Real Lives In The Middle...........

Hi!

Okay okay, I know that that is a lot of me going on there in this week's photos.

 There is a point.  All of the photos were taken within the last 24 hrs. The first two are of my grandbaby and I on our date night. His Grandpa and I took him to see Jungle Book, and out for ice cream. But, that's not the point. (pretty awesome movie, though)

The third, is courtesy of snapchat. It reminded me of the advertisements on tv where  60 year old super models schlep their magic wrinkle cream. The filtres they use are so potent they could turn cow poop into coffee.

My point is this. Anybody can look pretty close to the societal definition of perfect with enough filtres. 

I really wish they would show us what they actually look like. If you want me to buy your magic potion, assuming you actually use it, show me your real face. If not, I'll save my 200 bucks and use snapchat. It's free.

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

For some strange reason, lately, I've been in the mood to watch superhero movies. Maybe watching things blow up and watching the good guys always win is my way of dealing with day to day frustration. Who knows.

Whatever the reason, they got me thinking that there is room for more female superheroes. 

For one in particular.

Here's my idea.

She will be a perimenopausal woman in a constant state of PMS.

- she's unpredictable

- she swears like a it's an Olympic sport

- her mode of transportation is a pimped out 1984 caravan

Her superpowers would be:

- she flashes- now, not like "the flash" so marvel or DC or whoever the flash belongs to, relax. No, she flashes. She has the ability to produce enough heat to cook a small chicken and, at times, this heat is accompanied by enough moisture to water a community garden. This defeats most enemies by simply making them extremely uncomfortable.

- She has the innate ability to remember absolutely everything except where she put her keys or why the hell she went into the kitchen.

- she has the ability to produce symptoms of puberty, pregnancy, and dementia simultaneously.

- she is awesome.

As for her costume:

The under armor consists of a push up bra and the best spanx money can buy. We then add a red leather corset that would make Scarlet O'hara feel like a wimp. Add booty shorts, thigh high stiletto boots, a cape, an emblem of a cougar and her silky hair blowing in the breeze, and voila!

Hahahaha, yeah,....no.

The real  costume, A giant tshirt, yoga pants, a ponytail and bunny slippers.

I think I'm gonna give the guys at marvel a call, this is the REAL wonderwoman.

Real is always better than what shows up through the illusion of a filtre, whether it be an over-flattering filtre on snapsht or the over-harsh one through which we see ourselves. Real lives in the middle. 

Well that about does it for another week! Have a good one!

Until next time:

May we learn to celebrate the imperfections time brings, for they help tell our story.

May we forgive ourselves for not living up to impossible ideals, you are awesome, steep in your glory.

May we teach those that follow that they are treasures, as is, without alteration.

May we teach them that the images forced upon them are merely a digital mutation.

May we make them to put no stock on how many likes they get for their selfie.

May we get them to feel their value, so they can grow from the filtred photo and set themselves free.

Until Next Time...

www.margyreidbooks.com 

When They Open The Door......................

Hi!



You know, it can be a jungle out there, so sometimes, you just have to put on your cool dude shades and keep going!




Okay, so I'm having a little too much fun with snapchat. I blame my daughters, after all, they introduced it to me.
You should never give someone a toy, and then expect them not to play with it. That's just mean.


It's like not taking advantage of a joke that is handed to you. When you come from a family in which "smart ass" is the first language, these "open doors" all but demand to be walked through. It's very tough, at times, to bite your tongue and withhold remarks your brain is screaming are inappropriate, but your funny bone is saying, "that is frickin' funny! Say it, say it!" You have to translate from you native tongue to something that won't put you on the receiving end of "those looks" which indicate that maybe you shouldn't be allowed in public.



Politicians, and certain celebrities, in particular, seem to take pride in opening these doors at lightning speed. I mean, Donald Trump pretending to be his own publicist in more than one interview?  Kanye West.....well Kanye and pretty much everything he says in any interview.......it's bait, really.

Do they honestly expect the Seth Myers, Jimmy Fallons, and Stephen Colberts of the world not to walk through those wide open doors night after night?!

The disturbing part lies in the fact that one of these door openers is basically just a mouth, and the other wants to be leader of the free world. I'll let you decide which is which.

***********

In the past few days...........

Was able to spend some time with some baby granddaughters...........


It's been another wonderfully busy, crazy week at the shop..........


Did some writing...........


Found out our lawn mowers need some love...........


Did a bit of visiting...........




As for the next few days.............




Work the shop............


Squeeze a grandbaby or two, or three, or four...................


Hopefully get some grass cut................


Write!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Well that about does it for this long weekend. See you next time!


May you sip a coffee in the sun, kick back, and soak it in.
May you smell the sweetness that follows a rain, breathe it in.

May you invite opportunity, be open to change, bring it in.
May you discover peace, know it, attract it, pull it in.

May those who fill the news with overblown bravado, reign it in.
May those who walk through the open doors provided, play it in.


Until next time.........


www.margyreidbooks.com

And Cancer Claims Another, But Not Without A Fight!

Hi.





This week, our family lost another uncle/brother/father/friend.  Unfortunately, due mostly to proximity and circumstance, I didn't get to know this uncle as well as others.


But, this is what I do know.


He was a fighter. He fought his way through life. He fought more than his share of demons. He fought, most furiously, against the monster that claimed him in the end. Cancer.

He was passionate. One look into his eyes, especially when he was fired up about something, to told you he could barely contain it, at times.

He will be missed. He will be missed by his brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, his long time love, his sons, his grandbaby girl, and grandkids that are yet to be.

He took full advantage of the pain-ridden, torturous time he had left on this earth, to say his good-byes, mend fences where needed, gain peace. He recognized this distorted blessing as one that those who leave suddenly simply do not get.


His, marks the loss of the fourth of Mom's eight brothers,(the second photo) three of which have been within the last two years.


I know that with a family as big as ours, which covers four and five generations, this is an expected part of life. Just like birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, and birth announcements, the joyous things, we, perpetually, have to brace ourselves for the tough announcements, as well. I know I'm not even close to being alone in hoping that this is the last tough one for a very long time.


Rest in peace, Uncle Willie.







As for the rest of the week...........


We are crazy busy at the shop.....it's awesome!


We had a visitor from up north ( our sister-in-law,which I missed as it was on writing day)


Ran errands, schlepped a few loads of laundry up and down the stairs.....


Went for a bike ride for the first time this year........


Put another dent in the novel I'm working on.............



As for the upcoming few days............


Tonight is date night! Off to the movies!

Tomorrow, our daughter and son-in -law are entrusting us with their children for the day......hehehehehehe

Things will be hopping at the shop............

WRITE!!!!!!!!!



With that, I will leave you with this wish................




May we say what needs saying without looking death in the face.
May we throw aside grudges,instead, forgive and embrace.

May we say what we really mean, not allowing it to be translated through a filtre of anger or fear.
May we get it all out in the open, have peace, life is but a heartbeat, tomorrow may never get here.

May we see each other for who we really are, not through the eyes of our expectations.
May we accept without condition, for others' scripts are not ours to write, to edit or offer adaptations.

May we accept that we all see things differently, my right may be your wrong.
May we embrace the quirks of our variations, and in the end, all just get along.



Until next time......

www.margyreidbooks.com

From The Belly Of The Beast.................

Hi.


My fingers feel weighted as I write, today. These photos, which I pulled from different sources, so I'm not sure who to credit, are a sampling of the tragedy that is currently happening in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada.

This past week, over 80,000 people have had to be evacuated from their homes, as the flames began to swallow their community. This beast of a fire has gotten so huge it has begun to create it's own weather, a phenomenon usually reserved for volcanoes.

As far as I know, as I write this, through all of this, miraculously, only one human life has been lost. I don't say only because this 15 year old girl was insignificant in any way. I say only, because a monster this size is much more likely to take so many more.

The citizens of this community are unique. Where they live is unique. Because of where they are situated on the globe, it becomes a necessity to become well skilled in survival and first aide. These skills are probably a good reason why this fire hasn't taken more lives.

Convoys of supplies are on their way to those in need as convoys of those in need are making their way to safety. There was such a swift change in circumstance, that so many only had time to leave with little more than the clothes on their backs.

They are still trying to slay this dragon. It is far from dead, as of yet. With any luck, it will rain, and by rain, I mean pour, and by pour, I mean soak the earth for a week, until every last ember becomes a muddy memory.

Then the real work will begin.


In comparison, the events of the rest of the past few days seem kinda trivial.

The shop remains, gratefully, very busy........

I had my first experience as a witness in court.

About that.........

My daughter and I were served subpoenas regarding an incident we witnessed back in November of last year.

In our eyes, it seemed pretty simple. We saw what we saw. Done and done. The trial, and all of the information it provided,  showed both of us that what we saw was but a mere pittance in the drama that was the whole story.

What we saw was but one piece of a much larger puzzle.

In the end, I think justice was served, for the most part. My take away from the whole situation? I felt sad for all involved. Here, once again, is a monster. This one has many forms, but can all go by the name of addiction. It's generally easily recognized by everyone but the person it tortures. In this case, there are small children involved. Little people, once again paying for the choices made by the adults who are supposed to have their backs. How will they view the world as they grow up? Yeah...........


As for the next few days.............


Spend some time with a friend..................

Work in the shop.............

Squeeze some grandbabies............

Write!!!!!!!!!!!!




Well, that about does it for now. Until next time......

For those in Fort McMurray...........



May you break free from the belly of this beast, and rise like a phoenix from it's ashes.
May you escape the heat, the walls of flame, the cinders, like snow falling upon lashes.

May you discover comfort in the kindness of others, gain strength, rest your body and mind.
May the efforts of strangers make their way to you, may the more you need, the more you find.

May those who are fighting this beast in the trenches, stay brave, stay safe, stay strong.
May these heroes and the unsung others, continue to make us proud of this human race to which we belong.

May the skies break wide open and release a days-long, soaking, pouring rain.
May the winds calm, and temperatures cool, so lives can rebuild and be lived happily once again.


Until next week...........


www.margyreidbooks.com

So Little Time, So Far To Grow.....................

Hi!

Well folks, it's been another pretty incredible week.

Not only are we busy as heck at the shop, but I was able to sneak a day away to hang out with some pretty fantastic kids.

I was honoured to be invited to read to, then do a workshop with the kids, as part of Lucky Lake School's Writing Slam event.

My helper/photographer for the day, AKA my eldest offspring, did a great job. It is out of respect for munchkin safety that the photos have been strategically blurred, not photographer faux pas.

During the workshop, I gave students the task of writing a story. They were given some sketches to inspire them, with no rules. They could use as many or as few as they desired, in whatever order they so chose. They had the option to colour the sketches, leave them as is, or do something in between.

At the end of the session, we had stories that varied from Evolutionary  Princesses, to  Continually Concussed, Chronically Klutzy, not skate-talented, Olympic hopeful skaters from Iceland, who suffered from Hallucination- filled Mush-brain Dreams. 

Kids are awesome.

While keeping up with current events on tv news shows, through the internet, reading newspapers, however you choose to receive information, we see children put in terrible situations. They are thrust into chaotic violence and otherwise perilous circumstances, none of which are of their own making or in their control. 

Too many children are faced, every day, with very adult problems. It's nice to see a group of kids just be kids. When their imaginations kick in, they tend to forget to be "cool" and bored with everything. It's pretty fun to watch.

It's at this tender age, in these first few years of school, in this PG social microcosm of adult life, that they first start to care how other perceive them. They lose the freedom they had as toddlers to be unicorns, princes and fairies without fear of judgement. This is the first place they get a glimpse of the boxes society has in store. They will soon begin to feel the pressure figure out in which box they fit. If they don't fit, they will soon begin to conform to the size and shape of the box the majority of their peers believe they are best suited. The Brain Box, The Jock Box, The Cool Box, The Social Butterfly Box, The Shy Box, The Badass Box.......you get my drift.

One of my greatest hopes is that, someday soon, we, as a society, figure out that each of these boxes are suffocating traps. Traps from which we can escape, if we choose to be brave enough to do so. 

I believe that trying to fit kids into these "boxes," these categories, is like catching lightning bugs in a jar. Yes, if you poke holes in the lid, they will survive, but they will lose their ability and desire to shine.

The final days of this week were spent adding some wordage to the novel I'm working on, doing laundry, vacuuming, scrubbing toilets, and taking a bit of a road trip to visit my Mom.

As for the following few days...........

Another mini road trip to visit my sister and her hubby.............

Working at the shop...............

Be a witness in a court case...(I'll let you know how that goes).......

Write!!!!

Take yet another mini road trip to visit a friend..............

Squeeze some grandbabies!

Until next time..........

May we all become the very best of everything we know ourselves to be.

May we shatter the boxes to which we've contorted ourselves to fit, setting our best selves free.

May we simply stop trying to compartmentalize those around us, at home, at work, or at school.

May we realize living life craving approval, driven by the opinions of others, is the life of a miserable fool.

May we live a life that's full, one of kindness and adventure, pushing our talents as far as they can possibly go.

May we waste no time getting started, our time here is brief, so little time, so far to grow.

www.margyreidbooks.com 

If Only Predators Wore A Uniform.....................

I know, I know, but they are cute aren't they?!






Other than blatant Grandma bragging, I chose these photos to help broach a subject that, as it seems, some find very controversial and, by judging reactions to the whole situation, even a bit scary.


We all start out in this world just like these little ones, untouched, open, unscathed, oblivious of the boxes society likes to assign.


I have to say I am a bit confused by all of the hype surrounding the whole transgender/public bathroom thing.


It seems very strange that this, all of a sudden, has become yet another petri dish that serves no purpose, as far as I can see, than to further try to develop a culture of fear and mistrust toward our fellow humans.. Do we really think that this is somehow something that has magically developed in the last year or two?

Are we really to believe that transgender people simply didn't exist until lawmakers and politicians decided to notice them?

Where have they been going to the bathroom up until now? Is it possible they have been using the bathrooms of their choosing all along and nobody has noticed? Nobody noticing. So why do we choose for it to become some kind of problem, now, out of the blue?

I must be missing a very fundamental piece of information, because from what I have gathered, so far, I can't really pinpoint who gains anything by making this into yet another "thing."

It's most definitely not the transgender community. It's definitely not anyone else, either.

Like public bathrooms aren't awkward enough places. Be honest, we all avoid them, if we can. Now what? We will all have prove to, I don't know, some kind of potty police, what type of genitalia we were born with? What the hell kind of ID are we gonna need for that one?! I, for one, do not look forward to posing for that photo!

I just think that lawmakers must have much better things to do with their time than worry about who pees where. I mean, they must, right?

I guess I just can't imagine anything much worse than growing up feeling like you don't fit in your own body. Where living the lie of being who you are not becomes so impossible you are willing to endure every societal judgment and all of the torment that provokes.

One of the arguments is that predators will now take advantage of the situation, and pretend to be transgender to gain access to the public bathroom of their choice. Predators are an evil breed. Do we really think they need to dress up and go into public washrooms to get at their prey? Again, if some creep wants to dress up for the sole purpose of harassing and assaulting people, I have to assume they already are doing so. I don't think people intent on sexual assault are too worried about laws that will allow them into bathrooms. Something tells me they aren't  real sticklers for rules.


I don't know, maybe I have it all wrong, but, if  society wants me to suddenly become fearful of yet another entire group of people, I think I'm going to need a better reason than......whatever the hell this is.


We have so many, much more real problems. Too many of our kids go to bed hungry every single night. Way too many kids don't have a bed at all. Our shelters and prisons are dangerously overcrowded, Too many kids aren't finishing school. Women and children are being assaulted at an alarming rate, oddly enough, in my research, I couldn't find one incident in which the assailant was transgender.


I fear we are grossly misplacing our resources.


I guess I just feel we should focus on stuff that really matters and let people pee in peace.



A little closer to home..............




The shop is hopping....this week marks our third anniversary. It's awesome!


I was able to all but finish prepping for the Word Slam workshop ................


Made another dent in the novel I'm working on............



As for the upcoming week................


Like I mentioned, the shop is hopping...............

Put the last touches on preparations and then attend Lucky Lake's Word Slam.

Kick another dent in my novel.............

Squeeze some grandbabies!!!!!!




Well that about does it for another week...............



May we come to understand that no matter how hard we wish, predators don't have a uniform.
May we understand they walk with us, look like us,work with us, yet want only to cause harm.

May we see that they are our husbands, boyfriends, bosses, first dates, strangers in the night.
May we know they troll our children online, promising ultimate rebellion, a way out of their parents' sight.

May we look for evil where evil lives, teaching our children to trust the little hairs on the back of their neck.
May we teach not to paint with a broad brush, evil lives in every walk of life, not one is exempt,

May we, in the same breath, show them the good throughout the world, show that most people are good and kind.
May we show them that although the darkness exists, we can still choose to live in the light.

May we teach them to be aware, but not live their lives in fear. Be courageous, yet cautious, at your job, while you dance, in your dorm.
May we truly understand that no matter how hard we wish, predators don't have a uniform.



Until next time.............



www.margyreidbooks.com

Frankly, My Dear, I Don't Give A Crap!

Spring has sprung and summer is on it's way!



Long, warm days and short, starry nights are just around the corner.



Do you know how I know this? I know it by the seasonal change in advertising! Yup, the ads for allergy medicine and ways to get the "perfect summer bod" have been officially cranked into overkill!


The allergy stuff I get, this actually is the season that allergy sufferers suffer most. But the perfect body thing...... I mean it's always there, the ads don't ever stop. The cover of any magazine, the countless ads on tv for diet supplements, body contouring surgery (whatever the hell that is), the endless barrage of before and after pictures, they all get turned up 10 fold this time of year.



Thankfully I'm passed giving much of a crap. I'm still here, and the body I have, although far from "perfect", has allowed that to happen. Although, I do look forward to the "post hot flash" segment of this journey.


Now, please don't misconstrue the not giving a crap thing. I most definitely give a crap about my health and my ability to function the way I need to to enjoy my life. I do give a crap about how I represent myself in the world. This is not because I seek the approval of others. No, it's because I respect myself and want to sincerely represent all of the facets of the person I have become. I don't fit in a category.  I don't fit in a box. I don't think any of us should. I'm a firm believer that the way we take care of ourselves physically has a direct effect on how our emotional health, and vice versa.


Summer body? Sure! A 50 year old body that has been on quite an incredible ride, thus far. A body that has a lot of roads trips left in her. A body that can snuggle a baby like nobody's business. A body that can give airplane rides, kiss owies, solve problems, form and voice an opinion, ride a bike, walk, run if a bear is chasing me, and still has the ability to knock my hubby's socks off, flaws and all.


Will you see me out there wearing sleeveless tops? Sundresses? Shorts? A bathing suit? You bet your sweet patootie you will! It's summer, it's hot! If my body isn't "summer ready" enough for you, Frankly, my dear, I don't give a crap!



As for the past week?


Busy, busy, at the shop. It's Awesome!


Made some real headway on my novel!


Did some prep for the upcoming "Word Slam"


Worked on layout for "Flitflee"


Went to see "Batman/Superman" movie. (Not fantastic but have absolutely seen much worse)


Got to squeeze all four grandbabies in one day!




As for the following days...........


Work the shop.........


Do more prep for "Word Slam"


Write!!!!!!!!


And with that, I will bid you adieu.


Until next time......





May you have a blast, catch the giggles, dance to the music in the grocery store.
May you end each day with a smile, feeling fulfilled, looking forward to more.

May the new season inspire new experiences, new ideas, new choices.
May the new season give your deepest dreams the loudest voices.

May you see that happiness is not circumstantial, it's present always, but sometimes is shy.
May you bring it out of the corner,through the troubled crowd, give it sparkle, give it wings, let it fly.



Until next time!

www.margyreidbooks.com