tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88679652777636838442024-03-05T17:02:04.245-07:00Montana RouéThe chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comBlogger3116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-50029240704865104232021-06-28T08:07:00.011-06:002021-06-28T08:20:21.742-06:00HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmxYShFhYKageko2M_xiWqyQpCAh9Oqd5fVpD_prV3KeHbuXZQzt90FhaYXq0Oo6bkSi3NLqnY4e2xp0Z6sCNErBB1Z44ly0ByXsqSreVVsz3qOkEZvF0gv629I1bTv5NN2mgr9jp38lb/s1360/f957d0d4-b06e-46f2-8e51-a6190cdfb60e-cot74fe5a08380dd3e2e.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1360" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmxYShFhYKageko2M_xiWqyQpCAh9Oqd5fVpD_prV3KeHbuXZQzt90FhaYXq0Oo6bkSi3NLqnY4e2xp0Z6sCNErBB1Z44ly0ByXsqSreVVsz3qOkEZvF0gv629I1bTv5NN2mgr9jp38lb/w640-h360/f957d0d4-b06e-46f2-8e51-a6190cdfb60e-cot74fe5a08380dd3e2e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6h4935WiE5-7LgmrUWGUsh2_NI0JKeG3IFgTv-DUNxH-N2041xeSJG7z6dAOx_pLyDLADhngBvrVspPAyiia8DyeMkmJk3okyThqQbiW58G92-g2gasJxlhTEZsS2LnvyzeBbNkEN_BUT/s2048/HotSprings.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1039" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6h4935WiE5-7LgmrUWGUsh2_NI0JKeG3IFgTv-DUNxH-N2041xeSJG7z6dAOx_pLyDLADhngBvrVspPAyiia8DyeMkmJk3okyThqQbiW58G92-g2gasJxlhTEZsS2LnvyzeBbNkEN_BUT/w203-h400/HotSprings.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;">The green, green grass of home<br /></span></i>Some say that the grass is inevitably greener on</div><div>the other side. However on our Sunday drive to</div><div>White Sulphur Springs Montana that wasn't the</div><div>case. The further beyond Fergus County - the</div><div>drier things got. Said visual affirming that we're</div><div>lucky to have greener pastures than most of our</div><div>fellow Montanans. After stopping for lunch, it</div><div>was again quite evident that our town is on the</div><div>upswing. Whereas other communities continue</div><div>to struggle. Yet post arrival in White Sulphur</div><div>Springs we found that Lewistown is not the only</div><div>small Montanan town amidst a renaissance. So</div><div>what drives a community's success or failure?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUPTMsn9M4gdvGBHeVb2xSVD-ahpf_AbZHHzJ3xYSg8_u668lNAcyyqoqtAzt9ca9za9twbBrOOrfgD1oo4qo1QZRgl_ThrnJi_J6yh2VsrY2G5MWYz707MfVhht8JoxWPrQ0eqR9Th6s/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUPTMsn9M4gdvGBHeVb2xSVD-ahpf_AbZHHzJ3xYSg8_u668lNAcyyqoqtAzt9ca9za9twbBrOOrfgD1oo4qo1QZRgl_ThrnJi_J6yh2VsrY2G5MWYz707MfVhht8JoxWPrQ0eqR9Th6s/w640-h360/maxresdefault.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAk_NfcGvGNt54KsDO35VfRUOR5u9EwMBmxEHD3FkR56CfVpzi47rLSlJxGuwjdG1IplScV42USopWuib57Kp5sWw74SWcbkgW2PtS0Is3Bw5Yx1mqhTOLnK4wmTrkVlBZWksP5w7GmQQ/s2508/HTown.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAk_NfcGvGNt54KsDO35VfRUOR5u9EwMBmxEHD3FkR56CfVpzi47rLSlJxGuwjdG1IplScV42USopWuib57Kp5sWw74SWcbkgW2PtS0Is3Bw5Yx1mqhTOLnK4wmTrkVlBZWksP5w7GmQQ/w200-h400/HTown.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Dose of reality<br /></span></i>Before anybody jumps to conclusions - let me</div><div>be clear. Growth within isolated agriculturally</div><div>driven communities such as ours is organic.</div><div>Thus like any natural process it happens slowly</div><div>but surely. Requiring all involved to persevere.</div><div>Along with nurture and respect said evolution.</div><div>What's obvious once you leave Lewistown is</div><div>that at times community development works.</div><div>But just as often if fails. Said success is driven</div><div>by a delicate balance of industry, commerce,</div><div>and creativity. Along with ample doses of just</div><div>plain luck. Thus an occasional jaunt outside of</div><div>town can reinforce just how good we've got it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirghnjGAeW8UZD-dSUyNBjBiBYoqjzN093DbDF_rUdEiiIh3EUSzGv9C1jXaRjyDcorAoCAycrWNMppa5Xly9_noWa8z4w9qI-Nsk3jG2RQ5xKiFJvTtcAG4VhX2xrwVtXMzpLpdNMnEuh/s735/Stage.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="735" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirghnjGAeW8UZD-dSUyNBjBiBYoqjzN093DbDF_rUdEiiIh3EUSzGv9C1jXaRjyDcorAoCAycrWNMppa5Xly9_noWa8z4w9qI-Nsk3jG2RQ5xKiFJvTtcAG4VhX2xrwVtXMzpLpdNMnEuh/w640-h352/Stage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQ5LvwXmNm1G0PnRd1ER0YZd2AW19Z3Mysv5gKdrMQ_yRqHAxOsfrBiRW1PHqM26BHPoGJdfYzeWVbneDXaNm90g9O749n5dm9tO97VSXQhA8WgDdUaQWWYmSFqFXP3e5E4J1tjtNiu5V/s708/Creekside2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQ5LvwXmNm1G0PnRd1ER0YZd2AW19Z3Mysv5gKdrMQ_yRqHAxOsfrBiRW1PHqM26BHPoGJdfYzeWVbneDXaNm90g9O749n5dm9tO97VSXQhA8WgDdUaQWWYmSFqFXP3e5E4J1tjtNiu5V/w204-h400/Creekside2.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>At a new stage<br /></span></i>Who knows why some succeed where others</div><div>fail? The formula for success is actually quite</div><div>simple. PEOPLE. Last Saturday Lewistown</div><div>celebrated the opening of our new Creekside</div><div>Marketplace and Pavilion park. A project that</div><div>was born out of a community initiative whose</div><div>focus was to improve our circumstances. Yet</div><div>another indication that great things happen if</div><div>and when we work together. Especially in the</div><div>middle of no where. So where do we go from</div><div>here? Can we leverage forward momentum</div><div>to insure Lewistown ends up in a good place?</div><div>We've much to gain. Or... much to lose.</div><p><br /></p>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-50613678982672550352021-06-24T10:07:00.014-06:002021-06-24T10:29:54.741-06:00GIVE ME AN "F"?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlJMVirLOcymUoD0h50g9yv9uhjc_FC4AfHAGmrVZF1Vdch7CuZM38fKXgjXpY_L1sqRhK4NSD9dX34893FYZgrBsCjxn9c04o5Pn1inWugSZScKHJw7U1NRxpngFS7UP8JMuRRkfroMb/s600/24ambriefing-scotus-articleLarge-v4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlJMVirLOcymUoD0h50g9yv9uhjc_FC4AfHAGmrVZF1Vdch7CuZM38fKXgjXpY_L1sqRhK4NSD9dX34893FYZgrBsCjxn9c04o5Pn1inWugSZScKHJw7U1NRxpngFS7UP8JMuRRkfroMb/w640-h426/24ambriefing-scotus-articleLarge-v4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSieITTh6V7RrzK9IXNbA93GTgElEZdSaSEjYUSnGFmpQRBPjkVBzCFUBOxRNywn9HPsHJHRj3DJdnTArlikmDMULt6OMfn9cwiCkasdOLbuciX1eqUCZc5wI8UQHzyN4zAcv_MUaGItcU/s2022/F.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2022" data-original-width="1011" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSieITTh6V7RrzK9IXNbA93GTgElEZdSaSEjYUSnGFmpQRBPjkVBzCFUBOxRNywn9HPsHJHRj3DJdnTArlikmDMULt6OMfn9cwiCkasdOLbuciX1eqUCZc5wI8UQHzyN4zAcv_MUaGItcU/w200-h400/F.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>What the "F"<br /></span></i>This week the US Supreme Court ruled in<div>favor of profanity. Spewed via social media</div><div>by an irate teenage cheerleader. Said decision</div><div>reinforced the right of all Americans to speak</div><div>their piece. Even if it is a piece of "s". That's</div><div>just one of the freedoms that come with being</div><div>a citizen of this great nation. However as your</div><div>mother said long ago "just because someone</div><div>says you can jump off a bridge doesn't mean</div><div>you have to." Hence while we all have a right</div><div>to be profane - we don't have to be offensive.</div><div>Meaning that when it comes to free speech</div><div>we all should give a "s" about what we say.</div><div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGblUbmr5yMn1-jxHLT9ODHdKPaS8vupmbv4vXsD6cCstdMxaO3jO2pNd-HIY5nfk1XLeEP_ShKVHRVgR1DyL0In1gCAR0YCYEPdYE-zFhf5dNge0SEjNFn5uN0aKmp4MKhFvyKn27BX1/s1493/Soap.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1493" data-original-width="747" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGblUbmr5yMn1-jxHLT9ODHdKPaS8vupmbv4vXsD6cCstdMxaO3jO2pNd-HIY5nfk1XLeEP_ShKVHRVgR1DyL0In1gCAR0YCYEPdYE-zFhf5dNge0SEjNFn5uN0aKmp4MKhFvyKn27BX1/w200-h400/Soap.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Linguistics coarse<br /></span></i>I'm the first to admit I have a potty mouth. A </div><div>ommunication skill crafted after four decades</div><div>in advertising and retail. Where we often joked</div><div>that the "f" word could be used as an adjective, </div><div>noun, or verb. However now I have to question</div><div>why many Americans communicate with such</div><div>a limited vocabulary. In the old days my great</div><div>Aunt Sadie would have deemed such discourse</div><div>"coarse". Preferring to treat others with respect</div><div>rather than barrage them with expletives. Yet</div><div>for reasons beyond her control most others now</div><div>opt to communicate in a manner unbecoming</div><div>to gentle folks. Which isn't always very pretty.<br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h2JSnDgJethtB5WWXnOGFdOMQrCK5sjqJQjPJk-JINl19KzD3E4FnIfKKorOs3itmWu0LieQ2k3hhtK_9RARw3-lOPdd3Umf6NknWDAi06LXvBK89b4QId8Lkm6jBWxuf6EC7hnGJRGQ/s1188/Poop.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="594" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h2JSnDgJethtB5WWXnOGFdOMQrCK5sjqJQjPJk-JINl19KzD3E4FnIfKKorOs3itmWu0LieQ2k3hhtK_9RARw3-lOPdd3Umf6NknWDAi06LXvBK89b4QId8Lkm6jBWxuf6EC7hnGJRGQ/w200-h400/Poop.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Verbal dump<br /></span></i>Foul language is certainly not new. However</div><div>it's common use in public by almost everyone</div><div>is. A down and dirty verbal phenomena which</div><div>I find tiresome at best. After all - there are so</div><div>many ways to say the same thing differently.</div><div>Consider human waste. Nowadays most use</div><div>the "s" word. Even though there are a variety</div><div>of very colorful ways to describe our process</div><div>of elimination. Like feces, discharge, egesta,</div><div>droppings, dung, or excreta. Plus the requisite</div><div>poop, doo-doo, ca-ca, crap, stinkies, or a any</div><div>of the other options available. All of which</div><div>prove one can be foul mouthed and not curse. </div></div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-42209995607888459982021-06-23T13:07:00.010-06:002021-06-24T06:31:04.617-06:00OUT OF OFFICE MESSAGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2i1mnPclo0a3scFshBRnLjaGrRFN8IrmGBkltrQ4wGjrhld7r92DHZFsqIaF6Hro7ZFvM1iGtfiTRBYOMMC4bpLHFzxiOejhfh370F-Brimq2kEFBJ8yZOQvLyv20v2R0A5Wi5-MAmfn/s1030/Office*BankCutaway.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1030" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2i1mnPclo0a3scFshBRnLjaGrRFN8IrmGBkltrQ4wGjrhld7r92DHZFsqIaF6Hro7ZFvM1iGtfiTRBYOMMC4bpLHFzxiOejhfh370F-Brimq2kEFBJ8yZOQvLyv20v2R0A5Wi5-MAmfn/w640-h462/Office*BankCutaway.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG2vqVIt5zq8r-LQUISfjW_cdoCjFh2fnc2iNKYjcFoIxNVVtBttyXNCoZpyoxzxV8JpMvToLRBaAifEPQLqNDsTMr7GI-u1RhfkB7wxYYqmCInIP71jLE8m0htv9ZmWzyxE6w_YCteJJ/s1496/Office*Scumbag.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="748" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG2vqVIt5zq8r-LQUISfjW_cdoCjFh2fnc2iNKYjcFoIxNVVtBttyXNCoZpyoxzxV8JpMvToLRBaAifEPQLqNDsTMr7GI-u1RhfkB7wxYYqmCInIP71jLE8m0htv9ZmWzyxE6w_YCteJJ/w200-h400/Office*Scumbag.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Back to the grind?<br /></span></i>As America returns to normal change is afoot.<div>The process of going back to work isn't just</div><div>business as usual. For over a year much of</div><div>America worked from home. Or sat waiting</div><div>for a chance to get back to any job at hand.</div><div>Gaining wisdom while out of office. For those</div><div>still functioning - even at a long distance -</div><div>everything went smoothly. Zoom tech glitches</div><div>aside - technology enabled folks to accomplish</div><div>much from afar. Avoiding pricey commutation,</div><div>office politics, and dry cleaning bills along the</div><div>way. Which is why so many still want to work</div><div>from home. In their pajamas preferably.<span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeSUkf-HpS4vqCUSEdoL9WKiZLTULh8E3Lt-XpWgc6Sxyb8XRWiorOT7WsGCUq_L54douzbO05qfCf8qu2V4X7AUUQd4m_eVoAirkx9KzTrVsfn2SsQS9GainAdYRwqpXu8DUNY9PC9aF/s1554/Workers*Cluster.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="777" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeSUkf-HpS4vqCUSEdoL9WKiZLTULh8E3Lt-XpWgc6Sxyb8XRWiorOT7WsGCUq_L54douzbO05qfCf8qu2V4X7AUUQd4m_eVoAirkx9KzTrVsfn2SsQS9GainAdYRwqpXu8DUNY9PC9aF/w200-h400/Workers*Cluster.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>While you were out</i><br /></span>Others discovered that less is more. Meaning</div><div>that self-sufficiency sans a regular paycheck</div><div>wasn't as hard as they expected. Suddenly all</div><div>of their talents and skills they'd ignored have</div><div>become alternative revenue streams. Causing</div><div>many to question whether returning to a low</div><div>level job is worth their time and effort. This</div><div>last month over four hundred thousand retail</div><div>workers quit, Not because of Covid. But due</div><div>to all of the options available in a reinvented</div><div>work environment. Hence in essence we're</div><div>amidst a worker's revolution. One where labor</div><div>not management is in control.<br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2R4vi0lhdii6Jc-j3crmMbDX86vlZIYJhoZ8UzA17oNBktmAJPXBARyJEs7DHyBKiZs9U6GI0oo147qpK4aDEGHFAhnJbT8bZq_sq_5SNUxYZPILckQRBOvyhp6DhrbVczlIHxpvVmks/s1260/DoubleDipper.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2R4vi0lhdii6Jc-j3crmMbDX86vlZIYJhoZ8UzA17oNBktmAJPXBARyJEs7DHyBKiZs9U6GI0oo147qpK4aDEGHFAhnJbT8bZq_sq_5SNUxYZPILckQRBOvyhp6DhrbVczlIHxpvVmks/w200-h400/DoubleDipper.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Here's the scoop<br /></span></i>I recently heard an interview with an ice cream</div><div>store owner. Fourth generation, he ramped up</div><div>for the summer post Covid 19. Yet few if any</div><div>applied for his open minimum wage jobs. So</div><div>he upped the ante to fifteen dollars an hour.</div><div>Suddenly he had over one thousand applicants</div><div>to choose from. A month later, his higher paid</div><div>employees have more than paid for themselves.</div><div>By"upselling" plus avoiding costly mistakes.</div><div>Thus by thinking big his store, employees, and</div><div>customers benefitted. Now is the time for us all</div><div>to get to work reinventing the workplace! This</div><div>is our opportunity to change for the better!</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-55614642469772323072021-06-22T17:34:00.006-06:002021-06-22T17:43:36.753-06:00Tick tock - there goes the clock<p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HitiXjboKrXy94pbrDfXfFR3TVbG6N6p8-mwTCGJdyI5ACV2hKEMEf1Rqe1lfqqJEUCub869QbhPZuyPpNoW9mFDK0ZZyx1G7C7c2TZiOn7rcgkxxP6bL7k1bSaVo3kKTNIu_b3fYidx/s1134/Clock.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1134" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HitiXjboKrXy94pbrDfXfFR3TVbG6N6p8-mwTCGJdyI5ACV2hKEMEf1Rqe1lfqqJEUCub869QbhPZuyPpNoW9mFDK0ZZyx1G7C7c2TZiOn7rcgkxxP6bL7k1bSaVo3kKTNIu_b3fYidx/w640-h440/Clock.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8OC0ljdEsKBO4DnjUYvvmGX_l_wgt8tcjDDes5gyAiTfeyQ04y0CByGoJF-GNMvvfbbpJpNfsAH4bg0D3MRMJxcWmgqCZ_PVwI47w40ypJcLStw3V7bN0_WHI3858Dcl-Kt9QsMZeV0m/s1372/WaitHere.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="686" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8OC0ljdEsKBO4DnjUYvvmGX_l_wgt8tcjDDes5gyAiTfeyQ04y0CByGoJF-GNMvvfbbpJpNfsAH4bg0D3MRMJxcWmgqCZ_PVwI47w40ypJcLStw3V7bN0_WHI3858Dcl-Kt9QsMZeV0m/w200-h400/WaitHere.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Off my game<br /></span></i>I'll admit it. I'm a procrastinator. Deferring</div><div>tasks at hand as long as possible. Well, not</div><div>all that requires my attention. Anything</div><div>I like to do is completed immediately with</div><div>pleasure. Those easy jobs which require</div><div>little to no effort are immediately checked</div><div>off my list. Leaving those pesky problems</div><div>that have to be dealt with. Yet for a variety</div><div>of reasons are reluctantly completed at the</div><div>very last minute. Resulting in a expected</div><div>and rather Pavlovian sense of satisfaction.</div><div>One which makes me wonder why I ever</div><div>wasted my time by deferring the inevitable.<br /><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnthUfW2_ovgYCrnvRS0gjtmEVQz2s23su5xzJfJO9bOsq0Hs-WgQDZwFihDE1-HhKOwsMTr01Ql6Ss67ckHtpy3lK1Zs6JoCxUIigD9PgVoupoKFNa9nQtPHiL61EtvhygE7vfAeu48w/s720/c5893c0f6cc374efc16b3b3b578a860a.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnthUfW2_ovgYCrnvRS0gjtmEVQz2s23su5xzJfJO9bOsq0Hs-WgQDZwFihDE1-HhKOwsMTr01Ql6Ss67ckHtpy3lK1Zs6JoCxUIigD9PgVoupoKFNa9nQtPHiL61EtvhygE7vfAeu48w/w200-h400/c5893c0f6cc374efc16b3b3b578a860a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Crisis management</i><br /></span>Fortunately for some - their inability to face</div><div>reality is work related. Such tasks aside they</div><div>opt to rip off life's bandage versus playing</div><div>a waiting game. Confronting the good, bad,</div><div>and ugly here and now. I'm rarely surprised.</div><div>Hence why defer hitting the highs and lows?</div><div>I always opt for immediate gratification.</div><div>Hoping for the best. Assuming the worst.</div><div>My veiled optimism a Pavlovian defense</div><div>against disappointment. Knowing that in</div><div>the end little worth the weight. That is</div><div>until suddenly something happens which</div><div>simply blows your mind. Imagine that....<br /><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl25HKkuN8Dri42VBXOkoDXLVsO5OuERDcEJmHAcvvmVHkHtiXLcQN4EFr5tpleE_t_psPLTkU4SWBVImY1rzLD1jwTKJr25oGNSpUyrAJI47sh8BGL6g-N_j9KdsTZ5y1_1k-0HevXPgp/s2058/cfccfb02e0b76292c7b954436f8047a3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2058" data-original-width="1027" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl25HKkuN8Dri42VBXOkoDXLVsO5OuERDcEJmHAcvvmVHkHtiXLcQN4EFr5tpleE_t_psPLTkU4SWBVImY1rzLD1jwTKJr25oGNSpUyrAJI47sh8BGL6g-N_j9KdsTZ5y1_1k-0HevXPgp/w200-h400/cfccfb02e0b76292c7b954436f8047a3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Only time will tell<br /></i></span>What goes around comes around. So there</div><div>is no reason to delay. Which ultimately is</div><div>what today's blog is all about. You see this</div><div>writer had nothing to say. Yet I knew that</div><div>my loyal readers were waiting for some</div><div>sort of message. In the end I couldn't put it</div><div>off any longer. Therefore here you have it.</div><div>An exercise in deferred engagement. The</div><div>end result being exactly what I could have</div><div>predicted. In that it was probably not worth</div><div>the wait. Nor the angst involved in somehow</div><div>crafting a message about nothing at all. And</div><div>with that I leave you. Until tomorrow that is.</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-23119360017557920472021-06-21T09:40:00.013-06:002021-06-21T09:53:47.991-06:00PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrOYZTkSlvC4Biu4PUjF2huSmkiwvFqDFQ00r2wAPGclLCN8iBKan6wFu-7L69Zd8qRqQ884i2ot_hfu0vnUEQjaeJ_d8D4ykzjeFENKLLPzY1lAyQP43jGKa2kOBWWR1B5mlVbUrPo5D/s1144/LetsTalk.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1144" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrOYZTkSlvC4Biu4PUjF2huSmkiwvFqDFQ00r2wAPGclLCN8iBKan6wFu-7L69Zd8qRqQ884i2ot_hfu0vnUEQjaeJ_d8D4ykzjeFENKLLPzY1lAyQP43jGKa2kOBWWR1B5mlVbUrPo5D/w640-h422/LetsTalk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegiAPhnSsgLIovUZtF8A9oAZxnzz8A5cIwlpVVSRVg0nvlxTQbUqy4NOVN6u3TYAH9BB_Fqg3RG7TnDLJ2eB7YU4dUPctYkaUqGvmbVWD9y3qwiRNOFuB_vtRlsNw1iyge596DBPe2WyN/s1564/BossLady.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="726" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegiAPhnSsgLIovUZtF8A9oAZxnzz8A5cIwlpVVSRVg0nvlxTQbUqy4NOVN6u3TYAH9BB_Fqg3RG7TnDLJ2eB7YU4dUPctYkaUqGvmbVWD9y3qwiRNOFuB_vtRlsNw1iyge596DBPe2WyN/w186-h400/BossLady.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>Seen and heard<br /></span></i>Last night we dined at our favorite truck stop.<div>A joint that not only dishes out great grub but</div><div>almost always provides ample entertainment.</div><div>Last night's floor show was our waitress, Who</div><div>was "over" her "lazy" co-workers. Her ire due</div><div>to young folks who tend to not have the same</div><div>work ethic as those old enough to know better.</div><div>Obviously they weren't up to the challenge. Nor</div><div>willing to rise to any occasion. Leading her to</div><div>growl "I'm calling the hospital to find out much</div><div>it would cost to remove their cell phones after</div><div>I shove them up their ass." Clearly she'd had</div><div>enough. So she spoke her piece and then some.<br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRNl2xhCLg24U-cP8kP0wmvVax7e0P_lq-CI597RFwTsXeIhP1azGAg1VLzA4EmyjfC6mw7BT61ARAfE40OhIY0GMaI_b9ZL7UAFbrH9fmuVSsAbo-oik64AowqPr4nwjn-WPqWBGJbKX/s595/Message.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="297" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRNl2xhCLg24U-cP8kP0wmvVax7e0P_lq-CI597RFwTsXeIhP1azGAg1VLzA4EmyjfC6mw7BT61ARAfE40OhIY0GMaI_b9ZL7UAFbrH9fmuVSsAbo-oik64AowqPr4nwjn-WPqWBGJbKX/w200-h400/Message.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Message center<br /></span></i>Sometimes the only way to get your message</div><div>across is to say it like it is. Yet all too often</div><div>we make things worse by trying to be nice.</div><div>Honesty is always the best policy. But getting</div><div>one's message across doesn't have to require</div><div>blunt force. Making things clear obviously</div><div>requires transparency. Smoke and mirrors fuel</div><div>claims of misunderstanding by those within</div><div>earshot. So rather than beat around the bush</div><div>it's always best to speak your piece. Allowing</div><div>your audience to instantly understand exactly</div><div>where you're coming from. Whether they like</div><div>it or not. After all it is what it is - isn't it?!<br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1Ubj6lLzsso-Kl8nRCt0AxXr7kVHNL2-oEOrFicE0IZ3UMwzSTgC_tlm_kvHzOGp2CyvAAtBSv8oTapqkOy2DAck6yPPnwQVNlu9gP1c9yhTGW9s5FNacXuQ99Nx7Pyze03p7bCrZUqK/s483/Open.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="242" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1Ubj6lLzsso-Kl8nRCt0AxXr7kVHNL2-oEOrFicE0IZ3UMwzSTgC_tlm_kvHzOGp2CyvAAtBSv8oTapqkOy2DAck6yPPnwQVNlu9gP1c9yhTGW9s5FNacXuQ99Nx7Pyze03p7bCrZUqK/w200-h400/Open.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Hearing aids<br /></span></i>The art of candor can be easier said than done.</div><div>Especially when it comes to politics. Most of</div><div>our leaders prefer to tell us whatever we want</div><div>to hear. Even if it isn't the truth. They've NO</div><div>intention of delivering on such false pretenses.</div><div>At least Mitch McConnell has the guts to state</div><div>his position. Like saying his plan is to block</div><div>any attempt by President Biden to accomplish</div><div>anything. The question is what message will</div><div>we the people send back to all who choose to</div><div>sing along with Mitch? Will we complain yet</div><div>hand them re-election? Or will we finally say</div><div>"NO" and mean it? SPEAK YOUR TRUTH!</div><div><br /></div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-17277278290403601792021-06-18T13:18:00.010-06:002021-06-19T07:32:08.974-06:00MADE IN "MATT"ANA<div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEunJCeRYIvP1bX1BzHchadSBxaPyUP3sD7quHirfVPYw2buHAoUsWUnSGgMxg2JZI0AtYvjoaLYt9JBZ8EkONc000zsyYNKITWYaWmppXa5EjSL9X9K77nYRwWyktp6qkymIQJcGptXB7/s1920/b0361c51-79f6-40cf-b77c-9a1c5ec8b152_1920x1080.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEunJCeRYIvP1bX1BzHchadSBxaPyUP3sD7quHirfVPYw2buHAoUsWUnSGgMxg2JZI0AtYvjoaLYt9JBZ8EkONc000zsyYNKITWYaWmppXa5EjSL9X9K77nYRwWyktp6qkymIQJcGptXB7/w640-h360/b0361c51-79f6-40cf-b77c-9a1c5ec8b152_1920x1080.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PHBxmpQ2qtYkMsPcPMUXnH-OQjTbgmRGj2p8tRzVFvDOcI6AT9-SemUoXzTjCwDFnXZj9OLjUQKW1hZYdOwFFaFFpXJ0YnhEpe11K-M0TnMBtCn5lPu54IYRzvZAPIl1mkImIxKS2anA/s682/BidenSigns.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="332" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PHBxmpQ2qtYkMsPcPMUXnH-OQjTbgmRGj2p8tRzVFvDOcI6AT9-SemUoXzTjCwDFnXZj9OLjUQKW1hZYdOwFFaFFpXJ0YnhEpe11K-M0TnMBtCn5lPu54IYRzvZAPIl1mkImIxKS2anA/w195-h400/BidenSigns.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>It's about time<br /></span></i>Tomorrow is Juneteenth. A celebration that until</div><div>recently most Americans were not aware of.</div><div>Specifically most who are not black. June 19,</div><div>1865 a Union General proclaimed slavery's end</div><div>in Galveston Texas. Two and half years after the</div><div>Emancipation Declaration was signed into law</div><div>during the Civl War. Hence the freeing of the</div><div>last of four million enslaved African Americans</div><div>was completed. Reason enough to celebrate.</div><div>Especially given that yesterday President Biden</div><div>officially signed a decree designating it a federal</div><div>holiday. Post bi-partisan passage through both</div><div>houses of Congress. Yet some aren't celebrating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSih7e6rlCHIxoCsGTbdbYMbVTIBG6DcSkMfgkh1V5GcCXnfln48xLo2OmiXCQhmrociz_SZE_OL_agyUdKskcxeWH027fn1a5mfVObvrnd1EYZX0cfIeWq0Y55OKexKvRXYy9xhLc_UnE/s1600/10802447_061721-no-votes-img.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSih7e6rlCHIxoCsGTbdbYMbVTIBG6DcSkMfgkh1V5GcCXnfln48xLo2OmiXCQhmrociz_SZE_OL_agyUdKskcxeWH027fn1a5mfVObvrnd1EYZX0cfIeWq0Y55OKexKvRXYy9xhLc_UnE/w640-h360/10802447_061721-no-votes-img.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJs3LyB5oX9hToHqJggfMmxncrD0bR14ZwXkO8o52nZpOpW0UCGa5RSw_pbG1LjwTuIjBdCXzLLDwP_gOBIViCm31jlquRTvmJvei2YuskPnZKqzTSX3Xy4OF7zULjHA4LSDMYftttR_W/s1544/TrumpRose.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="772" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJs3LyB5oX9hToHqJggfMmxncrD0bR14ZwXkO8o52nZpOpW0UCGa5RSw_pbG1LjwTuIjBdCXzLLDwP_gOBIViCm31jlquRTvmJvei2YuskPnZKqzTSX3Xy4OF7zULjHA4LSDMYftttR_W/w200-h400/TrumpRose.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Party pooper<br /></span></i>Montana's sole Congressman - Republican Matt</div><div>Rosendale was one of fourteen "conservatives"</div><div>who voted against said designation. Falsely</div><div>claiming "the left" wanted to replace the Fourth</div><div>of July. Along with further justifying his offense</div><div>by stating the legislation was intended to make</div><div>"Americans feel bad and convince then that our</div><div>country is evil". Proving once again how out</div><div>of sync Mr. Rosendale is with both history and</div><div>America at large. However that's not the worst.</div><div>He also voted against awarding Congressional</div><div>Gold Medals to Capital Police Officers killed</div><div>in the line of duty. What's wrong with Matt?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-yFatsehXnZyNQSvLwjYgNSka7ZXtF5DqY-3104jn4mUZEESK3LQ15JuzreoxEnDhNzlU8Kw_oD8JEDrV_XQEPUiQBWf1NxAuuCCp_UWCkyS7Mh4X2sSpnrs0Hpkeprtw_2gVU9Mxg4M/s550/76c4853b-8e39-422e-9468-03aa2c025e1e.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-yFatsehXnZyNQSvLwjYgNSka7ZXtF5DqY-3104jn4mUZEESK3LQ15JuzreoxEnDhNzlU8Kw_oD8JEDrV_XQEPUiQBWf1NxAuuCCp_UWCkyS7Mh4X2sSpnrs0Hpkeprtw_2gVU9Mxg4M/w640-h360/76c4853b-8e39-422e-9468-03aa2c025e1e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ctBmYQB-noWGY1m83D5Ld6Jkt6Nuu3wNoMj0DaSzBp8zA6JdRX2jyUBP9WoAn0gCBkDj2Z3mlDsJ31ND3_HLXG1Iekp8MS7uvzmBeufj1lfUFwcl94uXIy-TFzagPOHYP-CkkRb6rCxD/s934/MattPoint.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ctBmYQB-noWGY1m83D5Ld6Jkt6Nuu3wNoMj0DaSzBp8zA6JdRX2jyUBP9WoAn0gCBkDj2Z3mlDsJ31ND3_HLXG1Iekp8MS7uvzmBeufj1lfUFwcl94uXIy-TFzagPOHYP-CkkRb6rCxD/w200-h400/MattPoint.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Purple people eater</i><br /></span>As a blue type living within a red state I'm used</div><div>to being misrepresented. However I find Matt</div><div>Rosendale's ardent pursuit of conspiracy theory</div><div>rhetoric offensive. No matter how one gets into</div><div>an elected office - their ultimate responsibility</div><div>is to represent ALL whom they serve. Yet his</div><div>public detours to the far right do anything but</div><div>that. Ultimately his job is to insure Montana's</div><div>voice is heard. And that we get our fair share.</div><div>It is NOT to legislate his version of morality.</div><div>Which this writer finds immoral at best. And in</div><div>the process portrays our great state as anything</div><div>but what is truly is. SHAME ON YOU MATT.</div><p><br /></p>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-62793042274749961332021-06-17T14:06:00.011-06:002021-06-17T14:17:22.900-06:00HALF & HALF<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3et-6-8zGAzobcFIaShfvSwfhYQmCBp6uk1FwdKAmc-2zYtQotGzoob59iXbPYsoBArFgz2frtYXs4qtK7Nxj9ZsaoIGWAscB-5-y4UO5-lXdXZsaIOJa9HiTeK8yFGV-gTlSl3Ac7yBk/s1010/HalfHalf.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1010" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3et-6-8zGAzobcFIaShfvSwfhYQmCBp6uk1FwdKAmc-2zYtQotGzoob59iXbPYsoBArFgz2frtYXs4qtK7Nxj9ZsaoIGWAscB-5-y4UO5-lXdXZsaIOJa9HiTeK8yFGV-gTlSl3Ac7yBk/w640-h478/HalfHalf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChVsLykFmiMt8OUDlDALfalbz1vxz8Xb-lqv6aFyM_WplP3XGcoTcQD4uBc56igxjZt8gCFfsP_u0nw3yu3DYpmFOe7o9wu75V3nbSzwBbKr33FYyb5t3M76y7BujLBQQHXV5l5Wxfk-8/s496/Politics*JoeBiden.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="252" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChVsLykFmiMt8OUDlDALfalbz1vxz8Xb-lqv6aFyM_WplP3XGcoTcQD4uBc56igxjZt8gCFfsP_u0nw3yu3DYpmFOe7o9wu75V3nbSzwBbKr33FYyb5t3M76y7BujLBQQHXV5l5Wxfk-8/w204-h400/Politics*JoeBiden.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>Bi-partisan politics<br /></span></i>Nobody likes to lose. Everybody assumes<div>they're right. When it comes to capitulation -</div><div>the majority of folks won't compromise.</div><div>That's quite easy if a decision is yours alone.</div><div>Or in a group setting where one is either in</div><div>control or has the winning vote. No wonder</div><div>cooperation rarely happens. Especially when</div><div>divergent interests are involved. All of who</div><div>have but one goal - power. No wonder neither</div><div>Congress or the Senate can get anything done.</div><div>Against all odds it's easier to opt out rather</div><div>than accomplish something. Thus government</div><div>tends to be little more than a futile exercise. </div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJD1Z_Mm4C_LKtEkfTKfQ8vryew6l_70BDPpiGAtqTDm1O67zVr0MjrjRkJ-D_kCzg4GZyAuQd8LkTyR14z8TN5kfIdXAPKoTokUwWPFZwEI7eLIOlzdQ-6IunTMmlpdivq6mEqRSTRlm/s1007/Politics*MitchBitch.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJD1Z_Mm4C_LKtEkfTKfQ8vryew6l_70BDPpiGAtqTDm1O67zVr0MjrjRkJ-D_kCzg4GZyAuQd8LkTyR14z8TN5kfIdXAPKoTokUwWPFZwEI7eLIOlzdQ-6IunTMmlpdivq6mEqRSTRlm/w200-h400/Politics*MitchBitch.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Neither nor<br /></span></i>In the past viewing our democratic process in</div><div>action was akin to watching paint dry. For</div><div>centuries it seemed nothing ever happened.</div><div>Therefore it was easy to look the other way.</div><div>To hand over all responsibility to our elected</div><div>officials. Slowly but surely such a process of</div><div>inertia empowers a sub culture of clandestine</div><div>enrichment Allowing those for who we voted</div><div>to do whatever suits their needs - NOT ours.</div><div>Creating a legislative process than can only</div><div>be deemed a viscous cycle. Which is exactly</div><div>is happening in Washington D.C. A game of</div><div>thrones where nobody wins. Or do some?<br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD30GDD1TXHfUJkRQ-_WO1oKCPiwJWjgbqI5Hr7L86t2lOEUGBe9es2AOiDuNAUPz_0WmeWYkp5aVEI3NE9eOEAYOoNOs2d9JpI0wKy49FM5gYiKkgqC3oCoXY2bo4eYNqbDVF9cqkmW9/s1077/Politics*PelosiGrinBeads.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD30GDD1TXHfUJkRQ-_WO1oKCPiwJWjgbqI5Hr7L86t2lOEUGBe9es2AOiDuNAUPz_0WmeWYkp5aVEI3NE9eOEAYOoNOs2d9JpI0wKy49FM5gYiKkgqC3oCoXY2bo4eYNqbDVF9cqkmW9/w200-h400/Politics*PelosiGrinBeads.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Split decision<br /></span></i>In reality the wants and needs of constituents</div><div>seem to be of no consequence. What matters</div><div>are votes. Especially those which are easily</div><div>everaged to their advantage. Sadly what's lost</div><div>in said process are core values such as dignity,</div><div>morality, and results. In that the majority of</div><div>our elected officials have no shame when it</div><div>comes to winning. Along with absolutely no</div><div>desire to lose anything. The end result being</div><div>an endless push and pull that maintains the</div><div>status quo and little else. When what's needed</div><div>is to meet somewhere in the middle. Until we</div><div>can get there we're going to get nowhere fast.</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-18020654563219667252021-06-16T10:02:00.005-06:002021-06-16T10:14:38.099-06:00FLY OUR FLAG PROUDLY<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8ug3wEJJPlKiGn1bAwM6J4yxauhUkvOldIrkIRZ433voy4ndFyEp6fy3xa4r1sWJOeONQJ4Fn2_D8IgEHOt7wuWJXppC4PD8Lwt-wC3M4BAeS_i1nu5ZS2IAtwuJxmj9hFDcuzJY3K77/s1432/FlagsCapitol.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="1432" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8ug3wEJJPlKiGn1bAwM6J4yxauhUkvOldIrkIRZ433voy4ndFyEp6fy3xa4r1sWJOeONQJ4Fn2_D8IgEHOt7wuWJXppC4PD8Lwt-wC3M4BAeS_i1nu5ZS2IAtwuJxmj9hFDcuzJY3K77/w640-h294/FlagsCapitol.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41Ote87VL2K2tVIZhgAT-qa0OnyH6natTgKBMSlfPMyzkPpuZrLfPL_lp6OcMlkRTkLzgFGprr_W3ijuLb6rlUOBE-4epunPMtM-2erF2QuTPBruLQxG4V4BmjvRDfOdbVl5bWQuNRc3Y/s2508/HouseFlag.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41Ote87VL2K2tVIZhgAT-qa0OnyH6natTgKBMSlfPMyzkPpuZrLfPL_lp6OcMlkRTkLzgFGprr_W3ijuLb6rlUOBE-4epunPMtM-2erF2QuTPBruLQxG4V4BmjvRDfOdbVl5bWQuNRc3Y/w200-h400/HouseFlag.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It's a grand old flag<br /></span></i>My father fought in World War Two. A proud</div><div>patriot he daily hung the stars and stripes in</div><div>front of the house. Plus it didn't hurt that said</div><div>Americana matched with my Mother's colonial</div><div>decor. Hence I was taught that our nation's flag</div><div>was something to honor, respect, and protect.</div><div>Last Saturday we watched as members of our</div><div>Navy presented a flag to a grieving family at</div><div>Frank's uncle's burial. A fitting tribute to his</div><div>service to our country. Again a symbol of all</div><div>that makes America great. Yet sadly within the</div><div>last year flying a flag has come to represent</div><div>discord rather than unity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6_MBzBXB0skk09CRCqj0ZTOjeXEj9o2d2wF2rP3Y7aIpJPlKveH5TdA_yFAdwTUhHodS6WU3mfj-0tjw-uED5dgUHSa4V2WAnB_W2JW_0pXXkPuGRBmz_nAN4g0X7D-mpie_UncYs2FR/s1489/FBiden.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1489" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6_MBzBXB0skk09CRCqj0ZTOjeXEj9o2d2wF2rP3Y7aIpJPlKveH5TdA_yFAdwTUhHodS6WU3mfj-0tjw-uED5dgUHSa4V2WAnB_W2JW_0pXXkPuGRBmz_nAN4g0X7D-mpie_UncYs2FR/w640-h372/FBiden.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMIb76zyR6r8HzMv9Piwpd8KkVOLFBoIUPhQlbwbPjyHfsY1Nb_1magfgIUm2jfW49CBNC41xVzbZ8TEM5CdUuwo4-hei9856rH1V6OPmu74_0fit38jfb_p6j88c08AXA4cECQ4DGtUc/s714/FlagTrump.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="370" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMIb76zyR6r8HzMv9Piwpd8KkVOLFBoIUPhQlbwbPjyHfsY1Nb_1magfgIUm2jfW49CBNC41xVzbZ8TEM5CdUuwo4-hei9856rH1V6OPmu74_0fit38jfb_p6j88c08AXA4cECQ4DGtUc/w208-h400/FlagTrump.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>False pretenses<br /></span></i>A few days ago my sister-in-law came upon</div><div>the flag shown above whilst on a bike ride.</div><div>Said banner is not only is a shameful display</div><div>of disrespect. But an offense given it hung</div><div>above our nation's flag. NO wonder I have</div><div>come to view many flag bearers as suspect</div><div>at best. Possibly because disenfranchised</div><div>losers have hijacked our mantle of freedom.</div><div>And in doing so have tainted said symbol</div><div>of democracy as theirs alone. So help me. </div><div>Exactly when did our flag become a brand</div><div>logo for one man alone? Trumping the rest</div><div>of America in their quest to usurp equality.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7LfER1YTPSTkzG05WGoaxxroEU2zlYLB9ni3ye7SL-XN1UVRpLZtb9LMgTryfoSly0_-QHgz2L2vvj8l0-V8rJ3U6bFgfHSpSWxgMHiGSKzD8HxXjlxEpJt0DT59rZ23pqrHbI-W8AyR/s1167/FlagsJan6.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="1167" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7LfER1YTPSTkzG05WGoaxxroEU2zlYLB9ni3ye7SL-XN1UVRpLZtb9LMgTryfoSly0_-QHgz2L2vvj8l0-V8rJ3U6bFgfHSpSWxgMHiGSKzD8HxXjlxEpJt0DT59rZ23pqrHbI-W8AyR/w640-h326/FlagsJan6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05aoDVi1fEzkuxuNfjm8EQM0oZK3jqk2Ncc16WXvEJIgI8e9nJ_u_o47zSWF29gEqQPWa23rayLnVb8BIdXToh4MJui02tH0HSEWhaO0N1IV-7xWfv6Xuo00WxYQzFoBxY5RafJIcw4Oi/s984/FlagBlue.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="492" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05aoDVi1fEzkuxuNfjm8EQM0oZK3jqk2Ncc16WXvEJIgI8e9nJ_u_o47zSWF29gEqQPWa23rayLnVb8BIdXToh4MJui02tH0HSEWhaO0N1IV-7xWfv6Xuo00WxYQzFoBxY5RafJIcw4Oi/w200-h400/FlagBlue.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Warning flags<br /></span></i>Our collective American dream is based on</div><div>equal opportunity. Freedom of speech being</div><div>the right of every citizen of this great nation.</div><div>However profanity is NOT patriotic. While</div><div>we've a right to our opinion - the purposeful</div><div>disrespect of our fellow citizens and leaders</div><div>is wrong. Hence such flags are more than</div><div>assaults on our senses. They are symbols of</div><div>the tenuous state of our union. Proof of what</div><div>separates rather than unites this great land. </div><div>Therefore we must consider such fabric slurs</div><div>to be banner cries. Motivating us to reclaim</div><div>our flag and dignity. Before it waves away...</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-49930054301134545762021-06-15T11:33:00.011-06:002021-06-16T06:42:42.834-06:00DUMB OR DUMBER?<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuJD_1GNi9lvpURHLMR0d667rQRS7RXEskF5NxNtxG016lrTj1xeS47O3eLG7_irP1Z-Qv8SrMB-M08LdCDKUi8WF_Udng1UxcCL-4cSuqtP2JuPzcFTQSK26v5r80Lb1uochllyIC8-p/s2219/Smarter.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="2219" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuJD_1GNi9lvpURHLMR0d667rQRS7RXEskF5NxNtxG016lrTj1xeS47O3eLG7_irP1Z-Qv8SrMB-M08LdCDKUi8WF_Udng1UxcCL-4cSuqtP2JuPzcFTQSK26v5r80Lb1uochllyIC8-p/w640-h222/Smarter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuxNwzS5i3IjkudeU8Rvfws7dD6S_qBooUxRJpxAQKWpjfietjuQq0PIvo0k7Qnl0JZexYnMnVuqRFCQoT31rTEQxHvFlzOhlJGE7D7m_riKyU8NmJ64xWSMbgFLEipRfEGQCTo5QOqUC/s859/HandsUp.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="426" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuxNwzS5i3IjkudeU8Rvfws7dD6S_qBooUxRJpxAQKWpjfietjuQq0PIvo0k7Qnl0JZexYnMnVuqRFCQoT31rTEQxHvFlzOhlJGE7D7m_riKyU8NmJ64xWSMbgFLEipRfEGQCTo5QOqUC/w199-h400/HandsUp.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>How dumb is that?<br /></span></i>Nothing is more insulting than being deemed</div><div>ignorant. Or worse stupid. Then there is the</div><div>slur of being termed dumb. The assumption</div><div>being that a fool has a knowledge deficit. Or</div><div>some natural propensity to avoid illumination. </div><div>Which drives some to take advantage of those</div><div>they deem dumb or dumber. However naiveté</div><div>often usurps true mental ineptitude. Reason</div><div>enough for environmental abusers to locate</div><div>their destructive forces in very isolated places.</div><div>Assuming their victims have no idea of how</div><div>such a threat might impact their future health</div><div>and happiness. So is ignorance truly bliss?!</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Q2seStzrT57EYA60QzBBUsRYUndJ1VJ8pnx9GyOAIHiDIrwzhxIdPiXm9X2O9QLajwyjE5_d402oJ0f7vZ-uHy8Ctdyzqhf_jDLjMuc5YKIcDokyYVhZE-BADysrnPdOzXg4r-pYy14D/s2508/DunceFrown.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Q2seStzrT57EYA60QzBBUsRYUndJ1VJ8pnx9GyOAIHiDIrwzhxIdPiXm9X2O9QLajwyjE5_d402oJ0f7vZ-uHy8Ctdyzqhf_jDLjMuc5YKIcDokyYVhZE-BADysrnPdOzXg4r-pYy14D/w200-h400/DunceFrown.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Misery loves company<br /></span></i>When it comes to the Trump presidency we're</div><div>slowly finding that what we thought might be</div><div>happening was. Revelation after revelation</div><div>indicates a disdain for historical precedence.</div><div>Along with the willingness to break whatever</div><div>law was in their way. Leveraging the sacred</div><div>power of our democracy to investigate their</div><div>enemies. All as they secretly negotiated and</div><div>partnered with our enemies. Which bodes the</div><div>question - "did they think we're that stupid?"</div><div>Honestly, whether one is considered blue or</div><div>red, conservative or liberal, Democrat or </div><div>Republican, most American are not dumb.<br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaketvOXv7MNV5iALR59d3tyurWG76KSFWOuoZ_zDBpz5Jru7fzOOExevoaT1AemS77KoYgkYmcab_Vn5JwPyWtdaN0bdA2Leb6J6jfuz43NvJlp_IzoGOhEyQdN-5Iq3tQ4FJS5gqq62/s1172/KKKBaby.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="586" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaketvOXv7MNV5iALR59d3tyurWG76KSFWOuoZ_zDBpz5Jru7fzOOExevoaT1AemS77KoYgkYmcab_Vn5JwPyWtdaN0bdA2Leb6J6jfuz43NvJlp_IzoGOhEyQdN-5Iq3tQ4FJS5gqq62/w200-h400/KKKBaby.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Ignorance ain't bliss<br /></span></i>Intellect aside, there is a method to any such</div><div>madness. Hence some of our leaders prefer</div><div>that we ignore facts. Throwing up a veil of</div><div>smoke and mirrors. The purpose of which is</div><div>to keep us in the dark. Assuming Americans</div><div>are ignorant, lazy, or completely jaded. But</div><div>is that true? Are we really that dumb? Or will</div><div>we ultimately come to our senses? Realizing</div><div>that the truth will set this great nation free. </div><div>Foolishness only deters our ability to invest</div><div>in our future. Smart enough to know better -</div><div>we must hold those accountable for crimes</div><div>against democracy. So why play dumb?</div><p><br /></p>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-12596031991356697042021-06-14T09:29:00.016-06:002021-06-15T06:30:16.554-06:00WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH US?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklBSdZ2-iil3fIHMb0wLiRYFzRvvm_hnDSD1B-3n4-nQ9NixcpTDPunohQ6t2s-h0QfjiCvUYDSekOWv6w0DyhrVpqMmuMzO-sYxVWiz6jQbYh5QZgb0TlcSzUg8Ed6J07PkOcNVhyphenhyphenxG0/s1000/black-lives-matter-rally.jpeg.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklBSdZ2-iil3fIHMb0wLiRYFzRvvm_hnDSD1B-3n4-nQ9NixcpTDPunohQ6t2s-h0QfjiCvUYDSekOWv6w0DyhrVpqMmuMzO-sYxVWiz6jQbYh5QZgb0TlcSzUg8Ed6J07PkOcNVhyphenhyphenxG0/w640-h480/black-lives-matter-rally.jpeg.webp" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid59OYa4hYCWOL5rLRUsNyphyphenhyphenufC4rtuVSlTRtJUPa0B2GDVogE26PynLhdim1rLL8U0LhLLMk5A-9fSJ3bpZsBssN8bWm0v4eEjLs6wWBNkZD6JV1Lz-xphG2jfP8p1TjVcoZSfOPvaaM/s1269/White.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="635" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid59OYa4hYCWOL5rLRUsNyphyphenhyphenufC4rtuVSlTRtJUPa0B2GDVogE26PynLhdim1rLL8U0LhLLMk5A-9fSJ3bpZsBssN8bWm0v4eEjLs6wWBNkZD6JV1Lz-xphG2jfP8p1TjVcoZSfOPvaaM/w200-h400/White.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>All or nothing at all?</i><br /></span>I don't know about you but I know what I don't</div><div>know. Or at least I thought I did. For this writer</div><div>life is an endless learning experience. One of</div><div>constant discovery, illumination, and evolution.</div><div>Hence one could assume that I rarely assume</div><div>anything. Yet in truth - I jump to conclusions</div><div>just like the rest of you. My hope is that one of</div><div>the positive differences between me, myself and</div><div>others is that I'm willing to reconsider. Open to</div><div>alternatives. And often a reluctant but willing</div><div>target. Such shifts driven by facts, data, plus</div><div>the occasional gut reactions. Which is why I'm</div><div>if nothing else a piece of work in progress.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UKonrfjrxMvXtYFqJaL1nab02Nx8E-vzy_haiRf_aySjKZ3v5L3EKLjA0CuWBl_cTyb2-aBuOMJ6lqwEd-QkGuDJB-2zqJC0r1LZqby3u0Prx8J0VLaEh41tarsW3vX2f8iVvscXP6Gq/s1466/Tag.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1466" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UKonrfjrxMvXtYFqJaL1nab02Nx8E-vzy_haiRf_aySjKZ3v5L3EKLjA0CuWBl_cTyb2-aBuOMJ6lqwEd-QkGuDJB-2zqJC0r1LZqby3u0Prx8J0VLaEh41tarsW3vX2f8iVvscXP6Gq/w640-h384/Tag.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAniDoHIOWFbQpD4v88y_ZS6BsC_rLrLw9oWWbYdCEkidVLQJ8BGbySlo0m4W6jQ5zWMbaPt1c1lf-h0Lc6zcz9khFRQApjiZ1Aaidgsbo2Zvo-sn7MXqDtGydOndQCVwL6_fYtD4dyxe/s2508/Embrace.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAniDoHIOWFbQpD4v88y_ZS6BsC_rLrLw9oWWbYdCEkidVLQJ8BGbySlo0m4W6jQ5zWMbaPt1c1lf-h0Lc6zcz9khFRQApjiZ1Aaidgsbo2Zvo-sn7MXqDtGydOndQCVwL6_fYtD4dyxe/w200-h400/Embrace.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Tag you're it<br /></span></i>Ultimately life's sweet spot is somewhere in the</div><div>middle. A state of detente situated between two</div><div>extremes. Yet our individual polar opposites are</div><div>unique. Thus it can be tough to find common</div><div>ground upon a ever shifting bog which lays in</div><div>between irreconcilable differences. Our issue</div><div>being how does one maintain balance against</div><div>all odds? Yesterday we drove up to the cabin.</div><div>Along the way a rancher had hung a sign that</div><div>read "Just because I'm white doesn't make me</div><div>racist.". Which was quickly followed by a</div><div>Burma Shave litany of weak excuses. All that</div><div>indicated they were confused at best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNq5jt03Mb7dal5yN7hr0Rg-AVPgEol53CakCTbjzJ2TXqUAzDyfRuKD65oxq-q_6czsYefqCFy3wOJ92HqPrTgmgD39pCssFg3hFWVY6LDSQateoEVJCFQOQOzlY91jfkELnXjT2uEUkK/s1500/8wkbh2hv019x.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1500" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNq5jt03Mb7dal5yN7hr0Rg-AVPgEol53CakCTbjzJ2TXqUAzDyfRuKD65oxq-q_6czsYefqCFy3wOJ92HqPrTgmgD39pCssFg3hFWVY6LDSQateoEVJCFQOQOzlY91jfkELnXjT2uEUkK/w640-h402/8wkbh2hv019x.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCgjx-hPDK5TF2etXSF9PB2b5n5Epqg9Jmb_2iwG8fkWJSYSEerxDdTK8C73rKsoB8UToZNpfiibXM6_mYunRqDPvp7qYVolUdo__aEPrpjd2BfHwLUQNI5BCGwMOHUibJ4Q-dB_9YuQ0/s1674/BlackLikeMe.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1674" data-original-width="837" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCgjx-hPDK5TF2etXSF9PB2b5n5Epqg9Jmb_2iwG8fkWJSYSEerxDdTK8C73rKsoB8UToZNpfiibXM6_mYunRqDPvp7qYVolUdo__aEPrpjd2BfHwLUQNI5BCGwMOHUibJ4Q-dB_9YuQ0/w200-h400/BlackLikeMe.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Who knows?<br /></span></i>Life's best lessons come via learning from</div><div>our mistakes. Rather than opt to be open</div><div>to alternatives - many balk at any ideas</div><div>that might change their minds. So they dig</div><div>their feet in or hang signs in protest. Saying</div><div>that the color of one's skin doesn't make us</div><div>who we are. When in fact the experiences,</div><div>privileges, and competitive edge associated</div><div>with being white do just that. Chances are</div><div>my roadside friend has never trod upon the</div><div>other side. Thus their interaction with Black,</div><div>Latino, or Asian Americans has been few</div><div>and far between. They've NO idea...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrdNcsAC5g8POdc9Tu_cNUCNAR8VrnKDiFSd8tWx_s6XU4hcwe4ZbL71gJ4-MZ16vOHFWi4unSWO81WPV2YzJE9BIuwNvaORU_Vq0am2d6rIi8FZhhdK8S4QEsD9j1pFfYMyZvKtLli1b/s1571/American.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1571" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrdNcsAC5g8POdc9Tu_cNUCNAR8VrnKDiFSd8tWx_s6XU4hcwe4ZbL71gJ4-MZ16vOHFWi4unSWO81WPV2YzJE9BIuwNvaORU_Vq0am2d6rIi8FZhhdK8S4QEsD9j1pFfYMyZvKtLli1b/w640-h470/American.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mlweql2mKmyYXihPFQGTjWKTaWv6ROrgSw4LCbkOQtWURPXv_-GjX04DFahHcqbloaCdwQX0ShmnzfRp3Q2F0X742Y_IIGkpUMGS3wyKZvORs3pQszfwcbiT99AeH-GN_t5LTl2-omk_/s1500/22645357285.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="752" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mlweql2mKmyYXihPFQGTjWKTaWv6ROrgSw4LCbkOQtWURPXv_-GjX04DFahHcqbloaCdwQX0ShmnzfRp3Q2F0X742Y_IIGkpUMGS3wyKZvORs3pQszfwcbiT99AeH-GN_t5LTl2-omk_/w200-h400/22645357285.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Matters of fact<br /></span></i>Prior to jumping to any conclusion one should</div><div>take a walk in another's shoes. Or at least an</div><div>internet deep dive. Post such a stroll chances</div><div>are you'll realize we're not all that different.</div><div>However "who" we are is but one component</div><div>that drives out destiny. Ultimately it's the what,</div><div>when, where, and why of life that makes or</div><div>breaks us. All the reason to think before one</div><div>draws a line in the sand (or hangs up a sign). </div><div>Immediate denial of endemic racism just may</div><div>be the ultimate expression of racist tendencies.</div><div>So before you take offense, think about it. You</div><div>just might change your mind.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ma90AVgku_Q" width="320" youtube-src-id="ma90AVgku_Q"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-58180573031747440822021-06-11T16:55:00.013-06:002021-06-11T17:04:05.683-06:00WHAT THE DEVIL?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zaIWM61X2_wi27fkdp6pdH6L8Bpzx-xIXQMCIMUFf4RcZZFK8ysOO1LyU2I1SkGV5RB-C915Z6wgyMI6pdAI5o6WK74BVTOnOF5jUMw0MO_sJFCfISgGKKtjXOwrzCEQtROmXZZwCFj2/s1858/FOUROCLOCK.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1858" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zaIWM61X2_wi27fkdp6pdH6L8Bpzx-xIXQMCIMUFf4RcZZFK8ysOO1LyU2I1SkGV5RB-C915Z6wgyMI6pdAI5o6WK74BVTOnOF5jUMw0MO_sJFCfISgGKKtjXOwrzCEQtROmXZZwCFj2/w640-h334/FOUROCLOCK.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutIQWI5xNiAcrPBd1fC2yhCfXUrvDXyLH6K72oahb7kVmm6QiZF45NPBpvmwF9_CS5kkJF-urBpNlvTHdYQbRmq5CB_sP8-__52GyOYG5IsnJKDpBjtr-RkHaCSUrxyNA6kFvnPt3WmmP/s1542/JUGGLER.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="772" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutIQWI5xNiAcrPBd1fC2yhCfXUrvDXyLH6K72oahb7kVmm6QiZF45NPBpvmwF9_CS5kkJF-urBpNlvTHdYQbRmq5CB_sP8-__52GyOYG5IsnJKDpBjtr-RkHaCSUrxyNA6kFvnPt3WmmP/w200-h400/JUGGLER.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Times up?<br /></i></span>I admit I'm rather overwhelmed. Throughout<div>life I've always been a rather adept juggler.</div><div>Somehow able to handle almost everything</div><div>and anything that came my way. Hence reality</div><div>never hit. Nor did I slow down. Even if mired</div><div>in the muck of an ever evolving life. That is</div><div>intil now. Suddenly I find that I can't keep my</div><div>head above water. Staying afloat is to be kind</div><div>challenging at best. Which makes me wonder.</div><div>Have I finally lost it? Or have I simply reached</div><div>a point of no return. One where my only option</div><div>is to raise my hands in surrender. And therefore</div><div>accept that I'm not up to the challenge?</div><div><div><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvGFR7z1Cz-W6pWxjvRyMV9xz21DPrHAWoEJuay6NoWUlwv-RJr8fr4Gw0jCJAwpNTIjFH_63jXDvCBK3Cpj2Ng9Tw981Ck5N5C-YnS7rfYRVGF5EYQ9NeAvinvI_kyDszsNX5-8gxJoK/s1199/Old.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="585" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvGFR7z1Cz-W6pWxjvRyMV9xz21DPrHAWoEJuay6NoWUlwv-RJr8fr4Gw0jCJAwpNTIjFH_63jXDvCBK3Cpj2Ng9Tw981Ck5N5C-YnS7rfYRVGF5EYQ9NeAvinvI_kyDszsNX5-8gxJoK/w195-h400/Old.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>What's old is new<br /></i></span>Whoever said that youth is wasted on the young</div><div>was right. In my younger and more vulnerable</div><div>years I didn't know how to say no. Thus I simply</div><div>embraced whatever thrown upon my proverbial</div><div>plate. Between building a career, raising kids,</div><div>and paying the bills there was little time to fret.</div><div>Yet somehow I survived. Even if I wasn't always</div><div>at my best. While age brings wisdom one tends</div><div>to get tired much more easily. While I benefit</div><div>from prior experience, I'm somehow less apt to</div><div>'willingly embrace a challenge. Instead I find</div><div>myself muttering "why me?!" Or... why now?</div><div>Have I lost track of time or fallen off the track?<br /><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeu_AMVb8wzZmyUurGcRU1Ui76OKqvTKOAWw07CJ7E2Evih_TBfiKgzaXvdc5lHXQ2x7xLNIvD2gWlHVEs0f8uR1C3ZkbagfPUI11vzLq0ma0k_79s0dSu9C9WFxUz2sc-lOiH-RTtarjC/s1464/Fools.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="732" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeu_AMVb8wzZmyUurGcRU1Ui76OKqvTKOAWw07CJ7E2Evih_TBfiKgzaXvdc5lHXQ2x7xLNIvD2gWlHVEs0f8uR1C3ZkbagfPUI11vzLq0ma0k_79s0dSu9C9WFxUz2sc-lOiH-RTtarjC/w200-h400/Fools.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Better late than never?<br /></i></span>Take today. Suddenly it was four o'clock in the</div><div>afternoon. And I'd yet to sit down and write my</div><div>blog. If pressed I could provide a myriad of </div><div>weak excuses. However in reality I just lost it.</div><div>Control that is. And in the process forgot about</div><div>this task at hand. Beyond a bruised ego I am a</div><div>bit shaken the late arrival of this daily missive.</div><div>In part because I honestly have no excuse for</div><div>said delay Except to admit that I'm not the man</div><div>I used to be. Which might not be a bad thing.</div><div>In the past I was often in a rush to get things</div><div>done. And you know what they say about fools</div><div>rushing in... the devil's in the details!</div></div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-77999944227187463292021-06-10T13:39:00.010-06:002021-06-10T13:53:18.322-06:00Summertime when the livin' is easy<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1M-8UEl6OjM-IgS32bUgW0JGhFknfgeYPeLJB_cRDQglFBza1bWuQ-b8dRy4AtE6RoRw7ADYuXrMvim7q5xtrar9yPYL2PgwFJ7CRq3hiVBj_01UZ6jfk_mFYbH_tDQ6s1TDr1pILrzSv/s2048/13mag-photoproject-llorente-images-superJumbo.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1M-8UEl6OjM-IgS32bUgW0JGhFknfgeYPeLJB_cRDQglFBza1bWuQ-b8dRy4AtE6RoRw7ADYuXrMvim7q5xtrar9yPYL2PgwFJ7CRq3hiVBj_01UZ6jfk_mFYbH_tDQ6s1TDr1pILrzSv/w640-h426/13mag-photoproject-llorente-images-superJumbo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjR61CxjxBT1Ef-86ARepdJQUGzQPvsVVZbWISxFLS80QuG2Lm5INOYuik1B-4w7MAn_VEJnY51YVWNKWv5yC7pQQ-IjBEaCSWIn6HcndzDsW5nS1jS7BTCsWBKS1uGZQiVYQUzyhW7iGq/s654/GreenLight.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="327" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjR61CxjxBT1Ef-86ARepdJQUGzQPvsVVZbWISxFLS80QuG2Lm5INOYuik1B-4w7MAn_VEJnY51YVWNKWv5yC7pQQ-IjBEaCSWIn6HcndzDsW5nS1jS7BTCsWBKS1uGZQiVYQUzyhW7iGq/w200-h400/GreenLight.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>All clear?<br /></span></i>After over a year of isolation we're all coming<div>out of our shells. Thus post Covid vaccination</div><div>America seems to be having a national reunion</div><div>of sorts. As of now we have NO new Covid 19</div><div>cases here in Fergus County. One active case.</div><div>However Montana's vaccination rate is low at</div><div>only 40% fully protected. Thus while it seems</div><div>we're out of the viral woods - part of me still</div><div>worries whether we're vulnerable. Naysayers</div><div>aside, five hundred and ninety eight thousand</div><div>Americans have died due to Covid 19 so far.</div><div>And I'd like to avoid adding to that number.</div><div>So can we safely resume life as we knew it?</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9itPNoWzPG_OlxkPOmrJGvo-TyKJtZtoaV9XSsLPvBVDFUyia6mwBEVQPeCTPpamrigJMjdPiWp11AxEQ2Mgg9Uf9rlsbSk4U9WnXXM8EACPa_SOQ8rqmspV6pYwDMG396b9Ep1FFx9iM/s605/NoMask.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="302" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9itPNoWzPG_OlxkPOmrJGvo-TyKJtZtoaV9XSsLPvBVDFUyia6mwBEVQPeCTPpamrigJMjdPiWp11AxEQ2Mgg9Uf9rlsbSk4U9WnXXM8EACPa_SOQ8rqmspV6pYwDMG396b9Ep1FFx9iM/w200-h400/NoMask.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Face time<br /></span></i>Most if not all of us are throwing caution to the</div><div>wind. Along with discarding our masks. Today</div><div>the Times posted a series of images including</div><div>the one above. Chronicling America's return</div><div>to normalcy. That's all any of us want. To live</div><div>without fear. Enjoy each other's company. And</div><div>go on with life as we've known it. Ultimately</div><div>the last year's precautions will be but a blip in</div><div>our stream of consciousness. A distant memory</div><div>of a crisis avoided. Therefore unless you've lost</div><div>someone you know and love, it seems like it all</div><div>really wasn't that a big deal. Even if it was. And</div><div>so we move on to enjoy our newfound freedom.</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurrB_hJMV1rri5mrqZ0NLssxYqBRLxXOFh-Q2kX-G1Sm4Zi_8YD12nah_yFsChTR38TrYkMj1ZOfW8inCQUX4g_AMHOHIKVvqofZmwgPIwm5D6fogoHu4QLNvFdeiYRocQzVf-n71-1MY/s821/NOrmal.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurrB_hJMV1rri5mrqZ0NLssxYqBRLxXOFh-Q2kX-G1Sm4Zi_8YD12nah_yFsChTR38TrYkMj1ZOfW8inCQUX4g_AMHOHIKVvqofZmwgPIwm5D6fogoHu4QLNvFdeiYRocQzVf-n71-1MY/w200-h400/NOrmal.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Back to the future<br /></span></i>Yet it was a global crisis. The virus killed</div><div>millions and is still rampant in parts of</div><div>the world. Political arguments aside our</div><div>combined precautions enabled most of us</div><div>to avoid what seemed inevitable. Allowing</div><div>us to return to normal behavior as versus</div><div>stilted survival tactics. Hence given I'm fully</div><div>vaccinated I'm hoping for the best. Even as</div><div>I still worry about my grandchildren who as</div><div>of yet are ineligible for said shot in the arm.</div><div>In the meantime doing what comes naturally.</div><div>Hosting dinners. Dining out. And grateful to</div><div>do just that. Normal is absolutely pure bliss!</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-57924392876526397522021-06-09T13:14:00.013-06:002021-06-09T13:32:21.022-06:00TEMPUS FUGIT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAjbIO_yHN_8ioZVrvHmkhz1B8XYBcJYOd3A2se1iZde-c4EOpy1WnKln_AF_kw8YtT9FSHFbiPhajCmTND2ggZJYkR6EiWLuP53NHgYHSN_llQRcRVhIGbO3QM5CmamdiqUmC50VSbVx/s2340/The-Persistence-of-Memory-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="2340" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAjbIO_yHN_8ioZVrvHmkhz1B8XYBcJYOd3A2se1iZde-c4EOpy1WnKln_AF_kw8YtT9FSHFbiPhajCmTND2ggZJYkR6EiWLuP53NHgYHSN_llQRcRVhIGbO3QM5CmamdiqUmC50VSbVx/w640-h240/The-Persistence-of-Memory-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4oGjs0spFGm_9qvUphsd9CU778xEY8Ja2ohZ-dARXuczEckg4Rwtfir66n_7oyNEITPnHPtFqmlrz843yhFFAZhsrp2OA9LTCbNeV8j2BqCR2ZdlqZllIunBrH8IOibyyI3yJuDENA5R/s1339/Flier.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="670" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4oGjs0spFGm_9qvUphsd9CU778xEY8Ja2ohZ-dARXuczEckg4Rwtfir66n_7oyNEITPnHPtFqmlrz843yhFFAZhsrp2OA9LTCbNeV8j2BqCR2ZdlqZllIunBrH8IOibyyI3yJuDENA5R/w200-h400/Flier.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Frequent fliers<br /></span></i>Some fool was the first to say "time flies when<div>you're having fun". A delusional fantasy at best</div><div>given the older one gets - the less time there is</div><div>left. Which is anything but a happy thought.</div><div>As we age we're reminded that life's clock is</div><div>ticking. Hence we should make the most of</div><div>the time left. Often a bitch slap of reality will</div><div>drive one to do just that. Like escaping a near</div><div>death malady or losing one near and dear. In</div><div>theory reason enough to indulge every whim</div><div>in a quest to recapture youth. For example - </div><div>I offer up two words? "Harley Davidson". So</div><div>why speed towards the inevitable dead end?</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Zoatkrr9vX58nMDy1l_KXJDGUjjSDBNgxqbitxylgUS4AG-F_ES51eNpAsOgOfzR9osjj2Uligei2YIYIoeFDmqxC_TwB-x2ebrKfbLSYEnPgFwYeW7itFpLxMLlFetlnWS_JNZ0h7zE/s869/5f33066d94654a62dce557d90cd5e24f.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="435" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Zoatkrr9vX58nMDy1l_KXJDGUjjSDBNgxqbitxylgUS4AG-F_ES51eNpAsOgOfzR9osjj2Uligei2YIYIoeFDmqxC_TwB-x2ebrKfbLSYEnPgFwYeW7itFpLxMLlFetlnWS_JNZ0h7zE/w200-h400/5f33066d94654a62dce557d90cd5e24f.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Time travelers<br /></span></i>In theory we should be old enough to know</div><div>better. Yet that doesn't stop some men from</div><div>growing mutton chops, sporting a pony tail,</div><div>or donning leather chaps. Causing even the</div><div>straightest of men to be confused for some</div><div>gay rogue on his way to a leather bar. I find</div><div>no thrill in dentists masquerading as juvenile</div><div>delinquents. Especially when they're in their</div><div>late sixties. However assuming that time is</div><div>of the essence - who am I to judge? After all</div><div>in the end we all have to find our own glide</div><div>path to next. However somehow I'd rather</div><div>grow old and die in the Provence or Umbria.<br /><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(1, 255, 255);"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWJh2GM3zbFK40iXQh-SY6RRkaIoQfsPZU5suvdi_8UFPatqUSEkB0Rx7JxjEl_mxkfH8FXekQ0OCl04Tpwa24msfC_kByTBzUzy3oPTjRVWFjSGG6_gBMKvYzSKUVgU7NuxgXnv5B3a0/s685/Rudy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="343" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWJh2GM3zbFK40iXQh-SY6RRkaIoQfsPZU5suvdi_8UFPatqUSEkB0Rx7JxjEl_mxkfH8FXekQ0OCl04Tpwa24msfC_kByTBzUzy3oPTjRVWFjSGG6_gBMKvYzSKUVgU7NuxgXnv5B3a0/w200-h400/Rudy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Old enough to know better<br /></i></span></span>Located across the street from the local gym -</div><div>I'm an innocent bystander to life's parade via</div><div>our store windows. Every day I watch locals</div><div>in search of youth. Including gentleman who</div><div>have gone to the dark side. As in hair color</div><div>a la Giuliani. A pathetic attempt to avoid the</div><div>inevitable. Which is in my opinion worse</div><div>than a comb over. Hence I question whether</div><div>fighting fate is worth the time and effort. </div><div>After all the older one gets - the wiser. So</div><div>why not act like it. Celebrate all that you've</div><div>achieved. And please - stop pretending that</div><div>you're something you're not! GROW UP!</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-59978913685634758542021-06-08T14:06:00.008-06:002021-06-09T06:37:20.027-06:00EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0-d2dzIUtSPamQl1UhRzT7q4gr4W8PdVcLOd9HjpbAkWAv3kw2MFl7ynqa3pI5YJuyYu1vyNdfr9Ug8O-8GbkYIP0MFnFo4slp7NfSxTQd593460sMiIZolEtJZQ1T73o9IzyLl0Up8K/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0-d2dzIUtSPamQl1UhRzT7q4gr4W8PdVcLOd9HjpbAkWAv3kw2MFl7ynqa3pI5YJuyYu1vyNdfr9Ug8O-8GbkYIP0MFnFo4slp7NfSxTQd593460sMiIZolEtJZQ1T73o9IzyLl0Up8K/w640-h360/maxresdefault.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></p><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSref4BwqndLnLq52rjnpoAPfKot4j7RC9MzVmV4_tnRrWn__JXqv0Q9nCG1L9K849ilxTBK-Yh-qH3z4DxZvnaKcbl3BSiNwRIM6LV3otXrGd7Zp1-WiQVuh3Oy7DIvpR2yA0x_biYXA/s750/RozHates.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="376" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSref4BwqndLnLq52rjnpoAPfKot4j7RC9MzVmV4_tnRrWn__JXqv0Q9nCG1L9K849ilxTBK-Yh-qH3z4DxZvnaKcbl3BSiNwRIM6LV3otXrGd7Zp1-WiQVuh3Oy7DIvpR2yA0x_biYXA/w201-h400/RozHates.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>Chain reaction<br /></span></i>I'm on Facebook everyday. In that I post the</div><div>daily blog on there. Yet I rarely scroll down</div><div>and catch up on the news. So this morning</div><div>I did just that. Finding a few surprises along</div><div>the way. Pictures of happy children who are</div><div>growing up so quickly. Trophy shots of lush</div><div>gardens. Birthday celebrations. Best friends</div><div>having the best times. Proclamations of love.</div><div>Weddings. Anniversaries. And then suddenly</div><div>a political slam against the Obamas. Which</div><div>sadly "canceled" all the feel good feelings</div><div>experienced thus far. Not only was said post</div><div>offensive, it was beyond disappointing. </div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxc0X7XRKTjh6eD5I-Tnl-sg_QlSha1-KUGkaubJXloHfVJiKCGbeOTS_WOqgi6FvFFLJXl6BHrOETNzCWrUZ4S0s_H5FOwzBj3heKcY8Uq5kOePQc-we3H20liJMUJp2OAdUDKs12NNd/s412/NO.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="206" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxc0X7XRKTjh6eD5I-Tnl-sg_QlSha1-KUGkaubJXloHfVJiKCGbeOTS_WOqgi6FvFFLJXl6BHrOETNzCWrUZ4S0s_H5FOwzBj3heKcY8Uq5kOePQc-we3H20liJMUJp2OAdUDKs12NNd/w200-h400/NO.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Social insecurity<br /></span></i>Why are so many filled with anger, hostility,</div><div>and resentment? More important - why do</div><div>we feel it's necessary to punish our friends</div><div>and family by publicly spewing such vitriol?</div><div>In the old days everybody just avoided the</div><div>inevitable. Walking another way rather than</div><div>facing their enemies. Quietly working things</div><div>out in private. Or even better yet - keeping</div><div>things in context. Now everything is a crisis.</div><div>An affront to our rights. Courtesy has been</div><div>labeled political correctness. Kindness is</div><div>deemed proof that one is weak. And being</div><div>polite is considered "snooty". <br /><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinS2JDefILazixHK_MJyOPFlCAf9Ond_rjcYAyWwlHENzze93vi1LErDFXfQR8xVa2j6_jBHhZ7pukzfnxJQeNSyIFKkeE0zu6r8NzpQUFEiqrJgMvw1ASUaq5uFTZBzQYl4OigS14TnYz/s1064/Screen+Shot+2021-06-08+at+2.04.36+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="533" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinS2JDefILazixHK_MJyOPFlCAf9Ond_rjcYAyWwlHENzze93vi1LErDFXfQR8xVa2j6_jBHhZ7pukzfnxJQeNSyIFKkeE0zu6r8NzpQUFEiqrJgMvw1ASUaq5uFTZBzQYl4OigS14TnYz/w200-h400/Screen+Shot+2021-06-08+at+2.04.36+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Golden opportunity</i><br /></span>At some point we all have to back off. And</div><div>show some consideration for others. This</div><div>deep state of hyper aggression is not only</div><div>exhausting... its disrespectful. A violation</div><div>of the golden rule. Said disruption's have</div><div>one purpose. Which is to make everyone</div><div>miserable. It's time to be kinder and gentler.</div><div>Not bitter and ballistic. To offer up a sunny</div><div>smile versus a snarky smirk. And to treat</div><div>each other as we want to be treated. That's</div><div>the ultimate manifestation of equality. A</div><div>place where we can live happily ever after.</div><div>Whether we like each other or... not.</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-1210957368468614882021-06-07T09:20:00.014-06:002021-06-08T06:12:33.996-06:00FRUIT LOOPS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUidsrI0T-3ulQMnPL35zVZz0DRRYELG_r3Tuz_aeYNNRnNvIGrYBxOCtR1CVw175Gdxs73Ct_vx1FVGxyBZqKYfwNhcHds7HFKqYl39vMeyEANKCsNcefJfgOn2iEXa72By2K62QsOJT9/s1490/FarmStand.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="1490" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUidsrI0T-3ulQMnPL35zVZz0DRRYELG_r3Tuz_aeYNNRnNvIGrYBxOCtR1CVw175Gdxs73Ct_vx1FVGxyBZqKYfwNhcHds7HFKqYl39vMeyEANKCsNcefJfgOn2iEXa72By2K62QsOJT9/w640-h478/FarmStand.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhlinhyssSkmxl4gw_CRyMUqcUGzxcq6szIabIroH6VeFKm-skuc_ZSwuV8AlvVCpoxlSssPtyYztZvh81FI0ZgNjwAysj-QvcQ6h9VKoB02bwg_bhavwcvKltOPfI6dO33weVaj_Qdxa/s969/Point.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="485" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhlinhyssSkmxl4gw_CRyMUqcUGzxcq6szIabIroH6VeFKm-skuc_ZSwuV8AlvVCpoxlSssPtyYztZvh81FI0ZgNjwAysj-QvcQ6h9VKoB02bwg_bhavwcvKltOPfI6dO33weVaj_Qdxa/w200-h400/Point.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Fresh picked</span></i><div>I just read a fascinating article in the Times this</div><div>morning. Which chronicled the tale of two farm</div><div>stands in Michigan's fruit belt. A unique strip of</div><div>land adjacent to Lake Michigan stretching along</div><div>much of the state's western border. Just 12 miles</div><div>apart, one stand sued the state of Michigan over</div><div>Covid mask limitations. As the other enforced</div><div>a "no mask no service" policy. The result being</div><div>the loss of former customers for both along with</div><div>an influx of new shoppers sympathetic to one</div><div>or the other. In the end - neither seemed to lose</div><div>in the process. Beyond their dignity. So why do</div><div>some purposefully pick sides when shopping?!</div><div><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(1, 255, 255);"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54GV203ihlFBugbCWsQ_Dj03sCIpHGdoJmk56n80adRSvD5fdAm0D2cmFAk4NOeojozkqXA_kgvVtKmabF5BEOxRMesoC8lq7e1NQR3rMWICstx708WQUmFqv5WC5P9VPLGPQ-Hs2bApj/s793/Fruit*OrangePot.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="396" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54GV203ihlFBugbCWsQ_Dj03sCIpHGdoJmk56n80adRSvD5fdAm0D2cmFAk4NOeojozkqXA_kgvVtKmabF5BEOxRMesoC8lq7e1NQR3rMWICstx708WQUmFqv5WC5P9VPLGPQ-Hs2bApj/w200-h400/Fruit*OrangePot.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Orange crush<br /></i></span></span>Over my many years in retail I've learned that</div><div>people choose where they shop for a variety of</div><div>reasons. Normally the key trigger points being</div><div>price, assortment, quality, and service (in that</div><div>order). Thus politics have historically not been</div><div>a consideration within the retail mix. However</div><div>there have been times when folks purposefully</div><div>panned brands for violations of cultural mores.</div><div>Especially once political activists realized that</div><div>one of the best ways to get their message across</div><div>was via cash flow. Who knew buying orange</div><div>juice or pasta was a political statement? Or that</div><div>where you shop might indicate how one votes.</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdYF41dmcHFdigOg0NjjLWSTN40IYTAiflApBs9rEtCX8GF5B5FQgqkSq_06s8zxs7ExIJlfoQ1vSz1Wzd6ftIVwfe6eh9ZoJbgQ2wVbezdoRQHEdVV52wsIiJlITywl_W037Po0P7zIj/s1505/FruitMan.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="756" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdYF41dmcHFdigOg0NjjLWSTN40IYTAiflApBs9rEtCX8GF5B5FQgqkSq_06s8zxs7ExIJlfoQ1vSz1Wzd6ftIVwfe6eh9ZoJbgQ2wVbezdoRQHEdVV52wsIiJlITywl_W037Po0P7zIj/w201-h400/FruitMan.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>The fruit of our labor<br /></span></i>We are all entitled to our opinions and beliefs.</div><div>However it's questionable whether punishing</div><div>others for such stances makes a difference.</div><div>Damaging any retailer's revenue has impact.</div><div>But mostly on the people who work there and</div><div>surrounding communities. Creating a ripple</div><div>effect that ultimately does nobody any good.</div><div>When it comes to local goods and services how</div><div>one votes isn't the issue. Rather a firm's success</div><div>should be measured by benefits they offer on a</div><div>consistent basis. Therefore if you're going to</div><div>judge them on anything - it should be based on</div><div>the fruit of their labor. And NOT sour grapes.</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-57102810565187510972021-06-04T11:47:00.011-06:002021-06-04T12:10:46.362-06:00BACK AT YOU<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRGosk-SP5dJ8Eifa11ZwE27XRzRaPI-eg_r_rseBp2gQdP7STUkJzWFW5lOIm1gizvL3GlC6I7-ckSiP6wkIBTrYYr3f45rSKZbgjEann1kgPn1Ga673H7ka5SX4MpTUqbuazSitaWTy/s1319/Couple*SunStroke.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="1304" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRGosk-SP5dJ8Eifa11ZwE27XRzRaPI-eg_r_rseBp2gQdP7STUkJzWFW5lOIm1gizvL3GlC6I7-ckSiP6wkIBTrYYr3f45rSKZbgjEann1kgPn1Ga673H7ka5SX4MpTUqbuazSitaWTy/w632-h640/Couple*SunStroke.jpg" width="632" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUE21tNHWzpP7a4QhLHP1Qs92zp24jHsToYKnfrTT7UsaVbIUbsNEjymTVLsbu26nn3bJ4rPhp-FlbcaHPmyJxbipgTIQaUx_hsU6uuuhGKIk-FDq77_r924IS-DFj-SLzhyphenhyphenFHQBI2K2x/s753/Behind.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="377" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUE21tNHWzpP7a4QhLHP1Qs92zp24jHsToYKnfrTT7UsaVbIUbsNEjymTVLsbu26nn3bJ4rPhp-FlbcaHPmyJxbipgTIQaUx_hsU6uuuhGKIk-FDq77_r924IS-DFj-SLzhyphenhyphenFHQBI2K2x/w200-h400/Behind.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Back at you</i><br /></span>Everything the one reads on social media isn't</div><div>necessarily true. Everybody has their opinion.</div><div>All of us see things from our own perspective.</div><div>Plus memory itself is if nothing else rather</div><div>a selective process. Hence hindsight is rarely</div><div>20/20. The fact is it's dramatically skewed</div><div>depending on one's recollection of who, what,</div><div>when, why, and where. Just one of the reasons</div><div>why it's important to not jump to conclusions.</div><div>But rather to step back and do your homework</div><div>prior to drawing a line in the sand. Part of said</div><div>discovery process is putting together the pieces.</div><div>Including all of the missing ones.<br /><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6HcqRB2ewULzWf0e_yjPrIsVG2neUFXQ6i-Ta7AGVfNVZbZRxQa0lhIEqA71bpAYZR0qjPVVMRnIue1GmKDxnNGzbuBAKI1o1M9erAgwiRSNMv_IOeKyQtiVFugDyfb4DHk1B_NAU2hU/s416/Behind2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="208" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6HcqRB2ewULzWf0e_yjPrIsVG2neUFXQ6i-Ta7AGVfNVZbZRxQa0lhIEqA71bpAYZR0qjPVVMRnIue1GmKDxnNGzbuBAKI1o1M9erAgwiRSNMv_IOeKyQtiVFugDyfb4DHk1B_NAU2hU/w200-h400/Behind2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Now and then</i><br /></span>Long ago I fell ill whenever my parents visited.</div><div>Somehow said encounters conjured up all sorts</div><div>of bad mojo which tainted any reunion. Slowly</div><div>I realized that said poison stemmed from things</div><div>long past. So I went to talk to a therapist who if</div><div>nothing else helped me connect the dots. Only</div><div>then did I realize that my perspective on many</div><div>events was historical. That of a child who often</div><div>was purposefully or emotionally shielded from</div><div>reality. So I decided to act like an adult. And sat</div><div>down with my parents to talk about all that was</div><div>bothering me. The end result of said fact finding</div><div>mission was redemptive release. PHEW!</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJpZ20_Upt7W2UCFrJ8MVk-5fpQUgODPUDDdaCfDagAPXx3pUxRyaJSnehSrzfGN1mbsoVDCCoFPnqdwdDG38B8VMRKWXG0mBq4mGABMSq9oUeqQXX10dzpzOd46fVMVNWwTv5WtDA_gb/s1378/RearViewMirror.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="689" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJpZ20_Upt7W2UCFrJ8MVk-5fpQUgODPUDDdaCfDagAPXx3pUxRyaJSnehSrzfGN1mbsoVDCCoFPnqdwdDG38B8VMRKWXG0mBq4mGABMSq9oUeqQXX10dzpzOd46fVMVNWwTv5WtDA_gb/w200-h400/RearViewMirror.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Fact or friction?<br /></span></i>You see, I didn't know the whole story. Hence</div><div>any anger I harbored was mostly the result of</div><div>limited visibility. Within hours they explained</div><div>everything that I didn't know. Their reasons,</div><div>motivations, and actions. Along with all others</div><div>involved. Apologizing for any hurt they may</div><div>have unintentionally caused. And suddenly all</div><div>made sense. Everything that bothered me for</div><div>decades was in truth no big deal. A lesson that</div><div>should also be applied to social and political</div><div>posts that taint our perception of reality. Some</div><div>research will lead you to the truth. A journey</div><div>guaranteed to take you to a much better place.</div><div><br /></div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-33792394206520758022021-06-03T14:53:00.012-06:002021-06-03T15:14:44.885-06:00BOOM BOOM ROOM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbz7LTn5ZP4e02kQRR96VskrHF6OdGrFDvD8MrDdhyphenhyphenGEcWpfNnpAuMkUMG8VLnNtEL1HzrsJppJsAvdDzCHYuvL-yj4KRExJyCB_O3YRNYxZY0ZAPPkUv9I5EQgg_vRGtco10hzK8Er6c/s2522/BoomTown.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="2522" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbz7LTn5ZP4e02kQRR96VskrHF6OdGrFDvD8MrDdhyphenhyphenGEcWpfNnpAuMkUMG8VLnNtEL1HzrsJppJsAvdDzCHYuvL-yj4KRExJyCB_O3YRNYxZY0ZAPPkUv9I5EQgg_vRGtco10hzK8Er6c/w640-h264/BoomTown.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqe3nvW5Dwiu8PmAWwT8yZ7mIsn8tQcw-Gl0f9UHENmqgWUK_-UlKgqTz4M-NvOxv8lVaWHjb5yHrteBbDjQWTFFB-WgZUhl3w1YFCsRLJ1zQXyeuX-EmLzXiRjs3YqE5bDUuTdDK2xQlK/s862/Hot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqe3nvW5Dwiu8PmAWwT8yZ7mIsn8tQcw-Gl0f9UHENmqgWUK_-UlKgqTz4M-NvOxv8lVaWHjb5yHrteBbDjQWTFFB-WgZUhl3w1YFCsRLJ1zQXyeuX-EmLzXiRjs3YqE5bDUuTdDK2xQlK/w200-h400/Hot.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Lost and found<br /></span></i>While named the treasure state - Montana is<div>a land of extremes. Where the weather rarely</div><div>is predictable. Hence one of the more popular</div><div>topic of conversation. As you may recall just</div><div>over a week ago we had a lot of snow. Along</div><div>with temperatures below thirty. Whereas now</div><div>we're in the mid eighties. Providing perfect</div><div>fodder for those ready to complain at will. </div><div>Hence post grousing about the cold weather</div><div>they now claim heat stroke. Causing one to</div><div>consider reminding them that it could in fact</div><div>be worse. As in hail. Or a random blizzard.</div><div>Who knows? It's happened before!<br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOt4Fbl8pSAR5UdnyS62aP8sXFPLy4jo_VoOQE8D15pcmARfRkFt1U-zTr3z0laDAD6sPB_KIcIModmuLKE3ub3owT0YOw7Rv99EbavXWxQtAcQ6f9QMEpfv0f_xpmsdPRLskX4OvaNx2/s1283/Full.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="642" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOt4Fbl8pSAR5UdnyS62aP8sXFPLy4jo_VoOQE8D15pcmARfRkFt1U-zTr3z0laDAD6sPB_KIcIModmuLKE3ub3owT0YOw7Rv99EbavXWxQtAcQ6f9QMEpfv0f_xpmsdPRLskX4OvaNx2/w200-h400/Full.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Running on empty?<br /></span></i>Some of us are never happy no matter what the</div><div>circumstances. However in a place like this it's</div><div>hard to predict what happens next. Especially</div><div>if you're a rancher. One day you're facing too</div><div>much rain - then next drought. Therefore most</div><div>locals are skeptical at best. Preferring to hedge</div><div>their bets conservatively rather than risk losing</div><div>it all. Currently Lewistown is in the midst of</div><div>a bit of a boom. With little real estate available</div><div>we are now seeing bidding wars. A phenomena</div><div>nobody would have predicted a year ago. Yet</div><div>many worry and warn that this soon shall pass.</div><div>Better safe than sorry. Half empty not full.</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IOmUPrxMWsO2KbdzIKCXUWkl7yzO3bEjbM-_D14J9B2XuFVlVBvZETgzW9yHX6mx7-V5Ayt4Z7gFSs0yVK9ctNILskOA7eg7HXQ2NUND7mmVGYxwB36Krtf97p9ruPLMxHTgtWDcHUcA/s1273/NEW.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="636" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IOmUPrxMWsO2KbdzIKCXUWkl7yzO3bEjbM-_D14J9B2XuFVlVBvZETgzW9yHX6mx7-V5Ayt4Z7gFSs0yVK9ctNILskOA7eg7HXQ2NUND7mmVGYxwB36Krtf97p9ruPLMxHTgtWDcHUcA/w200-h400/NEW.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>What's old is new again<br /></span></i>Now that we're on Main Street I meet all sorts</div><div>of folks. Amongst them recent transplants or</div><div>those considering moving to this amazing burg.</div><div>Filled with optimism they have yet to become</div><div>jaded. However ignorance an't bliss. Thus even</div><div>if it takes a few years they'll learn to not plant</div><div>their tomatoes until after Memorial Day. In the</div><div>meantime Let's hope that such naive optimism</div><div>is infectious. At least enough so as to convince</div><div>our community that the best just might be here.</div><div>And that naysayers aside - it's real. Of course</div><div>it could all fade away. But boom or bust this is</div><div>going to be one hell of a ride. YEE HAW!</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-50793668714711668872021-06-02T13:00:00.009-06:002021-06-02T13:10:25.385-06:00DO I STAY OR GO?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcstbTX7pG9HL4DditfbhbUR1d4g-ml07dq6ZGA11YL3VpuhT_vJbhA_0dDOxjiB_hLPJXhUGdwCb0HqVD96S538We9ORJH5qFYiFiIXHES_JXyQJ-q0iJ9CkDMBvxWyFcDI9yeAm5aVsb/s2048/Couple*Bored.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="2048" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcstbTX7pG9HL4DditfbhbUR1d4g-ml07dq6ZGA11YL3VpuhT_vJbhA_0dDOxjiB_hLPJXhUGdwCb0HqVD96S538We9ORJH5qFYiFiIXHES_JXyQJ-q0iJ9CkDMBvxWyFcDI9yeAm5aVsb/w640-h350/Couple*Bored.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZpkhAPTnF5dzfU7IP2mbX7yWcmKkhKr-sJb87BN59X8mfWruGQajlAM7kW1nvUo54FKizC4wQGjbDjtDb5FjP_kdTvP0iXJBZirxT2245bX9v3kJXu9o9rOofYlRQPQ7DNK5UoDUX0Oj/s969/Exit.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="485" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZpkhAPTnF5dzfU7IP2mbX7yWcmKkhKr-sJb87BN59X8mfWruGQajlAM7kW1nvUo54FKizC4wQGjbDjtDb5FjP_kdTvP0iXJBZirxT2245bX9v3kJXu9o9rOofYlRQPQ7DNK5UoDUX0Oj/w200-h400/Exit.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Exit strategy<br /></span></i>We all reach our point of no return. When</div><div>depends on the individual. The reasons why</div><div>being personal in nature. Yet finally if one</div><div>is confronted by inexplicable defeat they</div><div>surrender. Which is why some of us simply</div><div>disappear. Leaving a life as we know it for</div><div>something - anything different. And it's the</div><div>finality of such an emotional and physical</div><div>departure that sets one reeling. If job related -</div><div>all one has to do is quit. However when love</div><div>is involved - cutting the ties that bind us to</div><div>another is much harder. Thus many people</div><div>make do rather than suffer the consequences.</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1_52COx3MM-i7hCIJp6cGDlie1JO8Qy2d6_238fQJdZ2Czkas_NMgOBrHoZxk834oqK_NaUX4dPprFS4S-1r4QL7ZVAR7LYoBHJRTB9vqOwpZoECzhZIdbkjL7hsnL92hygG9NhkW34K/s1540/DynamicDuo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="770" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1_52COx3MM-i7hCIJp6cGDlie1JO8Qy2d6_238fQJdZ2Czkas_NMgOBrHoZxk834oqK_NaUX4dPprFS4S-1r4QL7ZVAR7LYoBHJRTB9vqOwpZoECzhZIdbkjL7hsnL92hygG9NhkW34K/w200-h400/DynamicDuo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Common sense<br /></span></i>Today a total stranger shared her secret with</div><div>me. Which is that she's had enough. Having</div><div>reached that conclusion post looking across</div><div>the table one evening. And realizing that she</div><div>and her husband of thirty five years had nada</div><div>in common. Along with the fact that over the</div><div>past decade they'd basically led separate lives.</div><div>Therefore what did she have to lose by literally</div><div>leaving town? So that is exactly what she was</div><div>doing. Taking nothing with her except pride</div><div>in knowing that she'd finally put an end to their</div><div>exercise in futility. Hence while terrified and</div><div>sad - she finally has hope. It's almost over.</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UiyLpGeUZtYexHnwAZ6elOTvDHzlRhgKpV5oO0A1S5HpMeSWPPoKrPUXWAzBaHNPBXO8rnusFiP-FVjwOvcIQGi41xBhgaQxJrEcJ6l6Usa5NK6ETWOk-tQtrSH0U5AdKoNYrp486Dmy/s1525/Listen.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1525" data-original-width="762" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UiyLpGeUZtYexHnwAZ6elOTvDHzlRhgKpV5oO0A1S5HpMeSWPPoKrPUXWAzBaHNPBXO8rnusFiP-FVjwOvcIQGi41xBhgaQxJrEcJ6l6Usa5NK6ETWOk-tQtrSH0U5AdKoNYrp486Dmy/w200-h400/Listen.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Hear and now<br /></span></i>If we're all honest we've all been there - done</div><div>that. Fortunately in most cases we moved on</div><div>to find a better place. However, wherever, and</div><div>whenever was best for us. While nirvana is a</div><div>dream, finding one's sweet spot can be a reality.</div><div>There was a time when I thought I'd never be</div><div>happy. Then a handsome stranger changed my</div><div>life for the better. So whatever you do - never</div><div>lose hope. The only thing holding you back is</div><div>you - yourself. So rather than accept less - grab</div><div>more while you still have a chance. In the end</div><div>if you don't - then you've no one to blame but</div><div>yourself. So do something about it. NOW.</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-28265266161560163112021-06-01T08:32:00.019-06:002021-06-01T08:55:52.344-06:00YOU CAN'T DENY IT<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWyPfnRNMUJKOK49il2NcePw2uiqJjieBYG43ckOUudem2y48sHwoRK_xQ0wZbE_4p58ROxhr3iGpVPg61cVnDiCjBhaKjWa379FXmaVZOZvPlcYrJ4PgvejYrv7eqEYLrUFI-JHxTScO/s1024/Tulsa_Race_Massacre_Oklahoma_1921.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="1024" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWyPfnRNMUJKOK49il2NcePw2uiqJjieBYG43ckOUudem2y48sHwoRK_xQ0wZbE_4p58ROxhr3iGpVPg61cVnDiCjBhaKjWa379FXmaVZOZvPlcYrJ4PgvejYrv7eqEYLrUFI-JHxTScO/w640-h436/Tulsa_Race_Massacre_Oklahoma_1921.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f__1Vm0G2gOhJsv_pvbraBnT154oIfxrIduMgd8tkXiWINMByE4K1Qy2GT-rGEPqIOGn4LoRSLzCPOTm3DQPWNedkEXdDX2eZR1zQPJwIT5q_Fp1vCuRme6wW-JQzregG84HYzOWOuRS/s2048/Wealth.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f__1Vm0G2gOhJsv_pvbraBnT154oIfxrIduMgd8tkXiWINMByE4K1Qy2GT-rGEPqIOGn4LoRSLzCPOTm3DQPWNedkEXdDX2eZR1zQPJwIT5q_Fp1vCuRme6wW-JQzregG84HYzOWOuRS/w200-h400/Wealth.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Tulsa, June 1, 1921<br /></span></i>Today marks the 100th anniversary of the </div><div>Tulsa Race Riot. Where a century ago a</div><div>white mob attacked the black community</div><div>of Greenwood. Murdering more than one</div><div>hundred. Burning down a thirty five block</div><div>prosperous black neighborhood known as</div><div>"The Negro Wall Street." Post said acts</div><div>local African Americans got no retribution.</div><div>No white perpetrators were ever convicted.</div><div>No financial payback issued for property</div><div>or lives lost. Instead victims were forced to</div><div>act as if nothing had happened. Hence for</div><div>this event was Tulsa's hidden dirty secret.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1TqtcYylwWYLL3y2eg2ZCt7fR_Fbii4Hsy5OwoXGLVXcr0dvxGybX_VbLMPXf8uKIIPNjMEq6C9N4kAARXUIAJNYdQHdc4UogOIbP_gbe4h4UT1LUYIOeZLr2uy_pbP49HrMnL5T4i5U/s744/Ruins.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="744" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1TqtcYylwWYLL3y2eg2ZCt7fR_Fbii4Hsy5OwoXGLVXcr0dvxGybX_VbLMPXf8uKIIPNjMEq6C9N4kAARXUIAJNYdQHdc4UogOIbP_gbe4h4UT1LUYIOeZLr2uy_pbP49HrMnL5T4i5U/w640-h366/Ruins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopb9yUdf0b-dgZM_HWWYpBGV8vJE4CiF1QbQ7MdbPAmRDkF_k7jriOHqMTwtE-0TdflP5WlxDdEp4BnCxlrINhshEJ_zHv6fYZAReBzyNsSRbXul6NTwLY3eVK53e10ZHMTtr9PTFo2J-/s506/Victims.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="253" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopb9yUdf0b-dgZM_HWWYpBGV8vJE4CiF1QbQ7MdbPAmRDkF_k7jriOHqMTwtE-0TdflP5WlxDdEp4BnCxlrINhshEJ_zHv6fYZAReBzyNsSRbXul6NTwLY3eVK53e10ZHMTtr9PTFo2J-/w200-h400/Victims.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Here today - gone tomorrow<br /></span></i>It's hard enough to wrap your mind around</div><div>such devastation. Let alone the cruelty of</div><div>the acts themselves. Post two days of attacks</div><div>the neighborhood lay in ashes. Nothing left</div><div>of the unbelievable accomplishments black</div><div>citizens had achieved. Proof that society and</div><div>all of it's related systems cared nothing for</div><div>said minority. And to this day reject any idea</div><div>of compensation to victims and descendants.</div><div>However what is even worse is that selective</div><div>memory erased the legacy of this event. Until</div><div>finally, it's now on the record for perpetuity.</div><div>However what are we going to do about it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtgwYccU-WKlXUnIcgt4CjKnQP9xNtiRayjIPdLO5wITwTE5lAtJXALbdhTA8d3VOI9NgPNfwNygfXwxzWoSacDpkx9Hl0mOD6nJNJOdK63emOHnhVaUqOu5dnl67RbJ9gE6SOieYCBvh/s1024/81da9828-260c-4f69-be3e-a9e75397e5e0-XXX_A04_2TULSA_RACE_RIOT_18.JPG.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1024" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtgwYccU-WKlXUnIcgt4CjKnQP9xNtiRayjIPdLO5wITwTE5lAtJXALbdhTA8d3VOI9NgPNfwNygfXwxzWoSacDpkx9Hl0mOD6nJNJOdK63emOHnhVaUqOu5dnl67RbJ9gE6SOieYCBvh/w640-h398/81da9828-260c-4f69-be3e-a9e75397e5e0-XXX_A04_2TULSA_RACE_RIOT_18.JPG.webp" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzwghoMIz38XhyphenhyphenkOX4O26iT7VdMDl64uHfUFcNYBxvdpAuzAxvCHo_kHtSxvXV9mNYPAFLfBreXeknAUUFkDp4jg4vkOHjoTYjNmG1U5fTEot9SkIwXzoRhPd6fZj3pu1NKXVQ38OHM8g/s1196/Lynching.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="598" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzwghoMIz38XhyphenhyphenkOX4O26iT7VdMDl64uHfUFcNYBxvdpAuzAxvCHo_kHtSxvXV9mNYPAFLfBreXeknAUUFkDp4jg4vkOHjoTYjNmG1U5fTEot9SkIwXzoRhPd6fZj3pu1NKXVQ38OHM8g/w200-h400/Lynching.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Crimes against humanity<br /></span></i>Many claim the Holocaust was nothing more</div><div>than a publicity stunt. Not only is such denial</div><div>repulsive, it is horrifically disrespectful to the</div><div>victims and their families. Thus while some</div><div>deny facts and claim bias - we can't escape our</div><div>truth. Prejudice, hate, and avarice is the root of</div><div>our evil. From 1882 and 1968 four thousand</div><div>seven hundred and forty three black Americans</div><div>were lynched by white citizens. Such evil was</div><div>rarely prosecuted. Hence murderers lived long</div><div>lives in communities where everybody acted</div><div>as if nothing happened. Is ignorance bliss?</div><div>When do we ALL finally atone for our sins?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj144rTFBT4vBHIm-aDxby5BbPSvyMI3RLSHbEnsnkLUJTycTVP5tjqLVz09dyu9TALlvLTbIIunFFSq3Tm7g2Au8aLPXjbWe7nq3r8L7Yo_Et3LhsoDp6TGMCAPuKIE1zkTcjFGO7-0Grb/s2048/BLACKGROUND%252B%25252800.0001%252529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj144rTFBT4vBHIm-aDxby5BbPSvyMI3RLSHbEnsnkLUJTycTVP5tjqLVz09dyu9TALlvLTbIIunFFSq3Tm7g2Au8aLPXjbWe7nq3r8L7Yo_Et3LhsoDp6TGMCAPuKIE1zkTcjFGO7-0Grb/w640-h426/BLACKGROUND%252B%25252800.0001%252529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORW8Ksd1eXNiRoaBUyJUFczRjRPtZiG8mEL85CXy2WQ5upYFp_6ID_dC2ghc-TPJ4NU2jDgoX7ZbOsvthEbOgc1ACqo4dH9seSvA7vxF6FiTnbzNMXutqqnXPtnxEF5dJJxEOUci8QvZp/s1077/BLM.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORW8Ksd1eXNiRoaBUyJUFczRjRPtZiG8mEL85CXy2WQ5upYFp_6ID_dC2ghc-TPJ4NU2jDgoX7ZbOsvthEbOgc1ACqo4dH9seSvA7vxF6FiTnbzNMXutqqnXPtnxEF5dJJxEOUci8QvZp/w200-h400/BLM.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It's time we faced reality<br /></span></i>America has a long heritage of racism. From</div><div>our start African Americans were dragged to</div><div>these shores against their will. Enslaved for</div><div>generations. Deemed possessions - not people.</div><div>Post the Civil War - all efforts to succeed were</div><div>stymied by hash economic, social, and cultural</div><div>limitations. Thus black Ameicans who strove</div><div>forequality were abused, murdered, or shamed.</div><div>Even today - George Floyd's murder is proof</div><div>that prejudice kills. Yet some still question the</div><div>need to say "Black Lives Matter." As if all of</div><div>our sins against humanity didn't exist. When</div><div>will we accept our guilt and eradicate racism?</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-44566063072167084902021-05-31T04:52:00.002-06:002021-05-31T04:54:29.177-06:00IN MEMORIUM<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWHsjLFChX8dS_hKvwx_RFb47mcdw-OfruHiM76VNOX0d9S89nKRCL1u6oO1_R-v-boS1MjF2MXnsd7EFGO_0iXaohBIx1ufr0vDZSMZ768J901z5CzX-36cccjpyHr4PQKfgkN02TT8X/s1050/Lilacs*MathiasJAlten.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="1050" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWHsjLFChX8dS_hKvwx_RFb47mcdw-OfruHiM76VNOX0d9S89nKRCL1u6oO1_R-v-boS1MjF2MXnsd7EFGO_0iXaohBIx1ufr0vDZSMZ768J901z5CzX-36cccjpyHr4PQKfgkN02TT8X/w640-h502/Lilacs*MathiasJAlten.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-large;"><i>Lilac time...</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Once again this Memorial Day</div><div>we continue one of Frank's family traditions.</div><div>Placing fresh Lilacs on the graves</div><div>of those we've loved and lost.</div><div><br /></div><div>Paying homage to our dearly departed.</div><div>Even as they live in our hearts 24/7/12/365.<br /><br />Therefore while gone<br />they are most definitely<br /></div><div><span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-large;">NOT FORGOTTEN!</span><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKv0kVcpsmQO86CWSm20cU1IPRCAEQqjfUYDvNscJ-7IDnwbqhuTPvEsn9NIuuNzggZK2DBScgcs8vm6q-Io6Zu8HAs7KFaxYqiupRO9M-ftWkNEyLV7aEei02lsazQ53Z9XzbtlkTQw/s1600/Lilacs*Boldini*Beauty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKv0kVcpsmQO86CWSm20cU1IPRCAEQqjfUYDvNscJ-7IDnwbqhuTPvEsn9NIuuNzggZK2DBScgcs8vm6q-Io6Zu8HAs7KFaxYqiupRO9M-ftWkNEyLV7aEei02lsazQ53Z9XzbtlkTQw/s1600/Lilacs*Boldini*Beauty.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIx89HpibluaccP9noQdC1FJFNn-Vnd1Xb3YbVL3atD6MN20-666kBC_G28yPpOLt-OAGnw5C6tz87MzW0tU0LdxFnu0foZJE1ZsVkn8vCM-Amh66hhzNXv0y_HpD0Ksq7fdu3dcUIX2x/s1600/ValachLilacs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIx89HpibluaccP9noQdC1FJFNn-Vnd1Xb3YbVL3atD6MN20-666kBC_G28yPpOLt-OAGnw5C6tz87MzW0tU0LdxFnu0foZJE1ZsVkn8vCM-Amh66hhzNXv0y_HpD0Ksq7fdu3dcUIX2x/s640/ValachLilacs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiom_viX6aeM1HJPFRNQ0wCN9rWIe4aT1YRdHV_V_6RcdiAxxekLSIEoHBgxIYvIvsS4VZ6WN_U8mUntqli3bUzeezsY5efiEi9C1RnZnjEgXOxr1uWRH_D1nz1bDChx9MjL-xKb2H1s5U/s1600/tumblr_n01fn6yZPJ1t3hbhyo1_500.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiom_viX6aeM1HJPFRNQ0wCN9rWIe4aT1YRdHV_V_6RcdiAxxekLSIEoHBgxIYvIvsS4VZ6WN_U8mUntqli3bUzeezsY5efiEi9C1RnZnjEgXOxr1uWRH_D1nz1bDChx9MjL-xKb2H1s5U/s640/tumblr_n01fn6yZPJ1t3hbhyo1_500.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRqABbKZLUlY-UK9WQB-iW5XGgGCVaOd8ciB0llJTaTgzwN2hapSz7NcW9km3k6ASUABOkg40QodTmHrkBJcHq_CH4yWwdPDsHXsjk4zWjbsV_Al05f2OwMwP4Zbi4ZQWJj0_01JodQ0/s1600/Lilacs*Latour.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRqABbKZLUlY-UK9WQB-iW5XGgGCVaOd8ciB0llJTaTgzwN2hapSz7NcW9km3k6ASUABOkg40QodTmHrkBJcHq_CH4yWwdPDsHXsjk4zWjbsV_Al05f2OwMwP4Zbi4ZQWJj0_01JodQ0/s640/Lilacs*Latour.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZRaN_v6jCF3axYRlVdSyoo5DM516Yi3rQQrMCfHX66M-FmVxKfw72LNXZizZDXwfOqjoPZUR8GntrJ6YgFSkN2ArbcJYIXVDKjKml4ibvqyxKyvJ25eDcwiGrkQRBVsjEfDJLxoXVGFX/s1600/giphy-2.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="499" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZRaN_v6jCF3axYRlVdSyoo5DM516Yi3rQQrMCfHX66M-FmVxKfw72LNXZizZDXwfOqjoPZUR8GntrJ6YgFSkN2ArbcJYIXVDKjKml4ibvqyxKyvJ25eDcwiGrkQRBVsjEfDJLxoXVGFX/s640/giphy-2.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oel3sP2ZXDrLlzrjImxuoyrnj246Qooly4R5zkO9Ky2ojvEzVwL2LeGhRWO6yp1ORLj0ZA9xzJ5iB0v8u-vnjTl8HSNDOiuy681cgbM7cG4v7Dez_rzribNcMySFcRIro_9Nlb_F7Hs/s1600/il_fullxfull.355247251_8i7n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oel3sP2ZXDrLlzrjImxuoyrnj246Qooly4R5zkO9Ky2ojvEzVwL2LeGhRWO6yp1ORLj0ZA9xzJ5iB0v8u-vnjTl8HSNDOiuy681cgbM7cG4v7Dez_rzribNcMySFcRIro_9Nlb_F7Hs/s640/il_fullxfull.355247251_8i7n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQG0Ba4P23y4wmqMlQ4y3spL1UcCrPP-muHD5EUrtoKP8gs7SuJJmTzxPxSc-X4w8XCDGKD9oOb4pkZCCVFYWU1IXrOZ-Md4TJlV74TuVD-_VHYaBurTJQSTUW21kn2b9-wYfgi3gI4VL_/s1600/3182d5d9469abcb506b057440dd2e6ff.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQG0Ba4P23y4wmqMlQ4y3spL1UcCrPP-muHD5EUrtoKP8gs7SuJJmTzxPxSc-X4w8XCDGKD9oOb4pkZCCVFYWU1IXrOZ-Md4TJlV74TuVD-_VHYaBurTJQSTUW21kn2b9-wYfgi3gI4VL_/s640/3182d5d9469abcb506b057440dd2e6ff.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwumbXWoQgLbZEC7sRO_f8SdD7z51J-Q1DleIykISQYQNBQx6HaMTNfaokuPSmKH_X9ehPwoigu6BuMaHDi6sGPLZ7gRujsVsSpeshYQF0JCABRpfZwge71J56XU4tOTM-9SNZn3_gyde/s1600/ClarkLilacs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwumbXWoQgLbZEC7sRO_f8SdD7z51J-Q1DleIykISQYQNBQx6HaMTNfaokuPSmKH_X9ehPwoigu6BuMaHDi6sGPLZ7gRujsVsSpeshYQF0JCABRpfZwge71J56XU4tOTM-9SNZn3_gyde/s640/ClarkLilacs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIFD-DLRb4RUJGw2BBubAG0-5RXh9G1MHhQN-umFSiqKJpJ23kKK-8IWKywEOjIX1pkmBTmAzHdEeXhGHZGUueQptfrw1U8_uhL6_p8wRN1BEKixOdenVt47YSxohLo5gt7wJNdcxIrM/s1600/Lilacs*Scholderer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIFD-DLRb4RUJGw2BBubAG0-5RXh9G1MHhQN-umFSiqKJpJ23kKK-8IWKywEOjIX1pkmBTmAzHdEeXhGHZGUueQptfrw1U8_uhL6_p8wRN1BEKixOdenVt47YSxohLo5gt7wJNdcxIrM/s640/Lilacs*Scholderer.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4KbUm-XkjCYEOYHVldPEXyjQR9XURmrgMbBVWEWzt9XQBNqJgtyZGHjsKVhzbGtXZcMGsDtGF3mCWCdK4P5GKolSyS3nsDTkgyiNjITZkv3_XMXzRnOd8WakGII_v-pMrYbcS3vH6R6D/s1600/tumblr_o9o5tyP5UI1s0ep0ao1_400.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="400" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4KbUm-XkjCYEOYHVldPEXyjQR9XURmrgMbBVWEWzt9XQBNqJgtyZGHjsKVhzbGtXZcMGsDtGF3mCWCdK4P5GKolSyS3nsDTkgyiNjITZkv3_XMXzRnOd8WakGII_v-pMrYbcS3vH6R6D/s640/tumblr_o9o5tyP5UI1s0ep0ao1_400.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTpYRnsdUfJIVYIxCLcOYLBON8ZyN-dAmNdl4vUdBoDkGH3VBinSTfv8cevzJX-fVCnOufB9vdnso2E0wRyuPIBKoiUIPONPElLu_v5hLZCA6QchrVwUmX2cjxV6Eh6cKxfc1NuuSHKQ/s1600/Portrait-Oil-font-b-Painting-b-font-Girl-with-Lilacs-by-Achille-Beltrame-Canvas-Prints-Fine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTpYRnsdUfJIVYIxCLcOYLBON8ZyN-dAmNdl4vUdBoDkGH3VBinSTfv8cevzJX-fVCnOufB9vdnso2E0wRyuPIBKoiUIPONPElLu_v5hLZCA6QchrVwUmX2cjxV6Eh6cKxfc1NuuSHKQ/s640/Portrait-Oil-font-b-Painting-b-font-Girl-with-Lilacs-by-Achille-Beltrame-Canvas-Prints-Fine.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrX3xudCiNzknE1lvrW1C5Zt_c2qVv8Ljc85B9LW2XTdFM9cB8MeoG1Tg38HdywLPr7HxJZ1Pl1kXuuQx8YW_VMrSAmpPwwzmbZevwLhzejl9yK08d2yUNTo7hl-tH4y6yuVJXi2Mpq0A8/s1600/c114017ac9990a37ce0e287dca4713fe.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrX3xudCiNzknE1lvrW1C5Zt_c2qVv8Ljc85B9LW2XTdFM9cB8MeoG1Tg38HdywLPr7HxJZ1Pl1kXuuQx8YW_VMrSAmpPwwzmbZevwLhzejl9yK08d2yUNTo7hl-tH4y6yuVJXi2Mpq0A8/s640/c114017ac9990a37ce0e287dca4713fe.gif" width="514" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVh1iepCF-9FQk-rp6ZR05pR6Vh0eiVGMiQvMZ2Lst-UXFKeAV7mKSf77z4rifQOEHEBo0m_uOCKcjwEvo0wfWLc3Y2E0LLxl0lVZXaRlwSyTTB8iQCLjkZcU-xKq53vNhQliRo2j064/s1600/Lilacs*ModernWatercolor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVh1iepCF-9FQk-rp6ZR05pR6Vh0eiVGMiQvMZ2Lst-UXFKeAV7mKSf77z4rifQOEHEBo0m_uOCKcjwEvo0wfWLc3Y2E0LLxl0lVZXaRlwSyTTB8iQCLjkZcU-xKq53vNhQliRo2j064/s640/Lilacs*ModernWatercolor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_ayKqJWBdnmPGsGR2atMAuy6EG42QeAIbyfgb_o-fkQL2eKKm9ORiq7xUuT75bKMabL3bv5wN2imQV571NpfmjEnRyFRCrjuInDpWaQigSC5PkKMnG09fOMAJZNr6Iigy3qdarhE3bUv/s1600/IMG_7583-ANIMATION.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="972" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_ayKqJWBdnmPGsGR2atMAuy6EG42QeAIbyfgb_o-fkQL2eKKm9ORiq7xUuT75bKMabL3bv5wN2imQV571NpfmjEnRyFRCrjuInDpWaQigSC5PkKMnG09fOMAJZNr6Iigy3qdarhE3bUv/s640/IMG_7583-ANIMATION.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwsYhc0Gfasow5_ihfoxxwubzED9AzzaJixNpZZidfMrSoU-II6mj1edb_0jGunFoE-_koh2wcxJRd3U8C0rMfPO8mMEFXTCaEaE6JkHO9v6xWOP7YIfoA2ThsfkYT2A5RNLAUqgDdkU/s1600/Lilacs*DeMeyer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwsYhc0Gfasow5_ihfoxxwubzED9AzzaJixNpZZidfMrSoU-II6mj1edb_0jGunFoE-_koh2wcxJRd3U8C0rMfPO8mMEFXTCaEaE6JkHO9v6xWOP7YIfoA2ThsfkYT2A5RNLAUqgDdkU/s1600/Lilacs*DeMeyer.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQQu2ADYTT1dxkKVJlVHB40G6ixqM3nnEPPv5_Fzn7ZqI9i9Yh4voKSZX0rOa6IO5lc86klPkCTHbEEZM2HtWDolanOMuTZNwz1Fy-zoPNBFzXAaFL50rVHNF5bdxN2zZIR6VOQu8pok4/s1600/giphy-1.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="500" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQQu2ADYTT1dxkKVJlVHB40G6ixqM3nnEPPv5_Fzn7ZqI9i9Yh4voKSZX0rOa6IO5lc86klPkCTHbEEZM2HtWDolanOMuTZNwz1Fy-zoPNBFzXAaFL50rVHNF5bdxN2zZIR6VOQu8pok4/s640/giphy-1.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq48vL8vNWNGwNcXPauXT8wamSrFC57vlLYX-aXnjREocHEzXN1wUaRNIuEdDQw3yFvHrySni3025cyP4S7aGH6hyVZOMUb2i8bhWj82sctzKIXPLwtxGPNsDPpo2sBKM9t1f-sjlbjP4/s1600/Lilac-in-the-Window-by-Vladimir-Tabanin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq48vL8vNWNGwNcXPauXT8wamSrFC57vlLYX-aXnjREocHEzXN1wUaRNIuEdDQw3yFvHrySni3025cyP4S7aGH6hyVZOMUb2i8bhWj82sctzKIXPLwtxGPNsDPpo2sBKM9t1f-sjlbjP4/s640/Lilac-in-the-Window-by-Vladimir-Tabanin.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8ZGp4GznqvSvgHxvRMgxOUDaxDK9I2iX1k-K-8SSWXqlLQd5RYHpcOhj4kMGSTi6McUv6bXRJrLVwdsfVYuVCzpaaH5_EkQiVvrWV0MzNkE-T2Ahj3Ob8TYMa0ek8qQCW9IkiLyY7qjY/s1600/Nonna.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="1600" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8ZGp4GznqvSvgHxvRMgxOUDaxDK9I2iX1k-K-8SSWXqlLQd5RYHpcOhj4kMGSTi6McUv6bXRJrLVwdsfVYuVCzpaaH5_EkQiVvrWV0MzNkE-T2Ahj3Ob8TYMa0ek8qQCW9IkiLyY7qjY/s640/Nonna.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBiWwbCxKTsRAFr9zyKM8hi7EFzL32Z2OPHitNBWab3Aixe0XKUWm_tF-QcTpb7ZiL78CcmO4HSsfVC4w5OcHS_OAadxe5STIVmuijI22rsooksJA3UfLgE9ITBfp0KG4ZYHvD_Nw5eTB/s1600/9f4903b2dde4e9e1a158d3675eb13f4f.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="583" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBiWwbCxKTsRAFr9zyKM8hi7EFzL32Z2OPHitNBWab3Aixe0XKUWm_tF-QcTpb7ZiL78CcmO4HSsfVC4w5OcHS_OAadxe5STIVmuijI22rsooksJA3UfLgE9ITBfp0KG4ZYHvD_Nw5eTB/s640/9f4903b2dde4e9e1a158d3675eb13f4f.gif" width="496" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5cLSFu6z1RO0lizeeIr4Q1DXXJzO152WZh4xkpL4iTDlkcKYDf_uNVT8b43kQ9lgMgoNez9QE3HKfPdUUAPJXYWFcd1af_G0AHofHdJFEQXnZMxMX2_HzMGrXG3pos73OQ1o35Xqnpk/s1600/Lilacs*VanGogh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5cLSFu6z1RO0lizeeIr4Q1DXXJzO152WZh4xkpL4iTDlkcKYDf_uNVT8b43kQ9lgMgoNez9QE3HKfPdUUAPJXYWFcd1af_G0AHofHdJFEQXnZMxMX2_HzMGrXG3pos73OQ1o35Xqnpk/s640/Lilacs*VanGogh.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uOcMzGB9icpyzK10UCokNpH0Yw9K63_i_1O8tgUi88C7M17b2zSFLT7mX1pDULEicMkxnqpPIiC1cYFtmeSxl2B6Ar2zXY6szcw3F-UeUJ9c_5Xgaw11nFlRzb4l1cr2H9LKcYlCFJEV/s1600/Monarch1.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uOcMzGB9icpyzK10UCokNpH0Yw9K63_i_1O8tgUi88C7M17b2zSFLT7mX1pDULEicMkxnqpPIiC1cYFtmeSxl2B6Ar2zXY6szcw3F-UeUJ9c_5Xgaw11nFlRzb4l1cr2H9LKcYlCFJEV/s640/Monarch1.gif" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDWPManT9gUT3WJLwChOA4DnYxskkuU-m9YsIage_XykQuxyMizqbxZF7k0wVqFntBg2wZ4ah1eUKnVzPyOnQwLQPIWo_edyBiIOVedZd9yoE2oCbnNDeNxM6rZ6dl5HUkGDULFI34T8/s1600/Lilacs*Sophie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDWPManT9gUT3WJLwChOA4DnYxskkuU-m9YsIage_XykQuxyMizqbxZF7k0wVqFntBg2wZ4ah1eUKnVzPyOnQwLQPIWo_edyBiIOVedZd9yoE2oCbnNDeNxM6rZ6dl5HUkGDULFI34T8/s1600/Lilacs*Sophie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSxJJmwcOwbVmHK5Y2iKZokqAjZn5BAdK1S2PN5UIAxvprStKUMPj81DTxl1o86FI26j8oJTEcFWfphbNw8eQDR2o4Gx7s3NDmGLNs9Pi8YmoA33sLSrsPFGVCdyc8YDateYrN9pyIS-J/s1600/tenor.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="498" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSxJJmwcOwbVmHK5Y2iKZokqAjZn5BAdK1S2PN5UIAxvprStKUMPj81DTxl1o86FI26j8oJTEcFWfphbNw8eQDR2o4Gx7s3NDmGLNs9Pi8YmoA33sLSrsPFGVCdyc8YDateYrN9pyIS-J/s640/tenor.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdsoexudY-aols1JUzA9TNC8KnbxJZiTS81n2oJ2t_Vgq6LQYlIWonb7Kj8Nzwxe4mLPqiTGawClGOWTZYrlqZjvXRMnKm0T4QrWu5D6RamK_7E1zCFQwk0S8ftb18S-MMtc01yDcNGQ/s1600/il_570xN.492605109_nh51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdsoexudY-aols1JUzA9TNC8KnbxJZiTS81n2oJ2t_Vgq6LQYlIWonb7Kj8Nzwxe4mLPqiTGawClGOWTZYrlqZjvXRMnKm0T4QrWu5D6RamK_7E1zCFQwk0S8ftb18S-MMtc01yDcNGQ/s640/il_570xN.492605109_nh51.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMH-wPrPkBBE5LEhMCUQUFsPMI8ZKlDmtB9gfodbrTeg7RO50sEqW8fZKtBUT4uP74X-6XhN41KnDQGCpn6Mo3BvwkdkP-bTgw7gZQdqTOzMjnZHyUyLrFdjosaW58fQylNmpB5iFLGZ9y/s1600/JohnAnna.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="1600" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMH-wPrPkBBE5LEhMCUQUFsPMI8ZKlDmtB9gfodbrTeg7RO50sEqW8fZKtBUT4uP74X-6XhN41KnDQGCpn6Mo3BvwkdkP-bTgw7gZQdqTOzMjnZHyUyLrFdjosaW58fQylNmpB5iFLGZ9y/s640/JohnAnna.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g74A1NNZ7u9wr2ma50yfmscDezsc2D0oAMERWSNfG1HOHqH13PbcMHBjJexgw_NJXNZvoHyUlgaVWAKRFFIOHtSh924YgISKjaDGyU41PxqiaGwZqolJYt2W3chxN4Nk3TqwlhQjiOJc/s1600/1d43209a27321d3ddfb4f9b58b991eec.jpg.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g74A1NNZ7u9wr2ma50yfmscDezsc2D0oAMERWSNfG1HOHqH13PbcMHBjJexgw_NJXNZvoHyUlgaVWAKRFFIOHtSh924YgISKjaDGyU41PxqiaGwZqolJYt2W3chxN4Nk3TqwlhQjiOJc/s640/1d43209a27321d3ddfb4f9b58b991eec.jpg.gif" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAG43Laa0Gh7tThN0_NlCDkRG1_hKvD_-F04-NZA5zS2qmcDDEsMMMp8wyxvjNHLEm2JU0bPYcBByTEDxc3s_7kbOdtGeLjkeQn3d_AU1jJarQj1zQPhb7mycoAmgC7ZpIRiDjZljNes/s1600/Lilacs*Hand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAG43Laa0Gh7tThN0_NlCDkRG1_hKvD_-F04-NZA5zS2qmcDDEsMMMp8wyxvjNHLEm2JU0bPYcBByTEDxc3s_7kbOdtGeLjkeQn3d_AU1jJarQj1zQPhb7mycoAmgC7ZpIRiDjZljNes/s1600/Lilacs*Hand.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AE03ARdI24qv1r74hvm8dpQska3-udfHg2iOWoWLMlIhud9-ufK1GB6RIuKDIAO_31Bn9mqpO3LpNyne2ACjBPDxwJXkKORsvMw6cSgzAFmNrEIF-g4lTZsEAhTo89KRoNYFnK6KtK2Y/s1600/tumblr_nzfixmnJQA1txt22yo1_500.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AE03ARdI24qv1r74hvm8dpQska3-udfHg2iOWoWLMlIhud9-ufK1GB6RIuKDIAO_31Bn9mqpO3LpNyne2ACjBPDxwJXkKORsvMw6cSgzAFmNrEIF-g4lTZsEAhTo89KRoNYFnK6KtK2Y/s640/tumblr_nzfixmnJQA1txt22yo1_500.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzh36NEyabsJLhvWSG3xwSX8rgPfIs188wFRJ_gqboRA2cuc0SJSOWthettG08jaRKTYVBgNqILpWrnICiv9LkVhNec5b8iSwCMOiGNiK014XyzfriC9iFnoVdYXbqkDOMfcw6T3X0NY/s1600/Lilacs*Sloane*1918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzh36NEyabsJLhvWSG3xwSX8rgPfIs188wFRJ_gqboRA2cuc0SJSOWthettG08jaRKTYVBgNqILpWrnICiv9LkVhNec5b8iSwCMOiGNiK014XyzfriC9iFnoVdYXbqkDOMfcw6T3X0NY/s640/Lilacs*Sloane*1918.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1mK2GA5BrsdjK-3qTqxybj0iwdmSRLnhEaBvDThmxgnDbY2-0IdT4sCGjbExrOLN9P0xn6XgRamWNRtrAO-08ZYCHeORh65Rs7-yGMokJDqGS3Y4c0x5SBgcrzgggemNFfxSdcp8ml8x/s1600/6246987755da4275095c5ff1b08d6439.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="900" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1mK2GA5BrsdjK-3qTqxybj0iwdmSRLnhEaBvDThmxgnDbY2-0IdT4sCGjbExrOLN9P0xn6XgRamWNRtrAO-08ZYCHeORh65Rs7-yGMokJDqGS3Y4c0x5SBgcrzgggemNFfxSdcp8ml8x/s640/6246987755da4275095c5ff1b08d6439.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WtU623VnAcPS0GGeDKp-FnrF62SegYPGETLelOF_af7ZaEvo6LbMwVw6uTFN_pJeJR6iG6zevfrZ4KS4tuv1gzjvNt3Q_QNPG7k4nrex3xGOiukkE6aX7nHsV7DZ6CiBbs76cg1XdnA/s1600/Lilacs*Repeat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WtU623VnAcPS0GGeDKp-FnrF62SegYPGETLelOF_af7ZaEvo6LbMwVw6uTFN_pJeJR6iG6zevfrZ4KS4tuv1gzjvNt3Q_QNPG7k4nrex3xGOiukkE6aX7nHsV7DZ6CiBbs76cg1XdnA/s1600/Lilacs*Repeat.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXQLqJ5DavD115GchIJeLtdx04_WX-6-VK7uAWruFg6VQrBRO21wtyt02MYO9ewU2GubHnkWvxnOXlz0gDWjei5vE5HYaK772VBXGQlslZ0vF4z91l1pa1etKzJV3BbNsLAukrTeV31Hk/s1600/tenor.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXQLqJ5DavD115GchIJeLtdx04_WX-6-VK7uAWruFg6VQrBRO21wtyt02MYO9ewU2GubHnkWvxnOXlz0gDWjei5vE5HYaK772VBXGQlslZ0vF4z91l1pa1etKzJV3BbNsLAukrTeV31Hk/s640/tenor.gif" width="432" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4IVPIuBmZ7ufo6m39TwAyqfMh1Rb3R_eFT8_MMivEUI7cCOoobEbbx6nMLqxOVy6pbUx15CqKYm1Fgf8lhhpKNDiekJj1DpVZSxJT5sa6GDrPTzI9317Vc7PlB1mOtDRKCqLCy5MOxr_/s1600/UncleBill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="1600" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4IVPIuBmZ7ufo6m39TwAyqfMh1Rb3R_eFT8_MMivEUI7cCOoobEbbx6nMLqxOVy6pbUx15CqKYm1Fgf8lhhpKNDiekJj1DpVZSxJT5sa6GDrPTzI9317Vc7PlB1mOtDRKCqLCy5MOxr_/s640/UncleBill.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSq8bDh4G2XWm-LOIyR7mIQG2q6xm5EedsX1oB-V1i7Bs_vPxrXEI4zjS1vsMO3LlwfqaCEE0jv0wN8vVZAybZ65v6J2nHiMM6SQQTLBbYmG_kIN0LOYgucwp0bMeTDNqAbTWZsTmGaA/s1600/blog_blossoms_cemetery_lilac.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSq8bDh4G2XWm-LOIyR7mIQG2q6xm5EedsX1oB-V1i7Bs_vPxrXEI4zjS1vsMO3LlwfqaCEE0jv0wN8vVZAybZ65v6J2nHiMM6SQQTLBbYmG_kIN0LOYgucwp0bMeTDNqAbTWZsTmGaA/s640/blog_blossoms_cemetery_lilac.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnajPl1G1Sk5InC5thkKH_rXX019TNeLUhkhyjQG8PW-_zEgwXW8SbAHuGyIvTN0INc49Kbt_utRJ7vLL0q1JmYCjVOVWnLYUBfSOku-2xYttzOSeovlnXF1xWuQVEDq6JUHdXJ79CIUa/s1600/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="500" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnajPl1G1Sk5InC5thkKH_rXX019TNeLUhkhyjQG8PW-_zEgwXW8SbAHuGyIvTN0INc49Kbt_utRJ7vLL0q1JmYCjVOVWnLYUBfSOku-2xYttzOSeovlnXF1xWuQVEDq6JUHdXJ79CIUa/s640/giphy.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrLcuQi974BL2prAZxIAAGl7-WF4Ue20oXHnrd84z-8DliuUxsbCOkDeR62X-SkSYPv0p-49GI0gvy4V7jVaWdYba4_qI-kJ7oOfWyLzsIERFoKPq4yVCKT8Yv2uYwlfjz2RYbIGcmbI/s1600/13943915-seamless-pattern-of-lilac-flowers-Stock-Vector-flowers-textile-flower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrLcuQi974BL2prAZxIAAGl7-WF4Ue20oXHnrd84z-8DliuUxsbCOkDeR62X-SkSYPv0p-49GI0gvy4V7jVaWdYba4_qI-kJ7oOfWyLzsIERFoKPq4yVCKT8Yv2uYwlfjz2RYbIGcmbI/s640/13943915-seamless-pattern-of-lilac-flowers-Stock-Vector-flowers-textile-flower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUw7IunQIq6b7LdC9oArLmyQJY1LtK_ZAZg7CywQnp-kukF6zFc6xN17l13RwxzUanEjNyn62Kn8KP362gGTWrfD9cgAX4B_7k0ldP6cCOlBSS4DvmgIUTECVmxynvtC-KMQXa3Ajb9dMR/s1600/198552712002202.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUw7IunQIq6b7LdC9oArLmyQJY1LtK_ZAZg7CywQnp-kukF6zFc6xN17l13RwxzUanEjNyn62Kn8KP362gGTWrfD9cgAX4B_7k0ldP6cCOlBSS4DvmgIUTECVmxynvtC-KMQXa3Ajb9dMR/s640/198552712002202.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyskT1WzC5fhgvudZa_7dxwInvq3l15hRy7S_Vj9Zty2Gslplig__4_PDJM7Rqt_rtBRcJDQyW47mY4126ikh6Fnnvm39LE4vpQDs16fIkS9ZCa8L0cGe6ddh4Webn0i0eapPW48bb3SE/s1600/MG_7342-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyskT1WzC5fhgvudZa_7dxwInvq3l15hRy7S_Vj9Zty2Gslplig__4_PDJM7Rqt_rtBRcJDQyW47mY4126ikh6Fnnvm39LE4vpQDs16fIkS9ZCa8L0cGe6ddh4Webn0i0eapPW48bb3SE/s640/MG_7342-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmuD7p_tSbOn5qn3BOPnqKzVzbZ1B5g5L2LDyGcUu6_nQcmNVB5EQmI8ltHe9H4-Ld2_Zi0YQ8RLADDtzYgHsGZVfrnQ8KaIOEOsfXRolNV0HYzcONniRsPW4x-9WIosba4sKw0WUqooB/s1600/tumblr_oo23zkiOu71w6y5o4o1_500.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmuD7p_tSbOn5qn3BOPnqKzVzbZ1B5g5L2LDyGcUu6_nQcmNVB5EQmI8ltHe9H4-Ld2_Zi0YQ8RLADDtzYgHsGZVfrnQ8KaIOEOsfXRolNV0HYzcONniRsPW4x-9WIosba4sKw0WUqooB/s640/tumblr_oo23zkiOu71w6y5o4o1_500.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHItKHZTyTi1zEV1HGYAaQSZgm0C6kYGN2uBPx_Bsxz2e_s0ZRAPxa5KxIqmR3QqcJR8jaJIFlFigyakeSmfZ5zso3FhcYiZ9V5p0wuK847OmpRmouHa5NOePhTR4Dj37fNcQFddXOeHs/s1600/Lilacs*Cassatt*Window.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHItKHZTyTi1zEV1HGYAaQSZgm0C6kYGN2uBPx_Bsxz2e_s0ZRAPxa5KxIqmR3QqcJR8jaJIFlFigyakeSmfZ5zso3FhcYiZ9V5p0wuK847OmpRmouHa5NOePhTR4Dj37fNcQFddXOeHs/s640/Lilacs*Cassatt*Window.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwjB2m26ZyvOEtFWs8GkIpW0A0WG5Z66e2P3b9cBEn0PG7PB2qrbWAQR_VWgQEpF793fxIkI-1tsS7-Op93jjvdvdwFSbKxNxwr5atQRz0QUMAlQmeVVDBYHzVWBgTmzdlNheNYsV8PiF/s1600/tumblr_omi0w2jOXQ1ultu3qo1_500.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwjB2m26ZyvOEtFWs8GkIpW0A0WG5Z66e2P3b9cBEn0PG7PB2qrbWAQR_VWgQEpF793fxIkI-1tsS7-Op93jjvdvdwFSbKxNxwr5atQRz0QUMAlQmeVVDBYHzVWBgTmzdlNheNYsV8PiF/s640/tumblr_omi0w2jOXQ1ultu3qo1_500.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SAAel96eUdt_Jge_4fk3e9ZoB3thSm_pqUtDD-H8Zxebmsc3Td9KhkZyzBgyriIDnMDUr6QYzdwOEyVgC2_Ikpsa7veOWmlqu47msVO2Fm3zTHVRYM-wNvm8XJ02W6-kno6UJXHtN6I/s1600/Lilacs*Renoir*VaseOfLilacsRoses.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SAAel96eUdt_Jge_4fk3e9ZoB3thSm_pqUtDD-H8Zxebmsc3Td9KhkZyzBgyriIDnMDUr6QYzdwOEyVgC2_Ikpsa7veOWmlqu47msVO2Fm3zTHVRYM-wNvm8XJ02W6-kno6UJXHtN6I/s640/Lilacs*Renoir*VaseOfLilacsRoses.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2k9EXDKK4az_RhgqomKRy69mmmI-0H3LIejYmmryrzj37R0k4HRii2v_Rx1rULS7J5NqhTErVbUel1VJRBIZxS9jaflJpekvrmZVNWrhegOGM2Z-a77pcdl09Zxl0NKXEeoAnU30kCTH/s1600/12fd043258bf2fa47ef98f4c43c67da9.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="444" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2k9EXDKK4az_RhgqomKRy69mmmI-0H3LIejYmmryrzj37R0k4HRii2v_Rx1rULS7J5NqhTErVbUel1VJRBIZxS9jaflJpekvrmZVNWrhegOGM2Z-a77pcdl09Zxl0NKXEeoAnU30kCTH/s640/12fd043258bf2fa47ef98f4c43c67da9.gif" width="444" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9sDab_9sAVwiMCvN8guUYJeaXhyVgfV4I2qNA03fA1Tffc0cKV4IDllpDFOLwiRrUUms0MxzQe9H7lbufFktz-tXvTGFRAAV8RqL9RecxDlgJxjgZ9uKcOsugDao125KSy8ZiaqZ4dA/s1600/Lilacs*VanGogh*1887Lilacs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9sDab_9sAVwiMCvN8guUYJeaXhyVgfV4I2qNA03fA1Tffc0cKV4IDllpDFOLwiRrUUms0MxzQe9H7lbufFktz-tXvTGFRAAV8RqL9RecxDlgJxjgZ9uKcOsugDao125KSy8ZiaqZ4dA/s640/Lilacs*VanGogh*1887Lilacs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTpTU8tqeo3PWmnIEkMqB0rNdRCeVwIPp81fxjNVcARq6mOoV6iidGg_h6bU0o9PXhVd4pzBaxWWefE0zUIu0avtlNhmG13wQcsVFsLcQ6Vmu56fISYSm5Y5uJ2-0KtzKs3VpvKhPTWr7/s1600/Pastel-Painting-072116-giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="358" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTpTU8tqeo3PWmnIEkMqB0rNdRCeVwIPp81fxjNVcARq6mOoV6iidGg_h6bU0o9PXhVd4pzBaxWWefE0zUIu0avtlNhmG13wQcsVFsLcQ6Vmu56fISYSm5Y5uJ2-0KtzKs3VpvKhPTWr7/s640/Pastel-Painting-072116-giphy.gif" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1W61lzD8IKUmX6fNhs67Pn9vFhMpzDcre08R0Y5GkfzWvtXl-isKPzHL9lQ6f70q1SH6Wk6qHoaJZODxgykcuMYJY747jvkvDwnE2JJiHEt5GWyq1KTfh9-raRMQkHrdV2cs2JQcnv2o/s1600/Renoir*Lilacs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1W61lzD8IKUmX6fNhs67Pn9vFhMpzDcre08R0Y5GkfzWvtXl-isKPzHL9lQ6f70q1SH6Wk6qHoaJZODxgykcuMYJY747jvkvDwnE2JJiHEt5GWyq1KTfh9-raRMQkHrdV2cs2JQcnv2o/s640/Renoir*Lilacs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOzZvj3uoDOpHkh5hKZK5AqmxqoPZxXIa3FoKeFIcar2IENXSf8MZyd8v07K4CjcujTHcB50SH-pa9LSm2PvKJxZ5n3kBJ6XFLfF5s8M9PDZBu_-JEjwrRr_etS98HcZRTXz5t98Nc6Hh/s1600/34d5e7f1de3160b5de56ae21b5cfdb91.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOzZvj3uoDOpHkh5hKZK5AqmxqoPZxXIa3FoKeFIcar2IENXSf8MZyd8v07K4CjcujTHcB50SH-pa9LSm2PvKJxZ5n3kBJ6XFLfF5s8M9PDZBu_-JEjwrRr_etS98HcZRTXz5t98Nc6Hh/s640/34d5e7f1de3160b5de56ae21b5cfdb91.gif" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4x_4YzBKzGJ84IvY8WC-aqnuhtudeC47y1q68F8SB-4WjIPxGuef03-TiNS9rtsL9uwry5A4co5Hk6Q-HAeXt1cPrsAQPXCsWIgC2vA4R56PzlDhKnYkhGOO5-KQfFdubvLwNms41ao0A/s1600/139b5da8c872a10d6ddda8b9b0b9c5ed.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="564" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4x_4YzBKzGJ84IvY8WC-aqnuhtudeC47y1q68F8SB-4WjIPxGuef03-TiNS9rtsL9uwry5A4co5Hk6Q-HAeXt1cPrsAQPXCsWIgC2vA4R56PzlDhKnYkhGOO5-KQfFdubvLwNms41ao0A/s640/139b5da8c872a10d6ddda8b9b0b9c5ed.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5SRhHc6Mcs3YJZXbvbCgYF14Xuv5Ir2RazhIQjxSyGaMwPlRWcZGHG3cEm-S5XBi63xhAXPICWrQQeW2XEAy1rjb9Z7x3bPQ24Kp6TVvkLiLo93wvcbpKUMJQ2r1GDXGzK-wZH5gAZ4/s1600/lilacs-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5SRhHc6Mcs3YJZXbvbCgYF14Xuv5Ir2RazhIQjxSyGaMwPlRWcZGHG3cEm-S5XBi63xhAXPICWrQQeW2XEAy1rjb9Z7x3bPQ24Kp6TVvkLiLo93wvcbpKUMJQ2r1GDXGzK-wZH5gAZ4/s640/lilacs-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5BJ_iPLwpIR_QJ_YAQt-Pd8lPANgKjtEM1hNKUIEdK7PAeVz68_yqqXNSYI4lIVjiOo0ABpyzQWhf5pjJBNACe_0TJ95reywlfbUGepMvPqKdB8g0vIqtaGeCbcF-ylT5pikQ8s0Mcuq/s1600/oNwN-4k1-1.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5BJ_iPLwpIR_QJ_YAQt-Pd8lPANgKjtEM1hNKUIEdK7PAeVz68_yqqXNSYI4lIVjiOo0ABpyzQWhf5pjJBNACe_0TJ95reywlfbUGepMvPqKdB8g0vIqtaGeCbcF-ylT5pikQ8s0Mcuq/s640/oNwN-4k1-1.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SflI-vQ3nZFyuKF6QqD9xvR8nUtbJiTm4_7-28DxbjEly6FMH84u9AtrphF65_3vQLq-HJ5iZU94yA3vNBLh87AsyzOpYANH5BE6gsmMhgsnSWgEaKXGSIvh4udAQVg_wm2joCH0hQ0/s1600/vas-cu-liliac.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SflI-vQ3nZFyuKF6QqD9xvR8nUtbJiTm4_7-28DxbjEly6FMH84u9AtrphF65_3vQLq-HJ5iZU94yA3vNBLh87AsyzOpYANH5BE6gsmMhgsnSWgEaKXGSIvh4udAQVg_wm2joCH0hQ0/s640/vas-cu-liliac.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6rdz4_IqzBmP9BNlrsqGBB233wAkZJ4UIfQ6WeIbsvT4HThnqTS8jToY3YEjaiUSIxSk1Kiy6O3kcP1Yl7xFnY9Sl_KJNLo8ZzUb4gIbcP45ZqX62Kv1UYCsCz-IyNsEZXnLgS1ZktNb/s1600/tumblr_mx78eumd5K1t32f0yo1_500.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6rdz4_IqzBmP9BNlrsqGBB233wAkZJ4UIfQ6WeIbsvT4HThnqTS8jToY3YEjaiUSIxSk1Kiy6O3kcP1Yl7xFnY9Sl_KJNLo8ZzUb4gIbcP45ZqX62Kv1UYCsCz-IyNsEZXnLgS1ZktNb/s640/tumblr_mx78eumd5K1t32f0yo1_500.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E8a7BbNTYZeu_aghVzITNxNK_x1oJ4FXjgwAH_c79y0VKrgzxm9SAZ20YZg0_w8wdOrjw5_4zwJZl-x_7amKdBXHAe0xqOkxFGRoyqgym8GY-9BWG2QVjYL1L5nhbkVtv72m_yWTATY/s1600/WhiteLilacs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E8a7BbNTYZeu_aghVzITNxNK_x1oJ4FXjgwAH_c79y0VKrgzxm9SAZ20YZg0_w8wdOrjw5_4zwJZl-x_7amKdBXHAe0xqOkxFGRoyqgym8GY-9BWG2QVjYL1L5nhbkVtv72m_yWTATY/s640/WhiteLilacs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnnTkK6F1lbjMQwjcxd2U7B6J5fAKc64-7RAi3o1zo67u6i3LfDmEW9mTLgbh_AMG-1OYilb6oM_dwbsoIeGOJT0NtevGG4Zu0oXPPgGc64rwx5mjyxmIee9pjoreDMx38b5UCW-eogUe/s1600/tumblr_oldtc9sgt21vfe1gyo1_500.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="500" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnnTkK6F1lbjMQwjcxd2U7B6J5fAKc64-7RAi3o1zo67u6i3LfDmEW9mTLgbh_AMG-1OYilb6oM_dwbsoIeGOJT0NtevGG4Zu0oXPPgGc64rwx5mjyxmIee9pjoreDMx38b5UCW-eogUe/s640/tumblr_oldtc9sgt21vfe1gyo1_500.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2iL_Nu42gkb8QrwxKx00Z-njFc7KD58JVqLEDbyYu0JxZdWYZU-b3DK3cjdMEiQaGOQQW1Tt7GsKhjn1zuPmSnvm8vdI_wIMJVKodlCfldToLzmQCxDrVZM1kmurbZdofIgt_c_ASHY/s1600/edouard-manet-white-lilacs-1883-e1280028842903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2iL_Nu42gkb8QrwxKx00Z-njFc7KD58JVqLEDbyYu0JxZdWYZU-b3DK3cjdMEiQaGOQQW1Tt7GsKhjn1zuPmSnvm8vdI_wIMJVKodlCfldToLzmQCxDrVZM1kmurbZdofIgt_c_ASHY/s640/edouard-manet-white-lilacs-1883-e1280028842903.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPP7C2lSpUK2D9GrtkaHTnqk6BS-Qz8164Yk8Kj20Hb9givNBV4Bv553IdP4lebPqVJT5XlcJ-kOBxIM9Y7lNFpE_48nywkjd1nZGgJTvfCPyYSmhVuD8NxjasUz4qtdS8TL0AqnLARD3r/s1600/tumblr_oleap3NBsy1u8mykho1_400.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="400" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPP7C2lSpUK2D9GrtkaHTnqk6BS-Qz8164Yk8Kj20Hb9givNBV4Bv553IdP4lebPqVJT5XlcJ-kOBxIM9Y7lNFpE_48nywkjd1nZGgJTvfCPyYSmhVuD8NxjasUz4qtdS8TL0AqnLARD3r/s640/tumblr_oleap3NBsy1u8mykho1_400.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6MMsAFHvNbbNylx6GNNllPjnobOtPlsODevZemdzJSaDpk0MC_NiuMgT9MFDf9EL5aE5Qn5exiDVcJcXv3imsBOsFAHJ5H2ApClQQsLBQwJETK-Q9a58N158NL4UwjJ8MRFQ1UvwaN0/s1600/mom-lilacs-april-15-2012-068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6MMsAFHvNbbNylx6GNNllPjnobOtPlsODevZemdzJSaDpk0MC_NiuMgT9MFDf9EL5aE5Qn5exiDVcJcXv3imsBOsFAHJ5H2ApClQQsLBQwJETK-Q9a58N158NL4UwjJ8MRFQ1UvwaN0/s640/mom-lilacs-april-15-2012-068.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNpOLgq_PMfwope63quL6kuzEXslE0ycIaMqVGOm0eNH-3cmHPyYTaSPHUxADO4pXdhsxOMgEOp2SxlmSVVJCgzcQxAtBaSd9eyjDBGBJcaAz6mTjShsLmtbH4aUBaXnLWukQXajIhxgy/s1600/f90829d801fea3a3af26b633d8d3bb6b.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="320" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNpOLgq_PMfwope63quL6kuzEXslE0ycIaMqVGOm0eNH-3cmHPyYTaSPHUxADO4pXdhsxOMgEOp2SxlmSVVJCgzcQxAtBaSd9eyjDBGBJcaAz6mTjShsLmtbH4aUBaXnLWukQXajIhxgy/s640/f90829d801fea3a3af26b633d8d3bb6b.gif" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEuxK_6bEROUzUn4Sd8Lq7Cn533-rYGUv39wnfirHmY8mpA-sXCaKmYYI-Pqhx3tWOBiScOu3qmT0I_BdmYkmUhb53_EjY8cs4RZ0DgVY0nEONGNdV7-dhOlT9jY-9PTc-lJRe_Aip7w/s1600/white-lilac.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEuxK_6bEROUzUn4Sd8Lq7Cn533-rYGUv39wnfirHmY8mpA-sXCaKmYYI-Pqhx3tWOBiScOu3qmT0I_BdmYkmUhb53_EjY8cs4RZ0DgVY0nEONGNdV7-dhOlT9jY-9PTc-lJRe_Aip7w/s640/white-lilac.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9xrL-bZpVdDAs2eT7N9WIrlyvddIGRnyOGomo5LRj3mS4Vk_obBi65qxyjBqPELOO47FZ8LmxZ4JqJ_SNTB95i74ymOe26stM_M1nPYq2nRLUxfjSv8dre03I50nInhe8w6fVmCvbzQy/s1600/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="326" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9xrL-bZpVdDAs2eT7N9WIrlyvddIGRnyOGomo5LRj3mS4Vk_obBi65qxyjBqPELOO47FZ8LmxZ4JqJ_SNTB95i74ymOe26stM_M1nPYq2nRLUxfjSv8dre03I50nInhe8w6fVmCvbzQy/s640/giphy.gif" width="434" /></a></div><div><br /></div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-77609597277066685912021-05-28T12:45:00.011-06:002021-05-28T13:01:48.748-06:00AN EVEN CHANCE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBWUv-0gGhGCV8c9U-MtRL-_jprhUUzc9I4AId7XcWlGXX4Awo69keIxeceeMVZfQvgIdaec2o1CjhEmecsGg9sJYIElR44NHkRUrX8m7fJCgY-U1Fvj2UVLQmKY5Dp2L3kHLIB7gzdzH/s1886/Screen+Shot+2021-05-28+at+12.14.36+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1886" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBWUv-0gGhGCV8c9U-MtRL-_jprhUUzc9I4AId7XcWlGXX4Awo69keIxeceeMVZfQvgIdaec2o1CjhEmecsGg9sJYIElR44NHkRUrX8m7fJCgY-U1Fvj2UVLQmKY5Dp2L3kHLIB7gzdzH/w640-h426/Screen+Shot+2021-05-28+at+12.14.36+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbaK_2OIwFCf8o9QNMT0DuAu4RxdJ0TKhppQi3La1oCoTLisFOohME4EM74unCx8myM4KR-YNnYbU-FIZrXfH4Ci2h2xdrK9d8btZmBOv95Fy99KhvUoHnO-lDoOqpHUdS96eLFE93Fmr/s955/Barrow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbaK_2OIwFCf8o9QNMT0DuAu4RxdJ0TKhppQi3La1oCoTLisFOohME4EM74unCx8myM4KR-YNnYbU-FIZrXfH4Ci2h2xdrK9d8btZmBOv95Fy99KhvUoHnO-lDoOqpHUdS96eLFE93Fmr/w200-h400/Barrow.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Checking balance<br /></span></i>Whatever happened to balance. In the past<div>we strove to live on an even keel. Admiring</div><div>and emulating those who taught us to avoid</div><div>extremes. Considering their options in order</div><div>to maintain an amalgam of perspectives fed</div><div>from a range of influences. However now it</div><div>seems that such an ideal of an open heart or</div><div>mind has been usurped by rabid extremism.</div><div>One where you must pick a side and never</div><div>waiver. A perspective which deems the very</div><div>concept of evolutionary thought as suspect.</div><div>Let alone learning from our mistakes. Thus</div><div>few if any are willing to meet half way.</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu5ToazKSG3jij_dwO5UMdODhAYLPdjFuiiR8nUbf2CZ8coQNp6kYQaoZRV-JkfvzEwNwwL_79OHED3nUEkUiFrOBbjBN7fkLMDoS19AOVMxSejQH7lpEyXXmIXFneu4Wh3hffVNex8Sr/s603/Ball.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="302" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu5ToazKSG3jij_dwO5UMdODhAYLPdjFuiiR8nUbf2CZ8coQNp6kYQaoZRV-JkfvzEwNwwL_79OHED3nUEkUiFrOBbjBN7fkLMDoS19AOVMxSejQH7lpEyXXmIXFneu4Wh3hffVNex8Sr/w200-h400/Ball.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Catch as catch can<br /></span></i>Instead we opt to deny the obvious and reject</div><div>cooperation. And all who don't agree with us.</div><div>Such an approach to thinking not only limits</div><div>our options - it stunts any growth. Which is</div><div>exactly what is happening all across America.</div><div>Rather than gather together we choose to grow</div><div>further apart. The result is an ever widening</div><div>gap. The ultimate manifestation of dissent.</div><div>To the point where many of us have given up.</div><div>Rather than even attempt to counter irrational</div><div>dogma with common sense. Causing me to</div><div>wonder if we can ever truly become "The</div><div>United States of America." Are we doomed?</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOSd3GcAdyCIOppB4iH_VE8fSeUW5X1RBKPuoL43Ae-Y1zVUT5045D_FocSBeKF9Uk-q38B_VDV-duFlgMLv3Z7k28uSfJMVDStsODIrhHyymPuWmRyofosUR63Vexhbhkel1lna9y2-B/s1884/ChairMan.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1884" data-original-width="942" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOSd3GcAdyCIOppB4iH_VE8fSeUW5X1RBKPuoL43Ae-Y1zVUT5045D_FocSBeKF9Uk-q38B_VDV-duFlgMLv3Z7k28uSfJMVDStsODIrhHyymPuWmRyofosUR63Vexhbhkel1lna9y2-B/w200-h400/ChairMan.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Room with a view<br /></span></i>While considered highly opinionated by many - </div><div>I'm always willing to consider any alternative.</div><div>And give everybody a second chance. That's</div><div>because I've seen our world and it's inhabitants</div><div>evolve. Changing their minds. thoughts, words,</div><div>and deeds. What was taboo is now embraced</div><div>by most. Hence whether we're willing to admit</div><div>it or not - most of us adapt to our circumstances.</div><div>The key is breaking down barriers rather than</div><div>erecting further obstacles to our growth. In the</div><div>end simply talking things out makes our world</div><div>a better place. And an even playing ground for</div><div>all involved. Can't we all have an even chance?</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-46720961580568604952021-05-27T14:51:00.010-06:002021-05-28T06:27:10.110-06:00BUSTED<div class="separator"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9QR8pu_oj1q8IXTtpM0nRYM3BGBtmWTiFal2NknZ96enQF9-usCQTNB-0NiAV_mNkpGb3aCZMF01ZrbGQ_Vw8_EuyBGJlN0bxn31c2qg-v7Jd0W0i_cEE61c82ZZbAEmnGVxw8YfKIk6/s800/6a00d83452ddeb69e2019affe841e4970c-800wi.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="800" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9QR8pu_oj1q8IXTtpM0nRYM3BGBtmWTiFal2NknZ96enQF9-usCQTNB-0NiAV_mNkpGb3aCZMF01ZrbGQ_Vw8_EuyBGJlN0bxn31c2qg-v7Jd0W0i_cEE61c82ZZbAEmnGVxw8YfKIk6/w640-h230/6a00d83452ddeb69e2019affe841e4970c-800wi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DQE4lwrV6Z1jV5eZesRNFT-CVa349KomK9B2kLZD-mtyD4LQmLdF7LftaTEP6wJvyfhe26vQZuFvF8xVjlQva6DlHPKZRSNooel05rlEfZsHSm07BZ7UF1vw5ksWVmA_dddfv6BXRZS6/s1663/MitchHand.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1663" data-original-width="828" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DQE4lwrV6Z1jV5eZesRNFT-CVa349KomK9B2kLZD-mtyD4LQmLdF7LftaTEP6wJvyfhe26vQZuFvF8xVjlQva6DlHPKZRSNooel05rlEfZsHSm07BZ7UF1vw5ksWVmA_dddfv6BXRZS6/w199-h400/MitchHand.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>Opposites detract<br /></span></i>As I write this blog a filibuster is about to be</div><div>held in the Senate. All because Republicans</div><div>fear a non-partisan commission focused on</div><div>the January Sixth Insurrection. Said archaic</div><div>parliamentary obstruction dates far back to</div><div>ancient Roman times. And while not outlined</div><div>in our constitution has been a practice in the</div><div>Senate since 1789. Yet said stonewalling was</div><div>rare until racists found it the perfect tool to</div><div>battle integration. Then of course you have</div><div>the Senate under the Mr. McConnell. Whose</div><div>goal is to vowed block all legislation but his.</div><div>Whether it's good or bad for this country.</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0G-QwEUPcZhbs6E9NXQDAHFE8zBHiimcQVgmzkiE_qonPWKWW1tDg2EtBXmxO3KCSXfA5DYy-SVcTHl1U6xweldT2DsNJodE1mmxXrs1jLy3BYq2CYlLK4OMaLmmXd8OpN1h5Nta1WDv2/s1526/Swamp.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1526" data-original-width="763" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0G-QwEUPcZhbs6E9NXQDAHFE8zBHiimcQVgmzkiE_qonPWKWW1tDg2EtBXmxO3KCSXfA5DYy-SVcTHl1U6xweldT2DsNJodE1mmxXrs1jLy3BYq2CYlLK4OMaLmmXd8OpN1h5Nta1WDv2/w200-h400/Swamp.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>What the muck?</span></i></div><div>So what are we the people to do. Citizens elect</div><div>leaders to do just that - lead. Which within our</div><div>democratic republic means meeting somehow</div><div>in the middle. Its very structure is designed to</div><div>facilitate detente, capitulation, cooperation, and</div><div>a common goal. Sadly in our modern political</div><div>climate neither the two shall meet. Both sides</div><div>preferring to point fingers as they volley barbs</div><div>across their great divide. Neither side willing</div><div>to give in. Let alone treat all with respect. The</div><div>result being an impasse. Such an impenetrable</div><div>political barrier handicaps forward momentum.</div><div>Sort of like a large, festering swamp.</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS6XiwzNKNL_tYae0vDi7moxviXOqGZ7p8ubmNAGSXN76a9A7tH1S5GZEQ9erhO7b3hqJqyngEIEIMIPBm87NsXhifFC7hy8Cfh2hicxvENejaGXUR4H1HPn1MDPYdl2q9FwKIShc4cbi/s785/MiitchNancy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS6XiwzNKNL_tYae0vDi7moxviXOqGZ7p8ubmNAGSXN76a9A7tH1S5GZEQ9erhO7b3hqJqyngEIEIMIPBm87NsXhifFC7hy8Cfh2hicxvENejaGXUR4H1HPn1MDPYdl2q9FwKIShc4cbi/w184-h400/MiitchNancy.jpg" width="184" /></a></div>Self inflicted goons<br /></span></i>Sadly our leaders inability to work together is</div><div>a primary reason why Mr. Trump was elected</div><div>president. His promises of draining said rancid</div><div>milieu offered hope to many. Yet ultimately</div><div>his thirst for power drove him to join the party</div><div>- as in Republican. And thus embracing rather</div><div>than rejecting it's inability to get anything done.</div><div>Four years later, President Biden is attempting</div><div>to work across the aisle. To collaborate. Only</div><div>to find that nobody wants to lose. Hence we all</div><div>lose. How can America ever bust through this</div><div>archaic impasse? When we the people finally</div><div>decide to change our representation. It's time.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-52995179135914969152021-05-26T10:47:00.009-06:002021-05-26T10:58:16.350-06:00TOO MUCH OF A BAD THING?<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMrbLJGigQZNlFn-QbHnsyOq-orDUna9k0YlVgcH3WS7K6VfqknO20dtsEgody3H45jL3_DJlCql_0kPd0pK2W4h-jePs5xNVajQcFA-eihJcTB4ZHK1_xcBOBDa37OK6GI62H84hOq4B/s1024/_110799553_gettyimages-1198921166.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMrbLJGigQZNlFn-QbHnsyOq-orDUna9k0YlVgcH3WS7K6VfqknO20dtsEgody3H45jL3_DJlCql_0kPd0pK2W4h-jePs5xNVajQcFA-eihJcTB4ZHK1_xcBOBDa37OK6GI62H84hOq4B/w640-h360/_110799553_gettyimages-1198921166.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7OpTlneG42XeyZHiCh1tJmP1u7kzghe5-G8hexv3UgUqosk_1sUK17zK2TZodLERvjRUI1xjzjyRn3r3Umm6d39KJONTRlOHBICexaIi-QBItPbSuPUrB5Vb9uhEaKv9-BJF2wlLTmem/s661/WitchHunt.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="330" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7OpTlneG42XeyZHiCh1tJmP1u7kzghe5-G8hexv3UgUqosk_1sUK17zK2TZodLERvjRUI1xjzjyRn3r3Umm6d39KJONTRlOHBICexaIi-QBItPbSuPUrB5Vb9uhEaKv9-BJF2wlLTmem/w200-h400/WitchHunt.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Enough already<br /></span></i>This morning a news pundit suggested we</div><div>Americans are willing to overlook Donald</div><div>Trump's crimes against humanity. In that</div><div>any controversy about the man is old news</div><div>post two impeachments, several House sub</div><div>committees, and an infamous Muller report.</div><div>Then of course there is his continued efforts</div><div>to promote big lies about 2020 Presidential</div><div>election results. As his Republican cohorts</div><div>try to make the January Sixth insurrection</div><div>disappear. Hence the fact that Donald and</div><div>his company are the focus of lengthy N.Y.</div><div>grand jury hearings is of little consequence. </div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qY8StxMQJagQwKczvD7dD4WhyphenhyphenrGFBY9366LsV7GY_WT__tGwuqttL6zO1TnieD4YBplrAj3fBy0CauUajfkJk1M-FEco4h4R6Ac9dSsTNEqDoRRJAQuMJLJuLaiDDwAvsXaXW3DgBDg0/s710/TrumpLies.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qY8StxMQJagQwKczvD7dD4WhyphenhyphenrGFBY9366LsV7GY_WT__tGwuqttL6zO1TnieD4YBplrAj3fBy0CauUajfkJk1M-FEco4h4R6Ac9dSsTNEqDoRRJAQuMJLJuLaiDDwAvsXaXW3DgBDg0/w203-h400/TrumpLies.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>From bad to worse<br /></span></i>In other words - the worst he gets - the more</div><div>jaded we become. Shocking as it may seem,</div><div>most have a very limited attention span. Plus</div><div>the majority of Americans willingly jump to</div><div>conclusions. Especially if they support their</div><div>opinion. Therefore more than half of us have</div><div>already convicted him. While the balance see</div><div>him as a victim of circumstances. While we</div><div>need to move on - it's important to hold those</div><div>who break our rules (laws) accountable. Thus</div><div>turning the other cheek or making Mr. Trump</div><div>an exception to all rules violates everyone's</div><div>rights. What happened to justice for ALL?</div><div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdMFpwt4PfZtzs57wlINJnP8YaWgl_HSRSmD7N-t1uHFNljfGWjhobh77KkjaoQnjwCRLH-_Ydf20vRIAIwvIfbyXdFm_GgcV1jaEUQ31OB7-CxmhxB7pERgiyyPf2VfvdCz1rav3UCgp/s1247/IRSLOGO.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="624" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdMFpwt4PfZtzs57wlINJnP8YaWgl_HSRSmD7N-t1uHFNljfGWjhobh77KkjaoQnjwCRLH-_Ydf20vRIAIwvIfbyXdFm_GgcV1jaEUQ31OB7-CxmhxB7pERgiyyPf2VfvdCz1rav3UCgp/w200-h400/IRSLOGO.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Equal opportunity<br /></span></i>Recently a mysterious envelope from the</div><div>Internal Revenue Service came in the mail.</div><div>With fear and trepidation we opened it to</div><div>find a congratulatory note from Mr. Biden</div><div>about recent covid relief. Having been the</div><div>focus of IRS intervention we know that it's</div><div>impossible to avoid the inevitable. So why</div><div>shouldn't Mr. Trump et al be investigated</div><div>for deferring his hare earned cash from our</div><div>nation's coffers? Can't our collective desire</div><div>to move on end with holding Mr. Trump</div><div>accountable? Or is over exposure a good</div><div>enough excuse to let him off the hook?!</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-90236351371920874092021-05-25T10:47:00.010-06:002021-05-25T10:59:30.318-06:00Ain't that a kick in the head?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7hPrUogcNPhaFSV2eufHbxjBOnZQ2qYSp9aOcEStXBzBuwCaug0avYBm6s_z-VFhohdbxjxBywEVEv-EEdEjvwH4dFRJXHGsCVuRFjnBytVK88SU0so-Kxu-ztV9cefG1y4yrIcuXeP6/s864/Headache.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="864" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7hPrUogcNPhaFSV2eufHbxjBOnZQ2qYSp9aOcEStXBzBuwCaug0avYBm6s_z-VFhohdbxjxBywEVEv-EEdEjvwH4dFRJXHGsCVuRFjnBytVK88SU0so-Kxu-ztV9cefG1y4yrIcuXeP6/w640-h442/Headache.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdd1d6mmria6bfjhUrkPrKH0Crpc2aCXMdE1nr04SF4sZ-PZfw8nd7g4nSdpXEv3iP4P1oYDWFLhJGsYJhtx4qzBmAxyeye8BLuKI_0_whAIpB1fQDKb_iPWR7JYm3z7We3iI0g1gsgB0/s866/HeadPink.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdd1d6mmria6bfjhUrkPrKH0Crpc2aCXMdE1nr04SF4sZ-PZfw8nd7g4nSdpXEv3iP4P1oYDWFLhJGsYJhtx4qzBmAxyeye8BLuKI_0_whAIpB1fQDKb_iPWR7JYm3z7We3iI0g1gsgB0/w200-h400/HeadPink.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>There I go again<br /></span></i>Usually I'm an optimist. By my very nature<div>I consider the glass half full. Said positive</div><div>outlook enables me to overcome just about</div><div>any obstacle. However there are times when</div><div>positive intent doesn't cut it. As in the pain</div><div>from a migraine headache. Said process of</div><div>debilitation not only hurts like hell but turns</div><div>me into a negative nelly. During such times</div><div>nothing eases to pain - even positive intent.</div><div>Hence for the last few days I've been a head</div><div>case. Knowing that ultimately this too shall</div><div>pass. And that until that day of redemption</div><div>I'm destined to be absolutely miserable. <br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfnTEDbNkTJ2sHo_Mcbnyex124dSzELtJ_JR4x2O9GzUrWDH0rXFY_Zrk2YL8g9n4WLz0XK_9UKtBgM2MAyVa5SsAajnz4YLG7DGPliD7zL4lhQcUz3il85DT-FRPg4qFTS1LI4MFOMX2/s849/HeadGreen+2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="425" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfnTEDbNkTJ2sHo_Mcbnyex124dSzELtJ_JR4x2O9GzUrWDH0rXFY_Zrk2YL8g9n4WLz0XK_9UKtBgM2MAyVa5SsAajnz4YLG7DGPliD7zL4lhQcUz3il85DT-FRPg4qFTS1LI4MFOMX2/w200-h400/HeadGreen+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Too much of a bad thing<br /></span></i>Let me stop you before you attempt to offer</div><div>any home remedies, new meds, or the like.</div><div>I've suffered from migraines all of my life.</div><div>Hence I've tried everything. Soul numbing</div><div>medication. Vitamin therapy. Dietary edits.</div><div>Acupuncture. Meditation. Dark rooms. Sun</div><div>glasses. You name it - been there - done that.</div><div>All to no avail. Thus at least for me the only</div><div>way to survive such a painful interlude is to</div><div>grin and bear it. Waiting for the day when</div><div>suddenly the cloud lifts. Meanwhile simply</div><div>functioning is a battle. That said I'm doing</div><div>my best under such negative circumstances.<br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZY-HnctYNwyLZ1CeB0HT0TEN3n_I21Gr9jEpR9o7iv7DXzd01hKlCCMSWNDlvzPsswcYIA5m5jBhTVWqouBQmWXBfNwHw8kohYPalEZJvceYEzaTMfjiriuRLfH80jZ5XqHX3s8-3yjK/s1472/Screen+Shot+2021-05-25+at+10.43.06+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZY-HnctYNwyLZ1CeB0HT0TEN3n_I21Gr9jEpR9o7iv7DXzd01hKlCCMSWNDlvzPsswcYIA5m5jBhTVWqouBQmWXBfNwHw8kohYPalEZJvceYEzaTMfjiriuRLfH80jZ5XqHX3s8-3yjK/w200-h400/Screen+Shot+2021-05-25+at+10.43.06+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Light at the end of the tunnel<br /></span></i>Honestly, my problems are nothing compared</div><div>to others. I can't imagine what suffering from</div><div>chronic pain or a longterm disability is like. It</div><div>is hard enough surviving a bad day let alone</div><div>an endless cycle of torture. All the reason that</div><div>to treat those out of sorts with the kindness and</div><div>respect they deserve. The older we get the more</div><div>one realizes how precious good health is. And</div><div>that once it's violated or threatened, life itself</div><div>becomes a tenuous struggle. So while my head</div><div>may hurt - I must remind myself that it could </div><div>be worse. Therefore I'm blessed to be healthy</div><div>and soon... happy. Tomorrow is another day!</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867965277763683844.post-69785642833708879912021-05-24T11:07:00.009-06:002021-05-24T11:22:03.775-06:00MONDAY MADNESS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ9sC7euX_iSLSip8ar67XiRa6Il0hPNntyvAU49WUNVyIPcmYX0Bf0XEY9gbln0Fz08Joix4F65bDFIooHUwKKbAyy15u7h_jWUx7adZx-TF_vFZciBQc1YKFzc_yk3Zd4WuR6Zl-FlT/s500/tumblr_0eba840ff04211724cc9c85f24334e6e_e4df3779_500.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="500" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ9sC7euX_iSLSip8ar67XiRa6Il0hPNntyvAU49WUNVyIPcmYX0Bf0XEY9gbln0Fz08Joix4F65bDFIooHUwKKbAyy15u7h_jWUx7adZx-TF_vFZciBQc1YKFzc_yk3Zd4WuR6Zl-FlT/w640-h358/tumblr_0eba840ff04211724cc9c85f24334e6e_e4df3779_500.webp" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFc7oQ6zZzAisdC4D2VePDiDSPmqLenIeGUyqqEpHLNHo7rjbLZB2wfWFbdHz1lwS8lntfuWT9uUdsC1NOfffE6k6l1i6ZJ6oKskUCtDPhWAACihETvci3bALD6FhMseP5YnsQDWSiZ7dB/s916/Oven.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="457" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFc7oQ6zZzAisdC4D2VePDiDSPmqLenIeGUyqqEpHLNHo7rjbLZB2wfWFbdHz1lwS8lntfuWT9uUdsC1NOfffE6k6l1i6ZJ6oKskUCtDPhWAACihETvci3bALD6FhMseP5YnsQDWSiZ7dB/w200-h400/Oven.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>From the get go<br /></span></i>Mondays are always hard for me. In a past life<div>they were the kick off of a new week. Hence</div><div>depending on where I was employed I looked</div><div>forward to or dreaded the initial day of a week.</div><div>Now my Mondays are in a day off. "Me" time</div><div>to complete everything I couldn't finish during</div><div>the prior work week. Along with those chores</div><div>that must be done at some point. Like cleaning</div><div>out the fridge, grocery shopping, or scrubbing</div><div>the oven racks while said hot box self-cleans.</div><div>Necessary evils that most certainly are anything</div><div>but glamorous. Yet somehow the end results of</div><div>such tasks yield the ultimate in satisfaction. <br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRs9d6nJ_UBOCgLkGR8lkxDC3wf6tK90RV6LfNS8ojUt8VItd3vBAjIGcWQ_XvwHodFiWNyLfTQvOLUh9a7Joyx4iTkmHtS-juD_sGeyqkRqNbAU7j-rhgl9HATrxzWv8gp0IM7VOr8N7/s691/BG.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="346" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRs9d6nJ_UBOCgLkGR8lkxDC3wf6tK90RV6LfNS8ojUt8VItd3vBAjIGcWQ_XvwHodFiWNyLfTQvOLUh9a7Joyx4iTkmHtS-juD_sGeyqkRqNbAU7j-rhgl9HATrxzWv8gp0IM7VOr8N7/w200-h400/BG.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Where did I go wrong?<br /></span></i>Part of me can't think of a better way to spend</div><div>the start of each week but on themselves. If</div><div>circumstances were different I'd be down the</div><div>block at Bergdorf's. To shop and grab lunch.</div><div>Or up at the Met to see the latest exhibition.</div><div>I also spent ninety minutes being pummeled</div><div>mercilessly on the massage table. All of such</div><div>indulgences are things of the past. Now my</div><div>thrill is doing laundry, grocery shopping, or</div><div>ironing. So help me... exactly when, where,</div><div>and how did things go wrong? Or is taking </div><div>are of myself and Frank the ultimate splurge?</div><div>Could self maintenance be all about "me"?<br /><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1lQS6dWYUsTOlRggseFEFEvgqC_pe_bLjdgBWsFPiV4v1qGD2nUG2nKjImKiUYAgVVTiXQVbbBXJNnwZnI-qA2lwNIi0I5f6tiR4Y6A8MP_x3Eolw861kRvHWHuLBFVD4XEKxYMN7r2M/s579/Sucks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="289" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1lQS6dWYUsTOlRggseFEFEvgqC_pe_bLjdgBWsFPiV4v1qGD2nUG2nKjImKiUYAgVVTiXQVbbBXJNnwZnI-qA2lwNIi0I5f6tiR4Y6A8MP_x3Eolw861kRvHWHuLBFVD4XEKxYMN7r2M/w200-h400/Sucks.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Down and dirty<br /></span></i>Few if any of us like housework. And yet there</div><div>is little more self serving than the joy of a clean</div><div>house. I actually enjoy dusting. Then carefully</div><div>rearranging whatever was moved in the process.</div><div>As stated prior - I love polishing silver in that it</div><div>guarantees immediate gratification. What I hate</div><div>is getting down and dirty on the lowest level - </div><div>the floor. That could be because my knees aren't</div><div>what they used to be. But somehow I feel that</div><div>vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, and such are</div><div>beneath me. Thus I need an attitude adjustment</div><div>from the ground up. In the hope that I can rise</div><div>above my challenges before next Monday!</div>montanarouehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00387082594504292748noreply@blogger.com