home again and today it snowed...

 

our first real snow of the season this year in town.  i'd seen snow in forecast so i had kind of planned by jaunt to Homer around it.  the tides looked to be working well for me as well. the tide was low fairly early in the morning so i could hit sunrise (but not too early) and was going out as the sun was setting as the tide was going out in the evening.  

during the day on the full day i did some drives, took a nap, read and shopped a little bit.

there was a scattering of trump signs on the way down to Homer.  in Homer it was a bit more Biden signs and few trump signs...it's too bad you can't just drive anywhere and not be reminded of all the politics. you really just want to drive and enjoy the beauty.  

sadly there are no restrictions on when people can start on the next campaign and so they start right in...therefore our politicians are constantly working harder on getting elected than doing the work they are elected for.  it's also become a big money maker. this crap is on both sides.

personally, i think there needs to be a limit to when anyone can start campaigning...like only 6 months before any election. we need to get big money and lobbies/interests out of the election campaign mix.  a max of money to get the job done.  we could do so much...for all the right bitches that there isn't money for this or that...clearly there is money out there. it just needs to be used for good not just for re-elections

i am also more and more annoyed by the tax exempt status that religions have enjoyed for generations...sadly, big religion has just become big business.  they own properties, stocks, stash away billions in cash basically...can you imagine what they could actually do if they used that money as God would no doubt prefer...to help their fellow man, woman and child...and perhaps nature and all that God created. 

there should not be starving children when churches have billions sitting in banks.  there should not be children dying of preventable diseases when there are churches that have billions sitting in banks.  saving for a rainy day?  really...while your members struggle financially.  even if you help them some, you should be helping more. doing more to help others.  it's criminal that this is allowed, but sadly, it's not criminal.  

when you can't tell the difference between religion and corporations...they are the same except one is tax exempt.  

corporations also donate money to causes. i'm not sure how different the percentages are...but...actual financial statements for places like "the American Red Cross", "save the Children" or "World Vision" have 85-90% of their donated funds going to program services...some rotary clubs get that near 100% for programs. country clubs...they have some fund raisers...well they tend to be less than 5 % going towards actual programs that help.  churches...their financial statements aren't generally made public in any specific way...and members do not ask for a breakdown. they have faith so they put their faith in the religion of their choice to dole out the money they donate or their tithing.  

churches though, are pretty low on the donations that actually go to humanitarian projects...we are talking less than 10% low...and i'm being generous. there is a great deal of difficulty getting churches to cooperate with accurate counts...i wonder why? 

mostly churches don't disclose this information...

i did manage to get up early enough to enjoy a shower and hit the beach for the sunrise..quite the feat for me...sunrise is getting closer to 8:30-9 am now i think.  the low tide was around 9 am as well.  made it to town in time to hit the spit for sunset.  it was a nice one. 

this woman was taking some pictures...i thought of her dog, but then i came to see it was an otter.  it had been chilling on the beach.  my pups took care of that sadly. no otters or dogs were injured.  no tourists were pissed off. i did notice the otter was not weight bearing on the right front.  once the otter hit the otter it seemed to manage fine.  it left behind some poop...always interesting to see the contents..crustaceans for sure. 

other than otters i saw some moose over the stretch of days.  

the beach is always relaxing as is the pretty drive to and from Homer....aside from the various political signs.

you can't do anything without being confronted with either signs or ads.  i can vote early starting tomorrow so hopefully i will get that done in the next couple of days...too bad our computers that apparently know all about us, don't seem to know when we have voted and automatically turn of those annoying ads. maybe it does though..i'll pay closer attention to facebook.  if i click a box that says i've voted do the election ads stop?  

our Mayor only has a few days left...he resigned over a rather drama filled and embarrassing online relationship of sorts.  he got involved online with a crazy woman.  he had taken a selfie of his backside which is now all over.  i mean over his shoulder.  it is no suave ladies man photograph. it's probably actually a sign that this is not his usual behavior...but these guys often seem to get cocky and believe they won't get caught.  at this point someone like trump could get a blow job in the oval office and his base will not waver...but they are irony impaired. they seem incapable of grasping that they are willing to accept any and all horrific behaviour from their own elected officials while acting appalled if it happens on the other side.  

i think he handled the pandemic as well as could be expected considering the politics and citizenry..he listened to science. for that many anti masker trump cult followers were angry...so they were happy that he will be gone...but unless they are a trump loving republican too, whoever is put in there will be slandered.  conspiracy theories will be written about them.  

we've lost a segment of our population to online conspiracy sites like Q-anon. the pandemic hasn't helped this...people lost work and then got on the computer and got sucked into the conspiracy game. once in it seems very difficult for them to find their previously more sensible selves...according to these sites JFK is alive, the democrats and hollywood popular stars/personalities are part of some demonic pedophile group.  trump is the savior that will bring them all down.  4 years and he hasn't brought any of their so called adversaries down.  the clintons, Obama....they have had control and still can't find anything that actually sticks.  facts are lost on these folks though.  they "see" the evidence on the internet so it must be true....

the deep state...a non-existent force within the us government.  it's all so wacko and yet, seemingly educated folks are so far into their web of conspiracy theories i am not sure they will ever find a way out.  perhaps eventually a few will be shocked when faced with the truth and proclaim, nobody knew this or that about trump...but everyone knew.  the facts are out there, they have just opted to look the other way, to not believe. 

saw an interview with a stay at home Mom.  she used to work in a bar but her hours got cut due to covid...she states she is on Q sites for like 20minutes a day...i call bull.  it's like alcohol.  we ask how much people drink, we know many lie about it.  we'd find the same true for internet use.  most would lie about how many hours they spend a day....she's a bit too familiar with all these conspiracies so she is on the sites much longer than she will admit. 

it's not healthy...it's mind bending.

on the way to Homer, we stopped at many of the usual haunts.  this little swim spot along the Portage Valley road...there was a skim of ice on the water.  then a stop at quartz creek day use, then a newer stop at the Kelly Lake.  we buzzed past a few beaches we often stop at both ways and instead booked to Homer to catch the sunset after checking in. 

they upgraded us to the bigger room, which was great.  it looked like their other small rooms were pretty full so i suspect they put us over there in case the dogs barked...though they have rarely barked and then only one bark....when people came in late i think. it's what dogs do...

i had forgotten to bring my rain boots, which are way better at low tide than hiking boots...so during the day i hit a gear shop that i'd never been too.  always fun to check out local shops....so i bought new boots.  made like down there much more fun.  wet feet on cold days not a great idea.

love Tusker rolling around. so happy.

the second night i sat on the beach enjoying sunset with a fire.  the idea was to rest the dogs...not have Ivy over do her activity....of course, that just led to wrestling.  

i still have her leg and the possibility of surgery.  seems a matter of time i guess...but for the time, trying to put it off feels right. this leg support i ordered arrived just before we left so we did try that out.  she doesn't seem to have a slow down mode out there on the beach...she is so excited to be there. 

on the trails she chased the tennis ball a bit but then seems quite happy to walk and carry the ball..on the beach, she wants to just keep going.  we started out without the support, but that first evening she was limping earlier than she would usually so i put it one.  i think it did help her. the pain meds are for twice a day and i've only been giving them in the morning so i gave her one extra one on the full day in the evening. 

today i tossed the ball in the snow in the back yard and then i headed to MT for this years pumpkin massacre.  she volunteered her place.  more space for social distancing...the snow forced us inside i guess, but i think it was still safe....only a few of us this year. 

everyone had a great time, the dogs stayed home to rest.  when i got home we had more tennis ball time and then later Tusker wanted laser time....he knows it's winter and he seems to understand the darkness means more laser light time...he's a bit obsessed. 

still  behind on pictures in the big camera. i also haven't sat down to do the calendar/cards for this year.  gotta get myself motivated before i head back to work. tomorrow....tomorrow.  

walk and bills and upload pictures and.....and...and...

started reading a book in Homer so i got sucked into that and finished it after the massacre.

just made cookie dough for shortbread cookies so i may roll those out before i crash for the night.  do some baking. 

i woke up too early today but i was also in bed early.  that drive can really take it out of you. 

we are in go mode the entire time so when i get home i just want to crash. 

we walked both Bishops and the spit yesterday morning before heading back.  the dogs were settled in the car...we stopped once, they got out and to stretch and then Ivy Rose stood at the door to get back in...shocking.  they slept the rest of the way home really.  that often happens with these two. and one they are all settled and happy i just keep driving. 

lots of swans...they are booking now more with the lakes starting to ice up.  soon our world will be frost/ice/snow...and darkness.

made one small snowman....it was wet snow.  

working holidays...the season will be pared down quite a bit.  

it was all a bit out of control...the earth has a way of restoring balance. this time it was a virus that seems to be rocking us...but eventually a balance will return.  could be a bit rough for a bit though. 

covid positivity rates are increasing...even in the valley, when the anti maskers have all been saying they are back to normal...see we aren't masking and we are fine.  that foolishness may come back to bite them. 

bake and bed...

work approaches too quickly but it was good to have those extra days off...even if i did hardly anything really.  just not being there was nice.  

thankful for A.  that the pumpkin massacre happened despite the pandemic.  B. for another fun trek down to Homer...spirit refilled a bit.  C. for those that make us laugh.