The Man in the High Tower

I am a lover of blank journals and have different ones going at various times. I have one for current books I’m reading, in case I want to jot down a note about something I read, one for the Modern Library list of novels I’m reading (I’m a little behind on that!), and one that I call my Idea Book.

The Idea Book consists of things that I think might make a good story or book. I don’t know if that will ever happen, especially a book, but it’s important to me to write down those ideas when they occur to me. I usually write in the Idea Book when I get up in the morning because I have very vivid dreams and that is mostly what generates the content of the Idea Book.

I had a rare late night idea tonight and went to write that down when I discovered something I wrote on October 13th. I don’t think this came from a dream...I believe I was speculating on a worst case scenario. I think I was planning on writing a blog entry about this but never got around to it because I was so focused on reading political blogs. I was rather stunned to read this because it seems that my worst case scenario pretty much came true. Here is what I wrote, with a little editing to expand upon my abbreviations.

I titled it “The Man in the High Tower,” a riff on Philip K. Dick’s novel “The Man in the High Castle” (as well as an excellent Amazon series).

***

How does The Yam get elected?

1. Complacency
2. Early freak blizzard in New York or New Jersey
3. Late freak hurricane in Florida  

Attorney General Christie jails Hillary—ACLU gets her out. Christie indicted, replaced by Giuliani.

First two years—slim Democratic majority in Senate so no SCOTUS appointments.

No major harm in the first two years.

2018 midterms—all Republican Congress. SCOTUS appointments, Roe v Wade and marriage equality overturned. ACA repealed, millions with no care. All same-sex marriages nulled—CHAOS!

Taxes cut on wealthy. No money for infrastructure, etc. Money for military WAY up.

Persecution against gays, women, minorities.

Underground forms. Contact via Net but elaborate code.

No solution—YET. Hopeful.

Oh, and theocracy—mandatory church attendance? New cabinet post for Falwell, Jr.?

***

I was obviously wrong about some of these things. Christie is persona non grata in the Yamistration. The Democrats did not get a slim majority in the Senate. But it seems that much of my nightmare scenario isn’t all that far off the mark. Jerry Falwell, Jr. was really being considered for a cabinet post.

I’m half-tempted to delete the part about speculating on an Underground because it might actually be necessary! I’m laughing now, but I’m not sure I will be in the coming months.

Like many of you, I am feeling powerless right now, and I can’t begin to tell you how much it pisses me off to feel powerless. I am still trying to wrap my brain around this and figure out how to proceed. One thing I know is that if I see or hear any sort of discrimination or bullying of anyone, I will speak out. Zero tolerance. I also will push the decent people who voted for him to denounce those supporters who are racist, homophobic, misogynistic, and bigoted. Seriously, you have to step up here, people. If you disagree with the bigotry, then fucking say so! Denounce it with your loudest voice! I sure as hell will.

I am also calling on the media to stop pandering and call it like it is. Do your damn job! One of the foundations of our democracy is a free press, and you’d best start exercising that right before it is taken away.

Sometimes nightmare scenarios come true and sometimes I write scary things in my Idea Book.

But we can’t give up. Note that word “hopeful” in what I wrote. We have to hang on to that and we have to help each other.

Peace.

Come on down!

We have our winners for the journal giveaway!

After a fun dinner out with Shane and Matt, we came home and Sheeba reminded us that we needed to take care of business and LIGHT THIS CANDLE!

Well, he didn’t really put it that way, but we knew what he meant.

I got the names all chopped up and into the hat (my leopard print hat...Sheeba approved), and Ken assisted Sheeba in the drawing of two names.

Without further ado, the two winners are [imagine trumpet fanfare in your mind] my Facebook friend Tim Ellis and none other than Cousin Shane! Oddly enough, they both entered the drawing TODAY. Coincidence?? Yes, of course it was coincidence.

Obviously, I already have Cousin Shane’s address (and I will probably just drive five minutes or so and deliver it in person), and I will be contacting Tim via Facebook to find out where to send his journal.

Thanks to everyone for participating, and I hope to do more giveaways in the future!

Who wants STUFF?!

Someone, somewhere out there had better be shouting “I do! I do!” right now!

Anyone who has been reading this blog for any length of time knows of my obsession with love-bordering-on-unhealthy-desire-for fondness of office supplies. Little pads of paper, pens, stationery, stickers, notebooks...I love it all, and going to an office supply store is an almost holy experience for me. Oh, I try to act all cool and casual, walk along like some average shopper, but inside, my brain is feverishly taking in each package of metallic gel pens, Post-It™ notes shaped like hearts and stars, and computer stationery with Art Deco borders.

But my extra-special love is of blank journals. I love regular notebooks, but the journals with cool covers are what really trip my trigger. In my younger days, I kept a handwritten journal, just in spiral notebooks. My hands and wrists can’t handle that sort of writing any longer, and my blog here has been a nice substitute, although it’s obviously not as personal. Maybe my love of these blank journals is a holdover from those days. I’m always checking out the clearance sales for such supplies, and if one of these journals is on sale, chances are good that I’m going to grab it. I love the ones with travel-themed covers, and ones with book-themed covers; I have Wonder Woman and Superman journals (still looking for a good Batman one!); “The Office” and Frank Lloyd Wright ones that were gifts from Cousin Shane; Paul Frank, Andy Warhol, and “I Love Lucy” ones; journals with flowers, journals with Deco patterns; even an AC/DC one.

I keep one by me for writing down reminders and lists (although lately I’ve been using some little notepads we got from charity organizations), one to write down my thoughts on the book club books, one for writing about other books (I’ve been negligent with that one lately, because Shelfari is so handy, but I’ll remedy that), and one for writing down odd little thoughts that I think might make an interesting story one day.

I could probably write for four hours a day and it would take me some time to fill all of these up. I probably never will. But there is something about the promise of a blank journal that makes me smile. It’s picking one up, opening the cover, and thinking, “What will I write in here?” It’s wondering if anyone in the future, whether family or stranger, will read these with the fascination that I’ve read other such journals, those written 60 or even 160 years ago. (I still recall being at my sister’s museum and getting to hold and read a small journal written by a Civil War soldier from the area.) My journals with lists and thoughts on books are pretty mundane, but I wonder if there will someday be someone with as much curiosity as me who reads these things and thinks, “I wonder what this person was like? What was her life like?” I should make sure I provide a link to this blog!

So ANYWAY, I was out running errands today, and hit the mother lode of office supply clearance sales at Target. Some cute blank notes, thank you notes, a nice little box of stationery, a regular spiral notebook that is 100% recycled materials, a packet of 12 Sharpie pens (I love Sharpie pens, the fine point ones, and this packet included two purple ones! Sing, choir of angels!), and finally—and this is the whole point of this entry—some very nice blank journals.

As I’ve mentioned, I already have a few of these. So I thought I would share my booty. Errr, bounty. I’m giving away the two journals in the picture. Consider it a celebration of the coming spring (it was beautiful here today!), as well as an appreciation for everyone who takes the time to read my ramblings. And for me, it’s a remembrance of my Dad—he’s the one who gave me this strange fondness for office supplies—because tomorrow it will be two years since he moved on. I know he would approve. :)

So if you share my love of blank journals, or just want something to doodle in, leave a comment here. I’ll leave it open for a week, so you’ll have until March 20th (let’s make it 6 pm EST). I will assign everyone a number (writing them all down in a journal, of course) and Sheeba will draw two numbers out of a jaunty chapeau. I’m sure Ken will be happy to give Sheeba a human hand with this. Everyone is eligible, family and friends (and friends of family and family of friends, also friends of friends and family of family...even strangers!), except for Ken. If for some odd reason he should suddenly develop a mad desire for a blank journal, I think I can set him up.

Here’s the important thing. You must make sure that I have your email address, either connected to your account, or left in a message. If I don’t have your email, I can’t contact you to get your mailing address if you win, and Sheeba will choose someone else. I solemnly swear that I will not pass your email addresses along to anyone. If you would prefer not to leave your email address in comments, you can send me an email at Luvrte66@aol.com, but if your email address isn't recognized, it may go to the spam folder. (Just title it "Nutwood giveaway" or some such thing, so I'll know it's related to this, okay?) I am also limiting this to those in the U.S., with apologies to my overseas friends.

Good luck, and happy writing!