It's all about passion

One aspect of life, for me, that has been consistent is needlework. It's less as a hobby, more of a passion, even an obsession. It's been a joy giving, peace giving, comforting constant presence. The love of needlework has stayed. Friends, lovers, children, family. They have all flitted in then out of my life at different times, different stages.

Love for needlework has remained. 

At times, when the pain of living in the world has stolen my peace, my ability to focus, my albondigas. It was necessary to go on hiatus from needlework. People who know me well, know that if I have taken a break from doing needlework, something in my life has hurt me. 

When I have attempted to stitch whilst in a state of unrest, I screw it up 100 ways til Tuesday! It takes focus, concentration. Believe or disbelieve, those two aspects can be different.

Doing self analysis has been lifelong for me. Constantly having to adjust, then readjust as life swirled around me. Forces of grief at the hands of abusive parents, losing my dear grandfather, losing a younger sister, a brother. The horrors of the dating world when I found myself single again after a long marriage. Like a weeble toy, sometimes I may wobble, might even fall down. 

I GET BACK UP!!

There has to be something to grab onto to pull myself out of whatever rabbit hole has snared me. Can you guess what it is?

Mmm Hmm.

My love, my passion for needlework. The beauty that slowly materializes before my eyes. Like a picture that is so blurred that it's impossible to be able to see exactly what it is. As I stitch, the design begins to appear in colors, patterns, flowers, stars, trees, butterflies.

Little buzzy bees develop wings.

Birdies appear before my eyes with little beaks, graceful wings, brightly colored feathers. Sometimes, a majestic eagle. Sometimes, a beautiful face or a studly figure of a man.

Maybe, it's the satisfaction of stabbing something a thousand times in one day. idk.

Again, people who really know me, also know that though I finish projects, I probably have over 100 in different stages of completion at any given time. Guilty of loving needlework, as charged!

People will also ask me that somewhat annoying question, 

"Do you really need that?"

(Need has zip zero nada to do with it!)

"Why don't you just finish all of them?"

"Why do you have so many?"

"What are you going to do with it?"

"Why do you start so many, then stop?"

The answer to these questions is simple for me. For, I know myself very well. Knowing what drives me, what delights me, what I love!

There are so many extraordinary needlework designers out there, busy people! These people who design the beautiful patterns I love are producing their patterns faster than I can stitch.

BUT I WANT TO!!!!!

Having met two celebrities in the needlework world ~ Alma Lynne ~ a self made needlework designer who was so gracious, so kind! When I went to Myrtle Beach, SC for a needleworkers retreat, I met her. It was the last day of the retreat, I had to pack up to leave my hotel room. I had a late night, the night before, walking on the beach for several hours. I listened to the ocean, felt the cool salt air and spray on my face. I went to bed late, so, I woke up late! I packed quickly, lugged my suitcase into the ball room, found a side room to re-pack in a more orderly manner. Alma Lynne saw me slip into the side room, she entered the room to check on me. 

I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES!

She had the impact of Marilyn Monroe walking through the door!

She was so sweet, so kind, so warm. She helped me re-pack my suitcase, gave me a few tips. I will always remember that magical moment!

When I learned of a Mirabilia Minions Retreat in San Antonio, TX, in May 2018, I felt the same electrical excitement. There is quite a bit more to this, yet, for the sake of brevity, I will say, I went! Meeting Nora Corbett was definitely a dream come true for me. She is an introverted, somewhat quiet person who produces legendary, beautiful designs. Again, Nora Corbett was so warm, friendly, gave her undivided attention to so many people who wanted to talk to her, have photos taken with her. Although the other stitchers were very cliquish, with a snobbish element akin to Junior High? It was still such a joy to be there. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

My favorite design from Nora, which I have personally stitched, is one that reminds me of my son, when he was a baby. I held him, time seemed to stand still. 

Those precious moments are frozen in my heart.

When a gorgeous, intricate design is so fresh from the printers, the needlework community goes into buzz mode. Posting pictures on social media, sending my brain into overdrive!!!!!

The most riveting, the most important part?

Stay tuned.

Accusations & Small Minds in a Small Town

 It's a curious world we live in. Even more curious whilst living in a fish bowl aka a small town. Mmm Hmm.

People have told me many times that I'm far from the usual, that I'm multi faceted, that I'm different from most people. I hope that's good!

The true statement is that I'm curious about everything. My post humous apologies to my parents & school teachers! It must have driven them nuts! I was a shy child so I didn't ask the somewhat annoying "Why?" over & over. Often, I would set upon finding out why, instead of asking others.

Being the sort of child who put my little tongue on a battery to see what would happen. The sort of child who would flit from dandelion to dandelion, placing my thumb along with my forefinger on the sides of a bee to feel it buzz, pulling my hand back quick when the bee seemed like it was about to sting me!

Catching a "buzz", yup, ha ha! A buzz gone bad.

As I grew into an adolescent, then, an adult or at least of adult age, that burning sense of curiosity has stayed with me.

In present day, I am still curious about everything, adventurous, loving exploring. Taking calculated risks can be risky business! 

In a small town, if you are not from there or married to someone who is, if you don't have family here, if you are not married with or without children or fabulously wealthy?

You're toast!

Unless you're nearly the same as most people, you're going to stand out as a proverbial pariah. People will exclude you, ignore you, slap labels on you, make up stories about you so that you are safely figured out. In the minds of the small minded, they have you pegged for their own comfort. Many might also fear you.

Sadly, my own experience has been tinged by all of the above.

1. I am single & celibate by choice. I don't date, definitely don't sleep around, nor do I have any children living with me.

Small town explanation: She's a lesbian.

2. I have limited knowledge of illegal substances such as marijuana, meth amphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy. I had a roomie, a few years back, when I lived in Colorado. The roomie, unbeknownst to me, prior to him moving in, got his income from selling weed. When he moved out, he left behind, a beautiful bright green glass weed pipe. I didn't know what it was, it was clean, pretty, sparkled in the sun. It was packed away when I moved to Texas. When I unpacked, I found it. It was still so pretty. I placed it in the front window which was south facing, it sparkled in the sun. People who saw it, knew what it was, they began to talk about me. Hmm. I wonder how it is that I didn't know what it was, yet, the gossip mongers did. A few people even had the cojones to tell me that, that pronouncement, below, is what I'm pegged as, in this town.

Small town explanation: She's a weed smoking lesbian.

3. Having a burning curiosity about everything, even as an adult can be fun! It can also get a sub label slapped across your forehead. Being less of a religious one, more of a spiritually sensitive person, I don't go to any of the churches in this town. I have my own reasons, one of them being that I believe that organized religion is a more of a construct created to control the masses. It works!

As a spiritual person, I enjoy gathering information about spiritual practices. Practices such as speaking in tongues, LOA, natural ways of being. In this, I use essential oils, exploring whilst not being a practitioner of a metaphysical lifestyle. It's interesting to me.

I know I'm living in the bible belt where you're perceived as somewhat of a bad person if you don't have a home church that you attend. You might also be perceived as Pagan, a Witch, a slut. 

Four people in this town have brought this to my attention.

Explanation: She's a witch as well as a weed smoking lesbian.

Yupp. Ha Ha! I'm toast!

If this were Salem Massachusetts in 1692, I would actually BE toast, as in being burned alive at the stake simply because someone THOUGHT I was a witch. 

Small minds, lol, bless their hearts. 

So, if you will excuse me, I'm going to go make out with my girlfriend while we smoke our weed with my beautiful weed pipe. Then, we might dance in the moonlight, nekkid, casting spells all 

night. (JOKING!)

I Fear For My Country

I have never felt as abandoned & alone as I do, right now

In light of recent events, I truly fear for what the next four years brings. The USA is bound to change in many detrimental ways. For many people, life has become hard. Many people have lost their income, their loved ones, their homes were foreclosed on.

The fabric of their very existence has been unraveled or is becoming unraveled. People have lost many of the pleasures of life that they once had in abundance. Travel is restricted, life celebrations such as weddings, births,  graduations, even funerals.

Many people who provide a service such as hair care, manicure/pedicure, home cleaning, cosmetic procedures. Life saving medical procedures have been delayed. People who have become ill must stay at home until a hospital bed becomes available.

As a minor, I never watched a TV series, "The Twilight Zone" until hearing that the way life has changed, worldwide resembles some episodes of the The Twilight Zone.

Scary!

Scary!

Scary!

Then there is the mask shaming. People who will wear one shame those who won't. Of course this happens mostly on social media.

Chicken-shits

For these reasons plus so much more, I fear for my country, especially the next four years. The only way it could become worse is if the elected president dies. His vice president would, then, live up to the very title endowed by the office she will hold. A vice.

Vice (noun) Immoral or wicked behavior. 

eg - "an open sewer of vice and crime"

For all these reasons plus many more, I fear for my country.

When I have given voice to these concerns, people who are a bit fanatical about their religion will tell me that God has this, there's no need to fear.

If that were true, those same people would not be wearing masks because God will protect them, right?

If this were true, the same people would be more reliant on the powers of heaven to cure them of their illnesses instead of taking multiple medicines.

They live fear motivated lives, then double back to tell others that there is nothing to fear.

When I say, I fear for my country, it's genuine dread of the changes to come. 

It's fear for my many friends & family on active duty military. It's fear for the children, both born as well as unborn who will have to live in "the new normal". 

They, most likely, will not experience the abundance of life, the freedoms their parents did.

With this, said, I will live, finding the silver lining in my day. Listening to beautiful & uplifting music, indulging in my passion for needlework. Continue working long hours to earn the money to eventually live my dream of what I have always wanted for my life.

I have felt a new level of feeling all alone in the world.

Bloggerette Problems

 

People, the struggle is, well, a bit of a struggle. In the uncertain times people are facing in todays world, my problems are simply smaller, more of an annoyance.

It's probably known by most people, as I have been transparent about it. I'm a paid blogger. A very grateful paid blogger!

(Smiling & waving to my sponsors!)

Many people have asked me if I ever have any difficulty thinking of a subject to write about. Often, people will try to be "helpful" in suggesting topics for me to write about whether I ask them or, as often is the case, if it's simply brought up in conversation.

"You should write about this."

"Hey, I have a good idea for your blog.'

"If you can't think of anything to write about, how about this _____."

"If I were a writer, this is what I would write about."

PEEPS!

I believe that I was born to be a writer. I still have notebooks that I kept, starting when I was only 9 years old. My little hand with, as of then, undeveloped handwriting of short statements, poetry, even a few little drawings. 

The point is, I can always think of something to say, in person, in writing, in text, in phone conversations. Even in hand written notes.

Yep, some people still do that.

In an effort to get my blog readership up, I post links to it all over the internet. It IS a bit of a side gig after all!

I post links on You Tube videos when my blog entry is relative to the video or when the video has inspired me.

Although I have asked people to make their comments below the blog entry, you know, like, in the comments section? That area below each blog entry that says, "Comments". Yep, that one. 

They still write  their comments on my Facebook page or on You Tube as well as other sites where the link is posted. It used to REALLY ANNOY me.

Hey! There are bigger problems in the world, in life. Ri i i i g h t?

Now? It's just a slight irritation, I stopped reminding people. Being thelemic is how I roll. It's better for the mind, the spirit..............the blood pressure. Some people don't understand directions or choose to ignore the directions completely. 

Whatever is nether.

Recently, I have been getting a wee bit of pressure to record podcasts either in addition to or in place of my blogs.

In truth?

People have told me that my voice is sexy or sweet, or soothing, or just very pleasant to listen to. I just talk, the sound is there. 

My voice.

Whilst many people take lots of photos of themselves, their family, their food, their newest whatever. Then, said people will sit back to soak up the attention of the likes, loves etc.

Having had 4 stalkers, I neither want nor need that much attention.

It felt like an act of bravery for me to start writing this blog as it was.

Will I begin podcasting? I'm still on the fence about it.

Stay tuned.

A Prize Winning Recipe

True story ~ I had very few domestic skills when I went out on my own from my parents home. I learned a lot from serving on active duty in the USAF. 

Adding to those skills, the classes & other women whom I attended church with, taught me so much! I went from making food that my dog wouldn't eat, to becoming a great cook. 

During a bleak time when money was low, I put items from the pantry, fridge & freezer together. VOILA! It was so delicious! Everyone loved it. I entered it in a recipe contest, won a prize plus $300. 

That was quite decent, I thought! I continued to make this recipe over & over. Every person it was served to, raved about it. 

Polish Sausage Casserole was born!

The recipe was shared with the entire reader base of the magazine where it was published. I shared the recipe with many other people who asked for it. Thus, it will bear zero resemblance to the humor filled articles of a recipe being written on a grave stone. Ha ha!

Here it is!

Polish Sausage Casserole - My own recipe

1 large broccoli crown or 1 12 oz bag of frozen broccoli

4 medium red potatoes (I leave the peel on)

1 package of Hillshire Farms Polish Sausage

(I have used other brands, it tastes better with this brand)

1 - 15 oz can Campbells cream of mushroom soup

Slice the Polish Sausage into bite size slices. (often I cut these in half or even quartered them as some family members tended to pick the sausage pieces out to get more sausage). If you are using the frozen broccoli, it's most likely cut into small enough pieces. If you are using fresh broccoli crowns, cut the broccoli into bite sized pieces. Leave the peel on the potatoes or or peel them, it's really personal preference. Slice the potatoes into bite sized pieces, boil the potatoes in water (no salt)  just until slightly tender. Drain the potatoes well. Combine the veggies & sausage in a large casserole dish. Preferably with a lid. If you have one that is without a lid, you can cover it with aluminum foil. Open, then spoon the cream of mushroom soup onto the mixture. Very lightly combine the soup with the other ingredients.

Bake in the oven at 375 for 30 - 45 minutes. It should be bubbling hot. Let the casserole set for 15 minutes, slightly uncovered, after taking it out of the oven. Feel free to adjust the bake time as well as the temperature to achieve the delicious results! Some people will serve this with rice or over noodles to make it more filling.

If there is any left the next day, it's also really yummy if you heat it slightly, then crack a few eggs into the pan. Scramble the eggs, cook until eggs are slightly firm.

This recipe can be doubled or even quadrupled if you wish.

I hope that if/when you make this that you enjoy it!

Bon apetit!

Demanding reparations? Get in line!

 

In 1608 the first British women were brought to what is now the USA.

In 1619 the first Irish indentured servants were brought over.

In 1619 the first African slaves were brought  to Jamestown.

In 1636 the Caucasian colonists enslaved Native Americans.

 

In 1865 slavery in the USA was abolished. The 13th Amendment was passed by congress on January 31, 1865, it was ratified on December 6, 1865. Not all states in the USA accepted or adopted enslavement or indentured servitude. It took several years to replace slaves with paid laborers. It happened in a gradual process.

In 1865, Chinese people began to be brought to the USA to fill the demands for laborers after Abolition of Slavery. They were paid low wages, treated badly. In a clandestine practice, they were even bought and sold in a fashion similar to prior slave markets.

Women & children were still considered property by husbands & fathers as early as 1960. 

Re: Coverture Laws.

African American people legally gained their freedom by law nearly a century before Caucasian or White women along with their children.

Something that many people don't realize is that Irish, Scottish, Asian people were indentured servants for many years after the abolishment of slavery. Many indentured servants had a weaker constitution, many died before their indentured time expired. 

They lived in worse dwellings, were only given a minimum of food to keep them alive. 

Many slave owners "bred" their indentured servants, usually an Asian, Sottish or Irish woman with an African American man to try to produce stronger slaves with lighter skin color. 

The indentured servants would serve until the time for them to serve had ended. Their children remained as the property of the slave master.

Many of the smaller women died during childbirth due to the larger size of the infant. Also due to a lack of medical expertise, unsanitary conditions.

Indentured servants were seen as having less value than African slaves. When indenturement was expired, the servant could walk away as a free person. The African slaves were seen as more valuable since they were property, very scant chance to be freed.

Native American people were taken from their villages or tribal encampment, by Caucasians, to be used as laborers. Most often, the Native American was a baby or a small child as they were more easily taken. It was easier to raise them, speaking English with little to no knowledge of their origin. Many of these abductions sparked uprisings of the Native American people against those that had stolen their children.

Keep in mind that the Caucasian people who were committing these acts of barbarism, were European, British, some were Africans. Most people of today would not do such things. Partly because of the insight gained as to the detrimental effects on people. Also partly because it is strictly prohibited by law.......in the USA.

Slavery practices still exist in some parts of the world. Although the circumstances differ from the practices of a century ago, some cultures in the middle east still practice a form of slavery. People in poorer countries are brought to the middle east under false pretenses. Their passport, any money they have, any possessions they have, is taken. 

They work long hours for little money. Often, they are given just a floor to sleep on, are often expected to provide sexual services to the male head of the household. Often, along with other males as requested by the man who he or she is employed by.

When I see or hear of people spouting how unfair life is that they descended from African slaves. When I see or hear the cry out to be paid reparations? What goes through my mind is this:

Life is unfair, yet, it's our struggles that make us strong.

The white people alive today, are not responsible for your trouble.

Each individual who gives up responsibility for their failures, will never learn how to succeed in life.

Many people of all races have done quite well, you can, too!

If a person listens to words/ideals of hate toward individuals based on race, ethnicity, culture, the person deprives themselves of a richer life experience.

Throughout the history of the world, there have been many horrible atrocities of racially motivated wrong doing. It would be impossible to pay financial reparations to the descendants of  indentured servants, slaves, those who were killed in German work camps. The millions of women & children who were abused, tormented, murdered during a time they were considered property.

If you want to be paid? 

Become the master/mistress of your own fate, your own destiny. 

Pay yourself!

Hearing it....again

Being too full of my own piss & vinegar is sooo far from how I roll. It's best to be humble, kind, compassionate. Seeking first to understand, then, to be understood. Choosing to be kind if I have the choice to be anything. 

Sometimes there is only one choice.

Last night, after going to a "happy place" I sometimes go to, I went to another "happy place". Shhhh.

I was sitting at my table, minding my own whatever. I caught the eye of a whoever, lol. 

Now, peeps, I dress, mostly to under impress. 

Just a gray T-shirt, yoga pants, ratty gym shoes. Living in the social climate of a small town, I can get away with it. Before I moved to a small town in Texas, I wore lady-suits, designer jeans, soft, flowy dresses. 

Now?

It's very very very laid back.

I was sitting by myself, I roll alone, mostly.

Mr. Whoever walked over to my table, didn't even ask, just sat himself down, with a smile. Confident SOB! LOL!

It was a public place, I had a charged taser in my purse.

We began to converse. He was not drinking, was a bit charming. Probably 20 - 30 years younger than me. Younger men approach me the most, it's become the usual for me, no longer shocks me.

We began to converse, he was actually quite charming, well spoken. Well mannered. He was a non tobacco user which is a plus. I had my doubts as to whether he was truly single as he claimed. The server came over, sat his steak down in front of him, I was just having guac & chips. he excused himself to wash his hands before eating. The server, a cutie pie 20s chikkie, removed all doubt as to whether Mr Whoever was truly single as he claimed. Kewel. 

In truth, it doesn't matter to me. 

A few years ago, it might have. Less so in present day, tyvm.

One of the "last straw" guys nearly got me killed. It was time to stop.

While I was still alive, yeah, if I'm going to die, I don't want to get beaten to death by a jealous ex & her girl gang on a dark night in Colorado. I gave up, mostly, after that. It got way too ugly.

After he returned to the table, the conversation was pleasant. He was unconvinced that I, myself, was truly single, having no man in my life. Then, he said the words that I have heard in so many derivatives, so many times, it has nearly become cliche' in present day.

"How can you be single?"

"You're too pretty to be single!"

"You're too young & too pretty to be single!"

On & on.

I know that I am "youthful", feel like I am around 25!

Poor dude.

My days of wanting a man in my live are over. The males out there who are liars, cheaters, players, have cured me. Being single & celibate for the rest of my life is better. 

It would take a helluva lot to convince me to think otherwise.

Evolution

 I keep changing

Evolving

Moving through 

Time

Getting better

Peacefully

Express it in

Rhyme

If you try to keep

Up

Just let me

Go

Like the 

Rivers

Let our connection

Flow

Like a rosebud tightly

Closed

Slowly opening each

Day

My life is about

Happiness

Loving mischievous

Play

Find your own

Happiness

Find you own

Way

Flow like a

River

For you this I

Pray

Options

Apologies for the tease in my immediate prior entry.

Sorry, um, not sorry. 😎

Teasing & mischief can be fun.

As one who loves to culinate (my own made up slang-ish), I used to cook to please others. This means that most of the time there was less nutrient, more flavor. I didn't know what I didn't know.

Changing the type of food, quality, portions as well as the time of day one eats can yield surprising health benefits to the body.

Now?

Predominant nutrient, good flavor. Healthy food can be delicious! Spicy foods have always torn my tummy up since I was a small child. Now? 

I'm a big baby, lol.

The only store bought salsa I can handle is Pace, mild salsa, so I cook with it when I am cooking with salsa.

Here is a quick & easy as well as HEALTHY dish I love.

2 large eggs

1/8 cup salsa

Cook & scramble the eggs, when mostly cooked, add salsa.

Often, I will add a few tablespoons of tuna or a chopped salmon fillet for extra protein. I LOVE avocados. Often I will pit, de shell & slice a 'cado to eat with this. 

I have been eating 1 small avocado every day for the last 15 yrs.

Another go to, I use.

2 eggs

1 small Roma tomato, sliced thin

1/4 Red Onion, sliced thin

A dash or so of salt

Butter (real butter)

Heat the pan to melt the butter. Add the tomato & onion. Simmer whilst moving the onion & 'mato around until the onion is tender.

Add the eggs. Scramble along with 'mato & onion. Cook until the egg is fully cooked. Unless you're a body builder, then, just crack the raw eggs into your mouth, eat the onion & 'mato.

Often, I will have a salmon filet or a 'cado with it. 

Sometimes I will cut a chicken breast into small pieces, simmer it in water, drain it well, then, add 1/2 cup of salsa. You can have this with 1/2 cup of brown rice or even a 1/2 cup of shredded veggies such as lettuce, bell pepper, spaghetti squash or hey! All 3? 

Here is a third option for travel or at home.

When I travel by air, still, I try to eat healthy. Taking food with me in my hand carried items. Apples & boiled eggs will go through security every time. It's funny, because a weed pipe can be made out of an apple. Am not sure about the boiled eggs, ha ha! Google it.

Whilst traveling by air, I pack apples, mayonnaise packets, 5 oz cans of tuna. 1 apple, 1 can of tuna, 2 mayo packets per day that I will be in a hotel. A small kitchen knife to chop the apple. A can opener, sometimes my P-38, a spoon & a small bowl. The reasoning is that if I get to the hotel it may be late at night or I may be too fatigued to seek out food. Room service is okay, yet, my alternative is just enough food, most likely healthier. I combine the drained tuna, the chopped apple & 2 mayo packets to make a delicious tuna salad, no bread. I try to avoid bread if I can.

Sometimes, I add celery or onion or dried cherries (or cranberries) if I am at home. It does a body good!

When a person is trying to improve their health, having healthy, quick options can make a difference. Many people might have had only fast food, processed food or food that fostered unhealthy habits as a child. 

It IS possible to change those food choice habits as an adult.

You CAN choose.  😁

There's No Skin on Chicken Nuggets or Popcorn Chicken

One of my key phrases in life is this:

Also:

Also:

Does it make you think?

Well, good on ya!

Do you prefer to not think about it, aka pleasure eating, emotional eating, gluttony, binge eating. 

Snap! You get the picture. 😇 

Sometimes eating is about being social, making memories, celebrating, a get together just because. In todays world of luxury being common place, fast food is everywhere.

Marketing of food is so convincing. Cheeky feckers!

This is just one of the causes of the obesity epidemic. Then, for the pleasure of eating total yumminess, have a soda drink or a cocktail with that! Water? What? I can't hear you! Water is boring.

(I find water to be exciting! Countries can be seen economically according to their easy access to clean water. Safe to drink, too!)

Occasional fast food or even restaurant food is fine. Every day? At your own risk. The risk of damaging your own health, peeps. When you do this, there are, now, healthier options on most menus.

Can you remember the last time you ate whilst being truly hungry? The ghrelin gremlin was kicking up a Texas size fuss in your gut, so loud, other people could hear it?

Try to convince them that it was your tum-tum, not your bowels!

It was that loud.

More likely, you can't remember when this happened last or it never HAS happened to you, personally. Lucky duck!

Processed food is everywhere, easily accessed, easily purchased. Many people even concoct then consume chemicalized substance in their own homes. Even, sweet, innocent popcorn is sold in a paper package, loaded with chemicals, sodium, unpronounceable rubbish.

Since some people may not remember "old school" popcorn, this is for you!

If you buy "loose popcorn" as in, the old school bags for $1. - $2., just wait to be amazed. The fact that your loose kernel popcorn, even with butter, a bit of seasoning will cost a scant .33.

Microwave popcorn by the bag? $2. - $3.

As one who loves the aroma as well as the crunch of warm, buttered popcorn, loose popcorn could save $110. per year.

That is.

If you love the misshapen morsels as much as I do!

There is a movement called:

JERF ~ Just eat real food.

It seems to go along with the Keto or Atkins popularity. Many people are waking up from their chemicalized substance which passes for the real deal. People are coming out of the sugar fog that has laid heavy on the brains & bodies of people, world wide. Label reading is becoming more common, Farmers Markets are more common, now.

Some people will tear the skin off of their chicken, toss it out. Many will turn up their noses at skin-on salmon. Another practice is to crack an egg opened, toss the yolk, only eat the albumen or what is commonly referred to as "egg whites".

In our political climate, I would prefer the yellow to the white, do ya feel me? I just had to, 'tis the season.

In truth?

The yellow or yolk is the substance that would nourish, create new life, provide essential B-12, vitamins A, D, E and K. Also, Omega 3 fats. All of these will nourish a persons skin, brain even help with vision.

When the skin on chicken or salmon is removed, so is most of the most nourishing part of the fish or the bird. There is a lack of skin on chicken nuggets or popcorn chicken. Those contain 70% breading, not much chicken therefore, very little nutrient.

Please understand, I love me some chicky nuggets. Popcorn chicken? Why yes, yes please. Umm, nah. I gave those up, replaced them with real food. Slight inconvenience, huge health benefit.

Having studied these topics for a long time, I wanted to share. 💗

PS - In my next blog entry, I hope to share some natural, healthy, delicious recipes. Simple, inexpensive & fast to prep. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Ha ha. Stay tuned!

Simon Baker & Other Good Men

A very skewed group of phrases I hear a lot is this:

"Nice guys finish last"

"Girls/Women only want the bad boys."

False

There is a difference between a "nice guy" or a wimpy limp wrist guy. Also known as a wimp. Also, it's mostly women/girls who are emotionally damaged who are attracted to the "bad boys", who are also quite damaged, themselves. Such a winning combo.

A "nice guy" is one with self respect. He respects himself, first, then, he extends that courtesy to others. A wimp has no self respect, gives more courtesy to others, disregarding what he needs, how he feels. Others are only treating him in a way he allows.

The guys who are good guys when they could be jerks, players, F-Boys, are truly the best! When a guy gets to the realization that:

Hey! The ladies love me!

I must be quite handsome because of the way girls react to me!

I can charm the knickers off of any female I choose to charm!

To avoid embarrassing the living players of both celebrity status as well as some of them I know who are amongst the living, here goes!

A few examples of males who used their charm to take advantage:

Elvis Presley

Hugh Grant

Wilt Chamberlain

Kobe Bryant

David Cassidy

That's the oh so short, micro list. 

For several years, after a deeply painfilled marriage followed by an even more painful divorce, I didn't watch many TV shows at all. I would watch movies or a TV series on DVD. I would sit there, working on an artistic project with the DVD playing. I dated a bit, here & there. It was very frightening as to who was out there & all the lying, all the cheating, all the violent date crimes.

Something I noticed, which I had never taken notice of before, was how many guys played women & girls like pianos. As in multiples. Keeping several women as well as their wife on a string all at once, it was so disappointing to realize how horrid it had become.

The guys knew they were married, most often lied to other women about it. Keeping up the ruse of being single until they had the truly single woman hooked on him, THEN, fessed up. It can be quite confusing when a guy says he's "taken", yet acts like he is not.

Then, there were/are the ones who use the lie that they are "separated", although, not legally, as it would imply. In their mind, their wife was at home with their children, he had run out to the "store" for the children's cereal for the next day. They were GEOGRAPHICALLY separated, NOT legally as it is implied.

Then, there is the guy who uses the time that he and his wife are truly legally separated, to get laid as often as possible. He will use the lame excuse, "We were separated, so, it was okay."               Psssst, hey, buddy? It's NOT okay.

Dr. Jordan Peterson has a very good quote about this.

By the same token? A man who knows he could use his looks & charm to hop from bed to bed, breaking hearts as he goes, yet, refrains. He opts to be a decent person, a gentleman.

Examples. As, I believe you may want examples.

Steve Young (Former NFL linebacker )                                      

Simon Baker (very HOT Aussie actor)                                            

My prior landlord (I won't mention his name. So good to his wife!)  

Dr. Jordan B Peterson ( University of Toronto, CA psychologist & counselor. His whole countenance lights up when speaking of his wife.

https://youtu.be/eKOGEt5YiXQ

In an admission that I was somewhat sheltered from what's hot on TV, I had not heard of Simon Baker until COVID lock down!

I started watching The Guardian. The star of the series is hot - hott, Mr Simon Baker.

When hearing that the show bombed I was totally truly shocked.

The show is GREAT!

I know that Simon Baker became more known for The Mentalist. In truth, that show has totally escaped me. What I do know is that whilst checking into Simon's background, I found some very surprising & refreshing information. He was born in Tasmania, lived his later childhood years in a surfing town in Australia. He self describes as a somewhat shy, country guy. Looking at his photos before he got a major start, he's far from falling out of the ugly tree!

Simon Baker describes his feelings when he met his wife, Rebecca Rigg. He states that he was blown away by her communication style, how direct she was. He had never met anyone like her, before. They have been married for a skoosh over 20 years, 3 children. 

Simon could have easily, with his charm, wit, intelligence & good looks been such a player. 

He has that clean cut, "I'm a good guy" look!" Timelessly handsome.

He could have kissed all the girls & none of them would have cried!

Instead?

He CHOSE to be a decent person, faithful to his wife. Devoted to his 3 children. He did what it takes, continues doing what it takes to be a good husband & father. Perfectly imperfect. He's just one.

Good men in the world still exist. Mostly, they are unsung heroes!