The Election & Today's Inauguration

**Language warning**

This is my one and only political post.  I don't normally talk politics, as politics are not considered "polite conversation" and can cause hard feelings and arguments.  But I've seen enough political posts to last through my grandchildren's, God-willing, lifetimes, and I just had to say something.

I'd prefer that no one comment on the post, but if you choose to do so - BE POLITE.  I can agree to disagree with folks that do not see things my way, but I will NOT tolerate hatefulness, rudeness, or disrespect towards me or anyone that chooses to post.

The crazies have come out today.  And I'm not talking about the shit going on in the protests that are being broadcast on TV, I'm talking about the shit getting posted on Facebook.  On BOTH sides of the political aisle.  Abso-fucking-RIDICULOUS!

It just amazes me that folks can listen to the same inauguration speech and each side can come up with completely different takes on what is said.  I was at work so I didn't listen to it (and still haven't), but I checked Facebook periodically to see what was going on.  I knew I could count on my friend base, which spans the entire political spectrum and all ages from teenagers all the way up to folks in their 70's.  I saw the gamut from (and I'm very loosely paraphrasing here on all accounts) "OMG we are so fucked" to "oh I love Trump and he's so great and I agree with him 100%". 

And I've seen a few folks saying that Trump will NEVER be their president and they will NEVER support him and they hope he fails.  Seriously?  Why in the hell would you want the leader of YOUR country to fail?  

And I know, a lot of folks don't care for Dr. Phil.  It doesn't matter who said the above, I've heard several say it and it is TRUE - what are you going to do to try to make the next 4 years the best that it can be?  If you don't like your leaders, write letters, start or sign petitions, talk with your representatives, peacefully protest, etc. - all the stuff that sensible people do instead of destroying property that doesn't belong to them and acting like a bunch of anarchist asshats and pandering for the news cameras to make sure they get their 15 minutes of fame. 



We had 2 extremely shitty choices to vote for in this election - a criminal that cheated another member of her party out of the opportunity to win their party nomination and probably win the election, and a political virgin that is lewd and crude and brash and rude and says mean things and knows nothing about politics.  I don't count the other 2 candidates as valid choices, as they didn't have a snowball's proverbial chance in hell in winning the election.  The Libertarian didn't seem too bad until he opened his mouth and the ignorance and lack of basic world civics totally ruined my opinion of him (that and I have an issue with pot, but that's a topic for another day).  And I've always thought the Green party candidates are kooky, even back in my liberal college days.  :-)  But anyways, regardless, we had a piss-poor lot to choose from this time around.

And finally - if your hate for our new President is greater than your love for your country and your desire to see him do a good job, then open your eyes and accept that YOU are a huge problem in this country.   I'm not saying you have to like him.  I'm not even saying you have to respect him.  But give the position the respect it deserves, and give him a chance to prove you wrong.  You never know, he may just turn out to be a decent president.  Lord I hope so.

Christmas Day

We celebrated our Christmas on Christmas Eve, as Steven planned to spend his Christmas Day with his love.  I remember when I was growing up, we'd celebrate on Christmas Eve, so that everyone could go spend Christmas Day with their in-laws.  Made it much easier on everyone to not have to shuttle back and forth on the same day to try to see everyone. 




Mom and Marion are in West Virginia, Daddy is in Arkansas, so we kept our butts planted right here in Carrollton.  :-)  Buddy and Pam came over, and Jessie joined us too, so we had us a nice little afternoon/early evening time.  Buddy said Meme warned him that he needed to "leave the mountains before dark".  I don't know where she gets the idea that I live in the mountains!  But seriously, there are a few mountains around here, but I don't live in the mountains. 




The pups were quite funny with their toy pigs - that's how we began the gift giving - all 3 dogs came to me, knowing that I had something special for them.  I gave Dominion his first, I tried to give Gabriel his, but Kita stole it and went absolutely wild with it, and Gabriel got his and sat down at our feet for a moment.  Until the squealing and grunting of the pigs started, then he ran in terror out of the living room, pacing back and forth between the living room, hallway, and kitchen area.  Kita and Dominion were very enthusiastic with their playing with their pigs, Kita more so than Dominion.  All you could hear were squeals and grunts and oinks while Steven was distributing the gifts. 




After the gifts were opened, Steven found Gabriel in the kitchen, trying to get the ham off the counter!  He's never gotten anything off the counter to our knowledge, but the poor boy is so hungry because of his diet, he tried his best to get the ham but was stopped before he got anything.  He came and sat at my feet for a while, with his pig, and I was watching Dominion try to play with Steven with his pig, and Kita was still tearing hers up in the floor.  Steven threw Dominion's pig towards the hallway, but it bounced back towards the table, unbeknownst to Dominion, who continued running down the hallway - Kita realized what had happened, so she ran to steal Dominion's pig, leaving hers unattended, handing the perfect opportunity to Gabriel to steal her pig so now he has 2 pigs. Even though he wasn't interested in making them squeal or oink or grunt!  We did take one away from him and give it to Dominion, so that everyone had a pig.  Best $15 spent at Christmas, EVER.




I went to bed with a sick headache around 9pm.  My sinuses are really acting up this weekend, and I suffered horribly last night.  By 2am, I was in tears and popped a Percocet.  Those of you that know me well, know that it's serious when I'm in tears and taking narcotics - I hate taking pain meds, and I typically have a fairly high pain tolerance.  I was hoping that the Percocet would at least take the edge off the pain, because if not, I was seriously contemplating going to the ED for relief.  Thankfully, I fell asleep after a while, and woke up headache free this morning.  (fingers crossed it stays that way)




Today it's just the 3 of us at home - Brian, Clydie and I - I'll be cleaning up the living room of gifts and stuff, and doing laundry as well.  No rest for the wicked!




Merry Christmas everyone!

Kids Toys at Christmas

Yep, it would have been nice to have these labels when I was buying toys for Steven when he was young.  Of course I think most are marked with how many and what kind of batteries are required, so at least that is helpful.


I remember one Christmas, we went to my family's to celebrate after the kids got their Santa Claus.  My mom asked what Santa brought Steven, and I told her.  I also shared that Santa made sure to only bring quiet toys, and I will NEVER forget the pure evil, shit-eating grin my mother gave me!  They gave Steven a fire truck, complete with an extremely LOUD siren that Steven loved to have going all the damn time.  His sperm donor ended up taking the batteries out of it so that it would stop!  (and honestly I can't say I blame him this time)

A Christmas List

How many of you could do all of these? Granted, not everything on here would apply to everyone, I mean not everyone has an enemy, some people don't hold grudges, or maybe you do all those other things on a regular basis.

As for me:

• I don't have any current quarrels to mend, that I'm aware of.
• Unfortunately I do have a lot of "forgotten" friends - I'm horribly bad at keeping in touch and communicating with those I consider friends, shit I'm bad at keeping in touch with family and close friends!
• I've dismissed suspicion and replaced it with trust in the past and been burned.  Fortunately I don't have suspicions in my life now so no worries there.
• I'm not one for writing letters, I'd rather send an email.  Although there's one I've written that I really, really need to send to the intended recipient.
• Soft answers are my norm. :-)
• Youth = Shenanigans in my household!
• I am loyal to a fault, and I think most that truly know me, know this.
• I always try to keep my promises, if at all possible.
• Forgoing a grudge and forgiving an enemy currently go hand and hand for me at the moment - I'm not going to do it any time soon.  I don't want to go into details with who or what this involves, but generally speaking - if you think someone did something inappropriate, isn't it your responsibility to let that person know that they acted or spoke inappropriately?  How is the person who behaved/spoke inappropriately supposed to know they did wrong, if you don't tell them?  I'm not forgoing or forgiving anything, if the accusers cannot even broach the topic with me.  (ok, I know this attitude regarding forgiveness totally goes against the spirit of Christmas, but I don't care, I have my reasons.  When you have to find out through the grapevine about alleged inappropriateness - 2 YEARS after the behavior and/or words supposedly occurred - I call bullshit.  I really have to stop now, this is ruining my Christmas post).
• Apologize - I've done plenty of that, even when I shouldn't have.  Tried to be the bigger person.  Makes me mad sometimes to do that.  lol
• I do try to understand, and see things from both sides.  Although sometimes one side refuses to accept that, and is a crazy, psycho person, and deletes and blocks you on Facebook.  But whatever.  LOL  That's what I get for trying to understand.
• I try not to demand things of others.  I also try not to expect much from others, that way I'm not disappointed when my expectations aren't met.  (this is not directed at my family members!)
• I think of others when making big decisions, and sometimes even when making small decisions.  If my decisions will affect more than just me, I have to think of others.
• I'm kind (usually, unless someone pisses me off!)
• I'm gentle (unless someone tickles me - someone is getting hurt in that case!)
• I laugh way too much sometimes (and especially at inappropriate things)
• I try to express my gratitude to others.  I don't always think to do it, but I am very thankful for my family and friends.
• I don't welcome strangers into my home - unfortunately with the way things are these days, it's just not safe.  But sometimes they may be a stranger to me, but my husband or my son or Clydie knows them, and then they're not really a stranger.
• I'm not around small children very often, but if I was, I would try to gladden their heart in some way.
• There is so much beauty in the earth, sometimes it's the simplicity of clouds in the sky, and sometimes it's the beautiful fire colors of the trees changing in the fall.
• I need to work on that last one, I'm not very good at telling those I love that I love them.

So, that list didn't turn out quite how I expected as far as how it applies to me.  I've got a lot of negativity there, which I'm quite aware of, and probably should work on (but not on the forgoing and forgiving part, I just cannot see myself doing that any time soon). 

Anywho, I hope some of this made you laugh or smile, or at least think about things in your own life. 

If I don't blog again before Christmas - I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, and that he fat man in red brings you what you want!

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That, and Lots of Pictures!

My autumn, leading into winter, has consisted of hunting, celebrating my son's 21st birthday, and just life in general.  I've thought of so many blog posts that I should write, but just don't make myself sit down and compose my thoughts well enough to put out in the cyber world. 


I've had a lot of negativity over the last month or 2, with a ridiculous family member that I won't name.  (don't worry Mom, it's no one in my household!)  I'm not going to waste any more energy on this person, and they have burned through their second chances with me.    So to this family member, if you happen upon my blog and read this (although since you've deleted and blocked me on Facebook I doubt you will) - I just have one thing to say - WTF EVER!


Steven celebrated his 21st birthday on November 21st.  I took the day off from work to spend some time with him during the day, take him to his first liquor store run, and get ready for the cookout.  Here are some photos:




                                  first liquor purchase at Cheers!

                                                   Kita was ready to party down!

 


               Got the birthday banner at the Dollar Tree again this year - and this time they spelled it         right!

                        Oreo Blizzard cake from DQ


                 



                                         Brian & Hope hiding Steven's eyes, they didn't want him to see the cake yet

                                  I love the look Brian is giving him, with his hands clasped like he's
                                          up to something sinister

                                           I think he's just realizing it's an ice cream cake

                                  the obligatory smile :-)

                    the moment he realized it was a DAIRY QUEEN Oreo Blizzard ice cream cake!
                      (yes he tried to pick it up and run off to his room with it!)

            the next morning - Steven's under the black blanket, Hope's on the couch, and James is in the recliner.  Oh and Dominion is on the love seat, watching over his birthday boy.

I think the "kids" had a good time at the party, and they were safe in our home.  I know we had a great time participating in this momentous birthday, and I hope that it was everything that Steven wanted.


Here are some pictures of our hunting escapades this season




                                          in the blind in Crawfordville

                                        beautiful sunshine from the blind

                                       in Dublin, GA

                                 never seen what a beaver can do to some trees?  well here ya go!

   kinda hard to see, but this is where the beaver were dragging their trees once cut

       watching the sun come up slowly through the pines in Dublin

 Jessie & I got out of the golf cart to go to the waterfront to see where the beavers were (we'd been joyriding on the golf cart while the menfolk were in town, and decided to explore the road less traveled)

Clydie takes such wonderful photographs. Look at my hat, all cockeyed on my head.  No, it doesn't have a thing to do with that being my 2nd Jack & Coke!

We had a blast in Dublin with Jessie and her friend, Bobby.  Went once without Clydie, and took her along the second time because the accommodations are very nice!


Poor Gabriel - I've had to put him on a diet because he's up to 77lbs.  He stays ravenously hungry because he was used to free feeding, but we've had to take up the food bowls for all 3 pups and feed them twice a day.  It doesn't affect Dominion so much because he gets a special meal for breakfast anyway, but poor Kita just doesn't know what to do with herself now that she doesn't have a food bowl to guard!  His daily intake has probably been cut in half or more (we worked him down to that, we didn't feel it was right to drastically cut him suddenly because we tried that and he was really becoming a pain at meal times and on the occasion he was allowed a treat, he'd try to take your hand with the treat).  He's still a chunk but we are seeing a very slight different in his outline from above. 


And Gabriel won't sleep inside the house at night anymore - he's been sleeping on the porch since it started cooling off, and I really didn't want him outside the last few nights because the morning lows are in the 20's.  I know he's a Siberian Husky, and those dogs are supposed to be able to handle the cold, but he's a fat, lazy house dog and I worry about his well being.  The first night we tried to keep him inside from the cold, he wanted to go out every 90 minutes, and you had to practically drag him back in the house, so I left him out.  Now before people freak out - the porch is a screened in porch so he's sheltered to an extent, the door to the yard is open so he has free access to potty, and we keep water available (which froze last night :-/ ).  There are some seat cushions on the floor which he's been laying on, and Clydie put a blanket out there for him which he sleeps on.  (and which he gives up to Kita when she's out there lol). 


photo of Gabriel with his blankie

Yes, Clydie covered him up with it, and he'll stay under it for about half an hour then he's had enough and will get on top of it. 


Is everyone ready for the fat man in the red suit to visit in a few weeks?  I have a few more things to get, then I'll be ready.  Thank you very much to Clydie for doing the majority of the decorating - I was down in my back pretty bad for a few days and managed to fluff the tree and put the lights on it, and that was the extent to my participation.  She put all the doo-dads out on the mantle and bookcase, she and Steven put the décor on the tree, and she put the garland on the handrails on the stairs.


This is the longest blog post I've written in a while that wasn't a copy and paste of something else, so I'm about worded out now.  If I don't blog again before Christmas, I hope that everyone has a very  Merry Christmas!

Thankful for the Thorns

I've posted this many times before (received via email from someone years ago), and it bears repeating:


Thankful for the Thorns

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocks as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze.  Then, in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son.  She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come.

What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer? "Had she lost a child? No - she has no idea what I'm feeling," Sandra shuddered. Thanksgiving? "Thankful for what?" she wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?

"Good afternoon, can I help you?"

The flower shop clerk's approach startled her. "Sorry," said Jenny, "I just didn't want you to think I was ignoring you."

"I . . . . I need an arrangement."

"For Thanksgiving?" Sandra nodded.  "Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the "Thanksgiving Special."

Jenny saw Sandra's curiosity and continued, "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories, that each arrangement insinuates a particular feeling. Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude this Thanksgiving?"

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted. "Sorry, but in the last five months, everything that could go wrong has."

Sandra regretted her outburst but was surprised when Jenny said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

The door's small bell suddenly rang. "Barbara! Hi, "Jenny said. She politely excused herself form Sandra and walked toward a small workroom. She quickly reappeared carrying a massive arrangement of green bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses. Only, the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped, no flowers.

"Want this in a box?" Jenny asked.

Sandra watched for Barbara's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems and no flowers! She waited for laughter, for someone to notice the absence of flowers atop the thorny stems, but neither woman did.

"Yes, please. It's exquisite," said Barbara. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I'd not be so moved by its significance, but it's happening again. My family will love this one. Thanks."

Sandra stared. "Why so normal a conversation about so strange an arrangement?" she wondered.

"Ah, said Sandra, pointing. "That lady just left with, ah . . . ."

"Yes?"

"Well, she had no flowers!"

"Off?"

"Off. Yep. That's the Special. I call it the "Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet."

"But, why do people pay for that?" In spite of herself she chuckled.

"Do you really want to know?"

"I couldn't leave this shop without knowing. I'd think about nothing else!"

"That might be good," said Jenny.

"Well," she continued, "Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very much like you feel today. She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she faced major surgery."

"Ouch!" said Sandra.

"That same year, I lost my husband. I assumed complete responsibility for the shop and for the first time, spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel."

"What did you do?"

"I learned to be thankful for thorns.

"Sandra's eyebrows lifted. "Thorns?"

"I'm a Christian, Sandra. I've always thanked God for good things in life and I never thought to ask Him why good things happened to me. But, when bad stuff hit. Did I ever ask! It took time to learn that dark times are important. I always enjoyed the flowers' of life but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra gasped. "A friend read that passage to me and I was furious! I guess the truth is, I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God." She started to ask Jenny to "go on" when the door's bell diverted their attention.

"Hey, Phil!" shouted Jenny as a balding, rotund man entered the shop. She softly touched Sandra's arm and moved to welcome him. He tucked her under his side for a warm hug. "I'm here for twelve thorny long-stemmed stems!" Phil laughed, heartily.

"I figured as much," said Jenny. "I've got them ready." She lifted a tissue-wrapped arrangement form the refrigerated cabinet.

"Beautiful," said Phil. "My wife will love them."

Sandra could not resist asking, "These are for your wife?"

Phil saw that Sandra's curiosity matched his when he first heard of a Thorn Bouquet. "Do you mind me asking, 'Why thorns?"

"In fact, I'm glad you asked, "He said. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but we slogged through, problem by rotten problem. We rescued our marriage - our love, really. Last year, at Thanksgiving, I stopped in here for flowers. I must have mentioned surviving a tough process because Jenny told me that for a long time she kept a vase of rose stems --- stems! --- As a reminder of what she learned from 'thorny' times. That was good enough for me. I took home stems, My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific thorny situation and give thanks for what the problem taught us. I'm pretty sure this stem review is becoming a tradition."

Phil paid Jenny, thanked her again and as he left, said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life, "Sandra said to Jenny.

"Well, my experience says that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, Sandra, Jesus wore a crown of thorns so that we might know His love. Do not resent thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take twelve long-stemmed thorns, please."

"I hoped you would, " Jenny said. "I'll have them ready in a minute. Then, every time you see them, remember to appreciate both good and hard times. We grow through both."

"Thank you. What do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Nothing but a pledge to work toward healing your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." Jenny handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach a card like this to your arrangement but maybe you'd like to read it first. Go ahead, read it."

My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorns! I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear, teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow. George Matheson

Dreams, and More

After Brian left for work this morning, I laid back down to catch some more zzzz's before getting up for work (yes, I fell off the treadmill bandwagon a while back, more on that later).  I had this horrific dream that a giant stag beetle ---------------------
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was on the wall in my bedroom.  Now, bugs usually don't freak me out too bad, as long as they aren't close to me, moving towards me, or aren't giants.  In my dream, this thing's body was about 10" long, not counting those pincers, and it had very long, spider-like legs.  I was on the bed, and it was on the wall above my closet.  I screamed, calling for Brian and Steven to save me.  Dominion came and grabbed it, and I was freaking out because I was worried it was poisonous or would hurt him, and he dropped it in the hallway.  Well FML, the thing started running towards me as I was running out of the bedroom, and it went between my feet.  I was hopping around like the floor was on fire, and screaming, finally stopping in the hallway.  I couldn't find the damn thing, and began freaking out again.  Steven came up behind me and was like "umm....Mom.....I don't know how to tell you...." and I looked down and saw the damn thing on the back of my leg!!!!  I was hopping around again, screaming and just losing it, and Steven told me to stand by the bed and he would remove it.  He donned some latex gloves and I just stood there while he was pulling it away from my skin, and I was just trying not to throw up.  I was so damn glad when the alarm went off and woke me up from that nightmare!!!!

We've been hunting a couple times, and I managed to spook a doe Sunday morning so I didn't get a shot at her.  Dammit!  Here are some photos from opening weekend:

View from my tree stand 

View from the blind

I've found that I prefer the ground blind, not because I don't like climbing the ladder stand, but because it's warmer when it's cold outside.  ;-)  Oh and I'm much closer to the action whenever critters cross my path!  We're going back to camp this weekend, and maybe this weekend, I will FINALLY get my first deer!


More on the treadmill bandwagon - about a month ago or so ago, the sickness went around the house.  I felt horrible with allergies and sinus, and had a very hard time breathing and not coughing.  I laid off the treadmill while I was symptomatic, which turned into 2 weeks of no exercise.  Then I wasn't going to bed early enough because of one reason or another, and then we had company over, and here it is November 8 and I haven't been on it in forever.  I felt better when I was walking 5 days a week, and will start back with it tomorrow.

I cannot wait for this election bullshit to be done.  ALL of the candidates SUCK, and everyone has their opinion on who the better candidate is.  They're just opinions.  I've seen so many people get so bent out of shape over politics, and friendships ruined because of difference of opinion.  I don't like to put my political opinions out there, as I know how it is for some folks, to not use that info to judge others.  And this election has truly turned into a picking of the lesser evil, and there's just no good option for the country.  May the good lord protect our country and guide whomever wins tonight, if they haven't already sold their soul to the devil.