I am a concerned voter. Not a democrat. Not a republican. But I am very unhappy with the tax issues that democrats have created and I am very unhappy with our current governor. I have written to the Washington State House Republicans because by voting for the Millionaires Tax, regardless of 100,000 voters telling them not to, obviously the democrats are not hearing the people.
Honestly I voted completely democrat for the first time in my life when Trump ran. Not because he ran as a republican because I don’t believe he is a republican. But I believe he ran as whatever party would have him and I believe he is a monster. I was afraid of Project 2025 and I was afraid of everything that is happening right now at the hands of our federal government. I did not want our state government to support him.
This was not a good choice but I also did not believe that I was presented with acceptable choices by republicans. I want to tell you why. Queer and transgender people are humans first. They do not deserve to be othered. I am queer. I am not transgender but I know and care for people who are transgender and I see what other states are doing to remove the civil rights of these fellow humans. I have also heard my own republican representative use negative innuendos in reference to transgender people in his speeches which will keep me from voting for him because I believe civil rights are more important that taxes because fellow humans are more important than money. Too many United States military members have died for the freedom of us all to not remember that people are more valuable than dollars.
I am writing to you because I care about our state and I care about our people. All of our people. I want to share with you that I see a mistake you are making. By legislating humanity for consenting adults, by allowing representation to make comments that deny the rights of fellow humans to express themselves and seek medical care and treatment that should be private, between them and their medical team, denying their right to name themselves, which is available to everyone, not just transgender humans, it is no different than making derogatory remarks about people with black or brown or yellow skin. We are all born the way we are born. No one would choose to be different.
I do know that many people are afraid of what they think are issues related to this matter but I know that when leaders are fair and present, the rest can be seen honestly. The point of governance is to serve We The People; all the people. Please do not disregard my message.
I was watching TV tonight and I saw a speaker that gave me a moment of clarity regarding the swamp that has had me stewing for the last year, that helped me so much. You are supposed to be guardians of our constitution and this speaker referred to Congress as mall cops — they said you are not even a speed bump right now. When Trump sent missiles to hit Iran on Saturday 2/28/2026, the UN called an emergency meeting, however Congress didn’t bother to come in until Monday morning. This last year has been one complete failure after another from you. — And I am not just talking about republicans but democrats too.
It appears that all you do is call each other names and blame each other for things, while our president, the geriatric sex offender, urinates on our constitution, tears down our White House, and spits in the faces of The United States people, and anyone who gets in his way — Yet he is a coward and I guarantee you, if you stood up to him, his tantrum would be just that, because legally, Congress has the power. At least you used to. I am exhausted by the fact that no one has stopped him. You are forcing states to sue him in order to make him follow the law, when that is the first and foremost task of his position as president. What a waste of tax dollars. We are 10 days into a war in Iran and you still wont call it a war because that would mean you are guilty of not doing your job.
Since yesterday, 1,230 Iranians are dead. 22 Israelites have died. 394 people have died in Lebanon. 2 people have died in Saudi Arabia. Bahrain has lost 1 person. Kuwait and Oman have also lost 1 person each. 4 people have died in United Arab Emirates and also in Syria. 15 people have died in Iraq. 7 United States military members have died. In 10 days at least 1,681 humans are no longer breathing and existing.
As of yet I have not found an actual reason for an emergency air strike. I have not seen a war plan. I have not read an exit strategy. However I did find H.R. 8070. Which tells me you have been planning what looks like WWIII since 4/18/2024.
I haven’t read the Epstein Files on purpose. But I have read and seen enough from victims that it also seems as though this war and the fact that H.Res. 1100 was not passed, that maybe the reason that we have had to push so hard, and still have to keep demanding to see all the remaining files, that the real swamp that needs to be drained is not just in the White House but in every level of our government.
While people fight for basic civil rights, that should be private and no one’s business — like who I can legally marry, or what medical procedures I can choose, with my medical team, for my body, if I am not in the state of Washington, there are families in overcrowded ICE facilities being traumatized. 72% of these people are not criminals and they are being held in privately owned prisons so the rich owners of those facilities can collect tax payer’s dollars. These same people were once working and paying taxes and many were trying to legally become naturalized or at least seek asylum. Why are they being held for so long? I thought the plan was to deport them. Why didn’t we learn from President Obama’s Administration? Why didn’t ICE seek out the dangerous criminals first and deal with them before everyone else?
You are supposed to be public servants of We The People. This country is suffering and you are not listening. If you are, you are not working hard enough, because I am tired of seeing polls asking if I think Trump should be impeached. I have written to you about this more than once. I know I am not the only one. I don’t want another email telling me you got my message. I don’t want any emails asking me for money. I want you to do your job.
Every day you wake up
to things you didn’t think
would ever happen
It’s hard to hope
When some people believe
they count more than you do
and that some people don’t count at all
~
There are people who celebrate
covetousness
and prejudice
and foolishness
pretending to be might
~
But we are called to be change
if we are known
and we know our true greatness
If we know our Creator’s voice
we have purpose
To find peace in honesty
To be messengers to those who have forgotten dignity
because we are hope
~
Note: based on speech given by President Obama at Reverend Jesse Jackson’s Memorial 3/6/2026
It’s 4:41 am and I hear the rain
and I hope the embers
at The Red Lion Inn will finally extinguish
because I don’t want Kelso
to be on fire
The ache in my bones
is enough to remind me
That Jamie keeps talking about barometric pressure
~
I am awake at this hour often
and listen to the sounds
of Longview traffic
dock workers
and a mill town
Trains and a variety
of people with rough hands
People that love their dogs
more than their neighbors
and don’t realize what part of history
we should let go of
for the sake of our kids
~
If you step outside
and you know where to look
there are people who
live in their cars
and doorways
and every kind of structure
Look online and you can read
what some people think about that
Per capita we more generous
than more wealthy parts of our state
But we also have more secrets
and health issues
and we don’t like change
~
But every kind of person lives here
Seen or not
Heard or not
The friend
The socialite
Politician or religious zealot
The quiet people who listen
more than they talk
The teachers
The healers and artists
The people who don’t know what to do with themselves
and the ones who think they know best
~
This is Kelso-Longview
where everyone and no one knows your name
Some people love it
and others hate it
And sometimes you can see a downpour behind you
and a rainbow in front of you
My grandpa told me
the only other time he ever saw that
was when he was stationed in Japan
So I think of this place as not only my home
but a gift
Thirty eight thousand times he is mentioned in the Epstein Files
In over five thousand three hundred documents
his name is found
Does that make him guilty
That remains to be seen
But Jesus is named in
The King James Bible
Nine hundred and eighty three times
and He is the main Man
~
I am happy you pray for him
I do too
I don’t lay hands on him
and my prayers are probably different
because I can only bring myself
to ask God to find glory for Himself
The rest of my prayers are for peace for The United States of America
which seems very divided
~
Oh how my soul aches
for children who are no longer children
and for many who are
no longer living
For the truth that no one
will save us
Because you think you can pray
for a narcissist
and he will become anything
other than what he is
~
God is the maker of free will
and He honors the contracts of our mouth
It’s almost as if my body wasn’t mine Opinions rain down around me
Regardless of the season
By the time I learned
not to listen
I had become a cynic
~
One time I stood in the midst of them
and shouted
“I am single by choice”
This is how I saved myself
because even if you want to be of service
They think you are for sale
~
He was behind me in line
and thought it was ok
to massage my ears
He did not ask
I told him never to do that again
But I still feel sick
when I think about it
I guess prison taught him nothing
~
I taught the children the names
of their body parts
Told them if someone stole them
to fight and scream forever
and I got reprimanded
But I was empowering
the ones I loved most
and I would do it again
~
Because this world is not kind
to those who are vulnerable
I was raised in Longview, Washington. I came here when I was 2 years old. My parents were transplants. My family is from the Seattle area. We visited my family throughout Washington, but I was raised here. I went to Tumbleweeds Preschool at the YMCA. I went to Columbia Valley Gardens Elementary School. I attended Monticello Middle School. I graduated from R. A. Long High School and I have an AA in Business from Lower Columbia College. I spent a month of one summer with my aunt in a suburb of Boston. I spent some time of another summer in California for a family reunion. I lived for a year an a half in Kelso. I even moved to Seattle for 8 months. But I always came back to Longview. This is my home.
My wife was born in High Point, North Carolina. After she got out of the military, she ended up in Washington because she had a sick friend she was coming to help while she healed. Karen G Clemensonknew she had found home. Somewhere in there, we met and were friends for 11 years before we knew we loved each other, bigger than sisters and more than friends. I have thought about leaving, but now I am probably here forever, because Karen loves it here and she loves this community, more than I can imagine.
Today I saw another of many posts about food on Facebook. I find it contemplative that you either love Omelets and More or you love Pancake House, if you live in Longview. But that statement says a lot about a city that is actually a metropolis, that insists on acting like a small town. At least that is what I have thought for years, because I see Kelso-Longview as one city and have seen it that way for most of my adult life. Something told me to look up the stats again and I found that we are short on our population in Longview, Washington to reach metropolis status, which is what a county seat usually is, but according to Kelso, Washington’s city website:
Kelso is part of the Longview, Washington Metropolitan statistical area, which has a population of 110,730. Kelso shares its long western border with Longview.
Since I was on the team of people that built one of their websites in the early 2000’s, this might also be why I was thinking this. The way I see it is that we should be called Kelso-Longview. Kelso, being the older of the cities, and alphabetically it should come first. We don’t have to change most of the signage, because Kelso areas can remain suburbs and Longview areas can remain suburbs, much like Carrolls, Lexington, and Rose Valley are parts of Kelso and Coal Creek and Willow Grove are suburbs of Longview. But this is not why I started writing this…what a rabbit trail!
The way I experience living in Longview is that you either are seen or you are not. You either are known or you are not. I have lived here all my life and because I am quiet and thoughtful, meaning I have lived mostly in my thoughts, it hasn’t been until that last 10 to 15 years that I really have found my voice and been able to share who I am. My experience has been shock when people learn who my family is because I was not part of their lives very often because I have always been a support person. But now I am building my own family and I have found my voice and I am comfortable with who I am, regardless of what other’s think so I write and I share, because I have learned many things in my life.
I think it says a lot about you when you choose one restaurant over another. I know why I like Omelets and More and it isn’t all about the food. I like that there is always a parking spot available. They keep similar hours, at least since I checked last, so that is not a difference. I don’t actually go to either restaurant, we do take out. But you still need to park your car so you can get your food and it is just easier at Omelets and More. Also there is a larger reception area. I don’t like being crowded. I have worked with Barry and his wife, who is beautiful on the inside and outside, even though I have never been able to remember her name; they are lovely people and their staff is kind and helpful, although if it is close to closing time…well it is just best to do take out. I don’t go there for pancakes. I love their omelets and waffles.
Now if you want the best pancakes, you should drive on over to The Cornerstone Cafe in Rainier, Oregon!
I don’t have anything bad to say about Pancake House, other than there is never a parking space available when I have wanted to go there, so I gave up and adapted. You see, I am from Longview, but I was raised in Seattle too…so I learned to find work arounds. I guess what I bring to the table is that complaining is a waste of time if you aren’t going to change.
Me not going to Pancake House is not going to hurt their business, and I don’t want it to. I am glad they have a strong customer base. If they lost their customers, it would be harder to find a parking spot at Omelets and More. I really like their Mushroom, Bacon and Swiss Omelet (which I have them use Cheddar instead of Swiss because I don’t like Swiss). What is important is that one reason I choose the businesses that I decide to make my go-to places, is that they treat me well.
As part of my business degree, I had to take a customer service class. My instructor told me that she was embarrassed that I had to take this course, because she felt I could have taught it. Not everyone had a Nana who read Miss Manners to them during breakfast and actually listened and practiced what I was read. I admit, that I believe that most places I go to, could benefit from customer service classes. But every now and then, I am blessed by places that talk to me like I matter, listen to me and learn my favorite things. Omelets and More, Cafe Guse, Red Leaf, Kim Bowl, Mill City Grill, Tequila Fuego, and Crafty Works, just to name a few of my favorite local businesses.
Today Red Lion Inn burnt down. I am putting this here because everyone in this area has probably gone to the Red Lion for an expo, or a class, or to visit their grandparents or loved ones when they came to see them. This event deserves to be mentioned somewhere. It is important to take a moment to take a breath and stop while we recognize that people lost their jobs today. Someone lost property. Somebody may have been injured. There has been a loss. I hear and feel this loss. As a community, whether we carry each other on purpose, or by accident, we will bear this. We will adjust.
Whether you call it customer service or community, we live here. We share this space. I want you to know you are important. There is no animosity here. You are loved. I want you to know joy. I want you to know peace. Both of these things are choices. They are inside you. You must make it.
Thank you to all the people that create moments of joy and peace in our community. You make blessings easier to find.
~
Feel free to leave your comments below!
My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Jesus Follower, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Jesus Follower…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
This is an idea that should be passed around, regardless of political party. This is not the complete and original message. I found this online and I have edited it based on my own ideas.
Congressional Reform Act of 2026
1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congress representative collects a salary while in office and receives no pay from the United States government when they’re out of office. And no more perks go with them.
2. Congress (past, present, & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. Social Security may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress must purchase their own retirement plan, just as ALL United States citizens do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise at the same rate as the Cost of Living Adjustment for monthly Social Security recipients minus 1% if having a budget balance deficit.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system (Medicare) as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people (i.e. NO MORE INSIDER TRADING!!!).
The House just voted down H. Res. 1100, a bill that would expose sexual misconduct in Congress. Do you think that they will ever vote in these rules of engagement, no matter how practical, honorable and effective they are? We must find a way to hold Congress and state governments accountable because, consistently We The People are not being abided by.
7. All contracts with past and present Congress representatives are void. The American people did not make this contract with Congress representatives. Congress made all these contracts by and for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor and privilege, NOT a career.
8. TERM LIMITS. After 2 (4 year) terms in office. Congress and State Legislature Representatives must pass with 75% of the constituent’s vote to remain in office. This will ensure that We The People are being truly represented.
9. NO ELECTORAL COLLEGE. This was necessary when people had little to no access to information, but this is no longer true and I will read to anyone who is illiterate and needs help; there are others who will help, as well. Our votes must stand as is.
10. No bribes. Proof of money or any type of payment in exchange for a favor or official action will include dismissal of position and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators should serve their term(s), then go home and go back to work … not get all kinds of freebies.
I am writing regarding H.Res.1100 because on March 4, 2026 the United States House of Representatives voted to kill a resolution, introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace, that would force the public release of House Ethics Committee files that include allegations of sexual harassment or conduct that is sexual in nature, within 60 days.
The bill says, “there is no place for sexual harassment or unwelcome sexual advances in the House of Representatives; Whereas clause 9 of rule XXIII of the Rules of House provides ‘ Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, Officer or employee of the House may not discharge and may not refuse to hire an individual, or otherwise discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation on terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of race, color, religion, sex (including marital or parental status), sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or national origin of such individual, including by committing an act of sexual harassment against such individual;”
The bill goes on to state that A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner may not engage in a sexual relationship with any who is their subordinate.
175 Republicans and 182 Democrats voted against this bill. Only 65 representatives voted in favor of a bill that seems very cut and dry and naturally fair and safe for all people representing United States citizens. If I had known about this bill prior to the vote, I would have written and asked you to vote for this bill. This letter will be posted on my blog on GoodTimesAlways.com and I live 5 miles from Rainier, Oregon so it seems appropriate to talk about their leadership as well.
Michael Baumgartner, Washington, Voted Yea
Cliff Bentz, Oregon, Voted Yea
Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon 1st District, Did not vote
Janelle Bynum, Oregon, Voted Yea
Suzan DelBene, Washington, Voted Yea
Maxine Dexter, Oregon, Voted Yea
Val Hoyle, Oregon, Voted Yea
Pramila Jayapal, Washington 7th District, Voted Nay
Rick Larson, Washington, Voted Yea
Dan Newhouse, Washington, Voted Yea
Marie Glusenkamp-Perez, Washington District 3, Voted Nay
Emily Randall, Washington, Voted Yea
Andrea Salinas, Oregon District 6, Voted Nay
Kim Schrier, Washington District 8, Voted Nay
Adam Smith, Washington District 9, Voted Nay
Marilyn Strickland, Washington, Voted Yea
If you voted no or did not vote for this bill, you should not look forward to another run. With the Epstein Files causing havoc, all over the world; we are watching leaders in other countries being removed from power, while our country does nothing. We need leaders willing to create change. I do not care what party you are in. Ethics should be blind.
Please reconsider this bill and do the right thing.
I was watching commentary by Ashleythebarroness on Facebook where the speaker said that instead of using the term White Supremacy we should use White Narcissism because the behavior we are actually seeing is actually fragility and insecurity when people are not in the lime light. Malignant Narcissism is when entitlement, lack of empathy, obsession with control, mixed with aggression moves beyond the thought of being great, to, “I deserve to be centered, obeyed, deferred to, and if I am not, somebody has to pay.”
But if a Black person talks about racism, or a White person, for that matter, why do people get upset? Why does true history make some people feel personally attacked? Why does a conversation about police violence become about a person’s personal feelings? These experiences are from people whose identity only works if other people stay small.
In this video, Ashley is talking about a book she is reading: Fear of Black Consciousness by Lewis R. Gordon. Lewis, talks about how whiteness gets treated like the default for the human experience. However, when Black people speak about their personal experiences in society, it feels like its about race, because that is the status quo — but their experience is theirs’s. It is valid.
Narcissistic systems don’t just want dominance. They need to be worshipped, obeyed and never questioned. Narcissistic people believe everyone is like me and thinks like me, so if you don’t –You are the problem. This is why equality can be made to feel like theft, accountability can feel like persecution, diversity can feel like erasure and Black Awareness is treated like danger, by some people.
Ashley said these words and she reminded me of conversations I have had in my life.
Last week, I was told by someone, they wished that I had not cut myself off from my father because they don’t want me to miss my inheritance. They believe I deserve it.
It was a random and unexpected comment. I think it was brought on after I had shared a few dreams I have. Dreams that I have for Kelso-Longview. Dreams I don’t really want to own, but want to see. Dreams that are not free. When I told them my visions, I told this person that it was my job to write them down and tell the right people; these dreams may never come true, but until I ask, the answer is always, “No.”
But this person does not know the abuse I lived with. I was actually told, “If I was the only one with the problem, than I was the problem,” after I asked for help. After years of being responsible for everyone, how dare I ask for help. After years of being unimportant, not good enough, not understood, or heard, why would I think I could ever have that? When my father chose his second wife, he was never going to choose me, because she was never going to choose me, unless it fit in her plans or made her look good and I was expendable. Even if I tried to have a relationship with her, she sabotaged it. She didn’t want me, so she made sure I was forgotten. She made sure that my younger sister was always chosen. Because she was the Golden One; even better than her own daughter.
There were so many fights over the phone, in the car, in the office. It was always a fight or getting over a fight. I was tired and when I became sick, it didn’t get better. So when I got cancer and chose to call my father, to make sure he got the news from me and not through someone else. And he started yelling at me about arguments, I might have had with adult sisters about children they had that were now adults too, I decided it was the last time. You don’t attack someone when they tell you they have cancer and they are afraid to die. He had already showed his hand, years before. I was never going to be chosen. So that night, I chose myself.
Even if I had been in his will, I don’t need his money. I never wanted his money. Money has never saved me. God has always taken care of me. Money shows up when I need it. Relationships have carried me. That is something Winnie can never give me because when he chose Debbie, he was never going to choose me.
So even though Black culture is something I have studied since I was in high school and it is something I have learned even more intimately since I married my wife and became Black by marriage, I have my own experience with being treated unfairly, because I was never paid for raising my father’s children for him. His middle daughter was born broken and she abused me physically and mentally. I was fragile enough so I disassociated a lot of my life, so I didn’t totally know what was going on at the time. I know this is nothing compared to being Black, but I was invisible to Black folks when I walked down the street with Karen G Clemenson until I married her, and now they know I am her wife and I am seen now.
Yes, I can related to white narcissism.
~
Feel free to leave your comments below!
My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Jesus Follower, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Jesus Follower…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
I am writing to you regarding Revisiting Immigration Reform. According to the American Immigration Council, when Trump took office in January 2025, there were about 40,000 people being held in ICE detention centers, but in just one year, that number has increased to 73,000 immigrants. In November 2025 ICE was using 104 more facilities, than the previous year. With $45 billion in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Trump Administration has funding to operate over 135,000 detention beds, and they have dramatically changed the profile of who is “at-large” which has led to a revolutionary increase in number of federal law enforcement.
There is a 2,450% increase in people with no criminal record being held in detention centers. Changes in policies include no-release and mandatory detention laws that deny people the right to seek bonds so people do not seek a trial.
With more arrests, we are hearing of overcrowding, worsening or substandard medical care, more complaints of abusive conditions and violations of detention standards. Detainees are “disappearing” for days. Access to phones are uncertain. I have seen videos of Congress members that are denied access to facilities and are talking about signs posted, saying that detainees are being fed only 2 times per day. 2025 was the deadliest year to date in ICE detention centers, and 2026 is keeping pace to be worse.
If facilities are overrun, would it not make sense to let immigrants, with no criminal records, return to their jobs and lives so tax payers are not paying for them to be neglected? Better yet, why are we holding them for so long? Wouldn’t it be more efficient to arrest the criminals with violent crimes, work on deporting them and then worry about people who are working and paying taxes?
I know the real purpose of putting immigrants in jail is to make money for rich people that own the jails by misusing the tax dollars of the poor, but since slavery is actually illegal, I would like to encourage you to actually do something morally correct and stop allowing our tax dollars to be used so frivolously, to hurt people. At this point it will take a lot for me to have any faith in you regardless.
If you are a regular reader, you know I don’t usually take the time to talk about how I feel my patriotism. I don’t say the pledge of allegiance because if you read the words with a dictionary handy, and you take to heart what the bible actually says, you will be making a really hard choice. I cannot choose my country over my God and I can’t pledge allegiance to a piece of fabric, no matter how beautiful it is or how it makes my heart feel full of love when I look at it. But I do stand and thank God for choosing to let me born here, with my family and loved ones and for the freedoms I enjoy, even if they are not as free, or as beautiful as they sound in the song I love to sing.
I am grateful for the home I have always known. The United States of America is full of every kind of dream you could ever imagine and as an artist, with stark opinions, this shines to me. I love The Star Spangled Banner and I love to sing it at the top of my lungs! I love to meet new people and listen to their stories. I enjoy reading history. I feel compelled to write about how I experience these stories.
As a child I remember talking at school and playing part in pretend elections and debating with my grown ups. I remember the peaceful transition of power each time. Some presidents were enjoyed more than others, but always respected and respectful.
I was raised by parents who were opinionated but relatively independent and grandparents who were on either democrat or republican. So I heard lots of ideas. I have registered to vote as a republican and a democrat; which I think is unfair. We should not have to declare a party. At one time, I could honestly say I was conservative or liberal. But now I am angry at everyone because they have all failed.
I loved Obama, but now I know he could have done something for the victims of the Epstein Files, and I am sad.
But before I knew that, there was Trump. Who has brought chaos to every day he is in office. There has never been a peaceful transition of power with him. I will never completely get over the insurrection he was never punished for. His first term, I could not turn my TV on, or hear his name without an anxiety attack because I have anxiety disorder and I don’t need a trigger; I have worked hard to overcome him in therapy and still work hard to overcome him because he is still creating chaos in the world. I will always wonder why people chose him and then I don’t because I have read enough of history to comprehend that evil has a way of infecting people so they don’t realize what it is until they are so committed, they can’t stop now.
I do sometimes hate Trump, but he has earned it. I don’t worship anyone. Everyone is imperfect, but this man; he is completely self-serving. He is totally willing to do anything as long as he gets what he wants. He is a terrible leader. A good leader rolls up their sleeves and gets in the dirt, alongside the people.
Iran has been corrupt for as long as I can remember, but if we learned anything from the near endless war after 9-11, is that going half-cocked at the Middle East is futile. And there is no plan here. We can’t afford this. But Trump doesn’t care. He is happy to keep making money for his rich friends while our military potentially dies and our tax dollars are flushed down the toilet.
The same reason that ICE is collecting immigrants in concentration camps instead of deporting them. His friends that own those privately owned prisons are making money off our tax dollars while people who might have only been guilty of a misdemeanor, once had a job and paid taxes and added to our communities and loved their families are now rotting in traumatizing situations. The policy is bad. Just like when Obama was in office, they should have gone after the dangerous criminals first, and after they deported them, gone after people who were not dangerous. But you don’t make as much money that way. It is worse because we hated it when Obama did it and he should have learned from it, but you can’t teach Trump anything.
Mistakes are meant to be learned from. Questions are meant to be answered. On the day after Iran had been bombed and the Ayatollah was dead, someone suggested that I had TDS because I told a group that I thought they were small minded because they remained strong that only democrats were unhappy that our country had entered into war, without the backing of Congress. They followed up their response with a picture of Obama with a title with a word obliterated so that it was no longer English and no longer violent. I asked them what TDS was and I asked them what the word was supposed to be. I can guess what the word is because I am not daft, but I do think that it is ridiculous when adults use the word grape for rape or change letters to numbers so that they are no longer technically a violent word; we are adults here. And apparently, whether we want to admit it or not, we live in one of the most violent countries in the world. I think we should stop trying to hide from it, and face it, so maybe we can stop doing it.
Three days later, no one had answered me, so I looked up TDS because I am a curious person. TDS stands for Trump Derangement Syndrome.
“Simply put, Trump Derangement Syndrome is a derogatory term used to describe a form of toxic criticism and negative reaction to former President Trump’s statements and political actions. The origin of the term can be traced to the late political columnist and commentator Charles Krauthammer, a psychiatrist, who first coined the phrase ‘Bush derangement syndrome’ in 2003.” Alex Pattakos Ph.D.
I have dealt with many of my responses to DJT. My greatest one, was when I watched the clip of his assassination, I recognized that he looked a bit like my abusers. This helped me to accept some of the reasons I was afraid of him. Once I did that, I was no longer afraid of him. He is just a man.
Another thing about recognizing that he reminds me of my abusers is that it wasn’t just physical, but mentally and emotionally he reminds me of my abusers. He is a coward and he is mentally and emotionally weak. Without his money. He has nothing. He thinks I am nothing because I don’t have any money, but in reality. He has much more to lose than I ever will, because I have people that will always love me and stand beside me, even if I don’t have a dime. He can’t say that. His followers think he will save them because he has the resources. But he wont. I know his kind. It is all about him. If he loses his Benjamins he has nothing. That is a very scary place to be.
I have a firm foundation that can not be bought with money.
Because I am intelligent, I can live through anything. And I have. I know I need God. He has always downloaded what I needed to know as long as I remained calm enough to ask Him for it. Trump thinks he is God. That is a huge mistake.
So if you are still comfortable following him, or if you never did, or if you are living in one of his concentration camps or if you are somewhere in the gaps between…God bless the USA
My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Jesus Follower, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Jesus Follower…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
The bad guys look like good guys
In fact they look like
grandpas and brothers
uncles and daddies and friends
Their skin is usually white
They have more than enough
Yet they must take from the children and the women
The most vulnerable and the most responsible
~
We pay them well
In fact they own most of the wealth
Yet we like to make sure they keep it
even though we are the ones who need
It is by their hands we bleed
~
Rock a bye baby
Far up in the tree top
We want you to be safe
So we don’t see you
when you cry for help
And we certainly don’t hear you
when you cry Rape!
~
Holy holy holy
Whoever’s name we like to throw around
When it suits us
But we don’t really know You
And we certainly don’t love anything but the power of these
When I am with you
I am at capacity I am acceptable by myself
Yet I am optimized
by your presence
How did I ever live without you?
~
I knew love
by its full name
before I knew you
At least part way
But you showed me
new depths
and another side
~
When it was safe
we became we
Because it was safe
we became our own selves
It’s bigger than love because
I was known by and
I know you
Because I had been heard I was seen
Donald Trump has warned The United States
will hit Iran
“with a force that has never been seen before”
if the Middle East nation retaliates
From one murderer to another Putin said
“Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the murder
of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran”
~
Zack Polanski said the attack on Iran is illegal
He’s a British politician
but his family started in Latvia
and then went to Ukraine
and then Poland
and finally the UK
to avoid antisemitism
“That’s the law of the jungle
That’s an end to international law“
~
Hezbollah leader Naim Qasem
calls Ali Khamenei
a martyr
who leaves behind tens of millions of devotees
“We will fulfil our duty in confronting aggression
confident in Allah’s victory
guidance
and support”
~
Israeli military spokesperson
Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani
ensured reporters that many targets remained
including military‑industrial production sites
“We have the capabilities
and the targets
to keep going on for as long as necessary”
~
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian
issued a statement this morning
“The assassination of the highest political official
of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the prominent leader
and authority of the Shiite world by
the sinister American-Zionist axis
is considered a declaration of open war
on Muslims
especially Shiites
in all corners of the world”
~
As the men talk
hardly anyone mentioned that
on February 28, 2026 Minab School was hit AN ALL-GIRLS PRIMARY SCHOOL
located near an Iranian military site
148 people are dead
95 people are injured
Those little girls will never be mothers Ramadan Kareem
Things have changed me over the last 12 years. I got married to someone the loves me for exactly who I am. I don’t have to act or be anything other than who I am. When I am at my worst Karen G Clemenson tells me I am beautiful, sexy, smart and she loves me. When I have nothing for her, I can tell her that and she will give me space because that is what I need. She knows I love her and when I have dealt with me or taken a nap, I will be there for her and until then, there is food in the fridge, clean clothes to wear and interesting books to read and her favorite app on her phone.
I have worked hard to learn to live with and accommodate chronic physical and mental illness. These things don’t go away but they can be managed and I do it well.
I have removed people and things from my life that do not serve me well. I have learned to say no and to create boundaries.
I have come to peace with my sexuality. God made me this way and He has never stopped loving me. I am also comfortable with my sex. These were two things that for several reasons were hard for me growing up. But God has never left my side.
I have overcome suicidal ideation. At most it is a fleeting thought and when it comes, I know to stop and take better care of myself.
I have also overcome endometrial cancer. Now at one point on a specific day I had at least 4 medical professional’s hands in my lady parts at one time. That was just one moment of the day. Throughout the three years I fought this cancer, I have had more people in my lady parts than I ever gave the two people I loved enough to choose to be with in my 50 years of life. This has made me much braver than most of the other hard things I have had to do in my life.
I reached 50 years old. Now I don’t really care about age. I don’t give it a lot of thought. Some topics, I still converge upon as a child. My age doesn’t really reflect to me in reality until I want to move and then reality becomes apparent because I really do have two kinds of arthritis and fibromyalgia, but in my head age is fluid. But I do think I have earned enough life experience that even if, I didn’t already believe that other people’s opinion of me is none of my business, what I think matters.
Yet, what I love about myself is that what I believe about most things can be fluid because I am a human and I don’t know everything and sometimes I hear, read or see incorrectly and I know it.
I appreciate your beliefs and I appreciate the time and effort you put into explaining why you believe what you do.
I believe there is room for all beliefs.
I am a Jesus Follower because when I was 5 years old, I was playing by myself under the apple trees in my backyard and suddenly, I knew I was with Jesus and I never been alone since. I have been able to rely on my relationship with Jesus when I didn’t know how to do things, when I didn’t have answers, when I was hurting and when I could not trust anyone. I can’t prove this to you and I am not trying to. In my 20’s I got angry and told God to F-CK off. That was the loneliness, and most scary week of my life and it ended with me on my face asking Him to forgive me because I don’t know how to function without His relationship.
I don’t believe God wastes His time testing me. He doesn’t have to when He knows where I am. He knows I am willing to listen to Him. He is my Dad and my Friend. We have the same goal. Yes, He prunes and He teaches and He corrects, as His word says, but I think testing is the world’s job.
I am not a traditional person or a person that cares about rituals. Religion is not something that interests me but I love people because I believe we are all created in the image of God and it is His breath in our lungs.
Suffering is part of life. God did not promise a life free of suffering. Jesus’ 40 day fast was not easy. He spent most of his ministry, homeless. He was beaten with fists and whips before he was crucified; his death was brutal. What God did promise was that He would bring us through trials. He would empower us to love each other and help each other.
There can’t be evidence of God if we are to rely on faith. As we walk with God we learn to rely on faith and empathy. We learn this by learning from what Jesus taught us and the relationship we can grow in our meditation with the Holy Spirit, which was left with us when Jesus left the earth to go to God.
Hell is an interesting topic. Honestly, I believe hell is right here when we choose to make choices that hurt ourselves and others; the natural consequences of not loving. This was not taught to me at all church, but in my own studies of the bible. I might be wrong, but God is very practical. The laws in the bible were meant to help humans to have healthy lives, and show people that lived in dry, sandy and hot places, where they wore togas and sandals and had poor sanitation and bad manners, how to be clean and mindful of each other so that everyone was well. Those same rules were meant to prove that rules cause sin because humans are rebellious by nature and need a Savior. God was setting the stage for Jesus.
This same God, wants to be chosen so He gave us the right to choose. You don’t have to choose Him. I am not asking you to choose Him. But I do love Him and I am grateful that He chose me and I got to choose Him back.
I believe God made science. He is very creative. God’s version of time is very different than ours because He never gets tired since He is Spirit and doesn’t have a body. A day to God is thousands of years, which is why, even though the bible says the earth was created in 6 days, scientists have proven it took thousands of years of evolution for the earth to even be safe for humans to be here. I could think on that for a long time. It’s pretty amazing.
I am very thankful for the people that inspired these thoughts!
I want to close with this thought. I want you to have an amazing day. I want the sun to shine on you. I want you to feel love today and I want you to know safety. Regardless of what happens outside our community, I want Kelso-Longview to be a place where joy is because I live here. I can get get a little hot under the collar but at the end of the day, I do believe we are all made in the image of God and it is His breath in our lungs. And I want that to be the impression I leave. I get passionate because I love people and I want all people to loved and cared for and sometimes we fail, but I really hope you have a great day!
~
~
Feel free to leave your comments below!
My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Jesus Follower, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Jesus Follower…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
The search light searches
for life and truth
And sometimes there is just mystery
Because God cannot be completely understood
by my human mind
I know Him
In the quiet I have spoken my honest heart
and sought new ways to see and hear and speak
~
He is the search light
and the truth
But both take time to absorb
and adapt as He and I remove
what doesn’t serve to make room for what does
As my humanity sometimes fails me
or becomes more humble
A book is still only a book in men’s hands
and relationship has breath
~
Mankind has built an alter of evil Babylon was never really demolished
only demonized
The tower was flattened and men’s language confused
but God still knew what men would do
were doing
are doing
God knows where all the children are
He made women with the best part of Himself
~
If you don’t seek Him
You won’t find Him
If you don’t know Him
He won’t know you
What a loneliness that distinction is
And you wonder why you have no joy
We have come to a fork in the road
Decisions must be made
~
Veils have been torn down Lust pride
and greed
has grown too great
Someone is shinning the search lights
in places so well hidden
right in front of our faces
~
Thriller may be more of warning
than a song to dance to
with friends
Where will you stand
when there is no place to rest
if you never learned to endure
Because love has always been an action word
not something to collect
~
Hell is not a place to go to
It is right here
when you choose not to love God is love God is light
Without love there is no light
So in the dark
we all burn and the hounds of hades
are hungry for those who enjoy the masquerade
~
But me and my house
we enjoy the light
We don’t wear masks
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
The One able to search me
and know me
Alpha and Omega
You are the breath in me
I am writing this letter and will be sending it to the Longview School Board and the City Council of Longview, Washington. According to reporting from KOIN 6 News, two young men, aged 16 and 17 years of age, have been arrested and charged with sexual assault of 4 victims. Two victims are 14-years old, one victim is 16, and another victim is 17-years-old. These crimes happened several times at Mark Morris High School, in the locker room, during basket ball season, between November 2025 and January 2026.
It took a father calling the police because coaches and school professionals never did. There is evidence that the school knew about these crimes at least 2 weeks prior. Parents were concerned and had begun talking on social media sites. Students were overwhelmed and staged a protest because they felt unsafe and unheard. This is how the news was brought to daylight. Now that we are talking, it is evident that sexual assault is not new to Mark Morris, and maybe other schools. That last statement is not proven, however there is much room for investigation and hopefully people will come forward with any information that can help with any knowledge or proof that will help the right changes to be made.
If you have information to share with the Longview Police
please call them at 360-442-5800
Monday through Thursday between 8 am to 4 pm.
This school board, being populated by a previous Longview Police Captain, a former Mark Morris Principal, and a former teacher at both Mark Morris and R. A. Long High School, I would have expected that our student’s safety would be paramount, but I see that this is not that case as charges of 2nd degree rape, unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation, and indecent liberties with forcible compulsion have been brought against two young men that are students at Mark Morris High School.
I have read that this situation is not on the agenda for the meeting today. I can understand if, at this point, you cannot go into detail about this case. However, it would be appropriate to allot a moment to acknowledge that, at this time, you may be limited by what you can say, due to legal reasons. Nonetheless, taking a moment to express your obvious failure and plans to move forward towards growth and change that will include equity and safety for all students, is not a waste of time, but necessary for parents and students who do not feel safe or seen.
For the readers of my blog, because this letter is also posted at GoodTimesAlways.com, if you would like to contact the Longview School Board members here is their contact information:
Dr. Karen Cloninger – District Superintendent
360-575-7019
Don Wiitala – School Board President and Former Mark Morris Principal
dwiitala@longviewschools.org
Jennifer Leach – School Board Vice President & 20 year School Board Member
jleach@longviewschools.org
Deborah Pineda – School Resources Officer for Mark Morris High School & Former LPD Captain
dpineda@longviewschools.org
Barb Westrick – 23 year Longview School Board Member
360-425-2812
Susan Donahue – Former Mark Morris and R. A. Long High School Teacher for a combined 32 years
sdonahue@longviewschools.org
Regular meetings for the Longview School Board take place at 5:30 pm on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month according to their website. There is a link above. They take place at:
2715 Lilac Street
Longview, WA 98632
360-575-7019
I am not a mother. But I have lived in Longview for most of my entire life and I went to Longview Schools. I graduated from R. A. Long High School. I have a degree from LCC. I want to live in a safe community. I believe that if children are not safe, they have a greater chance to grow up to be unsafe adults. Children go to school to learn how to be good people. At least that is what I think they should be able to do. If they are being traumatized at school, how are they supposed to be part of a thriving community? If we do not have the hard conversations, if we do not make the proper choices to change so that everyone is safe and know that they matter, we are asking for higher crime and reliance on society later on.
I can’t be at your meeting later today. But I want my voice heard.
Dr. Linda Davis died
Tuesday February 17th
in a car crash around 7:45 am
during the potentially illegal pursuit
of Oscar Vasquez Lopez by ICE
~
Lopez is from Guatemala
No one knows when he got here
but a federal judge
signed off on his removal
from the United States in 2024
~
Chatham County Sherriff’s Office
has no record of criminal history
before Lopez was charged with first degree homicide by vehicle reckless driving driving without valid license
and failure to obey a traffic control device
~
Dr. Linda Davis
was a K-8 teacher at Savannah Chatham Public Schools
she was taken to the hospital
where she was pronounced dead
She was loved and will be missed
There will be counselors available
to support students and staff
“She always made you feel like you mattered”
~
Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis
said they would have assisted ICE
“We have a no chase policy
to help protect our citizens
more than it is anything else
So there may have been a different way
to corner the individual
So that he could not run
or that he could not cause
the accident that took the life of Dr. Davis”
~
“I’m saying to the President
on down
to all our national leaders There is a better way to do this“
Geraldo Lunas Compos
died on January 3rd He was a man
being held down by guards
until he stopped breathing
The autopsy report
ruled this man’s death
a homicide
~
Compos was 55 years old
was the father of 4
He had been legally admitted
to the United States of America
in 1996 from Cuba
He had lived in New York
for more than 20 years
He had served two terms in jail
for crimes he did commit
He had been free since 2017
~
Compos wad detained
by ICE in September
and sent to Camp East Montana
on Montana Avenue
in El Paso
He had been placed in solitary confinement
before he died
~
Petechiae in the eyes prove asphyxia is the cause
Campos’ injuries were consistent
with a hand or foot on the neck
Labs revealed
antidepressants and antihistamines
Campos had a history of bipolar and anxiety
There was no mention of suicide
in the report
until authorities saw the medical examiner’s report
~
Geraldo Lunas Campos was pronounced dead
after paramedics arrived
I was watching a video created by Jess Craven on Facebook and she caught my attention because she told me that this year ICE has spent $690 million on 7 warehouses. She said that all of these properties have gone for anywhere between 33-323% over what they were appraised at. These purchases also went through very quickly; much more expeditiously than most purchases like this would have normally been completed. She also said that ICE has plans to spend $38.3 billion turning former warehouses and prisons into detention centers this year. She said this is happening because you have given $75 billion to them with no oversite and lots of room for corruption. With no oversite there is no competitive bidding, no accountability, no one checking if prices make sense and no one verifying who profits. I did a quick check on Google and did find some articles that show Ms. Craven’s numbers are not just being pulled out of the air and ICE needs oversite.
This really upsets me to think that we have all this money to detain people, most of whom have no other charges against them, other than being here illegally. These people would rather be working, taking care of their families and paying taxes. Instead my tax dollars are paying for them to do nothing, except be traumatized. While we are being told that we don’t have money for disaster relief, healthcare or education.
I agree that we have an immigration issue. I am not sure why you can’t come up with a logical way to deal with the humans that need asylum and keep the criminals out. I don’t understand why people don’t see the importance of going after the immigrants that are criminals first and then after we get them out, work with the ones that just want a better life to see what we can do to help them keep working and paying taxes. I’m not sure why children are being held in detention centers at all. It seems that family members should be keeping the children, whenever possible. But my biggest question is why are we buying more detention centers? I thought the goal was to deport them.
I don’t want to pay for people to be held in prisons. I want people to pay taxes and raise their families. If they are violent offenders, call ICE and let them do what they need to get them out of our country. But if someone just wants a better life, can we help them do that? I thought that was the point of The United States of America. Please reign in ICE and The Felon in the Oval Office.
I must stand in the light
and be the reflection
Of the love I know full well
Many think they know His love
But if you are following the lead of men
they will fail
because they must
so you will know you need a Savior
~
It isn’t His name that will save you
but His love
It is different than what can be
bought with money or influence
It is given freely under the apple trees
or in places where money doesn’t matter
~
Holy, Holy, Holy
is the Lord God Almighty
He has always been here
and always will be
And They don’t care what you call Them
But that you do
They are ravished
by one glance of your eye
~
The men in power can not save you
but your Teacher can help you
Through whatever war is created
whatever mistake you make
and They will love you all the way
Because you were breathed into existence
by the same Creator of the mountains
and the trees
~
Naked under the apple trees
we are all the same
Bodies come in many colors
but our souls either reached out to Them
or they did not
Please wait...
