Happy Birthday Tammi

Today is my best friend’s birthday, let’s all take a moment to tell Tammi happy birthday.

I would like to tell you about my best friend, we have been friends since we met at the ripe old age of 13 years old. On a dusty, dirt road in the great city of Owasso, Oklahoma. We have been through thick and thin together, it was immediate friendship.

We bonded over two city girls stuck in the country, she grew up in Tulsa and I grew up in Oklahoma City.

That country road led us to different paths in life, but the friendship was always there. We only had one serious falling out and that was quickly put to rest.

We may not talk every day, but when we do we pick up exactly where we left off. If she needed me I would drop everything to talk to her or listen, I know she would do the same for me.

We may live in different states, but she is still my best friend, the one that I call or text when I have something good to tell. The one that knows literally everything about me and is totally non-judgmental. The one that will jerk a knot in my tail when I need that as well.

So today, on the day of her birth, I celebrate her, her generous heart, her amazing sense of humor and her loyalty.

Happy Birthday Tammi, may God continue to bless your life in tremendous ways.

It’s been a long friendship and it will only become longer as the years go by. I hope your Birthday month is filled with amazement, awesomeness and total greatness!

Thank You

I come from a long line of American patriots, a long line of people who have fought for not only the Independence of this country, but the continued Independence of this country.

Veterans Day in the United States of America is set aside to honor veterans. A veteran is a person who has served and is no longer serving in the armed services.

I don’t have adequate words to express how grateful I am to those men and women who have served this great country in that capacity.

Your bravery, fortitude and sacrifices are not repayable. They are priceless in nature, the selflessness that goes with service is immeasurable.

On our day of remembering and honoring all that you have given so we can enjoy freedom is only a drop in a very large bucket.

So many came home with invisible wounds, those can be the hardest to heal. My brother who was in the Navy during Vietnam had those wounds and scars. He carried them throughout his life.

When you see someone that is clearly a veteran please say thank you and I’m with you.

I stand with you, honor you and humbly thank you for all that you have done for me and my progeny. So we may live a life of freedom in our land of a Constitutional Republic.

My heart swells with pride every time I hear our national anthem, I tear up think of our brave soldiers in every corner of this earth.

May God bless you and keep you all.

Adoption Scare

Mark Wahlberg has a new movie that is coming out next week, Instant Family. It is about a couple that want to adopt and end up with three older children from foster care.

I will be going to see this movie, I hope it encourages people who want to adopt to go through the foster system and look at older children.

I was one of those older children, I wasn’t in the foster system, but I really was unadoptable by the world’s standard. Most people want babies, they want a child they can raise from infancy to adulthood. Typically older children have been through a pretty rough life and are harder to handle. It takes special people to take on this responsibility.

Older children also live with constant fear that they will be sent back if they are too difficult, which is hard to avoid in teenage years.

Usually there is a pivotal moment when the child realizes no matter what happens they have found their home.

I remember what mine was vividly, it wasn’t too long after I came to live with my parents. About 6 months in, I was sitting in class and someone came and said I was wanted in the Principals office. the whole class said ooooooohhh, of course, I was confused, I didn’t remember doing anything.

I went in and there was the Principal and my birth mother and my oldest birth brother and his wife. I just stood there, I thought oh they just called these people and didn’t want to see me again.

I just knew my life was over, it really would have been, these were not good people.

Unbeknownst to me, the principal had called my parents and the chief of police in Owasso. I wish I could remember his name, because he was incredible.

Just when June (birth mother) was telling me they had come for me, my parents burst through the door.

I instantly knew I was safe, my mom grabbed my hand and pulled me close to her. I knew right then I wasn’t going anywhere and they were not giving me up. My dad proceeded to just speak to June telling her that she had signed the adoption papers (before that I didn’t know that had happened and they were taking legal steps to make me theirs). He told her for once in her life do the right thing for one of her children.

Birth brothers wife then spoke up and she was talking to me and said we have your room ready, it’s your favorite color, yellow.

Yellow! My mom exclaimed, that shows you don’t know her at all, her favorite color is deep red. About that time the chief of police shows up, if any of my Owasso friends read this, please tell me his name.

He took one look at what was going on, he was good friends with my dad and already knew the story of me. He told those people, you have thirty minutes to get out of Owasso. If you ever come back to my town I will not need a reason to arrest you, I will just do it. Do not stop for gas, food or anything else until you hit Tulsa.

They left that day and that was the last time I ever saw birth brother. From what I have heard he is in prison now for multiple crimes. I saw June once more at my grandmother’s funeral.

But in that moment I knew I wasn’t going anywhere and I could be myself. I could fully be Angie and they wouldn’t want to get rid of me.

Adopting an older child is in a way a lot more work than starting with an infant, but it changes that child for the better.

I have said it before, I very literally don’t know what would have happened to me if my parents hadn’t adopted me. I will be going to see the movie and I am positive I am going to cry.

Any comments, questions or criticisms can be left here or sent to angie@angieworld.com

Voting

I voted today. Its not a day I typically vote, I’m not super keen on voting early. I actually enjoy the voting on the first Tuesday of November process.

But these days voting has become divisive if you don’t vote the way people think you should.

I don’t take voting lightly, you see I possess this ability, it’s called reading, I know what women went through so I could have a say in the way my country is ran.

It is not only our civic duty, it is our responsibility as an American citizen to cast our ballot. It is our, the regular people, opportunity to be heard.

I grew up in a household that took voting seriously, one simply did not walk in blindly on Election Day. No, that would have been completely unacceptable. My dad taught me to educate myself on the issues and the candidates. He never once insinuated his preferences onto me.

To this day I have no idea who my parents voted for, with the exception of Franklin Roosevelt. I know my mom voted for him. She told me, when I called her sobbing at Ronald Reagan’s exit speech.

I digress, I opted to vote early this time due to extraneous events in our nation. I didn’t want to take the chance on Election Day of not being able to get to a polling place.

I still remember the first time I ever voted. It was 1984, it was a presidential election year. I did my research, I watched the debates, I was more than ready.

I went to the fire station in Owasso, I took a book with me. The lines were long, but I didn’t read, instead I talked to those around me. I was so excited I was telling everyone this was my first time. No one tried to influence my vote, or even asked me who I was voting for. It was just perfect, I walked into the booth, yes, it was an actual voting booth, I took a deep breath and made my very first declaration into adulthood.

You see I didn’t feel like a real adult until I voted for the first time. I’ve always loved the process, until now. I try (see what I did there) not to push my political beliefs on to others. I try not to be obnoxious about what I see as right and wrong. Others cannot say the same.

So today I voted, early, I need to be heard.

As usual any comment, questions or criticisms can be left here or sent to me at angie@angieworld.com.

Shallow Angie

Here’s the thing, and there’s always a thing, I have a type. I have caught against my type almost my entire life.

I like pretty, I am extremely attracted to pretty. Everyone always tells me, Angie don’t be so shallow, you should date someone based o their personality, not their looks. Well, we can see how well that worked out, on so many levels.

I will say my ex-husband doesn’t fall into the non type category. He looked just like Alex P. Keaton when we met. I’d like to say that was disastrous but it wasn’t. We had three beautiful children. So that is in the win column.

I’m done going against type, I’m going for the pretty man. Forget personality, forget brains, I’m going for looks. Does that make me shallow? I don’t care. Going against what I’m attracted to has not worked.

I refuse to go against my natural instincts any more. It’s Dean Cain or no one. Ok, we all know it will be no one, I’m crazy not stupid.

This year has been one of the most trying, tiring, exciting and fulfilling years ever. I honestly cannot wait to see what else God has in store for me.

As usual any comments, criticisms or questions can be left here or sent to me at angie@angieworld.com.

Dating Update and Wedding Nightmares

I had the weirdest dream last night, I dreamed Elizabeth Anne and I were at a family friends wedding. The bride had requested everyone wear white, Elizabeth Anne and I arrived right on time, we sit down in the church. Just as the ceremony was starting she looks at me and gasps MOM! I look down and I am wearing black, in a sea of white I am wearing black. A massive fashion faux pas, I jumped up and ran to the bathroom where my white outfit was waiting for me. It was completely unsettling, I never make that major of a mistake.

Quick update on the dating front, after much soul searching and instablocking, I decided to delete the dating app. It just wasn’t fair to the men or to myself, I found fault with all of them. Heads too big, like literally, not ego wise, their heads, maybe it was the angle of the pictures, I don’t know, but it was weird. Too tall, too short, no hair, too much hair, eyes the wrong color, used the wrong to, too, two, their, they’re, there. You name and I could find it, so I decided Jose was correct in his declaration that I am not ready.

I am really happy with my life and I don’t want to upset the balance that I have achieved and I know bringing someone else in will upset said balance. Not for the worse, mind you, but it is still an upset and I’m not ready for that.

On to different topics, shampoo, yes, shampoo, I tried a new shampoo and conditioner and I am enamored. I have a thing for shampoos and conditioners, wherever I go I search them out. This one I ordered online, I took a risk, one never knows how these things will go. I had heard of this new product a few weeks back. I was hesitant to try them, because, well, no samples and i couldn’t smell them ahead of time. But I took the chance and dove in, they are from doterra, it is the doterra salon essentials hair care line. I ordered the shampoo and conditioner and when they arrived I waited two days to use them.

The shampoo is citrus and the conditioner has mint, I was really unsure of how the two different scents would work together.

I took the plunge, I am so happy I did, my hair is so soft, my curls are so soft. The citrus shampoo and the mint conditioner work really well together. They are a little pricy but really worth it, especially if you have curly hair. I give both products a huge thumb up.

I am very fond of mint hair products and these are made with essential oils, so good for the scalp. The shampoo actually gets my hair squeaky clean, which I like, it means it is cleaning all of the other product out of my hair, the conditions is light and conditions extremely well. Here is the link to order them:

https://www.doterra.com/US/en/pl/salon-essentials-hair-care

That’s all I have for now, oh wait, one more thing, loving the new season of Flash, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl not so much. Too much teenage angst and preachiness on illegal aliens, girl power and a host of other things. I like my television viewing to be an escapism from everyday plights. The others provide that, I really want to like Supergirl, I really like the way Melissa Benoist portrays her, she always seems like she is having a good time. I just wish they would do the old fashioned superhero formula that works really well and allow us our escapism.

As always any comments, complaints or compliments can be left here or sent to angie@angieworld.com.

The Pursuit of Happiness

So I was talking to my friend Jose about the whole dating thing. Telling him about instablocking everyone that contacts me for any and all reasons.

He said I don’t think you really want to date, he then said that I don’t think like a woman. I thought about what he said and came to the conclusion he was probably right.

Then I talked to my friend Monty and he said that Jose and Shay are both wrong. I do think like a woman just not a needy woman. He then went on to say his thought  the thing was I really don’t want to date I just want someone to do things with.

I said hmmmm you are probably right about that. You see I am incredibly happy in my life and I don’t even believe in happiness. Oh I believe it is our inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness, but in that pursuit we shouldn’t discount what give us joy. And when we do find happiness we shouldn’t become complacent in said happiness.

We should also remember that when we do experience sublime happiness we turn into a vampire. Oh wait, no, that was a plot on Buffy. We should remember that complacency turns into stagnation and stagnation turns to death. Whether it is an actual death or metaphorical one. Never take your happiness nor joy for granted.

I will say this God bless the honest men out there. The one that wants a woman who has no strong opinions, the one that wants a tiny blond woman and the one who wants one within 5 pounds of her goal weight. Yes that was actually stated. God bless all of them because it makes my decision so much easier.

I do know that I seriously love my life, I love coming home every day to my dog and Fat Catstard. I love my family an inordinate amount and I have the best friends ever.

I do have to tell you all if Dean Cain comes to town I’m ditching all of you to run away with him.

Much love and happiness to all of you, may your pursuit of happiness land you in great joy. I leave you with this thought. Fire bad, tree pretty.

As usual you can leave a comment here or send me a message at angie@angieworld.com.

Am I too Picky?

Ok, so, my friend Shay has been telling me for a while I need to start dating. I told her if I didn’t meet and marry Dean Cain in Austin, TX then I would allow her to download a dating app on my phone and fill out the profile and choose the pictures.

When we were on our trip to Montana I kept my word, I let her download one and fill out the profile and pick the pics.

I have become the master at instablocking any and all men who contact me. I can find fault with all of them, head too big, too short, bad speller, you name it, I can instablock for it.

I also block for untoward handles, I don’t even open those messages, I just block.

Shay told me I am a dude with breasts, I don’t think like a female, I think more like a man. I believe I think logically, I know what I am attracted to and why should I settle for less than that. Men are allowed to say what they want, and God bless the honest ones.

The ones that flat out state they only date blond, petite and skinny women. God bless that kind of honesty, it is rare, I am equally as honest.

Shay is left shaking her head in exasperation, so I thought I would just put my list of requirements here and you all can tell me if I am being too picky:

First and foremost a Christian, it thought that would be a given but I am not sure.

1.) 6ft or taller, but not taller than 6’3”, too tall freaks me out.

2.) I like dark hair, no red heads, obvious reasons.

3.) dark eyes, soulful eyes, or dark blue, or green, oh green with dark hair would be really pretty.

4.) I do like the pretty boys, I am a sucker for a boy band pretty man.

5.) can work with his hands, like do handy work and knows about cars.

6.) slightly nerdy, too nerdy is too much, I am already super nerdy so some balance is needed.

7.) well read, I do like a reader, I’m a reader so it would be nice to have that.

8.) has to be funny, I’m funny so it is only fair he be funny as well.

9.) loyal, like a dog, not a husky but a real dog, like German Shepherd loyal.

10.) that loyalty is not only applied to me, but loyalty to his favorite team, I seriously HATE fair weather fans. Donkeys.

11.) Has to love movies and television. I do, I cannot be with someone who says oh I never watch television. WHAT?

12.) music lover, music is what feeds my soul.

13.) speaking of, snow, cold, ice, rain, he has to love all of that as well.

I think that is a start, 13 is a good luck number in my family, so I will end the list there. If anyone thinks I am being unreasonable, please, educate me on myself.

As usual, any and all comments or questions can be left here or sent to me at angie@angieworld.com

Rant

It seems lately no one is allowed to have opinions that differ from others. This is rampant on social media, where everyone’s opinion matters more than everyone else’s. It is disheartening indeed that the days of polite discourse are gone with the way of Christmas decorations coming out after Thanksgiving.

It is a sad day indeed when a person states their opinions and are vilified on social media and in the press. Shame on every single person who does this. There are many opinions I don’t agree with, however you will never see me bash the person who said them. Sometimes (ok a lot of times) I wish I could have a robust discussion with people regarding their opinions and why they believe the way they do, or why they see things the way they do. What colored their opinions, what happened to them or what have they seen in their life that has made them see things a certain way.

Unfortunately we do not live in a world that is conduce to that type of discussion and this saddens me. So very much. I was raised in a house where differing opinions were encouraged and educating ones self on the days events were mandatory.

Growing up in my house we used to have robust discussions, my dad insisted that if I wanted to participate I would need to do research and educate myself. I did, even if my opinions were different from his, he never belittled me or tore me down. You see he wanted to make sure I could stand on my own two feet, do my due diligence and make decisions for myself. My children are very good at this as well, I encouraged them to do their research, do not go by what the news tells you. Soundbites do not tell the whole story, find out what someone actually said before forming your opinion. So much of todays culture is centered around soundbites and he said she said.

I don’t want my progeny to grow up in that kind of society, so can we please go back to civilized discourse. Can we go back to a time where we valued differing opinions and respecting each other.

I miss those days, I miss Walter Cronkite and I miss Ronald Reagan. I will say that until the day I die, I miss those days. I am horrified by what I see in todays world, in our country, in the United States of America, guilty until proven innocent and when proven innocent still guilty. Seriously this has to end. Due Diligence. It’s a thing people, google it, you more than likely have a smart phone.

I am of the firm belief that we have way more in common that we have different. We all want a better life for our children and their children than we have had. We want them to grow up healthy, joyous and with a firm belief in right and wrong.

I will tell you this a firm belief in God and Jesus Christ has instilled a great deal of my belief system and how I view the world. My mom, dad, grandpa, grandma and great Aunt Effie rounded that out. What did they all have in common you ask, I am so glad you did, they had strong morals and a great sense of right and wrong. They all had a simple way of doing things, treat people the right way, the way they wanted to be treated and that will come back to you.

I leave you with this thought if you are one of millions who do not read anything or go by soundbites or what social media and the mainstream media tells you, turn off everything. Go out into the world, socialize with people who are not like you, have a conversation. Conversation, not argument, not fight, not with an attitude of you are right and they are wrong. I do believe you might be pleasantly surprised at how much you have in common. As usual any comments, complaints or suggestions can be left here or sent to me at angie@angieworld.com

Our Final Day in Yellowstone

This is the day we went into Yellowstone Park on foot, I have never felt more at home in my entire life. Being surrounded by the trees and the sky, I felt incredibly close to God at that moment. His work is nothing short of amazing, I felt as if I could reach out and touch the sky, the clouds. I cannot say this enough, if you have the opportunity going to Montana and seeing this magnificence for yourself is a must do.

Before went into the park we actually met a park ranger, a woman ranger, who was originally from, are you sitting down, Texas! Yes she was from the same area in Texas that we are from.

We walked into the park and decided to of course take pictures, then we walked. Surrounded by the trees and the wildlife, no bears, and it was amazing.

Then I hear footsteps, I think this is it, this is the part where the bear sneaks up on me and eats my entrails.

I turn to confront said bear and it was just a park ranger, this time a man, a very short skinny man. Shorter than I am, which is saying a lot. I thought there is no way he is going to be able to protect us from a bear.

Perhaps I should back up, getting ready for our hike, I put on full makeup, Shay says why are you putting on makeup to hike in Yellowstone. I reply, in case a bear attacks, in all the movies I’ve ever seen the bears only eat the entrails and leave the face alone. i want to look good for the park rangers, upon seeing the short skinny park ranger I knew I had wasted my time.

We never saw any bears but we did experience incredible beauty and amazing peace.

I cannot reiterate enough how this was my dream trip and I am so happy my friend Shay said she would go with me and followed through. I would have gone alone, but it was so much better having a friend there.

I told her when she decides to get married I get to give the toast, since I now have a lot to say. Like her giving a wooden Indian a kiss, literally a wooden Indian like you see in the old westerns. Her putting me on blast when I rapped to a wooden bear and the many conversations we had on the way up and back from Montana.

I really do want to go back, I want to explore more of the state and stay for a lot longer, maybe a month. I can see me staying for a month in the winter, I am the opposite of a snow bird, those fly south for the winter. I want to fly north for the winter, I want to be snowed in with my books and my Netflix and Hulu and Amazon Prime. Me the dog and the cat, what a great way to spend some snowed in time, perhaps a little Lois and Clark, the New Adventures of Superman thrown in.

We decided to leave a day early as it was going to drop to freezing temperatures and rain, creating ice and closing down highways. I really wanted to stay for that but Shay was the voice of reason and we left.

We obviously made it home in one piece, safe and sound, no bears attacks and no ice on the road. As usual you can leave a comment here or email me at angie@angieworld.com.