I am getting sick of all the name calling of people running for office and even those in office. Just stop it!
Accept what is and get over it already! Someone has to win every election whether it is city, State or national. Only one person is going to hold any office. As an example President Obama has been in office for almost 8 years and there are still those who can't resist name calling.
Granted I am not happy about the present candidates running for that office, but there is not a thing I can do about it except vote when the times comes. Name calling is not going to solve anything.
What adults do and say is how our children learn about hate and prejudice. Go back in history and you will find that is true.
No more name calling please- just stop it! If not for you do it for your children.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Friday, June 10, 2016
Party time
For the last several years I have been registered as a Democrat. I'm not really part of any party, it's just that you have to be registered as something or you can't vote in the primary. I have never voted a straight ticket as some do. I always vote for the person. There was one name in the presidential slot on my ballot that I voted for. It doesn't look like that person will be the Democratic candidate in November, which makes me very unhappy. The Democratic front runner at the present time would never ever get my vote. That also goes for the front runner on the Republican side. No way no how!
With all the negative media coverage regarding the two front runners it will be worth my time to watch the national convention next month. At least it should be more entertaining than hearing about the lives of the current celebrities. Seriously who cares who is divorcing, sleeping with, dating, giving birth to or caught holding hands with? Oh and lets not leave out the leading bathroom thingy. That could change anyone's life.
The only option I have at the moment is to see what happens at the convention. Anything is possible. Please God if you have ever been tempted to step in and offer assistance now is that time.
So come November I am prepared to either write in my candidate's name (I have been told that person is eligible to be hand written in all 50 States) or I just might have to change my party registration to Independent.
With all the negative media coverage regarding the two front runners it will be worth my time to watch the national convention next month. At least it should be more entertaining than hearing about the lives of the current celebrities. Seriously who cares who is divorcing, sleeping with, dating, giving birth to or caught holding hands with? Oh and lets not leave out the leading bathroom thingy. That could change anyone's life.
The only option I have at the moment is to see what happens at the convention. Anything is possible. Please God if you have ever been tempted to step in and offer assistance now is that time.
So come November I am prepared to either write in my candidate's name (I have been told that person is eligible to be hand written in all 50 States) or I just might have to change my party registration to Independent.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
A new approach
I am happy to report that not worrying and only allowing a positive answer to the fact that we had no hot water yesterday worked.
My dependable plumber came just as he had promised. He checked out the problem, cleaned a filter that I didn't even know needed cleaning, lit the pilot light and waited to see if it would stay on.
It is still on this morning and we have hot water. $75 is a whole lot better than the $700 it would have cost for a new water heater.
Perhaps this was a lesson in just how my thoughts affect what happens. I have noticed lately that when I ignore any pains I have and just go about doing what I can do they magically go away.
It reminds me of my grandson's attitude when he is playing basketball. He never lets the fact that he is shorter than most of his team bother him. He plays as if. He has been heard to say after an amazing shot, "I shouldn't have been able to do that, but I did."
I think I will try this new approach for awhile and see what it conjures up.
My dependable plumber came just as he had promised. He checked out the problem, cleaned a filter that I didn't even know needed cleaning, lit the pilot light and waited to see if it would stay on.
It is still on this morning and we have hot water. $75 is a whole lot better than the $700 it would have cost for a new water heater.
Perhaps this was a lesson in just how my thoughts affect what happens. I have noticed lately that when I ignore any pains I have and just go about doing what I can do they magically go away.
It reminds me of my grandson's attitude when he is playing basketball. He never lets the fact that he is shorter than most of his team bother him. He plays as if. He has been heard to say after an amazing shot, "I shouldn't have been able to do that, but I did."
I think I will try this new approach for awhile and see what it conjures up.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Oh joy!
I should have married a plumber!
In the 17 years since my divorce I have lost track of the number of times I have had to call one of them. This morning was no exception. My son informed me we had no hot water and he had to take a very cold shower. Seriously?! We had hot water when I washed the dishes last night.
Since his announcement came at a little after 7:00 A.M. it was too early to call anyone and I was a little stumped about just who to call. In the meantime my son checked things out with his basic plumber knowledge and discovered the pilot light was out. He tried to light it with no success so he turned off the gas to the heater, just to be safe.
Next I called an appliance repair person that I know to ask who should I call about the problem. He said a plumber. I then left a message with my trusted plumber with the hope he could stop by and access the problem. He said he is swamped today, but said he would try to find time this afternoon. So now I can only hope it is an ignition problem and I do not need a new water heater. They aren't cheap!
Killing time I shuffled my angel oracle cards to see what angelic message was in store for me today. The answer was JOY. Are you kidding? JOY! Part of the message was "a joyful outlook brings the freedom you desire". Sure! So I just focus on this being a tiny little problem like a faulty switch or something and I won't have to spend several hundred dollars on a new water heater. I'll let you know tomorrow how that goes and in the meantime I'll try that approach .
Figuring I had done all I could do until my dependable plumber gets here I checked in to Facebook where a post caught my eye. It was, "You are free to think thoughts of worry or joy and whatever you choose will attract the same kind back to you. Worry attracts worry joy attracts joy."
I'm trying I'm trying!
In the 17 years since my divorce I have lost track of the number of times I have had to call one of them. This morning was no exception. My son informed me we had no hot water and he had to take a very cold shower. Seriously?! We had hot water when I washed the dishes last night.
Since his announcement came at a little after 7:00 A.M. it was too early to call anyone and I was a little stumped about just who to call. In the meantime my son checked things out with his basic plumber knowledge and discovered the pilot light was out. He tried to light it with no success so he turned off the gas to the heater, just to be safe.
Next I called an appliance repair person that I know to ask who should I call about the problem. He said a plumber. I then left a message with my trusted plumber with the hope he could stop by and access the problem. He said he is swamped today, but said he would try to find time this afternoon. So now I can only hope it is an ignition problem and I do not need a new water heater. They aren't cheap!
Killing time I shuffled my angel oracle cards to see what angelic message was in store for me today. The answer was JOY. Are you kidding? JOY! Part of the message was "a joyful outlook brings the freedom you desire". Sure! So I just focus on this being a tiny little problem like a faulty switch or something and I won't have to spend several hundred dollars on a new water heater. I'll let you know tomorrow how that goes and in the meantime I'll try that approach .
Figuring I had done all I could do until my dependable plumber gets here I checked in to Facebook where a post caught my eye. It was, "You are free to think thoughts of worry or joy and whatever you choose will attract the same kind back to you. Worry attracts worry joy attracts joy."
I'm trying I'm trying!
Thursday, June 2, 2016
From this day forward
Dear Mother,
It has been 29 years since you left your body and I still
relive the last time I saw you, a few days before you took your final breath.
It appears I still carry the weight of not being able to say “I love you” as
your nurse suggested. Today I am thinking that if I had asked your step-father,
my husband and daughter to leave the room we probably could have had at least a
one way conversation. Perhaps the problem was also helped along because by then
you were in a coma and couldn’t have responded. If you remember we waited to
come until you felt it was time. In a sense you had the last word, which is not
surprising, since you were always in control of the family. A talent I carried
on until I discovered I no longer wanted the job. It appears my daughter has
taken over.
It is really difficult to say I love you to someone who was
critical of everything I did or said. I remember the last time you came to
visit. Everything I did from the way I made my bed to the way I raised my
daughter was wrong, according to you. Because of the way I was treated I
overprotected my daughter, which has caused a serious break in our relationship,
which may never be repaired.
Growing up I never felt loved by you. I never felt that you
even wanted to be a mother and that the reason you got married was my fault.
Your life long lie that I was premature was typical of the way you dealt with
facts. As another example; your last name was never Cole, even though it
appeared on my birth certificate as your maiden name. Oh, and full term also appeared plain as day. It causes me to wonder how many other details you
chose to lie about.
There were efforts that you made to do nice things. I keep
thinking of some of the clothes you made for me and the bride doll wardrobe you
created one Christmas. I really did appreciate it. Along those lines I remember
an experience during your brief stint as a Brownie leader. We were embroidering
scarves and you loudly criticized my work in front of the rest of the group.
Even though my first marriage was a big mistake you did not
come to the ceremony. If it wasn’t for Nana & Pappy I would have had no
family there. I also recall your insinuation that my son was part black because
of where his paternal grandmother was born. You also carried negative thoughts
against gay people and oh I almost forgot- nuns for crying out loud! Thank God
your prejudices did not carry through to my life. The crowning negative thought you offered
was,” never put anything in writing”. Again, thank God I didn’t listen, because
I became a very good writer.
To round things up I suppose I can now say I love you,
because you could have had an abortion and didn’t. If you had your life
probably would have been a lot different, but mine would not even exist.
From
this day forward the past is the past and I am letting it go.
Friday, May 27, 2016
positive support
Today I would like to do something just a little different. I am sharing a post that came through my Facebook newsfeed this morning. It reminded me of my own experience and the reason I settled for becoming a stay at home mom instead of pursuing a career or higher education after high school graduation. Putting it simply I had no support and therefore lacked belief in myself. Here is the post:
Two months ago was the first time I cried during parent/teacher conferences. A mom of a student who I have taught for two years showed up at my table with a list of her daughter’s teachers. Each one had “yes” or “no” written next to it. My name had a “yes” next to it, so she proceeded to explain to me the reason for her daughter’s extended absence. Her daughter- a friendly, intelligent, beautiful, driven, young woman- not only planned to commit suicide, but was in the act of doing so when the police got a Safe 2 Tell report, broke in, and stopped her. She had deleted her social media accounts and left goodbye letters; she was ready to leave the world. As her mom sat across from me, we both had tears streaming down our faces. Feeling helpless, I asked if I could write my student a letter to be delivered to her at the hospital; she said her daughter would love that. My student got the letter; her mom said that her daughter cried, turned to her mom and said, “How could somebody say such nice things about me? I didn’t think anybody would miss me if I was gone.” It made me realize that I was way too close to losing another student to suicide. I spent the next 2 months writing cards to every one of my students- over 100 of them- telling each one what is special and unique about them. Suicide is growing to be more and more common, and I can’t help but to think that it’s a direct result of the pressure we put on these kids- to be successful, to fit in, to be the best in their class/sport/etc. We need to remember that each human being is unique, and that is what makes them special. Instead of trying to change it, we need to embrace it, because together, we can make a difference, and we can save lives! #suicideawareness
If you have the means to help a child's self esteem grow- DO IT!
Two months ago was the first time I cried during parent/teacher conferences. A mom of a student who I have taught for two years showed up at my table with a list of her daughter’s teachers. Each one had “yes” or “no” written next to it. My name had a “yes” next to it, so she proceeded to explain to me the reason for her daughter’s extended absence. Her daughter- a friendly, intelligent, beautiful, driven, young woman- not only planned to commit suicide, but was in the act of doing so when the police got a Safe 2 Tell report, broke in, and stopped her. She had deleted her social media accounts and left goodbye letters; she was ready to leave the world. As her mom sat across from me, we both had tears streaming down our faces. Feeling helpless, I asked if I could write my student a letter to be delivered to her at the hospital; she said her daughter would love that. My student got the letter; her mom said that her daughter cried, turned to her mom and said, “How could somebody say such nice things about me? I didn’t think anybody would miss me if I was gone.” It made me realize that I was way too close to losing another student to suicide. I spent the next 2 months writing cards to every one of my students- over 100 of them- telling each one what is special and unique about them. Suicide is growing to be more and more common, and I can’t help but to think that it’s a direct result of the pressure we put on these kids- to be successful, to fit in, to be the best in their class/sport/etc. We need to remember that each human being is unique, and that is what makes them special. Instead of trying to change it, we need to embrace it, because together, we can make a difference, and we can save lives! #suicideawareness
If you have the means to help a child's self esteem grow- DO IT!
Thursday, May 26, 2016
60 years are you serious?
Tomorrow my youngest grandchild graduates from mid school on his way to high school and a world of new experiences. It seems like yesterday that I was holding him in my arms for the first time. He has grown into a fantastic young man that I am very proud of. Can't wait to see what happens when he graduates from high school in 2020.
His graduation made me think of my graduation in 1956 from Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Washington. The only family who attended were my mother and my maternal grandmother. I have a rather unusual memory of the actual ceremony, which probably only my female readers will appreciate. My class wore white graduation robes. I had just started my period and I was scared to get up from my seat and walk to the stage to receive my diploma. Need I say more ladies?
In the 60 years since that day a lot has happened in my life, even though I ended up being a stay at home mom. My first child was born on Christmas morning 1960, my second February 1966 and my last August 1979. Since then 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren have been added.
In all that time I moved from Seattle, Wash to California and on to New Mexico. I haven't really seen much of the rest of the country. Perhaps I am waiting for a really interesting traveling partner who has not shown up yet. Speaking of partners, I forgot to mention the two men I was married to for a total of 40 years. Both gone and I am trying hard to forget and move on. It's not that I do not want a man in my life. I know some really nice men, but they are already spoken for- darn.
Anyway I have had a lot of interesting experiences in those 60 years since my high school graduation. It has been a long journey, but it isn't over yet!
His graduation made me think of my graduation in 1956 from Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Washington. The only family who attended were my mother and my maternal grandmother. I have a rather unusual memory of the actual ceremony, which probably only my female readers will appreciate. My class wore white graduation robes. I had just started my period and I was scared to get up from my seat and walk to the stage to receive my diploma. Need I say more ladies?
In the 60 years since that day a lot has happened in my life, even though I ended up being a stay at home mom. My first child was born on Christmas morning 1960, my second February 1966 and my last August 1979. Since then 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren have been added.
In all that time I moved from Seattle, Wash to California and on to New Mexico. I haven't really seen much of the rest of the country. Perhaps I am waiting for a really interesting traveling partner who has not shown up yet. Speaking of partners, I forgot to mention the two men I was married to for a total of 40 years. Both gone and I am trying hard to forget and move on. It's not that I do not want a man in my life. I know some really nice men, but they are already spoken for- darn.
Anyway I have had a lot of interesting experiences in those 60 years since my high school graduation. It has been a long journey, but it isn't over yet!
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