We had some interesting times this week. Getting winter cold, but Utah needs snow, not ICE.
Eliza and Kai spent their holiday morning slowly getting into the rhythm of the day. It looks like someone is trying to steal Hallie's Christmas present from Amanda (note the girl in the purple snuggly blanket). Oh, no, you don't!
Fergus even managed to get on the bed. He's having a harder time doing that lately.
The local herd and Mike caught each other by surprise again.
Hallie tried to get a picture of Fergus lying down on her instead of whining on Tuesday. It's not his most flattering image.
Jocie came to visit, and she and Fergus made a Landon sandwich.
Ferg's shaved area seems to be taking a long time to grow back. Eliza googled how long it should take, and so far she learned it could be anywhere from 2-3 months.
Hallie got herself some new nails in pink and white. Thanks, Shelby! Supporting newbies is awesome!
Hello, Brooklyn! Hallie got to babysit for a tiny bit on Thursday. Brooklyn didn't cry but wasn't so sure about the idea.
Norther lights were visible in Missoula this week (not Mike's picture).
More Missoula deer herd sightings.
When Mike got back to his apartment earlier this month, he found this spider hanging out near the ceiling. Over the last few weeks, she (?) has gone from one room to another, typically staying near the ceiling and avoiding making too much of a ruckus. Mike hasn't escorted her outside because it's gotten quite chilly. As long as she stays generally out of sight and/or reach, he's going to leave her be. (This doesn't mean that he doesn't get a little wigged out when he goes to sleep wondering where she's at in the night. . . .)
Hallie and Ty got new piercings on Friday. This time, Hallie got a tragus piercing. Ty got a Tragus piercing too.
Hallie arrived at Starbucks bright and early on Saturday. 5:30 a.m. to be exact. To be gone the least about of time from the kids and to get some work hours, Hallie is learning how to open. Kora told Hallie about the drink listed below, and Hallie had to try it. If you like your drink sweet, this Venti 1/2 white mocha and 1/2 sugar cookie iced latte with blonde ristretto shots topped with whipped cream and cinnamon sugar was yummy, Hallie said.
We've never been shy about expressing our political views. You know where we stand, gentle reader. This week marks the third time in a month that the federal government has sought to justify terminal violence in the name of enforcing the law: Keith Porter, Jr., Renee Good, and now Alex Pretti.
There is no justification for law enforcement officers taking the law into their own hands and being judge, jury, and executioner. None.
u/killians1978 on Reddit rightly noted, "The fact that Alex Pretti and Renee Good were, by all accounts, decent people should not gloss over the larger rationale that is being used to justify this invasion in the first place.
"The MAGA base, and many uninformed/willfully ignorant people, believe the lie that the undocumented people, refugees, legal immigrants and other humans being rounded up are, at their core, violent criminals. They're telling us they are convicted sex offenders, drug dealers, and maniacs here to destabilize and destroy the safety of the American public. They're telling us that these people brought this violence upon themselves by entering the country illegally, or by placing themselves in the way of agents enforcing law.
"That these are easily falsifiable lies is all beyond the point. Even a criminal deserves his day in court. Even a sex offender deserves human rights and due process. When we deny someone that very essential element of justice, we create the gap they need to wedge in the narrative that some people are not really people.
"If Alex Pretti was a terrible person, he still did not deserve to be shot in the street. If Renee Good was an agent provocateur sewing discord, she did not deserve to be shot in her car. If the Somali detainees that died in ICE custody were sex offenders and rapists, they did not deserve to die at the hands of the people in charge of keeping their custody.
"So, talk about their accomplishments. Hold them up as a standard for what the common man can do in the face of these atrocities, but don't for a second start doing the Gestapo's work for them and using their apparent 'goodness' as the sole reason they deserve to still be alive.
"It's justice. It's for all of us, or it's for none of us."
Due process exists for a reason. We are not the Wild West. Particularly as descendants of Mormon pioneers who were driven, hunted, and murdered for simply existing, it boggles the mind how anyone who has family members and ancestors similarly persecuted can continue to justify this lawlessness.
This is Eliza watching history that is impacting her directly unfold in real time.
We all seek ways to cope. Mike finds his in fiction. In one of his favorite shows, Fringe, two characters share an exchange about the nature of change and consequence. One father speaks to another quoting the philosopher Marcus Aurelius, saying, "The universe is change. Our life is what our thoughts make it."
Similarly, author Octavia E. Butler wrote on change and choice in her extremely prescient work,
Parable of the Sower.
So, what is a rational, caring person to do? Acknowledge the impermanence of life and create good in the world.
"Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go--love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you." ~ L. R. Knost
We are one human race. Anyone who says otherwise is trying to exploit you for their selfish gain.
Mike had a conference in Bozeman over the weekend where he and his colleagues presented some academic stuff, as one does in those places.
Hallie and the kids enjoyed a meal at a local Japanese restaurant, Tabeyo Sushi. Mike was jealous. They started out to go to a new ramen place in Springville but there was a sign on the door that said they were sold out. The kids said that was a good thing. They then went to Darn Good Coffee, and it was really busy. So, they ventured on to Tabeyo Sushi.
After eating Hallie took the kids to the grocery store. Out of the three of them, one has the hardest time going to the grocery store. Landon loves to rage bait Hallie at the grocery store. The kids don't want her to stay long and talk to people, but dang! The shenanigans make it take twice as long. Hallie spent the rest of time being disappointed by the Rams vs. Seahawks game. Some packing of housewares happened by Hallie and Eliza, and some very old Kinder Joy Eggs were found and thrown out. Hallie and the kids looked at the toys and none were toys they wanted to keep. Kinder Joy < Kinder Surprise.
