August!

My original goal with these posts was simply to "write more" as part of my New Year's Resolution. I now see them as a chance to keep a record of a very strange year in my life, documenting what it's like during this pandemic and all its related stress.

I was dismayed to hear in this NPR story that to only 30% of white Americans have taken steps to better understand race in America after the murder of George Floyd back in May. If you are white and have not yet engaged with the ample resources that are currently available, please step up and educate yourself about the history behind everything that's happening right now.

I linked to various enlightening books that I read in both my May and June/July posts. I'm still working my way through Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi, which traces the formation and mutation of racist thoughts throughout America's history. It's incredibly eye-opening.

This month I also watched Ava DuVernay's documentary 13th, which examines modern day slavery in America, which still exists in the industrial prison complex because of a loophole in the 13th amendment. Netflix has made the entire documentary free to watch on YouTube. Here, please watch it:

Seeing this film helped me put Trump's current cries of "Law and Order" into their historical context of a racist dogwhistle message to white supremacist voters. As he tours around the country campaigning on hate and division, I hope as many people as possible spit in his face. If anyone deserves to catch COVID-19, it's this dirtbag who has done nothing (or worse than nothing) while 185,000+ Americans have died from the disease.

In August Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were chosen as the democratic candidates who will be running against Trump and Pence in the 2020 election. My favorite "take" on this news was from Mohamad Safa on twitter:

Best voting advice: Voting isn’t marriage. It’s public transport. You’re not waiting for "the one". You’re getting on the bus. And if there isn’t one going exactly to your destination, you don’t stay home and sulk. You take the one that’s going closest to where you want to be.

— Mohamad Safa (@mhdksafa) August 8, 2020

Are Biden and Harris my "dream" candidates? No. But the thought of having Trump in office for another four years is so abhorrent, it sidelines any concerns I have about Biden and Harris. We need to get Biden and Harris into office, and then work to hold them accountable. I still remember acutely how horrible it felt to wake up on November 9th, 2016 to find out that Trump had been elected president. Four years ago I shamefully felt that I could have done more, and I am determined to not repeat that mistake this time around. Claire and I are donating as much money as we responsibly can to the Biden Harris campaign and other organizations that help people vote.

Republicans are making every effort to sabotage the elections -

I managed to put a new roof on the girls' playhouse (using leftover roofing materials from the shed I built with my father-in-law to house the Isle of Elsi books). It felt good to accomplish something tangible, especially something that's been on my to-do list for so many months. Claire also added some curtains, so it is feeling pretty homey in there. We might try to chip away at a few other house projects in September. I need to fix some stuff on our stupid flat roof.

Well, that's what's going on out here in Santa Fe! I hope that wherever you're reading this, you are safe and healthy and taking care of yourself and helping others in whatever ways are available to you. Together we can all make it through this!