Halloween

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It’s Halloween and I’m dressed as…..I don’t even know what. I have struggled for months to decide on a costume and have been unsuccessful. I love Halloween and I feel like a frump. Maybe that’s my costume?

My two kids at home tried to help. #3 brought down a couple of chefs hat, and I thought with my kitchen apron that might work, but the hats were too small – perfect for a toddler head, but not for mine. #2 brought out his Indiana Jones hat. I liked that, but I don’t have a proper jacket. If I’d had time to think I could have worn my khaki shorts and a matching shirt with that hat and been Karen Gillan from Jumanji, but that won’t work. He even brought out his new Starlord helmut, but with my glasses, it would never have been comfortable.

I think I’m dressed as a Canadian. An odd choice. I tried to find a hockey stick, nothing. I have a ROOTS t-shirt with their trademarked beaver and an Elbows Up pin, along with dangly fall leaves earrings that include a maple leaf, pumpkin socks, and my hat.

It will have to do.

(c)2025
(c)2025

I’ll need to start thinking about next Halloween tomorrow. Any suggestions?

Election Connection – The Disgrace at the White House

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Not my photo. (c)2025

This is both a week early and a week late. Next Tuesday is Election Day.

A lot of people still think that off-year election days are less important that presidential or mid-term years. There are no more off-years. We need to be done with that nonsense. Just look at the past year to know the truth in that. Trump should not have won. I don’t say that as a conspiracy theorist, and I don’t know if anything untoward with Elon Musk caused the obvious change in the election, but what I do know is that if you look directly at Trump and his allies, he was losing and he knew he was losing. By the end of the campaign, he could barely stand up or string two coherent words together. And then someone “tried to kill him” in Butler, Pennsylvania. Do I think someone tried to kill him? I don’t know, but I’ll let my quotation marks speak to that. What I do know is that a man who is still whining about an escalator and toilet water has said not one word about his “assassination attempt.” So you tell me, what part of this man’s personality allows him to let this go?

My next point is that Congressional Republicans and the Supreme Court have completely shirked their responsibility and their obligation to their oath with the embarrassing failure of keeping the checks and balances on the Executive Branch. Almost none of his executive orders are legal. His tariffs most certainly aren’t. His murder of fishermen in the Caribbean is absolutely illegal and extrajudicial. His indictments of Comey and James are the pathetic cries of his own incompetence, and I swear on all that is holy that if the Justice Dept gives him one penny of the “settlement” he’s asking for, I will not be held responsible for my actions.

And if trampling over the Constitution and using its parchment to wipe his and his sycophants’ asses wasn’t enough, last week (it is hard to believe that it’s only last week) he took a bulldozer to the East Wing of the White House. No permits filed. No money disbursed by Congress. Private companies don’t get to work on an historic building, one that is one of the foundations of our capital city without the proper protocols in place: environmental impact studies, historic preservation, toxic safety. A wing of the building built in 1942 will certainly have asbestos in those walls they just ripped down. I’ve read that the company doing the destruction doesn’t have a permit or a hazardous waste certificate to clear asbestos, but what do I know. The East Wing also rests atop the secure bunker where the President goes when there’s a credible danger or threat. I guess not anymore, right?

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Reflection

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(c)2025

I had the opportunity a few days ago to spend a couple of hours at Starbucks. I don’t know if the best part was the free breakfast or the writing I got done. It may have been the moment of Zen and bonding between the barista and me when we both agreed that this day was the fifth Monday in a row.

I typed and I scribbled – keyboard and paper both. I set my alarm for PT and didn’t worry one minute about the time. Whenever my rant became too vocal inside my head, I took a metaphorical step back and people-watched for a minute and I was able to step back from the edge and regain my focus. And I wrote some more.

Since I started working full time (which I am not complaining about), I have not been able to take my writing time on the road so to speak. I miss taking myself to a quiet meal, pulling out my notebook and jotting down some thoughts that eventually expand into something else; something more.

My witchy ghost straw and I enjoyed this quiet time, and it reminded me that I need to schedule these moments into my month. It doesn’t need to be a long time; it can be on one of my lunch hours, but it is so important to recharge the creativity.

I had another wonderful day the Friday before, joining a pilgrimage at the St. Kateri Shrine in Fonda. I was able to meet new people, hear their reactions to the shrine, sit and listen and absorb the spirituality, the music, the moments in mass, and with the Sister who is part of St. Kateri’s story and miracle. The only word that comes close to describing it is glorious. It truly was that.

That one day there, and these couple of hours at the coffee shop will stay with me for the next few weeks, possibly a month or so, and carry me, push me, and let me move my book, as well as other writing, forward into the new year.

It’s a wonderful feeling.

Glorious.

Friday Food – Milestone

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My middle child turned 21 last week. Of my three kids, he is the only one who gets a homemade birthday cake. The reason for this is simple: he likes cheesecake and I can make cheesecake. Baking a regular cake, frosting it in buttercream, adding doodads on the top and words in icing is something I have never been able to do well. Baking, unlike “food cooking” is a science. It has to be measured a certain way. If it says sifted, it needs to be sifted. If it says baking powder, don’t use baking soda. It can be so complicated for those of us who do not have the talent for baking. If you’re a good baker, I am envious of you. It is a phenomenal skill.

Lucky for me (and my child), my middle son loves cheesecake and I enjoy making it. It’s the simple Philly 3-step cheesecake recipe from Kraft. However, for those special milestone birthdays, I try to do something extra.

A few of them have had raspberry swirls baked in.

Some have chocolate chips on top.

Some have fresh raspberries or raspberry syrup drizzled on top.

They all have whipped cream as the finishing touch.

For his 18th birthday, I added chocolate frosting bordering the edge with raspberries in the center.

For this birthday – his 21st – I had planned a center layer of caramel with raspberries. It was a good thing I spoke to my son and found out he doesn’t really care for caramel. Time for more improvisation.

I opted for melted chocolate and raspberries. My husband surprised us when he returned from the store with Heath bits. In the end, I put the number “21” in raspberries stuck into the melted chocolate covering the cheesecake and let it set in the fridge. When it was time to serve, I sprinkled the Heath bar bits on top and voila! Happy 21st Birthday!

(c)2025
Cheesecake with chocolate layer, red raspberries, and Heath bar bits sprinkled.
(c)2025

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

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I wanted to begin by acknowledging that I write this (and most of my writing) from the traditional, unceded land of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, primarily the Kanien’keha:ka or Mohawk people.

I have always been a student of history with a deep interest in New York and Native Iroquois since childhood and have a deeper appreciation and understanding through my research for my book about St. Kateri. It is with that basis and love that I share some resources, for reading, for music, for traveling for some of the indigenous spaces in upstate New York and southern Canada.

Haudenosaunee Flag.
(c)2025

Picture heavy below the cut.

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Inspire…October

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Third time’s the charm, right?

I’ve been writing this for about a week now, and social media made me scream.

Then screech.

Then scream again.

I tried to write about the inspiration that was my writing retreat at the end of last month.

I tried to write about our road trip to Ticonderoga to bring our friends to visit the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour.

I tried to write about the hostages being released this weekend (truly, thank G-d; I’m full of gratitude).

I tried to write about my surgical recovery (which is going well).

And all I got out was rants.

Rants about fascism.

Rants about antisemitism.

Rants about mental blocks.

Rants about why do we need to eat dinner EVERY NIGHT?!

Rants. And more rants.

I decided my October inspiration would be some of the photos I have on my phone. I hope they bring you some joy and some inspiration.

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Mental Health Monday – Do What You Can

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I try to post these Mental Health Mondays during the awareness months, like mental health awareness in May and suicide prevention awareness now in September, and throughout the year when I’m feeling that I need some reminders and tips to keep moving forward.

In this month of suicide prevention, I do post more about mental health than suicide prevention or ideation. That is mostly because despite the desperate need that brings some of us to the brink of suicide there is also the mental health aspect that affects us all in one way or another, at various times, whether we are officially diagnosed or in therapy for other reasons. We all have those  moments that life is just too much.

My suicide ideation came at a difficult time in my life, full of stress and downturns, and other despairs. Or did the stress, downturns, and despair come out because of the suicidal thoughts. Mental health is inextricably linked and often mental health and chemical imbalances result in physical health deteriorating.

I came through it.

You can also come through it.

Some days are better than others, but when the day begins again, each tomorrow is a new day, a new chance to start again, a new opportunity to be better and to make it better, whatever that ‘it’ is in your life.

I’d love to hear some of the ways that you make it through to the next day and begin again.

For some of my ways, look back at the mentalhealthmonday tag; search it in the search box on the left-hand sidebar or click on the tag below.

Let’s help each other. Getting through the tough times is the first step, and every step after that is a success.

National Read an Ebook Day

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Any excuse to read!

I almost always have my Kindle with me, and it often has a half dozen or so books on it, available or in some form of partially read and currently reading. The most used app on my Kindle is probably the Libby app and the Kindle app itself. Of the books in the above photo, a screenshot of my Kindle home page, three books are finished, one is not started, and the sample of Fr. James Martin’s newest book is still in the deciding stage of buying or borrowing.

A little bit about some of the books currently pictured:

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins is a prequel to The Hunger Games. It falls between Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds and The Hunger Games, and follows the story of Haymitch Abernathy. Well worth the read, it gives some background and really shows how Haymitch became the man we see when he meets Katniss and Peeta.

The second book pictured, Jesuit Relations, edited by Allan Greer, et al, is a book I bought for research for my own book about St. Kateri Tekakwitha. I am writing a chapter on the Jesuit influence and work in New France that Kateri was exposed to since childhood and certainly contributed to her conversion.

Skipping to the seventh book, How We Learn to Be Brave by Bishop Mariann Budde Edgar was one I had started to read, but then was assigned as a group reading at work, so I’ve re-read the first three chapters and will continue as the group continues. It’s really a good view of Bishop Edgar’s memoir as well as how she put herself out there, to be brave, and to move forward in her life and her career. It offers advice and direction.

Lieutenant Nun: The True Story of a Cross-Dressing, Transatlantic Adventurer Who Escaped From a Spanish Convent in 1599 and Lived was a Man by Catalina De Erauso, the third book pictured tells almost the whole story in the title, which is what attracted me to it in the first place. It’s a wild ride!

Three to Recommend:

  • The Writer: A Thriller by James Patterson & J.D. Barker
  • A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay
  • Standing My Ground: A Capitol Police Officers Fight for Accountability and Good Trouble After January 6th by Harry Dunn

Three on My Next Up List:

  • Black Elk: The Life of an American Visionary by Joe Jackson
  • Mark Twain by Ron Chernow
  • Patriot: A Memoir by Alexi Navalny

What’s on your e-reader?

Put your recommendations in the comments!

Robert Redford (1936-2025)

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When I was in high school, I went through periods of binge-watching different movies with the same actor to see their filmography, although I didn’t call it that at the time.

  • Errol Flynn
  • Katharine Hepburn
  • Claudette Colbert
  • Harrison Ford
  • Alan Rickman
  • Robert Redford

Of course.

Three Days on the Condor, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, The Sting,  All the Presidents’ Men, many others. Not just his acting but his directing, his exposure of issues. Ordinary People and Thunderheart come to mind as well as narrating the documentary, Incident at Oglala. Those last two changed my life and were major contributions to my activism.

Looking at him onscreen and in still images was like staring into the sun, or a shining star – too bright to look at too long or too intently, but not able to look away either. He was more than handsome. He was magnificent. As California Governor Gavin Newsom said, he was a son of California, and it was obvious from his full head of blond hair, deep tan, active, outdoorsy lifestyle. He was wholesome. His whole face showed what was on the inside, and it made you want to move closer, not away.

As people online said, I think we all thought Robert Redford was here forever, not quite immortal, but not mortal either. I recently re-watched All the Presidents’ Men, and I plan to watch it again this weekend. I’ll also watch Sneakers for the first time as that was recommended today as well.

As someone said earlier, we all hope that when we pass, we’ll be talked about and remembered as we are remembering Robert Redford today.

Obituary