December 12, 2024

Lunch Time.

Mom enjoyed the flowers around our home while she was visiting last weekend. I took a picture of the flowers this morning and sent them to her in a text. The camera didn’t capture the vibrance of the colors I was seeing, but it didn’t do too bad.

I’ve stepped away from social media (again!) for a little bit, allowing myself only check on friends, families, and groups on Facebook in the morning before my shower. I’m finding that social media, in that it’s a lot of people talking about a lot of things in a chronological or algorithmic way, isn’t all that appealing to me at the moment. I’d rather be around people than try to interact with folks exclusively online.

I have been still visiting and chatting with a few folks on subject specific message boards and the like. For example, I belong to a Storm Chasers forum and at the moment we’re talking about the best restaurants we’ve encountered during our chase trips. A favorite for me is Brickhouse Barbecue and Brew in Liberal, Kansas. I didn’t get to go there this past chase trip, and in 2023 it was closed the night I was in town, but the other times I’ve driven through Liberal it has been an excellent experience. Another favorite is Twisters in Colby, Kansas.

I’ve been particularly introspective for the past month or so. I think it’s my way of pondering what I want to achieve in 2025 and for my reconciliation of events in 2024, particularly around the election. I guess my contribution to a better society is to be a better citizen, so I’m doing my best.

I have come to the realization that I’ve fallen back into that hoodie or trailer-trash-hoodie type of guy. Now that temperatures have fallen back in the 70s here in Southern Arizona, I have an excuse to wear a hoodie and I have a few good ones to choose from. They’re comfortable, and I feel the need to be comfortable these days.

I’m so fortunate to not have to work in an office.

I’ve been appreciating the stillness of the Sonoran Desert at this time of year a bit more than previous autumns. Sitting in the gazebo, and enjoying this quiet moment, is a wonderful way to spend the lunch hour.

Health Care.

I haven’t been paying much attention to the news since the results of the election were announced early in November. I really have no interest in watching people like Susan Collins “be concerned” about the cars of circus clowns Trump is undoubtedly using to populate his cabinet (junk drawer). Avoiding the news has been one step in maintaining my mental health. I feel I’m the better for it.

I just recently learned of the death of the UnitedHealthCare CEO. Apparently someone at McDonalds in Altoona, Pa. spotted the suspect and reported him to the authorities. I only learned of this when someone in our family shared a tweet stating that Burger King doesn’t snitch.

Violence is never the answer, but I totally get why folks would start going after CEOs of the insurance companies. It’s a horrible, horrible industry. My mother is wading through all sorts of insurance woes with her health care, my husband is ramping up for some health care coverage changes, and of course, I just went through the litany of “open enrollment”, where you get a very short time to make changes to your health plan for the entire upcoming year. The premiums go up, the co-pays go up, and apparently I’m suppose to be happy that I now have a deductible that’s only in the low thousands per year, and this is using (and paying lots of money for) the absolute best insurance plan offered by my employer.

Unfortunately, Americans sealed their fate when they favored Trump in November and it’s just going to get worse. I really don’t understand why people that paying insurance like your bladder is a car bumper is the way to go. I really don’t understand why your physical and mental well being is dependent on how much of your life you give to working for someone else. And I really don’t get why American society is OK with tolerating loopholes where the insurance company, not the doctor, gets to decide how much anesthesia you’re going to get when you’re getting parts removed or rearranged in an operating room.

I mentioned this to my mother during her visit and I’ve said it before on this blog, I am very grateful to be on the last half of my life. I never thought I’d see society unravel like it seems to be here in “the greatest country on earth”, but hey, God apparently blesses America.

Storms.

It’s getting to that time of year when I start thinking about storm chasing in the spring. I haven’t decided if I’m going to go on a chase trip next May or not, but in the meanwhile I’m watching some fantastic videos about thunderstorms, supercells, and tornadoes.

I discovered this channel earlier this morning… Pecos Hank – Nature with a Twist!