Tag Archives: articles

Ghost dad LOL

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Here is another great post I came across. World meet Very Bangled, using the dark side of the force….

Very Bangled

Alanna from White Girls Be Like posted a challenge, a competition! She’s hosting a Funny Blog Friday which sounds pretty alright. Since I’m competitive, and I like to think I’m funny despite my total inability to remember punchlines, I raised my hand.

But then I started re-reading my blogs. Turns out grief, bracelets, and infertility don’t make for a rollicking good time. So here’s a collection of my worst, darkest, least funny, most painful, absolutely terrible thoughts recently. Let me welcome you to rock bottom.

-If my dad were still alive we’d probably go to the baseball game tonight.
-My dad was the only person to ask me how my day went.
-It’s getting darker earlier and soon I’ll be walking home from work in the dark. Because my dad used to be my ride home and now he is dead. And nobody asks me how my day went anymore.

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After The Call

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(This is just the mind doing its job. No real action happens yet).

Sunday at 6:00 am the phone goes off. Family emergency, do
something! We are free, aside from monetary difficulties, to help. So
let’s get this show on the road. We will drive, airfare and departure
schedules don’t work for us.

What about all of the home projects, unfinished tent-like structures,
the garden, the dogs and cat? Firewood enough for a few weeks,
but winter is almost here! The generators, and rigs that need fixing
before snow, will they just fix themselves?
Don’t panic. Do what you can do, ask someone to help with some of the rest. Figure out what we absolutely need and pack light, don’t get carried away with over-packing, after all, what do you really need with you when you go to a hospital to learn of their condition?

The garden isn’t quite ready for harvest. Still lots of beans, radishes, peas, and squash. The tomatoes aren’t even close to ripe, and the cucumbers are still growing. Should have planted much earlier in the season. The gourds are almost there, and soon the onions will be ready for picking too. The peppers need more time too….

Make sure the fence is solid so the steer don’t help themselves to dinner. Tie down tarps better, move obvious stealable things. Tools, machinery, small carryable things people like to walk away with, the guitar, the old computer, the inverter, all of those little things, stash them all.

The dogs and cat? Memphis, the cat can take care of himself, just leave food out, hopefully he will eat the mice and pack-rats that try to eat his dinner. The dogs? Another can of worms! ( you may find this was posted in the worm category)

The dogs would rather be stuck in a hot small enclosed space with us, than be left behind. The trouble with that is we have to go to California, and those folks are not happy with people who are doing what they have to do. Cruelty to animals, letting them waste away in a small, hot stuffy car. We can’t even think of the cost of boarding them, that just isn’t in the budget we still have to borrow to do this thing.

A neighbor said he would look after the dogs, after all, it’s only going to be a few days, right? There’s plenty of food, two 50 pound bags we bought just the other day. The neighbor will hang out while we leave, and then check on the place daily, and feed water the animals and garden as required. That should cover it. No stone left unturned?

The car? Well it just got back from a 700 mile trip, over the course of 2 days, but it will probably make it just fine. (more worms) Just clean it out, and pack it. Tools in case something breaks, no dogs on this trip, we can put some stuff in the back seat for easy retrieval. What are we forgetting? I guess that should cover it, we’ll see what we really need, or should do after the fact. Wish we had hindsight before we need it!

Why Am I Here?

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part 1.
On October 12th of 2014, my eldest son, his wife and their two children were in a horrific car accident. My wife and I got word of that at 6:00 am. It was a Sunday morning. 3 days prior we had gone over the mountains to be in town, to visit with them.

We had a pleasant visit with all of the children. 4 of our kids live 60 miles north of Seattle Washington. (All of the kids are grown, and living their own lives). The youngest is 25 and the eldest is 38. The eldest has a family and lives in the Reno Nevada area.

6 am, bad news. The family is in a hospital in Redding California. We called around to see who could do whatever was needed, and Mrs. Squatch and I got the golden ticket. We live in the hills, basically retired. Since we didn’t have to worry about employer attitudes regarding absences, we packed what we thought we would need and headed for Redding. (More interesting tales, what to do about the place, the dogs, cat, garden, firewood, and more).

Where do I start? The obstacles? I live in a remote area. The big town, the county seat only has a population of 42,763, and it is 50 miles from my place. That’s where the Wal-Mart and McDonald’s is. The airport is one of those that can’t land anything very big,and the next closest bigger airport is 160 miles away. The North Cascade Highway was already closed that late in Oct., and the Seattle terminal was 250 miles away.

The Wenatchee airport does have a connecting flight to Seattle, where I could buy passage to Sacramento Ca. Options? I could drive to Wenatchee and catch a flight to seattle, but not on sunday. Option 2, we can Drive to Seattle and catch a flight to Sac., and rent a car, and drive 240 miles north to Redding.

We went with option 3 that I never mentioned. We decided that we could get there faster if we just drove. ( Here is where I tell you how we actually got outta the mountains, and all of the adventure a 60-year-old guy recognizes).

We arrived in Redding Monday morning, the accident had happened around 2 or 3 am, sunday. My son’s wife, and the youngest of the kids were hurt, but not needing admission to the hospital were discharged. The other two, my son and his daughter were severely injured. Broken and more, and in the I.C.U. ward.

We spent a week in Redding, and there will be tales in the telling on that. Sunday came, and our son was patched up enough to be sent home to heal. Our grand-daughter wouldn’t be released yet, and we wouldn’t be able to stay with her as ” politics”, seem to get in the way of that. ( Here’s where another adventure happens) I can’t stop it here, so I’ll answer the Question….there are too many ways of responding to why am I here.

WE, my wife and I are here in the Reno area helping family. That is one reason. I can’t even number the true answer to that. I guess you will find out more later….in the continuing saga of my journey.

350,000 Ideas And Counting

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That is the approximate number of blog posts I think I might have access to. That is if I use the 35 article ideas I thought up, and write the spin-off posts that fall under sub-topics, and continue with the next generation of posts.

That next Generation would be varying perspectives, and takes of those posts. The differing perspectives might be, attitudes, politics, religious ramifications, psychological approaches, social pressures, family, friends, peer groups, national origins, and my own perspectives, like time travel.

That last is how I felt when, and how I feel now. My friend abyssbrain at https://mathemagicalsite.wordpress.com/
could probably work out just how many posts I could write, with 35 Ideas, and 10 takes on them, and 10 differing perspectives, and the ramifications, some of which I mentioned.

Anyway, it gets big fairly fast, and most of those posts won’t need me to hunt for material, except maybe pictures, music, history, and a handful of other fine points.

So with that being said ( or written ) I have a lot to tell you. Now I just hope I can keep you here to read ALL of them. I’m sure Abyssbrain could give me odds on that happening too.

So prepare yourselves for the next great journey through blogdom, and bring food and other supplies, as this might be a long ride ( or read ).

Sorry about the name-dropping, but I think that was one of the post ideas I had. That means if I don’t get sued for this post, I might mention you as well.

Thanks for putting up with my drivel, and y’all have a nice day.

Destroy Productivity!

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http://blog.ezinearticles.com/2013/10/10-distractions-that-destroy-productivity-the-wrong-advice.html

10 Distractions that Destroy Productivity: The WRONG Advice
This came into my mailbox and I thought I could share it with you all. Please note, this was written with a sensk of humor, so by all means follow this advice unfailingly. Once you have these distractions going on, feel free to invite the neighbors cats and dogs in to proof read your work. Remember Authoring is more than just putting words together, it is capturing others imagination, and interest.

 

photo -writing / multi-tasking

writing / multi-tasking

 

Turn On All Electronic Devices

Email/Internet: Maintain a non-stop connection to the Internet while you’re writing for news updates and constant idea generation. Also, avoid scheduling specific times to check your email – it’s far too important to respond to each message straight away. Be the ultimate multitasker, don’t neglect email or the Internet!

Phone Calls/Text Messages: Never risk letting a caller go straight to voicemail. Even if you’re on a great track in your writing, you should make time to chit-chat with friends and brush up on your texting skills while you’re brainstorming. It won’t bust your productivity too much and it’s better to respond to others quickly to keep them engaged in conversation. Keep your phone on at all times.

Television: With so many great shows on TV and streaming media channels, how can you possibly keep up with it all? Tune to your favorite programs and have them play in the background while you’re writing! It will ultimately save time because you’re multi-tasking! Challenge yourself to concentrate on your writing and what’s going on in the show you’re watching. Take a seat on the couch, write, and take in all the drama of the entertainment world at once!

Video Games: Playing video games or apps on your smart phone can be soothing. Take a break from writing by grabbing a controller and get lost in fantasy or the latest app saga with a truly hands-on experience. Your writing can wait. You can get back to work once you complete the next level or the one after that.
Be at the Beck and Call of Relationships

Friends: Your friends need your full attention. Try to make plans with them while you’re thinking about your next set of articles. Do they want to drop by during your scheduled writing session? No problem! It’s good to interact with others when you’re trying to focus. Casually talk about current events and controversial topics to get your mind racing and to make the room more tense.

Neighbors/Surprise Visits: We’ve divorced ourselves so much from face-to-face communication these days due to technology. Encourage your neighbors to visit as they please! You never know when you’re going to have company over, so have the kettle and a few homemade goodies ready. Don’t ignore knocks at the door because you’re busy – you can pick up where you left off with your writing.

Pets: To most pet owners, these loyal and adorable animals are like family. Include your pets in your writing sessions. Isn’t it adorable the way your cat sits on your keyboard? How hilarious is your dog’s latest tail-chasing antics? Never let your pet think your office is off-limits; after all, they want to be near you and get updates on dinner. Take frequent breaks to give them attention.
Let It All Go

Physical Condition: Turn discomfort into opportunity! Being too comfortable while you’re working will put you to sleep. You need to feel agitated, hungry, tired, and shift constantly in your seat if you want to be alert. Let the motivation to relieve the discomfort – eat, sleep, or straighten out your back – drive you to finish your work faster.

Environment: If you’re the type to be distracted by a little dust or coffee stain, by all means – take the time to thoroughly clean your workspace. You need the absolute cleanest environment for any type of writing. When you see an opportunity to organize, dust or vacuum, be sure to take it! Alternately, if your workspace is so messy that you can’t find your outlines or notes, let it go and don’t worry about organizing the space! You can let your memory do it’s work or perform the research over again.

Procrastination: It’s necessary to put things off from time to time. You need to mull over an idea because the longer you put off writing, the more powerful your ideas will become as they mature in your mind. Throw out your calendar and avoid a schedule. Take your time and wait until tomorrow, or the next day. You’ll get around to it!
DISCLAIMER: Do not follow the advice given above – in fact, do the exact opposite! Think about the distractions you specifically struggle with. If you recognize and understand how harmful these can be to your productivity, you will have a chance at success. Remember, you can do things as you’ve always done them and get the same results. Or break the pattern, step it up, and focus on your writing by eliminating distractions. The path you take is up to you! Are you guilty of any of the above self-induced distractions? Do you have solutions to drive away distractions? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

Posted by Vanessa, Editorial Manager on October 21, 2013 at 9:00 am | 22,872 views. And of course this was reposted by Squatch for your convenience, so go ahead and get back to work, and stop lollygagging around here. thanks for checking this out, and have a nice day, too, also, as well….

Spare Change Anyone?

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I am frustrated! I have a subscription at WP Beginners, a word press site that explains how to do almost all of the things I don’t seem to know. The lessons are straight forward, and written in plain English, which happens to be the language I mostly understand.

My frustration comes in the form of not being able to institute any of those lessons, as I have a free site and most of the fixes actually require me to pay for a proper website. Nearly all of the lessons suggest I add various plugins, to enhance the blog.

photo WP Beginners emails

WP Beginners emails

The problem with that is I can’t afford it. I am partially disabled, on SSI and have a fixed income. Great choice of words, fixed income, because the truth is my income is broke! At least I am. I will get into that in another article.

I can’t beg for money, I’m just not that kind of boy. I also can’t put a cup or jar by the door for you to put spare change into, as I need a plugin for that too. I sweep this site out every day, looking for the change you lose when you pull your smartphone out of your pocket, but alas 3 pennies and a dime does not a fortune make.

Sorry about crying in my beer ( actually I don’t drink beer ) and getting you all wet with my tears. Wah wah… Hey I did that just fine. I welcome comments, answers, paychecks, and coffee w/ cream and sugar. Please feel free to leave all of your jewelery on the table by the door when you exit. And Thank you in advance…..

Another Question

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What are we blogging for? What is it we think the world has to hear? Do we really think anyone’s watching or listening? Are we really impacting anyone’s lives? If I quit tomorrow, would anyone even notice?

I would notice if you quit coming here. Really. I go out there to Blog-City and traipse around, peaking in the web windows to see if you are still around. If you are I go across the way and catch the web surfer to another part of town and see if you left a note where I have my latte’s.

I thought by us checking each others places out, we would learn to go outside of our comfort zones, and experience new frontiers. I do that for my readership. I go to their place and have tea, because they don’t drink coffee, or say they just are out right at the moment.

I listen to the hideous noise they call music, sipping tea, reading poetry, and comment politely on the weather. I read with them the topics they are passionate about, even though I don’t normally do those types of things. I listen to them scream about injustice, and hear them cry their pain.

They shout their joy and make the trees quiver. They pound their fists on the table and tell me what is what. They make me want to do something, and for the life of me, I just don’t know what to do. Or what I can do.

They tell me they’re happy, and actually have a plan. Yet I see the tears in their eyes, and I just don’t understand. They all have such great ideas, with a platform to share, and sometimes it seems like they really want to care. If only they all weren’t so damn scared.

All this anonymity and we’re afraid someone will know what we are doing. Find out we are being rebellious or waxing poetic or just writing crap. I can see the comic for me. “Jimmy comes out of the closet” and it’s a computer he’s carrying! Ops…sorry, I mean a smart phone.

So I’ve shown my age almost. When I was a kid: The guy doing the family portrait used cold chisels and worked with stone. It took ten years to get the thing finished and then you couldn’t hang it anywhere in the cave, because it was too dang heavy, and I never got around to inventing something to hold it up on the wall.

We the people of this blogosphere do need to help those that cry, encourage those that really try, embrace those that truly fly and mourn for those that wish to die. And now the question you all ask of me, just which one of these am I?

10 Ways Dogs Make You a Better Person

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http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/inspired/1013337-dogs-make-you-a-better-person-science-proves-it/?utm_source=EpochInspired&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1

10 Ways Dogs Make You a Better Person. Science Proved It.

October 13, 2014
by | Epoch Times

Dog owners know it. And now its backed by science. A group of German, Swedish, and Austrian researchers analyzed nearly 70 studies on dogs and came to some pretty amazing conclusions. Bottom line: dogs make life better.

 

1. People perceive dog owners as more trustworthy and friendly.

Takashi Hososhima/flickr

 

 

2. Women are more likely to give their phone number to a stranger with a dog.

 

 

3. People are more likely to give money to a homeless person with a dog.

 

 

4. People with a dog can expect more smiles from strangers.

3370782464_ff27848722_b

 

5. Petting a dog improves your mood, reduces stress, and makes you less likely to be depressed. It also reduces blood pressure more effectively than other activities such as chatting or reading.

 Sorry, I have a free site, and don’t have the tools to do anything about this. Just click the link.

https://vine.co/v/hXlnHAPzVHQ/embed/simple

 

6. Dog owners are healthier, visit doctors less, have a better immune system, take less medication, exercise more, and sleep better.

 

 

7. Children become more emphatic and less aggressive with a dog around.

 Once again, please hit the link. When I’m rich I will have all of the tools I need. Thank you for your patience.

https://vine.co/v/M3vqUIeUJgP/embed/simple

 

 

8. Dogs also improve the quality of their school work.

 

9. The presence of a dog is more effective in reducing stress than the presence of one’s spouse.

 

 

10. When hospitalized with heart failure, the presence of a dog for even 12 minutes can help speed up recovery.

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