I finally received most of the items I ordered online...only two more to go!
I put together one of the shelves I ordered... the simple metal one. :-) It should work out well for what I wanted it to do. We'll find out....
The other two shelving units are a bit heavier... and will need major time to put together. I hear that this is a common issue with furniture these days... having to put it together yourself and having problems in the process. :-) This will be fun.
My most important purchase, a special pan with a handle that allows you to pour out the contents like a pitcher, is really wonderful. I can't wait to try it out.
As I go about my room changes, I will be looking for things to sell on eBay, and maybe on Etsy as vintage items. Hopefully, I will be able to generate some income ... finally.
I don't want to share any more about my day, so I will let you go now... but I may add some posts through the weekend. I am seeing that I need to lessen my blog time, but haven't decided how to do that yet. There is a lot more I would like to share, but it all takes time... I haven't found that time yet.
Enjoy your days...
Wednesday, 18 NOV 2015 :: Over-reacting to violence
Today I was listening to several news programs talk about Paris and the aftermath, of authorities trying to capture the terrorists, and about the need for surveillance to overcome the violence of those who kill for media attention... to control their victims... to gain power over good people, countries, and the world. Technology is overcoming our ability to protect ourselves, to live independently, to have privacy. The government is wanting to have full access to everyone's lives... it won't be long before they are able to do that.
This need of government to intrude into our lives is helped along with events like this. Any crime with a gun is attached to gun control, mental illness, and terrorism, depending on who is doing the reporting. We are now arresting people before they have committed a crime, because we believe they have been recruited by a terror organization, and they try to leave the country. I don't like the idea of anyone helping the bad guys, but when did it become a crime to leave the country? It has set a precedence... and I think I read at least two articles about different people it happened to.
Immigration is in the conversation now -- because a passport was found near a dead body, because it might have been used by one of the terrorists to enter the country, because the person may have come into the country through an immigrant program using that passport, and because that access allowed them to participate in a terrorist act. Now all immigrants are dangerous because at least one MAY have been among the hundreds of thousands that have been fleeing Syria.
We do this all the time... lump one bad person with every person like them in some way... all migrants are criminals, all black people are gang members, all Mexicans are drug dealers, all Russians are communists, all Christians are stupid, all religions are coercive, all homeless people are addicts, all women are prostitutes in disguise, all children are looking for a pedophile, all rich people get there by stealing, all politicians are liars... and the list goes on and on and on.
In my listening to the news today, I saw how easy it is to make a bomb that will destroy an airliner filled with people... and there is little to prevent them when one of their followers works in baggage.
It may have been last night that the segment of a father and son was aired at a flower memorial. This young father, under pressure of TV stardom, lied to his young and trusting son. He told his son that flowers (at memorials) would protect us from the guns of the bad guys.
We should never lie to our children about important things like that... children need to know they can trust you to tell them what is real and what is not. When they find out you lied, they may never trust you again. Flowers help us show how much we care about the tragedy, but they don't stop violence.
Some time ago I realized that violence is a tool that subdues people... especially good people. It is used by those on the wrong side of living to make sure they feel more important than they are. The threat toward a major American city, and our responses to these threats (easily seen on any media), are all tools of violence. The enemy wins.
I don't know if Mankind will ever find a solution to the need of some people to use violence to control others. We have created armies to overcome them... armies that are forced into their own form of violence to survive... and still they exist.
Losing our own rights to protect against the acts of terrorists is not the answer. Being afraid of every shadow is not the answer. Becoming like the enemy is not the answer.
In my experience with prison systems, I have decided that the only opportunity we have to change the lives of people who end up there is to do something positive while they are in prison. Instead, they end up worse than they were when they went in.
Terrorists are really gangs, and the people who join them don't wake up one morning and decide to become a terrorist. Something very deep and very hurtful has pushed them into that direction. We need to figure out what that is so we can stop growing people who want to join gangs, especially gangs of terrorists.
This need of government to intrude into our lives is helped along with events like this. Any crime with a gun is attached to gun control, mental illness, and terrorism, depending on who is doing the reporting. We are now arresting people before they have committed a crime, because we believe they have been recruited by a terror organization, and they try to leave the country. I don't like the idea of anyone helping the bad guys, but when did it become a crime to leave the country? It has set a precedence... and I think I read at least two articles about different people it happened to.
Immigration is in the conversation now -- because a passport was found near a dead body, because it might have been used by one of the terrorists to enter the country, because the person may have come into the country through an immigrant program using that passport, and because that access allowed them to participate in a terrorist act. Now all immigrants are dangerous because at least one MAY have been among the hundreds of thousands that have been fleeing Syria.
We do this all the time... lump one bad person with every person like them in some way... all migrants are criminals, all black people are gang members, all Mexicans are drug dealers, all Russians are communists, all Christians are stupid, all religions are coercive, all homeless people are addicts, all women are prostitutes in disguise, all children are looking for a pedophile, all rich people get there by stealing, all politicians are liars... and the list goes on and on and on.
In my listening to the news today, I saw how easy it is to make a bomb that will destroy an airliner filled with people... and there is little to prevent them when one of their followers works in baggage.
It may have been last night that the segment of a father and son was aired at a flower memorial. This young father, under pressure of TV stardom, lied to his young and trusting son. He told his son that flowers (at memorials) would protect us from the guns of the bad guys.
We should never lie to our children about important things like that... children need to know they can trust you to tell them what is real and what is not. When they find out you lied, they may never trust you again. Flowers help us show how much we care about the tragedy, but they don't stop violence.
Some time ago I realized that violence is a tool that subdues people... especially good people. It is used by those on the wrong side of living to make sure they feel more important than they are. The threat toward a major American city, and our responses to these threats (easily seen on any media), are all tools of violence. The enemy wins.
I don't know if Mankind will ever find a solution to the need of some people to use violence to control others. We have created armies to overcome them... armies that are forced into their own form of violence to survive... and still they exist.
Losing our own rights to protect against the acts of terrorists is not the answer. Being afraid of every shadow is not the answer. Becoming like the enemy is not the answer.
In my experience with prison systems, I have decided that the only opportunity we have to change the lives of people who end up there is to do something positive while they are in prison. Instead, they end up worse than they were when they went in.
Terrorists are really gangs, and the people who join them don't wake up one morning and decide to become a terrorist. Something very deep and very hurtful has pushed them into that direction. We need to figure out what that is so we can stop growing people who want to join gangs, especially gangs of terrorists.
Tuesday, 17 NOV 2015 :: long day, short message -- but I am churning inside...
I don't have the energy to spend a lot of time here tonight... it has been a long day, and I have seen so many reports and comments on Paris, on refugees, on America, on politics, on fear, and trembling, and what the future will become. I could write for hours, days, on these issues... but then I remember that all of this is part of GOD's prophecies coming true. The world can't become as it was in the days of Noah (when there was only ONE righteous person) without everyone else forsaking GOD and doing things we don't like to see, or feel, or experience.
I wish I had all the answers, but I am seeking better pathways for all us Christians... who will become the target of all this violence and hate one day.
If I could live long enough, I would do what I could to make a safe place.
If I had enough money, I would work in those directions... all over the world... and prepare for all the hard times ahead.
If I could, I would.... but GOD hasn't provided for this work...yet... so that means ... well, I have always wondered if it meant it was too late to make a safe place.
=========================
I better get to bed and save my words for when I have rested and may possible feel better and not remember all the things that rise up in me at the situations we face.
I wish I had all the answers, but I am seeking better pathways for all us Christians... who will become the target of all this violence and hate one day.
If I could live long enough, I would do what I could to make a safe place.
If I had enough money, I would work in those directions... all over the world... and prepare for all the hard times ahead.
If I could, I would.... but GOD hasn't provided for this work...yet... so that means ... well, I have always wondered if it meant it was too late to make a safe place.
=========================
I better get to bed and save my words for when I have rested and may possible feel better and not remember all the things that rise up in me at the situations we face.
Monday, 16 NOV 2015 :: another late night post, catching up with the weekend
My goodness, I was doing so much over the weekend I don't remember it all... I was amazed at how easy it was to see the Democratic Debate... on TV, no problems, in its entirety... how did that happen??? I had my laptop on for back-up, but never had to use it... it seemed to work so well also.
With only three people on stage, the contents of the debate was less harsh for the presenters... the Republicans are lucky to get any real time to present their answers to the hard questions. I liked the third guy... and it was the first time I really ever heard of him or saw him.
I saw a commercial about the next debate being in February, but I don't recall which party it was for. I have a list... I will have to check on that. Valentine's Day... that must be why... all the subconscious affiliation with love and marriage. :-)
=========================
I spent hours and hours revamping my goal pages this weekend... and I am glad I did. It is really beginning to work out. By January I should be ready to print and fill out my pages for a whole year, so I can compare apples with apples and oranges with oranges. Right now, each week has changes. I am getting rid of duplications and trying to put it all in a workable order... goals, updates, budgets, tracking data... and whatever else comes up. I haven't even begun working on the separate tracking for my selling sites... I don't know when that will fit in.
==========================
My ongoing challenge to eat the emergency supplies I have is really a drain on my body and mind. I hate it... but I am going to keep doing what I can. I am out of canned goods. I have a few freezer items, with veggies... and will be using the last of my soup broth tomorrow. I've been trying a pizza dough recipe as a small bread loaf... today's effort wasn't good. But I am moving in the right direction! :-) I have to get out to a store soon, so I will pick up enough food to keep me going in my use up the food campaign. My son uses dried beans for hummus and other dishes... I need to make up some of my dried foods and figure out how to make them into something worth eating. I have chili powder, so I am going to look for a simple CHILI recipe to make. Beans are good protein. I have dehydrated refried beans... maybe one more portion, so that will work for some meals. I hate to think of how they survived in the wild west we all think of as the movies portray it. Real life was a lot harder, I bet.
=========================
I am moving into senior status with more resolve now... I ordered some bookshelves, a folding table, and a metal shelf online and am waiting for their delivery. I hope they arrive in good time and in good shape. I am trying Walmart's free shipping service. I can only afford the cheap versions, but they look like they will do... the bookshelves are particle board, or something like that... so who knows what will happen. I am trying to reorganize my small space so I can get some work done. I am already getting ready to move everything around... and may get rid of my TV or put it somewhere it is too hard to reach. :-) I will have to get more furniture help for my space, but let's see how this works out, first.
=========================
I started to collect addresses for mailing out Christmas cards this year... it has been many years since I have been able to do much. I'm going to try to do what I can this year... and Christmas cards are an achievable goal... only $10 (approximately) for stamps. I haven't decided if I will make or buy the cards yet. I use to make my own Christmas cards/messages...it was a great event for me. I don't know if I want to do that still... but I am think about how deeply I want to get into this. E-cards are probably the future, and I am trying to learn how those are created, but I still love real Christmas cards.
Only a few minutes left of 16 NOVEMBER 2015, so I better get going. Thanks for all your patience as I work through all the problems I am faced with. They are less than some, more than others.... and that is why I always loved the writing that use to be a poster when I was young... DESIDERATA. I think it's still around. We were a thoughtful generation, looking for deep answers to deep problems. I think sports is all anyone cares about these days. That is a comment on our world...
With only three people on stage, the contents of the debate was less harsh for the presenters... the Republicans are lucky to get any real time to present their answers to the hard questions. I liked the third guy... and it was the first time I really ever heard of him or saw him.
I saw a commercial about the next debate being in February, but I don't recall which party it was for. I have a list... I will have to check on that. Valentine's Day... that must be why... all the subconscious affiliation with love and marriage. :-)
=========================
I spent hours and hours revamping my goal pages this weekend... and I am glad I did. It is really beginning to work out. By January I should be ready to print and fill out my pages for a whole year, so I can compare apples with apples and oranges with oranges. Right now, each week has changes. I am getting rid of duplications and trying to put it all in a workable order... goals, updates, budgets, tracking data... and whatever else comes up. I haven't even begun working on the separate tracking for my selling sites... I don't know when that will fit in.
==========================
My ongoing challenge to eat the emergency supplies I have is really a drain on my body and mind. I hate it... but I am going to keep doing what I can. I am out of canned goods. I have a few freezer items, with veggies... and will be using the last of my soup broth tomorrow. I've been trying a pizza dough recipe as a small bread loaf... today's effort wasn't good. But I am moving in the right direction! :-) I have to get out to a store soon, so I will pick up enough food to keep me going in my use up the food campaign. My son uses dried beans for hummus and other dishes... I need to make up some of my dried foods and figure out how to make them into something worth eating. I have chili powder, so I am going to look for a simple CHILI recipe to make. Beans are good protein. I have dehydrated refried beans... maybe one more portion, so that will work for some meals. I hate to think of how they survived in the wild west we all think of as the movies portray it. Real life was a lot harder, I bet.
=========================
I am moving into senior status with more resolve now... I ordered some bookshelves, a folding table, and a metal shelf online and am waiting for their delivery. I hope they arrive in good time and in good shape. I am trying Walmart's free shipping service. I can only afford the cheap versions, but they look like they will do... the bookshelves are particle board, or something like that... so who knows what will happen. I am trying to reorganize my small space so I can get some work done. I am already getting ready to move everything around... and may get rid of my TV or put it somewhere it is too hard to reach. :-) I will have to get more furniture help for my space, but let's see how this works out, first.
=========================
I started to collect addresses for mailing out Christmas cards this year... it has been many years since I have been able to do much. I'm going to try to do what I can this year... and Christmas cards are an achievable goal... only $10 (approximately) for stamps. I haven't decided if I will make or buy the cards yet. I use to make my own Christmas cards/messages...it was a great event for me. I don't know if I want to do that still... but I am think about how deeply I want to get into this. E-cards are probably the future, and I am trying to learn how those are created, but I still love real Christmas cards.
Only a few minutes left of 16 NOVEMBER 2015, so I better get going. Thanks for all your patience as I work through all the problems I am faced with. They are less than some, more than others.... and that is why I always loved the writing that use to be a poster when I was young... DESIDERATA. I think it's still around. We were a thoughtful generation, looking for deep answers to deep problems. I think sports is all anyone cares about these days. That is a comment on our world...
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