So, funny story to start this off. Yesterday, I did a thousand words on the second part of our trip of northern Wisconsin. I thought I was pretty cool, getting my writing done not early, but not late either.

#waitforit

I titled it like the above title, Slice of Life Tuesday, publish it, and feel good about myself.

Until I look at my computer screen which tells me that yesterday was, in fact, Monday.

#profanity

Indeed. If you’d like to read about our trip or see a few more pictures, they are available right here.

Crap. Now what to write about??

I could write about spraying our property, trying to kill off the wild parsnips that we have growing around. If you’ve not heard of them before, they are a plant with an awful sap that, when it comes into contact with your skin and is exposed to sunlight, causes severe burns. I won’t post example pictures, but safe to say it’s awful. I’ve been battling this stuff for years because my wife is sensitive to it.

Or I could write about seeing the live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon. Riddle me this: I love the original. I know this is pretty much following the original with a couple of minor creative changes. I know what’s going to happen in the movie. So what, in God’s name, am I sitting in a movie theater with tears just rolling down my face in a couple of different parts?? I know my stroke has made me more emotional, but come on! In all seriousness, this is a great movie. The actors, the dragons, all of it is top tier. I’d go see it again, but my wife would roll her eyes, big time! 🙂

Maybe my slice could be about the “big beautiful bill” that was just passed by Republicans in Congress who couldn’t care less about us OR this country. With all the bad press, I was hopeful, but yet, Mr. Vance, the bootlicker he is, comes in to cast teh deciding vote in the Sentate. I am appalled that we as a country saw fit to elect these terrible people, and am more appalled at what they are doing. I have a dark side that cannot wait to see the MAGA people posting videos about how they’ve lost their health care, how their rural hospital shut down, or how their food assistance is gone. We are in the find out stage, and we just don’t learn.

Perhaps this slice could be about a former friend of mine who has gone DEEP down the MAGA rabbit hole, posting things that are just lies. Last night, another friend posted something about the detention centers in Florida and how awful they are. He quickly chimed in about how they are going to hold “dangerous and deadly illegal” and how we should celebrate this move. I just couldn’t, so I replied to the original post about how awful this whole idea is. Well, I got a message that was, yikes. He’s lost a lot, I know this, but the complete disregard for our humanity both saddens and angers me.

Maybe I could write about a post I saw from a storm chaser in South Dakota. She posts a picture of how this chase, this tornado, was the best of her 25 years of chasing! The pride she writes with just gave me chills because how many of us can talk about what we do with such passion? I was touched by her words and felt it would be a great slice!

So, I guess I do have things to write about other than our trip. It’s been a weird day, but a good day all the same. We can only hope that things in America will begin to look up, but it seems like those clouds that the chaser talked about are only getting darker. Just remember, our words have power. They have strength. They give us a voice. Don’t be afraid to use them.

#amen