Flowers and Monsters

A word about the flowers. When I went to get groceries, I walked by the 'flower' stand at Wally World and was so surprised at the price that flowers have gone too. 

I used to buy flowers at this time of year once in a while just to brighten the house up. These weren't the freshest, but it was a small bouquet that I could see spending $5 on for some photo challenges and experimentation.

The roses do have a nice scent to them.

I don't watch much TV so sometimes I need to occupy myself with something. Experimenting in photography is always a choice.

I used a flashlight and another little light called Small Rig to play with the light and dark.

 

I even tried some ICM. I sort of like it and sort of don't. But it was fun trying it out on the tiny flowers.

I need a lot more experimenting to try and come up with something artistic and beautiful.

Then of course I couldn't help but make good use of the lighting to feature my Fuggly Monsters.

They are so ugly and fearful, they are sort of cute. 

I have no idea why I love monsters and dragons so much. I just think they are neat. Not real life human monsters ---> they are horrid. I like fantasy monsters. Toy monsters are the best of course.

Light and dark

The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress. ~Frederick Douglass

Some Americans are researching plans to immigrate from the United States, depending on who won. I looked up the immigration requirements to Canada. I'm not really eligible. I don't qualify in many ways. I don't have a job I can go to, I don't have a family member living there to 'sponsor' me. People with medical issues that would put pressure on Canada's medical system would also be turned away.

This is not the only country that uses these rules.

I looked it up. 

A friend of mine said she was considering going back to NZ. She'd been there in her college days on a visa and walked across the country. She'd stop and find work here and there. She loved NZ, but came back after nearly a year there. 

I can offer myself nothing other than hope and optimism. What happens now? Only history will tell us in the end.

"The light of America's promise will always burn bright--as long as we never give up, and as long as we keep fighting."

Kamala Harris

When things get dark...it is only then that we can look up and find the stars...

I'm sticking around. Here I stay for better or worse. I will not let darkness defeat me. 

I will look for the light. Seriously, I thought a lot about things last night. I am privileged. I am an older white woman. I have no uterus that the government can rule. I am beyond child bearing age. I am not an immigrant. 

I may a face a difficult future as a Caregiver. But I've lived through tough times and I suppose my next challenge will be to live through what comes next.

But I have spent 24 hours mourning our country.

I am ready to come out of the dark and search for light and hope.