Probably not the morning subject matter of choice, but firstly, this morning’s first ‘E’ word is; estrus. Here at the corner of Chaos & Mayhem we’ve been having an almost daily deer sighting. It was Marcia who pointed out that during this period (pun) the Does are in estrus. Bucks strut around as if on parade; Does with last year’s young in tow move about as if on a mission (which they are). And all that on a corner which carries 10,425 cars per day (2011 AADT traffic count #). Beyond belief!

Before we explore the letter ‘E’ some more, it’s time to refill my cuppa-cuppa Java.

“All Of My Trump Predictions Have Been Wrong, He’ll Probably Be A Great President”~ Seth Meyers ~ NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers”

**WARNING** The second word beginning with the letter ‘E’ is Elation, however the subject matter is the election – skip this section if you think you’ll feel queasy.

A friend forwarded me something she picked up, let me quote part of it:

Some of the most incredible people I know voted for Donald Trump, and some of the most incredible people I know voted for Hillary Clinton. The people I know that voted for Trump are not racist, misogynistic, or hateful, and the people that voted for Hillary Clinton are not hateful and intolerable.

If you now start seeing people as whom they voted for, and not as the person you’ve always known them to be, then you are what is wrong with America. I will never think any less of any person who has differing views than mine, because some of the most, beautiful, inspirational people I know will disagree with what I believe all day long, but at the end of the day they are still that beautiful inspirational person I’ve always known them as.

Having quoted the above, here is my personal input. The election outcome was determined in part by the flurry of last minute messages; as a surrogate  Obama talked about his legacy, Clinton talked about the first woman president, while, the smug media’s so named ‘narcissist’, talked about America. And the people wanted to know about America.

As an extremely flawed candidate, HRC’s loss meant that we dodged a bullet—populism pushed aside ‘elitism’. Our nation, on the brink of being submerged into a maelstrom of International Globalism, had another chance. The exceptionalism which has set our country apart as what President Reagan coined “the World’s Shining Star” meant our light could still guide.

The path we were on for the last couple of decades was a path set in a direction towards an ever more overreaching, all encompassing, elitist, and interventionist government. Had we plodded on in the direction set by Clinton, Bush, Obama, and then another Clinton and their world view, the possible eventual outcome would not be unlike that of a Venezuela: and Marcia loves Venezuela since she lived there for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Smaller government, traditional values, built on the foundation provided by our Founding Fathers won this round. But, now the hard work begins. Even harder will be the daily work of ensuring that everyone has a place on this new ‘lifting’ platform. A new smaller and simpler government will mean the burden of looking out for our neighbor, and volunteerism continue and even accelerate; all of which being the hallmark of who we are.

Now we have to hold “feet to the fire”. Making certain that these next weeks will see government positions filled on the basis of meritocracy. From the little I’ve observed, it’s a positive start.

Animal Planet – This is the final letter ‘E’, we’ll explore “Everest”. It was bound to happen; Mt. Everest. The most common route to the peak of Everest is the south face, Nepal. However, there is a way to reach the peak via the Tibetan north face.

Now, China is exploiting that lesser known route. It is busily building a highway to what is identified as base camp. There it will have parking lots, restaurants, hotels, and an International Mountaineering center. Additionally the complex will come complete with training facilities, and search-and-rescue services. There will even be a museum.

What a difference from that first attempt when in 1921 a British expedition, including George Mallory (then considered the best Alpine climber in the world) explored to the north and east of the mountain and he wrote to his wife: “We are about to walk off the map…”. That attempt failed.

A second survey attempt was made in 1922. Then in 1924 on their final climb Mallory and Andrew Irvine were spotted approaching the finishing ‘pyramid’ when sight was lost. They perished without reaching the peak.

What a difference in a mere 96 years.

Irvine & Mallory, back row left

For any sailors amongst my four regular (smile here) readers. Click here to follow Alex Thomson on his single-handed, non-stop, unassisted around the world sailing race. Sponsored by Mercedes Benz and Hugo Boss his beautiful carbon fibre boat screams along at and ready 20 knots. Be sure to tap into his scheduled radio/video updates. Even if you do not care to follow, watch this great little clip of Thomson on the Boss boat and under way!

Finis – Yesterday we celebrated Veterans Day. For me I salute my brothers; Art, George, and for the short-term, Pieter, and to my brothers-in-law Paul and David. Then, especially to my father who proved that many times it is more than the wearing of a uniform to fight for the very lives of others.

R.I.P. Leonard Cohen (1934 – 2016), One of Canada’s greatest songwriters, poets, and composers.  You’ll recognize these standards, ones which will last through the ages; Hallelujah, Suzanne, and Bird on a Wire, just to name a few. Yesterday Marcia and did our driving around with his music playing Then last evening I spent a focused hour with his final album (2016) You Want It Darker; “Year by Year, Month by Month, Day by Day, Thought by Thought, Steer your heart by the truth you believed in yesterday…As He died to make men Holy. Let us die to make things cheap…”.

Cheers.

Dirk