Busy Busy Busy

  June is turning out to be an even busier month than May for me. I honestly didn't think that was possible! While I have a few minutes of breathing space let me catch you up.....if I can remember it all.

  Our friend Dan retired from the airforce after 35 years. 35 years! Like all service people, he has helped change the world and made it a better, and safer, place. The sacrifices both he and his family have made for Canada should be honored and celebrated. Enjoy your "free" time Dan! I'm sure there is a to-do list with your name on it somewhere.

  We got a pool! A pool. The kids are beyond excited and even though the heater isn't installed yet, fingers crossed that's today, they have swum the past two days. And come out purple but with huge smiles. It's been a lot of work for us to get the yard ready but in the end, I know it will be worth it. I can picture the lazy days of summer. A book, a beverage, and no fighting children. Bliss.

  The boys' activities have almost finished. Theater, volleyball, and swimming are over. Scouts, hockey, and piano are in the final days til the fall. And let's not forget school. Less than two weeks and they are free to sleep in and I don't have to scramble in the morning for lunches. Lots of free time on the horizon!

  Boy, it doesn't look like I've done much but trust me I've been busier than it looks! Making that backyard pretty was an undertaking in itself. And the car repairs....I almost forgot about those. My bank account didn't though. Life is busy. For all of us. 

  Remember..you woke up breathing or a reason. Take a minute to enjoy today.

  Ang

  

Consequences

  Do you know the name Dani Mathers? She is the ex-playboy model who took the photo of a naked woman in the gym change room and posted it on Snapchat. Well she just got sentenced to 30 days community service and 3 years probation. This seems like a fitting and just punishment for what she did. But it's obvious she learned nothing from her mistake. 

  During an interview, Ms. Mathers said it has "taught me a lot about privacy" and "I've lost a lot of that myself as well".  Ummmm yeah. You took a total stranger's picture, without her consent, showering, and put it on social media. Without one iota of thought to her privacy. You should feel consequences for that.

  But the real damaging thing she has repeatedly said is that she never intended to share it publicly. Just to her friend. With the caption "If I can't unsee this then you can't either". So she really only meant to humiliate this innocent woman to her friend. Not the entire world. Oh that makes it better. No, it does not.

  Dani Mathers is not the victim here. In any way, shape or form. She is, however, a shining example of how some women try to break down other women instead of building them up. And there are too many of those in this world. To me, it says a lot about her character that she needs to feel better about herself by insulting others. 

  Imagine if the pic had of been of this woman in her workout clothes, sweaty and red-faced from exertion. With the caption "Hope this is me at 70 something!" Think how 100% different the story would have been.

  Consequences people. Consequences.

  Ang

LeBron

  If you are a basketball fan you know the name LeBron James. He is one of the greatest players of all time without a doubt....the Cavs being behind 3-0 at the moment aside. He does charity work in and out of the spotlight. Unlike so many top athletes, not much in the way of scandal. But with all his success, awards and good deeds...someone painted racial slurs on the gate of his home.

  Being black in the United States is tough. Anyone who tells you different is lying. No matter how smart, kind or successful you are, there is a portion of the population who believe you are inferior based on the color of your skin. No other reason. They don't know you yet they judge you. And if you are male, well that's two marks against you before you even open your mouth.

  I've stood on the street hailing a cab in NYC and had cars stop for me that whizzed by someone of color ten feet away. Heard clerks in stores in Florida comment negatively on their own customers based on color. I've heard it in restaurants, airports, bathrooms....you name the place chances are I've heard something there.

  But LeBron James? That truly shows you just how deep-seeded it is. Had the criminal written, "Cavs suck" or something similar, I could say that it was sports fan related. But that's not was written and it certainly had nothing to do with basketball. Skin color plain and simple.

  I'm not sure how people get this way. How they come to a point where they hate a person based on the one thing that cannot be changed. I know it's learned but wouldn't you think people would "unlearn it" when they grew up?

  The world we live in is crazy. There are many, many reasons to dislike people. Let their actions be the reason. 

  Not their skin color.

  Ang

That Scary One

  Your body has many ways of warning you that something is wrong. Like those little hairs on the back of your neck. When something is wrong mine stand at attention. They sure did last night and again this morning. And something most certainly is wrong.

  Riley has that cough. If you are a parent you know the exact one I mean. The wheezy, asthmatic one. The one that takes you from a deep sleep to wide awake instantly. That's what he has. Bad.

  He's had it before and the doctor has given him a puffer to help. Usually, it's only at night but this time he is wide awake and it's still there. It's no less scary in daylight I assure you. A trip to the doctor's office is in our immediate future.

  You would never know the child was sick....until you hear it. Hopefully, he will improve some today.  Another day spent lying in bed resting should help him feel better.

  It can't hurt.

  Ang

  

Speechless....Well Maybe Not

  I'm speechless. Truly at a loss for words. Another terrorist attack in Britain. Another comedian crosses a line. Another Trump absurdity. It's deja vu. 

 "Keep calm and carry on" is a famous phrase from the British government in 1939 while preparing for war. That seems to be the motto of the country today. With two attacks in short order, the English people are doing just that. They are going about their business. Fear does not rule their lives. 

  I'm not sure how to stop these attacks. I'm not quite sure why these terrorists feel such hatred. Towards governments, I understand but not innocent civilians. The word disenfranchised comes up often, especially with home-grown terrorists. I only know it's sad. Senseless and sad.

  Another senseless and sad thing is Trump. Picking and choosing other people's words to insult them and question their resolve. Taking a tragedy and spinning it to fit your narrative. How dare you. At a time where your own people are saying how you fully support Britain, you are up late at night tweeting the total opposite. It must be so frustrating and embarrassing to work for you.

  As for Bill Maher.....what can I say? Personally, I can think of only three words in the English language I hate and never, ever use and this is one of them. I am aware of the actual meaning of the word but that's not what people think of when they use it. It's the history behind it that would never allow me to say it. But today I watched Whoopie Goldberg explain that Maher did what a good comedian does when talking about something controversial and used the word to describe himself. It was an interesting point of view considering she is both black and a comedian.

  The day is almost over. We made it through another day. Be thankful you have. Hold your loved ones for an extra second. Kiss your kids goodnight one more time. Eat the cake.

  "Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

  Ang

Is It Hot In Here???

  Where to begin. Sigh...just one day I want to wake up to a world not thrown for a loop by the U.S. leaders uninformed, egotistical decisions. I know it's only been 5 months or so but it's exhausting.

  Climate change. Is it real? Scientists agree it is. Big energy companies do. World leaders including our own PM Trudeau believe it does. Every person I've every spoken to about it does. I do. The only people who don't seem to are Trump advisors, some of his supporters and the man himself. However, he is building a wall...yes another one....to stop his golf course from falling into the sea because of rapid erosion in Scotland. Wonder what he believes is causing that?

  What is mind boggling to me is that the Paris Climate Accord markers are voluntary. If he really was so concerned about job loss or making the middle class pay then the numbers could have been changed without pulling out of something that took years and years and years to agree upon. Simple. Easy. Change your goals. 

  One thing to come out of this is my renewed hope in U.S. business leaders. Bob Iger and Elon Musk have honored their word about leaving the Advisory Council if Trump withdrew from the Paris Accord. It is refreshing to see someone stand up for the country even when it means going against the leader. 

  There isn't a Plan B. We have one planet. We need clean air. We need clean water to drink. We need to work together.

  All 7.347 billion of us!

  Ang
  

  

Opinions

  Expressing an opinion is tricky. There are always folks who will disagree with you and perhaps not very nicely. Allowing people to have their say without name calling or hostility is an adult quality most don't possess. It's most obvious in politics, religion, vaccinations and abortion. 

  Any controversial opinion is met with anger and personal attacks. Don't believe in vaccinations? You are an idiot, stupid, child abuser who should be killed. I read that exact statement last week on a public board. The Liberals ruined Canada. Heard that one the day after the federal election after defeating the Conservatives, who had been in power for 10 years. Neither makes sense. 

  People are passionate about their beliefs. That's a good thing. But it's the reaction to others passion that irks me. Every day I see and hear people disrespect religion. Not just the atheists but religious folks criticizing other faiths. Loudly. Rudely. I don't get it. 

  When I write I try to be respectful. It's a balancing act for me to express my thoughts on an issue while trying to see the other side. Sometimes I'm not successful. Those entries I either rewrite or delete. I'm not willing to ruin perfectly good friendships over a difference of opinion. It's not worth it.

  Stand up for what you believe in. Fight for your rights. Just do it in a respectful manner. Make Dr. King proud.

   Oh and if it's mine you don't like remember.....nothing nasty.

  Ang