Notices by Norcal Gma 2 (norcalgma2@sfba.social)

Back home after attending the Hands Off protest in Eureka, CA.
Lots and lots of people.
It was getting testy towards the end. A woman very close to me was accosted by an angry pro trump passerby who stopped because someone threw a water bottle at his car. That happened after he swerved his car and came very close to hitting someone. My grandson and many other people stepped in to shield the woman so after breaking up her sign he got back in his car and left.
I won't toot any photos with faces but this kinetic sculpture showed up to cheer us on. Kinetic sculpture races originated here and we were all excited to see one used in such a way.
There were five from my family out doing our best.
I hope we are making a difference.
Power to the People.

My day hasn't gone as planned.
I took food to the the little food pantry in town. I always feel a bit emotional when I realize that people are waiting for me to fill the shelves and leave.
On to the grocery store where I waited in line for an hour because people are buying up their favorite foods. There were two red hats, one Canada is not for sale hat, and my resist hat all in the same line.
I checked in on my daughter to find she was protesting on highway 101 by herself. So I made a quick sign and drove in to join her. Her sign said she was standing up for cancer research.
She said she needed to do something, so we did something together.
This Grandma is worn out. My daughter calls me a rock star but I feel like the elder I am.

Another day another protest.
My daughter says that it is therapeutic to feel like we are resisting in a meaningful way.
We agreed to weekday lunch hours on a busy thoroughfare for who knows how long. Not looking like a short term commitment, unfortunately.
Today was all positive with honks, waves, peace signs and offers of food and water.
Passersby are more receptive than they were only two weeks ago.
Now that we're done I can get back to my garden and try not to think that my retirement didn't need to be this way.
#Resist

A perfect morning here on the north coast of California.
Nice enough to bring my husband along for a short walk.
Mild temperature and no wind.
Perfect.
Summer was the happiest dog in the neighborhood.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

Summer wants to know if anyone wants to tear themselves away from following current events to come play with her.
She is an excellent distraction.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

My husband has cabin fever.
As soon as he started making noises about taking Summer for a walk she and I sprang in to action to propose a compromise.
The good thing is that he has more energy. The not so good thing is that it runs out fast.
So in between rain, hail and sunshine we took a drive to our favorite trail. He sat at the picnic table to soak in some fresh air and outside goodness while Summer and I jogged down the trail a piece.
It worked out, but he was ready to get back in his recliner, as soon as we got home.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

More walk photos with no Summer.

I called my husband over to look at the rainbow.
He looked and looked and finally said you are really calling that a rainbow? It might be a hint of a rainbow at best.
I thought about it for a minute and said a rainbow, is a rainbow no matter.
I think finding even a hint of something good is worth my attention these days.
So here is my Sunday sort of a rainbow. Trust me, it's there.
Really it is.
Good morning, Mastodon.

#SilentSunday

I always stuff a leash in one of my jacket pockets, but unless there are other people around I let Summer run, and keep her under voice control.
Today, I decided to bring a walking stick so that meant that my hand wasn't in my pocket to keep the leash there.
I didn't notice, it was gone, until I saw some people heading our way.
The leash must have worked it's way out of my pocket.
We were going to need it so I sent Summer back to find where it fell.
I followed along but she found it before I did.
She always comes through, and is such a good girl.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

Summer got one more run up and down the hill before the rain caught up to us.
The sun was nice while it lasted.
#Summer ##DogsOfMastodon

Today's weather was as good as it gets here on the north coast of California.
Summer and I leaned on our deck railing to watch the sun go down. I didn't even need a jacket.
We always share what's on our mind so I was telling her how concerned I am for our friends at the VA. The staff and fellow veterans.
For the last two years they have been our lifeline to health care and essential medical supplies.
Literally saving my husband's life more than once.
I wish I had the reach to broadcast to the world the importance of these public servants, and the services they provide. I would tell the world that I am sorry that they are being treated unfairly. They deserve so much better.

Summer and I were on the way to our walk this morning we saw a whole passel of egrets in a green pasture.
I stopped and rolled the window down. They were sure that we had good intentions so they started flying away.
I love where we live.
#SilentSunday

We have tons of beautiful sunshine on our hill this morning, but when I looked around us I realized we were just above the fog that was everywhere else.
Summer was hopping and spinning around because she remembered my promise of an early morning walk.
Should we let pea soup fog keep us off the trail?
Summer's pal says it will burn off and that we should head on down the road. Maybe he wants a few minutes of solitude.
Away we went. We even had the whole trail to ourselves. Summer had a blast.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

More walk photos.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

I was so excited to find out that after being the blue oasis, in a very red neighborhood, for at least the last eight years our neighbors are coming out of their trance.
Our closest, in proximity, neighbors actually apologized to us and said they are sorry for voting the way they did in the last three elections. It seems they have also convinced the ranchers across from us, too.
Our neighborhood is practically purple!
I know sorry isn't enough, but I actually feel a little bit safer now that we aren't completely surrounded.

Summer hasn't been able to run and swim at her favorite trail for days. She was so excited to swim, so I let her run ahead to find a stick and wait for me. She could hardly wait to dive, and was in fine form this morning.
Summer is a happy dog.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

@bmacDonald94
Take good care and feel better soon.

I've been thinking about all of the years I sat on non profit boards, including the League of Women Voters. I held every league job title locally and was a board member for at least fifteen years. We talked and talked and we planned until we exhausted every topic. We registered voters and supported the exchange of ideas and preached civil discourse was the way.
Sometimes, the ideas expressed, by our guests or members, were just flat wrong, but we smiled and allowed everyone a platform until their time was up.
Now, I feel sorry for not standing up to say that every idea doesn't deserve a platform provided by me. That making those ideas seem equal to the others somehow gave them credence. Just like mainstream media does now.
I thought I was doing the right thing but hindsight tells me not.
Never again will I fail to speak up and speak out. I hope it's not too late.

#SilentSunday