Elena 
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1. Today the girls and I sat down to watch the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States. I have to say that I am very proud of the way we handle ceremonies like that – the British have nothing on us!! It was dignified and it was stirring.
Special shout out to the President’s Own Marine Band! They have been superb. And to the two choirs, one from the University of Missouri and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir were also excellent.
RESPECT! #PresidentTrump Proudly salutes Army band! #InaugurationInaugural Parade pic.twitter.com/q02bhWNH72
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) January 20, 2017
2. Yesterday the kids were talking about how neat it was to be the 45th president because that is such a distinctive number – and then it occurred to me that I probably won’t be alive to see the 50th president. Indeed if each of the next five presidents serves two terms – that’s 40 years, which would make me 107 for the inauguration of the 50th. I am not hopeful.
3. I am very sorry for the folks that are full of sadness and angst about this transfer of power. I know exactly how you feel; I’ve been where you are at least four times.
My best advice is to just get on with your lives, pray for the country, and be informed about what is going on, and quit crying about it!
Fav vid of the day hands down https://t.co/wkjfTNtvzN— @Don on GAB 🐸🇬🇧 (@CryingSnowflake) January 20, 2017
4. Tomorrow is the Women’s March in Washington. They’re protesting Trump, and rape, and for abortion rights, and LGBT, and diversity. But mostly against Trump.
As a mom of two daughters and a lovely daughter-in-law, I too am concerned about sexual assault and violence against women. When I park at the grocery store, I hold my keys defensively and walk with purpose. For years I carried pepper spray. I teach my girls to pay attention to their surroundings too.
But by the end of the year, I’m going to be a little less scared – because I am going to have my concealed carry license and I am going to be protecting myself with my own firearm.
I became interested in having my own gun when I saw this video of a home invasion in New Jersey. After that, I vowed I would do everything I could to prevent that from happening in my home. I bought a gun, learned to use it, and have it with me at home. By the end of the year, I am going to feel as safe outside of my home as I do in it. I’m planning to complete this course this winter and get my permit before fall.
I refuse to live in fear, when I don’t have to.
5. Speaking of the Woman’s March – Pussy hats? Really?
Want to be taken seriously? Then wearing a stupid hat to resemble a pussy cat probably isn’t the best way to go about it. Grow. Up.
— Lemmasmith (@K8_Bowers) January 19, 2017
6 Yesterday, we finally got gas on in our Flip house! When we bought this place, it had been empty for about seven years and had three great big holes in the roof. So to get the gas turned on was not an easy proposition. First, the gas company had to come out and put in a new line from the street to the house. Then they had to test the house for any leaks. It took them about three weeks to come out and put in the new line and during that time, Mr. Pete turned off the water in the house and kept a propane generator going at night. It was a little onerous.
When the gas company finally did come out to put in the line, they tested the house and said it was full of leaks, so they couldn’t put the gas on. Mr. Pete bought some kind of tool at Home Depot to test the system out. He found leaks in the bathroom, and in the basement and he got all of those taken care of, but still there remained a leak in the system somewhere. Long story short, the new line the gas company put in was not tightened down, and that was what was leaking. Mr. Pete tightened it down, and as of Monday, there were no more leaks.
The other problem with the gas company is that you have to call them on the exact day you need them to come and turn on the gas. They give you 15 minutes to show up after they say they are coming over. The first time Mr. Pete got this all set up, he fought his way across town, only to arrive 2 minutes after the gas company left.
Curses!!
So yesterday, we had it set up for me to go over when they called. My plan was to block their truck in the driveway so that they couldn’t leave until Mr. Pete arrived. Luckily, the gas company representative we had yesterday was awesome!! He was happy to wait for me and checked everything out for me before Mr. Pete got there! He turned on the gas, we ignited the furnace (which luckily clicked on for the first time in years) and heat returned to the little house.
Unfortunately, when Mr. Pete went to put new batteries in the thermostat, the furnace stopped and he couldn’t get it restarted. So fixing the furnace will be our next endeavor. It’s always something.
7. Lastly, Mr. Pete purchased his late sister’s car from her estate. It’s a lot smaller than the cargo van he has been driving, but it only has 38,000 miles on it and it’s 10 gallon gas tank is very economical. For the savings he managed to pack it full this morning and take off on his road route! What a good buy for him!
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