Wedding Song - God Knew That I Needed You

Friday, August 20, 2021

A VERY BIG PROBLEM

Personally, I could care less what happens to DSHS workers, or government job drones … but what is happening with them will eventually trickle down to the rest of us – and that does concern me.

{A government agency "discussing the nature of your religious belief(s)" with ministers or "scholars"?} BIG NO!

This is exactly WHY our American Constitution was drafted and worded the way it is.

NO! NO! NO!

Personally, I wouldn't trust anyone referring to themselves as ministers (they've gone totally over to the dark side); ditto for 'scholars'. WTF: those minions have absolutely NO control over our lives, whatsoever!

I wonder if the government is just as studiously 'studying' islam, confucianism, hinduism, atheism, and paganism ... or are they only focusing on Christianity? We know they are only giving lip service to anything related to {science} because they sure as Hell aren't following it, themselves while forcing it on everyone else. BTW, science is a self-serving religion based on cultic hypnotic hypothesis based on opinion, with little to no facts at all figured in.

Is science based on fact?

"Fact" in a scientific context is a generally accepted reality … but still open to scientific inquiry … AS OPPOSED TO AN ABSOLUTE TRUTH – WHICH IS NOT, AND HENCE NOT PART OF SCIENCE.

Hypotheses and theories (which are ‘general accepted realities) are generally based on objective inferences (drawn conclusions about the meaning of a thing by looking at the rest of the structural evidence, and inferring the definition: in other words, OPINION under the guise of reasoning).

Every hour of every day I wonder why rational thinking Americans are standing still for this blatant demonrat power grab steeped in bigoted hatred, and simmering with communist/socialist agenda …

There is a very big problem in America, for Americans.

People had better start waking up (and I don’t mean in the hateful blm manner), and taking the reins to this country back. Politicians and educators have become entirely too big for their britches – it’s time to bring them to heel.

**********

Jim WalshRestore Washington Zone 3

Here's a COVID shot exemption application form from WA DSHS, applicable to many healthcare workers. It's unclear whether this is the same form all WA state agencies will be using--but it should be useful as a template for understanding how the state plans to implement the current Governor's recent edict.

Some of the language seems to follow "reasonable accommodation" standards established by laws like the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

But some doesn't. For example, this section may raise constitutional problems: "the Department of Social and Health Services will need to obtain additional information and/or documentation about your religious practice(s) or belief(s). This may include discussing the nature of your religious belief(s), practice(s) and accommodation with your religion’s spiritual leader (if applicable) or religious scholars to address your request for an exemption."

A government agency "discussing the nature of your religious belief(s)" with ministers or "scholars"? That's problematic. It seems to conflict with 1A of the US Constitution and Article 1, Sec 11 of the WA Constitution.

Here's the entire form (thanks to commenter Carol VanArnam for sharing it):

SENT TO ALL DSHS EMPLOYEES ON 8/16:

THIS FORM INCORPORATES THE REQUIREMENTS OF PROCLAMATION 21-14 MANDATING A COVID-19 VACCINE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. THE PROCLAMATION STATES:

To the extent permitted by law, before providing a sincerely held religious belief accommodation to the requirements of this Order, individuals or entities for which Health Care Providers work as employees, contractors, or volunteers and State Agencies must document that the request for an accommodation has been made and the document must include a statement regarding the way in which the requirements of this order conflict with the religious observance, practice, or belief of the individual.

Instructions for employees: Please return this form and your response to religiousrequest@dshs.wa.gov. We would appreciate your cooperation by completing your response no later than August 25th. This still allows enough time for you to determine which of the three vaccines you can receive based on the table below.

Vaccine

Series dose requirement

First dose no later than

Second dose

Completed series

Fully vaccinated = two weeks past final dose (must be by 18 October)

Pfizer

2 doses, 21 days apart

09/13/21

10/04/21

10/04/21

10/18/21

Moderna

2 doses, 28 days apart

09/06/21

10/04/21

10/04/21

10/18/21

Janssen/Johnson & Johnson

Single dose

10/04/21

N/A

10/04/21

10/18/21

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Human Resource Business Partner.

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION REQUEST FORM – COVID-19 VACCINATION

The Department of Social and Health Services will provide reasonable accommodations to employees with religious beliefs/practices, unless providing such accommodations would pose an undue hardship.

1.   Describe below the religious belief or practice that you believe necessitates this request for accommodation. Please attach additional pages if needed to provide a full response.

2.   Please explain how your sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance prevents you from receiving an authorized COVID-19 vaccination. Please attach additional pages if needed to provide a full response.

3.   If the request for accommodation is temporary, please identify the anticipated date the accommodation is no longer needed.

_______________________(Date)

In some circumstances, the Department of Social and Health Services will need to obtain additional information and/or documentation about your religious practice(s) or belief(s). This may include discussing the nature of your religious belief(s), practice(s) and accommodation with your religion’s spiritual leader (if applicable) or religious scholars to address your request for an exemption.

If reqested, can you provide documentation to support your belief(s) and need for an accommodation? _______ Yes ______ No

If no, please explain why below. (Please attach additional pages if needed to provide a full response.)

Employee Name:

Personnel Number:

Administration/Division:

Version 1: Updated 8/13/2021

3

I certify that I have read and understood the information provided in this request, and that it is true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.

____________________________________________________

Employee Signature (electronic signature is sufficient)

___________________________________

Date

TRAVELING THURSDAY ~ LAEL MOON NURSERY; Rochester Daytrip

This morning, I kept my Naselle Coffee Hour appointment with friends I haven’t seen since I considered looking for a new home – that new home plan has now officially been scrapped … so, I am freed up again, to spend time with my old-new friends 😊

Again, there was a misting rainfall as I left the carport.

But I was not going to be deterred: I intended to see my friends, and visit the Nursery.

The misting rain on the windshield was an annoyance – but there wasn’t enough rainfall to make the roadways dangerous.

Naselle from Heron Pointe; via WA-4 W - 59 mins.

Earlier this week; happily anticipating coffee with friends again, I also planned on a side excursion to Lael’s Nursery in Rochester after the last cup of coffee had been poured and everyone was pulling out of the driveway towards home. I haven’t been to Rochester since the last time Bob and I had passed through there on a daytrip drive – about 5 years ago.

Lael Moon Nursery from Naselle; via US-101 N - 1 hr. 42 mins.

The banana tree I read about in the traveler’s companion booklet I picked up in Randle, earlier this year … was the lure, today 😉

My Ambitions Jar is full of fun Daytrip suggestions gleaned from the Scenic Roadtrip Booklet

Leaving Naselle, I happened to notice the price of gas, driving by Johnson’s: WOW – I decided to gas up back on home turf.

And I also thought, ‘Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t find a house in the country, after all …’: at these escalating prices, I wouldn’t be able to leave my country home, once I settled into it

((((THANK YOU, YESHUA, for protecting me))))

Going to Lael's to check out their 10-ft. Banana Tree.
Address coordinates punched into GPS.
Gas prices at Johnson's 1-Stop, in Naselle.

I spend a lot of time in the country; I plan my daytrips around country roads – I will drive hours out of the way just to enjoy a relaxing drive on a backroad 😊

I spend a lot of time in the country, on scenic backroads.

The annoying misting rainfall was still mucking up the windshield.

I was hoping the sun would eventually make a showing: at least by the time I reached my destination.

I wanted to see that banana tree.

A little past Artic, I turned off on the Montesano-US 12 spur … then a brief freeway interlude, before turning off at the Oakville-Centralia turn to Rochester.

Montesano-US 12 spur.
A brief freeway interlude ...
Oakville-Centralia turn.

Immediately, while making this turn, I noticed the gray clouds were parting to allow blue sky to show through; and the Highlander was heavily scented with the warmed, sweet, aroma of sun ripened August blackberries: the big fat ones, the size of thumbs. These giant, Himalayan blackberries are the most pungent, juicy blackberries!

Blue sky showing through the clouds ... and the heady scent of sun-warmed blackberries filled the air.

My mouth was watering for a blackberry pie 😉

But dreaming of lip-smacking, mouth-watering blackberry pie was curbed by a traffic jam in Porterof all places.

Traffic jam in Porter.

A heavy, smoke-belching, oversized white truck (it looked like a dump truck; or something along that line of work) & a slo-mo Puma travel trailer, were holding up a line of 14 vehicles (my vehicle, included in the line); the travel trailer eventually pulled over. The white service truck continued belching along.

I eventually parked myself at Lael’s 😊

The Nursery Owners’ Names are Larry and Bethany Lael: https://www.chronline.com/stories/business-profile-rochester-couple-turn-a-shared-hobby-into-a-living,129552

I was glad the misty rain had halted; the sun was shining, and the temperature was perfect to be walking through a Nursery.

I saw some interesting shrubs, flowers, and trees.

I don’t know what I was expecting by way of the touted Banana Tree … but it certainly wasn’t what I was pointed to: when I saw it, all I could think was, ‘That’s it?’.

I was anticipating a tree – what I saw was an overgrown bush.

Banana Tree, in bloom (not my picture; internet pic).

There were no bananas; it’s too cool in WA State for them to fruit.

But I did enjoy seeing all the other interesting/unique plants, too.

And they got me to thinking … and wondering if I could grow some in huge planter pots, at Heron Pointe 😉

I’ll have to give that thought, some thought.

Made it!
A nice day for a stroll.
Interesting leafed Hydrangea; I LIKE IT😊 'Munchkin' Oakleaf Hydrangea. Pretty cool.
An interesting Pine - kinda cushy spike leaves; and not sticky. Very nice.
Pretty bi-color pink Hydrangea - large blossoms. 'Star Gazer' Double Delight Hydrangea.
An Australian Fern with a sturdy stem that looks like a tree trunk.
Lael's 10-ft. Banana Tree.
Dinosaur Plant.
The Dinosaur Plant is a marsh plant; grown here in a discarded Jacuzzi tub with soil mixture to mimic marshland.
A Dogwood blossom (?) bush. Hmmm.

Leaving the Nursery, I saw a sign for U-Pick Blueberries: this might come in hand! I love blueberries, and though my own bushes put out quite a bot of berries … they are dwarf bushes, and the berries I get – though significant, all things considered, is not enough to carry me through the Winter.

If I can get through the liquid fertilizer stench (very strong today!) of the farm fields without sucking the life out of my asthma inhaler, I may give this berry farm a try next Spring.

U-Pick Black River Berry Farm down the road from the Lael Moon Nursery.

I backtracked to Raymond, and took the Pe Ell route home.

And, passing through along the route, I was glad to see that the gravel turnout I occasionally use has been cleaned up: ((((YAY!)))) A couple weeks ago when I passed through that way, there was a charred truck – either abandoned and burned by rowdies … or stolen and destroyed by rabble-rousers: either way, I didn’t like seeing it along this peaceful drive route I always take. There was also strewn garbage along the chain link fence.

For the first time in decades of driving that route, I felt nervous about being alone on a backroad.

That feeling made me feel violated.

I felt violated because my sense of peace and wellbeing had been shaken by citified violence touching a quiet corner of the backcountry.

That pissed me off.

I don’t like to see city violence spreading to the country.

I don’t like to see places I frequent vandalized – it makes me feel violated and unsafe.

I drive the backcountry roads for the peace it promises; I drive backroads to escape city bullshit. Seeing that violent behavioral activity in off-the-beaten-track places of tranquility, was more than a bit unnerving.

I am glad it has been cleared away.

The charred truck and garbage have been cleared from the backroad turnout.

I hope they found the morons and slapped them silly with fines – jail time, too.

Nearing home, and glancing at the gas level on the Highlander’s dash, I thought I might stop at Lexington to top the tank and wash the bug guts off the windshield before sliding into my carport (the Highlander, and me, were tired) … but the gas prices urged me forward, into town – which would take me about 5 minutes longer to slide into my carport.

Lexington gas prices.

Tank topped off, and tail dragging; I nipped into Hart C’s Thai to grab Supper; it was a long day, and I couldn’t work up the energy to cook at home.

Thai. Combo Chow Mein; Crab Fried Rice; Stuffed Won Tons.

There was enough for 3 more meals.


3 Freezer meals for later on.