"Sly" VS "Arnold"

No, I'm not referring to the ridiculous 80s-icon, action-hero competition ... 

I'm talking about their recent Netflix documentaries  ... 

 So after watching "The Family Stallone" to see what all the buzz was about, especially with Season 2 dropping tomorrow .. 

... we then watched the Netflix documentary "Sly" that Jimmy Fallon praised, followed by  "Arnold," because Netflix suggested it, to compare.

Because although Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger are friends now, and are in each other's documentaries, back in the 80s, they were fierce competitors (and IMO, still may be competing with these documentaries) 😂

If so, then Sly definitely wins 😂

And not for the reasons that you think - it's not about muscles or money or power.

It's because Sly admits that he has regrets, effs up, isn't afraid to get vulnerable, and has finally realized the importance of family, thanking them for their support and putting up with him -  whereas Arnold spent the first half of his two-part series talking about himself and his own past glory, giving no thanks or praise to virtually anyone else but himself. 

*retch*

In fact, I won't be watching the second part, and asked Mark to turn "Arnold" off, just after he talked about feeling nothing when his brother and father died, which was fine with him, because Mark had his face scrunched up at him, too.

Okay, his Dad, I get, because he was literally an abusive Nazi soldier - but his brother wasn't - he died in an accident, driving while drunk. 

Now, I'm no fan of drunk drivers myself, after losing a very close friend to a drunk driver, but I DO understand that people that drink are trying to drown pain and it's an addiction - but the lack of empathy wasn't even about his drunk driving - it was about his "being fragile."

So they replayed a previous video clip from when his brother and dad died within the same year, where he stated that he felt nothing, he pushed any feelings down for them long ago, 

His current response to that clip was to say he still felt nothing, his brother was "fragile" and didn't take his Dad's abuse well, but he did, because he was "strong" and he's "not a victim." 

Further, he added that "people who think about how they're feeling or become depressed don't have enough work to do."  (Tell that to people who suffer from clinical depression caused by chemical imbalance.)

However, interestingly, he said his dad had PTSD, but the reality is, his father was a Nazi - so it's interesting that the only victimhood he even slightly attributed to anyone was to his abusive father, who was actually a perpetrator?

And as for victims, how about the 6 million Jewish people (and others the Nazis considered non-perfect/strong like Catholics, LGBTQ, the disabled), killed at the hands of men like your father, hmm?

No empathy for his brother at all - not because he was drunk driving, but simply because he was "fragile"  and "sensitive" anyway?  Icky.

Also, as we learn, because he perceived that though his parents - particularly his dad -  beat both of them, they liked his brother more than him - and as we know, if nothing else, Arnold is fiercely competitive - willing to do anything, to anyone, to win.  He says he got along with his brother well, but he was clearly jealous of him and just wanted to "win" versus him.

In fact, I really felt like I was listening TO a Nazi, talking about strength and weakness, lack of empathy or feelings, and it churned my stomach, and how public praise/chanting his name was everything to him, the goal.

Ewww and Zzzzzz.  

In contrast, there was Sly - talking about his regrets, realizing that he doesn't have much time left to fix them all (and in some cases, can't, like with his son, Sage, who died of a heart condition at age 36), and just wanting to spend more time with family (without really knowing how) - and this is what the reality show, The Family Stallone, is about.

He didn't cry or anything, but he wasn't afraid to get vulnerable, in talking about these things, and had even gleaned the insight that he had spent his life chasing public love as a substitute for the lack of love in childhood, but that public adoration was fickle, and in fact, it isn't real - none of these people chanting his name really knew him as a person. 

It is clear he loves his daughters and vice versa, but also that he doesn't know how to relate to them well as adults rather than children, and much of the show is about them trying to find time together to rebond as adult children and parents. 

(It's also interesting that Sophia has a heart condition, too, but unlike Sly's son, Sage, it was caught early.  A different heart condition, but heart problems nonetheless.)

His daughters, Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet are great, they ARE the show.  Sly and Jennifer have done a very good job with them, because they may look all LA, but don't be fooled, they're very genuine, empathetic, mischievous -  and just like their dad, they're smarter than you think.

It is very clear that they just want their dad's attention again,  rebonding with him as adults now.

But the best is their telling funny stories about how Sly has a habit of scaring off all their dates 😂

For example, Sistine's first boyfriend.  She brought him home, and before even entering the house, he looked up and said "What's that?" 

It was Sly, or more accurately, the silhouette of Sly, standing on the balcony, having backlit himself to look especially scary 😂

The poor kid ran away, never to be seen again 😂

They tell these funny stories, but then later, they do talk about wanting to talk to their father about trying to get to know their dates and boyfriends at first, at least. 

His wife, Jennifer, clearly loved Sly and vice versa, but you get the sense that she has had to quietly put up with a lot from Sly.  She seems a bit shy, perfectly happy to be the background-support person, but I'd like to know a little more about her.

She says really just wanted to be a mother and wife, and so when her final baby bird leaves the nest, she isn't sure who she is anymore, she admits - and in a way, mirrors Sly's struggles.

So even though Reality TV is rarely reality, the questions of this series appear to be:

1)  "Who IS Sly, when he's not working too much /being the movie star?" 

2)  "Who is Jennifer, other than being Sly's wife and a mother to his now grown children, the last little bird just having left the nest?"

3)  Who are Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet, emerging from the shadow of their father, the enormous, larger-than-life character that is Sylvester Stallone?

4)  Will all be successful at adjusting to who they are as people now, and with rebonding the family?

That's what the series is about and what perhaps we may find out - IF the series doesn't kill all the relationships first, as reality shows tend to do. 

As for Arnold, though both men are funny and charming, the only things I found endearing about Arnold's story were his miniature horse and donkey, Lulu and Whiskey, which he lets run around the house 😂

Otherwise, I just couldn't relate to Arnold at all. 

It was all about competition and being the best, the conqueror, and how he even cheated a few times to get where he is, and I just don't admire that "Republican" line of thinking, especially seeing where it led us in World War II, and that mentality rearing its ugly head again today. 

In fact, I turned to Mark and said "Ewww.  What did Maria see in this guy in the first place and how could she stand it for so long?"  

You might say muscles and money, but I'm not a "huge muscles" fan,  because when they get to a certain point, your pecs can look like gigantic veiny boobs and it's just a turn-off for me 😂  I prefer a toned gymnast type of body in men, and it's more about the abs than the pecs.

Anyway, at least in Part 1 of Arnold's series, we never saw any of his family, anyone dear to him - just other professional people praising him, such that I don't think I'll be watching Part 2.

So in the end, it seems that Sly has gained at least some insight - effs up still, then tries again - just like all humans do.

In contrast, Arnold has essentially gained no insight at all, and is still stuck in selfish mode, bragging on his accomplishments, money, and people he knows, asking us to travel right up his own arse along with him, which I don't care to do any further, thanks 😂

Men who might be reading, if you get nothing else, get this - REAL women - and by that, I mean smart women with character - don't care about huge muscles, power, money, namedropping, and arrogance (except for a momentary fling, but we don't take you seriously).

Sure, confidence is cool, but the ability to get vulnerable and have empathy sometimes is important, too, as well as experience grief?

Real women of character don't want a run-down of your resume.

We don't care what competitions you've won, how much money you have, how many famous or powerful people you know.

Frankly, real women of character don't care to go with you, as you travel up your own arse - we just want you to hang out with us, take a sincere interest in us as much as you do yourself, have some self-awareness of your flaws as well as your accomplishments, as a  relatable human being - and just be real.

In fact, being real is sexy 😊

In fact, I never found either Sylvester Stallone OR Arnold Schwarzenegger attractive, back in the day - but at 77 years old, I actually find Sly somewhat attractive now, as a result of his newfound ability to gain insight/get vulnerability, just his values. 

In contrast, I actually liked Arnie before I saw his documentary, but the more he talked, the uglier I found him. 

So in the end, IMO - Sly and the Family Stallone win!

Best of luck on Season 2, Stallone Family 😂

Videos: Trump and Epstein Partying at Mar-A-Lago in 1992, Robin Williams on Trump in 2012 ...

This first clip, most Democrats have seen years ago, but very few Republicans/Conservatives have, because their news outlets will not air it.

Trump and Epstein, dancing and leering at young girls at a party at Mar-A-Lago ... 

Whatever Trump said about the girls, it apparently shocked even Epstein, if you can imagine that!

This second clip is one I'd never seen until yesterday - Robin Williams throwing shade at Donald Trump in his standup routine in 2012 ...

 

"And he owns all of these beauty pageants, Miss America, Miss Universe.  Isn't that a bit like Michael Vick owning a series of pet stores?  It's an effing catch-and-release program.  This is a man who said "My daughter is hot."  Even people in Arkansas said 'That's effing wrong.'

(For those who don't know who Michael Vick is, he was the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, who's downfall was breeding and betting on pitbull fights to the death.)

Yep, that's right - we're super proud that a a creepy, lecherous, criminal was once our president (and could be again)!

(sarcasm)

Putin's Lame Attempt at Reverse Psychology, Navalny's Death

*Edited, content added.

Putin really does think Americans are that gullible and stupid, as well as that Biden is as easily flattered as Trump.

How many really believed him when he told the Russian state television "Biden is better for Russia?"

(Only MAGAts raising their hands, right now 😂)

Dohkay - despite the fact that the holdup on approving a new budget in Congress is MAGAT Republicans refusing to support Biden's request to giving more aid to the Ukraine???

Now, if that were actually true that Biden was better for Russia, then your MAGAT Republican congress members wouldn't be holding up the new budget over aid to the Ukraine, now, would they? 

C'mon, MAGATs - you know that makes zero sense.

Are we as stupid as Putin thinks?

Because the only way that Putin's statement is true, or even remotely makes any sense (at least that I can think of), is that hatred for Biden makes Trump, and himself, more popular, and thus Congress keeps holding up aid to the Ukraine.

Also, knowing that Russia's invasion of the Ukraine was unpopular on both political sides - except with MAGAT Republicans - it was also perhaps a lame attempt at reverse psychology - thinking if he said that about Biden, people would vote against him, believing they were colluding. 

So in fact, it may be a bit of both - reverse psychology AND not revealing the actual meaning of that statement isn't a positive compliment for Biden.

Because Russians are famous for being able to give what sounds like a compliment, but is actually throwing shade - dry humor, making a joke with a stern face and not laughing at their own joke. They're even better at it than the British.😂

But the ultimate proof is Trump saying "Now, that's a compliment."

Erm - now, we all know how firmly shoved up Putin's arse Trump is, and also how Trump cannot stand when anyone even appears to slightly criticize him, so that mild response should let you know something's up.

Then outspoken Putin-protester Alexei Nalvany, imprisoned for protesting Putin, suddenly dies today, in the "Arctic Wolf" prison that he was put in, after being just fine and healthy, yesterday, on film, mind you - and being poisoned once before.

To which Biden didn't play around, when he said "We don't know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Navalny was the consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did."


That's a fail, Putin - you megalomaniacal, amoral piece of (BLEEP).

Not all of us are that stupid, or distracted ego strokes and shiny objects.

You and Trump are two narcissistic peas in a pod - the only difference is, you're smarter.

I hope you, and your buddy, Trump, float off into space together, on the back of your alleged anti-satellite nuclear missiles, in a sort of co-cult-leader murder-suicide pact, and you can take your "believers" with you 😂

I'm Sorry That Asking Other White Christians To Take a Look at Themselves in the Mirror ...

 

... and how we've treated others through history (or stood by and did nothing, or didn't even notice, because we were so enthralled with ourselves) is so threatening - especially to modern Republicans (but not exclusively).

How fragile and falsely entitled ARE we, that we feel the need to make ourselves the victims, and non-Christians and people of color the villains, just because they asked us to take off our white-filter glasses and take a look at ourselves and our culture in the mirror? 

No need to panic, get defensive and make up conspiracy theories, which are really out of deflection of guilt and paranoia that non-Christians and people of color will seek justice, retribution, or even revenge for the way we've treated them throughout history.

You do realize that you're more likely to create a self-fulfilling prophecy by acting this way, right? 

Grow up and man up, fellow white Christians -  it's a very simple process.

It's not that hard - you listen to their experiences and perspectives, you self-examine/examine our history and culture, you take responsibility for what's true, you make amends, and you vow to become more aware and to do better - period. 

This post was in response to reading how a Michigan state rep in Oxford, Michigan - the same location as a deadly school shooting happened, where the first parent was also charged and convicted (manslaughter) - posted "Replacement Theory" BS on social media.

The shooter was NOT motivated by the theory, but the parents were political conservatives who believed guns for kids were A-OK, and there have been four mass shooters that have touted this bogus theory.

I'm not even gonna take the time to explain this absurd theory which has no proof or basis in reality, but the basic premise is, that Jews and people of color are supposedly out to replace us and reduce the number of white people, especially through abortion. 😆😆😆

Again, the theory has no factual evidence or proof of its claims whatsoever - it's totally deflection of guilt and paranoia-based nonsense.

Like I said, just some paranoid white people, terrified that there will one day be a reckoning for the way we've treated  non-Christians and non-white people, now just making shit up, after lying on their fainting couches and needing smelling salts - just because some people of color asked them to take a look at themselves and facts versus fantasy 😂

___________________________________________________

PS - If anything, WE are the ones that have done all the replacing ...

Replacing paid labor with slavery, including raping female slaves as sexual property, and using their populations as votes, without letting them actually vote - and then after slavery is over, still exploiting minorities, immigrants, and other vulnerable groups for low pay and poor working conditions, doing the jobs we're too entitled to do ourselves/don't want to do anyway, and still trying to find ways not to allow them to vote.

Replacing, enslaving, displacing and killing the Native Americans ,  just because we wanted their land and felt falsely entitled to it as "manifest destiny" and imagined we were better deserving of it because we're Christians, repeatedly ignoring treaties we signed with them, forcibly and abusively converting them to our faith, stole their children and mandating them to boarding-school boot camps (to further be abused) and later forced their women into involuntary abortions, and killed them or forcibly moved them to territories we believed had no economic value, until oil was discovered on their new lands, then forcibly moved them again or killed them again, even in the 20th century (the Osage). 

The same in Latin and South America, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands over silver and sugar, as well parts of Mexico to become Texas, just because we could and wanted it for ourselves. 

(I would say Mexico can have it back, but that's an insult to Mexico - so I'll just say Texas can have Texas, the rest of us don't care what happens to Texas 😂)

Or how about the UK waltzing into India and forcing them to serve themselves and their monarchy, without actually giving them the benefits of being a UK citizen?  (I guess they were supposed to feel grateful because they introduced British tea and railroads with high prices to ship goods at low prices, or something, I don't know.)

Or in addition to forcibly taking and trading human beings from Africa, later waltzing in and forcibly replacing parts of Africa, particularly South Africa, with a bunch of rich, white people, over diamonds etc., then having the audacity to implement segregation over them with violent consequences in their own country.

And of course the obvious -  Hitler and Nazi Germany, trying to march across Europe to own the world, and exterminate all the Jews along the way, scapegoating them for all their problems (as well as Catholics, people of color, Slavics, LGBTQ, the disabled and anyone that did not fit their mold.

And though we try to replace and meddle in the Middle East with U.S. ownership, those countries with vast oil reserves aren't having it - so then, of course, we vilify them and go to war over it with false claims of weapons of mass destruction, trying to make them appear an even worse threat than countries that actually do have nuclear weapons like China and Russia. 

In modern times, how replacing American jobs with outsourcing to other countries like India, China, etc., paying them for pennies on the dollar?

Heck, now, we're even replacing even skilled human labor with ethics-troubled AI!

Who's behind that, people of color, women, and immigrants?

Nope.  The usual suspects - predominantly rich white men.

Oh, but hell, no, Republicans still trynna act like our biggest problem is "foreigners replacing our jobs"  and the non-white-collar mostly non-violent petty crimes of poor people? 

I don't think so - WE have done all the "replacing" ourselves, via rich white people (usually men) in power, often using military force  - who have consistently used minorities with less power as scapegoats to blame all our problems on, betting on the fact that they can't fight back, villainizing them, and making up conspiracy theories, if they ever even try. 

We need to stop projecting - because our biggest problem is imagining we're better than everybody else and that we deserve - and that God intends for us - to take the best for ourselves, without paying for it.

And of course, we forget that neither our own genetics nor our religions are pure, as well as and that not so long ago, we were the illegal immigrants, often running here because of for our versions of faith, and that when our illegal ancestors arrived, not so long ago, our own heritage was often under fire and scapegoated for problems in America (Irish, Italians, Polish),

We also forget that we are NOT innocent when it comes to our own world headaches, and in fact, they are the direct result of our need to conquer, or at the very least, meddle in everybody else's business.

(I do not condone terrorism by saying that, I'm just saying when it comes to aggression towards the U.S., it's not in a vacuum.)

There's a difference between justice VS. revenge that most white people do not seem to understand and would do well to learn the difference between. 

Though the want of justice can turn into revenge, this can easily be prevented by welcoming justice. 

An American Fairy Tale/New American Royalty?

 

Tay Tay and Travis 😂

Well, one thing is clear - I don't know about love, but they do genuinely care about each other 😂

(And I say that not because of this rom-com kiss moment, but something else I mention later.)

And despite Trump's best efforts to insert himself and politics into football - again -  everyone promptly ignored him and politics altogether 😂

In fact, it may have been the most unifying super bowl we've had in years, despite which side you were on.  

Because IMO, it was about love of the game and love of the melting pot that is America in general again.

Everyone likes both teams, so all would've been good either way, but it was a nail-biting OT ending, just the same - and Taylor brought new girl fans to the game who were previously uninterested.  

In addition to NFL representatives testifying to this occurring, many grateful dads have come forward, saying that said their daughters are  now asking them about football now because of Taylor and creating bonding time.

The game itself didn't actually show Taylor all that much, unless Travis did something incredible or when there was a touchdown.

There were a couple of other times, the camera showed her, for like a half second, but it was almost like a regular fan-cam moment -  to include her behaving like a regular fan, getting caught hugging Blake Lively (who I didn't recognize at first with curly hair) while singing along with "America the Beautiful"  - caught on camera, to which they both looked surprised the camera was on them and giggled.    

And then one with Taylor standing all by herself and singing and swaying, while everyone else was talking.  

I can't find a picture of it, but it was super cute - like something a little girl would do.

That's what I like about Taylor - the quirky little girl is always still in there, singing and dancing all by herself and not caring who sees it, pulling up the straps on her top repeatedly to keep them from falling, just a regular gal, no matter what. 

We women of a certain age have watched this girl grow up right in front of us and feel very maternal towards her, I guess 😂

Super proud of her for not standing on stage with Travis, Mahomes, and Coach Reid and their families, just staying on the floor, letting them shine, while she waited in the wings on the field with Donna Kelce.

As you can see, no Taylor on stage with the team and their families ...

'Atta girl, Tay-Tay, that's the way to do it - though you moved heaven and earth to be able to be there for him from Tokyo - stand aside and wait in the wings to let your man and his team take center stage and shine -  just as he does for you 😊

Taylor is not one to intentionally upstage anyway, she's actually usually the one getting upstaged (who can forget the Kanye "I'monna let you finish" moment)?

Now, I hate to be a downer, but I DO need to say one thing that worried me and appeared a red flag about Travis - his temper.

Going after Coach Reid like that, grabbing his jacket and screaming in his face?

Oh, no - no, sir - that's some serious rage, as well as ego - who grabs and roughs up their own coach like that on national TV during the Super Bowl?

As former Cincinnati Bengals QB said, "I don't like that. That's not okay."

The others on the commentator panel said "Well, he was frustrated that he wasn't in to help Pacheco, and Pacheco fumbled it in the end zone," making excuses.

Nope, I agree with the Boomer - that is NOT okay. 

In fact, mark that down as a red-flag moment. 

That was one moment where the camera didn't show Taylor after a Travis moment, but I did wonder her thoughts.  

All I can say is, he better never direct that rage towards Tay Tay - because he'd have an army of moms and daughters to contend with, if he ever did!

But on a positive note, when they finally met after the game, on the field, all of that aggression, all of that crazy "fight for your right to party" yelling on stage, seemed to just melt away when Taylor walked up to him.

You could physically see his shoulders and body relax, when she embraced him, he seemed to physically melt - how gentle he was with her, how gentle they are together.

He better be (grrr) 😂

All right, you get a pass for now, Travis -  but nobody ever wants to see you act like that again, with your coach or anybody else that isn't an opposing player during a play! 

Well, the other exception, other than during play, maybe with Trump, if he doesn't stop targeting you both to insert himself into everything and take credit for even YOUR success, out of his own jealous, pathological need for attention and insecurity 😂

WTF IS that, anyway - some pathetic, transparent attempt at the tired old "Divide-and-Conquer" routine, particularly trying to appeal to the male in the situation ?

Weak.  Lame.

Clearly, it's effective - and aw, everyone completely ignored you, poor baby bully.

I cannot believe that anyone sane can read his posts like that and NOT see how narcissistic and completely insane he is. 

Otherwise, back to Travis - get that temper under control, son! 

Taylor is America's baby girl - treat her right/take care of her.

Otherwise, though I'm not a huge football fan (it starts and stops too much, I like fast-moving sports), I have to admit, it was an exciting, nail-biting game, going into OT.   

As I said, America likes both teams and were good either way, but America LOVES Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the Chiefs. 

And let's put the focus back where it belongs, football itself, and the true wonder/whiz kid that is Patrick Mahomes!

Though not a football fan, I admire the intelligence-and-talent combo - and watching Patrick Mahomes play, is a privilege. 

It's like watching a master chess player - and he's a year younger than my daughter!

He's like the Michael Jordan of football - three super bowls at 28 years old already, tying Joe Montana and Tom Brady already - and may, in fact, end up being the best QB of all time.

I can't find a picture of it, but the camera showed the exact moment he had it figured out.  I think it was with about 40 seconds left  in OT to make another down? 

For those who don't know Patrick Mahomes, not only does he have an unusual sort of side-arm throw (due to his dad being a professional baseball player), but he is a master of timing, using the time wisely, with the patience of a saint, while the rest of us have chewed all of our nails off 😂.  

Again, just like a master chess player - hyper focused on the board/field, unflinching and patient, not caring if the clock is winding down -  nothing distracts him or phases him, when he's in that zone. 

But once you see him look up, come out of that hyper-focus of looking only at the field, suddenly looking off the field to his coach and the team, smiling, then chewing on his mouth=guard, then smiling again, and give a little wave/fingers wiggle?

Watch out, opposing team, it's on - and he's likely going to win. 😂

People have often wondered what this means and have speculated,  everything from it's hand signals or some form of autism lol.

I think what this actually means was never more clear than last last night. 

I think it's a hand signal, both to himself and his coach and team, and it apparently means "I've got it, I can see it -  where all the player pieces are, all their possible moves, I've got this  - huddle up." 

It really is amazing to witness that moment - as I said, like watching a master chess player at the exact moment he's figured out how he can win - all possible moves from all the players/pieces - then executes it perfectly.

You're amazing, Patrick!

As for "rigged" games in Vegas, as I said before, though you can possibly rig  individual players (someone fumbling the ball twice, that usually doesn't, could be suspect) or even coaches, but to rig entire teams is nearly impossible.  At least a few of them will want to win a game for posterity sake, rather than throw it for money. 

You also can't rig 70-yard passes, either, sorry - however - again, you can rig individual players, like running-backs and receivers.

Then again, sometimes fumbles are just that, fumbles -  due to nerves, not your day, etc. 

Congrats, KC Chiefs - well done, well earned!

On Mules and Repeat Train Wrecks

Have you ever been in a situation that you can see a train wreck coming, but you can't stop it? 

Perhaps someone you care about is making a risky investment in something, or in someone, like a politician.  Or maybe it's a partner, either business or romantic, like a boyfriend or girlfriend.  Maybe it's even a family member.

You can see the red flags, but you can also see that the person(s) that you care about cannot.  They're smart, but you can see that they're operating in blind faith, either in someone or something, or just because they want to get somewhere too quickly.  

They either can't see these same red flags or don't want to, and thus minimize them and dismiss them? 

And they want you to go along with them and hop on that ride, too.

So you say you can't, you see too many red flags.  You try to point out questionable things, even try to warn them for their own safety, and yet they continue.

You also realize that to push people in denial only makes them angry and you the a-hole in the room. 

So ... what do you do?  

Well, if you're 100% sure that you are seeing things clearly, and they're not - ignoring major red flags - then there are the only things you can do, unless you want to start to try to control them, yourself.

Refuse go along on that ride yourself, turn away from watching the actual wreck (but be silently waiting in the wings to help catch them, if they fall), and worry and/or pray, until such time as they can see these things clearly for themselves, if they ever do.

And maybe you decide to leave a blog post up to state things in your own words for all involved to refer to, now or in the future, when there's he said/she said going on😉

So I initially had a post here, yesterday, written out of frustration, that I realized later gave too many specifics, so I parked it back in draft.

That was prompted by reassurance from the genealogist, who confirmed what I already knew - that she never said, nor even implied, that the new family was after the estate or money.

I never said that, either, BTW.  What I said was, despite another member of the new family's personal issues, she DID genuinely offer an affidavit swearing to the fact they weren't after personal estates, but that this was later withdrawn, on advice of their hospital-lawsuit attorney.

Point being,  if you're afraid that someone is after your money,  lawyers should be your first suspects   😉

Now, I DID also say (even on this blog) that once people believe there might be a gold mine to be found somewhere, some people are suddenly bitten by the greed bug  - but I was speaking of prior experience in our family (though there was no gold at the end of that rainbow anyway), not necessarily theirs - but it is, unfortunately, human nature, with many people. Lot of cases, literature, and even movies on this very subject, like "Knives Out?"  😂

But not ALL people.

For instance, me - this why I signed myself off of Granny's estate.

It's also why I walked away from the new family, when there was talk of a big lawsuit against the hospital. 

*NOT because I thought they were after Granny's personal estate* 

But because I felt that no amount of money from a lawsuit against a hospital (that doesn't even exist anymore), over a switched-at-birth mistake made 80 years ago, will heal old wounds - and may actually create new ones. 

IMO, it's creating maximum-capacity drama and extra stress unnecessarily from a situation that was already inherently dramatic and stressful enough, especially for two 80-year-old women.

(And also because I felt some new family members - but not all - had no sense of personal boundaries/wouldn't respect them.)

There's healthy caution, boundaries, and legal self-protection - and then there's expensive legal actions taken unnecessarily out of pure paranoia, attempting to justify them by twisting other people's words or making them up entirely. 

IMO, the latter should have been financed out of personal pockets - NOT what little estate money Mom has left to live on!

I'm absolutely astounded that no one even questioned it or tried to stop her from using the the estate money set aside from mom's care to pay for ALL of these actions.  Not one a word, no one even batted an eye, or thought something was off, until I questioned it? 

You could have stopped it, considering one of you has access to her account - but you didn't.  It's especially astounding, since the end result is everyone else having to now pay for mom's care out of private pockets, because there's no estate money left.

But I digress - what's done is done, nothing can be done or said now that will change it.

I am resisting the urge to bang my head against the wall, because you're smart people, but I guess belief trumps logic sometimes, we learned that literally with Trump.

How many times is the family going to continue to make this same mistake -  and it's not just me getting burned, this time -  now, it's you?

This is why Granny's original will, with her old attorney, had all of us equally sharing the estate - so that no one person could take money or action without  the consent of the others.

Her lawyer was shady, yes - but her will itself wasn't. 

Family, you have an opportunity to learn from past mistakes and to do things differently than you did with Granny.

You can question your source, the people your source is quoting, and ask for proof - or you can repeat past mistakes by accepting things told to you as gospel truth without question and catch other people's paranoia disease yourselves - this time, to your own detriment instead of just mine.

It's not looking good - and I love you guys, but I won't enable the same mistakes again, nor stand by helplessly and watch the train wreck again.

Because I, too, believed her actions had the family's best interest at heart - for way too long.

That's not paranoia, that's prior experience, plus seeing those same red flags again lately and the family headed towards making the same mistakes again without learning from them.

Truth be told, I was already struggling with my own ignored trauma body reactions.

I was telling myself things were better now, focusing on the positive and replacing bad memories with good ones; however, my body and subconscious were screaming at me that not much had changed, things still weren't safe - nightmares, vomiting -  louder than ever, especially after a couple of things I'd seen recently - then this news.

By red flags, I mean things like claiming things were said by genealogists, lawyers, and even myself, that were absolutely NOT said, in order to justify actions taken?

Other sudden, strange things said or sudden 180 changes in perspectives, with people trynna act like they didn't just say the opposite, last time. 

I dunno, but what I DO know is that I will not make the same mistake twice, and since the same players are going to continue to  make the same mistakes, having learned nothing from them, all I can do is walk away and keep myself safe, this time around. 

This is why Pap later nicknamed me "Mule" - not because of stubbornness, as I thought. 

He said he once had a mule, who was helping him hoe a row, but he forgot to put blinders on it.  It suddenly sat right down and wouldn't go a step further, braying super loud about it.  

He said he was ashamed to say he cussed and whipped it, trying to get it going forward with him again.

He finally gave up, walked down the row, took his hat off to wipe his brow, looked up to the tree above him.  It was then that he saw what he couldn't previous see, from his prior perspective - that there was a huge hornet's next on the other side of that tree - that's why the mule was sitting down and braying so loud, he was trying to warn him.

He said he nicknamed me mule because that's me.

And in this case, it's not just that I see the hornet's nest, I've actually been stung by it once before, myself - and I'm watching the warning signs again, but not to the people I care about.

Thus, it's hard to watch it - this time, to their detriment, instead of mine.  

Regardless, Pap said I have three choices, if ever in this situation again:  

1) Go on hoeing this row and get stung again. 

 

2)  Sit down, bray once, and not go a step further, and just let people think I'm crazy, if they can't/don't want to see the hornet's nest yet. 

 

3)  Sit down, not go a step further, and bray repeatedly and loudly.

He said, "Mule, if you continue to choose #3, with people who can't or don't want to see what you've seen yet, you're going to continue to get your ass whupped." 😂

Now, I realize I'm dangerously close to doing #3, so I'll hush braying now. 😂

I do hope I'm wrong - but no one can say they weren't warned, if I'm not.

All I can do is pray, because I DO love and care about them all, still - but there's nothing I can do. 

(The only problem is, God doesn't seem to answer my prayers.)

In fact, I feel like shutting up entirely again, here and in my personal life, so I might.  Not sure yet.  

Because again, it feels like people only want to hear my voice if it's exactly what they want me to say 😓 

Who's Afraid of Taylor Swift? 😂

Trump and the political right.  

They're suddenly terrified that she might endorse Biden (again?), and Rolling Stone reported that they have announced a "Holy War" on Taylor Swift.😂😂😂

Whaaaa?

A pseudo-Christian jihad on Taylor Swift!

Hahahaha!

Oh, they were serious.

So, let's see ... she's a white, straight, natural-born U.S. citizen, raised a Christian (and recently said she still believes in God and Jesus), who is dating a white, Christian, U.S.-citizen NFL player, so you'd think it'd be their dream.

All she does is write and sing non-political, varied-genre songs that people of all ages can relate to and that parents have no problem with, her OR her music; in short, she brings people joy/

So what's the problem, MAGATS?

Oh -  she also happens to be a Democrat, dohkay.  

And yet, still ... a holy war on her, seriously?

Why?

Talk about a witch hunt - what has she done to anyone?

(Well, besides writing relatable breakup songs about old boyfriends.)

And hello, as IF she didn't endorse Biden already in 2020; so why is this suddenly an issue?!?

And other than re-endorsing Biden,  what's the worst thing she could do; write a break-up song about America falling out of love with Trump?

Run for president herself? 

Hmm, actually? lol.

What's also hilarious is that recently, at a breakfast out with friends during Thanksgiving weekend, I was semi-joking that as long as we're hero-worshipping unqualified celebrities into  the U.S. presidency, why not Taylor Swift?

She has the fan base, the money, and the power to beat him -  and if these were my only two choices, Trump or Taylor, I'd definitely vote for Tay-Tay! 😆

(Well, except for the fact that she won't be 35 until December of 2024, and according to the US Constitution, the POTUS must be 35.)

Speaking of Taylor's power, in 2023, 18-year-old voter registration jumped 1,226% within one hour after Taylor's Instagram post with a link to voter registration.

Also, name one thing about Trump - OR his MAGATS - that is "holy," I ask you?

*crickets*

And think about this, MAGATS - how many people has Trump actually turned away from Christ, as the result of his greedy, boastful, dishonest, belligerent, fraudulent, bearing-false-witness, criminal behavior?

Oh, wait - now I see the problem and why this is suddenly an issue ...

Trump apparently expressed to others that he was upset that Taylor was awarded Time magazine's Person of the Year, instead of himself, bragging that his fan base is bigger and that he'd win against her. 

So the REAL issue is, Trump's poor wittle ego is bruised over Taylor being chosen over himself as Time Magazine's Person of the Year; thus, he fears she has a bigger fan base and is more popular than he is, so he paranoiacally considers her a threat 😉

Jealous, much, Drumpf?

And why are you so obsessed with the size of things - overcompensation for tiny ... other things?

Trump should just be glad Taylor doesn't turn 35 until December of this year, or else he wouldn't have to worry about Biden, he'd have to worry about HER running for president. 

Suddenly, there's all kinds of crazy theories about the Superbowl being rigged by Biden for Taylor's boyfriend, Travis Kelce, on the KC Chiefs (a relationship they say is a government "handled" ) - theories that don't even make any sense.

Now, I'm not saying that games aren't thrown, but as has been proven in court, it's usually by bookies with individual players or groups of players, and this IS in Las Vegas. 

Worst case hypothetical scenario, the NFL commission itself, or media networks themselves might for ratings -  but NOT the government or politicians.

Additionally, the powers that be at the NFL have largely proven themselves to be conservative, even Trump-supporting (especially coaches)..

Did we already forget the whole NFL furor and black-listing of Colin Kaepernick over kneeling-for-the-flag?

And remember when afterwards, Trump as POTUS demanded that anyone kneeling for the flag be fired, but most weren't, because though generally, the NFL as an organization (and especially the coaches) are largely Republican/Trump supporting, they didn't like anyone in government telling them what to do, so ...???

(Well, probably not - because modern Republicans apparently have the attention span and short-term memory of gnats - which the GOP realizes and takes full advantage of. )

And if you think the NFL has changed that much, in 7 years, think again.

I'm also not necessarily saying Taylor and Kelce's relationship is legit, maybe it is, maybe it isn't - maybe someone is insincere, or maybe it is PR-controlled, who knows.  If were the the latter, it wouldn't be the first time in the entertainment world. 

Then again, Taylor famously did not sit silent when her former record labels refused her the rights to her own songs, so it doesn't seem much like Taylor would ever let anyone control her, even PR people.  She's a pretty smart gal - she's not going to do anything that isn't good for her PR, but at the same time, is pretty genuine.

Regardless, point being, there is zero chance that either their relationship, nor the Superbowl, is actually politicallygovernment-controlled.

Again, I think speculation like that is projection on the part of MAGATS, as they are the ones who want to throw away democracy and for Trump to be like a king or a dictator, with too much control over things like that, and it's pretty obvious Trump's marriage is a loveless sham.

Especially hilarious is Newsmax, Fox, and other conservative outlets denouncing the idolatry of Taylor Swift.

Erm - hello?

Yawn, more projection. 

And methinks Taylor would never ask anyone to storm the capitol, at least - but I can't promise Swifties won't storm a MAGA rally, if MAGATS keep up this "Holy War" crap.

Only they wouldn't have guns, they'd just sing and dance, all up in your face, in flash-mob style - wearing cardigans, of course, with fairy and angel wings on their backs 😂

Regardless, I think she should title her next album "Holy War," with  THIS picture of her, as an angel! 😂

Along with a remixed version of "We are Never, Ever, Ever, Getting  Back Together," dedicated to Trump on behalf of America.

Hehehe, I say "Bring it, MAGATS.  Taylor and her angel army of Swifties are ready; armed not with guns, but with under-age-65 votes, cardigans, and fairy/angel wings, singing and dancing all up in your face.  

And don't forget Taylor's BF and his brother, as well as their teams, the KC Chiefs and Philly Eagles, whom I'm quite sure would NOT be singing and dancing in your faces (but perhaps ON your faces?) 😂