June 14, 2017
9:18 p.m.

I finally went to bed around 8:00 this morning, and did manage a couple of hours of snooze time, but we are talking, at this point, about 10-12 hours of sleep in the last five days. That's not each day, that's total hours. in the past 120 hours. I've done a couple of doze-fades while editing yesterday and today, but I don't think that really counts, do you?

I'm grouchy, man.

My stomach is upset, too, and my joints ache, and my feet are cold and they hurt.

No sleep in seriously not good for you. I don't recommend it. I recommend getting lots of sleep--LOTS!

I hid out in my room until after noon, doing sudoku puzzles in an effort to bore myself to sleep. I tried reading, but the book I am currently reading was too enjoyable to put me to sleep. Finally, I came out and took a shower, then logged onto my computer to start editing, and saw all the news stories this day has managed to stack up.

Maybe all the negative vibes this past week are keeping me up!

Seriously, I was off line for maybe six hours, and that's all the time it took to have three different shooting incidents?! What in the literal HELL is this?

UPS worker goes postal--terrific. Four people dead, including the shooter. Baseball is now a dangerous sport--terrific. Police shot and killed the gunman, who shot several people including  Republican Steve Scalise. A New York shooter is still at large--terrific. At least there were no fatalities in that last one.

I am not against Americans having the right to bear arms. Hell, I grew up in a hunting family. But it is high time that our right to bear arms gets some sensible regulations attached to it. This is ridiculous. Do I have any suggestions as to how to make that work? Of course not; I never said I was smart enough to have all the answers. But I am smart enough to propose asking more questions and getting together to find the answers, and that has to count for something,

This should have been a nice, quiet, uneventful day. Instead, people are wounded or dead, and for no reasonably discernible purpose. Political infighting has led to a divided nation and has brought out the crazies.

Sorry, but--yeah, crazies. Crazies with easy access to guns.

Already the Democrats have pointed their fingers at the Republicans, and vice versa. And while actual party members are speaking about standing together--and good for them--their constituents are taking up the finger-pointing.

You know, when my kids were growing up, I was not above taking two fighting kids and locking them into the bedroom with orders that they not come out until they settled their differences. No hitting allowed. (Although it sometimes happened and then I got to settle the differences. No one appreciated my solutions--no television, no playing with friends, no treats, no telephone.) Generally there ensued a great deal of yelling argument, and then they'd figure it out.

Can we put Congress and Senate into a locked room and let them figure it out? Not just gun regulations, but the whole shebang. Tax reform. Healthcare. Environmental Protection. Everything.

Here are the rules:

Republicans and Democrats will remain in the same room at all times.

No huddling in corners. No whispering. No secrets.

There will be moderators, and they will not be members of House or Senate. I suggest Moms. We get seriously sick of nonsense and won't put up with it for long.

Time outs will be called, and you will look ridiculous with your nose in the corner.

NO hitting!! Anyone who throws a punch goes to jail for assault. Charges will be pressed, absolutely.

Everyone gets a chance to talk and no one gets to interrupt. You will take turns, or you will be invited to put your nose in the corner for the duration of the next three speakers' turns.

You will not call anyone offensive names, disparage anyone's race, religion or gender, or the official in charge of washing your mouths out with soap will step in and insert the Lifebouy.

(In the words of Ralphie: "Yuck!")

Medical needs such as medication, breathing apparatus, insulin will be attended to by a medical professional that you will pay for. Not the taxpayers--you.

Someone will deliver meals and drinks. Non-alcoholic drinks. You will all eat and drink what is served to you without complaint. Allowances for special needs--either for medical or cultural reasons--will be considered. But "I don't like broccoli" is not a valid need and will be ignored. Eat it or go hungry.

No cookies until you get it right.

Since it seems money is an all-important thing to politicians, failure to settle things within a week will result in a fine of $10,000. for each member for each day over seven days the deliberation takes. The money will be used to fund food banks and school lunch programs. Hungry children are more important than your bickering, anyway.

I'm so tired of all this. Time to Mom Up, America, and make these babies tow the line.

Rant over.

Good night.