a post about flags

I hate politics. I hate confrontation. I hate divulging my innermost thoughts because that means I might get hated on.

But there are times when I have to take a deep breath and dive into the frey. Because sometimes taking a stand is more important than protecting your own feelings.

I have two thoughts on flags right now. As much as I care about other people, these thoughts have to do with me.

THOUGHT #ONE -  South Carolina has one of the most beautiful flags to fly over a state capital. It is a beautiful flag for a beautiful state full of beautiful people. We have our problems, sure. Not everyone or everything is beautiful all the time. But there is no denying that, just as our flag represents, we are hopefully resilient and always looking up.

In the aftermath of the horrific shooting at Emmanuel AME Church, Charleston artist and friend Gil Shuler​ did a brilliant job of interpreting our flag in a way that helps us all visualize our feelings. Which is why we need art (and brilliant artists) in our state. Keep it up, dude.

    Art Credit: Gil Shuler Graphic Design Inc.

THOUGHT #TWO -  South Carolina flies another flag on its capital grounds that does not belong.

I do not give one freaking fig whether CEOs of companies who come to SC from-off like or dislike it. Companies are not people, regardless of what the tax laws say.

I, however, am a tax-paying citizen of this state. I am a Carolina girl born and bred. I am a white woman with a rainbow coalition of friends and family. And I have the blood of CSA soldiers running through my veins.

The flag my ancestors fought and fell under is part of my heritage. They did what they thought was right.

Now it is my turn.

Take it down.

the high price of cell phones, Russian style

In life, there are givers and there are takers. I usually pride myself on being a giver. Except for today. I was an unwitting giver. And I would like to punch the takers in the throat.

I'm a long-time Verizon customer. Like, "since they were 360 Communications and I had a bag phone" long-time customer. I'm not sharing that because I'm proud of it or because I own Verizon stock or think they hung the moon. I'm just one of those "ain't broke don't fix" kind of people.

Lately I've been a little torqued about the amount I pay monthly for two smart phones. The signal is good, the phones are good, the service is good. But I seriously was thinking about going to one of those pay-as-you-go deals you see at Target. Because I really hate paying this much money for freaking cell phones. 

Well, I wondered if Verizon had figured out my ploy because lately I've been getting a lot of calls from them. I don't usually have my cell phone with me during the day, so the calls went unanswered. There were no voice messages just "missed call from Verizon" on my screen. Whatever.. let 'em call.

Today I just happened to be working where I could have my cell phone nearby. Around 11:30 am, it rings. Verizon. Ok, I thought, I'm game, so I answered. They were calling to do a brief survey about the quality of the service, and by completing it I would receive a $20 credit per line on my account in the next billing cycle.

Ah, a credit? From Verizon? Love it! Now we were talking.

That One Time When Something Amazing Happened...

Last year this time, I was preparing to audition for a show called, provocatively, "Listen To Your Mother." The movement that started with blogger and humorist Ann Imig in Wisconsin in 2010 had quickly worked its way across the country and was debuting in Charleston in May 2014.

And I wanted to be a part of it.

Looking for a warm Christmas message? Then don't read this

It's Christmas eve and I'm exhausted.

I have decorated inside and out. 

I have shopped and shopped and then wondered if I forgot anyone. 

I have spent too much money. I have shrugged when my husband said it wasn't enough and then laughed when he blanched at the resulting register receipt. (What can I say, he's a generous guy :) 

I have wrapped and wrapped. And wrapped some more. 

I have vacuumed needles. I have hosted dinner. I have washed dishes.  

I have arranged sitters for the dogs and had them groomed (the dogs, not the sitters) so they won't stink up my in-law's house. 

I have negotiated schedules and commiserated with others who also have too many places to be in too little time. 

And I still feel like I haven't done enough.

The Fight for a Wonder-full Life

Today is Friday. It's Advent, the time leading up to Christmas. A time of waiting. Anticipation.

This is a lovely time of year. Carols. Christmas lights. Parties. Gifts. Food. Time with friends and family. Timeless movies like It's a Wonderful Life.

The "most wonderful time of the year," right?

Christmas can be a wonderful time of joy, of giving and receiving good things. But, sometimes, it is not so wonderful. Sometimes, it is a time of sadness, of loss.

Dear Mom - Halloween is fun, don't be a jerk

There are a bunch of people out there who want to suck the fun out of everything. Especially Halloween.

Some people want to ignore Halloween all together, or maybe worse, hand out religious tracts instead of candy. I'm not sure what they're trying to prove, but if they're trying to show love, that really isn't the way to do it.

Other people suck  the fun out of Halloween by being uber obsessive about it. They start months in advance planning complicated and expensive costumes for the whole family, and get whacked out if everyone isn't onboard because they might not win the contest.

Both of those are kind of scary and the opposite of fun.

Back in my day, (here I go sounding old) my religiously conservative family saw no problem dressing up for Halloween and going Trick or Treating. My parents didn't lecture us about Druids or create some faux alternative holiday.They also never told us what to wear or obsessed about winning any contests. We didn't plan much or spend much money. They just let my brother and me enjoy it for what it was:

An opportunity to dress up and have fun.