I Just Don't Get It

     I was going to post something on face book today but I could hear Justin say "Mom that is not what face book is for." "Your posts on face book are way too long." So here I am back a year later at my blog because once again, I have too much to say for one post.
     I don't get face book any more.  It started out being a social network of your friends and family. I got that part but then came, well everything, and I mean everything. Photos, more photos, opinions, more opinions, politics, religion, what we had for dinner, people's problems, venting, recipes, advertising, selfies, invitations, jokes. So a friend and I were discussing the fact that we are pretty much getting over face book. You might ask me why or maybe not but I will tell you. One, I don't know what to say any more because I don't want another restraining order, the state police called, or being accused of being sarcastic. Two, I don't get why I have to restrain myself while I have to read everyone else's posts slamming the President, who yes I voted for not once but twice. I realize I was the only person in Rowlesburg with an Obama sign in my yard and probably the only person in WV who voted for Obama but HELLO, it is still America and he is still ALL of our President and a comet has not destroyed the earth and lots of people are still at Disney World and the beach. Moving right on ..... I don't get it when a person posts a highly religious post and then their next post is wanting to ban all help to poor people. Does anyone remember that guy named Jesus? Maybe we should quit blaming everyone else for our problems. I for one admit,  I need to loose weight but as I write this I am munching on a bag of Ruffles. As for hurting someone's feelings on face book, some people's feelings need to be hurt and some people need to be insulted, and people definitely need to speak up for what is right. I just read online where the room mate of the last shooter knew something was wrong but didn't say anything. Why? Possibly feeling it was none of his business or he may hurt someone's feelings. If you are being an asshole, mistreating an elderly person, child, or animal, being a bully ...... guess what ????? you need to be insulted and your feelings need to be hurt. If you are a drug dealer, a greedy, corrupt politician or wall street investor, guess what????  If you are a danger to yourself or others, maybe someone should speak up and try and get you help. Moving right along. I don't try to hurt people's feelings but here are a few things I am fed up with ......... using face book as a political forum but never posting anything social. Remember the social days of it not being polite to discuss politics or religion. I don't care if you post positive religious things but tell me about your vacation and family, too.  Politics, at least make it the facts, and your opinion, don't just re post unofficial garbage.  By the way, Rowlesburg, seriously, thanks for not tearing down my Obama sign because I know many of you wanted to but out of respect you didn't. I miss the fun days on face book where I said something, David said something, and everyone else added their opinion. That is social networking. Now, I worry about what I am going to say or not say, read a recipe, look at someone's selfie, and read a million re posted positive little poster things posted by people who just said America is dead because Obama is President. America is NOT dead. You can still buy Twinkies, go to the movies, vote, get a boob job, go to church, say dumb things, get a free education, and say what you want, even if it is dumb. There is still welfare, disability benefits, food stamps and lazy people. Seriously, what has really changed? I think maybe we should spend more time working, spending quality time with our family and friends, reading to a child, educating ourselves, volunteering, insulting people who need to be insulted and less time on face book. I, for one, need to spend less time on face book, pinterest, eating chips, taking naps, and wasting time in general. Well, I hope I didn't insult anyone with my blog post today but ............ well have a nice day any way.

Now Would Be the Time for Your Summer Bucket List

So now would be the time. Time for what you ask? Anything and everything, as long as it doesn't hurt someone else. So what is on my list for the summer? Friends and family. Specifically, to get as many of my friends and family as I can to come and visit me at the beach. Why? Life is short, plus I need some one to hang out with and wait on me. See at this moment I need candy and if one of you were here with me, it would be your job to go get me some candy. Justin Shaffer was here one summer and when I asked for candy he went over to the Hershey ice cream and candy store and bought like three pounds of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. That is a good house guest. Now I have to stop this blog and go get my own candy, walk back up stairs and start again. (brief intermission) At this point, if I were you I would want to know what kind of candy I'm eating or snack food. My choice was M&M's and a Rice Krispie Treat. I was actually in the mood for Skittles but I'm out so this treat will have to do. Now is also the time to start working on my summer tan which I am way behind on because winter lasted until May in Preston County, which would be one reason I am not in Preston County any more for the summer. The other reason would be that Freddy, the town cop in Rowlesburg, was kind of sick of listening to me complain, but that is for another blog post. So I am off to a good start with friends coming down. I thought Mary was at the door tonight when I heard a knock but when I answered it, low and behold, it was Karma, Julie and Bailey. Now I have some friends to play with this week. Play is definitely something that it is time for and now. I've had a difficult six months, well actually the last three years have pretty much wiped me out so I'm more than ready for some fun. I need to see people, do things, do nothing, do everything. I spent a large part of today getting things put away and organized. Everyone thinks I'm disorganized but I'm really not. I just have issues with my phone. Tomorrow I am going to make the car beach ready. Beach chair, which David got me for my birthday in the trunk, along with a packed beach bag, beach towels, a tote full of sunscreen, a bag of non-melting snacks. Now is also the time for me to get a new pair of glasses because Addie got a hold of my glasses and used them for a chew toy. Now is the time for me to start walking again, like tomorrow. This will be painful mainly because I will have to get out of bed, but I need to start getting up and taking Addie for a walk before it gets too warm. I also need to renew my gym membership and start going there to get off the pounds I gained when I was pregnant for Justin. OK, Justin is twenty something but I have to blame someone. Now would be the time I need to start eating more fruits and vegetables. I'm not going as far as Julie and doing that caveman diet thing, I think Julie forgets that the life expectancy for cave dwellers was about 30 and they only ate nuts and berries because restaurants hadn't been invented yet and where is Julie tonight out eating seafood and drinking beer. OK, so I had a beer, too. but I'm not claiming to be on the caveman diet. Today was the time to start blogging again. Why? I just knew I had to do it today because time is not waiting for me or anyone else. It just keeps marching on and it and gravity are taking a mighty fine toll on this mind and body. It is time folks to just do it ....... make the difference, climb the hill, get the tan, make the trip, visit the friend, eat dessert, go to the gym, clean out your closet, call your parents, organize the photos, learn an instrument, say I am sorry or make your summer bucket list. Where is that Cabana boy when I need him?

Why Do We Wait?

So why do we wait? Many of us wait to go on the big trip, get that pair of boots, start back to church, tell someone we are sorry, or make that special recipe. Take my advice on this one, don't wait. My life has changed so much in the past two years and lately I find it changing by the week, even the day. Life is not going to wait on you. It is not going to stand still until  you get it together, find the right words or have enough money. Life is so wonderfully strange with so many lessons and not enough time. Two years ago, I chose family over career because I realized time wouldn't wait until I had reached maximum retirement. My parents were aging, they needed help, and their life cycle was not predestined to fit comfortably into my life's plan. So, I put my money where my mouth was and took the pay cut for life and put my parents first. I know that there are not do overs in some facets of life and I didn't want to have regrets about this choice. So in the past two years I've found myself sitting on the front porch with my parents, going for truck rides with my Dad, discussing recipes with my Mom and sorting through a ton of memories in my childhood home. I find it sad that others don't take advantage of spending time with their parents in their last remaining years. What are they waiting for or what is more important? So why do we wait? Do we really think that we are in control? That it will all happen as we planned it? I can tell you that it doesn't. You wake up one morning and everything has suddenly changed. Your world is upside down. Your parents are old. Your child has grown up. Your hair is getting gray, your joints ache and you really wish you had taken better care of yourself. You realize you should have taken that surfing lesson in your twenties, that hiking trip, too. So why did you wait? What was more important at the time? So you turn a page and your Mom is in a nursing home, your brother is really sick, and your Dad has dementia and you think maybe I'd better not wait any longer for anything. Then you hear about a car wreck and you think maybe it is time to stop waiting for the right time because there is no right time for some things, only this time. You turn another page and your discussing bucket lists, funeral plans and where did everyone go? So why do we wait?

This Day Will Never Be Again

There are days that I think I will never write again and then there are days when a thought, then a stream of words and ideas full my mind faster than I can process what direction my thoughts and feelings want to go. Most of you know that I am spending my days with Mom and Dad. With the first "winter like" weather forecast looming, I spent the day doing a few last outside chores around their house, painting the basement door on the rental house, cleaning the fern bed out, dragging the birdseed bag to the back porch and preparing for the rainy, cold days to come. I've wrestled with my feelings about being here with Mom and Dad.  Like many things lately, I have come to the conclusion that the best thing to do in certain situations is to embrace the moments of my life. As I began to prepare Dad's evening meal, I found myself standing in front of the microwave, a fairly typical behavior for someone from my generation.  Within a few seconds, I thought what a waste of time standing here for 3 minutes waiting, so I walked to the back porch to embrace what I know will be one of the last warm fall evenings. As I gaze at the hillside behind my childhood home, I see that a few trees cling to their leaves and the sun is reflecting the glory of colors these trees present to me. I also notice that Mom was correct that the old magnolia tree, that provided the limb for our childhood rope swing, has lost most of its leaves today. They lay in a pile at the foot of the tree. The evening sun casts its last rays on the river that is coated with a layer of leaves floating along for a ride on the Cheat to a destination unknown. The bell on the microwave brought me back to my task at hand, but I begin to think of how many moments I have lost to impatiently waiting by a microwave, a toaster, a phone, really the list is endless. It also dawned on me that really we never fully appreciate that this exact day will never be again. The sun will not set on the hillside exactly as it did today on the trees, on the hillside, behind my childhood home. What might tomorrow bring, or the week to come, or the year to come? What is the likely hood that I will be standing in this house this time next year? I have had people tell me that this is a difficult affair and time, that of taking care of aging parents, but somewhere in time I decided to embrace these moments and cling to them like I do with the last warm, sunny days of fall in the mountains before the cold rains and snows of winter set in for the duration until spring thaw. We all cling to the hope of one more fall, one more winter, one more Christmas with those we love, but we actually never know, do we, what the future brings so I will embrace this fall day, the view of the hillside, and this time with my parents.

DEAR MR. COUNCILMAN

Bruce Simon Great to see another patriot in Rowlesburg. This election has me and Connie on pins and needles daily. Maybe our national nightmare of four years is almost over.  

Definition of Patriot  One who loves, supports and defends their country. 

Mr. Councilman, 
 Are you inferring that anyone voting for President Obama is not a PATRIOT? 
I can assure you that I am a Patriot, for I love, support and defend my country.


You on the other hand, do not even support or enforce the laws and ordinances of a town you were elected to support and represent. 

Maybe I am confused but does being a conservative patriot mean that you condone, (condone
To overlook, forgive, or disregard (an offense) without protest or censure.), "leeches" on the governmental system who refuse to work and pay taxes but rather choose to abuse and use any governmental or social handout they can acquire? The same "leeches" that have no regard for their neighbors, neighborhood or the beauty of the picturesque, historic village they live in. Their "past times" for years bordered on being immoral and/or illegal while being funded by their hardworking, middle class, taxpaying neighbors who were kept up all night by barking dogs and domestic violence.

You may feel that the last four years have been hell, Mr. Councilman, but my last thirty years have been hell, while "patriots" like you refused to do the job you were elected to do. So basically you are just another politician like the one you are criticizing.  Maybe you should think about getting off of facebook and do the job you were elected to do.

Writer's Block

I wanted to write a blog tonight but I kind of have writer's block. It could be because sharing myself and my life  is still a little difficult after this last battle. I started thinking about what one word would define my life. I think it would definitely be the word SURVIVAL. I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way. I think it is also rather interesting that one of my favorite "reads" is Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species – in his Principles of Biology.   Robin came to see me today and we went to the meadow and sat on the wooden bench by the river. We started discussing survival after stumbling on the topic of a survivalist we know and his "bomb shelter". We thought we would fair much better than city folks if an apocalypse would occur. We can shoot a gun, throw a knife, shoot a bow, gather food, etc. The gathering food floated into my mind because as we wandered down the dirt, rutted road to the meadow, black walnuts covered the ground along with the fall leaves. I was taught as a child how to get to the nut meat inside of a black walnut. My father also taught me how to make a fire by friction and mushrooming. I assured Robin I would not starve. I also think I would be a gather during an apocalyptic situation. I would not want to set back and wait. I would want to be out roaming and gathering, founding what is left, using it and rebuilding. So this brings me to a quote I saw on Pinterest tonight about hitting rock bottom and using that rock to build a new foundation, and that my friend would be a good description of survival. Survival is not given its due credit at times.  We think of "just surviving" as barely getting by when it is so much more. Survival is having the skills, lessons, and strength to endure hardships, attacks, and the hungry times. How do we learn to survive, by experiencing hard times and learning what it takes to make it through battles, lean times, attacks, natural disasters, devastating loss and disappointment. These set backs and lean times also teach us to be humble and appreciate and give thanks for the good times. If you want to do your children a favor, teach them about survival, teach them skills, let them fall, teach them to get up, and most important let them know that "rock bottom" gives  a person a foundation on which to build for a new day.

The Triangle of Crysti, Debra and Margaret

So I've been censored by my son. He has requested that I do not post my political comments or view points on facebook, mainly because we do not agree on a few key items. Imagine that? Anyway, I have two friends who keep face book followers up to date on the latest happenings in the political race for President of the United States. I was just trying to give a few of my ideas when I was censored by someone I carried in my body for nine months, went through excruciating pain to bring into the world and have given my heart, mind, soul and most of my hard earned money to for 25 years, but I am not one to remind "him" what I have done for him, so I will move on. First, I really should be registered as an Independent because I vote for the person and I do vote across party tickets. Second, there are things that I agree with and disagree with from both political parties. Then there is Crysti and Margaret but back to me. OK, so I think we can all agree that Welfare has gotten out of hand, especially when it becomes generational and kids think their parents get paid at the post office, but as everything in life there are exceptions to the rule. I think it is OK for a single Mom, who has a dead beat father ex-husband, to receive help to return to college and then return to the workforce with a degree in hand and marketable skills. On to health care, I don't think it is fair for a couple to be working minimum wage jobs because that is all that is available and NOT have health care while someone "using" the system has government medical cards. I think there are many cases of disability fraud in this country. I see it everyday. I think disability was meant for people who really need it. At this point, I think the love triangle could all agree. Possibly??? So much to discuss before Justin gets on face book for the night. On to the middle class. I do not agree with the Republicans that $250,000.00 a year is middle class. I also think that the wealthy need to pay their fair share of taxes as I do which is nearer to 20% or more, not 14% like Mr, Romney said he pays.  I do believe in working and not expecting the government to support you, but sometimes life isn't fair and sometimes some people need help. Government assistance should not be a way of life for an entire life time if you are able to work and most people are. There is a difference between disabled and lazy. Some of you are lazy. I also agree, as I am sure that Margaret and Crysti do, that if you can afford cigarettes, beer, drugs, tattoos, a new I pad, I phone, I "anything" that you don't need food stamps. You might think of using that I pad or I phone to get yourself a job, and I mean a real job. face book and P interest are not real jobs. OK, I don't know how the other two feel about this and I'm going to make some folks angry with this statement. If you can't afford more than one kid, don't have more. There is something called birth control. Use it. Abortion is not birth control. Now, this will also make some folks mad but I don't think all abortions should be illegal. Would you want your daughter to be forced to have a baby if she were impregnated by a violent rapist? I wouldn't.  There are some other instances that I can also think of that might justify an abortion. Do I think the government should be paying for abortion, NO. Sorry Justin but I consider myself an environmentalist. This is not up for discussion. I'm just not all conservative or all liberal. I'm not all Democrat or all Republican. I think public schools are under funded and teachers are under paid. I think politicians should have one or at the most two terms and them teach school for a few years. I personally think we could all do better at being Americans by doing the following things.........

Take care of your health and reduce health care cost. Quit smoking, over eating, start exercising, etc.
Get a job and pay some taxes.
Support public schools by volunteering.
Create a paid job for someone, even if it is just for a day.
Keep informed and up to date about your local, state, and national government.
Hold government agencies and politicians accountable.
Hold yourself accountable.
Put education first and promote education to your children and grandchildren.
Teach your children about work not about handouts.
Vote and voice your opinion.
Be a role model for what you run your mouth about. Hopefully, you run your mouth about positive things.
Do the JFK thing "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country."
Be a good citizen.
Teach your children about character, values and morals, then model them for them every day.
Volunteer in your community.
Save money, don't be in debt. If it is bad for the country, it is probably bad for you.
Don' t set back and expect someone else to take care of things. Do something to help. Be part of the solution not part of the problem.
Don't be afraid of making people angry by voicing your opinion. I love freedom of speech.
I LOVE AMERICA, ESPECIALLY WEST VIRGINIA AND FLORIDA!!!!!!