Rant 

The fact that the US has a  materialistic society, controlled by corporations through lobbyists and advertising, that is coupled with a myth of meritocracy that is in fact insanely weighted in favour of a small percentage of elite, upper class Americans who are the only ones who can afford to go to the best universities is clearly being revealed tonight as we see how many people feel so powerless in this atmosphere that they either ignore or admire the aspects of Trump's personality that I find narcissistic and immoral and vote for him because he brashly seems to defy those elites who presume they represent and are entitled to all that is good. What these disrespected, red cap wearing, flag waving, socialist fearing masses at Trump rallies don't seem to appreciate is that many among the elites are as bound to Trump as they are and support him financially precisely because as he talks like his rallying masses and appears to respect them he walks with the rich and entitled. Even though his position in their ranks is tenuous, they will back him as long as his narcissism props up their status and self interest. 🤪

That was my pre election rant. Like Rick Mercer, I will surround it with graffiti. This is the picture I took yesterday of the graffiti at the Black Rock. I walked there as part of my between season push to prepare for the pilgrimage I probably won't be able to go on next May. Caroline Pollock has invited me to join her, Mara and two other friends on a walk from the Cathedral in Ottawa to the Oratoire St. Joseph in Montreal. It would be wonderful to do, and not too difficult, or so I thought before starting to prepare. The route should be relatively flat, BUT you have to walk about 25km every day for 12 days. As there will be another group right behind us, there is no hope of a day off because the refugios are small and can only hold one group at a time. Still, the down payment was only about $70.00, so I happily paid. Now I'm trying to walk the walk. It might not be so easy. You have to carry a pack weighing approximately 20 pounds. I spent last week walking from one end of Vernon to the other, with digressions side to side and stops to fill my pack with shopping. I came nowhere near 25km with 20 pounds. One day after a long walk, I flopped my heavy pack ( a gallon jug of milk, a dozen eggs and some small stuff) on the kitchen counter and immediately took out my iPhone to see how close to 25km I'd come. 😅I was just short of 10. Still not too discouraged, I took out the scales to weigh the pack. I couldn't believe it but finally had to, 12.5 pounds. I'm going to need faith in a force greater than I am to help me through this pilgrimage. Finding that will be just as hard as walking and carrying. Covid might come to my rescue and make the whole thing impossible, but I really don't want to be rescued that way. 

As I write this last post rant part of the blog I am encouraged  because post Election Day vote counts have gone my way on two fronts. Biden will be the next President of the USA, and in my Vernon/ Monashee riding the NDP candidate has pulled ahead to beat the Liberal for the first time in years.