Colors. Colours. Whichever spelling you use, color has an incredible effect on our lives. I like color. I am a painter. Watercolor painting is my favorite. Although, I’ve painted with acrylic (which, as you may know, can be thinned to act much like watercolor). I do not, however, really like to paint with acrylic! No! No! Give me watercolor any day.
Here is a caution! This is a rant. Read at your own risk.
Since my retirement (2002), I have been a recipient of the federal Social Security benefit – the retirement benefit that I paid for for twenty-four years. I was still working in a State job, and at that time, I received my full benefit. When I retired from a State job that was covered by the Public Employee Retirement Association (another retirement benefit that I paid for), my Social Security was reduced by one-third. Double-dipping was the reason given. Not allowed to receive retirement from the feds and the state. I had worked under Social Security for twenty-four years; it was as though I had not worked in that system for eight of those years. It didn’t matter that my hard earned dollars had paid for both of these benefits. Then, some people started calling it an “entitlement.” Social Security was NOT an entitlement – I paid for both of my retirement benefits.
Daughter #1 wrote with news that the third bald eagle chick was about to hatch in the Big Bear Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California. It is about 145 feet up in a Jeffrey Pine tree. Imagine bringing up baby 145 feet up in the air! Also, imagine the chore of setting two cameras 145 feet up in the pine tree so that all who wish may watch this spectacular hatching and raising of our national bird. Ten inches off of the floor does it for me!
So many things – products, buildings, environments, activities – have left our lives and been replaced by something else. I started wondering …
Dear Readers,
Today’s blog is my opportunity to clear up some thinking that I have dealing with “little” thoughts – those that don’t warrant the concern of an entire blog. For example, I want to let you know that I keep thinking about organizations to which I belong (large and small).
To all of my readers.
After writing this article, I realized that there were two organizations I forgot to include. I have added them to the post. So, if you wish to read this corrected post, please just go to the crankycronenews.com location and it is there.
Best wishes for a wonderful day,
The Cranky Crone
Something happened during this past week that prompted me to think about the organizations I belong to now and have in the past. Among those are organizations related to education, government, medicine, etc. It occurs to me that there is a lot to “unpack” (as they say, today) about these institutions. I plan to broaden the terms of organization and institution to suit my own definitions. So here goes; who knows – you may learn something about me that you never knew before.
It seems to be that there are two kinds of places, private and public. Nothing in between, really. I decided to give some thoughts about the public places that I frequent.
Just today, I needed to mail a package and took it to the closest UPS store. It is far easier to drive into the parking lot, get out of my car, and carry my package into the UPS store than go to the local post office to send a package on its way. While there, I decided to purchase some stamps. Four sets of twenty stamps – that’s what I asked the UPS clerk for. I got the stamps, paid for everything, and returned home.
Today is Sunday, and I’m cleaning house, and it’s not even spring. Sometimes, the “spirit” just hits and cleaning MUST be done. I have not left the house for three days, and tomorrow looks to be the same. My writing coach and I will work in the morning, but mostly the day will be spent at home. Or, if I actually get an on-line grocery order put together, today, I may set it to be picked up on Monday afternoon. In the meanwhile, this day is consumed with laundry (I do have to have clean clothing) and computer work. I’m very serious about finishing a huge job using the computer and creating new, more efficient files for all of the paper that enters my house.