With everything going on, sometimes a little distraction is nice. So, the woodcarving experiments continue.

After cutting my thumb yesterday and getting it glued up in our local ER, I got back to it this morning with a couple of gnomes. Just gotta keep plugging along.

#whittling #woodcarving

A little over five years ago, my father passed away. While cleaning out the house I kept a few of his carving knives. Finding my father in a rocking chair, carving away at something was his usual state of being. Well, I finally decided to give it a shot.

#whittling #woodcarving #woodart

Trump in August: "From the day I take the oath of office, we’ll rapidly drive prices down, and make America affordable again. Prices will come down. You just watch. They’ll come down and they’ll come down fast."

Trump now: “It's hard to bring things down once they're up. You know, it's very hard."

Clinton is insightful, as usual.
Since Reagan, the GOP has worked to increase citizens' cynicism about government, and then campaigned against government.
Now, under Trump, the GOP is working to increase citizens' cynicism about democracy, and then campaigning against democracy.

I told myself that the 1st of December would be my day to refocus on my healthy habits. I forgot that I still have a couple weeks of stress for the end of the semester. I am going to work on it, but some things will have to wait.

#wls #weightlossjourney #bariatricsurgery #vsg

Also, writing up a nonprofit governance model and preparing a presentation for it in a weekend is not too bad, if you are at all motivated to do it. Thanksgiving weekend is not the time for that motivation. But the presentation is on Monday, so here I go!

I have spent way too much time on my computer, today, and I am still writing. I am so happy I have one more semester left in my program.

Taxpayers spend 22% more per patient to support Medicare Advantage – the private alternative to Medicare that promised to cost less

People have zero concept over what makes up the federal budget. It's something we have seen playout for a long time. It doesn't matter who they vote for. The general population just doesn't know this stuff. Policy doesn't drive voting.

Well, I will no longer be an employee at JMU next semester. I have accepted a position at the University of Virginia. I am looking forward to this new step in my career!

Current mood.

As a public administrator, I find myself turning even more to my favorite comfort television series in the current climate: Parks and Recreation.