Ashland, southern Oregon — Monday, October 26, 2026.
It was a chilly wet day in our valley. Layers of clouds thwarted the sun. Sunshine sporadically broke through but had little staying power. The asphalt roads were black and shiny wet, reflecting golden leaves. It was impressively spectacular on the large oak tree that resides across the street.
Today’s high was in the mid 50s. Now it’s in the low 40s F. That’s where it’s supposed to stop for the night.
Rolling out of bed and into another day’s light, I basically thought, “Here we go. Go check the phone calls and text messages and see what’s happening with Mom. Read the news, see what Trump and the GOP are up to. See if another war has been started. Get ready for another appointment, dress for another day, and so on.”
Yeah, still feeling a little weary, I’m afraid. I blame it on the rain.
The Neurons collected all this and set up “Day by Day” from “Godspell” in my morning mental music stream. I’m not religious but I understand the song’s sentiment. But for me, the song’s bottom line is the refrain, “Day by day.”
Hope your day was satisfying and rich with peace, joy, good news, and good health.
Despite the lidocaine injected up my urethra, the Foley catheter’s progress up into my bladder felt torturous. Didn’t help that the little exam room felt very, very…chilly, or that I was naked from the waist down, covered by a paper ‘blanket’.
Yes, this was my fourth BCG wash. Just two more to go. Fortunately, Nurse C, who does the instillation for me, is almost my age and shares an appreciation for a lot of the same rock music.
We compare who we’ve seen and what albums and songs we particularly enjoy. Nurse C has one concert over me that has me really envious: her first concert was Carlos Santana.
I’ve never seen Santana in concert.
Laughing, she told me, “It was 1975. I was a teenager and big into disco. So, I worked all summer to pick strawberries, saving my money to buy a ticket to see KC and the Sunshine Band. Dad drove me and my girlfriend to the concert and then waited at a nearby coffee shop.
“KC and the Sunshine Band finished. We got up and headed for the exit. Then the next guy came on. I said, ‘Who is that,’ and turned to pay attention. It was Carlos Santana. I’d never heard him before. That changed everything for me.”
My bladder was about finished voiding the urine through the Foley by then. Glancing at the beaker collecting it, Nurse C said, “You have some good-looking urine, though. That looks great.”
I shook my head. “Man, that’s the worst pick up line I’ve ever heard.”
We laughed as she loaded up the TB solution and began feeding into my bladder.
Ashland, southern Oregon — Sunday, October 25, 2026.
A dull sky hangs on as the sun struggles with heating and lighting, product of the Earth’s tilt and annual trip around the sun. 56 F now, it doesn’t feel that warm. Most of the trees are losing their leaves in my area. The leaves which remain glow gold against the overcast sky.
We attended a party for a friend’s 90th birthday. Her sister came up from California and hosted the party. They rented a large house in the country where all the family members stayed. Very good time by all. The woman, Anne, seemed like she was about 74 years old instead of 90.
On the negative side of the daily ledger, two friends tested positive for COVID. He suffers from Parkinsons and broke his hip. After three pins were put in it to fix it, he’s convalescing in an assisted living facility until he’s able to get around on his own. She, his wife, tested positive after him. We believe he caught it form staff or a visitor, and she picked it up from him. Not a fun way for them to end October.
Your Trump Quote of the Day:
Just a reminder of Trump’s response to COVID-19 and the pandemic. Six years later, and COVID-19 is still here.
Over in politics, Trump is becoming more openly aggressive and partisan. Through DOJ, Donald Trump threatened to investigate Alaska’s election results if a Republican doesn’t win. Within a day, Donald Trump himself warned that he would probably not do anything to help South Carolina in his official capacities if a Republican doesn’t win there.
Bottom line for all this: Trump cares nothing about the law. Yes, already well established. Nor does he care about Americans, including MAGA and Republicans. That’s clear as well now, because he would obviously try to help Republicans and MAGA even if it’s not a Republican representing them. But with the same certainty that the sun is hot, DJ Trump cares nothing except himself. End of story.
As October ends, I fully anticipate an ‘October surprise’. What will Trump do? Declare another emergency? Launch another wave of ICE assaults on US cities and citizens?
Both of those possibilities are within his wheelhouse. Trump may also orchestrate another ‘assassination attempt’ on him in an attempt to garner some sympathy votes.
Just as likely, Donald Trump, who claims he’s a peace president, will attack another nation, or increase his attacks on Iran. I can imagine Trump warning that he’s going to go nuclear, too, just to distract everyone and get their attention. Because this is Donald Trump. He doesn’t care what happens to anyone except Donald Trump.
Sure. Trump is ‘unifying’ people by threatening states and lawsuits if they don’t vote his way.
I’ll keep saying it and writing it because there are still some out there who think that Donald Trump cares about them: Donald Trump cares about nobody except himself. Until everyone out there agrees, Trump cares for no one except himself, and states it out loud, I’ll keep repeating it.
In honor of Trump’s attitude, Les Neurons installed Phil Collins’ classic song about caring in my morning mental music stream. “I Don’t Care Anymore” in 1983. Some of the song’s lyrics beautifully reflect what I think when I hear Trump these days.
Sample Lyrics
I don’t care what you say We never played by the same rules anyway
Of course, while I don’t care about Trump and his lies, I must care about what he does and how he damages our nation, and the world. It’s a matter of collective security and future wellbeing. I care that others have equal rights, freedom, and the vision of a functioning and healthy democracy. Closer to home, I share the anger and frustrations that my wife, sisters, and female friends express about women’s rights and protections being stripped away by Trump. I share, too, the anger that people feel that they’re expected to work at multiple jobs in order to just survive while Trump keeps handicapping them with his callousness, greed, hate, and stupidity. It’s just fucking wrong.
May you be surrounded by caring friends and family and enjoy a carefree day.
Ashland, southern Oregon — Friday, October 23, 2026.
Rain was yesterday’s major weather theme. Today was a day of sunshine but windy, with a cold wind rushing in from the north, making the trees shiver. We might have turned past 52 F, but it was a short-lived stroll. Now we’re back down to 46 F and dropping.
Many phone calls and texts from Mom. Complaints about Gina in the texts. Gina is my sister, Mom’s medical POA. Phone calls just said, “Michael, you need to call me.” Ten calls.
Gina sent out a lengthy text. Laid out her own schedule next week. Elections, babysitting her grandchildren, work requirements. Then Mom’s appointments. Finally, the big question: “Should I take Mom to her appointments? Will they change her quality of life? Why doesn’t she want to take Access?”
Back and forth from various sisters. Opinions expressed that Mom is toxic. “If she wants to go to the doctor or really needs to, she can take Access,” is mentioned. I refrain from putting in my two cents that not all brains work like that. Especially when you’re 92, tired, and sick. Especially when you’re a mother who feels alone and unloved.
I’ve said these things before. They swoosh by the rest. Maybe I’m wrong and they’re right.
I wonder the same thing about Trump’s MAGA supporters sometimes. Maybe they’re right, and I’m missing some critical element. I spent some time trying to peer into the shadows to see what I’m missing. Mostly I see that they’re angry. Want to tear everything down. Start anew. At the same time, they don’t want the same structure, but they want America, the America they see in the mind’s rearview.
That’s what I think Mom sees, the family that she thought she was raising. It went wildly wrong sometimes.
I had Boston in my morning mental music stream this, um, morning. Yes, that’s redundant. Like IPA ale or ATM machine. Or thinking in my head.
Boston released a song, “Peace of Mind”, back before the Internet caught on, in 1977. Why, we barely had stereo then. Had to use 8 tracks, cassette tapes, vinyl, all forms which are much less in use in 2026. But back in 1977, they were part of the answer when we wanted music. Radio and television helped, too.
Part of the song has lyrics which urge, “Take a look ahead.” I keep trying to look ahead. I feel that Trump — and the GOP — will lose many midterm elections. And if they do, Donald Trump will amp up his crazy weave and become even more of a dictator. “Off with their heads,” he might shout. Minions, not sure if Trump is being serious, will rush out. Heads will roll.
Damnation will follow. Trump will plead, “I never said that.” “That’s not what I meant.” “I was exaggerating for effect.” Or, as likely, he’ll snarl and snap, “You’re an awful person. Why are you saying those things. You’re nasty. Get out of here.”
Could be all of those things. That’s how Trump weaves, like a spider on LSD.
I try looking ahead with Mom, too. Mom’s ID expires on her birthday. “Does she really need an ID?” is asked by a sibling. “She doesn’t go anywhere.”
Yes, hard to argue that. Those are the basic facts. The other fact is that a trip to get a new ID for mom will be challenging for the person taking her. That’s how we see it.
So, I’m only looking forward to tomorrow. Ironically, I’m going to a large birthday bash to celebrate a friend’s 90th birthday. She’s sharp as a tack, as Mom used to say. The birthday will last three hours. I don’t know her well, having only met her three times, but my wife needs me to act as chauffeur.
Sunday, my wife is eager to go to the movies to watch “Wicker”. She’s been looking forward to it for months.
The contractor is arriving at 8 AM tomorrow to paint our fence. He’s made various repairs already, and it looks great.
It’s supposed to be nice tomorrow.
Looking foward to it.
Hope you have day worth looking forward to. Halloween is upon us. Time to get out your holiday decorations and light up the house.
Ashland, southern Oregon — Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Lovely wet autumn day. The low gray sky makes the trees’ leaves glow with color. It smells fresh and cool. 54 F now, I think the high is almost at hand.
Despite my enjoyment of our rainy weather, I’m disappointed in many aspects of my existence. These are somewhat ‘first world blues’. I don’t have complaints about food, health, my home, wife, or friends. I’ve been spared a lot of discomfort. Yet, here I sit…
Mom continues calling and texting me to complain about my sister. Nothing I can do about it; my sister knows about Mom’s complaints. As Mom tells me, she told my sister about them.
I’m purchasing an Amazon gift card to help offset some of Mom’s expenses. Another sister, Lisa, has agreed to visit Mom and help Mom with the card. I’ve also ordered flowers for Mom and sent a card. I’m working on some kind of cake or cupcakes to be delivered on her birthday, as well, hopefully something large enough for Mom to share with the other residents.
It’s depressing to admit that Mom has always been a person who complained about things, so this is not new. What’s different now is that she’s living alone and doesn’t have a regular audience. But she often used to call me to complain about things until it reached the point that I told her, all you do is complain. This was over ten years ago. She told me, “Frank says the same thing.” Frank was her partner living with her. My sisters know it better than me, which is why they keep a distance from Mom.
I dislike it, but I see parallels between what’s happening with Mom and what’s happening with our nation with Trump in the Oval Office. Essentially, the situation for me with both represents paths that I foresaw but hoped would not happen.
In Mom’s case, I saw how she functioned and interacted with others. Not a hard pattern to spot. Seeing her physical decline for years, I tried getting her different help to come and help her at her home. Mom always resisted. Now, through her behavior and choices, she’s at a spot of her own making. Yet, she refuses to see her complicity in her current situation.
Likewise, we saw the slow movement toward Trump. Enabled by the two-party system, the lack of term limits and the willingness of each party to expand the president’s power slowly brought us here. Elected officials who are supposed to be servants of We the People are often treated as celebrities and given privileges and rights the rest of us can’t have. They have private gyms and dining rooms, a healthcare system that caters to them, high salaries, and tax breaks.
It’s hard not to see from the trends that many in Congress become reactive instead of proactive. They vote to keep themselves and their party in office. It seems more and more often in this century that they’re voting to enrich themselves to the detriment of We the People, our nation, and the world.
Eavesdropping as they always do, The Neurons contributed “My Wave” to my morning mental music stream. This is a 1996 Soundgarden offering. Fits my mood.
My hope and wish for you is that you have good things happen to you and yours today and everyday.
Ashland, southern Oregon — Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
We’re in the grip of a cool but sunny autumn day. 69 F at this point, they’re telling us our temperatures will climb to 75 today.
Despite cloud layers, I do believe it’s possible. We never got out of the sixties yesterday despite a forecast for a high in the mid 70s.
I had a blizzard of texts and phone calls this morning. Mom was responsible for eight of them. I spoke with her on the phone for 30 minutes. She wanted to vent about her situation at the nursing home, how other residents have family visiting her. Mom also complained about my sister, Gina, and her frustration with getting various supplies. A lot of it was just having an outlet, I think. I talked her down a bit, but it won’t last long. Frustrated, bitter, angry, lonely, she needs to spill it with someone.
I have “Spiderwebs” by No Doubt in my morning mental music stream again today. It started with thoughts about the web of phone calls, texts — and relationships.
Then there was the Vee incident.
This is Vee.
Vee is a friendly little feline visitor. In this photo, she’s sitting on our bathroom sink. She comes every day and often sleeps in our backyard. Despite this, we sincerely believe she has people. I think she lives in the nearby apartment building but has people who work and/or go to school. Vee usually shows about 9 AM and hangs around until about 8 PM. Some days, she shows later. Other days, she doesn’t show at all.
Vee is short for Visitor and is but one of her names. My wife observed that with those eye markings, Vee could also be called Cleo, short for Cleopatra. I also call her Bandit and Mooch. With her sweet nature, she responds to all of it.
The other day, though, Vee was visiting in our home office where my wife was busy on her laptop. My wife witnessed Vee watch a spider dash across the floor. We have a strict no-kill policy, so spiders aren’t unusual.
Well, Vee’s tail dropped and she took off. Later that day, she refused to re-enter the office. That went on for several days. She finally crept in, looking all around for signs of a spider. We figure she must have had some nasty spider episode that shaped her behavior.
Secondly, adding to my spider web thinking, is politically. We’re in a web of hate, corruption, and grift with Trump. Every day we hear Trump spinning more lies. Trump gets completely tangled up in them but lies about what he said, bullying and threatening anyone who reminded him of what he said.
With that stack in my head, “Spiderwebs” was put in the morning mental music stream.
Hope your day goes without any shitstorms and you eat well, sleep well, and live well in peace and joy.
Ashland, southern Oregon — Monday, October 19, 2026.
I don’t know about everyone else but October is running a fast pace. Today is busy with appointments and contractors coming by. My wife completed her mail-in ballot yesterday, and I need to do mine this week.
A cool day, with clouds hiding the sun and filtering its light and warmth. Rain threatens. Right now, it’s 52 F and we might make it to 60.
Nothing from Mom or my sisters yesterday or today, both a relief and a worry. I’ll take relief for 100, Alex.
As I’m push for time, this is short. Nothing about Trump. I have a song stuck in the morning mental music stream. Titled “Expressway to Your Heart”, the song was released by the Soul Survivors in 1967. I honestly enjoy this song. Nice rhythm is embedded in it, and it’s easy to sing along. I also like little flourishes they use — changes in tempo, the organ, the piano, the use of traffic sounds, the electric guitar. Loved hearing all of that when it came out when I was 11, and I still like it.
For a bonus, this is video from early days of “American Bandstand” and a young Dick Clark. I didn’t watch the show consistently but had many friends, especially females, who set their schedule around it. They liked hearing the music but also seeing the clothes and make up being worn, and the latest dance moves. Watching it makes me smile. It’s terrific, when you think about it, that we have a technology that allows us to revisit moments like this from our past.
Watching this video from 1967, we have no sense of all the drama going on in the world. These are just young people enjoying music. No sense of the demonstrations taking place, the social change being pursued. During that era, we had the cold war boiling along with Vietnam, and still stood in the shadows of WW I, WW II, and Korea — and that was only the wars overtly involving the US. Many other wars and conflicts rage.
Comparing this time to now, we can how far we’ve come but how much further we have to go. We also see how some things haven’t changed much.
Back in 1967, voters were standing up for equal rights for women and minorities. The nation was trying to move away from ‘separate but equal’. Integration was replacing segregation.
And now, almost sixty years later, it feels like Trump is trying to drag us into the 1950s. Donald Trump and his administration are moving against equality, rewriting history to downplay the parts of anyone except white men, even trying to downplay the role of anyone but Republicans. Trump a war that he promised he wouldn’t, a shadow that won’t go away.
Then we have the Epstein and the disgusting revelations in it.
Long sigh.
On to other things momentarily. May good things happen to you today.
Ashland, southern Oregon — Sunday, October 18, 2026.
It’s totes autumn today, with rich fall foliage decorating trees with red, gold, orange, and yellow leaves burying the greens. Sun is up, delivering tepid temperatures, putting us at 60 F right now. 72 F is in the future for the valley and its blue sky.
Nothing from Mom today, and I only recall one dream. It was another military-themed dream where my hair was out of reg.
Today’s music is by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. The song, “Thrift Shop”, was released in 2012. My Neurons released it into the morning mental music stream as I read political news. Donald Trump is running on nothing but fear, trying to convince everyone that absolutely everthing will be much, much worse under Democrats. Republicans are pouring money into the 2026 midterm elections. So is Elon Musk, which should tell you how worried Trump and the GOP are at this point.
Trump has already tried buying votes. Donald Trump has offered seven different dividends or financial incentives for supporting him while crowing about how great everything is. Trump claims we’re in a new golden age in the United States.
But the actual numbers for most Americans show a completely different story. Compared to when Trump took office, most ordinary expense has increased for the majority of Americans.
Residential electric rates have steadily outpaced core consumer inflation. National averages climbed from roughly 17.5¢/kWh in 2025 to 18.31¢ – 18.83¢/kWh.
Grocery store inflation has significantly dropped down to 1.8% year-over-year. Heavy deflation in specific categories like eggs (-22.2%) has lightened the financial load for food, households are still facing steep localized spikes on beef (+9.4%) and coffee (+6.1%).
Individuals purchasing coverage via the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace saw a premium spike of 20% to 30% following the structural expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits.This increase is directly attributed to Donald Trump’s signature act of 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Gas prices are way up, as almost every driver can tell you. After averaging around $3.22 to $3.40 per gallon in 2025, national regular fuel prices rose above the $4.00 mark for historic stretches, peaking as high as $4.79 in May 2026 before leveling out to $4.33 – $4.47 per gallon. Most of these increases are tied to the war in Iran which Trump started in February, 2026, and the war in Ukraine, which Trump promised to end on day 1 of his second term.
It’s not surprising after noticing these price increases that “Thrift Shop” is playing in my morning mental music stream. Trump crows about how great things are but most people are worrying about how much money they have. Personal bankruptcies are up. Personal savings are down.
So. Much. Winning. For Donald Trump and his wealthy cohorts, like Elon Musk. They’re much, much wealthier now than they were before Trump took office in 2025.
May money worries leave you alone to enjoy the day, no matter who you’re with or what you’re doing.
Ashland, southern Oregon — Saturday, October 17, 2026.
It’s a cool morning, 48 F. Dogs are barking outside, and neighbors are warming up motorcycles for a fall Saturday ride.
I asked Alexa the weather. She told me it was a sunny 43 degrees. As I peered out, observing the clouds and looking for sun, she went on, “Today’s high will be 72 degrees and the low will be 45. There is no rain expected.”
My wife and I looked at each other. But, but — if today’s low is going to be 45, and it’s now 43, what does that make 43 in this report? It’s another modern puzzle.
Mom is on the warpath again. We grew up hearing that expression. Mom had several she regularly used: the poor house, insane asylum, and warpath are three prominent examples. She regularly warned us that she was on the warpath, that we were driving her to the poor house, or that she was going to end up in the insane asylum because of us.
It’s about diapers. She’s out of them and weirdly, they’re difficult to find them locally. She wants to order them online but is having trouble doing that. My sister, Gina, recommended Mom ask one of the young women who work in the assisted living home help her. Mom replied that to the effect that she’s the smartest one there. Gina said, “Well, they’re younger and are probably more familiar with the technology.” Mom refused to budge, insisting that they would be no help.
Donald Trump is on the campaign trail. He’s visiting places where he won. Yes, because that’s the sort of ‘fighter’ TACO is. Remember that he was named TACO? ‘Trump Always Chickening Out’.
Holding true to that, TACO is going to Iowa, where Republicans are struggling to win votes in a reliably red state. It’s not a puzzle why: a CNN poll found 70% of likely Iowa voters said current gas prices were a moderate-to-severe hardship, 74% said Trump administration policies had increased the cost of living, and 48% named the economy or cost of living as a top election issue.
Where this is a puzzle is that with the economy the leading issue, why are some Republicans still ready to vote for more of the same?
Do Iowa voters support Trump’s war in Iran? I read that they didn’t.
Are Iowa voters against abortion choice, or do they the absolute bans which Republicans have pursued? Again, I read that most Iowa voters are against strict and absolute bans.
And, like most US voters, those in Iowa are for limiting new AI and data center construction, a position which is 180 degrees from Trump’s position.
As I say, it’s a puzzle.
All this puzzle thought stirred The Neurons. I ended up with a Radiohead song about puzzles in my morning mental music stream. As the song streamed through memory, I couldn’t quite place it. Had to resort to looking it up. Yes, Radiohead. From 2007! Thought it was older than that. Ah, memory. It’s called “Jigsaw Falling Into Place”. Has naught to do with politics; this song is all about a wild night out.
Sample Lyrics
Just as you take my hand Just as you write my number down Just as the drinks arrive Just as they play your favourite song As your bad day disappears No longer wound up like a spring Before you’ve had too much Come back in focus again
May the month find you happy with you are and sure of where you’re going.
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.
