Category Archives: Personal Issues

7 Quick Takes: Politics, Millenials, and Olympics

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

All in favor of requiring those seeking election to federal or state government to pass a test on basic government concepts, say “aye”. AYE!!!! This image does a better job of explaining Trump’s latest idiocy than anything else I’ve seen. Honestly, I never cease to be amazed at some of the crap people believe because of what politicians promised to them!

Why Trump is a moron... at least this time.

— 2 —

*snort* The day that Trump’s 2nd Amendment comments hit the press, my friend Neil was making comments like, “Where are my 19th Amendment people? You know what to do!” “21st Amendment people, rock on!”

So… where my 19th Amendment and 26th Amendment people??? Do your thing!

— 3 —

Let’s clear this up. Do you think that voting Republican is going stop abortion? Think again. This is why.

— 4 —

Don’t criticize what you can’t understand. I thought this list of 11 brutal truths every baby boomer needs to hear was fabulous. I’m smack on the border between being a Gen X’er and a Millenial so I could pretty much side with everythng that was said.

— 5 —

Olympics Take #1. While I think it’s certainly questionable as to whether or not Yulia Efimova should be swimming in these Olympics with the doping issue she has, I think Lilly King was being a brat about it. Wagging her finger was one thing; but refusing to shake Efimova’s hand afterwards and making catty remarks is quite another. Her reaction is inviting some serious schadenfreude if she ever slips up in any way in her life.

— 6 —

Olympics Take #2. Was it not completely awesome to see Michael Phelps school Chad Le Clos in the 200m butterfly?!?!?!?!? Especially after Le Clos was trying to get a reaction out of him the night before!

You mad, bro?

Phelps was classy about it. He did make the #1 signal on both hands, but he had the grace to go over and give Le Clos a hug after the race.

— 7 —

Olympics Take #3. I’m watching the all-around finals right now and while the results were a foregone conclusion, it’s still cool that we went 1-2 like we did in 2008. I’m also excited to see what Laurie Hernandez will be like in 4 years with more experience.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

{five favourites}: Miscellanea (LXXI)

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One

Michael Phelps’ face before his 200m butterfly semifinal. I think my favorite doctored gif of this is the one on this list where laser beams are shooting from his eyes and lighting Chad Le Clos’ hair on fire. 🙂 (Serves him right for antagonizing Phelps!)

Two

Breathing. I’m fighting a sinus infection that is messing with my asthma so I am definitely not sleeping well (even with the nectar of the gods) and I’m pretty sure that at least one lobe of my lung has been coughed up in the last few days. I’m compulsively checking the expiration dates on all my Albuterol because I don’t want yet *ANOTHER* Urgent Care visit to get meds refilled.

Three

USA Women’s Gymnastics. I know the gold medal tonight in the team final was pretty much a foregone conclusion but OH. EM. GEE!!!! I heard them say that Simone Biles only had to score a 7.591 on her floor routine to win and in order to score that low, she’d have to mess up three of her four tumbling passes and fall off the mat! (She scored a 15.8 which was no surprise.) I kind of wish Laurie Hernandez could compete in the all-nbcaround because she’s incredible, especially as her first international competition as a senior is this Olympics! I cannot wait to see where she goes from here in her gymnastics career.

Four

Today’s weather. It was below 70F all day which was divine — it’s such a nice change from temps in the 80’s and 90’s (if not higher) in California.

Five

Raspberry lemonade from Crystal Light. I’m having to push the fluids and this is making it bearable. The extra vitamin C isn’t hurting either.

Go love up Bonnie, babystylista, and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 7, 2016

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For Today…

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It was 70F earlier but just touching being warm enough to be outside without a light sweatshirt. We also had some sprinkles earlier which is expected for western Washington.

I am thinking… about how annoying all the SCANDAL-style reporting is on gymnastics. Tonight’s scandal: ALY RAISMAN IS GOING TO NUDGE OUT GABBY DOUGLAS FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE ALL-AROUND!!!!! WHAT WILL WE DOOOOOOOOOOOO?!?!?!?

I am thankful… for the discovery of Snow Goose Produce, a local seasonal produce market. I really wish the line for their ice cream hadn’t been out the door because it looked pretty good and I wanted some!

One of my favorite things… having the bed to myself. Waiting to Daniel to go back to sleep so I can put him back in his own bed and not have him taking up 2/3 of my bed.

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes were a black top, black slacks, and black flats. The rest of the day, it was an indigo shirt, jeans, and my running shoes.

I am creating… a big boy blankie for Daniel. I’ve picked it back up and am working on the edging.

I am watching… the Olympics. Gymnastics just finished and the medal ceremony for US Men’s Swimming is going on.

I am hoping… for decent sleep tonight with this stupid cold.

I am learning… my limits in functioning while this sick.

In my kitchen… Dad made burgers and we also had corn from one of the local farms.

In the school room… Daniel is still off of school and will go back on the 30th.

Post Script… I thought this was interesting, especially as I’m one of those ladies. 🙂

Shared Quote… This is Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 which was the passage I was lectoring this morning:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old– and Sarah herself was barren– because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.”

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

{five favourites}: Miscellanea (LXX)

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I usually do this link-up around Tuesday/Wednesday but my week got a little crazy. I figured I’d get my 7 Quick Takes up because they were pretty prominently on my mind and then link up here over the weekend. 🙂

One

The Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremonies. I love seeing what the various countries are wearing because sometimes it includes beautiful ethnic costumes. They did not disappoint. The Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar had women who looked completely elegant and some of the nations that are part of Oceania had beautiful dresses and sarongs. I also loved the traditional-style dresses that the Georgian team was wearing even if their nation petitioned to have the costume changed. I was not enamored with the clothes Team USA was wearing and I think the women should have done the blazer-over-a-sheath-dress thing that many of the other western nations did. Those women looked very pretty and not like they were in some boring pants suit for a meeting.

Two

COPS. The show has been on since I was a kid but it’s addictive and it sometimes shows the lighter side of law enforcement.

Three

Jail. They film footage in jails around the country though Las Vegas, Portland, and various cities in Texas and Florida are the more popular ones. Sometimes, the inmates can be pretty humorous.

Four

Locally-sourced foods. While I live in town, it’s only about a 5-10 minute drive until you’re out in the fields. We’ve been stopping at little farm stands when we’re out doing errands and we’ve learned about some interesting things that are grown in the area such as tayberries.

Five

Robitussin Nighttime Cough DM. We’ve been fighting colds in this house for the least week or so and as it’s a chest cold, I’m definitely having problems breathing which lead to problems sleeping. This formulation of Robitussin has an antihistamine in it which is making me feel really chill. I’m hoping it helps me sleep.

Go love up Bonnie, babystylista, and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 31, 2016

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For Today… July 31, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… sunny. It was a blistering 74F today and I seem to be annoying various Californians by pointing this out. 🙂 (It was 109F in Sacramento on Friday.) I’m hoping for a pretty sunset tonight.

I am thinking… about my week and what is on my plate.

I am thankful… for the sweet woman from church who wrapped me in a prayer shawl today. It was a good surprise.

One of my favorite things… Coffee Almond Fudge ice cream from Tillamook.

I am wearing… jammies. Clothes from church were a blue-green shirt from Old Navy and stretchy black skirt that I got from Lands’ End 10+ years ago. When I got home, I exchanged the skirt for my black capris from Kohl’s.

Me with Daniel while wearing my prayer shawl.

I am creating… plans for new WIP’s on my hooks.

I am watching… “Lockup: Indiana – Extended Stay” on MSNBC. I’m kind of a forensic show junkie.

I am hoping… for good sleep tonight and that I can be competitive in the various Workweek Hustles I am part of on Fitbit.

In my kitchen… the normal Sunday fare.

In the school room… Daniel is done with ESY and school is starting on August 30th.

Post Script… I liked the list of signs that one is a counterfeit Christian. Let’s just say that I know a few people who fit the profile and the list is a warning to me to be authentic with my faith.

Shared Quote… “So, look, so don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country isn’t great, that somehow we need to make it great again. Because this right now is the greatest country on earth!” — Michelle Obama

A moment from my day… One of the pictures I took at Deception Pass today.

Puget Sound @ Deception Pass

Closing Notes: Unless you’ve been intentionally avoiding all political news (which I think is a totally rational option for this election season), you’ve heard Trump’s criticisms of Khzir Khan and his wife Ghazala who spoke at the DNC. Their son, US Army Captain Humayun Khan, was killed by a car bomb in Iraq in 2004 while serving as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. One of Trump’s criticisms was that Ghazala was not the one who spoke at the DNC. She didn’t speak because… SHE’S GRIEVING HER SON, EVEN 12 YEARS LATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is her op-ed from the Washington Post, which I found to be very tender and very well-written.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Political Fun, History, and Grizzly Bears Scarfing Down Salmon

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

A little fun with all the political drama going on right now… Stephen Colbert goes to the two conventions as the character “Julius Flickerman” (brother of “Caesar Flickerman” from The Hunger Games with his pet weasel Caligula

— 2 —

History made this week. Even if Hillary Rodham Clinton doesn’t win the election in November, she is still the first woman to secure the nomination of a major political party as a presidential candidate. (I emphasized that part because she is not actually the first woman to run for president, as various people have been pointing out all week.)

— 3 —

Yeah… no. In her beautiful speech at the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama pointed out that she lives in a house that was built using slave labor. Fixed FOX News pundit Bill O’Reilly disputed this, mansplaining and whitesplaining to the First Lady that they were well-fed and were local moochers. Hate to break it to you, Bill, but the First Lady is correct. She is backed up by primary source material from Abigail Adams and by the Smithsonian.

If you want a good read on our tendency to whitewash some of the negative effects of slavery and our inability to deal with our society being complicit in it even if some of our ancestors weren’t in the country yet, I recommend this piece by a woman who used to lead tours at a southern plantation.

— 4 —

More fun related to the DNC. Quartz Magazine posted this piece talking about Bill Clinton and his speech on Tuesday night but did it in the style of a puff piece about a woman’s appearance giving the speech rather than the content of it.

— 5 —

Radio Free Babylon for the win! Sometimes Frequently, Coffee with Jesus manages to communicate the truth better than I can articulate it.

Closed to Dialog

— 6 —

Green smoothies. It’s hot here this week (translation: it’s in the 80’s) so I’ve been doing lots of green smoothies for meals because it helps to keep me cool. My recipe: a little bit of whole milk, some Greek yogurt, a handful of frozen fruit and a handful of spinach. Yum.

— 7 —

Something to watch when bored. Have you ever had the urge to watch grizzly bears in Alaska eat salmon and go fishing? Here you go!

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

{five favourites}: I’m With Her

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This might be a little politics-heavy so you might want to skip it if you aren’t a fan of Hillary Clinton. 🙂

One

This version of the song “Fight Song”. It was done by a bunch of musicians and actors and regular people who are Hillary supporters. I saw it when my dad was watching the news and liked it.

Two

Bernie Sanders. Unlike Ted Cruz’s speech at the RNC in which he did *NOT* endorse Trump (and proved how much of a sore loser he really is, which even my Texan Republican friends have commented upon), Bernie Sanders had the grace and class to endorse Hillary. His supporters are still fighting for him but he understands the need to have a united party right now.

Three

Cory Booker. He responded to Trump’s rude tweet with love and with class.

Four

Michelle Obama. Even if you don’t like her husband, you can’t deny that she is graceful, classy, wicked smart, and well-spoken.

Five

Jerry Emmett, the 102 year old woman from Arizona who got to cast 51 votes for Hillary during the Roll Call. It gave me chills to watch this. Women didn’t have the right to vote at the time of her birth and she lived long enough to see a woman be the presidential candidate for a major political party AND she had the honor of casting her state’s votes at the party’s convention!

Oh, and a message for Donald Trump: the family of late Ambassador Christopher Stevens wants you to stop the ‘opportunistic and cynical’ use of his name and death for political attacks. So please, out of respect for his family who has been asking this favor of you and your minions for four years now, SHUT UP!!!

Go love up Bonnie, babystylista, and the others.