No Easter baskets full of candy this year, just one big basket filled with homemade sugar cookies (whole wheat). Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Hoppy Easter!
No Easter baskets full of candy this year, just one big basket filled with homemade sugar cookies (whole wheat). Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
I'm Taking a Much Needed Break From Facebook
Is there life after facebook? I'm not sure but I'm going to attempt to find out. On Friday, March 1st, I am going to deactivate my account. It has been said that your facebook account never goes away (and I find that hella creepy) but you can take a "Facebreak."
Why? For one thing I want to be more productive. I'm hoping to get more reading, writing, and painting done. I think this break time will be a good thing for me and my creativity, or as I'm calling it "Ending the Buzz." It's good to do that once in a while in order to reconnect with yourself and the world around you. I haven't done it in quite a while and I have to say (crossing my fingers), I'm looking forward to it.
I originally -and begrudgingly- got on facebook to stay in touch with my nieces, nephews, and other family members, and to share photos. Isn't that sad! When did we stop sharing photos with each other via email or snail mail, or *gasp* in person? Personal interactions with family members and friends have fallen by the way side because people are too ‘busy’ with work and other stuff, YET, we find time to upload photos to facebook? It just doesn’t make much sense to me anymore.
Facebook has become sort of a substitute for real relationships. It has actually changed my way of thinking because sometimes I've forgetten there are other ways to communicate. I miss the days when family or friends would actually call or we'd sit and have coffee -also known as "Face Time"- to catch up on our lives. Also, the anxiety and stress that I get from being on facebook just isn’t worth it any more. If someone “unfriends” me it's like a major blow to my self-esteem and I'd like to know why, but apparently facebook protocol says "you aren't supposed to ask." Recently, a most beloved niece blocked me from her facebook page because my comments/opinions were too personal and were upsetting to her and her facebook friends. After a week of much high drama, I decided to let it go (aka fuck it) but to be perfectly honest, I'm still feeling quite hurt from it all. Unfortunately, I don't believe our relationship will ever be the same.
I decided that it was time to take a break from the crazy making. When something takes up that much of my time, energy, and emotions in such a negative way, I have to stop doing it. I need to take a step back and work on nurturing and deepening the friendships I have with those who really do want to be my friend.
So dear blog readers (all two of you), I'll most likely be blogging more so check back often and tell me what you think. Ahhh, I'm beginning to feel at peace already.
Why? For one thing I want to be more productive. I'm hoping to get more reading, writing, and painting done. I think this break time will be a good thing for me and my creativity, or as I'm calling it "Ending the Buzz." It's good to do that once in a while in order to reconnect with yourself and the world around you. I haven't done it in quite a while and I have to say (crossing my fingers), I'm looking forward to it.
I originally -and begrudgingly- got on facebook to stay in touch with my nieces, nephews, and other family members, and to share photos. Isn't that sad! When did we stop sharing photos with each other via email or snail mail, or *gasp* in person? Personal interactions with family members and friends have fallen by the way side because people are too ‘busy’ with work and other stuff, YET, we find time to upload photos to facebook? It just doesn’t make much sense to me anymore.
Facebook has become sort of a substitute for real relationships. It has actually changed my way of thinking because sometimes I've forgetten there are other ways to communicate. I miss the days when family or friends would actually call or we'd sit and have coffee -also known as "Face Time"- to catch up on our lives. Also, the anxiety and stress that I get from being on facebook just isn’t worth it any more. If someone “unfriends” me it's like a major blow to my self-esteem and I'd like to know why, but apparently facebook protocol says "you aren't supposed to ask." Recently, a most beloved niece blocked me from her facebook page because my comments/opinions were too personal and were upsetting to her and her facebook friends. After a week of much high drama, I decided to let it go (aka fuck it) but to be perfectly honest, I'm still feeling quite hurt from it all. Unfortunately, I don't believe our relationship will ever be the same.
I decided that it was time to take a break from the crazy making. When something takes up that much of my time, energy, and emotions in such a negative way, I have to stop doing it. I need to take a step back and work on nurturing and deepening the friendships I have with those who really do want to be my friend.
So dear blog readers (all two of you), I'll most likely be blogging more so check back often and tell me what you think. Ahhh, I'm beginning to feel at peace already.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
Today is Going to be Epic
To borrow a line from the current Quaker Oats commercial "Today is going to be epic," I have to confess that I'm not normally a Polly Anna personality type (more like Eyeore to be perfectly honest) but that little boy riding his bike to the top of the mountain and throwing his fists into the air is how I feel nowadays. Yes indeedy, retirement is good.
I've been keeping busy: lots more time for my volunteer baking for Birthday Cakes 4 Free, taking a watercolor class through my local adult education - here's my first decent picture - and being the youngest in the class by at least 15 years, makes me subject to all kinds of advice about the Golden Years.
We've been RVing more, spent a week camping at the beach recently (hence my ocean watercolor). I've even signed us up for an 8-day RV trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the hot air balloon festival in October. We are staying up a little later at night and sleeping a little longer in the morning - once I get the cats trained to eat later than 4am that is. I get to enjoy my first morning cuppa with my Best Friend and Retirement Partner in Crime, Mr. itsme, instead of gulping it down during the commute to work - poor suckers! We've been planning and cooking wonderful meals together, going places we've always meant to go (we even have a To Go list on the fridge to help us remember). Do you know how liberating it is to shop for groceries during the week? Or doing the laundry on Tuesdays instead of Sunday afternoon? Stupid little things, I know...
So, thanks to a little motivational kick in the butt from our good friend lightly, I'm back. I'll admit to too much time on Facebook lately so I'll try and write more here (how do you find time for both Randy?) More about Birthday Cakes 4 Free next time ... with pictures!
I've been keeping busy: lots more time for my volunteer baking for Birthday Cakes 4 Free, taking a watercolor class through my local adult education - here's my first decent picture - and being the youngest in the class by at least 15 years, makes me subject to all kinds of advice about the Golden Years.
We've been RVing more, spent a week camping at the beach recently (hence my ocean watercolor). I've even signed us up for an 8-day RV trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the hot air balloon festival in October. We are staying up a little later at night and sleeping a little longer in the morning - once I get the cats trained to eat later than 4am that is. I get to enjoy my first morning cuppa with my Best Friend and Retirement Partner in Crime, Mr. itsme, instead of gulping it down during the commute to work - poor suckers! We've been planning and cooking wonderful meals together, going places we've always meant to go (we even have a To Go list on the fridge to help us remember). Do you know how liberating it is to shop for groceries during the week? Or doing the laundry on Tuesdays instead of Sunday afternoon? Stupid little things, I know...
So, thanks to a little motivational kick in the butt from our good friend lightly, I'm back. I'll admit to too much time on Facebook lately so I'll try and write more here (how do you find time for both Randy?) More about Birthday Cakes 4 Free next time ... with pictures!
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Obama/Romney Debate
Why so much focus on who was the better debater? It was one night. Have we really become a nation so feeble minded that our vote is cast to the candidate that performs the best on television? Simple research will demonstrate where the candidates stand on the issues important to you plus you can view their accomplishments or failures in office. For me, this is the route I take prior to any election; it would be irresponsible if I allowed any news network, poll or pundit's comments to influence my decision. It is laughable that in this age of instant information how many prefer to be spoon fed and rely on surface observation to render such an important decision as who will lead us during the next four years.
Romney’s performance was definitely the stronger of the two but I’m not worried. It's the first one where you can lay out your plans. I think Obama was smart to let Romney play all his cards on purpose; it's also the best way to combat your opponent. Let them have the first round so that they will be over confident, then use the information you gather against them. It's smarter than giving away all of your information in the beginning for them to use against you. Debate "performance" doesn't mean squat unless you're not really interested in the issues. I'll take Obama's substance over Romney's "performance" any day of the week.
That being said, Mitt Romney should pick a lie and stick to it. Is he the guy who wants to end Medicare or the guy who wants to spend more money on Medicare? Is he the guy who wants to control my vagina or the one who believes that government shouldn’t be making healthcare decisions? Is he the guy who thinks that 47% of Americans are victims or the guy who thinks that tax cuts for the wealthy are a bad idea? Is he the guy who wants to work on day one with Democrats in Congress or the guy who on day one wants to reverse everything the Democrats accomplished? Is he the guy who likes Big Bird or the guy who will fire Big Bird?
Romney wins October 3rd
Obama wins November 6
Romney’s performance was definitely the stronger of the two but I’m not worried. It's the first one where you can lay out your plans. I think Obama was smart to let Romney play all his cards on purpose; it's also the best way to combat your opponent. Let them have the first round so that they will be over confident, then use the information you gather against them. It's smarter than giving away all of your information in the beginning for them to use against you. Debate "performance" doesn't mean squat unless you're not really interested in the issues. I'll take Obama's substance over Romney's "performance" any day of the week.
That being said, Mitt Romney should pick a lie and stick to it. Is he the guy who wants to end Medicare or the guy who wants to spend more money on Medicare? Is he the guy who wants to control my vagina or the one who believes that government shouldn’t be making healthcare decisions? Is he the guy who thinks that 47% of Americans are victims or the guy who thinks that tax cuts for the wealthy are a bad idea? Is he the guy who wants to work on day one with Democrats in Congress or the guy who on day one wants to reverse everything the Democrats accomplished? Is he the guy who likes Big Bird or the guy who will fire Big Bird?
Romney wins October 3rd
Obama wins November 6
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Mary Jo
Someone I've never met but felt I got to know through her blog has passed away. I only know her first name, Mary Jo, and that when she began her blog she was 56 years old and had just been diagnosed with Stage 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Mary Jo started her blog "Put on your big girl pants and just get on with it" on October 19, 2010 with the hope of sharing her journey and experiences while fighting the disease.
Her story touched me personally because my Mother was a two-time breast cancer survivor and that dark cloud of breast cancer now hovers over me and many of the young women in my family due to genetics. Reading about Mary Jo's treatment -the highs and the lows- was inspiring to me. The unending support she received from family and friends was touching and makes me wish I could tell her husband Ron, especially, how much Mary Jo's blog has meant to me. She put up a good fight.
Her blog is still there along with the comments from family, friends, and strangers like me. Mary Jo was a brave, brave soul, her last blog post was June 15, 2011, she passed away on March 17, 2012.
Thank you Mary Jo.
Her story touched me personally because my Mother was a two-time breast cancer survivor and that dark cloud of breast cancer now hovers over me and many of the young women in my family due to genetics. Reading about Mary Jo's treatment -the highs and the lows- was inspiring to me. The unending support she received from family and friends was touching and makes me wish I could tell her husband Ron, especially, how much Mary Jo's blog has meant to me. She put up a good fight.
Her blog is still there along with the comments from family, friends, and strangers like me. Mary Jo was a brave, brave soul, her last blog post was June 15, 2011, she passed away on March 17, 2012.
Thank you Mary Jo.
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