I wonder what my life would have been like if I lived in the 1800’s, I come from people who worked the land, so what would I have been? I mean, seriously, I am really lazy when it comes to physical work, well, no I’m not, not if it has to be done. However, to have to do it every day, and since I am a woman I would have been expected to cook and clean. For a lot of people, because during planting and harvesting times the neighbors all came to help each other, my job would have been to make sure the men were fed. I don’t even know how women did it back then, no microwaves, no ovens like we know them now, no fancy cookware. Dishes to wash afterwards, because there were no paper plates, no plastic forks, no plastic cups so all of that would have to be washed by hand because definitely no electric dishwasher.
I like to think if I had been born then I would have persuaded my parents I needed to go on to a higher education, which for women meant finishing school. Educated women were not man magnets back in the day and face they still are not, men like empty headed arm candy. Always have, always will, as a matter of fact when my grandfather started teaching me to read my grandmother told him not to. She said, she’s pretty, she doesn’t need an education, she will marry well. Grandpa laughed and did it anyway, he told me “listen, your looks will fade, all you will be left with is your brain”, I hope I have done him proud with the use of my brain over using my looks to get what I want out of life.
I didn’t teach my daughter to get by on her looks either, and she is about a thousand times prettier than I am, this could explain why she can’t get out of speeding tickets. I did learn how to do that with my looks, not above using them for that as long as I can. I digress, I would like to think I would have run away from the farm and tried my luck in the city; however that would have been dangerous. The only jobs available to women back then were maid or um, well, in a brothel. Neither of those careers appeal to me.
So farm girl it is, gotta feel bad for those men eating my cooking, poor things, although they would love my no bake cookies. I would probably feed them sandwiches, they would not want to come work on my farm, sorry, my husbands farm, since women were not really allowed to own anything. They were in fact the property, like cattle.
I am beyond happy I was born in this time period, where I was encouraged to learn about everything, where I have had the opportunity to do whatever I want career wise. I know what you are thinking, that I am not really doing what I love in life and while that is true, I have been afforded the luxury of working in a place that trains me to do different jobs and I am able to move around and advance. Not something to sneeze at my friends, plus I have gotten to meet the most wonderful people who have become not only friends but family. For example my BBFF, he is more family than friend, if I had not been employed by this company I would never have such a wonderful friend. If I had not been employed by this company I would not be on the radio, as I met Shanon J at this company. I would never have met the Irishman and become engaged.
I think a lot about living in different time periods, but truth be told I am happy to be in this time period, where I am free to learn, free to speak, free to have an amazing job, amazing opportunities and meet amazing people. I still want to visit other time periods, but not wear out my welcome.
Results of Experiment
Yesterday was my experiment, my 24 hours of no negativity, well, let me tell you it was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. The thing that tripped me up was an interaction with someone from a lower level of support that did not know what they were doing and did not listen to what I was asking or telling them. It was completely frustrating, I slipped, I was negative in my head, then I learned a former co-worker passed away, while not a negative reaction still sad. My BBFF experienced a loss this past weekend; you don’t want to be complete sunshine while offering comforting words. My heart goes out to him and his family, so not an easy day to maintain a positive outlook in life.
Today I shall strive to do it all over again, I am determined to erase negativity out of my life, while I realize it is impossible to erase all of it, I do believe one can get rid of the majority of negative thoughts and actions.
So Alex is taking a history class this semester, I am beyond excited for him, I ordered his text book online, to be honest I may break it open before he comes to get it! I know he will do well, he has an avid interest in history, I do believe he gets this from me. Also he gets his ability to argue from me, I know this is a strange thing to be proud of, however, not for this family. He is a calm arguer; I like that he never loses his cool in a debate and can make his point, intelligently, with thought provoking points.
I am extremely tired today, so this shall be short, please check out the post I put up about honey and cinnamon, I do believe people will find it interesting
Honey and Cinnamon
I have been using local honey in my coffee since November of 2011, I have not had one sinus infection, cold or flu that entire time. I started using it as a way to stop using artificial sweetener in my coffee. This morning I added cinnamon, and let me tell you, my coffee rocked!!
I thought this was really good information and I will be doing some of these things as needed.
Angie
Cinnamon and Honey
Drug companies won’t like this one getting around. Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:
It is found that a mix of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also note honey as very effective medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without side effects which is also a plus.Today’s science says that even though honey is sweet, when it is taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm even diabetic patients. Researched by western scientists:
HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, put it on toast instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol and could potentially save one from heart attack. Also, even if you have already had an attack studies show you could be kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of cinnamon honey strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as one ages the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and the veins.
ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients can benefit by taking one cup of hot water with two tablespoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. When taken daily even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week (out of the 200 people so treated) practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain — and within a month, most all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis now started walking without pain.
BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder….who knew?
CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water given to a cholesterol patient was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, when taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol-could be cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.
COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and, clear the sinuses, and it’s delicious too!
UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also is said to clear stomach ulcers from its root.
GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that when Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.
IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (where DNA is contained) to fight bacterial and viral diseases.
INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food is eaten relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals
INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ‘Ingredient’ which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.
LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Use four teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of boiling water to make a tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans increase and even a 100 year old will start performing the chores of a 20-year-old.
RASPY OR SORE THROAT: When throat has a tickle or is raspy, take one tablespoon of honey and sip until gone. Repeat every three hours until throat is without symptoms.
PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it off the next morning with warm water. When done daily for two weeks, it removes all pimples from the root.
SKIN INFECTIONS:Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin Infections.
WEIGHT LOSS:Daily in the morning one half hour beforebreakfast and on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. When taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.
CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder three times a day for one month.
FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, even when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, when taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M., the vitality of the body increases within a week.
BAD BREATH: People of South America, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water first thing in the morning so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.
HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing.
Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!
24 Hours of Positivity
So, I saw something on Facebook (of course) that said something to the effect that we should try to have one day where we say nothing negative. Well, I have decided to do that, today, as a matter of fact. So I will go one solid 24 hours where I utter not one negative word. This should not be too difficult as I am a naturally positive human.
This weekend was a good one, Friday was spent cleaning and catching up on things of that nature, then Saturday evening was date night with the Irishman. We went to dinner then took the train downtown to attend a Dallas Stars game. If you are not familiar with them, they are a hockey team, the game was a lot of fun, then it was taking the train back home.
We walked from the train to the American Airlines Center, which was a good mile walk, so that was nice, walking through Downtown Dallas at night. Seeing the lights, it was a nice night for a walk; the company was good, nothing whatsoever to complain about.
So, on Facebook (naturally) I read this thing about honey and cinnamon, I shared it on there, I do believe I am going to share it here as well. Very interesting, after reading it, I added cinnamon to my coffee routine, I highly recommend it. First you mix the honey and cinnamon and add a little hot coffee to mix it really well, then your unflavored cream (if you use cream) and then drink away. So very yummy and the health benefits are going to be listed after I am done writing whatever it is that I want to impart to you.
I saw on Twitter (my second avenue of information these days) that Mary O’Connor passed away, who is she you might wonder; well she was Hugh Hefner’s girl Friday so to speak. She worked for him for years in the Mansion, I am not really sure what she did, I saw her on the show The Girls Next Door. She had an office and her desk had tons of paper on it and she always looked very busy. Everyone who came into contact with her has had nothing but positive things to say about her. I don’t know if I could work somewhere like that, not due to the obvious moral issues, but due to the simple issue of being around so many women who are so much more beautiful than I. For me it would be disconcerting, of course at the age she was when the viewing public met her, she was older, a mother figure to the women who resided there. However when she was first hired she was younger, a lot younger, so one has to wonder if there was ever a time she had doubts about her own personage. It was obvious this was a woman who was comfortable with herself; she chose to age naturally, gracefully even, quite an accomplishment surrounded by all of the plastic surgery that inhabited her world.
I have decided to do a special edition after this one for the honey and cinnamon tips as this is over 500 words. I’ll post that one later this afternoon to give everyone time to read this posting. Happy Monday, remember to be positive today, it will do you a world of good, let me know tomorrow how it went. Going 24 hours, consciously being positive, I will be interested in knowing how you all feel, do you feel good, was it hard, did you find it relatively easy to erase negativity from your world for a day.
Singing
This morning I woke up with the urge to listen to Andy Griffith and sing at the top of my lungs, so that is just what I did, I am sure if they neighbors heard me they would have called the police and reported me for noise pollution. However, I don’t care, I was making a joyful noise up to the Lord.
Isn’t it funny how a song or group of songs can take us back, my soul wasn’t here, it was in every FreeWill Baptist Church I ever attended as a child. Sunnylane, the one off of Blackwelder and of course the First FreeWill Baptist Church of Owasso. Those old songs tend to take me back, I am suddenly standing next to my grandma and grandpa singing my heart out. Or next to my best friend Tammi, knowing my voice was horrible and not caring, I know God does not care how badly I sing as long as I am singing praises to Him.
I am reminded today how fortunate I am, I have amazing family and friends, and a non-stop supply of coffee, it is a good time to be alive.
I didn’t get any responses to my question of the day, not surprising, I am going to tell all right here and now, I would want to know. I may, at the time, “shoot” the messenger, however in the long run I would thank them.
I am still mulling over my visit with my cousins Cindy and Paula, I hope they come down here to visit, I would love to take them around and show my kids off to them. Take them to see Jeffrey and Alex, then to the farm to see Elizabeth and all of her animals. I know they would enjoy it, I would even cook for them. Yes, it would be that big a deal.
Well it is Friday and I have enjoyed not being at work, I hope everyone has had a great day and has a fantastic weekend.
Question of the Day
If you knew someone’s husband was cheating on them would you tell? What if you didn’t know the wife? What if you knew all parties involved, would you tell? What if you didn’t personally know any of the parties involved? What if you discovered, by going from one persons Tumblr account that had communicated with someone else in a very intimate way; so by going to that Tumblr and doing a search, figured out he was married. It’s crazy what people think they can get away with when they are on the internet.
I don’t know if I would tell because I don’t know these people, and does the wife know? She might, one never knows about these things. However if you could tell anonymously that might be entirely different, but even on the internet is there really such a thing as anonymous. I work in this industry and I am here to tell you that you leave a footprint wherever you go, so be careful out there.
I am still pondering my trip to Oklahoma for my Aunt’s funeral, I have such mixed feelings, on the one hand so sad for the reason for the visit, on the other hand, I am always happy to see my cousins and the remaining aunts and uncle. Also, there is something about the red dirt of Oklahoma that beckons me, it speaks to my soul. It tells me I am home and I am welcome, I always feel like the prodigal daughter when I go, I don’t even have words to properly explain my emotions.
So my dog is acting strange, she used to sleep all night but since I got back from Oklahoma she has been waking up in the middle of the night and wakes me up. She is like a toddler; I think she may be compensating for me being gone for a few days. I do believe the next time I go I will take her; she just cannot go outside in the front by herself. My cousin’s backyard is fenced and she can go in that without other dogs being there. She does have a little indoor dog, but Nocona likes little dogs so I think she will be ok.
So back to my original thought, would you tell if you knew one party of a marriage or relationship was cheating?
Jibberish
I have writers block, I am hoping by writing that I have writers block it will help dissipate it. So far no, still blocked, you would think I would have a lot to write about since I have been gone for a while, however there are things I’m not sure I have permission to write about.
Hmmm, what do I think I can tell, well you all know I was in Oklahoma for my Aunt’s funeral, I don’t feel as if I have permission to write about the actual funeral as that is intensely personal and I do not want to be disrespectful to my cousins or Uncle.
I can tell you it was wonderful seeing my cousins in spite of the circumstances, had a wonderful conversation with my cousins Paula and Cindy. Seeing my Aunt Estelle was icing on the cake, she looks amazing, she will be 100 in July and still has her mind in tact, which is wonderful. Longevity runs in our family, especially for the women, I cannot wait to be 100, I am going to insist everyone wait on me hand and foot. I plan on being incredibly eccentric, insisting everything around me be painted purple, or red, I have yet to decide, maybe one week red, the next purple. I want people to look and me and say wow that old woman is a pistol.
I think my cousin was a little shocked I travel with my own coffee maker, but seriously I cannot leave my coffee to chance, I need coffee in the mornings. It is not even a want or desire it is a NEED, I need the caffeine in order to start my day off correctly. Nothing else works like coffee, it is comforting, awaking to the aroma of coffee brewing, I don’t think I will ever give it up.
Well that is all I feel like writing for now, maybe later I will write about the story my uncle told at the funeral, it was just fantastic and showed exactly how they were with each other.
Headstone
A life well lived, that is what I want on my headstone, I think I have finally decided.
I would like a purple coffin, tons of music, food, fun and laughter. Yes, laughter, I want people to be happy that I went home and to celebrate a life well lived.
They say home is in your heart, I have Jesus in my heart, does that mean I am in heaven on earth?
There are days my mind wanders to what heaven will be like. I imagine it with the streets of gold, which morph into visions of the Elysian fields. Maybe I read too much, nah, no such thing as reading too much. However, I could have watched too many episodes of Hercules and Xena.
The bible tells us that everything we love is in heaven. If that is the case I believe I will see Chewie again, and Arthur and my cat, and definitely Gypsy and Whiskers. I am going to need a big backyard with my mansion.
I believe I will be greeted by my son, mom, dad, grandpa, grandma and Great Aunt Effie. Then I will go visiting, I will see my birth mother, my aunts, uncles and cousins that have gone before me. What a celebration we will have.
When I leave this earth, and no matter how much I think of myself as being immortal, I know it will happen, I want everyone to know I have had a really good time during my tenure here. That my life was worthwhile, that I contributed while I was here. That I did a good job with my children, I had the privilege of raising. I am always amazed God gave me the ones he did.
I want everyone to know how they have influenced my and my thought process. My deep love of Oklahoma, how proud I am to be an “Okie”. To have the influence of Owasso in my life, the stability and acceptance I found there, and my best friend for life.
I would like everyone to know I had morals, that was instilled in me from a young age by my grandparents and later my mom and dad.
How much all of my Sunday School teachers meant to me, how much I respect them. Having been a Sunday School teacher myself I know how much work goes into preparing the lessons. Thank you for sacrificing to teach the classes I was in.
I would like very much to know that my life has meant something, that I was an influence to others as they influenced me. As I am about to travel to Oklahoma to celebrate the life of a woman who influenced many, I think about what will be said about me when I go home.
I wonder if others are ever as preoccupied with these thoughts as I am or if it is a trait unique to my family.
Looks
I stopped at Starbucks today, it was a venti passion tea for me, unsweetened, I hope everyone is proud of me.
Do you ever have that time in your life where you don’t know what you are supposed to be doing and other times you are so sure of where your life is going? I feel as if I am at a precipice, I can’t explain it, and at my age it is incredible, but I feel like I am on the edge of something huge happening. In a good way, not a foreboding way, I just feel like my life is about to take a huge turn.
I wonder what is in store for me, sometimes; well a lot of the time, I wish I knew my future, I so want a crystal ball. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Wait, no, no it wouldn’t, there are some things I would not have wanted to know in advance. On second thought, I think I’d rather my life just unfold without me knowing what lies in front of me.
I wish I could give up, not in life, but food wise, I know you are all tired of hearing about this; however, I want to be able to eat whatever I want. Whenever I want, no worries about it going straight to my waist, hips, thighs, arms and well everywhere. I believe that is what heaven will be like, where I get to eat whatever I want without consequences. I wonder what it is like to be one of those people, do they think about it, do they appreciate it. I wonder what it is like to be naturally beautiful without need of cosmetics, plastic surgery and other things to make ourselves into society’s idea of beauty. I also wish I were one of those people, alas I need the help of cosmetics and would love to have plastic surgery.
There is a story in the news about a man who sued his wife for fraud, as she had plastic surgery to make herself beautiful before he met her. Then after the birth of their child he found out what she used to look like as the child was not beautiful like he expected. He won as she had never revealed what she used to look like. It begs the question, when you have had work done, do you tell when you begin to date someone? Do you tell them you have Botox treatments? That you color your hair, your nails are acrylic and you had your teeth straightened as a child? Aren’t some of these things a given? I know very few women who do not color their hair, paint their nails, wear makeup, make themselves pretty. We are ingrained from childhood that we need to be better versions of ourselves in order to attract a mate. So after having attracted that mate, do we then come clean that not everything about us is “real”?
I live in the Dallas, Texas area, this is the beauty capital of the world, yes even more so than Hollywood, this is it people. Women are expected to look like Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, big hair, makeup and nails; if you are not the Texas ideal of beauty you will not attract a man. That is what the popular belief is, and I will tell you, men keep it going. When a man talks about what kind of woman he wants in his life, intelligence is far down the list, hot is the word they use. And I have to tell you I am sick of the word hot used as a description, except when referring to fire. What happened to beautiful? Pretty? Cute?
The pressure to be society’s idea of “hot” is exhausting, it is exhausting to be a woman today, so of course we use what is available to us to continue to look acceptable. I know I do, I have been using Mary Kay skin care since I was in my 20’s and it has done me well. I look good, for my age; there is the rub, for my age. I hate that as well. Who decided what I should look like at my age, at any age? Who was that person? I can tell you this, it was a man, men say they want a natural woman, they don’t. No one does, trust me on this. I know I will get some heat for this one, but I for one will continue to take care of myself, color my hair, do my nails, make sure I look the best I can. For my age.
Things I have Learned
I have learned a lot writing this blog, I have learned if people behave badly they will try and justify it, just a word, nothing justifies bad behavior. Apologize for the behavior, if you are truly sorry, if you are not, well then that is between you and God. I would like everyone to remember, God can see through roofs, he knows what you are doing at all times. A little disconcerting I admit, however, it does keep me from going through life with no worries to consequences.
I have learned that we all have a story, and sometimes our stories are similar, and sometimes my story has helped someone. Whether it was to find acceptance, or to find a way to forgive, move on, or relief that they were not the only ones. When you meet someone for the first time, remember, there is more to them than what you can see. People have layers, like onions, and like onions when you peel them, sometimes you cry and sometimes it smells. Figuratively, not literally, if you literally peel someone you will go to jail. Remember that!
I have learned that not everyone thinks I am brilliant, this I do not understand as I believe I am incredibly brilliant. For those of you who don’t know me, that was tongue in cheek, some might actually think I believe I am the best thing going. Oh, wait, I do, I believe I am fearfully and wonderfully made and God did some really good work with me. I believe we should all wake up, look in the mirror and proclaim that today is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. And take a good look at ourselves and appreciate what God has created. I know I have my moments of self doubt; however, on the whole I have a healthy sense of self and appreciate my intellect, looks and personality. I think everyone should take stock of themselves, really look at the good aspects of who you are, if the bad outweighs the good in you, change it. It won’t be easy, but you can do it, I have belief in you. You can do it.
I have learned not everyone believes men and women can be true friends, however, I am here to tell you that is not true. It takes work to have this kind of relationship with the opposite gender, but it can be done. My BBFF and I are shining examples of this, I would not trade our friendship for anything, it is worth any effort put forth. I could not ask for a better friend, someone that listens to me and gives me the male point of view. It is not always what I want to hear, however it is always what I need to hear. I believe God has given me a very special friendship, and has blessed this friendship. Try it, you might be pleasantly surprised. But you can’t have my BBFF; he is very busy placating me.
I have learned I can say anything I want here and no one can say squat, there I said it, in this realm I am the Empress, I rule supremely. If you don’t like it, don’t read, move on to another blog. Being able to write whatever comes to mind is incredibly freeing, everyone should try it, I am not anonymous here, my friends and family read this. They however are used to my honesty, I rarely hold anything back, I have learned tact over the years, so what I say is softened somewhat, however, it is still truth.
If you have learned anything from reading me I would love to know, please feel free to comment.
Angie World 