GOD KNEW I NEEDED YOU

Sunday, July 9, 2023

ACCOMPLISHED DAY

July 8: To me, the most beautiful people are the people with beautiful hearts/souls.

Genuine beauty … not the fakers who parrot what they think people want to hear, or those who talk a good talk but walk an ugly walk.

Beautiful people occasionally lose their tempers (they are still people, after all ;-)) - but their love-light always shines; they are always thoughtful, generous, compassionate, and 100% real when dealing with you. And that is what makes them beautiful :-)

I surround myself with beautiful people: I don't keep fake people around me - if their walk doesn't match their talk, they are history in short order.

I recently married a beautiful soul. I met Holland last October, and he became a fast friend; and was a tremendous help in helping me get over the heartache/heartbreak of Bob's death and absence in my life. I wasn't even thinking of a love interest … and then Elohim opened my eyes - and my heart, to Holland and the love he was open-handedly gifting me with.

And the other beautiful soul in my life, has been a part of my life for 57 years. A lifetime. David has been on my life pretty much through every stage of my life - with, and without Bob (before and after), in it.

My heart is happy to know these two special people in my life enjoy each other's company :-)

This morning David came knocking, ready for breakfast. Holland had let me sleep in; but as soon as I woke up … off we went.

David is still trying to get me out of the house before 9 AM; LOL
Good time with good guys ;-)

After we got back from downtown, the guys went to work on their various projects - I did laundry, and rode herd on the boys.

Bumper Rack revision … Holland patiently explained to me what he was doing to strengthen the support system.
Reinforcement activity.
Holland says the yappers are 'expressing their rights'. LOL
This activity is basically for my comfort & peace of mind; Holland always goes the extra mile for me. He's a good man - he's a good Husband.
And the Bike Rack was shortened up to fit the Bumper Rack.
David also went to work - clearing more of his property.
Looking good …
4:30 PM knock-off time; it was a peaceful, accomplished day on the Homefront ;-)

After tomorrow, "the boys" will no longer be a term used: Sonny will be going home with David.

It's a good home he'll be going to; David treats his dogs very well … and Sonny will have a good quality of life. Bleu is just too much of a bully to Sonny. I had hoped that would change, but it hasn't/won't. Blue Heelers are good companions and family protectors, but they become so devoted to their family that they get intensely jealous of other pets who also get attention. Bleu is jealous of any attention we give Sonny. So, when David said his dog Jackson, had died - and he mentioned he had been looking for an Australian Shepherd, I said, "If you want Sonny, you can have him." I know David, I've seen how he handles his dogs. We've only had Sonny for 25 days; and I knew Sonny's life would be enriched away from Bleu's bully tactics.

David is a long-standing friend: we'll see him … and Sonny again, again, and again.

Friday, July 7, 2023

FRIENDS CONNECTIONS

July 6th: Busy day (also very e.x.p.e.n.s.i.v.e. day) in Longview shopping - drove home to drop off foods that would spoil … drove back into Longview to grab some metal studs and some scrap lumber; then stopped at Pam and Frank's for a visit before we head out of Dodge on Friday. It was an enjoyable visit.

Got home, unloaded the metal and lumber, and relaxed for a while before 'getting back at it': Holland went to work on his project … and I went to work re-packaging the dehydrated food supply.

Around 10 PM, I called it a night and checked my messages: an invite from David to come stay with him at his beach property :-)

David's text …

July 7th: Up bright and early; house tore down … and we were "off like a herd of turtles" ;-)

Stacked kennels - coat draped, so the counter won't get marred.
Room Extensions pulled in; Kitchen & Livingroom.
I laughed as we pulled out of Castle Rock; with his bandana and sunglasses, Holland looks like a nijah turtle. LOL
Timeframe depends on traffic flow.
Team Spirit.
Trisha Yearwood & Garth Brooks - 'Where Your Road Leads' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omlzz_k9vSU)
'Burger Lunch; Cathlamet-WA
The boys were stretching their legs, for half an hour.
Holland surprised me with a Twisty Ice-Cream Cone: it's the little thoughtful things that count ;-)
Low-tide Oyster Bed mudflats.
Reached David's Beach Lot.

And wouldn't you know it - there were german shepherd's barking their heads off, across the way!!!

But the fence was high … and David assured me that "in all the years I've been coming down here, those dogs have never gotten loose."

And then he and Holland went on and on praising the {good qualities} of those killer dogs. GRRRRR

doberman pinchers on Wednesday; and german shepherd's today: why the test of nerves, and what lesson am I failing, Lord???

And … there are FOUR German Shepherd's across the roadway!

Holland set things up outside (and found the pigtail plug-in needed - he has several 'just in case') - and I set things in place inside: then we drove to the beach to let the boys run free, before coming back home to visit with David for an hour or so :-)

My Shell Garland that swagged my bathroom mirror broke, so I need to buy some fishing line to restring it (Holland thinks he has some in his tackle box, if so - I'll use some of that).
Holland good-naturedly ribbed me. it's a good thing we had those extra pigtail plug-ins! I didn't understand why he had bought SO MANY  now, I DO.
Beachfront Access just minutes from our front door - thanks David, for the tip! Cranberry Lane, Longbeach-WA
The boys loved romping on the beach.
The sand was more interesting to them, than the Pacific Ocean 
Love.
Shania Twain - 'You've Got A Way' song: 
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n0tBhJOlSk)
Go Cart Challenge. LOL
Praying for Mercy …

Tomorrow is going to be fun!

Both of us intend to win, and neither of us know how to give quarter when a bet is on.

HINT: While we are married friends making a fun connection, and a honeymoon memory (remember a honeymoon lasts an entire year ;-)) … I am NOT going to be eating that crappy mcdonald's food ;-)

Tonight the boy's are staying inside all night long: black bears roam freely here.

Thursday, July 6, 2023

HELL DOGS

Today started out with promise.

I got up early to let the boys out - fed them, and let them burn off some energy for about 45 minutes while I drank a cup of morning blend coffee before going back to bed.

The boys were rambunctious this morning.

We were laying there for about an hour cuddling and talking sleepy pillow talk, when the phone rang: Holland's teeth were ready. So, he got up and got ready to go fetch them.

While he was gone, I vacuum-packed a couple food packets; and got ready for a day in town after he got back. We have a few more things that need doing before we pull stakes - and doing those things was what was planned for the remainder of the day.

But those things never got done :-(

I had just finished putting my lipstick on, and was walking back through the livingroom-kitchen area … when I saw we had gotten neighbors while I was in my bathroom getting dolled up for Holland's return … and they had three big doberman's!

I was not happy to see what I was seeing.

Killer dogs make me very nervous.

From January to April, Holland and I argued about acceptable dog breeds: Holland insisted we needed a dog "for protection", and named off several breeds he was partial to (german shepherd's/rottweilers/pit bulls/dobermans …) - I said, "We have a band of Angels that surround us 24/7/365; we do not need killer dogs to protect us. I'm not even sure I want another dog, Holland."

He was insistent, and went online to see what he could find that would be acceptable to me. We came across Bleu's profile, and I said, "If you insist … that's the One: look at his cute little face! And Blue Heeler's are good protectors." Holland called the phone number listed - and we had a fur-baby before you could say, 'GO!' ;-)

But Holland had really wanted a killer dog: it took him a while to warm up to a {cute} puppy that would only grow to about 35 pounds of lovable energy, instead of 120 pounds of angry muscle.

Until this afternoon, he was still angling for a killer breed.

And I am still firmly saying, "Not in this lifetime!"

I do not like mentally challenged killer dog breeds that are bred to be mean spirited {guard dogs}: these animals are mentally unstable, and will eventfully turn on those who think they have mastered the unruly beasts.

NO. None of the breeds Holland prefers will ever be in the Life we are building.

I was not happy to see those dobermans - that were dragging their {master} all over the fricking Park.

NOT HAPPY; this makes me extremely nervous - and they were basically right in our "front yard" where my fur-babies wanted to be, to relieve themselves.

My phone rang, and Holland said he had his teeth and was happy with them; and he was waiting on a pizza to bring home. I told him about the neighbors and that I did not like "those killer dogs being so close to us". Holland said, "You have a misconception about those dogs, Baby; I used to have a doberman …": and I cut him off, saying that he was the "one with a  misconception, and I don't want to fight anymore about killer dog breeds!" And before I hung up the phone, I told Holland "the boys will be your responsibility until we pull out of here, Friday afternoon. I.d.o.n.o.t.l.i.k.e.t.h.e.s.e.d.o.g.s! My heart rate is accelerating just looking at them through the window. I do not want to hear anyone sing their praises to me: I DO NOT LIKE THEM. End of story 🤬 And this woman cannot control them - they yank her around like a rag doll. There is NO WAY IN HELL I am opening the door to let the boys out - they can wait until you get home."

In all honesty I cannot fault Holland for his flippant attitude: he really doesn't know much about me - he only knows what he saw of me, and heard from me, at Oak Point; and the 5 months we've been married and sharing tidbits of our Past. He doesn't know all my past experiences.

My youngest brother Sam, was bitten pretty badly in the face by a german shepherd.

My youngest sister Carla, had great Dane-doberman mixes that were the size of horses - those dogs could look straight into my eyes, and I am 5'2" tall.

My hellish BIL David had a german shepherd named Kojo, that was full of pure hatred … and he would force my sister Ramona to take food to that killing brute that would shake the entire kennel lunging at anyone who got near … David could have fed his own damned dog, but he got a kick out of knowing she was terrified of that Hell dog. Kojo mimicked David's character.

My biker friend Dave, had four rottweilers.

Bob's niece had a pit bull.

I am not {ignorant} of killer breed dogs.

I will never have warm and fuzzy feelings about killer dogs!
I do not have a 'misconception' about killer dogs … I understand the reality of them.
They are unstable breeds, and should not be allowed in Public places. Period.

Holland finally got home with the pizza and saw me literally shaking before I burst into tears seeing the continued activity next door (that stupid woman next door, put all three of those devil dogs in a worthless open-top-dog cage - basically a chicken wire enclosure; WTF???) - I was so stressed out, I couldn't eat a bite.

My little fur-babies wouldn't stand a chance if that woman lost control of her hell dogs.

And I hate feeling helpless, and crying out of frustration.

My slices of pizza went into the 'fridge.

Bacon-Ranch Pizza; Papa Pete's Pizza-Longview, WA

Holland finished his pizza, then got on the phone and secured another RV Site faaaaaar away from the hell dog packing morons.

Holland is SO good to me; it was 90-degrees this afternoon, and Holland was hurting - but motivated by love for me, he gamely tied a bandana around his forehead and got busy getting ready to move the RV. Elohim gifted me real good when he placed Holland in my life 😁

Holland did not have to do this for me; and most husband's would not; most husband would tell their wives to suck it up and stop being ridiculous. I am glad my husband is not like most husbands. I am appreciative of my Husband's compassionate love towards me. I am highly favored and greatly blessed: I never forget that Elohim gifted me with this second chance at true love.

I forgave Holland's lack of understanding.

Holland forgave my sharp tongue and short temper.

He's wearing that bandana 🥰 I'm going to be REAL GOOD to Holland, tonight 😉😘😁💗

When we found our new site, I said to Holland, "You and the boys stay in the truck and enjoy the AC - I'll set the RV up for you." Holland said, "Let me get the steps down for you, Baby; they're heavy." I said, "Yes, they are - but I can do this. I'll get everything ready; and you just relax. You've done enough working through pain - I can do this."

And I did :-)

I've lived in RV's before, when I was married to Bob and he was working in far-flung places; setting one up isn't too challenging. And the stairs weren't that heavy to let down ;-)

We'll be in this new site until Friday afternoon - after that, it will be anyone's guess where we'll be ;-)

Our new site; until Friday afternoon.

Nothing we had planned to do got done today; but there is always tomorrow …

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

A BANG OF A 4th OF JULY

The Meaning & Symbolism Behind The Stars And Stripes: https://marketbusinessnews.com/old-glory-the-meaning-symbolism-behind-the-stars-and-stripes/323476/

This morning after I had let the pups out to do their morning constitutional, I went back to bed and snuggled close to Holland - as I settled into the hollow of his shoulder; he sleepily mumbled (he was sound asleep), "I have three guns … the shooting range …"

I started laughing: softly, so I didn't wake him up. And I thought, "Even in his sleep, he thinks and dreams guns."

Holland has been itching to get to the Shooting Range for months (it is all he has talked about since December).

This is Holland's favorite quote.

But with all the busy activity we've had since we married in January, that was pushed to the back burner of our unfolding Life.

I thought to myself that as soon as he woke up, drank his coffee, and was alert enough to converse coherently - I'd make a point of bringing up shooting activity; the Shooting Range would probably be closed today, but there would be somewhere to get off a couple rounds

So, that is what happened - and he jumped at it. He quickly gathered up his {stuff}, loaded the pups, and jumped in the 4x before anything got a chance to put a halt on it.

Just a little backstory: I like shooting guns, but I don't want an armory in the house. Holland likes lots of guns - and he thinks we need an armory. I nixed that … and he let a lot of his guns go since we married.

And he has gotten it into his head that I hate guns, even though I have repeatedly told him that I strongly support the 2nd Amendment, personal gun ownership, and the right to bear (and use) arms. I have also told him (and so have my friends that he has met), that I am a crack shot.

But, he had to find out on his own ;-)

And today, of all days - America's Freedom Day; he did. While I am admittedly rusty, I held my own; and surprised the heck out of my husband: I love doing that.

Into the woods we went  for a little red-neck target practice ;-)
Freedom for everyone.
A very relaxing afternoon.
Ready for action.
Aiming for the star, as my 'bullseye' mark … used one of Holland's long guns. TX-22 - Taurus 22.
25 or 30 feet distance; not bad.
I'll need a bit more practice with my gun.
My handgun 'Wedding Love Gift'; GX4 - Taurus 9 mm.
Holland is happy - he's finally got me to shoot with him - and he NOW KNOWS that I can shoot.
Letting the boys run free between our load-aim-fire competitions; into the truck while firing off shots.
Holland's Glock 19X
About a 75 foot distance, with Holland's Glock; not bad for a 40-year-span between shots ;-)
AaronTippin - 'The Stars & Stripes & The Eagle Flies' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fZTHS_Vk6s)

It's been 40 years since I've held, or fired, a gun: I'll get better with more practice.

But today, after Holland got over the shock, he was proud of me. And I'm happy he's satisfied knowing that I can take care of myself, if push comes to shove.

It was a bang of a good day :-)