Rambling Friday: Just Kicking Back And Relaxing For A Day

            I don’t know about the rest of you, but I need to take a break from politics for at least a day. It’s been a whirlwind of a week and other than a school assignment I am going to take it easy today and relax for the most part. Probably work on a short story too since I like to do that and my article for Odyssey that is due next week, which is non-political. Just a piece about what I am thankful for on Thanksgiving. I hope you will read it and be inspired to be thankful for some of the things you have in your life as well.

            But, most of today will be reading and gaming for the most part. I’ve been meaning to catch up on a few games and I could use some non-news reading for a good while. Sometimes it just feels good to take a step back even for a day. Just to relax the brain and refresh yourself. Been finding myself reading a lot of Autobiographies and Biographies lately. Some humorous and some serious. But, all inspiring in some way. Will meet my 200-page goal for this week that is for sure.

            And, mind you that is just in personal reading. That doesn’t count the chapters I have to read for school. Though been enjoying those as well. People sometimes ask me why I read so much and push myself so hard. The answer is I like to learn and I am thirsty for knowledge. I read things on multiple subjects al the time. In the news, online, and in books. Even magazines on a regular basis. Granted between the blog, emails, schoolwork, and whatever other writing I am doing in a day I only put out 3000 words in a day roughly on average. But, I keep trying to do more.

            But, unfortunately since I am so much in my head a lot of other things get left undone much of the time. Most times it is household chores, which I am also going to try and catch up a bit today. Other times it is missing appointments since my sleep pattern is off. And, since I am an introvert I don’t get out enough and get enough exercise or in person socialization on a regular basis. Some of that has to do with being socially isolated as a kid, but that isn’t all of it. But, unfortunately people sometimes just take it as I am lazy and think I do nothing all day. Maybe I do by their measure of it.

            I did get out a bit more this year than last year. And, when spring comes I will try to be better about it next year. But, during winter I am even more content than usual to stay curled up in my Hobbit Hole for the most part. And, it doesn’t make me a bad person I know that. I will still get out two to three times a week. I plan to work on being in the living room more during the winter and enjoying it out there. Been somewhat of a hermit when company is here lately.

            The good news is that even though I am having trouble getting out my health is improving though. I’ve lost weight and my blood pressure is down. Still struggling a bit with quitting smoking but working on it slowly instead of trying in one herculean effort. I am not discouraged though since I know I can do it. I just have to find my path to doing it.  I am also encouraged to keep working harder in school since I made The Dean’s List last term, which tells me I am getting better at this whole college thing.

            Well I have rambled on enough for one day and I am anxious to get back into my reading for 20^th Century Literature. Even if I have to write a short paper afterwards. Feel free to leave questions and comments below. And, please do share with your friends and family who would like something to read that is non-political. Now where did I put my Kindle. *Tips his hat and waks out the door looking for his recliner. *

An Open Letter To President Elect Donald Trump

            President Elect Trump I have had a chance to see your acceptance speech since writing my article for Odyssey with my initial reactions to you being elected. I’m not going to shy away from them either since you have portrayed yourself in that light on the campaign trail. Now you are President of the United States of America. You say you want to represent us all. I give you credit there and after hearing the more mellow side of you I am going to give you a chance. But, I will be watching closely as I always have been. I will both praise and criticize you according to my views, I’ll be honest. But, you must be honest the Republican Party of this Millennium so far has been pretty hateful towards a lot of people no matter what they have done in the past. And, true Democrats may have gotten hard on political correctness. But, they were trying to bring respect to people as new facts became known.

            And, in taking this office you must put aside your personal beliefs and do what is best for the country as well as what is legal in accordance with the Constitution. When you go to nominate a Supreme Court Justice try to nominate someone as neutral as possible it will do well for the country. Remember that you are here to fix the system and be for the middle class. They could use the tax cut and the more they spend the more companies have to create jobs and make money. Also, I know you have been opposed to raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Just my opinion but if you raised it to that and tied it to inflation wages would balance themselves out to where they should have been all along correcting the free market that failed to act as well as making this country richer overall. And, if you are serious about fixing the system you must close the tax loopholes.

            You can’t ban Muslims just because of their religion. It is against the 1^st Amendment of The Constitution that guarantees Freedom of Religion. Nor can you persecute the press since there is Freedom of The Press. You will have critics like me and you just have to do your best to win the over and take their criticism constructively. As a writer, I have learned this over the years. I may be a student still, but I have learned a lot already about how to fix many things in this country though not all are popular in some circles. You also have to be willing to thumb your nose at the NRA. They really are for gun manufacturers and not for gun owners now.

            If you must build the wall, but immigration has been shown to have worked best when there was a revolving door on the border. When people could come over and do what they came to do and go back home to come back when paperwork was cleared. Also, hire some more paperwork processors to help cut down on the number of undocumented people in the country since most of the are just waiting for paperwork that is caught in the system. Maybe more people doing the job would make it go fast. Just a thought. You might also think of legalizing marijuana to help states fund education better and shut down the black market on it.

            Also, Putin is using you and you need to show him you will smack him across the face without hesitation. Otherwise he will keep trying to take advantage of you with compliments. That I what I have for you for now. Those are my views and if you want to discuss them I welcome it civilly. I want to help make this country as great as possible as you have said you want to. I am giving you an opportunity here to work with the people and talk to some of us. Prove your critics wrong and show that the campaign trail was just bravado.

            I will leave you to your thoughts now. You and everyone else are welcome to leave questions and comments below. Feel free to share with friends, family, and advisors. As for me I have more writing and studying to do. *Tips his hat and walks out the door. *

Tuesday Thoughts: I Still Have A Slight Fever But Enjoying The Month Of Writing

            I am doing better overall since yesterday when I was still running a slight fever in the 99 degrees range. Stomach is for the most part settling down as the week is starting. I’m a little calmer though since I exploded the day before yesterday. I haven’t gotten much writing down this month since I have been sick and only had enough time to do my Odyssey article that is coming out this week as well as schoolwork. This week is still going to be busy, but not as busy as last week. Plus, I won’t be feeling as miserable as last week.

            Speaking of me being sick my fever is beginning to break as I just took my temperature a little while ago yesterday and it was below 99 degrees. Going to probably take me a couple more days to be back to fully normal, but getting there. But, I am still going to spend the day doing as much writing as I can. As well as some reading. Been spending most of the night bouncing back between the two. Not sure what I am going to write about for Odyssey this week yet.

            But, I am inspired by the article in Time Magazine from earlier in October on The White Helmets in Syria. For those that don’t know the White Helmets are the ones who respond after an attack in Syria to rescue civilians from the rubble. They also restore power and water to buildings as well. It is an all-volunteer group and they are completely neutral as well as unarmed. They recently had several of their bases attacked, which to me is the equivalent of attacking a hospital or fire station. But, hospitals have been attacked as well, which I will get more into in my article.

            I also got to thinking about education this morning as the election is coming to a head. I think Sociology should be taught in all high schools. I’ve taken a couple of Sociology classes in college so far towards my minor in it. And, I think it would help people coming out of high school understand how things effect society. It would also help them understand what influences people in society as well as what can be better used within society to help it.

            We could also use some more basic life skills classes. Like on banking and taxes for example. Society has made parents so busy that a lot of them aren’t teaching these skills anymore. Especially in the lower income households. And, it isn’t for a lack of wanting to. In most cases, it is for a lack of time, or in others it is for a lack of knowing how to do it. This is a place where schools can step in and be teaching real life math with articles of what they want to be teaching out of a book.

            Just a couple of ideas that were rolling around in my head this morning as I am writing this. That and I know it is going to be a long day today. Between seeing my neurologist and voting as well as having a good deal of reading to do. Along with a ton of writing to do. Waiting on a couple of emails to come back from my professors to answer my questions on assignments. I swear the weeks are flying by faster than I can believe it seems. But, even as time is flying by faster than I can believe right now I am still enjoying it.

            Alas though I have rambled on enough for one day. That plus I have to start getting ready to go out soon. So, feel free to leave questions and comments below. And, please feel free to share with friends and family. Plus, please go out and vote. I know I will be right after my appointment this morning. But, before that going to do some light reading and wake up a little more. *Tips his hat and walks out the door. *