You Have Nine Months...

Hi!



Is it just me, or have the Republican senators, over the past week or so, Bill Cosby'ed Lady Justice, beat her to a bloody pulp and left her in a ditch?


I mean, I'm not even American and even I know enough about their constitution to know that this has
been a complete shit show.


Arguing that the prosecutors have no first-hand witnesses while simultaneously actively prohibiting first-hand witnesses from testifying.

Complaining about the lack of paper trail proof while ignoring subpoenas to produce documents.

Then out and out voting to refuse witnesses and documents. In a trial.

It completely blows the mind.


To watch a supposed brilliant legal scholar make the argument that if the President thinks his re-election is what's best for the country then actively seeking foreign interference to help make that happen can't be impeachable, no matter how smarmy those actions might be. If I hadn't watched it live, I wouldn't have believed it. I had to rewatch it a few times before it really sank in.

They have to know that all of the truth will spill out into the public domain, and chances are it will be before November.

It will be interesting and, I'm not gonna lie, a bit scary to see what happens next.

He bragged about grabbing women by their genitals - all good
He's been credibly accused by more than a dozen women of sexual misconduct - all good
He paid off porn stars and playboy bunnies to keep them quiet about affairs, some of which took place shortly after his third wife gave birth to his 5th kid.- all good
He lies. About EVERYTHING, all the freakin' time - all good
He conspired with bad actors to try and force another President to announce some bogus investigation into someone who will, if given the opportunity, kick his ass in the next election.- all good

Maybe he really could shoot someone in the middle of fifth avenue and get away with it.


When he got elected, I knew it was going to be sad. I knew that our neighbours to the south were in for a bad storm. What I had hoped, was that there would be enough good people around him to keep him in some kind of check.

He's put kids in cages after ripping them from the arms of their parents- all good
He's kicking people off of food stamps- all good
He's kicking people off medic-aid- all good
He's run the national debt through the roof- all good
He's a racist.- all good

These are the things he does in plain sight. If he unapologetically does these things in the light, what the hell is going on under the protection of darkness? No one seems to care enough to check him.

The Bully King reigns.

They just had their shot to get him out of their Whitehouse, and they didn't take it. They could have banned together as citizens that care about their country, about each other, and rid themselves of what has proven to be a horribly unsuccessful experiment.

I just can't figure out why.

He's a cancer. If you had a cancerous tumour, a tumour that you contracted through a litany of bad choices, but it's a tumour that you could surgically remove, wouldn't you do it? They didn't. Instead, they are encouraging their cancer to take over their entire body. Not doing anything that might stop it, or even slow it down. They are, instead, feeding it, making it stronger.

In his 280 character rants, he doesn't hesitate to dump on anyone and everyone who has the misfortune of landing in his crosshairs  None of them are immune. Any one of these Senators could easily be next.

So instead of unarming the bully, they cower. They bow to every whim of the Idiot King, afraid of what? That his words might cost them their jobs? Okay. I can't think of a job that I would be willing to keep at the cost of who I am. A job for which I'd be willing to sell my soul.

Believe people when they consistently show you who you are. Take to heart their actions, not their words.

America, you show all the signs of an abused spouse, we are here for you, waiting patiently as you gather the strength to remove him from your house.

He will do everything within his now unlimited power to manipulate the system to keep that from happening. Be diligent. Be wary.

You have nine months.

Get behind whoever ends up running against this Idiot King.

Don't let the exhaustive nature of his wrongdoing numb you to what's happening before your very eyes.

Take breathers, but come back. Always come back.

Don't allow misinformation put in front of you by Russian bot farms form your opinions. Research before you share.

Fight for your freedom before he convinces you that he IS your freedom.

When the time comes. Vote.

Help those around you get to the ballot box. Make sure your voice is heard.

If they try to put your ballot box beyond your reach, reach out for help to get there.

Last time, he was perceived as a joke. This time, make him one.


***************************************************************


May you stay the course, keep marching, keep fighting, it will be worth it in the end.
May you stay strong, stay standing, see that he is poisoning you while he pretends to be your friend.

May you see as he hands you flowers with one hand, his other wields a knife.
May you see that he is fundamentally altering your home, your life.

May you see that though the journey seems endless, the light is but a few months away.
May History document all of it, every single piece, so those who sold their souls can live in infamy.



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Everybody's Sky Looks Different....#Let'sTalk

Hi.





Every day brings with it a different sky.


The way the sun filtres through the clouds is different, the time of day makes it different, where you are in the world makes it different, it never looks exactly the same for more than a few moments, ever.


There are few things we know for certain. One of those things is that at some point, no matter how beautiful the sky is at the moment we are taking it in, no matter how clear, no matter how peaceful, we know, at one point in time it was filled with untethered rage. It unleashed upon us hail and rain, carried storms of devastating destruction. It has buried us in snow, leaving us to dig our way out. It has dropped tornados, sudden, unpredictable, wiping out everything we have. It has carried hurricanes that overwhelm and drown us without hesitation.

The sky is unpredictable, at times, deceivingly beautiful.

The beauty sometimes masks what lies beyond, in the atmosphere.

We cherish the beauty between the storms, but we always know another is coming.

We do what we can to predict what may be coming next, we do our best to prepare, to mitigate any foreseeable damage.

We share information to help one another, we come together after the storm has cleared to help each other through the recovery.


We all have our own storms. Our own struggles. They are not always what they seem. Sometimes the beauty masks what lies beyond.

We all need to care for our mental health.

For some, the struggles are a tornado, or a hurricane, devastating hits that threaten to wipe them out completely. Making them question if the fight to stay is worth it.

For others, it may be more like the odd thunderstorm, tumultuous while you're in it, but you can see a way through, you, even if not in the moment, eventually are able to find the silver lining.

None of us are immune. We don't live in an atmospheric bubble where the weather is always perfect. There are no inoculations against anxiety, depression, bipolar, bipolar 2, schizophrenia, or the other multitude of things that can bring on emotional frailty.

Everyone's sky looks different. Their sky will look different from your perspective, through your lens, your sky is only truly seen by you, and sometimes even you can't see it clearly.

Sometimes we are enveloped by fog and can't see the sky at all. Sometimes we get too busy and completely forget to even check it.

Everyone's sky looks different, is different.

We can never assume we know what is going on beyond the atmosphere.

Just because we don't know, or may not understand doesn't make it any less real.

Most Mental and Emotional health issues are invisible. Those who struggle with them get pretty adept at making them invisible. Make-up covering an abusive black eye.

Our Mental health programs need to be better. The Mental Health professionals need to do better.

We need to do better.

It's shocking to me to hear, to witness, that some still talk about and treat Mental health, mental trauma,  emotional struggles as some sort of figment of the medical imagination.

The whole, snap out of it, shake it off thing. That somehow, it's not real.

How many suicides will it take for those people to change their minds?

You wouldn't think twice about getting help with your blood pressure, your diabetes, your thyroid, your heart. Nor would you harshly judge a family member, friend, or neighbour for getting that help. Why is the brain any different?

Sometimes, all we need is a long walk in the fresh air. A heavy-duty workout with a heavy bag. Yoga.
We just need to do what works for us.

Sometimes, all we need is someone to talk to, someone to really listen. Sometimes that person is within our circle of family and friends, sometimes it needs to be someone that can give some professional insight. We just need to do what works for us.

Sometimes we need an in-depth diagnosis, medication, and on-going psychiatric care. We just need to do what works for us.

Everybody's sky looks different.

We need to quit assuming we know things about each other that we just don't know.
We need to quit judging each other by the storms we are having to endure.
We need to quit judging each other. Period.

Storms can be devastating, be the hand that lifts others out of the rubble.


On Jan 29th Bell Canada sponsors a Mental Health Awareness #Let'sTalk Day.

Talk. Even better. Listen.

If We Don't Hear The Whisper...Scream (click on the link below)

https://margyreid.blogspot.com/2018/03/if-we-dont-hear-whisperscream.html




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May you find what you need to help you through the storm.
May you find kindness, understanding, care that's warm.

May you see how much you matter, how beautifully valued you are.
May you see that even if, right now you can't see it, you are a magnificent star.

May you find the strength to fight for one more day, one more night.
May you fight, so you can watch the darkness give way to light.

May you see how much you matter, how beautifully valued you are.
May you see you are not defined by your struggles, you are an incredibly magnificent star.


*********************************************************************



Bell #Let'sTalk Be sure to check it out.

When Cold Turns To Stupid Cold...

Hi!



As Canadians, expect cold weather in winter. Where we are situated on the planet dictates it. We live in an incredibly beautiful country, both physically and in spirit. But sometimes...


We expect cold in winter, but, oh, and there is a but, there is a difference between cold and stupid cold.


We, as Canadians, try to take it in stride. You may notice funny songs and videos sprouting all over social media. The truth is, other than learning to laugh at the sheer absurdity of it, we basically have three choices in dealing with it.


I mean, we still have to go to work, some of those jobs being outdoor jobs. We still have to shop for food, run errands, and basically continue to live our lives, Thankfully, most school buses don't run when it hits -40, but the schools remain open.


So, the three things.


First, Suck it up. There are those with arctic blood running through their veins, spending time outside.... on purpose, even in this. The dedicated runners, the ice fishers, the dogwalkers, the skiers. These are a special breed of people. They have a small fortune invested in boots, coats, ski pants, toques, mitts, and scarves. Then, as previously mentioned, there are those of us who are forced into it because...life. You put together an Apocolypse-worthy survivor safety kit for your vehicle, always keep your gas tank as close to full as possible, and suck. it. up.

Second. Hibernate. I can't help but feel Netflix was designed by a Canadian from the prairies. With this option, you check the forecast, tally up your sick/vacation days, then, act accordingly. Deplete your pantry, get creative, settle in, and snuggle up. The stupid cold doesn't generally last more than a week. We know we can't avoid the cold completely, but the stupid cold? Hi-ber-nate.


Third. Get the hell out of Dodge. If you have the means, always an incredible option. Head to a place where you can snorkel in the ocean, lay on a beach, and wear shorts. Go where humidity exists in the winter, where tropical plants grow, and your spirits can't help but be lifted. Break up the shortest days with some filled with sand and sun. Get. The. Hell. Out. Of. Dodge.


I wish, more than ever that I had some kind of superpower that gave me control over my hot flashes. Well-timed flashes would be pretty awesome right about now.


****************************************************************



Soooooo impeachment.


So far, it's going pretty much the way I figured it would. Let's hope that the truth, all of it, sees the light of day.


Time will tell.


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Until next time, keep warm.


May your furnace run as efficiently as your nose when you step into the freezing air.
May your toes, fingers, and nose stay warm and toasty, get through without one frostbite scare.

May we get through this stupid cold, back to just regular cold, where the air only tingles when you inhale.
May you get through, whether it be by sucking up, hibernating, or packing up and setting sail.


**********************************************************


www.margyreidbooks.com

One Hundred Seventy Six...Just Gone

Hi.


176 people gone.

63 of those souls were fellow Canadians.

By 'accident'.


This was not an 'accident'. This was collateral damage stemming from aggression between our neighbours to the south and Iran.

The U.S. takes out a guy because of "imminent danger". Is it just me, or does "imminent danger" sound an awful lot like "weapons of mass destruction?"

Shift the players ever so slightly, and it's the same damn thing.

No proof of the 'danger'. No international intel corroborating any imminent  'danger'.

Was the guy they took out responsible for horrible acts? Was he a truly bad guy? Absofreakinlutely!

Was this breaking news? Absolutely not!

Taking him out had been brought up in the past, to a few different presidents, from both sides. Pros and cons were measured. The long term consequences always outweighed any benefit.

Now, because of this impetuous act at the hand of the Real Estate failure in the White House, people who had absolutely nothing to do with any of this are gone.

Families are grieving, are broken, are forever changed.

Yes, if it turns out to be correct, it was Iran's missile.

Did Trump University/Trump Foundation Fraudster really think that he would kill this cult hero, however misguided, of the Iranian people, and nothing would happen because he tweets that he is willing to commit war crimes if they had the audacity to retaliate?! He sent out these tweets more than once. They have since been deleted.

So, his theory seems to be this. I'm going to hit you in the nuts with a sledgehammer. If you dare have the balls to retaliate in any way, I'm going tear down your house, destroy all of your family photos, and burn down your family tree. If people you care about get harmed in the process, that's on you. I told you I would do illegal and horrible things.

Really?!?!

One might think that there was something to that whole thinking things through, weighing options thing that actual leaders use. Hell, even "weapons of mass destruction" man showed more sense.


Then, this morning, at a press conference, instead of taking the opportunity to show leadership, he again, complains about how the media doesn't cover that he donates his salary.

Okay, the thing is, the salary of the President is $400,000 annually.
As of mid-November of 2019 the taxpayers of the U.S. have spent $115 million dollars for Trump to visit his golf resorts.

Do the math. That's about $38,333.333.33 annually.

$115 million. In less than 3 years. That's more than the Obamas spent on all of their family travel in the entire 8 years of his Presidency.

He also used this time to complain about not getting credit for using some of his own money during the primaries in 2016. The jury is literally still out on how much of the money was actually 'his'.

He has shown in the past that he has a very hard time distinguishing between what is his, and what he just assumes is his. Money, labourers on projects, staff, women, the list goes on.


So, because the guy in the Whitehouse can't seem to comprehend how the world works outside of reality tv, One Hundred Seventy-Six souls are just gone.


I miss a world where we could breathe freely.
I miss a world where kids can be kids.
The babies born in warzones are no less valuable than the ones I watch play soccer once a week.
Nothing drives violence like ego and greed.


I know. I'm Canadian. Why do I care what the U.S. does?

Borders are manmade lines drawn in the sand, put there by ego and greed. We are one world, one humanity.

What would it say about me if I didn't care?


I fear for what this person, the guy they call 'President', who seems incapable of learning anything, and sadly shows no interest in trying, will do to our world, our collective democracy.

It's terrifying to watch those who hang on his every word continually being fed poison, lapping it up like someone deprived of water for weeks.

I keep waiting for the lights to come on. The realization of who and what he really is to seep through the fog. I just hope it happens before they can no longer salvage the Republic for which they stand.

The U.S. doesn't live in a bubble. What the person who occupies the Whitehouse does affects all of us.


So, impeachment.


Truth matters, why would you want to stop witnesses if the truth is really what you are after?


The only people scared of truth are guilty ones.

I get why Nancy Pelosi is hanging on to the articles of impeachment. It's her job to do whatever she can to ensure a fair trial. If she handed them over now, it would be like a Prosecutor lighting a match to her case files.

I also get why Trumpeteers want this handed over now. If she does, McConnell and Graham, and the other caricatures of their former selves, can give Trump what they have promised since the beginning. To throw it out.

With total disregard for the evidence, that is incredibly compelling, even with the roadblocks thrown up by the Whitehouse.
Without even remotely considering the oath they take to be impartial and fair.
Without so much as a blink of consideration for the fact that the majority of American citizens want witnesses to be called.


Even Nixon's right hands had the presence of character to say enough is enough.



*************************************************


Moving forward...


May every truth come to light, and consequences land where they should.
May those who fear the witnesses ask themselves why, truthful information is always good.

May all who know the truth step up and speak, without fear, isn't that for what your Republic stands?
May all be open to the truth, all of it, weigh it, then may it be left in honest, fair, and steady hands.

May truth win.

************************************************************

www.margyreidbooks.com

Sometimes, Just Licking The Bowl Feels Like Too Much!

Hi!


Well, we did it! We made it to 2020!!!


After all of the fabulous chaos of the holidays, it's time to get back to whatever your normal might be.

Reality.

It's like when, after a full day of baking, after countless pies, squares and cookies, just licking the bowl feels like too much.


But, we've got this.

Whatever this year, this decade wants to throw our way, we'll handle all of it, maybe not perfectly, but handle it, we will.

When you watch the news, the fires in Australia, the guy in the Whitehouse getting trigger happy, Brexit, all of the other craziness, it can be hard not to get overwhelmed.

I'm choosing to be optimistic.

In Australia, the world is coming together to help, and it began to rain.

The guy in the Whitehouse, is either an impeachment conviction or an election away from being evicted.

The reasons for Brexit are, to me at least, still unclear, but it looks like a resolution is imminent-ish.

As for all of the other craziness, we'll just have to roll with whatever comes.

For now, let's just take our time licking the bowl, savouring every last morsel of the fabulous chaos.

Normal is still a day away.


***********************************************************

Sorry to write and run, but I'm fighting the tail end of a lovely Christmas cold. Gotta go drink some tea with lemon and have some chicken soup.

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May the first few back in the normal be laced with good things, fun things, happy things.
May the first few back in the normal carry no burdens, no tethers, only wings.

May you face the first few with hope, with optimism, with the knowing that good things await you.
May you face the first few with confidence, with a smile, allowing your best to shine through.


********************************************************************

Until next time!!!

www.margyreidbooks.com

Stepping Into The Roaring 20's...

Hi!


And just like that, another year has passed. And, with this year, the calendar steps us into the roaring Twenties, 2.0. Ten freakin' years! Years filled with everything, change, loss, hardships, growth, and blessings.

We, my friends, are on the threshold of an entirely brand new decade. One, as of yet, free of consequence, good or bad. On the threshold of a brand new starting point. The threshold of the sweet unknown.

We are perched, pen in hand, poised, ready to begin a new chapter.

All of us. Every single one.

Now, is the magical time between. We can take a beat, reflect on the year to which we are bidding goodbye, take another beat, and think about how we want to approach the days ahead.

We have choices to make.

Every year has its own set of challenges, administers its own tests of strength. We wade through, acquiring some bumps, bruises, and sometimes, scars, along the way. Through is our only option, no matter how muddy we get. We can't avoid any of it, not really. All we can do is keep moving, clearing paths as we make our way.

If 2019 was hard, and I know it was for many, now is the time to look at those hardships, take them apart, take the mystery out of them. Monsters are always less scary once you know what they look like up close, find out what gave them strength, discover their weaknesses. In doing this, you can design a very specific monster spray to make sure that that particular monster never darkens your doorstep again.

With every monster we slay, we gain wisdom and strength. Each one has something to teach us that gives us the tools we need to clear our path moving forward.

Hardships allow us to see our true selves. They allow us to grow, to stand up, to change direction, if need be.

We are perched, pen in hand, poised, ready to begin a new chapter.

Write boldly, fearlessly, for the worst thing is rarely as bad as we imagine. Write unapologetically as your true self. Write, ready for unpredictable plot twists, adjusting the story as you go. You have the power to write out poisonous characters, and write in better ones.

Look back long enough to recognize monsters from your past, but don't let your gaze get stuck in the rearview mirror.


The roaring twenties 2.0. They are going to be fabulous. How do I know? Because that's exactly how they will be written.


**************************************************************************

Happy New Year!

I hope you will indulge me while I send a huge thank you to all who read these ramblings. Some have been reading since the beginning, others only since yesterday. To all of you, thank you.

It can be overwhelming when I allow myself to think about it.

The fact that as I write this, in this very moment, hundreds of people in 23 different countries, on 7 different continents are taking time out of their lives to read these posts will never cease to amaze me.

I am forever humbled that you take the time, and forever honoured that so many of you trust me with your stories, your truths, your heartbreaks, your joys.

Thank you is such a tiny phrase, I wish it was bigger.

Thank you.

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May you leave behind any burdens that threaten your ability to fly.
May you create days, weeks, months, where you can consistently, confidently look yourself in the eye.

May you write your next chapters allowing ample room for comic relief.
May your story be one of contentment, where tears of laughter forever outnumber tears of grief.

May you find a way to live life in a way that makes your soul smile, makes your heart sing.
May you see it's not always about how much joy you get, but how much joy you bring.

May you see it's okay to not have all the answers, all of us are just doing our best to find our way.
May you see it's okay to not be sure, keep moving, a wrong turn is just a stop along the way.


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To order books : www.margyreidbooks.com

For the digital copy of Once Broken click the link below:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B071HTFTX6?pf_rd_p=05326fd5-c43e-4948-99b1-a65b129fdd73&pf_rd_r=JJZV4Q5RRVKG3HR0EJCQ

Real Life Happens In The In Between....

Hi!


And just like that, it's time for the littles to sing their hearts out as they try their level best not to wave at their Moms, Dads, Aunties, Uncles, Grandmas, and Grandpas in the adoring crowd.

There are those who love it, those who don't, all remembering the lyrics and choreography in differing degrees, weeks of rehearsal but a faint, foggy notion hazed over by nerves and exhaustion.

And just like that, it's time.

Time to take a beat to play some board games, time away from phones, clocks, and schedules. Time to hang out, get some fresh air, then cuddle up with some steamy mugs of chocolate smothered in marshmallows, a blanket, and some old movies.

Time to share some laughs, some cookies, some hugs, and make some solid memories.


Time sweeps by quickly.

We have jobs, we have kids, we have obligations, we have responsibilities, we are surrounded by "have-to's"

Jobs change as do the chapters of life in which we live. Real-life is what happens in between the milestones.

We mark them, as we should, they are important, but they aren't what matters most.

In between the milestones and special occasions are the long conversations that lower guards enough to really let people in.

In between are the moments that sow the seeds from which inside jokes grow, and create the stories that always begin with "remember that time..."

In between are fits of the giggles that make you weep, and the heartbreaks that do the same. 

In between are the conversations your kids have about you when they don't know you can hear them, the ones that both make you smile and reflect.

In between are kindnesses, shared secrets, matching scars.

In between there are arguments and deep wounds hopefully followed by eventual apologies that are often more felt than heard.

Real Life happens in the in-between.


The time between our first steps and last breaths is fleeting.
Cherish the in-between.


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Until next time...


May you embrace the in-between, for it is filled with gold.
May you see the shine need not fade even as we grow old.


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For the purchase of my books: www.margyreidbooks.com 

For the digital version of Once Broken:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B071HTFTX6?pf_rd_p=05326fd5-c43e-4948-99b1-a65b129fdd73&pf_rd_r=H0FF60776SGAV1BJ9WVR