Author: admin

Headlines. Come on over, weigh in…

   Mental illness? Or  is it racism, pure and simple.  Nine people killed in a church in Charlest0n while participating in bible study.   A woman played dead while lying in her sons blood.  Amazingly, she survived. The killer asked one survivor if he had hit her. She said no… and he said… GOOD, I need a witness here, because I’m going to kill myself.   He didn’t.  Coward.     The victims all black, the murderer a white 21 year old punk who had previously let his racist views be known.   He discussed with friends how he wanted the races segregated.  He admits now, in custody, that his intention was to start a race war.   My husband says he must be mentally ill.    I beg to differ – there is still enough ignorance and hate and -dumb-  in the dark corners of our society to produce such a being.   If ever there was a case for capital punishment, this is it. 


   His family is horrified, can’t fathom how this happened.  I don’t know that I believe that, although I believe they are horrified. We find out after the fact in stories like this, and there are far too many stories like this…..  that there were most often signs, warnings, writing on the wall.    How to stop it?  I wish I knew.   I wish we didn’t have to know.  


     Like it or not, we’re all here to stay. Red white black brown yellow green purple.  The conversations we have in our households matter. The attitude we project, display, announce… matter. It starts there, although admittedly it’s not the only influence.  And if you think this doesn’t affect you… it just ain’t true.   We all pay a price, it seeps into all of ours lives in one way or another.  


The families of the victims?  They FORGAVE him,  already… publicly.  Amazing grace, that. 


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 The Confederate Flag – how do you all feel about that?  Honestly I hadn’t given it an ounce of thought until the other day when a friend expressed outrage that it’s still allowed to fly – She believes it represents hate, racism, the history of slavery, etc.  Others will tell you it’s merely a symbol of Southern Pride, especially to today’s young people, those who don’t have the memories of our older generations.    


     Interesting fact – did you know the Swa$tika was once an aboriginal symbol of Peace?  What does it represent now to anyone other than Hitl3rs insane atrocities against humanity. For me it’s not just about Hitl3r… how about all those people who followed his command?… That’s what I think of when I see that symbol.  All those willing people.                      
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.…  Donald Trump – for President?  The man is as arrogant as they come. He has filed for corporate bankruptcy four times. – 1991, 1992, 2004 and 2009.  All connected to over-leveraged casino and hotel properties, all now owned by Trump Entertainment Resorts. True, in very big business, bankruptcy is  explained as merely a restructuring of debt, not the devastation it represents for the average Joe. To me it means arrogant abuse of power and a degree of poor judgement, regardless. Very informative article HERE if you’re interested in learning much more about his inheritance, rise to power, over reaching stumbles, saving-his-ass assistance  by government that he frequently rails against….and a trait I find particularly ugly –  He gives zero credit to anyone but himself for his extreme wealth.  He’s been married.. how many times?    He  lives in over the top opulence.   He’s crass, pompous, disrespectful.  


     Presidential material?   Some of you love him and say you’d vote for him.   Although I love you all dearly and value your opinions almost as much as my own, maybe sorta,  I’m scratching my head here,  Just that.  



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     Rachel Dolezal – bizarre? yes.  Deserving of crazy national attention?   I’m leaning toward no.   So she identifies herself as black, why do we care so much?   She’s apparently been lying about her ethnicity for years.   Maybe I don’t know all there is to know, actually probably…. but the only people who this really affects, in my opinion,  are her parents and her children.    The ‘rents have been banned from family celebrations such as her sons graduations,etc… for fear that she would be exposed as -NOT BLACK -.  Now that sucks.   But seriously –  People alter their appearance all the time, it’s commonplace.  Ever dye your hair? Get a perm?  Cosmetic surgery?  Go tanning? I identify with those living on a waterfront villa overlooking crystal blue lagoons in quaint European villages in  the Mediterranean… if I could pull it off and tell you that’s me, I might have done it!  Does anyone care? Why is this such a big deal?  


     She’s been fired from the NAACP, and I don’t think it has to do with her actual ethnicity so much as the lying.  Why lie?  Why not just -be-.  


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Is it me?

  I’ve got a tiny little gripe and I feel like getting it off my chest.  Maybe this is gonna make me sound like a grumpy old lady, of which I hope I never become, but hey if the shoe fits, right?  So you let me know and I’m OK with the answer.

  Do you use the terms BFF, Bestie, Bae?….

 They annoy me.  And here’s why…

Let’s start with “Bae”… which is what some probably-young women call other  probably-young women who are their BFF  or maybe a guy who is their lover, whatever… … this does not necessarily apply to actual couples.  I’m assuming “Bae” is the short form of Babe.  Which is only just one letter shorter, you know?  You’re just cutting off one letter.. one sorta sound,..the B sound which just rolls out of your mouth naturally, it’s not a difficult pronunciation or anything….  so the point of the shortening would be?…….   Just explain it to me, really, if you know..  because I want to understand.

Going out with Bae tonight.. can’t wait to get ice cream with the Bae tonight…. sitting here with Bae, drinking wine.. 

Most of us know what BFF’s are, or Besties.    BFF = Best Friend Forever, and Bestie is pretty self explanitory.   I have friends all over who I cherish, and they’ve all played different rolls in my life. Some I don’t talk to for months or years, but when we catch up, it’s as if no time has passed.  Some I talk to daily because our lives intertwine through jobs or hobbies or volunteer stuff, etc.   A few I’m closer to and share things with more than others.  But would I label anyone a BFF?  Or a Bestie?  I wouldn’t… If I’m  out shopping with my Bestie, are my other friends -lesser-?

Now, if you use the term, you might be annoyed with me right about here.   I’m not really picking on you. All these terms are friendly terms, after all. Cute even!     Maybe  I’m picking on me….. getting older, not riding with the times,  being an old fogey, bucking the new system, if you will.

So, is it me?

75

   The weather was perfect yesterday, the setting serene –  temps in the mid 70’s, sun and blue skies, boats bobbing in the water, gulls soaring overhead. Very fitting for a gathering of family and friends to celebrate my mother and celebrate 75 years of a life well lived.

    The only difficulty –  Mom has many friends, some of her dearest live far away, and travel can sometimes be a heartship. There will be more celebration this summer when the The Golden Girls are reunited, but yesterday was for family and friends who live near.

    Happy Birthday Mom… You are loved by many, but especially me.  And who woulda thunk it, huh?  That rebel teen who probably scared the heck out of you more than once,,,…. now counts on you daily for insight and support.  My children could not have hoped for a better grandmother!

Here’s to many more years of shared celebrations.

Daughters, grandaughters and a good friend… 

Dear friends since childhood – see pictures at the bottom of the post – 

Family…
The Granddaughters….

Friends….

More family…..

What it’s all about…
There were a few toasts… 

and a lot of laughs and some great conversations…

Bettina and Kathy – 

Thank you Peoples family for creating this collage – 
captures Mom well …. 

… it’s a beautiful thing.

Bruce

    I know, I know.. you’re tired of hearing it, seeing it… it’s almost worse than the KardASS*ans, right?   Yet I see THIS picture, by the ever awesome Annie Leibovitz, and I can only say – WOW. 
Bruce/Caitlyn looks fabulous, better as a woman than she ever did as a man. And he wasn’t bad looking in a feminine sort of way. 
     It’s just so hard to wrap the mind around the concept that such a masculine sports hero of years gone by could actually do THIS in his sixties. I think he’s sixty-ish anyway…  Kinda drastic. Could be humiliating, even.  Because people will be people. In my own group of FB friends the reaction is mixed.. mostly full out support, and a few who say PLEASE!  and GROSS! 
     Well, here’s my thinking.  I don’t believe it’s fair to judge the guy/girl.  This is not something anyone would do lightly or without YEARS of thought.  In his case, a lifetime! ..because of the backlash and shunning that will come with it, let alone the psychological warfare you must go through within yourself to get to this place.  Bruce Jenner had to be a pretty tormented soul for all those years, if he truly felt this is what he was meant to be.   So I say live and let live.  Bravo to him for having the courage to become the -she- he felt he was all along, regardless of the backlash.  That takes courage, whether you think it’s gross or not.  Who are we to judge when we have not walked in anothers shoes? 
  

Randomocity

… that is SO a word.

 We’ve had beautiful weather lately except for one thing.  No rain.  None. Nuthin.  Nada.  And that means we are living in a pollen and dust bowl.  Hello Allegra/Zyrtec/Claritin/Flonase.    I haven’t used any of that stuff yet, but I probably should.  Itchy, sneezy, general feeling of yuck – *sigh

 Anyway.. on to the other random –

   We had a glorious Memorial Day Weekend – time spent with family enjoying good food, good weather, a frisbee and good horses, it’s all good.

  Timely, we watched American Sniper… wow, what a story.  And if you need a dose of reality, this movie is it.  The horrors our soldiers endure is hideous.  The mentality over there is … I don’t have an appropriate word for it.  What an incredible man, what a tragic end.

 On to better things –  K & Opie – I’ve been lax in the riding department and Kris has been giving him some much needed exercise.

I just found this funny – 

 A Mother’s Day gift from my son – I love it. At night it casts a lovely
glow over the kitchen sink.  

Speaking of my son – he traded in his car for a really rad
Jeep.  You know we love our Jeeps around here… 
He’s the Black Jeep Of The Family. 
The fellow next to him is my cousin Kev. 
A finer man you might never know – 
He taught my son all about the joys of
GOING TOPLESS the other day…
because sometimes that’s how we roll. 

Don’t do it

   We had a lovely weekend, and there were things I planned to post… but something happened  in town that is more important to share.

  I’m drinking coffee in my kitchen this morning, and I keep looking out at the mist, thinking of the people affected by something terrible that happened up the road just days ago.

    There was a horrible accident at a busy intersection.  I had driven through the area about 20 minutes prior and K came up to it right after.  She said the flames were so crazy she had no idea what was involved in the accident.  The immediate result – One female cyclist was dead at the scene, the other male life starred in critical condition, fate still unknown.   In the news we learned the motorcyclists were from NJ  and were with a group, probably leisure riding through the countryside… when they were hit head on by an SUV driven by a teen who had just gotten his/her license.  The kids in the SUV were unhurt.   Turns out this teen driver is a really good kid,  an honor student at the local HS.  Just got his/her license a month prior.  It’s not clear why he/she veered into the oncoming lane and hit the cyclists head-on,  it was the middle of the day and they were in a stream of cars going regular speed.

But I can take a guess.

   How often have I looked at my phone while driving.   – Did she respond to my e-mail?  Did K get back to me yet? …. who “liked” that funny quote on FB?  – 

    How Stupid.

 Nothing is so important it can’t wait until you’re not driving.  And yet, like Pavlov’s dog, I find myself checking, checking, checking.    I’m making a big effort from now on to put the phone in the purse until I ‘ve reached the destination.  I’ve also lectured my kids and husband, although we’ve done that before.. and  people tend to forget once the horror of someone else’s tragedy fades.

   I feel so badly for the woman who died so horribly.  The man will never be the same if he survives.. and the teens in that SUV?  *sigh   I have no idea what the investigation outcome will be, but this is certain –  it’s a terrible burden to bear for the rest of their lives regardless.

 

Spring Rain and too-smart horses

   After a particularly cold and snowy and dragged out winter, we’ve had a weird spring.  Right now, the grass is parched.  This morning, however, there is a light misty rain and I am so grateful. My gardens need the reprieve.

  This morning when I went out to feed the animals, I discovered Opie had let himself and Max out overnight.  I close my horses in at night so I know they aren’t getting into trouble out in the fields in the dark.  It’s not totally necessary, but it gives me peace of mind.  Any little bit of that I can get, I take.  In the warmer months I leave the top door of their stalls open so they have good ventilation.  Opie.. has discovered how to undo the latches with his mouth.  Last night he opened his own door, then sprung Max out of his stall as well, and the two had a grand old time grazing all night in the light rain.   This is how I was greeted this morning when I came out to feed –

   On mornings like this, when it’s peaceful out in the fields and the animals are happy to see you –  (oh it’s the FOOD, I know)  –  you don’t mind the work so much, you remember why you did all this in the first place.  It’s a beautiful thing.