Shelbys Perfect World

Guardian Angels

2023-08-03T11:21:00.001-04:00

I believe. I believe our loved ones watch over is from above. I believe the what happens, should happen. I believe that our thoughts and prayers are heard. They might always be answered but they are heard. Yesterday I was having a conversation about loved ones contacting us from heaven. I mentioned the time of 1:34am because it was the time my eldest son was born. This morning my television turned on by itself onto a screen I had never seem before. I could not turn the tv off. I looked at the clock and it was 1:34am. That was not a random event. It was a message. At 1:35 the television turned itself off.

Unsubscribe

2023-08-02T11:09:00.000-04:00

This morning I decided to break up with my e-mails. I have been contemplating this for months but each day they contact me, I let them slide. Today I felt strong and empowered and will do what is long overdue. When I bought your item I was hoping for a temporary relationship. Then you got possessive and wanted my attention. When I didn’t answer, the email came more frequently. Every day, twice or three times a day. I had enough and needed to end our romance. I’ve cut you out of my life. Go find someone else. .

Dependency

2023-08-01T12:20:00.001-04:00

I was brought up to be independent. This does not mean that I never ask for help. It means that I try my hardest to solve my problems before I request a helping hand. That is the way people and government should be. I was driving home from the supermarket and noticed that the price of gas had gone up 35 cents in one week. I was astonished. We used to be independent. We relinquished our independence willingly and people are still trying to figure out why. We have our own gas pipelines. Why did we deplete our excess and then beg for help at hostage rates? It it the elephant in the room that society is afraid to acknowledge. If I have a pantry full of food, why beg for someone else’s? There is an expression “I see what you see and you see what I see”. What happened to “ if you see something, say something “?

Strong vs Fragile

2023-07-31T13:42:00.000-04:00

This is a world where people feel that strength is a positive attribute. It is, but sometimes it works against us. A strong person has certain things expected of them. The bar is set high. It is assumed that they can handle the burden and do not need a helping hand. On the flip side is the fragile person. They are treated with a very light hand. If you expect too much of them, they might crack like a fine piece of china. They are never given too much responsibilities and the bar is set low. At my age, I no longer want to be the strong one. I want to be fragile and nurtured.

Home

2023-07-30T12:34:00.001-04:00

After a few years of not writing, I decided to try again. Many life changes have taken place since the last time I posted. I am not the same person. I feel that I am the best version of myself now. Today I wanted to speak about the concept of home. What is home? At one time or another we have all said that we want to go home. Is home a place or is home a feeling? It is a little bit of both as they go hand in hand. I grew up in a home with wonderful parents. Home meant security, safety and love. When I got married and had children, home meant the feeling that I nurtured and loved my family to make sure they would continue their lives with the skills I passed on to them. After they left and my parents died, home never had that warm feeling again. I had to relocated to find a home that would make me happy again. I was lucky to do that. The community I live in and the new friends I have made, make this third rendition of home a place I feel content. We carry our homes on our backs like a traveler carries his suitcase. It is packed with things that are most important to us and wherever we unpack it, becomes home.

Here and There

2021-01-03T09:16:00.002-05:00

After ten years and a radically changing world, sometimes I feel that I no longer have anything to write. I have said too much but I have not said enough. I hope I have been inspiring or at the very least thought provoking. I will still write but not as consistently as previously. My routine has changed and along with it so have I. If I invest my thoughts on politics, I will invariably upset myself. I disagree with the trajectory of our society and cannot dwell on it. I will see in 2022 if I am pleasantly surprised or terrified. So for now, I will write when I am inspired. It could be daily, weekly or monthly. Who knows? It is not goodbye. It is ...till then.

NIMBY

2021-01-02T08:22:00.003-05:00

Nimby is the acronym for "not in my back yard". It means that you do not care what happens to other people as long as it is not in your back yard. This morning I read that Nancy Pelosi's house was spray painted with a message saying people want more than the six hundred dollar stimulus check. The vandals also left red paint and a pigs head. I want to know how she feels now that her property was damaged. Does she feel vulnerable? Does she feel threatened? Does she feel like her privacy was invaded? Is she angry that someone defaced her property? If she does, she is feeling what thousands of American's have felt this year. Violence is the great equalizer. It levels the playing field for everyone. No one deserves it, but when it happens to you, you understand it deep in your gut. It is eye opening.

2021

2021-01-01T09:16:00.002-05:00

2020 is a year that does not need to be looked back on. We saw enough. We had enough. We need to start 2021 with an open mind and open heart.

Good Riddence

2020-12-31T06:44:00.001-05:00

2020 will finally end. It was a year of pandemic and pandemonium. We lived with a sick society in two senses of the word. Physically, we were helpless until we did research and understood the enemy. Spiritually we showed that human nature is sick and ugly and we are no better than wild animals. Our president elect thinks his vice president elect is president. Once again, I heard him call her the president elect. I believe the election was stolen and if every person would have had to vote with ID, it would be a different outcome. As my mother in law used to say, "Honey, that is water over the bridge". Today is my last day as a real worker. Monday I begin as a retired part time worker. I was seriously going to end the blog today. Over and out. I decided to still write it but maybe not every day. That is to be determined. So Happy New Year to all and I pray for a better 2021.

Off The Clock

2020-12-30T06:36:00.000-05:00

One more alarm. After tomorrow I will not have to set my alarm to get up. My working hours will change due to my retirement, so I will be getting up later. That feels like the best retirement gift of them all. I am an early riser by nature so I will be up well before the time I need to. Just that small change in routine feels like a huge life change.

Parteeny

2020-12-29T06:46:00.003-05:00

Today is my office parteeny. It is my new word for a tiny party. For the past sixteen years we had a big party with the entire staff. On this, the seventeenth year I am here, it will be with a few people. It will be with the ones we have been around since the virus came to town. I could also call it a podteeny, since we now call people who we are around a lot our pod. There will be good food and gifts and I will probably enjoy the small gathering more than the large one.

Numbers Do Lie

2020-12-28T07:21:00.003-05:00

I was appalled last week when the local newspaper had a headline that read "Police turn down 25% raise in proposed contract". It was a blatant lie that no one would know unless they read the contract. To 99% of the people, it looked like the police were being greedy, in a world where they are now scrutinized for doing their jobs. The numbers totaled no where near 25%. No matter how you did the math the numbers were off. The first year was 1%, the second 1% and so on. They were asked to cut vacation days and sick days by about 20%. They were asked to pay into health insurance at a hefty monetary loss. They were asked to work a few free days a year. If you did the research, this is public knowledge but no one goes past reading the headline. All we saw was the bold lie of a headline of a liberal newspaper. It was insulting to every law enforcement officer. Haven't they gone through enough. Having the facts on that matter even more strongly reinforces the numbers "game" of the election. Unless a non biased bonded agency goes through and verifies each presidential vote, I will never be convinced that Biden won fair and square. If I see such lies and numerical manipulation in my county, it must be on a grander scale nationally. To me, Biden will forever be the man who stole the election.

Old Age

2020-12-27T07:56:00.003-05:00

Old age is creeping in but I plan an offensive attack. Since I have been off for about two weeks, being non productive, my mind is in turmoil. There are no reminders, no important projects, no responsibilities. Tomorrow I will reset it to become normally working. It will know dates, times and important issues. Time off is good, but time on is better.

In Your Lane

2020-12-26T09:08:00.001-05:00

You are always safest when you stay in your own lane. I am not only referring to traffic. I am referring to life. Our lane means our business. Getting out of your lane means crossing over to someone else's business. No one wants to share their lane or be pushed out of it. Stay safe. Stay in your lane.

Online

2020-12-25T10:32:00.002-05:00

After years of saying I would not do it, I have finally opened up online accounts. I do not trust USPS to reroute my mail when I am out of town, so I decided to control my bills online. I am probably the last holdout to enter the modern age. I now have to enter this information into a notebook and guard it with my life. Actually I will make two books. I need total control.

Thanks Sis

2020-12-24T09:28:00.004-05:00

I feel like I have turned a corner. A part of my life is changing. Things that I did not see as so important at the time have become more valuable than ever. I thank my sister for that. While I am the family historian on paper, she is the family historian on film and video. I am grateful for he persistence at family gatherings for chronicling events. Without her, I would not be able to see my parents sing. I would not be able to see them talking around the table at gatherings. They would not be a tangible memory. I will forever be grateful for her insight when she made sure that our family history would never be lost.

I'm Late

2020-12-23T13:37:00.001-05:00

My blog is late today. I have spent the last 6 hours setting up my new phone. Last night my son spent 2 hours doing it. I love the phone. It is the newest one made but I had to redo everything. This was a great birthday gift. I am a minimalist but I must admit that I did enjoy getting special gifts yesterday. Turning 65 has it's perks. I have been upgraded technology wise with three new "toys". All that I thought I was getting was scratch off tickets. I will always remember my 65th birthday.

65

2020-12-22T08:39:00.000-05:00

Today is my 65th birthday. It is the first one without both of my parents. I started the day off listening to voicemails from them so I could just hear their voices. Soon my sister and I will leave for the cemetery to be with them. This is not a morbid act, it is an act of love and respect. I will be with the people that loved me more than life itself. I will be showing them that they are never gone and my special day is their special day. They are my roots. They are my wings. Whatever I am is because of the foundation they built for me.

Holiday Season

2020-12-21T06:48:00.002-05:00

The holiday season is here and it has no feeling. Something feels missing. Human contact. How can we celebrate when we need to alienate? No holiday hugs, no holiday smiles, no holiday cheers, no holiday warmth. We sit at home, order gifts online for contact less delivery. We FaceTime thank you's. The old expression that you do not know what you have until it is gone rings true. Hopefully next year the warmth will return.

Delete

2020-12-20T08:58:00.001-05:00

I was never a big social media person. During the pandemic, protests and election, I added a few people to my accounts to see what was happening around the world. This morning I deleted everyone that does not deal with arts and crafts and fashion. On December 22, I will enter a world of selective ignorance. I do not want to know opinions, views or emotions. Show me how to cut, glue and paint. That is it. I am creating my own paradise which is long overdue. It is something I need, in this upsetting world, to keep my sanity.

Double Life

2020-12-19T07:59:00.002-05:00

I am leading a double life. I have to duplicate everything for a second household. Simple things that we need one of, I must remember to have two of. This morning I re wrote my password book. If I forgot to take it with me, I would never be able to get into any websites. I need to manage two homes 1300 miles apart without a glitch. My mind keeps running the loop to see what I could be missing. I have time to do this but I like to be one step ahead of the game.

Four More Days

2020-12-18T08:04:00.001-05:00

I go to work Monday and then the following Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I will then be retired but still working less hours. I will not have to wake up at 6am. I will be going in a bit later in the morning as my hours have to be less. Four days and then life takes on a new phase. Getting up an hour later is not a big thing but it marks a change in my life. It shows me that after 65 years, I have earned the right to slow down and enjoy life. I am looking forward to that.

Snow Day

2020-12-17T09:33:00.001-05:00

After going back to work for one day, I am off for snow today. I will adjust my vacation days and work on Monday instead. After last year's pleasant weather, the snow feels odd. We will all shovel out and hope that this type of storm does not repeat itself.

Back to Work

2020-12-16T06:57:00.000-05:00

It feels like I have not been to work in ages. Today I go back and work for two days and then I am off for another week. If there is a snow storm tomorrow I will take off and work Monday instead. I feel out of the work routine. Once 2021 begins, I will only work three days a week. It will be a nice mix of retirement and work. I just wish it wasn't so cold this morning. It makes my return that much harder.

Back Home

2020-12-15T08:36:00.001-05:00

After a week in Florida I returned home last night. I had no internet or television for 6 days. To be honest, I think I was better off. I concentrated on the warm sunshine, pleasant people and nature's beauty. It was a bit sad to leave. Everything went better than planned and I am now a second home owner. It was a peaceful week and I never heard a bad word until the plane landed in NY. That is when people started to scream nastily at each other. My happy bubble was broken.