Okay, to all those friends of mine that love spending their "down time" with a good book.....
Have you ever read a book and WISH that place actually existed?
How about all those reality show fanatic friends I happen to have...
Have you ever thought that it would be so COOL to meet some of these people in real life?
I certainly hope that there are people that agree with the above statements because..... I think I have hit the brink of sanity here and I am painfully afraid that I am sinking into the abyss of seeking a fictional life experience.
Fictional life experience???? What is that???
Simple to explain and hard to believe is what that is!!
Upon reading a recent book, I now have the painfully strong desire to take a trip to some podunk town in the South just to meet a cowboy and see if they are all smooth-talking gentlemen that I have read. You know what that means if you have read as many romance novels as I have that set the scene in a big place called.... Texas. Heck, just getting the opportunity to stroll into some honkey-tonk and be re-introduced to the two-step would be quite thrilling to me. Of course, I would be that kind of person to just be happy getting a cold beer and a bar stool.
Of course, after reading about cowboys and romance, I started to re-read a series that is set in the Sierras and suddenly I want to go, yet again, to a little town nobody has heard of to be immersed in the small town charm while taking a hike on a trial to see, smell and experience nature. Being suburban born and bred, I never felt all so awe inspired at a forest preserve, but maybe a national park might put a sparkle in my eyes again. Well, it could be because there are apparently some darn good looking adventure guides in these places.
Then, there is obviously the story about a law enforcement officer willing to risk life and limb for my safety that seems to sound quite appealing. Of course, I am not in any dangerous situations that has me being protected by someone else.... Darn it!
How about the opportunity to meet (and get to know) a hockey player, a football player or even a baseball player that exudes "bad boy charm" and charisma. I am a HUGE hockey fan, but any sport would do, that is, if I get to go to the games.
There was even a story I read that had a man actually cook for his beloved... just because he cared enough to do so....
Really.... what is happening to me?????
I am not a romantic person, but I guess it would be nice to be romanced from time to time. Is it wrong to want a little romance in my life? Is it wrong to want someone to protect me if I feel threatened? I sure hope not because I learned I have a soft underbelly that I did not think existed before. Just knowing I have one is unsettling, to say the least. In fact, I am just a little jealous that fictional characters have all the luck!
Now, I am not all that much of a fan for reality TV, but the few I have managed to watch has had me wondering..... Wouldn't it be so cool to actually become friends with one of them? I mean, really, I watched "Rock of Love" where Bret Michaels was looking for love and all I thought was.... "He just really needs a good friend to turn to and I have no doubt we could be great friends." Heck, I would just love to meet the Roberston family from Duck Dynasty. They seem like a real fun bunch to hang out with and who knows.... I might learn how to hunt. Eh, probably not, since I have a guilt complex killing deer, but I would shoot a snake in a heartbeat! Not sure I would eat said snake, but I know I would shoot one and not feel one twinge of guilt doing so. I even recall watching a reality show about Ozzy Osborne and his family and I would think it would be cool to just hang out and cause a little mayhem. I do have a talent to swear like a trucker, a sailor, or whatever you want to call it, so I would fit right in, right?
So...... Where is this desire to travel to places that are not exactly a tourist attraction such an attraction to me? I have no clue. Why do I have this strong feeling I could be a great friend to a person that does not want to know I exist? And the even most disturbing one yet.... Why do I want to experience some kind of romanticized existence with some good-looking, smooth-talking Southern Gentleman or law enforcement professional? That one has my head scratching. I think I need to blame it on the books, I tell ya! Blaming it on the books! My little escape has become more and more of a quest in life and that tells me that something is definitely broken in my world. Scary? Yep. Unsettling? You betcha! How do I fix it? No clue! All I know is that my bucket list is growing and there is nothing I can do about it except acknowledge that it exists. DH is not a romantic sort. He has admitted it to me. He does have some sweet moments. They are fewer than they were when we were dating, but he does try from time to time. I can only assume he lacks the energy and determination to try anymore, but I know he has it in him to be sweet and thoughtful. I just happened to stop holding my breath for another act of unexpected kindness to emerge. I just figured that he is capable without me nagging for it. Sadly, he chooses to not try and I refuse to nag. It is what it is.
I just wonder..... Is this longing for more something I need to act upon? Or is it something I should just accept and keep trudging forward in the life I happen to have. Oh well.... back to reading some of my favorite books.... again!
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
The play of words....
To all those that hold dear every Hallmark holiday there is.... Happy Belated Sweetest Day everyone!!! As for me, Saturday was just another ordinary day. Well, not exactly....
I pulled up my big girl panties and went out for a few hours, by myself! I did not stay alone, though. I sought out some friends that have a Saturday ritual of having a night out. Of course, it was not as local as I would have preferred, but I knew that driving that distance was worth the trip because I was really overdue for a laugh.
Well, while I was out "being social" and all, I was presented a topic that they would like to see shared via "my blog" and I obviously agreed to look into it and quickly learned that it managed to make a connection to something that happened recently, so..... here goes....
Words: The verbal connection.
We use our words to share thought. Simple as that.... we share something every day and we take it for granted. Sadly, the words we happen to choose to use can create reactions that would otherwise be less than welcoming. It all boils down to how the words are presented and how the words are received.
With that in mind, words alone are only half of the story. It is also measured upon the actions we choose to take. Either way, communication is a give and take of what we share, willingly.
Now, this friend of mine decided to mention something to me and asked which word is to be used in what they wanted to bring across and it humored me that there was in internal debate to deciding to use the word "despite" or the phrase of "in spite of" to share that regardless of the shortcomings that they believe they posses, they have something special about them that sets them apart from the pack. I found it interesting that the word "despite" actually means "in spite of" when it is used as a preposition and in all honesty.... the way that they were speaking.... either way applies correctly. There should have not been a problem then, but as with just about any word, there is another use for it having a slightly different meaning. Of course, it has to do with how you choose to use the word, or words. Since "despite" can be used as a preposition since prepositions are words that link a noun in a sentence, it can also be used as a noun and the meaning changes ever so slightly. If my friend used "despite" as a noun, the meaning becomes (according to definition) a feeling, which in all intents and purposes, is still closely relate-able to the prepositional use, but in usual talking, sounds... odd, to say the least. You see, "despite" can also mean outrage/injury or contempt/disdain if used as a noun. If the phrase "in spite of" was broken down, the word "spite" also offers a connection to the noun definition because "spite" has a very similar meaning.
Head scratching, don't you think? And this is only referring to this one concern of phrase. Just imagine the countless other words that have double meaning, and at times mean the exact same thing. The only difference is how you choose to use the word. Yep, that English language is quite complicated since I had to look up the word to learn this and I have been speaking it all... my... life!!
Speaking of speaking..... Did you know that a perception of one thing can create a feeling opposite of what you are trying to achieve?
I was called out on what I thought was funny to learn that it was not funny at all. In fact, it resulted in a phone call to tell me just that! I even took the time to look back at previous blogs of mine and realized that I should have known better than to share something I thought was funny and meant to be just that and apparently I am not allowed to express myself that way because what I happen to share is guaranteed to be under a microscope and scrutinized within an inch of its life.
~~ And people wonder why I don't share much on social media ~~
Well, with that being said, I learned my lesson. Yet again I let my guard down and shared incorrectly. For that, I am truly sorry and I will never attempt to crack a joke again. Unless I add a disclaimer that my intentions are truly pure and not malicious in any shape or form because I know I will be put to blame for something that was not intended to be anything other than lighthearted. I apparently still need to work on my censure abilities as well as filter every little thing I share and second guess everything to feel assured that I cannot be misunderstood or perceived in a different light. In fact, I think I need to just shut my mouth, stop flossing and let my thoughts eat me alive from the inside out. Yep, I need to just lose the light that I have managed to find within myself and swallow down all that comes my way and never seek release. Yep, I think that is the goal of one person, of which I will never say their name, nor offer any clues to who that may be because... they know who they are and just seeing this will make them happy that they have finally broke me. I am now a nobody. A faceless, nameless waste of air, space and time. Only to do the bidding of others without offering any insight, any different perceptual view and I shall be lacking feeling as I get punished for never learning fast enough to at least move forward or even win at least one round of the game called, life. Lo' I shall be the punching bag because I tried to seek solace through sharing thought. Time to hide in fictional books and keep my distance from the real drama that surrounds me.
Well, thanks to my friend for the suggestion for today's shared topic. Let the dissection of who I am as a person begin!
Friday, October 11, 2013
When enough is enough.....
I have learned to pick my battles... Heck, I think I have mastered the "keep my head down and mouth shut" action. I have tendencies to go out of my way to make something out of bits and pieces of not much, but I think it is fine time to put my foot down and call it a day.
What I am talking about is still attached to my apparent need to work with beads.
Recently, my credit card bill came in and much to my surprise..... it is worse off than I figured. Who knew my desire to take up the advise of others to make a go of making a bunch of beaded items could cost a small fortune? Obviously, it was not me. I should have known better, though, because I have this tendency to never take the cheap way of things. Especially when it came to making jewelry. Come to think of it..... this applies to every hobby I have managed to master. As I shake my head in frustration... and in utter dismay.... I have to do some serious thinking about the future of any of my hobbies. In fact, I think I may have to reconsider ever doing these hobbies ever again.
I can honestly say that the realization that I need to stop where I am and just finish all that I have made it's appearance just a couple of days ago. Here is what I mean....
I was called in to work at the salon. I had a request to do a pedicure on a woman that I did once before as a fill-in while my boss was looking for another nail tech. I am not really a fan of doing nails and when it comes down to doing pedicures.... my back screams in agony before I even begin. Being hunched over for roughly an hour to pamper another's feet is not as glorious as the person getting pampered feels. Trust me... I am not knocking the service... it is great and all, but there are just some things in life (as well as career) that I would prefer to not do. Heck, the tip I receive is not really worth the pain I suffer, but the ever stoic employee.... I will do as asked because as long as I am doing something.... I am earning a paycheck. If I do nothing... I make nothing. In this day and age, people are taking any job in order to make ends meet. I am no different than the rest.
Well, while I was there at the salon, I figured I would show what I have accomplished so far in my beading frenzy and what is most likely going to be sold in the very near future. You see, my co-workers really liked what I have managed to make and said I should sell what I make to make some extra cash for my family's financial situation. Of course, I failed to foresee the burden that this endeavor would have on our already stressed budget. I did what I could by paying for a good amount of it with the cash I earned in tips, but there were times I did not have enough.... so, I used my credit card. I figured that if it was under $100, I was in the clear to make the purchase, but I obviously forgot to keep a running tab on what I was spending on because those little charges started adding up rather quickly. I have the credit card balance to prove it.
In the excitement of what people were saying, I was given some advice that, while in all intent and purposes, were to be helpful in making my money back, happened to add more burden upon what I have already spent. You see, I make a boatload of earrings and not one matching necklace or bracelet. With the money I have sunk into making the earrings, I shudder at the thought of buying more stuff to make the matching accessories that may or may not even sell. Really, who is willing to spend $40 on a pair of earrings that took me hours to make? Now, I am asked to make necklaces, bracelets and hair accessories, too. All of which does not guarantee that everything will be sold.
Yep, I did not look much farther than the concept when the admiration of the beaded art of earrings were appealing to sell to others. Then, of course, what am I going to do with all these things if they do not sell. I am obviously not going to get my initial investment back and with the sight of the credit card bill.... I already know that DH is on the warpath. He already announced that we need to cheapen-up our grocery bill last night. With Christmas right around the corner, we just do not have enough to offer much merriment. I will definitely need to "bone-up" on making new meals from leftovers when Thanksgiving comes around and odds are looking really good that our health will be affected if we have to resort to cheap, convenience foods as meals. Yep, it is looking like a Kraft Mac'N cheese kind of life forming here. It makes me wonder how much chemical enhancement there is to make that stuff look so.... orange.
Of course, DH is going to go into denial when the desire for his darn weekly snack choice is going to have to stop. Really, since when does a person need to get 5 pounds of raw, unsalted sunflower meats (organic, of course) at a whopping $10 and state that this is not an issue to the grocery bill? Sheesh! This man has been grumpy for far too long and me pointing out the cost is going to send him to dangerous levels we have not experienced as well as try our hardest to avoid from happening. I am not sure if there is more for us to sacrifice.
On another note... DH is getting a taste of how awful our new health insurance is. He obviously is acting like he is in denial over it to avoid my telling him... "I told you so", but you can definitely see it on his face he is not happy that he is paying more for everything. His co-pays went up $20, his prescriptions more than doubled, but he refuses to speak up to his business partner that changing plans was (and is) the worst thing ever. Sadly, I will be getting an even shorter end of the stick, along with blame that I am sending us to the poor house. Well, with my recent lesson in my beading adventure... I am agreeing with him on that one. I just have to figure how to utilize everything I have and hope to sell it all. Not seeing much promise in that, but I have to try. I just cannot make matching accessories to what I already made if there is a demand for it. The spending has stopped and what I have is what I have. I will not be able to make special requests unless payment is made in advance. The lady that supplies my beads is gonna feel the crunch, too. Since I am not going there for a long time. My itch to finish the afghan that I was making just might become a throw because I know I need more yarn and I am not getting anymore.
Come to think about it.... even my insatiable reading habit will now consist of rereading what I have and only getting free books from Amazon. I rarely buy books, but I have a few authors I like to read and their books rarely cost over $5, but even that is flashing a neon light that even those books are going to add up, too. Yep, my $0.99, $1.99 and $2.49 books are out of the question. The library is lacking books I read and there is no way I am going to read historical romance novels. That is where I draw the line! Oh well, time to do what I do. I have a house to clean before we get to puppy-sit again. I believe that it is this weekend, so I better get a-move-on.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!!
What I am talking about is still attached to my apparent need to work with beads.
Recently, my credit card bill came in and much to my surprise..... it is worse off than I figured. Who knew my desire to take up the advise of others to make a go of making a bunch of beaded items could cost a small fortune? Obviously, it was not me. I should have known better, though, because I have this tendency to never take the cheap way of things. Especially when it came to making jewelry. Come to think of it..... this applies to every hobby I have managed to master. As I shake my head in frustration... and in utter dismay.... I have to do some serious thinking about the future of any of my hobbies. In fact, I think I may have to reconsider ever doing these hobbies ever again.
I can honestly say that the realization that I need to stop where I am and just finish all that I have made it's appearance just a couple of days ago. Here is what I mean....
I was called in to work at the salon. I had a request to do a pedicure on a woman that I did once before as a fill-in while my boss was looking for another nail tech. I am not really a fan of doing nails and when it comes down to doing pedicures.... my back screams in agony before I even begin. Being hunched over for roughly an hour to pamper another's feet is not as glorious as the person getting pampered feels. Trust me... I am not knocking the service... it is great and all, but there are just some things in life (as well as career) that I would prefer to not do. Heck, the tip I receive is not really worth the pain I suffer, but the ever stoic employee.... I will do as asked because as long as I am doing something.... I am earning a paycheck. If I do nothing... I make nothing. In this day and age, people are taking any job in order to make ends meet. I am no different than the rest.
Well, while I was there at the salon, I figured I would show what I have accomplished so far in my beading frenzy and what is most likely going to be sold in the very near future. You see, my co-workers really liked what I have managed to make and said I should sell what I make to make some extra cash for my family's financial situation. Of course, I failed to foresee the burden that this endeavor would have on our already stressed budget. I did what I could by paying for a good amount of it with the cash I earned in tips, but there were times I did not have enough.... so, I used my credit card. I figured that if it was under $100, I was in the clear to make the purchase, but I obviously forgot to keep a running tab on what I was spending on because those little charges started adding up rather quickly. I have the credit card balance to prove it.
In the excitement of what people were saying, I was given some advice that, while in all intent and purposes, were to be helpful in making my money back, happened to add more burden upon what I have already spent. You see, I make a boatload of earrings and not one matching necklace or bracelet. With the money I have sunk into making the earrings, I shudder at the thought of buying more stuff to make the matching accessories that may or may not even sell. Really, who is willing to spend $40 on a pair of earrings that took me hours to make? Now, I am asked to make necklaces, bracelets and hair accessories, too. All of which does not guarantee that everything will be sold.
Yep, I did not look much farther than the concept when the admiration of the beaded art of earrings were appealing to sell to others. Then, of course, what am I going to do with all these things if they do not sell. I am obviously not going to get my initial investment back and with the sight of the credit card bill.... I already know that DH is on the warpath. He already announced that we need to cheapen-up our grocery bill last night. With Christmas right around the corner, we just do not have enough to offer much merriment. I will definitely need to "bone-up" on making new meals from leftovers when Thanksgiving comes around and odds are looking really good that our health will be affected if we have to resort to cheap, convenience foods as meals. Yep, it is looking like a Kraft Mac'N cheese kind of life forming here. It makes me wonder how much chemical enhancement there is to make that stuff look so.... orange.
Of course, DH is going to go into denial when the desire for his darn weekly snack choice is going to have to stop. Really, since when does a person need to get 5 pounds of raw, unsalted sunflower meats (organic, of course) at a whopping $10 and state that this is not an issue to the grocery bill? Sheesh! This man has been grumpy for far too long and me pointing out the cost is going to send him to dangerous levels we have not experienced as well as try our hardest to avoid from happening. I am not sure if there is more for us to sacrifice.
On another note... DH is getting a taste of how awful our new health insurance is. He obviously is acting like he is in denial over it to avoid my telling him... "I told you so", but you can definitely see it on his face he is not happy that he is paying more for everything. His co-pays went up $20, his prescriptions more than doubled, but he refuses to speak up to his business partner that changing plans was (and is) the worst thing ever. Sadly, I will be getting an even shorter end of the stick, along with blame that I am sending us to the poor house. Well, with my recent lesson in my beading adventure... I am agreeing with him on that one. I just have to figure how to utilize everything I have and hope to sell it all. Not seeing much promise in that, but I have to try. I just cannot make matching accessories to what I already made if there is a demand for it. The spending has stopped and what I have is what I have. I will not be able to make special requests unless payment is made in advance. The lady that supplies my beads is gonna feel the crunch, too. Since I am not going there for a long time. My itch to finish the afghan that I was making just might become a throw because I know I need more yarn and I am not getting anymore.
Come to think about it.... even my insatiable reading habit will now consist of rereading what I have and only getting free books from Amazon. I rarely buy books, but I have a few authors I like to read and their books rarely cost over $5, but even that is flashing a neon light that even those books are going to add up, too. Yep, my $0.99, $1.99 and $2.49 books are out of the question. The library is lacking books I read and there is no way I am going to read historical romance novels. That is where I draw the line! Oh well, time to do what I do. I have a house to clean before we get to puppy-sit again. I believe that it is this weekend, so I better get a-move-on.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!!
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
The gambler....
Kenny Rodgers sang that song about a gambler and that all famous refrain line is bouncing around in my head. Well, I have had a few songs, melodies or whatnot resonate in my head lately. Who knows.... I might be at my mental breaking point, but I digress.... really, who wants to know that the melody to the TV show Bonanza seems to be on repeat play when I am in the grocery store with my family? Or singing "Time in a bottle" from Jim Croce every time I put my moisturizer on because Philosophy called this new sample I got in the mail "Time in a bottle"? Or my rendition of, "I will do anything for love, but I won't do that" when I am in strike-mode from cleaning up DD's room or look upon the building pile of DH's socks next to the bed (his side, of course, and mere inches from the basket). No, today's song, "the Gambler" is one where the refrain is because of all these chances people want to have me embark upon.
In a previous blog, I wrote about my beading addiction and how I feel that it is getting out of hand. Sure, I am enjoying the zen-like feel of stringing beads, albeit darn near specks of dust seed beads, but my eyes are so tired that I cannot even enjoy my evening book. Well, it is quite possible that this book I was reading was painfully awful, but when only one eye wants to work and in a blurry state.... I think there is a serious problem either way. My eyes get darn tired often!
Well, with this beading addiction I happen to have, I did manage to show some of my completed works to my co-workers and was told that I should make more of these things and sell them. Sure, it is a great idea to make a little something back from what I have managed to spend in beads and materials. Heck, the time I put in to make a pair of earrings takes me roughly 2 hours from start to finish and that alone should be worth something, right?
Regardless, I realized that I am back to the same situation to where people are asking me to change course from a hobby to a business in the blink of an eye.
There was a time I did just that.... sold my completed projects in one of the realms of my many hobbies and turned to loathe the concept rather quickly. I used to paint on glass. The glass painting phase came about out of nervous desperation from DH's annual fishing trip. For the first few years, I would clean my house within an inch of it's life while he was gone and only slept when I crashed from exhaustion. Sure, the benefit was having our home so spotless you could eat off every surface, but once DH got home.... The mess started all over again and in my mind, I saw it as a sign of no appreciation of what I did to get it that clean in the first place. Really, I was not meant to be on this planet to clean after people. I seriously doubt that it is my calling in life to do just that. If that was the plan, then I will never die because I will always have something unfinished. Especially when it comes to DH and DD's inability to pick up after themselves.
Okay, back to the subject at hand.... I did used to sell my glass painted items in a craft fair and when the demand exceeded what I could handle on my own, I stopped painting for my own sanity. Well, that and the notion that if I could not sell everything I made, I really had no place to store it all. Heck, trying to explain to DH the concept that not everything I do is something someone would buy flashed on the neon sign that the investment just might not pay off in the long haul and to avoid arguing over having an extensive collection of glass painted items that did not sell was even less appealing than having to make more to appease the demand.
Now, with the idea of jewelry making, I can see how this can become very expensive and can offer even less of an opportunity to selling everything I make. My taste in things may just differ from those looking to buy what I made. I may have a predisposition to a certain color that others may not like or a certain style of earrings may appeal to me and not to the masses. Then what? I invest in materials to have nobody want to buy it? Or worse yet.... I sell everything I make and really would like for myself? Only to make more and trust me when I say this..... I am starting to get tired of working with beads.
This is where it all boils down to that song, "the Gambler", and that refrain that rings so true.....
You've got to know when to hold 'em,
know when to fold 'em,
know when to walk away,
and when to run.
You never count your money,
when you are sittin' at the table.
There will be time enough for countin'.
when the dealin' is done.
Basically put... you got to know when it is time to get involved in something as well as realize you have to get out when it is not going the way you planned it would go. I just see this "selling my bead-work projects" as a one-time deal, but fear that the desire to make something of it will end up costing me more than I plan to spend. Heck, the notion of selling my abilities is even leaving a bitter taste in my mouth because what I see as what I am worth is far from what others see. My job reminds me of that every time I am there when I see clients asking for freebies as well as discounts for what I do to actually earn my paycheck. Sure, some are willing to pay for the quality work I do, but others will turn away and go elsewhere or wait it out until I am so desperate for work that I would just give it away just to be busy with something to do. Since when it is okay to force a person to sell themselves for less than they are worth? I think about that all the time.
Oh well, time to hum yet another tune while I go about and make another pair of earrings, do a little cleaning, prepare some things for tonight's dinner, get a load or two of laundry done as well as stop into work for a client, then get some dishes done, read a chapter or two of my book and off to bed. Yep, sounds about right to what my day will consist of.... Thanks for reading and have a glorious day!!
In a previous blog, I wrote about my beading addiction and how I feel that it is getting out of hand. Sure, I am enjoying the zen-like feel of stringing beads, albeit darn near specks of dust seed beads, but my eyes are so tired that I cannot even enjoy my evening book. Well, it is quite possible that this book I was reading was painfully awful, but when only one eye wants to work and in a blurry state.... I think there is a serious problem either way. My eyes get darn tired often!
Well, with this beading addiction I happen to have, I did manage to show some of my completed works to my co-workers and was told that I should make more of these things and sell them. Sure, it is a great idea to make a little something back from what I have managed to spend in beads and materials. Heck, the time I put in to make a pair of earrings takes me roughly 2 hours from start to finish and that alone should be worth something, right?
Regardless, I realized that I am back to the same situation to where people are asking me to change course from a hobby to a business in the blink of an eye.
There was a time I did just that.... sold my completed projects in one of the realms of my many hobbies and turned to loathe the concept rather quickly. I used to paint on glass. The glass painting phase came about out of nervous desperation from DH's annual fishing trip. For the first few years, I would clean my house within an inch of it's life while he was gone and only slept when I crashed from exhaustion. Sure, the benefit was having our home so spotless you could eat off every surface, but once DH got home.... The mess started all over again and in my mind, I saw it as a sign of no appreciation of what I did to get it that clean in the first place. Really, I was not meant to be on this planet to clean after people. I seriously doubt that it is my calling in life to do just that. If that was the plan, then I will never die because I will always have something unfinished. Especially when it comes to DH and DD's inability to pick up after themselves.
Okay, back to the subject at hand.... I did used to sell my glass painted items in a craft fair and when the demand exceeded what I could handle on my own, I stopped painting for my own sanity. Well, that and the notion that if I could not sell everything I made, I really had no place to store it all. Heck, trying to explain to DH the concept that not everything I do is something someone would buy flashed on the neon sign that the investment just might not pay off in the long haul and to avoid arguing over having an extensive collection of glass painted items that did not sell was even less appealing than having to make more to appease the demand.
Now, with the idea of jewelry making, I can see how this can become very expensive and can offer even less of an opportunity to selling everything I make. My taste in things may just differ from those looking to buy what I made. I may have a predisposition to a certain color that others may not like or a certain style of earrings may appeal to me and not to the masses. Then what? I invest in materials to have nobody want to buy it? Or worse yet.... I sell everything I make and really would like for myself? Only to make more and trust me when I say this..... I am starting to get tired of working with beads.
This is where it all boils down to that song, "the Gambler", and that refrain that rings so true.....
You've got to know when to hold 'em,
know when to fold 'em,
know when to walk away,
and when to run.
You never count your money,
when you are sittin' at the table.
There will be time enough for countin'.
when the dealin' is done.
Basically put... you got to know when it is time to get involved in something as well as realize you have to get out when it is not going the way you planned it would go. I just see this "selling my bead-work projects" as a one-time deal, but fear that the desire to make something of it will end up costing me more than I plan to spend. Heck, the notion of selling my abilities is even leaving a bitter taste in my mouth because what I see as what I am worth is far from what others see. My job reminds me of that every time I am there when I see clients asking for freebies as well as discounts for what I do to actually earn my paycheck. Sure, some are willing to pay for the quality work I do, but others will turn away and go elsewhere or wait it out until I am so desperate for work that I would just give it away just to be busy with something to do. Since when it is okay to force a person to sell themselves for less than they are worth? I think about that all the time.
Oh well, time to hum yet another tune while I go about and make another pair of earrings, do a little cleaning, prepare some things for tonight's dinner, get a load or two of laundry done as well as stop into work for a client, then get some dishes done, read a chapter or two of my book and off to bed. Yep, sounds about right to what my day will consist of.... Thanks for reading and have a glorious day!!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Could someone please answer this....
Okay, this is gonna be a question that might offer an "ah-ha" moment or it is just gonna make you question who is really at fault these days, but here goes.....
I just watched, on a news report, this morning an excerpt on a couple of things and it had me thinking. There was an accident on a railway in Chicago that resulted in "head-on" collision between two trains. Many people were injured and the accident is still being investigated because there was nobody manning the second train that crashed into the other. Yep, somehow a train went rogue in the holding yard and drove off on its own, causing the accident.
While there were no fatalities, there were some injured people. Not quite sure of the extent of these injuries, but of course, the mainstream media does not offer all information. Just the stuff that grabs your attention, scares the snot out of you and/or causes you to react in an angered, yet controlled manner. I call this selective sensationalism for the masses. Half-stories make for more reaction than the full story, right?
While with this limited information that we were told, there was a mention that the first lawsuit was already put in the works. Yep, one person is suing the rail company for $50,000 in damages.
Really?!?!?!? Fifty-thousand dollars????? How does one come to that number for what has been portrayed as an accident that resulted no fatalities, but multiple injuries? I mean, on a reasonable thinking person's perception.... the risk for an accident can happen anywhere and at any time. While it has been noted that an accident in an airplane is less likely than one in a car, there are still accident potentials laying in wait. Heck, walking across the street is quite risky, but people take these risks every day.... willingly. Accidents are just that.... accidents.... and not intentionally done. If it was... it would be seen as an intentional act to harm themselves or others. This was not the case here.... it was clearly an accident, but there just happens to always be someone that can place a price tag on their demise and this one decided that 50K sounds reasonable and just.
Well, it had me thinking..... People sue for just about the most mundane reasons and a few that popped to my mind this morning are these.... There was a woman that sued McDonald's restaurants for the burns she received from spilling hot coffee in her lap in her car. Really? Her first mistake was placing said hot coffee between her legs while she drove in her car. Basically, it was a common sense mishap, but insisted on cashing in on it. Then there was another woman (sorry folks, these are ones I remember as head scratching ones and it just so happens to be women over-reacting) that tried to sue a clothing manufacturer over the way her pants no longer fit like they used to. According to this person, she has bought the same size of jeans for many years and somehow that size no longer fits her just right and it resulted in buying a bigger size. Sure, she could have gained weight, but apparently it is easier to sue a clothing company over a size number on her clothes. Talk about the critical mind! Then there are some random ones that I believe happen far too often and do not get major media press to and that is..... medical claims.
Doctors being sued for errors (and in quite a few... non-errors), procedures, medicines, and treatments administered are big money makers. We all see the commercials on TV and hear the ones on the radio about "class action lawsuits" over one thing or another. Apparently, people forget that there is a risk everywhere and even the most cautionary people can fall victim just like the most daring people. Call it fate, call it fighting the odds, but in the end it is simply this..... life is a risk.
Now, here is my question for you all..... does suing every person for something the nobody has control over going to make a positive difference in the long haul? The cost of medical care is on the rise and most of it is due to paying for insurance to protect ourselves. Doctors with malpractice insurance, patients with medical coverage suing for more, and people that opt to not have (or afford) medical coverage expecting someone else to cover the bill. Heck, when it comes down to the bare bones minimum.... this country has the best and the worst all wrapped into one package. It is how people utilize the system and when the system is bunk.... everyone suffers. Look at the current shutdown of government. We are going in 3 days of government employees being forced to not work because there is a clashing of the minds in the White House. We have multiple sides refusing to listen to one another and how everything is at a standstill and the innocent people are suffering while the big-wigs still get paid to have their temper tantrums. The different sides are these.... one side wants what they want while the other does not agree and there is the third and elusive group that just have no strong feelings either way. Kind-of like a team at a standstill and a simple solution at hand. Of course, you cannot fit a square peg in a round hole, but you do have the tools to shave the corners off the square peg to make it easier to fit it in that round hole. It is just taking the concept and changing it slightly to make it work. Sadly, our government sees their square peg as something you cannot alter to fit that round hole and refuses to even attempt to try to alter it. What is even more sad is the masses that have to suffer because nobody wants to play well with others. What we do need is an intervention as well as a "come to Jesus" moment for every one of them. They have lost focus on the bigger picture for a really long time and it would be prudent that they took this moment to do just that..... take a look at the damage they are capable of and get a-cracking on a reasonable solution. To put aside their differences and find common ground. Then and only then, can they work well with others and find an answer that everyone can live with. Obviously, the first step is to stop trying to force a legacy upon the masses that is not exactly the right fit for those that do not make a six-digit income. Heck, I am lucky our home makes a low-end 5-digit income and trust me.... it barely gets us by. Oh heck..... Lets just yank the damn blinders off these people and get them to see that there is more at stake than they think! That we are individuals with individual needs and there is not one simple answer, but there should be options available. And I am talking about the right to choose!!!!
Since when is it required for our government to make it mandatory for all something that people may choose to not have for their own personal reasons? I mean, there are healthy people buying insurance for the guarantee that they are covered, but they should not be forced to cover the difference to those that choose not to have coverage. It should be available that those that seek coverage need to have it available at a reasonable and livable cost. If not, there should be services available that the state, government and local municipality to provide at their cost to those that cannot afford it and have that control to make the decision for these people.... not the masses that select privatized coverage. Isn't that what we did have before this fiasco? It did work quite well for many years, so why rock the boat or try to fix something that was not broke in the first place. Oh, that's right.... someone wants a legacy to leave behind and chose to make this his legacy and refuses to play well with others.
Oh well, back to the usual day of cooking, cleaning, beads and books. Have a great day everyone!!!!
I just watched, on a news report, this morning an excerpt on a couple of things and it had me thinking. There was an accident on a railway in Chicago that resulted in "head-on" collision between two trains. Many people were injured and the accident is still being investigated because there was nobody manning the second train that crashed into the other. Yep, somehow a train went rogue in the holding yard and drove off on its own, causing the accident.
While there were no fatalities, there were some injured people. Not quite sure of the extent of these injuries, but of course, the mainstream media does not offer all information. Just the stuff that grabs your attention, scares the snot out of you and/or causes you to react in an angered, yet controlled manner. I call this selective sensationalism for the masses. Half-stories make for more reaction than the full story, right?
While with this limited information that we were told, there was a mention that the first lawsuit was already put in the works. Yep, one person is suing the rail company for $50,000 in damages.
Really?!?!?!? Fifty-thousand dollars????? How does one come to that number for what has been portrayed as an accident that resulted no fatalities, but multiple injuries? I mean, on a reasonable thinking person's perception.... the risk for an accident can happen anywhere and at any time. While it has been noted that an accident in an airplane is less likely than one in a car, there are still accident potentials laying in wait. Heck, walking across the street is quite risky, but people take these risks every day.... willingly. Accidents are just that.... accidents.... and not intentionally done. If it was... it would be seen as an intentional act to harm themselves or others. This was not the case here.... it was clearly an accident, but there just happens to always be someone that can place a price tag on their demise and this one decided that 50K sounds reasonable and just.
Well, it had me thinking..... People sue for just about the most mundane reasons and a few that popped to my mind this morning are these.... There was a woman that sued McDonald's restaurants for the burns she received from spilling hot coffee in her lap in her car. Really? Her first mistake was placing said hot coffee between her legs while she drove in her car. Basically, it was a common sense mishap, but insisted on cashing in on it. Then there was another woman (sorry folks, these are ones I remember as head scratching ones and it just so happens to be women over-reacting) that tried to sue a clothing manufacturer over the way her pants no longer fit like they used to. According to this person, she has bought the same size of jeans for many years and somehow that size no longer fits her just right and it resulted in buying a bigger size. Sure, she could have gained weight, but apparently it is easier to sue a clothing company over a size number on her clothes. Talk about the critical mind! Then there are some random ones that I believe happen far too often and do not get major media press to and that is..... medical claims.
Doctors being sued for errors (and in quite a few... non-errors), procedures, medicines, and treatments administered are big money makers. We all see the commercials on TV and hear the ones on the radio about "class action lawsuits" over one thing or another. Apparently, people forget that there is a risk everywhere and even the most cautionary people can fall victim just like the most daring people. Call it fate, call it fighting the odds, but in the end it is simply this..... life is a risk.
Now, here is my question for you all..... does suing every person for something the nobody has control over going to make a positive difference in the long haul? The cost of medical care is on the rise and most of it is due to paying for insurance to protect ourselves. Doctors with malpractice insurance, patients with medical coverage suing for more, and people that opt to not have (or afford) medical coverage expecting someone else to cover the bill. Heck, when it comes down to the bare bones minimum.... this country has the best and the worst all wrapped into one package. It is how people utilize the system and when the system is bunk.... everyone suffers. Look at the current shutdown of government. We are going in 3 days of government employees being forced to not work because there is a clashing of the minds in the White House. We have multiple sides refusing to listen to one another and how everything is at a standstill and the innocent people are suffering while the big-wigs still get paid to have their temper tantrums. The different sides are these.... one side wants what they want while the other does not agree and there is the third and elusive group that just have no strong feelings either way. Kind-of like a team at a standstill and a simple solution at hand. Of course, you cannot fit a square peg in a round hole, but you do have the tools to shave the corners off the square peg to make it easier to fit it in that round hole. It is just taking the concept and changing it slightly to make it work. Sadly, our government sees their square peg as something you cannot alter to fit that round hole and refuses to even attempt to try to alter it. What is even more sad is the masses that have to suffer because nobody wants to play well with others. What we do need is an intervention as well as a "come to Jesus" moment for every one of them. They have lost focus on the bigger picture for a really long time and it would be prudent that they took this moment to do just that..... take a look at the damage they are capable of and get a-cracking on a reasonable solution. To put aside their differences and find common ground. Then and only then, can they work well with others and find an answer that everyone can live with. Obviously, the first step is to stop trying to force a legacy upon the masses that is not exactly the right fit for those that do not make a six-digit income. Heck, I am lucky our home makes a low-end 5-digit income and trust me.... it barely gets us by. Oh heck..... Lets just yank the damn blinders off these people and get them to see that there is more at stake than they think! That we are individuals with individual needs and there is not one simple answer, but there should be options available. And I am talking about the right to choose!!!!
Since when is it required for our government to make it mandatory for all something that people may choose to not have for their own personal reasons? I mean, there are healthy people buying insurance for the guarantee that they are covered, but they should not be forced to cover the difference to those that choose not to have coverage. It should be available that those that seek coverage need to have it available at a reasonable and livable cost. If not, there should be services available that the state, government and local municipality to provide at their cost to those that cannot afford it and have that control to make the decision for these people.... not the masses that select privatized coverage. Isn't that what we did have before this fiasco? It did work quite well for many years, so why rock the boat or try to fix something that was not broke in the first place. Oh, that's right.... someone wants a legacy to leave behind and chose to make this his legacy and refuses to play well with others.
Oh well, back to the usual day of cooking, cleaning, beads and books. Have a great day everyone!!!!
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