Last year, one of my new year's resolutions was to leave my opinion about current affairs out of my blog. One of my reasons for this decision was to remain positive. If I can make someone smile, laugh out loud, or just give some serious pondering to certain subject matters, that is my goal.
Since that was last year and I do not believe I made any resolutions for this year, I'm going to step out of my comfort zone.
Watching TV is something just about everybody in the country does. There are an infinite number of shows that can be informative and entertaining. Entertainment probably makes up 99.9% of the reason why people can sit for hours in front of the screen. We do love to be entertained.
Last night we watched one of our favorite shows. When it was over, they aired a snippet of what would be on the next episode. I was so disappointed when I saw who was going to be on the next show........the First Lady of the U.S.A.
I don't care what political party you belong to, or if you just like to party, it makes no difference to me. I won't call anyone an idiot for voting for someone I would not vote for and I expect the same respect. I do not like politics because politics seems to be its own form of government. I sat on my city council for four years, which I guess qualified me to run for governor. I did not really understand all the workings of our government, but one thing I'm pretty sure of is, Hollywood is not a branch of the government. I don't know how anyone else feels about this, but I'm getting really tired of them thinking they are.
Being actively involved in one's government is not something to be taken lightly. I do not take kindly to seeing POTUS or Mrs. POTUS on my favorite show, or any show deemed entertaining. They are not celebrities. Period.
They are leaders. Leaders of the freaking United States of America in the highest position of government this country has to offer. So, please, stay out of my favorite show or sitcom and hold yourself responsible to the office you were elected to. We the people need to know you are on top of important issues and not standing "stage left" rehearsing your lines.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
Good Ideas
The streets in this new place sparkle like diamonds. Even the parking lots glitter like dancing jewels when the sun shines on them. I guess this is because of the large amounts of quartz in this area. Whatever the reason, taking a drive on a sunny day, is always entertaining.
So far in our sojourn, we have only found one street that is not divided. All the streets have some kind of medium that separates the lanes of traffic. If your destination is on the opposite side of the street, figuring out how to get there can be a journey in itself. But, we have watched the locals and it seems the very best maneuver, and most favorite, is the U-turn.
This makes the left turn lanes and interesting place to be. We have learned that it is of the most utmost importance to pay attention to the vehicle in front of us. Just because they are in the left turn lane does not mean they are actually turning left, many are getting ready to make a Uie. Since the left lane turn signals only stay green for a short amount of time, everyone hits the gas pedal like they are at a NASCAR race. Just about the time we are ready to make our flight across the intersection, the person in front slams on the brakes and makes a Uie.
This is surely the reason there are a lot of small pieces of head and tail lights at nearly every intersection. This has also given me thought to solve the problem. Since most automobiles on the roads these days have a third brake light, allow me to introduce the U-turn signal. This contraption, shaped like a capital U and approximately six inches tall, could be placed right under the third brake light in the back window. It would have to have a separate switch and I think placing that by the hazard lights would work. Of course, it would have to be turned off manually and this glitch would probably mean that we would have to endure following a vehicle for miles with their U-turn blinker blinking. We'd never know which way they were planning on going, but I still think it's a good idea.
Having waited until the cupboard looked like Old Mother Hubbard's, I set off for the big box store. I do enjoy the opportunity to peruse the isles of the different grocery stores here, but since I needed some supplies and groceries, I chose the one-stop-shop.
I always park at the far end of the parking lot. I do this for two reasons. One, the truck I drive is really long and does not fit easily into the small designated slots in the lot. Since the back side of the lots rarely have anyone parked in them, I can take up two spaces. The second reason is because I need the exercise. As I walk the distance to the store, the last thing I do is check to see what row number I'm in. There's a special reason for that, but that is fodder for another day.
I think I must have been in the store for two hours. Since I did not take a list, I walked up and down each grocery isle, scanning the shelves to see if there was something I needed. When I finally got through the checkout lane and headed out the door with my shopping cart about to runneth over, I discovered something I had not noticed before. Not only had I parked at the far end of the lot, it was all uphill from where I stood.
I thought to myself that this was going to be some good, long sought after, exercise. About half way up the hill, I began to have second thoughts. At one point I thought I might have to start yelling "Help!" as I believed the shopping cart might start rolling backwards. In my mind, I could see me lying flat on the pavement, small tire marks across my body, while the cart picked up speed as it headed back towards the store and all my recent purchases flying out with each bump. When I finally reached the truck, I was in a full body stretch with my hands gripped to the cart handle and my toes digging into the asphalt.
I woke up the next morning and thought all was fine....until I got out of bed. I was beginning to think the end was near because it felt like I had been kicked in the chest by a wild stallion. Then I remembered the shopping cart workout. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.
So far in our sojourn, we have only found one street that is not divided. All the streets have some kind of medium that separates the lanes of traffic. If your destination is on the opposite side of the street, figuring out how to get there can be a journey in itself. But, we have watched the locals and it seems the very best maneuver, and most favorite, is the U-turn.
This makes the left turn lanes and interesting place to be. We have learned that it is of the most utmost importance to pay attention to the vehicle in front of us. Just because they are in the left turn lane does not mean they are actually turning left, many are getting ready to make a Uie. Since the left lane turn signals only stay green for a short amount of time, everyone hits the gas pedal like they are at a NASCAR race. Just about the time we are ready to make our flight across the intersection, the person in front slams on the brakes and makes a Uie.
This is surely the reason there are a lot of small pieces of head and tail lights at nearly every intersection. This has also given me thought to solve the problem. Since most automobiles on the roads these days have a third brake light, allow me to introduce the U-turn signal. This contraption, shaped like a capital U and approximately six inches tall, could be placed right under the third brake light in the back window. It would have to have a separate switch and I think placing that by the hazard lights would work. Of course, it would have to be turned off manually and this glitch would probably mean that we would have to endure following a vehicle for miles with their U-turn blinker blinking. We'd never know which way they were planning on going, but I still think it's a good idea.
Having waited until the cupboard looked like Old Mother Hubbard's, I set off for the big box store. I do enjoy the opportunity to peruse the isles of the different grocery stores here, but since I needed some supplies and groceries, I chose the one-stop-shop.
I always park at the far end of the parking lot. I do this for two reasons. One, the truck I drive is really long and does not fit easily into the small designated slots in the lot. Since the back side of the lots rarely have anyone parked in them, I can take up two spaces. The second reason is because I need the exercise. As I walk the distance to the store, the last thing I do is check to see what row number I'm in. There's a special reason for that, but that is fodder for another day.
I think I must have been in the store for two hours. Since I did not take a list, I walked up and down each grocery isle, scanning the shelves to see if there was something I needed. When I finally got through the checkout lane and headed out the door with my shopping cart about to runneth over, I discovered something I had not noticed before. Not only had I parked at the far end of the lot, it was all uphill from where I stood.
I thought to myself that this was going to be some good, long sought after, exercise. About half way up the hill, I began to have second thoughts. At one point I thought I might have to start yelling "Help!" as I believed the shopping cart might start rolling backwards. In my mind, I could see me lying flat on the pavement, small tire marks across my body, while the cart picked up speed as it headed back towards the store and all my recent purchases flying out with each bump. When I finally reached the truck, I was in a full body stretch with my hands gripped to the cart handle and my toes digging into the asphalt.
I woke up the next morning and thought all was fine....until I got out of bed. I was beginning to think the end was near because it felt like I had been kicked in the chest by a wild stallion. Then I remembered the shopping cart workout. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.
Monday, April 11, 2016
The Very Nature of Things
During the recent March madness of college basketball, those who were glued to the screen saw a lot of competition. There was a prize to be won, a title to earn and a trophy to claim.
The dictionary defines competition as: the act of competing; rivalry for supremacy, a prize, etc. a contest for some prize, honor or advantage.
Here in the South, there was even a competition between man and nature. I called it North Carolina P. vs. California D. aka, pollen vs. duster. When the millions of southern pine trees produce pollen, everything is yellow. It covers the streets, sidewalks and one of the most noticeable fixtures would be vehicles. It does not matter what color the car is, during pollen season, it is yellow. This did not sit well with my husband, the car nut, aka, clean car nut. He has in his possession a tool called a "California Duster". It is a hand held dust mop. It's long strings are treated with something that makes it catch and hold dust and it seems, the dirtier it gets, the better it works. So, everyday, during the reign of pollen, he would retrieve said mop and dust off his truck. The next morning, it looked just like it had before he started. I mentioned to him that I thought he was fighting a loosing battle, but he was not to be outdone. In his own mind, he did reign supreme, but, I think the trees were just done doing their thing.
Of course, without competition in the business world, there would not be the plethora of products available to us. Even in the cottage cheese business there is competition. Not only are there many brands to choose from, but I have discovered that two of the bigger grocery store chains, who have their own name brand of cottage cheese, have something else going on with it. The lids do not interchange with each others cottage cheese containers! I always figured there was some person sitting on a beautiful white sandy beach, sipping a drink that had a little umbrella in it, watching the waves roll in, who had the monopoly on the cottage cheese container. Not so. Since I use above mentioned containers, instead of the pricey plastic ones, to store leftovers in, I have my own competition in the kitchen trying to find a lid that will fit.
Competitiveness is alive and well in the natural world too. Most species compete for a mate or a particular territory. Anyone who has raced two horses back to the barn, has felt the surge of power beneath them when one horse thinks the other might pass.
Competition is everywhere, it is the thing that makes things tick. It lies at the very heart of the human spirit. Without it, no one would have ever picked up a basketball, a golf club or a bat. There would not be weekends of watching race cars fly around a track and cottage cheese would have never left the farm.
The dictionary defines competition as: the act of competing; rivalry for supremacy, a prize, etc. a contest for some prize, honor or advantage.
Here in the South, there was even a competition between man and nature. I called it North Carolina P. vs. California D. aka, pollen vs. duster. When the millions of southern pine trees produce pollen, everything is yellow. It covers the streets, sidewalks and one of the most noticeable fixtures would be vehicles. It does not matter what color the car is, during pollen season, it is yellow. This did not sit well with my husband, the car nut, aka, clean car nut. He has in his possession a tool called a "California Duster". It is a hand held dust mop. It's long strings are treated with something that makes it catch and hold dust and it seems, the dirtier it gets, the better it works. So, everyday, during the reign of pollen, he would retrieve said mop and dust off his truck. The next morning, it looked just like it had before he started. I mentioned to him that I thought he was fighting a loosing battle, but he was not to be outdone. In his own mind, he did reign supreme, but, I think the trees were just done doing their thing.
Of course, without competition in the business world, there would not be the plethora of products available to us. Even in the cottage cheese business there is competition. Not only are there many brands to choose from, but I have discovered that two of the bigger grocery store chains, who have their own name brand of cottage cheese, have something else going on with it. The lids do not interchange with each others cottage cheese containers! I always figured there was some person sitting on a beautiful white sandy beach, sipping a drink that had a little umbrella in it, watching the waves roll in, who had the monopoly on the cottage cheese container. Not so. Since I use above mentioned containers, instead of the pricey plastic ones, to store leftovers in, I have my own competition in the kitchen trying to find a lid that will fit.
Competitiveness is alive and well in the natural world too. Most species compete for a mate or a particular territory. Anyone who has raced two horses back to the barn, has felt the surge of power beneath them when one horse thinks the other might pass.
Competition is everywhere, it is the thing that makes things tick. It lies at the very heart of the human spirit. Without it, no one would have ever picked up a basketball, a golf club or a bat. There would not be weekends of watching race cars fly around a track and cottage cheese would have never left the farm.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Where Everyone Gets Along.......Sorta
To the south lies Big Pond. Its shape is almost square and two sides are lined with loblolly pine trees while the other two sides are open, with grassy banks. The pond, and its surroundings, is teaming with wildlife. There are tadpoles, by the hundreds, maybe even thousands, and the water ripples constantly from their continual dance to the surface for a gulp of air. A piece of bread, tossed on the water's surface, reveals a flurry of hungry sunfish. Sometimes, the bread is bigger than the fish and they will gang up, to tug off a tiny morsel.
There are lots of turtles and they look like the kind many of us baby boomers had as a pet, until someone came along and said we could get salmonella from them. Most of these turtles are bigger than those we plucked from an aquarium in a department store, many moons ago, and they scramble to the water when they hear someone, or thing, approaching. But, they are curious creatures, as they will usually resurface just a few feet from the shore, to see what all the racket was about.
The loblollies are alive with grey squirrels. Since the trees grow so close together, a squirrel chase can go on...and on.....and on. There are countless species of birds, some familiar and some not and their morning chorus masks the fact that a large metropolis surrounds their woodland habitat. Among the birds are red shouldered hawks that call out to each other as they navigate the maze of tree limbs, like skilled fighter pilots, usually looking for a lower species of their genus, for a meal.
Big Pond has ducks, the occasional heron and Canadian geese. According to the locals, the pair of geese who have claimed Big Pond as their own, have been here for a long time.
All these creatures, in this small space, live in harmony....for the most part. But, Spring has sprung and with its arrival has come the time for the birds and bees to do their thing and bring new life into the world. With the geese, it is a time of much honking and staking out their territory. Even though the pair of geese on Big Pond have been together for several seasons, that does not discourage a new, younger, suitor from taking his chances of luring Ms. Goose away or taking Big Pond for himself.
For the casual observer, this is the only time to be able to distinguish the male from the female. Mr. Goose has no intentions of being de-throned and if a newbie is brave enough to put his webbed foot onto the surface of Big Pond, it is a declaration of war.
Geese have a tendency to be a bit crabby, but when it's nesting season, all rules and regulations, pertaining to geese, go right out the window.
Mr. Goose is a fighter and has obviously picked up some good techniques during his lifetime. This was a certainty when we watched him nearly drown his most recent challenger. When Mr. Goose returned to his beloved, in a most victorious mode, he extended his long neck and gave off a sound that was reminiscent of the long, plastic, raspberry horns......my Dad blew one of those at a referee during a basketball game one time....which resulted in him receiving a technical from said referee......but, that is blog fodder for another day. Anyway, with another notch in his wing, Mr. & Ms. Goose honked together, to let it be known, Big Pond was still theirs and Ms. Goose wasn't going anywhere.
The human race could learn a lot by observing the law and order in the natural world. Instead, man saw fit to put a honking mechanism on his mode of transportation and the blaring of horns are used for many a triumphant acclamation. I discovered this first hand the other day, when I made a right turn on a red light. The maneuver was perfectly legal and I was sure I had checked all manner of traffic flow. Obviously I missed one, because no sooner had I turned, a young woman in a little car was right on the back bumper of the truck, laying on the horn. I honestly do not know where she came from, but she was making sure I knew she was there. I glanced in the rear view mirror and she was still honking at me. She finally threw both arms up in disgust, while mouthing some indistinguishable words, and swerved into the next lane. As she got next to me, the idea of telling her she was number one crossed my mind, but I thought better of it. I just want to get along with folks..... and still keep my piece of the pond.
There are lots of turtles and they look like the kind many of us baby boomers had as a pet, until someone came along and said we could get salmonella from them. Most of these turtles are bigger than those we plucked from an aquarium in a department store, many moons ago, and they scramble to the water when they hear someone, or thing, approaching. But, they are curious creatures, as they will usually resurface just a few feet from the shore, to see what all the racket was about.
The loblollies are alive with grey squirrels. Since the trees grow so close together, a squirrel chase can go on...and on.....and on. There are countless species of birds, some familiar and some not and their morning chorus masks the fact that a large metropolis surrounds their woodland habitat. Among the birds are red shouldered hawks that call out to each other as they navigate the maze of tree limbs, like skilled fighter pilots, usually looking for a lower species of their genus, for a meal.
Big Pond has ducks, the occasional heron and Canadian geese. According to the locals, the pair of geese who have claimed Big Pond as their own, have been here for a long time.
All these creatures, in this small space, live in harmony....for the most part. But, Spring has sprung and with its arrival has come the time for the birds and bees to do their thing and bring new life into the world. With the geese, it is a time of much honking and staking out their territory. Even though the pair of geese on Big Pond have been together for several seasons, that does not discourage a new, younger, suitor from taking his chances of luring Ms. Goose away or taking Big Pond for himself.
For the casual observer, this is the only time to be able to distinguish the male from the female. Mr. Goose has no intentions of being de-throned and if a newbie is brave enough to put his webbed foot onto the surface of Big Pond, it is a declaration of war.
Geese have a tendency to be a bit crabby, but when it's nesting season, all rules and regulations, pertaining to geese, go right out the window.
Mr. Goose is a fighter and has obviously picked up some good techniques during his lifetime. This was a certainty when we watched him nearly drown his most recent challenger. When Mr. Goose returned to his beloved, in a most victorious mode, he extended his long neck and gave off a sound that was reminiscent of the long, plastic, raspberry horns......my Dad blew one of those at a referee during a basketball game one time....which resulted in him receiving a technical from said referee......but, that is blog fodder for another day. Anyway, with another notch in his wing, Mr. & Ms. Goose honked together, to let it be known, Big Pond was still theirs and Ms. Goose wasn't going anywhere.
The human race could learn a lot by observing the law and order in the natural world. Instead, man saw fit to put a honking mechanism on his mode of transportation and the blaring of horns are used for many a triumphant acclamation. I discovered this first hand the other day, when I made a right turn on a red light. The maneuver was perfectly legal and I was sure I had checked all manner of traffic flow. Obviously I missed one, because no sooner had I turned, a young woman in a little car was right on the back bumper of the truck, laying on the horn. I honestly do not know where she came from, but she was making sure I knew she was there. I glanced in the rear view mirror and she was still honking at me. She finally threw both arms up in disgust, while mouthing some indistinguishable words, and swerved into the next lane. As she got next to me, the idea of telling her she was number one crossed my mind, but I thought better of it. I just want to get along with folks..... and still keep my piece of the pond.
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