added joy in the bedroom. It hadn’t been long before sleeping together had become a chore, an item on the to-do list, an embarrassing necessity rather than an act of love. But tonight would be the night when Hannah would be brave. She’d rekindle her husband’s desire once and for all. She held out a hand, blinking into the bright sun. “Shall we go inside and explore our new home?” According to the agent, not much had changed since Hannah’s mother had to sell the house. And Hannah couldn’t wait to show her husband everything, to remember her happy, sunny childhood in this house that she still loved so much. 
Standing between the golden poppies that swayed in the warm sea breeze, Evan ran a hand through his hair. “Hannah.” Hannah shaded her eyes to see him better. He was being weird. “What, Evan?” He pushed his hands into his pockets. “We’re not going inside.” Confused, she dropped her hand. “We’re not? Did you forget to pick up the key from the agent?” “No.” A breath blew up his ribs, and then he exhaled in a rush. “I’m sorry, Hannah.” “Sorry about what?” The joyful butterflies in her stomach dropped like little cold raindrops, one by one. She put a hand to her belly, hating the feeling of anxiety sneaking into her happy new start. “What’s going on?” Evan moistened his lips. “I can’t do this, Hannah. I can’t… I just can’t do it anymore.” “Do what anymore?” The butterflies didn’t turn into raindrops but ice. Her insides froze as the frost glazing her stomach crawled toward her heart, her throat, her voice. “Be with you. I’m done. I’m—Hannah, I’m done. I’m sorry.” “You’re done?” Her words were whispers, whisked away by the breeze before they reached her husband. “I’ve been done for a long time.” He spread his hands to underline his words. “I tried. Believe me, I tried. I wanted this to be the new…but it’s not. And I can’t pretend any longer.” He dropped his hands in a final gesture of giving up. “I want a divorce, Hannah.” 
Divorce. The word echoed around the garden and the sky, bouncing from the tufts of lavender to the cotton puff clouds in the bright blue sky and back. Hannah grabbed at an old rhododendron bough to steady herself in a reeling world. “You want a divorce.” She didn’t need to ask. She knew her husband well enough to know he was serious. “I’m sorry. I guess this comes as a shock. I should’ve… I thought I could make it work. But I have to stop living a lie.” “A lie?” Something like anger curdled in her icy stomach. “Our life is a lie to you?” She knew he meant what he was saying. And yet, Hannah couldn’t believe her ears. “I should have told you before. I understand that, Hannah. I really hoped I could fix this. But I cannot. It’s over.” Hannah didn’t know where to start. After staring at him for too long, she held out her hand. The ice inside her was melting, giving rise to a wave of nausea. 
“Give me the key, Evan. You can go back to San Jose. We’ll talk tomorrow.” Evan took another deep breath. “Well…the house is in my name, Hannah. I bought it with money I earned from working hard at my job. So…I’m the one who is staying. You can go back to San Jose. Take the car and the contents of the missing moving truck.” “I can…what? I can take the car and the furniture?” He nodded, avoiding her eyes. “It’s mostly your books and a few filing cabinets, actually,” he said. “The other furniture is already in the house.” “Why? Why, Evan?” At first, she thought he wasn’t going to answer. But then he cleared his throat. “You read your little stories to seniors and kids, Hannah,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “For ten years, you’ve mucked around with board books while I worked my pants off to pay the bills. It’s only fair that I get the house.” Hannah blinked. “I mucked around with board books? I’m a librarian, Evan. Even if I didn’t earn as much as you, I worked too.” A year ago, her position had been downsized when funding was cut. But she’d still worked the same hours, volunteering her time to the library and the community. “Go back to San Jose and stay with your friend Amanda until the divorce is sorted.” Defiant, Evan raised his head to meet her eyes...
!!!

Maybe if one’s husband had checked out four years ago—five? eight?—the period of grief after divorce really was just extremely short… 

I had to do it! On April Fool's Day, 2025, I wanted to spotlight both the good and bad of men--the jerk and the friend...

Let me be Honest... This is a wonderful women's fiction of the best kind. The setting is in a small town, where an owner of a bookstore has returned recently after being hurt in the service. He has come back to Mendocino to grieve his father as well as take over as owner of a bookstore that has been in town for decades. But there is a secret that he has carried from his early age that is about to explode back into his life! But first let's talk about the jerk!

May I use an older name for such a man--He's a male chauvinist pig! Just how much so readers will learn throughout this story--one that is simply unbelievable, except that we know it is happening, right now in real life...


No, there are no cats in this story, except that I, a single childless cat lady who is "miserable" being childless according to our VP even though enjoying my life writing about the single worst administration even in the history...of the world... has a cat mother and daughter now preparing for kittens and the first one has gotten as close to me as she can to ensure I'll be around to help her... The mother already knows that... Anyway, think Jerk=Vance LOL BTW, since Vance has a nonwhite wife, with two biracial children, I can't quite figure out how he was picked for VP - Maybe Dark Money!??? What Else?!

So, a little back story, Hannah, who is really the main character, is a librarian by profession. During her early life, she and her mother lived in a beautiful little cottage in Mendocino that had to be sold at one point, but Hannah had always hoped to return and own that same small cottage. She had seen that it was up for sale and immediately began to plan for something she had been dreaming about her entire life. Returning to Mendocino to live... She brought up the fact that it was now available to her husband, Evan, and slowly got him interested... Hannah, and readers will be both shocked when they actually buy the cottage, drive there, and stop in front with Hannah swinging her car door open, wanting to run and just...enjoy! Home!

She never got that far... The Jerk told her, among very hurtful things, that he wanted a divorce...she could have the car...!!! During that last conversation Evan more or less told her, just like Vance, that she was barren, in a job that did not bring sufficient money to the family...and he couldn't take it any more--he had tried!!! At that point, I and most other women will realize that Hannah had no idea just what kind of man she had married. Or, even if she was happy, the very authoritative man who was her husband, had beat her down so badly that she had accepted his disappearances, his long hours, as well as his pulling entirely away from her romantically... She was hoping to start anew in the Cottage...

Instead, looking into Evan's eyes, she knew he was making this decision himself! She got in the car... But she didn't start driving back to where they had lived before... She drove into town, pulled over, and sat crying... She sat there so long that a woman from a restaurant came out, asking if she was alright, and finally getting her into her restaurant, where she started bringing food and drink, telling her it would help...

She had one credit card, but was afraid to check--would there be any money in that account? She told the stranger that she couldn't pay and that, of course, didn't stop her from bringing food... That's what most women do, right? We help other women in distress and pain... She knew even if there was some money in the bank, that she could not afford to stay in a guest room somewhere. Finally, she remembered when she was young and, loving books, she remembered that every Saturday her mother would take her to the local bookstore and they would decide together which book she would get to take home that day... Now, Hannah remember that there was an apartment on the second floor of that store... Could it possibly be available? She had to at least find out or she would have to sleep in her car...

Now you all know me enough that when she opened that front door, it was a fictional God Incident! You see, the owner of the bookstore was now the owner's son, and he recognized "Hannah Banana" immediately. But Hannah didn't recognize the man. Of course, he now wore a patch over one eye which had been scratched by shrapnel... And, of course, she obviously was still in shock from what her jerk of a husband had just done to her! After all, she needed a safe, private place to...just...cry...

And, you are right, she got the apartment on the condition that she would have to clean it and prepare it to be lived in...No problem. That work helped her get through what had happened. At least she was still in Mendocino... And, within a very short time, she had found two new women in her life who also loved books and they planned to start the first book club in town. Actually, the actual reading of a book and discussing never really happened until the very end, because each of these women needed to have another female friend to talk to and they bonded immediately... They shopped together, ate lunches together, and even were there the day that Hannah was to receive an even bigger shock than being asked for a divorce! Seriously, a jerk who lies on top of cruelty and deceit just makes me think of what's happening to women, and others, in America right now! The only thought that comes to mind, again, that I know that God...is...watching...

And, yes, Alex, the Bookshop new owner, may not have been remembered by Hannah, but he soon started making a very favorable impression on Hannah Banana. By the way, there were others in town who soon recognized her calling her by that grade-school name! Hannah was Home! Highly Recommended! Will I continue on with this trilogy? Let me know if you want to hear more in comments below...

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“Thanks.” Hannah watched her husband step into the dim store, looking around as if there was something dangerous about the warm, flickering candlelight, the moon shimmer pooling on the old wood floor, the rows of books, and myriad stories surrounding their picnic. “What are you guys doing here?” His smile was as fake as his voice was nervous. “Book club.” Sara crossed her arms. “Why are you here? The store is closed.” He frowned. “Who are you?” Sara raised an eyebrow, ready for battle, when Hannah interrupted. “What do you want, Evan?” He looked at her, and the expression in his eyes became subdued. “Can we talk, Hannah?” “About what?” There was nothing they needed to talk about. It was all clear, brightly illuminated. What he’d done, what would happen next. “In private?” He smiled a smile she used to adore. An eternity ago, she would have done anything for a glimpse. Now, it had lost every last speck of magic. Hannah shook her head. “My friends can hear what you have to say.” A shadow flew over his face and his throat moved as if he wanted to say something, but then he only cleared his throat. “You know, the divorce… I was hoping we could talk about it.”

NOT!
Don't Get Fooled by Liars, Authoritarians and Misogynists!
Especially in Politics!


New babies here...and boy, did I need to help! They were stuck between a book shelf and my computer...! All but one survived--if I counted right 5 new babies...Wow! BTW, Mother of the young kitten who should never have yet been pregnant, heard the new kittens and decided to go outside...too much happening in here! You know, I have to add... Cats are encircled by male cats and they wait turns... We call that rape... Now, with the political climate of today, girls have no protection to that act of power, not love... There should be a difference between animals and male humans, doncha think?!

Gabby

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Serialized Part 2 Discussion of Katherine Stewart's Money Lies and God... Identifying the Funders!

 Part 1 Discussion begins here for those who need reference


"Be Joyful!" The implication that all this hate and violence must be done joyfully as to the Lord...NOT...

Imagine my surprise when, in the next portion of this book, MONEY, that I am reading, was an actual overview of many of those individuals, families, or organizations who actually provide what we now call "dark money." Meaning that "nobody" (i.e., those of us who don't have the technical skills) really can trace where the actual money that is funding political activities is coming from. Except of course from E. Musk who publicly advertises to give away money to buy elections or spending his money loudly and often in other ways... while having no problem firing and taking away money from we who actually need our income to daily live our lives.

Given the number of footnotes by this author, readers will discover that this book has been more than well researched! Can you imagine "following the money" back to the sources of the millions/billions of dollars that seem to be supplied routinely, especially to the MAGA side of our government? For me, losing a year of my life trying to ascertain how/when/where millions of dollars in capital money was spent and who got that money, I can tell you, it is mind-boggling and a major work effort. Thank you Katherine Stewart for this extraordinarily well written book and the effort it has to have taken to search out needed information and then to share it!

Because I was, and I believe also many readers. will be shocked to learn of the "whys" behind wanting to give money away to politics. They can be narrowed down to, in my opinion, wanting recognition, wanting power, and being lied into thinking you are doing something good...for whatever purpose you've accepted...

First, at the end of Part 1, I asked you to think about which group you might fit into... I realized that in reading that might have been a rhetorical question rather than a request... So, let me be clear, if you are NOT part of or support this plan (formally called Project 2025: Mandate for Leadership--and I just did a search! You can download a pdf copy for free if you care to do so), you are not part of the dark money investigation that was undertaken... You can be sure that I'll be referring to passages of Project 2025 in the future! Have you heard the word Mandate thrown around by Trump?! Well this is the mandate he is referring to! NONE of what is being done was the brainchild of the president of the United States... think about that! Further, as we have been finding out, NONE of what is being done by this administration is as reported are priorities for US--the Citizens of This Country! Instead it is a plan that was created by Trump supporters and other far right conservatives who...are...funders and supporters of what is happening right now!

Wallbuilders president (one of the formal groups) Tim Barton creates and provides "bogus" Christian National history to conservatives audiences. He quickly throws out facts and stats so as to imply that this is and has been a legitimate religion which just happens to be made up of MAGA supporters and all in support of Project 2025, including Funders. The intent of Barton is to make the audience believe what he is saying is true since he knows it so well and speaks fluently... Barton blames the decision by the Supreme Court for banning prayer in schools... Now if I remember correctly, at first prayer was not banned, it went to a silent moment of prayer, which would allow those of different faiths to act based upon their personal beliefs. In any event, I was there when the separation of church and state came into existence... After I thought about it, I realized that, while religion might be a part thought about, it was primarily to allow stores to remain open on Sundays (the Christian holy day) so that the millions of people who worked swing shifts could buy groceries, etc., on their days off...You know, those working in hospitals, cleaning staff who were required to work when the business was not open...school staffs at all levels... Many Christians are working in such jobs. And was it not Jesus who said to us put away the rules and simply love your neighbor? Something that never really happened since the Old Testament is still considered by many the Word of God, even though it has been translated from one language to another, edited by individuals who proofread it for content--you get the idea, especially since there have been many inconsistencies already discovered, questioned, and, simply, ignored by some...

The following might not be the song referenced, but it seemed appropriate since Christianity is being used by thousands of different groups who are calling themselves Christian Nationalists with goals of hate, action against non-white or minority people, and...violence...

Issue 1. This is what they have done,” Robert Busch writes to me with weary outrage as he forwards a photograph of a group of nuns, one of them wearing a STOP THE STEAL button, cheerfully joining President Trump’s rally outside the White House on the morning of January 6, 2021.1 Busch, who lives in Redwood City, California, recently formed a study group on economic justice within the Thomas Merton Center, which is affiliated with the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Palo Alto.2 Like most of his fellow study group members, he calls himself a Francis Catholic, in deference to Pope Francis. You could also call him a Nuns on the Bus Catholic, after the progressive Catholic group, which he supports, that advocates for a range of social justice issues. He is as earnest in person as he is passionate in his emails. He usually has at the tip of his tongue or typewriter a citation from any number of writings in the long tradition of Catholic social teachings. He remains personally opposed to abortion but rejects its political use as a wedge issue. Robert Busch reached out to me online just as I was returning from the March for Life, an annual gathering of antiabortion activists and their supporters that takes place every year on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. While the march draws in a religiously diverse crowd, it is heavily Catholic and includes hundreds of busloads of kids from Catholic schools, for many of whom attendance is all but mandatory. But many other Catholics are morally opposed to the politicization of the abortion issue and are horrified by the takeover of the Supreme Court. Busch and members of his study group are among them. They were determined not just to go on record with their opposition but also to do something to get their message and their vision of Catholicism out. Robert Busch works as an administrator in a development office at Stanford University. Edna Jamati, one more of the dozen-odd members of the Thomas Merton study group, is a retired nurse. Another member, Vicky Sullivan, is a grandmother who attends mass several times a week. Shannon Griscom is a retired teacher. Their group represents a cross section of the Catholic laity in their community, says Busch, which is to say that they are mostly middle-class, if rather whiter, older, and more educated than the median resident... 

Editorial note: After the following few lines, I have reached the publishers limit on use within copyright restrictions. I will henceforth depend upon my own writing skills to discuss this book. I hope you will continue with me...and if you'd like any clarifications on what I share, please feel free to leave questions as comments and I will try to clarify sufficiently for you to understand my thoughts and response to the content...

I wanted to leave these few lines because this excerpt is from Chapter 2 of the book. As I said earlier, I was shocked with what I was reading... this was the most shocking for me... I'll explain after the following short excerpt...

Just a few miles up the road, in the bucolic wine country of Napa, is one of the luxury hotels managed by a company whose founder and CEO is a man named Timothy Busch—no relation to Robert. Timothy Busch is also a Californian...

Some of us--maybe many of us--who are protestants have from time to time wondered why there are so many different churched under the umbrella of protestants... Through reading a variety of books, one of which is The Book of Thomas with commentary, which I'll talk about soon... is that I'm discovering what is really meant when Jesus spoke...

But, prior to this time period, other than the ongoing sexual issues that have long been hidden and then began to be addressed within the Catholic Church, I had never thought that the Catholic Church could be "splintered..." Until Project 2025 and Trump and the Funders Group behind dark money... It seems that, now, in that church there is a wide division between those who support Pope Francis' teachings...and all the rest, who are now in the majority... If you want to know more, I urge you to consider buying the book--this is just one shocking issue that I discovered. Very specifically, my reading of this book states that there is now a divide of leadership within the Catholic Church who have chosen wealth and power over the program activities of Pope Francis, who, as you may know, had a recent major hospital stay, but is now back... Thank God...

Issue 2 The Secretary of Education in the former Trump Administration is from an extremely wealthy family and their source of wealth, at least from a professional job standpoint, is running private schools... Here's Project 2025 plans...



Issue 3 This is actually a part, but in my opinion, a very important part of what is happening related to public education. MAGA churches, groups, formerly created "topical" groups are encouraging members to not only run for school boards, but to cause friction and dissent at the meetings by members or just by attending meetings. There are many videos available at YouTube showing specific issues, such as bullying, prejudice against minority students of all kinds, as well as working to change control of curriculum and books to other than professional teachers, librarians and more... Velshi on MSNBC has been covering the banned books issue from the start and is a good place to learn about specific books, sometimes banned purely on the complaint of one or two individuals???  A great example was given on how banning can occur. The writer was visiting a meeting where one woman talked about a book in her local school. She referred to The Diary of Anne Frank. Stewart was surprised and sat thinking when the woman went on to say, I like the book, but it was the homosexuality inclusion that I could not tolerate... Ok, I'm not going to explain the rest of that conversation. But if any of you know the story about the young Jewish girl who had to hide from the Germans during WWII, and you can't remember anything to do with homosexuality...there's a reason to call these people...FAR Right! 

I decided to include just one video where a young girl died because of what was happening in schools!


You are correct that the above video is not necessarily related to this book and actions now underway to destroy public education. However, doesn't that make it even worse? Because, NOW, we have an organized announced movement toward DEI in all manner of issues... including creating schools that will not be available for those with low income.

Issue 4 - Quickly, I want to highlight a son of immigrants who finished university and, during the depression, went into business selling electronics. When personal computers started to surge in sales, there was a concurrent almost insatiable demand for power strips, ultimately resulting in his being able to sell his main company for $1.65 billion dollars. His personal political view was “basic libertarianism.” But then this man was, shall we say, identified as a potential funder, with a capital F... An "adviser" took him under his wing, and then the now multi-billionaire made a $1,6B contribution to a trust controlled by Leonard Leo, the right-wing moneyman best known for stacking the Supreme Court via the Federalist Society. That is, he's the coordinator of all groups related to imposing a Christian Nationalist and right-wing agenda into existence (now happening under the republican administration.

The remaining part of the Money chapters very specifically provides names of donors of dark money, sometimes the why they donate, and people like Leonard Leo and others who work to influence, coordinate, and create false disinformation by which manipulation of former libertarians might be seduced of large chunks of money to give to "good" causes... making a name for themselves and surely going down in history of the time as a group of Funders decided they wanted to destroy democracy, the order of law, any regulations that reduced profits, and people who would prevent them... from... making... more... money... and, of course, to gt more tax breaks for the wealthy!

I don't know what the next section, Lies, will involve, so I thought I'd give you the latest--and catastrophic--set of lies that has come out of the republican administration... Perhaps you've heard of "Signalgate?" Days go by and still people are talking, upset and filing law suits... while lies or alternative news items are pushed, trying to get past the most dangerous security breach that has occurred by a president...


And a little more serious discussions...







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