Saturday, August 7, 2021

Did I Hear That Correctly???

Heard this on the radio yesterday: 

"Gender will no longer be assigned at birth..."

Excuse me; I must have missed something.  Last time I checked, when a baby is born, there is an 'obvious' gender difference, not to mention the DNA!  XX=Female; XY=Male.  

You can definitely change from 'obvious' male or female, thanks to hormone replacement therapy and surgery.  But you can NOT change your DNA! 

What the hell does 'non-binary' and 'binary' mean?  We are NOT a mathematical symbol.

'Asexual'=a person who is non-practicing sexual being, either due to low self-esteem or 

Hetero/homosexual=a person who is in a sexual relationship with either a member of the opposite gender (sex) or same gender (sex).

Hermaphrodite=a person with both sexual organs or tissue.  May present 'obviously' female, but with testicular tissue; or 'obviously' male with ovaries.

Shame on Lilly's and other pharmaceuticals companies.  Shame on the medical profession to taking this position.

Where the hell is this country going? 

I KNOW four transgender people.  I know one self-professed 'asexual'.  I know plenty of LGBTQ men and women.  I know one misguided teenager (imho) who calls herself by an astrological phenomenon.  I know her mom means well, but I can't help but wonder if this 'decision' stems from watching her mom in two struggling relationships and has concluded she doesn't want to go down that path.  Or maybe that now she's begun this path, with Mom in her corner, she can't return to her 'former self'?

I've also heard (via the same radio program) that some transgenders are now regretting their decision to surgical reassignment.  As one caller pointed out, you cannot change your DNA.  You may look different on the outside, but on the inside, you're still male or female.

What would have happened if, when our oldest son's favorite color was pink, we'd dressed him as a girl?  Or when our daughter was 3 and wearing her brother's clothes and insisted we call her 'Joe'?

Instead of ignoring both and letting nature take its course, we decided to have 'Kylie' or 'Kayla' and 'Sam' or 'Joe'?  A) I wouldn't have a 9 y/o grandchild or even a 3 mo/o one.  Or at least, they'd look different.

But no; by the time he was 5, our son was definitely 'all boy', though our daughter only wore her 1st Communion dress 'because Grandma was coming and Aunt Liz paid for it'.

Final Word:  God doesn't make mistakes. (well, okay; why bed bugs?  Why roaches?  Why mosquitos? Lice? Scabies? LMAO!).  He created us in His Likeness; who are we to judge ourselves otherwise?  To reject what He has created is to reject Him.

And I certainly don't want to do that.  I'd be lost without my faith.

Faith is what got me through my 8th grade year and the start of the 9th.  I wouldn't be the person I am today without going through that pain.

What is the world my granddaughters will grow up in?  Will the 9 y/o bow to peer pressure to declare herself other than female?  Will the 3 m/o grow up a tomboy and be encouraged to declare herself  'non-binary'??

Will we ever be able to stop wearing the damn masks?  Guess we'll know in 4 years??

Saturday, April 10, 2021

Listen To The Red Flags

 I'm about to embark into the world of Children's Books, but first I need an artist.  I talked about my new venture with friends, who advised it would take over a year from start to publication.  After our discussion, the holidays and family matters pushed most of their suggestions out of my memory, so not much has been done in the five months since.

While scrolling through my FB feed last week, I discovered I'd joined a Children's Author group some time ago, so went scrolling through the posts and discovered it was perfectly fine to post a 'Looking for' question.  I did so.

Overnight, I got about a dozen or so links in the comments.  I started checking out the art.  Some weren't my taste; it looked too anime.  Some posted only families or cats or other creatures....I needed dogs.  

I did happen upon three I liked, and actually reached out to one when I saw a familiar logo on their site.  Okay; I've got one possibility.

A second link took me to a blog where the artist listed tips for finding a professional illustrator, which I was very happy to learn I was inadvertently following, but then I clicked over to her prices and my eyeballs nearly bugged out.  $12K starting price? Who the hell has that kind of money to drop, especially if you're an indie publisher aka 'starving artist'?  Okay, she's out.  But thank you very much for the advice, and your artwork is BEAUTIFUL!  I just can't afford you.

Ping...I've got a PM.  I can do it...check out my site.

I checked.  Beautiful art.

Ping.....Did you check out my site?  What is your book about?

Thinking he's being a little pushy (Red Flag #1), I politely replied with a one-sentence synopsis about the subject matter.

Ping....ping....ping....Suddenly he starts sending me samples of his work, and mentions his company is offering a limited time 'lock down' price on publishing.  I take a look.....and it's a sweet deal.  So even though there's no idea of when the price goes back up (Red Flag #2), I nevertheless sign up for it.  

Then he asked for a style reference.....then says he'll do a sample for $50, which is not surprising, since I read it in #2's blog.  I agree and send him the funds, along with specific requirements, such as facial expression, background, and other characters.

He sends me two beautiful pictures, then asks me to check out the pricing list, and drops the bomb he's charging $50/illustration.  So total cost would be $1185....BUT that includes illustrations, cover art, formatting, AND uploading it to KDP and Amazon.  Okay.....$1200 is slightly steep, but remember I've got 14 months before the project is expected to release.  I ask about a payment plan.

He states he wants 50% 'during the contract signing' and the rest 'during final delivery' (Red Flag #3).  I've stated clearly I can pay him $100/mo.  I decide to sleep on it.

Three days go by.

Ping....(Easter, I might add.  Red Flag #4) Have you an update?

I mention again I can only pay $100/mo, plus more, if my summer conventions bring in big sales.

Ping....you mean royalties?

No, I mean hand-sales of my books, you idiot....I only average $1-5 in royalties.

Ping.....Okay, we need to put this in the contract also...what percentage of your sales you'll send me.

*Blink* Excuuuuse me?  

I normally charge 35% of all books sold. (Red Flag #5)

Ummmm.....that's not how it works.  If I'm paying you $1200 to upload my book, then it's on YOUR account, and you'll receive any royalty sales money.  I only expect you to provide me with print books and sell them to me for $4-6 per copy.

Ping.....No, you share your KDP log in information. (Red Flag #6)

Oh hell NO!  No one gets access to my personal log in info.  I go to bed.

Three more days go by.  I've discussed my red flags with other author friends, who agree with me; this guy has a delusional and shady business practice.

I bite the bullet and send it to a publisher friend of mine who actually does Children's books.

Ping....Are you free to discuss our arrangement?

I tell him I've thought it over and sent my MS to a publisher, but if it's rejected, I'll be happy to return to the negotiations.

I just received another job and am not sure I would be able to schedule you in.

That's fine, dude....I was playing nice.  There's no way in hell I will ever work with you.  But I'm a nice person who won't say that to your face.  If you find someone else to snow, be my guest.  But believe me, anyone I come across who's looking for an illustrator, I will speak your name and warn them NEVER to work with you.



Thursday, March 11, 2021

2021: Year of Confusion???

I have tried to bite my tongue.  I have tried to keep my sense of humor.  If you haven't heard the news that I broke my arm last month, you'll understand what a trial this is to type when my left arm is protesting being at an uncomfortable angle, rather than resting against my pillow or my body.  But I can no longer keep silent about recent events.

****WARNING:  Trigger-Alert To The Easily Offended****

I'm serious; if you're easily offended by any humor pre-2019, STOP READING AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!  This is MY blog, MY opinion, and MY 1st amendment right to express my feelings.

Okay.  Still here?  Good.

If you're a regular reader of any of my blogs, you know I'm a fan of Song of the South, and wondered why critics weren't yelling over Peter Pan and the depiction of the Indians.  Well, apparently someone caught on to my sarcasm, because now this CANCEL CULTURE has not only banned SOTS (though, if you buy the whole library, as advertised on FB, you can own a copy!  I bought it, and yes, paid nearly $100, just so my kids and grandkids will always have access to it, should DVDs never disappear), but now PP, Dumbo (OMG, the crows.  REALLY??), The Aristocats (OMG....the 'junkyard cats' scene, with the Chinese cat playing the piano with chopsticks.  SERIOUSLY???), and Swiss Family Robinson (no clue; have never seen that version).

Other media have come under fire.  Remember about ten or so years ago, Sesame Street released 'classic' episodes with a warning, 'May be hazardous to your child'?  Well now, six Dr. Seuss books will no longer be sold, due to 'offensive' content.  I've been told it's because of a Chinese character portrayed much like the cat in Aristocats.  Other cartoons depict animals being whipped, and 'good' colorful characters being mean to 'bad' colorful characters.  I've only read one of the now-banned books, and it's been so long ago, I didn't even remember the supposed controversial character.

Remember last year, when CC decided TWO CARTOONS, Yosemite Sam and Elmer Fudd were 'no longer to have their guns'?  Now Pepe Le Pew has come under fire for promoting 'rape culture'.  WTH....he's a CARTOON!  When is the movie 9-5 going to be banned, because the women get back at their boss for the same thing? (Yes, I'm being sarcastic....I LOVE THAT MOVIE!!!)

Oh, and another thing.....apparently a soda company has decided they're 'too white'.  Give me a break....and the only drink I like by this company is their bottled water.

Now, a NY charter/private school is saying the kids and staff are no longer to refer to parents as 'Mom/Dad'.  I'm not even going to get into the whole gender/non-gender issue; I think it's stupid.  We're raising an entire generation of kids who worry about their sexuality WAAAY too early (there was even a stupid parent claiming her 6 m/o was 'gay'.....give me a break!).  So now any late bloomer will be labeled LGBTQ?  I didn't date until I was 19.....but I had a boyfriend at 12, a serious crush at 14, and walked the halls with my boyfriend in HS.  The only 'dates' I went on were to the HS dances, and on band trips with my boyfriend, where we'd eat together, snuggle on the bus, and yes (gasp!) change clothes in front of each other.  Perfectly innocent, back in the early 80s.

Yep.....my blood pressure is up over the STUPIDITY I see going on around in this 'woke' society.

Society needs to take a step back and get a clue, a sense of humor, and stop letting the children run the country.  Where are the adults?  Is out government too full of entitled people, raised by single parents who were too busy to raise their children properly?  Where is the sense of values, CHRISTIAN VALUES, that once ruled this country?

I'm watching for the day that people 'wake up' to the fact they've made a mistake, and I can quietly post on social media....'Be careful what you wish for; you might get it.'


NEW TOPIC:

Unless you've been under a rock since this weekend, you know the whole hullaballoo with the Royal Family.  Poor Meg....realizing an American Princess meant RULES?  OMG....and someone had the audacity to wonder OUT LOUD what her baby's skin tone would be?  Shocking.....and even more shocking.....that she felt so isolated, she considered suicide?  OMG....

But wait a minute....she is an actress, and knows when to milk the camera, and to gain sympathy.

Maybe she honestly didn't realize what she was getting into?  Maybe she thought things would magically change?

Stupid, stupid.  You've duped the most eligible bachelor into marriage, and now you've managed to distance him from his family.....manipulate him into your socialistic beliefs....and whining on camera about how 'tough' your life has become. Entitled snob (b**ch).

Grow up.

And kudos to a Piers Morgan for standing up for his opinion.  I don't always agree with you, but in this case, I'm right there with ya!

3-13-21:

Now there's another kerfluffle:  Apparently, if ANYONE stands behind with PM, now we're 'racist by association'?

Just saw an article where now a major network is 'investigating' an incident in which hosts of a popular TALK show had a disagreement when one of the hosts said she agreed with PM.  The A.A. host took offense, because now, "What would you say to people who may feel that while you're standing by your friend, it appears you gave validation or safe haven to something that he has uttered that is racist, even if you don't agree?"

And... "it is not the exact words of racism, it's the implication and the reaction to it."

Wha-at???

"To not want to address that because she is a Black woman, and to try to dismiss it or to make it seem less than what it is, that's what makes it racist. But right now, I'm talking to a woman I believe is my friend and I don't want anybody here to watch this and think we are attacking you for being racist."

To add insult to injury (imho), the other host issued an apology for accidentally 'supporting racism'.

Someone explain it to me???


Monday, May 25, 2020

What Happened To Common Sense?

I've avoided blogging about our current situation, because I have friends on both sides of the radical position, and don't want to risk pissing anyone off.

First of all, the back story:
-We first heard about the Corona Virus/Covid-19 back in December/January, when a cruse ship from China was reported to have Patient Zero.  When it reached the states, it was on lockdown, and eventually the passengers were transported to Army medical bases.  It began to spread.
-Italy became infected, and we learned of horrific deaths, also from other parts of Asia and Europe.
-California became infected....and then other states reported cases.
-March 2nd, we moved Mom into her new assisted living facility, and that week, continued to shuttle her back and forth from the house, as Chris (BIL) and I were moving her things.  Chris wasn't feeling well; he thought it was just the fact he was experiencing spring in Indiana, while Whitehorse was still under snow.
-March 10th, Mom wasn't up to going to her hair appointment, so I went.  On the 11th, I took her to Bible Study.  On the 12th, the facility announced it was going on lock down, since the virus had arrived in Indiana, though the only cases were around Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville.  We could go in, but Mom couldn't go out.
-March 13th, Chris returned home and was quarantined, due to being out of the country and his flu-like symptoms.  Two weeks later, it was determined he only had the flu:)
-March 23rd, 2020, Indiana went on lock down, and 'Shelter in Place' was ordered.  Restaurants could do curbside service or drive through. 
-I returned to work March 31st, and we had plexiglass between us and the customers, plus were sanitizing the credit card machines after every use.  We could wear masks if we wanted to.  I opted not no.
-May 4th, my boss announced we had to wear the masks, as the state prepared to open.

My Thoughts:
-Being required to wear one NOW is a lot like being 6 months pregnant and using birth control.
-I've been exposed to many customers the past month, including a BIL with the flu, and never got sick.
-When they described symptoms of the virus, it's the same as my seasonal allergies, only getting progressively worse.  Mine have been normal, plus my temp has been 97.1 and 97.6. (Weird, since I assumed 'normal' was 98.6!  Guess I'm not 'normal' after all...)
-I find it hard to breathe in the mask; it fogs my glasses, and it feels as if I'm trying to breathe through a mild asthma attack.
-Discovered the 2nd week, we don't have to wear the darn things in LG, and on the 16th and 17th, I managed to get away w/o wearing it at all:)  Plus, upper management wasn't around.  And, we were no longer required to sanitize the credit card machines after every use, unless we just wanted to.  But being slammed after the stimulus checks arrived made it easy to 'forget' to do it.

Heard on the radio the other day about the whole protective gear policy, it's 'common sense' as a mom:  If you keep your kids in a protective 'bubble'....always clean, using hand santitizer, not being around anyone who sneezes....then they're gonna catch everything.  If you expose your kids to bacteria (letting them eat dirt, going to school with kids with the sniffles-you get the picture), then they build up IMMUNITY.  Every 1st year teacher, nurse,health care worker, etc, will tell you....the 1st year, you catch EVERYTHING.  But by year 2, you're healthier, because your immune system says, 'oh, I remember that invader....let's kill it!' 

People are in a panic, because if we resume 'normal activities', the virus will spike, and send us into lock down again, or worse, more will die.  Or, I've heard 'the states opening up are recording more cases...' Umm, no, it's because TESTING is now available, and there's an issue with the results; people are being counted twice....once for testing positive, and another for recovery.  As of now, 'healthy' people who have died from the virus are few and far between.  The ones who have died have had underlying health issues which compromised their immune systems.

So yeah, it's a gamble, much like chicken pox.  My older two were exposed to chicken pox for three years before they caught it, and the daughter only had a light case.  My younger son came along when the vaccine was mandantory.

I think a) I've already been exposed, so I either should have caught it, or am a carrier, or am immune.  As long as I don't sneeze in anyone's face, continue to use sanitary practices (hand washing and sanitizer) at work, I'll be okay.  If I do get sick, then I get to lay around and let the family take care of me for a change, and I might even lose weight. b) I have FAITH that God is in control of this situation and it's out of my hands.  Whatever happens, happens.  I refuse to give into FEAR, just because there's a virus on the loose.  I want to get back to normal, and see my friends, eat in restaurants, shop in stores again, attend conventions.

Side Note: 
With conventions cancelled (April and two in July), plus getting hazard pay at work, a) the bills are getting paid faster; b) inventory is being collected; and c) I still have funds available at the end of the pay period!  The bad news is, working 40 hours a week is taking its toll on my body.  It's May 25th and my back has been killing me for two days, after being on my feet for just one hour.  I've lined up a massage on June 3rd, and cut my hours today to 4, with the hopes that will help.  The good news is, if I only work 20-25 hours a week, I'm still in good shape financially, plus I won't be spending $5-10 a day for lunch.  $20 if I go to McAllisters.  The only inventory I have left to get is Second Chances when it's released (should be anywhere in the next two weeks or so), and the reboot of Best of Both Worlds (whenever I get around to fixing the font and covers.  If I can cut my hours back, this will give me more time to work on it!).

So there's good news all around!  Now, I just need my back to stay healthy!

Final Word:
Temps hit the 80s this week, and wearing the mask has been uncomfortable.  Fortunately, I've been in Lumber and can take it off between customers, or when things slow down.  I don't wear it when I'm at the store, and don't care about people shooting me angry glances or saying anything nasty (for the record, this has NOT happened, but I've heard it happen to others).  My 1st Con is Heroes For Kids on July 18th, and K's wedding is June 27th.  I really hope I don't have to post pictures of mask-wearers, unless they're in Cosplay!

Stay safe, wash your hands, have faith, stay calm, and use common sense!

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Three Ring Circus

I'm beginning this post on 11/18/19.  

Over the past two months, our House of Reps has not only continued to display their slide into insanity, but have now resorted to 3rd grade tactics.

First of all, the definition of insanity:  Doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

Let's recap a bit:
-Russian Investigation:  Nothing came of it.
-Mueller Report:  Nothing came of it.
-Phone Call to Ukraine:
     -Rep. A.S read the 'transcript' and embellished, not realizing the transcript was online, and it showed that AS lied.
     -Dems held 'closed door' hearings/meetings, and tried to 'spin' their findings.
     -Reps finally resorted to 'storming the barn door', only to get Dems feeling outraged and looking like kids caught in the cookie jar.

Now this public hearing:
DAY 1: (11/13)
     -The New Yorker had a picture of NP as a circus clown; someone else as a Lion Tamer, and AS as the Ringmaster.  Hence my title of this post!
     -Two 'star witnesses' came off more concerned about Ukraine's policy/treatment/politics/whatever than they did what's going on in the phone call.
     -Opening statement sounded good, but during questioning, they stuttered, sounding more like a Loony Tunes character as they tried to defend themselves.
     -When asked, point blank, if there was anything wrong with the phone call, both men said 'No.'

My song for the day:  'Take It On The Run'..."Heard it from a friend who....heard it from a friend who....heard it from another..."

Even the news media was calling this a huge lesson in the kindergarten game of 'Telephone'.

DAY 2:  (11/15)
     -The female ambassador took the stand, and sounded credible.  She also stated she thought the ambassadorship should be non-partisan, and that she'd worked under both Dem and Rep administrations.  But she also stated that the ambassadorship should only be there to uphold set standard foreign policy.....ummm....doesn't it change from administration to administration?
     -By the end of her testimony, she came off as a disgruntled worker, angry for being fired.
     -I think she did a better job of answering questions than the previous 'star witnesses'.

I had two songs:  'Rumors'...."How do rumors get started....they're started by jealous people...."
              'The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything'...."we just stay home and lay around..."  
Fortunately, I had one sharp Rep friend who got it!  I don't know if my far-left friends 'get it' or not, but this way I can quietly voice my opinion and not get slammed on FB for my 'opinion'!

DAY 3:  (11/19)
I had to laugh at two separate incidents.
      -One of the senators accidentally called the Lt Col 'sir', whereupon he interrupted the senator to correct him.  "I'm to be addressed as XYZ."
      -Later, that same LC said he'd disclosed the phone call to another member of the intelligence community.  When pressed for which agency, he declined, saying 'under advice of council, he wasn't going to answer', and when pressed again, the lawyer reiterated it.  Then AS interrupted saying that this was an attempt to out the whistle blower, and this line of questioning needed to end.  At which DN asked, since the Intelligence Committee was the one asking the questions, didn't it stand to reason it was OKAY to reveal which agency the person the LC spoke to was a part of?  You could clearly see it in his face he couldn't believe what AS said, nor the 'advice of council' forbidding it.

Song:  Snow Patrol, Chasing Cars..."Let's waste time...."

Day 4:  (11/20)
I did end up watching the 1st hour, due to a dog occupying my lap.
     -Ambass. GS seemed to be disagreeing with AS's opening statement, shaking his head once and whispering to whomever was sitting next to him.
       -GS recounted that the only 'inappropriate' request was that investigations into the 2016 elections and then a visit to the WH would be arranged.  NOT anything to do with looking into the investigation into HB's company.
     -AS asked if GS understood the HB situation to be a 'new development'....GS said no, until AS 'spinned' it in 'seeing HB's name' in the transcript.  Then he said yes.
     -GS also refuted the testimony of LC and the other ambass from the previous day, saying he did not recall the same things, and this is what he DID recall.
     -GS stated he was not allowed full access to his email/phone records to refresh his memory.

Song:  Dead or Alive, You Spin Me Right Round

*********
12/4:
My father passed away shortly after I posted that, so didn't pay attention for the next two weeks.  Frankly, I don't know why it has now shifted to another committee, and Nad is now in charge.

All I do know is what I've heard is very much the same yada yada yada, and stupid accusations which never took place are being cited as 'evidence'.

Song:  Reba McEntire Rumor Has It.


Monday, November 18, 2019

What Is WRONG With People???

Post written 5-31-19
Since it's now nearly six months later, I can post this.

Yes, it's time for another rant.

This time, over a fast-food restaurant that may or may not be coming to our town.

Here's the picture floating around:
 Unfortunately, this proved to be photoshopped.  Here's the correct one:


But what I'm objecting to is the BRUHA over it!

***Names withheld*****
"We are not getting a C-F-A.
I think everyone will be happy with what’s coming to Kimmel Road, but C-F-A isn’t one of them! Also, please know that they still donate money to anti-LGBTQ organizations. Having good chicken nuggets doesn’t make up for that that. Not for me!"

(Voice of Reason):  "
 Let them donate to whoever they want. Its the only family friendly place I can find"

Re:  "They can donate to whoever they want, but I'm not going to spend my money there anymore."

VOR:  "I understand. Are they supporting conversion therapy? Or something actually damaging that I don't know about? I thought they just donated to pro marriage groups."

Lib #2:  " I haven't eaten there in years. I'm sure other companies donate to anti lgbtq groups too, but they brag about it. According to this article, they did donate to a group supporting conversion therapy."

VOR:  "They no longer fund those groups. They haven't been anti LGBT in quite a while. I welcome religious groups who provide a family friendly environment, even though I am totally on the side of the left. Leftists have families too and we like a quality product in a clean restaurant where our kids won't get ostracized for acting like children. Honestly its one of the most well run businesses around where I live. They have amazing customer service training as well."

Lib #2:  "As of this year they were still giving money. I have kids and won't go there. Plenty of other restaurants are clean and family friendly. The food isn't great anyway."

Lib #3:  "“C-F-A Foundation says anti-LGBTQ giving is part of its ‘higher calling’"....spend your money where you want but they definitely still are anti-LGBTQ."

Lib #4:  "Good! Screw them!"

Lib #5:  "Glad! What a hateful place."

Lib #6:  " I like C-F-A's food, as far as fast food goes. And yes they are clean, have good customer service, and child-friendly. 

That said -- nope, they don't get my money. The owners are entitled to whatever personal beliefs they want to have, but th
ey actively donate to anti-LGBT groups. Conversion therapy is abusive and should be illegal everywhere, but that's not the only hateful thing they have supported. Let people be who they are, and mind your own business C-F-A. If two consenting adults are in love and happy, it does not hurt anyone else, not even one tiny little bit. 

They have a right to donate their money to whatever they want. But it won't be money they get from me."


Lib #7:  "I have never gone and will never go to a C-F-A. I will not support a business built on bigotry."

***End Discussion*******

Let's flip this around.  Say an LGBTQ business opens up, and conservatives raise protest.  Oh, wait....the gay bar in town?  Is there any bruha over it?  Okay, a little.....but NOTHING like I've seen here!  

*Full disclosure here*  I'm not actually sure we DO have an established gay bar, but I remember when it DID exist in another town!

Don't like the owner's politics?  Don't eat there or go there.  There are PLENTY of other places to frequent.  For my part, I could care less about a restaurant's beliefs, if I happen to like the food and the staff.

If everyone objected to all beliefs, we'd end up not being able to enjoy a meal out with the family ANYWHERE.  Someone would be complaining about the ingredients, the atmosphere, the staff, or even the art on the walls.  Get over yourself.  If you don't want to frequent any places where 'total equality' isn't practiced, then you're better off staying home.

I've never eaten at a C-F-A, but my daughter enjoys their food.  I karaoke with several of the GLBTQ community, and enjoy their friendship.  It does NOT mean I have to embrace their lifestyle.  We can agree to disagree.

People have sooooo forgotten that!!!!

Update:  We're now getting a Hobby Lobby AND a Texas Roadhouse!!!!!  Plus, I think one of the banks is adding either a branch or simply an ATM out there.

*****

Update 4/9/2021:  C-F-A announced they WILL build a store, since their food truck two weeks ago sparked such a positive response!!!

Friday, May 31, 2019

So This Just Happened......

Post written:  1-5-19
All of a sudden, authors are up in arms over a rant by a cover artist, and blocking him from their FB feed, or unfriending him altogether.  Why?
The man dared to express his honest, no-holds-barred opinion on obesity.
Ladies, he's a body-builder.  The man works hard to keep his body in shape, so women will snap up our books, no matter what the title.  So yeah, he's a little 'in your face' and crass.  He's just speaking the God's honest TRUTH!

"Do I really have to even write anything here?!?! My post says it all!🤦🏻‍♂️ And it is disgusting!🤮
———
Yes, disgusting how lazy Americans are! How little self-control, discipline, and care for their health they have. Especially when I see fat kids... That is “child abuse” and it really irritates me😤
———
And so tired of seeing posts or write-ups about how “big is beautiful”, telling other obese/severely overweight people that they should just love themselves as they are...
———
NO THEY SHOULDN’T! Stop encouraging them to be lazy, and unhealthy!
———
- Don’t act like you don’t fly on a plane because you’d rather drive... You hate trying to force-squeeze yourself into the seat and embarrassed that you can’t even buckle the seat belt as it won’t reach.
- Same for why you don’t go to the movie theater...
- Or on amusement park rides.
- You hate not being able to be on your feet for that long due from the pain of all that weight your feet, ankles and knees have to hold up.
- Having only stretchy wasted pants and XXXL t-shirts for the majority of your wardrobe.
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All of those who say they love their large body, in a MILLISECOND would say yes to being able to snap their fingers to be in great shape!
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Unmotivated people need HARD CORE, IN YOUR FACE reminders like this post of how unhealthy they are at their size, and NOT “so called” friends not saying a word to them about it, afraid they will hurt their feelings!... F THAT!... So this is merely one of those wake-up calls.
———
Do you think I enjoy going to the gym? Hell no! I did the first 15-20 years working out. But when you have been doing it for almost 34 years, it is DRAINING, time-consuming & HARD WORK! Especially at my level, where I push harder and further than most do or can, as it is now innate to me and I don’t feel the OMG/WTF feeling of exertion until I stop my last rep, where then I am dying out of breath, about to fall over/pass-out.
———
And no, I can’t lift easier. That is like telling a cheetah to run slower, or a hummingbird to flap its wings less, or dynamite to explode gently!
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And now before all you haters come on my post trying to claim obese people can’t help being that way, they have health issues...
“According to the CDC, 63% of teenage girls become overweight by age 11.”😡
“Obesity in the United States is a major health issue, resulting in numerous diseases, specifically increased risk of certain types of cancer, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, as well as significant economic costs.”...
——
That said “RESULTING IN”, not what made them obese!!
“Obesity has continued to grow within the United States. Two of every three American men are considered to be overweight or obese, but the rates for women are far higher. The United States contains one of the highest percentage of obese people in the world.”
“An obese person in America incurs an average of $1,429 more in medical expenses annually. Approximately $147 billion is spent in added medical expenses per year within the United States. This number is suspected to increase approximately $1.24 billion per year until the year 2030.”
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This causes everyone else to have higher health insurance rates!!!😡
“It is estimated that 3/4 of the American population will likely be overweight or obese by 2020.”
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So save your hate comments for when you are talking to yourself about your own obesity!"

Last year, I was rather appalled by a plus-size author posting pics in her bikini.  I found it rather offensive, since I stopped wearing bikinis after the birth of my 1st child, even though I'd finally lost all my 'baby weight'.  I didn't like the way I looked in it, and didn't feel the need to inflict my flabbiness on the general public.  I went back to tank suits.

After hitting my highest weight, I hated putting on bathing suits unless I had shorts on.  This past year, I bought a tankini, with a flared skirt for a bottom, to cover up my 'thunder thighs'.

I APPLAUD what the man said!  I'm trying to lose the pounds I put on from 2011-2013, and even if I don't achieve my total goal, I'm doing it for ME....so I'm healthier.

I get that some of it's genetic.  Some people, no matter what they do, just can't lose the pounds.  But at least TRY?  If you've tried everything and your metabolism just won't cooperate, that's one thing.  But to lie to yourself and say 'Big is beautiful'?  Again, if you're healthy, that's one thing.  If you have HBP, diabetes, and other health issues, listen to your doctor and try to drop some pounds?

*****UPDATE*********

Boy howdy, has the sh*t hit the fan!  Authors are blocking him, having their covers changed, and even cursing him out on his page.  Only TWO people have stood up for him....and, you guessed it....been slammed.  I messaged one of them privately and told her I was on my side, but couldn't afford to be 'black-balled' by my fellow authors.  She understood.

JT even responded today with this:

"THE TRUTH (because for writers and readers you are all illiterate!)...

I never said obese women were disgusting. I said obesity in America is disgusting. The issue of obesity, not individual people. The issue of obesity means you allow yourself to get
 obese. That doesn’t say you as a person are disgusting. It says you not doing anything, or much, or enough, about it when you can is disgusting. The “act” is disgusting not the person.

But you all don’t want it to be that actual truth of what I really wrote. You want it to be like I’m body-shaming you, as you all LIE and say I’m directly insulting you personally and every single overweight person to ever walk the earth, and that I hate all women🙄

That way you can be mad at me instead of yourselves for being lazy and not doing something or enough about your obesity.

And lazy does not mean exercise. Lazy means anything of a forward action to do something about your obesity. And you ALL can, but lie and say you can’t. You all can eat less and the right foods. It is a very very small percentage of people that have diseases where it makes it very HARD (not impossible) to lose weight via diet. There is not one single disease that makes it “impossible” to lose weight, and causes you to continue to gain weight like you all claim.

A disease can’t make food go into your mouth. So a disease cannot make you gain weight. Only the food that goes in your mouth can cause you to gain weight. How your body reacts to food because of very rare diseases is something different. Which can still be controlled, and is a tiny % of the population, not everyone of you hypocritical liars. Only 16% of people have a thyroid problem, and that includes the ones that make you LOSE weight.

If everybody who was overweight and obese were actually trying to do something about it, the obesity rate wouldn’t be 2/3 of America, with next year it going UP to 3/4 of America! So you are all a bunch of liars!

You could’ve all easily commented by saying...

“I know, I know it’s just so hard to have self-control to not eat more when I’m hungry, and I’ve tried various diets and can’t seem to stick to them or can’t seem to get results from them. Do you have any suggestions for me, because you’re right “obesity in America is disgusting” and I don’t want to be a part of it anymore.”

But nobody will say that, as you are ashamed to admit it. But see how easily your moronic attitudes could’ve prevented all this? 

None of you are even on here to defend body shaming, because just about EVERY ONE of you have been non-stop body shaming myself and my girlfriend. That PROVES you are not defending body-shaming, as YOU body shame! It proves you are hypocritical lying trash!"

Yes, he could have been a little more tactful in his delivery.  I get that.  But the point he's trying to make is America has a weight problem.  Some commenters tried to point that out, but apparently everyone else saw this post as 'Plus-Sized Women Are Disgusting and Have No Self-Control'.

Ummm....no, that's not what he was saying.

I don't dare post this for a few months....