Coffee Chat - Turkey Chat...

 

It's a late Thanksgiving this year, and I'm really thankful for that! As I work through my never-ending lists, a later holiday has actually allowed me to catch up some. After spending so much time in the past few years, being sick or injured...rebuilding my health has been a difficult, and constant hurdle. I have started feeling more like myself, but the damage done, sometimes feels insurmountable. I know many won't understand but, I have always struggled to gain weight. When I stress, get sick, or get too overwhelmed...I lose weight, and quickly. I don't have much to lose. Gaining a pound or two back, is a major undertaking, let alone the nearly 25 I lost. With that also is the challenge of not being able to eat much at one time. If you think about when you get sick, and don't eat much. Your stomach actually does shrink to fit the intake of food. After a 2 year health battle, my husband said I wasn't eating enough to feed a bird, but I would eat as much as I could. So, it's been a big struggle, and added stresses only make matters worse.  Add in the joy of menopause, and the randomness of symptoms there...and the economic troubles, loss, and family...it's been tough. I struggled to enjoy so much of the outlets I once enjoyed, found myself feeling like I didn't really fit into anything, and there was more stress. While I began feeling a little lighter a couple months ago, September was a real turning point...so far.

I have always valued my independent steak and not needing recognition to do good things. I don't need them to succeed, but sometimes negativity begins to overrule even the most positive reinforcements. It's kind of funny to me to read the memes on social media about true friends, family and even spousal behaviors. If I followed those things, I'd be in serious trouble. Let's see if I can name a few: "if your spouse has a lock on their phone, they are hiding something from you." "If friends are true, they can see when there is a problem, even if you don't tell them." "Family - blood is thicker than water." "People will make time if it's important to them, no one is too busy." Geez, I could fill pages with this nonsense. It's really easy to understand why so many are depressed, jealous, and have gotten so set in a world of unrealistic. The more you are focused on negatives, the more you will get...that is just the way it is. I've started allowing myself to have a moment to whine about an issue, but then I turn it to this: "whining has gotten me no-where but more upset. How can fix whatever it is that is challenging me?" One area I really struggled with, after reaching out to others for help, lead me to a friend that helped me jump a hurdle I didn't know how to fix. Another area, I am working hard on, is the negativity. There is so much of it anymore, and it comes in so many forms. So much of it, is unnecessary, but we open our lives to world through social media and even our circles. I quit sharing the majority of my life on social media and even in my blogs. So, if people feel the need to gossip about me, that's all it is because no one outside my immediate family and inner circle knows what goes on here. That inner circle keeps getting smaller with poor behaviors. I'm not better than anyone else, and I don't try to be...but I work hard to be a better me, every single day. I'm finding that some positive recognition is quite nice. Having a few trusted people that I can turn to as friends that will listen to my nonsense, and then give me a fresh perspective to rebuild the steam I need to keep going, is invaluable! 

So, just getting some of these thoughts out today is helpful. I have 6 days to get ready for my absolute favorite meal of the year! I have a lot of people coming to celebrate Thanksgiving, and I am excited. I have quite a list of chores to check off, but there are great rewards this time of year. My beautiful Christmas decorations are going up, nearly all of the items needed for Thanksgiving have been gotten, and even getting the winter prep list knocked out has been happening. 

I pray each of you have a bountiful, healthy and happy Thanksgiving!

Nov. 15 coffee updates

 

 

 

I'm going to take a minute to pat myself on the back, I don't do this normally... I have been speaking in front of 25-50 people for several years. It's not a big deal. When I have a grasp on the topic at hand, it's quite easy for me. However, speaking to a group well over 100 people, with a few new talking points...OMG! Talk about nerve wracking! Not to mention the venue, was full of Veterans, the people I admire the most. I never want to appear foolish to them. I gave my speech it went a little off topic briefly, but I still fit it in a 10 minute window. It was a little intimidating seeing the program of speakers...Mike Mortensen - a combat veteran, Sgt. Patrick Perkins - another combat hero and President of Heroes Hunting Foundation, Scott Wright - Marine veteran, and Deb Moeller - Iowa City VA...and Me. I was one of very few non-veteran speakers. It was especially humbling. Even more so, it was the first time I had been able to attend the event, so I did not know how it worked. I know I will be much more prepared next time. I was able to make a few networking connections, that could help us to continue to improve our veteran hunt.  That is always my first priority, improving what we do, to give more back to our veterans. I have to give Van Buren County Veterans Affairs, VSO's Barbie & Marcella, a ton of credit for organizing not only such a big event but keeping it running smoothly. They did an incredible job! I can organize and plan with the best of them, but organized chaos can still be chaotic. 

I am venturing into our holiday season gatherings and decor beginning today. I'm still on a bit of high after last night. There is just a small amount of decorating(by my standards)left to do inside, and a little bit outside, and that will be finished. I have been taking pictures as I go, but not sharing too much on social media. I just haven't taken the time. I will later. I am pushing myself pretty hard this year, to find some spirit. My little girl is more excited for Christmas this year, than she has been for several years. It's a little easier to find that magical spirit when the people I spend all my time with, are bursting at the seems with it. Not to mention, a couple of exciting prospects have been added to my life, giving me more hope for better times ahead. I've said before, the past several years have been tough. 

So, with a blanket of fog to start the day...I will be working around the house. I have a little paperwork to deal with, and will be adding to my growing grocery list. It's a little ominous not being able to see beyond our vehicles, but it's kind of pretty too. I've seen the first forecast calling for some snow showers next week too. Guess that means it's time to wrap up the outdoor preps...the winter weather is going to make its first appearance. Remember to take time to count your blessings, and hug your loved ones a little tighter. Even though I've questioned this a lot, I still believe that family is our number 1 priority. Have blessed day and weekend. 

Coffee Chat

 

It's finally starting to feel, "fall-ish." The leaves are falling and the winds seem to howl a little more as we draw nearer to the Winter Solstice. It's kind of unbelievable we are at this point in the year. After several years of insults adding to injury, it's quite nice to feel a ray of hope again. Even if it's still a little wobbly. 

Each morning, as I sit with my coffee, say my prayers for the day and go over paperwork...I reflect. Some days, it is inspiring while others is a bit dreary. We are all guilty of making excuses for things - both good and bad, that happen in our lives. I have always told my kids, the universe tends to help us see the forest through the trees. It shows us the realities, and even when we can not understand the events, it's there to guide us to betterment. Whether that be bettering ourselves or our situations. I don't believe in luck, luck seems to show up with some good, old fashioned hard work...and a whole lot of prayer. 

This week, even with a lovely sinus headache, I've really felt some much needed hope. It's like a veil is being lifted after years of dark. I know, that is a little dramatic. Still. That is my feeling. In September, even with just our family to run point, we had one of the biggest veterans hunt to date. It sure seemed as every veteran enjoyed themselves, which is the entire point. We had great people that stepped up and made/bought food, great veterans - as always!, and some incredible help in several areas. Now, we just need to improve the field volunteer lists! I have notebooks full of notes that have helped me keep organized, and improve what I can. We have already set the dates, reserved the lodge and most of the rentals/services, and have a big jump on the fundraising. We are in a good place. I am looking at a little better structure for the fundraising/sponsorship side. October was fun. We attended the 7th annual gun show in Bonaparte, Iowa. We have actually been part of it, from the beginning. It's incredible to see the transformations it has made, and the leadership of that show are great people. It was also the month, I did the first ever media interview for our veteran hunt. That was a bit nerve wracking! I'm still trying to figure out how to make that visible for everyone to read. I wanted to stress the importance of outdoor events for veterans, not just our event, but all the events available to veterans through so many different groups. All the groups I've been in contact with, offer benefits to veterans, and should not be used as a competition. If it is, it's defeating the purpose of actually helping veterans. Working broadly together, will get the most impact possible. 

Now, we are in the second week of November. It's hard to believe! I normally have all my Christmas stuff up and out...but I'm lagging really bad this year. I have some up, but not much. I'm working on it. As I said earlier, I have felt really out-of-sorts, for several years now and I'm starting to see a little light at the end of a very dark tunnel. One thing I will tell you, don't wait for someone to notice you not being yourself. They won't show up. It doesn't matter if you are ill, depressed or feel like you've lost all hope - you have to find some solid ground to build yourself back up. Most are too busy to even notice. You have to be your own hero, your own rock. It's not easy and you will have a lot of set backs...but keep fighting! Each new day, is a new chance to make improvements, and if need be...start over again. Sadly, we've been conditioned to believe in victim-hood, and make excuses to hold us back. It's always a good practice to reject that, and start taking stock in our own self. 

It's a great day to start fresh. Take inventory of what is serving you well, and what is not. It's said that insanity is doing things and thinking the same ways, while expecting different results. Let's break the insanity! We have a gift given to us, each day we open our eyes. Use it wisely. This is my reminder, as much as it is for everyone else. It's easy to get lost in the minutia, and noise. It's in these last few weeks of the year, that I am truly being reminded, of God's grace. Learn from your experiences, and grow from them. I am trying to do just that!

Some thoughts - trigger warn

 

Some thoughts on current issues - probably need a trigger warning here.

I thought I'd write about some generic thoughts and just share them in my social media, but the AI prevents or flags a lot again. Apparently, it's a wild card if you are allowed to share anything positive about Trump or negative about Harris. Some manage to get a lot posted, me? I get flagged with threats of one more time and it's a 30-90 day Facebook jail. So, here we are. Grab some coffee, or your favorite beverage and let's just chat.

Having strong opinions is pretty common anymore. The biggest difference I can see, is that some strong opinions have a hollow base to them. This can be true of any number of subjects. If you base an opinion on what you see on the news, you've got a hollow base. It's been proven fact, for a long time, that you only get snippets of truth mixed with a whole lot of narrative direction from them. If you are familiar with the Smith-Mundt Act, you know that between 2008 and 2016, that was revised to allow propaganda to be used against the American people. This completely reversed the original intent, which was to require facts and truth only, to the American people. This essentially turned our media from fact focused, to shear entertainment and propaganda. The biggest problem is that American's have become to lazy to actually know what is going on with the legislation in our government. This is also true of how our branches of government are expected to work, how our military is expected to work, and how our Constitution and Bill of Rights work. There are so many that can not even tell you the simplest explanation of our Bill of Rights. It's truly remarkable how complacent we have become. We expect the 4 year elections to just "fix" everything, but we don't realize that the biggest changes we can make is in our Congressional races, and in our state and local elections. We don't realize how all the divisions that have force fed to us, have done nothing more than allow those, who have nothing but greed and power as their priority, to continue to dictate what is acceptable for us. People that spend 20+ years in federal government, have lost touch with the very people they are supposed to represent. That is just fact. Sadly, it is the same with local and state elected positions. We do not force these people that want our vote, to actually work for it. We listen to what they say, or how they bash their opponent, or their slander ads; and think that is what they will actually do. How has that worked out for us? There is not a single person running for an elected position, that will be 100% perfect. That's a stupid wish for anyone. In my mind, it's like the lists I was taught to make as a younger person. The pros/cons lists. When you draft out that list for whomever is in each position, what they have already done in their lives and in positions of leadership, and IF they will be the person you believe will help you/your family/your community/your state/your country. It requires effort from ALL of us to be educated, and not from the sham of edited and diced information on the noise box. When you base decisions on what the news stations are telling you, you are cutting the corner of actual education and responsibility. As American citizens, it is our responsibility to vet those we send to elected positions. It's not about personality, it's not about the slander either. It's about track record. Have these people done anything productive, have they started wars, has our economy grown, has our independence grown, how are our average families fairing? 

On the state level, I believe it should be required that anyone wanting a vote for a position that will guide the entire state, should be required to go to every single county in that state, at least once every year. Listen to the people in those communities, what their challenges are, what their victories are, areas that need improvement, etc. So many states, focus solely on the few big cities in each state, and the rest of the state goes to hell in a hand basket. On the local level, this is a big ole can of worms for me! From experience, I live in an area of the county that is forgotten about...until it's tax time. As with most of the secondary roads in our county, our road sucks. They put on this tar & chip stuff to make it appear "better" but the sides of the road are crumbling, living in rural areas - the roads are not wide enough for the farming equipment used today and another vehicle. This fall, the state decided to replace all the tubes in our road, and that has been a disaster! They put asphalt over them, only to have the large amount of traffic cause all of it to create big dips across the entire road, at every single tube. It's pathetic to pay so much, so the only roads to be maintained is the 2 main highways. Unfortunately, the state decides to determine how much traffic the roads get by placing these strips that count the vehicles. Well, they do this on a weekend, and when the traffic is not of normal flow. This road is a major through way for tons of hog trucks, tons of farm equipment, grain trucks, not to mention all the vehicle traffic, on a normal day. It's really a busy road that connects Missouri and Iowa. However, getting a rep out here to see any of this, has never happened. 

There are a lot of topics in this election, that I am concerned about. I know we are at the end game with the election being tomorrow. I thought I would just share a few thoughts, and maybe a different perspective. The biggest decision maker issues for me: the economy, the border, the accountability, the world stage, American independence, and American citizens. In this federal election, we have track records for both people trying to get elected. So, we have the responsibility of comparing what they have done. For 3 1/2 years we were told the border was secure and closed, except the visual evidence stated otherwise. In the current administration, many of our American citizens have been forgotten. The people of Lahania, Ohio, North Carolina, all the cities/towns that had factories burn, businesses burn, bridges knocked out, and on the world stage - 13 American soldiers lost in Afghanistan, and countless American's left behind. The current administration supported and even bailed out, the people that burned our cities, our federal buildings, our citizen owned businesses and homes. They allowed all these non-American people to invade our "sanctuary cities/states" and those people have raped, murdered, and physically taken over hotels, condos, and homes. The American tax payer has been on the hook to pay for those here illegally, in food, housing, healthcare, education; all while so many of our own people and VETERANS, go with out any or all of that. Our own citizens have been left trying to juggle the increased cost of food, fuel, healthcare and prescriptions; by the very people that are sent to D.C. to work for the American people. So much of this election cycle, both federally and in my state, is based on this abortion issue. My opinion on this one, is not even close to so many I've heard. Let's dive into that, just for a different perspective.

The abortion issue, should not even be an issue, period! I do not support it in the sense of a form of birth control. The biggest thing to me, IT SHOULD NOT BE A PUBLIC NOR GOVERNMENTAL ISSUE! PERIOD! That decision is one that should be considered a medical issue, meaning: it is a decision between doctor and patient ONLY. No one publicly, not a single politician, and not a single insurance company. The problem as I see it, is this:  there are some people pushing for a ban on them, and some pushing to remove bans. Why is this in the public, why was this ever in the Supreme Court, why was this allowed in any of our law making jurisdictions? You see, covid and watching people willing sharing their medical issues publicly opened my eyes to this thought. When and why is any person's health conditions, anyone else's business? It's NOT!! It's the same as the gay rights, and all of that. What you do medically or behind closed doors - IS NO ONE ELSE'S BUSINESS BUT YOUR OWN. The problem is, too many people want to feel important or part of the "in" crowd, like they are in school. So many think labeling everyone or everything, is such a priority now. The only thing labeling does, in my eyes, is proves you do not have good enough character - as your own person, to stand on. It means your priority is to be liked and accepted; instead of being a good person, a productive person or a person of value. So much has been focused on this pathetic "victim" mentality, instead of taking personal responsibility. We have allowed the government to dictate our lives, from what we can/can not purchase to what we can or can not do. That was never what the American Republic was supposed to be about. 

I see so much posted about religion. I will be the first to say, I pray, a lot! However, I am NOT religious. I do not believe in the church of today. I believe in God, but I believe the entire system has been misrepresented by a lot, over centuries. I know this riles people, so I tend to keep it to myself. However, there are some that use religion as a shield from what is happening in our country and honestly, around the world. America was founded on Christian principals, but individual religions were kept out of the Constitution for a reason. Many early settlers came here to escape religious persecution. When religious leaders disagreed with their churches, they ventured off to begin their own. I personally know of a religion that claims they don't get involved in politics, they disagree with war, and they won't prosecute for stealing from them; because God will handle it. Well, in my eyes, this is simple stupid thinking. If you are not willing to get involved in the very process that allows you to have your "communities" and allows you to have a legal means at tax evasion, you probably should be willing to defend that. Yet, this group has massive tax breaks, has their own school systems, their own financial system, and they spit on our soldiers and veterans by not supporting or joining them. How many of these "special" religions are 501 non-profits? How many of these special groups of people, get all kinds of benefits from the government, yet do nothing to help their fellow man? How many are willing to talk crap about how they treated, yet do nothing to help themselves? Yes, I believe God delivers. But he also gave us free will, and expects warriors to defend themselves. 

This area is one of what I consider a visible one. I do not understand how some can not see the damage that has been done to our independence. Independence is linked together both in the literal and the the financial sense. American independence was fought for, and thousands of brave men and women died for this!! In the financial sense, American's are in the pot. We depend on other countries to produce the majority of what of use: products, fuel, and even food. This was not always the case. At one point in American history, we produced the majority of stuff, right here in the good ole U.S. of A. We had pride in our products and services. We had a healthy economy because our products were bought and sold here and abroad. Our American dollar was the premier currency to have, and other countries revered us because of it. Now, the American dollar is worth pennies, and we are on the verge of the collapse of that prestige. Our "experts and life-long politicians" haven't got a clue about economic responsibility. If they did, we wouldn't be $36 TRILLION in debt. These experts and politicians have failed miserably for the American people. Yet, we keep putting the same ones back into office. Stupid!! Most of our manufacturing has been moved out of our country. The businesses that are here, are constantly being berated with a call for higher taxes on them. I may not of a doctorate, but even I know that shit rolls down hill. You increase the taxes on those creating the jobs, and that is a numbskull idea! Those tax increases raise the cost to the American people. Those tax increases cause the industries to move manufacturing to other countries because the taxes are cheaper/labor is cheaper/ and it's worth paying the importing, because it is still cheaper than the taxes. This is basic economics people. Think back to the last 4 years. Every single time the fuel prices spiked, the cost of the products we purchase, has increased. This is the most basic example I can give. When we have to depend on products, fuel, or anything from another country; we have lost independence and our elected officials have failed to do their job. Yet, so many are blind to the facts. 

As we head into another election cycle, with a barrage of issues that should be troubling ALL American's - those I shared, and the shear number of missing migrant children as just a starting point, I hope more American's will start getting to the bottom of issues. More government is never a good option! They are the problem, and we need to accept that. We need citizen politicians again, the ones that were intended by our founding, that served their terms and went back to their communities and jobs. We need to lose the victim mentality, and start being accountable for our own lives again. We need to get medical and sexuality back where it belongs and out of the a public spectacle. We used to put these types of things in a circus freak show...now, it's made the entire country a circus. I never cared what color, what religion, or what sex or sexuality you were...until it was shoved down my thought, and made into the freak show it is. Now, for the most part, I still don't care - AS LONG AS YOU ARE A PERSON OF GOOD CHARACTER!!! If you can't be a person of good character, then you will need one of those "special" titles and a mental health exam.