BERNIE-ITIS

Bernie Sanders befuddles me. There is something about him--his tone, the look of him, the energy thats in the air  before he speaks that irritates me. Is it his over confidence? He's so sure that what he's about to say is important, that every word he utters will be heard, understood and educate me--he's  clear, articulate, and uninterruptible and very annoying. Why? He's smart and well-organized, but the more I see of him, the more I hear him, I am compelled to say to people I know as well as people I don't know that I do not want to support or follow or ever find myself voting for Bernie Sanders.

WILL THE CULLUMS BE WATCHING DONALD TRUMP'S "HAPPY DAY" CELEBRATION?

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT --Trump was impeached and as of today. The Senate trial is officially ended  after countless hours, educated opinions, labors of the eloquent Adam Schiff, chair of the House Intelligence Committee. There have been provable headlines for two months, and 9 days.

The senate trial was a very big big deal. Will you be watching the acquittal?

Donald will probably be wearing his best blue suit, a long brilliant red tie. His fluffy hair won't have a hair out of place.  In a few years, that he was acquitted will come back, but it might haunt some of us
--that we're deleting the untrue truth. 

Donald won. He didn't lose. Crime often pays.  

Yep,  I'll watch TV tomorrow with a beer in hand. Although I need a much stronger alocholic content  to adjust to this wonderful happy great news for Donald trump.

IMPEACHMENTITIS...

With  all the  daily, hourly, impeach him talk, my blogger-writer-self keeps remembering November 7, 2016 when there was still BIG HOPE that the next next president would be Hillary.

She was in a spotlight in Philadelphia, confident, beautifully, graciously, hearing the cheers and applause from the huge crowd gathered at Independence Hall--they were celebrating the woman who'd be America's first female president tomorrow.

When we heard Obama making an announcement we were sure it was a mistake. It couldn't be what we heard. Donald Trump was where? Undoubtedly wearing his red cap--working the crowd to make America great again. We were sure we hadn't heard what we heard--heard again--then heard it again. It couldn't be--it had to be what--a colossal horrific joke?

We stayed up late, eating Chinese food and chocolate ice cream, changing the station--didn't want to hear any more rumors, or any more numbers--even so, went to bed but left the TV set on. A voice woke us. Told us that Hillary had conceded. 

Yes, we saw Donald Trump's inaugeration. It was painful to watch.  

Yes, we keep hearing the latest news about the impeachment trial that isn't a trial in the Senate hoping....not daringto hope for what?  

VANITY VERSUS PRIDE--PAY YOUR MONEY TAKE YOUR CHOICE--OPEN YOUR EYES, OR CLOSE YOUR EYES.

Contemplate this topic in a relaxed  mood -- when you are out for a walk, do you glance at yourself -- check out yourself in the glass of various store windows?

Are you good-looking, sort of everage? Passable? Have you ever said to yourself, "I look rather good. Or, "I look quite beautiful?"  Or "I AM BEAUTIFUL!" 

Does your blurting out self-praise sort of spookify you?

Perhaps it does. Vanity may inhibit you from doing what you yearn to do. Also, vanity keeps you working  competitively to make yourself look better, be prettier, more handsome, or noticeable -- it can inspire you to buy wrong things, and be compelled to head back to the store instantly and return it.

Take a second. Think of the things you haven't done, didn't dare do, or didn't want to do--did NOT do  because of VANITY.

Mirror mirror: 

                                     
Glance a window. or pick up a handmirror and it will reflect reality back to you.

Do it right now! Be brave! Come on ....

Just take a good look at yourself.

Yes, that's you.

Grab pride. Pride in you, that you are YOU.

Who and whatever is you -- WHAMO. THERE YOU ARE. See that you look okay, pretty, even prettier than you expected, and more, more everything.

You can't sit there forever staring  at yourself, you 'll look again maybe tomorrow with pride. The feeling of pride grows and grows on its own -- doesn't need to be tended or watered like grass. Even as you grow older, and even older, pride grows and grows and is there -- with or without any whamo, it's within you and part of what you are.

Practice pride. Whether you take the time to practice or not -- it is there and growing even as you get to be older and older ...... Even very old.