Summertime, and the living is easy?

It's hard to build neighborhood communities in America anymore when the wealthy value low-paid non-citizen labor, not communities, because they don't live alongside their workers anymore.  

And drinking and guns?  Don't mix. 

I think it's going to be a long summer of short tempers in this country, if the Hate keeps growing, especially from the people who should have the most reason to be happy, and giving it away about now.  

If we can't make life easier for others, you'll just see more people killing time drinking and shooting the ground up, I fear...

The family in Texas had lived on Walter Drive for about two years.

Ten people, all family members, were in the home during the shooting. Five survived, including three children.  

Police released the names of the victims: Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8.

Their neighbor, Francisco Oropeza, 38, was charged with five counts of murder, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers told The Washington Post.

Vianey Balderas, who lives across the street from the family, said she first heard gunshots that night when a few people were outside. About 20 minutes later, Balderas heard about five more gunshots, then another 10, she told The Post.

“When I heard those gunshots, I didn’t think anything of it because in this neighborhood everyone has guns. Every weekend you hear gunshots,” she said in an interview in Spanish.

“People shoot in their backyards, after they drink alcohol, men take out guns at house parties and shoot the ground.”

All of the victims were from Honduras, Capers said.

The suspect, Francisco Oropeza, is a Mexican national who is believed to have fled the county, Capers said. 

In a tweet in Spanish, Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina demanded that authorities apply “the full weight of the law” against the killer and expressed condolences for the family’s relatives.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) had not publicly responded to the news of the shooting by late Saturday afternoon.

Ten people in this self-described American family are victims on a growing list; the survivors are victims too. 

 

 

 “The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:28b-31 NIV

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true’” – Revelation 21: 1-5

News You Need to Know...

Tenfold surge in migrants arriving in Chicago fuels crisis, aldermen told, as families sleep in police stations: ‘This is unacceptable’

By Nell Salzman

Chicago Tribune

•

Apr 28, 2023 at 6:48 pm

For nearly three hours Friday, Chicago aldermen met in an impassioned joint hearing on budget and immigration and refugee rights to discuss the influx of migrants arriving in Chicago daily, overwhelming nonprofits and city social services.

There has been a tenfold increase over the past 10 days in daily arrivals of migrants, said Brandie Knazze, commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services. Migrants — often families with children — are now sheltering in police station lobbies across the city. Knazze said the city used to receive 10 people per day; that’s now risen to as many as 100.

Advocates and city officials say the potential for crisis is growing, with migrants arriving with injuries, health needs and underlying conditions after surviving in substandard conditions for weeks or months on their journeys to the United States.

“How many kids (do) we have currently in our police districts waiting for assistance?” shouted Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, who migrated to the U.S. himself as a teenager. “I personally know of several in our districts that have been already waiting for two or three days. ... This is unacceptable, and I do expect from our city and our colleagues to make sure that we work collaboratively to make sure that we have solutions that go beyond the narrative.”

Don't Be Afraid...

 You don't have to hideaway.

~ e/Erasure.

I Hope You Still Feel Small...

when you stand beside the ocean. 

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens... 

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance.  And if you get the choice to sit it out or dance?

Dance.

I hope you dance... I hope you dance.

------------------

Make it a great spring weekend out there, readers.

Don't compare yourself to others unfavorably or to mock them.  Be yourself. Grow into you. Yes, you can. You'll be happier lifting yourself, not dragging down others down to the level you live at... Jump in and swim already.  No time to learn like the present.

You're never too old to be a better you.  yes, even you.  Stop lifting others up at your expense, or worse trying to bring them down, and just define and do your own work.  Be a better you.  Cuz we see you too. And we all can use some work on ourselves if we are to grow as a people...

Looking Good!

Brittney Griner talks to the NYTimes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 I missed these photos in People back in February.  On the court practicing...

Statue Is Defaced in England After Children Were Given Crayons

2 MIN READ

Lady, Let Your Late Husband Have a Quiet Moment of Peace?

 This is not such a bad thing, really...

A Widow Said Her Husband Was Left in a Drinks Cooler After Dying on a Cruise

Dylan Mulvaney is Chrissy from 3's Company.

 Nttawwt.

 

Don't Empower the Government Like This...

Florida under Ron DeSantis is not a good role model for personal freedoms.  This is not the America we want to live in:

Watch as Ron DeSantis delivers a speech at the Heritage Foundation’s 50th anniversary leadership conference on Friday, 21 April.

The Florida governor, who is thought to be preparing a presidential bid in 2024, is speaking in National Harbor, Maryland, in closing remarks at the two-day summit which has featured members of Congress and other conservative leaders.

Watch: Ron DeSantis speaks after Florida passes bill allowing trans children to be removed from parents

Holly Patrick

42 minutes

How about a walk, stranger?

 

You can't always get what you want.

You can't always get what you want.

You can't always get what you want.

But if you'd try sometime, you just might find...

You get what you need.

 

Flash back friends

Meanwhile: April snow showers out the window... today. 😏☀️🌞🔙

Home is where your Life is.

 

"Taking It Off Here, Boss..."

The trick is keeping the Florida mindset in your mind after you return -- "in your mind" being key.

My last post -- a triumphant return? God likes to laugh at our plans and humble us in a fun way, I think, 

Before improved health made my body stronger, I would have been at wits end at 3am, navigating the transportation and hotel voucher link to get out the airport and sleep, after Spirit delayed, delayed and cancelled our flight. ✈️ 

In the end, all what would have been stressors in a less resilient body, drained and out of energy, were just obstacles adding a sunny day in Orlando to the trip. ☀️ 😎

Lessons learned. Doesn't matter how much you arrive early or plan or are prepared if the Fates determine it's not to be. 

Not in my hands, some things.

 The Delta flight attendant who briefly sat across from us last night on the rebooked flight (-- Mal is back driving the country; I just use the personal plural for me --) was an efficient conversationalist.

Talking with her about travelling reminds me this morning to keep it rolling with Florida in my mind, and not let the little slights or little people "on the job" who push hate derail me.

The richest people in my mind are blessed to be bigger than that.

Triumphant Trip.

It was a return to our old stomping grounds on the island. Revisiting places and plants. Eating fresh, taking photos, enjoying the power of the ocean -- both raging and calm.

This body is ready for a brief spring and then an endless summer... 

(This beach now closed for bridge reinforcement

 but the ocean 🏖️ is always open...)

Good things come to those who wait and watch, and stay awake in anticipation of better days to come.

Just as old palm fronds fall in a storm, so too will New Life emerge when the winds die down and that healing warmth returns to the natural order of things...

 

Everybody's Got...

a special kind of story...

Everybody finds a way to shine...

It don't matter that you got

not a lot...

So what?

They'll have theirs

you'll have yours

and I'll have mine....

( beat beat beat )

and together we'll be Fine!

Cuz it takes

Different strokes 

to move the world

(yes it does)

It takes

Different strokes

to move the world!

 

Orchids in Banyans Amidst Palms.

Exiting Safe Harbor

 

 

Curvy.

 

Life is Beautiful ❤️😍

This Tree's Mom.

 

"I hope you dance..."
(Good job, junior.)

 

 

 

Gone fishin'

Back in a few...

The Peacock has Landed.

Like the Florida hair? Gotta get out these clothes now. Get me some Vitamin D from the source ...

Jesus to Mary (the other one...)

 "... Run back now and tell the guys what you've seen. They won't believe you, of course. But I got you... I back you up and visit w/em soon..."

Happy Easter!  Hallelujah, He is Risen!

Best wishes today, through the week, and all year long then, for Believers who are saved in His name.  We see you, we're with you, and today, we celebrate...