Has it been that long? I remember I was in a foreign land staring at a screen in a shop window, tears streaming down my face. I could hear the gasps around me and it was unbelievable. Time stood still on that day.
Month: September 2026
The Ballot (2026 Midterms)
What’s at stake? You know what is at stake.
Traveling Frugally
Sounds like a great idea if you don’t have the cash to splurge on extravagance but want to go places anyway. Unfortunately or fortunately, I don’t have much experience with this mode of traveling.
When I started traveling, I stayed at good hotels, went to really nice restaurants, and never had to worry if I was staying in a good location or not. I don’t think in all my years of traveling, I had a shoestring budget.
However, it is not hard to figure out what budget travel entails. It means, “exploring the world while keeping your spending low and intentional through smart choices.” It also takes work and careful planning to put a trip together but things can still go wrong.
Pay careful attention to these four items when planning your trip.
Accommodation:
No fancy hotels here. Look for hostel rooms, and or guesthouses. Pay careful attention to the ratings as well.
Food:
No fancy restaurants, instead rely on street food or cook your own meals.
Transport:
Public buses, trains, and or depend on your own two feet to get you places. No rental cars or taxis.
Activities:
Hiking trails, low-cost or free things to do like visiting public parks, beaches or other similar activities that cost very little or next to nothing.
Budget travel will take you places but I would rather stick with the normal variety or mode of travel. I’d rather be safe than sorry so I stick to traveling the way I do it. Book flight, get there, check in at hotel, know I’m safe, and take off from there!
Not everyone can afford that so my best tips for budget travel is, pay attention to details, look at the ratings carefully before booking anything, be aware of your surroundings, AND stay safe!
Letting Things Go
A beautiful song about finding peace AND trusting that there is a greater power who will take care of your worries for you.
A Bad Hair Day!
Hair today, gone tomorrow, and back again!
Favorite Cartoon Character?
Are we doing a loop again, seems like I’ve answered this question before. It is hard to come up with a character because I don’t have a particular favorite, just watched for the sake of watching something!
One character that pops up and pops in is Scooby-Doo. He is a cartoon character created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears for Hanna-Barbera. The Great Dane had bowed legs, a sloped back, and a chin that looked too small for his size. Scooby-Doo was also the perfect scaredy-cat. He had a massive appetite, is loyal to his friends and for all his fears, he stood up or rather protected them from danger when danger showed up. He loved being goofy and engaging in light-hearted teasing with his friend Shaggy.
Whenever he does something brave, this catchphrase comes into play. “Scooby-Dooby-Doo!” His trademark giggling, “Hehehehehe,” is used whenever he does something silly and “Ruh-wher?” is the question he uses when a monster vanished from sight.
All in all a lovable character and I wouldn’t say my all-time favorite cartoon character but right up there. By the way, I’ve outgrown cartoon characters!
Cute!
Baby Biden is adorable! Top Gun: Maverick couldn’t have looked any cuter.
Beautiful Souls
I’ve mentioned many times that I live in a small village that time forgot. Each day flows seamlessly into the other without much excitement or noise. It is so quiet that you can hear a pin drop all day long!
Just recently I’m realizing that there is more to this village than meets the eye. I had an operation two weeks ago and even though I didn’t tell any of the neighbors except one, word has spread and the kindness that has been shown is unbelievable. They also have a gossip mill going and it seems to be working really well!
Anyway, the neighbor I told about the operation is someone I like and love talking with. I also bring her flowers now and then and her eyes light up each time she gets a bouquet. She is well into her 80s but is very active and loves working in her garden plot every chance she gets. Yes, the same lady who gives me a jar of homemade cherry jam made from cherries she had harvested from her garden each summer. She also brings me a beautifully wrapped bowl of baked cookies at Christmastime and they are delicious. This time around, she called after I got home from the hospital and promised homemade oatmeal cookies. That was a week ago and then nothing. I thought she had forgotten.
Today I got a call from a frazzled person apologizing profusely saying, “I’ve been so busy! I didn’t forget about you. I’m getting on it right now and I will bring it to your back gate!”
ME: ” I wanted those cookies yesterday!”
I was just kidding but the beautiful soul with the kind heart to match put a smile on my face. I will pick up a bouquet of flowers when I can and will watch as her face lights up again.
Just little acts of kindness but you can’t get this kind of caring from big cities. You become invisible there and get swallowed up in the hustle and bustle. Here it is different and I like this cozy atmosphere and the PEOPLE who make it HOME here.
I don’t miss big city life anymore. I love the peace and quiet, the feel that life is moving along perfectly, the fields, and most of all the “beautiful souls” who live here.
Time for oatmeal cookies! Just right with a cup of green tea.
Your Mindset Matters
Where success is concerned, your mindset matters. Make up your mind to succeed and the rest will fall into place. Not that easy? No, it is not that easy but that making your mind up part is the first and most integral part to succeeding in everything you do.
“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” Michael Altschuler
This quote speaks volumes. You can daydream all you want but how you go about designing your life depends on you. I was a dreamer in my younger days but luckily I pulled my head out of the clouds and got going. It was hard work with failures along the way. I never gave up even if I felt like doing exactly that at times. There were moments when I stood still not knowing which path to take but those moments were few and far between.
I’m at a place now where all that hard work has paid off. I lead a comfortable life and can concentrate on what I love doing best and that is writing. Just a matter of luck? I don’t think luck has or had anything to do with it. It was my mindset and the hard work that got the wheels churning. The other thing is if you fall flat on your face, pick yourself back up and keep going. The light at the end of the tunnel is there and somewhere along the way, it will show up!
To answer your question, mindset, a positive one has everything to do with success, financial or otherwise.
Alice Weidel (Archives)
I wrote this piece when AfD’s vote share was at 22% and now it is at 43.8%. They are gaining in popularity at an alarming rate!
Update:
Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has been designated as a right-wing extremist entity and Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said the decision was “clearly politically motivated” and a “severe blow to German democracy.” The AfD attracted the support of two leading figures in the Trump administration. Elon Musk called on Germans to vote for the AfD and repeatedly posted his support for Weidel’s party and JD Vance said there was no place for “firewalls,” saying that free speech was in retreat in Europe. I guess there is a difference between free speech and hate speech. What’s in the future? It’s a wait and see approach.
The woman is openly gay, she lives in Switzerland, has two sons AND has a Sri Lankan partner. She is also now officially the AfD’s chancellor candidate as of this weekend.
Der Spiegel magazine had this to say: “If someone accuses the AfD of being misogynistic, homophobic or racist, they can say they have Weidel….”
According to Weidel, the first 100 days of an AfD government would see the total closing of Germany’s borders and turning back anyone with no documents as well as large scale repatriations. “I say to you quite honestly, if this must be called remigration, then let it be called remigration.” Those were her words but do you see some resemblance to you know who and his words? She also happened to describe Hitler as a “communist” and a “socialist” but conveniently left out “Nazi” in her chat with Musk.
Musk who? You know him. The Tesla guy with one foot in space and the other meddling in politics. You know what they say about Jack of all trades, master of none. Well, in his case, it’s working just fine for him. However, the billionaire is showing his true colors. He loves the AfD which stands for Alternative for Germany. It is a far-right and right wing populist political party in Germany. It opposes immigration especially that of Muslim immigration and it has been classified as a “suspected extremist” party. However, Musk in his wisdom claims that “only the AfD can save Germany.” He has become very vocal about his support of far-right, anti-establishment parties across Europe and more recently has been accused of meddling in Germany’s election process.
Have money, will meddle? Apparently so. The scary part is that Musk’s endorsement of AfD seems to have emboldened its presence and boosted its acceptance among the German electorate. He has gone on to say, “Chancellor Oaf Schitz or whatever his name is will lose.” Olaf Scholz responded with, “There are a lot of people on social media who want to attract attention with snappy slogans. The rule is: don’t feed the troll.” However, I like this one better. Elmar Brok, a former German MEP, called Musk’s comment, “the world domination fantasies of the American tech kings.”
Coming back to Weidel, AfD owes its prime-time position in German politics to her. It’s neo-Nazi image has been airbrushed and being promoted as a polite, and decorous populism thanks to the pearl necklace touting and pantsuit wearing Weidel. Under her guidance AfD’s vote share has risen to 22 percent, its highest ever at the national level.
However, it has been said that AfD has little chance of advancing or being part of Germany’s next government since working with the far-right is considered a major taboo because of its Nazi history. Needless to say the party is gaining momentum and it is making some people sit up and take notice.
Weidel once said, “As a woman, I also want to be able to take the last train home at night without fear,” referring to foreigners as her bone of contention. The well-traveled and educated Weidel’s entire career and lifestyle is in direct contradiction to her right-wing populist party’s doctrines which has led many to question her motives and what she is really about. Her former colleagues at Goldman Sachs have been posting videos and asking, “Here is Alice. What happened to her?” Is it the business woman or the right-wing populist?”
I’ll add, “Will the real Alice Weidel please stand up,” and “Mr. Musk, please sit down and be QUIET!”
