Ehlana and Ethan:
Happy 29th Birthday, Chris Rice!
Happy 26th Birthday, Madelana!
We were up early to see Dad and Anna Marie on their way to Crystal Springs, and then Ethan and I didn’t have anything to do with either of the top birthdays today while taking care of ourselves through Tai Chi and breakfast and then heading to school for the day. Chris likely wished for more sleep as a new father; and we’ll add that baby Sophie is doing well; and so is her Mom – even if they might all be too-tired for much of a birthday celebration today! Cassie and Michael did vid-chats with our cousin and her friend from Kinshasa during breaks between work stops, but around breakfast-time here at home. We should mention that Madelana and Stefan aren’t at home right now in Chicago; since they’re busy with a fall work trip too, but they left earlier and will be home again in time for Halloween. As we are writing this update, Cassie and Michael are still in Kinshasa, but will be awake soon and heading out toward Gungu; and they will work-drive their way there over the next two days.
While our big sister and brother-in-law are busy in Africa; our day has been fairly-quiet. Ethan and I had a good day at school; our football and cheer squad practices went well and we were happy with warmer weather again – though the mid-sixties is still normal for this time of year and a long way from the hot weather we had a week ago! Mom was still on the way home when we picked up our dinners at home and took them with us to the lab or archives; we work-played there until she was nearly-home; and then we packed up and got home to welcome her back – after she’d already dropped off the other Moms including Aunt Leanne. We helped with her luggage; had a little chat with her; and then it was bath or Jacuzzi time for all three of us; since Mom was really tired by then and just wanted to get cleaned up and off to bed after a long play and travel day. We still don’t have many of the travel details; so we’ll share anything interesting once we get those stories. This has been a long day for us too – especially since we did some time-phasing while at the lab; so let’s cover the world news of the day and call it a night.
The riots in France and elsewhere in Europe roll on – and in France that is while the mobs ignore President Macron. Hundreds of arrests aren’t working either, and if anything; the police actions are only causing more anger and hatred toward government and police. There are crackdowns on covering those stories too; so those leaders are not looking good when they claim freedom and democracy while planting boots on the necks of their people.
The western leaders and media are spending a lot of time on peace talks for Ukraine whether for or against it; and the latest today is about peace talks with China mediating and hosting talks with Russia and the United States – but not with Ukraine or European leaders. That would be pointless to make a deal without Ukraine and Europe agreeing to any deals; so this is just more theatre that will distract the masses and change nothing on the ground. As for the actual war, Ukraine loses more ground on the front lines; Russia continues to bomb them and destroy more infrastructure and economic and military targets; and Ukraine is getting more-overt with their drone swarms with help from other Baltic countries that are helping with what is likely more than just flyover rights for Ukrainian drones to get them into the St. Petersburg region. Russia will adapt and respond; and those countries should hope that they don’t become targets too; since they should be legitimate targets for Russian retaliations. Yes, Russian leaders know that is exactly what some European leaders want – a retaliation into NATO countries so they’d have an excuse to go to war directly with Russia, but we should all hope and pray that doesn’t happen.
There hasn’t been a lot of news from the Middle East today, but tensions remain high; the fighting continues between Saudi Arabia and Yemen; and the top news addition is that Egypt has reportedly agreed to send troops and weapons to help Saudi Arabia. That is a really bad choice from their leaders; and it is sure to end badly for Egypt too – especially if the Houthis begin targeting the Suez Canal and Egyptian ports. The Egyptian government can’t take care of their own people; so wasting money to prop up the Saudi royals will not go over well with their people. Israel continues to threaten more military action against everyone from the open-air prison of Gaza to renewed attacks on Iran; and the risks remain high for new airstrikes and fighting before the Israeli or American elections. The situation could change at any moment and flare-ups could happen for any reason; so there is no way to predict what will happen next – though a break-out of world-wide peace seems least-likely of all possibilities.
That’s enough for tonight. We have another long day ahead of us and need to get some sleep while we can; so that’s all for this report.
Until next time, live with love, fellow Magi of the Light!
