Life of Wry

I’m sure I’ve told you this. We planted three tomato plants this year.. one yellow cherry and two regular sized tomatoes.

We are still — several times a week — harvesting tomatoes by the bowlfull. We’ve even given some away this year, we have so many.

(Note to Self: Plant exactly the same next year… it’s perfect.)

We had hamburgers for dinner — something easy to eat while watching the first republican debate — and they were, as usual, just fantastic.

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So.. speaking of that republican debate.

To my ear, Nikki Haley was the strongest, and I think they’re nuts not to support her. I feel like she’d win easily over Biden b/c the general election favors the candidate in the middle. She’s moderate, reasonable, experienced and brings something entirely fresh to the stage: she’s a woman. I’m stunned she is not getting the traction she needs to separate from the field, consolidate support and beat trump to the nomination. But she’s not. My ear is not the republican ear, and to listen to the post-debate analysis, NOBODY was the clear winner, which means trump won. There was consensus that Haley did very well. There was also consensus that Pence was strong and fiesty and, when Ramaswamy got under his skin (a lot) he took him on and showed him up (as did Haley). Christie was flat and disappointing, Hutchinson and Burgum not factors, and suprisingly, De Santis was just sorta meh.. not damaged, but didn’t shine. But there was also consensus that the ever smug and annoying Ramaswamy emerged as Mr. Popular (among voters, esp the young ones), was most provocative, was master of the outrageous soundbite and will prolly get a big bump.

Too bad for the republicans.

Nobody seems to want to get out of the race b/c they’re all hedging their bets, hoping the indictments will force trump to drop out, giving them a chance. But that seems not to be happening. He really may just cruise easily to the nomination. And then lose. You know, unless something catastrophic happens to Biden (entirely possible).

How did this happen? How is this even possible. How will we ever get through the next year?

I will have to seriously consider self-care strategies. I am not, NOT going to go through 2024 the same way we all suffered through 2016 and 2020. By the time 2020 came along, we were organized and mobilized and we had a pandemic that allowed us to focus all of our efforts on constructive activism. I think activism will also be a good strategy in 2024, but I’m going to need a big giant filter to keep all the toxic stuff out of my head and heart.

Sigh.

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To-great-oes rhymes with to-mate-oes.