Garden Update

Here we are, with an early spring, and I am having to wait until Easter, when it is officially safe to put my plants in the ground. Grrr. When is Easter anyway? Ugh... April 8. It's been 80 degrees for past week at least. So when am I putting my plants in the ground? Probably this week.

Last week, the guys put the garden together. It took about 12 hours, but I really like the results. It's not as elaborate as I had wanted, but it'll do. I wanted to put up a nice "garden gate" all the way around, but you know what? Nobody is going to see it but us. Well, us and all of you! Ha!

I'm excited this year. Last year was a trial run, to see what we could do. This past winter I have been making all the preparations for spring, doing the research, planning, etc. And then the income tax refund came in! So off we went to get what we needed, and we found ways to make the money stretch. Once the garden is in, we won't have to do it again, but I am already collecting newspapers for next year. But I digress.

A few days ago, the guys put in the grapevines and put the raspberry and blackberry bushes in huge pots until I can decide exactly which part of the yard they can go in. The dwarf figs and kiwi plants are ordered, along with several other kinds of seeds. One of my joys is to watch the hummingbirds and butterflies as they enjoy the garden, so we are planting plenty of hummingbird vines to attract them. No more buying nectar! In fact, no more buying what we will produce in the garden! I am planning to do a lot of canning and freezing once the harvesting starts, and from the looks of our seedlings, we will have a bumper crop! I love filling a pantry full of beautiful vegetables and jams that were made from what we have grown ourselves.

My garden will be my special place to go to get away from daily stresses. Lord knows, I'm so tired of going to classes this year, and I just want to be done! I want to go play in my garden and then be fresh for the fall. Have I mentioned that I'm going to be attending the Loewenberg School of Nursing? Just two more years... two more... two more... and spend all my in-betweens in the garden. It may not be perfect, but it's mine!

Nazdrowie'

Paczki Puta

All We Are Saying... Is Give Peace A Chance!

Family in disarray... again. It seems it always happens to this family. I have to wonder if it happens in others. He said, she said, he did, she didn't... please stop!

Everyone thinks they're right. Everyone is wrong. Dead wrong. You know how I know? Because everyone can't be right. Posting expletives and derogatory comments on Facebook for the world to see is wrong. You want to have an argument, but you want to let the rest of the world see your anger. I get that. So start a blog. Write letters. Pick up the phone. It's so easy to write things and then say "But that's not what I meant" or "I was just reacting to what was said to me". Let me tell you folks... you're all wrong.

"Cuss words are just WORDS", I was told. Words are powerful. They wound deeply. What you say to someone matters. What you write matters even more. Didn't you ever hear that if you write a letter of complaint (or praise) to a company, you will receive a response, even though you might not get one from a phone call or email? It's true. The written word... more powerful than a sword to cut people to ribbons. More than one person is at fault here. Everyone needs to take a step back, take a breath and then give each other some space to heal. The reason I took people off my list is so I don't have to read the garbage anymore. You are what you read. Garbage in, garbage out. I choose not to have garbage go in.

Now... for those of you who, like me, desire peace... And this goes for my siblings too...

We are painting the rock on August 6th and going for a beer afterwards. You already know where. If you want peace or just to open communication, be there. If you don't, then stay away and let us have our time. The choice is yours. We are going to heal, with you or without you. Bring paint.

Nazdrowie'

Paczki Puta

UPDATE 10:00pm: Since no one has the intention of stopping their ludicrous behavior, forget coming to the rock. You stay in your world and I'll stay in mine. Deal?

It Is What It Is

I find it amazing... that people who claim they want nothing to do with me talk so much about me behind my back. Maybe it's supposed to hurt my feelings, but it doesn't. My siblings have always been a bunch of backstabbers. If they ever looked in the mirror, they probably still wouldn't see it. But it's perfectly whatever. They have to deal with themselves, I don't. They are the ones who will develop cancer, I won't. I am perfectly at peace. However, there are others that I care very much about that aren't.

To those people I want to say this... find peace. The reason I have so many people on my block list is because I seek peace. If someone brings garbage in my life, it's up to me to decide if I let the garbage stay. Generally, I don't. So my block list is a mile long. A few people have recently made my illustrious block list and I would like to elaborate on it a little.

One of my cousins made my list yesterday. I also blocked his wife and daughter, but not because they are related to him. I make it a policy of mine to not allow someone to be able to check up on what I'm doing, what I'm writing, etc., once they've been blocked. Liz, you and Maggie are great people, and this was not a slam against you. It's merely me covering all bases, just like I've always done. I don't even care that this cousin is particularly pompous and likes to spread it around. What bothered me for a split second was that he actually thought he had a perfect right to do and say whatever he wanted to, even though the issue in question was none of his business. Let me tell you right now... BUTT OUT!!! Having a big degree doesn't make you a big person. It only makes you more educated. You are no better than anyone else. But YOU think you are. Personally, I had nothing against you until the other day, but I was watching you closely because of what I had been told previously. Yesterday was the perfect time to block you from my list because you proved out what other people had told me.

Now... as for a couple others... Joe, you are not my brother. You were wrong when you said we cannot pick our family. I have done so. I pick the people with whom I will share my life. If you ever got over yourself, you'd be faced with a reality you're just not ready for. So go... live on... and find peace. I don't care if you talk about me like you did today. You rarely cross my mind anymore. When I came back from my father's funeral, the first thing I did after putting down my bags, was to take all pictures of that side of the family and put them away in the attic. I have nothing here to remind me of you. Please know that you are not discussed in our house. We talk about positive things and having a conversation about you is a great waste of my time and energy. My family does not want to know you. So go find peace. We are perfectly fine and at peace here.

If anyone who has made it to my block list ever thinks about calling me, let me tell you right now... please don't. Save yourself the humiliation of being hung up on. No one here wants to talk to you. Take it to the bank. We have said all we ever have to say to you. If I wanted you in my life, you would be in it. I have gone my own way and am happy having done so. And if you think otherwise, you are deluding yourself. If and when my family moves north, we have no intention of seeing you or socializing with you. We are merely opening another chapter in our lives.

Life goes on, folks. It may not have gone the way you or I wanted, but it is what it is. I'm going to be happy in spite of you, or maybe because of you. But whatever... you are just a footnote in my life. My family is my life. People like Steve, Jason, Rhys, Dennis, Tracy, Aunt Pat, Uncle Jerry are my family. They've earned it. What have the rest of you done?

Nazdrowie'

Paczki Puta

Desiderata

I received this from a dear friend at the beginning of the year.
It's time to read it again.

Desiderata

-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Nazdrovie'

Paczki Puta