Walking in the dark

I am not a morning person. I never have been and probably never will be. But I do find my life and health is a lot better when I keep a regular schedule seven days a week all year long. Getting myself up and going is a challenge some days. On the weekends I'd rather not shower and instead wear sweats. I will procrastinate showering as long as I can. If I don't have any place to go I won't shower and get dress in non-comfortable clothing unless I have to!

So typically when I get up to walk/run in the mornings it is a trek that is on the city streets of my town where the lighting is the best, or on my treadmill, usually during the winter and snow. We have a high school track which is very nice, but when it is pitch black outside and you are leery of shadows or tripping the availability of lighting other than a cell phone is a luxury. 

Well someone adjusted the walking light timers at our track and all of us who choose to walk in the mornings now have lights. We can now can see where we are walking- it's like the invention of sliced bread, maybe even better! This was walking heaven! A nice walking surface that has lighting and the opportunity to enjoy the scenery, well at least the sun coming up or the moon going down. 

It is the little things in life that make us most happy, be it a smile from someone, a shared piece of chocolate (which I also had today) or a light to see where you are walking! It is all good and very much appreciated. 

The need to write

We all have those "things" that we need to do in order to deal with life. For me it is writing or sweating. The writing is purely mental, unless it is for work. The sweating from exercise is probably the best thing since it makes me sweat and gives me a mental break from things. So exercise has a two-fold benefit. But writing, like this blog, often times helps me hash out or deal with feelings. But there are those times when writing is just that, writing, and I'm not sure why or what is propelling me to write.  

I'm sure there are a million different ways to deal with life, the stress and garbage we all have on a daily basis. I had a friend tell me that her boyfriend has found a bar in Des Moines that is open to anyone for Tuesday night jam sessions. She said her boyfriend plans on making these Tuesday night jam sessions a weekly habit. He is in music education and recently was diagnosed with a life changing health issue so I get why he is doing this. It's his way of dealing and I'm betting he enjoys it and it does him a great deal of mental good. 

I have another friend who cooks and bakes, this is her stress reliever. She is a very good cook and always willing to share samples and her recipes. This is her stress reliever. Her friends and family benefit from this!

As a kid my mom always said she could tell my mood by how loud or what music I played on the piano. I would play loudly and usually it was heavy or dark music, or I would bang out scales and cadences if I was stressed or angry-making my fingers fly up and down the piano keys. Or I would play mellow, easy flowing songs with feeling if I was not stressed. I wish I still did this but I am so rusty on the piano and I can't find the time to sit down and practice. It was interesting to hear this from my mom. 

Everyone has different stress relievers and they range from reading to working on cars to chopping wood to riding dirt bikes and a million other things. I find it interesting to get to know people and hear what they do to relieve stress, whether they realize it or not. Some people shop, some read, some just sit and mindlessly watch tv-sports or scary shows or a favorite feel good movie or television show. Some people eat for relaxation, while others clean. It's what makes us tick and unique.

But the best advice I can find in all of this, as I'm writing....is do what helps you deal with life. Do what helps you de-stress or makes you feel good. Do it for you, do it for your mental health and for your physical health. But mostly do it for the wellbeing and safety of those around you! And as long as your "dealing activity" is not destructive to you or someone else, its all good. 

I'm done with writing for today...back to life!

Don't try this at home

Okay, I grew up  around fireworks so I am comfortable with them. And I have a small stash of leftover fireworks from several years ago. Every year at this time large flocks of crows like to hangout in the trees around my town. So when I came home from work the other day there were a ton of crows in my trees, making a mess-if you know what I mean. Along with their mess, aka bird droppings, the noise from the crows was loud. So I did what I always do to get these pests out of my trees...resort to fireworks.

I found an empty wine bottle. One bottle rocket. And a lighter. I went out to the end of my back sidewalk, set the bottle down and put the bottle rocket in the bottle, then angled it to make sure I would not fire it at the house or start something on fire. I fired up the lighter, yes pun intended, and I lit the fuse. Then I backed away, quickly! The swoosh of the rocket did the trick, the birds took off and were gone. And I thought for a few brief seconds that the rocket was a dud. But nope. It let off the loudest bang I've heard in a long time. And this was long after the birds had left so there was nothing to muffle the bang. It was such a loud bang it scared the monarch butterflies there were in my trees...opps, sorry guys.

I wasn't sure what to do. Did my neighbors think a gun had been fired? Was I going to get in trouble because fireworks are illegal and I did just shoot one off in town, in broad daylight! Honestly it scared the poo out of me because it was so loud!

My quick thinking was to grab the evidence...the bottle and lighter that was still in my hand and hide it in the house. I put things away and wondered what the neighbors were still thinking. It was a pretty quiet day and it sounded like a gun had been fired.

So my solution was I would not get in trouble if I wasn't home...so I took off for a three mile walk! It took me 40 minutes and as I got a couple blocks from home guess what was in the trees overhead as I tried to dodge the "droppings"? Those crows......so much for getting them to go away.

No I didn't get in trouble. And I've not had any of the neighbors ask me if I heard a loud bang, like a gun going off on Monday afternoon. Because honestly I don't know if I could keep from looking guilty or laughing and smiling.

Would I stage the bottle rocket vs crows episode again? You bet. Those dumb things are loud, nosy and make a mess. And as long as I've got the ammo and I don't get in trouble I'm gonna keep using it!

I'll just be wiser next time...one way or another!

Oh and one mishap in this whole episode...before I lit the fuse on the bottle rocket I got hit on the shoulder, hard, by a falling walnut. Maybe it was a sign from God and I should have stopped before I lit that fuse. But noooo, I went ahead and did it anyway! Yes, I'm a stubborn redhead. But my shoulder hurt for a couple of days!!

May your day be crow free and may no one shoot off a bottle rocket in your neighborhood and scare the poo out of you. Oh, and don't try this at home!!!

Time to cool off

I just put together, headed, master minded Heroes Night at our Friday night football game. And you know what....it will be the first, last and only one.
I'm not saying that with anger but I'm to the point where some things and people ruin it for everyone. And is it not worth the work I put in when people bitch, moan and complain...

I wanted to recognize and honor these people who give so much. That is all. Plain and simple. From our military to our local heroes, I wanted recognize these people.

But after dealing with shit heads, yes I just typed that, I'm done. I'm tired of the people who don't see the forrest for the trees or who only see the negative, the glass half empty, the sky mostly cloudy instead of the GOOD intentions that people have. Walk a mile in someone else's shoes and see how you see the world.

In a world where the nightly news is filled with death, destruction, corruption, rape, murder, disrespect for human life people need to step back and see things for what they are, the good in the world, which is few and far between as opposed to to the negative, lets complain and bitch and cause drama kind of garbage. What is wrong with people?

I would NEVER in a million years disrespect the American flag or this country. Because in my opinion despite all the garbage going on we are all pretty damn lucky to be living where we are. I used to fold the flag that flew on our flag pole on the farm where I was raised the military way...I taught myself. I have the utmost respect.

So when I hear of people complaining and bitching about the date this event, or how the flag was displayed for the national anthem or people who are upset about a version of the US flag pained on a high school football field I just want to say to them "are you flipping kidding me?". Can you NOT find something more constructive and beneficial to do with your time than to bitch and complain. We have children in our own town who are in need of food or clothes or the simple things that most of us take for granted every day. We have elderly who are lonely and have such a limited income that they have to choose between food or their medication. And for ONE flipping minute these "people" get their panties in a wad over this kind of stuff? How about we get upset with how our veterans are treated. The lack of health care or benefits. The fact that some smuck wearing a football helmet makes more money on any given Sunday and is touted as a hero while the real heroes are those who wear helmets and serve and protect our country. If anyone would think that for one minute myself or any of the paint crew who created that beautiful flag on our football field meant ANY disrespect then they need to open their eyes and see the world how it really is...wake up.

So despite the BS I've heard or been talked at about this...I'm sorry I would never offend anyone in regard to the United States flag, your religious beliefs or who your friends are, but not everyone thinks beyond what has them upset. I had several people thank me for putting together the evening, the recognition. I was given hugs and I saw tears of gratitude. I saw smiles and thumbs up. It made people feel good. For our little corner of this sheltered world is a pretty peaceful and for the most part safe place. And I thank God for that every. single. day. It was a great place to raise kids.

So to the haters, complainers, those bitching, well I can't put what I want here because it would put me at their level but all I can say is I respect how you feel but maybe you need to look at things in the manner they are meant. We all are part of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

It's all about the team

I am putting together an event which will culminate at Friday nights high school football game. It is an idea I borrowed from another school district early this past summer. I've tweaked and added and honestly it has kind of taken on a life of it's own. Something I never expected. And it's a pretty cool idea if I say so myself. But I never dreamed it would get rolling and take off the way it has.

Heroes Night is my baby right now and I've worked my tail off to get this event to become a reality. From flag stickers on football helmets to flag sequined dance team tops, a cool larger than life flag painted on the middle of the football field, a couple of surprises I have up my sleeve and I think it will be a pretty cool event. And my sole intention is to recognize those who put their lives on the line, are ready at a moments notice every singe day of the year to serve and protect all of us. From our military, law enforcement, emergency, paramedics and fire department members these people give selflessly. My whole purpose is to come together as a community to recognize and say "Thank You" for all you do, everyday.

I am guarded about tomorrow night as word seems to be spreading. There seems to be a lot of people who know and are excited about this. I had a stranger, who knew me but I didn't know him tell me yesterday when I was out exercising that he'd heard me on the radio. Whaaaa? This stranger was exciting about the event and told me what a good thing it was. Then it hit me, maybe this wasn't just a little thing we are doing at a football game. Maybe people genuinely are appreciative and excited to recognize these Heroes! How cool is that?!

There have been a couple of obstacles, or as I like to call them fun haters, who have rained on my parade. It comes with the territory. And it ranges from a department head chewing me out for the date I selected for the event (hint-we only have 4 homes games....the other team's colors are BLUE and our team colors are RED and WHITE...yes, it is was a deciding factor! And I'm sorry I didn't consult with your personal calendar to see what would work for you-yes essentially that is what his reasoning was.) to how the huge flag will be displayed for the National Anthem...all our heroes are invited to come down on the field to help hold the flag. Apparently, according to flag protocol, you are not supposed to display the flag laying flat (Not laying on the field or ground, which we are not, you are not supposed to hold it flat.) but the US flag is only supposed to be hanging....sorry man but when the military unit is doing this who am I to correct them? Please make sure you call the NFL, MLB and any other highly televised event who has a huge flag as part of their National Anthem to make sure they are holding correctly as well. I've had a "group" want to make it all about one military dad, a whole stadium picture and such. NOPE, not going to happen I'm not jumping on this bandwagon nor are you going to jump on ours...we are recognizing ALL Heroes not just one. It's not the Joe So-and-so night, it's HEROES NIGHT. Yes, this is the mentality of the people out there right now. It's all about MEEEEE. Not Friday night. NO WAY.

Then I've had generous offers from people to help, or lead which have been wonderful! They have added extras I would not of had time for or thought of. An offer for a cool National Anthem salute that I hope will pan out. A group of sports boosters who are generously donating food for our heroes. Radio and newspaper people who have no only just shared my press release but called with questions, wanting interviews and photos. A dance team who has worked hard to put together a patriot halftime performance that their crazy coach has put together. A football coach and activities director who have let me run amuck and helped promote this as well. A paint crew and their leader who I shared a photo and a vision with back in June...now it is a reality! And the list goes on...

How cool is that!!

So regardless of how things go Friday night. What does or does not happen, I know it is what it is and the intention which was the foundation of this effort will be recognized I hope by those individuals we are honoring. I want them to know how appreciated they are for all they do for all of us! 

Shake the hand, thank or hug a hero if you get the chance. We need them!