Such a wonderful year this has been.

Wishing all 

A Merry Christmas

Happy New Year

Okay make that a belated Merry Christmas!

I'm almost sad to see this year come to an end. First time I've said that in many years. The weather played a huge role in why as well as, our not so little man Nacho, going for walks. All the dogs we met throughout the year and those who stopped by for a play date. The many miles Nacho and I walked together was awesome. The pure joy he shows when I grabbed  his collar and the my keys, how still he stands as I put his harness on, knowing the sooner I get it on, the gate will open and off we would go, brings a smile to my face every time.

Finding new tools to help me do the things I enjoy. The house being clean has lost it's importance, it still must have order, a must in the kitchen with a clean stove and oven the dishes clean more often I'll let them drip dry instead of drying them and putting them away, only drying the silverware yep I don't like water spots. The dog hair when it's cold outside builds up faster, needing to brush inside is a mess, Nacho feels it's also play time like when we brush him outside. Jane and I do what we can, however a bit harder to do. Thankfully it rolls so when the heat comes on it piling up along the wall and corners, picking up the piles is much easier!

Have had setbacks with my abilities, more weakness inconvenient and annoying, testing my patience which is in short supply these days. Way too many trips and overnight stays at the V.A. Hospital the reason, I got the answer from my Doctor it's two problems a Hiatal Hernia which activated or aggrieved  a GERD know some people who have it, my heart goes out to everyone of them.

In a few day's 2014 will begin whatever, opportunities and challenges life has in store. Each one I will face head on, knowing my attitude will make it an adventure instead of an ordeal. Taking everything as it comes, sounds like a great plan. Knowing m.s. some will knock me across the room or down on my arce. I may piss and moan for a time, with a piss poor outlook on the whole world view. Thankfully it's doesn't last long, I detest wasting my time on what isn't within my control. Learning from my Mom when a problem lands in you're path you still have choices to make, I can choose to work under, around or through it the last two choices are to go over it or let it go. No matter sooner or later for I will dust myself off and pick myself up again! Still working at living my life in spite of what m.s. doing to me, I'll lose many battles however, I've already won the war! Of continuing to live my life no matter what m.s. does to me. Just because m.s. sucks doesn't mean my life needs to suffer also. 

Giving Thanks

Giving Thanks 2013

Mary K. Mennenga

I have a great deal of thanking to do

For this year

Has been full of all the little things

Warming my heart

Finding there is a great deal of good

All around the world

When I’m willing to let go of fear

By living without judgment

To live and let live

Letting go of what is not within my

Ability to control

Looking forward to the challenges  

The New Year will bring

Writings without regrets

An overdue thank you

You loved me without condition, even before I was born

Teaching me life is about making choices

That only I could make

Understand no matter what at the time

It was

The only choice you could make

Hindsight is always 20/20

Remember

Every choice is a path not taken

Each choice has changed me

Making me the person I am today

Life is a journey of choices

Living with my choices makes it my life

Thank you for helping me to find my own answers.

Love always you’re, Didier Daughter

Mary K. Mennenga

The park, Nacho and Shannon playdate.

This is the park Nacho and I walk to or if I'm having a good day we'll walk around it. The shortest route distance, from our house to the Park and back is a half mile. The longest route we have taken is 3 1/2 miles, with many stops along the way. 

This picture is looking South.

This picture is looking West.

Looking East

This is Lucy she is one of Nacho Girlfriends.

We walk by her house on our way to the park.

Playdate

Shannon catching her breath 

Nacho is watching over the ball, waiting for Shannon

to catch her breath, so they can continue playing.

I did take more pictures and video, these are the two that turned out.

The others looked more like two floating black furball. 

The Park is where I watched A Sunset surrendering to the Night.
a wonderful way to end a great day. Living in the city the park is the one place I can go to see the sky. After living in Wisconsin for 13 years, being able to see the sky from horizon to horizon, it is what I've missed the most.

Bonus Picture

What Nacho did the first time I tried to take his picture!

The not so little big Shit!!

LOL 

The best summer in years for me.

Oop's I forgot to post this one wanted to add pictures of our not so little man Nacho. Tuesday wasn't one of my better day, today is starting out much better.

Which means I haven't been writing much, only stuff in need to write out, in a way to let it go. I don't get comments, 98% of the comments I have been getting are spam. Been writing a lot about politics I shouldn't do that, it upsets people. Been posting more on facebook it's easier for me and very few comment on my posts.

This has been my best summer mostly because, it's been cooler and at times even down right cold. The last few years it been so horrible H-O-T, I couldn't spent much time outside at all. The heat drained all my strength in no time at all, a few times I almost didn't make back inside. This year it has only happened twice, It sucks when it so hot I end up stuck in the house.

Having Nacho has made this year great for me, having him walking with me has helped me get out of the house. Nacho being so friendly we are visiting his doggy friends, most of the time we go around Longfellow park not far from home, depending on how we I'm doing going for a longer walk. If I were to leave it up to Nacho he would be dragging me home. It's so nice not being stuck in the house this year!!
To everyone hope today is A HAPPY DAY for you also!!

Nacho's best puppy dog eyes.

"You did say something about a walk! 

Now work's for me"

With this Guy saying walk or any word that start with W when looking at him,

means we should are going for a walk. Nacho goes sits next to the refrigerator because his collar is kept on top, Nacho will keep looking up at it and then at Jane or me repeating the action over and over again  

A Sunset surrendering to the Night.

I have never seen a sunset from start to finish before. Knowing and understanding how and what causes a sunset to create the light show I witnessed that night. Did not diminish how truly Amazing it was as I watched it happening. Because of living within the city of Minneapolis, MN., pollution and smoke from fires in the south and west of us played big part as to why it lasted so long.

It had been a very H-O-T day! Finally the sun had dipped below the treetops, this time of year once the Sun is lower than the trees, the heat of the day quickly dissipates and the clouds fall apart, nothing to hold the warming the Sun did all day, it cools down nicely. The house on very hot days feels more like a prison when it’s H-O-T. Living so close to downtown Minneapolis, seeing the sky is a challenge with all the trees and buildings. Longfellow park isn't too far from our house, it's the best place for me to see more of the sky, it also serves as our turning pointing or on a good day we will walk around it then we head back home.
   

Starting our walk the Sun made the sky look like it was on fire, with a mix of red, orange with gold traveling up from the Sun across the sky fading into softening pastels of the same, the clouds remained a bright white. The eastern sky was a light blue with dark gray and charcoal colored clouds. We were walking around the park heading west, the clouds had fallen apart becoming whiffs holding the pastel colors the sky had lost. The colors began slowly stretching across the sky heading eastward, the clouds falling apart turning light peach as the pastel colors continued to fill the sky changing slightly red becoming a pale rose, the orange and gold in places mixing into a pale green yellow. The people in the park were enjoying playing baseball, kickball and other games, few saw or watching as the sun fought with many colors the coming of the night. The eastern sky was darkening as a thin layer of clouds like a fog moving in, the sky darkening faster the sunset colors are all but gone. As we made the last turn for home, a pastel peach colored line spread from the west eastward, fading as the day finally surrendered to the night.

That evening walk reminded me there is a benefit to walking slower, having time to see what is happening around me. Not a sunset I'll soon forget for sure.

I have faith in God! Little faith in man acting on God's behalf.

How can and why do Republicans keep saying they are protecting the Constitutional way of life? I know they seem to think the framers of The Constitution, based it on Christian values, if that is true why wasn't it written into our Constitution. Nowhere within does it specifically mention Christianity or God. The first four Presidents of this country were not like the Christians of today, they believed in a natural God shocking I know.

Since then many people keep trying to change history and The Constitution like the Christian faithful, President’s and The Congress continue trying, to bring God into the Government of The United States. Being a nation of laws, and a Democracy Republic, with everyone having an equal voice and vote taking part in the government. By bring only the Christian God into the government we will be doing the opposite of why the framers kept it out. Christian colonists branded non-christians on the forehead with red-hot irons, bore them through their tongues, confiscated their property and threw them in jail, hanged them and burned them at the stake. Even now some Christians are claiming that non-Christians are "criminals under the CONSTITUTION".  Again Article one "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." That means people can freely exercise whatever religious belief they wish. Thanks to the Constitution, Christians can no longer persecute and kill those who do not agree with them. The framers of this Democracy Republic were men of great faith in God. However for the freedom of all the people, it had to be based on the rule of Law.

Seeing what is happening all over this country. Conservatives often never blink an eye when supporting freedoms for straight, white Christian males—but for everyone else, those freedoms are often debatable.

Case in point:

Seeking to ban abortion, though our Supreme Court (per the powers given to the court by our Constitution) says a woman’s right to choose is a constitutionally protected right (Roe v. Wade).

Defining marriage as only between a man and a woman, based on some religious beliefs. Though our Supreme Court (per the powers given to the court by our Constitution) says it is a legal right between two adults.

The Affordable Care Act passed by Congress, signed by the President and upheld as Constitutional by the Supreme Court (per the powers given to the court by our Constitution).

Being a Christian I believe in the freedom of choice, I will not force my choice on anyone for my faith doesn't allow me to judge anyone. When my judgement day I will stand before God and accept my judgement, for God is the only one who can see what's in my heart.

Putting on miles=smiles with Nacho.

This has turned out to be a very nice summer, with more cool days than h-o-t, for the first time in three years too cool for having a garden maybe next year. With the temperatures being mostly in 50’s for lows and high being mainly low 70’s, when we go for walks. Nacho and I have put on the Miles so far this year it’s well over 50 miles, without the help of my standup walker it would be zero! Nacho puts on more miles than I do running ahead and back again, again, training him on a retractable leash and with my walker, didn't take long at all. Now when I lock the door Nacho knows we are going for a walk, he tries to help by putting his nose in his collar, then stands very still when I put on his harness. Nacho is all smiles, loves meeting and making new Doggy and people friends, being cute and his crying makes it easy, to see all he really wants is to be friends. Nacho doesn't care if the dog is big, tiny or small all he wants is to play. For a male dog, he’s rare he shows no need to dominate any dog he meets and I’m glad he feels that way, so much easier to make friends.

This year is the best year since moving here for me I'm able to do more outside. Now if I could set temp at 68 to 72 degrees would be awesome for Nacho and me.  

Reading and thinking it's

Found this as I doing a bit of research about our founding fathers, wanted to share a bit of it and this is the link to the whole of it http://freethought.mbdojo.com/foundingfathers.html#Adams

Feeling as I do about my faith as a whole, which I question much of the time. Not because I feel I lack faith, I do have a great deal of faith in God and in the non-judgmental way, in which Jesus taught the lessons in the gospel. Understanding I may be right or wrong so I take it on faith, as my mother always told me, “You will not know if you were good or bad until we get home.” Many have told me I am going to hell. For many different reasons, I’ll not list them here because, I would not want to add even more fuel, to the fire I’m likely to burn in. Some people have said very nice things about me too. Only I don’t feel any of the things I’ve done or do are going to matter much when I get home, for it’s what’s in my heart that I will be judged by. With that said take a look at what I saw.       

Consider this: IF indeed the members of the First Continental Congress were all bible-believing Christians, would there ever have been a revolution at all?

"For rebellion as is the sin of witchcraft."  1 Samuel, 15:23

This passage refers to humans rebelling against god, a statement that establishes the precedence of unconditional subservience which is further illustrated, very explicitly, by the following two passages:

1 Peter 2:13:  "For the Lord's sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right."

Paul wrote in Romans 13:1:  "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore whoever resist authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."

Would our Founding Fathers have initiated a rebellion if they thought it was a sin equal to witchcraft (a crime punishable by death)?   The bible gives clear instructions to Christians on how to behave when ruled under a monarchy, as the Founders clearly were. The Founders obviously did not heed what was written in the bible.  If they were in fact good Christians, there would never have been an American Revolution.  Compare the above passages with what is written in the Declaration of Independence:

Sometimes Christians offer up the Pilgrims as an example of our nation's Christian founding. That is sheer ignorance on their part. The Pilgrims weren't the ones who crafted the Constitution that governs our nation! They weren't the ones who rebelled against England. The Pilgrims fled from horrible religious persecution in England only to practice the SAME HORRIBLE RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION here, as you can read on this pious Christian site. The "religious freedom" so often spoken of in regards to the pilgrims was espoused by them only when they were the victims. It was not based on any principle of fairness-- it was a belief born of weakness, to be fogotten in their moment of power. Christian Colonists branded non-christians on the forehead with red-hot irons, bore them through their tongues, confiscated their property and threw them in jail, hanged them and burned them at the stake-- THAT is what happens when Christians have their way! But that website is wrong in claiming that non-Christians are "criminals under the CONSTITUTION". It's the Constitution that did away with Christian persecution. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." That means people can freely exersize whatever religious belief they wish, Christian or not. Thanks to the Constitution, Christians can no longer persecute and kill those who do not agree with them.

Please share your thoughts with me, if you want or feel you need to. Thanks

Faith in Grace

My perspective of what Faith means. Faith is simple it can't be seen only felt, it’s personal, learned and gained over time. It’s in my heart I trust to be the truth. History also plays apart in what I believe like; knowing the sun will rise and set each day was a start. That I will fail, yet I will continue trying until I find my balance. Making many mistake is one thing, learning from them is another and a choice only I can choose to make. No matter what I do or don't do, say or don't say I can't change anyone, it’s a choice only that person can choose to make or not. 

It seems that more than a few are willing to stand in for God by passing judgment onto others. This has been true throughout human history. Painful words continue being used to shame and hurt people that don't fit into the religious belief of the majority like: abomination, perverted, deviant, twisted to name only a few. Some of the statements made by leaders of church’s: You're going straight to hell! God hates you! The Bible the word of God has judged you and should not be allowed live! People like you are bring the wrath of God down on our country because of your sin! Your sin is greater because you are abomination to God. Now I'm only repeating that has been said, I cannot stand in judgment of these words. All I know is it hurts my heart when I hear them.
Thankfully, God has the ability to see my heart and the truth within; I have no fear of judgments made of my faith by man. Instead, I will wait for the one with the qualifications to stand in judgment of me. Until that time, I will continue doing my best to love others as god has loved me. There is no deed I can do to be worthy of God's love, so I take it on faith of God’s grace. 

When my day's on this earth have come to an end, all my questions will have answers either way. 

What is a smile?

It's the sunshine from the inside shining out. It's a choice made by how we choose to look at our darkest moments. So smile and share some sunshine and maybe someone will share theirs with you.

It's been so cloudy here lately, well seems like it anyway. Jane is like many if she doesn't see enough sunshine gets a bit cranky. I like sunshine yet I understand, it's still shining even if I can't see it! So when she said "Are we going to see any sunshine today?" I told her Yep! Asked her to look and I smiled at her, saying a smile is sunshine from the inside shining out! So she got a little sunshine and shared some with me, she is still in a good mood! A very good thing for me! Grumpy people just need help seeing things from a different perspective.

The link I posted made me think

The link below is why I wrote this post.

How Facts Backfire


This does explain why many of us are so divided it doesn't matter what side you're on at all. The main message is our beliefs can dictate the facts we chose to accept. The reinforcement of our beliefs makes us more confident we're right, and even less likely to listen to any new information. I'm also guilty of doing this, I put a wall up between people I care about. It's a wall I'm not able knock down, I wish I could you see I am one of those people that without the help I've gotten from the United States Government I would have died over five years ago. I understand for some think it's not the same "those people didn't earn it! You did!" sorry I didn't in the eyes of government everyone is grouped within solid lines if a person put in 20 good years in the military they earned it, if a person like me put in 19 and a half years we didn't, the line must be drawn and it is at 20 good years. It's not something the government is able to do by a case by case measurement the cost is way too high. I live on social security disability it's not the same as social security because I stopped paying into it when I was 43 years old not 62, again the line must be drawn somewhere and it is. Many Americans feel that I am a freeloader living a carefree life off the government, they are not wrong. Because without the medical treatment I received from the V.A. I wouldn't be here today. It’s costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars every year just for me. Like most people I hear the Congress, calling people like me takers and a drain on or as a waste of government services and money, it does seem to be how many people feel it is one way of looking at. The reality for me every penny I get from S.S.D. is spent for bills, food and at just over 17 thousand dollars a year. Being a coupon and sale shopper helps. Money I save is then spent at a co-op for local produce and meat, I do like knowing I can visit the farms my food comes from and meet the animals, knowing they are treated well and care for. Free to roam in a field of grass and could choose to lay in the sun or shade. No pleasure was taken in ended the life of the animals it was done to provide a living for the farmer and the family. The cost is higher, the value and quality is better and worth the cost. At the end of each month my account is at or near empty, meaning all I was given went right back into the U.S. economy. Do I have or do anything of value to my neighborhood? I do keep my sidewalk clear of snow and keep an opening to the street, try to keep the drain clear so the melting snow goes down it in the winter. In the summer my grass is cut and trimmed, in the fall and spring I keep leafs out of the gutter so water can go to the drain. Having Multiple Sclerosis does limit what I’m able to do, so I do small acts of kindness whenever I’m able. It’s hard to listen and hear some people in the congress say that it’s partly my fault this country is in the trouble it’s in, because all I do is waste the taxpayer’s money. The only thing I can say to the taxpayer’s is every penny I get goes right back into the economy within 35 days. To the congress as whole you folks could help the entire country by being paid by the hour and letting taxpayer’s, vote if you should get a raise or a cut in pay! Back when I went to school I learned that the Bill of Rights, could only give right’s not take them away, true that was a long time ago, I don't think that’s changed. The U. S. Constitution stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise. Maybe you could go back and start doing that.

From March 1st until last week we only had 15 days sunshine!

Now at last Spring has finally Sprung here! Summer comes with all it's heat, of which I'm not a fan. Did benefit from the longer wet spring got a head start growing grass that's really going great, had so much winter grass kill in places I had to start over.
Noticed during our long cold spring, when the sun did come out warming things up a bit, people and pets didn't wasting a moment. Hearing as lawnmowers and  other tools used to regain control of overgrown yards. Nacho barking as his friends walked by, seeming to ask me "Can we go for a walk so they can bark at me as we walk by PLEASE?" Looking at me with his cutest puppy dog eyes, 45% of the time I cave in, really hard not too darn cute! Nacho knows those eyes don't work 99.9% when it comes to my sharing my food or extra treat's, Jane on the other hand is a huge marshmallow. From time to time she'll ask me why doesn't he beg from you? Giving her the look of, you already know the answer! Don't you? The cool part is Nacho knows what it means too. With my inability to speak clearly much of the time, the look works fine!

Having been cool so far this year Nacho and I have been able to go for more walks. Jane wanted to know how far I've been walking with Nacho. So we drove my walking route to Longfellow park. To and from it's 2 miles, Granted I don't always take Nacho all the way to the park. It does explains why my hands and arms, aren't working very well, since they are what supports my weight when I walk. We have many dog and people friends we visit on our way, having a very friendly dog doesn't hurt.
It's nice having sunshine for a change, would like it more if it didn't make it so hot. So far my cooling vest is helping but soon it will not be enough. After a short walk I took my vest off and set it on the floor, needed to rest before I put the ice packs back in the freezer, went back to do that and found Nacho laying on my vest sound asleep! As I was laughing he woke up lifted his head a bit, then laid his head back down closing his eyes and let out a heavy happy sigh and was again sound asleep, next time I'll put a towel in the freezer so he can lay on that instead. Have now mapped out our walks so we will mainly be walking in shade. The windows of time for walking is more problematic because, the best times would be 4 to 6 AM or 9 to 11 PM but the rabbits are active and everywhere and I can't see them as well as he can. Nacho still thinks they are doggy toys he can also eat! No he will not be eating cute little Bunny Rabbits! On to the times with the most shade are 11am to 2pm and 4:30 to 6pm with 3 water and cooling stops. The heat will make our walks shorter. It's been nice not dealing with the heat, all things change so I'll do what I can, when I can. Nacho's thick black coat, make him even less a fan of the heat than I am. Yet he still wants and needs to go for  walks, between Jane and I he will get all the walks he needs. It's really great seeing people smiling again!

Picture of me in the form of a knot.

This picture of me is in the form of a knot wrapped up by M.S. the colors red for heart, gray for what it does to me, yellow for the hope for a cure. Orange is the color of Multiple Sclerosis, that has no cure yet, I will not lose HEART, HOPE nor will I go quietly into that dark night. The battle I fight is against M.S. not my abilities! Fear not, for I will win the day by not letting M.S. stop me from living my life my way.

A Rant on top of a Rave!! Too much CSPAN

I've been searching to find out how many job's bill have been debated or voted up or down or passed in the U.S. Congress/House! I know the house has passed 38 different bills to repeal Obama care real name being The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law. My question to the House is when will those bills go to the Senate to receive debate or an up or down vote? Or are you wasting time, what many working folks call doing busy work, meaning making it look like you're working but really you're not. To the Senate I ask why you have not asked to vote on these same bills passed by the house. As a whole in my view Congress, needs to go back to kindergarten, learning to stop talking and start listening! History will not be kind to you when 2016 comes and you already know Obama will be gone. What reason will you give for acting the way you have for the last 8 years? The amount of money and time that congress has wasted, as well as the money taxpayers paid congress. What boiled me up the most was, when the speaker of the house recommended that GOP congress should spend 4 hours each day, when in session on fund raising for reelection. Since when is it okay, to spend 4 hours not doing the job you were elected to do! Considering that, you’re being paid enough to do that on your time and not on the people’s dime!
Yes, I know no one in congress will see this, nothing will happen to change this broken Congress, the world congress lives in isn't, the same one the rest of the people of this country do. That's the way it looks to me anyway. Hope is not lost; it's a bit harder to find that's all. I maybe all wrong I am most of the time anyhow, you can ask anyone who has listened to me talk, or has read the stuff I write, I'm okay with that.  
Doing a bit of venting, because I don't understand how congress can’t see the reason so many people are having a hard time making ends meet when making 24,000.00 dollars a year working full time, why are so many people on food stamps simple they qualify! A challenge for some yet others it’s not a choice. It’s the best they can do with what they have to work with! I would enjoy seeing a few members of congress try to live on $355.00 to $461.00 dollars a week like many people are doing right now! See if they feel the same way about asking the rich to pay the same rate of taxes most people do I think it about 24%.

That's the way it looks to me anyway. Hope is not lost; it's a bit harder to find that's all. I maybe all wrong I am most of the time anyhow, you can ask anyone who has listened to me talk, or has read the stuff I write, I'm okay with that.

Having dealt with my past, still hurts when it's in the News.

Having spent just over 19 years in Army, of which I am proud and honored to serve as a soldier. Going in right after High school in 1980 until 1999, when I could no longer pass P.T. test, did not know the reason why until 2001 when I learned I have multiple sclerosis.

Most of my time in the Army was good. In basic training, my limits were tested every day, doing so many things I had never thought I could or would do. The confidence I gained in my abilities to face the challenges of being a soldier in U.S. Army. At the end I've put some of the fun parts of being in the Army.
All the news of past few weeks has brought up some old hurts that are now a part of my life history. Rape in the military has been a problem for women, because for the few men that feel it’s the woman fault or she was asking for it, she was drunk. God help you if you are foolish enough to report, one of the first things I learned if you want to continue in the military, say nothing even if asked, every woman I know who did had little choice and got out soon after. For me it wasn't the first time however it was the last. Having two older brothers I knew how to fight, then I needed to learn how to fight dirty and make sure to leave a mark. Pride is a flaw in most military men, so getting your ass-kicked by a woman isn't anything their willing to share. In my own way, I took my power back the last attempted rape two men tried ended badly for them and was a powerful moment for me. Took the car parked it at the post main gate, gave the MP my information, just in case the two needed it. A few weeks later that MP stopped me as I was leaving post, he asked me “how well I knew them and if I knew what happened to them?” my answer “not well and I haven't heard from them.” He told me they both ended up in the hospital and one will never stand up to pee and other will never be able to father children, I told him sorry to hear that (not sorry at all!!) asked him if I was free to go? He said, “Sure I just thought you might have wanted to know.” It may not be right to feel good about what I did, knowing that one can never do what he tried to do and the other may think twice about doing to anyone again feels good.

Learning how to use a weapon, the Army frowns on calling an M16A1 rifle a gun because, every weapon we trained on was training to defend our country and ourselves by killing the people trying to kill us. In basic training when a Drill Instructor heard anyone calling a weapon a gun, you could hear the person repeating. THIS IS MY WEAPON holding it out in front of them, THIS IS MY GUN holding over their head, THIS IS FOR FIGHTING out in front, THIS IS FOR FUN over the head, the longest I heard someone doing this was 25 minutes.
Once on the firing line using live ammo training we were in a foxhole, the woman in the next foxhole. Was turning to ask the instructor behind us a question, with her weapon and her finger on the trigger and it was pointed right at me, I ducked down heard the shot hit the sand bag just above my head. The next thing I remember was she was out of her foxhole and I was standing over her and shaking her hard, then heard yelling and something kept hitting my helmet, I let her go and looked up at my drill instructor his face was so red! Then I remembered and told him “she almost killed ME! Look at the hole in the sandbag” he said “yes Mary I see it went all the way through, good thing you ducked when you did.” Later that day I was told that I had jumped out of my foxhole so fast, pulled her out hers, and started shaking her before my drill instructor got there. Still don't remember getting out of my foxhole only remember what I had been told. My shot for record was 39 out of 40 targets
In the 101st at Fort Campbell, we took R.O.T.C. for rides in UH 60 Blackhawk helicopters. First they got a tour of the hanger by a pilot who told them, if they wanted some pop to go ahead and have one, since I gave the tour to women I told them not to drink anything and our last stop was the bathroom. Having flew more than a few of these flights I knew, the pilots wanted to shake them up by doing some ground level flying. The pilots for fun had me get into a flight suit and helmet (can't tell if it’s man or a woman) no matter what a few of these boy’s lost control, at landing I jumped out for the power down. Was told to take off my helmet and let my hair fly, let them know you're a woman poor boy’s trying to hide that they wet themselves. Now when the men (boys) had first came in all talking how easy it would be to be pilots, yes that flight did knock them down a peg or two. All the women came down dry and yes, the women gave the boys a hard time all the way home.

Happy Mothers Day to All

Something you may not know about how important this day is.

Did you know Mothers day is a celebrated Federal Holiday. On Mothers day the U.S. flag at all Federal buildings and military posts around the world is flown at half staff until noon, to honor all Mothers for the loss of their children in war, that as a nation we also mourn with them. Raised to full staff, over the years many have forgotten or don't know about this. It isn't done on Fathers day. In the military it's a bigger deal because so many Mothers have not only lose sons and daughters but husbands as well. Mothers day with my family is also celebrated on our Birthdays, because she was the first person to love us.

Happy Friday

So glad to put Thursday behind me, it started wrong with my right foot not staying on the step I put it on, didn't fall down just slammed into the half wall, back sore and twisted right ankle ouch! Not too bad I only feel if I step wrong, been dragging it around for years. Later I decided to take Nacho for a short walk, so my back didn't stiffen up, even wore my good shoes. As we walked seeing that Shannon was out one of Nacho’s girlfriends so we stopped by for a little play date, most of the play dates are when Shannon shows up at our house after she has jumped over her fence. They were having fun, for us meaning they were wearing each other out; Shannon has bones and raw hides hidden all over the yard! Of course Nacho found one with a soft wrap around it Shannon wasn't happy about it, Nacho got the soft wrap off in no time, it was at least 2 feet long he was running away from Shannon, then Sonja (Shannon’s human) and I were also trying to catch him, it was getting shorter when we caught him there was just a small piece sticking out of his mouth, I got a good hold of it pulling it out it was still in one long piece, Shannon grabbed a small piece of what I had already pulled out, Nacho bite down before I had the last bit of it out, having a foot and half it in my hand, I started looking for something tall enough to get it out of their reach, saw the grill maybe 4 feet away started for it the two had finished the little bit they had, came running at me, almost there reached out got it! Something is wrong where the heck is my left leg, tried pulling it toward me it was stuck, crap I'm going down, did manage to get my right leg under me three point landing big Ouch!! My right knee took the worst of it, I knew because I could feel it normally I can’t! Sonja came tried to pull me up, I said “NO” got to take inventory! Okay everything is facing the right way, up on my own two feet again took a step with the left good, now the right oh my that hurts! Got to my walker time to go, only a block and half to go, crap went the wrong way make that 2 blocks. Good thing was my back didn't hurt as much my right leg did. Got home iced my knee and put heat on my back, both are bruised and sore leaving a mark I’ll be okay looking forward to nice weather for the weekend Grill is ready that means I'm not the one doing the cooking!

Goodness let this be the last snowfall that needs to be shoveled!?!

Okay maybe not everyone shoveled, it was very wet snow and most of it was long gone by 3 O'clock. It's been so dry here with much of the moisture last winter came in the form of rain that did us no good, too many times every form of moisture fell within 24 hours period. With the ground being frozen it went down the drain. Didn't want to waste all that free water. So I shoveled it into the backyard and on to the front lawn so it soaked in, instead of it ending up in the river. This hopefully will be the last of the winter weather  that has overstayed it's welcome by lasting six months!
Really hope these are the last pictures I take of the cold rain and snow, that made up our winter. We have in the past gotten snow in May, so the shovels will stay at the ready until after the grass is cut at least once. Took a few more pictures.

Never walk under a tree like this as I learned, it's not just the ice that falls 

Limbs coated in ice do also! Ouch

Another lesson relearned.

Thankfully it broke when it hit me and wasn't too big!

As I was breaking up the limb another chunk of ice fell hitting me in the head

Darn good thing I'm hard headed!:-)

Mr. Owen

Nacho

   

You can use reactions if you don't want to comment. 

April 19 2013

A winter wonder land that thankfully will not last LONG!

Are we going to play in that white stuff!?! I really love that white stuff you call SNOW! 

By the way! You're taking too long, you know what happens when,

I'M ANNOYED!   

All this snow will melt in less than a week, the faster it melts the warmer we get!

The roads are already starting to melt.

It should bounce back I hope. We had very wet snow, last night the temperature dropped below 29 degrees and when it's frozen even heavier.

Thought this crap was done!

Asked Nacho if he wanted to come back outside with me. Gave me this look and laid down guess not! Where I came back in he was sound asleep, Mr. Owen was asleep on the bed.

I'm waiting to put away my shovels until after I've cut the grass. We have had snow as late as May 17th. Last year I wasn't able to plant my garden until the first week of June. Whatever the weather brings, I'll work around it, living in Minnesota it's one of those things, we learn about at a very young age!

The knot that is M.S. to me.

M.S. can knock me down, tie me up in knots, in one form or another. How I see M.S. is in the form of a knot
Orange for m.s.
White for faith a cure will be found
Red for love and understanding we share
Yellow for the friendship we have for each other
Green for the money needed for research
The last color would be gray, for the lack of understanding and compassion of some people.
This is just the way I see it, people are aware of M.S., yet lack the knowledge of how it affects, each of us in many different way. a knot for me works better to explain what M.S. means to me.

M.S. tied in knot with parts of life a bit out of focus.

Trying to hide it rarely works for long.

The knot tightens.

The

D.N.A.

How it looks to me.

   With all the different ribbons being used today orange has many meanings. This is my first go at the knot that is M.S. your thoughts on this are welcome, not sure where this is going yet it maybe dumb I don't know for sure. I'm working with string first easy to work with, at little cost and reusable for other things too. Thinking out side the ribbon. 

Jane's vacaction and mine too.

After our trip 2 years ago in Florida and spending much of that summer recoving from too much heat and sun. Going in the end March, didn't sound like fun to me. Jane is having a great time in Florida with her family, enjoying fun in the sun and some heat. She calls and checks in with on me making sure; I'm eating, taking care of Nacho, the list goes on last one is have you fallen? Saturday I did five point landing elbows, knees and Shannon Nacho's girlfriend, who jumps her owners fence a lot, working her way to Nacho. When I let her in the two took off to play, or so I thought until I saw them racing back towards me, Shannon slipped on the ice running into me and down I went down. A few bruises, good thing is she not getting as close me.

This is Shannon

Nacho and Shannon

The two them will play together for hours.

Nacho and I are going for walks hanging out in the yard, enjoying temps in the 30's and 40's with sunshine. The snow and ice are finally melting away, a bit muddy better than ice locked standing water and mounds of ice, snow at every corner. Easter was a nice spring day not a cloud in the sky, temps made it into the upper 40's. Feeling good I decided to take Nacho for nice long walk, as good way to spend such a nice day. Without the mountains, hills of snow, lakes locked in by mounds of ice. Made walking easy for the first time, in almost 5 months. As I picked up pace, Nacho ran ahead stopped started smelling guessing he was checking if any of his friends were around.after I walked passed him, he ran ahead again repeating this all way to the park. Yep too far too fast legs giving out,  walking back home was slower and needed to stop a few times. After making it home I gave Nacho a treat he smelled it got a drink of water, walking past his food dish as he went jumped in bed a was fast asleep in no time. Wish I could do that too! My legs and elbow were hurting too much for that, needed to fix that before I laid down with Nacho, after I got my legs working and iced my elbow I laid down with Nacho. He gave a heavy sigh I didn't sleep, for shortly after I got in Nacho moved beside me wanting to be petted then wanted to play. The bed is not a playpen and PILLOWS are NOT stuffed toys for him!! To take the stuffing out of them!!

Jane and John came back from Florida on Monday, Nacho was very glad to have her back, his greeting stopped her and he wouldn't let in until he was done welcoming her home. Jane is very glad she took a few more days off after her trip because, she needed a vacation to recover from her Vacation. LOL She is happy to be home she spent her first day back sleeping. It's great having her back I did enjoy having the whole house to myself, it also reminded me how much she helps me every day.

 

Two of my favorite things History and research.

History is one of my favorite things to research because, I love learning things I didn't know. Being able to do it at home on the internet is nice, since getting out is more challenging then it used to be. What I found that I didn't know is, over time small changes were made or added to many things I didn't think or know they could be changed. Until I learned the history of the changes made and why did I understand. Why The Pledge of Allegiance, became a first Amendment issue for many people, here is a brief history of it.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931). It was originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892. Bellamy had hoped that the pledge would be used by citizens in any country.
In its original form it read: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. At this time it read:
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Bellamy's daughter objected to this alteration.
Today it reads:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Today many people in the United States want the Pledge of Allegiance put back into the public school system. Since times have changed, as it always does, we are now as we began, a mix of many faiths and wanting to keep this country true to it's founding including all people within this Nation, I agree it should go back into the public school. Without the last two words that were added in 1954.

Have we all forgotten the main reason our fore fathers came here,  it was for religious freedom. Being men of great faith in God, with little faith in the history of mankind acting on God behalf. I do believe God has a place in the hearts and minds of people. However religion has no place in government for freedom of all it's people and why it also needed, The bill of right’s. The history of governments that made religion the center point or corner stone of it government. The first thing lost is the freedom of the individual. That proof  is now being seen in the congress and in some state's by passing person hood bills, that removes the Right's of a woman over her own body and life. Sorry being a woman it seems very wrong to me. It opens a door to making rape an okay thing for men to do. We are better than this aren't we?

The way a country treats the least of it's people, will show the greatness of the Nation. It's not about government it's about all of the people within it!
                                                                                                                                                                                               When people are quoting The amendments of the Bill of Right's to make a point. Would very much like it if people would use the Amendment as it is written not only the part of it they feel supports them the best.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

I'm guessing that, A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, doesn't sound as good as the last part. Using only half of a sentence in attempting of proving a point, is pointless.

Just saying...Right or wrong this is how I see.

Feel free to comment, please don't be rude. Thank you:-)

Nacho goes for a walk, as I go for a hike!

With spring coming I wanted to share with pictures, how Nacho goes for a walk and I go for a hike at the same time. Nacho and I are looking forward to the ice and snow melting away and going to the gulf of Mexico and to Canada one of our rivers here flows south, turns west then north. In the winter here it's the sun that melts the snow not the temperature, it's a mess sun goes water becomes ice, as you will see.

The walk the hike 

Nacho and Me

Over ice covered hills

Some more like mountains too high to climb

On thin ice

Nacho walks the edge and moves on to the

snow so his paws don't get wet.

Not thick enough for me and my walker

no dry feet for me.

To have four paws 

Instead of four wheels and two legs

that don't work well

together!

Home not so fast

Too many steps!

energy level too low!

Home at last

almost done

Mom I'm wet

and need a nap!

Salt washed off and all dried

Nap time for Nacho man! 

Sweet not so little man.

Got it done, day of rest!

Yesterday was a busy day, got to use snow blower, roof rake and shovel at first it was light and fluffy, when it stopped snowing and the sun came out oh boy did it get heavy and sticky. It took the whole day, feels good to start and finish all in one day! Not able to do a happy dance tonight, that’s okay, I’m doing one on the inside. Nacho had a great time he loves snow watching him trying to run through the snow, more like jumping up and over it. Yep it turned out to be a very good day. Hope you found a way to have a good day:-)

This will melt!

Sad tears Nacho and I can't go for a walk

No way my walker will work!:-(

Now a few of Nacho Man!!

My shadow

Trying to find a snow ball

?

Yep hes asking for another one!

As for me today is for resting, it did take 11 hours for me to get it done. I'm proud of what I did with Nacho helped to keep me entertained. Today is all about recovering for me Nacho is napping and watching people walk by or watching the birds fly into the tree. 

The path to street from house

No not my car or  anyone who live on this street!

A bit rude ya think!

Not a fan of paying full price, unless I must..

Most of the time Jane and I do our shopping in stores or on-line together, I always have a stack of coupons, for the things we eat or use. Keeping track of what we have has always been my job. Because I hate running out and after being a Battalion supply Sargent, keeping track of our inventory is easy even with M.S. so far. Jane draws the line on only one thing Toilet paper no more than 120 rolls in the house at anytime. Why? Because at the end of 2011 we had 192 rolls. Now in my defense I paid 3 to 4 dollars off each 12 pack we had, I only got it if on sale and could use a coupon, in 2012 we didn't buy any, last weekend was the first time we needed to buy T.P. yes on sale with a coupon of course. When I'm not able to go with her, I'll give her a list and the coupons, Jane really doesn't like shopping, so I keep it as short as I can. The part Jane loves is figuring how much we saved, the highest was 84% most of the time it between 5~20% we both get a kick out saving money.

Jane and I went out to dinner, with my brother Brian and Mary his wife my sister in-law on Saturday night. To Red Lobster for dinner we all like eating there, being lobster fest was a bonus. Brian & Mary gave us a gift card for Christmas and I had a two coupons one for $4. off the other a free appetizer. The appetizer lobster stuffed mushrooms, Jane loves mushrooms I love the stuffed part. The dinners are huge so each split a dinner and ordered a side salad, worked great only leftovers were rolls we took them home mum.  With the gift cards and the coupons all we paid was the tip having been a waitress, I tip for good service as does Brian and it was great, Jane told them I figure out the tip, Mary said that's Brian's job too. We all had a great time, I think this was the first time the four have ever gone out to eat together. Jane and I don't eat often, in the winter with the snow and ice it's not worth the work.

Having a little fun with a rock.

When a rock becomes

A puzzle

Slowly 

  

It becomes

What it once was kind of

This rock was in the backyard when we moved in. Thought it looked interesting so I brought it in, been using it as a paper weigh for years. As with anything I picked it up, I lost my grip when it hit the floor it broke, it's still a paper weight and fun when people try to pick it up and it falls apart.

Did look up what kind of rock it was. It's from a class of sedimentary rock's. A conglomerate is a clastic sedimentary rock that contains rounded clasts. The space between the clasts is generally filled with smaller particles and/or a the matrix that binds the large clasts together can be a mixture of sand, mud and chemical cement. chemical cement that binds the rock together.

As the chemical cement dries out it breaks down so the rock falls apart.

     

My thoughts of what I'm hearing.

Some parts of this are from the research for the post I did in January. The point I want to make about the United States the country I love, has changed in ways I never thought it could. People would feel our military personal would or could turn on the people of this country. Understand if fired upon will they will return fire, some people seem to think the military will do whatever they are ordered to do, they are WRONG!
Under Article 90 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
In fact, under Article 90, during times of war, a military member who willfully disobeys a superior commissioned officer can be sentenced to death. Seems like a pretty good motivation to obey any order you're given, right? Nope. These articles require the obedience of LAWFUL orders. Any order, which is unlawful, not only does not need to be obeyed, but obeying such an order can result in criminal prosecution of the one who obeys it. Military courts have long held that military members are accountable for their actions even while following orders -- if the order was illegal. "I was only following orders," has been unsuccessfully used as a legal defense in hundreds of cases (probably most notably by Nazi leaders at the Nuremberg tribunals following World War II). The defense didn't work for them, nor has it worked in hundreds of cases since. The part many people don’t understand is the Commander and Chief of the Military is a civilian, in most cases civilians out rank military personal. If John Brennan is confirmed, and I hope he is because he knows and agrees, the drones must be under Military control. Because over sight  is needed Article 90 of the UCMJ will help insure this weapon has the checks and balances needed to prevent it being misused! This weapon has no business being controlled by the C.I.A. it’s not a tool it’s a weapon. Having serviced in the Army for many years living and working under the thousands of government, military and Army regulations’ including the thousands of military and Army code of conduct regulations. As a former soldier, having giving up my civil rights to serve my country and the people in it. Was a small price to pay for the honor of serving and keeping the people I love safe.

Our fore Fathers, were men of great faith, and felt it important to insure the freedom of religion. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

The bill of right’s
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The pledge of allegiance
In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. At that time it read:
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Bellamy's daughter objected to this alteration. Today it reads:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Remember under god was added only 59 years ago.

Understanding that the change of 1954 upset many people partly because, by including god in the pledge said in public schools. It was no longer in step with the Constitution our fore fathers wrote. Understanding that for the Republic to stand the test of time, the government needed to stay out of the religion of its people. Even if more people felt and still do feel, it’s about time for God to have a bigger role within the government of the people. Sorry I must respectfully disagree, because my faith in God is a choice I've chosen of my own free will, decisions like this are personal and at the end of my life I will not be judged by man, instead I’ll stand before God and learn my fate. More people have died or been killed, because of religious convictions and beliefs. This seems wrong to me, there are so many I can’t in good faith understand what makes it okay here are a few; what makes it okay for a man to kill a Doctor who performs abortions. How is it okay to let a mother bleed to death or die trying to give birth to a baby that could not survive outside the womb? Where are pro-life people when someone is put to death? Why must we license our cars and not our guns both can kill. You must have a license to drive, yet you only need a license to hunt but nothing if you own guns. Just saying common sense isn't as common as I once thought it was.

There is no need to answer the questions I've posed

unless you want to.

Since, I don't know are really care if people that live near me have guns or not. Now if they turn up dead from a gun shot, and no gun is found. Should I feel safe or will I wonder if the thief got away with more guns than he came with.   

My landlords passed

The rental licensing inspection today. Helen and Joyce are not only our landlords they are also our friends. Since Jane and I take care of the place for us it was a nice little pat on the back. When I heard the inspector tell Helen "This never happens that I don't find anything wrong. You have a very nice home here." Jane and I work hard so it doesn't look like rental property, mainly because this is our home and we treat it that way.

I'm glad our landlords are happy with the way we take care the house and are willing to put money into the house so we can fix things and keeping it looking nice.

Woke up with this stuck in my head

Do feel much better after getting out of my head. Had very odd dreams last night not sure why, I still remember them which is odd for me. Most of the time they fade away shortly after waking up.

Making sense out what's been going on with me lately isn't helping, but don't feel it's the cause, don't feel stuck just odd as with all things. It is what it is until it isn't what it once was. Understanding comes with time, wish that time would come sooner. Hope all is well with you, enjoy the weekend, I'm getting to go out and about and not just shopping for what is needed.