Just Little Ol' Me Speaking My Mind About Football and Joy and Stuff

This football season is one that I have counted on to bring some normalcy into my life.

Along with some much needed joy.

Listen, I'm gonna take and hold on to all the joy I can, while I can.

With a felon in The White House doing nothing, in my opinion, but wreaking havoc, destroying the country, stealing people's dreams, livelihood, and money, I need some joy damn it.

Go, Chiefs!  

Thank you for the joy!

As Lisa Turner so wisely said at Facebook:

"Joy.

Wherever and whenever possible.

There is no amount of joy too small to be celebrated. There is no such thing as too much.

Joy is an act of resistance, of love, of defiance, a figurative middle finger to all the chaos and misery of the world.

Because nothing and no one can take it from you."

Yes!  Nobody could have said it better.

* * * * * 

There have been any number of years that I wasn't as invested or even  interested in football, but my football loving Dad would have jumped out of his grave to set me straight if I ever bad mouthed a team for some of the ridiculously pitiful reasons I've been reading and hearing about The Chiefs this year.

My football journey has been a long and winding road, beginning back when I was a little girl jumping up to yell SCORE with my Dad while watching The Baltimore Colts, which you can read about here.

* * * * * 

I admit it.  

I'm one of those "Bandwagon Fans."

I fell in love with The Taylor/Travis fairytale romance which, of course, included The Chiefs.

SO?  

I hopped on the bandwagon and I'm on it to stay.  

I've since learned a lot about some pretty special football players I wouldn't have known about, and just how truly and amazingly special they are.   There are stories to break your heart and then mend it.  I love these guys.

* * * * * 

Enjoy these highlights from the AFC playoff game with me.  I loved this game and am still loving it.  You'll need to follow the link to YouTube

Now, if you just don't like The Chiefs, or if your team didn't get as far as you hoped this year, I get it.

Believe me.  I get it.  And I'm sorry.

BUT.

To all the haters, whiners, football conspirators, and/or all round poor sports  who can't wait to tell the world they are no longer interested in the Super Bowl because:

A. The refs cheat.

B. The Chiefs cheat.

C.  The entire season has been scripted - ALL teams were paid off so that The Chiefs would get back to the Super Bowl this year.  Taylor Swift is part of this.

D.  You hate Patrick Mahomes.

E.  You hate Brittany Mahomes.

F.  Patrick Mahomes is not a great quarterback.

G.  You hate Travis Kelce.

H.  Travis Kelce is washed up.

I.  You hate Taylor Swift.

J.  The Taylor and Travis romance is not real.  It's made up just to help:

      1.  Make The Chiefs famous.

      2.  Make Travis Kelce famous.

      3.  Make Taylor Swift famous.

Here are my thoughts about this stuff that I think is just dumb.  And I am, aren't I, just as welcome to my opinions as you are to yours?  You can call me stupid if it makes you happy.  Go right ahead . . .  😊

A.  I am 76 years old.  I have seen a LOT of bad calls made by refs.  It happens.  It has always happened.  It will continue to happen.  They're human.  Humans make mistakes.  We all hate it when it happens.  

B.  No.  They don't.  Waiting here for a valid example.  Go ahead . . . I'm waiting . . .

C.  Bwahahahaahaha.  WHAT?!?? Why?!?!!!  (People are REALLY saying this!). 

You can read this article in People

D.  Okay

E.  Okay

F.  Oh, but he is.  Do a little bit of research and compare his stats to other (pick one or two or more) quarterbacks.

G.  Okay

H.  No, he's not.  Again.  Instead of running on with something easily proven untrue, do a little research into his stats.

I.  Okay

J.  Bless your heart.  Okay.  

     1, 2, 3.  <snort>

* * * * * 

And hey, hey, hey - there's this - in case anyone forgot . . .

Andy Reid is one hell of a coach.  

And don't forget Spagnuolo!

And All these guys!

* * * * * 

Here's the thing.

Nobody is making you watch a single football game.

If you're tired of football, tired of The Chiefs, hate the refs and/or the players (or their girlfriends or wives) don't watch.

Just. Don't. Watch.

Easy Peasy.

There's always next year.  Or the year after. 

* * * * * 

But, while we're here and talking about a team I happen to love, these guys listed below on The Chiefs roster are all part of this Super Bowl bound team.  Some for the first time.  There are some pretty heartwarming stories surrounding Andy Reid's Chiefs.

We have seen some pretty amazing plays by many of them.

Chiefs Super Bowl roster

• 1 | WR Xavier Worthy
• 2 | CB Joshua Williams
• 4 | WR Rashee Rice
• 5 | WR Hollywood Brown
• 6 | S Bryan Cook
• 7 | K Harrison Butker
• 8 | WR DeAndre Hopkins
• 9 | WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
• 10 | RB Isiah Pacheco
• 11 | QB Carson Wentz
• 12 | TE Jared Wiley
• 13 | CB Nazeeh Johnson
• 14 | P Matt Araiza
• 15 | QB Patrick Mahomes
• 17 | WR Mecole Hardman
• 19 | WR Tyquan Thornton
• 19 | QB Chris Oladokun
• 20 | S Justin Reid
• 21 | S Jaden Hicks
• 22 | CB Trent McDuffie
• 23 | LB Drue Tranquill
• 24 | WR Skyy Moore
• 26 | S Deon Bush
• 27 | CB Chamarri Conner
• 29 | CB Eric Scott Jr.
• 29 | RB Kareem Hunt
• 30 | CB Chris Roland-Wallace
• 31 | CB Nic Jones
• 32 | LB Nick Bolton
• 34 | RB Samaje Perine
• 35 | CB Jaylen Watson
• 38 | CB Steven Nelson
• 38 | RB Keontay Ingram
• 39 | CB Keith Taylor
• 40 | K Spencer Shrader
• 41 | LS James Winchester
• 42 | RB Carson Steele
• 43 | LB Jack Cochrane
• 44 | LB Cam Jones
• 46 | CB Darius Rush
• 48 | LB Cole Christiansen
• 50 | LB Swayze Bozeman
• 51 | DE Mike Danna
• 52 | C Creed Humphrey
• 53 | DE BJ Thompson
• 54 | LB Leo Chenal
• 55 | DE/LB Josh Uche
• 56 | DE George Karlaftis
• 60 | C Hunter Nourzad
• 61 | OL C.J. Hanson
• 62 | OL Joe Thuney
• 64 | OT Wanya Morris
• 65 | G Trey Smith
• 66 | G Mike Caliendo
• 69 | DT Mike Pennel
• 70 | G Mettauer McKade
• 70 | OT D.J. Humphries
• 72 | OT Chukwuebuka Godrick
• 74 | OT Jawaan Taylor
• 75 | OT Ethan Driskell
• 76 | OT Kingsley Suamataia
• 80 | WR Montrell Washington
• 81 | WR Nikko Remigio
• 82 | WR Justyn Ross
• 83 | TE Noah Gray
• 84 | WR Justin Watson
• 85 | TE Anthony Firkser
• 87 | TE Travis Kelce
• 88 | TE Peyton Hendershot
• 89 | TE Jody Fortson
• 89 | WR Jason Brownlee
• 90 | DE Charles Omenihu
• 91 | DT Derrick Nnadi
• 92 | DT Marlon Tuipulotu
• 94 | DE Malik Herring
• 95 | DT Chris Jones
• 96 | DT Fabien Lovett Sr.
• 97 | DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah
• 98 | DT Tershawn Wharton
• 99 | DT Siaki Ika

* * * * * 

There are a few folks who agree with my feelings about all this, they just say it better. 

Nate Burleson said this 

https://fb.watch/xrseTNcHwC/?mibextid=NnVzG8

Patriots legend Julian Edelman had this to say

* * * * * 

So.

In a nutshell - - - 

In the meantime -

Go, Chiefs!

❤  💛  ❤  💛  ❤

don't forget to

 

What's for Breakfast - Chocolate Whipping Cream Pound Cake

 

Yes - "stressed" spelled backwards is "dessert," which doubles as breakfast at our house.

Chocolate Whipping Cream Pound Cake

This moist Chocolate Whipping Cream Pound Cake has a velvety soft texture, fine crumb. and the perfect amount of chocolate flavor!

Ingredients

• 3 sticks (1 ½ cups) (339g) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups (600g) sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 3 cups (342g) Cake Flour
• ½ teaspoon (2g) baking powder
• ½ cup (41g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon (3g) salt
• 1 ½ cup heavy cream or whipping cream (348g)
• 2 teaspoons (8g) vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Glaze

• 4 oz Semi-Sweet or Dark Chocolate
• 3 oz Heavy Cream or Whipping Cream

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a large tube pan (we used a 10 inch pan)
2. In a separate bowl add the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder.  Whisk to combine and set aside.
3. Add the butter to the bowl of your mixer, mix until smooth.  Gradually add the sugar and  mix until fluffy and lightened in color, this will take 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each until the yellow of the yolk disappears.
5. Add the 2 teaspoons of vanilla to the whipping cream.  With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and the whipping cream.  Begin and end with the flour mixture. (We do three additions of dry ingredients and 2 of whipping cream.)  
6. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until a long wooden skewer or toothpick comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached.  Ovens bake differently so check at around the 1 hour mark and adjust the baking time as needed.
7. Allow the pound cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning out.

Yum

❤ ❤ ❤ 

Yep, this is me. Standing up for decency.

 

Yes, it's true.  I have, and will continue, to walk away from people who support the felon in the White House.

But it's not politics.

You can tell people, you can even tell yourself, it's political.

But you know better.

To me, it's about common and moral decency, and the constitution of this country

Points of the matter follow, including a few memes that resonate with me -

The White House confirmed that Medicaid websites are down throughout the country due to Trump's federal aid freeze. 

72,058,701 people rely on Medicaid for health insurance.

From Women Forward:

If you thought this Administration would be “for” the average American, you were wrong. They are for the rich and the destruction of government services that WE pay for and Congress approved funding to.

We all know someone who will be affected by this unlawful action.  

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503

January 27, 2025

“Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”

Here is an an amended list of some of the organizations and individuals affected by this action. 

1. Community Services Block Grants (CSBG): Anti-poverty programs that help people improve education, secure employment, etc.

2. Head Start: Early education for low-income children.

3. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Energy assistance for low-income families.

4. Meals on Wheels: Nutrition for homebound seniors.

5. Ombudsman Programs: Advocacy for seniors in long-term care.

6. Child Protective Services (CPS): Safety and foster care support for children.

7. Domestic Violence Programs: Safe housing and support for survivors.

8. Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): Affordable housing and neighborhood improvements.

9. Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF): Housing assistance for veteran families.

10. Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP): Workforce support for homeless veterans.

11. Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA): Domestic violence shelters and support.

12. Older Americans Act (OAA) Programs: Services for senior health and wellness.

13. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Nutrition support for low-income mothers and children.

14. Title IV-E Foster Care: Funding for child welfare services.

15. Early Head Start: Education and care for infants and toddlers.

16. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants: Health research affecting underserved populations.

17. National Science Foundation (NSF) Grants: Education and community-focused research.

18. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Quality Grants: Protecting clean water in vulnerable areas.

19. Maternal and Child Health Block Grants: Improving health outcomes for mothers and children.

20. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Legal and support services for survivors.

21. Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program: Housing and services for homeless youth.

22. Rural Health Care Grants: Support for clinics in underserved rural areas.

23. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP): Helping low-income families save on energy costs and improving the quality of community housing.

24. Emergency Food and Shelter Program: Hunger and homelessness relief.

25. Urbanized Area Formula Grants (Section 5307): Provides funding for public transportation systems in urbanized areas, including buses, rail, and paratransit services essential for low-income individuals, seniors, and people with disabilities to access jobs, healthcare, and community services.

Donald Trump stopped the Violence Against Women’s Act grant funding which pays for women’s shelters and district attorneys’ salaries to prosecute rapists and abusers.

Saturday Muses in Meat Camp

Today, like many of you, I'm dealing with feelings I'd rather not be dealing with.

Anger.  Sadness.  Confusion.  Fear.  

Usually I am able to write out my feelings.  Not necessarily to share with anyone other than myself, but a way to sort of connect the dots of my brain, my heart, and my soul in an attempt to get them all on the same wavelength.

Right now that's just not working out for me.  I'm struggling with expressing all this.

So I'm seeking expression from other outlets.  

As I struggle I embrace "home."

My home is, and has always been, my sanctuary.  Even back when I was young, divorced, poor, working two jobs, living payday to payday in a small apartment by myself.  Make no mistake - these were, honestly, happy years.  But more about all that at a later date . . . 😊

Home - Sanctuary

 Now more than ever.

If my tendencies toward reclusiveness take that turn into agoraphobia, it'll be now.  It could happen.

And, sometimes a picture truly is worth a thousand words.

 

And a little meme or two can sum it up, for me, quite nicely.

I refer to home as my nest, and I feather it with pretties.

and books (and stuff)

It's where Donald brings me little treasures.

It's where I dream.

It's where my heart lives.

It's where I can wear any hat I choose

It's where I remind myself to stand up straight, remember who raised me and start quoting, aloud, important life lessons

And remember to take breaks from life to feed my soul.

Today I'm choosing to feed my soul with beauty.

With the beauty of images and the beauty of words.  Art, music, poetry - you know - the important stuff.

I hope you all are doing a little of the same.

Take good care of yourself.

* * *

Ithaka

When you set out for Ithaka
ask that your way be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raise them up before you.

Ask that your way be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy good merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.

Have Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithakas mean.

         - - - Constantine P. Cavafy