Whenever the objective of an institution is lost, then so is the institution. That's what has happened in at least 42 different VA facilities across America.
When employees see themselves as the important ones, the special people, then the very people for whom the system was created get shortchanged. The people who are supposed to be served BY the institution are instead objectified by the institution. You know, what is your number?
It will be years before all of the inner workings of this massive system are investigated and figured out, and some of it never will because people who should know better destroyed important documents.
When they do see what went wrong, there is one thing that seems clear to me at this point. Fake waiting lists in multiple facilities in different states do not just happen by chance. The whole thing points to some kind of directive from higher up. Doesn't that make you angry?
It bothers me a great deal. Promises were made to the individuals who signed up to serve in the nation's military. As a country that was founded on principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we are bound by the oaths that we take just as surely as the military personnel are bound by the ones they take. We are beholding to them in so many ways, and they should not be waiting on interminable lists for services that they need.
The whole thing underscores something that rings true in every instance that I can think of. The government doesn't seem to know how to run anything. The government shouldn't be in the business of health care for our vets or for us. Where is the expertise? Where is the experience? Where is the dedication?
In business, because if a business is going to thrive it must be profitable, there is a clearly drawn business plan and a set of objectives. Everyone in the business has a job to do that propels the business towards its goals.
Have you ever had to go to a government office for something? I had to get a new social security card. It was quite an adventure and yet another lesson in the silliness of institutions, their policies and their procedures. They only sing one tune; there is no ability to improvise or think on your feet.
I see that the top official in the VA system has resigned. I hope that this will begin a difficult, painful, but needed pathway towards doing better.
As I see it, the dangers of the old cold war are nothing compared to the danger that looms today. And believe me, I don't like admitting this or believing it myself but everything points to it. We're having internal problems and we face external problems all at the same time. Fighting battles on multiple fronts. Struggling with what it means to be America.
One thing that I take away from all of this is that I don't want to forget what it is to LOVE my country, see the exceptional qualities of it, observe the beauty of it, and acknowledge the greatness of so many individuals.
We face challenges but there is enough resolve left to deal with them if we just keep caring, keep working. And most important of all, keep praying.
Light of Christ
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014
Riot of Color
This year the front of the house is decorated in all kinds of colors. A rainbow inspiration.
It's kind of fun, because there is a sense of excitement to see how the plants will look as they get bigger and fill in the pots and planters.
The plants are: zinnias, marigolds, dianthus, wave petunias, regular petunias, alyssum, grassy plants, another green plant that came back after last year, New Guinea impatiens, and a yellow flowering plant and a white flowering plant that I can't remember the names of.
So we have yellow, an orange-tone, red, white and cream colors all coming together. The pots mimic the front garden plants which boast red, yellow, salmon and even some pink.
Color has some an amazing effect on us -- rooms that soothe and calm, rooms that create energy and liveliness, and some rooms that combine some of both.
Color is an amazing gift to us. God allowed some of the Garden of Eden to remain as a little peak of heaven, I always think. Hope you are having fun at your house, mixing and planting.
We might even end up with more than three tomatoes this year. You just never know.
By the way, for anyone who is interested -- the Canal Fulton Farmers' Market will be back, but in a new location. It will be held at the Northwest Senior Citizens Center parking lot on Thursdays from 4-7 beginning in mid-July. I'm going to check it out again as I always do, and hope that they are very successful in this endeavor. It offers the residents in town and those outside of town a chance to get homegrown vegetables, and also to mix and mingle with old friends.
I don't have much to say this morning -- a little tired I guess. We went to see our grandson, Jacob, play baseball. When the kids are 10, six innings goes very slowly. There are pitches that go in the dirt, and any number of them that whiz over the umpire's head. There are walks aplenty, errors all over the field, and once in a while, something fairly spectacular happens. But mostly, you just sit and in last night's case, get colder. I wore shorts and sandals and that didn't turn out to be the best choice. I would have been fine in jeans and tennis shoes. It was beautiful weather, but with a breeze, there was just that bit of chill. The best decision was that I did have a jacket along.
So around 8:00, we headed on home and I was glad. The huge backup of traffic on I-77 that was coming south while we were heading north on the way to the game was gone. We zipped farther south and into familiar territory, and when we pulled into the drive, there was this AHHH moment. Home.
Take care, everyone. I'll try to do better tomorrow.
Karen
It's kind of fun, because there is a sense of excitement to see how the plants will look as they get bigger and fill in the pots and planters.
The plants are: zinnias, marigolds, dianthus, wave petunias, regular petunias, alyssum, grassy plants, another green plant that came back after last year, New Guinea impatiens, and a yellow flowering plant and a white flowering plant that I can't remember the names of.
So we have yellow, an orange-tone, red, white and cream colors all coming together. The pots mimic the front garden plants which boast red, yellow, salmon and even some pink.
Color has some an amazing effect on us -- rooms that soothe and calm, rooms that create energy and liveliness, and some rooms that combine some of both.
Color is an amazing gift to us. God allowed some of the Garden of Eden to remain as a little peak of heaven, I always think. Hope you are having fun at your house, mixing and planting.
We might even end up with more than three tomatoes this year. You just never know.
By the way, for anyone who is interested -- the Canal Fulton Farmers' Market will be back, but in a new location. It will be held at the Northwest Senior Citizens Center parking lot on Thursdays from 4-7 beginning in mid-July. I'm going to check it out again as I always do, and hope that they are very successful in this endeavor. It offers the residents in town and those outside of town a chance to get homegrown vegetables, and also to mix and mingle with old friends.
I don't have much to say this morning -- a little tired I guess. We went to see our grandson, Jacob, play baseball. When the kids are 10, six innings goes very slowly. There are pitches that go in the dirt, and any number of them that whiz over the umpire's head. There are walks aplenty, errors all over the field, and once in a while, something fairly spectacular happens. But mostly, you just sit and in last night's case, get colder. I wore shorts and sandals and that didn't turn out to be the best choice. I would have been fine in jeans and tennis shoes. It was beautiful weather, but with a breeze, there was just that bit of chill. The best decision was that I did have a jacket along.
So around 8:00, we headed on home and I was glad. The huge backup of traffic on I-77 that was coming south while we were heading north on the way to the game was gone. We zipped farther south and into familiar territory, and when we pulled into the drive, there was this AHHH moment. Home.
Take care, everyone. I'll try to do better tomorrow.
Karen
Thursday, May 29, 2014
CA Killing
One young woman who was in the path of the gunman's line of fire on Friday, May 23, was clearly shook up. She described the scene: she was alone on the street, no one else was around, it was quiet, and the gunman spoke to her first. Then he started firing, and as she put it, she hadn't even started running yet. Somehow the bullets missed her completely. She wasn't even grazed.
In something that took no more than a couple of seconds, her life will never be the same. She will begin asking questions that in her young life weren't necessary as she walked on that street in a California college town.
Why not me?
Why did the bullets miss?
Why did he want to shoot me?
Why was I all alone?
What is my purpose in life?
In other words, she will question everything because of what happened in those few seconds, when his hatred and her bewilderment collided. She will especially ask these questions because six other people didn't get that chance. Their lives ended in a hail of gunfire without warning and without reason.
She will never want to be out on a street alone for a long, long time. She will wake up at night in a sweat from terrible dreams. She will cry at the least little thing. She will cry very hard at the memorial services for the six because she has no idea why she wasn't one of them.
The gunman, whom everyone is trying to ignore as much as possible so as not to give him the attention he so clearly wanted, certainly had problems from a young age. He describes himself as being consumed with envy and jealousy and hated going to movies because he would see couples and get angry because he didn't have a girlfriend.
His brother who escaped death himself because the gunman saved him from drowning in the family pool was on his list of targets. His roommates were also on the list and he was successful in wiping them out.
The police came to the house in April, I think they said, because his parents asked them to check on the young man. The guns and ammunition were a scant few steps away from the officers as they questioned him.
They say he was a sociopath and that he was incapable of feeling for others, for having empathy. He never thought that he belonged and in the end he took his own life.
I don't have an ending for this blog other than to say that as a society we are moving farther away from one another rather than closer. Young people are especially affected by this, because of the media, computers, phones.
It does give one pause, doesn't it?
In something that took no more than a couple of seconds, her life will never be the same. She will begin asking questions that in her young life weren't necessary as she walked on that street in a California college town.
Why not me?
Why did the bullets miss?
Why did he want to shoot me?
Why was I all alone?
What is my purpose in life?
In other words, she will question everything because of what happened in those few seconds, when his hatred and her bewilderment collided. She will especially ask these questions because six other people didn't get that chance. Their lives ended in a hail of gunfire without warning and without reason.
She will never want to be out on a street alone for a long, long time. She will wake up at night in a sweat from terrible dreams. She will cry at the least little thing. She will cry very hard at the memorial services for the six because she has no idea why she wasn't one of them.
The gunman, whom everyone is trying to ignore as much as possible so as not to give him the attention he so clearly wanted, certainly had problems from a young age. He describes himself as being consumed with envy and jealousy and hated going to movies because he would see couples and get angry because he didn't have a girlfriend.
His brother who escaped death himself because the gunman saved him from drowning in the family pool was on his list of targets. His roommates were also on the list and he was successful in wiping them out.
The police came to the house in April, I think they said, because his parents asked them to check on the young man. The guns and ammunition were a scant few steps away from the officers as they questioned him.
They say he was a sociopath and that he was incapable of feeling for others, for having empathy. He never thought that he belonged and in the end he took his own life.
I don't have an ending for this blog other than to say that as a society we are moving farther away from one another rather than closer. Young people are especially affected by this, because of the media, computers, phones.
It does give one pause, doesn't it?
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Appetite
I'm one of those people who has an appetite no matter what. It is really rare that I'm not thinking about or looking for something to eat.
When I was working, the afternoon was the hardest because that's when you kind of "hit the wall" in terms of your blood sugar. As I'd be nodding off in front of the computer screen, the image of the candy machine down in the concourse would come to mind and pretty soon I'd be fishing in my purse or in my desk drawer for some change.
Then I'd get myself a fresh cup of tea and have the candy bar with it. Lovely!! And pretty soon I'd get my energy back and finish out the day with a bang.
People under stress often lose their appetite; I don't. In the absence of being busy doing something, I eat. It's ridiculous. And I've got my class reunion to attend, and not meaning to sound vain or anything, I'd like to go just a tad bit slimmer than I am right now. And more toned, i.e. arms.
This is what happens to perfectly good arms as you age. First, they kind of get bigger in the biceps region. Then without any kind of workout, the arm loses tone. Then the lower part of the arm develops a movement all by itself, a swing. Make a muscle and the tissue is still there, moving. Then the next thing that I hesitate to mention because it is so awful -- crepe skin. It shows up on the inside of the upper arm. Looks like crepe paper that's damp. Most probably, it doesn't go away no matter what you do. I'm going to see. Call it an experiment, but by September if my crepe skin is still there, then I'll admit it for all. And then what is there to do but delicately cover it.
My husband is not an exerciser. He avoid its, and instead focuses on working as a substitute. It isn't a very satisfying substitute in my book. I'd love to go walking on a Sunday down to the Lock 4 park and back, but not necessarily by myself. Maybe my neighbor would consider switching Wednesday morning for Sunday at around noon? It's worth a try. Also, my husband has feet problems, due to wearing the incorrect size of shoe for at least a year when he was a child. He also has back problems, probably related to the feet problems. And he has ankle and knee problems, and eye problems. He has some inner problems too, and on that score we are even.
So you can see where this is going or NOT going. Not going walking, that's for sure.
The other thing about the class reunion is that I'll be attending by myself. My husband really does not like gatherings of that kind, with noisy bands and people milling, especially people he doesn't really know. His favorite classmate of mine, Sandy, passed away about four or five years ago. I don't mind going by myself because then it's just me and I can go here and there, not having to worry how horrible of a time my husband is having. Oh, and he doesn't dance.
You know, we really do get along well. We've been married now for almost 30 years!! We tend to like the same kinds of entertainment, foods, and movies. We love the community, the Lions Club members, our church members, and our home. We especially love our family!
So you know -- when it is all added up -- it's about love. That's what they claim makes the world go around, and I'd tend to agree.
So if you ask me, it's a healthy thing that my husband and I do things together and we also do things separately. "And the two shall become one," still applies, because being joined at the hip isn't always a good measure of a successful relationship.
Now -- I got the four pound weights out of the basement and brought them upstairs where I'd be more likely to use them. I'll start doing sit-ups, push ups, and some other odds and ends, and TRY not to eat everything in sight.
More importantly, I'll do some regular exercising to get huffing and puffing. Walking, pulling the garbage can up the hill, that kind of thing.
Appetite -- behave yourself!
When I was working, the afternoon was the hardest because that's when you kind of "hit the wall" in terms of your blood sugar. As I'd be nodding off in front of the computer screen, the image of the candy machine down in the concourse would come to mind and pretty soon I'd be fishing in my purse or in my desk drawer for some change.
Then I'd get myself a fresh cup of tea and have the candy bar with it. Lovely!! And pretty soon I'd get my energy back and finish out the day with a bang.
People under stress often lose their appetite; I don't. In the absence of being busy doing something, I eat. It's ridiculous. And I've got my class reunion to attend, and not meaning to sound vain or anything, I'd like to go just a tad bit slimmer than I am right now. And more toned, i.e. arms.
This is what happens to perfectly good arms as you age. First, they kind of get bigger in the biceps region. Then without any kind of workout, the arm loses tone. Then the lower part of the arm develops a movement all by itself, a swing. Make a muscle and the tissue is still there, moving. Then the next thing that I hesitate to mention because it is so awful -- crepe skin. It shows up on the inside of the upper arm. Looks like crepe paper that's damp. Most probably, it doesn't go away no matter what you do. I'm going to see. Call it an experiment, but by September if my crepe skin is still there, then I'll admit it for all. And then what is there to do but delicately cover it.
My husband is not an exerciser. He avoid its, and instead focuses on working as a substitute. It isn't a very satisfying substitute in my book. I'd love to go walking on a Sunday down to the Lock 4 park and back, but not necessarily by myself. Maybe my neighbor would consider switching Wednesday morning for Sunday at around noon? It's worth a try. Also, my husband has feet problems, due to wearing the incorrect size of shoe for at least a year when he was a child. He also has back problems, probably related to the feet problems. And he has ankle and knee problems, and eye problems. He has some inner problems too, and on that score we are even.
So you can see where this is going or NOT going. Not going walking, that's for sure.
The other thing about the class reunion is that I'll be attending by myself. My husband really does not like gatherings of that kind, with noisy bands and people milling, especially people he doesn't really know. His favorite classmate of mine, Sandy, passed away about four or five years ago. I don't mind going by myself because then it's just me and I can go here and there, not having to worry how horrible of a time my husband is having. Oh, and he doesn't dance.
You know, we really do get along well. We've been married now for almost 30 years!! We tend to like the same kinds of entertainment, foods, and movies. We love the community, the Lions Club members, our church members, and our home. We especially love our family!
So you know -- when it is all added up -- it's about love. That's what they claim makes the world go around, and I'd tend to agree.
So if you ask me, it's a healthy thing that my husband and I do things together and we also do things separately. "And the two shall become one," still applies, because being joined at the hip isn't always a good measure of a successful relationship.
Now -- I got the four pound weights out of the basement and brought them upstairs where I'd be more likely to use them. I'll start doing sit-ups, push ups, and some other odds and ends, and TRY not to eat everything in sight.
More importantly, I'll do some regular exercising to get huffing and puffing. Walking, pulling the garbage can up the hill, that kind of thing.
Appetite -- behave yourself!
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
History
Ever hear that expression that if you don't know history, you are condemned to repeat it? It is so true. I am appalled today at the comments that some people make who just have no clue about the realities of life.
One representative just said that communism isn't all that bad. Really? Back in the 50s, maybe we went just a little overboard in identifying and punishing communists. They were blacklisted for jobs and probably worse. It wasn't one of our finer moments, but we were all dealing with Post World War II fears, and some of them were plenty justified.
So what is communism anyhow? Communism is the belief that we would be better off if everyone had exactly the same stuff and that at first there would have to be a governing body to "control" how everyone would have the same thing. The governing body would determine what goods would be manufactured, how much, where it was sold, etc. The governing body would collect money and would dispense it accordingly. The governing body would hold all land. The idea was that in due time, the governing body would no longer be needed and communism would morph into a purified way of living.
So what happened? First of all, they didn't seem to understand that we are given certain rights by GOD, unalienable rights (meaning that they can't be separated from us), and among these rights is liberty. Because our rights come from God and are not given to us by man, we will always yearn to be free. It is part of our DNA, the way we were made by the Creator.
Second, no communist state has ever gotten past the need for the "governing body." Why? Because people would rebel and they do rebel because they long for freedom. Someone would always have to keep them in line. And why else? Because the big cheeses that became the governing body didn't want to give up the authority and power they were able to get. That and the extras that they got for themselves that the regular folks didn't get. And what else? That the governing body didn't dispense fairly.
So what you ended up with was an impoverished, resentful, bonded people dependent on a more powerful group who held their lives in check and who often used fear to prevent uprisings.
The people who had allowed the communist state to exist either by election or apathy lived to regret their decision. With the thought that their lives would be easier and less stressful under this collective system, the people found themselves pawns. The money that the state collected was often spent on armaments, armies, and offensive military systems.
In the 1960s and 1970s, communes were established in the U.S. This was also an attempt to create a more perfect society but once again the experiment failed. Again, the same dynamics appeared. Some of them were disastrous such as the Jim Jones tragedy in Guyana when Jones and his henchmen served poisoned Kool Aid rather than giving up their power.
The beauty of our Constitution is that it takes into account man's unalienable rights. To preserve our freedoms, we need to exercise them -- especially the right to vote and not just vote willy-nilly but to cast an educated vote. We need the press to be free, our eyes and ears in Washington. There are some loose chinks in our armor. I pray that we are able to work through our difficulties.
The representative's beliefs about communism are naïve, but in America he's allowed to have them.
Take care. Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend and got a chance to relax and dig in the dirt.
One representative just said that communism isn't all that bad. Really? Back in the 50s, maybe we went just a little overboard in identifying and punishing communists. They were blacklisted for jobs and probably worse. It wasn't one of our finer moments, but we were all dealing with Post World War II fears, and some of them were plenty justified.
So what is communism anyhow? Communism is the belief that we would be better off if everyone had exactly the same stuff and that at first there would have to be a governing body to "control" how everyone would have the same thing. The governing body would determine what goods would be manufactured, how much, where it was sold, etc. The governing body would collect money and would dispense it accordingly. The governing body would hold all land. The idea was that in due time, the governing body would no longer be needed and communism would morph into a purified way of living.
So what happened? First of all, they didn't seem to understand that we are given certain rights by GOD, unalienable rights (meaning that they can't be separated from us), and among these rights is liberty. Because our rights come from God and are not given to us by man, we will always yearn to be free. It is part of our DNA, the way we were made by the Creator.
Second, no communist state has ever gotten past the need for the "governing body." Why? Because people would rebel and they do rebel because they long for freedom. Someone would always have to keep them in line. And why else? Because the big cheeses that became the governing body didn't want to give up the authority and power they were able to get. That and the extras that they got for themselves that the regular folks didn't get. And what else? That the governing body didn't dispense fairly.
So what you ended up with was an impoverished, resentful, bonded people dependent on a more powerful group who held their lives in check and who often used fear to prevent uprisings.
The people who had allowed the communist state to exist either by election or apathy lived to regret their decision. With the thought that their lives would be easier and less stressful under this collective system, the people found themselves pawns. The money that the state collected was often spent on armaments, armies, and offensive military systems.
In the 1960s and 1970s, communes were established in the U.S. This was also an attempt to create a more perfect society but once again the experiment failed. Again, the same dynamics appeared. Some of them were disastrous such as the Jim Jones tragedy in Guyana when Jones and his henchmen served poisoned Kool Aid rather than giving up their power.
The beauty of our Constitution is that it takes into account man's unalienable rights. To preserve our freedoms, we need to exercise them -- especially the right to vote and not just vote willy-nilly but to cast an educated vote. We need the press to be free, our eyes and ears in Washington. There are some loose chinks in our armor. I pray that we are able to work through our difficulties.
The representative's beliefs about communism are naïve, but in America he's allowed to have them.
Take care. Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend and got a chance to relax and dig in the dirt.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Personalities
Yesterday was "buy plants" day, so we made our yearly trip to Mazzocca's Nursery on Corundite Road in Tuscarawas Township. The nursery is right next to the home of the owners and it is just lovely.
They grow many of their own plants, plus they have a wide variety.
The daughter always works the register, and we've come to know her over the past three or so years since we discovered their place. She is very knowledgeable and spends time with the customers. We were talking about color combinations yesterday and I mentioned that this year I'm doing something different.
Why? Because I bought a door mat and the colors in it are orange, red, green and yellow. The lilac flowers that I used last year won't look very good on either side of the mat. So I decided that this year, it was time to do something radically different.
She said that about a third of her clients do the exact same thing every single year, and the rest change it up a bit.
A couple of things I've learned about putting outdoor pots together:
So happy planting, everyone! I'm going to be outside a lot today -- looking forward to it.
First, a big bowl of frosted mini-wheats and I'll be raring to go!!
Karen
They grow many of their own plants, plus they have a wide variety.
The daughter always works the register, and we've come to know her over the past three or so years since we discovered their place. She is very knowledgeable and spends time with the customers. We were talking about color combinations yesterday and I mentioned that this year I'm doing something different.
Why? Because I bought a door mat and the colors in it are orange, red, green and yellow. The lilac flowers that I used last year won't look very good on either side of the mat. So I decided that this year, it was time to do something radically different.
She said that about a third of her clients do the exact same thing every single year, and the rest change it up a bit.
A couple of things I've learned about putting outdoor pots together:
- Change the potting soil about once every two years.
- The second year the build-in fertilizer will have been spent, so use a good fertilizer when you plant.
- Put in a lot of plants because some will do better than others, and this way your pot will look full and lush.
- If you see any signs of disturbance, it would probably mean that either a skunk or a raccoon has been around. Use "Critter Ridder," a simple spray that keeps the animals away. It lasts for about a month. Just follow the directions. For pots, you don't have to spray the dirt itself but spray all the way around the pot.
- When flowers start getting "leggy" in the latter part of summer, don't be afraid to cut them back. You'll get a lovely second growth to appreciate into the fall.
- Use plenty of greenery and less color. My niece discovered that when you do this, the colors pop and are not overwhelming each other. Asparagus fern, blue fescue (which you can plant in the garden at the end of the season) and green spikes are very nice.
- Alyssum gives your pot a lace-like look, even though the plants are not all that delicate.
- Don't be afraid to be adventurous.
- Use coleus for really bright dashes of color.
- Water regularly; don't wait until the plants are wilted. Many of them won't recover from that.
So happy planting, everyone! I'm going to be outside a lot today -- looking forward to it.
First, a big bowl of frosted mini-wheats and I'll be raring to go!!
Karen
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Passwords
Did you hear that Ebay was hacked? I just bought three tubes of lipstick (no kidding) about three weeks ago, so I changed mine last night.
It's not too hard. No need to give the thieves a chance to make your life more difficult.
About the purchase -- the lipstick. I'd been buying the same Cover Girl lipstick at the grocery store or wherever for YEARS. It never occurred to me that maybe they'd do away with it, but they did. When I couldn't find it at the grocery store, I checked Rite Aid and it was the same thing. Not just new packaging but new colors, new consistencies, new everything and it wasn't a good new for me.
I missed my old stuff and I had only about one-half of a tube left. Not even enough to put one older tube in my purse.
So I went to trusty old Ebay and looked up the lipstick. There it was!! I bought three tubes and that will give me a breather in order to make a transition to something else down the road. Part of it is just that I am used to the color and the way the lipstick looks; part of it is that the lipstick is just a good color for me.
If you've done business with Ebay and have an account, take five minutes and change your password. And make a note of it. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to enter into a website and realizing that you don't remember the password!!
I have a sheet of paper with all of my associations and related passwords. It's handy for me and it keeps me from getting upset and frustrated. It's time to update it and do a fresh one!! I've got writing all over the place.
On another subject -- art. My friend, Peg, and I have been having our own art class. We are working in watercolor, a medium that was not a good experience for me in the past. When I'd try watercolor, most of the time it felt like I was in grade school again struggling with some sort of project. I felt inept and incapable. Since people tend to do things that make them feel successful, I shied away from watercolors for years until we started the class. I'm loving this!! We have had the best time and have already produced a couple of things worthy of a frame. I have a feeling the best is yet to come.
The wonderful thing about art is that you can go to the web and find fabulous art lessons for free. They are understandable and fun. After about 10 or 20 minutes, you will have a better understanding of some technique or skill and feel ready to try it yourself!! If you want to try it yourself, there are some nice art stores out there that will give you expert guidance on buying materials, such as Cook's on Portage. That way you don't waste money buying products you don't need.
Okay -- that's it for today. I'm off to get some breakfast and then a quick routine doctor visit, then an appointment for a cut/perm. Oh, I need it too!!
Take care, everyone.
Karen
It's not too hard. No need to give the thieves a chance to make your life more difficult.
About the purchase -- the lipstick. I'd been buying the same Cover Girl lipstick at the grocery store or wherever for YEARS. It never occurred to me that maybe they'd do away with it, but they did. When I couldn't find it at the grocery store, I checked Rite Aid and it was the same thing. Not just new packaging but new colors, new consistencies, new everything and it wasn't a good new for me.
I missed my old stuff and I had only about one-half of a tube left. Not even enough to put one older tube in my purse.
So I went to trusty old Ebay and looked up the lipstick. There it was!! I bought three tubes and that will give me a breather in order to make a transition to something else down the road. Part of it is just that I am used to the color and the way the lipstick looks; part of it is that the lipstick is just a good color for me.
If you've done business with Ebay and have an account, take five minutes and change your password. And make a note of it. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to enter into a website and realizing that you don't remember the password!!
I have a sheet of paper with all of my associations and related passwords. It's handy for me and it keeps me from getting upset and frustrated. It's time to update it and do a fresh one!! I've got writing all over the place.
On another subject -- art. My friend, Peg, and I have been having our own art class. We are working in watercolor, a medium that was not a good experience for me in the past. When I'd try watercolor, most of the time it felt like I was in grade school again struggling with some sort of project. I felt inept and incapable. Since people tend to do things that make them feel successful, I shied away from watercolors for years until we started the class. I'm loving this!! We have had the best time and have already produced a couple of things worthy of a frame. I have a feeling the best is yet to come.
The wonderful thing about art is that you can go to the web and find fabulous art lessons for free. They are understandable and fun. After about 10 or 20 minutes, you will have a better understanding of some technique or skill and feel ready to try it yourself!! If you want to try it yourself, there are some nice art stores out there that will give you expert guidance on buying materials, such as Cook's on Portage. That way you don't waste money buying products you don't need.
Okay -- that's it for today. I'm off to get some breakfast and then a quick routine doctor visit, then an appointment for a cut/perm. Oh, I need it too!!
Take care, everyone.
Karen
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