J.J. Devine's Blog, page 21

It may be Monday, but it's my Thursday...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​I'm sitting here this morning drinking coffee made from my Keurig my mother got me for my birthday. Yes, I'm that far behind in the world. Of course my Keurig is red, why wouldn't it be :) It's also the fastest cup of coffee I've ever had. Definitely a plus :) I've also gone to just making a cup of tea at a time instead of making two gallons at a time. Fresh brewed tea at my fingertips, that is pretty awesome don't you think :) I can even get decaf tea, which is what I drink on a daily basis, so that is another perk :)

​I got a tiny bit more of my Christmas shopping out of the way. Thankfully. I'm getting there for sure :) Just a few more gifts and I'm done. Now wrapping them is another story, I haven't wrapped the first thing as of yet. But I'll get there :) 

​Today and tomorrow are my early early days then I'm off for two days. My nine day stretch is coming to a close :) Then it is work one day and off for two more before I start my early early shifts again for another seven days :) 

​I am looking forward to some down time and hitting the writing pretty hard on Wednesday while I wait on the cable people to come. Then Thursday I'll keep two of the grandchildren while their mom works and help them get their mom's present ready to go :) Then that will be done and hopefully I'll get to some baking at some point this week so I can get that out of the way. 

​I have the apple jelly I'm giving out already done and ready to go. I just have to get it sent out :) I'm really starting to run out of time LOL. But I'll get there for certain, just need to do it. 

​It's warmer out this morning and for some reason the last few days has been hot flash city. I'm pretty well over the hot flash deal, but guess it's something I'll just have to deal with, oh say, forever. It's been a long time since they've bothered me, but man, these last few days it's been pretty bad. They do make day to day a bit uncomfortable, but it's all good, that's the price we pay for being women, huh?!?

Life is life...

​Well I guess I should prepare to get this day underway. I do have more on my mind today, but just no time to blog it :) So this little bit of rambling will have to do this morning.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!








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This blog has been coming on for awhile...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​This blog won't be very popular but I have sat back in silence until recently provoked twice in the last two days to speak out and let the anger of this entire situation going on in our country come to the surface. This blog will not be a favorable one to those who are screaming out 'rape' or 'sexual misconduct' just saying...

​As a person who has advocated for 'real' sexual abuse situations, I am appalled by what I am seeing in the news media these days. Don't get me wrong, I strongly believe if a woman has truly been abused then yes, by all means speak out. However, speak out in the right manner. Go to the authorities and press charges. Then get to group therapy where you can get the emotional help you will need to get through this and become a Thriver.

​I have a hard time believing all the stories suddenly popping up in the news and all over social media from the Hollywood set. I know I know, it could happen. However, I also find I am highly suspicious of these well intended women. Speaking out in truth helps the cause of sexual abuse. Speaking out with lies only sets our cause back 100 years.

​Sexual assault and abuse is NOT words. If someone you don't like tells you they like your ass, that is NOT abuse. If someone tells you they think your tits look amazing, that is NOT sexual abuse. That is someone with lack of manners being an asshole. Whatever happened to women using their words and telling that asshole, "Excuse me, you don't talk to me like that!" What ever happened to standing up for yourself. Because let me tell you it is easier to stand up and tell someone who pops off at the mouth what for, than to actually live through someone raping you or touching you in a manner that rips your soul apart.

​False claims do NOT help this cause. It soils it. It makes authorities skeptical of those who really suffer from abuse. In crimes we are to be innocent until proven guilty, however, so many lives have been destroyed by false accusations. This angers someone like me who has sat in rooms with women who've been abused, pouring out our souls to one another, tears streaming down our faces as we let someone in on our deepest darkest moments in our lives.

​Do you know how many women just in my own area were not believed the first, second, and even third time they've called authorities? Too many to count. They could be standing before a group of police officers, clothes ripped, face bloodied, and bruises already forming, only to hear the officers say, "You need to get your woman help. She's crazy." Yes, this has been said by authorities in our area of the woods.

​I see all these well meaning 'stars' so to speak, crying over a few words or claims they've been assaulted and the more who come out of the woodwork, the more I have to wonder what they have up their sleeve. Something I know and know well is victims, even victims years and years after the assault. Some of these women may be telling the truth, but I also believe some of these women believe they are helping the cause and speaking out falsely. Which in reality, as I said before, isn't helping the cause.

​One false accusation discredits 100 accusations. This is the sad truth. If one person is found to be lying, it puts all the rest in question giving the jury of society opinion more pull. 

All of this over what??? Why is this suddenly become a thing??? I have no clue other than some political means, which is sickening to me.

​Sexual abuse is not political. It is highly personal to the victim. It takes years of dealing with deep inner emotions to come to grips with what has happened to you. Some aren't so lucky, so can not deal with what has happened and end up taking their own lives. These are the realities of sexual abuse. These are the facts.

​Sexual abuse builds shame into a woman's soul. Sexual abuse is not a game to be played whenever one feels the need for some sort of power trip. Sexual abuse is real, it happens every second of every day. Women, children, and yes, even men suffer at the hands of someone's sick demented torture. Yes, that is what sexual abuse is, torture. 

​For years to come just one incident of true sexual abuse wears on the soul of the victim. It rips them apart from the inside. Their thoughts are consumed with what has happened to them. Their actions, are never what 'normal' people would consider normal. Because their thinking has been altered. What is normal for them is not normal for someone who hasn't ever been abused.

​It takes years to rise above these feelings, these overpowering emotions. It takes getting real help to be able to move forward with life in the best way possible.

​So many have fought to bring light to this situation. Where were these Hollywood crazies when women were trying desperately to be believed? A battle that has been being fought for years upon years upon years. 

​It is as if people for the last several years have been trying to set all our accomplishments in this world back at least a hundred years. What the hell? Can you not be proud of all the heartache and hard work that has gone into bringing to light racism and yes, abuse. Can you not see what you are doing is harming not helping? All you are doing is hurting the causes and setting us back into a time when we weren't believed, when we weren't able to speak out.

​What will happen, and mark my words it will happen, true assaults will go unreported once again. Why, because even after all we've accomplished in this area of life, we still have hundreds of assaults still going unreported today. Why you ask? Because victims are ashamed or blame themselves. Yes, it is that simple.

​So to the Hollywood crazies, who believe they are helping the cause, please please please, unless your words are absolute truth, keep your mouth shut. You are hurting the cause and you are setting us back 100+ years. 

​I've been an advocate for sexual abuse victims for too many years to watch you destroy all. I've rejoiced in the small steps we've made to succeed in getting victims to stand up for themselves and report their abuse. I've cried with victims. I've held victims. I've been one of these victims. I've been in rooms with victims who have gone through so much abuse that they can't be touched, even when they desperately ache for the comfort of a hug. Why, because the thought of someone else touching them is too much for their emotions to bear. 

​Being a victim and being friends with victims does have it's benefits to looking into the face of someone and knowing, just knowing, if they are being truthful or not. Because just like with anything else in this life, a real victim's story shines in their eyes. We just know by the feelings we get inside us, just from one look into their eyes. If you've ever been there you know exactly what I'm talking about. Like souls know other like souls. It is what it is.

​If you are truly a victim of sexual abuse, by all means contact me and let me help you get the help you need to become a thriver in this world. However, if you haven't but are standing up shouting out all over social media and the news for all to see, please sit down and shut the hell up. Our cause does not need that kind of publicity. We owe it to the future women of this country to give them a safe world to grow up in, or at the very least we owe them the right to be able to tell their truth and be believed.

​Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!







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Hard work does pay off...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​Well made it through yesterday. Our audit went very well :) Super happy about that :) If that wasn't enough going on yesterday we also had our company's version of health inspector. Of course she doesn't come early, she waits until I only have a half hour left, the boss is gone, and she needs to go over the store with a fine toothed comb. The good news, we did really good on that as well :) 

​Surprise inspections are not a fan favorite, but when your people work hard each and every day 'just in case' it does pay off. And for this we are very blessed.

​I watched the Amazon Prime show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel over the course of a couple of days. Oh my word. So funny, such a well done show. I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, I was very sad to see the last episode I watched was the end until next time. But all in all it was definitely a must see. I've been seeing the trailer for weeks now and just kept putting off watching it. Then I told myself, just watch the first episode if you don't like it then just shut it off. Well, as you can see I didn't shut it off :) In fact, after it was all over, I called my daughter-in-law and said I have a show for you. The trailer didn't do the show justice. It was a fun watch and I look forward to seeing where they take this.

​Today is truck day and so many deliveries. Fortunately, it's Friday so we should get things fairly early. We've been super busy this week, strange as that sounds. So, I take on the attitude of 'do what I can' :) 

​I do early early shifts after today for four days before my days off begin on Wednesday. Then starting Christmas Day I go in early early for seven days in a row. Hopefully this will allow the boss to get in all of her vacation time for the year so she doesn't lose any of that time come the first of the year. She deserves her time off as hard as that woman works. She is not only a hard worker but also a very inspiring woman. She's not afraid to get in there and do what needs to be done.

​When I get home today I've already told myself I'm not allowed to go sit in the living room and be surrounded by Christmas today. I have so much I want to get done and I really have to get that scene finished I've been working on. My poor couple has been in the throws of passion for way too long, it's time they get some satisfaction :) This evening will be get the kitchen cleaned up, work on the WIP, and go to bed very early. My dishes consist mainly of coffee cups, seeing as the son and I've been using paper products to eat off of for the last week. Then of course a few dishes from cleaning out the fridge last night before the trash man comes today. So the majority of my time can be spent working on the WIP. 

​No more binge watching for this old girl for a few days. I had to put that in writing because if I didn't, well, I would binge watch something else. Two shows this week is plenty, right?!?

​Well time to get this day underway. 

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!









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Be happy...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​It was a long productive day yesterday. Fortunately, I have some amazing people at my store :) One in  particular never lets me do things alone when it comes to preparing for audit and our cooler :) An hour before I was ready to go work on organizing the 20 ounce bottles, she was there ready to work and help me get things ready for this morning. I adore that woman :)

​There are just some people in this life that make you smile and this woman is one of them. And yes, I tell her all the time how wonderful she is, because frankly, it is important to let people know they are not only doing a good job, but they are also wonderful people.

​We were super busy yesterday. I'm not real sure why, but we were. People were coming out of the woodwork so to speak. But as you can see I survived another busy day and am here to tell the story LOL.

Something that always gets me is how these young people who are 'tweeking' out on drugs firmly believe they seem normal to the outside world. Guys, we can tell you are strung out and it does hurt our souls to see you doing such things to yourself. Working in the public you see this sort of thing way too much. More so today than I did three years ago. Sad, very sad, to see so many young lives caught up in something so harsh.

​I wish everyone knew that the power to happiness is within your own self. Happiness is not something you put in the hands of someone outside yourself. 

​I start each day in silence and with a cup or two of coffee, with my favorite creamer, and my social media and blog. The reason for this is so I can bring out my pleasant side and spread a little happiness :)

​Many people ask me, "Are you always this happy?" No, not always, but when dealing with people, I've learned enough over the years that it is more pleasant to deal with someone who is spreading a little happiness versus someone who is always grouchy. It just makes the day better for myself and those around me.

​Life is already full of so many worries, so many let downs, way too many disappointments sometimes. It doesn't kill a person to share a smile, a kind word, or a happy good morning. In fact, it can turn your day around as well as someone else's.

​So, today, when you are feeling the pressures of this insane season, share a smile, a kind word, or even just acknowledge the person next to you. See if this doesn't change your day just a little bit :)

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!






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Yes, Virginia, there is a living room...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​I started to write this blog yesterday when I remembered I was supposed to write a blog for Romance Writers Weekly. So, I guess you get this one today :)

​I finished up the decorating for Christmas and moved the boxes and totes moved to the back porch. Now hopefully it will be warm enough after work today to get them moved to the garage. I was just so cold to the bone by the time I got home yesterday that all I wanted to do was get in warm pjs and hide under a blanket for the rest of the day. 

​This is that time of year when the Santa Claus debate takes place. So many people feel like it is lying to your children to tell them there is a Santa Claus. Well like with most things I do have an opinion on this.

​Santa Claus may not be a real person, so to speak, however, the thoughts of Santa Claus is very real and this time of year it is evident in the actions of those around us.

​Santa Claus may not come down your chimney and bring presents, but Santa Claus does invade neighborhoods, communities, and lives every day of the year, not just during the Christmas season. 

​Santa Claus is those times when someone pays for your coffee or soda without your knowledge. Santa Claus is giving a helping hand when someone needs it. Santa Claus is the paying it forward that happens more times in this life than most people realize.

​Santa Claus may not be a jolly old soul who fills stockings in the middle of the night. He is a wish that comes true when you feel like you have no more left in this life. 

​The importance of teaching our children to be selfless in this life is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. Especially today in a world full of lack of respect and a 'me me' society. It is important to teach our children the act of kindness. How giving to others not only helps them, but gives one a sense of purpose in this world.

​Santa Claus is a tradition that should be taught to our young ones. A right of passage passed down from parent to child each year our little ones grow older. 

​He's doing for others when they cannot do for themselves. Neighbors in our neighborhood at one time all took care of the needs of an elderly lady who lived here. Cleaning her sidewalks and driveway in the winter. Mowing her lawn in the summer. Going to the grocery for her when she couldn't get out. Visiting with her when she would go days without visitors. 

​Santa Claus is not just a Christmas thing, it is a way of life we teach our children from their beginning. He's spreading love and kindness wherever we go. It's helping a neighbor or a stranger just because we see they need a helping hand.

​In my line of work (my day job) I often see this generosity in the forms of people whispering to me, "Throw their coffee on my order." or "Throw their pop on my order." I've even seen entire orders paid for by the person behind them, all because they didn't have enough money to pay for their purchases. I even had one lady who was scrimping for change for her order one day. She had just enough but nothing left over. I knew she'd had a rough year, her husband had passed away. Her children had insisted she move from their home and to a town she had no idea about. The children had refused to help her move back to the home she loved, so she had picked up and moved back home all by herself to be closer to what she knew in this life, even though it cost her every cent she had. The stranger behind her in line had no idea about this, however, after he made his small purchase, he found her outside getting into her car. He walked up to her and handed her $10 just because. What he didn't know was this was so very needed to get her through the rest of the month. What he didn't know was this not only brought tears of happiness to her eyes, but also helped her know there are still good people in this world. 

​So, Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. I see him every day in the actions of those in my community. Not just in the Christmas season, but all year around.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!









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Romance Writers Weekly presents...

Welcome back to Romance Writers Weekly!!!

​This week I've asked everyone to share their favorite holiday cookie recipes :) Just a reminder the blog hop does not officially begin until 2 p.m. EST. At that time today I will be neck deep in 20 oz. bottles of Pepsi product, so of course I'm getting my blog out there this morning.

​I guess I should have said favorite holiday recipe, because mine isn't really a cookie recipe, but my husband's favorite holiday recipe from childhood. A recipe since his mother has passed on I've made for him each year using her recipe.

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Cranberry Bread

​2 cups sifted flour
​1 cup sugar
​1/2 teaspoon baking soda
​1/2 teaspoon salt
​1 teaspoon baking powder

​Mix these five ingredients then add:

​Juice of one orange (not orange juice from the carton)
grated orange rind 
2 Tablespoons melted butter
​1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup hot water
1 cup sliced cranberries
1/2 cup walnuts (optional)

​Pour into greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Serve hot or cooled.

​Recipe by Marilyn Ice (a wonderful mother-in-law who loved trying new recipes and her favorite books to read where cookbooks. Merry Christmas in Heaven!!!)

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That's it for me today. Let's hop on over to see what S. C. Mitchell has in store for us...


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New week...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​Well its a new week and also the beginning of my nine day stretch once again. No days off until next Wednesday. Yep, I signed up for this so no complaining.

​It's Monday so we have scan audits and all that fun stuff :) Then later this week we have audit so my back rooms will need to be super organized and all my cases of pop in order. So yes, it is going to be a good work out week as well LOL.

​So, it's one of those weeks where you have to mentally prepare for what is coming for sure.

​We had a little bit of snow the other day which has helped get me in the Christmas spirit a bit more :) Funny how I associate snow and Christmas. But I do. I also still have some decorating to finish up seeing as yesterday I ended up engrossed in Bitten instead of doing what needed done. I had good intentions, but those totes and boxes weren't nearly as interesting as the show I was watching LOL.

​So the next nine days will be busy to say the least. I want to have all of this and more done around the house before hubby comes home next week. I also want to have more done on my WIP so back to my early morning writing as well.

I have a game plan, which is what I need for sure. Now to just quit procrastinating and we'll be golden :)

​I keep reminding myself this stuff doesn't do itself. I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that this week marks the middle of December. Where has the time gone? Hell, where has the year gone? So little time left in the year. :( 

​I will say my creative dreams have returned in full force. Which does make me not want to wake up in the mornings. This current WIP has really been on my mind when I fall asleep lately and the dreams it has been promoting is really keeping me on the edge of my seat. Now to just get these down in the manuscript :) 

​I think that is one of my favorite aspects of being a writer. Even when your sleeping your brain is still creating :) Which is really cool. 

Well really not much else going on this morning so I guess I better get ready for this work day.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!









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Time to finish up the Christmas decorating...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​As of this morning there are still boxes and totes of decorations sitting around my living room just waiting to be opened and gone through. Yes, I know they were brought in Thursday. Yes, I know it is Sunday. But I've been busy I swear ;)

​Friday night I had two of the grandkids over for the night to work on their Christmas project for their mom and dad. So, Friday night was out of the question. Then yesterday after the girls went home I went shopping with my mom and sister, so yesterday was out of the question. Today, I am here all day, by myself, no distractions other than re watching Bitten :) which I can do while I decorate :) I'm actually trying to re watch a particular scene in that show but have no idea which episode it was in LOL. So of course I will 'suffer' through the entire first season. LOL. Not too much suffering going on there if I do say so myself :)

​I had the mindset of making this house look like Christmas exploded in here, however, I really don't think that will happen. I want to get my village set up and under the Christmas tree but not real sure where else this decorating thing will take me. Back in the day I used to decorate every room downstairs but that was when my kids all lived at home and I had a ton more energy than I do now for such things. Now, I'm just happy if I get the wreaths up and the living room decorated :) And all these boxes and totes out of the way until the season is over :)

​I do love doing all sorts of things with my fireplace and my little village :) So I can't wait to surprise myself with what I do this year LOL.

Well the decorating isn't doing itself. So I guess I should get off of here and get busy. 

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!





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Crazy day...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​One thing I can always count on in this life is no matter how well I make the plan of action it isn't going to play out like that...

​I get these ideal situations in my head. I try very hard to work toward things in the manner I plan them out. Then BOOM, something goes wrong. Well, that is how my day went yesterday.

​I had this vision of hubby and I working all day on getting things ready for when the kids came over last evening. Little did I know he had plans of his own.

​So all morning and early afternoon, while my vision had us putting up the tree and getting things ready for last evening, his vision was get the oil changed in the truck, get it washed, and go to the fish store for more fish. LOL.

​My vision had this nice neat package of me having everything prepared and ready when the kids got here. So my morning and early afternoon consisted of me in my own crazy world, running around from one room to the other doing a little bit of this and a whole lot of that.

​Of course after a few hours I caught myself being a total bitch. Nothing was going as planned. I was stressing over the small stuff. Freaking out over other things. And just plain sucking the life right out of my day.

​So, I put youtube on the tv. Played some Christmas music. Looked outside to see it was spitting snow. Apologized to hubby for being insane. Then took a deep breath and said, "It will all get done, it always does. Now relax."

​Before that I was ready to throw in the towel. Call it a day. Pretend this time of year doesn't come. But afterwards, I found I was more relaxed and getting so much more done and in a timely fashion.

​The food was almost all prepared when the kids began arriving. All that was left was the crescent rolls to be tossed in the oven. The tree was up, with all the lights perfectly in place and with just the right amount of garland. Hubby's good like that. The boxes of ornaments were out and ready to go. The stockings for the grandchildren ready to decorate. Life was good.

​I guess you could say sometimes we just need to let go of the visions we have for any particular thing in life and just go with the flow. Don't stress and worry over the minor details, what matters is the end result. Everything came out like I'd hoped, even though, it didn't go in the order or manner in which I thought it would :)

​I had a very lovely conversation with my daughter-in-law yesterday morning. I needed to vent some things off my chest. Which she allowed me to do. She also gave me a fresh perspective. Her words of wisdom reflected into my soul as I shouldn't let myself get discouraged about myself because someone always has to find fault with almost everything I do. It's their own problem, not mine. So I shouldn't treat it as my problem.

​See, when you are always trying to find ways of growing inwardly, you sometimes stop and wonder if what someone else is saying about you is true. Especially if it seems like it is their life's mission on correcting you or finding fault in you. So, this does take it's toll once in awhile, and I have to question is this true???

​You have to find a balance between going completely ape shit on them and just understanding they are going through something in their own life that they are uncomfortable with and want those around them to feel uncomfortable too.

​Without my daughter-in-law's pep talk yesterday, I'm not really sure I could have went through with the rest of the day. Or even gotten out of the mood I was in. But, this wonderful young lady, wise beyond her years, helped me more than I think she actually knows. I'm ever so grateful to her.

​A good deal of the time, during stressful situations, I believe I overthink things too much. I don't see things for what they are, but take things way too personally. It's a flaw in my character. But, it's all good. I pulled out of this one and will pull out of any more left to come in this life, I'm sure :)

​Well if I am going to get my couple in my WIP out of this heated situation they're in, I better get to writing.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!









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Christmas time at the Konig household...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​Oh the fun we will have. This little house will be packed to it's limits with the kids and grandkids, the decorations, the food, the insanity. You will hardly be able to move once you get inside these walls this evening.

​Yeah, it is Christmas decorating time at the Konig household. I feed them, they decorate our tree. I think its a good trade don't you? LOL.

​Hubby and I wore ourselves out yesterday filling in the trenches in the daughter's front yard from where the waterlines went. We're getting a bit too old for that kind of fun, let me tell you. So, not much else got done yesterday because I needed a nap after all that work. Then we had three programs to attend.

​So, today is going to be a busy one. Hubby and I have a tree to get up, a meal to cook, a house to clean, and a project to prepare for, along with decorations to bring in. Hence the reason I got up early today.

​Hubby got up to take the grandchildren to school. So that was off my plate. He's such a sweetheart :) 

​I'm trying my best to get in the Christmas spirit, but so far not too good. I think what's missing is snow. It's easier to think Christmas when there's snow on the ground. I know not a popular thing, but snow just makes the season for me. Besides if it is going to be this blasted cold I would love to see something pretty outside.

​I did manage to get the rest of my shopping in yesterday. So, now we have desserts to go with the rest of the food :) I hate shopping so this in itself was a feat. However, hubby did take me to lunch at our favorite little Kafe, Kammy's :) He grabbed one of their tenderloins and I grabbed a burger :) Then we brought them home to relax a little while :) 

​Today, we need to figure out where we're putting the tree, then rearrange the living room to make it happen. I have to clean off my desk and move some shelves for certain. Then find where I'm putting those things :) 

I have a slight idea of where I'm putting some of my Christmas village this year, but as of last year I had a ton of little village things so it is going to be interesting where they all end up to say the least.

Ahhhhhh.....

Christmas time at the Konig household. Such a grand experience to say the least. So much to do, so little time left on my two days off.

I wanted to prepare a few dishes yesterday, however, that didn't happen. I can't believe how exhausted I was after all the shoveling we did. Used to that would have energized me, but not at this age. Nope, at this age, I felt every year that I am afterwards. 

​Getting older sucks sometimes. LOL.

​Well this stuff isn't going to do itself...

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!








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