May 2025 – Page 7 – Site Title

This and That

Sundays are for relaxing but in this household it means no sleeping in and it’s like any other day. Chachi, the cat, aka Little Einstein had other plans in mind and it doesn’t matter if human concedes to it or not!

Saturday had been busy because a friend came over and helped mow the grass and did the weeding as well. I promised a home-cooked lunch which consisted of Shepherd’s pie and a green salad as a “thank you” for all the hard work. I don’t cook much these days but I must say it was finger licking good! He liked it so much that I packaged up the leftovers and he took it home with him. Later, I got a message and it said, “It was damn good!” However, Chachi was not happy about the friend. Did I tell you he has a jealous streak woven into that fur coat? He does. The friend left after cake and coffee and a huge thunderstorm rolled in just in time to give the plants a well-needed deluge of water.

The little macho did not like it one little bit. First, the guy and now this! He hates thunderstorms with a passion. The Lion King he is not, more like a mouse for all his macho ways. The first clap of thunder and he took off running. I found him hiding behind the washing machine! Coaxing him out took some effort but he finally emerged looking scared and the “guy” was all forgotten for the time being. Do cats have a memory like an elephant? I suppose I will find out.

So, it’s Sunday morning and I decided to make it up to the little brat. I had a mommy and Chachi day planned. We got up bright and early and the little guy kept close to me. Everywhere I turned, there he was eyes trained on me and when he caught me looking he trilled like a bird and rolled on the ground legs up in the air waiting to be kissed and stroked. I really think the little fur ball had a different profession in his last life! Anyway, I spent the whole morning pampering the Little Prince and he was mighty happy.

After lunch, I decided to do yoga. I was going to do a longer version of about 70 minutes AND I was looking forward to some me time but fur ball had other plans. Mommy and Chachi time in his world meant stuck together like glue time! The minute I got my mat out, he came running. His look said, “WHAT YOU DOING?!!” I ignored him and got down on the floor and there he was butt in my face and refusing to move! Remember, it’s be nice to Chachi day so I moved him gently aside but Little Yogi wasn’t having any of it. He kept blocking my every move and if yoga was meant to be relaxing, this did not make it so!

I gave up after 1/2 an hour and he walked up, gave me a kiss and ran off chasing the fly that had somehow found its way in. I knew and he knew that the poor fly stood no chance against the seasoned fly catcher!

Now, he is sleeping. What happened to the fly? Lord, only knows!

Sundays are for relaxing but in this household it’s like any other day!

Have an amazing day.

LOL!

A young couple got married and left on their honeymoon. When they got back, the bride immediately called her mother. Her mother asked, “How was the honeymoon?”

“Oh, mama,” she replied, “the honeymoon was wonderful! So romantic….” Suddenly she burst out crying. “But, mama, as soon as we returned Sam started using the most horrible language….things I’d never heard before! I mean, all these awful 4-letter words! You’ve got to come get me and take me home…Please mama!”

“Sarah, Sarah,” her mother said, “calm down! Tell me what could be so awful? What 4-letter words?

“Please don’t make me tell you, mama,” wept the daughter. “I’m so embarrassed they’re just too awful! Come get me, please!”

“Darling baby, you must tell me what has you so upset…Tell your mother these 4-letter words! Still sobbing, the bride said, “Oh mama….words like DUST, WASH, IRON, COOK…!”

Yup, that’ll do it!

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“Oh God,” sighed the wife one morning, “I’m convinced my mind is almost completely gone!”

Her husband looked up from the newspaper and commented, “I’m not surprised: “You’ve been giving me a piece of it every day for twenty years!”

Hmm……..

Have an amazing day.

People I Look to for Advice

There are the greats like Martin Luther King. He taught us “to love others and not hate because love always wins in the end.”

Buddha emphasized the Middle Way. The message was to avoid indulgence extreme asceticism and he advocated for moral conduct, wisdom, and skillful actions. There is a lot one can learn from the Buddha’s way of life.

Lastly but not least, Confucius. He advocated for peace and respect for others. He came up with the Golden Rule: “What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.” He believed that all people deserved respect.

I love what these “greats” had to say and how their messages of love, tolerance and the moral way still resonates with us and within me.

Daily writing prompt

List the people you admire and look to for advice…

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LOL!

Top Ten Reasons Eve Was Created:

God was worried that Adam would frequently become lost in the garden because he would not ask for directions.

God knew that one day Adam would require someone to locate and hand him the remote.

God knew Adam would never go out and buy himself a new fig leaf when his wore out and would therefore need Eve to buy one for him.

God knew Adam would never be able to make a doctor’s, dentist, or haircut appointment for himself.

God knew Adam would never remember which night to put the garbage out on the curb.

God knew if the world was to be populated, men would never be able to handle the pain and discomfort of childbearing.

As the Keeper of the Garden, Adam would never remember where he left his tools.

Apparently, Adam needed someone to blame his troubles on when God caught him hiding in the garden. As the Bible says, It is not good for man to be alone! And the #1 reason why God created Eve…..When God finished the creation of Adam. He stepped back, scratched his head and said, “I can do better than that!”

AND HE DID!

Importance of Voting

If you want to change things for the better, vote! In short, your vote is your voice so let it be heard loud and clear. It is the only way to make a difference. By voting, you have a say in how certain issues are decided. Some important issues are gun safety and gun rights, crime prevention and law enforcement and Medicare and Social Security benefits just to name a few. Your vote counts in how these issues are decided.

So, yes voting is important. It may seem like a small thing but your voice matters so show up and let it be heard. Know that you have a say in the matter.

Alice Weidel (Archives)

Update:

Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has been designated as a right-wing extremist entity and Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said the decision was “clearly politically motivated” and a “severe blow to German democracy.” The AfD attracted the support of two leading figures in the Trump administration. Elon Musk called on Germans to vote for the AfD and repeatedly posted his support for Weidel’s party and JD Vance said there was no place for “firewalls,” saying that free speech was in retreat in Europe. I guess there is a difference between free speech and hate speech. What’s in the future? It’s a wait and see approach.

The woman is openly gay, she lives in Switzerland, has two sons AND has a Sri Lankan partner. She is also now officially the AfD’s chancellor candidate as of this weekend.

Der Spiegel magazine had this to say: “If someone accuses the AfD of being misogynistic, homophobic or racist, they can say they have Weidel….”

According to Weidel, the first 100 days of an AfD government would see the total closing of Germany’s borders and turning back anyone with no documents as well as large scale repatriations. “I say to you quite honestly, if this must be called remigration, then let it be called remigration.” Those were her words but do you see some resemblance to you know who and his words? She also happened to describe Hitler as a “communist” and a “socialist” but conveniently left out “Nazi” in her chat with Musk.

Musk who? You know him. The Tesla guy with one foot in space and the other meddling in politics. You know what they say about Jack of all trades, master of none. Well, in his case, it’s working just fine for him. However, the billionaire is showing his true colors. He loves the AfD which stands for Alternative for Germany. It is a far-right and right wing populist political party in Germany. It opposes immigration especially that of Muslim immigration and it has been classified as a “suspected extremist” party. However, Musk in his wisdom claims that “only the AfD can save Germany.” He has become very vocal about his support of far-right, anti-establishment parties across Europe and more recently has been accused of meddling in Germany’s election process.

Have money, will meddle? Apparently so. The scary part is that Musk’s endorsement of AfD seems to have emboldened its presence and boosted its acceptance among the German electorate. He has gone on to say, “Chancellor Oaf Schitz or whatever his name is will lose.” Olaf Scholz responded with, “There are a lot of people on social media who want to attract attention with snappy slogans. The rule is: don’t feed the troll.” However, I like this one better. Elmar Brok, a former German MEP, called Musk’s comment, “the world domination fantasies of the American tech kings.”

Coming back to Weidel, AfD owes its prime-time position in German politics to her. It’s neo-Nazi image has been airbrushed and being promoted as a polite, and decorous populism thanks to the pearl necklace touting and pantsuit wearing Weidel. Under her guidance AfD’s vote share has risen to 22 percent, its highest ever at the national level.

However, it has been said that AfD has little chance of advancing or being part of Germany’s next government since working with the far-right is considered a major taboo because of its Nazi history. Needless to say the party is gaining momentum and it is making some people sit up and take notice.

Weidel once said, “As a woman, I also want to be able to take the last train home at night without fear,” referring to foreigners as her bone of contention. The well-traveled and educated Weidel’s entire career and lifestyle is in direct contradiction to her right-wing populist party’s doctrines which has led many to question her motives and what she is really about. Her former colleagues at Goldman Sachs have been posting videos and asking, “Here is Alice. What happened to her?” Is it the business woman or the right-wing populist?”

I’ll add, “Will the real Alice Weidel please stand up,” and “Mr. Musk, please sit down and be QUIET!”

My Direction in Life

Direction is needed to show where you are headed. If you have a purpose it is easier to navigate life’s twists and turns because you have a goal and that further motivates your journey, whatever that is for you.

In my case, I am on a journey to find love. Therefore, I am working on what it takes to get me there. I have this narrow-minded focus which helps to align and move me forward towards that specific goal. This also helps to provide a roadmap for my journey although it is not always clear and often it means falling off by the wayside many times over but I get back on and that is important because standing still is not going to do it. Keep moving, keep learning and keep on heading towards the direction you want to go. If you want a certain outcome, you have to do the work. This purpose also helps me to stop drifting aimlessly because I have a goal in mind. Look at where you are now and where you want to go. This helps to give a purpose or direction to work towards to. Success is all up to you and I know that embracing the unknown is scary but it is needed in this case.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy (or gal) who’ll decide where to go.” Dr. Seuss

Good luck on your journey.

Daily writing prompt

What gives you direction in life?

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MISTAKES (Archives)

“You can pickup a mistake and carry it as a burden, or you can set it down and use it as a stepping stone to greatness.” Unknown

It has been said that a mistake is usually “an action, decision, or judgement that produces an unwanted or unintentional results.” Quite often than not, the unintentional results can be painful, it makes us doubt ourselves and our judgement of others. It also means that the outcome did not meet our expectations. Therefore, it was time wasted or more appropriately it was an investment that did not put forth what it was meant to do.

There are different kinds of mistakes. It can be related to cheating on a partner, allowing people to push you around, dating or marrying the wrong person, refusing to listen to good advice or quite simply a frivolous disregard to what is staring you in the face. It’s there as plain as day, it is clear that it’s a mistake to carry on and yet because of the time and energy spent in chasing that dream, whatever it maybe for you, we refuse to call it quits and move on. We refuse to accept it as a lesson learned or as a stepping stone to something better.

“A mistake that keeps being repeated is not a mistake, it’s a choice.” Unknown

Just like it is in Groundhog’s Day, we see a “series of unwelcome or tedious events appear to be recurring in exactly the same way,” and this is not only boring and irritating but it’s time to get off that emotional roller coaster and head for greener pastures. The choices we make are hard at times. I know that quite often I am stuck on redial. I know that I should hang up and start anew but the human side or rather the foolish side wants to hang on for just a while longer knowing full well that I should count it as a lost cause, sunk cost as they say in business, take the lesson learned with me and make the decision to not do it ever again. Sunk costs basically means “that costs have been incurred by past actions and they cannot be recovered and they are not relevant to our future decisions,” and yet we choose to repeat it over and over again. I am human, I say, but that is putting it mildly!

Perhaps, it would be easier if we can forget the mistakes but remember the lessons we’ve learned from our walks into the big wide world of MISTAKES LAND and believe me it is a jungle out there. We’ve all made them, we’ll continue to make them and more likely than not we’ll rush in with our eyes wide open BUT it is the picking up, dusting off and the moving on bit that matters here. Here’s to mistakes both big and small. Bring them on!

“When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: admit it, learn from it, and don’t repeat it.” Paul Bear Bryant

From your lips to God’s ears!

Have an amazing day.

A Quote I Live By?

Most of you know I love quotes. I find them inspiring and it is a quick pick-me-up when days are not looking like I want it to look like. Just a quote or two and it does the trick of getting me back to where I need to be. Just words you might say. True, but inspiring ones nonetheless.

One quote I live by and have lived by for a long time is this. “Live and Let Live.” Such simple words but it is needed in this world of ours where ugliness and cruelty rules and being different is considered a cardinal sin. This indirect quote “emphasizes coexistence and respect for all life forms.” If you look further, it means let someone live their life as he or she chooses and accept it for what it is. This acceptance bit is hard to come by in some circles.

Racism thrives on viewing individuals as being different because of skin color religious beliefs and or behavioral traits. Anything different in this circle is a no go or looked upon with disdain. I consider racism and racist attitudes the bane of our society. Someone said to me recently, “It will never change, racism will always exist. There is nothing you and I can do about it.” I beg to differ. Our world can be so much better if we can embrace each person for who they are and not for their outward appearance, who they marry and who they choose to be with and their worship practices. It shouldn’t matter but unfortunately it does. Just look at what Trump is unleashing in America and the world. Being “brown” could bring you a death sentence in a concentration camp somewhere far away.

LIVE AND LET LIVE for a better world, for acceptance of all people and for world peace as well. Here’s the thing it starts with you. One small step at a time as I always say. Teach your children the same. It starts at home and it is doable.

Daily writing prompt

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

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