#AtoZChallenge - Perspectives: Underwear

Okay, underwear is an odd topic.  Butt But, pardon me, while I explore the topic and lay my views on you. 

I am pro underwear.  After working for a uniform rental company for 12 years, I can attest that you can tell who does and doesn't use underwear.  Those who go commando have garments develop what is referred to as crotch rot.  The garments simply wear out in the crotch area. 

Don't get me wrong, I do understand the freedom of being under garmentless.  I loved to skinny dip in our pool.  I sleep naked.  But in every day life, one needs an undergarment to absorb moisture, to keep your clothes out of the cracks and crannies. 

I understand the desire for sexy, silky, alluring underwear.  That can be fun!  In the right place, at the right time, but for plain old every day adventure, nothing beats breathable, bleachable cotton.  And now days you can get it in all shades, prints, textures, styles.  It's a beautiful thing.

And while we are on the subject, who in the world actually enjoys wearing thongs?!  That's like having a continual wedgie!  I've got a pair or two that go with little gowns for romantic evenings, but you could not pay me enough money to wear one all day long.
 

So, am I a disjointed old fuddie-duddie, or do you share my underwear observations?  Have you gone commando?

Barbara

#AtoZChallenge - Perspectives: Telephone Spam

There is very little more abhorrent than telephone spam!  Email spam is bad enough, but at least it doesn't interrupt your days at unexpected moments.  Most of it ends up quietly in your spam folder.  The few that get through are pretty obvious.  But telephone spam is an intrusion into your home.  It would be like someone just walking in your front door unannounced and starting a conversation with you, or a sales pitch or a swindle. 

I always keep all of our numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry.  And for most years, this has worked amazingly well.  But as of late, with the advent of automatic dialers and recorded messages that are interactive, the phone, some days, seems to ring off the wall! 

I go to many websites and report the numbers.  We have got to where we don't even answer a call from outside our area code.  We do not interact with these intruders. 

The most frequent I have blocked with my carrier, but still, the number that can be blocked is so short and the quantity of numbers they can generate are so many! 

Our house phone was on the blink for a couple of days due to recent bad weather.  Wonderful!  Loved it! 

Have you registered your phones?  Do you think telephone spam should be aggressively sought out and stopped? 


Barbara

#AtoZChallenge - Perspectives: Skillets

There are so many newfangled types of kitchen ware out there.  TV is ripe with a new can't do without skillet, pan, or cooking system each and every week.  Some do well enough, some are just junk. 

For my money, I still prefer my wonderful cast iron skillets for most every skillet need.  They can take the high temps or simmer things on low for long periods.  Fewer fiascoes with sticking, scorching, etc.  And clean up is divine!  Simply empty skillet, put about an inch of water in it, set on high burner, when water comes to boil scour and voila!  Wipe dry, set on burner you just had on, for a minute.  Set off and if it looks like it needs it, rub a drop or two of oil all over the inside. 

I'm the same way about my old club aluminum pots.  They are perfect for cooking rice, boiling fudge, cooking a custard.  I do like my stainless steel for some other tasks, steaming veggies, boiling eggs, etc.  But by and large, I'll reach for my club aluminum 8 out of 10 times.

And you, what is your favorite cookware?  Do you have any cast iron or club aluminum?

Barbara

#AtoZChallenge - Perspectives: Religion vs Relationship

There is always much ado about religion.  And in Christianity alone, there are many, many denominations.  I call myself a Christian, because I believe in Christ and try to follow Christ.  I have a denomination that teaches doctrine most in line with what I believe, what my heart, head and soul hears when I study God's word.  I am a member of and attend one church in that denomination.  It is a place for me to worship my God, my Savior.  A place for God to speak to me through his servant.  A place to fellowship with other like minded Christians. 

But my religion didn't save me, and it has not changed me.  The denomination I agree with and the church I belong to can give me help, instruction, support....many things, but neither did it save, nor effect any true change in me. 

Only the personal, real relationship that I share with my Lord and Savior can and does that.  Nothing and no one can speak to my heart and soul like God my Creator through His Word and His Spirit. 

If you have looked at denominations or attended churches and felt empty or lost or disillusioned, I recommend getting with the Source, the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Start with the Book of John in the New Testament.  Once you give yourself to Christ, once you start that relationship, then He can guide you to the place where you can be nourished and where you can serve. 

Are your eyes on Christ or on man?  Do you let hypocrites keep you from God? Are you only going through the motions or do you really know Christ?  Is daily Bible study and prayer part of your life?

Barbara

#AtoZChallenge - Perspectives: Quiet

When I was a child, I'd often lay in the lush green grass in the shade and stare up at the clouds slipping by.  Playing with flowers and doodle bugs.  Petting my dog. 

As I became a teen, I wanted my music on in my room, even when I studied.  I wanted music playing in my car, every time I hit the road. 

When I became a married adult, we seemed to have music on outside, in our cars, TV or music in the house.  There were children's toys with sounds.  Always a cacophony of sound. 

Somewhere in my thirties, I began to treasure the time at deer camp when nothing was playing, there was just the crackle of the fire and sounds of scurrying animals, the wind in the pines. 

Fast forwarding to these past few years, I find I often ride down the road for long distances or even a whole trip without even turning on the radio.  At home, if I am the only one up, I often read, or fiddle on the computer, work around the house, etc. without ever turning on anything. 

I thank God I live somewhere I can still slip outside and often only hear nature sounds.  Don't get me wrong, I still love my music when I am in the mood for it.  I have TV shows I definitely don't want to miss.  But, I seem to have come full circle in my life, to a point where I can treasure and value quiet just as much.

What about you, do you use a background noise or prefer quiet?  Has your preferences changed at times? 


Barbara

#AtoZChallenge - Perspectives: Pretenders & Posers

Our simple little country road has been plagued by pretenders of late.  People in trucks who apparently have never learned to drive in real mud, or whose truck is too wimpy to drive in real mud.  People who think it is something to hang one side of their truck over into the ditch after a rain and spin all they can.  Digging deep ruts on each side of the road.  Spraying their trucks with mud so they can drive them down the other roads and feel like a somebody.  Wanting to make people believe they have been on a big mudding adventure out in the woods somewhere.  To feel like a big man. 

They are pretenders, fakes.  Disrespectful law breakers and county property damagers.  See for yourself.

Most folks around these parts have been mudding.  Really mudding.  In a hunting club, down a pipeline or right of way.  Off the road entirely.  Where it matters, where it counts.  It can be a lot of fun.  This however, is overgrown, naughty children out of control.

Have you ever encountered similar problems?

Barbara.

#AtoZChallenge - Perspectives: Office Politics

I am at a total loss when it comes to office politics.  I was taught to mean what you say and say what you mean, but say it respectfully if at all possible.   I was taught to do your job and do it well.  To assist others around you, but at the same time stand up for yourself if necessary. 

Fortunately, most of the positions I have held, those I worked for and with seemed to operate in this same way.  But there have been a couple of places I have worked where nothing was ever as it seemed.  Downright cloak and dagger at times; and at others childish, spiteful games and strategies.

I cannot comprehend what this offers a person or why a business would choose to allow this type of stuff to go on.  I can see no benefit to the business or it's operation by this.

But, then again, I am not a "game" player or a schemer or user in other areas of my life either. 

Have you worked for places where this happens?  Has it directly effected you?  Have you practiced these methods yourself, and what was the outcome?

Barbara