Tossing Salt Presents:
A Day of Dougie
Life Updates, Jussie Smollett & Blueberries
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

Welcome to a very special edition of A Day of Dougie. It’s not very special like the Different Strokes episode where Arnold encountered the Bicycle Man. No, it’s not that serious, but it is my opportunity to brush up on my writing on something besides pro wrestling, plus give an update to you, my faithful readers, friends, and family peeps. And I’m doing something a little different today. I’m doing my usual three-topic deal, but only one will be the random topic from the infamous Magic Bag. I’m going to speak on a subject that is currently in the news, Jussie Smollett. Then an update on my life and current situation. And finally, the random subject from the bag will be… blueberries. So it’s a roller coaster ride of a piece today. It’s my world. Welcome to it. Welcome to a Day of Dougie. Let’s roll.

Jussie Smollett

Actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction for the hate crime hoax was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court. So yes, the actor lied about being attacked and blamed it on unknown white people wearing MAGA hats when it was all fake and the “attack” was by two actors that he himself had hired. And I saw this in the headlines and I was pissed.

But then I read more and realized why the conviction was overturned. Smollett had reached a deal with the then-District Attorney Kim Foxx. And yes, she was crooked and the deal was a joke that essentially let Smollett off the hook for his crimes, but it was still a legitimate deal. And when the Special Prosecutor was appointed to look into the case, it violated the original deal. Smollett was arrested, charged, and convicted. But since a deal was in place with Foxx, these new charges and the conviction that came with it would count as double jeopardy. A person can’t be charged with the same crime twice. It’s unconstitutional. So despite being a liar, a criminal, a phony, and a hypocritical piece of shit, Smollett walks and his record is expunged.

And I realized something. The courts got it right. I don’t like the decision, but it was the right call in this particular case. Smollett won because of a legal technicality. But in the court of public opinion, it doesn’t matter. He’s been convicted of being a con man, a liar, and a piece of garbage. His career is in shambles and he has only himself to blame. Yes, the convictions were overturned and his criminal record has been cleaned up, but his reputation is forever trashed. And it couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Let’s move on.

Life Updates

I’m still alive. The past few weeks have been rough and my foot is still giving me problems. I spent last weekend in the hospital, again, but things haven’t changed all that much. My problem is, aside from the constant stress and turmoil that is my life, my foot. More specifically, my toe. It’s infected. No, change that. The tests showed no sign of infection. It’s just dead. Some gangrene had hardened on the outside of the toe, but the doctors weren’t too worried about it earlier. It hasn’t spread and has instead essentially mummified the front part of my toe. And the toe is dead. They wanted to do an amputation when I was in the hospital this past week, but I didn’t even see the main doctor until Tuesday and had already been there for nearly five days at that point. Without going into too much detail, I can’t be away from this house for that long. Mom is 88 years old and her health is getting worse. Stress is a killer and recent activities and situations are taking their toll. The bottom line is I needed to be here at the house with her and the animals. Now, what was I saying?

Oh yeah, the end of the toe is dead and is essentially just hanging there. I asked the doctor and if left alone, it would eventually fall off. A surgical amputation is preferable, but it’s at the point now that it’s like a toenail or fingernail. When it comes off, it won’t bleed or even hurt. The toe has scabbed and formed a barrier of skin and tissue that will prevent all that. It’ll just be scary and weird. So I’m here at the house, changing the dressing on the toe every day, and just waiting for it to fall off. It’s just that simple.

As for my foot and my prior amputation of the big toe and the large portion of my foot, I’m wearing a Wound Vac and staying off of it as much as possible, using the wheelchair to get around. It’s healing nicely and I have home health nurses coming three days a week to check on the foot and change out the Wound Vac. So that’s going well. I can’t get out much and am essentially homebound, but that part of it at least, seems to be getting better.

As for everything else, it’s rough around here and we’re barely hanging on. My sister, Terri, got moved to an Assisted Care Facility and she hates it. But it is what it is and was a necessary action. The alternative was we were going to find her dead in her apartment one day. And Mom is so stressed out by it all, well, it’s not a great atmosphere or situation and I’m fearing the worst. Or as Mel Brooks said in his movie, The Twelve Chairs, “Hope for the best, expect the worst”. I’m keeping the faith, but I’m expecting bad stuff to happen. Or to put it succinctly as Cheech &Chong once said, “Ain’t life a cock sucker!”.

I think I’ve said enough. Hell, I’ve probably said too much. It is what it is and I’m dealing as best I can. I wish I had someone here to help, but I wouldn’t bring someone else into this environment. It wouldn’t be right or fair to them. I miss my dude, and nobody knows it, but me. Yes, I just channeled the Tony Rich Project. Let’s move on to the final topic, drawn from the infamous Magic Bag.

Blueberries

How do people eat those things? They look like little purple gumballs. And blue food? Nothing that is that shade of purplish blue can be any good. Okay, I’m joking. I do actually like blueberries. I was never a fan as a kid, but in recent months, I’ve learned to appreciate them for a quick and nutritious snack. Of course, they’re best with a dab of whipped cream on top so I don’t know how healthy that truly is. And I first saw that on my meal tray from one of my prior hospital visits so if it’s not healthy, it’s not my fault. It’s theirs.

Blueberry muffins are the bomb! A quick and filling breakfast for someone on the go. I just had an epiphany. It just came to me why I didn’t like blueberries as a kid. Willie Wonka. Remember the scene in the movie where the brat, Violet, swelled up like a giant blueberry? “You’re turning violet, Violet!” That’s why I didn’t like blueberries as a kid. I didn’t want to have to go to the Squeezing Room with the Oompa Loompas. The more you know. But I like them now so there you go. Just don’t forget the whipped topping on top.

And that’s all of this for today. Thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, or any questions, feel free to ask. I think I need to go check on Ma and wash a few clothes. I’ll see you on the other side.

Ubuntu!