Binging on TV

This has been the winter when the Kadizzles have been addicted to TV movies.  The series " The Americans", has consumed countless hours of our evening times.  In the Earth Module we watch it on CDs from Netflix.  At Megan's we can watch it on the streaming services.  The series is captivating.  The story is about two Russians that are slipped into the U.S. as spies. They play the role of a married couple and have children.  In the day time they run a travel agency.  At night they murder, spy, and do as the U.S.S. R demands.  Their children don't know they are spies, until the teenage daughter figures it out.  Now they may make her a spy.

At times we end up watching four or five episodes.  The series is set in the seventies and eighties.  Also we have partaken in "The Young Pope" another bizarre story on how the Catholic Church operates.

Snow is falling and CNN is blaring.  Trump has already told his daily lie.  Yesterday we did a brief tour of Philadelphia.  The household is revolving around the new grandchild.  Megan is so full of joy as a new mom.  Grandpa knew Megan would love the role of Mom.

Fighting to restore democracy

With my eagle named Trump vulture the Kadizzles walked about Philadelphia the birthplace of democracy.  A once proud nation is now ruled by a ego maniac, and we do what we can to fight the fight with words and deeds.  Trump Vulture is being trained to swoop down on orange wigs and reveal the brainless hole beneath.

Kadizzle Mansion.

This is an early photo of the mansion on Howard Hill where Kadizzle lived briefly in an apartment in his twenties.  The place has a very interesting history. The original owner had 5 million dollars back in the thirties. Imagine in today's dollars what that would be.

The picture above is the carriage house where the horses lived.  You can see the carriage house in the background in the picture above.

Make America Great

Walking the streets of Philadelphia it seems like making America great again is going to be a big job.  Sidewalks are a shambles. Trash is everywhere, and just about everyone has a weed hanging out their mouth. The dirt and disorganization seem like a virus.  The mass transit is outdated, and the buildings can hardly stand up straight.

What happens when you shovel all the money to a few and leave everyone else behind? Well the old "drain the swamp" Trumpster is going to fix all that.  He has one brilliant idea every day.  Yesterday he tweeted that any poll that disagrees with him is false news.  Wow, once more.  If only Kadizzle could have come home and told his parents the poor grades on his report card were false news.  Teachers are the enemy spreading false news.

Today old Kadizzle may go visit the battleship New Jersey.  Once Trump starts his war on terror it will surely be put back in service.

I wouuld rather be in Philadelphia

W.C. Fields was always a role model for Kadizzle.  "I lost the cork to my lunch" was one of his famous remarks. On his grave stone are the words " I would rather be in Philadelphia.  Well, that is where Kadizzle woke up.  Driving to Cheech's home seemed like an endless run through an America that is badly in need of some clean up and repair.  The East coast seems to be one industrialized mess from one end to the other. To make America great Donald Trump is going to need a big broom. The tranquil west looks pretty good after seeing so many people living in run down boxes here.

So now we have seen the new little Evie.  What an undertaking raising a child. It seems so long to get them to each more cumbersome and expensive stage, but what would we do without them?

Grandpa and Grandma will be servants in the house for a week or two.

Among the priviledged

Here the Kadizzles sit in the United Airlines lounge for people who cannot stand to be around the regular riffraff of the airport.  All the little goodies one can eat, TV watching, and that special feeling you get when you piss money away.  If all goes well we will be in the presence of Evie by days end.

The shock of cold reality hit when we stepped off the plane from Phoenix.  Lately we have been using Uber and the service is better than a cab.  The guy who picked us up last night from dinner said we were the second customers he has every had. The regular taxi guy who took us to the airport says Uber is illegal in Phoenix.  It sure would not be hard to catch them. You could just call and have them come to the police station.  Something is amiss in the kingdom.

Life is more fun now that the Trump circus is in full bloom. Lord Cheeto is doing his best to ruin the country as fast as he can, but after a week of destruction he needed a vacation.

Off To Philadelphia

Let the journey begin. The Kadizzles will start the process to meet the latest Kadizzlite. Cheech and her newborn are on the other side of the country.  From the peaceful tranquil mountains of Arizona we will first go through the insane urban sprawl of Phoenix.  The land were old people go to stay warm.  The land were people live in walled compounds for the elderly, concentration camps with shuffle boards and swimming pools. They concentrate on getting old. 

First to Denver, and then on to Philadelphia.  Never been there.  Kadizzle may take some fiberglass equipment to fix the crack in the liberty bell.  

Up in the mountains

Get up at 5 A. M.  Go get the Forest Service Truck.  Head up Campaign Creek.  Turn right toward Tule Trail.  Hike 4.5 miles up rugged mountain terrain. See wonderful sights. Cut brush off trail.  Hike back.  Be tired. Go to bed. Get up. Repeat.

Up Cherry Creek

Outside the Earth Module the equipment for explorations sits.  The Tundra is loaded with two motorcycles and has a trailer with the lunar rover.  Cliff will bring his  jeep.  If all goes well we will be deep in the Sierra Ancha wilderness by noon.  No one knows how far we can get because of the recent rains.  Yesterday Kadizzle was out on the cycle and encountered two high school seniors trying to do an overnight backpack trip.  They wanted to know where Campaign Creek was.  Kadizzle told them they were on the right road. They said they tried the road by kept encountering water.  A bit puzzled Kadizzled offered to explore the road for them.  To the surprize of Kadizzle they were right the normally bone dry road was turning into a stream.  It was a strange flood in progress.  The rain had occurred days earlier.  The terrain here is strange.  Some of the porous soil has such a capacity to store water that it has taken days before the old stream bed became saturated and could start to flow.  The desert never fails to amaze.

Really

With the birth of our new little Evie Kadizzle is baffled how humans come into the world.  This seems so strange because Kadizzle and his partner brought two of the little creatures onto the planet.  It seemed so long ago, but with Cheech, and Evie the miracle seems in need of review.  The little girl pops out into the world and it is like starting a new machine, or putting the batteries in a new toy.  Little people seem so fragile and delicate just like that tiny sprout of corn that turns into a six foot stalk of corn.  The entire process seems impossible.  The little seed that is blossoming has to be attended to 24 hours a day.  Remember the old deal high schools had where they made kids carry around a sack of sugar all day so they would realize what a child entails?  Kadizzle looks back and wonders, how did we do it?  The truth is the mom really is the one who does it.  The dad just tries to sleep and get out of changing diapers. 

Evie

Grandpa Kadizzle loves children.  His little Sylvie has brought him infinite joy.  Last night granny was talking with Sylvie and warned her that her competition is on the way.  Cheech will deliver Evie any day.  Kadizzle thinks few things are more remarkable or fun than a two year old.  Kadizzle has the mind of a two year old so this is the kind of person he can relate to.  Little children see the world as it is.  Their minds have not been filled with nonsense.  Gradually the clarity of children is erased and they become jaded adults who see a problem behind every tree.  Children are full of so much potential.  Watching a child develop is fascinating.  Could you learn Russian?  By three a child has learned English.  A child quickly learns the basic laws of physics.  Have you ever seen a video of a five year old playing the violin?

So by the end of next week, perhaps sooner Grandpa will have a new playmate.  Cheech will be in a new world of mommyship she can not even imagine.  Sylvie has lived like a princess. As the only grandchild it is Christmas every day.  Sylvie could use a little cousin to divert some of the sunshine shed on her.  Kadizzle would not mind having a half dozen grandchildren, but we live in a different world.

Ah, ha, you thought there would be no political bullshit.  Well take this.  Kadizzle wants a better world for Evie and Sylvie.  That is what it is all about.

All talk, no action.

The political department has been getting complaints.  Kadizzle is being accused of all talk no action in the war against our new dictator.  What should anyone do?  Does a protest actually accomplish anything?  Can you boycott Trump businesses?  How did the civil rights movement succeed or fail? Do you send money?  Do you write to your congressman?   Awareness seems to Kadizzle to be the first thing.  As the news media is stifled, and the lies pour out like rain. What do you do?  If you  have a suggestion send it in.  In the old days it was young people.  Kadizzle is an old fart.  Where are the young people?  In the old days young people fought against the Vietnam War, and fought for women's rights, and civil rights.  What should we do? Some suggest gentler confrontation.  Whatever works.

Slap a Republican today and tell them it is an alternative kiss.

Working for your grandson.

Today Kadizzle, and the rest of the trail crew will have a meeting with our new boss.  Our old boss was our age, the new boss is young enough to be our grandson.  The old boss was old and understood old people.  He told us to just go out and get the job done.  This system worked very well.  The trail crew is made up of people who have run their own business, mined coal, run tugboats, pruned trees, driven every type of vehicle, put on management classes, and the list goes on and on. The trail crew easily has a combined life experience of well over 200 years.

Today we are going to turn from a free roaming workforce into a more micro managed group.  It is natural for young people in the work force to want to over manage.  The old goats know the pitfalls of management.  One major factor in trail work is weather.  Traditionally our group has automatically adapted to the weather. We work according to what weather we face.  Another thing a group of old goats does is manage the work load.  When all the goats are energetic the group does a long hike and works hard. The next day the goats may assign themselves and easier job.

So today we will have a two hour strategic planning session.  Old goats that were dancing to their own tune will be learning how to march in a more organized fashion.  Maybe yes, maybe no.  Old goats are old because they figured out a few things.  A major problem with managing old goats is that these old goats are working for free.  When you manage people working for free you cannot fire them.  Instead you have to motivate them.  Old goats are motivated by freedom.

Across from our campsite Kenny and Ronda are situated. They are old goats working for young people in the National Park Service.  We work for the National Forest Service.  Kenny and Ronda are frustrated with their young babes that manage them.  The world has flipped upside down when your grandson tells you to dress appropriately.  Here we go.

Alternative Facts

If you thought you heard something break today you probably did. It was reality shattering. Today will be the day in history when alternative facts were invented.  From now on everyone will be honest.  There will be no lying since we now have alternative facts.  With this invention alone Donald Trump has made America great again. Now we can say we are number one in everything.  When challenged all we need to do is explain we are using alternative facts.  Alternative facts were used to get The Donald elected.  Think how many people we be kept out of jail now that we have alternative facts.  Lawyers can now defend bank robbers with alternative facts.  “Yes your honor he was in the bank with a gun, but the alternative facts show he was making a large unauthorized withdrawal, and had no intention of robbing the bank”. The use of alternative facts will solve so many problems in society.  The deficit can be wiped out with alternative facts.  Wars can be started and stopped with alternative facts. This Republican invention will completely change history.  There will no longer be any history, because of Alternative facts.

The Lake is rising

As the Earth Module was parked in November Lake Roosevelt held 30 percent of the water it could.  In the last couple of days it is up to 45% and will keep going higher.  The snow and rain are bringing the lake up quickly.  A large houseboat that was stuck sixty feet from the water in the mud is now floating.  The best part of the moisture is seeing streams run that are dry for years.  The hiking is more spectacular when you get to see waterfalls tumbling from the mountains.

Amazing how empty the campgrounds are.  The Canadians did not show up this year. The exchange rate for them is terrible. All the Americans are pissed off because of the new fees are higher for everything.  As usual working people are being squeezed.  This is just the start. As Trump tries his best to shovel more tax breaks to the rich the middle class will suffer more.  Destroying Obama care will certainly cost poor people money.  As a society we try to stop smoking by taxing it, so it only makes sense to have a strong tax on poor people.  Taxing the poor will make them realize they need to work and get rich.

Alternate Reality using Alternate facts

In case you missed it Republican declared today that lies are alternative facts.

If you thought you heard something break today you probably did. It was reality shattering. Today will be the day in history when alternative facts were invented.  From now on everyone will be honest.  There will be no lying since we now have alternative facts.  With this invention alone Donald Trump has made America great again. Now we can say we are number one in everything.  When challenged all we need to do is explain we are using alternative facts.  Alternative facts were used to get The Donald elected.  Think how many people we be kept out of jail now that we have alternative facts.  Lawyers can now defend bank robbers with alternative facts.  “Yes your honor he was in the bank with a gun, but the alternative facts show he was making a large unauthorized withdrawal, and had no intention of robbing the bank”. The use of alternative facts will solve so many problems in society.  The deficit can be wiped out with alternative facts.  Wars can be started and stopped with alternative facts. This Republican invention will completely change history.  There will no longer be any history, because of Alternative facts.

If you thought you heard something break today you probably did. It was reality shattering. Today will be the day in history when alternative facts were invented.  From now on everyone will be honest.  There will be no lying since we now have alternative facts.  With this invention alone Donald Trump has made America great again. Now we can say we are number one in everything.  When challenged all we need to do is explain we are using alternative facts.  Alternative facts were used to get The Donald elected.  Think how many people we be kept out of jail now that we have alternative facts.  Lawyers can now defend bank robbers with alternative facts.  “Yes your honor he was in the bank with a gun, but the alternative facts show he was making a large unauthorized withdrawal, and had no intention of robbing the bank”. The use of alternative facts will solve so many problems in society.  The deficit can be wiped out with alternative facts.  Wars can be started and stopped with alternative facts. This Republican invention will completely change history.  There will no longer be any history, because of Alternative facts.  

Solar Party

The two elfs Corry, and Nicki had a party for the volunteers at their little park provided apartment.  One major problem the power was out all day yesterday until midnight.  The party went on powered by everyone's camping solar lights and a few candles.  Anthony who is a full time employee provided the chicken.  Anthony explained his custom of talking to any thing he is going to cook.  So the main course was a Chinese dish called Tak Tu Chicken.  Anthony says he told the chicken in his deep southern accent " Um goin eat you, you goin be good".   The chicken was good, so it must work.

Kenny, and Ronda brought some wonderful homemade Bristol Cream.  Kadizzle could not resist and drank too much.  Fire belly ensued.  Back at the Earth module Kadizzle's stomach felt like it was full of molten lead.  The suffering went on for about an hour until the volcano erupted into the sink.  Mrs. Kadizzle was not pleased.

You don't miss it until it is gone.  Yesterday we reverted to our off grid mode to supply electricity to the Earth Module.  The generator was cranked up and battery power was engaged. Back on today life is good. The heater is running, lights are on, and everything is charging. Looks like a cloudy day and here we go.

The Streams are running

For five years or more we have been coming to Lake Roosevelt.  In that time many streams have never had water in them. Cliff just notified us Pinto Creek is running strong.  Kadizzle will have to drive down and see it.  The rain has been pouring down and the lake is rising quickly.  The boat stuck in the mud may float today.  Wind is going wild.  Does not seem like the desert southwest.  Seems like a blustery day in North Dakota.

Stepping Into the Twilight zone

At the age of 67 this man has been alive through the swearing in of many presidents.  Our country has had crooks for president, simple minded dolts like George Bush,  a host of supreme manipulators, and one black president.  Just about every president has done something good.  Looking back to Eisenhower you see a man who warned us about the danger of the military.  He was right we have been taken to the cleaners by the military industrial complex.  Kennedy faced down Russia and moved us to the moon.  Johnson moved civil rights forward.  Nixon the crook opened up China.  Jimmy Carter was a very decent man that showed how a president should act after office, and he had a lot to add to the conversation. Carter was a moral man.  Reagan was a rat that set the country on the course for income inequality, but he did help bring communism to an end.  The Bushes were basically stumble bums, but the dad was a decent man.  Obama was an amazing man stymied by the greedy bastards we call Republicans.  Obama gave poor people health care.  Obama was one of the most intelligent men ever in the White House, cut the greedy dogs of the right stopped every good thing he tried.

Today we step into the Twilight Zone.  Today is the beginning of the first insane man elected to destroy the country.  Today the country has to admit what a pathetic state our national intellect is in.  We have to admit how many ill informed, delusional, Fox News watching, Rush Limbaugh listening fools occupy our country.  Their lying, hateful, narcissistic, misogynist, greedy, hero who is totally bent on revenge and tweeting will become the worst president ever to occupy the country.

Can we survive this mess?  As fast as he can Trump is making a mess.  The man has no respect for women, minorities, and the common man. Trump only respects his reflection, and money.  Never have we had an election where we chose to put our country in peril.  People wanted change, putting this man in office will make their dream come true.  Did they ever consider change could be for the worse?