My mother, the President

My mom is living her best life in an assisted-living community. She's basically the queen bee, having landed the gig of resident president. It sounds fancy, right? Her main job is to be the voice of the people, bringing every little grievance to the staff's attention. Except, here's the twist - she's really not into the whole 'complaint department' vibe. Instead, she's all about turning complaints into reasons for a fiesta.

Why fuss, she argues? In her eyes, the place is practically utopia. They cook for her, clean for her, even mop and sparkle up the bathroom - it's like living in a hotel that you never have to check out of. There's entertainment on tap, and should anything dare to break, it's fixed in a jiffy. "What's there to gripe about?"

However........ my mom does have one beef - and it's not with the service. Nope, it's with a fellow resident she finds less than delightful. This lady apparently missed the memo on being kind and Oh, the drama unfolded like a scene right out of a daytime soap opera!

Picture this: This lady made the classic mistake of crossing words about one of my mom's children.... That's right, they poked the mama bear and the ladies at my mom's table - you know, her loyal squad - had to practically form a human barrier to prevent a full-on "lights out" scenario. My mom, being the queen of sass and class, delivered a comeback so epic, not anything like: "hold-my-earrings" but more of a explanation on how my mom was going to knock her dentures out of her head. This lady could do nothing but retreat. She scurried away, tail between her legs.

A few sunsets later, this lady waltzes back into the drama, toting a big ol' apology in her hand. My mom, in a move that could only be described as classic her, accepts the apology. Then the lady wanted to know if they could now be friends now and my moms response was a hard NO! She basically said, "Look, honey, I've seen how you treat the folks here, and it's not pretty. Rudeness is a friendship deal-breaker for me!"

Moral of the story? My mom might not be running around fixing the world's problems (or even the minor inconveniences of her living community), but don't cross her family, or you'll get a candid piece of her mind. It's comedic gold – a sitcom episode in the making.

My mom, ladies and gentlemen, the non-complaining, party-loving, straight-talking president of her assisted living place.

Mom Shaming...

Have we reached a parenting low, or is it just me? Moms are too busy perfecting their fake lashes and scrolling through social media to hear their kids' cries. Dare to point this out, and they play the "offended" card, labeling you a mom shamer! Is telling the truth about harmful parenting now off-limits? Does "mom-shaming" shield moms from taking responsibility when their actions harm their children? While some worry about borders and politics, I'm fretting over the silent victims of struggling mothers who are missing the mark on motherhood!

Moms have found a sneaky loophole in parental duties – handing an iPad or game remote to keep the kids entertained. The fridge might be packed with sugary, preservative-loaded snacks, but are kids learning how to socialize? As moms aim for TikTok stardom, their kids might end up in a sugar-induced coma. Screens have become babysitters, leaving no space for real conversations. Are children being raised or simply tolerated? We already know the answer. That's what's sad.

Which Came First? Procrastination or Stress? It's a vicious cycle I can't break

Some might say I'm the reigning champion of "I'll do it later" land, with a gold medal in procrastination. Truth be told, this habit turns me into a bit of a stress-ball. You might think that intentionally turning my life into a pressure cooker sounds like a recipe for disaster, but surprise—it's actually my secret sauce for brilliance!

See, without the adrenaline rush of a looming deadline, my productivity is pretty much a sleepy sloth. Yes, I’m aware of my tasks and where I need to be, but somehow, the motivation plays hide and seek with me—and it's really good at hiding. Time? Oh, that slippery little thing means nothing to me, making my day-to-day a juggling act where I'm constantly dropping the balls.

I keep pondering if there'll come a day when I ditch this merry-go-round for a more straight-laced approach to tasks.

Procrastination and stress, the dynamic duo that somehow gets me to the finish line—albeit looking like a mad scientist who's just had a eureka moment after days of no sleep. The plot twist? The pressure cooker method, while slightly bonkers, turns out to be my strange muse.

I’m in mourning

Today is my last day of being 58.  I have not like these last years of my 50’s.  My health is declining, I can feel it.  I take 4 prescriptions now and I’m losing what looks I had. My hair is on its last leg and my body aches somewhere new every day. 

 I feel like I have had a good life.  I have been my own boss for 32 years of my career. The career that was forced on me as a single mother. I have been able to support a family with its income most years.  I was lucky enough not to have to do it alone. 

I have raised 3.5 kids with pretty good values and to be productive members of society… at least I have cut the apron strings. I’ll let you decide who the .5 is. 😉 

I could have done things differently…. I would have in hindsight… but it is what it is now.  We work to play and we play to work.  Not many get a free ride. I’m not ready to enter my 60’s but if it means I leave these nasty 50’s behind then it might be worth it! 

This thing's going to out live me!

When I bought this plant... like five or six years ago, it was a little bitty, and a tiny little pot.  I thought "oh this is really cute." I had a great place for it to ad a little color to the kitchen... and you know with my luck with plants, I would only have it for a couple months, then it would die, and then I’ll get something else to go there. Nope! Dennis started taking care of it and we have had it now for six years!!! We’ve had to re-pot it twice, and it looks like it needs it again! I got quit buying plants.