Coming and Going

 Always something to be said in favor of change.  These days, we do seem to be coming and going, going and coming quite a lot.  It does keep life more interesting.  We were at the cabin (our only actual house) for a couple of months.  The snow and wintery beauty was enjoyable and we stayed toasty warm.  The unexpected friendships we've formed in that Colorado high country makes the visits even more pleasant.  Then comes the day when we look out at the cold landscape and know that there's things and loved ones calling us back to Texas. 

Two travel days and in our hometown, where the temps are balmy and the sun is shining bright, we look out at the bay at the campground where the travel trailer, our temporary home, is parked and feel happy and excited to be here.  Family, friends and some business will fill our days here.  It's a nice change.

I highly recommend that you seek a little change in your life. That saying about the definition of crazy in doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results...is true.  Nothing wrong with being content with what you have, but change keeps your mind working, keeps you moving and active.  I'm not saying that it has to be a major life altering experience. Just open yourself up to doing something a little different occasionally. Break out of your normal routine and habits, explore the possibility of what if I didn't stay right in this place everyday, what if I didn't do this same thing?   Don't stay in that cozy rut, climb on out and see what's up there.

Ancient Wisdom

I love quotes. Often search for one that seems appropriate for the subject I'm raving on about.  When I found the quote for my last blog, the one about change from Hercalitus, I was surprised to find how many of his quotations rang true to me. After all, the philosopher lived a very long time ago, around 500 BCE.  Truths are just that, I suppose---the unchanging truth. So, I've picked some of my favorites to share.


"The only thing that is constant is change."

"The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become"

"To get everything you want is not a good thing. Disease makes health seem sweet. Hunger leads to the appreciation of being full-fed. Tiredness creates the enjoyment of resting."

"Dogs bark at what they don't understand."

"People ought to fight to keep their law, as to defend the city's walls."

"Even that, which those with the greatest reputation for knowing it all claim to understand and defend, are but opinions."

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and it's not the same man."

"Tis not too late to seek a newer world."

Ain't Life a Bitch

As you can see, I have a beautiful place to do my whining and bitching and complaining. Since this awesome whiteness isn't the norm for the hubby and I, we've really enjoyed being at the Colorado cabin in the winter. I was all blanketed, socked, booted and flannel-ed UP---prepared to just enjoy the view and work on some editing and even get started on the new novel. What better time to get some work done than in the "too cold to get outside" season. 

You know how plans go, most often they don't. We were finally settled in a bit, caught up on visiting, nearly over the allergies that attack when we make this change in location and I was actually beginning to get some work done.  I had proudly finished a chapter plus of the new book and had spent a whole day editing and revisiting an older book.  Then it happened, the stuff hit the old fan, not the white stuff. The laptop went all goofy and then black. When I restarted it, it persistently gave me a start-up repair message and no matter WHAT I tried, it went right back to that point---no opening or getting in anything.  After two frustrating days, I knew it was crashed and the reality began to seep in.  What about my files? what about my pictures, my books and edits?

I wish I could say that I was just calm, oh well, the poor old thing was always hinkey and on it's last leg. I'm talking about the laptop, strange that it could apply to myself.  Well, I wasn't so cool and collected, I was about ready to chew my writing hand off.  Even though online deliveries are super speedy these days, it seemed like for-ev-er to get a new device in my hands. Hey, I'm the first one to deride those that are tied to their electronics. I have to admit, this was pure D hell folks. I did crosswords, I do have my kindle tablet and could pass some time there, I should have been looking for productive ways to pass my time such as cleaning---no-o-o.  I wanted my laptop, RIGHT NOW.

As you can see, I did survive the pc catastrophe.  I swear, I feel like I was inflicted with a bad limp and miraculously can trot again!  It's not all perfect for sure, being a person who will stubbornly work until I pass out when I want to learn something, I only know computer things that I'm interested in. So, it's been hours of trying to get the new gadget all filled up with the stuff I'm used to. Still, I'm smiling today and just rattling on to you about it all.  Since I'm a half-breed, (you know, half intelligent and two thirds stupid) I did lose some things, but I was able to recover a lot.  Yea! back in business (for now).

What Is Wrong With Me?

In my heart, my real question is "What in holy hades is wrong with YOU?" Yes--you and you and you. But, I'm trying to consider the slim possibility that I'm the crazy person.  I mean people are just walking around everyday, acting like there's not a thing wrong with the world. It must be ME.

I'm trying to acknowledge, accept that the world progresses, life changes.  Wasn't there a time when parents thought Rock n' Roll was evil, that Elvis was nasty and vulgar?  The man could be the Pope in these days.  Speaking of ridiculous people for important positions---according to folks who obviously are much saner than myself, America has very intelligently pared down our choice of who will be the next president of our country to a few choices.  The ultra smart talking heads on media, the polls, the political predictors say that we will most likely either have a lying female who has political gain root-canaled into her teeth, a "let the government take care of you" admitted socialist or a white shoe salesman who believes money is the measure of success and talking loud and obnoxious will keep us safe from a world that hates and has no respect for us.

I must be the crazy one.  With millions of people in America, with all the intelligent, honest and patriotic citizens that I want to believe still exist in our country---even among the offered candidates of both parties, people who have character and care about the direction our country is moving, we are choosing to settle for these people. We are giving them the attention, the serious consideration. I wouldn't even give these bottom of the barrel folks the time of day. 

Maybe I'm hanging on to an America that doesn't exist anymore. I'm not saying that there isn't always huge space for change. Tearing down and throwing away every single ideal that has made our country a free and great place to be, can't be the answer to our problems.  As squirrely nuts as I am, who would I choose? who do I think should be our new leader?  I wish I had a real definite choice. What I do know is that I do not want a president who lies for their own political gain, who walks on a thin edge of legal and moral ground. I don't want a president who thinks that it's the right thing to do to use the forced taxes paid by hard working Americans to take care of all the citizens, as well as the non citizens who don't choose to work for their survival. I don't want a president who believes that law abiding citizens shouldn't have a gun to defend their property and families, who thinks the constitution is an outdated document that can be ignored.

Patriotism, character, hard work, constitutional guaranteed rights---freedom. What crazy radical ideals.