Moon Pies, Mexican Food, and Swedes

 Laura has a new boyfriend, sort of. She's been online dating him since about February, and this is now mid-July, so they're officially a couple I suppose. He's from Sweden, and I call him "Dwight" because his first name sounds like "Yoakum" when you say it out loud.  He's the best, really, and I don't mind bragging a bit about him. To be honest, he's young and handsome, two great traits a woman like Laura should consider in a man. He's also bright, intelligent, hard-working, and really funny. He doesn't always know he's being funny, which only endears him to us even more. We are very happy he's here for a visit.

    Since Dwight is going to be with us for a little over a week, we have decided to take him to all the places he would be subjected to going should he decide to make Oklahoma his permanent residence.  We think he will, eventually, decide to move to Oklahoma, as he is a Ph.D. student at the University of Stockholm, where he is studying to be a meteorologist.  You'd be hard-pressed to find a better place to practice that particular line of work than on the plains of the Sooner State.  I laugh when I say "Sooner State" because where that is what we call Oklahoma, my daughter attended the OTHER university in Oklahoma, and she was MOST upset with me when I began training (teaching) Dwight the fight song for the University of Oklahoma. Anyone can sing it really, it goes like this: "Boomer Sooner! Boomer Sooner! Boomer Sooner! Boomer Sooner!" and then you repeat that a few more times and yell really loudly at the end! It is one of the most recognized fight songs in the world! 

    We took Dwight straight from the airport to Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Store because...well, because Braum's.  Braum's is an Oklahoma-based restaurant and store with fast food such as burgers, fries, chicken strips, and salads, and it has a grocery store attached with more than 31 flavors of ice cream, it's closer to 80 flavors if I had to guess.  We bought a new flavor none of us had tried, it's Neopolitan Cookie Dough. It's awesome.  We also bought burgers, fries, and the obligatory soft drink, soda, or pop, whatever you want to call it. In Oklahoma, they are all called Coke, even if it is Sprite or Dr. Pepper. It is what it is, you don't need to worry about it.  I drink unsweetened tea anyway, which is so far from being Southern that it's sad.

    Today, we woke the man up pretty early so we could take him to a few more places and do a few more Oklahoma and/or American things. He was bowled over by the heat, which is 101 today.  He was really impressed with how many pickup trucks are on the road, and he thought the fact that nearly every business flew the American flag was something to be seen for sure. He wondered if there was a special reason for it - - to which I answered, "Yes, there is a special reason for it. We're American".  He understood.  Laura smiled and said she really hadn't noticed, but she would have noticed if they weren't out and flying! She's not wrong.

    We went to Winco, a grocery store, and we bought a few things he needed to try. One of those things is a Moon Pie! You can't come to America's South and not have a Moon Pie. I think it may very well be illegal, and your hosts could be imprisoned for a while if you don't at least try one.  He liked it.  He had seen bulk groceries before, but nothing like they have at Winco.  Winco is famous for having aisle after aisle of so many bulk foods. The three he was most impressed with were the chicken gravy powder, the blueberry muffin powder in bulk, and granulated sugar.  I don't usually use real sugar, but since he's here we'll do that. I don't want to force my Stevia on him.  He tried Kool-aid for the first time too.  Loved it.

    One of the most important firsts for Dwight was his very first PBJ sandwich! In Sweden (and most of Europe) they eat peanut butter with bread of course, but they don't add jelly or jam to it.  Today, he has conquered the PBJ, and again, he's a big fan!  He will never again be able to eat just a lonely peanut butter sandwich without adding the jam to it. He may be exactly what Sweden needs to bring that sandwich to the forefront! Let's make this happen people!!  

    He came back to the apartment with us and we ordered Mexican food from an amazing local restaurant called Ted's.  You can search the state over and even dip into Texas and you won't find better authentic Mexican food. You can get it hot, but we don't like it that way, so we didn't force that on him. We did buy him some Tums just to be safe.  Again, they have antiacid in Sweden, but not Tums! He is just learning so much.  Over the course of the week, I'm sure Laura has a lot of plans for him. She should take him to the lake, to the ballpark, downtown to walk the river walk, and she should take him to a few museums since it's so freaking hot she can't really stay outside very long with him. Both of them are as pale as ghosts! (Laura is a ginger)

    Pretty sure he's going to go back to Sweden with 1000 stories to tell his friends and family, and I'm pretty sure he'll have to explain to them why it is that I call him Dwight.  If nothing else, I'll end up buying him a hat to dip down over his face and teach him to "day-nce" a little -- just a little, we don't need the man buying cowboy boots, chewing straw, and threatening to buy a gelding in the next week. He'll have plenty of time to do that when he comes back to stay a minute.  I teased him when we were in the pet store.  He said he doesn't normally go to the pet store and I laughed because we go 3x a week for something. If you're going to be with Laura you're going to have cat hair, dog hair, ferret hair, horse hair, and lizard poop on you most of the time. It's just a given.  Welcome to Oklahoma Dwight! We already love you buddy!!

    

Photo Credit: Me

The Blue Tongued Skink

 If you saw or read my last post you likely saw the photo I posted with a gorgeous Blue Tongued Skink!  I have owned them in the past, but it has been a minute. I will buy one again soon!  One does not just pick oneself up and drive to the pet store to pick up a Blue Tongued Skink, mind you. Where these lizards are not rare, they are certainly not common either. They are available, but they do come with a hefty price. The average BTS is demanding around $350 at the moment. The lizard is one cost, and the enclosure is quite another.  

    The BTS is such a simple lizard pet. It really isn't hard to keep at all. One of the best things about them of course is their brilliantly colored tongue, but they are also just too sweet for words. They actually like to coil and cuddle with you. They even recognize faces and voices. I love these guys.  I think my last one was about four years old and I had her when Caity was in kindergarten - - Caity turns 32 in about 2 weeks, so yeah, there's that. It's been a minute....or more.

    The enclosures for a BTS need to be at least 36-40 inches long and another 18 inches wide. They don't climb a lot, so the enclosure doesn't have to be tall. The average terrarium is about 15 to 18 inches tall, and that's high enough. The ground is the most important part of the enclosure. It needs to be big enough so they can move around and for me, I think I'll end up with a very big tank, if not an actual enclosure made specifically for the animal (once I move).  The enclosure (cage) will be either an 80 or 100-gallon tank, not something small, I want to spoil the Dickens out of my new boy/girl.  

    The BTS isn't necessarily a fussy eater either, and this is what makes keeping them so easy. If you are lucky enough to find one that is older, say over 9 months to 12 months, you can start with the salads, greens, a few fruits, and only a few proteins such as crickets, raw chicken, mealworms, etc.  The raw chicken (for me) is the way to go because I can simply cut off a slice when I'm about to cook my own! I love that. I can mix up a good green salad (sans spinach) and throw in a strawberry slice or two. Let me tell you, a lizard will do backflips for fruit!! I may need to video that so I can prove it!

    The general stats on a BTS are this:  They can live to be 18-20 years old. They can grow anywhere from 10 inches to 28 inches, depending on the species. They come in all colors really, but the basic colors are black on white, grey on black, brown on white, and grey on white.  They are found in Indonesia, Tunisia, Australia, New Guinea, and the surrounding areas. They are not poisonous, they are not biters, though any animal can snap. They are friendly, take their time, are quiet, and they are reserved. They basically hang out and look really pleasant.  My girl was 23 inches long and weighed just over 5 pounds I think. She was about four when I had to find her a new home; that was a sad day!

    I'll have to come up with a really good Celtic name for my new one. I don't know if it's a boy or girl yet, so I will come up with two names. I'm thinking of calling it Inverness if it's a girl and Culloden if it's a boy.  The Blue Tongued Skink is NOT from Scotland, mind you, but I like my Celtic names!  My last BTS was a girl and her name was Mary Scot for Mary Queen of Scotland.  It's just something I do. I had a horse named Eoghan and one named Niall.   If you've never been introduced to a Blue Tongued Skink before, or if you've never seen one in person, I would encourage you to find a place where they may have one. There are some really cool things to be learned from loving a reptile - - they aren't all fluffy and spunky like dogs, but they are capable of being social and even prefer human contact! Most reptiles are loners and can't be with other reptiles; the BTS is no different. Having a friendly face to spy on from their enclosures makes them happy.

    I'll have an outdoor enclosure built on wheels and keep it in the garage or in a storage shed.  It will be about four feet by two feet and another 15-18 inches high. It will be so the animal can go out and enjoy the sunlight. I will spoil my BTS! It will happen!! I can't wait to bring her or him home, but I have a few things to iron out in the house first, such as where I'm going to put the tank!!  These things take time if you want to do them correctly.  

Photo Credit: Pinterest

I Won't Be Moving To Scotland Afterall

 After another round of Mental Mathematics in my head, I have come to the conclusion that living in the Great State of Oklahoma is probably where I'll be until Jesus comes back for me. Now, after the Tribulation, when we all come back with Christ, I may decide to settle near Edinburgh if it is still standing. I can't imagine Arthur's Seat going anywhere, but you never know, it could blow and there goes the neighborhood!  After putting the pencil to it, and doing the whole Ben Franklin Pro/Con type lists, I just can't justify leaving Oklahoma on a permanent basis for Edinburgh Scotland, or anywhere else for that matter. Boomer Sooner.

    I have gone over this a thousand times in my head and I have to be honest, I like driving my car to the nearest Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Store. I like being able to drop what I'm doing and drive the said car to the Big Lot store to pick up Dr. Teal's bath supplies, or to Winco to pick up chocolate turtles in bulk.  Can you believe they're only $4.98 a pound? Seriously, you can't expect this sort of thing anywhere else.  Also, and this may or may not have much to do with anything, but so much to do with mental health, Oklahoma has (on average) more than 40 more days of sunshine than what the folks in Edinburgh receive. That's more than a month! There are another (over) 40 days that have more sunshine through partly cloudy days - - so another month or so with partly sunny days when the skies of Edinburgh seem to be overcast with grey clouds.  It really is a big deal.

    Although I HATE the heat in Oklahoma, and will likely visit my beloved Scotland during the summers, Oklahoma has warmth from April to November and we have more outdoor activities because of it. I tend to walk more than 7 miles a day in the summertime and the only way I could do that in Scotland is to go to the mall or something. I would have to be near one in order to do that, and I can't guarantee I would be able to find a place. Just finding a place is harder too. You have to pay way over the asking price to outbid someone else, and if the landlords don't want to remove their furnishings for whatever reason, you have less of a chance of being chosen to rent their lettings. It's just so different. Here, if the place is open there is a fee to pay down, and you fill out the application, you're approved, and you move in the same day you're approved.  You could wait weeks to move into an apartment in Scotland simply because landlords want the most money possible and tenants are in bidding wars; giving the landlords all they want in order to be picked! 

    Without trying to complain too much, and in doing so, I'll even place the blame squarely on myself, I will not live in a place that doesn't have a bathtub. I won't live in a place that has tiny refrigerators, no dishwashers, no dryers, and/or where people don't understand the marriage between peanut butter and jam! Seriously, did you know that the average Scot does not (on any regular basis if ever) eat PBJ sandwiches? You mention that you do, and you're stared at. This is a minute and tiny reason not to go there on a permanent basis, but it is something to think about. (Not really, but we all deserve a bit of levity)

    No, I think what it is (is) that I am really quite spoiled, and I'm so used to doing (going) what I want to do when I want to do it. If in Scotland I won't be driving and I would have to rely on public transport. For example, here I have lizards and need to run up to PetSmart to get a bunch of crickets.  I get up, go to the car, crank it over, drive to the store about 1.5 miles away and I buy the crickets. I drive back home, it takes a total of 15 minutes if I just do that.  Of course, I rarely ever just do that, I always buy a tea somewhere, or pop into another store to pick up something I may think I may need.  

    Let's pretend I just pop into PetSmart for the crickets to feed the lizards. Fifteen minutes tops is the amount of time it would take. If I were to do that same thing in Edinburgh I would have to go to the bus stop (maybe 2 blocks away) wait on the bus (they aren't usually on time) ride the bus to the store which may or may not be on the route, get out and walk to the store from the nearest stop, get the crickets, leave the store, walk to the bus stop, wait on the bus, ride the bus home, walk two blocks home - - seriously, the day is wasted! (OK, I'm exaggerating) It could take well over an hour if the store was close! What if it were further away? 

    By the time I got to my apartment, the crickets could be dead if I didn't take their carrier with me; in Oklahoma, I can drive home with them in their little plastic bag because it's only going to be 5 minutes from the store to my house. I have used the same type of scenario with me wanting ice cream, me wanting a burger, me wanting to do anything really - - I do things on the fly here - - I don't know that I could stop doing that. I don't know that I would ever want to stop doing that.  I could get a car there, but they drive on the other side, gas is higher, insurance is higher, and I'm not going to trust myself to parallel park -- it's never going to happen! I suck at it.

    There are other reasons that involve more Math.  My cost of living is lower here. The size of my house/apt for what I pay is an enormous difference and not something to be overlooked. My 1200 sf 2 bed 2 bath apartment with 2 walk-in closets is $680.00 a month, the same size unit in Edinburgh would likely not have closets, possibly not have a tub, but just a shower and a random toilet in the hall, and it could possibly be on the 4th floor without a lift to get the price down, but the price would still be twice that of what I am paying now! No thank you.  This news should make one particular Scot smile -- smile on, Tex...smile on.

    Don't get me wrong; I love love love Edinburgh. I just don't know that I could trade Oklahoma City for it on a permanent basis. Our laws are so vastly different, our expectations, our politics, our world views, and the fact that I really won't compromise my opinion, or refrain from giving my opinion if challenged.  I think it's a good thing that I just want to visit a few times, maybe even for a month each year until Jesus comes back, and then maybe, like I said, after the Tribulation, if it's still standing and I can manage the correct VISA (that's a joke) I will do it. I may even ask Jesus if I can run a doggy daycare or something relaxing - - then again, I could see myself teaching Ethics at the University of Edinburgh too.  Just sayin'.

    So, that's it then. My plan to move has been squashed and replaced with my new plan to stay put, teach, invest, buy and sell on Forex, probably buy a house, and write that murder book - - you know, the one where I throw the handsome Scotsman off the side of Arthur's Seat but I spare his guitar.  I don't do it, I'm the author, but I do know who will do it - - trust me, the boo bear could use a bit of tumble down the hillside. I just haven't decided if he actually dies or if he's found three days later by a wandering Jack Russell terrier.  So many decisions to make about this book!  OK, yep, I gotta go. I have to feed the lizards!  Num num!

Photo Credit: wallpapersdsc.net  (Blue Tongued Skink)

Words Can Hurt

 A couple of days ago I wrote a blog about having or carrying extra baggage around with you. We all do it, but for some, it seems the mere mention of it can trigger anger and upset feelings. I could say, "Buck up" or "Get over yourself", but the truth is, that there are some who are so internal with their emotions that even reminding them of their flaws seems to create a real tidal wave of frustration within them. For that, I am sorry.  What I mean when I say I'm sorry, is that I'm sorry my friend felt the way he felt after reading my words. I wasn't talking about him, per se, although for some people you can mention the slightest similarity and they are so sensitive they simply KNOW you are talking about them! This was not the case, but it did lead me to write this blog, after taking down the other one.

    I am an American, but when I get online and voice my opinion in a group that is primarily (and created for) Americans who have Scottish ancestry, I am immediately met with vicious (and I mean vicious) comments from native Scots who feel that anyone who was not born in their country can't possibly have an opinion about their country. This is so funny, as they have no problems spewing their opinions about what they think of us!  Bit of a double standard that I think I've had to accept as being normal. Their words hurt me, but I'm again, not allowed to say it without being called out as a liar or being too soft.  

    Perhaps we could all do well by just sort of prefacing our words. Perhaps I could have said, "This blog deals with unsettled feelings and things we carry around with us needlessly as humans".  This would allow someone who is overly sensitive the opportunity to bail before reading more and becoming upset.  I think the blog was meant to showcase the fact that there are OTHER people who have baggage, but that they are willing to sit with you, hold your hand, be there to listen, and just try and be comforting.  It didn't come off that way to ONE person, so since I was made aware of it, I did take that blog down. I won't be doing that in the future.  It doesn't make sense to censor your work.  It makes sense to buffer it maybe, but people do need to know there are others who will help in a crisis. (and face it, sometimes there are times when some people just need to buck up and get over themselves, as well.)

    Another thing I noticed about the blog I took down, was that while I was general in my description of my friend who lives in Texas, another friend who lives in Scotland was upset about the fact that he thought I was talking about him because the two men had similar backgrounds.  Seriously? Do you know how many singers and songwriters there are in Texas and also in Scotland? I can't go look at a house or flat for sale on RightMove without seeing a guitar or piano in the rooms! Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and California produce more singers and songwriters than any other part of the world! What if I said my friend was six feet tall, had brown eyes, and a beard! He does!  He also has tattoos, he drives a Ford pickup, owns about three guns, and he has a big pit bull!  I'm just saying there's no way someone in another country should EVER accuse me of calling him out for his baggage simply because I wrote about my friend who gave me permission to talk about him without giving his name. He recognized that there will be those who relate to him and could use the help I was suggesting!

    I think my point has been made. We all have things we don't like about ourselves, and things from our past (and in the present) that we can't really deal with, but we are saddled with them. I can't change the fact that I'm divorced, but it's been 25 years.  I've never been to rehab, but I've broken down a few times and really had a time of it getting back on track. I had kids to raise, a job to keep, and an education to maintain. I sucked it up, and no it was not fun, but those kids depended on me being the strong one. Jesus had to be the strong One as I couldn't do it alone. That was my point in the blog -- it was not meant to send someone to the Moon with anger or emotions. EVERY LAST ONE OF US is carrying something. I just choose to give it up so I'm not burdened with it. The fact that I've NEVER cared what others think of me may be a good thing - - I just don't have to worry about my reputation! 

    Reputation is something you have because of what others think of you. Your character is so much more important and if we're all honest, a character flaw is worse than a rumor about you. We need to work on our characters and give up the hope of being Mr. or Ms. Popular! Who gives a damn about being liked to the point of being the social center of attention? Not me. If I make Jesus happy I'm good. He's the one that died for me so I can enter into Heaven, not these other people who couldn't hold a flame to what Christ has done for us. Anyway, I didn't mean to upset anyone, and though it is never my intention, it is still a fact that words can and do hurt, but we can't censor them or not use them. We can choose them. We can apply them, but we can't stop using them.  I won't offer an apology, but I will say that I hope I can be more thoughtful in the future. Then again, I have no idea who may or may not read the blogs, and speaking the truth is just that, speaking the truth. I'm not going to be able to please everyone. Pleasing God is enough.

Photo Credit: AskGramps.org

    

    

Weird Dream: Deception, Kiosk, Fried Chicken, and Asphalt

 You just need to really pay attention to the details when you dream because you may not remember them when you wake.  They make a HUGE difference. Let me give you an example. I dreamed another person, not me, was dressing up in a school marm dress and pretending to be pious. I wondered why it mattered, but "they", the others, were calling her out for it, and saying she was pretending to be a nun.  We all know that nuns don't dress in that fashion, but that was in my dream.  These are the things you need to try to remember because when you look it up to see what it means it really does matter who is doing what, and who is saying what about it. You (me) are the observer at times, not the participant.

    So, in my dream, I was watching the woman who was being called out at a meeting of some sort. They were telling her that she was pretending or being deceptive. She was arguing about it and saying it was her right to dress the way she wanted to. She was trying to get the attention of a man. (who would really want a delicate woman dressed in an old-fashioned dress?) She was being deceptive. That was the notable part of the dream.  I needed to pay attention as it deals with my surroundings, the people around me, and so forth. I wasn't the deceptive one, but there must be someone in my waking life who is being deceptive.

    After the meeting, of which I was a part of that, I drove to the hill to get my lunch you know. That's where they serve lunch. They served it from a kiosk and it was fried chicken and mashed potatoes. When I started to pay for it the cashier rang it up as $21.99.  I said, "No, I won't pay that, it's too much." So she put it back and I walked away. I'm not stupid! It should have been about $4.00 maybe $5.00 tops. I drove my car home and because the traffic light was red I stopped. I do that. I obey traffic rules in my sleep.  Then I turned left after getting into the middle of the intersection.  That move, according to the dream books, means that I am in the middle of the chaos of life, I see it, I manage my way through it, and I successfully meet my goals. Yea!!

    By the way, the mashed potatoes were in another dream this past week. They represent the steady and slow grind for all of your accomplishments in your job. The fried chicken was interesting. It represented the heart of the matter, the down to Earth morals and thoughts that I carry around. I think it's comfort food, a staple, and it's good for me, (maybe not the fried part) and it's good stuff, but the lady wanted way too much for it, so I didn't pay for it. I just went on my way. The hill my car had to climb was dark asphalt and again, asphalt deals with employment. It's a new road in an old place. It's a new beginning. The hill was steep! I had to really push my car hard to get to the top of it, but I did manage. I know there will be new challenges, but I'm willing to make it happen.

    I've already told you what the dream means really, so I don't have to go over it again. I think I'll be doing OK soon in my new job and I'll work through the challenges. I did buy a Ravenclaw House banner to put up in my new room. It's lovely.  I knew I was a Ravenclaw the instance I saw the Sorting Hat. I have taken about 6 different quizzes (Hogwarts games online) and each one says the same thing. I am a Ravenclaw!   I raised three Gryffindors.  Crazy.

Photo Credit: Qfeast.com

    

Weird Dream (Showers, Stars, Condom?)

 Well, well, well, here we are at another odd dream. I have them. Sometimes I can remember them, sometimes I can't. This time I saw things and I remember thinking I need to write this down and then I woke up and couldn't remember all that I wanted to write down.  Therefore, because I couldn't force myself to get out of bed to write down what it was that I saw, I will have to recall only that which I can recall.  I still think it's pretty interesting. After going through the dream books of symbols and whatnot I have come up with a fairly decent answer to any questions I may have. I can tell you this, I had NO IDEA what it meant to see a condom covering the shower head. That was a new one for me.

    I was outside. I was looking up at the skies and noticed not only that they were full of stars, but they were also becoming more and more full as I watched. More stars appeared while I stood there gazing upward.  I saw dark pretty blue clear skies with thousands of bright twinkling stars. There were no shooting stars, there were no planets such as the Moon, Venus, or Mars. I only saw the twinkling brilliant stars. Then, out of nowhere, the number three was formed in the void of stars. You could see the stars surrounding the number, and the number was visible in the blue sky.

    I then proceeded to the obstacle course which was mostly uphill.  I don't know where I was, but it was on flatland after I climbed a hill.  Then, the obstacle course had a lava rock climbing element to it that I had to master. I wasn't allowed to use any safety net, ropes, or anything. I simply had to climb to the top of the lava rock structure, and I made it! I was so proud of myself. The stars were still out and I could still see the number 3 over my head. It was time to go "back to the public place" and take a shower.  My friends were talking openly about the public place as if it were something sort of like the Public Market in Seattle. 

    I walked to the "public place" (I love how we know what it is in our dreams.) to take a shower. I didn't have a towel so I wrapped myself in my striped bedsheets.  I hung the bedsheet over the door so people would know I was occupying that particular shower stall.  I was in the shower and trying to get the showerhead to work correctly, but it was being stopped.  I couldn't figure out what was on the end, but upon closer examination, I found it to be a condom! What? Yep, a condom on the showerhead, catching the water, but not bursting.  I removed it, threw it away, and took my shower without any other hindrances.   When I was finished, I wrapped myself in my bedsheet and met my friends to go to the store. 

There you go! Certainly, that makes a whole lot of sense to anyone!

• Stars appearing in multitudes: money, fortune, good tidings, happiness
• Dark Blue Sky: Deep feelings, sentimental feelings, all-around good
• The number 3: Unity, Trinity, protection from all sides, again, good
• Uphill: I have to work for it.
• Obstacle course: self-explanatory, I have to work through the challenges
• Lava rock: Comes out of the ground, organic, from the soul, from my mind
• Making it to the top: Achieving all goals set and others expected
• Public Place: The world at large
• Bed sheet: my personal convictions
• Shower: cleaning myself of my past
• THE CONDOM? What? It represents a new job! Who the hell would have thought that? If a woman finds a condom in her dream it is not the same as if a man finds it. It was being filled up and it was for me. The world was giving me a new beginning, a cleaning, a fresh start, and the symbol was for employment. I actually accepted a new job just yesterday!
• My friends: My friends are with me through it all.
• Going to the store: Refresh, replenish, stock up.

These dreams are so much fun and I love them. I hope I keep having more. I will note that Arthur's Seat is a volcano in the middle of Edinburgh, Scotland. If I wanted to start my new challenges uphill and with lava rock that would make sense! I did get over all the humps and bumps. I did make it to the top! Woo hoo!! Let it be, Jesus!! Let it be!

Photo Credit: TripSavy.com

    

Weird Dream: Making Decisions on Tuesday

 It's kind of funny how I am now remembering the dreams I had the night before and writing them down. What I find myself doing is remembering them just as I am waking. I try to stay semi-awake to go back over them so I can recall details of conversations, colors, dates, times, and such.  Last night I had a bit of a nastier dream in terms of dealing with people. There were quite a few liars and manipulators in the dream. I was successful in thwarting any of their plans, but it was a bit crazy at times. I had to really think quickly a couple of times. I do hope most of the dream doesn't come true. I wouldn't mind the last part being real!

    There was no beginning to the dream, I was in a situation with others wherein I was being asked to sign a contract. They were being asked to do the same. We were in a group setting, and the people in charge were aimlessly walking around sort of trying to keep our eyes moving. They were trying to distract from what was really happening. There was an RV in the parking lot, and it was absolutely full of newly washed t-shirts that were new, but were not folded. They were just sort of crammed into the RV. One lady was saying there were 3600 of them, and we'd be obligated to pay for that when we signed. 

    At first blush, it looked as if it was a partnership-type contract, and my buy-in would be that I bought the t-shirts, then sold them for whatever profit I could make. That's not a bad thing, but I wasn't into selling t-shirts. I wanted to do something else.  I put the people off, and I continued the tour. I watched and observed as others signed, but I didn't want to. There was a soccer game going on, so I pretended to be interested in it so I wouldn't have to sign or be pressured into signing. 

    I left the area, but not before picking up a trashcan full of information. I said to the man who was pressuring me that I would let him know by Tuesday.  He wasn't happy with my answer and he followed me out to my car.  I left the trashcan there and drove off.  I came back later and I saw everyone sort of hanging out and talking. They had a food spread, and they were watching another game.  I took two chicken tacos and smiled. I walked away. That was it.

• RV = freedom and escape from the routine.
• T-shirts = also relaxing and a more casual way of living
• The number 3600 = 3+6 or the number 9.  Wisdom and experience
• Partnership = I didn't want to work with anyone. Just by myself.
• Soccer = UK? I love football, but am learning the game of soccer.
• Trashcan = self-explanatory.  I didn't want their trash. They were liars.
• Drove away = self-explanatory. I left them standing there.
• Came back for food = I liked the food! I didn't hate the people.
• Chicken Tacos = again, a relaxed and leisurely meal

So, all in all, I was relaxed, and this was a business negotiation. I was being considered, but I was also considering. I was not going to take them at their word. I didn't believe them. I gave them a date, Tuesday. That means I was setting timelines and goals. I made the decision to be where I wanted to be, not them. This was a dream that made me think about striking out on my own soon.

    

    When the time is right, and it will be soon, I will decide to use my own resources and be my own boss in the world of Forex. I may trade options as well. I think I will at least try to diversify and keep my own options open!!  This was a good dream. 

Photo Credit: Modelcarsmag.com

Weird Dream: Parking Lot, Blue Car, Laundry, Coins, and STUFF

 Dreams, because they are unique and often strange, can be interpreted in so many ways.  The best way to think about the meaning (or possible meaning) of a dream is to take the entire dream in context if you can and decide if it was an overall happy dream, a sad dream, a warning dream, and so forth.  This dream that I had last night was not instigated by something I ate just before bedtime. I think it's ridiculous when someone tries to analyze a dream using that sort of logic. If you don't know what you're doing when it comes to dreamscapes, it's best you don't even try.

    Dreams are found not only in the Bible but in literature and reference books as well. As long as people have been sleeping people have been dreaming. Some of us, for whatever reason, are able to remember these dreams in both vivid colors as well as in detailed details.  For instance, I know that the blue car I was driving was not just a blue four-door sedan, I know the make and model. Does that matter? It may. I don't drive an Audi, I drive a Nissan Versa.  Here we go.  Try to keep up if you can. I'll explain it at the end.

    In my dream, I drove my car (a blue four-door Audi sedan) into the parking lot of a business.  The parking lot was empty. I didn't enter it using the correct ingress, instead, I used the egress, and had to sharply turn my car's wheels, but I got into the parking lot. I had my choice of places to park, and I chose the center of the parking lot for some odd reason. You would think I would have parking closer to where I was going.  Not me. I wanted to be smack dab in the very middle.  I parked and I walked inside the building.

    Once in the building, I was doing my laundry. I hadn't brought my laundry with me, but there I was doing it.  The machine was massive and very open. I put the clothes in, and then I started looking in my big glass jar for the quarters I would need to start the machine.  The machine was actually already going at that point, but I was still looking for quarters. I found a coin in the slot, but the coin was not American. It was in fact, a square coin, it was gold, and it had the number 1 on it. That will come into play later. I'll explain.

    I dug through the coins trying to find the quarters I would need. I found a few, but I also found banana peels. I didn't find any bananas, just the peels. That was in fact odd, even inside the dream, I found that to be odd. Usually odd things in dreams don't make you flinch, but the banana peels gave me cause for pause, and I did. I moved them and picked up (and picked out) the quarters. I stacked them so I could easily put them into the slots. I took the one gold coin out, and I pocketed it. I didn't try to find the owner as it was a public place. There would be no way of knowing who it belonged to. It was now mine.

    My friend from my childhood and teen years (Kathy) was there, and she was standing with another employee. Apparently, Kathy worked there. I assured the other lady that I knew Kathy, and I told the woman that I could tell her great stories about Kathy, and what she looked like wearing mashed potatoes on her face. Yes, that is what I said. That line "I can tell you what she looks like wearing mashed potatoes on her face" was odd for a dream as well - - I told myself I needed to remember that, and I did.

    I left the building, and I was not in my car. I was walking down the road with my first boyfriend John Love. (Hi, John)  John was somewhat beside me then he was behind me. He was holding my hand and trying to help me put my red zip-up fleece jacket on; the jacket was upside down, but that didn't matter to either of us.  He took me to another building and I told him I needed to go to the bathroom.  

    I did go to the bathroom, (#2) and in the feces (sorry, it's a dream) there were pieces of corn. I don't eat corn. I've not been a corn eater for a very long time. I will eat cornbread, but the last time I had corn on the cob or corn casserole was well over 3 years ago. I just don't eat it as it's used to make pigs and cows fat, so why eat it? Why was it in my poop? I'll tell you later.  It's a good thing.

    After going to the bathroom and washing my hands (even my dreams I'm a good girl) I spoke with John about the electric panels he was working with. I tried to pick one up, but he yanked it from me and said sternly that I could not only bring something bad to the Earth, but I could also bring a demon if I didn't know what I was doing. Then he quickly apologized to me for being so blunt and aggressive. I didn't think he had been either. I thought he was just caring and concerned, maybe a bit jumpy, but he didn't upset me.  

    OK. That's the dream.  I looked up every detail I could from several places I trust with good reputations. I don't do the tarot card reading places, and if it says it is an Islamic or Hindu site I don't read from there either.

• Blue car:  transitioning into a new career and it is going to be good. The color blue is a calming color. The Audi means I'm stepping up in my career path from where I am now.
• Parking lot:  It was empty, meaning I had all the choices I wanted, and I was in charge of where I would place myself in the new position. I chose right in the center of it.
• Doing laundry: cleaning the soul and taking out the old replaced with new.
• Finding or looking for coins: If you look for them and don't find them there could be an unexpected financial loss. I found them. It is now earned rewards. The fact that I was using them to clean my soul means I'm using my own funds to better myself. 
• The square foreign golden coin with the #1?:  Forex!  It is the trading market I am learning, and it is different, wonderful, fitting, and a priority. The #1 is the priority part, and the square is the fitting part. Circles (most coins) don't really fit unless you stack them.
• The glass jar: The container of my new life. You can see through it, and it holds all I need.
• The banana peels!! This is light-hearted and hilarious. It stands for open and honest sexual encounters, lust and love, passion, and all things sexual. I had no idea.  I would have thought it would be an opportunity to slip up, but no, the banana has been peeled. It's out there and open and waiting for a taker. How fun is that? I giggled.
• My old friend? Well, like John she is a reminder of my past life. She and John represent my original thoughts and my original way of believing in myself and my dreams. Those crazy young years when nothing can stop you.
• The mashed potatoes!! This was fun too.  Mashed potatoes show you a rough but smoothing-out road to success. There will be lumps, but it's all good, and it's all worth every effort!!
• John held my hand and protected me? He is a friend, and the upside-down red jacket is also a new venture, a new life, a newness that others see in me. It's upside down because they don't understand it, but I do. It's Forex again! It's my choice to be in the money markets.
• Poop with corn? Again, money. Who knew? Corn prices represent a lot of the base markets and seeing poop is an expression of oneself. Seeing the corn is an idealistic thought about finances. They are spaced apart, which also reflects the steady and slow movement (sorry) of the new position I'm training for now. 
• The electronic panels? I was NOT in control of them. I was NOT educated about them. These are things I can't control and I have no business trying to touch them. I could cause problems if I do.  I am being warned to be careful and not to overstep my boundaries.

That was (and is) an amazing dream. I am so excited about it because I am being told both in my waking hours and in my dreams now that I will meet all the criteria I need and the doors will soon be open. I will see every goal met. I will meet them because I am working on them. I won't back down, and I won't overstep. I know where I am going - - Scotland. I know what I am doing - - trading. This is going to be the best new years ahead - - thank you, Jesus!!

Photo Credit: Pinterest 

Why I'm Not Married (Yet)

 The list of reasons I am not interested in being married is longer than the list of why I'm not married (yet).  I say "yet" because God isn't finished with me, and I could actually end up being married again if HE, God, were to decide I need to be married. I personally am not seeking a marital relationship at this time. What I am seeking is to do the things God wants, be the person God wants me to be, and if that includes being a wife, then by God, and all things Holy, they (the Trinity) will need to make that happen by opening every last door necessary; a lady never has to open doors you know. (That's a little added Southern hospitality for those of you who don't know me. I'm absolutely from the South, which is a place where we honor God and expect men to be men.)

    It won't make me the least bit popular with the women folk when I say this, but believe it or not ladies, God made the man to be the head of the family, therefore, as a wife, I would understand that. I'm not all that easy to wrangle, manage, control, or handle, so God will need to provide a man who is capable of actually performing that duty before I can submit to him as God would have me to do. First things first, he has to present me without blemish and without blame. Once he can do that, hold his hands up to God and dedicate his life to me both monogamously and show the same love for me that Christ has for the Church, I will have zero reasons not to submit to him the way a wife is intended to submit. 

    Again, I won't win any friendly smiles or nods from the ladies who have suffered at the hands of the wrong man (me included) but if I were to marry again that man (my husband) would have the final say over our finances, and that means if I am the one earning those finances, he would be given the last word there as well. That's not something most women in 2022 are willing to consider let alone do, but if God picked the man for me I would have no reason to doubt that God would also train that man in the ways and means of how to be the best decision-maker after we had dutifully (as a couple) discussed what we both this is best for our family or union. He would have the last word in all things; that's a hard thing to give up, but if you think about it, he has it so much worse than I ever would. I am only submitting to him, a man, but he (a man) is submitting to God, and he's 100% responsible for the decisions he makes, and guess what, he's (the man) responsible for the decisions I make too! He's the head of the household. It ultimately falls on him to discuss these things with me and to make sure whatever we do it's the right thing!

    I can't think of a better thing to be than free from having to be responsible for the decisions being made. I have a great mind, and I am a very very strong-willed woman, so I'm not going ot just let any ol' man come along and be the head of my household, take control of my finances, my choices, my desires, and my decisions. No, that's not what will happen. If God, and God alone, decides to make me the EXCEPTIONALLY wonderfully dutiful and respectful wife that I know I would be, and could be, He (God) will have to provide the ONE man who I can be subjected to, who I can submit to, who I can follow, who I can uplift, who I can support emotionally, spiritually, even financially if he needs to work on whatever it is that God wants him to do - - that's a very unique and one-of-a-kind man. There aren't two out there. God knows that. 

    The list of reasons I'm not married is LONG indeed, but the list can be summed up by saying this; I am not willing to submit until God brings me the one He wants me to submit to. I won't be doing the choosing if there is another one.  Nope! He'll be dropped in my lap, and I've said it before; God will write "This one's for you Jude, you're welcome" in purple lettering on some random wall.  He'll make it so clear that I won't even have to wonder -- don't you kinda feel sorry for that guy right now? I mean, he's possibly out there minding his own business, just going what he thinks God wants him to do, and maybe he's thinking he can't do it alone, and maybe he could use a really good wife to both help him and support his passion for the ministry God has chosen him for. Don't you think he's gonna be in for the shock of his life if he does ask God for me? LOL...I mean, he may not realize it's me, but yeah, God will know. 

    To be honest, I think I'd be OK with it.  I know I've learned a great deal from life and could be the helpmeet someone needs; love will grow.  Honor, respect, communication, all of that will happen -- if it is to happen.  The list is short really, it's because God hasn't said yes yet - - just "wait" and when He says to wait it's a yes just waiting to manifest -- So yeah, I'm open for a discussion on the matter (as long as the man is right with God and right for me...and has a guitar. There will be a guitar in this union, or else, I'm not doin' it! I've gone long enough without one! I can't play one, but I damn sure want to listen to one being played!) Smiles. There will be dogs too, and chocolate. There will be kilts, there will be coffee, there will be beaches, and there will be beards. There will be great sex, and....did I say that out loud? Well, I should probably stop before I truly say what I want to say - - I do that from time to time, but it's OK, God will tell the man that too. He'll know. He may already know. Who knows? (God knows.)

Photo Credit: dreamstime.com

The Blood of a Lamb

 Just this past week I was reading an article about how a lamb or sheep in a woman's field had been severely bitten by a rattlesnake!  The poor sheep was in terrible pain, and though she swelled up and could hardly move for 2 days, going into the 3rd day she revived.  Not only was she able to return to the herd, but she also seemed stronger, even more, "alive" if you will. Her attitude (did you know animals have attitude?) seemed to be uplifting.  What happened? The woman said she never took the sheep to the vet because when she called the vet she was told that the blood of a sheep can actually neutralize the venom of a snake! WHAT? Say that again, but this time, say it with a Biblical inflection.  The Blood of The Lamb neutralizes the bite of the Serpent!

    God is so so so so so wonderful. He did this on purpose folks!! I am and have been, a Baptist all of my life, but I never knew this to be so. I am flat-out amazed, and I'm humbled to the point of tears just relaying the facts.  God, in His infinite wisdom, created the anti-venom materials needed to sustain the bite of a poisonous snake inside the body of a lamb!  It just goes to show you that He knew all along what His plan was for Christ. He knew all along what His message was for us.  God (through the Creator side, Jesus) made the sheep and He made the serpent KNOWING that the blood of the lamb would prevail.  I am raising my hands, but when I do that I have to stop typing! 

    So overwhelmed am I, that I have been tweeting, texting, calling, and bothering just about anyone who will agree to listen to me. I am just blown away by this fact.  It could not be more clear.  It does make me wonder why the damned serpent we call Satan chose the snake as a means to lull and lie to Eve if he also knew what could and would happen.  I can only imagine there would be sheep in the Garden of Eden were he to bite one or the other of the first couple.  It also blows me away that Jesus created the trees that would become His cross. He allowed them to be watered, to have sunlight, to thrive and grow strong; strong enough to hold a man's full weight as He was nailed to it and bled for my (our) sins. People say "He could have called 10,000 angels" but you know what, He could have just skipped that seed altogether and that tree would never have been planted!

    Most of my ancestors are from the UK area, mainly Scotland, but also England. This is where an amazing new anti-venom testing and study is taking place. More than 2000 sheep are injected with venom on a monthly basis, and one of the main (main) reasons the study is allowed to continue is that the blood never fails to do its job.  Did you hear that? The Blood never fails.  Oh, I am just so happy right now, and I'm thinking more people need to hear this. I think I'll send my blog to about 1000 churches this weekend to see if any of them wish to do a bit of research on the matter and do a bit of educating - - and witnesses, all at the same time.

Here is an article that talks a bit about it. You can find more. Be blessed. Be covered! The Blood of the True Lamb covers every sin. 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-05-23/sheeps-blood-provides-rattlesnake-anti-venom/1576314?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

Photo Credit: FBCTexarkana.org