Commercial Award

Sheila of Ma Vie Fole has awarded me with this

Cause I’m so funny and all that. Pretty way cool huh? Wait don’t answer that. I know you are so jealous, my dearest internets you are just totally green like little Irish people. I love them Irish folks and their awesome beautiful country, it feels like home. But anyways back to me, well you really I suppose. So ya wanta piece of this award? I know ya do and y’all also know I hate playing favorites because I have so many of you. I want you to know it is ok to just grab it, feel free and be sure to tell folks that it was moi that awarded it to you so as least I get a “free” link out of it. And Sheila too cause that would only be right. Don’t cha think?

And now on to the commercial portion of this post…

Have you seen the new Star Trek movie? We really enjoyed it and recommend it even if at full ticket price. That is if y’all liked the other Star Treks. I won’t give anything away except to say the actors, in my opinion, portrayed the characters true to the ones we came to know so well. Graphics were awesome, it has humor and tension, maybe a little love and you get to see some undies. Oh and in like the first 10 -15 minutes of it I was hooked; they made little droplets of tears swell up in my ol’ eyes, those dirty rats.

This one got 6 thumbs up and a bag of popcorn, a coke slushy icee thing and 2 sodas. And this is saying a lot as the last “good” movie we saw was the Batman one.

FTC Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any form for any of my opinions in this post

Petty Action...

Some of you may say;

others may give a little applause.

I try to be considerate of other people when I’m out in public places, I don’t…sneeze or cough in the open air; scratch my butt or pick my nose; or fart for that matter. If I have to walk in front of someone I say ‘Excuse me.’ Or if someone is blocking my way I don’t just stand there staring again I use the ‘Excuse me.’ Phrase. Likewise if by some chance I bump someone again there are those good ol’ handy words. And really I only get annoyed when other folks don’t use it, but I say nothing out loud to them. Well I guess sometimes I do, ok usually do IF I’m holding the door open for someone, whether man or woman and they just tromp on by without a simple thank you or even a glance at me. Then I say out loud and sorta loud “You’re welcome!” But that is not what this long-winded version of a short story is about. Well then Paige--stop beating around the virtual bush already.

A couple of days ago at the grocery store and may I say how much I dislike it when the store is very crowded with a bunch of strangers breathing all my fresh air. OK there I am looking at the jalapenos trying to figure out which ones my Beloved would like (I don’t care for their flavor) a woman walks up with her buggy with a child in it. We make casual eye contact she indicated that she was just passing by with one of those little teeny tiny nod kind of movements. You know what I mean. So I step back to give her plenty of space, I’m considerate like that. She pushed her buggy and child right in front of me and stopped. S-T-O-P-P-E-D I say, then she let go of the buggy walked half way back down the aisle and started looking over the items down there.

Humph, how rude, how totally uncalled for and rude. When she didn’t come right back, well I reached over and pushed the buggy, child and all, back towards her and stepped forward again to make my selection. After several minutes, which felt like an eternity to me, I had stopped actually seeing the peppers. She came back and eyed me. I have excellent peripheral vision and then she started pushing her buggy forward again. YES almost hitting me. I did not budge!

I stood my ground and was not moving even if she were to utter those words “excuse me" I had decided to feign deafness. So I stood there until she backed up her buggy and went around me. So, it was a point for me and I do believe I made it known to her idiotic a$$. I think even the kid, yes now he is a kid and not a child, figured it out.

And that my dear internet is the story. What do you think of my behavior



Petty or APPLAUSE deserved?

And what would you have done?

Ekphrasic

It is sort of like “Object Writing”, Jannie Funster brought up this term. I said sorta and sort of are the same word. Ekphrasic poetry is where someone writes a poem that was inspired by or to expresses the feelings / emotions of a piece of art, either a painting or sculpture. Back in April for the Poetry Day Challenge I wrote one such poem. But it was not just the challenge that led me to do this as I had also been to a reading that had a slide show of art photos. It was part of the Blanton Poetry Project.

And now here is the painting (not part of the reading) and the poem I wrote…

.............................Allegory of The Five Senses by Gérard de Lairesse (1640-1711)

Joy

To see life’s reflections in the convex mirrors of your eyes
So easy is your touch to the fallen bird of a desolate field
To smell a white velvet rose is to inhale your blessed scent
So sweet is your engaging taste it is a moist fruit upon dry lips
To hear your soothing laughter as a soft ring of a triangle
So too is the rebirth of my joy in each vivid thought of you





And of course my beloved added a bit of inspiration to this piece. Happy Birthday my love

House Slaves Beware

I have been a house wife-an unemployed not working for “money” out the home- years and years ago and loved it and would love to do it now. IF I didn’t work outside our home I would so do it in a heartbeat. Keeping house, cooking everyday doing all the things it takes to keep a home running smoothly. My husband would not need to do much of anything nor the kids except pick up after themselves. But alas I must work for the medical insurance benefits this job has. Especially now, knowing that neither one of us will be able to get coverage any other way. Funny how cancer, heart attack, and stroke will do that to one’s ability to get medical insurance.

This is my opinion take it how you please….

Women for years, at least the last 2 generations are still stuck in believing the house is our problem. Yes women have by tradition taken care of the home and all things to do with its upkeep. And that is fine when they don’t work outside the home. But even those ladies need to be teaching their children both the boys and especially the girls that the home is a place for the “whole” family and if you walk in and out the door you drag in dirt and you too are responsible for cleaning it. After all one day they will, God willing, be in a home where most likely both adults will be working outside the home. By teaching our children and husband sometimes, to do their share they are learning to be a responsible member of the family.

Why do so many women still say “help me with the house cleaning”, why are they helping you clean up after themselves? I don’t get it, do you? I mean no one “helps you clean up after yourself.”

Now I also believe that if you are a stay at home parent, men included, you should do, need to do the cleaning and other household up keep. Because the other parent is out working earning money to buy food and pay for said house. My second husband used to say “When you bring home as much money as me then I’ll help with the house.” But when I did he didn’t and then when I brought home more money than him he quit his job and I still did the house work. In fact I even had to pay a baby sitter to watch our son (for said son’s safety) while he did whatever, while he waited for me to come home from a14 hour day and cook him food... And ladies and gentlemen that is not right. That was a hard thing that taught me all members of the household make dirt, dirty dishes, bathtubs, toilets, clothes and on and on the list can run. Therefore they, each one, all members of the household need to clean up after themselves.

The home is no longer a one person arena—everyone is responsible and it’s up to us to make them see that. Unless you want to do it all and if that is the case shut up and stop bitching.

I’m not telling you what to do and again this is my opinion it is up to y’all to do what is best for you… Cause I may be just an instigator and a buttinski!

Drum Roll...

Jeni, a really awesome lady who blogs over here recently gave an award to me. “What Friends Are For”. She says that I am a valued friend and have shown her some kind of friendship. Weird I know but still this is nice of Jeni to say…I of course do not see me as being a friend at all and darn sure not a good one and here’s why

Friends take work—you know you have to coddle them when they are needy, hold their hair when they puke, baby sit their kids. Friends take time—you have to make time for them even when you need or want time for yourself or your own family. Friends take emotions—you have to give them your strongest of emotions to carry them through their crisis or you have to keep on smiling when you want to cry or scream because they are happy. Friends take your clothes—they think they look better in them then you do and what’s up with that?

I don’t have friends in RL I’m one of those people that for the most part can do without other folks around me and most often I prefer it that way. I am not bothered by this trait in me, it is how I have been since I was young. How young you may ask, who knows. I had friends in elementary school and would sleep over their house and go to slumber parties and such but I did not have them over to mine very often some of this was because my dad worked at night and we had to be quiet during the day when he was sleeping and then as I got older and he drank more and more and more…he would sit around in his underwear (we had no A/C no one did back then) drunk in the living room or passed out in his car in the drive way. But besides that stuff I was not a girly girl, ya know. I just didn’t care for all that. I had what I called best friends in junior high (middle school for you young’ens) but they moved on and new friends did not take their places. That sounds sad but don’t be sad—I am not.

Now you my dear internets are not work. No work at all, in fact I find you very fun to be around and you don’t take my clothes or puke in front of me and I don't baby sit your kidos-yea! That said you all realize that you are here at my convenience and I at yours. I go see my virtual friends, that’s you dear internets, on my time schedule whether it is in the middle of my night or yours. And for me this is a good thing. I get the support from you that I occasionally need and I try to give y’all the support I think you need and yes sometimes that may be a kick in the ass or a kiss on the check (not ass cheek though, not gonna do that)

As y’all may know I’m supposed to give this award to eight of my dear internets that “deserve” it and from my side of this screen you all do. You all have been my friends in one way or another, being there when I needed you and therefore in my authority as Queen of this here Paradise Valley, do hereby bestow upon you all this award because y’all are what friends are for.

Storycatcher

I read for entertainment (romance/mystery/intrigue) occasionally, but mostly I read books that offer some type of information leaning towards education for whatever I’m currently interested in. Or stuff that just seems interesting and maybe funny in quirky way. And right now it’s ways to say things in writing, you know for self-expression.

So I can…well express myself but not expose myself, cause I’m not too much into that, {not that there’s anything wrong with that, if you are into that sort of thing; I just may close my eyes}

So let me tell you about this book I have been reading, Storycatcher by Christina Baldwin. This book helps to lead you on the path of writing a memoir, personal journal, or what have you. I’m sure it could be helpful in other writing / story telling avenues as well you know like blog post writing.

Ms. Baldwin tells us that personal story can be a way towards self-discovery and a way to work out hurt feelings and pain within self and or family. A sort of Rehab for lack of a better explanation on my part. She leads us in samples and suggestions on how to get started with writing exercises that will help you to explore self and surroundings. Ms. Baldwin also introduces us to other people and their journeys as storycatchers.


Some of my favorite things about this book are her insightful comments on humans and our ability to live life from one generation to the next in spite of our own actions and reactions. Here is the one thing I don’t like, some of the headings are in a fancy script that personally are just plain hard to read and more than once I couldn’t figure out what they said, so hopefully those were not too important.

If you are thinking about jotting down family stories, keeping a dairy, journal or writing a full-fledged memoir you may want to consider this book. It is not technical as far as how to write sentences or punctuation poo, but it’s pretty good at helping you to figure out what it is you may want to say, and how to go about saying it.

FTC Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any form for any of my opinions in this post

Natural Gas

It’s NOT about farting my friends so get your minds outta the potty room.

Besides it's a God post that's ah comin ...



You know He is all around and watches after us, I think, sometimes, some folks just miss the blessings and amazing things that He does. Yes He is a very personal God and is with you always, just accept that fact.

So the other day they (the gas company) were out and about laying new gas lines, not pipes but a flexible looking super heavy duty hose kinda thing. They are still not finished in our neighborhood but I think they are done with our street. Apparently they changed our meter and turned off the gas to do so, but neglected to mention it to us. Men are sometimes good about not leaving a note.

Baby Girl was gonna take a shower,{it was Saturday and everybody should at least take a bath on Saturday, she came out and said, “Is there something wrong with the hot water? Cause it’s not gettin hot.” She sometimes talks like me, it’s a Texas thang y’all.

We figured (Beloved said) it was the “coupler” so we (he) climbed in the attic to change it. We just happened to have a spare, because when he fixed it a couple of years ago he bought an extra one. And he just loves plumbing –NOT! So Beloved put the new coupler thing on and went to light the pilot, it sorta flickered and that was that. NO gas. What ta…

Did you pay the bill? Yes. Called the gas company after looking for a number for 15 minutes, “we’ll send someone over.” Weird, I thought, cause it was Saturday night after 7pm. And a guy showed up in about 30 minutes. Wow! I know impressive but this is not really the amazing part yet. So here he is hooking up the new meter in the dark, they cannot hook it up when no one is home in case of a gas leak in the house. Safety first people. He gets it all hooked up and comes in to check things out, "required" says he. He climbs in the attic and says, “The exhaust pipe is not right” point ups “and you have a water leak. I’m not supposed to leave the gas on if there is a problem. But if you promise to take care of it…”

I know what you are thinking, that is not good news and in a way it isn’t.



Beloved went and picked up the curative items the next morning. Came home and fixed it. This is the amazing part…

We are going on a trip soon and IF that water leak had caused the “pop off” value to POP it would have been a mess OR IF that leaky fitting decided to crumble. Well you know water everywhere, out of town, a BL that is not the most pro active person and we would have had a very high water bill and a flooded house to end the vacation.

And there you have it dear Internet, God making us aware of a not so good thing that really saved our a$$ in the long run.

And how do you like the photo? Ahh-mazzzz-zing (say it / read it in that sing songy sort of way)… Right?


Look up a little more often and see the awesome glory there is to behold