It occurs too me that in this world of anonymity, there are some folks who feel they have the right to write anything they want and do anything they want and there should be no consequence whatsoever.

Here's my opinion...

You don't. Everything you say and do has some sort of effect on others. You have a brain (if you are breathing and alive). USE IT! Don't do and say STUPID, HURTFUL, THOUGHTLESS things just because you can!

Freedom of speech doesn't mean you can write whatever you want about anyone OR make shit up out of the air, for Christ sake! Being over 21 doesn't mean you can do whatever YOU want just because there is noone immediately available to physically stop you. Don't be ignorant, self-centered, and arrogant about everything in your life. That round thing on top of your body isn't just a hat rack, idiot!

Please, let 2013 be the end of stupidity!!!

Life isn't fair...

I know that! But sometimes I just wonder WTF?

This is what I call "break week" for me. I have a six week on, one week off rotation for my clog dancing career - I use the term career loosely - so that if, during the course of my teaching, I have to cancel for whatever reason I can make up the missed class on the break week. Also, I can get a chance to unwind or rest my injured ankles. My dear friend, Barbara, has a house in San Felipe, Mexico and she invited me to spend my break there with her. For whatever reason, my mind told me this would be an in-opportune time to go so I politely passed. And it's a good thing I did! My son, Caleb, informed me that THIS was the week he volunteered our home for a punk rock band to stay while on tour. Really?

Well, this 'break week' began with some delightful young men staying at my house while they are doing a tour playing for high schools across America. This was no problem. They slept here, showered, and left early all three mornings and I barely saw them. These are the easiest guests I've ever had!

Then things went downhill. My husband, Don, came home from work Monday feeling like hell. Tuesday he was no better. Wednesday he never took his coat off after he got home because he couldn't get warm and had been FREEZING all day. Now the man works in a refrigerated warehouse all day and usually that's to what I would attribute his coldness. WRONG! The poor man had a fever of 102.4, body aches, and a cough that was painful to hear. I fed him and sent him to bed hoping that he would not do what he has ever since I've known him - go to work no matter what the next day. I went to the store to get steam vaporizer to help him breathe during the night. When I got home, I started some homemade chicken soup for the next day.

Thursday he got a call around 5 AM to see how he was doing. He sounded like shit and for the first time EVER took a sick day. His co-worker was shocked! I was relieved. He was in bed ALL day - this has never, ever happened - and his fever never broke. We had a ZPac - I don't know why - so I started him on that and sometime in the evening when I went upstairs to check on him, his fever had broken and there was an outline on the sheets from where he had sweated off the fever.

Friday he actually got out of bed to shower and came downstairs. He still sounds like hell when he coughs and is puny but he is better than Wednesday night, Thursday, and Friday.

TODAY, I got up feeling fairly confident that things were improving around here. NOOOPE! Caleb had left before I came downstairs to go teach in Santa Fe Springs. I'm making oatmeal for Don when Caleb's ringtone comes from my phone. My first thought, 'what did he forget that he wants me to bring half way to him?' I WISH! He has been in an accident on I91. He sounded pissed so I knew he was okay. That's the good news. He rear ended someone so it was his fault, that's the bad news. He exchanged information with the person he hit but he didn't call the cops, that's the worse news. I'm hoping he got good photos of the car he hit, the woman he hit wasn't a liar, and the repairs won't be outrageous.

How was YOUR week, Barbara?

And the computer tech portion of my life is back. If my brother, Brian, would just stay employed, he wouldn't have time to play with his laptop and feel the need to call me for help. Today he is trying to figure out how to sinc Photo Stream, iCloud, and his HP clone laptop. I made the mistake of telling him he needed to backup his music and photos already on his laptop and the Cloud to his external hard drive. This nearly made his head explode. As little as I know about these computers, I still; a. know more than he does, and b. have had the experience of losing a shitload of data when my old computer's hard drive crashed. (Yes, 'shitload' is the technical term for the amount of data I lost. It was somewhere between 4 and 16 GB.)

I'm seriously contemplating starting another blog called Rude-ass Drivers I See on CA Roadways. This blog would include the description of the car (color, make & model, if I know it), time of day of the incident, general area of the incident, and a description of the driver. I think I could get in big trouble if I post the plate number. It would get the 'how pissed off I was at witnessing the incident' off my chest and give my readers something to relate to if they have had a similar experience. I don't think anyone reads this blog, but if you do, what do you think? Here's an example of what happened yesterday...

I had a delightful time at the DMV - no really. My opinion is, if you don't make an appointment, you should plan on having plenty of time when you go to the DMV and just chill out until they call your number. I made several new aquaintances...but I digress.

I completed my business in about an hour and was wainting at the stop sign to get onto Diaz from whatever that street is, WITH MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON when this IDIOT - I can only judge him by his behavior - pulled up beside me ON MY LEFT!  I looked at him and, through his and my closed window, said "really?" I was patiently waiting for the big-ass white utility truck coming from the right and the little red car soming from the left to go by when the IDIOT pulled out in front of them both and turned left! After he was gone, I called him an asshole, waited until it was safe and then turned down the road to follow WAY behind the IDIOT and the untility truck. When I got to Winchester Road, the IDIOT, the untility truck and I waited for the light to turn green and we all turned right to proceeded onto Winchester, NB. IDIOT  and the UT (I'm done typing utility truck) went into the #1 lane and I stayed in the #2 lane. Now ahead of me, in the #2 lane, on the other side of that bridge over the wash was a delivery truck of some sort. All the traffice was going into the #1 lane to try to go around this truck, assuming it was going to move at the speed of smell. I stayed in the #2 lane and was coming up behind the truck which was moving at a pretty good clip. Sweet! Well IDIOT veered into my lane and damn near hit me - evidently the rest of the world's existance isn't as important as his. I hit my brakes and my horn simultaneously and avoided hitting IDIOT. I didn't gesture, I simply started shaking my head and called him a "fu**ing asshole" and kept driving. Evidently, IDIOT reads lips and didn't appreciate my head shaking and slammed on his brakes. I was supposed to rear end him but I didn't. Now I know I'm dealing with not only an IDIOT but a wack-a-do so I backed WAY the hell off. He continued to inch down the road tapping his brakes and finally pulled over and stopped about a car length ahead of me with his window down looking at me in his side mirror. I am now stopped in the #2 lane waiting and the car behind me tapped on their horn. I was afraid to proceed past IDIOT but knew that I couldn't impeed traffic so I proceeded and IDIOT douched my windshield with a full soda. Now I was PISSED! I turned on my wipers and washers at the same time and from my earbud called 911 and, after being on hold, asked if it was illegal to throw a drink onto someone's windshield. The dispatcher said yes. I told her my location the desciption of IDIOT'S vehicle which was two cars behind me and that I couldn't see his plate. I was going very slowly since it was Winchester Road approaching the bridge over I15 and traffic is slow there almost all the time. I was hoping that there was an officer nearby. Well, they transferred me to Temecula PD and, after being on hold again, I again described the IDIOT'S behavior and his vehicle which had now pulled into the left turn lane to go onto Ynez. I proceeded home on Winchester Road... still pissed off! When I got home, I took photos of the soda all over the front and roof of my car and waited, hoping that an officer could find IDIOT so that I could prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law, including but not limited to jail time. (Yes, I know this is not punishable by jail time but I was angry.) A very nice officer called me back while I was getting the hose ready to clean off my car and I gave him my tale of woe. He listened and was very nice and even complimented me on my spunk. (I guess pissed off sounds like spunk over the phone.) I knew there wasn't anything they could do without a plate number but I felt better giving a description of the driver - an old, white guy with a gray beard and hair - I'm pretty sure his name is Dick - in an older model, piece of shit, white Toyota SUV-ish rig with a roof rack. So, if you are near the DMV or the industrial park off Ynez, west of Winchester Road and you see an IDIOT that matches that description, give him a dirty look, get his plate number and post it to me. I would love nothing more than to have him get a ticket for that assinine behavior.

What an IDIOT.

Welcome to 2013!

This year has started out with a bang! I believe that I asked in my previous post for it to be a better year. That's what I get for asking!

So far

...I've had MY car in the shop - many people are telling me to just get a new car since by now I could have bought a car. I looked through my receipts and since I got this car FOR FREE, I beg to differ. I have not yet invested the price of a car in this one and I've been able to drive it...most of the time, since 1999. To those people I say, nooooope.

...my son pulled off a very successful first time at stand-up comedy. I look forward to his next attempt as he has cleared me for attendance as long as I realize that it is not a participation event.

...my daughter is logging the first anniversary of her 30th birthday tomorrow. Eventually, she and her husband will be the same age at this rate.

...my husband continues to be a source of strength and wonder to me. He drives 67 miles each way to his job which takes him 1 1/2 hours on the way TO work and 2-2 1/2 or 3 hours coming home. I would be in jail if I had to drive CA 91 freeway. The system SUCKS!

...one of my dear friends lost her step-daughter at the young age of 45. This is not the natural progression and my heart is breaking for her and her family.

I would buy a lottery ticket in hopes that things would improve but, seriously, I think I am going to need every dollar I can hang on to... just in case.

I think I have a handle on how to keep my left foot from hurting - besides not clog dancing. I am still working on the right foot. My students are a hoot and a holler. If it weren't for my classes I think I might lose my mind...or what's left of it.

I don't know if anybody is actually reading this blog, but I sure get a sense of relief after I write something. Maybe venting is good for the soul.

Later,
Mary

2012 is nearly over...

As we approach the end of 2012, I realize, although I created a blog, wrote on it four times, and somehow remembered the password for this entire year...or eleven months if anyone's counting, I am no more "a blogger" than a car mechanic. (I can change a tire, change my own oil and filter and that's the extent of my car mechanic expertise.)

Having admitted to my lack of expertise, a recent conversation had me laughing. I recently regaled a friend with the correlation between MY computer abilities as opposed to my brother's. I told her, what I don't know about computers would fill the Grand Canyon. To further clue her in as to my brother's lack of computer knowledge, I told her that HE calls ME for help...and I help him, sometimes for hours, long distance, from wherever his job takes him.

2012 has been a year of challenges.

• I injured my left ankle in late March, ended up in a boot and restricted from clogging...indefinitely.
• My parents moved back to Iowa for their 6 months there, which has turned into an indefinite length of time. 
• My husband and I bought a house for my engaged daughter to move into with her dogs and fiancé. 
• My son went back to Japan to work for Universal Studios in Osaka, which resulted in the end of his four-year relationship with his girlfriend.
• I, along with serval friends, planned and pulled off my daughter's wedding. (I would like to say her Dad was instrumental in helping to pay for it, but so far, he has been predictably a DICK.)
• I lost two very dear friends, one to cancer and one to a heart attack. They leave behind some lonely loved ones who are extremely strong!
• My son has decided to try his hand at standup and is taking the stage for the first time tonight. I will have to wait until he gets home to see how it went as he didn't want me in the audience. 
• I travelled to Iowa twice this year to visit my parents. Both times left me wishing things were different.
• I injured my right ankle in October just before my club's yearly Barn Dance... Yes, really. I attended with a boot on my left foot, ankle bandage on my right.
• My husband's health continues to deteriorate.
• My daughter was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which really threw me for a loop, and began treatment.
• Our pet bird of 20 years, Smokie, died on Christmas Day.

All in all, this year has been a roller coaster. I am still standing. Surprisingly enough, I haven't taken up drinking. I haven't found it necessary to take out my frustrations on those around me. I have a circle of friends who clearly know me well enough to show up when I need them and to give me space and time when I get overwhelmed. 

Here's to the end of 2012. I'm so glad it's nearly over! I look forward to 2013 being BETTER. PLEASE, OH PLEASE, OH PLEASE, let 2013 be better!

Ah, the cruelty of reality...

Well, folks, the time is approaching when reality is going to bite me hard. After having had a solid two weeks with my parents - both now 78 years of age - I see myself getting pushed to the head of the line, so to speak.

While I was there, I reset the blog that Mom started as so many people use her iPad and continue to log her out and then her password is forgotten or changed - ARGH!!! - so that she couldn't get back on to her original blog. She clearly did not utilize my 'keep your hands off my shit' recommendation so we started her a new one. (I, however, am still able to access her blog from here. WTF? Perhaps, I should have her send me her blogs and I will put them up...)

Dad's extremities are weakening, his balance is nearly gone and his speech is more and more difficult to comprehend. He informed me that he would not be coming to CA for their 'snow bird' six months. I had no response. I know that he will be at the mercy of the house and it's occupants wherever he is but know being inside for the rest of the winter will SUCK! Bundling him for outdoors will be problematic at the least, and dangerous for all involved.

I see the writing on the wall. I see the inevitable. I see the ugliness that is going to become my family as the vultures circle above the wagon. I see the crap that I have heard about from others beginning to happen and am unable to stop it but will be forced to watch the carnage. I can only hope that the fears that were expressed to me are simply that, fears, and will not come to fruition. Nobody wants to be what we call "Gradma Gie'd," and, hopefully, that will not happen. Let's all hope the expectations will not be lived down to... I tried to warn them about self-fulfilling prophecies. The sayings, "don't live inside your head," "don't borrow trouble," "never put a stone in another man's path," "take care of your own business," and "share and share alike" keep running through my head. We'll see.

How I Became a Tech Without Wanting To

Somewhere along the line, technology took over my life because someone didn't keep my Mom up with how it works. My Mom is 78 and technology...is not her friend. Most of her problem is all the people in her life have gadget envy and continually mess with her wonderful toys. When she learns to tell her kids and grandkids to, frankly, "keep your hands off my shit" her life will get much easier. But, she lets people "help" her by trying what THEY would do so they can use HER technology. This NEVER works, people. If you are going to help someone set up THEIR technological toy, you have to use passwords and usernames that make sense to THEM! Not YOU! Some of you may be saying "what the hell does this have to do with clogging?" Not a damned thing! This is not your blog! Get off me. I'm on a roll. So, for those of you who hear that the iPad is so simple, a monkey can use it. BULLSHIT! My Mom has a college degree and is world renowned. (She is certainly smarter than a monkey!) This damned machine pisses her off on a regular basis because it doesn't have a keyboard and she is no longer in the 3G/4G instant connect world. She is in rural Iowa where she is connecting with Verizon wireless...when she can get a signal. She went from urban So.CA where she had Fios and 4G as backup. This does NOT help. She expects it to instantly respond...and it doesn't. Today's issue was connecting to her blog (you can check it out at blibri.blogspot.com, I think) which is linked to her Gmail account. She was logged into her Gmail account on HER iPad when she left CA. SOMEBODY logged her out - probably to check their own shit - and she no longer had instant access to her stuff. This triggered a phone call to my house, while I was in the shower. Now, my shower is not a sacred ritual by any means. But come on! Let me finish my shower in peace! My daughter came in, phone in hand, and told me Mom was on the phone. "She can't get on her blog." I'm thinking, "let me pull a computer out off my ass and fix the problem WHILE I'M WET AND NAKED!" She asks if I can call her back when I get out. Yes, what a great idea! We (my daughter, her maid of honor, & I) were going to a dress fitting...did I mention I'm planning a wedding? Anyway, I called Mom from my cell phone and she told her tale of Internet torture. I told her I'd see what I could do and call her back. Now, my iPad is a lowly iPad2 and is not 3G so even if I have it with me, I can't access the Internet without WiFi. (This verbiage means nothing to my Mom.) I didn't have it with me anyway, and I couldn't figure out her issues without a PC, laptop, or an iPad with a connection. (This also doesn't mean shit to Mom.) So when I got home, I got on my PC and went to Google. I logged into Mom's gmail, I went to her blog and it works JUST FINE! I called her house. No answer. I called her cell phone. No answer. I called Dad's cell phone. No answer. WTF? This was some urgent shit! I had to get it done! ARRRGH! Anyway, I finished some other stuff. I had dinner. I called Mom after everyone else had either gone to bed or work or school or wherever else they needed to be and got her back on Google. I walked her through logging in and where she could find her blog. Then I told her, "tell everyone that comes into your house, 'don't touch my shit! You all have your own technology at your own homes. If you log me out from MY iPad, I will fly Mary to Iowa to KICK YOUR ASS! You can do your Internet shit from YOUR phone, YOUR computer, or YOUR laptop. This technology is MINE! Don't fuck with it!'" I expect a call tomorrow afternoon.