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Ah, summer. You lovely, bug infested, sweaty body beauty you. As kids we would count down the days until Summer Break! Sleep overs, camping, swimming, theme parks, S Mores. Everything was possible, everyday was cherished, time was used prudential, not a second wasted. Trips to Gram Grams, uncles or aunts. Lightning bugs, drive though theatre’s, bicycling all day.

Take an hour or two especially when the sun is rising or setting today and think back, of fond memories only. Let Nostalgia smear herself all over your mind. Then resolve to grab this summer with both hands and milk this one like you were getting out of 8th grade for summer! Live! Be Alive!

Be Blessed and Stay Dangerous. Vet.

03

Back in May we took a trip for a weekend and ended up at a pimp hip camp spot. It was primitive not all bedazzled. There were some mishaps and consider this an AAR (After Action Review.)

The enemies where mud from previous flooding, gear and fitness.

Scenario 1

At night the temp dipped 10 degrees lower than called for. Using our standard sleeping pad was fine at first. Sleeping bag was not up to snuff either, which was my fault. So due to cold ass overnight spring weather it led to small naps at night and basically hardcore spooning. I had the proper gear sleeping bag wise, just not with me. I figured (wrongly) that a summer rated bag plus a warm blanket would capture my heat. Nope. That dirty sleeping pad went limp and left us essentially on the floor which as most pros know is bad. Being in direct contact with the ground pulls warmth from your body and you could end up in a bad way.

Lesson: Proper gear keeps you clean warm dry alive etc. Do Not Underestimate the need for proper gear.

Scenario 2

So, after we adapted and overcame the night it was a dang good day. Sun was out, flowers were blooming and throwing off their delectable scents as is there want in spring, all is well. Right? Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!

So, we are checking out the property and bebopping about. Lo and behold, we get stuck in mud. Like proper stuck. Here is the thing, we drove that way 3 times that day already. No problems, just some fun splashing and getting the tires dirty. 4th was the charm this time.

This is where fitness comes in and pimp slaps you. You go get all kind of logs, wood etc. to try and make a bridge or get grip etc. you push pull bounce the truck to try and get it out. you walk over acres, dragging logs and suddenly you’re like shit you can never have enough cardio! One can never be too fit.

Lesson Learned: you can never be too fit. Being in shape makes handling crisis easier, doing hard labor easier and being outdoors, the more fit and tougher you are the easier it is.

Recap, proper gear, be as fit as you can be, and I’ll throw in a bonus. Bonus: know some first aid. Literally the more first aid you know the less you are afraid of bad things happening but just know some basics and have the basic gear with you. The bonus was because I somehow cut myself carrying logs or placing them. It was on my arm, no life-threatening danger. I self-treated and now I crawl on walls and shoot webs, no kidding. All is well. First Aid. It is as important or more than fitness and proper gear.

Be Blessed and Stay Dangerous. Vet.

05

How to Not be a social media Chode!

The Rollies, Rari’s, the drinks, the luxury, and the destinations.

Barf.

Forgive me if our posts seem to be snotty or somesort of flex! Truth be told I am learning more and more about Social Media Management, posting and Video Editing, so I post, repurpose and create because I want to and I want to get better. Also, I want to inspire, nudge, motivate others to live. Not be alive but actually live!

I see too many stooges make excuses about why they can’t do a thing that they want to do. I watch wrinkly neighbors that have worked their whole lives to be in their “Golden Years” just look lost, stroke cars clean in their drive ways and generally not know what to do with their free time.

So How exactly do you not be a Chode on social media? By stopping the BS that every other fake dude does. Show a place that is interesting and what made it interesting, Noone cares that it was luxurious. Add value in your posts, strive to go back to the beginning of social media when the intent was to talk to friends and cool people, link up in real life and do cool shit. Not be some slob that just plays games online. Let’s use social to motivate, show what’s possible, find cool places and people and go to those places and people and do cool stuff. And for God sake, put your ass away, it shouldn’t be propped up in the air in every post, looking like your just waiting to get wounded. While we are at it whomever told you getting giant lips was cool cuz their DSL’s should be sack slapped! You look like you got stung by a giant bumble bee.

Be Better.

Vet out!

07

Your LIfe is Your Fault!

“If you’re not getting what you want, it is probably because your goals are poorly defined.” Paul J. Meyer

Dayuuuum! When I read that my tummy felt weird. Like how you get if you ever ride roller coasters, and you go down a hill weird. The quote goes on to remind readers that Clarity is extremely powerful. The reason my tummy felt so, I believe is that the words jumped off the page and Jap slapped me upside the melon.

I’m sure you may have had that happen, something speaking to you. This caused me to reflect and think. Times in my life don’t go as planned. Sometimes things are just going. Meaning, not great but not bad. You know the saying, ” I can’t complain.” I, however, don’t want to merely have a life just go along. I refer to this as being rudderless. Like the sailboat part a rudder. An objective, purpose or thing you’re aiming toward is a rudder, in my mind. Without one you just drift wily nilly.

Man, sometimes in life I get everything I want. The girl, the inflatable raft, the pickup truck, the gun. The steak. The sunset. What can I say, I’m not a difficult dudeski. Sometimes, I get everything I want. But then man, sometimes shit is just out of whack. Not going well, overwhelming and, rarely, but sometimes a freaking dumpster fire. Like just getting kicked in the nuts by life repeatedly and when I’m bent over catching my breath, just for funzies life kicks me in the nuts a few more times. For good measure.

What I’ve realized is that I lacked Clarity in these times. I wasn’t disciplined (yeah that dirty word) in what i wanted. I wasn’t clear. I lacked clarity. This spoke to me, and I’ve used it at times without knowing. After reading that it aides me in turning things around. It ain’t a spell that just organizes life, but it is a reminder of how to reach goals or get what one wants.

So, “If you’re not getting what you want,” perhaps it is “because your goals are poorly defined.” If you object. Take it up with Senior Meyer.

Be Blessed and Stay Dangerous,

Vet out!

09

Follow Your Own Path! (Part 2)

As you know from my last post, we were preparing my son for his first solo trip to Paris.

Now, it’s travel day. He is busy packing and tidying up his room before he has to leave for the airport. I made breakfast while we talked about his trip. We went over his checklist multiple times; we checked on his flight and I made sure I had his flight numbers at my fingertips.

Time to say goodbye-I give him a big hug and tell him how excited I am for him, to be safe but to try new things. I shed a small tear (not my usual blubbering self) and wave goodbye as he drives away.

He calls from the airport to ask a few questions and gives me updates on when he is boarding. This all gives me peace of mind. The mom part of me is still there, so I download a flight tracker and watch as his plane leaves Pittsburgh and lands in Boston (Yes, most of that trip was watched, no shame.). I watched the plane leave Boston and start its journey to Paris. I had to stop watching to get a bit of sleep and also, because the plane was out of range which meant I couldn’t follow it anymore. I woke up through the night wondering how it’s going, did they give him a meal, was he able to sleep, did they hit any turbulence, etc. Then the text comes in, it’s my baby, “I’m getting off the plane now.” Woohoo, my baby is safe. Then I remember the Taken movies I have watched quite a few times. I had already told him that I was putting Liam Neeson, Denzel Washington, and the cast of Criminal Minds on standby. I also told him if anyone approached him at the airport and asked him to go to a party, just say NO!

11

2024 Elections Exposed! I Astro-Projected to Nov5th and this is what I saw:

There were rigorous celebrations from the “winning” side with snide comments and looks of “haughtiness” at the “losers” from the “winners.”

Outcries of election interference by foreign states. Chants of that’s not my president! Protests were rapidly scheduled. Tensions were high, violence inevitable. Right before the first fist fight, before the first “sniper shot” and juuuuuust before the Molotov cocktail was lit, I decided to return to my body and report this, current day.

How’d we get here?

Vote Democrat, we are imperfect, but the other side is crazy!

Make America Great Again!

Trump and his followers are racist!

Kamala and her followers are woke!

Sound familiar? Arguments over immigration, GDP/ the economy, crime, go vote early, healthcare, social security, etc.

The “People” have been beguiled to believe that a “savior” must be elected to “fix this mess.” Led astray from the fact that the “People” are the solution.

There’s no secret the country and the world have big issues. Always has and always will. Certainly, there is a sliding scale one way or another as to less or more issues.

All the arguing, squealing, noise, and energy syphoning, again just to lead astray that the “People” are the solution.

The scope is too large to fit here. For simplicity, lets establish and agree the following: strong individuals build strong relationships which builds strong families which builds strong communities which builds strong regions which builds strong countries.

Boiled down, the individual is the foundation. Which foundation do you want built up from, rock or sand? You choose.

An individual being capable and able with capacity to think clearly and critically is the best foundation. Individuals being self-reliant, not with the aim to be lone wolves, but to be capable and able is the baseline to build off of. The aim to be more useful, to not be a burden but an asset which can be plugged in a part of various levels.

Elections are going to election. I’m not saying they are unimportant. Those elected, however, are not saviors. People building themselves, looking for and finding ways, taking initiative (look at the response of the “People” post Helene) is more enduring than any election cycle result.

We are the answer, striving to be more useful, aiding each other in true Unity. You/We still got it! We witnessed it!

So, now that you know the 2024 election results and what the cure for our collected sickness is, will you be proactive in administering said cure?

13

Life Lessons Through the Eyes of Rusty

One afternoon, I sat on my porch reading while Rusty (our dog) lay in the grass. I paused my reading for a moment to watch him. Rusty is almost 15 years old. He is not having his best year, and I know he won’t be with us much longer. So, I began thinking about our life together. He came to us when he was 8 months old, and my son was only 5 years old. It was fun watching them grow up together. He was a very excitable puppy and had a thing for eating ALL of my flip-flops, that is not the way to win me over. However, he was such a blessing to our family and brought us so much joy. While reflecting on the memories we had with Rusty I realized that there are some valuable life lessons to be learned through the eyes of our dog.

Lesson 1: BE ADVENTUROUS

We always referred to Rusty as our adventure pup. We took him on at least one adventure every day, he went on every vacation with us, every camping trip, and every hike. He would come to life when he hit the trails, so many scents and things to look at and pee on. Adventure doesn’t have to be in the form of a hike, it can be anything. What are your interests, your desires? I’m an outdoorsy girl, I love exploring new places, hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, etc. I love seeing landscapes, trying new things, and learning about other cultures, especially through food. Be adventurous in your way, don’t hold back…live!

Positive Attitude, Limitless Altitude Notebook: Pott, T.S.: Amazon.com: Books

Lesson 2 LIVE A SIMPLE LIFE

This is so true for Rusty, give him shelter, adventure, food, water, and love and he is content–except for when he wants more adventure or endless trips outside. Over the years, Vet and I have found that having a simple life brings us much more joy than a life of unnecessary things. We are not ones to keep up with the Jones’, and we don’t spend money on frivolous things. We have scaled down our belongings to have less “stuff” that can clutter your life/mind. We have tried to spend our time living and making memories. We, of course, like things such as shelter, clothing, etc., but give me a reliable vehicle, a tank full of gas, and a cooler with food and drinks and I will be as happy as can be. Keeping life simple frees up more time to make memories with friends and family. It also allows you more time for reflection and understanding of what’s truly important. A camera roll full of memories and experiences is more meaningful than the belongings in my house. This lesson is also important with the holidays. We have witnessed some extreme things around the holidays that made us look at the holidays differently. I love all the lights, music, Hallmark movies, and cookies at Christmas time. I don’t, however, care for the commercialization of the holiday. The hustle and bustle, the stress people put on themselves to buy presents, attend parties, host parties, and do all the other holiday activities. There have been times in our life when people have been downright rude and ignorant during the holidays or made themselves sick and broke…for what? That’s not the point of the season. The gift of a clear mind is a valuable thing. I believe a simple life with gratitude and appreciation helps you achieve that. It’s interesting to see the ways of others more clearly rather than getting wrapped up in the chaos yourself. Live a simple, meaningful life.

Grateful and Thankful Wreath Notebook: Pott, T. S.: Amazon.com: Books

Lesson 3 CELEBRATE SPECIAL MOMENTS

This one comes to mind when I think of Rusty every spring and summer running down the embankment off the trail to get to the stream. He would sit there for a while, sometimes a long while! Then, he would run up the hill and very excitedly drop down to the grass and roll around on his back, all the while, making funny grunting noises with a huge smile on his face. He was celebrating the nice weather and being able to swim. Celebrating moments are not reserved for holidays and special occasions, it’s for anything you want. Celebrate a goal you have accomplished, the first sunny day after a very gray winter, celebrate (like I do) the first sight of daffodils and tulips growing, celebrate the achievements your family members have made, the harvest you grew in your backyard, and so much more. There are so many things worth celebrating, what will you celebrate today?

Amazon.com: Smile Notebook: Pott, T. S.: Books

Lesson 4 BE GROUNDED

Rusty loves to lay in the grass, he will bury his face so deep into the grass that he becomes one with the ground and is so content. Kev and I will ground ourselves by walking barefoot in the grass, but I’m not talking about just being out in nature. Being grounded is about having inner peace and being present-minded instead of being wrapped up in chaos or drama. Being grounded is about keeping your mind clear which allows you to make sensible decisions. Some people may choose meditation, yoga, or hiking as a way to ground themselves. What works for you?

Amazon.com: Dog Notebook: Pott, T. S.: Books

Lesson 5 NO SHAME IN NEEDING HELP

Rusty was always pretty independent and able to do things on his own–within reason. However, he did have moments in his life where he needed help. Once he got his paw stuck and couldn’t get free, so we helped him. After a strenuous hike, he needed help getting to his favorite spot on the couch. As of late, he needs help going outside, getting repositioned, and help reaching his food and water. I know it can’t be easy for him since he was always able to do things on his own, but I know he appreciates the help. There are always moments in our lives when we may need help–maybe you need help picking up your child from school, help with a project, or with a problem you are dealing with. Maybe it is financial help you need, finding a job and so much more. Some people are afraid to ask for help and put unnecessary stress on themselves. There are so many good people still in this world who are willing to lend a hand–it never hurts to ask for help.

Fall Gnome Notebook: Give Thanks: Pott, T.S.: Amazon.com: Books

Lesson 6 HAVE A GRATEFUL HEART

You could always see how grateful Rusty would be to go on his daily adventure, grateful to have his cozy blanket or his favorite spot on the couch. He was grateful for food, especially cheeseburgers, and grateful to have his family home with him. We all have so many blessings in our lives that we can be grateful for–not just big things but small ones as well. The things we all take for granted are things we should be grateful for instead. I’m grateful for my family, my job, clothes on my back, a meal every day, running water, electricity, my health, and so much more. There was an exercise I heard about once where you spoke aloud about all the things you are grateful for, incessantly. It’s amazing how that opens your eyes to the blessings that are all around you. Try it on your way to work one day if it is a 10-minute drive or 30-minute drive speak aloud, incessantly, the things you are grateful for in your life including the things that happen during your drive to work. What are you grateful for today?

Grateful Notebook: Pott, T.S.: Amazon.com: Books

Lesson 7 BE JOYFUL

Rusty has always been joyful; he would always be excited to meet people and would, in turn, bring joy to the other person and put a smile on their face. Rusty would always say “God told me to be joyful and spread cheer to others, so I have to listen to God.” If we could apply that to our own lives just imagine how it could change a life of someone you meet that day. I consider myself to be a joyful person, but I also fall short at times. Making someone else smile not only helps that person but helps you as well. Spread joy!

Rusty has had a good life, a life full of memories, celebrations, and adventures. A life worth living! We will always cherish our memories we had with him and remember all the joy he brought into our lives. I’m grateful that he was part of our family. He will be missed when he is gone, but the lessons we have learned from him will live on forever.

Winter Joy Notebook: Pott, T. S.: Amazon.com: Books

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