by Judy Handley | Jan 11, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 11: Brrrrrrrr
Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Weather: Some Sun, Some Clouds, Windy; High Temp 23, Low Temp 9 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
When I started writing this log, it was 11 degrees F outside and WeatherUnderground said it felt like 2 degrees. Brrrrrr. It also says the temperature rose to 23 degrees today, but that was at midnight. It only got up to 16 degrees during the daylight hours. And at midnight tonight, the temperature will start rising, getting into the 40’s by tomorrow afternoon. This day was a cold one and I, for one, am glad the deep cold is short-lived. At least for now.
My book club met on Zoom this morning to discuss our latest book, The Immortal Irishman. As I have mentioned in prior logs, this is a biography that tells about more than the life of Thomas Frances Meagher. It tells much of the history of the people of Ireland in the 1800’s and the history of the Irish immigrants who fought for the Union in the Civil War. What struck me most about the book was the obvious parallels between what is happening in this country right now and what was happening just before, during, and right after the Civil War. History does repeat itself. If you have not read the work of Robert Pape at the University of Chicago regarding those who participated in the insurrection on January 6, you should. I think we are going to be hearing more about the profile of those arrested and what prompted them to get involved. Replacement Theory was an issue in the 1800’s and it is still alive and gaining ground today.
Immediately following my book club Zoom meeting, I headed downtown to pick Ollie up as the elementary schools were having an early release day. I brought him home with me and we had a delightful afternoon together. Ollie had eaten what he called brunch but was ready for a real lunch. So, we ate Oma’s homemade chili. Then we worked on his homework.
This required him to do some writing, so he got out his Chromebook. I was sitting across the table from him and was looking at the sticker on the lid of his computer. It was a sticker declaring Ollie Goldstone to be a US National Park Junior Ranger. Ollie must have read the question on my face as he stopped writing and said, “You must be wondering about the sticker on my computer.” I said I was as I did not know when he had recently visited a National Park. He then explained that receiving the status of Junior Ranger it is part of a class activity. Every student had to choose a National Park to learn about. He explained that he chose the American Samoa National Park since Granddad and I had been there, and Granddad had lived in American Samoa. I didn’t even know he knew that. But we had a wonderful conversation about the Samoan islands, both American Samoa and its next door neighbor, the island country of Samoa. I showed him photos of Granddad and I visiting one of the villages in American Samoa that borders on the National Park
and photos Granddad had taken of the mountains in the park.
Then I showed him my photos from the island of Savai’i in Samoa. He knew that was the island depicted in Disney’s Moana. Then we changed gears and he insisted that I watch the first two episodes for The Book of Bobo Fett. I had no idea what that was. He explained that it is a Star Wars television series and that he had already watched the first two episodes. But he was super excited that Episode 3 will be out tomorrow morning at 7 am. He wanted to make sure his Oma was up-to-date on this Star Wars series as it is so good. As we watched the first two episodes, I got a complete scene by scene education! And I was given marching orders to make sure I watch Episode 3 tomorrow. I don’t know if we have such a good time together because Ollie is more an adult than he should be or if I am more of kid than I should be. Probably a little of both.
by Judy Handley | Jan 10, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 10: Finished Reading My Book Club Book
Date: Monday, January 10, 2022
Weather: Blue Sky, Partly Sunny AM; Partly Cloudy PM; High Temp 41, Low Temp 13 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Yay! I did finish The Immortal Irishman by Timothy Egan for my Book Club Zoom meeting tomorrow morning. I was not sure I was going to get this one read, not for lack of interest. It just took longer than I expected.
The morning was sunny and felt warm, so I walked with Shadow knowing colder temps were coming later in the day. Then I read and did a little bit of work on my puzzles. I also did some laundry by hand and hung it outside to freeze dry. It did freeze to be stiff as a board, but then when I brought it in to finish drying on a rack, at least it didn’t drip. This evening I picked Sam up from his music lesson and I got to hear all his snowboarding trip to Waterville Valley in New Hampshire on Sunday. His birthday is coming up at the end of next week and his present from Heather and Jed is taking him and two of his friends for a ski weekend at Sunday River in Maine this coming weekend. He is really looking forward to that.
That’s about it from my world. Tomorrow’s temp is supposed to be in the teens with strong winds. Brrrrr. I’ll have to bundle up to walk with Shadow tomorrow. Stay warm.
by Judy Handley | Jan 9, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 09: Warm Wind Melts the Snow
Date: Sunday, January 9, 2022
Weather: Overcast, Windy, Rain Late; High Temp 47, Low Temp 26 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
A warm wind (warm is a relative term) blew through today and melted most of the snow and ice on the ground. Since it is going to get very cold on Tuesday, it is best to be rid of the snow as it would turn truly icy and make walking about difficult. Now I don’t need to worry as the road is totally clear and Shadow and I will be able to safely continue our walks.
My day was spent reading and I am getting close to meeting my goal of finishing my book by Tuesday morning’s meeting. Last night when I wrote this log, I thought that impossible. But I stayed up and read and today find myself much closer to finishing.
Otherwise, life is just moving along. Sam did get to go on his high school ski trip today. Tomorrow evening I pick him up from his music lesson and hope to hear all about snowboarding in New Hampshire’s Waterville Valley. I saw of photo on Jo’s Facebook page of Coco skating through the house, headed right toward a soccer ball.
Jo labeled the photo, “Coco is into multi-sport fusions!” My doll loving, pink loving, tutu loving granddaughter is now into soccer and skating and riding horses. Go, Coco!
by Judy Handley | Jan 8, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 08: Same, Same, but Different
Date: Saturday, January 8, 2022
Weather: Sunny and Cold; High Temp 27, Low Temp 18 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
There was no snow falling today. We had beautiful sunshine. But otherwise today was pretty much the same as yesterday for me. It is what I call same, same, just a little different. I worked on the two puzzles I have going, did some reading, worked on my computer photo editing and organization project, walked and played outside with Shadow, did some cooking. And tonight, I started watching Peter Jackson’s new documentary about The Beatles. I find it fascinating to watch the creative process the Beatles used to make music. The sunshine and The Beatles were the ‘different’ today.
I am struggling to get this month’s book read before our Zoom meeting on Tuesday. The book is The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero. It is a good book, but not a fast, easy read. I think I spend too much time making comparisons between then (the mid 1800’s) and now. I will share one paragraph to give you an idea of what I am talking about.
“To those who took the country’s founding principles to heart, the rise of the nativists was dispiriting. “As a nation, we began by declaring that ‘all men are created equal,”’ Abraham Lincoln wrote a friend in 1855. “We now practically read it ‘all men are created equal except Negroes.’ When the Know-Nothings [the Know-Nothing political party] get control, it will read ‘all men are created equal except Negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.’”
The Know-Nothing political party reminds me of today’s Do-Nothing (except obstruct) Republican Party and the rise of the nativists certainly rings true today. We could substitute Blacks for Negroes and Muslims for Catholics, and the paragraph would very much reflect the state of things today. In addition to the comparisons, there is so much about the plight of the people of Ireland during the 1800’s that I am learning while reading this book. This makes it a slow read. So, I am going to stop writing and get to bed and read a little more before the end of this day. I know I won’t finish the book by Tuesday, but hopefully I’ll make it at least two-thirds of the way through.
by Judy Handley | Jan 7, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 07: Winter Wonderland
Date: Friday, January 7, 2022
Weather: Snow, Windy in the Afternoon; High Temp 32, Low Temp 17 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
It was no surprise to see a snowy world when Shadow and I first got up early this morning as that was the forecast. But it is always a beautiful sight to look out and see a world covered in white.
We headed down to the dock to say good morning to the geese and then tried to play ball in the snow.
But this snow was wet and heavy. As soon as the tennis ball landed, it was packed with snow and Shadow could hardly pick it up. So, he just shoveled snow with his nose.
It was only 7:20 am when we got up the first time. After playing in the snow, we went back inside to wait for more snow. And we got what we wished for. But by noon it had stopped snowing for a bit and we went for our mile walk through the neighborhood. And later in the afternoon, we went out to play ball just before sunset. As we do most days, we went down by the water. There was one pinkish red cloud in the sky giving the marsh a special glow.
It looked like a winter wonderland.
by Judy Handley | Jan 6, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 06: A Day of Reflection on January 6
Date: Thursday, January 6, 2022
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, Waiting for Snow Overnight; High Temp 43, Low Temp 29 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Depending on where you live in the world and your cultural or religious beliefs, January 6 each year means something a little different. In most Latin American and Caribbean countries this day is celebrated as Three Kings or All Kings Day. Feliz Dia de Reyes! The day is celebrated in honor of the three wise men who have come to be known as Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar or Casper. They came from Arabia, from Persia, from India, to bring gifts to the baby Jesus. So, on this day gifts are given and games are played. It is a festive day. Others celebrate January 6 as Epiphany, one of the oldest Christian festivals. According to Wikipedia, “Epiphany, also known as Theophany in Eastern Christian traditions, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.” My grandchildren in Puerto Rico celebrate today as All Kings Day and the official end of the holiday season. School does not start again there until next week. I have never really celebrated this day, but after what happened in our Capitol last January 6, I will now observe this day as one of reflection and determination.
This afternoon I attended a Vigil for Democracy on Main Street in Falmouth. It was not well attended, but at least the people there were enthusiastic. Our Representative to Washington, Bill Keating, was present and addressed the group. The message of the Vigil was to remember January 6 by sending our Senators a message to protect our democracy now by passing the two voting rights acts. The other message was that we all need to do our part in making this happen. There are many ways to get involved, but I started small. I researched quotes I might want to put on a sign for future vigils. I’d like to share with you what I found. Please feel free to share with me any favorite quotes on democracy that you might have
“Democracy is not a spectator sport, it’s a participatory event. If we don’t participate in it, it ceases to be a democracy.” This quote is from Michael Moore, an American documentary filmmaker, author, and left-wing activist.
“A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant, and respectful.” This quote is from Charles W. Pickering, who served as the United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi and, briefly, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, based in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country.
This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.” Thurgood Marshall
I also loved a t-shirt I saw Michelle Obama holding in an ad for Hear Our Voice.
Kindness
PEACE
Equality
LOVE
Inclusion
HOPE
Diversity
This required him to do some writing, so he got out his Chromebook. I was sitting across the table from him and was looking at the sticker on the lid of his computer. It was a sticker declaring Ollie Goldstone to be a US National Park Junior Ranger. Ollie must have read the question on my face as he stopped writing and said, “You must be wondering about the sticker on my computer.” I said I was as I did not know when he had recently visited a National Park. He then explained that receiving the status of Junior Ranger it is part of a class activity. Every student had to choose a National Park to learn about. He explained that he chose the American Samoa National Park since Granddad and I had been there, and Granddad had lived in American Samoa. I didn’t even know he knew that. But we had a wonderful conversation about the Samoan islands, both American Samoa and its next door neighbor, the island country of Samoa. I showed him photos of Granddad and I visiting one of the villages in American Samoa that borders on the National Park
and photos Granddad had taken of the mountains in the park.
Then I showed him my photos from the island of Savai’i in Samoa. He knew that was the island depicted in Disney’s Moana. Then we changed gears and he insisted that I watch the first two episodes for The Book of Bobo Fett. I had no idea what that was. He explained that it is a Star Wars television series and that he had already watched the first two episodes. But he was super excited that Episode 3 will be out tomorrow morning at 7 am. He wanted to make sure his Oma was up-to-date on this Star Wars series as it is so good. As we watched the first two episodes, I got a complete scene by scene education! And I was given marching orders to make sure I watch Episode 3 tomorrow. I don’t know if we have such a good time together because Ollie is more an adult than he should be or if I am more of kid than I should be. Probably a little of both. 
