"Hold Up!" Trump Supporter Interrupts President Obama

Yesterday at a political rally for Hillary Clinton in North Carolina, President Obama chastised a crowd for booing a Trump protestor.  

First look at this video made by the Trump protestor and then look at the video of President Obama chastising the crowd for booing the Trump protestor.  

I agree with President Obama, we all have the right to free speech including this Trump protestor who, by the way reminds me of the distant cousin who threatened me with bodily harm if I visited his parents again while researching my family tree.  

My cousin (woman in back) and her husband and son before they knew I "practiced the gay lifestyle".  The son is the one who threatened me if I ever "put a foot on their property again."

The night before I was to visit his mother (my 2nd cousin - her grandmother and my grandfather were brother and sister) and her husband (who called president Obama a "quare"), he asked me over the phone is I practiced the "gay lifestyle".  When I replied "If you mean am I gay?"  He said "Now get this bud, you put one foot on their property and you'll have me to deal with! You got that bud!"  Of course I took his advice and didn't visit his parents the next day as I had planned with my cousin Bob and his wife, who had traveled all the way from Marietta Georgia to meet his second cousin. 

My cousin Bob with his wife Marie the night before of the planned visit to my cousin.  I called from this restaurant just to confirm our visit the next morning and this is when I was warned not to "set foot" on my cousin's property by their son because I "practiced the gay lifestye."  You know folks, all my life I've been at the receiving end of this homophobia hate and one would think I would get used to it, but it still hurts when you hear it come out of nowhere.  Just looking at this video of the Trump protestor at the Hillary Clinton rally where President Obama was speaking brought all the evil back to fore. I will never deny who I am but I am not stupid either.  I didn't visit my cousin the next day.  Instead we took a ride through that beautiful western North Carolina mountain country.  Ironic that so much hate resides in such a beautiful part of the country.

 

Me, the next day in that beautiful western North Carolina mountains where my father was born and where my paternal family heritage is and also where so much hate still resides.  The irony.

If you want to know why I didn't visit, check out the hateful venom in this man's free speech.

Now look at this video at how Obama handled this protestor exercising his right of free speech.

The Face of Hate

 He told the crowd to "Hold up!" and stay focused.  Don't waste time booing this man exercising his right of free speech but instead get out and vote (for Hillary Clinton).  While you may not like Hillary Clinton, there isn't much choice.  Do you want to vote for a person (Trump) who has this kind of support?  A person who spews vile and hate and lies and intimidation every time he speaks. A person, who when confronted with a protestor exercising his right of free speech says "I would like to punch him right in the face!"  

I like the way President Obama handled this situation.  This is the way a true leader (of all the people) handles a situation like this.  Deescalate the venom and focus on making a positive change by voting for the candidate who represents the best of America.

Make sure you vote!

The F.B.I. Fails and Other Observations of the Presidential Election

James Comey, F.B.I. Director - more concerned with his own image than the country

One week ago today James Comey, the F.B.I. Director notified the Republican lead House subcommittee that the F.B.I. had discovered more e-mails that may be related to the Hillary Clinton e-mail investigation.  

Thus, James Comey inserted himself into the presidential election.  Did he do it on purpose?  Of course he did because he put his reputation above the protocol of the F.B.I. not commenting on ongoing investigations, especially this close to the presidential election.  The proof?  Why didn't he mention the continuing investigation of Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort's ties to Russia?  

Now information has come out that disgruntled F.B.I. agents are leaking information supplied by Trump supporters to the F.B.I. about the Clinton Foundation. 

These actions by the F.B.I. is just the latest pillar of trust to crumble.  There was a time we could assume that the F.B.I. didn't take sides.  That the F.B.I. was above politics.  

Yesterday a tape was played Trump surrogate Rudy Giuliani cackling during a CNN interview that was taken three days before the Comey letter that "something big was gong to happen."  Obviously Giuliani was fed information by rogue New York based F.B.I. agents about their bogus investigation into the Clinton Foundation.

You know what's ironic folks?  That Hillary Clinton is being accused of being a criminal and should be "shot" (according to New Hampshire State Trump chairman Al Baldasaro) or at minimum "lock her up!" that is often chanted at the Trump rock concert tour by his irredeemable deplorable masses. 

I'll ask the obvious question, what has Hillary Clinton ever done to these people?  Nothing, that's what.  

What has Donald Trump and his supporters done? They have created hate and divisiveness on an unprecedented scale.  Trump has offended just about every minority group in the electorate except Stepford Wives perfect model wives and mistresses. Donald Trump has not paid taxes for years, using other people's losses as his own loss to avoid paying taxes.  No taxes to support this country.  No taxes to support our military.  Donald Trump kept all his money to buy gold plated chairs for his Versailles type aerie at the top of Trump Tower in New York City. 

Trump and his toady Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence who has sold his soul for a desperate grab at power - so much  for evangelicals and heir holier than thou preachings - Pence supports the Pussy Grabber

Only a few days now folks until this mess is over with. I'm going to take a good, long shower.

Good News, Bad News

The good news is that the Chicago Cubs won the World Series.  Congratulations Chicago! 

This is the first World Series win for the cubs since 1908.  I know how the Cubs fans feel.  I was living in Philadelphia when the Philadelphia Phillies won their FIRST World Series in 1980.  What a feeling.  Enjoy that once in a lifetime high Chicago Cubs fans.

The bad news is that the polls are tightening in the U. S. presidential race.  I still can't comprehend why so many otherwise reasonable Americans would even consider Donald Trump for president.  The man has proven himself time and time again to be massively unqualified to hold the most powerful job in the world.  Do they actually think Trump will bring back manufacturing jobs to the U.S.?  Really?  

Don't they realize that Trump is an opportunist who grabbed onto the justifiable frustration of so many Americans who are tired of "business as usual" with politics?  I'm one of those Americans.  At first I liked Donald Trump and his "break all the china" approach to the Establishment and System.  But once I discovered that he is a con man only taking advantage of gullible, frustrated Americans to feed his own ego, I realized just how dangerous he is.  

I've said this before but I just don't get the Hillary Hate Syndrome.  What has Hillary ever done to those suffering from that syndrome?  Of course after thirty years or more of a constant drumbeat by the Republicans against the Clintons, of course they (the Clintons) would be viewed as untrustworthy.  Are they any more untrustworthy than say Paul Ryan, the Republican Speaker of the House who defined Trump as the "classic racist" but yet still will vote for Trump?  Or Senator Marco Rubio of Florida who said Trump is a con man and should be nowhere the nuclear button.  Yet he will still vote for Trump because Hillary is worse?  Profiles in courage, those Republicans.  

Folks, I'm just going to try and get through the next few days without listening to the news or get into discussions of the merits of Trump as president versus Hillary.  

I'm going to vote next Tuesday then prepare for my annual birthday trip to Philly.  Hopefully I will have a reason to celebrate. 

Walking - Exercise Routine

My Activity app on my Apple watch

Out of bad things, sometimes good things happen.  

Remember when I fell on the ice a year and a half ago and tore my left leg quadricep muscle?  I never thought I could walk normal again. 

Me on my walker - several limited my ability to get around

I wore a brace on my leg for twelve weeks after the operation that reattached my quadricep muscle.

Me with my leg brace - I couldn't bend that leg for twelve weeks in order to give my reattached quadricep muscle time to heal

That recovery time was perhaps the worst time of my life with the exception of the difficulty I had selling our Pennsylvania house when we moved to Delaware ten years ago.  Wow, that was a long sentence.  

My stapled up leg after surgery to reattach my quadricep muscle

Walking was the one thing I always had.  I've always enjoyed walking.  

I've done a lot of walking in my lifetime. When I was in high school, I didn't have a car.  I walked home miles from after school activity.  I also walked home miles from my part-time job cleaning offices.

When I lived in Center City Philadelphia, I walked a couple of miles to work and back home every day.  Sometimes I even walked home for lunch, albeit I walked fast.  

Walking was always something I had.  Thus, when I lost the ability to walk normal, I was felt a great sadness.

This spring, I started to walk again. Before breakfast in the morning I would walk a few houses up the road pictured in the banner photo at the top of this blog.  Eventually I was able to walk all the way to the other end of our development.  

These days I walk the whole of our our development once in the morning and once in the afternoon.  The total walk is two miles each way.  If I'm not too busy, I also walk before lunch.

A big help has been the Activity app on my Apple watch.  This helps me to stay on course.  I feel like I'm really accomplishing something.  And you know what?  I feel a lot better too.  And of course, I'm keeping my weight down.  Which is a biggie since I am one of those older males who tends to gain weight around my middle.  

Folks, it's all good.  And you know what?  Walking is also free.  I especially love walking early in the morning just as the sun is rising and the birds are starting to chirp.  

When I walk in the morning, and the afternoon, I feel at one with nature.  I love it folks. I feel alive again.  Now, not to fall again. 

That Time of Year Again - Philadelphia Visit!

View of Walnut Street, Philadelphia from our aerie at the Latham Hotel

This time next week I will be preparing for my annual birthday visit to Philadelphia. 

For many years I worked and lived in Philadelphia.  They were some of the best years of my life. Come to think of it, wherever I've been has been the best years of my life, including now.

Three years ago I decided to visit my former hometown on my birthday and stay at an expensive hotel.  A hotel that I used to pass on my way to work every day.  

My Canadian BF Pat came down from Toronto to help me celebrate my birthday.  Even Dr. Spo from Phoenix Arizona, who was in town for a seminar, dropped by the hotel with three of his friends to help me celebrate my birthday.  They even took me out to dinner.  Thanks guys!

Look at these gorgeous men in my hotel room! Only one got to stay overnight.  

For most of my life I have put off taking trips, always vowing to take those trips in the future.  Well folks, the future is here now and I'm taking that trip to one of my favorite cities next week.  

Philadelphia here I come!

Final Countdown

Now the latest news on the election is that more e-mails related to Hillary Clinton were discovered on (are you sitting down?) Anthony Weiner's cell phone.  Of course the Republicans are jumping up and down in orgasmic ecstasy over the "Lock her up!" rhetoric. Calm down Hillary Haters. Hillary is still going to win the election. Yes, the election is going to be close but Hillary is going to win.  The Dumpster Trumpster isn't going to win. Deal with it Hillary Haters. 

I believe that many of you, like me, will be glad when this election is over.  God, I am exhausted.

It's All Good

How do you like my first photo with my new iPhone?  Amazing!  

I have one of those $1,000 Cannon SLR cameras but I never use it now.  It is so much more convenient to use my iPhone camera.  No more bulky camera hanging around my neck, intimidating people worried that I'm going to take their picture.  Now I have my handy camera/iPhone in my right pocket.  And, I can also take videos, which I do almost every chance I get.  

Life is good now folks.  Of course it could end in an instant (of which I am all too aware) but for now, I am at the best place in my life.

No immediate health issues other than creeping arthritis and my face falling apart.

Bill and I are entering our 53rd year living together and we love each other more than ever.  

I have several very good friends who accept me as I am, warts (and falling face) and all.

I have a good job which supplements my fixed retirement income and keeps me engaged. 

I live in a fabulous part of the country, southern Delaware which has mild weather and minimal homophobia. No weird stares from fellow patrons at Lowe's when Bill and I shop there.  

Is life perfect?  Of course not but folks, this is as good as it gets.  And in a couple of weeks this election will be over (thank God).

And of course I have my new iPhone.  

It's all good folks.  Have a great day!