It is rare to hear someone say, "I'm sorry, I'm responsible". When I do hear someone taking responsibility for their error in judgement, I feel such respect for them because it shows a purity of heart. Sometimes it's very difficult to admit you've done wrong and you'll twist everything in your mind to justify what you've done. But there comes a time when, if you're basically honest, that the truth needs to be admitted...especially to yourself.
The "stand your ground" law has been twisted beyond anything it was meant to represent and people are aggressively killing instead of taking the option of retreating. I believe that the "stand your ground" law was meant to protect someone who was being immediately attacked and not someone who deliberately put themselves into an unsafe situation or someone who was the aggressor. There will always be a lawyer who knows how to twist the obvious crime and make it appear appropriate, though.
Religious people believe there will be a judgement day but I believe that liars and cheats begin their come uppance the same moment they commit their crimes. Bad karma is not nice and somehow, some way, we all pay for our transgressions.
Everyone has skeletons in their closets, moments in their lives they'd prefer to keep hidden, but it's a mistake to think they're so far in the past that they don't matter any more. They're still inside that little cloud in the back of our minds. You are what you do...or did. OJ Simpson is a broken man who may not have been convicted of murdering his wife and her friend but he has suffered very much from it. What goes around will eventually come around to bite you in the bum! It's karma.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Whimsy
Below is a photo of the adorable planter that Shelley bought me as an early Mother's Day present and I just love it. It's in the shape of a peacock, metallic turquoise, with a trailing tail, and adorned with glass beads. How could I not love it???
When I moved from a house into an apartment, space became an issue because there was no way I could take everything. I ended up taking the necessities and therefore nothing whimsical. Now I have my whimsy...a gorgeous peacock planter! It sits at the front window of the trailer but it's going home with me in April. I have no idea where it will sit but I'll find a spot.
We need whimsy in our lives, something to smile at when we look at it. My pretty planter makes me smile a lot. Thank you, Shelley!
When I moved from a house into an apartment, space became an issue because there was no way I could take everything. I ended up taking the necessities and therefore nothing whimsical. Now I have my whimsy...a gorgeous peacock planter! It sits at the front window of the trailer but it's going home with me in April. I have no idea where it will sit but I'll find a spot.
We need whimsy in our lives, something to smile at when we look at it. My pretty planter makes me smile a lot. Thank you, Shelley!
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Canada Day at 3W
Every winter in our park we have a dinner celebration for the Americans that we all attend and then we have a dinner celebration for the Canadians that we all attend. It wasn't always like this...at one time no Canadians were allowed at the U.S. dinner and no Americans were allowed at the Canadian dinner. I always hated this and couldn't understand why it was this way. When the new owners took over our park, they insisted on an immediate change and now everyone is welcome to both dinners. This is the way it always should have been.
For the last few years our French Canadian friends have been doing the cooking for Canada Day and I hope I don't offend anyone by saying the food served has never been better than theirs. It's a huge treat to look forward to every year. Both Americans and Canadians were over at the clubhouse this morning helping with the decorating...I love this!! Dinner is at 5 P.M. and our tables are already reserved!
About the chemical peel that I'm doing...nothing out of the ordinary is happening but the skin on my face is getting redder. I expected this and have no problem with it. There's no peeling yet and that might be more unsightly than the redness but it's all worth it if it clears my skin when the process is over.
For the last few years our French Canadian friends have been doing the cooking for Canada Day and I hope I don't offend anyone by saying the food served has never been better than theirs. It's a huge treat to look forward to every year. Both Americans and Canadians were over at the clubhouse this morning helping with the decorating...I love this!! Dinner is at 5 P.M. and our tables are already reserved!
About the chemical peel that I'm doing...nothing out of the ordinary is happening but the skin on my face is getting redder. I expected this and have no problem with it. There's no peeling yet and that might be more unsightly than the redness but it's all worth it if it clears my skin when the process is over.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
3rd Day Chemical Peel
I was so nervous about putting a strong substance on the seriously sensitive skin of my face that I only decided to do this chemical peel if I could stay at Shelley's for a few days. I knew that if anything went wrong, it would happen quickly.
The cream is called Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% strength. It came in a tiny 30 gram tube and cost $489!!! I hate drug companies!!
Anyway, I was told to wash me face thoroughly and then to apply the cream with my fingertips, washing my hands thoroughly afterward. I was expecting a burning sensation (saw that on the internet) but there was nothing, not even after 3 days of application twice daily. I do notice a slightly smoother look to my skin and possibly a tiny bit of redness but that's it.
I'm to continue applications for 4-6 weeks so there might be more visible signs of irritation as the time goes on. I also see the dermatologist in 2 weeks so he can assess what's happening..or not happening. I sure hope I didn't spend all this money for nothing but time will tell.
So far, so good.
The cream is called Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% strength. It came in a tiny 30 gram tube and cost $489!!! I hate drug companies!!
Anyway, I was told to wash me face thoroughly and then to apply the cream with my fingertips, washing my hands thoroughly afterward. I was expecting a burning sensation (saw that on the internet) but there was nothing, not even after 3 days of application twice daily. I do notice a slightly smoother look to my skin and possibly a tiny bit of redness but that's it.
I'm to continue applications for 4-6 weeks so there might be more visible signs of irritation as the time goes on. I also see the dermatologist in 2 weeks so he can assess what's happening..or not happening. I sure hope I didn't spend all this money for nothing but time will tell.
So far, so good.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Chemical Peel
I'm going to be starting a chemical peel to help make the skin on my face healthier. I'm actually scared to death to start this but the dermatologist in Tampa, Shelley and John, have all convinced me it's the right thing to do. The dermatologist told me that I wouldn't (don't know how I changed this!) have had to have all those liquid nitrogen treatments these past many years if I'd had a chemical peel. We'll see. I'm going to start it on Monday and stay with Shelley until Thursday afternoon. I'm very worried about having an adverse reaction and will feel more comfortable having Shelley and the dermatologist nearby.
What I'm hoping to accomplish is to eliminate the rough skin caused by sun damage. I'm hoping I don't make everything worse but I'll keep a record with photos once I get back here on Thursday.
Wish me luck.
What I'm hoping to accomplish is to eliminate the rough skin caused by sun damage. I'm hoping I don't make everything worse but I'll keep a record with photos once I get back here on Thursday.
Wish me luck.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Killers
There are truly evil people in this world who believe they have the right to take the life of another person for whatever reason...they want to leave them, they talked back, they played their music too loud, they exist. It doesn't matter the reason for an evil person to kill. They will find a reason.
Michael Dunn is such a person. He murdered a young man because the music in his car was loud. It's almost impossible to understand how anyone would grab a gun and open fire on a car filled with four young men, killing one...but in Dunn's evil state of mind, he would have preferred to kill them all. They're making a big thing about Dunn being white and the young men being black but I bet that wasn't a prime concern for Dunn. He felt his space was invaded by the loud music and I'm sure the boys retorted verbally when told to turn it down. Dunn felt insulted but, darn it, he had a gun and he used it.
Don't the Americans ever ask themselves how some of these incidents...recent murder of man in theatre, also...if the assailant wasn't armed with a gun? I know some do but, sadly, most don't and that's why the United States suffers from these senseless killings. Nothing will change until the American gun laws change.
Michael Dunn is such a person. He murdered a young man because the music in his car was loud. It's almost impossible to understand how anyone would grab a gun and open fire on a car filled with four young men, killing one...but in Dunn's evil state of mind, he would have preferred to kill them all. They're making a big thing about Dunn being white and the young men being black but I bet that wasn't a prime concern for Dunn. He felt his space was invaded by the loud music and I'm sure the boys retorted verbally when told to turn it down. Dunn felt insulted but, darn it, he had a gun and he used it.
Don't the Americans ever ask themselves how some of these incidents...recent murder of man in theatre, also...if the assailant wasn't armed with a gun? I know some do but, sadly, most don't and that's why the United States suffers from these senseless killings. Nothing will change until the American gun laws change.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Locked Out
I rarely take my keys (house key and car key) out of my purse but it happens occasionally. Yesterday I checked my cash but didn't check to see if my keys were there because, after all, aren't they "almost" always? So out I went and locked the door behind me. It was when I tried to unlock the car by pushing the button that I realized I was in trouble...it didn't work. The only reason it doesn't work is when my keys are not on me. Crap!
But, fear not, Sylvia has a spare key to my trailer so I went to her place only to discover that she and Mickey weren't home. I had no idea how long they'd be gone so I traipsed back and got a book from the library (old clubhouse) and took it back to Sylvia's where I set myself up comfortably in their gazebo to read it until they returned. The worst case scenario was that they'd be staying overnight with friends so then I planned to wait until early evening and then go to Joann's to stay overnight with her. I arrived at Sylvia's before 1 P.M. and they got home at 3:30. It wasn't so bad because the book was interesting and the gazebo is a nice place to relax.
Now, I hate the thought of being locked out again so I've secreted the key in a safe place rather than giving it back to Sylvia. It was really comforting to be allowed access to my cute car and my cute trailer once again!
Retrieving the keys, I went out to Chili's for little burgers and fries...paid for with the gift card Shelley gave me. Other than giving myself a mental kick for not making sure I had my keys in the beginning, I didn't get very upset about my predicament. It wasn't the worst thing in the world, was it?
But, fear not, Sylvia has a spare key to my trailer so I went to her place only to discover that she and Mickey weren't home. I had no idea how long they'd be gone so I traipsed back and got a book from the library (old clubhouse) and took it back to Sylvia's where I set myself up comfortably in their gazebo to read it until they returned. The worst case scenario was that they'd be staying overnight with friends so then I planned to wait until early evening and then go to Joann's to stay overnight with her. I arrived at Sylvia's before 1 P.M. and they got home at 3:30. It wasn't so bad because the book was interesting and the gazebo is a nice place to relax.
Now, I hate the thought of being locked out again so I've secreted the key in a safe place rather than giving it back to Sylvia. It was really comforting to be allowed access to my cute car and my cute trailer once again!
Retrieving the keys, I went out to Chili's for little burgers and fries...paid for with the gift card Shelley gave me. Other than giving myself a mental kick for not making sure I had my keys in the beginning, I didn't get very upset about my predicament. It wasn't the worst thing in the world, was it?
Tuesday, February 04, 2014
On Being Old and Sick
I'm still getting over that awful cold/cough that started 2 weeks ago and I have to admit it sort of scared me. There were times I coughed so hard and often that I couldn't catch my breath and feared fainting. I don't think I would have lived through it if I was 10 years older. I don't get the flu shot because it made me sick the two times I got it but I will definitely get the pneumonia shot next fall.
The human body is a truly amazing thing the way it works to heal us. On the 3rd day of this cold, I sensed a strength inside me growing and slowly overcoming the germs that had invaded my body. It's that sense of inner strength that gives us hope we'll recover from whatever ails us.
Looking back, and with hindsight, I realize I should have seen a doctor at the end of the first week instead of toughing it out for another week of coughing but I didn't. If I'd been back home I would have dragged myself to my doctor but I don't like to do that down here in the States simply because it would be a stranger. A cold might last a week but after that you're fighting an infection that can be helped by taking an antibiotic.
Many of the people in this park have suffered through this recent illness and it's lasted at least 2 weeks for all of them. One lady told me she didn't realize a body could hold so much snot. Whatever strain we had, I sure hope it left antibodies against any other cold germs on the horizon.
What I learned is:
1. see a doctor at the end of week 1 if there isn't significant
improvement.
2. stay off crowded bus trips if possible.
3. don't go near anyone with a cold.
The human body is a truly amazing thing the way it works to heal us. On the 3rd day of this cold, I sensed a strength inside me growing and slowly overcoming the germs that had invaded my body. It's that sense of inner strength that gives us hope we'll recover from whatever ails us.
Looking back, and with hindsight, I realize I should have seen a doctor at the end of the first week instead of toughing it out for another week of coughing but I didn't. If I'd been back home I would have dragged myself to my doctor but I don't like to do that down here in the States simply because it would be a stranger. A cold might last a week but after that you're fighting an infection that can be helped by taking an antibiotic.
Many of the people in this park have suffered through this recent illness and it's lasted at least 2 weeks for all of them. One lady told me she didn't realize a body could hold so much snot. Whatever strain we had, I sure hope it left antibodies against any other cold germs on the horizon.
What I learned is:
1. see a doctor at the end of week 1 if there isn't significant
improvement.
2. stay off crowded bus trips if possible.
3. don't go near anyone with a cold.
The Color of Our Skin
Has anyone ever taken notice of how much air time is given to discussing the color of someone's skin? I was listening to the news this morning and it suddenly dawned on me how often skin color is mentioned and the amount of time wasted discussing it.
Criminals come in all colors. Teenagers come in all colors. Neighbors come in all colors. Politicians might be a little green with greed but their skins are varying colors, too. Why is skin color such an issue? If we put a dozen young children of varying skin tones in a room together the last thing they'd be aware of is what color their friend's skin was. We can learn a lot from children who haven't yet adopted their parents' prejudices.
On this ridiculous subject, I wonder why only brown and pink skins are always on the agenda? I'm feeling a little discriminated against since no-one is discussing freckles.
Criminals come in all colors. Teenagers come in all colors. Neighbors come in all colors. Politicians might be a little green with greed but their skins are varying colors, too. Why is skin color such an issue? If we put a dozen young children of varying skin tones in a room together the last thing they'd be aware of is what color their friend's skin was. We can learn a lot from children who haven't yet adopted their parents' prejudices.
On this ridiculous subject, I wonder why only brown and pink skins are always on the agenda? I'm feeling a little discriminated against since no-one is discussing freckles.
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