Monday, June 20, 2011

Life Gripe: Disrespecting Others

Today my life gripe is about disrespecting others.  In my particular case, it's the neighbors who are disrespecting everyone in the neighborhood by letting their dog run loose once and twice a week and being a nuisance and possibly a danger to everyone. 

This dog has chased after people walking, chased cars, chased kids on a mopad, came after me on my porch and went after my husband and his kids as they were getting out of the car.  This dog is very agressive barking and growling and his tail is not wagging.  He comes into our yard chasing us and using the bathroom in our yard.  We have called Animal Control several times and have even been told they have already been warned and cited once.  But do they seem to care, no, obviously not, as they're still letting their dog loose once and twice a week to disrespect the neighbors.   

They obviously have no respect for others.  I don't let my dog loose to run wild.  My dog is a house dog and occasionally I put her outside on a 25 foot lead and I also take her for walks.  That's what these people need to do.  They need to respect everyone else.  Not let their dog run wild to chase and scare other people or to relieve themselves in neighbors yards.  I'll never understand people who blantantly disrespect others or their property.

Here is the definition of Respect ...Respect denotes both a positive feeling of esteem for a person or other entity (such as a nation or a religion), and also specific actions and conduct representative of that esteem. Respect can be a specific feeling of regard for the actual qualities of the one respected (e.g., "I have great respect for her judgment"). It can also be conduct in accord with a specific ethic of respect. Rude conduct is usually considered to indicate a lack of respect, disrespect, where as actions that honor somebody or something indicate respect. Specific ethics of respect are of fundamental importance to various cultures. Respect for tradition and legitimate authority is identified by Jonathan Haidt as one of five fundamental moral values shared to a greater or lesser degree by different societies and individuals.[1]

What part of this can't they understand?  Why is it so difficult for them to be respectful.  And to have been warned and cited already and continue to disrespect is just low.  I mean how low can you go?  They're the lowest of low.  So who and how is someone disrespecting you?  This is my story of disrespect.  The current status is I wrote a letter to Animal Control after many phone calls that seemed to go nowhere.  They finally responded and gave me a direct number to call in the future that would take more direct action.  They were also going to go give another warning to the neighbor about letting the dog loose, so hopefully this will put an end to it once and for all.

Today's Life Quote:

“I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”



Jackie Robinson quotes








Thursday, May 19, 2011

Life Gripe: Why Bother to Tweet

Why do I tweet?  Why do I bother?  Really, what's the reason?  There's rarely any interactions or RT's to speak of.  I think everyone just posts and reads their own tweets and that's about it.  Maybe on occasion someone will actually read your tweet and give you an RT if your lucky.  But that's on a rare occasion.  It seems as though everyone is caught up in themselves, in doing their own thing and they don't communicate.  It's all about me, me, me. 

There are, of course, those popular tweeters who have tons of followers that get many RT's and people love to communicate with them.  But only if you popular.  Sheesh, it makes you feel like your almost back in high school again.  The most popular gets all the attention while everyone else gets left out in the cold.  And everyone wants you to follow them, but they don't want to follow you back.  Once again, they're only interested in themselves.  So for the most part, everyone is out there posting and posting, all the while no one is reading them but themselves.

I think the only reason I'm still tweeting is because it's a way to express myself, to talk, even if no one is listening.  I guess it's also because I secretly hope someone is reading them.  That someone finds them interesting or entertaining.  I also use it to hear about the latest coupon deals and freebies.  There are a few select people on there I do tweet with everyday just to say hello and to tell them to have a good day.  Other than that there's not really any communication or as you call it, mentions. 

I remember, in the beginning, twitter was much more interactive.  In the beginning, people were communicating and RTing more than what they are now.  Somewhere along the line it slowed down to an almost standstill.  And now we're left with everyone just posting about themselves and for themselves.  I don't know what needs to happen to change this, but something needs to give.  All I know is there needs to be more communication...more mentions and more RTing.  There needs to be more interest taken in each other's posts.  Right now it's just all of us peeps in one big twitterverse and no communication is going on.








Today's Life Quote:

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.



Leo Buscaglia

Monday, April 4, 2011

Life Hype: Beautiful Sunny Days

I just love beautiful warm sunny days.  There is nothing like a sunny, warm 80 degree day.  Not to hot, not to cold, but just right.  All the beautiful trees and flowers are blooming and fresh fragrances are in the air of fresh flowers and even mowed grass.  All the birds are singing and chirping.  Just such a lovely day.

I think I have Seasonal Defective Disorder because my moods seem to be according to the weather outside.  It's so wonderful when it's nice outside because even if you don't do anything, at the very least you can sit outside on your porch and enjoy the weather.  You can sit in silence for peace and quiet, you can read a book or even lay out in the sun if that's what you wish.  And best of all, you can go for a walk as I do with my pup.  Just so you soak up some good old Vitamin D.  So not only do you get to enjoy the beautiful sunny weather, but be sure you take advantage of the wonderful weather when you can because Vitamin D is an essential Vitamin we all need and you need at least about 10 minutes a day of direct sunlight.  Not only is the Vitamin D good for you, but it improves your mood and overall well being.  So what are you waiting for?  Go soak up some sun!

Today's Life Quote:

Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. ~W. Earl Hall



Saturday, February 12, 2011

My Favorite Seasons

I dislike Winter and Summer.  Why?  Winter is too cold and summer is too hot.  My favorite time of the year is Spring and Fall.  Not to hot and not too cold, but just right.  You can actually go outside in the spring without breaking out into a big sweat or in your home for that matter.  And Fall is just cool enough that your not freezing your butt off every time you turn around.  Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Winter and Summer, well okay pretty close.  I can take Summer over Winter any day.  At least in the Spring and Fall if you want to cookout outside you can do so without burning up or all the bugs.  And you can take a walk comfortably. 

Another good reason I love Spring and Fall is for my moods.  I am much happier and more pleasant in the Fall and Spring time because I'm more comfortable and at ease.  I still get plenty of sunshine and warmth on my skin.  And Fall, I love all the beautiful colors of the leaves turning.  Just such an array of beautiful colors.  And Spring brings the wonderful fresh smells of flowers and trees blooming.  So yes, when it comes to seasons, I am a Spring and Fall kinda gal.  What are you and why?








Today's Life Quote:

"Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence



Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance


Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence


Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance."


- Yoko Ono, Season of Glass



Monday, January 17, 2011

Life Gripe: Exercise

Today, I have a Life Gripe about exercising.  My gripe is that frankly, I hate it!  My New Year's resolution was to get back to the gym and get back on the treadmill which I have done reluctantly.  I go 4 days a week for 40 minutes and I loathe every minute of it.  Every day I have to really push myself and talk myself into going and that gets old quick.  I'm trying to establish exercise as a habit, something I will just start doing everyday without thinking so much about how I hate it, but so far, it isn't working. 

I know that the end result of exercising has only good things in store for me, so reluctantly I continue on.  I just keep thinking of my blood pressure going down and my HDL levels remaining low.  Oh and not to mention the weight loss that will come in time.  I have about 40 to 50 pounds to lose so any pounds I can lose would only be a huge accomplishment.  So far I've been going about 3 weeks and lost 2 pounds, but hey that's a start. 

As I said, I hate exercising, but know it's good for me and in time will lose some weight, so I will do my best to continue on at least 3 times a week, that is my goal.  My ultimate goal is 5 times a week for 45 minutes.  And as I said, to make exercise a habit.  Something I do without consciously having to force myself to do everyday.  If I can do that, it will be half my battle.








Today's Life Quote:

"Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states."
~Carol Welch
 

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Life Gripe: Christmas, Ba Humbug!

 Today I have a Life Gripe and it's on a very touchy subject, Christmas.  Ba humbug I say, especially the shopping and gift giving part.  Christmas has become no more than a huge money making shopping time of the year.  I mean it's all about the gifts.  People are getting TV's, camera's Wii's and Xboxes when I'm happy if I get a new pair of socks.  I mean there are people out there who don't have a home or can't even afford to eat and we're out buying expensive gifts? Where did our priorities go? Now if your one of those who helps others during one of the most difficult times of the year, then good for you. You should be commended because there are very few of you left.  
Take myself for instance. I know I need to do some shopping sometime soon, but I just really, really don't want to. Why? What are my reasons? Here are 4 of them.  
  1. I don't want to get out in the cold.
  2. I don't want to deal with the rude people.
  3. I don't really have the money to blow. 
  4. I'm not in the Christmas spirit.
It's so cold outside I just hate to be out in such bad weather and for what to scrounge up and go spend money I really don't have to buy gifts for Christmas. And hey, if I don't give a gift, you can bet I won't get any.And omg, the people you have to deal with out there are so rude. Especially in Walmart. And not just the customers, but the employees too. Just plain vain and rude. It's so bad that I feel I'm going to get in a fight every time I go out, so why bother? 

And why am I spending money when I still owe hospital bills and my car still needs worked on. Now don't get me wrong. I do love to give. I so badly want to buy my son a great gift because he wouldn't expect it. We've never had a lot of money so he's use to getting average gifts. So if he was to get even one great thing he wanted, he would totally be surprised. I would love to be able to do that for my son, but I can't and that is so heartbreaking and one of the hardest things in the world when there are some sons out there who every year get what they want for Christmas. And I'm not just talking about kids, I'm talking about adult sons too. My son has always gotten something for Christmas, even when he was little. It was always nice, but not necessarily what he wanted because we couldn't afford it. So yes, ba humbug. 

I'm not so much in the Christmas spirit because this is a time of year that is just very difficult for me for many reasons. I've lost both parents and miss them badly. Matter of fact we buried my mother on December 17, 2001, so Christmas since then has been a difficult time for me. I struggle financially and going out and seeing or reading on Facebook or Twitter about everyone else doing all this shopping and Christmas dinners with family hurts me when I struggle to make ends meet and have lost both my parents and live 1 1/2 hours from the rest of my family. I rarely get to see them anymore because my vehicle needs work that I can't afford and it won't make it on long trips.

To top it all off my husband could care less about Christmas. He usually works right through it. He waits until like three days before Christmas and buys me a "have-to" gift. No thought, nothing special, just buys something for the sake of getting me something. I miss those days of sentiment and being surprised now and then. All I do is try to get through this difficult time of year best I can. And sometimes it's not pretty. It's very difficult to do with all the non-stop chitter chatter about it on a daily basis. And although I do love Christmas at heart, those are my many reasons why I now say ba humbug, because it breaks my heart.

Today's Life Quote:

Sometimes I wish I were a little kid again, skinned knees are easier to fix than broken hearts. ~ Author Unknown

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Life Gripe: A Dreary Day

Today, I have a Life Gripe and it is A Dreary Day.  I despise dreary days.  Dreary days just make me feel like not getting out of bed.  And even when I do make it out of bed, I just feel like crawling back in it all day long.  I have no motivation, no energy, no gusto. 

So, I grab myself a nice hot cup of coffee and hop on my laptop for some computer time.  Work on my blogs, work on my businesses and even do some social networking, but the whole way through, try as I may, I just keep wanting to curl up under a blanket.  After all it's dreary and it's a cold day, so what better to do that curl up under a blanket.  

I could just take my laptop to the living room, curl up under a blanket on the couch in front of the TV, with my laptop on my lap.  The bathroom will just have to wait until a sunny day to be cleaned.  A nice sunny and warmer day when I have motivation to attack the bathroom with a little gusto. 

I try to look at Dreary Days as a positive.  How?  Sometimes I think these dreary days are built in just for the purpose of making us rest and relax.  They're a way of making us curl up under a blanket and do nothing.  Otherwise we run ourselves ragged and wear ourselves out.  It's natures way of telling us we need to rest, we need to relax and take time for ourselves.   

So what are you doing on this dreary day?  How about taking time out to rest and relax.  Go grab a good book, grab your laptop or watch a good movie.  Just curl up under that blanket on the couch with a nice hot cup of coffee or chocolate and relax.  After all it's only a day.  But wait, maybe it's two days, well then so be it, take two days.  Whatever you need, you take it, nature is helping you by giving you this Dreary Day to relax.








Today's Life Quote:

"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop." ~Ovid