Video Wednesday: Women's Self-Defense in 1947

 Maybe part of the charm is the music? Whatever it is, I've probably posted this before, but I get such a kick out of it, here it is again: 

Mada and Carly, Part 2

Here they are:

Mada and Carly

Finally! After many months of trying to get these two to stay in the same cage, or on top of their cages,  without attacking each other, we see them getting along together. 

(Photo to follow. The reason I'm not posting a photo now is that I haven't dared to try to take a photo, yet, because when they realize that I'm paying attention to them, they quickly move away from each other like teenagers who have been caught smooching on the couch.) 

For now, separate pix of these two adorable little creatures:

Playing peek-a-boo with Jeff

Taking a bath

Horoscope for This Week

Here's Madame Clairvoyant's advice for everyone, for the week beginning July 4:

Late Monday night, action planet Mars enters Taurus and invites us all to settle in for a long haul. During the next six weeks, don’t lose heart. Victories won’t come quickly but through persistence and a willingness to keep going, no matter how long it takes. Amazing change becomes possible not because of miracles or good luck but rather the slow, transformative magic of perseverance. Later Monday night, communication planet Mercury enters intuitive Cancer, where it will stay for the next two weeks. As you try to make sense of the world during this time, logic and grand theories might fail, but you can find clarity in emotion and the warm light of your relationships with others.

So good to know that this personal long haul will last only six weeks, and that efforts during this time that may seem not to bring rewards, but perseverance will make a transformation possible. I am indeed planning on finding clarity in emotion and the warm light of my good relationships.  

Meanwhile, my own Gemini advice is also helpful:

When you’re honest with yourself about just how much change is needed, how much better life could be — whether in your life, your community, or the wider world — you may feel you have little to contribute. Your dreams are grand, but your resources are limited. You’re only one person, and your life is full of ordinary necessities such as sleeping and eating and going to work. The key this week is not to be ashamed that you aren’t doing “more.” Each day, you have the power to do something good, if small. And all those little actions will add up, if you let them.

(Does Madame Clairvoyant read the Book of Mormon? )

Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. (Alma 37:6)

God Bless America!

We're going to be needing a lot of extra blessings, as we are finding out from testimony given to the House Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attempt by Trump and his cronies to destroy our very system of government, the "America" we all thought we lived in, until the presidency of the Orange Man.

The video of a former U.S. Army general, Michael Flynn, taking the Fifth Amendment when asked if he believes in the peaceful transfer of power, is shocking.

Maybe we should all, as Stephen Colbert and his audience did last week, change the words to the National Anthem:

Also, please, God, Save the Queen:

And another wonderful performance by Sam Ryder ("Space Man"): 

De-Stress

Something to try: A de-stress technique called 5-4-3-2-1. 

I've tried it a few times, and at least it's something. It reconnects me with the world around as it disconnects me from feelings of anxiety. Here are the steps:

Five things you can see.

Four things you can touch.

Three things you can hear.

Two things you can smell.

One thing you can taste. 

Start Your Day with a Good Laugh

James Corden pays a visit to the White House:

(Can you imagine Orange Man going along with this, playing the straight man, and enjoying it so hugely? Neither can I!)