Wednesday, December 13, 2017

After Quantico

After Quantico and after a tour in the middle east in the 90s, Cerise knew her background and education prepared her for far more.

It wasn't just becoming the first in her class to excel at Remote Viewing.  Or, that she had an innate ability and knowing to get to the bottom of things.  9/11 opened up a whole new world for Cerise.  Stories of hidden and diverted funds, housed in a computer in the World Trade Center in New York City, rogue operations going on in several floors in the buildings.  But the casualties of war, the families going without in the United States because of the waste in military funds played on her heart.   That billions were diverted to special interest groups in Congress, hidden accounts in the Caymans, Greece and Deutsch Bank made her furious. Still, combat soldiers were receiving minimal care in Veterans Hospital in a government where no one seemed to care what was going on.

Young people sacrified at the alter of greed and dollars by wealthy members of Congress who continually send people to war.  Wars in which their families never participate, wars which made them lots of money as it did for Cheney and Halliburton to the tune of $40 billion in the Iraq war alone. We are told he put his investments into a blind trust while Vice President.  That certainly does not guarantee that those managing the trust aren't partial to Cheney's interests.  Cheney continued to retain the $34 million in his stock options as well.

And she wasn't one to wait for the Sam Ervins of the world to call it out and expose it.  Cerise wanted more.

Plagued by Edward Snowden's expose on tapping into the servers of U.S. tech companies, or cable companies worldwide, NSA accessing private citizen phone records, all done with secret court orders.    Or Julian Assange with Wikileaks who was brilliantly adept at cracking computer codes and exposing  confidential documents and military atrocities.

Or the outtage of James Comey, former FBI Director with his refusal to end the investigation into Michael Flynn, then national security adviser secretly involved in too many Russian connections.  Cerise had heard and seen too much.

It was often hard in her early days for Cerise Le Roq to be taken seriously.  At least until you saw her in action.  Her long brown hair, striking blue eyes and model figure at just five feet six inches quieted any room she entered.  She was always composed.  A bit like Elizabeth Warren in her gentle mannerisms.  That was, until she had something to say.

Like the time this past fall when the Senate Judiciary Hearing invited her to sit in on a session.

"Dr. Le Roq, you have five minutes."

"Gentleman, you are in leadership roles whether at Google, Facebook or Twitter.  How could you miss all these Russian posts?  Don't you track where your income is coming?"

Dr. Cerise Le Roq continued, "You are all Americans.  Americans.  Where was your loyalty to your country?"

The poker faced, numbed-down executives offered little.  They were not about to give up their private jets, housekeeping services, limos, private schools for their children, or stock options in the millions.  They had a board to answer to.  Executives like themselves who absconded millions with inside deals laundered away in remote banks on islands few of us have the opportunity to enjoy.

Cerise knew this was all a build up.  A build up for the time when Mueller and his investigative team, who deeply loved their country, had a high degree of ethics and ability to tract funds will reveal what has been going on.  The tweeter president and his family on  the government dole would one by one be placed under a microscope.

It wouldn't be long until Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, would be spending less time at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The case for the impeachment of the 45th president of the United States was proceeding. And, it wasn't about to end with just the president.










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Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Oh, Pub!

Oh, Pub!  What is with this new craze in America?  Unlike our British counterpart, many of these new start-up pubs are bland. No style. Stealy.

https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/english-pubs-vs-us-bars-15-reasons-why-british-pubs-are-better-than-american-bars

You can't have a conversation in these places.  The acoustics are non-existent, the place isn't necessarily clean - new grunge, as some refer to it.  It is pure and simple - a watering hole.

I don't much care for this type of entertainment.  Since I am not a drinker - have never felt the need to inebriate in order to forget my troubles, or even, have a good time.  Apparently, many do.  They cater to the 30-40-50 crowd.  I have to wonder if these frequenters will lose their hearing in a few years because of all the noise.

As one who prefers smaller gatherings, meaningful conversation, you have a better chance of finding me in a nice little restaurant with a friend or two.  Clean bathrooms, good service.  Ambient matters so how the owners designed the place is important.  Whether it is done on the cheap, artsy, simplistic, I don't care.  I do like to see what others put together.

I am saddened that my town has succumbed to the beer joint idea.  Few offer food at the table.  Some do food trucks.  FOOD TRUCKS?  Who wants to eat out of them?  Had enough of them during my Rutgers days.  The food is usually palatable but I just don't want to be served on paper plates, paper utensils. You understand where I am going now.

Pubs in Maine are a whole different situation.  The food is usually pretty good, served at the table and reasonably priced.  Sure, it is pub food, not necessarily organic, fried on the grill.  The bathrooms are always clean and the seating is family friendly.  They also have higher revenues which explains why my little town has sparse beer joint offerings.

Nope, you won't find me in one of those places again.  Unless it is 4 p.m. before the crowd gathers.  No doubt I will have cider in my hand.  I'll only consume half of it because it doesn't bode well in my digestive tract.

I'll be looking out for the next Annie's Bakery.  A place where multi-generations can gather  Where the food is healthy and where you never know when you will meet your next friend.

In a pub?  I don't think so. At least not here.  Most likely, I'll be on the mountain.  The food is delicious, the company grand and the bathrooms immaculate.




Monday, December 11, 2017

On Sexual Harassment

Just the other day a friend asked me a question.  I still have my mouth open about it.  Mostly, in shock.

"Do you think people who sexually harassed others in the 60s and on are liable?"

"Liable, he says."

My jaw nearly dropped.

"Liable, are you kidding?  Touching someone inappropriately at work or on a date is totally wrong. Playing power games on a worker for sex is wrong."

We could call it bullying.  Or sexual molestation if they are touch.  I will settle for sexual harassment.  The perpetrator should be fired.  On the spot.

NBC knew long before Matt Lauer's final professional demise what was going on.  So did Rupert Murdoch at Fox (cough) News.

"Liable ?"he asks.

Without a doubt.  Crimes like this have no expiration date.  Nor do the memories of the victims.  I have been there.

I am told Trump was 'elected' president.  How can we be sure?  Mueller and team are hard at work investigating what really went on.  It doesn't look good.

But there is far more to the story.  Why would anyone vote for a sexual predator?  Can all these women being lying?  A recent article explains some of it:

https://rantt.com/why-women-vote-for-sexual-predators-1a33194492a9

We know that former second class citizens can't have much of a sense of self-worth. Look at what we did to the native Americans and it has been decades just trying to help them recover emotionally and financially.  We are so used to sweeping these behaviors under the rug.  Both men and women laugh at these things.  I sure don't.

It is time for all these women to be compensated for what they have endured.  Lost wages, lost promotions, depression and PTSD. It is also time to raise all of our consciousnesses over the horrible treatment of people - men and women.

Do I think people who sexually harassed others in the 60s and on are liable?  You bet!


Happy December

Sometimes the universe sends you messages.  Sometimes they seem, at first, to be confusing ones.  I think I was tested, maybe even teased to see if I really wanted to stay in the Smokies.  That the buyer for my mountain home backed out with a few signs of hesitation before said it all.

So did my colon, which wasn't too happy about me signing a contract.  I was more physically upset than I knew.  And that, comes from someone who thought she was pretty in touch with her body mind.

"There are other solutions," my inner voice reminded me.

"Pick one."

I have been mulling it over, even looking for a place to rent.  I did find one rental I really like, but the real estate agent wasn't ethical.  Then I found a house but it became a bidding war.  Now the house is back on the market.  I won't buy it.  It doesn't feel right now.

So maybe buying a condo is the thing to do. My wonderful new real estate agent is trying to secure one in a lovely little community.  Of course, I will still keep the mountain house.  My soul is here. And it is by the ocean in New England.  It can be in two places.

Sometimes the universe sends you messages.  Sometimes you have to let them be.  Let things happen naturally.

Maybe that is why I love being in nature.  Whether the mountains or the ocean.  Yes, both will do nicely.

Happy Holidays!

Friday, September 22, 2017

Letting Go...Again

I am just down.  Dissatisfied.  Isolated.  Feeling like I am done here.  Everything points to do it.  Then there is the offer on my beloved home.  I know it is time to go.  But to where?  What can I afford and still live comfortably on the meager amount I get for my home.  Having a lovely home, relatively new, or better yet NEW is important to me.

A friend from out of state called today.  In fact, I have been hearing from lots of friends lately.  It is fall, so I am cleaning out my list of who will follow me into 2018.  There will be lots of changes.

The nasties are definitely being left.  I miss having someone to talk to.  Someone to run things by.  A partner.  Seems everyone is too busy for friendship.  Or maybe that is because I have made some lousy choices in them.  I am grateful to have a couple of close ones.

A dear friend has a new boyfriend.  He seems perfect for her and I couldn't be happier.  She deserves the very best.  Other friends just lost their partners.  They are forlorned, vulnerable and mourning.

I think this time of year is for reflection. Looking back but definitely looking more forward.  Looking at the choices we have made in mates - friends.  Partners.  Are we doing the same thing expecting a different result?

Three years ago after a short lived, ridiculous semi-relationship, I vowed to take a few years off and just reflect.  Think about the next adventure.  Notice the signs that it is time to go.  Maybe the hardest thing now for me is to just be.  Let the process unfold.  No expectations.  No attachment.


Thursday, August 31, 2017

Fb People

Enough already!

Let's start posting nice things.  Happy moments. Surely they compromise more of your life than abused animals and children and those dumb enough to stay in those kinds of relationships.  Enough of $rump stories (yeah, I have posted a few, too).  Enough of people, animals and homes under water.  Enough of fake news, how you loathe your white privilege, bandwagoneers.  You jump on a cause, bleed it until there is nothing left and do absolutely nothing about it after you moan and groan.

Is this all you know?

I had a wonderful weekend.  There was a daycare center picnic, a boat tour around Casco Bay,  trips to downtown Portland, a Marimba band concert, dinners and lunches out and at home.  There was lots of family interaction, and a toddler who knocked at my door in the morning calling my name.  And a toddler who asked where I was when I left to fly home.

Life is for the living.  There is more positive than negative in the world.  Hold the moments, tell a funny story. Inspire others.  Leave the world and others better than you found them




Friday, August 18, 2017

On Self Leadership

Do you really have to look to another person to lead you?  MLK, Obama, some mouth on the news, the internet and media will tell you who to follow. Where are you on any of this?   Where is your heart?

C'mon we all know what is right.  I don't buy for one second that you blame your lot in life on anyone else.  Really?

Beware of the Fb nemes, posts that tell part of the story and get your adrenaline pumping.  We seem to be in a culture that does a lot of that.

There is a writer for a local newspaper, the SMN.  One writer never tells the whole story.  Who, what, where, how and why.  Basic tenets of journalism.

Most recently, she headlined a story about a local tribe who was not going to fund senior citizen utility bills.  The headliner was heart wrenching.  I even wrote her to suggest that she do a full interview and get to the real story. (they are other funding stories to take care of them).  Have called her in the past telling her to do the WHOLE story, too.  I suppose the editor doesn't care much.  Nor does the readership.  Apparently.  Anyway, they lost my following.

Stand up.  Speak out.  Love from your heart.  You don't have to like the behaviors of others.  You do have to be kind about it.

Be your own self leader.  Now. Our survival demands it.