2016 Buh-Bye!

All I can do is one thing.

Say Cheers!

We got through the year 2016.  I must say 2016 really wanted to throw some last minute punches at everyone and go out scathing everyone in its midst.  So many people died.  What gives?  I felt oddly struck that Prince died.  Man didn't see that one coming and turning the year's winding road we find Carrie Fischer died along with her mom, Debbie Reynolds.  I mean, wow, that is heartbreaking 2016. 

There, of course, are others who died that are worth mentioning, but I wanted to share the only two that really got be dumbfounded- Prince and Carrie Fischer.  I was saddened that Prince, an artist I use to like more so was now gone.  Mind you, I do like some of his music, but not all of it.  He seemed like a poor soul searching for meaning to his life and relying on escapes such as through a temporary name change that he used and drugs to feel enlightened.  

Carrie Fischer, on the other hand, had to rely on drugs because she's bipolar.  A heart attack inevitably claimed her life at 60 years old.  And her mom, heartbroken, died of a stroke a couple days later. Wow.  That is devastating.  I know Mark Hamill responded to Carrie's death with that word- devastated,  But I just find the present tense more suitable for the family.  It's devastating and it's a heart-wrenching situation for them to face together during the holidays.  The memory of Carrie Fischer will be a hard one to cope with.  

I don't remember much of Carrie Fischer outside of Star Wars.  I know she acted briefly with Seth Green as his character's counselor in the movie Austin Powers.  I heard she was in When Harry Met Sally too.

As for me, the new Star Wars trilogy will not be the same, knowing that Carrie Fischer is dead.  It does put a damper on anticipating the future upcoming films.  I hope she, along with the others who have died are at peace.

Chocolate Cravings

I admit it.  I am human.  And I love chocolate- preferably dark chocolate.  I love hot coca or milk chocolate drinks.  It improves my mood and makes me happier.  Chocolate, anyone?

Mindless Boggling

I don't know where I am going with this topic, but here it is.  I am contemplating on my future. Where will I be in five years?  What is going to be real, staying constant?  Also, why am I bothered with so many memories of my former life?

To sum it up, I think I have a premature mid-life crisis.  I don't know why I recall and compare my past to the present.  Strange it is, yet so mind boggling too.  Just thought I'd clue you in on the inner workings of my mind.  I still yearn to be as motivated as I was when I was younger.

If anything has changed it is my motivation, unfortunately.  Well, these are some of my mindless thoughts.

Never Cease for Peace

With all the world going a muck, uncertainty wide spread, I find comfort in knowing that peace is sought first.  We need to seek peaceful means in relating to one another on not just the individual level, but the state and national level.  Peace is what brings security and contentment in relationships.

The relationship that we have with each other impacts us at all levels of existence.  It is necessary or crucial to maintain peace to ensure the safety of everyone involved even in different countries.  We can only hope that America continues to be a champion of peace internationally and not apologize for its attempt to provide it.

While I won't bash every elected democrat politician here, it's not hard to see the current state of things under the Obama administration.  Why do we apologize for our great deeds?  This is a question that has left me stumped.  I don't know the reasoning behind it, but I thought I would disclose my thoughts about it with you.

We must never cease for peace through the spread of democracy and freedom.

Hue-Man Lives Matter

All lives matter, I say.  Repeat, ALL LIVES MATTER.  Why do we put colored walls up around us? What is wrong with this?  I will tell you.  Walls divide us and blind us with colored concepts.

The only way to break these colored concepts or stereotypes is by interacting with one another.  We are all hue-man.  I spell human that way as h-u-e-m-a-n to emphasize that despite our colored skin we are united in humanity.  Let us extend a hand to one another and approach the other race with a welcoming face.

I Crave the Wave

Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin

I'm going to be blunt with you.  All sex outside of a marriage is a sin according to the Christian Church.  This includes both homosexual and heterosexual activity.  I know I am delving into a sensitive and controversial topic, but I don't care.  Yes, I am going there.

Discriminating is hurtful.  I say if individuals want to discriminate against gay activity then they too should single out premarital sex offenders which would be a lot of us.  Generally so to speak, we are all sinners whether homosexual or heterosexual.  It's important to love the sinner, and hate the sin.  

Homosexuals deserve respect and human treatment.  The only place that should be allowed to turn them away is at the Church for gay marriage services.

The church is protected by the First Amendment which guarantees freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and petition.  It states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.  The church has the right to exercise its beliefs that homosexuality is not recognized as a matrimonial union in the eyes of God.  It is a sin to God.  Below is Matthew 1:26-27.

  

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.  Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 

The individuals who committed homosexuality were punished and it was viewed as a sinful error during Biblical times.  It is still viewed that way in many churches. 

Churches should not have to violate their own Biblical beliefs to marry gay individuals. There are other churches that will marry them.  Homosexuals can marry in those churches and not push the churches who have a doctrine that strictly tells them not to do so.  Turning away gay couples should be done in a respectful manner.  Again, the Bible calls us to love one another or love the sinner, hate the sin.

Equality, equality, equality...Are we really that equal?  More specifically, is it okay to not be equal?

I find that it is the fact of life that we are not all equal and accept this as our human nature.  We are not equal in stature, physical appearance, intelligence, athleticism, etc.  I think you get the point.  But what we are all equal in is opportunity here in the U.S.

Everyone has the opportunity to make something of themselves.  This can be done through hard work or the willingness to just contribute to society.  Equal opportunity exists for individuals to contribute. All can contribute to  change communities for the better.   While we may be different and not equal in appearance, skills, and intelligence, we have the equal chance in making a contribution to our shared worlds.

This is the first time I've come across a robin in like five years.  I miss those birds that lay blue eggs.  They were amusing to watch back in the Midwest.  And this picture reminds me of the house I grew up in, which was a gray painted gabled house.  Nothing too fancy with a front porch that consisted of gray wood where I would find often a robin perched on it.

Aging Thoughts

Today, is a day filled with friendship birthdays.  I'm not sure of their ages, but what I am sure of is my own age.  I'm getting up there, and I won't look good for long.  I already have to dye my hair.  And yes, I'm complaining here.  I do notice my older self and the subtle changes in my physique.  I have a slightly rounder rear end. Even though I am conscious of these, I am a believer that my attitude and perspective, yet above all love defines who I am.  It makes or breaks me.  Not my few gray hairs.  I feel that I need to rely on the tangible and non-tangible traits to affirm who I am and my utter value as a person or child of God.

It's time to have goals and aspirations in making not just myself a better person, but others too.  It is time to seek the good in life and in others.  It is time to stand for something and create a spark of interest in saving our lives from the dark side of things.  It is now or never to stand and be timeless in this world.

Ready...to...Soar.  I am at the edge, ready to take flight.  Move beyond second-guessing towards reaching for the possibilities.  Ready...to...Soar.  And be filled with light.  The light of synergy and be filled with true hope.  Ready...to...Soar.  To push through the mist, and conquer today's list.

Shoot Forth and Bloom

An unborn child- does it feel pain at 20 weeks old?  Enough to suffer agony when aborted?  That is the argument brought up in Utah.  Does a fetus have a well developed enough nervous system to feel pain and warrant certain measures to take place during the course of an abortion?

Utah has passed a law stating that fetuses are to have anesthesia administered to them for an abortion that takes place at 20 weeks old or older.  This became law just yesterday.

Doctors are arguing that this humanizing the fetus and the law should be tossed aside. They are required in Utah, to inform the pregnant woman that her baby could possibly feel pain and they need to administer a painkiller so it does not suffer from the abortion procedure.  What do you think?

I believe that humans have a right to a painless surgical procedure.  A fetus is a human in my view.  I also believe that there are other options to having an abortion.  Every life counts and adoption is a wonderful alternative to committing abortion.

A fluffy heart is the best kind.  It stays uplifted in the air.  The marshmallow heart is a puff of love sent from above.  A gift from God showing that He loves us and has heart felt longings for us to turn to Him.

It's Taco Tuesday, folks!  And I'm here to elaborate on Taco Tuesday.  Taco Tuesday is similar in respects to Blue Monday, Hump Day Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, Throwback Thursday, TGIF Friday, etc. in that it has its own theme.

And as humans, we love themes, don't we?  I mean we pick a theme for each day as if it were a holiday.  National Pet Day, which is when?  I don't know.  I also don't know when National Shorty Day is- oh wait, that is August 1st supposedly.  Didn't know that and will have to celebrate my shortness with pride.  Give me a break.

Geesh, well to show you the extreme just look at the pic of Taco Cat.  It is funny, but will it become a national day too?

Cinco De Mayo

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the great war of Mexico against the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.  While this may be the case, I enjoy Cinco de Mayo solely because I can eat out at Mexican restaurants cheaply.  Hey, I am being honest here.  Also, it is pretty cool watching Mexicans celebrate the holiday by dancing and carousing around.  Viva Mexico!

Mental Floss

Mental floss takes work and requires more attentiveness than dental flossing my teeth.  I need to mentally floss out the junk that plagues my brain.  To loosen up the grime that halts my positive thinking in life.  I use mental floss to clean my brain's crevices and roots.  My roots are thoughts that perpetuate into conceptual memories that trigger my reactions.  Mental floss is something I routinely do on a daily basis.  I polish my brain until I feel like it is ready enough to help me shine brilliantly.

                             

Go onward in life with a punch.  Ready to break down walls and barriers between people.  Be that mighty superhero to someone in life.  That urge is real and what drives me to propel through life.  I want to get back to my roots.  Volunteer and be out there doing something.  Essentially being a doer. It's a calling to fight the good fight and better this world.  I am striving to be a helper and not a yelper who complains about things. Will you join me?

April Showers Bring Purple Flowers

I can't begin to disclose what I am feeling.  Another month is almost through and who knew all that would occur?  I feel like a flower that has been closed up during the winter months and with some life giving water, been revived and am blossoming now.

I'm ready to flourish- aren't you?

I want to be like a tree...








A tree is so much to me.  It offers shelter during a storm and shade from the harsh sun in the dead heat of August summer.  Trees are a provider of abundant air that we breathe and need.  I want to be needed in such a fashion.  To be vital to someone.

Trees are sturdy and stand their ground.  Something I seek to be able to do in trying situations.  Despite wind, trees stay grounded.

Some trees provide fruit and nourishment.  I want to nourish others and sustain them just as tree fruit gives sustenance to those who eat it.  Trees are a joy as well.

Trees provide leaves that bring laughter and joy during the autumn when they are raked in piles for kids to jump in with others.  I want to offer something of joy to others in my life.  To share a part of me.

Trees endure the changing seasons.  Their branches stay lifted up even in the cold winters.  I would like to uplift others during the sunless days of bleak winters.  I want to give just as trees give and comfort others.

Rain wears me down just like a tennis ball that is soaking wet that doesn't bounce as high.  I do not bounce up cheerfully when it downpours.  My fun is over and I seek shelter.  Shelter in the truth of God and His Word.  I am not over the top religious, but I enjoy honoring God in my life.  I don't and make an effort to not judge others in the hopes that I am not judged.  On the court, I am judged by my play and perseverance.

The tennis ball may bounce lower in my court, but I propel that ball over the net and offer it to my friend on the other side of the court.  I don't give up and rally along even if it is raining in my life.  

Manic Monday

Prince performing at Gallaudet University on November 29, 1984 (Photo: Courtesy of the Gallaudet University Archives)

While I am not a huge Bangles fan, I did take time to listen to "Manic Monday."  The first Monday that the musician Prince has been gone from us.  He wrote the song "Manic Monday."  I do like some of his songs that I listened to during my younger years.  I've changed over the years, but his songs bring up memories.