Vicki Lane's Blog, page 9

Another School Shooting

When will the powers that be come to terms with the simple truth that the easy availability of guns and especially assault-type rifles is the major element making our country number 1 (Number 1? MAGA!) in school shootings?


The Ten Commandments on the classroom wall won't help; nor will having kindergarten teachers packing heat. Better and more accessible mental health professionals would be nice . . . but I suspect this administration has cut those budgets.
And I greatly fear that sooner or later, the Felon in the Oval Office will decide that this is a job for the National Guard--when they're done picking up trash and spreading mulch in DC.



 

Sun and Moon

 

Fuzzy Mountain String Band

John sent me the link to this picture and so many memories came rushing back. Our friends Vicky (far right) and Malcolm (3rd from right) were members of this seminal string band. (Complete information about the group HERE.)
Vicky and Malcolm were, more or less, responsible for our settling here fifty-some years ago.  In 1960 Vicky and I had lived across the hall from each other during our freshman year at Emory and, as we were both sorely missing our sweethearts at other colleges, we spent a lot of time together. ('No,' I remember her saying once, 'I don't want to go for a walk--I'll just stay here and read Malcolm's letters and cry.')
The following year I transferred to UFlorida  where John was, but Vicky and I kept in touch. She and Malcolm married the next year  (I was there and caught the bouquet,) and they spent their junior year studying in France.
Back in the states, Malcolm was in grad school at Chapel Hill and it was then that they became interested in old time music and the Fuzzy Mountain String Band came into being. 
After several years, the Owens (now three) moved to a mountain farm in Madison County, NC and, as we were still writing back and forth, it seemed a good idea to stop for a visit as we set out north to find a place to live back in '73.
We had meant to look at land in New York State, maybe even venture into Canada,  but we found ourselves bewitched by the front porch music and the beauty of the land.
And here we settled. The  Owens helped us find our farm and helped us in numerous ways. Their sons played with ours; we swapped work and meals--they were an integral part of our life for so many years. Indeed, the opening scene of Signs in the Blood is from an experience of Vicky's, and the entire Little Sylvie tale is based on a local legend Malcolm told me.
Time moves on. Vicky and Malcolm are both gone now. But their memories are, indeed, a blessing. 
                                      

Dear Sir

                                           

To my congressmen:

What makes a country great? Is it a president who weaponizes the FBI to seek revenge on anyone who disagrees with him? Is it an administration that builds concentration camps and uses masked thugs to round up suspects--usually people of color? Is it a party that openly seeks to rig elections via gerrymandering?

Or is it a regime that seeks to rewrite history, censor books and museums, and control education as the Soviet Union did? My eighth grade civics teacher called it propaganda. Or is it this same regime sending armed troops against its citizens--another ploy also used by the Russians.

Are we great because Mr. Trump openly embraces Putin while disrespecting Zelensky? Does  the regime's embrace of Fox celebrities and questionable "authorities" while rejecting people with actual knowledge and experience strengthen our country?

The GOP once railed against the government overreach. Now it backs a despot who strong-arms corporations into making over a percentage of assets to the government.

Are we great yet? While Trump golfs and redecorates, and Vance vacations--all at taxpayer expense, the national debt grows, social services are cut, and, thanks to tariffs and workers detained by ICE, the price of everything has increased.

Have you abandoned any pretense of checks and balances? So much winning is destroying our country and people like you are to blame.

Your increasingly disgusted constituent who hasn't forgotten the Epstein Files.

Silent Sunday

/

Like a Persistent Little Insect Buzzing Round Your Head . . .

I can't forget the Epstein Files, despite all the Orange Felon's attempt to distract us--bogus summits, the militarization of DC, yet more gold bling in the White House . . .
I just hope he doesn't decide to resort to nuclear war to make us forget.
What is he hiding?

 

The Witch's Orchard

 

As an Appalachian author, I was asked some time ago if I would blurb this book, set in Appalachia and, after reading a digital ARC (advance reading copy,) happily did so. Now the book is published and I was sent a copy--so I read it again.

It's a very good read with an admirably tough female protagonist (former military special investigator turned PI Annie Gore)  and a very twisty plot. And a creepy folk tale that differs from teller to teller. Even though I'd read the book some months ago, I still found surprises.

Is this the beginning of a series? I hope so. There are still some unanswered questions . . .

Hurrah for Gavin Newsom, America's Favorite Governor!

That is all. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
 

Why?

Why did Putin get a red carpet and a flyover while Zelensky and the assorted European heads of state didn't?
What did Putin tell Donnie during their solitary ride?
Why did The Trumpler interrupt his meeting with Zelensky and supporters to have a long phone conversation with Putin?
Why is an American president seemingly taking orders from a brutal dictator?
Why, if he's innocent, doesn't the president release the Epstein Files?
 

First Day of Third Grade!

                              

Ready for the first day of Third Grade. Josie's second grade teacher has moved up too and Josie is happy she'll have Ms. Fox again. And a lot of her friends are in the same room.

                                        

While she was waiting for time to go, Josie drew a really nice macaw--one of her favorite birds.

                                            

After a great first day, it was time for ice cream.