In the first dream, I was a younger adult, working somewhere that wasn’t clearly defined. I seemed happy and was busy working when a trio – two men and a woman – arrived.
The woman started chatting to me. I didn’t even realize she was with the men. Then the men approached. One mentioned something about Major Malasky.
I whirled with surprise. The men were short, white, with trim hair. Clean shaves, they were dark gray suits, white shirts with dark, narrow ties, and dark gray fedoras. Like G men.
“I knew a Major Ray Malasky,” I said. “We worked together. He was a navigator. 7405th in Germany. We were a covert unit.” I chuckled, knowing, yes, the program had been declassified but still uncomfortable talking about it. “Ray was a good guy.”
I looked around for mementos from that assignment. I’d just been showing them with the woman, I realized – and they were gone. Surprised, I leaped to the conclusion that she had taken them and began searching for her. As I did, the two men excused themselves and left. Going to a window, I saw them meet her. The three hurried away, leaving me astonished.
In the next dream, I was walking along a street on a sidewalk. It was a sunny, pleasant day. A bright red car was ahead. This was boxy shaped like the Kia Soul or the Honda Element, but it was bright, shiny red with small wheels. It also had a round window on the driver’s door.
The window was pivoted open. As I walked towards it, I saw that someone was inside the car. They reached up and closed the round driver’s window. I then saw it was one of my real-life current neighbors, Neil. Seeing me, he opened the window but stayed reclined, though he did nod at me.
I nodded back. I had the impression he was resting and wondered why he was resting in his car. I figured that Neil must have a reason for being out of his house. Maybe his house was being worked on. Painted. Or they were fumigating it. Who knows?
I accepted that there was a reason for him to be resting in his car and walked on.
Ashland, southern Oregon — Friday, October 16, 2026.
Another warm autumn day has climbed into the valley. Sunshine brings the trees to bright life, and a warm wind chants with confusion. 79 F now, we’re going to be in the 80 to 90 range, depending on where you are.
Mom’s partner, Frank, passed away a year ago today. I don’t like to linger on anniversaries like these. It just came to me last night. There’s sadness that he’s gone, joy that I knew him, and sympathy that he’s no longer part of Mom’s life.
Frank, though, was 95 and lived an interesting, full life. He raised a family and helped his sisters through their struggles. Widowed thirty years before, he and Mom found one another, enabling them both to enjoy another chapter.
Well, we already turned the page on Trump’s new press secretary.
My wife wondered if Fox News was going to run out of young blondes at the rate that Trump is going through them. Then what will they do?
I told her that I was sure that blonde MAGAts are out there, ready to jump into bed with Trump in whatever role he offers.
Looks like Trump may be moving on from Kristi Noem, too.
Kristi Noem out as special envoy to Shield of the Americas. What’s her new role?
It seems like Kristi Noem has managed to become so toxic, even Trump is distancing himself from her.
Watching Trump campaigning for the 2026 midterms, declaring that people should ‘vote like he’s on the ballot’, it’s apparent that many Republican candidates are distancing themselves from him.
In our area, Republican candidates are trying to even distance themselves from the GOP. They refuse to mention their party affiliation in their ads and commercials. When they talk about party, they often lip sync that they’re trying to bring balance, common sense, and affordability to voters in Oregon. It’s hilarious how they wrap themselves up in knots to avoid Trump and the GOP, promising that they’ll make things more affordable as Trump, in D.C., bellows that affordability is a hoax.
Truly headspinning.
Trump also launched another episode of Operation Epic LOOK — SQUIRREL! This one showed Donald Trump running around, laughing and playing with a tiger. You could tell it was fake because Trump doesn’t laugh or smile. He smirks and growls, trying to project a tough guy persona, using old films as his inspiration.
Trump also said — again — that the war with Iran will end when he “wants it to end”. Rather arrogant, again. Has nothing to do with foreign policy nor military objectives, or rising costs and prices for oil, gas, food, fertilizer, shipping, construction and the many other things growing more expensive. Nor does it have to do with Trump’s concern for Americans and their ability to pay their bills and enjoy food and housing security. No. Trump makes it clear — again — it’s all about him, and nothing else.
Today’s music is “Turn the Page”. Originally performed by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, The Neurons unleashed Metallica’s cover in my morning mental music stream.
May your October day begin with happiness and end with joy.
Ashland, southern Oregon — Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Ah, the 15th. Used to be one of our paydays in the military. Yea, money in the bank! I asked AI if people still get paid on the 15th. It says it does, because that’s how the modern payroll systems are structured. As a military retiree, I get paid once a month. Likewise, my SSA payment comes once a month. Just some morning mental flossing.
It’s warming up out there in our valley. 67 F now, it feels warmer. A high in the 80s is expected today and the overnight low will only dip into the low 50s. Blue sky provides a terrific background to the brightly colored trees, and sunshine dazzles on leaves right now, given the low angle of the sun.
No Mom news, which I call good news. Hope it means she’s painfree and comfortable.
Speaking of money — well, technically, I wrote about payday. Behind that is money, right? I read a WaPo article about Trump’s latest campaign thrust. Going to a deep red Arizona district, the article highlights how little Trump has to offer.
Your Trump Quote of the Day:
The radical authoritarian Donald Trump can’t talk about how great his economy is because it isn’t great. Under the radical, lawless Trump, who broke every campaign promise he ever made, we now have the highest national debt in the history of our great nation. If we had voted in Vice President Harris, we wouldn’t be paying Russia for diesel fuel in an attempt to lower prices from their current record highs and we wouldn’t be in a useless, pointless war in Iran.
Despite facts and history, Trump’s declarations still ring right with some MAGA. From the same article, one 72 year-old Trump supporter said, ““It’s not about MAGA. It’s about what’s best for our country, our freedom, our Constitution, our First and Second amendment.”
I would sure love to see him peppered with questions about Trump’s attacks on the press and freedom of speech. I would also like to hear this MAGAt explain how Trump is supporting our freedom and Constitution. What is he seeing and experiencing that makes this man believe Trump is good for either of those things?
I have the Pink Floyd song, “Money”, in my morning mental music stream. The song came out in 1973. I was a high school junior at the time. I vividly remember listening to it on AM radio as I drove with my friends, Kat and Sandy. We were in Kat’s parents’ car — a huge green Pontiac Bonneville, going through downtown Beckley, WV, on a fall day that’s a lot like today.
Sample Lyrics
Money It’s a crime
Share it fairly, but don’t take a slice of my pie Money So they say Is the root of all evil today
But if you ask for a rise It’s no surprise that they’re giving none away Away, away, away Away, away, away
It’s funny in a bitterly angry way, but Trump is giving money away in an effort to bribe voters to keep Republicans in office. Yet, when it comes to increasing people’s wages, Trump says he’s for it. Yet the minimum wage remains at the same level as 2009, $7.25. As with everything Donald Trump declares, it’s put your money where your mouth is. For us, that means, a larger military, more monuments for Trump, his name on more buildings and airports — and higher prices for everyone else.
May your day be worry free and joyous. See you on the next one.
Local elections are coming up. Yes, that’s not news; they’re held in conjunction with the midterms.
It’s interesting to watch and listen to Republican candidates Brad Hicks and Christine Drazen. Such remarkable platforms!
Brad Hicks is running to represent my district in the Oregon legislature. Christine Drazen is running to replace Tina Kotek as Oregon governor.
Brad Hicks is all about bring the ‘ABC’s to Salem. These are Affordability, Balance, and Common Sense. Brad Hicks eschews questions about Donald Trump’s policies. Brad Hicks insists that he’s focusing on local issues. Hicks aims to address the cost of living by lowering taxes, opposing new tax increases, and cutting government spending.
Gosh…that sounds a lot like Trump’s economy agenda, without tariffs.
Indeed, Brad Hicks has only said one thing about Trump that the record can find in all the years which Trump has been in the Oval Office. Brad Hicks promised that Oregon law enforcement would welcome and support ICE.
Bizarre as hell for Brad Hicks to pretend he can bring affordability to Oregon without addressing the Trump-sized elephant in Washington, D.C. It’s also laughable that Brad Hicks will deliver ‘common sense’ solutions. Like what are common sense solutions? Well, to read about the rest of his promises, it’s about suspending regulations so more things can be built.
Yes, very common sense to set aside the regulations set up to protect the air, land, and water to build, build, build. Very common sense to cut taxes and oppose new taxes at a time when the Federal government has cut funding to states — especially states like Oregon, which is generally politically blue.
In other news, Brad Hicks hasn’t come out for or against building AI and data centers in Oregon. As the former President and CEO of the Medford (Oregon) Chamber of Commerce, I can sense which way he’ll lean. The lack of a stance is very telling.
Likewise, Christine Drazen is aggressively pursuing an old-school Republican agenda. She also promises ‘common sense’ solutions. I don’t feel a need to go much into her policies because her policies and proposals are a lot like Trump and Hicks: reduce regulation. Cut government ‘waste’. Increase the business environment to attract more business. Cut taxes.
Drazen does say she’s against more AI and data center construction at the moment. But she voted against Oregon’s 2025 POWER Act. The 2025 POWER Act is a law requiring large electric utilities to place data centers into a separate rate class so tech companies absorb the costs of new energy infrastructure rather than everyday consumers. To me, her refusal to vote FOR the law shows that her words and actions do reflect her true intentions.
She reminds me of Sen. Susan Collins, often mouthing the right sentiments, but then voting against what she says.
At any rate, Hicks and Drazen refuse to talk about Trump. Refuse to align with him or distance themselves with from him. They believe that burying their heads in the sand when it comes to Trump will win them some votes.
That’s probably true. There are always ‘never-Democrat’ voters. Staunch MAGAts are still out there, laboring away at the misconception that Trump cares for them and will improve their life and think that more business will save the nation.
I disagree and will not vote for Trump or secret surrogates like Brad Hicks and Christine Drazen. To me, they are imposters and cowards.
Ashland, southern Oregon — Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Our autumn continues with cold nights and warmish days. We’re soaring into the upper seventies today. I will not complain about that. With low to moderate humidity, sunshine, bright blue skies, and turning, falling leaves, days like these encourage to stop outside. Pause. Suck in a huge breath. Admire the colors. Feel the sun, and think, this is wonderful.
Then I go back in to the computer. We didn’t have those as kids…LOL. Different era then. Yeah, I know, I’m being silly. Seems like every decade ushers in a new era.
Mom remains very sick and in pain. She’s asking for my sister’s company. Gina couldn’t go because of her own appointments but she asked the staff to check in on Mom.
The staff checked on Mom. Mom was dressed and down in the dining room, eating lunch.
Gina suggested that Mom doesn’t ask the staff for help so that Mom can try to manipulate Gina and the other sisters into going to see Mom. Meanwhile, new medicine is being delivered to the assisted living facility for Mom in an hour. Hope it helps.
As several commented in private or in responses, this roller coaster exhausts everyone.
A late update on Mom: she had her lunch. Now she’s playing bingo. Her new medicine arrived and was given to her.
Political news remains heavy in my thoughts. How could they not? Trump IMO has shown himself to be an outlaw, eager and willing to do anything to promote and protect himself. As far as he’s concerned, it’s screw the country, screw the people, screw the world, screw the Constitution, screw the economy, screw free press, screw it all. I can easily imagine hearing him say that; that’s the persona I’ve perceived.
I remain amazed that there are some out there insisting how great and wonderful Trump is. What’s happening in their world that they think this? It confounds me. I won’t belabor that here and now.
Doesn’t help that I’m reading things like this article:
The first paragraph is sharp summary of what we were told and what happened, in the big picture.
“One of the nagging questions about the DOGE fiasco is why. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency was established to cut $2 trillion from the $7 trillion federal budget. But in fiscal year 2026, which ended two weeks ago, the federal budget was $7.4 trillion, a 6percent increase. The budget deficit, whose size was the reason to cut government spending, increasedby 12 percent to $2 trillion.”
I know what Trump said about the goals of DOGE. I also wrote that off as bullshit. IMO, DOGE’s goal was always to handicap the government and reshape it as a tool for Trump and his puppet masters, the Heritage Foundation. ‘They’ think the way to a better nation is less education, more money and power for the wealthy, smaller government — except for larger police forces, more surveillance, more military, and more conforming by anyone except the upper one to two percent. They frankly disgust me.
All that aside, all that as background, I walk the halls of my mind and wonder if we’ll ever come together to do various things to improve our world. First, we’d need to agree to what that means. Is there a someday out there when that will come to pass?
Will I ever see a ‘someday’ where I truly grasp why MAGAts enthusiastically support Trump to their own detriment? Will I reach a point someday where I understand what’s going on with Mom? Will I wake up someday and understand why people like Musk and Trump and other billionaires who keep craving more and then snarl and attack everyone who reasonably ask, “Why can’t your share your good fortune?”
I honestly don’t think those somedays are on my horizon. Maybe, after I die, there’s a huge internet of reality where all is revealed. You can see it, hear it, understand it, if even just for a moment.
Yeah. Maybe someday…
The Neurons responded predictably with “Someday Never Comes”. This is a 1972 Creedence Clearwater Revival song about being told that someday you’ll understand. No wonder it’s swimming around my morning mental music stream like a hungry shark!
Sample Lyrics
First thing I remember Was asking Papa, “Why?” For there were many things I didn’t know And Daddy always smiled Took me by the hand Saying, “Someday you’ll understand”
Well, I’m here to tell you now each and every mother’s son You better learn it fast, you better learn it young ‘Cause someday never comes
The time and tears went by And I collected dust For there were many things I didn’t know When Daddy went away He said, “Try to be a man And someday you’ll understand”
But I’m here to tell you now each and every mother’s son You better learn it fast, you better learn it young ‘Cause someday never comes
I offered you a taped version of the song being performed on the telly with Dawes and John Fogerty.
Well, I hope today, you’re not stuck in a reverie about somedays. I hope this day comes to you with open arms and takes you to good places, good health, and good people.
Ashland, southern Oregon – Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
Gorgeous, full-throttled autumn day out there. All of nature is actively participating to give us the full fall experience of changing leaves, blue sky, and crisp morning air. We’re going to heat up to 70 today and expect a warming trend for the coming weekend.
Mom is still doing poorly. Mom complained that she was out of pads and feeling a lot of pain urinating, and several other issues. We discovered that she doesn’t tell the assisted living staff any of that, due to her sense of privacy. There are people who can help her with her issues, but she doesn’t tell them she’s having issues, so they don’t offer help.
My sister went over today with new pads and to check on Mom. Found her in the rec room with others. Gina reported that Mom is very lethargic. Mom’s room smelled like urine. Gina has been going back and forth with the assisted living director, Mom, and Mom’s doctors. Gina has also delved more deeply into Mom’s medical records on Mychart.
It’s a busy morning for us. Workmen were expected to arrive and fix the flashing around the bathroom skylight and a few other minor issues on the roof. They were expected between 9 and 10 but didn’t show.
Meanwhile, I’d scheduled the same time for a contractor to come by to inspect the fence and give us assessment about what needs done, if he’ll take the job, and all the details that go with it. He showed on time and that went well. The fence is in pretty good shape overall, with just three posts requiring replacement. He will do those repairs, power wash the fence, and then paint it.
After that, I called the roofers to see what was going on. The other job they were on took longer than planned. They just arrived at 12:30 to begin the work.
My doctor’s office called and told me the Cologuard results were in. My tests were positive, so they’re going to schedule me for some tests and surgery to see if I have colon or other kinds of cancer down there.
My wife is in a cranky mood. She has a nervous disposition and high anxiety and couldn’t sleep last night because of today’s appointments. So it’s one of those if it’s not one thing, it’s another kind of days so far. All in all, it’s still a better life than many others experience. I complain because that’s who I am.
Probably won’t be able to get out and write today, though, which is a bummer. That’s my escape from the insanity, my coping mechanism. I will write at home but it’s not quite the same. For one, I enjoy the coffee shop’s helter skelter energy. Two, when I write at home, my wife often interrupts. She will actually ask, “Can I interrupt you?” Yeah, I’m a curmudgeon of sorts. *smile*
Today’s music is “Where Is My Husband!” This is a 2025 song by Raye. It played on the radio yesterday morning as my wife and I did our food deliveries. I ‘adapted’ it to “Where Is My Congress?” The Neurons like that twist and kept it in the morning mental music stream.
I enjoy the song on its own, though. Here’s the sample lyrics for you.
Sample Lyrics
Baby (whoo-hoo), where the hell is my husband? (Whoo-hoo) What is taking him so long (whoo-hoo) to find me? Oh, baby, where the hell is my lover? Getting down with another? (Whoo-hoo, yeah) Tell him if you see him, baby, if you see him Tell him, tell him he should holler
Why is this beautiful man waiting for me to get old? Why he already testing my patience? I only fear he’s taking time with other women that ain’t me While I’ve been reviewing applications
Wait ’til I get my hands on him, I’ma tell him off too For how long he kept mе waiting, anticipating Praying to the Lord to give him to my loving arms And despite my frustrations
He must need me (he must need me) completely (completely) How my heart yearns for him Is he far away (is he far away?), is he okay? (Is he okay?) This man is testing me, uh-huh, uh-huh Uh, help me, help me, help me, Lord
Of course, yesterday morning, I was singing, “Where the hell is my Congress!” Then I created other lyrics.
May this day find you healthy, peaceful, and ready to vote blue and take the nation back.
I was a young middle-aged man again. Several people who worked for me in the military and at IBM were working for me again. I was setting them up with some kind of project. Terry, Gil, and Lainie were at a round table. I stopped by to provide more instructions.
For some reason, I ended up asking Lainie if she knew her fours table because she had to use them for some task I was setting up. She was hesitant. Knowing she’s often hesitant because of self-doubt, I began quizzing her – what 7 * 4? She didn’t know, so I tried, what’s 3 * 4? She correctly but slowly responded, twelve, with a shy smile.
Encouraging her, I then asked, what’s 4 * 4?
She wasn’t sure. Terry responded, 16.
I began going through the fours table with Lainie with the others sitting there. As we did, she made wrong guesses about the numbers, sometimes saying numbers that ended in three or five. I told her that the result would always be even, and that it would end in a 2-4-6-8 or zero. I then began taking her through the table and went from 1 * 4 to 200 * 4, pointing out the repetitive pattern in the results.
Everyone grew quiet, listening as I went through the times table. When I finished, Terry and others said, “I never knew that about the pattern.”
I replied, “There’s a pattern to everything. Always look for the pattern. If you can find that, many other things fall into place.”
That’s especially true in this era, when extreme weather strikes more frequently, and el Nino is bringing in new changes to the patterns.
Donald Trump’s pattern under pressure and criticism is to become more belligerent and aggressive. He rails more; whines more; and attacks more. The midterms are coming up, and prices are not coming down. Trump, who once promised no new wars, instead finds the war he started with Iran dragging on. Trump has claimed it’s over, it’s almost over, or ‘we won’ numerous times before. Now, Trump is saying the war will “probably end after the mid-terms”.
Doubts about Trump are growing and persisting. Regardless of what polls say about the elections and a midterm blue wave or Donald Trump’s declining popularity, the tells of his decline among his base are visible. Rallies where Trump is appearing are weakly attended. Trump’s calls to support AI and data centers construction are met with silence.
After all that’s gone wrong and getting worse for Donald Trump, I was unsurprised that Trump’s DOJ raided Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home in Minnesota. Rep Omar has three things going against her in Trump’s eyes: she’s an intelligent woman, a refugee from Somalia, and an outspoken Trump critic.
I guess Trump sees Rep. Omar is a good test case for Trump’s increasing tactics of lawfare and weaponizing the government against his opponents. Trump’s previous efforts to prosecute political opponents, James Comey, Letitia James, and David Hearn, flopped in big, audacious ways.
But Trump has nothing else to offer. Trump already went after the press, trying to ban press organizations who tell the truth about his sparsely attended rallies, terrible and worsening economy, and the growing disaster that is now the Iran war. Trump also dislikes being reminded that he’s breaking promises and laws, and that he is not the all-powerful, all-knowing, always-right person he likes to pretend he is.
The press fought back, and the courts have sided with the press, so far. Precedence would point to a win for the press in all the courts. Freedom of the press is one of those things we used to pride ourselves on in the United States. Donald Trump arrived on the scene, though, and weaponized people’s distrust of the press to gain popularity.
Now, with his popularity waning, even Donald Trump’s MAGA base are walking away from him. Not because of the attacks on the press, or attacks on the sitting members of Congress, or using the government as a weapon to persecute and prosecute opponents. No.
MAGAzens are turning on Trump because he failed to release the Epstein files and he failed to lower prices. Now, thanks to Trump’s own failed policies, it’s too late for him to fix either.
Trump has tried badgering and bullying his way back to strength. He’s lied from the beginning and fed people’s hate and fear. Those aspects of his portfolio have grown old and thin.
Trump tried bribing We the People, attempting to buy popularity with various ‘dividends’. But Trump’s brand is so toxic, even that failed to gain Trump any props.
Trump tried to lower prices, drilling, making deals for oil and gas, temporarily suspending sanctions and tariffs. They, too, failed to win anyone back, as his efforts instead highlighted his hypocrisy.
Now Trump has returned to his most proven, effective tool, attacking immigrants and women. Doesn’t matter if the woman he’s attacking is a sitting member of Congress, legally elected to the office by We the People, and legally sworn in.
Trump has never cared for law or justice and won’t begin now. Donald Trump will just attack more, hoping to bully his way into popularity once again.
So, brace yourself. I don’t doubt that this is just a test case. Trump and his minions and advisors floated this raid on Rep. Omar to see how it floats with his base.
Trump doesn’t see that a growing number of people are weary of him and ready to turn the page.
Vote blue in November, so we can keep turning the page on Donald Trump.
