Tag Archives: Opinion

Me & WP – One Year Now!


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Hi Blog Buds! I have been missing you šŸ™‚

I’ve been trying to catch up here and there the last few weeks – which might I add have absolutely flown by!! Finally getting over the crud that was going around, and trying to get it together to end this semi-crappy year and move on to a new year, and hopefully some wonderful new adventures and opportunities. I say semi-crappy because in the scheme of things, it could’ve been much worse.

My philosophy in life, generally, is if by the end of the day no one has died, no one is terminally ill and no one is scarred for life, it’s been a damn good day – or at least it wasn’t as bad as it may have seemed.

So, though I have spent the last year ā€œjob freeā€ against my will, and we have really pillaged our ā€œretirementā€ savings, which we will pay dearly for – all in all, it could have been a worse year.

Last month, I wroteĀ ~29,000 words ofĀ theĀ novel that has been inside me for years. NO, I did not ā€œwinā€ NaNoWriMo, but I still consider it a success for me. I am very happy with how some of it is going, and stuck in a few places, as well. I’m working it out . . . and I do plan on finishing it. (Here’s a few excerpts, if you like a little romance and contemporary fiction.)

I have just reached my one year anniversary on WordPress.Ā This is where I started blogging. I’m just tickled that I have found not only an audience for my musings (72 blogs thus far), but another family —Ā of writersĀ all motivating, inspiring, and encouraging each other. So many of you I miss when I have been away from my blog for any length of time, and I try to find the time to catch up with you when time allows.

Anyway – I wanted to thank you all for making me feel special, for allowing me into your life by spending your precious time with me, and for sharing with and teaching me, as well. I am truly honored!!

Hugs to you all ā¤

Just something I was thinking about . . .

No Mother – One-Liner Wednesday


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So I keep seeing this picture on Facebook, and I’m not sure where exactly it came from or how “authentic” it is. But the first time I saw it, I just had one thoughtĀ . . .

No mother should have to fear for any of their loved ones lives because someone else’s son robs a store, regardless of race.Ā 

Anyway, just something I was thinking about . . .

[Written for Linda Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday, though it’s neither funny or inspirational per say, so I didn’t exactly follow the rules this time.]

Image source: https://www.facebook.com/waltonandjohnson/photos/a.178779813472.122034.172224883472/10152617857393473/?type=1

Thank You & Happy Thanksgiving!


Hope youĀ all had a Happy Thanksgiving – if you celebrate it! I spent mine with my family and we ate until we hurt šŸ˜‰ Yes, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner!

I doubt seriously that I am going to “win” NaNoWriMo by completing my 50, 000 words, but I managed to get a little over 25,000 words and I am continuing to work it as much as possible through the weekend, but regardless I will keep working on it after, as well. I have made great progress this month – more than I ever have before. I have other pieces to the story that I had written previously that can be incorporated and woven into the overall story – so certainly not a wasted effort by any means! I have gotten some good feedback in various places – and would look forward to more should you decide to peruse a few tidbits I shared and provide comments.

I have so been missing reading your blogs and plan to catch up with everyone next week!!

I also have quite a few topics on my list of future posts that I want to start knocking out šŸ™‚

Thought I might share this song with you – it’s another one of my favs! May we all have someone like this in our lives, be it spouses, lovers, friends, family, kids, grandkids šŸ™‚

Just something I was thinking about, as I’m reflecting on my many blessings today Ā ā¤

[This song came on as I’m listening to my iTunes writing my novel – so of course I wanted to share & got distracted LOL!! Hope you enjoy it!]

nanoPoblanoĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā Ā  NaBloPoMo_1114_465x287_NOV

TupperwareĀ® Got Me Thinking


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So my last post got me to thinking about TupperwareĀ®. I love TupperwareĀ® and have many pieces I bought years ago from a party I had. I even have a couple of very old pieces from my grandmas, back from the late 1940s and 1950s. After World War II, Earl TupperĀ modified his factory machines to mold raw polyethylene (developed for weapons use) into food containers – using a paint can as inspiration for the tight-fitting lids. Originally, TupperwareĀ® Ā was made in the Massachusetts’ plastics industrial complex.

I emailed them last week, using the ā€œContact Usā€ link on their website, inquiring about where their products are manufactured. Several emails went back and forth, and I must admit they were very prompt with their responses. I was told that TupperwareĀ® products are made all over the world – Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Portugal, France, Belgium, Greece, India, China, Korea, Japan and United States.

I was assured of their continued history of high quality and design and ā€œall TupperwareĀ® products meet all applicable laws and regulations for product safety in each country they are made.ā€ I’m not sure what that means exactly. Do they mean that all countries manufacture products that meet all U.S. laws and regulations regarding health safety, or are they different in different countries? Pretty sure it was stated that way on their website, too.

Though their home office is in Orlando, Florida, their Customer Care Center is located in Mexico City. You know I asked, and I asked because I could tell from the way the email was composed. Again – that shit just pisses me off, though they were – again – prompt and most informative and polite. But their English writing skills weren’t great. Kind of scares me when big corporations don’t find good clear concise written communication important.

A Google search turned up a WP blog that stated ā€œthe TupperwareĀ® Ā factory in the United States is located in Hemmingway, South Carolina.ā€ Debra Todd Jordan, a TupperwareĀ® Ā consultant, went on to say, ā€œEach plant makes the items that areĀ indigenousĀ to their region.ā€ So, if that’s correct, I can get on board with that – if nothing else saves on shipping and props up the economies using the products. Unfortunately, how those corporate taxes are handled I probably would not agree with.

Anyway, since I didn’t have my fingers in enough pies this week, I had to research this šŸ˜‰ I am a glutton for punishment lately. Just thought I’d share what I found out. I haven’t bought any lately, but read in my research that now they are not marked with where they are made, just the TupperwareĀ® mark. Where ourĀ medicines come from is next on my agenda – after . . .

Still working NaNoWriMo . . . still behind, but continuing to work it. I may not meet my goal, but damn it, I will be further along in this story than I have been. I posted a couple of snippets from the novel on my other blog, in the event you are interested in this type of reading. It is very different from this blog – that’s why I have more than one, my interests are varied, random, eclectic for sure. Ā My novel is fiction, with a little romance thrown in, more a story of life and how it plays out sometimes. There’s a lot of dialog. If you check it out, please leave me some feedback. I value and respect all of your opinions as writers in general. Having said that – don’t make me cry now šŸ˜‰

All of a sudden I have a bunch of people wanting apple butter and this week blackberries are on sale for 88-cents a six-ounce container, so I have a few orders I have to fill this week. Doesn’t make much money, but brings in a little cash and I enjoy doing it. (Though my hands aren’t as good as they used to be and when you make this shit – if you’re doing it right, you’re gonna get burned LOL – seriously! Looking forward to that blackberry jam, though!!)

Listening to this right now – I find this to be good writing music sometimes, depending on my mood . . . plus it’s raining and the wind’s kicking, and the windchimes are singing – n~i~c~e.

Also, trying to keep up with y’all, slowly but surely šŸ˜‰ I’m definitely becoming a binge reader, seemly stalking sites šŸ™‚

Just some things I was thinking about ☮☮☮

[POSTSCRIPT – OH NO, the video I linked to has been removed . . . that’s never happened to me before. I hope I didnt just get added to some LIST somewhere, ya know what I mean šŸ˜‰ I’m going to look for another link, but in case I don’t find one, the music was the soundtrack to the movie “Rush” from 1992, mostly instrumentals by Eric Clapton. Soulful, contemplative music for sure!]

nanoPoblanoĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā NaBloPoMo_1114_465x287_NOV

Made in ‘WHERE?”


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I was so excited today when I found these little plastic containers (like Ziplock storage containers) that have snowmen and Merry Christmas and other holiday stuff on them to use for putting cookies, candy, other baked goods in for the holidays. They weren’t on my shopping list, as I was only going for more apples on sale for the apple butter I am making and selling now.

They were only about $1.69 a package (three in one package, and five in the other), BUT what made me so excited about these cheap plastic products is that they were not only BPA-free but MADE IN AMERICA!!!Ā Not made in China, like just about everything else we come in contact with. (Again, let me say, I have nothing against China, per say, I just think we need to be making our own products and putting Americans to work.)

I was going through my grandkids Halloween candy yesterday, and I had to throw away a bunch of candy bracelets and rings and stuff – all made in China. I will not indulge in any food products made there, or pet products either. Especially not for my grandkids – food stuff, not pet stuff. Quite frankly, I can’t help but wonder if China is trying to poison us and the rest of the world with their inferior products – but that’s a whole blog post on its own!

This led me to start thinking about, and not for the first time, where in the hell all of our drugs – name brand and generic are being made, since that is not information we are typically privy to as consumers – though maybe we should be. I know I would like to know where the drugs I may have to take are coming from, since I take that much care in selecting other consumable goods I buy.

Do any of you know where your medications are made? Do you think this is important?

Okay – off to NaNoWriMo land – need to get in an hour or so tonight. Didn’t get much done last night, had to catch up with a few of your blogs – I was blog-jonesin’ šŸ˜‰ But I am still at it!!

Just something I was thinking about . . .

nanoPoblanoĀ  Ā NaBloPoMo_1114_465x287_NOV

 

Wrongful Convictions Trend?


One of the topics on my agenda lately has been this case in Dallas where two men were wrongly accused and convicted spending 15 years behind bars. The Innocence Project worked the case and proved their innocence via DNA evidence. The two men, Dennis Lee Allen and Stanley Orson Mozee, were released from prison Oct. 28.

I know that unfortunately innocent people end up in prison more often then we think. This is why the Innocence Project’s work is so important. I would so love to work for them!

What I find troubling is that Dallas has had more than 30 convictions overturned in the last 10Ā years, freeing these men after they servedĀ years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit.

I realize they try 1000s of cases a year, maybe more, but this number just seems a bit high to me. Am I the only one troubled by that number? I want to do some more research on this when I get some extra time.

NaNoWriMo update: Ā Oh my gosh – I am still at it. Shocked the shit out of me, for sure. So farĀ 13,764 words in, with onlyĀ 36,236 to go šŸ˜‰ Fixing to try and work an hour or so tonight. It’s been a busy day! I need to play a little catch-up here, too – family stuff has been calling me away the last few days.

I am way behind on my blog reading, so if I haven’t hit your posts lately, I am planning to catch up soon! Hope you are all doing well!

Just some things I was thinking about . . .

nanoPoblano Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā Ā NaBloPoMo_1114_465x287_NOV

Hey Blog Buds!


Hello my Blog Buds!!

[I used that term in a comment to another blogger, a fav of mine Opinionated Man and decided to keep it šŸ™‚ ]

I just wanted to thank you again for following me – reading, commenting, and engaging! I doubled my number of Blog Buds over the summer, something I never expected to happen. I’m glad you are enjoying my random rambling thoughts, as I have many! I read as many of you as I can when I can.

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I mentioned I am participating in National Novel Writing Month. Yes, I am definitely a glutton for punishment!

This is not my first attempt at this, but I hoping this will be my first success. I am proud to say that as of the end of today, Day 3 (just finished up for the day), I am 6543 words in, though my friendly counter reminds me that I still have 43,457 to meet my challenge goal.

I voted earlyĀ last Friday. Political races are nasty here, so I’ll be glad when it’s over, tired of hearing all the bullshit. Today is Election Day – I hope you go and exercise your right to vote. Though inherently we all want and need the same things, we will never all think the same, nor should we – BUT we should think ☮

Some FLUFF is always good


I don’t know about y’all, but I need a break from the news.

I love all kinds of music – though not head-banging or rap so much – rock and roll, blues, jazz, R&B, some pop, some country, and even a small amount of classical. Growing up in the 1970s , I was a huge Black Sabbath fan! My first real boyfriend turned me on to them – they were his FAV band, and his room was covered in their posters. As we listened together, I fell in love with the driving beats, and what I considered at the time as rebellious, independent, free-spirited, anti-establishment, beautiful, truthful lyrical compositions. BUT my favorite compositions were their instrumental pieces. They are just beautiful and soul-touching.

My very favorite of these instrumental pieces & one of my all time favorite songs is Fluff.

https://youtu.be/_9kdZ07BCFQ

Then there’s Laguna Sunrise, a very peaceful, introspective piece.

Black Sabbath did a few other instrumental pieces, as well, but these were my favs.

Feeling nostalgic and working on feeling peaceful this evening . . .

Got some interesting stuff coming soon, a few new topics I have been probing around in – hope you’ll stick around and check it out!

Just something I was thinking about . . . ☮

Now the Panic Sets In


I am watching the Congressional Hearings on Ebola now. The CDC is looking really bad and in my opinion is not currently up for the task of protecting this country. Dr. Frieden, head of the CDC, was asked if he knew of any hospitals in Ohio that have practiced procedures for handling an Ebola patient. (Ohio is where Vinson flew to.) Dr. Frieden did not know if this has been done. If I was him, that would’ve been one of the first things I did after learning about Ms. Vinson’s travel.

Someone mentioned that Pham’s dog is being quarantined, and that old CDC reports noted that transmission to/from dogs is unknown, but suspect. This congressman then asked if we shouldn’t be imposing travel restrictions on animals – yet still no mention of actually imposing travel restrictions on people. And when I say restrictions – I don’t just mean preventing airplane travel.

School districts in Texas and Ohio have now closed some schools due to the risk of exposure. Ā I heard that Frontier Airlines has grounded their exposed employees – finally someone with a brain. Hopefully they are going to decontaminate the plane – though that is just one of the places Vinson exposed to the virus.

A nurse atĀ Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas stated that she had questioned the protective apparel at the time. She also said if she got sick, she would NOT go to the hospital she works for. Apparently, quite a few people are refraining from visiting that hospital – thank goodness.

And one last thing that keeps going through my mind – what exactly is meant by “monitoring” of the exposed people. (They may have asked that during the hearing, but if so I missed it.) And why are so many being allowed to “self-monitor?”

Just something I was thinking about . . .

She Flew With a Fever


I swear this was not what I had in mind for my next post. I have some other things I am working on, but I just can’t believe healthcare worker Amber Vinson got on a plane knowing she had a fever and knowing she had been exposed to Thomas Duncan, and Nina Pham, the other nurse who has been diagnosed with Ebola. She of all people KNEW BETTER! Vinson has now been diagnosed with Ebola, and flown to Atlanta for treatment.

When asked how this could happen, that one of these exposed healthcare workers could get on a plane and travel during the incubation period when they were supposed to be being monitored for symptoms – the answer the official gave was the one we keep hearing over and over – Well, somebody dropped the ball there.

I heard another official say that the risk of the infection spreading was ā€œvery very low,ā€ but we all know that’s bullshit. Why don’t they just tell the truth – though the risk appears to be low, this is a dangerous disease, and everyone must be vigilant, period. AND they haven’t been!! Those that could be exposed need to be trained thoroughly and provided the appropriate protective equipment. AND they haven’t been!! It’s been reported that the nurses who treated Duncan also treated other patients. Those in charge really are not taking this issue seriously. How could they be, with this type of decision-making and resulting behavior?

And I’m sorry, regardless whether anyone kept Vinson from flying or not – SHE should’ve known better, she did know better, she just didn’t care. Shit, I take more precautions to keep from exposing people when I have a cold. I have to admit, I was fucking blown away when I heard she got on a plane knowing she had a fever and her exposure history. I could go on about that, but serves no purpose.

[I have to add a post-script here: A few hours after the initial report that Vinson traveled by plane, it was discovered that she DID contact the CDC and inform them that she had a fever. The CDC, in their infinite wisdom, told her to go ahead and fly, as her fever was still under the threshold they had set.Ā The CDC , in my opinion, have just lost an immense amount of credibility by not erring on the side of caution. I pray that mistake doesn’t come back to haunt them, as well as the rest of us.]

I said in my last blog – I hope everyone that has come in contact with these patients is being quarantined and monitored. I can’t help but worry that someone has been missed, unnoticed, or unidentified. Well, we now have proof that exposed people are out there in the general population coming in contact with others who have no idea.

There are 70+ other healthcare workers who came in contact with Duncan, not counting how many others who have come into contact with Pham and Vinson. So far, none of the original 70+ people are being quarantined, knowingly allowing them to possibly expose others.

AND while all of this is going on, and we have turned our attention to our own inattention to precaution against Ebola and are now scrambling to stop the possible impending crisis, I can’t help but wonder what else might be going on elsewhere – while we aren’t paying attention?

Just something I was thinking about . . .