A few predictable stories about Donald Trump and his health and desperation rose through the political news.
One was the story about Trump wandering away. He was supposed to be getting into the Beast. Instead, he passed the open doors and drifted to the limo’s front, vaguely drifting from security. Realizing he was drifting, SS rushed to protect him and herd him back.
Were this President Biden doing that on video in 2024, Trump, 80 — or a surrogate — would have been on X and Trump’s texting app, screaming, “Sleepy Joe Biden” in all caps, piling on to the episode to show that Joe Biden is unfit.
With Trump doing it, there’s mostly crickets.
To no surprise but with the usual Donald Trump fanfare, Trump announced a new program to bribe voters.
Honestly, this is like those stories about someone starting a fire, showing up to put it out, and then wanting recognition for being a hero.
Without Trump’s support of Russia, enabling Russia to attack Ukraine, and Trump’s war in Iran, diesel fuel prices would be much, much lower.
Republicans, however, are heaping praise on Trump for the move — as expected.
Of course, with extended droughts affecting land, water levels, and cattle herd sizes, this bailout temporarily mitigates the problem. The Super El Niño is coming. We’ll see how much Trump’s policies helped after it’s finished.
As with many of Donald Trump’s unhinged directives, it was based on flawed reasoning. More importantly, several people involved with the effort thought that Trump’s people were trying to find ways to skew results or declare them wrong and then show receipts how that would be possible, even if it didn’t happen.
Then we ended up with more Operation Epic LOOK — SQUIRREL! distractions.
Again, it was about the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Trump took a functional and beautiful historic monument and trashed it. Now he’s raving on about how wrong his US Attorney’s Office is and shoot a scattergun of threats about vandals. Again.
I must say, all this Trumpmania drives me nuts. Please Vote Blue in the 2026 midterms. Help preserve what little sanity remains in me.
It’s all about the danger within now. It begins with rising prices. Keeps us distracted, part of Donald Trump’s Operation Epic LOOK — SQUIRREL! The war does its part to distract us, keep us turning our heads.
Then we have the many competent and capable people Donald Trump has fired. Trump has attacked every institution, and assails and threatens freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
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.
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 — Monday, October 12, 2026.
Autumn continues its golden, chilly reign. 53 F now, we’ve risen from the overnight low of 32 and we’re getting close to the 62 F expected high. It’s a boldly blue sky and marvelously sharp sunshine. A small herd of clouds — momma and four or five kits — hard to say because they keep moving — feed on the blue to one side.
No more on Mom and her situation today. Patience is needed as I await news and developments. That’s a life stage many of us know very well.
Time is extremely tight today. Food & Friends deliveries began the morning, writing in the late morning to early afternoon, BCG wash in the mid-afternoon, and then back to help a friend move some items. I made the plans, so I accept them. Tomorrow will be as busy but in other areas of needs.
Today’s music is a throwback tune, “The Fool and Me”. The Neurons placed the Robin Trower offering in my morning mental music stream early today after I went through a cursory review of news stories followed by a fast reflection on dreams, time, and appointments. Make sense, I guess.
Sample Lyrics:
Traveling that wind and laugh at the crowd, mmm the fool and me Howl at the moon baby yell out loud, the fool and me And ohh oh, where ever we go We keep the spirit free Ohh nobody knows No one but the fool and me
Stretching on out and feeling fine, the fool and me Two fools dancing on the hands of time, yeah The fool and me And ohh oh, where ever we go We keep the spirit free Ohh nobody knows No one but the fool and me
Yes, and there is a connection to Donald Trump in this: his impact on my life, and his impact on my nation, my friends, and family. Trump is politically divisive. That’s just the starting point. Consumed with thoughts about only himself, he’s consuming our world and tearing it apart. Some MAGAzens applaud this: “Tear it all down and start over.” Yet, when Trump’s destruction hits their lives, many call, “Wait a minute. What’s going? This isn’t what I want.”
Well, I can tell you for sure, what Trump has done and is doing is sure as hell not what I want.
I hope we can vote Democrats into office and take over Congress and offset the madness that is Trump.
May your day end with you feeling fine and looking back on what you did with smiles.
Sunday, October 11, 2026 — Ashland, southern Oregon.
The weather and foliage matched perfectly yesterday and feel right today. Many of us enthused about the crisp and cool autumn air. This was what we’d been looking for! Temperatures topped in the mid 70s yesterday and dropped to the low 30s last night. Right now finds us at 42 F. Though it’s quite sunny and the sky is clear and blue, today’s high is expected to close out in the mid 50s.
Mom reports a new decline. She’d in pretty good spirits this week. Today, she reported, “My pain upon urinating is worse than ever like it was when I first had the bladder infection and it is brown up upon the pads. And it smells rotten. And I feel physically ill.”
This blow came as my sisters and I have been working out what to get Mom for her upcoming 92 birthday at the end of this month.
Trump and Hegseth are excited for their upcoming military execution by firing squad. Outside of them, Americans are checking their priority lists and problems and realizing that Donald Trump is completely out of touch with them.
People are concerned about Trump’s broken promises, the war in Iran, rising prices, AI, and high food, energy, and healthcare costs. Trump responded with more Operation Epic LOOK — SQUIRREL! antics.
Your Donald Trump Quote of the Day:
Call me an enemy, then, Trump, because I’ll continue to adhere to history and industry standards and refer to artificial intelligence, or AI.
At this point, reading the political news has me growling and shaking my head. I never expected much out of Trump, but he and his administration is an absolute trainwreck. More of Trump’s supporters are pulling away. I doubt it helped Trump’s cause when Trump told supporters at one recent rally, “It’s amazing. When you stand up here, it’s just like…the love. I could say the stupidest things and you’d clap. ‘Oh, I love you so—’ It’s true.”
We’ll see how those Donald Trump supporters feel when the midterm elections results come in next month. Trump said to make the upcoming elections about himself. He doesn’t know how much disapproval of him has grown, how many are turning away from him, and tuning out from him.
Between Mom and Trump, The Neurons put “Bad Moon Rising” in the morning mental music stream. This song by Clearance Clearwater Revival, aka CCR, was released in 1969. It’s about premonitions about bad things on the verge of happening.
Sample Lyrics:
I see the bad moon rising I see trouble on the way I see earthquakes and lightning I see bad times today
Don’t go around tonight Well, it’s bound to take your life There’s a bad moon on the rise
I hear hurricanes a-blowing I know the end is coming soon I fear rivers overflowing I hear the voice of rage and ruin
May this day bless you and yours with fresh air, good health, and good fortune.
Donald Trump made a deal with Russia for diesel fuel. Russia supplies and backs Iran. Iran and the US are at war. The amount of diesel is small in comparison to the world’s needs and will take time to ship and deliver, but Trump did the deal in a desperate hail Mary to garner some political capital before next month’s midterms.
How does this make sense?
The answer is that it doesn’t. Donald Trump is so desperate, it has him spinning.
Just last month — less than thirty days ago — Trump signed a sweeping bipartisan sanctions bill intended to clamp down on Russian energy revenues. Those sanctions would choke off funding for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Easing these less than a month later undermines everything he said those sanctions would do and the reasons for imposing them.
That brings us to your Trump Quote of the Day:
When Trump made that statement, he accused China and India of funding the war between Russia and Ukraine by continuing to purchase Russian oil and called out NATO allies for failing to cut ties with Moscow’s energy sector.
Now, invoking classic Trump Double Standards (TDS), Trump made a deal with Russia for fuel, which will be used to fund the war.
Maybe Trump wants Zelensky replaced because Zelensky is so much better at being a war president than Donald Trump, and Donald Trump knows how he pales in comparison.
Comparisons in which Trump comes off looking the worse — and there are many — always anger Trump.
Just as with so many other Trump endeavors and promises, Trump proved again how ignorant and incompetent he is. Donald Trump proved again that his words and actions mean nothing.
Donald Trump proved again that he cares nothing about anything or anyone except himself — his wealth, his image, his power and position.
And Trump proved again, as he has done innumerable times before, he is not a leader and has no principles.
I’m tired of this narrative. I’m tired of Donald Trump’s lies, betrayals, hypocrisy, and duplicity, and I’m sick of his corruption, bullying, and hate mongering.
And I’m thoroughly disgusted with the GOP’s complicity in all that Trump does.
It’s time for a change.
Trump knows it.
That’s why he’s so desperate — desperate and afraid. It’s TACO all over again.
