Dear Dairy…

Today I rearranged the cans in the pantry and dusted them off while wearing my new full skirt I sewed last week for the church picnic, and the pearls that my husband gave me for my birthday.  I was so excited when Gordon came home and allowed me to remove his shoes and put on his slippers.  He also complimented me on my backside.  (Blush)  My heart be still….

My Curry Leaf Roasted Olives, Garlic and Sundried Tomatoes

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Our Front Yard Curry Plant

I know how much my future boss loves olives so I created this recipe to impress him.  I’m worried that if I don’t please him that I will be pushed aside for someone much younger than me.

You see, I am a DEI hire.  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  Anyone not a white male is a DEI hire.

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(Recipe Way Down Below)

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In My Spare Time My Husband Allows Me To Expand Myself And Learn To Type

My Goal is to Someday Work and Become a Secretary

I Type With Wine, How ‘Bout You?

Oh, I Can’t. 

I have 2 Tupperware Party’s back to back this week, and I’m Overdrawn with my AVON Account. 

I have to wait until Gordon gives me my allowance for the month before I can buy anything else.

Oops!  I Dropped my Nail File!  Hang on!

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Typing With Julie in 1965 is Brought to you By…

Southern Net Hairspray

Got BIG Hair?

The Perfect GLUE for our DO!

(My introduction is a parody.  Just so you know.  I have a great husband who knows better than to ever say to me what I write above.  I was just trying to prove a point which will probably be lost on most people.  But, oh well.  Here’s to 1965!  I mean 2025.)

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Afternoon Martini’s with the Boss

Hold all my calls, Mrs. Whann.

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Secretarial Lunch Break

Sometimes a Busy Secretary/Typist has to Eat at her Desk

Egg Salad with a Side of Olives is Always a Nice Choice

Back To Work!

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Diary Entries Starts Here

In Desperate Need of White Out

Bette Nesmith Graham

(1924-1980)

The inventor of Liquid Paper (White Out)

She was also the mother of:

Michael Nesmith, Far Right

Member of The Monkees

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If Australia Can Do It, So Can We!

Let The Movement Begin!

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In this day and age understand that there are many that cannot even grasp the concept of another’s opinion.  Many do not have the intellectual capacity to do so.  Therefore, it isn’t wise to even engage them.  Keep to yourself.  Be safe.

Julie Lancaster-Whann

Most of the time this is me.  No make up, no big hair.  Would you recognize me on the street?

Julie

I took this photo less than a week before the photos above.

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If you would like to view my other personal blogs:

Click Here For:  Blogging With Julie All Along (Past and Present Blogging)

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Dear Dairy….

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April 8, 2025

March, 2025

Gordon’s Home!

Julie and Gordon Out and About

With Gordon working overseas as a contractor, when he is able to come home we only have a few weeks here and there to be together, and to be with our family.  This visit has since come and gone but, we had a really nice time together.  There was a lot of work to do as well.

He initially wanted to come home in February around my birthday, but I told him no.  I wanted him here in March to help with all the spring prep outside. Spring is a lot of work here in Florida.  We tend to lose our leaves from our trees in late January and throughout February, and even into March.  That is a lot of raking, etc.  However, because Hurricane Milton knocked down so many large branches of ours in our backyard, we had hardly any leaves to fall this year.  I remember paying our yard guys $500.00 last year just to rake up all of our leaves. 

There was also lots of algae and mold all around our property on our retaining walls, pavers, and lanai.  That comes from the Florida heat and humidity.  Bleaching, pressure washing, and so on, are all part of upkeep for Florida homeowners.  We also ended up extending our existing fence along the side of our house because of our abusive neighbors.

I do detail all of that here:

My Log/Blog Documenting Stalking and Harassment From My Neighbor

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Honey-Do’s

I always have lots of Honey-Do’s for Gordon when he comes home.  You know, ‘Honey Do This, and Honey Do That.’  🙂

This was one of those cute little Honey Do’s I had Gordon to put together.  I knew the Trump Tariffs would make everything go up so I bought all of this stuff before they took effect.  This is a cute little Garden Center for our Grand-Daughter Isabelle.

I even bought all the accessories for it as well.

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Isabelle’s Little Planter

I Had Gordon To Put These Together As Well

It’s just not Spring or Easter without some sort of garden project to put together.

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Our time together was way too short, but we always manage to pack quite a bit into each visit.

We were thinking about him coming home permanently this October but with all that is going on in our country, perhaps he needs to stay over there longer just in case.  Who knows, he may have to support all of us here if things get really bad?

We Are Truly Living In Uncertain Times

I wish that I had better things to write about.  In these times it’s really up to us to make our own happiness.  To create our own magic.  I would go into greater detail on how to handle these times, but it will sound like everyone else giving advice on what to do.  I don’t want to be that way.  Each person’s circumstances are different.  Some of us have better means than others.  Some of us have better connections and opportunities than others.  Personally, I wish and hope that all of us will survive these coming times and even thrive afterward.  But, realistically I know that won’t happen.

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Julie Barefoot Backyard in the Garden

At this point I honestly don’t know what to say?  I wish that I had all the answers, but I don’t.

I do know that it’s time to hoard.  Time to be on offense.  Time to stay quiet. 

Julie

P.S.  We all miss Gordon.  He is a good husband, a good father, and a good grandfather.  🙂

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March 13, 2025

We’re All Going To Hell In A Hand Basket

(Not to be TOO Negative)

Tuesday, March 11th.

I drove into the base in Tampa on this day to do some shopping.  Gordon will be coming home soon from working overseas and I am shopping in preparation for that.  We have many things planned.  Some fun, some work.  I found it interesting that the base was pretty empty compared to what it usually looks like.  No traffic entering the base, no problem finding good parking, no long lines at check out, not waiting in line for gas, no waiting in line for prescription drive through pick-up, etc.

The Air Force Base is usually pretty busy.  It is actually a small city with everything on it.  This is Florida after all, what with lots of seniors coming onto the base to pick up their prescriptions and do their shopping.  It was a nice day.  I enjoyed it.  To me a good day is when everything goes according to plan.  I’m not one of these people that craves any sort of excitement.  I prefer boring.  To me boring is nice.  Boring is also peaceful.  Plus, boring isn’t boring to me.

I did my usual that day but it was while I was doing some Commissary shopping that I overhear conversations from other shoppers.  This one white couple, probably in their 50’s were comparing brand prices looking for bargains.  As it is prices are very cheap on base.  But they were looking for cheaper. 

Also, when I rounded a corner and headed up an aisle as I was looking at some products on the shelves an Empath noticed me and said something to the effect of, ‘We’ll be buying fewer things soon.’  I then looked at her and said, “I know.  And things are about to get a lot worse.”  She agreed with me as she walked past me.

She was an African-American woman, probably around my age, she was dressed very nicely and her cart was pretty full.  She also had plants in the top section of her cart.  I too was dressed nicely, (in one of my Lilly Pulitzer dresses), with my cart full as well, and plants all around the top part of my cart.  So, you may wonder why she said that to me?  Simple.  She is an Empath, she read me, she knew I was safe to say those things to.  Most white women and men that shop on base are republicans.  You really can’t say anything to them without getting some negative reaction.  Yet this woman knew that I was not that way.  She knew she could say to me what she did and that I would respond in her favor.  Which I did.

Oh, and I’m sure you’ve noticed that I have removed my Empath Blog Pages from my website. 

Perhaps one day I can restore them.  But not now.

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After doing my shopping I headed home.  Oh, the car was full!  I did a LOT of shopping!

And, on the way home I had my chicken that I picked at in the car ride home.  It took me and hour and a half to get home that day.  Horrible Tampa traffic!

Plants, Juice, and Chicken

When I did get home it took me probably a good 35 minutes to unload the car.  At this writing, Thursday, March 13th. I am still putting things away.  I still have grocery bags full of items to take care of.

Ya know, I don’t think that I really have to go into my headline above.  I think that most people that keep up with what is going on knows exactly what I mean above when I say, “We’re all going to hell in a hand basket.”  I mean, it’s obvious.  At least to those that have eyes and can see.  Or ears that can hear?  Or feelings that can feel.

Yesterday when our daughter Veronica got off work and picked up Isabelle from our house, she told me that 17 employees where she works were laid off.  She did say that she made the cut, but that instead of working 5 days a week, she will only be working 4.  Which means that I too get every Friday off from watching Isabelle from now on.  That means I get a 3 day weekend all the time.  Good for me, but not for Veronica and Brian that need the money.

So, the Trump Presidency has hit us close to home now.

I knew that it would. 

Now I wonder what else is to come our way?  I guess we’ll all find out.

Julie

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February 1, 2025

February is Here

Saturday Selfies

Grabbing my Jalapeno Cheddar Muffin to Go

Ran some errands today and did some shopping.  It was a busy Saturday with lots of traffic on the road and at the stores.  While I was at the grocery store I overheard a woman on her cell phone talking to someone about how scared people are right now.  I didn’t want to chime in to her conversation but I very well could have because I understand exactly as she does.  She was a black woman.  I also heard plenty of white women on their cell phones talking to others about the shopping list, or what time they will be picking up so and so to go wherever.  And there were a few white men on the phone with their wives as they were tracking down items on their shopping lists.  Interesting to me that it was the black woman that knew what was going on while the white people were still oblivious and just doing their shopping. 

Oh, the white people will find out soon enough just how scared they should be.

We are all in danger now.  None of us are safe.  Know that.

Safety regulations on our food and drink are being removed right now.  Also, if there is an outbreak of some contaminated foods, or some disease we will not know of it.  Those agencies are being shut down, and the information will be squashed.

For the first time in our lives Gordon and I are considering buying a weapon.  I don’t want to live in the Old West but that may just be how things turn out.

I’m also sure you have been aware of the latest plane crashes in our country?  Well, when you fire and gut the department that made sure we were safe, then these things happen.

Each day I wake up feeling Good/Bad/Happy/Sad, just like the song says.

I have my good moments, my bad moments, my happy moments and my said moments.

This is all of our futures.  Unless you are a billionaire then you are not immune, and you will feel the pain quickly.

They tried to gut Medicaid a few days ago but there was so much outcry they changed their minds.  Understand that this is only temporary.  They will try again when the coast is clear.  Republican’s never give up on any damage they want to do.  They don’t stop, they don’t take a day off, they plot, they plan, and they always succeed.  It’s because you take a day off, you have a life you want to live and enjoy, they count on that.  You turning your back to do something else.  That is when they strike!

They have a grand plan for all of us that I cannot even begin to describe to you here.  You wouldn’t even believe me if I tell you.  Oh, I’ll tell you what I see coming when you are ready to hear it.  But, not yet.  For now, look out for yourselves.  Stay low.  There are no laws now in our country.  Murderers will be forgiven as long as they fight for our leader.  We are entering the American Holocaust. 

During the George W. Bush years the only place that you could hear the truth was on NPR.  National Public Radio.  And also the foreign papers, which I frequented daily.  However, they may just end up blocking our access to these foreign papers.  In which case, we are left with pretty much nothing and it will be up to us to use our common sense to survive it all.

The thing that I do know well is that the truth always finds a way.

When the Bush Administration suppressed the news outlets, that made way for the rise of the political bloggers.  It was only there that you could find the truth.  However, they too will be squashed this time around.  The truth will have to come in another forum.  And it will!  Because like I said, the truth always finds a way.

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My MAGA Next Door Neighbors…

I don’t even know where to begin on this one.  It’s so bizarre, but when I started keeping my Grand-Daughter in the Autumn of 2023, I have had to get up very early on the mornings I keep her.  If Veronica drops her off I have to get up at 4:00 a.m. to be ready for when she drops her off.  If Brain is dropping her off, I have to get up at 4:30 a.m..  Yea!  I get to sleep in!

Being up that early in the morning just makes me feel vulnerable.  I’ve just always felt like someone was outside my bathroom peeking in one of the windows.  I also could have sworn that while I was in the bedroom naked, searching for something to wear and getting dressed, that someone was sitting on the roof on the house next door to us.  I’ve thought I’ve seen that a few times.  One time I thought I saw two men sitting together on the roof.  And interestingly enough, the garage was open that morning on the house across the street.  My first thoughts were that they must have forgotten to close their garage door.  But I did think that was very strange.

In our bedroom we have a window that is very high up and spans probably 12 feet long and two feet high, and arched.  We have very tall ceilings in our house.  That window is also pretty standard.  No one places curtains on it because it’s so high up and you will never find any kind of window covering to fit it.  Also, most people aren’t tall enough to look in your house through it.  (Unless of course, they were on their roof.)

I don’t keep Isabelle every weekday, but I do keep her anywhere from 2-5 days a week.

For the past few months when I get up at either 4:00 or 4:30, I am in the bathroom toilet room, with the light off.  I do have the bathroom light on, just not the toilet room light on.  But, the light does shine through to me.  Well, it’s then that I will hear this very loud THUMP against the side of the house.  My first thoughts are, ‘what the hell was that?’  I will then jump up and look out the main bathroom window to see if someone is out there.  It’s usually very dark and hard to see.  But, I am usually a bit shaken wondering what that was?  This happens quite often.  Usually I would forget about it and go on with my morning, and then my day, until it would happen again the next morning, only to alarm me again, etc.

I have also heard this THUMP at night after I have gone to couch.  Yes, I sleep on the couch.  I am the female Fox Mulder.  Anyway, I will also hear it at night sometimes.

Two weeks ago at around 4:35 a.m. I was once again in the toilet room when I heard the loudest THUMP I had ever heard up until then.  That THUMP was right beside the toilet room window!  It scared me so much that I leapt up, if you know what I mean.  I’ll just leave it there where my response was concerned but…

Well, it was on Saturday that something told me to look out the bedroom window.  I have to stand on the bed to do so.  That’s when I saw it, a blue and orange ball.  It was right between our houses.  That’s when it all made sense to me.  It’s that BALL that I am hearing in the mornings.  He’s throwing that damn ball at the house around the bathroom.  Why?  I have no idea!  I knew they were republicans, but I didn’t think ill will of them until now.

But just think about it.  He gets up before me, and lies in wait for me to use the restroom, and then throws that ball at the house.  Isn’t that bizarre?  Who does these things?

I took pictures.  I’m gathering my evidence.  I even went over there yesterday while I was on the phone with Gordon and hurled that ball to the front of their yard.  I’ve been talking to Gordon and Brian about it and they are on it!  Gordon will be back in March and he is planning on talking to the next door neighbors.  Gordon and Brian are going to install additional security for me.  We just need to update what we have, and install new that cannot be accessed online.  I do still have a cyber-stalker Paul Gray ya know?  If it’s online he can access it and thus control it so….

Wow!  Look at all my stalkers!!!  🙂

It’s kind of strange but when neighbors and others have been harassing me in the past…

(Leisa, Wheelchair Nazi John, Ed, Dori H., Paul Gray, and a cast of many more.)

It used to bother me.  But for some reason this doesn’t upset me as much.  I think because I see the disorder in the person, and not the person.  For example, Leisa was a Narcissist, Wheelchair Nazi John was a Paranoid Schizophrenic, Ed had Demensia, Dori was Bi-Polar, Paul Gray is a Sociopath..

Get the point?  When you see the disorder in the person it makes more sense.  None of the things the people I mention above, have to do with me or anything I’ve ever done.  It’s all about them.  My MAGA neighbor is no different.  I have never done anything to him or his family.  I have no idea why he lies in wait for me in the mornings?  His wife must know about it and she apparently doesn’t care that her husband harasses another woman.  That makes her (Co-Dependent.)  See how this works now?

Remember when I mentioned above that I just had this feeling someone was peeking in my bathroom window?  Well, he was outside my bathroom and bedroom, wasn’t he?  So, why not look?  Looks like I was right after all.

I’m going to be 64 this month.

  This man next door is truly sick!  Along with all of them!

Julie

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January 17, 2025

Before Inauguration Day

Thursday, January 16, 2025

I took this photo of me yesterday while I was on my way to MacDill AFB in Tampa to do some major shopping to stock up.

Granted, it’s not new for me to take a car selfie while on my way to the base to do my shopping but, it was just different yesterday.  I set my alarm for early and got up, got ready, and got out of here for the day.

I of course, took food with me, I always do.  And plenty of water.  It was my day off from keeping Isabelle and I knew that I had to make the most of my day and shop until I dropped.  Which I did!

According to Trump he is implementing his Tariff’s on day ONE!  That is a tax on many imported goods to our country.  Our Economists have warned us that the average American family will be spending an additional $4,000.00 a year more on regular household goods they normally buy. 

Gordon and I don’t exactly fall into that “average” category, so we will probably be spending more than that a year on our food, etc. budget.  We tend to eat a lot of Asian ingredients.  We lived in Hawaii for 13 years and all the Asian foods that we ate there are ingrained into our diets.  Just to add a bit of history here about Tariff’s, The Boston Tea Party, December 16, 1773, was in response to Tariff’s.  So….

If you are thinking that the items you mostly buy won’t fall under that “tariff” tax, and that you don’t need to stock up on anything, well, having to pay that “tariff tax” will make the things you usually buy a bit harder because you won’t have that extra money to pay for those items.

You also need to understand that grocery stores here in America are also going to implement that Tariff tax on their goods, whether they already had them in the store before the tax took effect, or not.  Publix is owned by a woman that supported and funded the January 6th. Insurrection.  You think she is going to give you a discount?  She will tax you as soon as she can because that is free money for her.  And no, I won’t be naming her here.

I stocked up on everything yesterday.  I hit up the Exchange for some clothing for Isabelle, and lingerie for me, dog treats, Isabelle some Bluey toys, books, there were also lots of Valentine’s Day things that I bought, just to get ahead.  It was funny that they had leftover Christmas, Valentine’s Day things, and even the Easter stuff has arrived and was out on display.

I stocked up on so many things so that all I will need to buy for the next few months will be fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.  I can get those at Sprouts.

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Already Packed

I wanted to add that I have started to keep some clothing and toiletries in my car just in case.  I’ve been doing this since 2024.  I read a few years ago that Climate Scientists are keeping a bag packed by their door, to grab on their way out of the house if there is a climate emergency.

I’ve always been the kind of person to carry a big purse with “additions.”  What I mean by that is that in addition to the usual things women carry in their purse, I always had a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, painkillers, antacids, address book with phone numbers, mini-scissors, small compact make-up, in addition to the usual lip sticks and lip liners, mini hand lotions, …  shall I continue?  🙂

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One Fine Day

Michelle Pfeiffer’s One Fine Day Purse, with George Clooney

I cannot tell you how many people that I knew that saw that movie back in 1996 and thought of me!  It was the handbag!  Michelle Pfeiffer had everything in that handbag, just like me. 🙂

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The California Fires

I can’t tell you how many times I heard interviews of people that said, ‘we didn’t have time to grab anything, we left with the clothes on our backs.  We had nothing.

When you look at that cooler right behind me in the photo of my selfie, you see a blue cooler.  In that cooler are clothing and toiletries.  I am keeping those at the ready just in case I may ever need to evacuate in a hurry.  I will at least have something, whereas there were so many that had nothing.

By our backdoor I have bags packed for our dogs.  That way, all I have to do is to grab their food.  I already have blankets, leashes, their papers, pads, blankets, toys, etc. all packed in carry-on’s.

I think this is how we need to live our lives in this day and age.  Ready for anything.  Especially, ready to evacuate. due to climate change.

I would like to credit Nancy Drew for my efficiency in always being prepared.  Reading her books as a young child taught me that.  Nancy was always prepared.  She always had everything in her handbag that she needed.  I know that may sound a bit silly, but it applies to today.

I managed to stock up on everything.  Goods, Wine, Food, Toiletries..

As You Can See Here….

This is our future.  Being prepared, being ready.  I also have blankets in my car, batteries, rope, flashlights, first aid kits, even some books to read if I am ever stranded.  Being prepared is our future.  Like it or not.  It is!

Julie

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January 12, 2025

From My Neighborhood Stalker…  🙂

This was left in our mailbox back in December, but I find it very interesting.

You can see my trash cans in the photo.  Usually I just set out the two for pick-up on Tuesday’s, but this particular day I had collected quite a bit of yard debris so I had placed that container out as well.  This photo was taken on a Monday night, around 3:00 a.m.

You can see the shadow of the person (man) holding their arms in the air, left, to take the photo at 3:00 a.m.  They look slender.

 The note they left is also a interesting.  It says:

Hi,

Not sure if you realise (realize) it but your sprinkler is broken

🙂  Smiley Face

These guys did some work for me

_____ sprinkler

___-___-____  (Sprinkler company’s phone number.)

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First of all, this person doesn’t tell me who they are.  It alarms me that someone would be standing outside the house at around 3:00 a.m. taking this photo.  After they took this photo at 3:00 a.m. they had to have printed it out on their printer, and then placed it in the mailbox the following night.  I know this because it was underneath my mail.  As in, they placed the photo in my mailbox at night, and then the mailman delivered the mail the following morning, placing it on top of this note.

The smiley face added to the note is something a woman would do, but I believe this to be a man who wrote this.  I don’t know many women wandering the neighborhood at 3:00 a.m., plus the note mentions how these sprinkler guys ‘did some work for me.’  We don’t have any single women living around me.  A married woman would have said, ‘did some work for us.’  So, this is a man.  (Or, it could have been the joint effort of a husband and wife team.)

I suppose I could call that number he gave me and ask who that business services on my street?  But, I’m not going to.  It’s funny but when you do contact any of these kinds of businesses they always ask the same thing, ‘How did you hear about us?’  What shall I say?  Oh, my neighborhood stalker gave me your phone number,  🙂

P.S.  I already knew about the busted sprinkler.  I am a light sleeper and I get up throughout the night.  The first thing I do is to look outside.  I saw the geyser, I was just waiting until my son-in-law had the time to come over and fix it.  He did, and all is well.  The only mystery left is who is the sneaky neighborhood person?

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…And, What I’ve Been Up To

Now that the holidays are over with I am back to keeping Isabelle.  Some weeks are just a few days, while other weeks are everyday.  We’ve also had the nicest coldest weather now for about a month.  I have thoroughly enjoyed it.  I’m just doing cold weather things like reading, organizing, working on my website.  I’m currently working on 5 website pages at once, mostly Christmas’s from 2023.

I am also dreading Inauguration Day and will be doing a lot of shopping prior to that day.  I suggest that you do the same.  If we are to have to pay around $4,000.00 more a year on our normal household items because of the Trump Tariffs, then it would be a good idea to stock up now before day one of his Presidency.

Also, there needs to be an understanding by the American people of what is to come.  Just watch how Trump handles the California fire situation when he gets in office and that will give you an indication of how he will handle everything.  It will be up to us to survive on our own.  There will be no help from any government official.

Do any of you remember the Brown Outs in California during the Gray Davis Govenorship?  He was recalled and then replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Those Brown Outs were generated by the Bush/Cheney Administration just so the people would blame Gray Davis, which they did, and the people got rid of him, which they did, even though it really wasn’t his fault. 

These fires will have every Democrat in the state fired and replaced by Republican’s.  The state will then turn red in the next major election.  (If we even have elections anymore.)

As California burns so does the rest of us.  You’ll see.  This really is the end of California as we know it.  It’s also the end of America as we know it.

Can Biden do something before he leaves office?  Sure.  Will he?  I have no idea?  He could grant every citizen living here in America citizenship.  Will he?  I have no idea?  I guess we will find out what Biden is made of before Inauguration Day.  But, the Biden that we know will smile, and shake the hand of the dictator that will destroy our country.  Just as Obama sat next to Trump at Jimmy Carter’s funeral, smiling and laughing with Trump.  Those are our Democrats.  We don’t have fighters, we have political pussy’s that Trump gets to grab whenever he wants to.

Miracles can happen before Inauguration Day.  Will they?  Well, I have never believed in miracles.  I’m pretty sure I’ll be proven once again, that they don’t exist.

Julie

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January 11, 2025

Jimmy Carter’s Funeral, California Fires, and our Incoming President’s Unaccountability (I might have made up this word, not sure.)

The Start of 2025

(If you think this is bad, just wait.)

RIP Jimmy

I wanted to share a story with you.  It took place in either the late 80’s or early 90’s but Jimmy Carter had organized a program to bring over some people from Soviet Georgia to receive surgery for their ailments.  My parents, John and Mary Lancaster had one of the recipients of the program to stay with them.  I remember his name was Iraqli, not sure if that is how you spell it, but it is how the name was pronounced.)  He was a doctor over there.  He didn’t have the money to come to America for the surgery he needed, his mother paid for it.  I think that he just needed to get over here and then everything else was free.  Iraqli had a huge tumor on his face.  He came over to Georgia for probably a month.  I believe it was Emory that removed his tumor.  He stayed with my parents for a few weeks, and then another family in Atlanta.

Out of all the wonderful things being said of all that Jimmy Carter did, I haven’t heard one person say anything about this program.  Probably because the Carter’s have done so many good things that are just too numerous to even name.

Jimmy and Rosie

(We named our cats after them.)  🙂

I may credit Jimmy Carter for this program but I’m sure Roslyn had something to do with it as well.  Just as she had something to do with every good works Jimmy Carter was ever credited for.

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I remember my parents telling me that Iraqli loved pickles so much and could not stop eating them, so they just placed the jar in front of him and let him have all of them.

Another cute story is that at that time my parents had a copy machine in their house.  Iraqli was fascinated by that.  My parents tried to explain to him that the only reason they had that copy machine is that it was leftover from his practice in North Carolina and that it isn’t common for most families to even own one.  (Iraqli assumed that all American families had copy machines.)

When he went and stayed with that family in Atlanta when he had his surgery, they also had a copy machine.  🙂

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I just wanted to state that I have told you things throughout my years of blogging of my abuse my parents inflicted on me for most of my life.  My brother Johnny once summed it up by saying:

‘We might have had rotten parents, but they were good people.’

What he said about them actually helped me to get through a lot of the abuse that I received from them.  But, the abuse never ended, so I finally decided to stop judging them by how good they are to other people, and only judge them on how bad they are to me.

The example of my parents taking in Iraqli is a perfect example of the good that they would do for other people. 

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The California Fires

See the Palm Trees? 

They are not indigenous to California, and they suck up a lot of water.

This is so very sad on so many levels.  Not just the human, animal and plant life, but the destruction of homes, property, businesses, places of worship, schools, etc.  Not to even mention the pollution that is contributing to the destruction of our planet.

When you hear on T.V. that Mel Gibson’s house has burnt down, all you think about is Mel Gibson.  (Before I continue, I just wanted to state that I do not like Mel Gibson, I am just using him as an example.)

What most people don’t realize is that there are so many attached to Mel Gibson that have now lost in some way.  There are the people that live with him, the people that work for him.  His giant mansion is tended to by some very skilled gardeners, who also probably would tend to the gardens of many in the area.  They have now lost their jobs and perhaps even gone out of business.

Also, the housekeepers that tend to Mel Gibson’s house most likely work for a company that tend to many houses in the area.  They have now lost their jobs, and that business has probably gone out of business.  There are also people that you don’t think about.  Oh, and let’s not forget the pool boys, and who they worked for.  Most of these wealthy have personal chefs, and personal trainers.  They have now lost their jobs too.

Schools have burnt down, banks have burnt down, businesses have burnt down.  They have all lost their jobs.

This tragedy is so grand that I don’t believe it can be fixed.  Where are all these displaced people to go? 

Of course there are solutions, but that would mean taxing the rich and we all know that won’t happen.

I would like to say something to those people that after every tragedy they all say the same thing, ‘I never thought this would happen here.’

Me:  Why the hell not?  Are you protected by magic fairies or something like that?  Why can’t it happen to you?  It can happen to any of us. 

There is such a thing called, Global Warming.  Yeah, I know we changed the name to Climate Change because when most ignorant people hear the words, Global Warming, they tune out because they think of Al Gore.  Each year our planet gets hotter and hotter, dryer and dryer, yet no one can connect the dots, and not wonder why this is happening?

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My Spaghetti Pie

It was while I was making my Spaghetti Pie that I was using so many ingredients from California.  That excellent Olive Oil that we use so often, and love so much  The tomatoes grown in California, etc.  I then wondered if the fires would affect our ability to even have these items in the future?  I’m not trying to be selfish.  I’m just pointing out that we are all connected and what happens in California can affect me here in Florida.

We need to care about each other.  We need to help each other.  We need to put our planet before profits.

Yeah well, stay tuned, huh?

And a big P.S.:  Mel Gibson is the one that is going to be o.k. even though he is the one that lost his house.

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And Now For The Most Disgusting…

In my 63 years I haven’t seen too many evil people pay a price for all the evil that they do.  I won’t be naming names, but you know who I am talking about.

When I was in Elementary School in Roanoke, Virginia we watched the Watergate Hearings on T.V. every day.  It was history.  Our teachers knew it was important that we watch and be engaged, to know what was going on, and how serious it all was.  That was such a long time ago when the criminal activity of our politicians was considered bad and important for us to know about.  But not now.

I’ve heard the Democrats talking about how they need to change to appeal to the rural voters.  WHAT?  CHANGE?  TO APPEAL TO A BUNCH OF RACISTS?

Exactly how are they going to do that?  Become racists themselves?

I say, be yourself.  Don’t try and appeal to any bad actor.  Why?  Is selling your soul just so you can win elections worth it?  I don’t think so.  Yet, this is where we are in our country.

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If America is an evil country, then it’s an evil country.  There is nothing we can do about it.  Except perhaps to carve out a small significant portion ourselves in our daily lives where we disconnect from that evil and do good.  There may come a time when I quit watching the news altogether.  There may come a time when I deactivate yet another social media account of mine.  I know that I have deleted some website pages of mine.  Perhaps I will be deleting all my personal blogs as well if I see the need.  There may come a time where I spend my days doing nothing but gardening, crafts, cooking, helping, etc.

As I told my brother Johnny in Ireland, ‘I guess I’ll just play princess castle with Isabelle until they drag me out into the town square and hang me for my liberal views.’

Julie

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January 6, 2025

My Inspiration In Life is Sea Biscuit:

(I realize I’ve posted about Sea Biscuit before, but with the coming 2025 Administration that is to be sworn in on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I think a lot of us will be looking toward the inspiration of the underdog.  Sea Biscuit and his jokey and trainer, are mine.)

Sea Biscuit VS. War Admiral

I grew up with so many of my family and their friends who loved Sea Biscuit.  In this clip you hear George tell the jockey Charlie, ‘So Long Charlie’ right before he takes off.  I heard that said so many times when I was young, when anyone would leave our house.  It was like saying, ‘see you later.’  But, the meaning was all about Sea Biscuit.

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So Long, Charlie,

Julie Lancaster-Whann

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RECIPE

My Curry Leaf Roasted Olives, Garlic and Sundried Tomatoes

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Our Front Yard Curry Plant

Draining My Olives and Washing My Curry Leaf Branches

(I can’t believe that I have no photos of my Olives that I used here in the jars they came in.  However, I will do my best to name them in the ingredient write-up.)

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Ingredients:  Amounts Are Up To You

Assortment of Olives, preferably Pitted

I used Kalamata Olives, Moroccan Olives, Italian Castelvetrano Olives, and large Stuffed Olives

Sundried Tomatoes

3 Branches of our Curry Leaves

Fresh Garlic Cloves

Roasted Garlic Cloves

Key Limes

Spices:

Oregano

Dill Weed

Dill Seed

Basil

Olive Oil

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My Roasted Garlic, Left, and Fresh Garlic Cloves, Right

(Each one adds a different flavor.)

Turn Your Oven on 400F

Line a Baking Sheet with Aluminum Foil and create a sort of “bowl” to be able to hold all the Olive mixture so they don’t expand all over the baking sheet.

In a Medium to Large Bowl I Added All My Drained Olives and some Fresh Garlic Cloves, as well as some Roasted Garlic Cloves.

I Chopped My Sundried Tomatoes into Smaller Pieces

(I love this brand of Sundried Tomatoes, I snack on them all the time.)

Add Everything To Your Bowl

Time To Add Your Spices,

And Key Lime (or Lime) Juice

(You don’t want your bowl full of olives, etc. all wet.  You want everything to mix together nicely and not have some puddle in the bottom of the bowl.  This should give you an idea of how much Lime Juice to add.)

Mix Everything Together and then Drizzle Your Olive Oil Over Top

This is a really good Olive Oil.  By all means, stock up on it.  You will use it quite often.  It is one of the best.

(I tend to always add more, so just drizzle enough to combine everything together.  You can always add more later on.)

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Now It’s Time To Place Them on the Baking Sheet

I Placed One Curry Branch Down First,

Then I Poured The Bowl of Olives Over Top

I Also Drizzled More Olive Oil Over Them to Make Sure They Were All Coated Well

Into The Oven They Go For 20 Minutes

Here I removed them and stirred them around a bit.  Just to make sure they weren’t sticking to the Aluminum Foil, and to make sure they were coated well in the Olive Oil.

I Also Added More Spices… just a few Shakes of This and That

Then Placed Them Back into the Oven for Additional 20 Minutes

Curry Leaves Should Have Been Blacker

(I would have loved for my leaves to have been more Charred, as they eat them overseas, but I didn’t want my Olives, etc. to be more done than they were.)

After a Total of 40 – 50 Minutes in the Oven….

Allow To Cool…

Then Place Into a Bowl and Add Some Fresh Curry Leaves Around

Keep in the Refrigerator

Fingers Crossed They Win Me The JOB!!!

Very Sincerely,

Mrs. Gordon Whann

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