Monday, August 31, 2015

Carpe Diem...

What do I need to do, today?

Just Friends needs to be finished, still. My personal deadlines are as important as deadlines set by others. In fact, they're more important because this is about self-discipline.

I'm still self-editing Reluctant Knight. I love this story. My cover artist sent me the mock up of the cover, and I love it.

Reading is a part of being a writer.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Thank Goodness It's Sunday... 274

~ The Anima Series 5,000
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRSQxvjGQw0

~ I appreciated the opportunity to participate in a writers' panel.

~ Good friends.

~ Yummy P.croissant with my sister.

~ Amazing storms, blessedly not too destructive.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

My Heroes... Kayla Mueller

Kayla Mueller worked with assisting Syrian refugees, as a humanitarian aid. She was captured by ISIS and raped on a daily basis. Those who were held captive with her, and escaped, told of how she would be returned to them after being raped and tortured. She would speak of love and forgiveness.

When the captives had an opportunity to escape, she encouraged them to go. She refused to accompany them even though they begged her to come with them because she knew that being an American would make her stand out. She wanted them to have the best possible chance, so she chose to stay behind.

She was murdered February 6, 2015.

Though our government claimed to know nothing, evidence has to come light that they knew but lied.

Who are we?

What do we stand for?

I fear I do not possess the same courage she did.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Brain Dump

Once again, there is the call to ban guns because someone broke one of the Ten Commandments.

Murdering people is already illegal. Criminals steal guns. Even if a legally registered gun was used in the crime, it isn't about the gun. It's about criminal behavior.

As the media and politicians rant about banning guns, on the same day, a man hijacked a woman's car at knifepoint and then ran over six people. Why aren't they demanding knives and cars be banned?

Slaves are not permitted to own guns.

Since 1993, gun homicides are down 49%.

Instead of banning guns maybe we need to ban people who are easily offended and think shooting someone is the way to solve their problem. How about we ban criminals?

The first murder was not committed with a gun.

There are those who argue that guns are too efficient. There's a better chance of dying of cancer, in a car accident, by alcohol, by knife, and a few other ways I'll not mention here. Why don't the media and politicians demand the ban of cancer, cars, alcohol, knives, etc?

Oh, wait. Alcohol was banned. Prohibition worked so well it was repealed.

Some of the highest gun violence cities have banned guns. Only the criminals have guns. The city with the highest number of gun ownership also has the least amount of crime, a city in Texas.

It is people who commit crimes not inanimate objects.

And no Mr. Trump, we do not have a mental health problem. Most people with mental illness are not killers. We have a moral problem. Those who kill others have decided that killing is not a problem for them. That is a moral problem.

I find it disturbing that another police officer has been shot and killed, but there is no cry to ban guns. There is an expression of loss but no demand for justice. The discrepancy and hypocrisy is mind boggling and heartbreaking.

How about we teach the 10 Commandments starting in kindergarten? Teach 6 of the 10. Teach no killing, stealing, and lying. We don't even teach that much.

People rant about how violent America is... okay, they have a point. We allow innocent children to be murdered and butchered and their parts sold for research.

A gun doesn't murder 3,000 babies a day, every day of the year. Over 57 million babies and counting.

Why don't the media and politicians point to the horrific violence displayed in the videos posted of those being beheaded, drowned, burned alive, thrown off buildings, and crucified?

I wonder how many Christians were murdered, today? What about gays? What about muslims who are not muslim enough?  How many were tortured? How many were sold to be used as sex slaves?

If one is going to complain about violence in America, one may not remain silent about the violence in the rest of the world. It's happening here. It isn't as prevalent here because these terrorists and criminals are often stopped by honorable, law-abiding citizens using their lawfully owned guns.

I want to be positive, to inspire. Again, I feel so helpless. I hate feeling helpless, and I become angry. So, I'm endeavoring to learn to turn over to God what is beyond me, as He always intended. It's amazing how difficult it is to give the battle to God even as I struggle to learn how to stand on His side.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Week 218 of REAL

REAL - Reduce stress Exercise Adequate sleep Lower caloric intake

What Navy SEALs are required to do to make it into BUD/S:
RIght up front: Never in a million years could I do what is required. However, I needed to start somewhere. Considering how fit the SEALs are, I figured it was a good place to start. So my SEAL puppy reps (SEALp) consist of girls' pushups, crunches, and flutter kicks, a SEAL training basic. I started with doing one of each. 

PT ~ Physical therapy using 2-lb and 1-lb weights, alternating days.
UB ~ Upper body exercises
I'm starting low, at 10, to restart my workouts, with no weights yet.

SEALFit shared some good hints I want to learn and remember:

21: Short walks. PT. UB. Stretch.

22: 1-mile walk. PT. UB. Stretch. Half-hour of yard work, removing cat claw and lantana plants overtaking the roses.

23: Rest.

24: 1-mile walk. PT. UB. Stretch. Heat. Tennis ball.

25: Short walks. PT. UB. Stretch.

26: 1-mile walk. PT. UB. Stretch.

27: Short walks. PT. UB. Stretch. Heat. Tennis ball.

The first picture was taken in February 2012. The second picture was taken in June 2012. Inspiration, at least to me:



REAL Mar 11-16

REAL -  R educe stress  E xercise  A dequate sleep  L ower caloric intake This week's bit of extra was a bit of spring cleaning, dusting...