Angie's Year in Review - 2016

You know, I have tried so diligently throughout my life to not wish away time, though it was so hard when I was a single mom when the kids were young and I just wanted to get to the point where I wasn't exhausted all the time.  (I still haven't made it there, by the way.)  But you know, I'll honestly be glad when 2016 is behind us.  True, there have been a LOT of high points throughout the year, but all in all, it has been an extremely challenging year.  Yes, I got through those toddler years, but now I'm in the teen years, and let me tell you, those aren't for sissies. 

 

So.....I thought I'd recap the year.  It's interesting when you sit down and actually write what all occurred during the year, absorbing it all.  It's like going through a day and when you get to the end thinking that you didn't accomplish all you needed to get done but then realizing you crammed everything in that could be crammed into that day.  Sometimes our expectations just don't gel with reality.  And sometimes they just need to be adjusted.

 

Let's start with the high points, in no particular order:

 

• We had a wonderful vacation in Playa del Carmen!  Snorkeling, shopping and relaxing -- that's the life!
• Emma got baptized and is now part of the Jesus team!
• Sloan started a new school - Christ Church Episcopal.  He's struggled just a bit but seems to be acclimating now.  Wonderful school.
• Emma got her braces off and her teeth are beautiful!
• We now have three chickens -- who still are yet to be named because I refuse to name them KFC, Zaxby and Golden Chick -- who are laying delicious eggs, though I still haven't broken even on the $$$$ spent!
•  Emma got her driver's permit.  YAY, at some point in the near future, my taxi services will greatly diminish.
• I got a new Jeep that is much more reliable than the 2001 model.  Still have that one -- the one with the duct-taped glove compartment, 30-minute-to-heat-up heater, and always-lit check engine light.  Obama sticker is gone, thanks to ex (AGGGG).  It will be Emma's at some point, even though she wants a Range Rover.  LOL.
• Sloan had an outstanding football season!  Don't even know how many yards rushed, but it was a LOT!  Crossing my fingers that he'll end up a pro one day and can take care of mama!
• Emma started high school and is loving it.  Well, I think she's enjoying the social aspect of it more than the academic part, though she's doing great academically.  She works hard and has the grades to prove it!
• For the most part, we're all healthy, and that is a blessing.  (Now wealthy and wise -- not so much all the time!)

 Now onto the not-so-great points:

 

• To my earlier point, the teenage years have been challenges, to put it mildly.  Ones this year have gone to a deeper level than acne, dirty rooms and smart mouths.  It has taken every ounce of love, patience, and faith to get through this year.  Glad I am part of Team Jesus, too, otherwise I would have been in the nut house (though arguably, this house could be referred to as a nut house).
• Emma got her driver's permit. Yes, high point and low point.  She's scaring me to death!  There is a permanent indentation on the passenger side door..... 
• I paid for Emma's braces!  Yes, high and low!
• Men.  For those who have read ANY of my blogs, you understand.  I'm giving up on online dating completely. Done.  There have been some exceptions this year and have made some friends, but no love connection and some heartache along the way.
• Had some medical emergencies of course.  Sloan cut his pinky finger nearly off and sprained his  Achilles, but all good now.  Went through my medical spending account money by April of this year!
• I have a job (which is a high point), but I worked….and worked…..and worked.  This is what happens when your company goes through business transformation.  Some people (and lots of really GOOD people) were transformed out of the business, and some people who are left are transformed from one worker into four workers!  Tired.....need another vacation!
• Speaking of which -- after all the work in the garden, I went to Mexico when it was 100 degrees for days at a time and came back to a very sad garden, and one that ultimately didn't produce much of anything.  Guess it's time to look at sprinklers, pay somebody to feed my animals and my GARDEN while I'm on vacation, or just buy everything at the grocery store!
• We elected a nincompoop -- and that is being kind -- to the highest office in this country.  Lord help us all.

 

 

So, all in all, the year was most eventful, as is the case every year.  If I were to die tomorrow, I would have to say I've lived a very full life.  Not always great, but I've lived and experienced every single moment, some with laughter and some with tears, and a few with sarcasm, 2016 being no exception.

 

Bring it on, 2017!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aside from children and pet news, there was an election.....

We all see this election through different lenses.  Most, if not all, of my friends are aware of my political leanings.  Throughout the nastiest of campaigns, I have struggled with restraint, and sometimes lost that struggle, posting items and thoughts that were of particular importance to me.  In our country, it's our right to express our opinions, and as upright, decent humans, we should also feel compelled to express those opinions humbly and kindly, with a respect for others.

Many are compelling all of us to move ahead and accept this nomination.  This is easier said than done, based on the complete vitriol that was spewed and the hatred and bigotry that was stirred.  This has been a campaign and an election like no other.  We can't simply shrug our shoulders, accept that we have handed over this country to someone whom I see as dangerous and irresponsible, and move on with life.

Going back to lenses.....many know my story (thanks to the other lone "serious" post in this blog) of living through an abusive marriage.  I saw the signs before the marriage, yet I thought after the marriage, things would be better. Marriage would make him better, more secure, less jealous and reactionary.  He would surround himself with my family and friends and they would influence him too.  Does this sound familiar?  Many accepted Donald Trump, knowing how offensive he was and is, but making excuses for him and hoping he would end up being a figure head, surrounding himself with more palatable advisors who would steer him in the "right" direction.  We have seen throughout this campaign that Donald Trump will be Donald Trump, regardless of who is advising him.  When he ends up speaking with foreign leaders, he will actually have to speak for himself (and learn additional vocabulary words -- this is not being catty, this is being honest).  We have crowned him with his own bullhorn that reaches beyond the Twitter-sphere to continue to spew hatred, and as President, to do so with the credibility of the office behind him.  From a lens perspective, giving him the power of this most powerful office will not quiet the din; it will make it louder, just as marrying an abuser only made it worse.  It did not end well for me -- other than I made it out of a marriage with bruises, a couple of fractured bones and a different outlook on life -- but I hope to God it ends well for us as a country with Donald Trump in charge.

As a woman -- and speaking for so many other women that also look through this lens -- I've also experienced sexual harassment at work.  As many of you'll remember, Donald Trump recommends that in situations like that, women should just find another job.  This is what I did on multiple occasions -- or I went to a different department, or I just lived with it or laughed it off -- because it was my word against this man's (who was often the one "in charge").  Donald Trump is the embodiment of the disgust I hold for this type of man.  As a female, I find it nauseating that we have put him in this office considering the attitude he has towards women.  That's not to say that I wanted Hillary to be elected because she was a female; I wanted her to be elected because she was the best candidate of the two....by far.

Aside from the nastiness of his campaign, there are also the policies that he wants to institute that strike fear in myself and others.  He wants to dissolve Obama Care.  So how are we going to handle all of those people who have no other insurance except this?  The ones who rely on this insurance to fight cancer who have no other options?  I totally agree that Obama Care needs work, but you don't throw out the baby with the bath water.  You FIX it, and you don't impact those people who absolutely need it.

And the wall.  Again, do we need extremes?  Yes, immigration reform is necessary, but a WALL?  Oh, but it will be paid by Mexico, so I guess we'll be okay.  Won't affect our taxes or anything.

I will also be curious to see how he handles the deportation of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of undocumented immigrants.  He promised this, and it's either entirely laughable or completely terrifying.

Oh, and there is so much more.  What I want to understand is if all of the risks we are taking are worth it.  If you've voted for him purely so that we'll retain a conservative Supreme Court, do any of those laws they put into place or repeal matter if we are at war, facing global destruction with nuclear weapons, or in a financial crisis?  I seriously am not a drama queen, but I sure hope that everyone who voted for Trump educated themselves completely, knew about the intended (and unintended) consequences, and is prepared for us all to experience significant upheaval.

Wednesday following the election, I --and so many others -- were walking around in shock.  I've supported Democrats in the past who have been beaten by Republicans, and I've accepted it and even somewhat embraced it, for the good of the country and to move forward.  The difference between those campaigns and this one is that those people were simply DECENT.  They were good human beings who had different philosophies than I had.  There could have even been mud-slinging, but never in my life have I seen or heard the vulgarities and the ugliness that this campaign entailed.  It's difficult to swallow this.  At the moment, I can't bring myself to watch the news, to listen to the radio, to read the newspaper.  It's just too painful and too soon.  Many of you won't understand.  I'm looking through my lens and you are looking through yours.



Dating in the 21st Century

Sorry, no Sloan stories.  Told a few of those to co-workers at lunch on Friday, but we had to whisper some parts of the story for fear other diners could hear us.  If I don't want diners to hear those stories, I surely can't repeat them in blogs!  Some things just cannot be put into writing!


So we are back to my secondary topic these days -- dating.  I feel it is my duty to educate those who are married or in committed relationships or who are nuns what it's like to date in the 21st century.  It is like a comedy and horror all rolled into one.  Kind of like the Scary Movie series.

I'm actually beginning to think that hanging out at bars may not be a bad idea, because online dating is truly a Scary Movie.  Let's begin with some visuals (these are REAL; I don't know enough about photoshop to even change them):



I'm thinking maybe the Greenville Detention Center has allowed inmates to use the internet.  And even more scary, here are some of MY matches!

These couldn't be my Matches!  I'm pretty sure they're family members.  Like distant cousins from TN!  I'll bet they have long 2nd and 3rd toes too!

Then there is this guy.  He goes by the name of "Horny:"

Seriously?  Uggggggggg.

And here is one who is in that same grouping:

Put some clothes on, man!  Nobody wants to see those bare, hairy shoulders!  That is just GROSS.  I'm amazed at all of the men who think this is a "sexy" look....

Then there are these -- two separate profiles.  I'm not the best at selfies or even taking pictures of others, but at LEAST I get most of them in the shot.  This is like going on an interview with just half of your resume!

I seriously fell for this guy, but I'm kinda thinking he's looking at me as sugar mama, so had to bypass this one.

You'll NEVER guess what this guy's profile name is!  Off Grid Guy.  Nah, I could totally see him hanging out at the Poinsett Club having martinis!  I'm sure they'd loan him a jacket!

 

And another you have to see to believe.  This guy is Bubba.  And it wouldn't surprise me if that's on his birth certificate.  Angie and Bubba.  Only I'd have to call him Bubber.  It just flows better.

My last image for the night.  I don't even remember his/her name.  Bruce?  Caitlyn? 

And speaking of names, how intriguing are some of these profiles?

Taterman101

Spud3394  (what's up with the potato references??)

Needglasses (my own eyes hurt after looking at these pictures!)

Bigitchy (don't even want to think about this one)

Wecangetitdone (what is "it?")

Fabulousjokka (HAHA)

Fartsalot (Wait, Sloan is not old enough to create a profile)

Justaguy (unless you are in that blue dress and red hat above)

Iscupiddead (sadly, I think so)

Soooo there is your lesson for this week on dating in the 21st Century.  Names and/or photos were NOT changed to protect the "innocents" or even the spuds.....