Musketeers

Sic Semper Tyrannis!

All may appear calm in Williamsburg on the outside, but on the inside, believe me, this town where the American Revolution was born is nothing less than a seething cauldron of anger and resentment over the results of this past presidential election. Everywhere, people are discussing it, even on their seemingly leisurely walks through town.

Yes, there is shock and grief. But, unless I am greatly mistaken, there also is a rising tide of anger that will soon enough be turned against Trump and his administration. A movement of resistance is gathering. I can hear the sounds. SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS, indeed!

Campaign Sign

Our homeowners association guidelines called for all campaign signs to be taken down by Friday. And from what I could tell from my walk yesterday, all did come down except one.

Capitol

Capitol Building

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This photo reminds me of the book I'm reading right now by Henry Mayer entitled A Son of Thunder about Patrick Henry, and including fascinating details about his work as a member of Virginia's House of Burgesses. I can't say my impression of Henry has improved as a result, but I've taken special note of his especially vocal opposition to tyranny and certain burgesses' abuses of power. Makes me think of the abuses that may lay ahead as Republicans now seize full control of both Congress and the White House.

Calm

Greensprings Interpretive Trail

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday

Randolph House

Every fall, I enjoy capturing on camera this oak at the corner of the Peyton Randolph House (built around 1715). Some years it turns brilliant yellow. Other years, like this one, it appears just a little bit more subdued. Still, it's lovely, and provides lots of welcome shade in an otherwise exposed space across from the courthouse commons.

The photo I wish I could show you today, though, is one I didn't think about until too late! That was when I spotted a man yesterday driving through town waving a red Trump hat and shouting how the messiah had come. I kid you not. I flipped him the bird when what I should have done, had I had the presence of mind to do so, was to snap a picture. Next time you can be sure that I'll be ready! 

Reminded me of the time just days after Trump's first successful election when I was in D.C. and witnessed members of an ultra-right wing nationalist party pouring out onto the streets after attending a celebratory luncheon and beating up members of an ultra-left wing demonstrators until D.C. police intervened. I'm afraid this election will almost certainly presage other such acts of violence. 

• "Don't agonize, organize." -- Nancy Pelosi

My Apologies!

I have to apologize for the outcome of yesterday's election. I don't know what has become of the American people to return a convicted felon and adjudicated sexual predator to the highest office in the land. It's inexplicable! It's like there is a madness that has overtaken a significant portion of our population. The coming years are going to be tough. So we are all going to have to be extremely brave and fight every day for what we know is right, and good, and true. 

BIG DAY!!!

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

BIG DAY!!! LET'S GO DO THIS!!! 

As previously mentioned, I'm spending today at the polls, helping voters cast their ballots. You know, among other things, checking people in, making sure they're properly registered, making sure they're at the right polling location, and, of course, watching to make sure they feed their completed ballots correctly into the OpenElect Voting Optical Scan (OVO), which is the way we do it in my precinct. And, like everyone else, I'll be anxiously awaiting the end result of this election.

Election Eve

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Well, folks, I'll be at the polls tomorrow well before dawn in order to greet folks as they arrive to vote beginning at 6 a.m. I don't expect to be home again until . . . well, who knows when. More than 40% of the registered voters in my precinct have already voted, suggesting that we well may be heading toward a record turnout for a presidential election. 

Will we know the result before I get home? Not likely, given our multiple time zones in the States. More likely, the race will be called in the wee hours of Wednesday morning when I HOPE to be fast asleep in bed. :-)

Hikers

Takinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

 

Decay

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Tucker House

St. George Tucker House

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

I believe this to be one of the additions St. George Tucker made (a kitchen?).

The St. George Tucker House was "built in 1718–19 for William Levingston (who, incidentally, built the first theater in America). The house eventually came into the hands of St. George Tucker who had moved from Bermuda to Williamsburg. Tucker was a lawyer and professor of law at the College of William and Mary and later became a state and federal judge." -- Wikipedia

Linking again to Skywatch Friday.