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Dogs or Cats?

Cats hands down. However, not just any cat but the two that I’ve come to know. The first one was a rescue. I rescued him when he was just a few weeks old. He was cute as a button, orange fur with big dark eyes. His mom was nowhere to be seen and the poor guy was left to fend for himself. I recall it was cold outside and I took to feeding him whenever I got back home.

I named him Tweety because he chirped like a bird. When a friend caught him and brought him in, I was hooked. I became his mommy and we took to each other very quickly. He even took to sleeping on the other side of the bed and whenever I looked over at night, there he was with his head on the pillow and the blanket pulled halfway up his body. There was something about him that pulled me towards him. He was gentle and a beautiful addition to my life. I remember coming home from the university and when I opened the door, he would be right behind it doing the happy dance! We had many years together and when I moved to Europe, I brought him with me! However, he died a few years later and I was devastated. It was like losing a child. I still call him my first baby.

Chachi, the cat, walked in a few years later. I didn’t want another pet because goodbyes were too hard to bear but the friend decided he knew better and walked in with the fluff ball one day and even though I looked at him suspiciously, the little brat walked in, put one paw on my leg to get a closer look and decided he was home! We are everything to each other even though he thinks he runs the roost! This morning, I was working on the computer when Little Macho walked in with a meow and jumped on the back of the chair and curled up against my back. I was a goner! Things like that make my heart go thump and he does that a lot. Make my heart go thump I mean.

I’ve been lucky to experience two beautiful cats. Both gentle in nature, loving and hardly a bother at all. I know that not all cats are that way. A British friend told me that his sister’s cat bites all the time so I’m thankful that I haven’t had that experience. I still think of Tweety but he has moved on to a better place. I’d like to think that he is with the friend who passed away. Chachi, the cat, is my baby, best buddy and a pain in the you know what but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cats, definitely!

Daily writing prompt

Dogs or cats?

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A Rainy Day

“Sometimes you just need to feel the rain. Let it beat upon your face, cleanse your soul and free your spirit!” Unknown

I want to dance in it like I used to as a young girl lost in a carefree world but since I’m a grown-up or rather older and wiser, I’m watching it from my kitchen window coffee mug in hand mesmerized by the steady drumming on the rooftops. It’s a soft drizzle enough to wet the ground and to give the plant life the much needed relief it needs from days of heat and no rain.

Two blackbirds are dancing out there as they move from tree to tree and they seem to be having fun. I’d love to be out there with them twirling on my toes, arms held out like some ethereal being as I let the softness of rain wash away the hardness of living. Nature has a way of taking away the rough edges that life puts around us, it has a way of mellowing and blurring, just like the day is doing out there today.

There is none of the harshness of a hot sun, the parched ground is being fed again and the soft steady drizzle of rain is doing a mighty fine job of soothing my inner being. I love rain, always have, not the ones filled with thunder and slashes of lightning but this soft variety that seems to be murmuring to my soul, washing away the cobwebs that have been gathering there the last few days and erasing and cleansing my spirit as I twirl and dance in my mind’s eye, a young girl once again lost in the magic of nature’s way.

“Rain is nature’s way of adding a little soul to life.” Unknown

Have an amazing and magical day.

Losing Track of Time

Walking

It gets me out in the open and nature is something I like to get lost in. I have a slight case of claustrophobia and when I am outdoors I feel free and one with nature. Just letting my mind wander aimlessly is a great way to lose track of time

Writing

This is a daily must. It gets my creative juices flowing and sometimes it helps to bring focus to things I am dealing with. It is a way to let go of frustrations, anger, sadness and sometimes just to get some relief from the here and now. It is also a great way to gather my thoughts, put them in perspective and to get moving in the right direction and some days I do lose track of time and wonder where the time went.

Meditation

This is my go to method to get rid of stress and whatever else bothers me. I go into a quiet space and nothing seems to matter anymore. I get quiet for 20 minutes or sometimes longer and escape into a void of nothingness. Thoughts do creep in but not for long. My focus is getting better and the thoughts come and go but I stay where I’m at. I would like to do an hour or so of meditation but my mind screams, ENOUGH ALREADY! One day, I will get there.

Daydreaming

A perfect way to lose track of time and a delicious way I might add. There is nothing pressing, nothing to take care of and nothing to worry about. I go with whatever captures my imagination and let it ride for a while. Sometimes it may be birds in flight, or a plane flying way up high or just the pigeons cooing on the rooftops and sometimes the flight of a butterfly moving from flower to flower. Just senseless observations but it creates a space where my soul flies and losing track of time in such a state of mind is a wonderful place to be in, for a time anyway.

These are some of my favorite activities but there are others I use to a lesser degree. All in all, I’ve come up with some wonderful ways of losing track of time and I’m always looking for new ways!

Daily writing prompt

Which activities make you lose track of time?

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Trump’s Plus or Minus Problems (Archives)

Update: Nothing much has changed here except he made it to the White House and chaos reigns supreme! What about stupidity? It is front and center and we hear more of the same each and every day. I reiterate, a GENIUS he is not and he now has his finger on the nuclear button and that is more than scary!

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Trump is no Einstein and neither is he as smart as he claims to be. Here are some of his most ignorant statements which proves that a genius he is NOT! He can’t even complete a full and coherent sentence let alone get his facts straight.

“If Trump goes to prison, it will be his first complete sentence.” Unknown

Let’s look at some of his quotes which shines the “stupid” spotlight on him.

“You know what uranium is, right? It’s this thing called nuclear weapons, and other things, like lots of things are done with uranium, including bad things.”

This is supposed to have come from a coherent mind, let alone an intelligent one?

“….I think, I think it would be, I think it would be very very, I thing we’d have a very very solid, we would continue what we’re doing, and we have other things on our plate.”

Huh?!! This was his answer when asked about his plan for the next 4 years. August 27, 2020

“We had 15 coronavirus cases. Within a couple of days, it’s going to be down to close to zero. One day, it’s like a miracle. It will disappear.”

Oops! It didn’t.

“When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total. And that’s the way it’s got to be.”

He played that card to the hilt, didn’t he?

“I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning? As you can see, it gets in the lungs, it does a tremendous number on the lungs so it would be interesting to check that.”

NO WORDS! This was his idea of finding a cure for COVID.

“North Korean leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times. Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger and more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”

His idea of foreign policy at its best. Who has got a bigger you know what!

Unfortunately, we can’t put it down to alcohol because he claims he doesn’t drink. The man must be drinking something to turn his skin orange and for all that nonsense to come out of his mouth. Orange Jesus claims to have a large you know what. His exact words were,

“And, he referred to my hands– ‘if they’re small, something else must be small.’ I guarantee you there’s no problem. I guarantee.”

Well, along came Stormy Daniels who shot down that theory. She described his significant body part as “smaller than average” but “not freakishly small.” So there you go, he loves to boast about his wealth, his intelligence, his “I can do one better than the other man,” and toots his “body parts” but the truth is something else. It is like his bloated sense of self-importance and of all things Trump. It is HUGE but in reality, a tinier version of himself.

The problem is he is on his way again and getting closer to having his finger on that BUTTON and in the hands of an unstable genius, it is a dangerous thing indeed. Who cares about size, just saying. There are bigger things to worry about where this man is concerned. And it is this folks.

“If I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath…It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country,” if he loses the November election that is. He further added, “If this election isn’t won, I’m not sure that you’ll ever have another election in this country.”

The warning is loud and clear isn’t it?

Intuition (Archives)

The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as: “an ability to understand or know something immediately based on your feelings rather than facts.” In other words, it is often referred to as your gut feeling and it is a powerful tool and if you pay attention to it, it has the ability to stop you from getting into dire circumstances. It all boils down to, if we pay attention to it but as humans that is a hard thing to do.

It is that gnawing sensation within your gut which tells you something is off or doesn’t feel right. It is that innate sense of knowing between right and wrong and it is the truth within that speaks louder than words. Listen to it because it only has your best interest at heart.

I know I’ve turned my back on it many a times. I’ve heard it whispering, “Listen to me. Pay heed because you’re treading in dangerous waters and you will get hurt.” Yet, I chose to turn my back on it all because I thought I knew better or simply put, I wanted something I couldn’t have. When I found out my ex was cheating on me, my intuition knew way before the truth ever came out. Looking back, I heard it roaring inside me and still I had blinders on until I came face to face with it but if truth be told, I KNEW long before I found out. Knowing that didn’t make it hurt any less. It has been said:

A Women’s Intuition is Dangerous

“If she keeps questioning you about a specific topic, over and over again, she isn’t looking for an answer. Most of the time, she already knows the truth but wants to see if you’re going to be honest with her.” M. Sosa

Even now and many years later since I got rid of the cheater, I still find myself in situations which tells me that taking my “intuition” seriously doesn’t come easily. I can often hear it ROARING loudly but I tend to choose the other route, more specifically the path of my own making and lo and behold, there I am again stuck knee-deep in a mess of my own making. If only I had listened…..

So, the next time, you hear that little voice within, or that giant roar that booms loudly telling you to jump ship before it is too late, HEED IT, PAY ATTENTION TO IT and say thank you. It is only looking out for you.

“Never discredit your gut instinct. You are not paranoid. Your body can pick up on bad vibrations. If something deep inside of you says something is not right about a person or situation, trust it.” Simple Reminders

Or else you’ll keep seeing this over and over again.

“TOLD YOU SO!”

Sincerely,

Your Intuition

Have an amazing day.

What Bothers Me?

Lots of things bother me but I’m not sure if you want to hear about them. Life is a whole bunch of “bothersome” things! However, it is how you deal with them that makes a difference in the way we lead life.

Let’s see, at the top of the list are people who don’t stand by their word. This bothers me because I’m the total opposite. There is an idiom that goes something like this. “My word is my bond,” and it means that a person’s promise is their guarantee. It also means their spoken word is binding and that they are trustworthy. Unfortunately, I’ve met many who have shown that their word is like the wind, here one day and gone the next.

INTEGRITY, this is as important as your spoken word. Strong moral principles make up who you are.

“Integrity gives you real freedom because you have nothing to fear since you have nothing to hide.” Zig Ziglar

It also means that you are honest and you are uncompromising when it comes to the truth and what you stand for. Here again, there are many who are sorely lacking in this aspect and that bothers me royally.

Punctuality is something I do take seriously and expect from people. Being punctual shows that you care enough to show up on time and if you can’t or are running late, you call to let the person know. There are those who walk to a different drumbeat one of utter carelessness and disrespect. However, I must say that the girlfriend who was used to showing up late, sometimes as much as 30 minutes late, has reeled it in and has been showing up on time or even 10 minutes earlier. Did the leopard change its spots? I don’t know folks but I’m enjoying this new found adherence to what is right and this showing of consideration and respect is going down well with me. Hope it stays that way!

Men who profess love one day and run off the next day are at the top of my list too. It is to be expected if you are on the dating sites and expect to find your one and only there. The problem is, these guys go by the motto, “So many women, so little time!” Still I find it more than bothersome but I’m learning that not all who say those three little words mean them. Take it with a pinch of salt or more appropriately a whole sack! You’ve got to develop a thick skin and a, “I don’t give a flying flip attitude,” to survive online dating, just saying.

So that’s it for now. I’ve got more bothersome things but I’ll leave it as is. Enough said….and on to more positive stuff. It’s going to be a beautiful day here, much cooler with a slight breeze, the kind of day I love.

Daily writing prompt

What bothers you and why?

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Life’s Certainties

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BIRTH

It is a biological event which remains a constant and therefore, a certainty.

DEATH

We will meet our maker at some point and this is a certainty. It is an inevitable aspect of human existance.

TAXES

Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

LIFE

It doesn’t stop for anyone. Life goes on regardless of birth, death, breakups and grief. It moves and if you want to keep up, you’ve got to move too or be left behind.

TIME

This commodity is precious. Not realizing that time is precious is one of the things humans do and we do it with relish. However, there is a limited amount of time that is allocated and putting it to good use is of the utmost importance.

LIFE IS FLEETING

This is a certainty because everything in life eventually changes and comes to an end.

PAIN

There are no ifs or buts about this one. Pain is a certainty of life. It can come both in the physical or emotional form and it is a natural part of the human experience.

CHANGES

Nothing stays the same forever no matter how much we want it to. Changes are part and parcel of life.

WE DON’T KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS

This is a part of our human experience. Life would be easier if we knew why some things happen the way they do but no chance there. Maybe at some later point in time, the answers will be revealed to us.

THE PAST HAS AN EFFECT

Last but not least, the past does leave its mark on us, good or bad, it has an effect on us and this too is a certainty. Our past experiences do shape our present thoughts, behaviors, and emotions AND our reactions to life.

Wow, that was a long list! Time for three cups of coffee. Mornings are not made for this much thinking!

Daily writing prompt

List 10 things you know to be absolutely certain.

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Simplify (Archives)

A few weeks ago, I wrote about cleaning out my shoe closet, bagging up and getting rid of tons, yes tons of shoes that were taking up space. They were no longer needed because all they were doing was simply staring me in the face and living rent-free in my closet. It was time for them to go. Decision made but it was with a heavy heart that I gave them their freedom. They were free to go light up someone else’s eyes and perhaps more appropriately to go where they were truly needed.

“Fill your life with lots of experiences, not lots of things. Have incredible stories to tell, not incredible clutter in your closets.” Marc and Angel

I think life is simply an accumulation of holding on to things. It is a collection of things taking up space, emotions that surge and thrive on shaky ground and a constant struggle between the two. Clutter helps to shrink your physical space and minimize your mental capabilities. Letting go is hard and for someone like me who holds on for way longer than it is needed, decluttering is an almost impossible task to do.

“Clutter is not just the stuff on your floor – it’s anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.” Peter Walsh

The problem is you can’t move on when you’re holding on to all that is not needed. There must be a conscious decision and effort to “clean house” meaning letting go of things that no longer serve you. Things and emotions that wear you down, make you lose track of where you need to go, which direction you will have to take to get there and most importantly a decision has to be made to let go, get rid off and open up space maybe for new clutter but the truth is, there is no moving forward if you’re standing still. You can’t do both.

“Simplifying your life isn’t just about decluttering your physical space, it’s also about clearing mental and emotional clutter.” Unknown

Understanding that, you’ve got to declutter. Most of us tend to have an iron grip on things that don’t matter and then we wonder why it is so hard to breathe at times or to feel free. If it is not adding value to your life, let it go. If it is just taking up space, dump it. If it makes you feel like you’ve got to do something about it, that’s a clear signal that action is needed.

Focus, declutter, simplify, simplify, simplify. As for people and emotions,

“If your presence can’t add value to my LIFE, your absence will make no difference.” Unknown

Have an amazing day.

Security or Adventure?

Hmm….it used to be adventure but I tend to seek security nowadays. Those adventurous days are over with. I’m not a risk taker, never have been but I did do some stuff I wouldn’t do today!

These days life is on an even keel and I like it that way. The adventurous spirit is still somewhere deep down inside but it seldom shows its face. The calmer one is front and center and life is not about the adrenaline rush anymore, but more about how to find the peace I’m seeking. To do that, I need to find out what gets me going in that direction. Security is at the top of my list. I like feeling safe with a safety net below me. It got ripped apart with the death of the good friend because he was always there to make sure I was safe and I felt safe with him. Now, that he is gone and after free falling back to earth, I needed to find my footing again. It took some time but I am learning to stand back up and to feel safe within the safe zone I’m creating for myself.

It’s hands down security simply because I breathe easier and feel calmer when I know that I don’t have to worry about what is coming up. Okay, life has its own thoughts on that but I’ll deal with it when it shows up!

Daily writing prompt

Are you seeking security or adventure?

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Scammers (Archives)

Update: Scammers are everywhere not just on the dating sites. It is a jungle out there in more ways than one. My phone has been ringing non-stop from long distance numbers and they offer anything from lowering my utility bill costs to I’m a winner! There are several who call on a daily basis and I usually don’t pick up when the numbers seem familiar. However, it is frustrating and more than agitating having to deal with these people. Get a JOB and earn money that way. Nope, they want to do it the easy way, that of scamming others out of their hard-earned money. They come on sweet, they have pity-party stories and they know how to get at your heart and to make you part with your money. Beware because it is a jungle out there.

“There are so many scams on the internet now a days. Send me $19.95 and I will tell you how to avoid them.” Unknown

Sounds funny doesn’t it but if truth be told those that have fallen prey to this group know that it is far from it. Heartbreak, sadness, feelings of loss not only of money but emotionally as well are the aftermath of being tangled in a scammer’s web of lies. There are plenty of these wolves in sheep’s clothing on the dating platforms and spotting them takes knowledge, know-how and treading carefully.

The men and women who prey on the weak, vulnerable and the lonely know exactly how to go about setting their nets and if you’re out there looking for true love online, be very careful.

Here’s how to spot these losers. According Aura.com, “Americans have lost over a billion dollars to romance scams in the past year alone,” not to mention world wide. It is a lucrative business for these unscrupulous individuals who don’t give two hoots about your heart, let alone your well-being. It is all about what they can get for nothing.

“The first step towards avoiding scams is to learn how to spot them.” Unknown

They have fake profiles and more often than not the photos are usually of attractive individuals with great smiles. Most of these photos are not their own.

They are quick to call it love even before having met you. Taking it to the next level in a short amount of time is their game plan. “I want to spend my life with you!” or “You are the woman of my dreams,” are the ploys used and for the lonely, it is a definite lure.

They push for personal information and try to move the conversation off the dating site and into somewhere more private so that they can skim personal data or information and use it to their advantage.

Once they have you hooked, the plan goes into action. Suddenly they need financial help and you’re the cash cow. Please send gift cards or cash to help me out of the predicament I am in is their usual battle cry and believe it or not many fall for it.

They will never meet in person and they will come up with numerous excuses for why they can’t. Usually they are on an oil rig faraway with only a cellphone but they can’t make calls but they can write you. So please add me to your social media platforms will be next. This will be followed by this is their last contract and they are retiring after that. Suddenly something goes wrong and they have no access to money so they need your help. It reeks of stupidity but not to people who fall for it. The scam continues as long as they can get something out of you but stops as soon as they realize it’s a dead-end.

How to outsmart a romance scammer? If you belong to the Lonely Hearts Club, remember that these lowlifes are looking for money, your money. Love is the last thing on their minds.

Ask for a current photo.

Request to meet in person.

Ask detailed questions because, “the devil is in the details.”

Request a video chat, this will never happen.

Ask for their phone number and if you do get it, it will be a fake number.

Their motto is:

“Let’s cut to the chase, you give me money and I’ll disappear faster than a magician with a rabbit.” Famstatistics.FM

If all else fails, remember what is too good to be true, usually is! Or you can say,

“I’m sorry, my scam detector is ringing.” Unknown

Whatever you do, know that they are out there in more numbers than you think possible so be cautious, get savvy and stay safe. It’s a jungle out there!

Have an amazing day and don’t fall prey to a scammer!