family circus

My girls came today and as usual it was a whirlwind.  It's too hot to get outside so I cooked lunch early and we nibbled on it and made to go plates while the laundry was running.  Meanwhile the dogs came in and out about ten times and Reaves ate yogurt, a cheeseburger, a Sonic mint and generally stole my heart.  We can entertain her now for short spans of time until she decides to get busy.  Then it's on.  Her new thing is wanting to "help" with whatever we're doing so I thanked her for washing dishes.  Plus Lauren cleaned the floor while I was at the store.  AND I have leftovers plus a plate for Bubba.  Who's a badass?

So Cristobol is headed for the Gulf Coast and Lorna is right there where the flooding will commence.  We should get rain here for a couple of days when it heads north after landfall.  Depends on which way it turns as to how much.  The wheat is ready and dependent on what the storm does.  Such is the life of a farmer.  

I watched church online today and couldn't hear but I was there in spirit while frying chicken.  My butt still hurts but I'm counting on Meloxicam to kick in at some point.  I got "sprunty", as my Mama called it, and tried to clean up the mess out back so they can mow over it.  There is mature pigweed sticking up over that spot.  I got most of it except for the old water hose and that can wait cuz garbage doesn't run until Thursday.  

The dogs ate well today and are seeking out cold floors and panting.  I am super attentive to keeping them watered in this heat.  And also the tiny garden in a box.  It's looking pretty good if I say so myself..

Peace and Grace to you and yours ^j^

a peaceful protest

I just watched a live feed from Cookeville TN where there is a large crowd gathered in peaceful protest against police brutality.  At one protest a person was injured by "the other side" so they have become super careful about sticking together.  They are expected a show by several hate groups.  Just in the intro with honks of appreciation in the background some idiot yelled "Go fuck yourself."  Not cool dude.  If you guys get up in there and start some shit, the organizers are not to blame.  The FBI is there and who knows what else.   I am proud of their courage and intentions.  Keep the faith...and thanks to The Tennessee Holler for streaming live.  

My friend Larry is the most avid gardener I know besides Delores.  He has this little space outside the back porch that is a virtual wonderland of nature complete with waterfalls.  We sat and visited in the shady morning and visited with Lily Cat the tiger cut girl.  She got sick and threw up so I was off to home and her to the vet with Larry.  He is also the animal whisperer.  She sat in my lap and tried to find her spot, knowing that I'm a cat person.  Peanut came up to the fence and kept us company.  Long story there.

I've been pretty torn about the whole protest thing, trying to grasp the good times when police and protesters kneel together and whatnot.  Seeing that shit in Buffalo where they knocked down an old man.....a freaking ADVOCATE for peace, and suffered a bleeding head wound from being push down.  I saw it myself.  There's one thing about live stream...you can't alter it.  What's happening is what's really going on and it is a powerful tool for defense in these times.  Change will never happen until we all see how bad it is in real time.  

Y'all enjoy the weekend.  I'm about to enjoy my own person garden of eden out here.  Peace ^j^

little miracles

I got a call from an insurance agent yesterday with whom I had made contact early on in the Medicare enrollment process.  Being overly cautious and actually stupid I worked with an internet based company and didn't understand much of what I was doing.  They were nice and polite but debited the first month's premium on the spot.  He hooked me up with something much more affordable and spent a lot of face time explaining all of it.  This is the benefit of having a local advocate.  His office is in the historic Baird Brewer building where my grandmother had a real estate office on the first floor and my Daddy worked USDA from the basement.  I was born there in 1955.  There was an old black guy named Herman who ran the elevator and he used to take me for a spin when I was there with Gaga.  I didn't realize that there was a 3rd story added.  The elevator still works according to Rick.  Only two in the state still operational.  Live and learn.

Shortly after I got home the heavens opened up and watered my garden again.  I really wasn't in the mood to hook up the redneck water hose so that was a blessing as well.  I can't wait for the first squash bloom.

I have no more comment on the state of our union.  Everybody knows what's up and if you are silent by vote and voice, you are complicit in the hot mess that is America.  I saw Trump bragging about the unemployment rate dropping because half those folks went back to work when the COVID is still raging.  That is the reason for the drop in unemployment.  My daughter is one of those who is back on the front line trying to earn a living with a heavy student loan debt and a two year old.  So is my nurse friend Mary Gwyn the nurse/artist/bestie.  Off of furlough.  

Tennessee will be allowing vote by mail for all because of the pandemic.  I say "baby steps" kids and pay it forward.  There are primaries in August so get out there and vote.  Do your homework on state and local candidates.  Don't vote blindly along party lines.  

Lord, I sound like my mama telling y'all what to do.  I am an orator and writer as she was.  If it's on my mind, I write it.  I pray that you are well and peaceful during these times in the desert.  We are all in it together, you know.

Keep the Faith ^j^

love loudly

I so enjoy the daily devotionals that FUMC has on FB live.  Today's featured a fellow church member whom I have not met but she did a bang up job focusing on love as in first Corinthians quoting "and the greatest of these is love."  She urged us to love loudly and openly.  I pretty much have adopted that as a way of life.  I will meet you where you are in life and go from there.  One of my favorite sayings is "I love everybody and you're next!"

My doctor's office called to report that on repeat xray there was no fracture BUT.  There's always a but.  There is degenerative arthritis going on down there that will probably be a lifelong thing.  I remember my parents suffering with that and couldn't relate at the time.  Now I can.  I am on a new medicine that will take the place of all the OCT things I've been taking.  I felt so good yesterday after the Tramadol and double dose of steroids only to wake up prior to a thunderstorm almost unable to walk.  It is not avoidable, the old arthur, if you live long enough so I guess it's my time.  I've been told in the past that the cause of my shoulder problems was degnerative arthritis.  We'll just add another spot.  

It gives me hope to see all the folks stepping up and calling Trump out.  Using military force on your people is akin to a dictatorship which is what he wants.  I remember an old aquaintance calling Obama Pajama Mama and referencing Muslims.  At the time I let it slide and he eventually unfriended me because he didn't want to see my demolibtard crap.  Notice I said acquaintance, not friend.  

I heard that there was a peaceful protest locally and that all went well.  That's what it is all about y'all.  Nobody should fear being tear gassed or shot with rubber bullets for marching in unity for change.  Dictators hate that crap.  

I pray for our nation and for our world daily.  For peace and understanding and unity.  Finding common ground is something that any of us can do with any soul who comes across our path.  If we don't agree on politics or religion, that doesn't matter unless you are disrespectful to me.  That's when I shut down and walk away.  

Today was 99 cent chili cheese tot day at Sonic so I stopped by after picking up meds.  I woke up to a monsoon in the making and listened to the storm until it stopped long enough to get out.  One trip a day is all I make so I consolidate errands, ya know.

Love Loudly ~ Kristen B

after the fall

I went to see my FNP this morning for some follow up on the butt pain.  She did another x-ray and gave me two shots and some prescriptions.  I reckon I'll be buzzed on steroids for another few days.  Whatever it takes.  I self adjusted my BP med today and told her about that.  It was wearing.me.out taking a whole dose.  I'm one to really listen to what my body is saying and I knew what was going on.  What is an "ideal" blood pressure is too low for me.  It makes me sluggish and weak.  Even with only half a dose it was 138/64.  I'll take that and run with it.  

Yesterday was a long one for me emotionally.  I watched as people fought on FB all day long about the POTUS's latest move at grandstanding.  Even the folks walking with him had no idea it was a photo op, except for Barr that is.  He has been called out by Espey, and rightfully so.  I suppose he will get fired too.  Something ain't right about this y'all.  We do not answer to Donald Trump, he should be answering to us for his wretched handling of every crisis we encounter.  Cancel the G7 and call them wimps.  Okay then.  Cut funding to the WHO.  Really?  I'm sure they've already picked another state for the convention because NC was umm, lukewarm and insisted on social distancing and mask wearing and whatnot.  It is the perfect storm for another rigged election. 

I grew up with black friends and neighbors during a time of segregation so even though I SAW color, I saw no difference between us.  They were just people who loved me as a sister and, in fact, still do.  I never heard either of my parents say the N word....ever.  That is how I was raised in the integrated community of Samaria Bend.  Sure, it wasn't the inner city but we had our own little piece of heaven here.  Still do.

I do not believe in reparations.  It was some bad history but that's the past.  My parents came from English and French ancestry, respectively, so their ancestors were immigrants as well as everybody on the Mayflower and yada yada.  We took this land from the Native Americans little by little and glorified cowboys fighting Indians.  That was our first injustice as a country and it continues today as their tribes struggle to survive COVID.  I do not believe that confederate statues should have been taken down because they serve as a reminder of what was and could be again.  

I have no answers here, only my opinions and beliefs.  If you respect mine, I will respect yours even if we differ.  That's how I roll.  My daddy told me long ago never to argue about politics and religion and I try not to do that.   My God is a loving one and not filled with wrath unless the people piss him off.  Then it's on when you haul out the golden idols.  I think that is where we are today, personally.  

I talked with my NP this morning about my insurance situation and upcoming Medicare.  I will be actually paying more in premiums that I now am but everything will be covered.  With an ACA out of pocket max of 6600 bucks I'm sunk from the get go.  Still no word on my appeal so I'm just kicking back to see what the next step is.  I have had some legal opinions and was offered an option that will more than likely happen.  At this point, it is what it is.  

Do I worry?  You bet your sweet ass I do, most particularly about the world that Reaves was born into that my generation left for she and Lauren.  But you know what?  I see change on the horizon in the voices of peaceful protesters all over the world.  I see people doing the next right thing.  And that gives me faith to carry on ^j^

breaking up is hard to do

Since I switched cell providers I'm in the process of divorcing ATT on everything except DSL service.  I tried calling them and of course got nowhere so I went to the local store where they gave me a phone number to call. *sigh*  After staying on hold for about 30 minutes I gave up.  I did get the wireless lines cancelled but there was something about another line with the tablet that is long gone.  I don't know.  Something hidden I'm sure.  Too tired to deal with it actually.

I was out and about this morning and got a couple of things done that were on the list.  While I was out I spotted Mary Kate Alford working at the Downtown Dyersburg mural on Tencom's brick exterior wall.  Makes new friends and keep the old!  There will be pictures after she friends me.  

One of my errands was renewing my car registration and I was surprised to find a deputy at the door making sure too many folks didn't come in and we were socially distanced.  Thank you for your service sir.  

Now for the rant.  Trump gassing protesters so that he could do a photo op at a church who did NOT give permission is the worst thing he's done yet.  I posted about it this morning with the Bible and all and I was astounded at the way some folks jumped up to defend him.  "At least he's holding a bible" said one chick.  Personally, that made it more heinous in my eyes.  Jesus doesn't like that kind of stuff.  

I'm beyond mad but I'm letting it go because it does nothing but bring me down.  I promise to focus more on the positive and show how we can come together as one united people.  And I rarely break that sort of promise.

Namaste ~

the reckoning

After a lot of thought and deliberation I finally listened to my inner voice.  That voice told me that as much as I want to get it behind me, I am not strong enough for surgery anytime soon because of the fall.  Therefore, we pushed my appointment date ahead to August.  The surgeon's staff is very mindful of my situation and attentive to my needs so I feel safe with that decision.  It is simply a matter of getting back the strength I had prior to the fall.  That was a huge nasty internal bruise and it will take time to heal just like the surgery did.   Patience, dear girl.  

Just like everybody else I'm thinking "what next."  The anarchy with random acts of kindness sprinkled in continues.  An arrest has been made in the arson case of the Nashville courthouse and it was a 25 year old white guy who was easily identified.  This is what is killing us folks.  Hooligans masquerading as legitimate protesters are turning things violent and it is happening all across the country.  Looters and hell raisers are intimidating all of us who want to protest peacefully.  I've seen a lot of good deeds done by police officers during some of these protests and that makes me feel good.  It is only by reaching out in love that peace can be found.  

I haven't been sleeping well and turned in at 5 o'clock yesterday for a long summer's nap until 7:30 this morning.  I feel a bit more rested but there will be some catchup to do on rest while gaining strength in both body and spirit.  It is definitely take care of me time and I can do that now.  

My little garden is looking good so far but you never know with such things.  I'm feeding and watering and there's plenty of sun to help.  I'll be happy if I produce anything...that will be a bonus.  It's just fun planning and executing a project like that.  

Y'all turn your flashlights on.  We need it now more than ever ^j^