Mexico

A recent trip to Mexico for Dia De Los Muertos quickly became mind-boggling. All our plans, good intentions, and planning went out the window very quickly. We arrive in Mexico City, go through immigration where they now ask you how long you are planning on staying. My wife stated three weeks and they gave her a month. I followed her and expected the immigration woman on duty understood we were together. Bad assumption. They now stamp in your passport the date you must be out of the country. She didn't ask me how long I would be in Mexico which reinforced my belief that she knew we were together, same last name and so forth. She stamped my passport and I we were on my way.

Later when we were on our next flight taking us to Oaxaca City. I looked at my passport and the stamp, then looked at my wife's. She could stay until November 13 and i could only stay in Mexico until October 29. What? That meant I would need to leave nearly two weeks before her or stay and be an illegal in Mexico.That did not sound inviting to me, after all, how are we treating illegals in this country. I did not want to end up in a Mexico jail.

To make a long story short, we agreed we should leave together on my last legitimate day in Mexico, which we did.

I don't know whats going on with Mexico. Seems that they may be making things more difficult for Americans coming to their country but I can't say that for sure. All I can say now is that was a mind-boggling,unexpected development. We love Mexico and will return but with more attention to our passports.

Stan the Man 

 Mind-boggling Chaos

The United States and the world seem to me to be very chaotic in these times, there is so much going on at the same time that it's difficult to keep up with it. That is if one desires to be fully informed. Actually I don't know if there is enough time in any given day to keep up with old stories like the Epstein deal and President Trump's retribution against those he perceives as his enemies and more. Then there are the new and breaking stories which may or may not be true since what's on the internet these days could be fake. I'm referring to stories like the building up of American troops and war equipment in the Caribbean in an effort to apparently worry Venezuela or perhaps to attack that South American country. Is it to take on the effort to stop the flow of drugs into the USA? Seems like that's a lot of buildup just to accomplish that goal. 

Okay, as you know I'm sure, if you are paying attention that is, that the above paragraph only scratches the surface of the total political world after the government shutdown came to a close. There are so many interesting events happening as we speak, many of them hopeful and others with the intent and results unknown. For instance, I learned earlier today that President Trump and Putin have apparently worked out a secret agreement to resolve the war in Ukraine even though that country has not been involved. But now, the Internet news says US military leaders are in Ukraine apparently to discuss whether Ukraine could go along with the peace plan.

Okay, I will stop now. My point here is there seems to be so much going on that its mind-boggling difficult to keep up with everything and to have any understanding of what it all means. When you think you have everything figured out it all changes. It leads to me not wanting to try, I have better things to do with my time. In closing let me say that this is simply the way the world is today and each of us needs to make a decision about how much attention we want to pay to it. If it's anybodies fault I guess we could say that the Internet has as much responsibility as anybody.

Stan the Man 

 The Return

Yes, I am returning to this blog after a long absence. I continue being most interested in the mind-boggling events, people and all kinds of things that happen around me and in this country and on the earth. Perhaps that would include the universe as we continue to explore those great expanses. I'm not putting any limits on my sharing here, just my thoughts which cover an extremely wide array of subjects.

If others find my thoughts and writings interesting that would be a bonus but at the same time it is my need to write here regardless. I am not sure how often I will write here but I do intend to be fairly regular with new posts.

Since its been quite a while without me utilizing this system and there are always changes it may take a while before I discover all the possibilities and capabilities of the system, so be patient.

Stan the Man

It has been a mind-boggling journey since November 3, 2020 - Election Day. 

Yes, the loser has proven what he really is -- a very poor loser and more. He is attempting to undermine the Biden administration, democracy and the people of this country as he leaves. More of his chaos is not what we needed but that's what we're getting. January 20. 2021 can't come to soon. 

We can look forward to a rational, empathic president and administration during the next four years. Perhaps President Biden won't be the answer to all of this country's problems but he will be trying. Hopefully he will get some help from republicans as well as democrats. It will take all of us working together to heal the deep divides that exist currently. 

The COVID pandemic is a major challenge and will continue to be. There is no immediate or quick solution as many more get infected and die. It is a terrible thing that's happening and much of it could have been prevented with a rational, scientific approach along with a strong leader setting a good example.

We now have an opportunity to change from a negative direction to a positive direction.

A mind-boggling opportunity.

Stan the Man

 

Mind-boggling Current Affairs-

It's overwhelming whats going on in this country right now. How does one make sense of a crazy presidential election coming up, a Pandemic decimating our country with no clear direction to end it, racial in-justice and more. 

One of the problems is how do we know how to tell the truth from lies or distorted truths? I don't have the answers--I'm as confused as the next guy. 

I do believe that the 200,000+ Americans who have died from the COVID didn't need to die--at least we could have saved a substantial number with a better plan.

I've also come to the conclusion that Joe Biden is our safest bet for the immediate future. This is brief post but I have come to these two conclusions.

All we have are our own thoughts and conclusions to guide us. I hope every one will think long and hard.

Stan the Man     

Missed Opportunity

Recently in our local newspaper a lady wrote about an experience she had at a grocery store. Apparently a gentleman also shopping at the store was wearing a Trump t-shirt. She related her reaction to the man and the t-shirt in a letter to the editor. She stated that she was afraid, yes she admitted to being very fearful being in the same store with an obvious Trump supporter.

In the next edition of the paper there was an avalanche of criticism in the form of letters to the editor. Obviously all of these letters were from Trump supporters. The fearful lady was attacked for being afraid and for expressing her fears. There wasn't any supportive input at all.

My reaction is that this was a mind-boggling, perfect opportunity for the Trump supporters to prove to the lady that she didn't need to be afraid. They could have responded with caring and understanding and perhaps could have changed the fearful lady's mind about Trump supporters. Instead she was soundly attacked probably increasing her fear. With the polarization we have in this country we need to take steps to build community that can increase understanding and acceptance.

Too bad. A mind-boggling opportunity missed.  

Stan the Man

Loved this Book

Thanks to Kay in Texas who wrote a review of my novel, The Last Client as follows:

"Just Loved the book! It has everything in a book that I like, murder, suspense, seduction and keeps your attention. It is an easy read and is very enjoyable. The ending took me by surprise. This is a must read if you like suspense. I highly recommend this book."

Available at www.squarepegbookshop.com or on Amazon.

Stan the Man