Tag Archives: random thoughts

life is not an episode of yellowstone, right?

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Well, it’s over… For now. I’m not sharing any spoilers. I have always been fascinated with how many different kinds of people love this series.

Why have people loved Yellowstone so much? Is it because it’s emblematic of all the things we’ve actually lost in this country?

We’re not all cowboys and not many run ranches. Farmers are a dying breed and our open space is being taken over by some form of development or another. And that That is one of the things that has always struck me about Yellowstone is it’s portrayal of people trying to save what they love, where they live.

It has been a wild story of life and loss and love. It has been an escape yet it’s very raw and real feeling at times. It gives a lot of air time to American native peoples that we haven’t seen since the spaghetti westerns of our childhood and it’s a lot more accurate and not cartoonish. In Canada, indigenous and native peoples are a big part of their television programming.

The whole talking about the land and how nobody can afford to buy it unless it’s a developer definitely resonates here.

It’s a story of good and evil. Sometimes the evil is not what you thought. That’s kind of symptomatic of life. I think.

I actually know people who call the wild places of Montana and Colorado and other places with wildness left home. The longer I am here the more I understand the need for the wild places, a way to restore the balance between humans and nature.

Since before COVID we have been delaminating as a society. It’s a nationwide disease. Boundaries and manners? Optional at best.

I’m a blogger. In the OG category. I started blogging before it was a thing. I started blogging because it gave my community at the time a voice to try to stop what was happening to it (eminent domain for private gain.)

This blog here has been a journey since coming to Chester County. Blogs are opinion based and once again we live in a universe where your freedom of opinion is somewhat subjective, and it’s not what the founding fathers intended, but this is what it is right now.

Yes, there are things I think about. There are things that interest me. There are things that don’t interest me. It’s not a media outlet and doesn’t pretend to be. People think there are things that I should be writing about just like there are things that are public information that I shouldn’t be writing about and I’m always bemused by both scenarios, especially when it is not like I am the only person talking about whatever in the first place is it?

I think the strangest thing about being a blogger now is the obsession that some people have for me as a person. Like they own a piece of my soul or they should own a piece of my soul. I’m just one woman so I don’t quite get it. Maybe I’m not supposed to? We can’t control everyone else’s behavior. We can only control our own right? So why is this particular blog and me a thing that needs to be controlled?

People seem to live life like it’s a giant reality TV show. The problem with that is then sometimes you find people that are supposed to protect us or legislate for all of our best interests only they don’t. They’re part of the problem. This isn’t about conspiracy theories, or conspiracy theorists. These are observations of things just going on around us.

I think political corruption is as real as political disillusionment. Of course that makes it hard for those who actually do things for the right reasons as opposed to personal gain.

I recently heard about someone who seems to be setting their proverbial cap so to speak to be a county commissioner. I think they made a lame attempt to try to be a state rep once as well. Yeah good luck with that and bless your heart. If this one runs, it will be a bring your popcorn situation to their election cycle.

And then talk about political disillusionment. Recently, a former local politician turned minister was charged with some pretty heinous acts against someone with intellectual disabilities. And people are saying, the churches circling the wagons? They will protect someone who did this? What kind of God is that they worship exactly?

People’s perception of God and religion is another thing that I have marveled at the past few years. I don’t get all these people that love their angry God. Can people not have their individual faiths and religions? Why is one better than the other? Are we all supposed to be the same? That of course brings me full circle to are we all Stepford on this bus or are we supposed to be?

And then there is the world where we live where people who are supposed to enforce the rule of law seem to think they can make up their own laws along the way? This isn’t anything specifically locally, it’s kind of a nationwide issue and it gives the true white hats a harder go of it, doesn’t it ? North South East West.

From coast to coast, we’re kind of a messed up country right now. What is it we believe in and what is it we are supposed to believe in?

Monday we learned of another school shooting. In Wisconsin, a school called Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. According to the New York Times “ a private school founded in 1978 with the goal of providing “academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment,” according to the school’s website.”

Once again, the shooter seems to be another kid. Yes a juvenile so what are we doing in this world that this is where kids think they need to go? And this time a girl. When I was a kid, I remembered not liking the mean girls, but I don’t remember anyone wanting to shoot them. I also don’t remember kids having such easy access to firearms, even if their parents owned them.

What is our world about today? What are we about today? 

We have our families and maybe that’s where we need to focus? Why are we paying attention all the time to social media?

And as far as the fake influencers and the stuff, that is just such bullshit that you can’t believe somebody posted it.

I don’t pay attention to the fake influencers. They don’t interest me. They live their plastic lives in their plastic world in their bubble. They can have their bubble.

Yet this is our weird world in which we exist.

We live in strange times. We live in sad times. We live in times where people think because I blog I should be a super public person. And then there are the ones that reach an obsessive point because I don’t want to write about whatever it is their topic is. and the thing is this would they do that to a regular reporter? I think the answer is no.

Things that are important to me? My friends and my family and they’re none of anyone else’s goddamn business.

I’ve had three losses in 2024 a friend from childhood and a friend from college years that I didn’t even know had passed away essentially the same time as my other friend because again she lived far away from here now. The last was an artistic and family friend whom I knew since I was a little girl. Three really great loving women whom it was a privilege to know.

These are the things that really matter. I tried to explain that to someone this weekend who was talking about particular local government and I finally just kind of said to them that I was in a social setting and that was not appropriate or desired conversation in that moment.

I don’t know what people expect of each other at times. I do take interest in a lot of different things that is happening around us, but not everything interests me all the time, either. Does that make sense?

It’s almost Christmas. Maybe we could all due with a little reflection. 

And no, this post isn’t like some secret Beatles song you’re supposed to play backwards while juggling in the air or something. It’s just some random thoughts in mid December. 

random thoughts before an ophelia weekend

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Well I did unleash the flying monkeys according to some yesterday. So sad, too bad.

Today I have been fielding an absurd amount of comments about that. And in one case yes, I was rude about it because this whole issue within a real issue pisses me off. People have become so self absorbed in this world that they often don’t get that sometimes you just need to let people simmer down when they are pissy. I would say today some learned that about me.

Let me break it down for y’all:

Those public meetings post-Cavalcante were designed so people could express HOW they felt. I expressed how I felt politely, and what I said was said calmly without rancor. I felt some of our public servants and prison board members could have been more visible. I said that because we elected them, and seeing them there even if they weren’t speaking during that time would have bought residents comfort. Even if it was law enforcement out there protecting us, many of those folks were not locals, so to see the ones we elected and recognized just from a visibility standpoint is calming. It makes people feel better in the midst of chaos. It’s common freaking sense, and IMHO part of the job they signed up for.

For expressing my opinion, as well as others expressing theirs, a couple of commenters decided to chide in the form of “education”. Those people have since contacted me. One I am fine with, the other not so much. Perhaps my feelings will change, perhaps not. Sadly, the still don’t get it wasn’t their job to womansplain or defend the honor of the CCDC to anyone there speaking. That is the job of elected officials and the prison board. Further and to the point, as Americans we do have those in alienable rights which allow us to address government and politicians to express ourselves. And these folks did this at a public meeting which means I am well within my rights to express my feelings on the topic. Truthfully, this all would have been over yesterday had they just let me be after venting my spleen on the topic.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

~ First amendment/ Constitution of the United States

I do not pretend to be right all of the time, and even if it kills me I will own when I am not. But I was not wrong yesterday and we had the right to express ourselves freely in that forum if we were comfortable. I felt expressing what I said was important, and truthfully, I do not speak often at public meetings anymore. Which truthfully, many should be grateful for.

The overly politically correct world we live in mixed with all of the babble of misinformation we stumble across on a daily basis is almost depressing. I remember the good old days when we had magical things called conversations even at large in the community and even when we were on opposing sides of the conversation whatever it was. Now life has turned into this inexplicable race to be whomever gets all of the toys wins, and well people that is NOT working is it?

Sometimes I think people just like to suck all of the oxygen in the room in general. This has nothing to do with politics in particular. It’s just life. We can’t control those people, only ourselves, and well, I am a verbal person and sometimes I will indeed tell someone off. And that’s OK.

Life is hard enough without all of those who would tell us how to breathe every minute of the day.

I would like to share something else briefly. It’s a follow-up on the Hood Mansion in Montgomery County (Limerick Township.) I wrote about her the other day here:

warehouses proposed at a historic site…in limerick, montgomery county…crucial public meeting tuesday, september 19.

Now I would like to share an update from my friend Tyler Schumacher who has an update after the meeting this week – there are 120 days left to save the Hood Mansion and that area from mega warehouses –

I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me in this trying time with the Hood Mansion.

Many of you who know me well, understand the importance this building has to me.

I feel as though the Hood Mansion story is so heartwarming, yet so plagued with tragedy throughout its lifetime. I will admit this is long, but worth a read if you have the time.

John McClellan immigrated to this country at just 21 years old, raised 13 children, and made a name for himself selling wholesale grocery.

Fearing for his children’s health during the summer in Philadelphia when yellow fever was an issue, he bought this property and erected a mansion he designed himself, based off a home he admired as a young boy in Ireland. His family enjoyed many lovely summers there, and they were especially proud of their son, Washington Hood. A captain in the US army corps of engineers, and well accomplished.

Tragedy struck when Washington contracted a disease during his journeys, ultimately passing away from it at a young age. Heartbroken, John and his Wife interred him at the family crypt, located just near the mansion they loved and called home and erected a monument in his honor. John passed away less than a decade later, being interred with his son in the family crypt.

When all was set and done, 15 of the Hoods resided together in the family crypt within viewing distance of the home they all loved and cherished. The home passed through generations of Hoods until it ultimately had to be sold during the 30s when the Great Depression hit the nation. Luckily, one of the Hood daughters married into a wealthy family who purchased it.

Meanwhile, the Hoods still slept peacefully in their family crypt surrounded by those they loved and the place they cherished.

Tragedy strikes yet again, when a group of teenagers break into the crypt in the mid 30s, and take their beloved son Washington’s skull and use it as a prank on a local resident. Mysteriously, those teenagers passed in a freak car accident not long after.

Fast forward to the 1960s, and the entire crypt is desecrated. Grave robbers break in and steal anything of value left on the Hoods, topple the monument to Washington Hood, and scatter the bones around the crypt. Luckily, the caretakers of the mansion at that time moved what they could behind the home they cherished and reinterred them for safety.

Fast forward to modern day, and the Hoods are yet again to be destroyed in grand fashion as a developer has come in to destroy what is left of their legacy, and their love of family, and replace it with warehouses and a retaining pond.

Someone has to stand up for them, for their home, and for their legacy. They certainly can’t do it – and I’ll be dammed if I let it happen without giving it my every last bit of effort.

If you read this far – thank you. And thank you for supporting my work, and me for many years.

Godspeed, and let’s #SaveHood

The Hood Mansion is located at: 3223 Sanatoga Rd Pottstown, PA 19464

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/limerick/historians-citizens-want-historic-limerick-mansion-preserved

https://www.easternpapreservation.org/hood-mansion

Things like the Hood Mansion matter. Don’t let her get lost to bad development like Happy Days Farm in Exton will be. Hood Mansion is suffering the way Lionville Station Farm is, and Downingtown Area School District has the ability to change the fate of Lionville Station Farm and haven’t. I hope the negative election issue the DASD has created for themselves will be worth it.

This weekend we are being visited by a storm called Ophelia. She might be a real charmer. At a minimum she is messing with our weekend. The weather is already starting to change. I will close with Ophelia by the Lumineers.

Until we meet again.

thoughts on a rainy day

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I don’t know what it is about rainy days, but I think they make people contemplative. What I have been thinking about today is why people are afraid to let their true selves show on social media.

I’m not talking about the people with the absolute whack job political comments and just nasty griping. Those are just your average keyboard warriors who have an online persona. The reason I am not putting them in the category of not letting their true self show, is basically their online personas, their keyboard warriorness if you will, is just a version of their own personalities.

Of course these are the people who say that I’m hiding. Well maybe hiding in plain sight, because basically it’s most simply put that I choose to be selective about with whom I want to interact. I feel absolutely no compunction to engage with perfect strangers who strike me the wrong way. That’s my right, and I always find it amusing that they think because I write a blog that they should have unlimited access to me personally.

I have a friend who has clinical depression and as part of her current round of therapy she’s been blogging. It’s raw and it’s beautiful and I applaud her for telling her truth because what she’s doing is hard. But luckily for her she’s not already known as a blogger, so she can write her truth. She doesn’t have people who perceive her as the antichrist. That’s a gift, and I envy her that.

I am viewed as the antichrist by so many. At the end of the day I really don’t care, but it’s one of those things you just think about once in a while and you wonder what the lives of these people who are criticizing you is really like?

And the reason I’m wondering about that is because of the lives that some people wish to portray on social media. Like the people who want to be an influencer for whatever reason, or think they are an influencer. I’m still not exactly sure what influencers actually do. And I don’t know that you can actually be one if you’re over like the age of 35 or 40. Some of the ones who wish to portray themselves as influencers on social media who are closer to my age if not older seem to be only interested in the free stuff they can get. And these are all people that can afford to buy their own meals and go to parties without being comped.

Then there are the people who want you to always see how fabulous their lives are and how important they are. But are they? And are their lives fabulous or are they somewhat lonely?

On social media there are people who tell me every day what it is I should be writing about. And a lot of them are cuckoo for Cocoa puffs. Or they castigate me for writing about something. Why does it matter so much to people what I choose to write about? They are also free to write about whatever they want. But they don’t. They just tell me what to write about.

I’m also fascinated by the way people use social media day to day. For example there’s this whole thing with this social media outlet called “Only Fans.” I recently by accident discovered someone I know of (as in not a friend, just someone around) being on there. No, not Denise Richards or any other celebutarts, a fairly regular, albeit I think troubled person. And all I could wonder is would life ever get that desperate that you would degrade yourself in that way. Because I see it as the objectification of women, and a hard ugly thing. Someone chastised me and said it gave people an outlet to be independent content creators in the pornography industry.

Porn is not one of those things I have ever understood. It’s just not. Once upon a time many years ago I remember being in someone’s basement helping them sort stuff. And there was this giant box of videotapes. Literally full of the Debbie does Dallas and more titles. I remember looking at them like this isn’t a random playboy magazine this is a little extra and they told me they were holding the box for someone so his family didn’t see them. I never believed that because why would you hold onto a giant box of porn for someone?

Sociologically, I think we live in fascinating times. I think you have the truth people want you to see and what the actual truth might be. And the trend now seems to be to not be honest about how you were feeling about anything. Everything is unicorns farting rainbows. I don’t work that way, I don’t know about you.

But every time I will post some thing randomly about how I’m feeling on that particular day if it is not something super cheesy or unicorns farting rainbows or something that the average crowdsourcing social media user might consider acceptable, I can’t decide which is worse: the comments or the private messages. And what most people fail to comprehend is just because someone posts something on social media, it doesn’t mean they are in crisis or they are looking for advice. Sometimes they are just venting. Some of the people you see farting advice and opinions on everyone’s Facebook posts also might wish to stick to their side of the street and their messy lives that they think people don’t know about. I know I’m not being mean, sometimes you see these people and you just shake your head to yourself and say I can’t believe they just said that to so and so.

Like if I post how I’m feeling about my relationship with my mother ever. My relationship with my mother has never been easy. And that’s not because I dislike her or I don’t love her, that couldn’t be further from the truth. But I don’t think I’ve ever been the child she really wanted. My sister more fills that role, and that’s not saying anything or implying anything, it just happens to be the truth. She was the one who was able to have children, etc. I didn’t marry until later in life and was never able to have children.

I guess it makes me sad sometimes, because I’ve lived my entire life feeling like my mother doesn’t really see me. And that’s not because I’m a bad person or she’s a bad person, I just think she simply doesn’t understand me. Or doesn’t want to. She never reads anything I write, for example. Ask her, she’ll tell you she doesn’t have the time. It’s actually pretty funny to me. Because she was the one who always wanted me to write. And when I was younger I didn’t want to write.

When you grow up in what is categorized as a traditional childhood, you are supposed to grow up and become the adult that continues the traditional things. And if you deviate from your expected role, that’s a problem with a lot of peoples’ parents. I’m not the only one who has gone through this in my lifetime. But you’re not ever supposed to talk about it out loud, let alone post about how you’re actually feeling on social media.

I think that’s why I have been so sad about these ladies passing away that I call the great ladies of my childhood. A lot of them were my mother’s friends. Or the parents of some of my friends. But they were also my friends. And there is nothing greater than the gift that you can give someone else seeing them for who they are, not who you want them to be. These ladies always saw me and accepted me for who I am.

So if you think about this whole category of being seen, it just makes you wonder why people essentially put fake lives on social media as what is being seen. What is it the people are so afraid of? Is it so scary for people to see you for who you are? Or is it easier to pretend to be somebody else?

I also see people that go by on social media who seem to have this whole tough persona on social media. But is that who they really are, or is that who they want us to think they are because it’s easier for them to deal with life that way?

So when you show yourself on social media, do you feel uncomfortable sharing your actual truth? Is it easier to go along to get along? Is that something we should applaud in people, or should we encourage people to be who they actually are?

I don’t actually have the answers here. I am just throwing out some thoughts on a rainy day.

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.

~ Oscar Wilde