by Sharon | Jun 22, 2015
We’re officially into the summer season. I don’t know whether to celebrate or cry . . . it’s not my favorite season because it lasts so very long . . . but I must be grateful for the seasons we do get in Southern California.
It’s been much cooler today . . . another reason for me to be grateful . . .
Little Miss Diva has become much more vocal lately . . . I’ll let her guest post on this website now, it’s a risk — I have no idea what’s on her mind . . .
I have my first birthday coming up in 7 days. I’ve been inspecting all the bags Mom brings in, but nothing interesting like toys and Diva Tr
eats. Well, there was that roast beef . . . maybe Mom will surprise me with some more of that.
I think Mom might have some packages in the car she hasn’t brought in yet. I’ve been so good lately . . . well, I do bark when Mom’s working on the computer and talking on the phone . . . but I did bark at the neighbor this morning when he was working in his yard. I’m a good watch dog. I didn’t chase the cat that ran out of the hedge. Mom’s telling me to stay away from cats with a white stripe down their back . . . she called it something else, but I’m remembering the important stuff . . . I just won’t chase cats of any color.
Wow! I have a whole 7 days to be good.
It won’t be that difficult . . . I’ll just act cute and Mom will laugh and tell me what a sweet beautiful little girl I am. Yep, I do have my Mom wrapped around my little paw. Mom and I are going to be taking some “selfies” for Yvette and Diane, Yvette was my first Mom, she took good care of me ever since I was born and Diane took my picture and put them up on her website so my new Mom would see them and fall in love with me. It worked!!!
All I can really say about my new Mom is that she loves me . . . even though she took me to the vet who is a nice lady, by the way, and I had an operation and my teeth were cleaned and I got a shot in my rump. I didn’t like that shot very much, but the vet did have some tasty treats she gave me.
Mom says I’m going to the groomer this week to get all spruced up for my birthday. I don’t know about someone strange messing with my pretty fur. I wouldn’t mind the bath and a little trim, but I don’t know what Mom has in mind or what this groomer person is going to do. It is summer . . . maybe a short cut wouldn’t be too awful, but I’ll have to see . . . and if it doesn’t look good, I’ll have to beg Mom for some clothes and a hat to wear while my pretty fur grows out . . . maybe a pair of sunglasses, too. And absolutely no pictures!!!
I’m going to go play now. I have some old toys to chew on and toss around . . . then maybe a little nap . . . this guest blogging is a lot of work.
I do thank Miss Diva for her contribution on this blog post . . . she’s all tuckered out . . .
Besides little Diva’s birthday, summer brings on the thought of the 4th of July. I do love boxes I can make up for my guests filled with goodies. I found a wonderful website called Wings of Whimsy. There was just the right free printable I was looking for . . . a vintage red, white and blue triangular box. This isn’t the finished picture of it, but these boxes are included in the free printable.
You just need to Click Here for the free template.
Thanks for stopping by!
by Sharon | Jun 20, 2015
Occasionally I come across a quote . . . I wonder is funny . . . or just dumb.
“I don’t exactly hate you, but if you were on fire and I had water, I’d drink it” seems to be a bit of a head scratcher. Initially, it did pull me up a bit short and I could see the humor in it, but . . . If someone said that to me, I honestly don’t know what I’d think or do . . . maybe laugh . . . and maybe inquire as to why it was said, maybe shrug it off or perhaps reply, “Good to know.”
Of course, it depends upon who said it . . . and my particular mood at the moment.
There’s a major difference in responses depending upon the age group. Since I’m a mature adult, I don’t particularly care what others say or think of me. Well, that’s on a good day. If I’m down and feeling insecure, I might take it to heart and wonder why it was said. Of course, I’d dissect it word for word.
“I don’t exactly hate you . . .” That’s positive . . . but back-handed to a degree . . . maybe even wimpy.
“but if you were on fire and I had water, I’d drink it.” Whoa! That’s mean spirited. It contradicts the beginning of the sentence of not exactly hating me . . . so, I couldn’t expect help from this person . . . Almost like Nero playing the violin while Rome burned.
Perhaps the amount of water this person had wasn’t enough to put out the fire . . . or there was a message for me to bring my own water in case of such an event. It’s always good to be prepared.
So, possible responses would be:
- Good to know.
- Thanks for the warning.
- Really?
- Having a bad day?
- What brought this on?
You see, for me, this seems to reflect more on the person making the comment than it reflected on me. I would wonder if they were just trying to be funny . . . or there was a deep seeded meaning behind it. Had I offended this person in some way? Would it be wise to engage him/her in conversation . . . or shrug it off?
Too often we don’t know the best comment. And, there are many factors to consider — how well we know the person and if it is worthwhile to pursue a friendship with him/her or was the person “grand standing” with friends?
Bullying has never been my strong suit — not in being a bully and not handling bullying very well. All I know is to ignore it and not allow it to get under my skin. I honestly don’t remember being bullied . . . I walked around with my head in the clouds most of the time. And if I was bullied, I ignored it . . . because I didn’t hear it.
When I was growing up, my family moved around a lot. I was always the new kid . . . so I had a lot on my mind . . . remembering my schedule, locker combination, or the location of the rest rooms. Some kids were nice and friendly . . . and then there were others . . . they were full of themselves and didn’t really pay attention to the rest of us . . . and if they chose to pick on me, I’d be preoccupied with the various thoughts that would ramble through my mind:
- what’s for lunch?
- what bus am I to ride home?
- and if I didn’t ride the bus, would I remember my way home?
I’d be thinking about my homework . . . song lyrics . . . or whatever popped into my head. Sometimes I’d notice my feet hurt from the shoes I was wearing and how I was getting a blister on my heal . . . and if I had a band-aide or needed to get one from the nurse’s office.
Yes, I was a geeky kid . . . I made friends easily . . . but the older I got, the more difficult . . . but there were many who hadn’t grown up there . . . or didn’t fit in . . . I guess it’s more of a “thing” for kids today than it was back in my day. But, there was still a degree of bullying.
Isn’t that a sad commentary on modern society?
I don’t have any great advice on the subject or why I’m writing this . . . or picked that quote . . . at first it amused me, but now I’m no longer amused. Maybe my choosing it or writing about it has to do with something I heard on the radio . . . or in passing when I was running errands . . . or just one of those random thoughts that stuck in my mind . . .
Maybe it was a message I heard in church on the subject of “forgiveness.” We are to forgive, but not necessarily to forget. I may have heard it wrong when I was growing up or the message was wrong or I have it wrong now. Forgiving seems much easier than forgetting. The remembering gives us the lessons to grow . . . to mature . . . maybe even develop a tough skin so we aren’t easily offended and allow others to be and live as they choose without judgment. And not to go around with a chip on our shoulder.
When you stop to think of it . . . most conflicts in families and friendships stem from someone not forgiving and not forgetting . . . but allowing it to fester . . . and grow into something ugly . . . Jealousy comes to mind . . . I have a neighbor who is into one-up-man-ship, she always has to be right and always has to be better than me. That’s fine with me . . . it’s a waste of time for me to dwell upon such a thing. If it makes her feel good, good for her. I guess I’m just not that competitive or care. I’m confident with who I am. I have nothing to prove. She’s a fine woman with a loving husband and two grown children and I don’t know how many grandchildren, but she’ll remind me the next time I see her . . .
Isn’t life much easier when we follow the “golden rule” broadly translated to “Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you.”
That seems to apply to everything . . . especially bullying . . . unless the bully wants to be bullied . . . but I don’t choose to be a bully . . . that would just keep the cycle going . . . or playing this senseless game with my neighbor . . . it’s a total waste of my time and energy . . . Obviously, in these two examples, the bully and the neighbor aren’t following the golden rule . . . and neither are others who use such tactics as lies, posturing and bullying to get what they want . . . and ruin others in the process . . . yes, you know who they may be . . . people at work, school, clubs, church . . . or even family members . . . and former friends . . .
Isn’t it remarkable that something so simple could truly make the world a much safer and healthier place?
by Sharon | Jun 17, 2015
It may not officially be summer, but the weather is feeling as though it is. We’ve been experiencing some of the normal June Gloom, but lately it has gotten hot and I do mean hot . . . high 90’s and threatening to reach triple digits.
Summer is not my favorite season . . . its the long, hot days that get me down. I do love it when the sun does go down and the evening gets cooler, but then the mosquitoes come out and chase me inside. I do love the BBQ and my vegetable garden, but it is primarily the heat that I don’t enjoy. I enjoy picnics in the mountains, camping by a running stream, telling ghost stories around an open fire . . . all things that have to do with cooler temperatures and a different setting.
Summer is a time to go on vacation . . . to get out of the summer heat . . . just as others see winter as a vacation time away from the cold harsh winter.
I do wonder if we’re ever satisfied with where we live and the weather conditions, regardless of the season. I may be a fair weather individual who likes to be comfortable . . . I prefer the cold to the heat, but not freezing cold . . . but with the right clothing, it may work. The problem with summer is that you can only take off so much clothing . . .
I have my neighborhood power walkers who get up early and pound the sidewalk. There are also the early morning joggers, jogging in the street. Of course, the dog walkers, too. These are hearty health conscious souls who are dedicated to their exercise ritual rain or shine throughout the year. Ice cream sales go up . . . and women complaining about gaining weight, but they’re hooked on ice cream sundaes for dessert every night. Many resort to using the slow cooker and BBQ. They’re looking for recipes of s’mores . . . I’m surprised by the variety I’ve come across . . . even a dip that is quite delicious and gooey.
It’s a good time to get into crafts — many for Halloween, but many go right into Christmas while others are into Easter . . . we all have our favorite season and our favorite holiday that interests us throughout the year. I had an old friend who loved Christmas so much she would have a Christmas in July party. This was so she could celebrate all the good things about the holiday without the bickering of relatives.
Halloween is also quite popular with summer and spring costume parties. My ghost hunting group loves having costume parties to tell and retell stories about their various adventures. Or to watch several of the popular series and make comments during the episode. Yes, we are critics . . . I like to learn something new . . . I’m not that adventuresome to go out to places at night to get the wits scared out of me. I’ve gone out during the day . . . at least this way when I run out of a known haunted place screaming it’s not in the dead of night. And, if you’re wondering, ghosts haunt 24/7/365. The reason most ghost hunting is done at night is because most of them work and there could be something to the “witching hour” concept. I just believe it’s a time when people are expecting something creepy, scary and paranormal to happen. And with the various urban legends and ghost stories, they happen at night . . . along with other disturbing things we hear about on the nightly news.
Whatever your holiday preference, summer is an excellent time to get your decorating ideas in gear and doing your crafts.
Summer is also a great time to get out and take pictures. It’s really an everyday thing, but vacations and holidays seem to be the reason for taking pictures. For some, they like to watch the heavens . . . some for UFOs and others just to do some serious star gazing.
There are many activities you may enjoy that I haven’t mentioned here. It does seem to be a long season, especially when I’m waiting for fall . . . but you’ll hear about it in September and may have read about it last September . . . my long anticipation of fall. Come to think of it, I’m longing for it right now.
These are just some thoughts that have been going through my head . . . and my observations while shopping . . . overhearing snip-its of conversations . . .
Have a great summer! I’ll be putting up more recipes and holiday ideas . . . yes, I do get into Halloween early . . .
by Sharon | Jun 1, 2015
Occasionally there is a phrase I hear that I can’t get out of my mind. “The Up Side of Down” is my current one.
I’ve been experiencing computer problems for well over a month with my monitor. Since it was still under warranty, I had my experience with the manufacturer who was great telling me what I wanted to hear, but terrible about follow through. I’m still looking for the e-mail with the information where I am to send my laptop for repair.
Messing around with the manufacturer’s customer service wasn’t anything I chose to do much longer and went out and bought a new laptop. The upside was that I have my old laptop available to transfer files and programs to my new one. It was also a way for me to clean up my computer — a major spring cleaning of sorts to keep only what was important to me. It’s amazing what I’ve saved in my documents file and download file.
This has also been a positive learning experience for me. I’m learning more about Windows 8.1 and my new laptop.
While my old laptop’s monitor was fizzling out on me, I was in the process of changing and revamping one of my websites. I was also able to crash it . . . fix it, continue working through the kinks. This is another one of those upsides . . . without these experience I wouldn’t have learned what I have in the process. Plus, I wouldn’t have learned valuable lessons.
Over the years I’ve been involved in internet marketing, I thought the important thing was to get a website up and running. Over the days, months and years I’ve made changes . . . some not so smart when I moved this website from one hosting company to another . . . losing all of my content and valuable visitors. But, selfishly, I needed a change. TwoCansOnAString.com was too big, doing too much. It bloomed into three websites . . . perhaps even a fourth is coming . . . I may be making the same mistake again . . . but I’ve learned how to save my content. And I know TwoCansOnAString.com is special to me . . . and will always be a bit of a mess with just about everything thrown in . . . as are the conversations we have with family and friends. Or when I was a child and playing with two cans on a string and trying to think of something to yell into my can for my friend at the other end of the string to hear. Were we pioneers just like Thomas Edison? Was the thrill we experienced similar to his when the tight string vibrated and sound was actually heard through the can next to my ear or next to my friend’s ear?
No matter what happens in life there is an upside of down. We sometimes have to search long and hard for it, but eventually, we’ll find it. It’s looking for that “silver lining” or the “bright side” as old song lyrics were crooned by singers of yesteryear.
We are all very fortunate to be living today with all the modern technology. We receive instant gratification at times . . . and other times not, which does make us humble . . . and we learn that sometimes things don’t work out as easily as we’d like it to . . . but there is always an upside of down.
Thanks for stopping by and reading this blog post. I hope this phrase has made you think about your life and perhaps the clouds have parted a bit to bring some sunshine into the darkness you may be experiencing. There are always things to bring us down and to turn us upside down, but I prefer to see the upside of down . . . but . . . being upside down may give us a new perspective . . . something else for me to think about . . .
by Sharon | Jan 14, 2015
I’m finding January to be a time for reflection. Lots of thinking with little being accomplished. It may be the weather or just the mind and body’s way of slowing down from all the holiday hoopla.
It’s interesting how an ordinary day can bring inspiration. The routine outside my window is normal with the power walkers swiftly walking down the hill talking away. I once thought they exercised their jaws more than their legs, but they’re still at it, every morning at first light in the morning.
A few years ago, I had a little difference of opinion with one of the girls. She would pitch her energy drink cup in my roses. I confronted her and told her I didn’t appreciate her littering my roses with her YooHoo drink. She refused to pick up her discarded cup, but got huffy about me calling her energy drink YooHoo. Her friend teased her about drinking YooHoo during their morning walk.
I started drinking my coffee on the front porch, waiting for the power walkers. I could see them walking. I got up and stood by the roses, daring the young woman to pitch her drink cup in my roses. Seeing me, they cut across the street. As I stood there, I wondered how I became that old women who told passers by to keep off her lawn. The scenario was different, but the sentiment was the same.
I had no more trouble with the power walkers and I no longer drank my morning coffee on my front porch, but I watched from the window. There were the dog walkers, joggers and older couples going for their morning walk. They would return in the early evening.
My morning routine changed. I no longer watched the morning sun rise and evening sun set over my view from the breakfast nook window. I got into my blogs, crafts and daily routine. But today, I’m at my window with my coffee and my spinach, tomato and scrambled egg breakfast with a lightly toasted English muffin. Comfort food with a bit of strawberry jam.
The telephone’s ringing, but I prefer not to be disturbed. It will go to voice mail, if a message is important enough to collect. Most of the time there is no message. That’s fine with me. I have my novel to write, errands to run and my house to tidy up.
I took a leisurely walk around the neighborhood with my little Yorkie. She loves to be out exploring all the smells left by the walkers and dogs. It might seem a bit disgusting, but I’ll never truly understand a dog’s life as she may never understand mine. We continued around the block. A woman called out from her window. I guess I’m not the only one who watches.
Hollywood has made movies about “watchers” which usually has a sinister twist, but this particular woman probably has no more sinister motive than I have, it’s merely a beginning of a day.
It did make me wonder how many others “watch,” but say nothing. Many may be gone to work, some may work at home. I do enjoy the leisure of working at home. I choose my own hours and do as I please. It is true freedom from the 9 to 5 routine of a regular job. But working outside of their homes may have its perks. It is all a matter of perspective. A choice perhaps.
Just as the morning news . . . nothing inspiring, just complaining . . . always unhappiness about the world . . . no one satisfied . . . our happiness or sadness may be a choice. It’s all a matter of perspective. There is much to enjoy and admire within our own environment. Fresh air, being outside, walking leisurely around without a care in the world. I do learn much from my little Yorkie. She looks for adventure, or so it seems. Having her nose to the ground one moment and in the air the next, but moving along. She follows the sidewalk, her pace quickens as we approach our street.
Soon our walk will be over and she’ll settle down to her morning nap. Such a grand life she leads without a care in the world.
Have a great day!
eats. Well, there was that roast beef . . . maybe Mom will surprise me with some more of that. 
