I will not be engaging on social media sites on New Year’s Day. I do not want to read everyone’s New Year’s resolutions that will get broken, as soon as the words leave your mouths.
All posts by La Cracha Handy
Where Will You be on Black Thursday?
Yes, you read the title correctly. Black Thursday. That is what stores are turning Thanksgiving Day into. Stores are opening their doors for Black Friday shopping, as early as 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
I cannot describe in enough words how ridiculous and insane this country has become, over “deals” that really don’t save you any money. Well, maybe a couple of dollars here and there.
I don’t remember what year this Black Thursday madness started, but I do recall reading advertisements and watching commercials about a couple of years ago. Do people really skip their Thanksgiving meals to stand in line for a doll or toy truck? I’m a regular customer at certain stores, so I laugh when I see “Black Friday deals” that aren’t really deals at all. There are only a few items that’s an actual steal.
Since I’m ranting about the upcoming circus, I must say that I haven’t watched the local news at all this week, or read the newspaper. That’s because I’m not in the mood to see all the tents set up in Best Buy’s parking lot. At the beginning of the week, several families actually start camping out in the store parking lot. That just sickens me.
So, where will you be on Black Thursday? I’ll tell you where I’ll be. I will be at home eating my Thanksgiving turkey, dressing (made from scratch with chicken, I don’t do stuffing), fresh spinach, baked macaroni and cheese, barbecue ribs, dinner rolls, and homemade sweet potato pie. Then my boys and I are going to fix a plate for my mother, and take it to her new apartment (she finally decided to downsize) she just moved into this week. After that, we’re going to swing back home, fix my brother a plate, and take it to the nursing home where he lives. No, he’s not some elderly man, he’s young but paralyzed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Besides, I’ve been doing a lot of shopping online the past few years. The stores offer the same deals online as they do in the stores. And most of them begin their online sales hours before the brick and mortar stores open.
Whatever you decide to do, be safe and have fun!
10 Topics to Discuss Besides Bill Cosby
News media blew up television and the internet a few days ago, over Bill Cosby’s sex scandal accusations from years ago. Yes, years ago. There are too many issues that are far more important right now.
I especially don’t feel like reading about something that Bill Cosby did before I was even born. The earliest year I read about, or watched on television news, was 1969. I mean, why bring it up all these years later? Was there a scheme brewing all along? To wait until his bank account was large enough for an enormous amount of hush money?
If the story would have broken years ago when I was a kid, I would have been like, “What? For real? Wow.” So when I learned about the accusations of 77 year-old Bill Cosby, all I said was, “Oh.” That’s because there are more important issues to be discussed at the moment.
Please do not call, text, email, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or LinkedIn me anything about Bill Cosby right now. Instead, talk to me about any of the following:
- Preventing an Ebola outbreak in the United States
- Ferguson, Missouri. Discuss how we need to convince protesters to not destroy their own communities. Take it to Darren Wilson’s neighborhood, the police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black male teenager, but was not indicted by the grand jury. NOTE: Okay, so the last sentence may sound mean, but I’m an African-American, so I harbor harsh feelings at times about certain situations. Seriously though, my feelings are the same just as they were with the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles back in the early 90’s. I feel, as hard as it may be, that there should be PEACEFUL protests, not violent acts.
- International wars. ISIS and other terrorist groups.
- How to convince NBC to not end season 1 of new TV show Constantine after only 13 episodes.
- How not to contract salmonella poisoning after eating that prime rib you like to cook for the holidays. I have read so many rib roast recipes, and they all made me nauseous. They want you to take the roast out of the refrigerator, and allow it to reach room temperature before cooking. Then you cook it in the oven for a specified amount of time at a high temperature. You turn the oven off and let it sit in the oven for a few hours because it’s still cooking. That sounds like food borne illness to me. I don’t let any meat that I cook get to room temp before cooking, and I don’t let it set in the oven cooking with it turned off. I slow cook at 200 degrees.
- Bullying in schools
- How to increase voter turnout, especially at mid-term elections
- Getting tech crazed people to realize that we will never live in a paperless society. Whenever the computer systems go down for routine maintenance, or whatever else reason(s) at my job, it’s back to paper. And a large amount of people, if not most, will always prefer printed media. I prefer to hold a book and/or magazine in my hands, rather than to read it digitally.
- VA secret list scandal. Why did it take so long for it to come to light?
- Bigfoot’s whereabouts. Okay, so I threw Sasquatch in there. It’s better than talking about Bill Cosby.
Feel free to add to the list by commenting below.
Wanted: Someone To Be Me For A Day
Here is my job posting to be me for a day.
JOB TITLE: Superwoman
JOB DESCRIPTION:
- Wake up at 6 a.m. to get middle schooler up and ready for school. (sometimes it’s a hassle because he likes to keep sleeping and will expect you to be the snooze on his alarm clock). You’ll have to fuss at him to get off the 3DS, iPhone, and to tie his shoes (they always come unlaced).
- Once the middle schooler leaves, prepare to get the 8 yr-old up and ready for school. He is a special needs child, so getting him ready is a major chore. Be ready to dress him while his eyes are focused on PBS Sprout channel. He may also have a meltdown at the last-minute, when it’s time to leave for maybe even the smallest thing.
- Sleep a couple of hours or run errands until time to get ready for work. 12-hour shifts 1p-1:30a.
- If you don’t run errands on the day you work, then cook dinner and wash a load (or two if you have time) of dirty laundry before you leave for work.
- If you don’t work that day, work on the to-do list (errands, phone calls, shopping, etc.)
- Check on my brother at the nursing home. I’m his legal guardian so you may be given decision-making questions/ideas either by phone or while you’re at the nursing home. Be prepared for his smart mouth. He is paralyzed from MS (Multiple Sclerosis), and the only thing that he can pretty much move on his own is that sharp tongue of his.
- If you’re working that day, squeeze in a 10-15 minute nap before showering. You’re going to need it because you will be working in an Emergency Department at a level 1 trauma center.
- If you’re not working, be prepared to hear the middle schooler run his mouth when he gets home from school about what you cooked. You’ll have to fuss that he can’t always have fast/fried foods.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Must have patience
- Must be willing to work with special needs child
- Must be able to multi-task, take constructive criticism, and not take mess off anyone at work
- Must know how to cook
- Must have conflict resolution skills (the boys fight every night. The youngest is very aggressive and violent most of the time)
- Must be able to get by with no more than 3-4 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period
- Must be a quick thinker and problem solver, especially if the school calls because the youngest is having a meltdown. You may be told to pick him up. If you’re at work, prepare to leave right away or call around and find someone to go up to the school.
SALARY: You will be generously rewarded with excessive fatigue, throbbing headache, back talk, and little to no sleep.
HOW TO APPLY: Applications are being accepted at the homes of women with a full-time job (and part-time if she has one like me), and special needs child(ren). That way, in case you don’t live in Michigan, at least someone will be able to take a well deserved break. Applications accepted worldwide.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: There will never be a deadline.
Remember the errands I mentioned? Well this is my errand for the day, writing this blog post. Now it’s time for me to rush and jump in the shower to start my 12-hour shift. Oh yeah, and remember the part-time job? I already worked one of them at the elementary school earlier this morning.
Please apply soon. There are plenty of superwomen, like myself, that needs you.
My Solo Vacation Out in the Rockies
I had been threatening my family with a solo vacation for the past four years. With mounds of stress laughing at me while weighing down my shoulders, not to mention I’m the only female in my household (husband and two sons), I decided to stop the threats and take action.
I had a few vacation spots in mind, but I decided on a mountain destination getaway. It was my first choice from the beginning, and I am still in awe over the majestic views of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
Where did I stay? See if you can guess by the picture.
If you guessed YMCA, then you are absolutely correct! I recently spent 5 days, 4 nights at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. At 8,010 ft. elevation, and 360-degree majestic mountain views, I was in no hurry to return home.
I wanted both adventure and tranquility on my vacation, and the Y offers both.
I spent a week at the YMCA of the Rockies several years ago, but it was for training for my job. But not this time. No learning team-building skills, de-escalation techniques, and participating in obstacle courses. I vowed back then to return one day. And I did. August 22-26, 2014.
What did I do?
I spent time at the Design & Craft Center, two days in a row. I made bracelets and earrings. That place is addicting. Thousands of beads and charms to make jewelry. T-shirt design. Pottery. Any and every craft for all ages, both male and female. There were no popsicle sticks for birdhouses like the one I made when I went to a YMCA summer camp as a child.
I didn’t get a chance to go hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, but I did go horseback riding. Jackson Stables is located on the property, and they even cater to beginning riders (like myself). The trails are on the Y’s property, then you cross over into the amazingly beautiful RMNP. By the way, the Y is bordered on three sides by RMNP.
I also had a hot stone massage.
I didn’t get a chance to zip line, play kickball, shoot that bow and arrow, and a lot of other activities the Y offers, but I did get lots of rest. I rested between each activity. I did nothing but rest on my last full day.
I walked the labyrinth. It took me 12 minutes to get to the center, walking at a slow pace.
I also got plenty of exercise. At 8,010 ft. elevation, I huffed and puffed to each destination. I was fine though, because I already knew what to expect at a high altitude. I also knew to drink a lot of water. All that walking paid off. I stepped on the scale when I got home. 5.5 pounds lighter!
Estes Park offers a free shuttle service, so I caught the bus and went souvenir shopping down in the village. There are so many stores, and they are not chain stores like JC Penney and Macy’s. The streets were packed with tourists. Luckily I found everything I needed at one store, just a few feet away from the shuttle bus stop. I was not about to get lost in all that hustle and bustle.
Whenever I go on a vacation, I like to eat something different. Since I did my homework about Estes Park before my arrival, I knew that I would pay a visit to the Grubsteak Restaurant, known for its’ steaks and wild game. And wild game is what I was after.
I caught the trolley to the restaurant for lunch, which stops right at their door.
I ate a swiss and bacon elk burger, and potato salad. I drank a Maui’s cooler (Captain Morgan, Peach Schnapps, orange juice, and grenadine). That was my first time eating elk, and I loved it.
I took lots of pictures, but I stopped after I realized the mountains did not want their pictures taken. The pictures didn’t turn out how they should have. They were taken on bright, sunny days. Most of the pictures look dark and gloomy. That’s probably because you have to see the Rocky Mountains in person in order to appreciate its’ beauty.
I took the picture below while I was at the Craft & Design Center making a silk scarf. If you look up into the sky, you may be able to see a second rainbow.
I truly enjoyed myself out in the Rocky Mountains, and I would love to return to Colorado someday. Permanently. Maybe after retirement? Hmmm it’s a possibility.
Just because I am having a bad day doesn’t mean that I want somebody else to have one too.
That is my response whenever I’m asked how is it that I am always so nice and pleasant.
Words By Me 