NaNo Eve

My polling place (Photo credit: tychay)

When I got home from my 11 hour workday this evening, I made up a grilled turkey and cheese sandwich (yummy, btw), put a load of laundry in, then sat down in front of the computer.  Checked out Facebook, skipped all of the political crap, clicked a few likes, left a few messages, then gave serious thought to starting my writing for NaNo.

“What?!”, you say?  NaNo doesn’t start for another, oh I don’t know, five hours and ten minutes here in Indiana.  Who would dare start early?  And isn’t that cheating?  And you would be correct in questioning me in that manner.  Thank goodness I was able to control myself.  After all of my complaining about the lying, cheating politicians, I don’t want to do something that would bring me down to their level.

They may not be able to hold their heads high in the morning (although truth be told, they probably don’t even notice the lies that come out of their mouths…anything to win, right?), but I will!  As excited as I am to commence writing my next novel, I’m not going to jump the gun.  I’ll follow the rules and come out a winner anyhow.  How many of those blasted politicians can (truthfully) make that claim?

Speaking of politics and politicians, have you voted yet?  I thought about voting early, but I’ll just stop by the polling place on election day like I do every election…get my little sticker and wear it to work.  I don’t care who you vote for (well, I kind of do because I’d like to see my guys and gals win)…just get out there and exercise your rights!  Over the years there have been a lot of people who’ve given their lives to protect our right to vote, the least we can do is show up and pull a few levers…

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How do you argue with someone who knows everything?

Phantasm aged and unmasked with Amanda Waller. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I guess the real question should be why do you try to argue with someone who knows everything?  I’m sure you’ve met people like that…maybe you are a person like that…heck, maybe I’m a person like that.  I don’t think I am though.  I think I tend to let people believe whatever they want with no (or at least very little) interference from me.  Maybe that’s not how others view me though…food for thought, huh?

I know people who are of certain religious denominations who believe the existence of dinosaurs is some kind of hoax…because, according to the Bible, the world is only 6,000 years old (or however old, I’m not sure about that one because my mind kind of shuts off when you get into the literal interpretation of the Bible versus science).  I’m not going to argue this with anyone.  You can believe whatever you want. What someone else believes really has no effect on me.  I guess I fail to see that science and the Bible have to be mutually exclusive.  If you believe in an all-powerful, existing-forever God then why is it any more of a stretch to believe that He (or She) put dinosaurs on the earth millions of years ago?  After all, who’s to say what the measure of time is to a being who has been around forever?

Or politics?  Holy moly!  Honestly, is there even a reason to argue this with anyone?  Do you think you’ll ever change anyone’s mind?  Are they going to suddenly see the light and exclaim, “Now I get it!  Thank you for opening my eyes to how things really are!”?  Of course not.  I’m a liberal, no apologies, no explanations…that’s who I am.  I have friends who are apolitical and friends who are ultra-conservative.  That doesn’t make them wrong.  It just means we disagree about the direction we think our country should move forward in.  Do I think I’m right?  Of course.  Does that mean I can force others to abide by my beliefs and views?  Nope.  But it sure does seem like there are a lot of people (on both sides of the political spectrum) who think they should be allowed to force their opinions on everyone else.  Come on, people, live your life and allow others to do the same.

I have a brother who tends to be very forceful with his opinions.  (Think Rush Limbaugh) He implies that you’re stupid if you disagree with him.  Needless to say, his views don’t coincide with mine.  How do I deal with this?  Well, we don’t see each other very often, so that’s one thing.  I also no longer allow myself to be drawn into any kind of social, religious, or political discussions with him.  You know, if you continuously participate in something that ends up upsetting you, maybe you should take part of the blame.  I simply tell him “I won’t discuss this you.” Again, nothing either of us says will change the other’s mind.  Just let it go…

I guess part of learning to take  care of yourself is knowing when to refuse to do things that do you harm.  That’s kind of how I see getting involved in these types of arguments…they upset both parties (well, not always…I think some people delight in denigrating others), they serve no positive purpose (unless you’re both the type of person who enjoys vigorous, spirited debate) because you have to know nothing will be changed by having these types of discussions.

The best way to deal with someone who knows everything?  Let them revel in their knowledge…then you just keep on believing what you believe…live your life in adherence with your beliefs…live and let live!

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Writing daily in August

Image via Wikipedia

I’ve set a goal for myself to write something every day.  It doesn’t have to be earth shattering.  It doesn’t have to be publishable.  However, it does have to happen every day, no excuses.  I’ve been using my blog here at WordPress, daily writing at 750words.com, and the writing I’m doing for my book. 

I’m pleased to report that I have now completed two entire months, July and August, of daily writing.  On 750words, they ask you to come up with some sort of reward for yourself for writing every day (they also ask that you come up with a “punishment” for not achieving that goal.)  For July, my reward was a new flavored coffee, which I bought for myself and thoroughly enjoyed.  My punishment would have been donating $5 to Sarah Palin’s election fund (like that would ever happen, you can bet I’d force myself to write, even on days that I didn’t feel like it, just to avoid that particular punishment).  For August, my reward was a new, just-for-fun shirt.  For quite some time now, I’ve only purchased work clothes, nothing cute and fun.  After completing my writing on the 31st, I went online and ordered an adorable blue flowered, long-sleeved t-shirt.  Oh yeah, my punishment, had I not written daily, would have been to “like” Michelle Bachman on facebook…hahahahahaha!!  Thank goodness I didn’t have to do that.

So, do you set up a reward and/or punishment system for yourself in regard to your goals?

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A cute new do makes everything better

Image via Wikipedia

My ongoing struggles with the Social Security Administration and the BMV (this is fodder for another blog) have had me wanting to pull my hair out.  So today I decided to see my stylist for a new do…figured that’s got to be better than pulling my hair out.   And it was!  I had an idea for a new style and she took that idea and improved it.  The results were so, so cute.  She just kept saying that this was the cutest style for me that we’d ever come up with.  It’s short with kind of wispy, fringey thing going around the face…too cute!!

That certainly improved my mood after battling government agencies most of the day yesterday and getting nowhere.  I’m taking all of my paperwork in tomorrow to see if we can get things straightened out.  If not, well…somehow I’ll manage to figure it out.  There’s got to be a way to prove that I’m not any kind of terrorist and that I really am who I say I am…okay, I’m stopping…it’ll get resolved…the new do has given me a new sense of  resolve and, well, cuteness!!

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