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 |   Here you will find my daily journal of small stones and inspiration! |
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I hope you will take the time to enjoy my blog! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| 30D Blogging Challenge I think today we can all use a healthy dose of good news. Share with us a feel-good story...it can be anything from a random act of kindness that happened to you recently, to something that you heard about in your community. Anything you'd like to share to spread a little positivity. This coming Sunday kicks off the Honor Flight of Rochester Fall Flight Season. This is the group that takes veterans for FREE to see their memorials in Washington DC. It is my honor to serve as one of the Honor Flight Volunteers, welcoming the veterans home after their trip. We line the corridor of the Rochester Airport with Patriot Guard Riders and family and friends. A marching band plays and there is a ceremony for the vets at the conclusion. I can't wait to be there on Sunday! Sunday also begins FOOTBALL season when I can cheer on my beloved Buffalo Bills! I am ready for the turnaround season! I wrote this poem a bit a go but it sums up my feelings pretty well... "Invalid Entry"  WE GOT THIS! |
| 30D Blogging Challenge Are you the lead singer type, or are you more content playing in the background along with the rest of the band? Oh I am the lead singer, hell there isn't even a band...I am a one woman dynamo. Who am I kidding? I tend to be a wall flower, melting into the background, mouthing the words but not making a peep for fear I hit a wrong note. I don't have the self-esteem God gave a moth. But I want to be a leader, I see myself as a leader, when I am alone with no one watching. I wish I could find a way to be a leader, to stand out in the crowd and show everyone what I have to offer. I need to take small steps to release myself from my shy-burden. It seems every time I take one step forward I get frightened and step back at least two. Someday....soon. Speaking of singing, I used to think I sounded like Reba McEntire and I would sing this song all the time... https://youtu.be/l6t7gOxr0AI |
| 30D Blogging Challenge This week, a county clerk in Kentucky was jailed for not issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Because her position is that of an elected official, she can't be fired from her job. She believes that same-sex marriage is against her religion. What do you think? Should she be required to issue these licenses? Can she legally be held accountable for this? Here's an article for reference: http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/04/politics/kentucky-clerk-same-sex-marriage-kim-davi... I think she should have to follow the law and issue licenses to any couple who, under the law, has a right to get married. Her PERSONAL religious views should NOT come into play in LEGAL matters. When she comes to work her personal views should be left at the door and her PROFESSIONAL attitude should be all that matters. I had believed she had broken her oath of office but if you read the oath below I don't see where it says anything about upholding the laws of the United States. It does say to support the Constitution, but I don't believe same-sex marriage is an amendment to the Constitution. (please someone correct me if I am mistaken here and include citations so I know where the info came from). The mere fact that the oath includes a part about duels but no mention of upholding laws scares me... http://news.yahoo.com/oath-taken-court-clerk-now-jailed-over-gay-184717342.html;... Members of the General Assembly and all officers, before they enter upon the execution of the duties of their respective offices, and all members of the bar, before they enter upon the practice of their profession, shall take the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and be faithful and true to the Commonwealth of Kentucky so long as I continue a citizen thereof, and that I will faithfully execute, to the best of my ability, the office of _______ according to law; and I do further solemnly swear (or affirm) that since the adoption of the present Constitution, I, being a citizen of this State, have not fought a duel with deadly weapons within this State nor out of it, nor have I sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel with deadly weapons, nor have I acted as second in carrying a challenge, nor aided or assisted any person thus offending, so help me God." |
| 30D Blogging Challenge I'm gonna make this easy on you today...write whatever you'd like! But...each sentence must contain at least one emoticon (and after this week you've got so many more to choose from). I won't put a minimum line count on this...it's harder than it looks. Today, I am so  ! I have been selling  's for WDC's Birthday. Not just , but  and  . All kinds of my friends have been spending  for my raffle; "Invalid Item" by A Guest Visitor If you guys each bought a it would make me  ! My friend Marci Missing Everyone  is selling  for the birthday, too!. You would be complete  s is you went to her site, too! If you get a  you enter her raffle.I give a big  to Fivesixer  for this prompt. I have to wrap this up cause I just got   see ya all later!  |
| 30D Blogging Challenge Fun Fact Friday! On this day in 1888, George Eastman registered the name "Kodak" and patented his roll-film camera. The camera took 100 exposures per roll. Are you the designated picture-taker in your family? How have the technological advances in digital photography changed the way you look at taking pictures? Cool prompt, George Eastman is from Rochester, NY; my hometown. I am the photographer in my family, now. When I was growing up the photos were mainly my parent's responsibility. My mom had an old 110mm film camera and my father had a fancy 35mm camera with all different types of lens and filters. When my mom passed away no one in the family wanted all the old photo albums but me and now I have at least ten boxes full of three-ring binders chock full of photos. I also have the photo albums from when my mom was young and my parent's Wedding album and honeymoon pictures. I find it hard to believe none of my siblings wanted any of this. What a treasure it is to sit and look back on all these memories. I personally do not like the digital format as much. I want to thumb through albums and loose pictures and remember with other people. Most people now don't print out their pictures so you are either looking at the backs of their cameras or glancing through facebook. It is much less personal. Give me the old photo albums and a cup of coffee. I'll be entertained for hours...  |
| 30D Blogging Challenge The Wildcard Round! In honor of WDC's 15th birthday, today's winner gets a Birthday MB...best entry (in my opinion) wins! What do you remember about being 15? Share with us the awkward, hilarious moments. I was the poster child for being awkward. From about the age of ten to eighteen I was the epitome of the klutzy child. Everything I touch broke or fell, everything I rode crashed into an unmoveable object. It it wasn't nailed down I dropped it and if it was nailed down I tripped over it. I don't actually remember how old I was but at the cottage my parents rented we had a family reunion. All the aunts, uncles, and cousins were there. It was a weekend and we had a huge breakfast spread out on the dining room, the adults would eat at that table and the rest of us kids would spread out over creation finding anywhere to sit and eat. I reached across the table and down went the orange juice. It spilled everywhere, unto the waffles and pancakes, it even ended up in a couple cups of coffee. I WAS MORTIFIED! My father made a huge deal about it and yelled pretty loud about me being a klutz and "how accidents are caused by carelessness". Later on that day the whole family took an excursion to Port Colbourne. While we were in a gift shop my Aunt Marge bought me a mug that I cherish to this day. The bottom of it had two legs, one of which was in a cast. The handle was shaped like an arm with a crutch, across the front was written 'Klutz'. She wanted to make sure may feelings hadn't been hurt by my father and that I understood there are many people who can be considered klutzy. It might not be from my 'klutzy 15' but it is a good story... |
| 30DBC- Wednesday is usually "War Chest Wednesday". But I'm really tired of war. Shoot some flowers out of your cannon. What does "peace" mean to you? I just wrote this piece for September Flash, and if you truly want to know what I am talking about in this blog (and not think I am crazy, well not this time) you will want to read this first... "Invalid Entry" When I say 'conflict' I don't mean war, shooting each other, constantly arguing. I mean conflict as.. 2a : competitive or opposing action of incompatibles : antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons) b : mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflict In physics we learn that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. I have come to the conclusion that without some bit of conflict you can never be truly happy and peaceful. Do you remember the feeling you had when you finally got that math problem right that you had missed so many times? You had a conflict, you overcame it and then you found inner peace. Same goes in life. When everything is honky-dory do you really feel content? You are you bored, tired, listless? Maybe you become agitated and grumpy. When you are striding for something and you accomplish it it feels so much better than one someone hands it to you. Doesn't it? Now, I know Fivesixer this is not the kind of peace you were talking about, but this is the kind of peace we can control, isn't it?   |
| Talk Tuesday! Today's prompt is simple...Take a look at everyone who is taking part in this month's challenge. Pick one member, go into their portfolio, and review one of their items in your entry. Then, suggest an item of your own you'd like to see reviewed. Well, after backing out of the camping trip, I am back and badder (better?) than ever. I had a rough month of August, personally, but all seem to be headed in the right direction now...But enough of that... Today, I reviewed skeason , mainly because I wanted to get a better idea of what her writing was all about. I had visited her blog and well...it just wasn't my cup of tea. But that is what writing is all about. Each author writes what is important to them and in their own voice. I was greatly impressed with her poem "Look!" by skeason which I reviewed Review of "Look!"  . What a wonderfully written poem!I would love reviews for "Invalid Entry" .I am thinking of making it a children's storybook. Do I need more dialogue? |
| Day 26 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge The above picture ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** is a screen-cap from CNN's website on Saturday evening. In the upper right hand corner, you'll see that one of the column headers is "Things On Fire". CNN is considered one of the United States' leading news providers...is a column header like the one pictured something you would consider professional or appropriate? Have standards changed in the way news organizations in general present information in the 21st century? It is totally inappropriate and unprofessional but it demonstrates the 'dumbing down' of the American public. It gets their attention and then they read the article or watch the video. The worst part is if you read the titles under "Things on Fire". I especially like the "surfer lights himself on fire, catches wave"....WHAT????? This certainly isn't our parents' CNN or even our CNN, this is the CNN of the now and future and unless WE start demanding and expecting more from our media outlets this is the crap we are going to get! |
| Day 25 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge Come up with a myth about why clouds have shapes. Mother Nature is a bit of a hippie. She enjoys a bit of the wacky weed every now and again. She will take a toke on a joint and then she starts blowing smoke rings, after a while the rings turn into shapes... Yup, Mother Nature is a bit of a hippie... |
| Day 24 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge The "mystery flavor" in a bag of Dum Dums lollipops is actually two flavors: whatever flavor was being made until it was about to run out, and the next flavor being made. Is there a particular flavor you prefer? Or would you be satisfied with some type of chocolate instead? I love Dum Dum pops! I always got a bag of them to hand out on Halloween and I always saved them for last! I would give out the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup before I would hand out the Dum Dums! I loved the Cream Soda flavored ones! They are yummy! Two weeks ago I went to Oliver's Candy Store in Batavia, NY. Papa Bear and I spent well over thirty minutes in the little store picking out candy (which there is still some left!) I picked out marzipan which is almond flavored candy and is delicious and I got white pastel cote chocolate (which I haven't even opened yet). I bought a bag of black licorice and eat so much I was pooping green (no lie, black licorice makes you poop green!) But my favorite that O picked out was Maple Syrup hard candies and I am trying not to eat the whole bag at once. I did make the mistake of looking at the package and realized it cost $15 a pound! No wonder it is so yummy! |
| Day 23 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge Your prompt, from the War Chest: Recall a time in your life when you made a big change. Was the outcome positive or negative? I can't think of anything at the moment, but I am contemplating making a big change and if it works... I don't want to go into details but it will be a biggie....A real big biggie! I'll let ya know if I ever do it and if it works! |
| Day 22 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge War Chest Wednesday! Tennessee Williams once said, "When so many are lonely as seem to be lonely, it would be inexcusably selfish to be lonely alone." What are your thoughts on this quote? It means, to me, that people should stop feeling lonely and go out and meet other 'lonely' people. Perhaps if we all ventured out of our cocoons and looked up from our computer screens and stopped constantly using our phones maybe we wouldn't feel so lonely. So get off your butt, out of your houses and meet people...your neighbors, your co-workers, the creepy guy down the street, okay maybe not creepy guy... https://youtu.be/V2bbnlZwlGQ |
| Day 21 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge Talk Tuesday! Social Media...what is it going to be like in twenty years? How much more invasive can it possibly get? It won't be invasive at all, the government will begin to regulate the content due to the overwhelming amount of people being offended by the content. People will become overly sensitive to satirical and sarcastic remarks and the government will regulate how we can speak online about it. Everything will be 'sensitized' because no one can be offended. So enjoy your freedom while you have it! |
| Day 20 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge Music Monday! According to http://www.factslides.com/s-Music, you don't like the original version of a song because it's better; you like it because it's the one you heard first. Is this true for you? Are you generally a fan of originals, or cover songs? Share with us a favorite cover. I can't think of a cover song that I like more than the original. I usually like the song because I already like the artist. I enjoy their music and therefore I enjoy the song. Most covers are cheap versions of the original. And that is my story and I am sticking to it! |
| Day 19 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge As the allegations against American comedy legend Bill Cosby continue to pile up, more pieces of his 2005 deposition regarding his drugging and sexual assaulting of women are surfacing. If you are familiar with Cosby's body of work, does any of this change your opinion of him (keep in mind, he has yet to be charged with any crimes as of now)? If you didn't have an opinion before now on him, do you feel it is fair that a court deposition from ten years ago in one particular case of related circumstances should be used against someone who could now be considered a serial rapist? Here's a link with more details: http://www.gawker.com/cosby-admits-to-calculated-pursuit-of-young-women-in-17188... Don't have an informed opinion and just not going to comment |
| Day 18 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge On what platform(s) will you stand in order to be elected as the next world leader? Sell us on yourself. I am going to run on the 'No one gives a rat-butt and those that do remain silent' Platform. I really want to get involved with politics this coming election year but it is just so stinking 'political'. You can't run on exactly what you believe in because you won't get any funding. You can't completely back your candidate because there is going to be at least one cause they believe in that you can't back. It is harder than hell to even pick a party because in order to make an informed decision based on fact you have to read through 60+ pages of political gobbily-gook before you can even figure out what the party believes in. After you pick the party then you need to back a candidate, now read through all their crap! It is no wonder that every day Americans stay away from politics. Then, of course, if you get people who do pick a side then they keep their mouths shut until someone does something 'wrong' then they gripe but don't do anything. So yup, I am officially running under the platform of 'No one gives a rat-butt and those that do remain silent' |
| Day 17 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge Cherophobia is the fear of fun. What is one of your biggest fears? I have a fear of heights or is it a fear of falling? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_falling I think mine is a fear of falling from heights. I don't necessarily walk around fearing I am going to fall, but put me up on a ladder and I am okay; if a look down I cause myself all kinds of trouble! That being said I will tell you two items on my bucket list. I want to get my pilot's license and I want to go sky-diving. I know crazy, right? |
| Day 16 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge Your prompt: Are you a leader or a follower? Are you content going with the flow, or do you find yourself needing to take charge? I would love to be a leader. I think I have the intellect to be a leader. What don't I have courage.... I lack the self-esteem it takes to lead, to go "hey! Let's do it this way". I worry that my way is wrong. I overthink it. I wait and then someone else leads - either the way I was going to or not. That person might not be the brains of the group but do you know what they have- courage! https://youtu.be/gOCNY9pJ850 |
| Day 15 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge War Chest Wednesday! In your opinion, what is the greatest downfall of modern society? The greatest downfall of modern society is the ironic combination of complacency and over-reaction. Society allows certain evils in society to endure and multiply. The repression of certain individuals, the manipulation of the voters by politicians, the games politicians play are all evils that society seems to ignore and therefore condone. By not eliminating these evils society continues to rot and will never improve until something is done! The other half of this double edged sword is over-reaction. Society grabs onto a cause or belief, usually a minor problem not a major issue and society won't let it go. It grab a hold and beats the issue to death. Then, once the matter is 'solved' society forgets it and moves along all the while having not solved a thing! |
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