I early voted today, so the primary is over for me. All the annoying name calling, dirt slinging, ugly ads can stop now. I hate them.
I’ve driven the Texas highways for years and I have yet to stumble upon one of the million dollar rest stops which all his cronies apparently went to work for him to build so they have somewhere to meet secretly while they plan the Trans Texas Railroad or whatever it is.
The other candidate has apparently thrown out all loyalty to Texas in the wake of the current President’s election and has supported everything he spouts out. Personally I don’t think she’s doing a good job representing us if she’s not in Washington and she can’t be in Washington because she’s running for governor. I know it’s all legal for her to hold one job while running for another, but is it RIGHT?
Now, lest you think I think I am advocating one candidate over the other, let me just say I didn’t vote for either one. I will not disclose who I did vote for, but the important thing is I VOTED. I had my say.
And now the ads can stop. All of them. The ads have done nothing but confuse the issues and get everyone very dirty. Since I reached voting age, I have not missed many elections. I even stood in line for hours to vote in the horse racing ballot several years ago, only to find out my then husband and I canceled each other out! Boy was he mad!
See lots of wives vote the way their husbands advises them to. Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn’t, and usually didn’t tell him if I was voting the opposite. The standard answer was “why should I go vote if we’re just going to cancel each other out?” The reason is because if we don’t vote, it just might be taken from us some day.
Besides it’s a secret ballot for a reason.
I voted today. It doesn’t mean any less because I didn’t wait for Election Day. I still get excited, and while I may not be the most informed voter, I do make the effort to vote.
Tuesday, March 2, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. VOTE. Exercise the freedom while you still have it.
Patriotically yours,
Stevie
Copyright 2010 Stevie Stevens, Fort Worth, TX. For information contact faithleap@sbcglobal.net
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Power Outage
A snowstorm blanketed the north central portion of Texas where I live last Thursday with up to 10 inches of snow. That is more snow in one day than we have had in the last 10 years. This is the third snowfall since Thanksgiving. Yet they talk about Global Warming??
Thursday was great, the snow was falling, quietly, steadily all day. Little flakes, then big flakes, some as fine as raindrops. Falling, falling, grinding this part of the world to a halt. Snowtires, chains, sand, salt, these are not in a Texans’ winter vocabulary, so we are never prepared.
I got sent home from work early, and as giddy as a schoolchild freed for the summer, I made large plans for the evening. I went out and built a snowman, complete with baseball cap and sunglasses, then back in the house. There would be no venturing out as the roads were slick, so I was going to hunker down in the warmth with my dog and veg in front of the tv. Maybe indulge in a chicken pot pie, which is NOT Weight Watchers® friendly. WRONG. Got home and flipped on the tv, “searching for satellite signal”, and search it did, and never found one. So I flipped over and watched the shows I had taped, Adam 12, Dragnet, Jag, Big Bang Theory, but it wasn’t the same. I wasn’t connected to the outside world, no running banner of school closings and weather bulletins.
It finally hit me that the snow might be a problem, so I retrieved a ladder from the big little shed and climbed up with a broom to de-snow my satellite dish with a broom. It was partially successful, but not enough, so in desperation I unplugged the converter box from the small tv and attached it to the living room tv. At least I got to watch The Mentalist, and the school closings and the weather bulletins. Not quite the evening I planned, but I did read a novel I had started, so all was good. And still it snowed. Quietly, steadily coming down. Something I didn’t realize, Snow is HEAVY! Carports buckled, trees cracked and power lines snapped.
Got in bed and slept soundly until the alarm went off. Tried to turn on the radio to hear how bad it was and nothing. No whirring, no humming, no clicking, no warmth. At some point the power had gone out. I stayed under the covers until I realized I needed to get up and get dressed or it would be too cold. So I pulled on a thermal shirt, a long sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt and a hat, then a pair of long underwear, knee socks, sweat pants, fuzzy slipper socks and slipper boots.
I sat down to survey my options and there weren’t many. No power meant no cooking, meant anything I ate would be cold and I was cold already. I settled into my chair with three blankets and my dog and read, then took a short nap, then read some more. By then I had gloves on my hands and my dog around my neck. Ran to the store and got a hot sandwich while I was out to stave off starvation.
Finally decided it would be better to leave than freeze, so went to the show and saw The Tooth Fairy. It was cute. I got warmed up and left the theater convinced that the power would be on when I got home. Eternal optimist that I am, it wasn’t. Sat and read some more, shoveled a little snow, read till I finished the book. Prayed. Decided we would go to my parents’ home where there was heat and warmth and food, so ran around packing up clothes for myself and treats, food and toys for three dogs. By the time my housemate pulled in the driveway, I was sitting on the ottoman rocking back and forth, trying to keep it all together in the absolute stillness that surrounded me, that had surrounded me all day. At that point there wasn’t much difference in temperature in the outside and the inside of the house, and dark was coming.
She grabbed a couple of things and off we went to spend the week-end “in the country.”
I thank God that there are people who know how to fix electricity. I thank God for the people that drove to work on Friday morning so I could get a warm sandwich and sit in a warm theater. It pointed out to me how dependant I am on electricity, not just for heat and food, but my internet didn’t work, and my cell phone started going down fast. I felt like I was alone, deserted in the cold stillness that was my house with no contact to the outside world.
It got me to wondering is that how people who are separated from God feel? Knowing help, and warmth and love are so close, if they will but make the decision to reach for it? Yes, we could have toughed it out at the house, it would have been a long, cold night, and we would have suffered needlessly, when warmth, love and food were so close.
It did make me realize that all those lovely thoughts I ever had about living in Colorado were bogus, as about two weeks of non-stop snow/slush/snow would drive me back down to Texas. While I admire the snow from afar, and on occasional visits, sloshing through it with any sort of regularity is a completely different reality.
I think my power goes out every once in a while to remind me that I don’t want to suffer a POWER failure. Thank you God, for keeping me plugged in to you.
I’m sure it’s all Punsutawaney Phil’s fault, seeing his stupid shadow!
Stay warm.
Stevie
Copyright 2010 Stevie Stevens, Fort Worth, TX. For information contact faithleap@sbcglobal.net
Thursday was great, the snow was falling, quietly, steadily all day. Little flakes, then big flakes, some as fine as raindrops. Falling, falling, grinding this part of the world to a halt. Snowtires, chains, sand, salt, these are not in a Texans’ winter vocabulary, so we are never prepared.
I got sent home from work early, and as giddy as a schoolchild freed for the summer, I made large plans for the evening. I went out and built a snowman, complete with baseball cap and sunglasses, then back in the house. There would be no venturing out as the roads were slick, so I was going to hunker down in the warmth with my dog and veg in front of the tv. Maybe indulge in a chicken pot pie, which is NOT Weight Watchers® friendly. WRONG. Got home and flipped on the tv, “searching for satellite signal”, and search it did, and never found one. So I flipped over and watched the shows I had taped, Adam 12, Dragnet, Jag, Big Bang Theory, but it wasn’t the same. I wasn’t connected to the outside world, no running banner of school closings and weather bulletins.
It finally hit me that the snow might be a problem, so I retrieved a ladder from the big little shed and climbed up with a broom to de-snow my satellite dish with a broom. It was partially successful, but not enough, so in desperation I unplugged the converter box from the small tv and attached it to the living room tv. At least I got to watch The Mentalist, and the school closings and the weather bulletins. Not quite the evening I planned, but I did read a novel I had started, so all was good. And still it snowed. Quietly, steadily coming down. Something I didn’t realize, Snow is HEAVY! Carports buckled, trees cracked and power lines snapped.
Got in bed and slept soundly until the alarm went off. Tried to turn on the radio to hear how bad it was and nothing. No whirring, no humming, no clicking, no warmth. At some point the power had gone out. I stayed under the covers until I realized I needed to get up and get dressed or it would be too cold. So I pulled on a thermal shirt, a long sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt and a hat, then a pair of long underwear, knee socks, sweat pants, fuzzy slipper socks and slipper boots.
I sat down to survey my options and there weren’t many. No power meant no cooking, meant anything I ate would be cold and I was cold already. I settled into my chair with three blankets and my dog and read, then took a short nap, then read some more. By then I had gloves on my hands and my dog around my neck. Ran to the store and got a hot sandwich while I was out to stave off starvation.
Finally decided it would be better to leave than freeze, so went to the show and saw The Tooth Fairy. It was cute. I got warmed up and left the theater convinced that the power would be on when I got home. Eternal optimist that I am, it wasn’t. Sat and read some more, shoveled a little snow, read till I finished the book. Prayed. Decided we would go to my parents’ home where there was heat and warmth and food, so ran around packing up clothes for myself and treats, food and toys for three dogs. By the time my housemate pulled in the driveway, I was sitting on the ottoman rocking back and forth, trying to keep it all together in the absolute stillness that surrounded me, that had surrounded me all day. At that point there wasn’t much difference in temperature in the outside and the inside of the house, and dark was coming.
She grabbed a couple of things and off we went to spend the week-end “in the country.”
I thank God that there are people who know how to fix electricity. I thank God for the people that drove to work on Friday morning so I could get a warm sandwich and sit in a warm theater. It pointed out to me how dependant I am on electricity, not just for heat and food, but my internet didn’t work, and my cell phone started going down fast. I felt like I was alone, deserted in the cold stillness that was my house with no contact to the outside world.
It got me to wondering is that how people who are separated from God feel? Knowing help, and warmth and love are so close, if they will but make the decision to reach for it? Yes, we could have toughed it out at the house, it would have been a long, cold night, and we would have suffered needlessly, when warmth, love and food were so close.
It did make me realize that all those lovely thoughts I ever had about living in Colorado were bogus, as about two weeks of non-stop snow/slush/snow would drive me back down to Texas. While I admire the snow from afar, and on occasional visits, sloshing through it with any sort of regularity is a completely different reality.
I think my power goes out every once in a while to remind me that I don’t want to suffer a POWER failure. Thank you God, for keeping me plugged in to you.
I’m sure it’s all Punsutawaney Phil’s fault, seeing his stupid shadow!
Stay warm.
Stevie
Copyright 2010 Stevie Stevens, Fort Worth, TX. For information contact faithleap@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Valentine's Day - Again!
Oh great cupid day is fast approaching, when young mens’ fancy turns to cards and flowers and young girls’ fancy turns to gold and diamonds. The stores are decked out in pink, white and red hearts and everything edible is chocolate covered. I like chocolate, but do NOT want to be tempted, so give me a heart shaped Peeps® and I’ll be fine. If a little chocolate happens to melt on it . . .
This particular holiday always reminds me that I am a die hard romantic. I still believe the fairy tale that “they will live happily ever after” with hearts and flowers and beautiful music, even though I know better, and have lived through the unhappy ending. With wide-eyed anticipation I wait for the white knight in shining armor to show up at my house laden with diamond studded heart shaped baubles all for me. He has dozens of my favorite flowers (daffodils and tulips) in his hand and he showers me with kisses and hugs and love. Stars and rainbows hang above our heads as we stare into each other's eyes and sigh happily. About here is where I usually wake up, wipe the smudges from my rose colored glasses and get back to life, which is nothing like a Hallmark movie.
Therein lies the problem. I like romantic comedy movies, the kind that boy loves girl, boy acts stupid and loses girl, girl forgives him and they live happily every after, or some variation on that theme. Everything is all nice and neatly wrapped up in a two hour package of struggle, conflict and resolution. One of my favorites, Sleepless In Seattle has one of the best lines. Annie (Meg Ryan) and Becky (Rosie O’Donnell) are watching An Affair to Remember and Annie is bemoaning the fact that people don’t fall in love like the characters in the movie anymore. And Becky looks at her and says “You don’t want to be in love, you want to be in love like in a movie.” Movie love is not real love. It’s not messy and even when hearts get broken; they pick up the pieces and go on. No fuss, no muss.
Now that tv and radio ads are all Valentines all the time, let me, as this love filled day approaches, make a couple of suggestions. If you are romantically unattached as I am, and feel the need to heart somebody, I’m sure you have friends, so treat the single ones to a little treat: A cute card, a flower, even just an e-mail. I might especially say treat those who are newly single or single moms. And second, treat yourself. Enjoy a piece of Godiva® chocolate or buy some flowers and put them on your desk. Let people wonder, that’s half the fun.
For us hopeless romantics this is a day that holds a lot of promise. Anything could happen. The possibilities are endless. Mr. White Knight could show up and sweep me off into a whirlwind romance that ends in a wedding on a beach in Hawaii and we really could live happily ever after, on Maui. Oh, excuse me, my rose colored glasses are smudged again.
In any case, Happy Valentine’s Day. Enjoy it, revel in it or hide in your closet till it’s over. It’s only 24 hours then another day will start. Wait, are those hoofbeats I hear? For me?
Stevie
Copyright 2010 Stevie Stevens, Fort Worth, TX for information faithleap@sbcglobal.net
This particular holiday always reminds me that I am a die hard romantic. I still believe the fairy tale that “they will live happily ever after” with hearts and flowers and beautiful music, even though I know better, and have lived through the unhappy ending. With wide-eyed anticipation I wait for the white knight in shining armor to show up at my house laden with diamond studded heart shaped baubles all for me. He has dozens of my favorite flowers (daffodils and tulips) in his hand and he showers me with kisses and hugs and love. Stars and rainbows hang above our heads as we stare into each other's eyes and sigh happily. About here is where I usually wake up, wipe the smudges from my rose colored glasses and get back to life, which is nothing like a Hallmark movie.
Therein lies the problem. I like romantic comedy movies, the kind that boy loves girl, boy acts stupid and loses girl, girl forgives him and they live happily every after, or some variation on that theme. Everything is all nice and neatly wrapped up in a two hour package of struggle, conflict and resolution. One of my favorites, Sleepless In Seattle has one of the best lines. Annie (Meg Ryan) and Becky (Rosie O’Donnell) are watching An Affair to Remember and Annie is bemoaning the fact that people don’t fall in love like the characters in the movie anymore. And Becky looks at her and says “You don’t want to be in love, you want to be in love like in a movie.” Movie love is not real love. It’s not messy and even when hearts get broken; they pick up the pieces and go on. No fuss, no muss.
Now that tv and radio ads are all Valentines all the time, let me, as this love filled day approaches, make a couple of suggestions. If you are romantically unattached as I am, and feel the need to heart somebody, I’m sure you have friends, so treat the single ones to a little treat: A cute card, a flower, even just an e-mail. I might especially say treat those who are newly single or single moms. And second, treat yourself. Enjoy a piece of Godiva® chocolate or buy some flowers and put them on your desk. Let people wonder, that’s half the fun.
For us hopeless romantics this is a day that holds a lot of promise. Anything could happen. The possibilities are endless. Mr. White Knight could show up and sweep me off into a whirlwind romance that ends in a wedding on a beach in Hawaii and we really could live happily ever after, on Maui. Oh, excuse me, my rose colored glasses are smudged again.
In any case, Happy Valentine’s Day. Enjoy it, revel in it or hide in your closet till it’s over. It’s only 24 hours then another day will start. Wait, are those hoofbeats I hear? For me?
Stevie
Copyright 2010 Stevie Stevens, Fort Worth, TX for information faithleap@sbcglobal.net
Monday, February 1, 2010
Reunion
I went to a reunion the other night. I’d like to say I got all gussied up, but I didn’t. Wore a sweater and jeans, combed my hair, put on lipstick and glued a smile to my face. I have managed to avoid all of my high school reunions because I still keep in contact with the people with whom I hung around, so I figure why bother.
However, this reunion was not high school. It was Central Texas Youth Camp, the church camp I went to in some version for 8 years, both as camper and counselor. As with most gatherings of this nature, I was on the fringes, talking pictures, making small talk. Hi, how are you? Fine, great, good, busy, working, you know the superficial platitudes that come so easy at these things. I watched my Dad working the crowd, and my mom running around in her apron. My brother was the official MC so he kept the slide show running and things on track.
My great nephew made the rounds as everybody wanted to see him. He was among the youngest to attend, and my parents were probably among the oldest. I land somewhere in the middle. Hoping I didn’t look as old as some of the people. Yes, it was great to see them. I sat waiting for my friends to show. There were about 8 of us that were almost inseparable. I knew of two others that were coming. Almost bolted until I looked up and there was one of my BFFs from that time coming in the door. I made a bee line for him and we spent the rest of the evening catching up on stuff. Talking through the starlight devo, like we used to do. In church we would pass notes back and forth till one day his mom came and sat between us. We thought that was hysterical.
Some of the friends couldn’t make it because of distance, from down near Conroe, TX up to the Wisconsin border, and they were missed. Some couldn’t make it because they left this earth way too early. We talked about them, and remembered, which I guess is the main purpose behind a reunion. To remember the good times and bad, the laughter and tears, what we meant to each other and how special those times were. How close we all were, and how far apart we are now.
Makes me think of another reunion. The BIG reunion. The one where I will be ushered into heaven and everyone that’s gone before me will crowd around to say hello. I think of my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, my baby brother that I never got to know and friends. I don’t think I’ll be hanging around on the fringes on that day. I don’t think the talk will be superficial, and the tears will be of joy at seeing them again. At some point the crowd will part and my big brother will show up. And we’ll get to spend some time together, just he and I. And we’ll laugh and dance and sing. Yes, dance. I think in heaven even church of Christers will be allowed to dance! What a day that will be. Umm, but not just yet, okay?
Enjoy the day.
Stevie
copyright 2010, Stevie Stevens, Fort Worth, TX. For information faithleap@sbcglobal.net
However, this reunion was not high school. It was Central Texas Youth Camp, the church camp I went to in some version for 8 years, both as camper and counselor. As with most gatherings of this nature, I was on the fringes, talking pictures, making small talk. Hi, how are you? Fine, great, good, busy, working, you know the superficial platitudes that come so easy at these things. I watched my Dad working the crowd, and my mom running around in her apron. My brother was the official MC so he kept the slide show running and things on track.
My great nephew made the rounds as everybody wanted to see him. He was among the youngest to attend, and my parents were probably among the oldest. I land somewhere in the middle. Hoping I didn’t look as old as some of the people. Yes, it was great to see them. I sat waiting for my friends to show. There were about 8 of us that were almost inseparable. I knew of two others that were coming. Almost bolted until I looked up and there was one of my BFFs from that time coming in the door. I made a bee line for him and we spent the rest of the evening catching up on stuff. Talking through the starlight devo, like we used to do. In church we would pass notes back and forth till one day his mom came and sat between us. We thought that was hysterical.
Some of the friends couldn’t make it because of distance, from down near Conroe, TX up to the Wisconsin border, and they were missed. Some couldn’t make it because they left this earth way too early. We talked about them, and remembered, which I guess is the main purpose behind a reunion. To remember the good times and bad, the laughter and tears, what we meant to each other and how special those times were. How close we all were, and how far apart we are now.
Makes me think of another reunion. The BIG reunion. The one where I will be ushered into heaven and everyone that’s gone before me will crowd around to say hello. I think of my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, my baby brother that I never got to know and friends. I don’t think I’ll be hanging around on the fringes on that day. I don’t think the talk will be superficial, and the tears will be of joy at seeing them again. At some point the crowd will part and my big brother will show up. And we’ll get to spend some time together, just he and I. And we’ll laugh and dance and sing. Yes, dance. I think in heaven even church of Christers will be allowed to dance! What a day that will be. Umm, but not just yet, okay?
Enjoy the day.
Stevie
copyright 2010, Stevie Stevens, Fort Worth, TX. For information faithleap@sbcglobal.net
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