Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away

 Years not months or just days have gone by since I've been inspired to post anything. Can't say I can blame it all on covid (which didn't start until 2020) cause to be truthful it's just me being uninterested in doing anything. Rose thy name is apathy could be my slogan these days.

Covid is still around and we did get our shots and yes we're still wearing masks when we're out and about and of course disinfecting our hands. So far so good.

I've not been painting lately or writing or anything of interest. Like I said, apathy set in. 

There is something I've recently dived into again though and it's my love for the late great Elvis Presley. I have all my vinyls of his music and knickknacks and trinkets and course my well-worn t-shirts. I was wearing one of those when we went to a Steven King book signing and that King liked my shirt and said Elvis was still King of Rock and Roll. 👑😁 Anyway I've been watching Elvis reaction videos on YouTube and while I know most of them are not sincere at least Elvis's music is being heard and shared. I recommend anything from the 68 Comeback Special. Below are some links (if they don't work post me a note and I'll  try to fix it) to get you started. Oh, just so you know I will not allow any Elvis bashing or trashing here so please take your hate elsewhere.

https://youtu.be/xA142IsjQiE?si=E5_3fjhQNVRhHbnE  If I Can Dream

https://youtu.be/RUFKiiVD-sc?si=eHZCsaKyGdeSz64P Polk Salad Annie-fun and high energy

https://youtu.be/mLbOBoa8vD8?si=aVJM0Ya_iEx-kEpE  Bridge Over Troubled Waters one of absolute favs.

March Madness

Wow, it was midterms since I last published anything. Since then my husband has been diagnosed again with a cancer in his bladder. Luckily the cancer has not breached the bladder wall and he is currently getting a targeted chemo treatment for six weeks. He's a fighter  but it has been telling on him this time. Any and all good thoughts, prayers, and good wishes are appreciated.
I'm still getting irritable bowel syndrome problems and bouts of insomnia but other than that I have been doing okay. Have a check up later this month with my cardiologist but I don't suspect to find any worsening of my condition.
We've been painting the living room, or I should say that our daughter and granddaughter have been painting it, and it's slow going but looking good. It's quite a large room.
On the political front we have he who shall not be named still in the Whitehouse and what seems like hundreds of democrats filing to run for president in 2020. Who knows what will happen. I favor Beto but will vote for whoever wins the nomination for the Dems.
I've not been writing or doing any art work and basically wasting my time feeling sorry for myself. Of course after I feel sorry for myself I feel guilty for doing so because I'm pretty lucky having a great family, enough food, a roof over my head, an operational car, and enough money that allows me to stay home and do nothing. Go figure why I feel depressed, I'm at a loss to figure it out. If I tell a doctor I feel depressed they just want to give me a pill for it and I don't want that. I take enough pills as it is for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. .
Lately I find myself crying a lot and not just about real life happenings, but fictional happenings too. It's crazy but I don't guess it's harmful and in a way may be cathartic and therapeutic.
Anyway that's all that's been on my mind this morning. Hope you're having a great day whoever and wherever you are.

Midterms Done and Done

Well the voters have had their say and while we would have liked a tsunami sized blue wave we did get a large blue wave. While Beto did not win Texas he did make a good showing and I'm sure we're going to hear more from this young man in the future.
I'm hoping when the Democrats take control of the house in January that they can curb the craziness that is Donald Trump and keep our country on an even keel. I guess only time will tell but now I have some hope where before I had none.

Midterms drawing closer

Here we are again. An important election drawing closer and the fate of the country in the hands of voters. I hope for the sake of the Free World that this election turns out better than the one in 2016.  Whoever you vote for please, please think of the kind of world you want to live in before you do vote. A world of strife and hateful rhetoric and actions, or a world of kindness and compassion for humans and animals. Think about it.

June Thoughts

I don't understand the state of  politics today. As a lifelong Democrat I can honestly say that while I wouldn't have liked Kasich or some other Republican winning the presidency I would have grudgingly accepted it. Trump on the other hand is another ball of wax. He's misogynistic, narcissistic, and a liar. He's also colluded with Russia and fired anyone who won't swear allegiance to only him. Still people voted for him and still they support him calling him honest and smart. This is not true.I don't understand it. How can evangelicals support a man who talks disparagingly about women, mocked the disabled, and has married many times. He is in over his head and has done nothing but sign a few executive orders and ticked off all of our allies. He plays golf almost every weekend and hired all his family, costing tax payers millions. Our constitution has been trashed and violated almost beyond repair and none of his supporters complain.
Well, when they lose their Health Care and other benefits that they've enjoyed for years I will not feel sorry for them nor will I do anything to help them. They will be on their own.
Regarding the young man who died while in custody of the North Koreans I feel very sorry for that and I know his family is very sad. The government wants to restrict travel to North Korea and some people are against it stating that the government can't tell them where they can travel and where they can't. I feel that if they want to go to a country and break the law and get arrested, let them but don't expect the government to come to your aide if you do get in trouble. It's how I feel about people climbing mountains and rocks, going out to sea, going around barriers at low water crossings, or whatever, against the advice of experts who do it anyway, get in trouble and expect to be rescued. These rescues sometimes result in the rescuers being killed. You go against good advice, you get yourself out of the mess you made.

This is a safe place.

Wear your safety pins proudly to stand against intolerance. No pulling back on womens' rights, LGBT rights, intimidation of immigrants.

If you want to fight

Fight with your pocketbook. Don't do business with companies that supported DT, cancel your credit cards, get off their mailing lists and tell them why. Don't go see or support celebrities who supported him or watch their movies or TV shows or buy their products or music. Wherever you see injustice, racism, or cruelty to others because of their race, religion, or sexualty, stand up for them. Join organizations that support the planet and raise people up. You have a voice, use it.

Black Days Ahead

Still not over Black Tuesday of 2016. What a horrid thing to happen to the world. What happened confirms that there is no supreme being watching over us...we're all alone on this planet. Love the ones close to you because the morons who voted that narcissistic, racist, sexist troll in are not going to love you or even be kind to you. We're doomed to a dystopian world. Fun, right?

Election and other stuff

Terrible, horrible, disgusting,  numbness. Hate that people went with that pig. People I know and love did that and I will never forgive them for it. I only hope the US can weather this travesty. I'm off of social media until I work through my feelings because I am disgusted with people and I don't want to see or hear from a majority of them ever again. My immediate family is not included in this rant.
He's not my president, he's a racist butt wipe and I will do my best to not see or hear him or support him in any way shape or form...EVER! Goodbye to the land I knew and loved. And no I'm not moving out of the country! I can voice my opinion, at least for now until the jackbooted thugs take over.

Doesn't feel like September

It's September and while our temps range from the 90's for highs and the high 70's for lows and doesn't feel very fall like, at least it's not in the 100's anymore.
Went to the doctor and my tests came out pretty good. The only troublesome result showed that I'm still on the cusp for diabetes. Bummer. I watch what I eat and even got a new tread mill and use it at least 5 minutes every hour from 7am to 7pm...for the most part. Sometimes I walk 15 minutes. I have a Fitbit so I can't fudge the numbers. Most days I reach my goal but when I don't I just resolve to do better. I've been getting nosebleeds as of late, had abut 5 of them so far, so my regular doctor is sending me to an ear, nose, and throat MD to hopefully see what's up.
The election is dragging on and on and on and on. The media which used to be made up of journalist has now become 'reality television' with screaming and yelling and mostly just reporting what they think has happened instead of the facts of what happened in any given story. Sad, sad. I don't know how things will turn out but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we don't have a Brexit situation here when the dust settles.
We had a nice though quick visit with Cyndi. She moved away and came to pick up the rest of her things. Was lovely seeing her. Thank goodness for Hangouts, at least we can see her when she calls.
College football has started so my husband is happy about that. Not a lot of games in a short amount of time compared to baseball and basketball season but it's his favorite sport to watch.
Go Longhorns!
Roll Tide!

Sore Losers

We backed Hillary in 2008 and when she did not get the nomination we licked our wounds and got over it and backed Obama. I say this because I think that the Bernie Sanders backers should now do the same thing. He ran a good campaign but he lost so all of you should quit crying and get on with the work of helping Hillary beat Trump. All I hear from your losing camp is wah, wah, wah. Sheesh!

Quit being cry babies and sore losers.

"Yellow dog Democrats are Democrats who are fiercely loyal to their party, typically voting a straight Democratic ticket and always supporting Democratic candidates. The Democratic party of course greatly appreciates yellow dogs, although the term is sometimes used disparagingly to describe people who are blindly loyal to the party. Some Democrats have suggested that a small amount of disloyalty might actually be a good thing, allowing people to come up with constructive suggestions for making the party stronger.
The use of the term dates back to around 1900, when it was used to describe Southern Democrats, and it became popularized during the 1928 Presidential contest. Many Democrats in the South had lingering resentments against the Republicans left over from the period of Reconstruction after the Civil War, and as a result they decided to stand behind the Democratic party, sometimes at all costs, rather than supporting Republicans. The yellow dog Democrats were a serious force to be reckoned with in the American south as a result."
I'm a yellow dog democrat and guess I'll always be one. I truly don't like to discuss politics with others, especially those who make derogatory and inflammatory comments about the candidates I support.  Please keep your rhetoric to yourself and I won't throw shade on the candidate of your choice and goodness knows there is more than enough shade to throw! You vote your way and I'll vote my way.

May...still a difficult month for me

Don't know if I can post tomorrow or not so I'm posting this today. Tomorrow will be the second anniversary of my mom's passing. She is greatly missed.
I find myself wondering why getting over her death has been harder than getting over the death of my father. I've come to the conclusion that when my dad passed (Feb. 8, 2004) we had mom to worry about and take care of so there was little time to think and little time to mourn. Mom had been ill with Alzhiemers for about 7 years and the last three years of her illness where intense and then suddenly she was gone and I had nothing but time to mourn and comb through her belongings and see all the things that she had enjoyed. We're still finding things that I don't know what to do with. It's crazy. Because of this I have given away things of my own that don't have particular meaning for anyone so our kids won't have to go through the same task.
The old saying that time heals all wounds are wrong. It just dulls the pain.
On a happier note we have been having some good rain and Austin is green again.

Afraid For Hillary

I'm growing increasingly pessimistic about Hillary Clinton's chances for winning the Democratic nomination and getting elected president. She's not only fighting the Republican machine but she's also having to fight the Bernie Sanders and his minions that threaten not to vote for her if their candidate does not get the nomination. Don't know what's going to happen. It's scary.
I've been riding my stationary bike for a few minutes at a time trying to work up to riding it for a significant period of time. I'm so way out of shape that it's shameful, even for an old broad like me.
Trying to do more housework but it too gets away from me. The girls help and Frank helps in the kitchen but the dust mites out number us all! Ick.

Last Day of April 2016

Coming into May I find myself getting a little depressed. You see it will be the second Mother's Day without my mom. Time marches on and while it heals nothing it does dull the pain your loss. Sometimes it the pain does get the best of you though but like everything else it too passes on. I wonder why we're born if death is the conclusion of that life. What's the point of it all? Being a good person doesn't extend your life nor does being an evil person, death comes for all. It makes no sense to me. You work, you worry, you have times that you are happy but in the end you die and people go through your things and sell or give them away and maybe keep a few to use or to remember you by. Ah, I'm just in a dark place at the moment, just ignore my drivel. Why do I even ask you to ignore me when I know that seldom does anyone read this blog? Silly me.
I'm on Face Book and a lot of my in-laws and some who used to be co-workers are Republicans and some are coming around to Trump. What a disaster this election is. I try not to post anything political because I don't want to argue or hurt any persons feelings. We're all free to vote for who is running for whatever reasons we think they may be qualified. I'm a dyed in the wool Democrat and would rather vote for a yellow dog than a Republican. This election I'm supporting Hillary. I'd like to see what a woman could do in that office. Bernie Sanders offers pie in the sky promises that have not chance whatsoever of ever becoming law so I'm not supporting him. If he winds up getting the nomination in July I will vote for him but I will not work for his campaign or donate any money to it.
Thought I'd post a picture of one of our cats (we have two) just for something fun and sweet to uplift my mood. Her name is Pearl and she is a sweet and loving kitty who Evie rescued from the street.

A Sunday in March 2016

The political race is going strong and the news channels are enjoying the whole spectacle of the Republican race. The only thing I have to say about the whole thing is that it's stupid.
We have some company coming today and leaving on Tuesday. It'll be nice to have something different going on.
SXSW is over, yeah!
Not anything to report on my exercise schedule...I'm lame, not in a physical way but in a mental way, and that's about it.
Been watching Sleepy Hollow, Lucifer (great fun but fluff stories), and waiting for the season finale of NCIS when Michael Weatherly does his last show as Tony.
Had some blood work done and the doctor says I'm holding steady. I read the report and while I understand some of the results some are Greek to me even if I look the words up on the Internet.
We had a lot of thunder on Friday but very tiny amount of rain. It's cooler the past couple of days and today but it's supposed to climb back into the 80's by mid-week. We've had no winter, and seem to have jumped over spring into summer. Ah well, that's the way it goes.

Nothing much going on

Not much going on that's interesting right now. We voted in the primary and we're pretty sick of seeing all the political ads, stories, squabbles, etc.. I don't know if I would look into the future to see what happens in November because I might not want to know and for now ignorance could be bliss.
I've done a little better on the exercise front, not as good as I should be doing but at least I'm doing something.
President Obama is in town today for SXSW so we're staying home. In the area where suspected traffic gridlock is suspected to be they are letting school out early and asking people to work from home if at all possible. Not only do we have the influx of people for this but the rodeo is in town and soon some basketball. It's crazy full of tourists.
Still struggling with missing my folks, especially my mom but I guess time is the only thing that will ease that pain. Read that Glen Campbell has reached the stage of Alzheimer's where he doesn't recognize people or things and has trouble talking. Such a painful disease for the family. Wish they could eradicate it.

Scattered Thoughts

Well here we are well into December and I've not increased my exercise. Why is very it so hard to do the things are good for your mind and body and so easy to do the things that are bad?
The political race is going downhill fast. I don't see anyone that I'm comfortable with. I wish Bill Clinton could run again. The Republican candidates scare the heck out of me.
I went to see The Book of Mormon with two of our daughters and one of our granddaughters. I really liked the cast and the singing and dancing was great. As far as the material it was satirical and very funny... most of the time. I think they were too irreverent at times and cursed too much at other times but that's just my opinion. In my humble opinion too much cursing means that their vocabulary is thin and it makes for lazy writing. I like for things to be witty and to make you think about what they are saying to understand what is taking place before you. Being hit over the head with the F word gets old very quickly and like I said above, it's lazy writing. Part of the play did make you think but other parts didn't. Happily the thinking parts out distanced the non thinking parts. The best part was being out and enjoying life with our girls. They are amazing human beings.
On Sunday we're going to see A Christmas Carol at the Zach theater. It's amazing that the story Dickens wrote so long ago is still relevant today, especially the part about the children of Christmas Present who were want and ignorance. Their needs caused societal problems then as they do today. He also wrote about the poor needing help and sadly this is still true today. Like it's been said before, the more things change, the more they stay the same, or so it seems.
Christmas will be here in a couple of weeks and then the new year. I hope the coming year holds peace and prosperity and health for everyone.

Starting Again

Plugged my Jawbone (that had previously stopped working) into my tablet and viola, it worked! So I took that as a sign that I should get moving again. I've been sidelined for so long that I'm woefully out of shape. I have been going out more and walking around stores, etc., just to get moving. Today I walked from our house down to the recreation center which is about 1/2 a mile there and back again. So I did 1, 888 steps. More to go. I have to beat back this pre-diabetic condition I've let myself get into. I've set a goal today of 4,000 cause you have to start somewhere! Onward and upward.

Still Struggling

It's been a long while since I've posted anything here. Still struggling with the loss of my mom and it's been over a year now since she left us. I guess the years of care giving have made it harder because taking care of her was my purpose in life and suddenly it was taken away from me. I love my family and they have made it possible for me t function as normal as possible through all that has transpired in the past few years. I feel for all those people who are having to go through the same thing that we went through. All I I can tell them is that it too shall pass.
We have done a few fun things, like go to movies, take a short trip to Shreveport to gamble a bit, etc. I want to go to the gulf but so far we having worked out a time to get there.
I've tried to get back to painting and writing but so far it's been a no go there. I have started reading again, thanks Stephen King for being so prolific and writing novels and short stories that take me away to other places. Looking at social sites like FB have taken my mind off things from time to time but quite often I find that we wade through many posts that are the same due to all the sharing that goes on. Still, it's been a way to keep up with people who don't use snail mail or make phone calls.
Not much else to say right now but hopefully I will get up to speed again and get on with life.