family

The Sexual Abuse of Our Children

/ doubledacres / 10 Comments

“Child abuse and neglect offend the basic values of our state.  We have a responsibility to provide safe settings for at-risk children and facilitate permanent placement for children who cannot return home.” – Matt Blunt

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This is a subject that is hard for me to write about but when our congressional leaders use such a sensitive subject for their political agenda it pisses me off.  Larry Nassar is a POS and I hope he rots in hell for his atrocities.  My heart goes out to those individuals who have had their lives devastated by this monster.  I do not mean any disrespect to those victims with my following rant and I hope they understand that.  Let the rant begin.

According to news reports, Senator Dianne Feinstein met with seven victims of Larry Nassar’s abuse.  According to InStyle (February 5, 2018) the senator said it was one of the most emotional and disturbing meetings she ever had.  They spoke for over an hour about what had happened to them and how USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University, and the adults charged with protecting them failed at every turn.

Well the senator promised a bill that would protect them. (Note: sexual abuse of a minor is all ready illegal in this country)  The senator kept her word and a bill was passed.

  1.  It addresses the patchwork of state reporting laws, making it mandatory for anyone affiliated with any national governing body or amateur sports organization that crosses state lines to report sexual abuse to local and federal law enforcement or social service agencies (all over worked, understaffed and underpaid) within 24 hours.  This requirement would apply to USA Gymnastics and each of the other 46 national governing bodies that oversee a variety of Olympic sports.  It would also apply to college athletics. (InStyle)                                                                                                          (Wow just wow!  You all are geniuses I tells ya.  You have saved our athletes.  God Bless you!  Got a question for you all though.  How about these children?  What did you do for them?In 2013 one in nine girls and 1 in 53 boys under the age of 18 experienced sexual abuse or assault. Eighty percent of the perpetrators were a parent, and 47,000 were men and 5,000 were women.Let me enlighten you with these numbers, according to the National Statistics on Child Abuse, in 2015 an estimated 683,000 children (unique) incidents were victims of abuse and neglect. Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the US annually. Children’s Advocacy Centers served more than 311,000 children around the country in 2015. Two-thirds of children served disclosed sexual abuse (205,438). 
  2. Clarifies that victims of child sex crimes can recover from their perpetrators statutory damages of up to $150,000 as well as punitive damaged due to the heinous nature of the rime against them.  It further extends the statute of limitations so it doesn’t begin to run until victims realize they’ve been abused. (InStyle)
  3. Reforms the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, which established “national governing bodies”, like USA gymnastics.  Congress chartered all of these entities, but the original law did not specify their obligations to ensure that athletes have protections against child abuse, including sexual abuse.  This bill fixes that.  It requires the newly created U.S. Center for Safe Sport to establish strict policies for preventing abuse and procedures to make sure every governing body would be required to implement policies to make sure minor athletes are not alone with adults.  (InStyle)

“Most children who survive into adulthood always have a lingering question that commonly arises as to why there is very little support for the child abuse survivor.” – Patricia Dsouza, When Roses are Crushed

Well golly gee.  All of you in congress should be proud.  Stand up and take a bow!  NOT!!!!!!!  All you managed to do was add more laws that will do absolutely nothing, nada, zilch, to stop anyone hell bent on doing it anyway.  Murder.  I do believe it is against the law but let me tell you geniuses now (you all really do live in your own little world) that law ain’t slowed nobody down.  You all are good at adding laws that existing laws all ready cover but you refuse to give money and manpower to help fight the fight.

So to all the congressional leaders and President Trump, this my plea to you.  Wake up!  These children need protecting too.  No more laws are needed.  We just need to start enforcing the existing laws and agencies to stop it.  There needs to be more funding and manpower added to all the social worker agencies across the U.S..  They also need to be hooked up with mental health providers so that the mental scars can be addressed.  Sooooo, please put your party differences aside and begin acting like adults and address the non-athletes.  They need you.  Please help them. / Signed Statistic

Don’t forget to spread the love.

They Are Family

/ doubledacres / 22 Comments

 

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My ride dog and companion, Kate.

 

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me, they are the role model for being alive.” – Gilda Radner

One thing that I can not wrap my feeble little mind around is how can people abuse animals?  How can folks just give an old dog to a shelter and then they have the nerve to replace them with a new puppy.  It breaks my heart when I see this happen.  Folks whether you believe it or not animals do have feelings.

Kate suffered from crystals in her urine and she had to have hip surgery when she was a year old.  After surgery she slept on the couch and I slept on the floor beside her.  From that time on she was my dog.  She did her best not to let me out of her sight.  She went everywhere with me and since I am a farrier she was my ride dog.  She loves riding “shotgun” and loves to watch the road.

 

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Kate takes riding “shotgun” seriously.

 

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Kate after surgery and her “jammies”.

 

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Kate chilling after surgery.

 

 

 

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” – Josh Billings

My dad never liked dogs and still doesn’t to this day.  He just turned 84 so I guess it is pretty safe to say he probably never will.  I know they aren’t for everyone but there is no reason on earth to abuse them.

Just imagine, you are 6 years old and your dad puts you in the car and off you go.  After awhile you don’t recognize the area you are traveling in and it appears to be in the country and it is raining.  Finally in a very secluded place your dad stops the car and gets outside.  He opens your door and he grabs you by the hand and leads you over to a log and tells you to sit down.  Then he walks back to the car, gets in it and drives off.  Leaving you there all alone, in a strange place and you are scared.

Now don’t give me that BS that I am comparing apples to oranges.  I am not.  Both are alive, confused, scared and broken hearted.  Neither have done anything to be treated this way.  Thousands of animals are dumped each year just because their owner doesn’t want them anymore.  Maybe I went a little overboard trying to get my point across but animals do have feelings.

Soooooo, if you are thinking about getting a pet remember that they have feelings and would like a forever home and they are a member of the family.  Please, if you can’t accept this then get a “Pet Rock”.

 

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For the cat lovers out there.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Hope you enjoyed it.  Remember to spread the love!

 

 

 

 

Growing Up!!!!

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Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

The year was 1964. We were one out away from winning first place.  The count was 2 and 2 with a runner on third, score tied 1 to 1, and the bottom of the ninth, when “bam” the batter hits the ball over second base and our dream of winning the championship is crushed.  There were eight teams in our division and only first and second place got trophies.  Unlike today not everyone got trophies.

We failed.  We tasted failure.  Looking back on that time in my life, I remember how we all became closer and how we vowed to work harder.  We were hell bent on improving our skills and becoming champions.  In 1965 our dream came to fruition.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but rising every time we fail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have spent a lot of hours through the year thinking about this and I believe in my heart that failure is the reason we became champions.  It built character and made us work harder.  It didn’t scar us for life or fill us with low self esteem.

We didn’t get participation trophies.  We earned them.  I think the big difference between now and back then is that the “family unit” was a lot stronger and more endeared.  Don’t get me wrong, we were a long way from perfect.  I remember fathers that just gave their child hell if they lost.  Losing wasn’t an option.  These are the actions that were detrimental to childhood development.  It wasn’t the losing that caused the problems, it was bad parenting.  Parents that wouldn’t take the time to teach their children that it wasn’t wrong to lose.  That it happened.  It was an integral part of life whether we wanted it or not.

At the end of the day, you are solely responsible for your success and your failure.   And the sooner you realize that, you accept that, and integrate that into your work ethic, you will start being successful.  As long as you blame others for the reason you aren’t where you want to be, you will always be a failure.” –  Erin Cummings

Maybe I am just an antiquated, set in his ways, old man but I truly believe it is time to go back to the “olden days” and teach children what failure is and how to use it in their favor.  No, everybody doesn’t get a trophy for participating, you have to earn it.

Then we need to teach them the importance of taking responsibility for their actions.  That they are in charge of writing their “Book of Life” and they decide what is going in it.  Teach them that “failure” can actually be a good thing.  We also have to teach them how to cope with failure and how to use it to their advantage.

Thank you so much for reading my blog.  I appreciate you taking the time.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Spread the love.

What Is “Life”?

/ doubledacres / 7 Comments

“Life has no meaning.  Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life.  It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer.” – Joseph Campbell

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I have been MIA because of that nasty viral infection that is make its rounds.  It is some nice stuff, let me tell you.  I am behind on reading the blogs that I follow and have a lot of catching up to do.

My combat with the infection took me to the doctor’s office.  While sitting in the waiting room I looked around the room at all those that had ventured in to seek medical help.  There were around 11 waiting and ranged in age from 27 to 80.  There were only 4 males including myself.  I watched as they sat there patiently waiting for their turn.  As I watched my mind began to ask, I wonder what life means to them?

Is life just existing to them or is it so dear to them they have a fear of dying?  Is it exciting and always in party mode or do they prefer sitting in a chair reading a great book and sipping on hot tea?  Life is what YOU make it.

Life can be so strong and virile one day and it is so fragile the next.  We think we are on top of the “world of life” one day and wake up to find ourselves in the abyss of life gone wrong.  Life is full of highs and lows and your quality of life depends on how you manage those highs and lows.

“Whatever we are, whatever we make of ourselves, is all we will ever have – and that, in its profound simplicity, is the meaning of life.” – Phillip Appleman

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When one is at their low point in life they, as I see it any way, only have two choices.  Put on your big boy/girl undies and take life by the horn and make some positive changes in their life or lie there and wallow in self pity and rely on the enablers in your life to help you along.

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“We get to CHOOSE the meaning of our lives.  Our lives mean exactly what we say they do – no more, no less.  Each of us chooses their path in life.” – Johnathan Lockwood Huie

Life is simply what YOU decide it is going to be.  YOU write the definition.  People, experiences and God can help you along the way but You have the final decision.  Prepare yourself through education, understanding and knowledge.  If you don’t love yourself then learn how to.  Parents listen to your children, just because you wanted to be a great athlete, accountant, doctor, lawyer, etc., it doesn’t mean that it will be a good fit for them.  Let them make that decision.  What’s that you say?  You aren’t going to let them make a bad decision.  Yeah, right just like you never did, right?  Encourage them to be their own person and to write their own “Book of Life.”

Once again thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my blog.  It as well as any comments, is deeply appreciated.  Now go spread the love.

 

 

 

2018 Is Knocking On the Door!

/ doubledacres / 5 Comments

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“Your success and happiness lies in you.  Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” – Helen Keller

I don’t know about the rest of you but I don’t know if it is because I am getting older or just busier, but this year reminded me of Secretariat coming down the home stretch at Belmont in 1973.  I didn’t get accomplished what  I wanted to.  That tells me I need to improve my planning for 2018.

To me it is a little ironic that the end of the year and the celebration of the birth of Christ both happen in the month of December.  The Beginning and the End so to speak.  With the celebration of Christmas comes bouts of depression for some.  It is a tough time for those who have lost loved ones, especially those who are celebrating Christmas for the first time after their loved one has passed.  Unfortunately it is the time of year when companies trim their work force getting ready for the year to come, adding stress to the lives of those that lost their jobs.

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is the time of year one needs to go to their safe place and reflect on the year and evaluate what happened in 2017.  Are you disappointed?  Happy?  Ecstatic?  Was last year a good year but if not, what can you do to make 2018 better?  Now the operative word here is “you”, I didn’t say “we”.  What’s that?  You are married.  Congratulations!  Sorry the operative is still “you”.  When you get “you” worked out, then you can sit down with the spouse and finish your planning.

I am going to go out on a limb here and I am going to bet that one of the things you need to change going in to 2018 is (drum roll please) spend more quality time with family.  I went into a restaurant a couple of weeks ago and there were what appeared to be 4 members of a family.  My guess was father, mother, daughter and son.  Youngest (son) was probably 15.  Every one of them were doing something with their phone and maybe, just maybe said 15 words.  Do yourself a favor and make 2018, the year of the Family.

This is going to probably put some of your undies in a wad.  I am sorry but it needs to be said.  If you are one of the many complaining about the current political climate and you DID NOT exercise your explicit right to vote, then shut up!  I don’t care if you don’t agree with me or even if I am not politically correct, you don’t have the right to complain, in my opinion anyway.  Yes it is my opinion and isn’t supported by any law, local, state or federal.  Sad thing though is that these people are the ones that complain the most. (Note:  This pertains only to the U.S. because I do realize exercising that right in some countries could get one killed.)

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.  We can help write that story by setting goals.” – Melody Beattie

The new year can bring us new challenges so in that chapter of life we will be writing about things that we have never experienced before.  Make sure your book of life is an autobiography.  Do your own writing and decision making.  It doesn’t hurt to seek advice but for life decisions, you make them.  After all you are the one that is going to have to live with that decision.

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Work on knowing all your neighbors.  Learn their names and even talk to them.  I know that is asking a lot for some, but think about it.  Spread the love.  I don’t care what your passion is share that love with everyone around you.  Respect those around you.  When other people talk, shut up and listen.  Respect their opinion whether you agree with or not.  I myself have said more than once, “We are just going to have to agree to disagree.”  Learn to walk away when a discussion goes south.  Treat people the way you want to be treated.  Keep your life free of negativity.   Last but not least, love yourself.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Spread the love!  NOTE:  I do not have a degree in psychology and am not a psychologist.  Just an old geezer that has watched and learned as I traveled down the freeway of life.

Is Today’s Youth In Trouble?

/ doubledacres / 7 Comments

 

“If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally  die.” – Maya Angelou

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I have fought with myself about tonight’s subject.  I have debated whether or not it is worth writing about because of the fallout it could cause.  I realize I could lose followers and ruffle a few feathers but I guess I like living on the edge because I am going to do it because I feel it really needs to be said.

First I would like to make it perfectly clear that the purpose of this blog is not to “bash” anyone.  It is merely observations I have made and just my opinion.  I do not have a degree in psychology and am only speaking of what I have learned in 63 years.  I do not wish to offend anyone, it is merely meant to be thought provoking.

“Concern yourself more with accepting responsibility than with assigning blame.  Let the possibilities inspire you more than the obstacles discourage you.” – Ralph Marsten

If I hear one more time, “what is wrong with kids these days?”, I am going to scream.  I ask you who is responsible for seeing that children are reared properly?  Gee, could it be the parents?  However it is easier to blame the children and shirk the responsibility of child rearing.

I don’t know how many times I have heard parents from my generation say, “I just wanted them to have it better than me.”  Really?  I really don’t think we turned out that bad.  After all, we got told no, endured spankings at home and at school, only got a trophy if we won, and lived with second hand smoke.  Didn’t have car seats and rode in the back of a pickup.  We were taught and expected to respect our elders.  The real setback was all those violent cartoons we watched and worked to earn money.  Damn I guess we really did have it rough.   The difference between then and now was that we couldn’t wait to get out of the house and now they don’t want to leave.

“Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.” – Laurence Sterne

Boys wear there pants below the crack of their arse and girls dress like hookers.  Why is that?  Could it be that they have no manners because no one ever took the time to teach them respect?  If one doesn’t respect themselves then how in the world can they respect others.  If they don’t respect your property, why would you ever think they would respect other people’s property?

One of the problems in the world today is that the parents and grandparents want to be their child’s friend.  They cater to them and shun confrontations.  No one wants to be the “bad guy”.  You know, that person who is trying to prepare the child for the real world.  Not the one where everything revolves around the child.  When are you going to realize that you aren’t doing them any favors by catering to them.  Making them think that they can do anything they want and that the rest of the world will be right there waiting on them hand and foot so that they don’t have to endure any bad experiences.   You do so that must be the real world, so they think.  You are sheltering them in a world that only exists because you have created it.  They didn’t create it, you did.  Do the math.  You are the reason.

“That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.” – William J.H. Boetcker

Folks it is time to quit blaming all the behavioral problems of our children on them and share a lot of that blame.  Maybe sit back and rethink the way you are rearing your child.  I certainly hope I didn’t offend anyone but I seem to see more and more bad behavior every day.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  It is deeply appreciated.  Remember to spread the love.

 

 

 

Why…..?

/ doubledacres / 5 Comments

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“The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.” – Abraham Lincoln

For those of you who don’t know me, I am a farrier by trade and sometimes there can be considerable distance from our jobs so we incur a lot of windshield time.  This was one of those days for me today.  The word of the day seemed to be “why” because it kept popping up in my mind.

Why do people find it necessary to hurt someone because they don’t agree with someone’s point of view?  Just recently a young lady, who’s blog I follow, had some hurtful replies to one particular blog she published.  I am sorry but I find that intolerable.  There are ways of saying you disagree without having to be hateful.  If you are one of those people that hurt people intentionally, please tell me what is gained by doing it.  Enlighten me.

Why do you always have to be right?  News flash folks, it is not the end of the world if you are wrong and the individual that has the fortitude to admit it my hat is off to them.  That tells me that you have class and must be an aspiring individual.

Why does there necessarily have to be a “right” or a “wrong”?  Why can’t we just agree to disagree?  Everyone has their reasons for believing the way they do.  Right now I see this going on in the world of politics at the moment in this country on national, state and local levels of government.  You think POTUS is an idiot and doing a terrible job.  You think the POTUS is doing a great job and pleased with his/her performance.  Neither one of you are right or wrong.  All you have is an opinion of the POTUS formed by different reasons.  opinion : a view or judgement about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.  So please, both of you just agree to disagree and move on.

“When you have the right, doesn’t mean you are right.”– Farrah Ezzatie

Why can’t we just compromise?  What is so wrong with compromising?  compromise : accept standards that are lower than is desirable  First off I want to make something perfectly clear, I am NOT a democrat or republican.  I loathe the party system that we have in this country.  I look at the individuals in the race and form an opinion as to who I feel is the best person for the job and that is how I vote.  I digress, sorry.  Ok the present POTUS, governor, senator, etc. does not meet your standards why can’t you just compromise and in 2 or 4 years vote their arses out of office instead of calling all those that supported them (and heaven forbid didn’t agree with your opinion) stupid, racist, deplorable etc..   What makes you so right or them so wrong?  The name calling and constant attacks on those you do not agree with does no good for anyone.  It just creates a bigger divide in this country.  It is not Russia, Isis, or North Korea we have to fear.  No.  Our biggest fear is ourselves.  We are our own worst enemy.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside.  If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln

Once again I thank you for taking the time to read my post.  This is one I really avoided writing about but I felt I just needed to say it.   Will it change things?  Very doubtful.  Spread the love.

“It has been profoundly said, and how true it is, that the only thing necessary for evil to exist is for good people to remain silent.” – Edmund Burke

Television or no Television

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“Headlines, in a way, are what mislead you because bad new is a headline, and gradual improvement is not.” – Bill Gates

In all reality the best thing we could do for ourselves is throw our television sets out the window.  Problem is, how often do we do what is best for us?

It astounds me the way the news media thinks we need all this news.  The local news repeats itself on the half hour for two and a half hours repeating the same news and weather forecasts.  Then comes the world news.  Does good news make the headlines?  Hell no!  Bad news is the king of the news world.   Good news doesn’t help your ratings or your newspaper circulation.

“The brains of humans contain a mechanism that is designed to give priority to bad news.” – Daniel Kahneman

No wonder there are so many people who suffer from depression in our world today.   We are constantly bombarded with bad news.   Then our air waves are filled with all these people who know what is best for us, even though most of them aren’t even qualified, and how to make our lives better.  Really?

Then for entertainment there is what I call “free for all shows” where people come on the show to air their dirty laundry.  Who is cheating on who, who is the father of my baby, that sort of topic.  They take lie detector tests and paternity tests.  The one I like is the lady who has had 14 different men on the show trying to find the father of her child.  Nope!  Last I heard they still haven’t found him.  If you think you are having a bad day turn on one of these shows and all of a sudden you realize that your day could be a lot worse.

Then as if they weren’t making enough money on advertisement they came up with “infomercials” and they have become quite popular.  I can’t tell you anything about them because I haven’t watched one.

Oh my gosh!  Maybe I was wrong.  Maybe television isn’t so bad after all.  I mean, you get bombarded by bad news all morning and they air a program where some one who can’t control their life, tells you how to fix yours.  Then to make sure they have helped you they air a show who has guests with problems that just turned your mountain of troubles into a grain of sand.  Last but not least they sell air time to someone so they can explain in a half hour why you need something you really don’t need.  Silly me, they were looking out for me after all.

I guess by now you have figured out that I am not a big fan of television.  I am old enough to remember when two people had to keep one foot on the floor when shooting a scene involving a bed.  Now days they don’t leave much for the imagination.  Even the children shows have become down right insulting in the name of education and political correctness, that’s my opinion anyway.  Hey, what do you expect from a man who cut his eye teeth on, The Roadrunner (beep, beep), The Lone Ranger, and Looney Tunes?  The sad thing is we know all this yet we keep turning the ole “boob tube” on letting it poison the minds of our children and ourselves.  I will admit it, I am guilty of it too.  What secret powers does this box of circuits, electrodes and other technologies have over us?  I really have no answer.  Next time I get the urge to turn on the “idiot box” I think I will grab a book instead.

Thanks for reading.  Hope you enjoyed it.  Remember, spread the love.

 

 

 

Time To Rant

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My mind is whirling with all the BS going on in the U.S. today.  I see friends arguing and calling each other names over politics.  Friendships destroyed and families torn apart.  For what?   When did we let politics become more important than friendships and family?   I see people who have no respect for anything and they are quick to criticize.  I see a Main Stream News Media creating a massive divide in this country that is surely going to end in disaster.  Hate seems to be more popular than love.  It seems to me that America is circling the drain and I say to myself, is it too late to put the plug back in the drain.  I hope so.

The top 5 pastors in America have a net worth of 960 million dollars.  Really?  I am a christian but this isn’t religion, this is big business.  I am sorry but that is my opinion and I am sure someone will ream me for it.  I know some pastors that have a great ministry and they do a fine job of preaching the “Word” and helping needy communities on a lot less.

Parents with children.  I am sorry when you go out to a restaurant show the other patrons a little respect.  When you let your children chase each other around the tables it isn’t funny, it is annoying.  To you parents who take the time to teach your child to behave, thank you.  Teach your children the word “no” so that when you tell them they can’t have a candy bar they will refrain from throwing themselves on the floor, screaming and kicking.

Hollywood, get over yourself!   I don’t give a rat’s arse about what your political views are just like you don’t care about mine.  I even respect you less when you use your “stardom” to influence John Q Public.  All the actresses that came out condemning the antics of the POTUS where are you on the subject of Harvey Weinstein?  Maybe I just missed your comments and if I did please forgive me but you seem to be pretty mute about his behavior.  Football players, kneeling to get attention for police brutality.  Where were you when your own was expressing his christian beliefs and got blackballed from football.  He was kneeling.  How about the football player who killed a mother/wife because he ran a red light because he was intoxicated.  He got an eight game suspension.  Really?  I don’t condone police brutality but you have seemed to help alienate a lot of people from your cause.

In the past there has been some bias in the news world but come on.  Can you be any more bias?  Now tune in for the 6 o’clock opinions.  Nope no news, just a bigger spoon to help stir the pot and create more hate and discontent.  I find it  kind of odd that you dropped the Vegas story so quickly.   Did your story fall apart?  Do John Q Public a favor and report the facts and be unbiased in your reporting.  If you are going to be bias then at least do a better job of hiding it.

Sorry for all the ranting but I could go on all night.  Folks whether you believe it or not the country is falling down around us.  Our politicians are failing us.  MSNM is failing us.  Parents are failing their children.  Most of all, we are failing each other.

We need to think about what the consequences our actions will cause.  Example, protesters.  Protesting is a powerful tool when used correctly.  I am sorry but when you invade shopping malls screaming your demands or blocking a freeway you aren’t making friends.  You are causing more hate to be cast your way.  Those people can’t do anything for you.  If you are protesting the government and receiving government benefits, send your checks back or don’t pay your taxes.  This will get the attention of the people who can help you.  Protest in front of city hall every day.  We protest bullying and your protests that you are using is just another form of bullying.

Well I am going to shut up.  In a world full of opinions someone is probably going to get their feelings hurt.  I hope I didn’t make anyone think less of me.  Bottom line is that we need to come together and heal the divide in this nation, not create a bigger abyss.   We are not only destroying our planet but also respect, trust, and integrity.  I am not a Democrat or Republican.  I am an American(gun toting, Bible thumping, redneck I think I was referred to) that wants everyone to come together and heal this great divide within our borders.  United we stand, divided we fall.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Spread the love.

 

 

 

 

Autumn: A Season of Beauty

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“Autumn……….the year’s loveliest smile.” – William Cullen Bryant/ Indian Summer

As autumn nears I get as excited as a child on Christmas Eve except I have visions of “frost on the pumpkin” in my head.  I can smell the wood smoke as it wafts through the cool crisp air.  I can smell the aroma of chili as it drifts upon the breeze and searches for an unsuspected nose.  Tis the season for beans and cornbread.  It will soon be time to don the hoodies.  Autumn, my season of choice by far.

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Autumn is a busy time for Mother Nature’s critters.  Squirrels and chipmunks are burying everything they can.  The tiny Hummingbird begins its trip south.  Geese can be seen in a “v” formation headed south for the winter.  Bear begin gorging themselves with food to prepare themselves for their long winter nap.  The days become shorter and the nights become colder as Mother Earth prepares for Old Man Winter to arrive.

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Final Autumn

Maple leaves turn black in the courtyard.

Light drives lower and one blue jay crams

our cold memories out past the sun,

each time your traces come past the shadows

and visit under my looking-glass fingers

that lift and block out the sun.

Come – I’ll trace you one final autumn,

and you can trace your last homecoming

into the snow or the sun.

                                                                                                                 Annie Finch

Autumn also signals the beginning of the holidays and family gatherings.  The smell of baked turkey and dressing, pumpkin and sweet potato pie.  Hot chocolate for those cold autumn nights and warm apple cider.  Friends gathered around a bonfire talking about what they did “last summer” and all ready making plans for the “new summer”.  Its sitting in front of the fire reading your favorite book.  It is the season of Thankfulness for all the things you have to be grateful for.  Autumn, my favorite season of all.

“Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly above the earth seeking the successive autumns.” – George Eliot

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Yep, with autumn beginning we know Old Man Winter isn’t far off.  Thanks for reading my blog I really appreciate it.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Spread the love.