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The Presidential Election

Why This Election Means Everything to Me

November 3, 2020 By kimwheeler 88 Comments

My life before these last four, was fairly unpolitical. If it wasn’t an election year, my focus was rarely, if ever on the White House. If it was, it was because Obama did something funny, or Michelle planted a garden, or Malia and Sacha were part of a special event, playing with their dog -or something cute.. As I moved through life, I took for granted that things were being done well in this great country. Human rights mattered, polluters were being kept in check, our national parks and endangered animals were cared for, and we were hopefully creating a more perfect union gradually that would have a fair place for all of us, all races, religions and for LGBTQ people.

Four years ago we skidded to a halt on all that we were moving toward. We not only stopped the progress, but actively turned the clock back. Suddenly things we took as a given- women’s rights, human rights, protections of the earth, and care for our fellow man on the planet all got relegated to the waste basket. We became a country I no longer feel proud of. I refuse to be quiet about this and I know many of you feel the same. So much is at stake in this election.

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know I sometimes speak out about more than decor and design. People don’t always like it. I have been told directly to stick to the fluff and please stay in my lane. I wrote about George Floyd this summer. I don’t think I can change the mind of someone who is a Trump supporter. However, I would feel like this blog has lost its soul if I didn’t mention this election. It may be to my own detriment, as I’d have more followers if I just keep my opinions on the down low. The problem is I was raised to believe in the good of America and how very special it is. Four years ago I was utterly devastated by the win of Trump.

My dad, who is a conservative, even told me, ‘Honey someone like that will never get elected.’ We both couldn’t believe it. After the shock wore off, I thought a lot about what I personally could do. I never was active in politics, but seeing someone of Trump’s caliber become president really woke me up and (and a whole lot of others).

In the time since Trump has been elected, I marched in women’s marches and the anti-gun march with my friends and family. They were some of the most powerful and moving things I have ever done. It felt very validating to be out there with so many who felt the same as I did. In this four years, many of my friends have gotten involved in this election process on every level, from texting to fund-raising, to writing letters and even working on campaigns. It’s been inspiring to see what we all can do. I began, like many others following politics obsessively, tried to better educate myself about the political system and our history, and write letters to congress and others. I have also learned much following Heather Cox Richardson, a political historian who writes the daily Letters From an American.

Trump spent the last four years doing as much damage to our country and our rights that he could. My dad asked me to give him a chance and I tried. How can one feel attached to a man who never shows empathy and whose main emotion is hostility? I could go on about so much else he has done, but this year he showed how poor a leader and human he is.

When the Covid pandemic hit, we had the perfect storm, a man who wanted to keep information about the virus spread under wraps and above all, keep the stock market high, at the peril of our citizens. What a horrible and sad disaster. If anyone was unsure about his ability to lead, it was proven with this tragedy. Trump’s priority was love of money and his own ratings- and American citizens came last.

His utter inability to ask us to take any nationwide sacrifice to save lives, and wear masks, has been another huge mistake. This has resulted in the deaths of over 231,000 of us, and more are coming. We need a leader who will ask us to do what is right for the sake of America and for the greater good, if we are to ever be done with this. Simple measures work amazingly and other nations have mandated masks and nationwide rules and fared so much better. By letting each state do what they want, with no leadership from the top, we have become a deadly mess. If we had done the same as Australia we would have 94% less deaths. If we did as Canada did, 59% less.. There are more facts here.

We closed our borders to China only after 40 other countries also did, and we continued to allow flights in from Asia and China for citizens and others living there for many weeks after, with no stops at the airport. People in our town wrote into our local news that full flights came in and walked straight through the airport with no stops for months after the January 31 order. The horrible deaths from the virus in New York in the spring came from a European carrier. We closed our borders to Europe months after China. The stats are here on what was actually done. Blaming China for this virus was convenient and a way to never take responsibility for any part of this. Other countries have this and have not pointed the finger at others and instead put a plan in place.

Today’s election has been on my mind for so long. Biden was never the person I saw as the Democrat nominee, but I have come to admire Joe and the kind of man he is. I appreciate his years of service to this country and his care for the others and clearly the values this country was founded on. Biden with Kamala, a California girl my own age, will be a very great team, with diverse talents and backgrounds. It bodes well for creating a nation that could be more inclusive, more diverse, forward looking and where facts and science matter.

It may be naive, but I do believe the people of this country will prevail and we will all do what is right. I hope this election is the start of more good to come. I believe so many Americans know their votes are the most powerful thing they can do right now. I am blown away by the early voting numbers, which are historic and huge!

If nothing else, these four years have shaken us all awake and alerted us to the need to be involved in our elections and who has a place in our government. This set back has made us stronger, more committed and more involved than ever. We will never take democracy for granted – or our part in it again! We are more knowledgeable than ever about the constitution, our Supreme Court and the executive powers.

Thank you for listening on this momentous day and I just had to share and I wonder if you all felt the same?

Much love,

Kim

Filed Under: The Presidential Election, Uncategorized Tagged With: #2020election, #biden, #election2020, #thepresidentialelection

What’s Been Happening Around These Parts…

November 7, 2016 By kimwheeler 11 Comments

Hello friends. Sorry I’ve been a little busy and I just haven’t been able to sit and write. The past few weeks have been a flurry of Halloween, get-togethers, and lots of goings on. Though we did have some unusual October rain, it’s just gorgeous right now in the Bay Area and this week we are supposed to have 70s temps!
I’ve been especially enjoying the warm afternoons and have been trying to get out to soak up some winter sun and marvel at all the pretty leaves.
This is just a smattering and some snaps of what’s been happening around these parts. 
We had some fun at our annual street pumpkin carving gathering. 

Even my college son came back for this and he and his girlfriend even dressed up as Harry Potter and Jinny. So glad they are still enjoying this stuff.
My youngest transporting pumpkins.

Another day we got to Marin County Mart. It’s a beautiful new spot with unique shops and restaurants with outdoor dining. We need more of those with our California weather!

With my guys at the mart which was decorated so cute for fall. I hope to get back up there soon to shop and maybe have lunch. It’s a great spot for a day trip with a girlfriend.

In other news, we added these guys to our home menagerie. My youngest decided we needed to bring back two Wooly Bear caterpillars home from a recent trip up north and so far they are surviving. 😀

Halloween is just near and dear to my heart as I have so many fond memories of my boys and all their costumes. Gosh those years went by so fast.

Loved this picture of them with plastic fangs. I had a bowl of photos with the kids in costumes through the years. Love!

I keep getting Facebook reminders like this. I try not to reshare them all, but it sure is fun to see some of these pop up from time to time.

Halloween and Thanksgiving decor seems to go well with my home. I have an (ugly) brown granite kitchen counter and a lot of black accents so just adding pumpkins and orange was easy.

I love these mums in a rust color and any tortoiseshell glass like this bowl.

Flowers were from my favorite holiday inspiration spot, Bunches Flowers in Los Gatos, where Pete the duck holds court. I caught her posing (yes she is a lady), so I couldn’t resist snapping a picture of her.


Besides all the cool jars and vases and pretty plants, I like to take a gander in here as it reminds me of visiting with my youngest in his preschool days to look for Petey. I’m nostalgic like that sometimes.

The sign and also the pumpkin man were gifts from friends. Love them!

Saturday mornings I go for a long walk with a friend and we occasionally stumble on estate sales. Last weekend I scored a pair of cane backed pecan chairs from the 1960s from a lovely old home.  I think I’ll reupholster them in a cool fabric. I also got a great dhurrie rug (above) in fabulous condition from the owners travels.

I threw some pillows on the chairs until I can figure out what to do with them. I love small scale chairs like this which are good for a game table between them, in front of a fireplace or just to fill a bedroom corner.

Estate sales are the best! Do not furnish your home in all new things. Estate sales and family heirlooms give it soul and make it uniquely yours!
Our entry hooks filled with hats and costumes from Halloween with an original Halloween painting from my artist pal, Meilei and some of my other favorites.
I got to wear one of those hats to the annual Wonderful Witchy Woman Lunch.
With fun friends and here I actually thought I was tan a bit from tennis. Not!
Hobbes the cat decided the new counter stools are his personal perch and only moves from them under force now. Does he not look determined? I added this short lamp on the counter for the winter months. I love the cozy feel lamps on kitchen counters give don’t you? They are great on dark mornings and so much warmer than the overhead lighting.

This little slate sign in my kitchen makes me happy and it’s hiding a nasty old metal phone jack that can’t be removed. You can’t tell can you? Hated that thing and I don’t know why I didn’t cover it like this before.
I’ve been using apples, pomegranates and persimmons in all my salads and as toppings on everything. Butter lettuce and red onions are good companions to any of that and a home made dressing of apple cider vinegar plus walnut oil and just a touch of maple syrup makes for a yummy fall dressing.
I’ve got my winter garden in and have peas, radishes, cauliflower, and kale growing.

 
 My dad is my garden guy. he puts it all in for me and starts many of the plants himself and transplants for me here. I could never grow anything without his help!

My dad Ray, has his birthday on November 8, election day. The first election he voted in was 1960, and he turned 21 that day and voted for John F. Kennedy.  Isn’t that pretty neat? The voting age wasn’t lowered until 1971 to 18. Love my dad!  
This whole election has been so stressful hasn’t it? I have many friends who feel serious anxiety from it. Thank goodness it’s coming to an end finally. 
My 99 year old grandma Jody (dad’s mom) has seen it all and she cast her first vote and every vote since for a man and she’s ready for a woman to be president she says. She may be one of the only people still around who has voted in every presidential election from Theodore Roosevelt to our first woman candidate, Hillary Clinton! 
I recently took her out for one of her favorite things and In and Out Burger. Isn’t she cute? She’s smart, and sharp and fun. I feel so lucky to have her in my life still!
My mother was also a big supporter of women’s rights and I have said this before, but I just wish she could be here to see the day we finally can vote for a woman president. She  would be thrilled so I am voting in honor of my mom Sue, for Hillary. I know she would be happy about it.
Okay that’s it. I’ve spilled my guts and got you all caught up. Later this week I’m going to be running some home remodel ideas by you all if your still out there.
Have a good week and hugs to you all for being here and reading. I’m feeling really hopeful that this country will rise above all the discord and be together once this election is done.
Kim

The view from our front yard this week!!

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Filed Under: home, home decor, October and Fall, The Presidential Election

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Blogger, writer and explorer sharing about my native California, and parts farther afield. Join me here where I chat about things to love in the worlds of design, fashion, home, travel and culture.

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