Howdy, howdy! How’s everyone doing this lovely Wednesday? Things here are about the same as usual. A thin veneer of normalcy covering a deep and enduring sense of impending doom. But let’s celebrate something good! Tomorrow (the 19th) is Juneteenth!
Juneteenth is the celebration of the end of slavery in the US. It took about three years after the Emancipation Proclamation for it to be fully enforced, with Kentucky and Delaware being the last to free slaves in December of 1865. So, why Juneteenth instead of December something? Because the earliest observations of the holiday were in Texas, which enforced the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19th of 1865. It’s been celebrated in some form ever since 1866. When black southerners were forced to spread across America in order to, you know, live… (the south was not/is not a great place to be for a lot of people), they took the celebration with them. So, even though it began here in Texas, all of the states eventually adopted the holiday in some form or another. It also became the first new federal holiday since 1983 (MLK Day) when Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in 2021. Happy Juneteenth!
Howdy, howdy! How’s everyone doing this lovely Wednesday? It’s August in Texas, so it’s hot and muggy and generally gross outside. I’ve been spending my time inside, as usual. Reading, slushing (the place I’m a first reader at opened the submission floodgates recently, so yeah), and even writing a bit. Funness. Anyway, it’s hot and I kind of want ice cream, but I won’t get any because Dad shouldn’t have it. Okay, I might order a small one I can eat in one sitting if we order from a restaurant, but no pints or anything. So, I thought I’d just share my top 5 favorite flavors with you while I think about them, then go back to ignoring ice cream’s existence.
1. Coffee. Just plain coffee ice cream. No chocolate chunks. No espresso beans. A smooth, creamy, rich coffee ice cream. It’s the best and I haven’t had it in forever. I also like it mixed into a milkshake with my second favorite flavor.
2. Cookies and Cream. It was my favorite as a kid and I still love it. Alone or with coffee ice cream. Yum. I’m not picky.
3. Vanilla. Yes, I prefer vanilla over chocolate. It’s more versatile if I want to add something to it (fruit, liqueurs, whatever). Plus, if it’s a good brand, vanilla has a more complex flavor and I like that. It’s just better all around.
4. Salted caramel. I like caramel in general. As with coffee ice cream, I’d rather it not have chocolate chunks or toffee or whatever other surprises companies want to throw in there. Just caramel with a little salt.
5. Chocolate, I guess. I don’t really have a strong preference for any other flavors. I like raspberry, but not enough to give it it’s own spot on my list. Same with mint chocolate chip. Peanut butter is too hit or miss. So, I suppose a basic chocolate is good enough.
What are your favorite ice cream flavors? As always, feel free to share your thoughts or comments or questions here or on my social media pages!
Hello, hello! It’s Tuesday (March 2nd) as I’m writing this and I have to say that governor Abbott is a fucking idiot who has no idea what he’s doing or he just doesn’t care what he’s doing as long as he’s doing it for the highest bidder. Personally, I think it’s both of those things, but what do I know? Sane people wouldn’t reelect corrupt imbeciles over and over again. Oh, wait. My bad. They do it all the time. Anyway, in case you haven’t figured it out, I’m feeling a little ranty at the moment. I try not to blog when I’m in this mood because there are enough angry people on the Interwebz, but I don’t currently have anything else to talk about. So, feel free to come back next week when I’m in a better mood. Or read on. Your choice.
Me reading the executive order.
In case you haven’t been following things down here in Texas, after the atrocity that was Snowvidpocalypse a couple of weeks ago and the horrible handling of that by everyone involved, governor Abbott has hit a new low. Just because we’ve been in a slight downward trend of new Covid cases (which I believe has at least stalled if it hasn’t already turned upward again), he issued an executive order lifting all of the restrictions on businesses and getting rid of the mask mandate. If you don’t believe me, you can read about it for yourself here. There’s a link to the actual order at the bottom of that page. But anyway… His reasoning? Covid numbers have dropped, the vaccine rollout is going so well, and so many Texans have been adhering to the protocols for social distancing/mask wearing/etc. And that’s just a few of the ridiculous things he says. I don’t know what the guy’s been smoking, but he should probably share it with the rest of us.
Sure, let’s say the numbers are dropping. I’m too lazy to look it up, so I’ll ignore the fact that the US has surpassed half a million deaths due to Covid and I’ll take his word for it. But the vaccine rollout going well? That’s a joke. There were 29 million people in Texas as of 2019. Apparently there have been 5.7 million shots administered in Texas. Each vaccine requires two shots (at least until J&J’s vaccine comes out). We’re no where close to vaccinating everyone. I haven’t even tried to get the vaccine myself yet, but judging by the fact that I can’t even get my 92-year-old neighbor an appointment, I don’t have high hopes for me and Dad. Is Texas doing better than some other places? Yes, but it’s not doing well enough to brag about it. And it certainly isn’t doing well enough to tell people that the worst is behind us and that we can all burn our masks (I’m being dramatic, but you know that’s exactly what a lot of people are thinking now).
Feels like a good place for a dramatic sigh.
Also, I want to know where Abbott has been going in Texas that makes him think so many people are adhering to social distancing and wearing masks properly and all that jazz. I haven’t left the house much in a year, but videos and pictures and the rare occasion I watched people from parking lots while waiting for curbside deliveries have proven that to be a lie. Most people try, but they don’t seem to realize masks go over the nose. And lately, fewer people are even trying it seems. Of course, Abbott strongly suggests keeping masks and social distancing and all that, but without repercussions, most people aren’t going to do anything that slightly inconveniences them. I feel bad for the stores who keep mask policies, because a ton more asshats are going to throw fits when they run into those kinds of places. If Abbott really encourages masks, why is he ending the mandate? Who are these expert medical people he’s supposedly listening to that say everything is fine? I don’t get it. Show me proof that this crap is a good idea?
Basically
I think I’ll stop ranting and go eat. If you made it this far, you must really like me. As always, feel free to leave your thoughts and comments here or on my social media pages.
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