Tag: – Just sayin

Be the Light

        Yesterday after spending hours at the computer editing for our local publication,  I called the Mr. and said – What do we need for Stella, I want to get out of the house for a while.   As it happens,  we need  light fixtures.  Not my favorite chore.  Why?  Because THE VOLLEY.    You see.. even though I’m left with the relatively simple instructions to  get a  single sconce bathroom light for over the sink, a work area light for over that whole kitchen area that has no light needs five foot chain, and get a cheap paddle fan with light kit… and he clearly states pick whatever you think will look good there….. it never happens that way.
     Having been married to a builder for roughly 29 years, and he’ll agree with me the word roughly applies, we’ve traveled down this road many times, whether it was our own house or someone elses.  (where is the comma there, I’m not even gonna look it up, and I call myself an editor).   
      I go to the shop and take a look around. I see what I think will be perfect and sit down with the shop owner to discuss price and suitability for the space that will require the light. I even bring pictures of the work spaces because I’m that kind of special.  We get most of the way through, and then of course….. there’s a question I can’t answer knowing for certain I gave the right information.  I have to make the call into the powers that be.  That would be He.   
        He provides the answer.. and then says the words I knew were coming….
  but what is this for exactly.. let me see what you’re picking.  
 My nose starts to twitch as I send the requested photo from my phone.  The texting ensues… 
Him:  No.  Too contemporary.
Me: What? This is an antique replica. 
Him:  It probably cost more than the entire cottage! Too nice! What else… 
Me:  Ok how about this… 
Him:  That’s an exterior light fixture, this is for inside.
Me: Yes I know, it’s also for interior use and I think it would be perfect for that spot.  Mr. X says so too… 
Him:  No. What else.. 
And so it goes.  Suddenly, Mr. X seeing my frustration, points up into a corner of the showroom and says – you know.. THAT one would work but I don’t know how you feel about the look. 
Ah, we have a winner.  And the price was just right. 
This fixture will hang from the ceiling (which is the peak of the roof) of
Stellas “kitchen” area. 
     Meanwhile.. back at the ranch…we’ve had some very soggy weather lately. I’m not complaining one bit, soggy is better than heavy snowfall and bitter cold.  I did some cleaning of the barn, coop and hutch yesterday morning and it felt good to tidy up. 

 Ruby thought it might be fun to tag along in the gator but  actual motion changed her mind.

    My 94 year old neighbor stopped by for a visit – She still lives in the home she raised her five boys in, just across the street.  Her son pictured here is such a good man – lives hours away and comes weekly to check up on mom and get things done around the house.  He cooks for her friends on occasion too.  When weather permits, she loves to take rides around the woods on his quad.  
When I grow up I want to be like Margaret. 
    I’ve been a little dismayed at the bitterness I have seen on the internet lately between women who didn’t approve of the Women’s March on Washington and those who attended or supported it.  A good friend of mine said she was really offended and didn’t need anyone marching for her rights. She felt women are damned lucky in this country, we have many rights that women of other countries don’t have and we don’t need to be “like men”.   *sigh.   She felt I was stuck on myself because I have opinions and I express them openly.  Those particular words admittedly stung. I thought about it for a while – am I a conceited idiot who thinks her views are the only way?  The answer to that is no.  Are my intentions always good regardless of the topic?  I can say whole heartedly YES.  I’m not one to shut up, and I won’t apologize for caring and having a big mouth that expresses it. 
    As for the March – I’ll tell you what – If women didn’t march in our recent history, we wouldn’t be voting, we wouldn’t have our own credit cards, we wouldn’t be able to take out our own mortgage, we wouldn’t have access to affordable womens health care, and a myriad of other freedoms we now take for granted.    There are still issues we face, and this March in particular was about many different things.   I have no problem with women who don’t want to get involved – we all have to choose our battles.  What I don’t understand is the offense taken.  I truly believe if you know in your heart you are doing whatever you’re doing in the hopes of improving things for all, you’re on the right track in life.  I’m not going to apologize for it. 

 Till soon, friends – 

In A Nut Shell

   Did you catch the President Elect’s first press conference in oooh, about six months?  


    No? Let me give it to you in a nut shell – 
     
     First it was a lashing at all reporters and intel pretty much for all the fake news, except the ones who have been good to him, but most of them sometimes have been unfair, but some of them now good. Doesn’t matter what he said about the intelligence world because it was.. unintelligible. 

He’s not giving up his business but he promises he will not discuss ANY of it with his two sons, whom will run things. But he COULD do both, run the country and run the empire, but he won’t…. but he could. He’s actually hired an ethics person whom he will pay to make sure he’s remaining ethical in that department. 

Hes’ donating all money earned from foreign entities to .. I think the United States Treasury?   No one yet knows what were in all those folders or who that attorney was but already her knowledge is questionable. As for the folders, his aides didn’t let anyone look at them, so your guess is as good as mine… and everyone elses. 

Yes Russia was responsible for the hacking but the Dems asked for it, He should be commended for the fine cyber security he and Preibus are responsible for (meaning RNC).  Putin seems to like him so he still likes Putin, unless Putin doesn’t like him anymore. 

 CNN is not a credible news source and he wouldn’t let them get one question in – (You know Fox is his favorite.)  That exchange was ugly. 

He’s God’s gift to Job making ( his words) ..

   ACA Healthcare will be removed and replaced within hours of each other and your premiums will be MUCH cheaper although some will have a very bad year, and trust him it will be great. 

He’s going after Pharma – (ok I’m all for that)

 Mexico will pay for the wall, just maybe next year, and maybe not in payments but in taxes, and he is building wall now with our money because he doesn’t want to wait for the deal he plans to make.. with Mexico – of whom he loves, loves the people, loves the government, even employs mexicans, that’s how much he loves them. 

And, we should all love him.  Finally –  he hopes we will all go to the incredible inauguration ceremony, which is going to be beautiful and huuuuuge, largest crowds every. Bigly so.


As for those golden shower reports … he said (his words!) .. he’s a germaphobe and there are cameras everywhere….. so…


 This post shouldn’t offend anyone –  All the above is indeed what transpired in todays press conference.  How’s that working for ya.  




Windows to the Soul and The Twittering Twit.

 Stellas old leaky chipping cranky windows have been replaced….  and soon the siding will be complete. 

Next up.. we tackle the interior.

  Right here is where all my blog friends who are Trump fans get off the bus so as not to offend you, because that’s not my intent.  You have your reasons, I know. 
                                                          ****************************
   While I keep trying to GET OVER IT ALREADY,  LET GO OR BE DRAGGED, blahblahblahblahblah…. that’s nearly impossible when DJT keeps dishing out the ridiculous and many just keep consuming it with reckless abandonment of what we ALL really consider to be normal, rational, respectful, SAFE behavior. 

     I’d sure like to see the person about to take the highest office arguably in the World put down his twitter account and start behaving with the class and dignity and personal restraint his position requires. Because of his inflaming personality and refusal to follow protocol, it’s going to be a looong four years – he’s going to be the subject of more than a few parodies too. Grow a skin, Donald, you’re gonna need it.   
    
      Seriously….   I’m referring to one of the biggest ball breakers in the history of ever!  The hypocrisy and the whining are laughable, if it weren’t so pathetic given the position he’s about to take.  He can’t handle a SNL Skit!  He’s slamming other countries on TWITTER  for Cripes sake.  Please, may the powers that be – help him get over himself and get on with “making America great again”. Although we already live in a Great Country, just to be clear. I wish he would stop taking credit for things he didn’t really do.  Yeah. THAT.

– Just Sayin




Reflection and Moving Forward

     The only way to accept the shocking results of this election and move on is to acknowledge the anger over big issues not being addressed, voices not being heard. That’s something I have never disputed and it’s why no party claims me. In my opinion the entire system is to blame and the entire system just got a big F*uck U from more than half the population. 

     What offends me even more than the divisive and hateful vitriol that got Trump elected is the mean juvenile hateful crap spewed all over the media and internet, and some of it came from the people I called friends. It’s one thing to dislike a public figure for their policies, their mistakes, even the lies- I have no problem reading an informed accurate piece about my choice of candidate – always open to enlightenment. The mean behavior , the schoolyard bully jokes, ….. that stuff shows me a side I can’t reconcile. Until this election I thought we as a country had evolved as a people. I thought our fiber contained more threads of decency. We’ve got a long way to go and today I am sad for all of us.

Show me a sign

     I was going to write about the upcoming election, because truly I am so disgusted and I want so desperately to understand the dividing forces, the hypocrisy, the hate. I have been engaged in “conversations” on FB – what a zoo that is. I have had many heated conversations with my own spouse and the bottom line is it only got me more aggravated and nothing changed.  So there’s no point in going there here.  My body is feeling the tension, the anxiety, the worry, the hurt, the WTF.  YES.. more than anything, the WTF.   My only power is the vote, and I will rock it.. with her. 
    So what’s a girl to do? 
    Make something.
 I went to Hobby Lobby, which I usually boycott because of certain practices of theirs we won’t go into here.. but I needed something only they would have. Dammit. While browsing the isles I found this whale –  I love his soft, KIND expression. 
 
I decided this was the perfect sign for the cottage at the cove. I had intended to make the entire thing myself, but hell, when the perfect platform is right there in front of you, already done – half off, well. 
I just needed to paint and glue the letters.  Done deal. 
 The guys are hammering away at the exterior. 
And the seawall has gotten some repair work too…. If they took two steps back, they’d both be in the drink. 
 Last thing for today… I had to pick a different door color because the Mr. wants to paint the interior of the garage the same color as the doors… couldn’t justify the more powerful blue I had envisioned if it has to serve that purpose too… so this is the color scheme we’re going with – the door is Benjamin Moore Grenada Villa and the trim will be Dove White.. siding cedar shingle stained the approx. color you see here on the siding. 
   
 I’m not religious as you know if you’ve been reading here for very long, but I’m going to pray for all of us during the coming week – May our Great Country survive the horrible divide that has come between us and may we heal what has been aroused, poked and inflamed – the very worst that lies in our makeup.   I’m pleading with every one of you – whatever your choice…. GO VOTE.  It matters. It Matters. IT MATTERS.   
– Just sayin. 

How low are we gonna go?

 Seems there is no limit.  I wasn’t going to talk about the candidates anymore, but jeez, I just keep getting confounded by the bullshittery.

  Did you watch the debates?  Here was the Tangerine Screams time to proverbially SHINE, if ever there was one.  (there was indeed less of an orange hue to his complexion that night, perhaps someone important finally said something?)  And yet he was just more of the same… because I guess when push comes to shove you can only be you.  Apparently it doesn’t take much to shove him into defense mode either, he is bated very.. very.. easily. For a man to hold such an important office and wield the kind of power he would have, that should make every single one of us nervous. 
And yet. 
So coming away from that debate,  we learned he will always be him, he will never straighten up and fly right, for lack of a better way to say it.  He will not become “Presidential” in any way, shape or form.  He didn’t deny he hadn’t  paid Federal taxes because “he’s Smart”.    Oh, but he’s denying he said that now, even though it came right out of his mouth for all of us to see.  Doesn’t seem to matter! He  didn’t deny calling women some ugly names, saying they *deserved it*.  He never answered any of the questions put to him without having to be asked more than once, and even then… did we come away with any.. answers?   He didn’ t deny being sued twice by housing authorities because he was discriminatory against blacks years ago.  His answer was, in simplest terms, others were doing it too.  He settled with them!    That doesn’t erase the behavior, D*nald.    He was rude with the interruptions, he was bated into anger easily with simple comments. Jeez, you gotta have a thicker skin than that if you’re gonna have your fingers on those nuke codes.  Again.. that should make every single one of us more than nervous… how about scared sh*tless.  
 Two things  I have to give the D*nald… he was right about Trade issues, I do agree with what he has to say on that subject.  I agree that we shouldn’t be the World’s police without some form of payment, the burden of cost on many  levels should not be all ours and it has been in many instances. 
 Hillary was Hillary… I don’t love her.   But I will vote for her this time.   I keep coming to the same conclusion because I don’t like my options… there’s no other logical choice. What’s really pathetic is that these debates are no longer about We The People… the issues before us and solving them.   We all know what they are and know we have to find a better way, real solutions all across the board.   As for the first Tr*mp-Cl*nton debate, didn’t matter who you were cheering for.  It was mostly about jeers and leers and sneers, eye rolls, snorting, smirks, chuckles, insults and even some lies yet again.  For the Great Country that we truly are, how sad that it’s come to this.  Shame on all of us, shame on our government.  
I’m not a religious person but I’m compelled to say, God Help Us All. 
 

When opposites occupy one household

   First.. thank you to all who commented on my Fibro post the other day – your input is so appreciated as I navigate this -thing-.   I’m changing my diet to stay away from gluten, dairy and pork, I’m going to lose that damned 15 lbs and I am continuing to work out, even when it hurts.  I’m talking a magnesium supplement and I am going to try like heck to get more sleep and less stress. 
    Speaking of which…. the post title.  *sigh   I love my husband, he’s got many good qualities.  We all have some crap qualities too, and with luck and effort we manage to find balance and happiness most of the time with our chosen partners.  When it comes to politics, we in this house are polar opposites on some very important things.  And yet we agree on others.  He is a dyed in the wool Republican, I am unaffiliated.  I believe the party system divides us further, and what this nation does not need is further division.  ( Man, the headlines lately.  Not even going there, we’re all sick over it.)
   We are so divided on some big issues, that we have vowed not to talk politics with each other, period.  How far do you think that got us?   It’s just about impossible, and leads to some pretty heated discussions.  Neither of us is going to change the others mind, so the arguing is futile.  And yet.   Have you ever looked at your significant other  with disgust and thought…. how can he/she possibly think that way?    I’m sure my husband has the same thoughts about me on occasion.  What is most damaging is when the person you have chosen to share your life with treats your ideas as if they are ridiculous and without any value or berates your intelligence just because your views are different than his/hers.  I try not to do that, but I don’t always succeed. Neither does my other half.  Wouldn’t it be awesome if those in the BIG HOUSE could figure out how to debate and find solutions for the BIG STUFF  without doing the same.   And yet… 
   The Dog Days Of Summer are here… nothing like the A/C to keep those dogs cool. 
 Three little eggs in the nest made in a wreath on my front door.  One hatched so far… 
   Hoping you are all finding peace of mind in the lazy days of Summer and may there we Peace on this restless earth once and for all………..
Just Sayin- 
   

ALL LIVES MATTER

All lives matter! I sympathize with every single human who loses their life unjustly and lord knows there is injustice In this world daily. Sadly, racism ( of all kinds!) still exists and I doubt it will ever be eradicated fully due to our less than stellar human nature. Sad,embarrassing fact. I hope all of you who encourage the Black lives matter slogan are just as horrified this morning as five innocent cops lie dead and six critically wounded as you were yesterday for the two black men who were presumably unjustly killed. More so- why? Because you have no idea what your life would be like without the law should you need protection. We are damn lucky there are men and women willing to put their life on the line every single life- loving day for YOU and ME, regardless of color. If we keep encouraging separatism we are adding fuel to the fire. Are there some rogues? You betcha. In every walk of life. What we need to do is work on poverty and education issues, and people need to step up and help themselves and stop destructive behavior- whatever their color. ALL LIVES MATTER.

 


Viewer discretion advised

    I’m about to upchuck TR*MP nonsense, because it’s my party and I’ll do what I want to.   Bare with me and Bear with me, both apply. 

    This is where I ask any of you, if you are indeed a Tr*mp supporter… please, in the name of all things that are holy, sacred, sane, rational and within reason.   Tell me here, please.. tell me…. why you are willing to give that man the power of being the President. Of .The.United.States.of.America.    All I ask is that you don’t just say “I want something different.” or …you know, what we all feel… “f*ck the government”.  Because if you say that, and you vote for the wrongest candidate to ever hit the podiums just because  – f*ck the government –   and he actually wins… we’re all f*cked.  You included.


 And I gotta say this… from the very beginning when he came on the scene and I thought it was surely a joke (ha!)  …. I don’t believe he really wants the job!  Can you imagine The D*nald leaving the comfort and security of his ultra lavish home(s) to live in the paltry by comparison White House with all it’s high security and staff and demands and necessary regimens and you know, people that he’d actually have to answer to and work with and not just boss around? …. You think he actually wants to be so CONTAINED??…. Hell.. no.  No, I don’t think he ever really wanted the job.. but now with his cult following and that ginormous ego, he’s STUCK.  Unless he finds a save-face way out.  Like getting fed up with the GOP and going independent.  I wouldn’t put that past him, because I honestly don’t think he WANTS THE JOB.    

I was rude to a friends friend on Facebook yesterday.   My friend posted something..  and the gist of it was she doesn’t understand how any woman can vote for Trump… and this is what her friend upchucked, like a hairball, if you ask me.  There was more in her initial comment but this is the gist. 
She: I want something different. I’m going to take my chances on Trump. 

Here’s where I opened my big mouth:   Me: Somehow, XXXX, I bet you don’t approve of racist pompous woman demeaning egotistical bigotry either. His own Mother said he would be a terrible President. He was certainly a horrible husband at least twice. For some reason some people are turning a blind eye to some really important facts.

She: Speaking of horrible husbands Bill was no angel ; Hillary has a law degree and plenty of connections…why didn’t she send the bum packing…she didn’t need him . She wants to be president yet she didn’t show much backbone…unless she just didn’t care what he did or with whom.I have not been impressed with her performance over the past decade.I’m willing to take a chance on Trump. I’m so sick of political correctness. I referred to someone as being Oriental and someone jumped all over me and said that’s now considered racist…well crap on that …like I meant any harm to some ASIAN I didn’t even know! And please tell me if I should say Black or Afro-American? At least I can get what Trump is saying and I like him be-cause he is genuine but that’s just me. By the way,Karen XXX XXXXX, it’s been nice talking with you. Want to be friends?

Me:  XXXX,  I’m not a Hillary fan either but she has shown more backbone in her lifetime than Trump, who thinks only of his bottom line. I’m not just saying it, you need only look at the facts. Something Trump supporters just don’t want to do. You sure are taking a chance on Trump, and as far as -getting what Trump is saying-? A kindergarten student can get what he’s saying, there’s not much substance to it. F political correctness- how about just common courtesy, how about diplomacy, not belittling women, people of other ethnicity and those with disabilities? You think he’s genuine?? Please- other than chirping some of the dissent we all feel, show me where he has proved to be something other than a genuine self serving self adoring prick? That includes his personal and professional life. It hasn’t been nice talking to you, XXXX , because I’m horrified that there are so many following that train wreck like sheep because they – want something different- I do too- but that ain’t it. That’s like hoping for an alligator instead of a gecko and getting Godzilla. I hope that’s a reference you can understand. Pardon the political incorrectness of insulting your intelligence, but then again, it’s something Trxmp does regularly, so you’re good with that, right?


*silence


 I’m guessing XXXX no longer wants to be my friend.  But seriously, folks.  I want to hear from you if you’re a TrXmp supporter.  Give me an intelligent answer, one that shows thought and reason and logic and FACTS, the real ones.  Not mine, not yours… real proof that that man comes within two continents distance of being what we all hope for as Presidential material to lead this great nation.  I’m all ears if you’re all heart and without malice.  Ready?  Go ….