Where you see wrong, or inequality, or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.
 – Thurgood Marshall
​

You may think first of politics when you read this. I did. But several months ago, after I had read and filed this, something happened in my life that made this quotation both more meaningful and a call to action for me. The country club where I play golf opened a new bar and cafe, but made it men-only. Yes, they did. I objected, but was put down by the Board of Directors who heard my appeal. So, yes, I see injustice and inequality and am compelled to do something (working on it). I don't know how all this will turn out, of course. But I can say for sure that it can be mighty uncomfortable when you speak up. Even the people who agree with you in their hearts can treat you like a leper. This experience makes me value John Lewis and all the others who've sacrificed their comfort (and more) to try to right wrongs.

There's a short story in my newest book, MOMENTS, that's about four guys who play cards together and the attempt by three of them to help the fourth—when he doesn't want or need the help. It's a situation many or most of us have been in.

Anyway, I would like to turn it into a film of about 10 minutes. I've just finished the screenplay for it and am scoping out the mechanics of bringing it to life. The part that is most exciting to me is to see what other artists—actors, cinematographer, producer, editor—will do to it. If I can pull this off, it will be great fun. Will keep you posted.

I finally forced myself to sit down and go through the 19 propositions on my voting ballot so that I can go when early voting opens for Texans on October 21. What a task! The problem is that there are too many discrete issues lumped together in each proposition. I agree with some elements and others, oppose. There must be a better word for this than mish-mash, I thought. Then the word arose from deep memory: farragoes. So I looked it up to see if it is apropros.

Originally, it was used to describe mixed fodder, and gradually became "a confused mixture". Yes, this word does nicely here. 

Another problem with some of the propositions is that they overprescribe. Yes, I agree city council members should get a raise; no, I don't agree that their wages should double all at once. Yes I agree that getting measures onto ballots should be a bit easier, but no, I don't want it so easy that I face many times the number of propositions each voting time. Voters face enough farragoes as it is!

Here's a pithy thought for you:
"Be careful. When a democracy is sick, fascism comes to its bedside,
but it is not to inquire about its health."
​~ Albert Camus

A midden is a refuse heap or dunghill. I look at the alarming, sad, and just plain awful images of Ukraine and the Middle East and try to think of what it would be like to lose my home in a bombing, assuming I lived through it. I just can't really imagine it, and I guess I'm grateful I can't. But my heart is often heavy when I think of those poor souls. How much torture and angst those people (and the animals) suffer and for what? It is about power, money and control—the everlasting sources of war and fighting.

Juste Vengeance is the title in French of my movie, Revenge In Kind. The film is subtitled in French (in addition to Spanish and Japanese), but there've been no ads or publicity in Francophone countries to get folks to view it. So it is always a pleasant surprise when I log into my accounts to see the stats on Amazon, Apple, and GooglePlay and I see that someone has viewed it with French subtitles. Well, that happened today! I sure hope they liked it and tell someone else to watch it.

While there are regional variations, chile usually refers to the fruit and chilli refers to the prepared dish. Notwithstanding that distinction, I have discovered a great website (and I have nothing to do with it, so this is entirely objective) at https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/. Today I am making their recipe for fermented sriracha using jalapeños and serranos from my garden. After fermenting a couple of weeks, it should be ready to taste. Looking forward to that! 

I'm trying to build more anticipation in my life. Being 75, I've no idea how much longer I'll be spry, so I try to fill my calendar with a few things I want to see or do soon, just so that I can look forward to the treat. Planning for special food or dining out with a friend is one of my favorites. It's hard to beat satisfying hunger with some tasty food with good company.

Fermenting lid allows gas buildup to escape without my having to keep track of the process and burp the jar as necessary.

I don't participate in art shows much anymore because they are a huge effort and the profit is insufficient, but I will admit that many of them were fun. And it is pleasant to recall the better ones when I look at photos of the patrons and see my art on the walls. One such memory is a shot of a showing of my photography held in Fort Worth in 2021.