Happy Saturday morning; this one celebrating the void left once the political ads were pulled.

“Seems like the end of the world won’t be played in by a fanfare of trumpets but by someone quietly saying “oops.”.” ~ anonymous

Overheard this almost silent comment from someone leaving their voting booth and making reference to the ‘sigh’ uttered by their progressive friend in an adjacent booth accidentally making a wrong choice.

I must say that my coffee on Wednesday morning almost tasted better than even this morning’s java.

An observation – This was the second round of elections where a presumed path to victory for progressives was through the tossing of a “Red Herring” regarding women’s rights — a War On Women. In 2012 it took root through Sandra Fluke who became the poster child.

2014 the same ‘herring’ was tossed and this time the media found Wendy Davis in Texas.

In both instances the NAACP and NOW were vocally supportive.

Finally, this week, the election was held and the results in. We all know the outcome, but here is what is really interesting;

Here is a sampling of four women politicians, all winners, all with conservative viewpoints, each with a vastly differing background – culturally, ethnically, educationally. All serving in various capacities and in varying areas of the country.

West Virginia Elected America’s Youngest State Lawmaker. An 18-year-old conservative Republican college freshman- Ms. Saira Blair was elected to their State legislature.

In Utah Ludmya Bourdeau “Mia” Love became the first Congressman-elect and a conservative black (actually African–Haitian–American in our hyphenated world) Republican woman to be elected to the House of Representatives.

“I wasn’t elected because of the color of my skin. I wasn’t elected because of my gender,” she said during the interview. “I was elected because of the solutions that I put at the table because I promised I would run a positive issues-oriented campaign and that’s what resonated.”

Meanwhile, in Iowa, lieutenant colonel Joni Ernst a conservative Republican became their first woman Senator-elect. If you hadn’t heard anything about Col. Ernst, she gained attention when it became known that as a youngster on a pig farm she castrated pigs. The late night TV comedians took that bit and ran with it. Ernst took that new-found fame on the stump by hollering; “We are going to make them squeal! We are taking the Iowa way all the way.”

Then, for a second term, Nimrata “Nikki” Randhawa Haley was re-elected Governor of South Carolina. Haley, an Indian-American, also happens to be a conservative Republican.

So, as a conservative independent, my question is why is there not a single peep from the NAACP? Why is there not a single ‘huzzah’ from the ladies at NOW?

Just saying.

Condo update – shows progress – although it’s slower than I would like. Prior to the kitchen install four items were on back order. Marcia wanted a Farm-style ceramic sink and these have been chronically on backorder and a problem for IKEA to deliver.

Thursday morning when I called I discovered that 10 of the things had arrived on an overnight truck. By then there was enough confusion so that I felt another trip to IKEA was warranted. An hour-and-a-half later I had somehow loaded a 36”, 60-pound, sink into the F-150 (it was raining and I wanted it in the cab). Now, on the seventeenth the rest will be delivered. Whew, another hurdle cleared.

Yesterday I hung the new dining area fixture. Later today I’ll replace the same for the entry way. By the way, for all the new light fixtures I am simultaneously purchasing LED lamps (Vince, Tevita, and Jason will be thrilled when they hear this). Since these are touted as lasting for 25,000 hours I’ll probably need to have the next guy climb the ladder to make a replacement.

Animal Planet – Last week I mentioned that I hoped that by now our contractor would manage to secure Northern Comfort and ‘crib’ the front of the place. The time has come to make contact and play the “squeaky wheel” role. It’s the way of the North.

Fini – I do believe that we’re finally in sync with the time change. It took a few days but both Marcia and I survived.

Speaking of Marcia, she has finally lost her “ribs” moniker and appears to be whole.

Make it a great week everyone. Stay safe.

Cheers.

Dirk