On My Mind Today

I just spent two wonderful days with my daughter and granddaughter. Precious moments that leave me with great memories. Now that they have gone home, I am feeling very tired. Tired like I have no energy, tired of winter with a big storm predicted in 2 days, tired of household chores, etc., etc. In my quest to determine what was on my mind today, I found this blog which I shared in 2012. It was a sign - a gentle reminder to myself - to be ever so thankful for my life. So once again I will share my thoughts on being blessed: Every day I remind myself how truly blessed I am. When I wake up and get out of bed the first thing I see from my window is a view of the lake. On a great day the sun is sparkling on the water like diamonds, but even on the gray days it is a wonderful sight to behold, for even the gray days have their own unique beauty. There is something about being on the water that can bring such peace to your soul. I am blessed to have a great relation...

I know that I cannot even begin to have a full understanding of PTSD and the effects to one's soul. Having not been exposed to the horrors of war I can only imagine what they have seen. What stays with them and haunts them long after they return home. When they are expected to return and resume a "normal" life. Their families have waited so long for their return and just want their husbands, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters back home - back in their lives like they have never left. If it only could be so. I have no doubt that our returning veterans would be happy to erase all the images of the things they have seen and been exposed to. Leave it all behind like it never happened. But it is not possible. Some can move forward better than others, but nobody is immune to the aftermath of emotions. To the lingering fear that is still there with each loud noise that makes them jump. Emotions that spill out in anger against the ones they love. I have seen...

You, and only you, should make the choices that will chart the path for your future. You are the one who knows what is in your heart and what your passion is, and what road you want to take to get there. Why then would you give up the power to someone else to make a choice that will effect the rest of your life? What would make you think that they will have your best interests at heart? Why would you give someone else this power? We all make choices in life - some good and some not so good. When we make these choices we must live with them and learn from them. This is how we grow and adjust to make sure we are going in the right direction. This is good as long as they are choices we have made. When you allow someone else to make choices for you, then you give them your power and you are no longer in control. Where you end up may be where they want to be, but not the best place for you. The impact can be life altering and derail the plans you have made for your futu...

In searching for health care coverage I have found there is no real competition in NH. I emailed the NH Insurance Department regarding the lack of competition and they replied with a list of companies that offer coverage in NH. No matter which online site I go to for a quote it always brings me back to quotes from Anthem Blue Cross. The best rate they offered was $385 a month for a plan with a $12,000 deductible. Anthem Blue Cross appears to have a monopoly in this state. I have had a short term medical plan for almost a year and this has cost me $800 every 6 months. The plan has a $5000 deductible and covers 50% after the deductible is met. Because it is a short term plan it does not cover pre-existing conditions or preventative care. I can barely afford this coverage so $385 a month ($4,620/year) is out of the question. I know that I need health insurance, but with limited funds this is becoming increasingly more difficult to maintain. I have two weeks ...

It is amazing to see all the ads on television that claim you can lose weight with a pill or powder and no changes to your diet or exercise. Others will give you weight loss success while you order their pre-packaged foods, but what happens when you go back to reality and fixing your own meals at home? There is that old expression that" if something seems too good to be true then it probably is". Losing weight is no easy task, especially with the added stress in our lives today. The only way to do it, and keep the weight off, is to change your lifestyle. You have to learn to eat the right foods in the right quantities, and also add exercise to your routine. You can have the foods you love like sweets & chips, but not all the time. Even a small change to start can get you on the road to weight loss success, and as you adjust to that change it becomes routine and easier. Then you move forward making changes until you are eating right and exercising regularly. The...

Just like so many of us I do think about what I would do if I ever won the Lottery. That big jackpot - the one that will make sure you are set for life.  I know that one of the first things I would do is make sure that my children have a mortgage free home and a good vehicle without a loan. Then I would ask what they have always wanted to do and set them up so they would be able to make a living at something they love to do. Of course the next step would be to ensure that my grandchildren have the funds to attend college. With their college degree they will hopefully be able to follow their dreams. I am optimistic that our country will recuperate and allow them the opportunity to do this. We would finally do all the traveling that we talk about and dream about. Maybe I would even make sure he has his place in Montana (of course after I have my place in Myrtle Beach). Live a life where I can spend as much time with my children, grandchildren, family and friends and treat th...

It is time to bring America back to the strong, vibrant country it was in the past - what it should be now. Time for all of us to have pride in our country. I recently watched an episode of 60 Minutes, and they revisited Florida where they say 1/4 of all homeless Americans are living. The families they featured were proud and strong, and all they wanted was a job so they could support their families. They were not looking for handouts - just work. Mothers and fathers who tried not to let their children see them cry as they wondered how they were going to feed them. Hoping that where they were parked for the night was safe. One father sitting watch on a cooler outside the car all night. They live in these vehicles as shelters are filled to capacity. Their children were wise beyond their years, attending school even though they were living out of a vehicle. Striving to get the best grades they could so they would be able to attend college. One young girl ...