Mental Health Monday

Political Potpourri

"Attempts to destroy or discredit political opponents with hyperbole & unsubstantiated accusations only lather up half the country as they alienate the other half. Such cynical dishonesty drive us apart, making it that much harder for us to arrive at orderly, sensible solutions.

If you disagree with someone's political ideas, discuss that disagreement in a logical & unemotional manner. If you believe your idea is superior, make your case. That's the only way for our best political ideas to become effective government policies, & goodness knows we have too few of those . . . 

"Unfounded cheapshots have to stop. Calling someone a 'racist' or a 'Nazi' just because you dislike him or her or disagree with his or her ideas does more to discredit those overused labels than it does to discredit your target."  --Tom Purcell, Omaha World Herald, 7/27

Road Trip Redux

I got back from my trip to the Badlands on SAT around 4:00p. Lois got back from Sister Bash at Lake Tahoe around 2:30 SUN morning. 

I arrive at the Badlands/White River KOA on TUE. The deluxe kamping kabin was considerably upgraded since the last time we were there. They added a refrigerator, coffee maker, microwave, & cable TV. (Yes, I really like to rough it.) I watched the Shawshank Redemption. They also serve both supper & breakfast. On TUE I had a buffalo burger for supper. On WED morning I had pancakes & bacon.

WED:  I drove the Badlands Loop, including the Sage Creek Rim Road & saw bighorn sheep & prairie dogs. I was also able to do some hiking. On the Fossil & Castle Trails. In fact, I picked up almost 12,00 steps! For lunch I detoured into Wall & enjoyed another buffalo burger @ Wall Drug. I tried to start a campfire, but the wood must have been wet, because the only way I could keep the fire going was by dousing it with lighter fluid. (That's cheating.)

THU:  After breakfast @ the Kook Shack (scrambled egg casserole) I drove to Custer State Park & did the wildlife loop, which included a drive through the bison herd. I took Needles Drive to Sylvan Lake but didn't get to hike, since it was raining off & on. When I got back to the KOA I started to stroll through the campground, but my walk was abbreviated due to the rain.

FRI:  I breakfasted again @ the Kook Shack (a pancake & sausage), then took off for the Badlands Loop again. No rain! So I was able to hike the Notch & Castle Trails. There were a lot of muddy portions of the Castle Trail; also a lot of standing water, which made the trail treacherously slippery in spots. In fact, I slipped on the trail & covered myself & my clothes in mud. So, before going to the Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant for lunch, I had to go back to the KOA, wash up, & change clothes. I saw prairie dogs & bighorn sheep again on the Sage Creek Rim Road.

SAT:  Woke up to thick fog. I enjoyed a pancake & bacon before taking off for home. Instead of driving cross country, like I did on TUE, I took I-90. The Sturgis Bike Rally had begun on THU. (There were a lot of cycles in the KOA.) There was a steady stream of motorcycles, vehicles towing motorcycles, & pick-ups with motorcycles in the back, heading east on I-90. I made good time, thanks to the 80 m.p.h. speed limit (with a few exceptions for construction zones).

I was thankful to have time every morning for "quiet time." I also got to do a lot of reading, & I watched Fox News every night. (I did watch the end of "Gladiator" one night.)