tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49649896031452174812024-03-14T08:08:49.441-07:00Help!! She Won't Stop Talking!!Here, you will find a variety of posts on a variety of topics, which I hope will provide inspiration, encouragement, or just the simple joy in knowing that you can relate to what is said. Some posts will be long & some not so much, but hey, that's how I roll!helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-53262903372704208152018-01-12T19:53:00.002-08:002018-01-12T19:53:19.237-08:00Reflections<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I've been a bit reflective these days... </i></b></span><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Lots of changes have happened in my life & in the lives of those I love. It's neither good nor bad. It's just life. We humans are apt to complain a lot. And I mean A LOT!! We get sick & we whine & moan. Sickness is no fun of course, especially if one is seriously ill, but overall, our human tendency is to make sure others know we feel yucky. Someone is rude to us & we pout or get angry. We have a bad day & we need time to decompress & unwind. It's just how humans are. </i></b></div>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Animals on the other hand...can be sick & they hide it well - it's what they have to do to survive in the wild. If someone yells at their dog, the dog has hurt feelings yet still forgives & still loves that person. When a dog has had a bad day, it still hopes & still tries to make the most of its circumstances. </i></b></b></div>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Just this morning, my husband threw a toy onto the hardwood floor for our dog Penny to play with. She jumped down off our bed (a big jump for such a little dog) & went sliding onto the floor, legs splayed out & head down, with her chin landing with a thump. She quickly grabbed her toy & jumped back up onto the bed as if it was no big deal. My husband instantly felt bad for her & vowed not to throw the toy from the bed anymore. Penny, realizing my husband wasn't going to throw the toy after all, began licking her little toothpick legs. It was clear that although she acted as if it was no big deal, her legs did take a pounding & were sore. But that's a dog for you -- they just go with the flow. They accept what is & move on. So do other animals.</i></b></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Photo: Cari Kissel</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Photo: Cari Kissel</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Our cat Ella, after using her litter box, tears through the home as if she's high on catnip, bumping into furniture as she runs. We hear the thump, but she carries on, seemingly concluding that the bumping into things already took place & there's no use dwelling on any pain associated with it. Nevermind the fact that Ella is 13 years old & isn't as active as she used to be. She doesn't let her aging body stop her from having fun when she can. Animals are cool like that. We humans could learn a lot from their example. </i></b></div>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>As I reflect on how animals go through life, I realize that out of all the species of life on this planet, human beings are the ones who possess the greatest control over their circumstances, yet complain the most about the hand they are dealt. I'm sure we all know someone who finds every excuse to be negative. The sun never shines for such people & if it did, they wouldn't notice it because they walk around with a dark cloud over their heads. I'm not speaking of those with mental illness who may have difficulty being positive. I'm talking about those who just have a negative disposition overall. Life isn't always going to be sunny & warm. Outside, the birds still happily chirp & sing, flying with gleeful abandon, <u>even when</u> the nights are cold & the winter rains we get here, shake & toss about their homes far more than the earthquakes we occasionally experience ever do. I'll take an earthquake any day, over being tossed about in a tree branch, & possibly having my home thrown to the ground & destroyed by the wind. </i></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;">Photo: all-free-download.com</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>In this world, there is much stress & anxiety because people, intelligent & good as we are, also possess an innate ability to be mean, sometimes cruel & even evil. We can't change the world. We can, however, change our little portion of the world for the better. We can approach life with a positive outlook & attitude & we can BE positive, BE good, BE loving & kind & we can stop fretting over the things that don't matter & focus on the things that do. We can stop dwelling on the past & live for the present.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">And when we need to learn how to do just that, we can look to the animals around us & let their examples be our guide.</span></i></b></div>
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-13606527211110992592017-09-28T14:16:00.000-07:002017-09-29T13:40:17.914-07:00Be A Little Crazy<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Being normal is overrated. What IS normal, anyway? Is it a standard definition of acceptable traits that are within certain parameters? Does venturing outside of those parameters violate normalcy? Who created those parameters in the first place? Who gets to decide if someone is <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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abnormal or not? Is being normal like being in a club, where one has to be accepted before being included? Well I say......</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Phooey on normalcy! I think it's perfectly fine to be crazy sometimes. Some of the coolest people in history were a little crazy. There's 3 kinds of crazy, 2 of which are acceptable in my opinion, the 3rd of which is not. People have often treated those who have a mental illness or a disability as if they have the plague. It isn't contagious, folks. That kind of crazy can't be helped. We are all still human beings & we all have SOME sort of "stuff" that makes us a bit crazy. As long as we are either keeping our "crazy" under control with therapy, medication or whatever floats our boat, & we aren't hurting anyone, including ourselves, then that's okay. Live & let live!</i></b></span><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>How about those who are covered in tattoos or dress in ways that garner them lots of attention? If such people are indeed normal, why is it that we still judge them & find them lacking somehow? And before anyone says "but I don't ever do that because I judge someone <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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on how they behave, not on how they look", I cry fowl on that one. Don't think you've <u>never</u> judged someone. We ALL have done so at least once. How many of us have judged an old person to be stupid & deaf, as we speak loudly to them in a deliberate & slow manner because we assume they have lost all understanding & hearing & we have to speak to them like a child? We have all judged someone. What about those who are "eccentric" & "odd" & act just outside "societal/acceptable norms"? Hey, as long as nobody is hurting anyone, who cares?! Live & let live!</i></b><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Then there are those who do all the "normal" things such as going to work, paying their bills & doing what "normal" people do, except their personalities are so off-putting that they come across to others as the opposite of normal. They can be rude, obnoxious, self-entitled, self-absorbed (narcissistic) & act as if the world not only revolves around them, but that the world owes them whatever they want or what they feel they deserve. They don't care if they hurt others, so long as the end result serves their purpose or fulfills their wishes. This kind of "crazy" is unacceptable because it harms others.</i></b><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>There. Those are the 3 kinds of "crazy" as described by moi! So live a little. Don't take life so seriously. We're not going to get out of it alive anyway, so we might as well make it count. Be kind, don't hurt others, be smart in your choices, and HAVE FUN!! And most importantly, be weird, be silly, don't be afraid to make a fool of yourself for the sake of fun now & then. Make that silly sound with your tongue or dance like John Travolta in the grocery store. Rock out to music in the car & laugh when others stare at you as you drive down the road. Just BE A LITTLE CRAZY!! Live & let live...& have fun doing so!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></i></b><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman";"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 14px;">**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</span></span></span></span></span></i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></i></b></span></div>
helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-85791077458324335382017-08-31T18:42:00.000-07:002017-09-02T18:46:28.691-07:00Times Have Changed<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>How I miss my parents. If they were alive today, they would both be in their 90's. They brought about a certain comfort that always made me feel "safe", even as an adult with children of my own. They represented security, balance, family, ethics, goodness, stability & love, all rolled into one package that they created together when they married while still in their teens in the 1940's. My father was drafted during World War II & he & my mom moved from Indiana to California when the Marines sent my dad to San Diego & he was assigned to the USS Panamint & later saw battle in the Pacific Theater. Together, they raised their family: 2 sons & 4 daughters. I was the youngest.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>In my father's younger years, he owned his own Texaco gas station. By the time I entered high school, I was the last remaining child living at home with my parents & my father worked for a defense contractor. My mother was a cashier for a grocery store when I was a young child & I remember being babysat by a neighbor woman named Mrs. Blaine, who sat me & my older brother Randy in the living room to play quietly while she watched soap operas. I didn't like Mrs. Blaine. I don't recall her being mean or anything. She just wasn't engaging. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>My mom on the other hand...</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Woke up at the crack of dawn on weekends (so it seemed) & served her family fresh squeezed orange juice straight from our orange trees, along with funny animal shaped pancakes & bacon or sausage for breakfast. Weekday morning breakfast consisted of oatmeal or cereal & the same fresh squeezed juice, served in tiny little glasses. After cashiering for a time, my mom was a stay home mom until the recession of the 1980's made it necessary for her to take a job with a school district until she retired. She would work during the day & then come home & have dinner cooked & on the table by 5:30 each night. She was an amazing & efficient cooking machine...& she served these meals with love & a smile. She was a nurturing mom who put her heart & soul into loving her family. She had her faults, but don't we all. </i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkeaZ8eR8gD9cK6sI_uHvq2pnAMkcakSR7dN6ArXi2KVd4zqvJapOaYchlYMLdVWMN81DyEew0Zypw44D3NDgMDdbt4eACvQ-x0HHax8mMJLc3Au0TJ0wS3ZNz-nL6EmU9DXodtTTQHy-/s1600/IMG_20141006_172634743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkeaZ8eR8gD9cK6sI_uHvq2pnAMkcakSR7dN6ArXi2KVd4zqvJapOaYchlYMLdVWMN81DyEew0Zypw44D3NDgMDdbt4eACvQ-x0HHax8mMJLc3Au0TJ0wS3ZNz-nL6EmU9DXodtTTQHy-/s320/IMG_20141006_172634743.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Photo: Cari Kissel</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>What I remember the most about my mom was her tremendous love for her kids & grandkids, her good cooking & the silly things she did, such as that time she dribbled a ball under her legs & broke her foot in the process. She got hurt being silly. At least she was having fun! She also made a funny expression sometimes, where she would cross her eyes & stick her tongue out to the side. What I would give to see that expression, hear her voice, see her cooking in her bathrobe on weekend mornings & just one more time, hear her say "it'll all work out"....I especially would love to hear those words now more than ever. She had another expression that went like this: "I'm rough & tough & hard to bluff. I chew nails & spit rust". I know she borrowed that from somewhere, but it's my motto now.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Then there was my dad. Dad was a no-nonsense guy - a true man's man. He wasn't super tall or burly, & he didn't have to puff himself up & brag about his prowess or might. His good character, honor & integrity toward others was more than enough to prove his manhood. He did however, have a look he could give someone that said he meant business...& he really meant it. When my dad was upset, you knew it. He didn't have to yell or threaten. He didn't have to spank or wash our mouths out with soap (although we received both on just a few occasions, for disrespect or disobedience...and we turned out just fine...it was not considered abuse back then...it was discipline). My dad only had to get that look in his eye & we knew we were in trouble. We feared his disappointment in us more than anything we thought he could do to us. Usually we had privileges taken away..."restriction", we called it. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>My dad was not to be messed with. I recall a time when after my sister graduated from high school, she traveled north to take what she thought was a legitimate job, but it turned out to be dubious in nature & those advertising that job, being sinister in intent. I remember riding in the car for the 2-1/2 hour trip to rescue my sister. I don't recall any words being spoken on the way there, nor on the way back. My dad just simply took care of business. We always knew we could count on my dad. If we got into a bind, he was always there. He was a tough man, but he was also a softie. Some of my fondest memories of him were when after I washed my hair as a child, my dad would brush it dry. He had that tenderness about him. He also told corny jokes. That must be a guy thing in my family because my brother Larry inherited that trait. Oh how I miss those jokes & oh how glad I am when my brother's sense of humor reminds me of my dad...</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But some of the most important lessons my parents imparted to their kids were these:</i></b></span><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">*</span><span style="color: red;">Integrity</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">....don't cheat, don't steal, don't lie...live honorably, live honestly & do the right thing</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">*</span><span style="color: red;">Independence</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">....don't rely on others to do things you can do for yourself</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">*</span><span style="color: red;">Giving</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">...be the one to give, not the one who is always asking to receive...to give is a blessing</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">*</span><span style="color: red;">Morality</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">....the moral code of the Bible is a good one to live by because it works, plain & simple</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">*</span><span style="color: red;">Compassion</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">...help others when able to do so...don't let someone suffer if you are able to help</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">*</span><span style="color: red;">Civic duty</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">...my parents watched the news on tv & made sure we were aware of what was going on in the world around us...they taught us not to be spoonfed our beliefs, but to think for ourselves & to act on our convictions</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">*</span><span style="color: red;">Golden Rule</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">.....treat others in the manner that you would hope that they would treat you</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">And the strongest lesson of all....</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">*</span><span style="color: red;">Respect</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">...respect for parents was expected because they gave us life, cared for, protected us, met our needs, taught us right from wrong & they loved, encouraged & supported us. We were taught to show respect for our parents & to hold them to a higher regard of respect than anyone else, due to the simple fact that they were our parents & they earned that respect for the reasons stated above....this type of respect is a rarity these days & people wonder why families break down, relationships fall apart & why there is so much dysfunction in the world. It starts with respect for our parents, then develops as respect for ourselves & respect for one another. Yes, respect is earned, but it is also deserved. Respect can be withheld in cases of abuse or toxic behavior, but <u>basic respect</u>, even when one doesn't agree with one's parent, is deserved & should be given, if such a parent is an otherwise good & loving parent. Neither my siblings nor I would ever dare to utter an ounce of disrespect toward either of my parents, the way so many kids disrespect their parents today. To do so would not have been a poor reflection upon our parents, but upon ourselves.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">We were taught that respect for authority figures is also expected because of the authority such people hold. We don't have to like our government officials, but we should show them basic respect because of the office they hold. I have zero respect for our current president personally, because of the character traits I have observed, but I respect the <u>office</u> he holds & will show respect for that office & will leave it at that. Respect for one another, by simply being courteous & polite, friendly & considerate, are things my parents taught their kids. These are things I miss about them....the way they lived their lives & the values they espoused. I miss their personalities. I miss THEM. </span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">I miss the time they lived in because in the days I was growing up & even into my early adult years, people were kinder....nicer...they were more considerate, respectful & less rude. Nowadays, there are those who take pleasure in being hurtful & unkind to those with whom they are angry or from whom they perceive the merest slight. There are those who enjoy inflicting great pain on others or delighting in using their words as a sharpened sword, to create maximum damage or who enjoy driving in an aggressive & potentially deadly manner near another driver, because of road rage brought about by something as petty as someone driving slower than the angry driver wants them to drive. I recall someone once saying "be good people...be good to people". If only people could not only say those words, but could mean them & live by them as well. Times have changed. How I wish that we could go back to a time when people were kinder toward one another. One can dream, right?</span></i></b><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman";"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "times new roman";"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 14px;">**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</span></span></span></span></span></i></b><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman";"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></i></b><br />
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-82315484761239932142017-05-13T18:54:00.000-07:002017-05-13T19:01:56.742-07:00Sweet Maggie's Cloud<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">My family's Maggie girl died 2 years ago & when she died, a part of my soul died with her...such was our bond. I don't mean this as judgment, but as being sincerely baffled when I say that I have never understood people who view animals not as living beings, but as "just a dog/cat etc". Animals are not here on earth to serve us. Although we can surely have a symbiotic relationship with them where they help us & we help them, they have the right to exist & enjoy the life they were given just as much as we do. Lesser intelligence does not equate to lesser right to life. This isn't a "don't eat meat" post. I respect people's rights to choose their food.</span></i></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><b style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">I'm merely saying that pets are not our property, as if they are inanimate objects. They are not our toys or playthings whose sole purpose is to amuse or entertain us, although they can certainly do both. They are not our decorations that we have just because they are cute or fluffy. We can buy a decorative pillow. If you only want a dog or cat so you can have something soft to cuddle, buy a blanket. </span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Although dogs can make great alarm systems (or alarm clocks, as in our case) & be protective (oh my goodness, our Penny could alarm the whole neighborhood!), that is not their sole reason for existence. Dogs especially, are pack animals who feel lonely & sad when left alone outside, day & night. They are wired for companionship & a need for "family". To subject them to a life of solitude is cruel indeed. Our pets feel pain, fear, betrayal & sadness. They also feel joy, mischievousness, trust & love & they are UNCONDITIONALLY loving. Truly, I like animals better than people. They're nicer.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">All that said, so many have lost a beloved fur baby, or they know someone who has...or they fear that possibility. For those this applies to, God bless you! You get it! A few days after Maggie died, I was standing on our front porch for fresh air & sunshine. I love the sky & the beauty often created by God's brush strokes in the clouds. I happened to look up & I couldn't take my eyes off of a particular cloud formation directly over our roof. It was Maggie! There was no mistaking the white patches of fur surrounding her brown eyes & black nose, nor her little folded ears & the other ear blowing backward in the wind. In that very moment, I knew that she was ok. God painted the clouds that way to give me comfort that she lives on & is happy, over that Rainbow Bridge. </span></i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvj3CycTHBLQfT-bouxo7buFmAYcDbvu5CophAZhJsOxsu77-kemHRjq-wzv9gr0fDp6skQyo4R_YcxTUe2d_lPG15YhIbtDLlF5bxAk9pFNbpuxuqZWo3CBb8Xt0ZJJhuKM1WJRLqpbo/s1600/Maggie+and+her+cloud+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvj3CycTHBLQfT-bouxo7buFmAYcDbvu5CophAZhJsOxsu77-kemHRjq-wzv9gr0fDp6skQyo4R_YcxTUe2d_lPG15YhIbtDLlF5bxAk9pFNbpuxuqZWo3CBb8Xt0ZJJhuKM1WJRLqpbo/s320/Maggie+and+her+cloud+collage.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Photo: Cari Kissel</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">To the right, is a photo of her on the left & her cloud on the right. It is my hope that it may bring comfort for those who may need it. It's so hard to lose a pet we love. The Bible talks about how God knows when the sparrow falls & how in God's kingdom, the lion & the lamb will lie down together. If we love our pets, how much more God does, because He created them & infused them with all their awesomeness. Hard to say goodbye, but it's really just "see ya later". I believe they are ok...better than ok even. Hopefully this post brings comfort to someone.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></i></b><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></i></b><b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 14px;">**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</span></span></span></span></span></i></b><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></i></b></div>
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-46116677451437417352017-05-13T18:14:00.001-07:002017-05-13T18:14:21.041-07:00Finding Legos<div class="MsoNormal">
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Yellow ones, red ones, blue and green…<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">No matter what room I go to, those little blocks are seen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Tucked underneath the couch, & near our cat’s litter
box,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Hiding between the covers & near where my husband throws
his socks!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">As I crouch down on the floor, retrieving cat toys under the
TV,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Pet hair, cords & cat toys & Legos are what I see!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">As I tidy up the living room, moving papers here &
there,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">I find blocks that snap together, spreading colors
everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">There are guns to shoot the zombies & rifles 2 feet
long.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The builder of these masterpieces, makes them very strong.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Oh the robots & the weapons, made for battles of that
day,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Are the evidence of a happy child, who came to see us &
to play. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">As I pick up all the Legos, that have somehow missed their
box,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">I’m reminded of a sweet little boy & the way he plays
& talks.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">“Get the zombies, Grandpa! Run! We have to hide!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">“Oh no, they just got Grandma! Now she’s a zombie & she
died!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">There’s an awesome little boy, 4 years old with an
infectious grin.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Each time I’m finding Legos, I’m reminded he was here again!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">(Dedicated to my awesome, Lego-loving grandson)</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 14px;">**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</span></span></span></span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></i></b></div>
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-51724213579230017102017-02-17T20:28:00.001-08:002017-02-17T20:48:57.019-08:00The Good and Not So Good Human Traits<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I don't make resolutions when a new year arrives. I instead, set goals for my life & I set such goals throughout the year. In my experiences during the past couple of years, I have encountered people with personality & character traits so ugly that they have brought out the worst of mankind. I have also observed & been exposed to traits so awesome that they help people to forget that ugliness in this world even exists when we can see the goodness in others. I want to strive to exhibit the positive traits below, to the best of my ability. They are shown first on this list. This post isn't pretty or poetic, nor is the layout fancy. Heck, I'm not even going to make the format perfectly consistent & uniform. I don't feel like it. But I do believe the point I'm trying to make can still be made here:</i></b></span><br />
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<b><u><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Integrity:<o:p></o:p></span></i></u></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">The quality of being honest & having strong
moral principles; moral uprightness. “He is known to be a man of integrity”. Synonyms: honesty, rectitude, honor,
good character, ethics, morals, righteousness, morality, virtue, decency, fairness,
sincerity, truthfulness, trustworthiness, scrupulousness</span></i></b></span><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><u>Honorable:</u><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Bringing or worthy of honor. “This is the only honorable
course of action”. Synonyms: honest, moral, ethical,
principled, righteous, right-minded, decent, respectable, estimable, virtuous,
good, upstanding, upright, worthy, noble, fair, just, truthful, trustworthy,
law-abiding, reliable, reputable, creditable, dependable</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><u>Respectful:</u><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Feeling or showing deference & respect. “They sit in
respectful silence”. Synonyms: deferential, reverent, dutiful,
polite, well-mannered, civil, courteous, gracious<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><u>Truthful:</u><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Telling or expressing the truth. “I think you’re confusing
being rude with being truthful”. Synonyms: honest, sincere, trustworthy,
genuine, candid, frank, open, forthright, straight, upfront, true, accurate,
correct, factual, reliable, unvarnished, unembellished<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><u>Character:</u><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">The mental & moral qualities distinctive to
an individual. “Running away was not in keeping with her character”. Synonyms: personality, disposition, nature, temperament, temper, mentality, spirit, essence, traits</span></i></b></span></div>
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<b><u><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Lie:</span></i></u></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">An intentionally false statement. “Fred felt shame at
telling Tina a lie”. Synonyms: untruth, falsehood,
fib, fabrication, deception, invention, fiction, half-truth, exaggeration,
perjury, dishonesty, misrepresentation, deceit, duplicity<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><u>Deceit:</u><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">The act or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or
misrepresenting the truth. “A web of deceit”. Synonyms: cheating, deviousness, fraud, slyness, guile, bluff, lying,
pretense, treachery<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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Witness:</u><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Exodus 20: You shall not give false testimony against your
neighbor. </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Definition: 1) Speaking falsely in any manner, lying, equivocating, & any way devising & designing to deceive our neighbor; 2) Speaking unjustly against our neighbor, to the prejudice of his reputation & which involves the guilty of both parties.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><u>Vindictiveness:</u><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Desire to seek revenge; marked by or resulting from a desire
to hurt; spitefulness; intending to cause anguish or hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><u>Malicious:</u><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Characterized by malice; intended or intending to do
harm. “Malicious destruction of property”. Synonyms: spiteful, evil-intentioned, vindictive, mean, nasty, hurtful,
wounding, cruel, unkind. “Arnold’s
allegations take on the qualities of a malicious character assassination”.<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></i></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 14px;">**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</span></span></span></span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></i></b></div>
helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-71858731538122104132017-02-04T16:34:00.003-08:002017-02-10T13:06:34.071-08:00Sisters<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">She was the 3rd daughter for my parents. They already had one son at that time & I'm quite certain my brother had hoped for a baby brother instead of yet another girl, but that was not to be. I'm hypothesizing here. I haven't actually asked my brother how he felt about having yet another sister in the family, but c'mon...what boy actually looks forward to being outnumbered 3 to 1 by sisters? <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0eyzHICxEcEhabWEUk1mrONJPD5DSba9HMaVmIsTWF_Ccgq6iezJYk7YAXTvJEdunaG9vjMQqGa_J2fIqDWGOd-hAD1-c8Hfo2kO1b0vxq1fHXsdBIq5a-tPYuOpdXOe8QPpQtfeMIj2/s1600/baby+in+pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0eyzHICxEcEhabWEUk1mrONJPD5DSba9HMaVmIsTWF_Ccgq6iezJYk7YAXTvJEdunaG9vjMQqGa_J2fIqDWGOd-hAD1-c8Hfo2kO1b0vxq1fHXsdBIq5a-tPYuOpdXOe8QPpQtfeMIj2/s200/baby+in+pink.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Photo: all-free-download.com</b></span></td></tr>
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To make matters worse for my poor brother, he had to wait an extra month to find out if he was going to have a little brother or not, because this little baby was born a month late...at least according to legend (every family has them). At last the day arrived & the doctor announced "it's a girl". I can imagine the dismay my brother must have felt on that day, although he likely was used to it by now.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">My brother finally got his little brother, followed by yet another sister - me. My parents decided that 6 was enough. I like to think that they were just waiting for me to come along before they stopped having kids. But I digress....this story is about sisters...more specifically, about a particular sister. I'm not mentioning her by name, out of respect for her privacy, so I'll simply refer to her as the initial of her name,"N". Today is her birthday & I have much to say about this sister who is near & dear to my heart. Now I know that the title of my blog is "Help, She Won't Stop Talking", but I assure you that although I said I have much to say, this will not be a "Moby Dick" style of story, but rather, I will attempt to follow (key word here is "attempt") more of a "Reader's Digest Condensed" style.</span></i></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnZWNVbuV7_eLSxhJ2AeQHjHoKAC9xquJkXVolCezMVNmJdEWHIvnrqrfo79wLjCg0fgPdOPmk5NYRK76MMBuxZALjksG9-WoS1IbwZmmwUlMOxvSU8D38CHGcvjAa-NwBa2FhyC9gOZV/s1600/FB_IMG_1486237224164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnZWNVbuV7_eLSxhJ2AeQHjHoKAC9xquJkXVolCezMVNmJdEWHIvnrqrfo79wLjCg0fgPdOPmk5NYRK76MMBuxZALjksG9-WoS1IbwZmmwUlMOxvSU8D38CHGcvjAa-NwBa2FhyC9gOZV/s200/FB_IMG_1486237224164.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Photo: Cari Kissel<br />Randy: 12-3-58 to 12-1-04</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">N is 6 years older than I am. My brother Randy came along a couple years after N was born. Randy was born with Down Syndrome. I could write numerous blog posts about Randy alone because he was such an awesome guy, with an infectious smile & a mischievous spirit. But what I want to say about Randy with regard to N is that he had a special bond with my sister. She called him her "Fruitcake" & he called her his. She was very loving & patient with him & frequently took him on outings, just the two of them. </span></i></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04kHivDHa497JGEqB82ypIhpwVywQjZo6UR_mRSV83MmUTEX-ZIDJaB4nrHhcnjQh4CkSq41qoZy6WwciqhNEKnvSe4_voemClIRdrDuWh1bauxio-7C4n8fG4yImRYj8TddbTwg8tRTs/s1600/corn+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04kHivDHa497JGEqB82ypIhpwVywQjZo6UR_mRSV83MmUTEX-ZIDJaB4nrHhcnjQh4CkSq41qoZy6WwciqhNEKnvSe4_voemClIRdrDuWh1bauxio-7C4n8fG4yImRYj8TddbTwg8tRTs/s200/corn+dog.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;">Photo: clipartkid.com</span></b></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">One memory that sticks in my mind is how they often went to Der Wienerschnitzel for a corn dog. Randy loved those trips. I have another memory of my sister with regard to Der Wienerschnitzel. I remember recovering from the stomach flu & N thought it would be a good idea for me to enjoy a corn dog too. I can still taste how it felt, coming back up. Sorry N, I couldn't resist reminding you of that, just like you can't resist reminding me of the homemade soft pretzels I made once & how Randy took those pretzels & banged them on the table because they came out rock hard...</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Getting back to N, some of my childhood memories of her include the one I will never let her live down, especially the one where I would tattle to my mother "Mo-ommm, N just hit me as hard as she could". N would reply "no I didn't...If I was going to hit you as hard as I could, I would do THIS", followed by an even harder hit. I can laugh at that memory now because that was just sibling stuff that often happens when kids are growing up. While N used to pick on me (& I'm quite sure that being the little & occasionally annoying sister, I earned it...sometimes), she spent more times having my back. In fact, before my mother died, she promised my mom that she would look out for me. I had been going through an icky divorce & had experienced a lot of challenges up till that point. My mother's mind was put at ease, knowing my sister would make sure I was going to be okay. Of course I was okay on my own merit, but it was a cool thing to know my sister made that promise on my behalf.</span></i></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsspMtSRgwHglI8WyNpPEp4V1r3NG89-o9GqLy3aOH50X98zB8LsmcaY2Qoitc_z76gSkpqxVv2l9XZoxUfpVv9o_GZ-H9d8ncZmyhqh724xcwtKiaoOgIxOrDJrqSgHy3NGOfwcGtBAg/s1600/loyalty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsspMtSRgwHglI8WyNpPEp4V1r3NG89-o9GqLy3aOH50X98zB8LsmcaY2Qoitc_z76gSkpqxVv2l9XZoxUfpVv9o_GZ-H9d8ncZmyhqh724xcwtKiaoOgIxOrDJrqSgHy3NGOfwcGtBAg/s200/loyalty.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Photo: all-free-download.com</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Speaking of my prior marriage, N never liked my ex-husband & she wasn't afraid to let me know how she felt. Like good sisters do, she saw things in him that I, wearing my blinders, couldn't see. She was looking out for me, yet respecting me enough to allow me to make my own choices & live my own life. When I finally saw the things that N saw & I filed for divorce, who was the first to have my back & offer support? My sister N of course! She spent money on airfare & lodging, along with rental car expenses, to support me in court. She opened up her home to me when I first separated from my ex. I put her through a lot of stress during that time, yet she stood by me, unconditionally loving me the way my parents modeled for us kids. She helped me through that difficult time, especially when I was being judged & treated poorly by others as I struggled to get my bearings, make a new life & as I fought for custody of my children. That's what sisters do.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Fast forwarding a few years, my soldier son was deployed to Afghanistan & my daughter was being bullied at school. I had to make some hard choices in order to cope with the stress, but more importantly, to be there for both my kids as best I could. N & I didn't see eye to eye on some things & we stopped speaking to one another. It might be seen by some as a very sad time, but I don't see it that way. You see, disagreements between two people are often just two people both having the best of intentions, yet feeling passionate in their views. Such was the case with us. This time apart in our relationship gave us both a chance to see one another's perspectives & to grow in our personal lives. We worked things out & speaking only for myself since I can't speak for N, I feel that we have a closer bond than ever now. I am profoundly grateful to have my sister N in my life!</span></i></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ovcNOuOQLw/Vm5kJoWHnuI/AAAAAAAAbwA/uqMlSjnqgOILf-v9i9olIAkSO_LbZISFQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20150122_144359436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ovcNOuOQLw/Vm5kJoWHnuI/AAAAAAAAbwA/uqMlSjnqgOILf-v9i9olIAkSO_LbZISFQCPcB/s200/IMG_20150122_144359436.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Photo: Cari Kissel</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7biE4mGesq5q9AelGKcaofSJMev2ToQVZN85aGmz1eMccQ2cC_AScjlJSnB27U_Kfag8bu5r54waKgrwdBmgbBbwYRAbBqdFoFoseOGTseHNAbsTuQvaVUVApfzdQSsixcH2tAqcTqJor/s1600/20170204_135307.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7biE4mGesq5q9AelGKcaofSJMev2ToQVZN85aGmz1eMccQ2cC_AScjlJSnB27U_Kfag8bu5r54waKgrwdBmgbBbwYRAbBqdFoFoseOGTseHNAbsTuQvaVUVApfzdQSsixcH2tAqcTqJor/s200/20170204_135307.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Photo: Cari Kissel</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">After my parents & brother Randy died, our once tight-knit family kind of grew apart a bit. That can happen when the status quo is disrupted by major events & life changes. But my parents instilled strong family values & integrity in their 6 children & although a few branches of our family tree have shed a few leaves, my sister N is taking it upon herself to try to tend to that tree & to help us all remember that with all our branches holding one another up in support, we will have a most beautiful tree that will continue to grow & thrive for years to come.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Before I end this post, I would like to say that I have always admired the following qualities in my sister:</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">* Her ability to be able to converse with anyone & immediately find & acknowledge something positive about that person</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">* Her positive, "glass is half full" attitude about life</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">* Her stubborn determination to never give up & to view life's challenges as a speed bump, rather than a road block</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">* Her love & devotion to her family, even driving long distances to show support for loved ones</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">* Her intelligence & artistic ability</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">* Her willingness to help & to sacrifice while doing so</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">* Her tremendous wit</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">* Her faith in God & her desire to please Him</span></i></b><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>* Her fantastic memory & recall of details - my favorite is how she can quote lines of movies, replete with imitations of the actor speaking those lines</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>* Her generous & giving heart</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>* Her fun-loving & youthful spirit that surpasses even those half her age (kayaking, hiking, snowboarding, racketball & so on)</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>* Her intelligence</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>* Her dedication to her profession & to providing quality work</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>* She's one tough cookie & doesn't take guff from anyone</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>* She's a beautiful lady, inside & out</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>There are so many more things that I could add to this list, but then this post would be ridiculously long. If any of my family members are reading this, I want them to know that blog posts could be written about each of them as well, however there is a special reason that I am dedicating this post to my sister N:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Family is important. Family bonds shouldn't be broken. We can't choose who our siblings are but we can choose people to be in our lives whom we love like a brother or like a sister. Sometimes, non-blood related friends feel more like family than our own family members do. But it's an extra special blessing when our blood-related siblings are not only people for whom we did not have a choice in being related to, but they are also people for whom we <u>choose</u> to call our own. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>My family went through a lot of changes after the deaths of my parents & brother. Some relationships became fractured a bit. But God is good & He is bringing new growth to our family tree. New leaves are sprouting where the fractured limbs have begun to heal. If there is one thing I think that all of us in my family can agree upon, it is that life is precious & we ought not to take any of our loved ones for granted because no day of life is guaranteed. We ought not waste one single opportunity to show those we love that we love them. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I am dedicating this particular post to my sister N because today is her birthday & she deserves to know that I am profoundly thankful to have her in my life, & I am glad that we were able to put aside past ridiculousness & appreciate the fact that we are sisters & that we love each other. I want her to know that she means the world to me & that she always will. I want to express my deep love for her & my gratitude to her for her efforts to bring the branches of our family tree into bloom once again. I see healing & growth & I see the branches reaching high toward the sky, basking in the warmth of the sun. I see the soil beneath the tree becoming rich with nutrients as the roots drink in the love that has been occasionally clogged up by rocks & debris. I love every one of my siblings with all my heart & I am so thankful for each of them. But this is the first time in awhile, that I have had the opportunity to let my sister N know just how much she means to me. What better time than today, on this most beautiful day. Just as she has been there for me, I will be there for her. After all, that's what sisters do.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>So in closing, I would just like to encourage anyone reading this post to stop what you're doing & think about those in your family. Is your family tree a bit withered & barren? Is there something you can do to help it to grow again? Every family has its qualities & faults. Are the faults really so bad that they can't be overcome? If there is anything that can be done, DO IT! My father, brother & mother all died within an 8-month period. Their deaths shook up my family tree a bit & left it almost barren & parched for awhile. But at its roots was still love, & with tender care, the tree is beginning to show new growth. Life can vanish in the blink of an eye. We sometimes take for granted that people we love will be with us tomorrow, but they can disappear just like that. Is our pride, or our need to be right, or whatever the case may be that keeps people apart or families broken, more important than the actual people that we love? Can hurts be overcome? Can we accept one another, warts & all? These are questions that families ought to ask one another. Love is worth it. Yes it is!!</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>In that light, I love every single person in my enormously large family. Today however, on my sister N's birthday, I want to wish her, with love always:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"> HAPPY BIRTHDAY & LEG THINGIE!!!</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i></i></b></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: normal;"><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: georgia, utopia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</i></b></span></b></span>helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-53789394380038724032016-10-09T13:00:00.000-07:002017-02-04T18:34:04.257-08:00Speaking of Politics....<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Photo: all-free-download.com</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">I am not a fan of reading political posts & so I'm about to do the very thing I hate to see...but something is getting on my nerves & I just can't remain silent anymore. I am talking about the constant posts on social as well as mainstream media about the upcoming presidential election & the obvious intent to persuade others toward a certain candidate. So with that in mind.....</span></i></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Photo: all-free-download.com</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">I respect people's right to be passionate about their candidate. I do. But when I see posts or news articles that attack one candidate by minimizing & excusing the disgustingly offensive & repugnant actions of another candidate, I get upset. I get upset because I see the increasing trend of very good & decent people accepting behaviors in a candidate that are so disgusting, offensive & shocking that such behaviors are indicative of an individual who doesn't have the character & temperament to be the leader of this most powerful nation on earth. We as a nation have blasted prior candidates & heck, prior presidents, for character traits & behaviors FAR less appalling than what this particular candidate is exhibiting & yet because he claims to represent conservative values, people are excusing, defending, minimizing & forgetting the reprehensible character traits that are part of who that candidate is as a person & running to not only embrace & support that candidate, but publicly making comparisons of the two main candidates to show why THEIR candidate is the better choice. </span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">I was a history/political science major in college & was 3 classes away from getting my Bachelor's degree in History before I foolishly changed my major to Business Administration (I could have had 2 degrees if I had just finished those 3 classes, but the employment outlook for those with history degrees at that time wasn't good). I STUDIED & WROTE PAPERS ON political figures in history. I took a class in college that was dedicated solely to the study of Adolph Hitler. The textbook for that class was 3 inches thick. Historically speaking, leaders who exhibited personality & character traits similar to what we are seeing in this one particular candidate, have been demagogues who say what people want to hear in order to get into power & then their self-serving egomaniacal tendencies would take over & they would exercise their own agenda without regard for what was best for the nation they led or its people. </span></i></b></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Think of the president of the Phillipines, Rodrigo Duterte as a current example. He pledged to take a strong stance on the illegal drug trade. He too speaks his mind & has zero political correctness (telling President Obama he can go to hell, for instance). The United States has condemned the gross human rights violations by this president as he orders the executions of thousands of his own country's citizens accused of being a part of the illegal drug trade or who are people who have fallen victim to the drug trade by becoming addicts. These people aren't getting a fair trial. They are receiving trial by death. He has abruptly cut ties with the U.S. after 65 years of partnership with us, because he abhors being held accountable. This president, although elected by the people, acts unilaterally. He behaves like a dictator. </span></i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVrVhtQ7UgJucU4k4kq9QA7OBsgdWAVXCnURkNlMsJPr4TcwF3Yet579sbXq3yCRzCVbQsjS9KoNKewBVxum35ampzewH8DcvPy-0I-vuhcNYU96yXlrSUNSKTNP3Gh4roG2zhvD_8esC/s1600/crossed_fingers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVrVhtQ7UgJucU4k4kq9QA7OBsgdWAVXCnURkNlMsJPr4TcwF3Yet579sbXq3yCRzCVbQsjS9KoNKewBVxum35ampzewH8DcvPy-0I-vuhcNYU96yXlrSUNSKTNP3Gh4roG2zhvD_8esC/s320/crossed_fingers.jpg" width="320" /></i></b></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Evil people can OF COURSE say what we want to hear & can OF COURSE run on a platform that claims to do what we want them to do if elected. But there's more to being the right candidate for the office of the President of these great United States of America than just a candidate's platform. A presidential candidate must be able to demonstrate, or at the very LEAST appear to demonstrate, a pattern of behavior, ethics, character & temperament that shows at least SOME modicum of integrity, respect for those he or she hopes to serve & an ability to demonstrate diplomacy when needed. If a candidate can't model at least a couple of these things, then platform be hanged! That candidate won't be fit for the job because he or she will put their own agenda & interests above the best interests of our country. </span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">If one compares this one candidate (Donald Trump) to others in history with similar personality & character traits, it's evident that there is a very high likelihood that he would endanger us as a nation due to his lack of diplomacy, tact, couth, knowledge of world affairs & that he would also attempt to behave unilaterally, without going through Congressional approvals first, simply because he is arrogant enough to think he can get away with it. Even his most ardent supporter must acknowledge that this is possible.</span></i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIwXEBSAP-u6hLWpq_KkZzDZWvAK_l-gM4yOJ2nW3lYBg28CepmVZ3f1e-rm4piQb5J2CWL4xdJY1w4qPMi9lfWKu9F8mjGzdnaCGpINt3XQxAlkORjEw3Fi8AEPIGna7hQFAogjOgl_3/s1600/justice_set_horizontal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIwXEBSAP-u6hLWpq_KkZzDZWvAK_l-gM4yOJ2nW3lYBg28CepmVZ3f1e-rm4piQb5J2CWL4xdJY1w4qPMi9lfWKu9F8mjGzdnaCGpINt3XQxAlkORjEw3Fi8AEPIGna7hQFAogjOgl_3/s320/justice_set_horizontal.jpg" width="320" /></i></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Photo: all-free-download.com</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Lest anyone think I support the OTHER candidate, think again. That other candidate (Hillary Clinton) is reckless, manipulative, dishonest & self-seeking also. I do believe however, that she offers experience & diplomacy that would be better for our nation than Donald Trump. And I don't worry that she will somehow see this post & will attempt to squash my voice. BUT HERE'S WHERE I DIFFER FROM MANY AMERICANS: I am not going to vote for EITHER major candidate. I refuse to vote for the lesser of two evils because doing so is still voting for an evil. </span></i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Photo: Cari Kissel</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">As a Christian, I can't do it. As a Christian, I support the conservative platform of Donald Trump yet his character & personality traits make him a dangerous person to have in office (& I am confident that if he saw my post, he would try to sue me for slander....that is his M.O....he can dish it out but can't take it). I firmly believe that God will not honor him in his job because of the basic evil displayed in his behavior. History tells us that people with those traits end up as dictators. I'm not voting for someone who runs on a platform to get elected & whose historical pattern of behavior is to turn the tide to suit whatever furthers his own self interests. Nope. I'm not giving him my vote. </span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">I'm not giving Hillary Clinton my vote either. She has demonstrated an extreme recklessness with national security that shows our country's security would be at great risk if she was elected. Don't even get me started on how I feel about how she handled Benghazi. I also don't agree with her platform. Ordinarily, I WOULD vote for the lesser of two evils if I didn't consider at least one candidate to not be evil. But this time around, I feel they both are. </span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">My vote won't count anyway. Neither will yours. This isn't me siding with Donald Trump & claiming the outcome of the election will come about through fraud (unless he wins the election, in which case he wants us to believe in the veracity & integrity of the electoral process). But it is common knowledge that the U.S. has already accused Russia, based on pretty solid evidence, with hacking into our voting systems & candidate campaigns. Even IF our electoral process wasn't inherently corrupt & flawed, the fact that Russia is tampering with the electoral process is enough evidence that Americans should be convinced that OUR VOTES DO NOT & WILL NOT COUNT IN THIS ELECTION!!! Whatever the projected results turn out to be, is & should be subject to scrutiny & suspicion because we as Americans, don't have the assurances that our electoral process is fair & free from tampering, both from within our government & from the governments of nations who have a stake in the outcome of our presidential election. </span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">So what I'm trying to say is that I don't care who supports whichever candidate they support. Say all you want about it for all I care. Just know that if in doing so, you attempt to minimize the disgusting flaws of one candidate by denigrating the other candidate because of their flaws, it is going to cause me to lose some respect, temporarily or otherwise, for you. I have appreciation & respect for the rights of every American to express themselves, but who I am as a person has a difficult time feeling enthusiastic toward anyone, friend, family member, acquaintance, stranger or political candidate, who attacks one candidate's character while supporting the other candidate whose character flaws are equally reprehensible & repugnant, if not worse. </span></span></i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW3PXzeeeiMsiJY8hMSzF3sywF7s_NkjmkjalUOEiGL-L0hCfDOhMlLhdChp_vZbYjahezrtICWRjdqQ8Bx5u8SGC9HPdMkb54zxxnscvIA0zVW8moKcA634H7XAbyNjMv9Mw_yro67EQ/s1600/flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW3PXzeeeiMsiJY8hMSzF3sywF7s_NkjmkjalUOEiGL-L0hCfDOhMlLhdChp_vZbYjahezrtICWRjdqQ8Bx5u8SGC9HPdMkb54zxxnscvIA0zVW8moKcA634H7XAbyNjMv9Mw_yro67EQ/s320/flag.jpg" width="320" /></i></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Photo: all-free-download.com</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Since my vote won't count anyway, I'm not voting for either of the two major candidates. I haven't decided who I WILL write in yet. But one thing's for certain: the person I write in will be one I can in good conscience face my God about, because imperfect or not, that person's character will at least APPEAR to match up to their platform</span>.</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 14px;">**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</span></span></span></span></span></i></b></span><br />
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-6328243800158590902016-04-04T13:38:00.004-07:002016-04-04T13:38:57.598-07:00We Have a Choice<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Everything we do is a choice. Unless someone is blackmailing us, using extortion against us, or coercing us by force, we alone are responsible for the choices we make. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Someone will say "but you don't know what he did to me...he left me no choice!". Nope, wrong answer. We always have a choice.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>"But she knows that I get upset when she does such & such. I had no choice but to show her that she can't get away with that". Again, we always have a choice.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>"This person hurt my family member!" --- once again, we have a choice in how we respond.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>"Yeah, but that person cut me off in traffic & nearly caused an accident" -- I can relate to this one...& yes, I have the choice in how I will respond.</i></b></span><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>See the problem today is that people don't want to take responsibility for their own actions. There is plenty of blame tossing going around & not enough ownership. Two people get into an argument & both will blame the other, even though both are engaging in the argument & one could simply walk away or refuse to engage the other.</i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>A child may get a bad grade in school or a star athlete may be denied to play in his school's basketball game because he slacked off & is failing a class. Plenty of parents have blamed the teacher when the truth is that the child hasn't been taught the value of taking responsibility for his actions.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Or how about the Presidential candidate who posts an unflattering photo of his competitor's wife & when confronted with the fact that he went too far, exclaims "but HE started it"? Or that same candidate who extols the need to stop American companies from outsourcing their production of goods to China, while he himself has done the same thing in his own company? When confronted with that inconsistency between what he says he stands for & what he actually does, he claims that it's okay because he is only using the laws that are in practice today which allow companies to outsource to other countries.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>The problem with not owning up to our own behaviors is that when we don't take responsibility for ourselves, then we may engage in behaviors that are destructive or hurtful & we may justify doing so because we can blame someone else for making us obligated to retaliate for perceived hurts. This happens a lot in relationships. One person hurts another & both engage in the blame game. If only both could take responsibility for their own contribution to whatever bad situation they are dealing with, then they could actually work on fixing the problem. But that can't happen when there is plenty of blame & not enough personal accountability.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>There's an expression in 12-step programs that talks about "cleaning up your own side of the street". There's also a verse in the Bible that tells us to "get the plank out of your own eye before trying to remove the splinter in someone else's". Each day, we are given a blank slate to work with. What we write on that slate is up to us.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiVzvWtXoKezQkYREVC5qBlgdWIlRVc-dqp2hbGq-6YAyvi2B4yw0wLMhNoLFNr381fKtD6yjZ8hffp6vct90pTi4E_jIFOnldV-arUNRyJOLdmYLCvU82T2_A5WZyFS41rH7DIMUE4Rh/s1600/blank_paper_196486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiVzvWtXoKezQkYREVC5qBlgdWIlRVc-dqp2hbGq-6YAyvi2B4yw0wLMhNoLFNr381fKtD6yjZ8hffp6vct90pTi4E_jIFOnldV-arUNRyJOLdmYLCvU82T2_A5WZyFS41rH7DIMUE4Rh/s320/blank_paper_196486.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Photo: all-free-download.com</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>If everyone took care of their own side of the street, there would be no need for a street sweeper. If everyone learned to actually take responsibility for their own choices & behaviors, then there would be a lot more happy people & less evil in the world. Food for thought..... </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: normal;"><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: georgia, utopia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</i></b></span></b></span></span></div>
helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-27226118272554892642016-03-22T20:44:00.001-07:002016-03-22T21:03:09.294-07:00Maggie and Penny and Ella, oh my!!!<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>It started out as just a quick trip to the side yard to take Penny out to do her business & then I was going to rush back inside & get started on the many projects I had been putting off. But that was not to be.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Penny did her business quickly & as we started heading back home, she led me on a detour. Okay, so it was just a quick little jaunt to another yard, right? What could it hurt to let her mark another patch of grass? Normally, she follows my lead & heads on home in the direction I lead her in. Not this time.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>As she finished her business again & we headed for home, instead of turning right to go back home, she looked at me with a confident smile, paused & plunged straight ahead toward the other grassy area where I take her at night when I want to feel safe from coyotes. "Okay", I told her, "we'll go this way, but just for a minute". I really wasn't in the mood to take her on a long walk.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>So....I let Penny have her way, even though I very much wanted to go back home.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>To my delight, my normally very loud-mouthed little girl did not bark at a single soul. Ah, life was good...</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>We finished walking in that grassy area & once again, I tried to head for home. Once again, instead of turning right to go home, Penny turned her head back to look at me & she gave me that confident smile that said "we're going to go this way" & then we forged straight ahead -- again. "What the heck, Penny?" I wondered, as I just allowed my family's little 12-pound dog to manipulate me into doing something I didn't want to do. She had already done her business after all, & I had stuff to do. But once again, she warmed my heart & persuaded me with her smile. </i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKiJfAlucpZLgYCOguZargVoNCBWwKWnr6UEAltV6p0cxrnsfHfTE2BEVKUF1dBPCAks_lg8Gl9ddWTCsjjDfdF1w6KnuD-MLR4KjgBOxAFmNsp7h9ExFCxrac8JZYmWfOVN8GiwnCVV0/s1600/FB_IMG_1458698963304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKiJfAlucpZLgYCOguZargVoNCBWwKWnr6UEAltV6p0cxrnsfHfTE2BEVKUF1dBPCAks_lg8Gl9ddWTCsjjDfdF1w6KnuD-MLR4KjgBOxAFmNsp7h9ExFCxrac8JZYmWfOVN8GiwnCVV0/s320/FB_IMG_1458698963304.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Photo: Cari Kissel<br />Maggie on her walk</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>So we walked some more & before I knew it, Penny was taking me on the very path that Maggie used to like to walk. We continued walking until we got to the place where Maggie sat, just over a year ago, & like Maggie, Penny's ears were carried upward with the breeze. The thing that struck me is that Penny plopped herself down in the <u>very same patch of grass</u> where Maggie sat, on the last day of her life. How odd was that?!</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>As I pondered the coincidence with amazement, I remembered how a couple nights before, I had a dream about Maggie. Maggie was staring at me in my dream & she was not looking at me very lovingly. She appeared upset with me. The dream felt very real. When I woke from that dream however, I realized it was not Maggie coming to me in my dream, but merely an over-distraught subconscious mind feeling a bit guilty over the fact that after a year since Maggie's death, I can smile at her memory instead of feeling sad. I will never forget Maggie & will love her forever, but I am no longer living in that place of grief. Penny has brought me back my joy.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I believe that's what my dream was about. Still, it bothered me. My Maggie would never have looked at me in the way she did in my dream. Maggie was unconditionally loving & she was truly the sweetest dog I have ever been blessed to love (among many truly wonderful & loving dogs). Maggie was Maggie Waggy! Why, her whole body smiled! When she walked, her tail constantly wagged, even when cancer was ravaging her body, making the very act of walking difficult. Maggie loved me & she would never be mad at me for finding joy again. She knew I loved her & still do. She would want me to be happy. She would approve of Penny. Penny can be a stinker, just like Maggie could be.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>When I had awakened from my dream, I asked God to let me know that Maggie is okay, that she is with Him & is happy. I then bent down & kissed the little box on my dresser that contains her ashes & the little clay footprint & snippet of her fur that the pet mortuary gave to us. I told Maggie I loved her & always will. Then I went about my day. </i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE28KUOa3y3O4UiUUkwGOyScvu1mzM9xYqdi-4jkOI9DLeV8vULwcp3b5rFlsEG2X9NQIJHG41Ws1oRotcQFQxNkzca2k3CfHfNtvJcyQgY7Ovj6ir2792Fu7DX88NdWyf-tBX0MCsIXN/s1600/FB_IMG_1458699189298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE28KUOa3y3O4UiUUkwGOyScvu1mzM9xYqdi-4jkOI9DLeV8vULwcp3b5rFlsEG2X9NQIJHG41Ws1oRotcQFQxNkzca2k3CfHfNtvJcyQgY7Ovj6ir2792Fu7DX88NdWyf-tBX0MCsIXN/s320/FB_IMG_1458699189298.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Photo: Cari Kissel<br />Our sweet Ella</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>That's when Penny did her thing....walking where Maggie walked, sniffing the grass in the same manner that Maggie used to do, giving me that same stubborn yet confident smile that said to me "we're going THIS way Mama" & then plopping herself down in the exact same patch of grass where Maggie sat on that last day of her life. By the time I got home that night (2 nights ago as of this writing), I realized that God had answered my prayer in a way so wonderful & comforting, that all I could do was to smile. Maggie's okay. She exists in Heaven, yet a part of her still lives on with us, & is whispering in Penny's ear "do THIS....it will make Mama smile". Man oh man, I surely do love & miss Maggie....& I love Penny too. I'm so thankful for the blessing of knowing how great God's love is for our family, to bring our cat Ella first, then Maggie & now Penny into our lives. For those who view pets as property, you have my sympathies. They are family. And they are one of the biggest blessings that people can have in their lives. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtabLbbWd-WRxaUfhv4W2VmDQjNtBlZAgKcOSlO9YmF4ZQiSPzGi7EeqN00Kak5c6fYtlCAhfpUEK33iM5iyWgXiRZeBj32PrelIsxcVF0rHnUAp-VobEglIPNIeU1AFTjWhR8FQ3HDkB/s1600/FB_IMG_1458698748996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtabLbbWd-WRxaUfhv4W2VmDQjNtBlZAgKcOSlO9YmF4ZQiSPzGi7EeqN00Kak5c6fYtlCAhfpUEK33iM5iyWgXiRZeBj32PrelIsxcVF0rHnUAp-VobEglIPNIeU1AFTjWhR8FQ3HDkB/s320/FB_IMG_1458698748996.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Photo: Cari Kissel<br />Our silly Penny</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: normal;"><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: georgia, utopia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</i></b></span></b><b><i><br /></i></b></span>helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-48347762285036478312016-03-11T00:50:00.000-08:002016-03-11T01:54:00.374-08:00Sweet Maggie<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yCrAV2sm1U8/VRx572dBA5I/AAAAAAAANX4/gKGOdBccWh4/s1600/Maggie%2Bsmiling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yCrAV2sm1U8/VRx572dBA5I/AAAAAAAANX4/gKGOdBccWh4/s200/Maggie%2Bsmiling.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Photo: Cari Kissel</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>It was love at first sight, on that first day we met.</i></b><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>You were now part of our family & not just a pet.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>You came with your issues, anxieties & pain,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But with patience & love, you were easy to train.</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_C9bYRJhM6k/VRxZJe1jB7I/AAAAAAAAM14/_8zS8qDOinI/s200/IMG_20150119_140916751.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="111" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Photo: Cari Kissel</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>It didn't take long for others to see</i></b><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>That there was a bond forming between you & me.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I helped you through your "stuff" & you helped me through mine....</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>And our love grew much deeper with the passage of time.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But time has a way of not playing fair....</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>For it wanted to take you & I was unwilling to share.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Call me selfish & greedy for not giving you up,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But you were my fur-child, my friend & my pup!</i></b></span><br />
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<i style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: bold;">You would have stayed longer, out of love for us all,</i><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But death gave you no choice, when it paid you a call.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>That insidious thief snatched you out of our sight,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Though it mercifully took you while you slept in the night.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>It left in its wake, such grief & despair,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>For our sweet, precious Maggie was no longer there.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>You would give no more greetings as we walked through the door....</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>No more waggy-tailed waddling, no more "gacks" on the floor.</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBwEM7tzHZM/VRx6KFUPjoI/AAAAAAAANYQ/s0hIhAFGP-w/s1600/Maggie%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBwEM7tzHZM/VRx6KFUPjoI/AAAAAAAANYQ/s0hIhAFGP-w/s200/Maggie%2B2.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Photo: Cari Kissel</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>There would be no more begging, with those pitiful eyes,</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Nor would we again see the famous "Maggie Capsize".</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n7JeJGiqPHA/VRxSNpP48II/AAAAAAAAMmg/xB7wSxe5HkA/s1600/IMG_20150318_010408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n7JeJGiqPHA/VRxSNpP48II/AAAAAAAAMmg/xB7wSxe5HkA/s200/IMG_20150318_010408.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Photo: Cari Kissel</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Maggie "capsized"</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>We have missed everything about you, especially your smile...</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>And would travel to see you, no matter the mile.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But Heaven doesn't offer a Visitor's Pass,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>And we can't see you rolling in Heavenly meadows of grass.</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy7tperv_rA/VRxVnMBDQsI/AAAAAAAAMq4/FrnZd7hM8QU/s1600/IMG_20150310_183039553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy7tperv_rA/VRxVnMBDQsI/AAAAAAAAMq4/FrnZd7hM8QU/s200/IMG_20150310_183039553.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Photo: Cari Kissel</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>We can't see the joy written all over your face,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But I know that will change when again we embrace.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Oh Maggie, sweet Maggie, how we wish you were here,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But at times we can sense you & feel you are near.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Though we now have our Penny dog & we do love her too,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>There's a Maggie-shaped space in our hearts just for you.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I will love you forever, we all will, you see....</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>And when my time comes, I hope you'll come to greet me....</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>For I miss you so much, my sweet Maggie girl</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>And when you crossed Heaven's rainbow, it shattered my world.</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eKui8PRsROo/VRxSk3kfyNI/AAAAAAAAMno/KaRLv9u1aGs/s1600/IMG_20150318_011820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eKui8PRsROo/VRxSk3kfyNI/AAAAAAAAMno/KaRLv9u1aGs/s200/IMG_20150318_011820.jpg" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Photo: Cari Kissel</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Though life marches on & it softens the pain,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>At the end of my journey, I will see you again!!</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Until that time comes, I will live as you lived....</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Always smiling & loving, & enjoying life like a kid!</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>So here's to you, my sweet Maggie girl!</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>To your family, you were THE greatest dog in the world!</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>What you taught us the most, came from the good Lord above,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>For you exemplified His unconditional love!</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkL8v1c_YDekw28CfZdIw6nf7Zn17AAqVe_fGwWekDcztZyk_8PLgHTEW8KtQizj7s0RrC3qb8FfkdfpTg4DQpTvUmqviYTMu-odYhCtveH-v-_PKQ_O4Aa2eHqRm3Slgzq2n_YMjySqgh/s1600/IMG_20160308_134245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkL8v1c_YDekw28CfZdIw6nf7Zn17AAqVe_fGwWekDcztZyk_8PLgHTEW8KtQizj7s0RrC3qb8FfkdfpTg4DQpTvUmqviYTMu-odYhCtveH-v-_PKQ_O4Aa2eHqRm3Slgzq2n_YMjySqgh/s200/IMG_20160308_134245.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Photo: Cari Kissel<br />Image of Maggie in the clouds<br />Crossed Rainbow Bridge on 3/11/15</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>© Cari Kissel</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "times new roman";"><b><i> </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: georgia, utopia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</i></b></span></b><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-86675733632350988372016-03-08T15:52:00.001-08:002016-03-08T15:52:25.516-08:00Forgive & Forget<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>A lot has happened to me on the way to my life. Put simply, my life has had its shares of ups & downs & hasn't always gone the way I had hoped, dreamed or planned. There have been good & bad changes in my life, most of which have helped bring about reflection & soul searching & eventually peace & healing if it is needed. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>We're faced with some options when someone hurts us:</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>**Extend forgiveness, forget what's happened & move on (how many people really can do this?)</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>**Extend forgiveness, but define boundaries in an effort to protect yourself from this type of pain happening again</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>**Pretend to forgive, but never let the one who hurt you forget what they've done -- make sure to never let them live it down</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>**DON'T forgive, holding on to resentment & bitterness</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>**DON'T forgive, always keeping the pain in the back of your mind, but try to move on anyway</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I'm sure there are more options, but these are the ones I've noticed the most from people. There have been times I've been wounded to the core from those I never in a million years thought could ever hurt me in that manner. A couple of these instances have taken quite a while to get over & move past. With the passage of time however, I've learned to filter out the situations that are likely to repeat themselves from those merely originating from someone's temporary lapse of judgment. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>There are those who have to be in control, or they have to feel superior to others or to be the center of attention. I can be around those people & even have relationships with them, but I cannot continue doing so if they engage in a pattern of hurtful behavior directed at me. I can forgive such people, but I cannot be around them or have them in my life if they are consistently hurtful. One can forgive while still drawing boundaries to prevent being hurt. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>The Bible tells us to forgive "seventy times seven times". That's a tall order, but if God can forgive me, I can forgive others. But there is a difference between forgiveness & boundaries. Forgiveness keeps us from holding on to resentment or anger over what someone has done, whereas establishing boundaries places hurtful people outside of our "circle" or within a limited circle so that they cannot continue to hurt us, whether or not we choose to forgive them. I have such boundaries with some people. I used to give multiple chances (of extending trust) to those that hurt me. Not so with "serial hurters". They are cut off & out of my life immediately now. If they want back in, they have to earn back my trust. Simple as that. I don't feel at all guilty for establishing that boundary because resentment is not a healthy emotion & I don't want to embrace it. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>So what do we do when someone who has hurt us, doesn't lose any sleep over what they have done? Well....it's healthy for us to forgive them. We don't have to have them in our lives, but holding on to unforgiveness doesn't do us any favors. In fact, bitterness & anger can actually cause health issues if left unchecked. Forgiving someone doesn't mean that what that person did to hurt us was an okay thing to do. It wasn't. Forgiveness just releases our desire to continue resenting that person & it frees us up to receive joy into our lives. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>It doesn't matter if the person we are forgiving wants, accepts or cares about our forgiveness. That's on them, not us. We need to do what is healthy for US. And no, vengeance is never healthy. It might feel good for the short term, but it will catch up to us in the end. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>What do we do if someone we have cast out of our lives (due to boundaries) finally apologizes to us? Do we let them back in? That's something that nobody can decide for us. Forgiveness is a personal choice, but so are boundaries. There are those I have forgiven for deep woundings they inflicted. One person has never apologized & likely never will & in fact continues to blame me for what's wrong in their life as a result of their own hurtful behavior. I've let that person go & I bear no ill will. I've forgiven & moved on. What that person does or does not do is up to them. Have a nice life!</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Then there's the person who for whatever reason, is unable to say the words "I'm sorry". This person can show they are sorry, but cannot speak the words. I can give that person limited access to my life until such time as they earn back my trust. It's like a credit card company that will not raise a card holder's credit limit until the person demonstrates consistent, responsible use of the credit card. When I see consistent efforts from someone trying to earn back my trust, then I can broaden the boundaries to give that person greater access to my life.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>How about the person who wounds us to the core, not out of intentional malice, but out of an error in judgment? Haven't we all made errors in judgment that have caused someone else pain? I guess it depends on what was done & if the person shows genuine remorse & a desire to make things right. Either way, for me anyway, forgiveness is already a given, & inclusion into my life is also a given, unless the person becomes like the toxic individuals who develop an increasing pattern of hurtful behavior.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>What do we do when someone finally apologizes for hurting us but their apology is not for what they have done, but rather for how we perceived what they have done? I'm sure we've all had that happen before. Again for me, forgiveness is a given, but the person has to earn back my trust before they can be in my life again. Part of earning back my trust is taking full ownership of what they actually did, instead of assigning shared responsibility to me. As long as the person fails to truly own what they did, they are likely to repeat the hurtful behavior that caused the boundary lines to be drawn in the first place.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>So I guess I just wanted to encourage anyone reading this post to try to find a way to forgive those that hurt you, because NOT forgiving only hurts ourselves, not the person who hurt us. Next, I want to encourage us all to give some thought to what forgiveness actually means to us. If we forgive someone but are keeping score so that we can throw it back into that person's face, then that is not forgiveness. That's holding onto a grudge but pretending all is okay. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>True forgiveness means letting go of our right to be angry & choosing instead to let go of resentment. It's okay to have boundaries. It's healthy even! Boundaries keep others from taking us for granted or from taking advantage of us. They also help protect our hearts from being continually hurt. There's a difference between having boundaries & building walls. Walls that are built are difficult to take down. They keep the good as well as the bad-intentioned people out. I just wanted to write all this as food for thought......Happy dining!!!</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: normal;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "times new roman";"><b><i> </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: georgia, utopia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</i></b></span></b></span><br />
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-55796389791417981032016-02-16T13:41:00.001-08:002016-02-17T00:25:16.849-08:00Relax Already!!!<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Do you ever feel guilty when you sit down & relax in front of the television set? Do you feel like you've wasted your day if on your days off from work, you did not keep yourself occupied with chores & projects around the home? You do?? Well knock it off!! </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>There's a reason why we </i></b></span><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>look forward to th</i></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>e weekend. People need that down time from their labors & that chance to relax & recharge. This isn't a selfish desire, but rather a definite need. We MUST give in to that need or we are </i></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>only </i></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>harming ourselves. We are not robots, after all -- we are imperfect human beings, each with the need to get adequate rest & relaxation so that we will be ready for the coming week.</i></b><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Life can be stressful - sometimes very stressful. When we have a lot of stress, biochemical changes take place in our bodies. These changes can lower our bodies' ability to fight off infection & illness, making us more likely to become sick. Additionally, when we don't take care of ourselves, we are at greater risk for emotional stress, which in turn can lead to depression & to all the problems that can be associated with that.</i></b><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>It is not selfish to take care of one's self. There's a difference between putting yourself above all others, to the exclusion of being considerate of the needs & feelings of those around you.....& putting yourself as a top priority in terms of taking care of your needs. You can't be there for others if you are too stressed out, sick or dead (think of the workaholic who dies of a heart attack). Remember the flight attendant on the airplane that advises parents on the importance of using the oxygen mask first, before giving the mask to their child. The rationale is that if the parent has passed out due to a drop in the airplane's cabin pressure, then that parent will be unable to assist their child. Apply that concept to life. Taking care of ourselves first is vitally important if we hope to care for those around us.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;"><b>Photo: all-free-download.com</b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>So if you are someone who has heard repeated messages throughout your life that you should not relax & must always be busy if you do not want to be considered as lazy, it's time to erase those messages because they are simply not true. One is lazy if there's work to be done that never gets done because the person spends the majority of their time <u>only</u> relaxing & not enough time being responsible. There's a huge difference. Find that balance. If you see others around you working & you feel you can't relax without guilt, offer to pitch in if you must, or remember that those who are working may simply be acting in a responsible manner. They too will relax in due time. We don't all have to work & relax on the same timetables as others. </i></b><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>So take a chill pill....work & take responsibility when it's necessary & relax when you need to. Taking care of yourself is not only good for you, but it's good for those around you. We are all better people when we are refreshed, relaxed & restored. How does it benefit those around us when we are grumpy, stressed out, depressed or ill? It doesn't!! So find that balance & throw away that guilt. Having a conscience is one thing...it spurs us to honorable action. Guilt on the other hand, only serves to trip us up & tear us down. There's a proper time & place for guilt. Committing a crime deserves the sentence of guilt. Taking care of ourselves & allowing ourselves to relax, does not. So on that note, RELAX ALREADY!!!</i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-6831894682890275282016-02-06T12:58:00.001-08:002016-02-06T12:58:40.601-08:00Missing Freda<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>When I think of spiders, the book <u>Charlotte's Web</u> comes to mind. In that book, Charlotte is a spider that lives in a barn & she instructs a pig named Wilbur on life's important lessons. I am not a spider lover, but I do find them interesting. I'm pretty sure that my daughter on the other hand, would prefer that they lived on the moon. I have been summoned many times, to perform spider deportations.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>A few months ago, I noticed a peculiar-looking spider just hanging there in a large web under the eaves of our roof. Considering that we live in an area where venomous spiders are common, I not only studied the spider, but I Googled spider photos to see if I could find out what type of spider it was. My research came up empty & I still don't have my answer. I was however, able to rule out any of the most common venomous spiders that are indigenous to the area. Whew! </i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Photo: Cari Kissel</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Each day, the spider retreated to a hiding place under our roof & it would come out at night to either add more webbing, or to just hang there in the middle of it. </i></b></span><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Considering that I spent several minutes every night watching the little critter, I figured it should have a name. I named it Fred. Long story about the name...I'll spare you. It occurred to me that the spider was most likely a female, so Fred became Freda. </i></b><br />
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><br /></i></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Being accustomed to seeing Freda every night, I was becoming attached. It's not that I considered Freda to be a pet or anything. We already have a dog & cat & unless it's a pet tarantula, most people would not have a pet spider. Freda was simply Freda. I figured she had as much of a right to exist as I did & besides, she was keeping other bugs from coming into our home. That was the angle I was working as I admonished my daughter to not harm Freda in any way. </i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>One stormy night, Freda was frantically trying to climb up her web & to the safety of the underneath side of our roof. The wind was whipping fiercely & the rain was a torrential downpour. Freda was hanging on for dear life. My heart went out to her. I grabbed the handle end of a broom & gently hoisted Freda to the roof underhang, where she remained for a few days. I was sure I had killed her in my attempt to save her because she remained curled up underneath the roof & made no attempt to return to her web in the coming days. I was heartsick because although she was "just a spider" (tell that to the spider!), she was a living being with an instinct to survive....& she was my friend. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Just when I was sure that Freda had not survived the storm, I saw her once again, hanging in the middle of her newly constructed web, near the roof underhang where I had placed her. I was elated!! Every night, I had become accustomed once again to greeting her with "hello my friend". Freda made regular nightly appearances in her web for a few more weeks. Then without warning, both she & her web disappeared. I've not seen either since. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I know it's a silly thing to become attached to a spider, but Freda reminded me of things that I can apply to my own life:</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>* She was resilient & she hung on tight through the storm. She didn't give up.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>*Each time her web became torn or messy, she simply repaired it.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>*She didn't bother with what other bugs were doing. She just lived her own life -- simply.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>There's wisdom in the way Freda lived, although she wasn't wise. She was just living her life. Humans can learn a lot from how other living beings go about their lives. But that would involve stopping what we're doing, paying attention & then appreciating the simple things in life. That's not such an easy thing to do these days, but I have found that when I live life that way, it's a lot more joyful. Maybe Freda will return. Many spiders can live 6 years or more after all. Somehow I doubt it though. I think Freda's time has come & gone. I'm just thankful that she chose to hang out on my porch & I'm grateful for the lessons she taught me.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'times new roman';"><b><i> </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: georgia, utopia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page. Please keep all comments respectful & tasteful**</i></b><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><br /></i></b>helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-58758012455331675582016-01-27T23:11:00.001-08:002016-01-27T23:11:20.878-08:00The Un-Presidential Mr. Trump<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">I REALLY don't like talking politics with anyone but my family but honestly, I know many people who like Trump & I just want to gently pose this question: why would anyone want to vote for any person who is so egotistical & manipulative? There's a reason why studying history is important. We can observe patterns & learn how to prevent negative ones by paying attention to those who have been a part of such patterns throughout history. </span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">No candidate is perfect & each one has his/her flaws. But I'm begging anyone reading this to not just listen to Trump's words that might appeal to your frustrations & wishes, but pay attention to his character & to the character of EVERY candidate. It's no secret that I dislike the guy. But my reasons aren't just because he's boorish, uncouth, bigoted, extreme, rude, a bully & a flat out un-presidential sort of individual. I am concerned greatly about his character, his manipulative tendencies & his personal agenda (we all know his national agenda is to "make America great again" yada yada). He is a master manipulator. Look how he manipulates the media! He can avoid the next debate & still get plenty of media attention in spite of it because he's going to hold his own rally on the SAME DAY as the debate, under the guise of helping veterans. </span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Folks, vote how you will, but for the love of everything decent, don't vote without thoroughly checking out EACH candidate & exploring their character. This job is the most important job in the world because the U.S. is the most powerful nation in the world & the President is the leader of the most powerful nation. Why oh why would anyone give such a position of power & leadership over to ANYONE without thoroughly checking out their agenda, their detailed plans for HOW they will "make America great again", their character & their qualifications to lead such a powerful nation? This is not something to take lightly & yet millions of Americans are hailing Trump the same way that millions heiled Hitler! I promise you, no offense is intended to Germany at all -- it isn't that nation's fault that Hitler was also a master manipulator & fooled a lot of people before it was too late for anyone to see just how dangerous a man he was. He too made promises & grandiose statements of what wonderful things he hoped to accomplish. And for the record, I'm not comparing Trump to Hitler. I'm only saying that like Hitler, Trump is becoming so rapidly popular by the thousands, due to his over-the-top personality, his statements that appeal to what people are feeling & thinking & he is also one who acts as if he thinks the rules of proper conduct don't apply to him. </span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">All I'm saying here folks, is that I too don't like the shape America is in & I too want change. I too like when a candidate speaks to my concerns & addresses them in a confident, self-assured manner that says he or she can get the job done. But I don't care if the candidate is the most conservative of Christians who appeals to everything I stand for -- I'm not going to trust nor support ANY candidate, let alone vote for them, until I have thoroughly researched that candidate's plans, agenda, & character first. I could care less about personalities as long as the other things I mentioned meet what I consider acceptable. </span></i></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Photo: Twitter.com via email</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">But history's important. And history shows bad things happening to countries that get caught up in the emotion & that support anyone who seeks power through extreme manipulation & coercion, & that support someone who is arrogant enough to think the nation can't get by without them. It's coercion to force attention to be diverted from the other candidates onto your own candidacy by playing manipulative games NOT intended for the greater good, but rather to further your own agenda. It's very self-serving & arrogant to state that the network hosting the next debate can't have good ratings without you & then to set about gaining attention for yourself by taking it away from the other candidates. America is a democracy & as such, EVERY candidate has the right to be heard & considered. It's a dangerous person who seeks to prevent the nation's citizens from listening to ALL points of view by manipulating the media to train their focus on you above all others when you pull a power play designed to get the bulk of the attention. Can nobody SEE this? Are people so eager to find a candidate to change things that they will allow anyone with power & influence to come in & steal the election without checking out that candidate's agenda & character first? </span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">I have two Republican candidates I like the most & even I wouldn't support either of them until I feel confident that they pass all my tests of character, integrity, honor & a sincere desire to promote the nation's best interests above their own. No candidate has passed my tests -- yet.....not even my favorites. That's because I don't rush to emotion when I cast my vote. I do my research first. The future of our country is at stake, people. Do your research before voting for ANY candidate!!! And let the reminders of history be a part of that research!</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: georgia, utopia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page.**</i></b></span></div>
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-9612054427636193802016-01-18T01:51:00.003-08:002016-01-18T01:51:55.087-08:00Birds of the Air<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>As I was walking my dog the other day, </i></b></span><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>I noticed how she delighted in taking in every smell in the air around her & every scent on the ground. As she rolled in the grass, I smiled at the sheer joy my Penny dog was experiencing at that very moment.</i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>We walked a bit further & I took her to the spot under a particular tree where I knew my odds were high that she would "drop her bundle" (she didn't, but oh well). As I waited for her to smell every blade of grass under that tree, I heard a different sort of bird than the usual doves & finches I usually hear. I looked up & marv</i></b></span><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>eled at the beauty of these birds & at how all the things I think about in a day & all the things on my "To Do" list mean absolutely nothing to them. Their world, although coexisting with mine, was in sharp contrast to the world I lived in. While I live my life according to what I have to get done, the birds were going about their lives by simply living each day, flying about, eating, staying warm, avoiding predators & socializing with one another in what appeared to me to be a very joyous camaraderie between them. </i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>As I continued walking my dog & made my way toward home, I looked up at the sky as the gentle breeze lifted my hair from my forehead. The sky was a soft pale blue, with what looked like brush strokes of wispy clouds in feather-like patterns across the expanse of sky. It was actually very pretty.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Penny grabbed her leash in her mouth & happily ran toward home. I couldn't help but take it all in -- all the beauty & simplicity around me. It's so easy to stress & fret, to be preoccupied, to be busy & distracted. But life really doesn't have to be that complicated. Sure, we have to take care of our responsibilities, but I don't believe that's what life is about. Life is meant to be appreciated & enjoyed. When we can appreciate what we see & experience around us, we can enjoy true happiness & peace in that moment. Perhaps that may be the only moment of peace we have on that particular day. That's okay. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Every moment of peace that we can grab a hold of helps keep our perspective positive. The more positive we are, the better our attitude & outlook will be. The better our attitude & outlook is, the more likely that the choices we make & the interactions that we have with others will be positive in nature....& the more likely that the end result will be less stress, distraction, worry & frustration that we will experience in our day-to-day life. I mean, look at the birds for example: they don't worry or stress. They simply live, do what they must do, & enjoy one another. That's how I want to live my life. </i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #990000;">"</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-6-26" id="en-NIV-23309" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23309A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23309A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> Are you not much more valuable than they?<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23309B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23309B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Matt-6-27" id="en-NIV-23310" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">27 </span>Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes\? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." ~ Matthew 6:26-29</span></span></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-6-27" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span></span></i></b><br /><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-6-27" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span></span></i></b>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i></i></b></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: georgia, utopia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page.**</i></b></span></div>
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-23503807543521474742015-11-14T17:41:00.001-08:002015-12-15T16:03:13.149-08:00The Nimrods of the World<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I don't usually post things of a political nature, but this isn't political. It's about survival & national security. So here's the million dollar question:</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>How is it that a small minority of people in comparison to the world's population, is able to hold the world hostage to fear? How can such a small minority of evil, psychopathic bullies get away with terrorizing the world? There are NATIONS that know better than to mess with the United States or with other powerful nations, yet these evil terrorists have gone on for far too long, with their murderous thirst for blood, dominion & control, causing nations world-wide to alter the way we do things & to restrict our freedoms in the interest of national safety.</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;">Photo: all-free-download.com<br />Displaying the Eiffel Tower in support of France</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Just like the towns that allow lawless gangs to instill fear in its citizens & control the town, or like schools whose student bodies are too scared to stand up to the bullies, we, the world community, are allowing the minority of individuals to instill terror & destroy the lives of millions. Think it only happens elsewhere? This affects us all. These psychos want world domination & they don't care who they kill, how they kill & what & who they destroy. They do this in the name of their "religion" but even the basic tenets of the religion that they claim to follow don't allow for the types of twisted, barbaric evil that they commit just for the sheer pleasure of it. No religion does.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But nations want to use diplomacy. I mean, you can't just go around blowing people up & sending planes in to blast the heck out of these folks because we are all civilized after all. Besides, after many terrorists may be killed this way, many people will cry foul because of the collateral damage, the innocent civilians who are inadvertently killed in the process. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But here's the thing: </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>If these nimrods know how to use the internet to recruit, to plot, to raise funds, to buy weapons, to seek out, to invade & to destroy, why oh why can't the nations of the world (all of which are at risk these days), with all our technology, military might & resources, shut down their internet capabilities, cripple their means of funding & come out with both barrels blazing & annihilate these evil monsters & stop them once & for all? Now THAT'S the million dollar question!!</i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;">Photo: all-free-download.com<br />Displaying the French flag in support of France</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>(Note: This is not intended to disrespect France nor to blame them in any way for what happened in Paris. Not at all. This is intended as general food for thought about all nations)</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page.**</i></b></span></div>
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-90732190802719406052015-10-30T15:19:00.000-07:002015-10-30T15:19:01.904-07:00Being Nice or Being a Schmuck<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I'm a people watcher. I can't help it. I find human behavior fascinating. I also care about people & feel a lot of compassion toward others. When I see someone hurting, I want to help. Often, strangers approach me & start a conversation because they see a friendly face & assume they can trust me. People consider me to be kind & someone they can count on to help out. This is a good thing, right? I'm not so sure. Here's why:</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I wonder sometimes, if being nice really is all that it's cracked up to be. Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating being unkind. I'm only saying kindness comes at a price sometimes. I'm a Christian. Regardless of one's </i></b></span><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>upbringing or religious beliefs, b</i></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>eing nice is how civilized human beings are usually taught to be. Nonetheless, I want to be nice not just because that's who I am, but also because of who I am & want to be in Christ Jesus. </i></b><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>The Bible talks about turning the other cheek when someone wrongs you. It talks about how if someone asks you to walk one mile, you should walk two. I try to do that, I really do. But nowhere does it say in the Bible that we are supposed to allow people to take advantage of us, to walk all over us & to put up with mistreatment. If someone asks to borrow a cup of milk, we are not expected to give away the cow, nor are we expected to turn over the farm if someone wants eggs with that milk!! </i></b><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>I'm a people pleaser. You know the type. We are the people who aim to please & who feel as if we are hurting someone's feelings if we say the word "no". For me & for people like me, feeling guilty is an unavoidable emotion that plagues us if someone takes advantage of our kindness, empathy or desire to help, because sooner or later, we will either be forced to say enough is enough & disappoint that person, or we'll go on torturing ourselves with this self-imposed obligation that we feel we owe to others, even at the risk of what's best for ourselves or for those we love. </i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>What is it that can turn a normally emotionally strong individual into someone who is so easily manipulated to do things that either go against their wishes or that make them feel used or taken advantage of? One could blame it on shyness, but although I was shy as a child, I'm quite outgoing as an adult. Or how about a lack of self-worth? That wouldn't apply to me either. Although I suffered from that in my younger years, I've become quit confident & have no trouble standing up for myself, my honor, my feelings & wishes. I speak my mind, tactfully of course & I won't hesitate to cut people out of my life who behave in toxic ways toward me. So what is it that makes it so difficult for some people to stop allowing others to put too many expectations upon them & to say no or to be willing to disappoint someone when necessary?</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Photo: Cari Kissel</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>For me, it stems from old habits that are hard to break. I had two wonderful parents, a mother who enjoyed taking care of those she loved & a generous father who always insisted on lending a hand. They didn't complain; they just did what they did without really giving it much thought. I was taught that kindness is a virtue & that it's better to give than to receive. I both witnessed & experienced the joy of giving while my parents were alive. The example of my parents have shaped who I am. </i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>My personality however, also compels me to feel empathy for others. I can read people's body language fairly well (for the most part) </i></b></span><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>& can tell when something's wrong. </i></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>It only takes someone opening up about a problem or asking for help before I will take a cup full of my upbringing, throw in a dash of kindness & I have a pot of trouble cooking & getting ready to boil over & make a mess. Most people will accept & appreciate the kind word or helpful gesture & will leave it at that, while others may see such things as their opportunity to take advantage. They will view the kind nature of others as an "Open Bar" or "All You Can Eat Buffet", where the servings are endless & someone else foots the bill. Those footing the bill are often those who have extended the kindness in the first place. </i></b><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>I don't give in order to receive. The gratification comes from the giving. But I'm not a buffet line either. Sooner or later, I WILL run out of resources to be able to continue to give or to extend a kindness to those who take advantage of the free meal they are receiving & the one preparing it. </i></b><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I used to be painfully shy & would allow others to walk all over me. Not anymore... It has taken me many years, but I no longer care what anyone thinks except for those I love & respect. For me, it isn't about feeling that I have to comply with the expectations of others out of concern for what they might think. In fact, I have cut people out of my life, people I still care about, because my self-worth demands that I be treated with basic respect & consideration & I frankly don't want to waste one more minute of my life trying to remove the poison from those toxic relationships that I know will never change. </i></b></span><br />
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><br /></i></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Often times, people pleasers are very emotionally strong individuals, but they care so much about the feelings of others, that they put those feelings & wants above their own, for the sake of pleasing those people. There are times when someone will manipulate a person by painting a dire situation that will only get worse if the person doesn't help them. At other times, someone will behave in a passive-aggressive manner, ignoring the person who is trying to be kind, until they get what they want. These manipulative behaviors by others take many forms & those of us who are people pleasers will fall for it almost every time......UNLESS.....</i></b><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>We recognize the following & take steps to change things:</i></b><br />
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<li><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b><i>It's okay to take care of our own needs, feelings, wants & dreams. </i></b></i></b></li>
<li><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b><i>People pleasers tend to be thoughtful & generous with their time & resources.</i></b></i></b></li>
<li><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b><i>People pleasers don't want to hurt someone's feelings.</i></b></i></b></li>
<li><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b><i>People pleasers tend to put their own needs, wants & feelings aside for others.</i></b></i></b></li>
<li><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b><i>People pleasers often feel guilty when they have to draw boundary lines or say no.</i></b></i></b></li>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>There's so much more I want to say on this topic, but suffice it to say that nice people have needs too. We have the right to take care of ourselves & those in our inner circle before anyone else. My biggest frustration stems from the fact that some people don't understand that concept or if they do, they simply don't care. </i></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>They either put unreasonable expectations on others because they are allowed to do so & they will only change when someone puts their foot down & draws some boundaries. I'm not saying that such people are bad individuals. I'm saying they are behaving in selfish ways. They are failing to see & be considerate of the needs & feelings of those they are putting expectations upon. </i></b><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>So if you are a people pleaser, don't change who you are. Being kind is a good thing. But be mindful of your boundaries & before you hop aboard that Guilty Train, remember that unless you paid the fare for that train ride through wrongdoing on your part, you have no reason to feel guilty for taking care of yourself. Others are allowed to seek what's best for them. Why should you be any different? And if you are the person who takes advantage of the kindness of others, whether selfishly or merely out of habit, please consider the words of this post & the needs & feelings of those who are continually kind-hearted to you. I can almost guarantee that if you think of their needs & feelings even half as much as they think of yours, they will be more likely to show their kindness to you for years to come. Failure to heed these words however, may end up biting you in the butt when those whose kindness you take for granted end up drawing the line & cutting you off. Food for thought......</i></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Photo: Cari Kissel</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><br /></i></b>helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-34786851952444933542015-10-04T18:52:00.000-07:002015-10-04T18:52:51.677-07:00Savor the Moment<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Today was an uneventful day. Although as a Christian, church is an important part of my life (albeit not as regular a part for me lately), I did not go to church today. My husband had to work & my daughter was with some friends. Aside from our cat & dog, I had the home to myself. I have a huge TO DO list a mile long, yet I just wasn't "feeling it" today. Plus, I had a whopper of a migraine. Seems I get a lot of those lately, partly due to the frequent air pressure changes that come from living in an arid Pacific coast climate & partly due to the fact that I have huge sleep issues at night. After awhile, lack of sleep takes its toll.</i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But I went to the taco shop down the street & got some oh so yummy carne asada fries & some chocolate (breakfast of champions, right?), walked home, ate, drank some Coke & took some Ibuprofen (caffeine helps my migraines) & took a very peaceful nap on the couch with my dog Penny snuggled closely by my side. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>So why am I talking about something as boring as the mundane details of my uneventful day? Because that's just the point....it was uneventful. It was peaceful. No drama, no stress, no worries about what I should be getting done, or about doing things for anyone else. Sounds selfish perhaps, but we all need those days that we can just totally blow off & just BE. My husband was at work, my daughter was with friends, & I had the home to myself, along with the company of our dog & cat. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>We don't get much rain where I live, but today was a sprinkling, mildly wet kind of day. I was finally able to turn OFF the air conditioner (our electric bill will thank me) & open some windows. It was nice. I still hear noise outside, because living in an urban area near a canyon that borders the freeway, it is never perfectly silent. But the silence from the stresses of life filled my day today & like the air after a fresh rain storm, I felt & still do feel somewhat refreshed...& cleansed in a way. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>So what my mundane, boring day has taught me, even as I sit here typing with the sound of the occasional jet plane over my head, is that no matter what is going on in my life, I can still find a way to tune it out & just savor the simple pleasures of just being....& that's okay. No guilt here. We all need that now & then. My precious husband works so very hard for our family & my wish is for him to be able to savor some time when he gets home from work. Tomorrow brings my TO DO list to me, along with some new items added to it. But for today, I will savor the peace I am enjoying right now. I would encourage anyone reading this to take that time as well, even if it's just for an hour. It will do the soul some good.</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Photo: Cari Kissel<br /></i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page.**</i></b>helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-53132729599362238952015-09-29T15:36:00.005-07:002015-09-29T15:36:59.218-07:00Melody's Song<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>You came suddenly & then were gone.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>As in my dream, you were just "there".</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Though I was there for you, you couldn't hold on...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>And now in grief, I breathe despair.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>You are but just a brief memory</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Of a tiny brown-haired little girl;</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>So frail, yet like a sweet melody,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Your song will play in another World.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>You're not a dream - you're very real.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I saw you briefly before you were gone.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>From my body, death did steal</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>My precious, tiny, little one.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I thought my grief would claw my soul</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>And rip my heart from within my chest;</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Yet God's loving mercy has made me whole...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Through another precious child, I'm blessed.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I cherish my children as gifts from the Lord...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>His abundant kindness is exceedingly great --</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Yet I will remember forever, the child I briefly adored,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>And our reunion will be well worth the wait!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Love always, your mother</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Feb 27, 2001</i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit;">(<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2px;">© Cari Kissel....T</span>his is dedicated to all those who have lost a child through miscarriage or premature death)</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page.**</i></b></div>
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-74630171756099985262015-09-22T22:00:00.000-07:002015-09-23T12:25:23.438-07:00Getting Older<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>What is it about getting older that has people cringing? Why are we afraid of wrinkles, gray hair, & that pudge around the mid-section that just takes up residence & refuses to leave? Why is "looking older" such a bad thing? Is it because we no longer look like the vibrant, energetic individual that we once were in our youth? Why are we afraid to look less vibrant, less young? Does it make us feel vulnerable? Less attractive? Less capable? Or does it scare us because it represents an approach to a time when we may be less able to take care of ourselves or to even protect ourselves from harm? Does it make us fear that our spouse will leave us & trade us in for a newer model?</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;">My mother (left) & me (right)<br />Photo: Cari Kissel</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>These are questions I think about as I have taken up residence in the "Middle Ages".....</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>When I look at myself in the mirror, I see my mother. Don't get me wrong. I loved my mother with all my heart. But I don't want to look like her. In my mind's eye, she was an old woman, albeit an old woman with the spirit of a 20-yr-old, but an old woman nonetheless. I don't like that I am seeing in me, what I saw in my mother. I didn't think twice about the lines on her face, the extra weight she carried around, the eyelids that drooped a bit over her gorgeous brown eyes, or the extra pouches around the sides of her face. But I think of these things often when I see them in the mirror & am faced with the stark reality that I am now my mother. How I saw my own mother is how my children now see me. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Some people equate getting older with losing the capability to do the things they once were able to do with ease. Not me. I can't run a block, let alone a mile like I did in high school track, but that's due to my asthma, not my age. I don't have the energy I once had, but I'm okay with that because I like being able to relax when I need to. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSTJUL8mLw8/VgL4WWj3NRI/AAAAAAAAXRQ/0ZzdciLxvOk/s1600/617041573" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSTJUL8mLw8/VgL4WWj3NRI/AAAAAAAAXRQ/0ZzdciLxvOk/s200/617041573" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Maggie relaxing (Photo: Cari Kissel)</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Some people fear getting older because it puts them closer to death. They forget that young people die too & that nobody knows when they will breathe their last breath. That's why it's important to make the most out of life & out of your relationships with those you love while you are able. I don't fear death. My faith in my Saviour Jesus Christ gives me the assurance that I will live on in Heaven after my existence here on earth ends. I just have many things I want to do before I make that trip.</i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MxGpW9-2U1U/VgLzKR8g3eI/AAAAAAAAXQk/V_3ckr_n_-k/s1600/2015-09-23_10.49.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MxGpW9-2U1U/VgLzKR8g3eI/AAAAAAAAXQk/V_3ckr_n_-k/s200/2015-09-23_10.49.09.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;">My mother (left) & me (right): high school senior photo<br />Photo: Cari Kissel</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Billions of dollars are spent every year by people fighting the aging process. Folks, we can't escape age unless we die when we're young. We don't have to surrender completely to the signs of aging, but trying to look like a 25-year-old when we are 50 or 60 is just ridiculous, especially because the Fountain of Youth does not exist & all we are doing when we try to look so young is displaying to the world our deep insecurities. Why do that, when we can better invest our time, our energies & our money doing things we love or in making sure we leave a positive legacy for the next generation? </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I admit that I don't like what I see in the mirror. I don't look like I did when I was 20. People always told me that I looked young for my age. It was difficult for some people to treat me with respect when they perceived me as a teenager & treated me as such. Now, young people call me "ma'am" & movie theater ticket sellers give me the senior discount without my having asked for it (for the record, I'm too young for that discount). I don't photograph well & any photos of myself that others can see, need to minimize my flaws. That has nothing to do with aging however, & it has everything to do with how I've always felt about my appearance. Now imagine someone who is not only insecure about their appearance, but also afraid of visibly aging. </i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9kWL7-uxzRk/VgL0fAbkJpI/AAAAAAAAXQ4/AiP2TZckFkw/s1600/2015-09-23_11.50.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9kWL7-uxzRk/VgL0fAbkJpI/AAAAAAAAXQ4/AiP2TZckFkw/s200/2015-09-23_11.50.10.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Maggie & me (2 months before she died)<br />Photo: Cari Kissel</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Aging is part of life. We can either embrace it & live fully, or run from it & live in fear. I choose the former. My dog Maggie inspires me. I speak of her in the present tense even though she died 6 months ago. That's because her spirit lives on & I can still feel her love around me. Maggie was 11 when she died from leukemia. My family adopted her when she was 7 years old & so we didn't have the pleasure of seeing her as a young dog. </i></b></span><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>I could see in her eyes & in her smile however, that she was quite the energetic puppy once upon a time. Even though Maggie walked VERY slowly & she labored in her breathing, she always wanted to be around her family & she still wanted to play, to go on long walks & even to roll around in the grass. She always had a smile on her face & even when she was obviously uncomfortable, she never whined or complained. It would have been okay if she had. But the way that Maggie lived her life, the way she aged, & the way she died....all are examples of how I want to approach my own life as I age. I don't see myself as a particular age because I still feel like the same young woman I was at 25. Age is a number. It doesn't have to define how we live. Age is a gift, not a curse. I intend to embrace it! How about you?</i></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Maggie being Maggie (Photo: Cari Kissel)</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page.**</i></b></div>
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-70002430538973829142015-09-21T21:00:00.000-07:002015-09-23T13:10:31.759-07:00Woe Is Me!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Stop the world....I want to get off!!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I can't take it anymore.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Everything I do takes effort.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Life itself is such a chore!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Always tired despite the hours</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I have spent in slumber sweet.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I awake in full exhaustion,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Dreading the coming day to meet.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I can't stop my head from pounding,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Despite all efforts that I make.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I'm tired of meds & so-called healing.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Much more of this I cannot take.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I have many plans before me....</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Places to go & things to do.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I want life to be worth living....</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Life for me is far from through.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I'm just worn out from the journey</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>That I have to make each day...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Just to function for the moment.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>All that's left to do is pray.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I have faith in my sweet Father.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I believe that He loves me.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I pray that with His help & guidance,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I'll be the best that I can be!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page.**</i></b></div>
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-36874817247304804202015-09-17T03:39:00.004-07:002015-09-18T15:46:43.635-07:00Oh the Things Republicans Will Do<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>An interesting thing happened on the way to the White House. A boorish, loud-mouthed individual entered the ring & decided to try his hand at running for President of the United States of America. No, I'm not referring to Kanye West. Let's talk instead about Donald Trump. Mr. Trump has surely made following the presidential campaign race quite a spectacle to behold. From insults, to name-calling, to snide innuendos & highly offensive comments, this billionaire-turned-candidate has certainly spiced up the Republican Party's race for President.</i></b></span><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><i>It's far too early to know who I hope will receive the Republican nomination, but I have to say that I like the guy. Here's why:</i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>1. He is NOT politically correct. He has no filter & spews the first thought that comes to his head. Americans are tired of political correctness & of having to worry about offending everyone with what we say. Careers & reputations have been ruined by political correctness run amok....so it's refreshing to see a candidate that speaks his mind, however rudely....& delivers the message that so many Americans are thinking but nobody wants to say.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>2. He's filthy, stinking rich. Usually, I would not cite that as a redeeming quality for a candidate because wealthier candidates have a financial edge over those with less campaign funds to spend. Normally I would find this inequity in finances to be unfair & would say that there should be a cap on how much campaign spending is allowed, in order to ensure that every candidate has an equal chance to get out there & campaign without being limited by finances. BUT....the Donald has absolutely nothing to lose BECAUSE he has so much money at his disposal. He is not swayed by special interest groups that promise campaign funding if he agrees to their terms. In fact, he turned down a very hefty donation because of the strings attached, while accepting the very modest donation of a woman who had little to give yet wanted to give it to this man's campaign. He didn't need her donation. Him accepting it speaks volumes.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>3. As of this writing, Donald Trump has yet to cite specifics about how he intends to implement his plans if he is elected President. He speaks in broad terms, in an apparent attempt to sway the American voters with his charisma & self-confidence (which are both good traits to have), but unless he provides some concrete details of HOW he is going to achieve his goals, his charisma & broad way of speaking could be his undoing as the race moves along. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>BUT......he has provided such bold & unorthodox ideas & in such a charismatic way, that his rhetoric & tone, by the sheer shock value of it all, has awakened the Republican Party, & has shaken out some of the cobwebs that have got so many politicians in Washington all tangled up. Let's face it, the Republican Party needed this to happen. They have behaved disgracefully through their infighting, lack of cooperation to get stuff done, & by their lack of initiative to bring about truly productive change in this country. I'm a Republican, so this is not easy to say. The Donald got the attention of the Republican Party & the nation & there is a shakedown going on. Candidates were coming out of the woodwork for the chance to bring about change in Washington. Mr. Trump helped to light a fire under their collective butts, by at the very least, shocking them into reality & finally getting down to business!! This is good.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Although it's far too early to decide on a candidate to vote for, with each candidate's speech, interview, sound byte, or debate performance, we as Americans are getting the chance to get to know each of them better....certainly better than the biased media wants us to see. For awhile there, it looked as though there would be enough Republican candidates to form a full roster baseball team. With candidates joining the race in record numbers like people standing in line for a Willy Wonka chocolate bar & a chance at the coveted Golden Ticket, three of whom were not even politicians, it seemed like a joke. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>But then Trump opened up his big, boorish mouth & that's when the tide turned. Outrage turned into appreciation. Appreciation for someone who actually says what many Americans are thinking, turned into hope. Hope for a brighter & stronger America turned into action. Action upon the part of the candidates turned into some serious butt-kicking drive to take America back from those who have granted rights to some while taking away the Constitutional rights of others. Our nation has become fodder for those who want to insult & degrade. Our standing in the world community is pathetic. Our nation, once known as a country not to be trifled with, is now the target of ridicule, hatred & violence, more so than ever. And what do we do to those who wish us harm? We apologize to them because we have offended them! Really???? And we negotiate with terrorists!! How dumb is that?!! </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I've got no clue who will win the Republican nomination, but one thing I am absolutely sure about is this:</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>The United States of America is STILL the strongest, mightiest nation on earth. We STILL have the most open-door policy on immigration around & guarantee the most personal freedoms overall. Do we have problems? Oh man yes! That's why it's such a blessing that our Founding Fathers set up our nation with THREE branches of government (although apparently the Supreme Court likes to think that it is not only the Judiciary branch of the Federal government, but it is the Legislative branch as well). That's why it's a blessing that the President is limited to only two terms in office & why politicians must be elected through the vote of the people who are being governed. We the people have the right to change what we don't like. And right now, there are plenty of things that Americans don't like. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>My personal candidate favorites so far are in order: Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Donald Trump & Carly Fiorina. Of course I'm sure my favorites will change. They already have. It's still early. But I've got to hand it to Donald Trump for shaking things up. Whether or not he gets elected as President of the United States, his motto of "Make America Great Again" will indeed happen, if any one of these Republican candidates gets elected.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>*<span style="font-size: x-small;">These are my personal views. I am not interested in debating my views. We are all free to disagree, even those who may live in a country where such freedoms do not exist. Such people can still freely think their views, even if they cannot speak them.</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i> </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page.**</i></b></div>
helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-84396890001742480182015-09-17T02:01:00.002-07:002015-09-18T16:24:30.867-07:00Things My Dog Has Taught Me<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>My dog Maggie died on March 11, 2015, following a very determined fight against cancer. Her death was sudden & unexpected because although she was slowing down, she had more good days than bad. She died unexpectedly on one of her good days. This post is in tribute to a wonderful dog. She & I had a special bond. I will love her forever. I will miss her till I die. These are the things Maggie has taught me:</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;"><b>Waiting for cookie from neighbor<br />Photo: Cari Kissel</b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">1) One really can get used to buffalo breath & even laugh at it.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">2) There's nothing like a good gack after a drink of water.</span></i></b><br />
<b style="line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">3) Go ahead & roll in that grass... and don't be afraid to make your mark... let others know you were there.</span></i></b><br />
<b style="line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">4) Don't take a good breeze & fresh air on a sunny day for granted... you'll never smell the same exact thing or feel that same breeze more than once. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">5) Sniffing butts really does have it's merits. It tells a story. But humans should leave this to the professionals.</span></i></b><br />
<b style="line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">6) You want someone to give you something?? Jump up & down with excited expectation & people will cave. If all else fails, bring out the sad face.</span></i></b><br />
<b style="line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">7) Be loyal. Be by your loved one's side... but be prepared to jump or get stepped on if you are so close that someone trips over you.</span></i></b><b style="line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"></span></i></b><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">8) Don't waste time complaining when you could spend it appreciating.</span></i></b></span><b style="line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">9) Even little accomplishments are worth celebrating... be glad for the small victories. </span></i></b><br />
<b style="line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">1</span></i></b><b style="line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">0)It's okay to dig your paws in sometimes & insist on going in a different direction. Variety can be fun. </span></i></b><br />
<b style="line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">11) Cherish every moment & don't waste a single opportunity to give those you love lots of wet kisses. You could wake up one day & find that loved one lying there on the floor, making their trip to Heaven. </span></i></b><br />
<b style="line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">12) Don't sweat the small stuff. Don't fret over things that can't be changed. Just roll with it. You'll be happier that way.</span></i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78q0r3qJpxVWojTfPN0CAVZVWxHLixlmWpBjhqXKE9MLh-MbaclBs2owNNuQeeVrda9PkvskB5hDXm9YYLhf_txBEihJyyBQAGK0_wIXWCAoX5x6Ve39vbrjYqJCGxDLnCXGjRmf1dUZG/s1600/Maggie+smiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78q0r3qJpxVWojTfPN0CAVZVWxHLixlmWpBjhqXKE9MLh-MbaclBs2owNNuQeeVrda9PkvskB5hDXm9YYLhf_txBEihJyyBQAGK0_wIXWCAoX5x6Ve39vbrjYqJCGxDLnCXGjRmf1dUZG/s320/Maggie+smiling.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">P.S. ~ Love never dies. Maggie may have left us in the physical sense, but we know she still exists....& we feel her love around us every day.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><b style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page.**</i></b></span></i></b></div>
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helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964989603145217481.post-64925156046900247412015-09-14T17:34:00.000-07:002015-09-14T17:34:52.591-07:00Being Available or Being Meddlesome: The Difference<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I'm going to mix it up a bit & shoot straight from the hip. I'm being very transparent here on a post that can be viewed from anywhere in the world, since this is a public blog. Sometimes however, a person's gotta do what a person's gotta do. The following subject matter has bothered me for some time & I suspect that others can relate.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>I like to help others. I feel compassion & empathy for those who are hurting or who just need simple kindness shown to them. I'm naturally helpful, so much so, that it can be annoying to some & exhausting to me! The problem with trying to be of service/assistance toward others is that rather than it giving me joy, it often bites me in the butt.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Either people will take advantage of & expect more of me than I am able to give, or they will accuse me of deliberately inserting myself into other people's business because of some sick need to meddle when my own needs to be helpful aren't being met. I'll take personal ownership of my inability to establish healthy boundaries for myself & as a result, allowing people to take advantage of me. I'm working on that. But in no way do I take on the problems of others as my own when I have not been invited to do so. Quite the contrary, people often come to me & ask me to help. </i></b></span><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i> </i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>So in conclusion, I DO want to help others. That's one of the main reasons for my blog. I like having this outlet to express myself, but I also like to think that someone reading my words might find some measure of comfort or encouragement, or they might find that they can at least relate & are not alone. Let nobody mistake however, my compassion, empathy & desire to help as some need on my part to meddle or to stir up trouble for others where none existed before I came along. I have enough of my own stress, thank you very much! I'll help when asked & I'll stand up against bullies, but I most certainly will NOT go looking for additional stress by showing up in someone's life uninvited & asking if I can help clean that person's plate when I have an overly full plate of my own. That is just not me. And although I am nice (everyone who knows me knows this about me), I will also not be bullied & I WILL stand up for myself no matter who it is who does the accusing. Now I KNOW there are people out there like me, who can relate!!</i></b></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><i>**Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page.**</i></b>helpshewontstoptalking.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282443265926912679noreply@blogger.com0