Random Observations

 I had not planned on writing a lot today, as honestly I am not sure where to start.  There are many, many things that could be discussed, and I think where we will start is with our Vice President, J.D. Vance, and his visit to Armenia.  There are some takeaways that need to be noted, and so I wanted to share those.

Honestly, I have not had many complaints with Donald Trump's second term in office, nor have I really had any issues with Vance as VP.  For one thing, I relate to Vance a lot, as we come from very similar backgrounds - to me, Hillbilly Elegy is almost like a mirror of my own experiences growing up in a poor Appalachian home.  And, overall, this administration has been a breath of fresh air, as I truly see some progress being made in many areas.  Would I vote for Vance if he ran?  More than likely, yes.  However, Vance is a human being just like us all, and obviously he is not perfect - I don't think he would honestly claim to be either.  One area I noted I would have serious issue with him is his trip to Armenia this last week.

I listen to the Armenian-American community, and when they see something that upsets them, I share that with them.  The one big weakness I see in Trump's administration is this pro-Turkish, pro-Azerbaijan lobbying that is driving potential Armenian-American votes away.  Vance had a chance to rectify that with this visit, and he failed to take advantage of that opportunity.  Instead of advocating for the autonomy of Artsakh for instance, Vance ignored the issue.  Also, he did not show any interest in helping Armenian political prisoners be released, including the Archbishops who are being held in Baku.  This is very bad on his part, and I would venture to say it is probably due to Trump having this alliance with Dr. Oz in the US - Dr. Oz is, by all evidence, a Turkish agent, and this was demonstrated by his attack a few weeks ago on Armenian-Americans in Los Angeles, equating them with the Somalis in Minnesota.  Armenians are already starting to move away from the Republican vote - the issue of their homeland is fundamental, and although I am only partially Armenian myself and more American, the Armenian community could turn this into a single-issue vote during elections.  I don't think that should happen, because the Democrats are no friends of Christian Armenians, nor of Christianity in general, and despite the stupid move of some Republicans to ignore Armenian issues, Trump and Vance are still the best hope for American freedom right now.  This is why as dear and near to heart as the Armenian issues are, I have to also vote based on the bigger picture - the US is at stake, and our freedoms and security are at risk from crazy radicals in the Democratic Party, as well as from Establishment hacks in both parties who have not done a thing for this country.  But, I also do not want to see Armenian votes sacrificed just to boost the egos of Turkish foreign agents like Dr. Oz.   So, this will need to be sorted out in some fashion. 

Another item that is more personal is my current situation - Barbara has had to go into the hospital this week to be treated for a complication rooted in both her diabetic condition as well as some kidney issues, and she has been in there since Monday.  Despite being divorced now, Barbara and I are still good friends and closer than blood siblings, and I do care about her well-being.  While it looks like she may be released tomorrow, she still needs lots of prayers.  I will update her situation more next week.

Also, as the snow starts to dissipate outside and the weather warms up (we are expecting 40s today, which is better than the sub-zero windchill we had over the weekend), several things are coming to mind that need to be thought of as well.  For instance, it is approaching mid-February fast, and that means that soon we will be into the Lenten season as well as Easter coming.  That too means that the school year here will be moving faster - I am so ready to be over this school year in all honesty, as the principal is a tinpot dictator, and some of the students just need to be smacked into oblivion due to their stinking attitudes and inability to follow basic rules (like keeping cellphones put away during class and not talking).  I had an issue with a particular student yesterday - I will call him Chaz to protect his identity - who got very lippy and aggressive in class, and I had to write him up.  The thing about this particular school is that it has the potential to be better, but the powers-that-be could honestly care less - they seem to be more interested in nice numbers than they are academic stability.  I have been shopping around for other opportunities, and although I have no solid offers yet, I am ready to jump on one if I should receive a good bite.  At present, I am waiting to hear back from a wonderful school in Virginia that I would love to be part of, as it is what a Catholic school should be.  I had a good initial interview a few weeks back with the principal, and now am just waiting.  Also, in all honesty, I hate this city - it is dirty, politically suspect, and just too much like a foreign country to me.  If a door could open to get out of here, I would gladly seize the opportunity.  Please keep me in your prayers. 

Thank you for allowing me to share these brief thoughts today, and will see you again soon.