#CraftyTuesday - Spiderman Rules

I am very strict with myself - if I did something for our first grandbaby, I do it for all of them!

There will be no: "Nana is that for big brother, but not for me!" said about me...

All of my grand blessings got baby quilts when they first arrived and then a longer one when they turned six.  The baby just turned six.  

If they want another one of Nana's blankets - they have to help me and learn how much goes into making them a blanket.

Namaste.

#CraftyTuesday - Heavenly Snuggles

Halfway through making this quilt, the sweet baby boy was called home to heaven before even blessing us with his presence...

I couldn't touch my sewing machine without the tears...

I finally pulled myself together and let myself feel and blessed his parents with this gift to go in his memory display case.  

I am glad that I could remember him and all of the love that everyone felt for him for the short time that he was here, even if we never got to hold him.

Namaste.

Hurry Up andddddddd Wait...

It feels like this relocation is taking forever, even though it isn't...

We are constantly rushing to meet a deadline, then twiddling our thumbs until it is time to rush again.

So what are we waiting on?

> Windows and Glass for the house in Michigan... Then we will be able to move forward selling it.

> 2nd attempt on our closing in Kentucky... OK, Ok. - Luckily, that wait is finally over as of yesterday.

> Keys for our new house... This has probably been the hardest wait - knowing it is ours, but having to wait just a few more days while they finish moving out.

> Our belongings... They are being stored on a semi-truck in Michigan.  Once we get the carpet dyed and the walls painted, we'll be welcoming all of the boxes. If I only had a dollar for each time I said - "Yep, we have that - on a semi in MI."

> Getting out of temporary living...It has a great view and short drive to work; however, it is not us.

> Just being done with being "in limbo"... I really don't like not being settled!

I am really starting to appreciate "my stuff"... Especially my kitchen tools.  As I was making Beef Stew tonight, I had to count to l0 a few times while trying to do something that is usually so easy... with my tools. I must say though - I have a good list of things that will make good gifts for a bridal shower or Christmas present. :)

BUT... I have to say that I am extremely blessed that I really like my new job.

If I had a huge amount of stress both with the new job and relocating, I don't know how I would manage.

Hopefully, the next post will be about "we are done" and then I'll get all of these restaurant/food pictures off of my phone and onto the blog. 

Namaste.

I'm Back...

Yes, it has been awhile since I have posted...

I am actually surprised at how long it has been...

Obviously, posting here took a back seat to what I call... LIFE.

2021 was the year of improvement...

Mainly, improving me - physically and mentally.

I, working with my doctor and a dietician, decided that I needed to make some changes.

And I did...

It took about 11.5 months, but I hit the weight goal that my doctor set for me.

64 pounds gone!

Lots of lower calorie recipes in the rotation.

Lifetime use of the MyFitnessPal app.

Yep - this is a journey.

Last November, we also joined the VR world and I have been doing SuperNatural workouts daily.

BIG GAME CHANGER

It helped me get off the last 6-7 pounds that were teasing me...

And so - 2021 was the year of improvement.

And I was successful.

So...

2022 is going to be the year of family.

I have decided to retire from my job of 25.5 years.

This will allow us to relocate back to the Cincinnati area to be closer to our kids and grandkids.

This is the priority.

This will take us most of our time in the next few months.

I am looking for the next adventure in our journey...

I have a lot of restaurant food pictures on my phone ready to share with you.

Perhaps in the spring?

Until then, stay safe, healthy and happy.

Namaste.

My Thoughts on Social Injustice...

This blog has changed over the years...

I used to post about issues and things that were on my mind...

Then it evolved to what it is today - which is pretty light-hearted about food, crafts and such...

BUT

I decided that I needed to go back to my roots for this one.

I am not a fan of Social Injustice in any way, shape or form.

As a part of my job, I work to provide opportunities for everyone to be allowed to compete...

And it has become my passion.

And I have many friends with different ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.

And they are all important and valuable in my life.

It bothers me that humans are profiled for anything other than their actions.

It bothers me that humans are not given the same opportunities for housing / education / jobs.

It bothers me that orchestras have to have auditions behind screens with no shoe sounds to be fair.

It bothers me that resumes/applications are evaluated differently when the names are hidden.

And even though it bothers me, I realize that I need to do more to make sure that I am not part of the problem.

I am working to educate myself more - not only with Black Lives Matter (and they do), but Hispanic/Latino, Native America (I am pretty confident that I have Sioux Indian blood, but I have no idea of the % (8.25%?) or any way to document it...), Asian American, LGBTQ+, etc.

I was in a seminar the other day that laid out privilege for me in way that really made me go "Hmm"...  

To be privileged means (according to this seminar) that you are "invited to the table" or "invited into the room" or "invited to be a part of a group"... insert whatever phrase resonates the most with you.

We all have areas that we are privileged, and we all have areas that we aren't.

It is up to those of us who are privileged in an area to help those who aren't and hope that in areas that we don't have privilege, others will help us.

I am a women - in some situations that makes me privileged and in some it doesn't.

And believe me - I have experienced sexism many times in my life.

I am Caucasian - that makes it easier for me in most situations.  There are others (wanting to go to a seminar for "women of color") where it doesn't.

I am a heterosexual - that makes it easier to me in most situations, but again - I have had times where I am in the minority and feel very uncomfortable. And that's okay.

I am a college graduate - and even though I worked very hard for that privilege, it is still a privilege.

The point is - everyone has times when they are privileged and times when they aren't.

The problem is that some groups have far more items in the non-privileged column than privileged.  

We all need to make sure that we take it upon ourselves to understand when it is easier for us to get a seat at that table (or whatever phrase works for you) and give a hand up (not hand out) to someone who needs it. 

That is all anyone wants.

AND...

There are good cops and there are bad cops.

There are good leaders and there are bad leaders.

There are good people and there are bad people.

There are good protesters and there are bad looters.

Notice something that was missing from those four statements? 

Race / Gender / Sexual Orientation.

I value those things (Race / Gender / Sexual Orientation / etc) in all of my friends and family.

I love to learn about our differences...They make us unique and special.

BUT THOSE DIFFERENCES DO NOT MAKE US GOOD OR BAD.

The big thing is that we all need to start communicating and talking so that all of the good people are working together to give each other hand ups and to stop the bad people. And a big part of all of this communication, which also means education for me.  

I am watching more documentaries. 

I am reading more books.  

I am listening more (oh that word is sooooooo important!).  

[I may start posting about some of my education as a resource. If there is interest, I might... Even if there isn't, I might just for me...]

And today - Black Lives Matter!  

Or if it reads better to you: Black Lives Matter Too!

In the end - yes, All Lives Matter - that is understood.  
But today, not all Black people are treated like they belong in that "All" statement, so it is time to spotlight their injustices and do something about it today. 

Because tomorrow, we may need to move the spotlight to another injustice and another... 

One day it might even be <Something that SassyMarie is> Lives Matter and I hope that others will stand up with me as I will stand with them.

Today - I stand with Black Lives Matter as a peaceful protest, as a conversation, as a call for action to fix what is broken.

I hope you are willing to listen, to be educated and to stand to eliminate social injustice.

Namaste.

2020 So Far...

An unbelievable 2020:

Australian Brushfires

Presidential Impeachment and Acquittal

COVID-19 

- Quarantine

- Everything shut down (including schools)

- Unbelievable gas prices
- Virtual Concerts

Olympics Delayed

Murder Hornets

Riots

It is only May 30th and I am so done...

On a positive note (okay the only positive note), 2020 made me a Great Aunt!
And I have made a lot of quilts and scrapbooks...

STATS as of now (worldometers.info):

6,259,243 cases

   373,696 deaths

2,785,631 recovered

Namaste.

Remembering - The man who stepped up

On August 24, 2016, I got a call that no one wants...
And I was in an airport, not able to hear well and didn't understand what was going on...
Then a text cleared it up - I wasn't going to be able to say goodbye to my dad...

And even three years later - I miss him like crazy.
We didn't talk often - he wasn't the type to talk on the phone.

But, if I needed him - he was there.
When the tornadoes of 2012 hit us - he was there.
When my kids and grand kids had birthdays - he was there.
He even drove to KY about two months after having open heart surgery - by himself.
He was there.

And it really hurts that as much as he would want to be - he can't be here anymore.
He will never make the drive north to my new place...
He will never see my grandkids play sports...
He wasn't there to talk over the swingzeebo or the dining room table with MBB...
He wasn't there to hug me when I said goodbye to my mom (and a divorce would not have stopped him from being there)...

I miss my dad.

Namaste.

Saying Goodbye...

I was doing so good blogging in 2019...
Granted - a majority of the time, it was only one post per week (gotta love #FridayFinds), but I was posting!


Then, life happened.
And not in a good way.


I was a few weeks behind due to work overload, but had pictures queued up to go...
Then, I got that dreaded text that no one wants: You need to come home, quickly.


I made it...
I had to say goodbye...
To the beautiful, loving, amazing MommyMarie.


So, I apologize for anyone that does read here...
But, it may be awhile before I am done with the paperwork and all of the crazy stuff that comes along with a close family member making their final transition.


Though, I don't think the tears will go away for a very long time...


Namaste.

Remembering: Inspiration Speakers

I get to hear inspirational speakers quite often in my job.
A LOT of them.
I am known to tweet out quotes from their speeches that I want to hang on to...


And a few stay in my mind, my memories and challenge me to think.
So, I decided to spotlight a few here...
Google them - it's worth it!

Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour
@VerniceArmour
#GetGutsy

Amy Purdy
@AmyPurdyGirl
#StartYourImpossible

Simon T. Bailey
@SimonTBailey
#ShiftYourBrilliance

Dr. Randal Pinkett
@randalpinkett
#CampusCEO

Marshawn Evans Daniels
@MarshawnEvans
#BelieveBigger


Dr. Jen Welter
@jwelter47
#PlayBig

Richard Montanez
@Pepsico
#BoyBurritoCookie

Jonathan Sprinkles
@jsprinkles
#PresentationPower

Namaste.

Remembering: Blessings

I am thankful that I get to do what I do for a living (and have for seven years now).
I am thankful that I work for a company who empowers me to help others.
I am thankful that I (am told that) make a difference.

I believe that we need to give everyone a hand up, not a hand out.
I believe that everyone should get an equal opportunity to compete.
I believe that we can all make a difference.

Some days, I struggle - but would life be worth living if I didn't?
Some days, I don't want to get out of bed - but I do.
Some days, I wonder if I am making a difference.

And as my major work event comes to a close today, I am so blessed that I am able to be a part of it.
To the ~1,500 attendees - Thank you.
To the speakers - Thank you.
To my team members - Thank you.

Namaste.

Remembering - Zula

Sometimes, life gifts you with absolute love and happiness and joy.
And that described OB's dog, Zula, perfectly.
She was amazing.
She loved all (except when her daddy was petting another dog).
She knew no evil, because she had no evil.

And she loved trucks, especially her Papaw's truck.
Which in the end was her downfall.
She loved them so much that she didn't understand that they could hurt her.
And hurt her the delivery truck did.

OB was able to hold her and shower with love as she took her last breath.
And she now will travel with her daddy wherever he goes.

It is times like this that I have to remember and hold onto the memories of that love and happiness and joy.  Cause when that love and happiness and joy is suddenly gone, it hurts - real bad.

Love you Zula-girl.
Nana and Papaw are so glad that you were able to visit and share your love with us before you were taken to the Rainbow Bridge... way, way, way too soon.

Namaste.

Struggling...

I hate this time of the year...
Not because of the season...
Not because of the weather...


I hate these particular memories...
I am on robot mode having to take the same steps and reliving the pain...
I hate that I get so emotional that **GASP, I am human** I make mistakes...
I get really down when others don't take ownership of their contributions and I'm not strong enough to defend myself right now...
I am wallowing in the feeling of helplessness...


In reality - New Orleans is a great place:  There is good food and wonderful people.
I have only ever ate my favorite fish here: the Black Drum Fish.
I would love to visit - some other time of the year!


The airplane ride in and out - brutal.
Sitting in the airport by myself looking at the Cheesecake Stoop - It's like it was two years ago.


Thankfully, I have a direct flight to Detroit.
I don't think I could handle the Atlanta memory on this one.




I have been trying to keep this blog lighter and not "dump" on whoever happens to stumble by...
But this is the occasion that I need a release by getting my thoughts out there...
I'm hoping the $15 drink helps too...


Namaste.

Inspired

I go to a lot of events for my job which means that I hear a lot of speakers.

Some give me time to get caught up on my email.

Some make me note their words.

Some make me think.

Some inspire with their story and how they overcame.

Some blow it out of the water.

And then, there was Amy Purdy.

Between overcoming almost dying at 19, she now has a successful non-profit company that helps others (Adaptive Action Sports), won three Olympic medals and figured out what feet were needed for what dance (harder than you think) to get second place on Dancing with the Stars...

I truly enjoyed hearing her story.

And I will think twice before I say that I can't do something...

Namaste.

Gray Areas...

Life is not black and white...
It is full of gray areas...


Whether it be in fairness or politics or even, gulp, religion...
People don't always want to think in gray areas...
But to do so is way more fair and kind and true...


If more people would look at all sides, it would allow everyone to live with our neighbors so much better.


Namaste.

Happy Father's Day!

I'd like to take a moment to say to everyone a Happy Father's Day.

Whether you are a Dad, stepped into the roll of a Dad (shout out to step-dads, moms, siblings, cousins, etc), buried your Dad or lost your Child - today is a day for you.

Namaste.

Memorial Day in the USA

My blog tracker lets me know that I have visitors from all over the globe, so I thought that I would share some knowledge about the US's Memorial Day holiday. I was listening to the radio yesterday and the DJ broadcasting (who is an American) didn't even understand what the holiday was for...

Memorial Day is meant to be a solemn day of remembrance to honor the US Soldiers who lost their lives in a war. It is not a day to honor any US Soldier - that day is Veteran's Day and the two are confused often.

Memorial Day was originally established to honor the soldiers who died during the Civil War and was originally known as Decoration Day.
In 1966, Congress declared Waterloo, NY as the originator of the holiday in 1866.
In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a National Holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May.

According to CNN, approximately 1.2 Million Americans have died from the Civil War to present day wars (https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/23/us/memorial-day-fast-facts/index.html).  

I remember, honor and give thanks that those men and women stepped up to defend the USA and gave the ultimate sacrifice to allow my fellow Americans and I to live as we do today.


Namaste.

Retrospective

I am at a place where I need to stop and just be retrospective.

On one of my recent trips, I was surprised and shocked to win an award. 
An award for all of the hard work I have put in the last four years. 
Yes, the big T pays me to do it, but I enjoy doing it...
And now someone is publicly announcing that they think I do it well.

I never aimed for this award...
I never knew that I wanted it...
Until I got it.

Suddenly, it almost felt like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders...
Almost like this was a huge check on the bucket list...
But I really didn't realize that it was on the bucket list...
And it felt good.

I am beginning to soul search to see if I can make more of an impact on my own.
Cause I won't be doing this forever at the Big T, but I may want to do it forever...

Namaste.

Taking A Moment...

I just need a moment...To try to focus myself in the moment.
And that is hard.
Not as hard as being a wife or parent... but it is a close 3rd.

It has been a rough few weeks, heck months, even years.
I decided that 2018 would be my time to focus on now and trying not to hold on to stress or feelings.
And I did okay for awhile...

The medical issues are pretty much resolved...
No thanks to Cincinnati Doctors - if you go to Group Health Associates down there, I highly recommend that you think twice!
I do have some weight to get off as a result of my thyroid history, but that is in process and I am hoping to be successful.

I was struggling with the spiritual home that I was trying to connect with (yes, I know...don't end a sentence with a preposition... and now, I haven't). 
I just didn't have the right feeling from the minister. I know this sounds petty - but I want to go to a Unity Church.  To have the minister, at the Unity Church, refer to her non-Unity training just bothered me.  Heck, I was even doubting that she had ever been to Unity Village!
I always try to go three times before making a decision and I just couldn't make myself go back for that third time. Last week, I saw that she found a new spiritual home elsewhere and they will be looking for a new leader.
Is it bad that I felt a sense of relief? 
I felt a tinge of guilt for a moment, but then I wished her well in her future and decided to keep an open mind about the future leader...

So, 2018 felt like it was going fairly smooth...
Right?
Wrong.

The last two weeks seriously felt like life was more of a roller coaster ride.
One minute up and the next plummeting to the ground (no lie or exaggeration even)...

At one point, I seriously had the thought - we moved to FLAT Michigan!!!  Where did these huge drops come from?

Between work, wrapping up relocation, family issues (and there are more than one), it seems that spirit is throwing as much at me as she can and is just watching to see how I react.
And yes, I am just talking about the last two weeks.

Some moments (like now), I just want to throw it back in her face and tell her to Fu** Off.
Others, I try to get in the moment and figure out what I can do to get through it.
It seems to have worked (most of the time) with some of the relocation (though I am about to tell Mother Nature where she can shove it!), but I am seriously struggling with the family stuff.

I just keep reminding myself that I can only handle one thing at a time...
And there are three sides to every story and it is my challenge to get the truth...from a distance. 
How to do that successfully will be a challenge.  How to make someone understand that they are the only important thing in the situation and that they need to let me know what is going on is another challenge in itself. How to make sure that I don't presume, that I don't jump to conclusions...And at this moment - I have no idea...

Rereading that - I realized that someone who knows both situations (and there aren't many who do) may have trouble figuring out which one I am talking about.
But it is clear to me:
One, I have absolutely no control over - I can just watch and support. 
The other, I may not have control - but I will not just stand by and watch.  Not sure exactly what I am going to do yet, but I will figure it out.

I am going to stop...
I am going to breathe...
I am going to try to figure out how to get my peaceful life back...
It is time for MBB and I to be able to enjoy this life we have together...

That is my dream...
That is my goal...
And one that needs to be realized very soon.

Namaste.

Women's History Month

I am a collector of facts, of tidbits, of information...
And today, I am interested in Women's History Month.

So, I am searching the web for stuff...
If I find out something is wrong, I'll fix it.

1987 was the first time that March was declared Women's History Month.
March was chose as the month since March 8th is International Woman's Day.
It is a global recognition as it is recognized in the USA, UK and Australia (or has been in past years).

A few women that you may have heard of (in order by birth year):

Cleopatria (69 BCE-30BCE) The last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt.  She was 17 or 18 when she became Queen of Egypt and the last pharaoh.  She was a shrewd politician who spoke nine languages.

Mary Magdalene (4 BCE–40BCE) Accounts from the Gospels suggests that she was one of Jesus’ most devoted followers.

Joan of Arc: (1412–1431) The patron saint of France. At the age of just 17, she successfully led the French to victory at Orleans.

Sacagawea (1787–1812) She was the interpreter for Lewis and Clark during the U.S. government’s first exploration of the Northwest.  

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was a bestseller and helped the anti-slavery campaign.

Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) A British nurse who served in the Crimean war, she was instrumental in changing the role and perception of the nursing profession.

Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906) The 19th century women’s movement’s most powerful organizer. She fought for women's right to vote as well as very involved in the fight against slavery. Her arrest for voting in the 1872 Presidential Election and eventual trial paved the way for Women’s Rights.

Harriet Tubman (1820–1913) This abolitionist was born a slave. She eventually became a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, leading more than 300 slaves to freedom.

Clara Barton (1821–1912) She treated injured Union soldiers on the battlefield during the Civil War. She later was the founder and first president of the American Red Cross.

Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910) Born in Britain, she was the first woman to receive a medical degree in America from the Geneva College in New York. She later founded a women’s medical college to train other women physicians.

Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) She produced the first literature for the mass market of juvenile girls in the 19th century best known as author of Little Women.  She is less known for her service as a Civil War nurse.

Marie Curie (1867–1934) She was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize and the first person to win the Nobel Prize for two separate categories (Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911). A few years later, she also helped develop the first X-ray machine.

Helen Keller (1880–1968) American social activist. At the age of 19 months, Helen became deaf and blind. Overcoming the frustration of losing both sight and hearing she campaigned tirelessly on behalf of deaf and blind people.

Amelia Earhart (1897–1937) The first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, she opened the skies to other women. In 1937 while attempting to become the first person to fly around the world, her plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean.

Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1995) She was the first woman to serve in both houses of the United States Congress representing Maine.  She was very active in fighting McCarthyism in the 1950s (and the subject of my high school term paper).  She was the first woman to be a presidential candidate for a major party in 1964.

Mother Teresa (1910–1997) Founder of a religious group of nuns in Calcutta, India, she devoted her life to aiding sick and poor people throughout the world, becoming a global icon for selfless service to others. She was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1979.

Dorothy Hodgkin (1910–1994) This British chemist was awarded the Nobel prize for her work on critical discoveries of the structure of both penicillin and later insulin. These discoveries led to significant improvements in health care.

Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) The first female Prime minister of Great Britain, she governed for over 10 years.

Anne Frank (1929–1945) Her diary is one of the most widely read books in the world.

Barbara Jill Walters (1929- ) is an American broadcast journalist, author, and television personality. In 1976, continuing as a pioneer for women in broadcasting, she became the first female co-anchor of a network evening news. 

Sandra Day O'Connor (1930– ) As the first woman appointed to the position of U.S. Supreme Court justice, she carved a place for women at all levels of the legal profession. 

Janet Reno (1938-2016) She was the first woman to hold the office of U.S. Attorney General, she's remembered for her toughness and for several controversies during her tenure.

Dr. Sally Ride (1951– ) The first American woman in space was also the youngest American astronaut ever to orbit Earth.

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997) British Royal princess who was noted for her humanitarian charity work.

Malala Yousafzai (1997– ) Pakistani school girl who campaigns for the right to education. She survived being shot in the head by the Taliban and has become a global advocate for women’s rights, especially the right to education.

I know that there are a lot more notable women who were born in the 1970s and later...

I just need to do some more research to find out about them...

Namaste.