Way out in the Middle of Nowhere

Lots of challenges going around on Facebook.  Here's a challenge I have for everyone: 1. Donate whatever money you want to whatever charity you feel would benefit from that cash. Don't post a video of it, don't throw water on your head. Do NOT- I repeat DO NOT- challenge others to do so. What a person can give to a charity and to what charity they believe is beneficial is none of your concern. 2. I've seen the 'gratitude' challenge. Dude, if you need someone to TELL you to be grateful, you've got problems. Even in my worst days: my worst pain, my most desolate times, there were things to be grateful about. Even if that gratitude was that I woke up alive that day. If you're stuck in a complaint rut, think about 5 good things that happened to you today, even if one is that you got dressed correctly. My list of gratitude is endless. When you see geese dance like that, it always brings a smile to my face. That's George, by the way...drying off a...

I've been told that I've lost my compassion more than once.  I've no sympathy for those who have struggled, they say. HA! Compassion is something I save for those who actually show some sort of effort in bettering their life.  It's something that has been on my mind for a while now, to let in some light to the darkest part of my adult-hood.  From the time I became pregnant with my son Alex (now 19) to the time he was 4, I was a single Mom on welfare. In fact, I was homeless when I was pregnant; bunking at my sister's house or my parent's until my Section 8 application was approved. I moved into my apartment the day I came home with Alex. Four years later, I was a graduate with an Associate's Degree in Electro-Mechanical Technology with a $15/hour job.  How did I do it? I had a plan.  Here's the outline: 1. NO drugs or alcohol.  I did not take nor sell drugs.  Very little alcohol passed my lips.  Why? Alcohol and drugs are bad. No getting arou...

Thanksgiving for a lot of people this year is going to be more of a challenge than years past.  Not a lot to be thankful for when you've lost those things that make you feel secure in your life like health insurance and your retirement savings. Yes, I've lost both this year, BUT it allows me to focus on other issues to be thankful for.  I must remember that having the ability to use my intelligence to gather the needed information to get things I need is much more important than having those things given to me. . (Pic: Dave saluting me at Leinenkugel's this summer)  I know that keeping healthy, exercising and eating proper foods will keep me pretty darned healthy.  We've joined the Y and are participating in group exercise sessions to gain strength, maintain flexibility and keep the immune system high. Our family grows their own vegetables and consumes a large amount of locally harvested venison.  Venison is much leaner than beef - which helps...

As Christmas time is approaching, my mind sets on all kinds of knit objects that I could give to my family and friends.  The problem is, very few of those people actually want  any gift that is not purchased from a store.  A few years ago, I spent 6 months spinning and knitting countless hats, scarves, shawls and mittens only to get some really nasty feedback.  Oh sure, to my face on Christmas day it was all "Thanks!" only to be told later on how they hated what I had made.  Not all hated them, some just put them away and never use them. It's a real downer to see something you've spent 6 months on laying on a top of a of pile mending in a dusty corner of a sewing room. This cowl is a pattern called, 'Pretty thing'. I knitted it in a hand spun alpaca. That's when the intended recipient whom shall remain nameless (it's family) stated that she's allergic to alpaca. That was after she pronounced an allergy to pretty much every fiber out there. Oh I ...

 When I was in High School, many years ago, MTV WAS music videos.  And one of them was Bruce Springsteen's War. Before the music starts, Bruce says, " In 1985, blind faith in your leaders or in anything, will get you killed."   Let me repeat that quote:  " In 1985, blind faith in your leaders or in anything, will get you killed ." Here it is, 2011 and it is still true. Still there are those who will just do whatever someone on TV, Newspaper or Radio tells them to. Those media people do not know anyone whom they are attacking personally, and they've got their own agenda. Their agenda is to divide this country into ' us ' and ' them '. Why? Well, it's easier to kill the 'them ' when you can convince a group of people they are less-than-human. I miss my friends . I miss those friends that I found funny, intelligent, and great to hang around with.  I can't hang around them anymore because they chose to believe some nameless...

Today is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. So the thoughts turn to what to sacrifice for Lent to make my life more 'like God'. Now I thought about giving up Pepsi. Everyone I know will agree: Cut me I bleed Pepsi. But as I was in church last Sunday my choice became clear. I have decided to give up Facebook for the 40 days. Why? Well let me try to sum up. Three weeks ago I get an invite from my sister to come and see their new home. They moved the end of January to a home nearby. She called, said she had some things for me and wanted help with her webcam. I go over on a Wednesday night and say hi to her and my Brother in Law. His first comment to me was, "I suppose you support that evil Walker." (I live in Wisconsin BTW) My short response was "Yes, and I don't want to get into it." I repeated it 4 times while fixing the webcam. I then went with my sister to take the grand tour of the new house. When I returned to the living room, my brother in law j...