Talk Back Tuesday: Kathy’s Parenting Advice

They had been engaged in a lengthy chitchat for about an hour now. They talked mostly about work, home life, parenting advice, and their children. It was nothing new that time passed so quickly. They had been good friends for many years, they even wore the same size clothes.

But this chitchat was different. Kathy had started noticing signs of teen-age rebellion from her son. It troubled her because he was still a pre-teen, shy of one year. She trusted her friend for help and advice for the problems she assumed she’d face one day soon.

Kathy’s son was basically a good guy. He wasn’t a problem in school beyond just being a little boy and doing what little boys do. As he got older, he played sports and began noticing girls. And he didn’t like keeping his room tidied up. So he was pretty much like other boys his age. No big concerns, until he wanted to go to the neighbor’s house and hang out with them. Then he’d come home and test Kathy by seeing what he could get away with.

Rant: The Pot Calling the Kettle Black

It just makes me want to puke when I hear the pot calling the kettle black.

It’s despicable when talk radio show hosts use false narrative when accusing other media outlets for using false narrative. Neither one does our country any good. Both make their profession seem made up of childish bullies.

I think some people in media need to reassess their job capabilities – to see if they’re doing it ethically and responsibly.  It maybe that they have been in it too long to report news, or give comments objectively. I would like to see them change profession, or change the way they deliver news. Any change would be refreshing!!

Just my thoughts!

Quote: W. H. Auden

Portrait of W.H. Auden

“In a land which is fully settled, most men must accept their local environment or try to change it by political means; only the exceptionally gifted or adventurous can leave to seek his fortune elsewhere. In America, on the other hand, to move on and make a fresh start somewhere else is still the normal reaction to dissatisfaction and failure.” ~ W. H. Auden

 

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Stop the Fear and Intimidation, Please! – R.I.P. Trayvon Martin

I’ve never referred to the hood on my jackets and coats before as a hoodie. Since it has been mentioned a lot in our nation’s discourse I’ve been compelled to write that I will not let anyone intimidate me into not wearing my hoodie on a jacket or coat that I’ve bought specifically for its use.

I will not give up wearing my hoodie on my jacket or coat.

Trayvon Martin’s (age 17) death have sprouted all sorts of twisted dialogue about the way he died, the way he lived, and, on the misfortune and defenseless George Zimmerman (age 28), who at the time was armed and in a car (the safest place he could have been, considering all things). Yet Mr. Zimmerman ended up being the guy on the ground yelling help (according to a witness), with a broken nose and a gash on the back of his head, and still able to be in possession of the gun that shot Martin. None of this makes good sense to me. I imagine that I’m not alone.

The left have propelled this tragedy to a level where the vigilante groups have a bounty out on Zimmerman’s head, dead or alive. Radio and TV talk show hosts on the right blames Martin’s death on his hoodie.  It seems they are afraid the public outcry will cause the banning of guns.

Still, a young teen-ager is dead. A tragedy that could have been avoided.

I will not let anyone intimidate me into not wearing my hoodie.  We’ve all worn them.  Ever since our mom’s and dad’s wrapped our stinking butts up and laid us in a cradle.

STOP with the fear and intimidation, please!

I could write more on this but while I was typing this one out I came across readytochangenow‘s post here – “It’s not them – it’s you; how fear is destroying us”.  This is a passionate post that ends with a proposal for change. Please take a few minutes to read it.

R.I.P. Trayvon Martin

Soulful Sunday: Listening

 I have watched this dog for a few years walking around my neighborhood. I don’t know where his home is but he’s always hanging out near a popular eatery. I see him in the dead of winter and on the hottest day of the year. And he’s never around other dogs.

I saw him one morning standing in the middle of the empty parking lot. By himself, as usual. He was intent on listening. With his ears perked up, he was watching and listening for something or someone. He stood there for a couple of minutes, long enough for me to take some pictures. This was my chance to actually see him up close. Yea!

As he stood there, he would turn his head back in a way as if he had heard his master calling. But there was no misunderstanding about it,  he was fully listening and watching someone or something in the opposite direction. 

Who, or what, catches your attention? Who, or what causes you to listen when your attention should be elsewhere? Some young people are so fixated on certain people in the entertainment industry. They are easily swayed by the music and lyrics that they listen to. Sometimes they imitate what they see and hear. This could be a problem if their imitation is in a destructive way. In this case, young people should listen to their parents when they ask them to change direction, to get off the destructive path they’re on. It isn’t only the entertainment industry. There are so many other factors vying for, not only their attention, but grown ups, as well. We need to be mindful of who or what we’re listening to on a daily basis. Let’s make sure we listen to words that motivate us in doing good, in building one another up, and moving us forward in positive ways.

 “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring…all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” ~ Leo Buscaglia

Spring in Pictures: A View of My Corner of the World

Blooming tree - Spring 2012

Red cardinal - Spring morning 2012

Yellow wildflowers - Spring 2012

2012 – Happy Spring!

I had to run an errand this morning so I wasn’t in my usual vantage spot to capture the morning sun rise. I wanted to photograph the first day of Spring sunrise so on my way home I was so blessed to see it right in front of me. I had to pull over and get out of the car.

“As long as there are mornings that dawn beautiful and bright,

As long as there are sunny days and stars that shine at night,

As long as there are flowers that blossom in the Spring,

There are reasons to have faith in what the days ahead will bring.” ~ Unknown

Happy Spring!