One of my memories from years-ago is seeing Father Time and Baby Time as one year ended, and the next started. I can’t say that I have seen it recently. Did it someway fall to political correctness?

I sat Thursday night as the clock neared midnight, considering the past year’s events and wondering what the new year holds in store.

Past year

My wife and I were blessed this year:

• We are healthy compared to many others our ages.
• Our son’s and my daughter’s families are healthy.
• Those with jobs are working, a true blessing.
• Lockdown has limited our expenditures and improved our finances.

This year

What do we hope for this year?

• My wife and I hope to remain healthy.
• Our children and their families to stay healthy.
• Those working will strive to remain so.
• Even with the new vaccines, lockdowns will remain in effect for months over concern about a new strain of COVID.

These are the things I mused while waiting for midnight—nothing elaborate or complicated, just thankful for my health and a loving family.

Resolution

Resolutions for the new year:

• Work to keep my health and find the new year.

That’s it. No resolution to drink less or stop smoking. These would be false resolutions since I quit both years ago. No, living to see 2022 is a good one to make.

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Today was the day to wrap all the presents. Lori and I spent a couple of fun hours hiding each in a cocoon of season’s paper. Now they add a lovely touch sitting beneath the new tree.

Tomorrow, our Daughter’s children will venture from next door and destroy the paper we lovingly used to hide their gifts. We are fortunate the trash cans are empty—for the moment.

Yesterday, we had Christmas present exchange with our Son’s family in the early afternoon. Later, my Daughter and family joined us for dinner and an evening chatting around the firepits. It was a beautiful night spent remembering the year with hot chocolate and burnt marshmallows.

This year has been unlike any year we remembered. The first few months were passing as usual, and then C’OVID disrupted the rest of it. Months in a full lockdown, then a start to return to normal before another lockdown.

We don’t know what the rest of the year will be like or what next year will bring but look forward to it.

Thank you for visiting, and we wish you and yours a safe, healthy holiday.

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Restrictions

The county executive closed restaurants once more to indoor and outdoor dining. Only curbside or takeout is authorized in Anne Arundel County, Maryland until sometime in January 2021.

This is more restrictive than what the state’s governor recommends. He recommends restaurants be limited to outdoor dining.

Exceptions

It would be appropriate if he closed the casinos and limited the box stores to curbside service only. No, these can continue to open but with limitations to 25%.

I can shop at Walmart, Costco, Target, Lowe’s, and Home Depot, but I can’t go out to eat. There is something wrong with these decisions.

Control

I firmly believe this proves government can control the American population. Not unlike government control of people in many third world nations.

They claim it protects us from the virus. The hospitalizations and death numbers are always about the virus. We no longer have anyone dying from cancer, heart disease, car accidents, or any other source.

People died before the virus

It is humorless that some thousands of Americans died each week of natural causes, which caused no concern. Yet, the virus made the government cringe and demand Americans shelter-in-place. Read this link.

Purely, government proved that Americans are lemmings that can be led off the cliff’s edge at its demand.

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I am not a prognosticator. Yet, I feel the need to make some predictions that I fear will pass if President Donald J. Trump does not successfully win the 2020 election through the recounts.

I base the following on personal observation and public comments. Please, let history prove me wrong!

Prediction: the United States of America will never have another Republican president or Republican-controlled Senate.

Why?

This election shows the Democrats know how to “find” votes from thin air, actually through mail-in ballots in mass. They control the counting of votes in critical states, barring observers without fear of being held accountable for violating election law.

Consider the number of ballots found for Joe Biden between 3 November midnight and 6 AM on 4 November in several states and the restrictions on poll watchers in Pennsylvania and Michigan as examples. We can expect whatever votes are needed to elect the Democrat; they will appear in future elections.

I think ballot-stuffing will occur in just enough places to ensure the Democrats remain in control of the powerhouses: president, Senate, and House of Representatives in the future.

How the Senate falls

After the Georgia runoff elections, the Senate goes under Democrat control if the Senate slits evenly 50 Democrat and 50 Republican.

As of this writing, Republicans should win the Alaskan Senate race, which will give the Republicans 50 Senators. Provided the Republicans hold Alaska, I believe Democrats win the two Georgia races for a Senate split evenly. The runoff elections offer the opportunity to find votes around Atlanta and surrounding counties for the wins.

The 50-50 split will make Kamala Harris the deciding vote on any contested bill.

What happens then?

First, the Democrats will do away with the legislative filibuster. The filibuster gives the minority party a way to influence a bills’ passing by requiring 60 votes to pass the bill. A simple fifty-one majority is not enough.

The Democrats used the filibuster in 2017 and 2018 to prevent Republican submitted legislation from being enacted. Remove the filibuster, and the Democrats can pass the progressive agenda they espoused before the election. As I said, Kamala Harris makes the 51st vote for any 50-50 vote in the Senate.

With the filibuster gone

Senator Schumer can make good on the packing of the Supreme Court. He railed against the elevation of  Justice Barrett, trending the Court conservative. He and several Democrats spoke of increasing the number of Justices to bring the majority back to liberal.  They need the Court to find in their favor on legal challenges to their progressives plans for America.

New States

Washington, DC and Puerto Rico will become states. The Democrats know this will increase the number of Democrat senators by four, making it unlikely the Republicans can ever have a majority.

Taxes

A bit of recent history. The Trump tax cut put money in almost everyone’s pocket. It lowered corporate taxes, and companies returned to the United States. There were more job openings than qualified workers before COVID-19 struck. Unemployment for minorities was at the lowest level ever.

Joe Biden promised to raise taxes. His tax increase takes money from Americans’ pockets and drives corporations to raise prices, lower wages, or reduce their labor force. The worst outcome would be companies moving to countries with lower taxes. Perhaps, back to where they were before Trump’s tax relief.

Biden Green Deal.

Stopping fracking and oil exploration on public lands are part of his plan. Public lands include coastal waters, places where there are many oil platforms. Reduce fracking and oil explorations makes the United States dependent once more on foreign sources for the fuels that keep our economy running.

Another part of the clean energy plan affects the production of electricity. Solar and wind become the preferred sources. They replace natural gas, nuclear, and coal-fueled power plants. As California found out this year, solar and windmills are costly and undependable, allowing blackouts and brownouts during the summer. California had to import electricity from states where the fossil fuel plants operated. BTW, does anyone know what fuel manufacturers use to make solar panels and windmill parts? Does anyone know of an American company that makes them?

And more

There are many more promises Joe Biden made in his manifesto. Free this and free that paid for with the additional taxes. Legalize over eleven million illegals. Open the southern border and other immigration changes without concern for how it affects American workers or our social programs.

I touched on just a few changes the progressives would like to see, and it starts when the Senate goes 50-50 with Kamala Harris as vice president.

A win in Georgia

Perhaps, the Republicans will win one of the two or both contested Georgia Senate races and keep the Senate in Republican control. Then, they could make me a lousy prognosticator. Something I plead will happen.

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After much thought, I decided not to compete this year. It was not a hard decision since I am editing one I wrote in an earlier competition.

The year I wrote this work was the first time I did the challenge. It was an eye-opening experience for this novice writer. It required writing 1667 words a day—every day of the month, including holidays!

Did you note I said |”novice writer?” I had dabbled in writing a novel, but not one with a deadline hanging over me. So, how did it go?

The first few days were very challenging. I started with the names for the principal characters and some key story points (I didn’t outline.) Not only must I envision the story, but I had to type it into Microsoft Word.

I am not a hunt and peck typist, but I don’t burn up the keys either. My typing speed while creating the story might have averaged ten words a minute. Time dedicated to typing was between 2.5 to three hours each day.

What came of it? I called it a disaster when I reread what I wrote. It loosely hung on a plotline but met the word goal to win the challenge.

The following is the first few paragraphs of that story after significant rework.

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Saving Siden (Working title)

The Goddess Kiliane found Goddess Mira relaxing in her palace’s main room. A tapestry hung behind her, which showed a pack of wolves serenading the moon. “Come with me tomorrow to get my gown,” Kiliane said, dropping into the chair across from her.

“I think I will stay here. I don’t enjoy being around humans,” she said, pushing errant strands of her honey-blond hair behind her ear.

Kiliane leaned forward. “You need to let the people you protect to see you, and I desire your company. Come with me; you might enjoy it.” She pressed until Mira agreed to go.

The next morning, Kiliane led her best friend through the Jihalla-Siden interdimensional gate onto Siden. They stood at the edge of an open-air market extending to their left. A road separated them and the market from a row of storefronts in two-story wood buildings.

Mira’s hands rubbed her bare arms.  “I should have stayed on Jihalla. It is cold here.”

She laughed while her friend, who wore a sleeveless silver gown, shivered in the early morning coolness. “You should have worn something warmer, but the temperature will rise soon.” Mira glared at Kiliane dressed in a long-sleeve shirt and pants.

Zudon had announced a banquet several weeks ago. He was hosting a celebration of the millennial anniversary of their awakening tomorrow night, and Kiliane needed her gown. Seamstress Amelia said it would be ready today.

The sound of ironshod wheels rumbling on the cobblestone road took their attention. Wagons passed in front of them filled with melons, corn, tomatoes, and more. At the east end of the market, farmers jockeyed their wagons into open-air market spaces.

Kiliane’s nose wrinkled at the odor of manure. She almost laughed at Mira, who was pinching hers shut.  She took a deep breath and smiled when the breeze shifted, and the smell of baking bread came to them.

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The graphic is something simple I created with Canva. I hope you enjoyed this excerpt. Let me know what you think of the image and if you would like to read more by using the comment form.

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Be safe during this trying time.

I sit here contending with a bout of near-depression. I am usually very much an optimist, but this election brings out the pessimist in me. I wonder what great sin in my past warrants the punishment of watching my great country on the verge of being brought low.

Donald J. Trump President

I celebrated when Donald J. Trump was elected president. His business background and campaign promises foretold prosperity for the country. I was not disappointed.

• The wages for blue-collar workers grew faster than for white-collar employees.
• Unemployment decreased as there were more jobs than qualified applicants. Also, the unemployment rate for minorities was lowest in years, for some the lowest ever.
• The number of illegals crossing the border reduced by an improved border wall and agreements between the United States and Mexico.
• The stock market grew by bounds as Americans spent their increased wealth and corporations reported their earnings. Individuals with stocks saw their accounts grow rapidly. Working Americans with 401k or IRA accounts enjoyed the same.
• President Trump began withdrawing America from Middle East wars after destroying ISIS. Troops are returning to the States, and no new wars started. For the first time in over twenty-five years, Israel and several Middle East Nations signed peace agreements.
• He increased funding to the military with pay increases for members and replenishment of equipment and munitions.
• Reformed the Veterans Administration to provide improved care for veterans.
• Signed an Executive Order to make hospitals post their charges for care to allow price shopping by those seeking care.
• Signed an Executive Order to make pharmaceutical companies price drugs at their cost in other countries, benefiting all Americans.
• His opponent regularly attacks the response to COVID-19. The facts are President Trump took quick action to fight the virus’ impact.
  • Shut down flights from China and Europe after conferring with experts.
  • Shut down America’s economy after consulting experts again.
  • Cut through red tape and used his influence with pharmaceutical companies to begin the rapid development of a vaccine.
  • Used his emergency powers to have companies build personal protective equipment at a phenomenal rate. Used the Army Corps of Engineers to erect field hospitals in cities where hospitals approached capacity because of the many infected.
  • Signed multiple funding bills to mitigate COVID-19 financial impact on businesses and those laid off.

President Trump’s efforts resulted in the return to work for many of those furloughed and the largest growth in Gross Domestic Product ever. This, while several states continue keeping many businesses locked down or operating at reduced capacity.

There are many reasons for optimism brought with the election of Donald J. Trump, so what is the problem—the possible election of Joe Biden.

Joe Biden

Joe Biden, Vice President under President Obama, made concerning promises. A summary follows.

• Will fight COVID-19 but hasn’t any plans different from what the President has done.
  • Shut down the economy if experts recommend it.
  • Mandate mask wear. President Trump recommended but didn’t mandate wearing a mask.
  • More personal protective equipment, though there are surpluses now.
  • Accomplish some things that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended for getting schools reopened and vaccine development.
• Promises to repeal the Trump tax cuts, which gave the average American family an extra $2000.00 a year and more for those with children. These go away with the Biden plan.
• Increase taxes for corporations that will increase the price of their product or reduce pay or benefits for workers to maintain corporate profitability. A third option which many may employ is to move overseas where taxes are lower.
• Spend on extensive infrastructure. The spending is for clean energy and to fight climate change.
  • Spend to move electricity generation to solar and wind sources.
  • Buy millions of electric cars and install thousands of charging stations.
  • Increase the demand placed on power plants, oooppppsss—I mean wind and solar power sources that even now can’t meet California’s needs.
• Stop all new drilling and forbid fracking on government lands. It begins the destruction of the fossil fuel industry.
  • Eliminate the subsidies to the oil companies.
  • Less oil and natural gas produced domestically will increase gasoline, electricity, and heating fuel costs.
  • Cause America to be energy independent no longer and make America reliant on imports once more.
  • Interesting point: windmills and solar panels are created with energy from fossil fuels. Without great energy sources, windmill and solar panel parts will be built overseas. This conflicts with the promise to “Buy American.”
• Promises to make MEDICARE available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to those who couldn’t afford insurance.
  • MEDICARE is practically on life support now. Adding large numbers of new users will create funding issues, and likely lead to socialized medicine as insurance companies can’t compete with government funded plans.
  • In other countries, government (socialized) insurance has resulted in long waits and rationed care.
• Promised to make eleven million illegals eligible for citizenship.
  • Open the borders and allow thousands to enter the United States, who will contest Americans for entry-level jobs and depress Americans’ wages.
  • Those who come will levy a heavy load on schools, hospitals, and social services, which again adversely affects American families.

He and his socialist running mate have made other promises, which brings on my borderline depression. It is contrary to my lifetime optimistic nature, but where I am today.

Resolution to Depression

There is only one resolution to depression, the reelection of Donald J. Trump on 3 November 2020. Elation is his reelection, and the Senate remains in Republican control. Jubilation comes with those and the House of Representative going Republican.

Until next time, remember to be safe during this trying time.