Just received another update on Mr. Robin:

Just received another update on Mr. Robin:

"Hello Blu,

No problem!  And I am happy to report that he is now feeling well enough to eat on his own.  He's a long way from 100%, but we're heading in that direction!

Best,

Scottie Jackson"

Long ranty post. You have been warned.

Long ranty post.  You have been warned.

Since I look like an old fart and feel like an old fart I'm gonna rant like an old fart.  This is directed at no one in particular (honestly!), but there are a few people out there that I wouldn't mind knowing have read this and have taken it to heart.  If you agree with what I'm saying feel free to share.

If people shopped for friends or significant others - would you (looking at yourself objectively) be worth purchasing?  If not then I don't get why you don't understand the reason that you have no real friends or partners in your life.  The currency for any relationship is time and if you're not worth spending time on / with then you won't have a chance to build anything real with anyone.

I will be the first to admit that I have really high standards for the people that I allow in my life.  I have learned over the years (often the hard way) what traits appear in a "quality" person.  I also have some ridiculous requirements that almost no one meets, but it makes for a wonderful and very comfortable inner circle once you have found your tribe.  I'm not going to go into all of my particular quirks, (like must be an animal person.  Simply liking animals is NOT the same), but here are some basics against which you should probably check yourself from time to time.

1)  Are you an honest, trustworthy person?

Do you steal?  Do you sneak around?  Do you lie to get your way or manipulate others?  If you do those things, then you're probably not a good person.  You will probably be someone's "I learned _____ the hard way" teacher.  Unfortunately, those teachers are not usually remembered fondly.

2)  Do you do illegal things?

I'm not going to say that I agree with every law, but regardless I try not to break them.  There are other ways to incite change.  Breaking laws and doing illegal things put you and others at risk.  If the people you are involved with are also down with breaking laws in the same ways you are, then good for you.  But if you're having trouble finding people to hang with you, then you might want to think about that.

3)  Are you financially stable or on your way there?

If not, then you are probably a drain on the people you associate with.  If you aren't bringing something magnificent or awesome that money can't buy to the table, then you are likely taking too much from others.  I can almost guarantee that people who have no obligation to you (family, for instance) will tire of that eventually.  And for the record there is usually a point at which your family owes you nothing, either.

4)  Have you put any effort at all into developing yourself as a person?

Do you have hobbies, or education, or are you particularly knowledgeable about any subject in particular?  If not, then how are you interesting to other people?  Is there any way in which you are giving back to and / or enriching your community?

5)  Are you a mean person?

How do you treat others?  Like they are there to serve you?  Like they owe you?  Like equals?  Do you look down on certain groups / kinds of people?  Do you make fun of other people or try to bring others down?  There are plenty of women that I know who have almost all of this basic list checked off, but they are mean as shit to people who are different than they are (if not to their faces, then behind their backs or on social media).  For me that's a deal-breaker.  It's not that hard to just be nice.

So if all of these things are features that people shop for when they are looking to bring someone worthy of their time into their lives:  How do you measure up?  Are you lacking a majority of these things?  If so, then don't be surprised that you don't have friends.

I can't speak for everyone, but this is my basic list.

Do y'all have basic lists of things you look for in other people or did I miss any big things?  This wasn't a planned post.  I've just been seeing wayyy too many "I don't have any friends" statuses lately and thought I'd try to help some folks out.

Just completed my last final.

Just completed my last final.  I made an 84.  I don't even care.  I think I still made an A in that class.

I'm so sore and grumpy.  I can't tell if it's only my bones or I'm starting to hurt other places.  Like organs and muscles.  I just feel like I hurt all over.  At first I thought it was stress, but now I'm kind of getting worried that it's not.  😕

I'm sitting on the ground, walking the torts.  They are the only kids I can keep up with today.  😕

Pardon my "lookin'-like-an-old-fart"-ness, but...

Pardon my "lookin'-like-an-old-fart"-ness, but that's how I feel. My bones have been hurting so bad the last few days that I'm not functional without some Ibuprofen. 🙁 I'm in comfy clothes and I don't care. 

Anyway... This is me and my "little" boy right after his choir concert. I didn't realize how much taller than me he was until I saw our reflection in the windows. 😂😂😂

P. S. I have "spring-in-Alabama" hair. The air feels cool and smells too sweet to be riding with the windows up. 🙂

I just woke up.

I just woke up. I didn't intentionally fall asleep, but I don't think it could be helped.

I feel like I've really missed painting things. Leslie's nails last night made me sad that I had naked nubs. She was wearing a really nice color.

Then today so many people liked my stuff that I felt like "Oh yeah. And I'd planned to do this and this and this."

I'm really hoping since my schedule is going to be changing up soon that I will have time to have Happy Nails once again and will be able Polish All the Things again soon. 😃

BTDubbs, I almost have 2000 likes on my Happy Nails page and I'm not sure how that happened, but I am NOT complaining!  😃

I REALLY need to cut my grass, but...

I REALLY need to cut my grass, but I'm seriously about to pass out. I'm so exhausted. I don't think I can do it today. 🙁 And of course I have a list of things to do tomorrow so it might just have to wait until Monday after work. 😕 I hate that.

So I just got home from the Anniston Downtown Market...

So I just got home from the Anniston Downtown Market with my Polish All the Things jewelry.  I gotta say - I'm a big fan of the huge white tent.  Even though I have my own little 10x10 tent it's nice to not have to set it up.

I am so tired today and was tired last night as well - probably thanks to the extra methotrexate I'm taking and stress from finals.  Anyway, I wasn't looking forward to getting up and going if I'm perfectly honest, but I had committed to doing it and so I went.  I'm glad I did.  I like the new set up and location and I also forget in my fog of exhaustion how much I like actually doing shows like this.  Until I get there and then I have fun.  😂

This was the first show I've done by myself - totally alone.  The prospect of that was kind of scary, but it wasn't so bad.  I don't think I could do a full day alone, but I can handle 5 hours, at least.

So all in all it was good.  I made a little over $100 and I've only ever made more than that at OxfordFest, which is supposed to be a HUGE deal.  I'm not sure if it was the fact that I'm not there every week, or if it's that there are fewer jewelry vendors competing all at once, or if it's the new tent and location of the market, or if it's because it's race weekend... I have no idea.  But I'll definitely be more excited when it's my turn to go again.

Anyway.  I'm off to feed the ani-pals.  No one was awake when I got up this morning.  I wonder if Nom has thrown another Tortie Tantrum because his food is so late...  🙂