So Busy, Too Busy, Always Busy

It's a sad fact in the times we live in. People have more ways to communicate with each other than ever before. 

 

Parents will do for their small children who still live at home or give an excuse. Sometimes it's a valid reason. Often, when those children grow to adulthood, they give more excuses than reasons. Seeing their parents as no longer important since they don't need anything from them.

This attitude also extends to siblings, friends, neighbors & coworkers. When the one being asked doesn't value the other person as much, they might simply not reply or give an excuse. As sad or extreme as this may seem.

This is what has become of our world. As those who know me might see, I am far from perfect. So flawed, there might be a need to invent a word that means flawed to cover me. LOL!

With that said, most people who know me will attest to my habit of making time for other people. Even during busy times in my life, I make time for others.

Giving time for others can just naturally happen like the ebb & flow of time and tide. Mostly, in today's world where it's too easy to sidestep communication with others much less an actual physical meeting, it will remain unknown if the person actually reads a communique or not.

It's akin to people saying they will pray for someone. There is no way to know in a concrete way if the person who said they would pray for someone, actually did or did not.

Harsh?

Maybe.

Truth?

Most often, yes.

The distance of geography or time one person will go for another is an accurate measure of how much the doer cares. Regarding the one they are willing to do for or not willing.

People are as busy as they make up their mind to be.

Native American Marker Trees

Is it only folklore? The precursor to urban legendarium.

Legends state that Native Americans would bend saplings to mark trails during travel. The sapling would be bent in the direction to be followed to find their way to a destination. The sapling would be bent then tied down with sinews, left that way as the tree grew.

Quite clever, I think.

The saplings would be tied down at an angle with vines or sinews. Usually, long-lived species such as oak or pecan. Many of these marker trees are at least 150 years of age. They were bent as saplings, now bearing the appearance of an unnatural bend.

In the small town where I live, I saw some of these trees, was curious enough to snap photos of them, then do some online reverse image research. This marker tree is in the large dogs area of the dog park in Graham, TX. Yes, it's one I snapped a photo of. I was so happy that the trees were left untouched when the dog park was created.

There it was. It confirmed to me that this was man made. A Native American connection was a pleasant surprise to me. Over 100 years ago, the area of Texas where I live was Comanche territory. The Commanche traveled a lot. Hunting, maybe sightseeing, looking for signs of encroachment, looking for new food sources.

It's fascinating as well as a display of Native American ingenuity, intelligence, respect for the land. It's a natural way to post signage to direct a path to a destination. As white settlers moved in, many of these marker trees were chopped down to make way for houses. Also drinking establishments, "dance halls" aka whorehouses, places of business as well as places for law enforcement. Jails, courthouses, sheriff's offices, etc.

The marker trees that remain are 100+ years of age. The saplings have grown into bent over oak trees, pecan trees & the like. It was too late to recognize the value of all of the trees when so many were chopped down. Some still remain as a testament to Native American ways of wisdom.

If you are one who enjoys walking through forests, admiring the majestic oak trees. Maybe maple trees or even hazelnut or pecan trees you might, now, recognize marker trees. You might marvel at the Native American ways that are lost to time yet memorialized by the ancient wisdom in the ancient trees that remain.

Plastic

 Humans have become so far removed from the natural world in which to thrive. Like an invasion of termites or bed bugs, everything is sold in forms of plastic, plastic is in everything.

Items that plastic is used in:

Clothing

Food Containers

Purses / Wallets

Childrens toys

Phones

Shoes

Underwear

Dog Collars

Dog toys

Dishes

Beverage Containers

Bottled Water

Cooking Utensils

Televisions

Computers & computer components, accessories

Hair Brushes

Combs

Hair Styling tools

Dental Sealants

BPA or bisphenol A, an industrial chemical that is used to coat the inside of soda cans, the main body of water bottles etc. It's said that it's safe. Lead based paint was also considered safe until it wasn't.

BPA is a harmful substance that causes inflammation in people as well as in animals. BPA, the chemical used to manufacture everyday plastics. It enters the body through ingestion, inhalation, touch.

It disrupts the endocrine system, causes infertility. Has also been linked to anxiety, depression, mental illnesses.

One way to push back to counter the effects is to eat foods that fight inflammation.

A few other ways is to begin using glass dishes to store items in cupboards, in the refrigerator. Use stove tops or conventional ovens instead of microwave ovens. If you must use a microwave oven, use glass dishes instead of plastic. The heat that is generated in a microwave oven only magnifies BPA. 

BPA is a phytoestrogen that is a plant based chemical that mimics estrogen, seeping into estrogen receptors in women and men. It has been linked to fertility issues as it lowers testosterone primarily in men though it also affects women. The effect on children shows up as ADHD, anxiety, childhood depression.

How can the effects of it be managed?

I can tell you; I began switching over to glass dishes, minimizing the use of plastic, especially where food is concerned. Slowly, I phased out plastic storage containers for glass or ceramic. It's been 6 years since I started phasing out plastics & stopped using a microwave oven in my home. If you go to thrift shops, there is an abundance of glass food storage dishes for pennies on the dollar. Yard sales are also a great source for glass dishes as well as containers.

Now, speaking of phasing out, clothing is another BPA heavy presence in modern life (in the USA, at least). Opting for clothing or other linens made of 100% cotton or linen is a way to work around the fast fashions made from BPA products. 

Polyester

Nylon

Spandex

Athletic wear or athleisure wear all are made with BPA materials. After a workout, change your clothing as soon as possible as the sweat glands are wide opened for the BPA to enter the body. As time goes on, start to phase out workout wear with spandex for cotton or linen. The sooner the better.

BPA stays in the fabrics even after repeated washings.

There is hope! This poster has such good information. I have a copy of this on my refrigerator for future reference. 

Obviously, plastics & BPA items are a sad fact of life in the world, today. Even if we can't eliminate them 100% we can minimize.

With a world full of fakes online as well as offline, even people in today's world seem to be just as fake as plastic fruit.

That's a different can of worms altogether.

Be your authentic self, minimize plastic usage. Report back!

Rain

If there's really holes in the floor of heaven 

Tears of loved ones are really falling down

I wear them all through my blonde hair

Like a lovely silk veil and crown

When thunder rolls then lightning flashes

It's a mystical magical wonder to me

A promise of rainbows and flowers

Sweetness that is yet to be

I love to walk in the rain

Puppy boy loves to play in the puddles

Afterward we warm each other 

With affectionate snuggles & cuddles

Tonight the rain is pouring down

Like a love song lulling me to sleep

I lay on the softest of white satin sheets

With a mattress and pillow so soft and deep

The sky becomes decorated with rainbows

Earth is washed clean which I adore

Birds sing out in happiness

Loving the petrichor

When you know, you know

People often speak of how they knew from the first time they met someone that they were the one. The one they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with, build a life, make babies. It's unsure how someone can know this. It's simply, when it feels right, it's just there. 

Please understand, I'm still missing Steve Szasz, still feel the ache for him. Still a bit sad, teary eyed when I think of him, of what might have been. Also, I know I must keep living until my time comes.

So, I live fully. Loving this wonderful dog. Still missing Steve. Though I will be writing of him less, it's there as it always has been.

Will always be. I love him with my whole heart, that will remain. My intuition that he is still alive, constrained in some way haunts me.

As sure as sighted human beings know the sky is blue, with an absence of continuing to check on to see if the sky really is blue, they know.

From formal schooling plus current as well as past people in my life who are science oriented, I KNOW what makes it appear to be blue.

Without wading through string theory or listening to Neil DeGrasse Tyson, I know the sky only appears to be blue.

Along with the gobbledy gook swimming around in my grey matter, I know why the ocean also appears to be blue.

To most people, it's blue. Explanations matter less than the beauty of how it appears. It just does.

That's how it is with my new puppy. I love him so much, already.

On Sunday - 4/ 7/ 2024 - I took him out on our daily walk. Dobermans are known as one of the most intelligent dog breeds. This can be a good thing. It can also be a daunting aspect to keep up with.

Often when I ask something of him such as "sit" or "rope" (his rope toy he loves to fetch) or "park" (the dog park), I wait a bit as I can see him processing it before he reacts.

Sometimes, I do cheat a bit. I know full well that "rope" is put away where he can't see it or get to it. I tell him "Rope?". 

Then, he processes, goes about looking for it. 

It keeps him busy for a bit, entertained, out of trouble.

PJ & I were having a very nice walk in beautiful weather. Yes, the sky was blue. The ocean is too far away to tell so I will simply believe it's also blue.

PJ was wiggling his head in an awkward way. It was so freakish, I hoped he didn't have epilepsy or worse. Then, when he broke free of his collar, I realized what this too-smart-for-his-own-good little MFer was doing. He had found a way to work the fastener on his collar loose, then, fall off.

At first my heart began to pound, pound very hard.

Then, smart planner that I am, I remembered that I had tucked a small, crackly container of kibble into my sports bra before leaving on our walk. Athleisure clothing really ought to have pockets!

PJ was at a full run, he looked back to see what I was doing, as if it was a game & he wanted me to chase him. 

Nope.

Reaching in my sports bra, I pulled the crackly container with the kibble in it (AKA my secret weapon) out. Pets that love their food might let a robber break into a house to steal whatever. They might put their commands on mute. They might get into something they know they aren't supposed to have, ignoring the "NO", charging ahead. 

Open a bag of chips or just wiggle your lips like you're eating something. They can hear it even if they are asleep or at the very opposite area of the house, they will usually run toward the sound. I counted on this, used it to my advantage. 

Just as I believed would happen. He came running back to me.

Until I had PJs collar secured, I was so frightened. Afraid of him being injured or not being able to get him back. He came running back then sat in front of me as I held onto him, buckling his collar.

That was when I felt the full force of how much I love him propelled by the fear that I might lose him or that he would be injured. 

When my previous Doberman, Sammy, was with me, I loved him so much, cried off & on for months after he was gone. Seriously, it felt like there would never be another like him, actually, there hasn't been.

Before going to get PJ, I truly wondered if I would ever love another dog like I loved my Sammy.

The question has been answered.

Loving PJ as much as I do, life would now be less fun without him. 

He's a different dog. Loaded with personality, just as loved.

Another aspect of PJs personality that I have found to be very unique, is his sleeping habits. He always starts out laying on his back, legs in the air. Then, he slowly lowers over to his side. In his crate, he will still be asleep while scooting over until his spine is flush with the side. He likes to have his spine up against a surface when he sleeps. I started noticing his hair getting thin along his spine. So, I put a soft yet durable fabric piece along the wall he likes to sleep against. The hair on his back filled in. Now, sometimes in the morning when I get PJ from his crate, he will already be awake, facing the soft cloth, sucking on it. Like a puppy suckling mommy.

So sweet. 

He's 9 months of age, 80 lbs, he's still a puppy. Still a baby.

Because my work schedule is self-determined, there was a bit of concern that it might be hard for PJ. 

Nope.

He is so resilient. Even with my schedule changing from day to day, he rolls with it. At first I tried to feed him, potty him, at the same time every day. Then, I realized, he didn't seem to care. As long as he was fed, pottyed, played with, exercised, loved on. He didn't care. All of his needs were met.

With all the love I have for this dog, I decided to give him a home made Christmas gift. Not a cross-stitched stocking or silly Christmas outfit, though it did cross my mind. Though we live in Texas, we are in North Texas. It DOES get cold in the winters. We do get ice storms, snowstorms, below freezing temperatures.

I bought a kiddie pool at a yard sale. Next, I filled it halfway with potting soil. Luckily, there was still grass seed available when this idea occurred to me. I'm going to plant the grass seed at the end of October so it will fully germinate around mid-December.

Are you still following?

I'm making an indoor bathroom for PJ!

From my research, the grass I chose is high in fluoride, smelling like a freshly mowed lawn even when it hasn't been mowed. It's in the back of the house so he will have "privacy". I will pick up after him as I do when we go to the dog park. With ample seeds, I can re-seed it as needed. 

Throughout the winter when it's bitter cold outside, neither one of us has to deal with freezing our wieners off, at least, he won't!

Yeah, I love this dog. From the day I brought him home, I will never go anywhere alone. I will always have company when I pee.

My life is happier, brighter, more exciting with him.