Sunday

 It's supposed to be a day of rest. However, when you're a caregiver 24/7, even a day of rest isn't really a day of rest. There are always so many things you have to do during the day, including preparing your loved one for the day by getting them dressed, cleaned up, out of bed, and put in her recliner, where she stays most of the day. The only actual time off from caring for her for me is those two days when Gabriella comes to sit with her while I go out into the world and attend to things that need attention. And it may sound like a complaint, but it's not really a complaint because I have loved this woman for so many years, and it's unthinkable that I would not continue to care for her and love her just because she is ill.

Around 4:30 this afternoon, our friend, Marcin, came over and brought us two jars of honey, one is a spring honey, and the other is made from Linseed. I believe. It's a welcome addition to my pantry because I do use honey in our smoothies, and I try to use it as a substitute for sugar when I bake something.

He stayed for about half an hour and left just in time for me to talk to my friend in Spain, Carmelo.

Conversations with Carmelo are getting easier; some of the Spanish I retained from studies comes out a little more often now, almost spontaneously. I have to admit I haven't been spending enough time on my Spanish learning because I get so involved with this group I'm in to try to curtail the damage done by Donnie, also known by some as the president of the United States. Although I would hardly call him a president. 

Since I've been using this voice-to-conversation program on my computer, it's been much easier to write my blog and to carry out correspondence in emails. It doesn't put in punctuation, so I have to make sure that I look at what is written and put in the necessary punctuation. Nevertheless, it does make writing on this laptop much easier.

Our Loss.

 At 81, I'm old enough to remember the only great president in my lifetime. That President was named John Fitzgerald Kennedy. He was the president who gave hope to the country, prosperity to the country, and a good outlook for the future. I remember this day especially, because it was on this day that he was assassinated. Of course, no one can tell you who did it, the reasons for doing it, or the culprits brought to Justice. The Warren Report, many years ago, gave its opinion, which I do not believe. In my humble opinion, I believe it was a conspiracy involving the US government and other characters or figures.

Nevertheless, on this day, I find it strange that no one remembers the date of his assassination, so I thought I would put his picture up just to remind those of you who are old enough to remember him. Especially, in the times we live now, when what we have in the United States is called a President, but he is far from being a president. The poor man is only a wannabe dictator. Whether he becomes one or not, it's up to We the People.

Today I'm just grateful that I have known what a president could be.

Putin & Trump vs. Ukraine

 Honorable Senator Durbin,

I am writing to you today with a profound sense of urgency and alarm regarding the reported draft agreement, the so-called "28-Point Plan", that is being negotiated through private channels between U.S. and Russian envoys without the participation or consent of the sovereign government of Ukraine.

If the details of this leaked plan are accurate, this is not a path to peace; it is a thinly veiled blueprint for surrender and an egregious act of geopolitical betrayal. I urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to use every tool at your disposal to vehemently oppose this plan and prevent it from gaining any traction within the U.S. government or becoming official policy.

The reported demands of this draft are staggering and completely unacceptable:

Territorial Surrender: Forcing Ukraine to cede control over the eastern Donbas region is a clear violation of international law and rewards Russia’s aggression. It is an amputation of a sovereign state's territory.

Military Disarmament: The demand to halve Ukraine’s Armed Forces and severely restrict its key weapons systems is a catastrophic security risk. It would deliberately gut the military that has successfully prevented a complete Russian takeover, leaving the nation permanently vulnerable to future, inevitable Russian attacks.

Internal Subversion: Mandating the official status of the Moscow-aligned Orthodox Church and Russian as a state language embeds Moscow's influence directly into Ukraine's most sensitive cultural and institutional structures. These are not peace terms; they are demands for political and cultural subordination.

Cutting Off Lifelines: A sharp reduction in U.S. military aid, coupled with a weakened Ukrainian military, is the definition of setting a former ally up for failure and future conquest.

Senator, this plan, negotiated in backrooms and absent of Ukrainian representation, does not serve U.S. interests in global stability or the rule of law. It sacrifices a brave, democratic ally and sends a chilling message to every nation that relies on American commitment: that their sovereignty is merely a bargaining chip to be traded away for political expediency.

To coerce President Zelensky into accepting terms that amputate his country, disarm its defense, and embed the aggressor's influence is morally indefensible. We must not allow Ukraine to be treated as a hostage whose life is negotiated by its captor and a third party.

I implore you, as a principled leader in the Senate, to:

 Publicly denounce this 28-Point Plan and the use of private, unauthorized back-channels to conduct   foreign policy.

 Actively investigate the source and motivation behind these negotiations, and ensure all U.S.               diplomacy is conducted transparently and directly with Kyiv.

Mobilize Senate opposition to any proposal that would coerce Ukraine into territorial concession, military disarmament, or political submission to the Kremlin.

The future of Ukraine’s freedom and the credibility of U.S. global leadership are at stake. Please do everything in your power to stop this plan.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical matter.

Respectfully,

David Piekarczyk

Shopping.

Yesterday was shopping day. I spent  160 PLN($44) for the week of food.

Today was a free day. That means nobody was coming for Joan. Gabriela will come tomorrow and Karolina on Friday.

For the last few months, I have been staying up until 2 or 2:30 in the morning. Mainly because of my work with resistance groups in the U.S. I know, it'seems a little crazy that I am involved in that, living where we live now. However, we do have adult children and grandkids there and are concerned for their welfare.

Poland is now following the U.S. in TV commercials. Already there are Christmas ads on TV and the  stores are filled with Christmas items for sale. 

You may be wondering why I am always adding news about the war in Ukraine to my blog. It is because there is so little of it now in the daily news outlets. EVERY day it's the same old shit, Trump, Trump, Trump. I am so tired of it.

Monster of War.

A Russian ballistic missile attack killed 17-year-old Ukrainian kickboxing champion Karina Bakhur. She lived in a town of Berestyn, Kharkiv region, which came under heavy shelling last night. Karina was at home and reportedly running toward the basement when the blast hit. She died in the hospital from her wounds.

 

Karina was both World and European medalist in kickboxing, Master of Sports of Ukraine and current champion of Ukraine in both Cossack duel and kickboxing. A life of talent, discipline, and dreams ended by a Russian missile.

Interesting?

An interesting story. When I was in third grade in a one-room schoolhouse of grades 1-6, every row was a higher grade. There was one teacher for all. Where we lived was so small it wasn't named a village, town, or city. It was Clark Station near Gary, Indiana, even though there was no bus or train service. 

One day, 3 men and a nurse came in and said they were going to tattoo our blood types on our bodies. They had what looked like a drill with a box full of different blood type medal markers. A desk was set up in the entrance way where the "nurse" sat. One man was in our room calling out a row number. 

The children would line up in front of the nurse, she would prick the index finger, determine the blood type, we would be separated by type, and each row would be added. When all was done, another man fixed a marker on the "drill" and drilled it into our side. I don't remember if it hurt or not. Just remember being scared. 

My mother was told it was the government's idea to protect the children in case of an atomic bomb attack. It was in the early 50s. 

So, since third grade, I knew my blood type, B+. The mark only faded away after 50+ years. The strange thing for me was that no other school had done it.

Yesterday, a reader sent me this:

https://www.amusingplanet.com/2020/04/operation-tat-type-why-some-american.html

Operation Tat-Type: Why Some American Kids Got Tattooed With Blood-Type

If you're curious.

Friday-Saturday

Yesterday, I had a little break time while Karolina was here, so I went to Solacki Park, and I sat down to listen to my book, Big Sir, written by Jack Kerouac. I've been reading and listening to Jack Kerouac since I was 16. My brother Walter, or Wally as we called him, turned me on to Jack many, many years ago. I still find comfort in the words that he wrote. Of course, the first book I read by him was On the Road, probably his most famous book. His style was so unusual back in the 1950s, and I think that's what brought him a lot of interest.

After I was done in the park, I went to the Apteka, because it was time to buy another vitamin for Joan.

Back at home, Karolina was just finishing up giving Joanh a shower, and when she was done, we talked for about 20 minutes.

Last night. I stayed up until about 2:00 in the morning answering emails and doing some postings to various resistance groups I belong to. Today I didn't wake up until 11:00. That's 9 hours, a lot of time for me to sleep.

In the afternoon, John and I listened to various classical guitar players on YouTube.

When it was time to make dinner, I chose the easy way out and defrosted some frozen chili I still had left over.

Ukraine.

Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) forces overnight Sunday to Monday launched amphibious and airborne kamikaze drone strikes against targets in southwest Russia, with the main effort concentrating on a Black Sea oil tanker loading terminal critical to the Kremlin for export.

Sea-launched robot boats hit the Russian port city of Tuapse, one of Russia’s two main terminals for oil export via the Black Sea. Initial reports of an attack in progress reached local news platforms shortly after 1 AM on Monday. Video uploaded from viewpoints inside the city documented two explosions in the central port area, and fires.

With a capacity to trans-ship around 17 million metric tons of oil products/year, Tuapse is Russia’s second-biggest oil products export transshipment facility on the Black Sea.

Ukrainian robot boats had previously attacked Tuapse on Sept. 24 and overnight on Nov. 1-2. The latter raid damaged two tankers, halted fuel exports and refinery operations for days, caused an oil spill and forced tankers to abandon the port.

[UPDATED: Nov. 11, 12:37 pm , Kyiv time. Updated with reports from the General Staff of Ukraine and the Forces of Unmanned Systems confirming their involvement in the attack.]

A series of explosions rocked the Russian cities of Saratov and Engels early on Tuesday, Nov. 11, with social media reporting a fire at the Saratov oil refinery.

According to Russian Telegram channels, air defenses were on high alert in both cities amid the threat of drone attacks. Local residents reported hearing between five and seven loud explosions after 1 AM.

Independence?

The annual march organized in Warsaw by nationalist groups to celebrate Polish Independence Day passed peacefully through the city.

Among the participants, whose number is estimated at around 150,000, was recently elected right-wing President Karol Nawrocki, whose conservative predecessor, Andrzej Duda, had avoided attending the event.

However, members of Poland’s more liberal government stayed away from the march. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, attending a separate Independence Day celebration in his hometown of Gdańsk, declared that “no one has a monopoly on patriotism” and called “diversity a source of our strength”.

Joan and I stayed at home and celebrated the day by eating four of the famous Rogala pastries.

It seemed odd that Poland is celebrating its independence while in the United States there is a struggle to keep its independence from becoming a dictatorship, and Ukraine is fighting a war to save its country.

NOV. 25 to DEC. 2.

What exactly am I supposed to stop doing? 

 

During the Mass Blackout (Nov. 25–Dec. 2), we’re asking participants to:

– Stop working (see below)

– Stop spending at corporations

– Cancel streaming/digital subscriptions

– Avoid travel, restaurants, and normal consumer behavior

– Stay off ad-driven platforms unless organizing

If you must spend, use cash at small local businesses. Small Business Saturday is exempted.

 

What if I can’t take off work?

Not everyone can. You can still:

– Cancel subscriptions

– Halt spending

– Log off entertainment platforms

– Share the campaign

– Donate to Feeding America to support those walking out

Choose the form of resistance that’s possible for you — and do it proudly.

 

Should I support small businesses during the blackout?

Yes. This action exempts small businesses. If you need to spend, use cash at locally owned or worker-led shops. Avoid corporate chains and mega-platforms.

 

Does this mean I shouldn’t use social media?

Use social media intentionally. Don’t scroll for entertainment — organize, agitate, spread the message. Use hashtags. Share visuals. Mobilize your people.

 

How can I help spread the word?

– Use campaign hashtags:

#MBO #MB #BlockParty #MassBlackout #BlackoutForDemocracy

– Send this campaign to 5 people

– Organize your network — online or off

Independence Day.

Poland will mark Independence Day today with wreath-layings, a state mass, presidential honors and an Independence March in Warsaw, with parliament buildings open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

President Karol Nawrocki and his wife will lead the main ceremony at Piłsudski Square, where the president will also present state decorations and deliver remarks.

Earlier, top officials will lay wreaths at Warsaw monuments to Wincenty Witos, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Ignacy Daszyński, Roman Dmowski, Wojciech Korfanty, and Józef Piłsudski, all key figures in the country’s struggle for independence.

Nawrocki and First Lady Marta Nawrocka, joined by Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, will attend a mass for the homeland at the Temple of Divine Providence. At noon, senior officials will take part in a ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Piłsudski Square.

Later in the day, wreaths are planned at monuments to the victims of the 2010 Smolensk tragedy, President Lech Kaczyński and Marshal Józef Piłsudski, near Piłsudski Square.

On Monday evening, the eve of the holiday, a Capstrzyk Niepodległości (“Independence Tattoo”) ceremony took place at the Józef Piłsudski monument, with Kosiniak-Kamysz and military commanders laying wreaths at memorials to the Fathers of Independence.

The Sejm and Senate will open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering access to normally restricted areas such as the Sejm chamber and corridors. Around 10:50 a.m., visitors can meet Senate Speaker Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska on the Senate’s first floor.

Why?

 If you've been a reader of my blog for some time, maybe wondering why I've had so many one-day or two-day breaks, I'll tell you. Due to the situation in the United States with the current president and his bogus Administration, I've been involved with a movement in the United States promoting a general strike. The organization has the idea that if 3.5% of the population goes on strike, it will severely affect the economy and therefore affect the administration and its oligarchs who support it.

Much of my evening now is spent communicating with them because, being far away as I am, it's the only form of resistance that I can offer. I know this blog started out as a research blog, and for many years, I've been telling our tales of living in Poland.

However, I feel it's important for me to at least try to do what I can to help stop some of the damage that is being done to democracy in the country where I was born. So, after Joan goes to bed in the evenings, I spend much of my time communicating with them and doing what I can to support and help them progress.

I feel the goal of 3.5% while it may be effective in small countries, in the United States, it is going to take a long time to accomplish that, and I don't feel we have that much time before the dictatorship is complete.

So that's what's been happening at these times when I don't write anything or say anything about life in Poland, because I'm busy trying to do whatever I can to help recover the United States from this catastrophe of a presidency.

Because I have a deadline on this blog of midnight to publish by the day and I don't always see it because I'm too busy talking with someone, writing to someone, emailing to someone, writing to a Senator or House Representatives for various things that I think may help somewhat and that's the reason I've been absent on those days when I don't write.

Break day.

Gabriel arrived at 1:30 today. So, after she got here, I picked up my bags, got the keys to the car, and drove off on my way to the Apteka. I needed to buy some vitamin D and vitamin C for Joan. Fortunately, we have an Apteca very close to the house, about three blocks away, actually, so it doesn't take long to get there.

After I left yet I drove to care for because I needed to pick up some bacon for the potato and baking soup that I was going to make for dinner. It's a good, tasty soup. 

Meanwhile in Ukraine:

Ukraine is targeted brush and oil strikes throughout the war but it has sharply intensified attacks in the recent months driving up fuel prices. 

Ukraine has carried out nearly 160 strikes on rational facilities at the start of 2025 significantly, cutting into the kremlin's energy revenues used for. 

The head of the security service of Ukraine also known as SBU, told Zielinsky that drone and missile operations had successfully targeted refineries, depots and pumping stations deep inside of Russia.

The Kremlin seems to be visibly panicking because of Ukraine's Precision drone strikes as they are overwhelmed. 

Russian insiders report evacuation plans are forming is fear spreads through the Russian President Putin's Inner circle. 

Ukrainian soldiers confirmed that drones are now giving Kyiv an undeniable strategic edge and fundamentally changing the way wars are fought. The Kyiv Post reports exclusive first-hand evidence that Putin's regime is in a deep crisis. They are failing to defend Moscow's airspace against Ukrainian strategic strikes, and despite waves of Russian counter-attacks, they are unable to slow down Ukraine's offensive capability.

Shopping day.

Okay, today was shopping day, so I got up at 6:30 this morning, dressed, took my list, and then I was off to the store at Carrefour. I needed to buy enough food for the next week, and I had my list with me. It only takes 15 minutes to get to the store.

I didn't have a lot to buy because I planned on having soup during the week, so that takes care of two days, and then there's always Pizza as a backup in case I don't feel like cooking. The total cost was $39. However, the vegetables at care for are not the best because it's so early in the morning because it is so early in the morning they don't have time. So, I had to make another stop on the way home at Lidl. That is the supermarket closest to our flat. There, I had to pick up four different vegetables and some baking soda. I needed the soda because I was going to make blueberry pancakes today for breakfast. So, adding the cost at both stores, my total was $45 for food next week.

I got back home by 8:30, put everything away, and then it was time to get Joan out of bed. Today, being Tuesday, Gabriella was scheduled to come over at 11:30 and sit with Joan while I took a 3-hour break.

I was back at home by 2:30, Gabrielle stayed until about 3:00, and then she left.

For dinner, I prepared chicken with rice, red peppers, onions, tomatoes, salt, and pepper. I have used this recipe before and assumed dinner was going to be good. However, neither Joan nor I liked the taste, and it wasn't that good. We were both disappointed. Oh well, what are you going to do?

The weekend is over?

For some unknown reason, this was the longest two-day weekend ever. Finally, it's Monday, not that it matters.

I made strawberry pancakes for breakfast, and Joan was happy. Actually, I made too much batter, so tomorrow I will buy blueberries and have those for breakfast. 

We watched the NFL highlights and returned to the series, Lincoln Lawyer, that we started watching yesterday.

It was a lazy day for us.

Lately, I have been having trouble with Grammarly connecting to websites for corrections. A human could correct whatever the problem is, but a Bot cannot. I'm now using another program, LT, to check for mistakes. I'm also considering using a Voice to Text program, Wsprflow AI.

 Okay, I typed in WhisperFlo AI, downloaded it, but then after trying it out, it doesn't work in Blogger, so the only thing I can do is try another program. I went to Google Docs Voice-in. It seems to be working fairly well, but it doesn't have any punctuation or grammar checking. Still, now I see my Google application for Grammarly is working, so at least I can get my punctuation and grammar checked, and I can do this all while I'm just speaking what I want to write about. It's much easier that way for me.

 

Sunday?

The last two days have seemed like Sunday and now, Sunday seems like Monday. How crazy is that?

I had a problem with Joan earlier, but now she is fine.

Meanwhile: Ukraine

The Pentagon has approved the potential delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, determining that the move would not harm U.S. defense readiness.

According to CNN, the final decision now rests with President Donald Trump.Sources told the network that the Joint Chiefs of Staff informed the White House in early October that a limited transfer of Tomahawks would not weaken America’s military capabilities.

The assessment was presented just before Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.While Trump initially supported the idea, officials say his sudden hesitation surprised both American and European partners.

Nonetheless, the Tomahawk transfer remains under active consideration.Administration officials have already prepared plans for rapid delivery to Ukraine should President Trump authorize the move, marking a potential escalation in U.S. military assistance to Kyiv.

Oct.31 & Nov. 1st.

Compared to the Divided States of America, Poland has more Holidays. No doubt, Christmas and Easter are the most important. However, for me, the most beautiful one is tomorrow

All Saint's Day is an annual national holiday in Poland to celebrate the saints on November 1. It is also known as the Day of the Dead, as many people remember dead family and friends on this day. It is normal for families to travel back to the village, town, or city of their families history. 

The preparation for this day begins several days before it. Cleaning materials are brought to clean the headstones, and rakes to take away the leaves. Each family member brings beautiful flowers, and candles to illuminate the graves at night. The cemeteries everywhere are a beautiful scene of a myriad of color.

Usually, it is a time for families to meet again with other relatives they may not have seen in months, or even years. When the visitation at the cemetery is over, it is also a good time to gather in a relatives house to continue conversations.

Joan and I would make a trip each Nov.1st for that event. Unfortunately, since her stroke in 2025, we haven't made a return.

For us, it was also a time to visit with dear cousin Kazia, and her son Andrzej. I miss seeing and talking with them in person. 

All Saint's Day>> I waited until late in the day until I went to the cemetery. I wanted to make sure the lighting was dark enough to see the candles bit light enough to see the sky in the background. I only stayed 30 minutes because Joan was home alone and that worried me. The pictures turned out good.