J.J. Devine's Blog, page 4

Crazy life...But one worth living...

Good evening, everyone!!! Yep, it's been another long while since I've blogged, it's hard to wrap your brain around blogging when the world has gone utterly mad, but, little by little, step by step, I'm regaining my calm (which horribly turns into explosions periodically, but I'm trying).

The pic above is from Memorial Weekend when family and friends got together once again to celebrate being together and sharing our lives with one another. I take that week off each year to not only help my sister prepare for this big event (we have it at her place each year), but also by this point in the year I'm just about done with life itself (which tells me it's break time from the world). 

See the big chicken in the wagon. Well, that little critter has one goal each Memorial Day Weekend, to find it's way to our parents' house. Of course, there's a group of us that love to make this happen :) Last year after I set him on their front porch and was running back to the Defender, I tripped and almost fell at the same time everyone else on the Defender heard a gunshot. Yep, they thought I had been shot LOL. Ahhhh, good times good times, LOL.

I'm not sure you know how loud a Defender is, but let's just say it is pretty loud. This year we loaded that wagon and chicken up in the bed of that Defender and sped off for the mile or so drive to the parents' house at like midnight (you can't leave a chicken for them to find if they're awake ya know). We pull up in their side yard, really loud, because Defenders are really loud, LOL. We begin to pull the wagon out of the bed, it landed with a horrifying bang. Of course, we all were like, "Shhhhhhh!!!" Of course the tongue of the wagon got stuck in the ground, all the while the back of the wagon was still stuck up in the Defender bed. Ahhhh, you guessed it, we had to fire up that loud ass machine again to move it forward to get the wagon unstuck. Again, "SHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

We then deposited said wagon and chicken on the carport of my parents' home, and promptly took off before we were caught. The next day our father hooked that wagon up to his lawn mower and drove that darn chicken back down to the farm, parking him in the upper field, LOL.

All this from a police officer's mom, aunt, grandparents, and cousins. Oh yeah, you probably don't know since I haven't been blogging for awhile. My oldest son is now a police officer for our area. I can't tell you how proud I am of this young man. In the last year he has gone through some of the toughest days of his life but he kept his eye on the mark, pushed through the Academy, and came out a police officer that is beginning to make his mark on our little piece of the world. Even the officers of our little town that had the opportunity not long ago of working with him for a little while, made sure to come and tell me how impressed they were by him. Proud mom moment for sure :)

I've taken to reworking some of the book covers for the books I've had on Amazon lately. I've really found I enjoy this. Now that I have my back porch area (my place of solitude and cleansing) set up all but the new fan, which hubby is putting up this week, I have begun working on my projects from last year that 2020 sucked the life out of me before I could push forward. I had gotten to the point of, "What's the use???" But that was my mind frame for a great while last year. 

We're back to gardening again this year. So if you haven't check us out on Facebook under Crazy Canning Ladies. We're already getting some pretty good sized strawberries out of the strawberry patch, even having our first Strawberry Shortcake for my sister's birthday this year. The potato patch looks amazing, and we did manage to get the garden planted last week, so things are starting to take shape for another year of insanity :) Don't let me fool ya, we love our garden and all that goes with it. It's the best way to ground yourself after life pushes and pulls you every which way. 

My children got me a little greenhouse for Mother's Day this year. So, we're growing our herbs in there as well as I'm working on growing a few trees :)  We'll see how that goes over the course of the next month or so :)

One thing I definitely have learned is I need to break away more from the outside world once again. I've been forcing myself to live too much out there and not enough quiet time (me time). I need to live in my head more and shut out the rest of the world even more. It is draining my energy being so caught up in the insanity we call a world these days. It's time for me to step back, let things flow in the direction they are going to flow, and just do me. The craziness has hit too close to home for comfort. It has stirred up and shaken our tiny piece of the universe, and I have been feeling it's suffocation. 

I asked the Lord and Lady to guide my steps, give me direction, help me to focus where it matters most.  The first thing that came to mind was to put my back porch in order so I could remember why I enjoyed this solitude so much. So, that's what I did. I normally have this done earlier on in the spring, but this year I just kept putting it off. 

From the moment we move into this house, this area has been my saving grace. It's where I sat and worked from Spring through Fall. I watched my children and grandchildren play outside from this porch. I've enjoyed long talks with family and friends on this porch. We've had 3 meals a day on this porch during the warmer months for years. 

I've sat out here from dust to dawn, meditating, reading, writing, just enjoying life. I've seen the sun rise from this porch. I've watched the sun set from this spot. I've heard the birds awaken in the morning and heard the nightingales begin their nightly songs. I watched the lightening light up the sky from here as well as watched the sun spill over my world. I've stood out here and let the strong winds of change blow over me, lifting my face to feel it's empowerment. I've danced with my sisters, children, and nieces and nephews to 'Put the Lime in the Coconut' in this back yard and on this porch.

No wonder this was the first direction I received after asking for guidance. So much of my life has revolved around this back porch :) The true living I've done from this one tiny piece of the world. 

Now that the time of life has befallen me, where the children are grown and the grandchildren are growing up faster than I'd like to admit, it's time to make new memories on this back porch. To breathe in all that has been and all that will be. To use this space for healing my soul and giving me a constant I've always been able to count on. 

Everyone have a lovely night!!!

Blessings to all!!!
















​

You hold the power...

I've haven't blogged in a long while, and tonight I just feel as if I need to write this blog. The powers that be has put this thought in my head and the strong feeling of needing to share. So I'm going to jump on my soapbox here and say what's on my mind. Some may agree, most will probably disagree (because frankly that's how society has gone these days). But anyway, here it goes...

I'm so tired of hearing people complain, whine, spew hatred, oh hell, I'm just sick and tired of all the negativity, period.

I can't make anyone open their eyes and see what is right in front of their face, but I can remind everyone you do hold a great deal more power than you believe you do. For instance, I'm sick to death of fake news. There was a time (20 years ago, when I took free lance courses) when the definition of journalism was reporting only the facts. I told my husband then and there, nope journalism is not for me, because I am too opinionated and often write from my own thoughts and feelings. Today, in my 'opinion' there is no real news source. Notta not one. Oh someone is writing the news and ensuring every news station and newspaper and such reports just what they want out there, but there are no more real where this is concerned. Fake news, yeah, it's out there, just as much as we all knew back in the day if you bought a National Enquirer the stories you were going to read weren't based on anything other than glorified make believe stories. Sadly, that's what our news has become.

I never thought for a moment this society would ever hold stock in some tv actors opinion or even the opinions they would read online. Hell, I always thought different opinions and thoughts added spice to life. Sadly, someone is adding way too much hot sauce to the mix these days. Making this soup we call life pretty much unbearable to swallow.

I'm sick and tired of hearing people say, "We have lost control." "The government holds all the power." People buying into the fake of society these days. Heaven forbid we have a difference of opinion in this life, because someone is always ready to point out we're wrong. Friendships and families destroyed over what??? 

I'm only going to blog on this once... YOU DO HAVE POWER!!! THE PEOPLE HAVE POWER!!!

How???

If everyone who believed the news they are reading in the papers or watch on tv is 90% bullshit. WHY are you still buying that paper? Why are you still turning on that channel??? WHY??? If you believe gas prices are still too high, WHY are you still not only filling up your vehicle every other day and driving around more than you have to??? WHY??? If a public speaker, or actor, author, or other person holding some clout in society says things that really go against your beliefs as a human being, WHY are you still not only listening to them but still purchasing what they have to sell??? WHY??? If you are angry because we can't get American made products in America, WHY are you still buying foreign??? WHY??? 

There was a time in this Country the American people stood up for what they believed in. If they didn't like something, they knew to change it was as simple as just stop purchasing. I remember a time when gas went up to over a $1 a gallon, yeah just over a $1 a gallon. People were outraged. They started walking more and riding bikes. Driving less, using less fuel in their vehicles. They purchased more fuel minded vehicles. And guess what, prices came back down. 

You have the power to change what you don't like in this world. It has nothing to do with protests on the streets. It has nothing to do with getting on the internet and slamming your fellow man for a difference of opinion. It has everything to do with how you live your convictions. 

You want to bring this shift of power to it's knees??? Then do it. This Country was not founded on government, it was founded on THE PEOPLE. The blood, sweat, and tears of the people who had the courage to push forward. To say enough is enough. To fight for what they believed in. 

I write historical romances. I know history is filled with disgusting, deployable things. But without even those horrid moments of our genetic makeup, we would not have the convictions we do today. When did we suddenly become a society of slackers? When did we become submissive to the things we once were passionate about disliking??? When did we give up on the Power of the People??? When did we stop caring about the future of this Country and allowed so much corruption to take over??? 

Governments throughout history have always been corrupt. Hence the reason for our Constitution. It gives The People the power over the government. It allows us to keep them in check. Sadly, today, too many don't even know we have a Constitution that gives us power. Too many rely on what the government can do for them they forget we can do for ourselves. 

Progress can sometimes be a unprogressive thing. It makes us lose sight of who we are and what we can do. Maybe I've opened my eyes to so much more than I once did because of the fact I've stopped limiting myself by telling myself "I can't" and started telling myself "Oh what the hell, let's see what happens if I do." I do my own research. In depth research. Because I can't believe anything on the internet or in the news. Sure, it's time consuming some days, but hell, what else do you have to do to get to the bottom of things?

Where does all this stop??? When we wake up as a society and realize we are being led around like a bunch of sheep to slaughter. Yes, mark my words this day, because they are rapidly coming to pass. By the time people wake up to what is really going on around them it will be too late. I promise you. 

Over the course of the last several years, I've lost several people I thought were friends. People I admired for their diversity in this life. People I held in the highest regard, only to find so much close-mindedness from these individuals I really admired for their intellect. 

I've reminded myself many times over the course of these last several years that not everyone is graced with the gift/curse of sight. What these visions bring is unsettling to my soul and my inner being. So I prepare for the blow that is to come. A blow that will leave people wondering how it happened. 

It's not too late, folks, but you have to start acting now if this is to change course. Take back your POWER. It does ultimately start with you. One change in your course of daily life can have a domino effect. Once that ball begins to roll things will change. But not before. 

Until then, I prepare for the worst. The survivor in me is reaching out to the survivor in you. Look around you. Open your mind and your heart to what is happening around you. Take action. I have.

Everyone have a lovely night!!!

Blessings to all!!!
















​  

Oh my word...one would've thought...

Good morning, everyone!!!

One would think if you're not staying at your house it wouldn't need a good cleaning. WRONG!!!

Oh my word, let me just say I spent all day yesterday after a trip to town working on reorganizing just one room of this house, and yes, I'm still in the process of finishing that ONE room. Lordy, the cobwebs looked like Samhain decorations for sure. 

One of the granddaughters came over and helped me put together a shelf unit to help me better organize all my countertop appliances. The last few bolts we realized we had a power tool sitting there which would have made the whole thing move along a great deal faster, but of course that wasn't even thought of until we were already two hours into it. 

I still need to get back out to my sister's and help get the rest of the tomatoes done. I still have some dehydrating to get done. And then it's time to get started on apples. But I couldn't look at this disorganization one more day, so that is my focus for these days off this week. I'm almost done with the kitchen. Which is my main focus this week for certain. 

I left my counters covered in items that still need new homes. So, cleaning out the cabinets today is top priority. Then hanging my new pan rack so I can get the decorative pans hung. Decobwebbing the house and then the floors. Then maybe I'll feel a bit better. I still need to stain the new cabinets as well, which have been ready for me to stain since the beginning of August. 

Yeah, I'm a bit behind on my tasks, but when canning season is here my focus isn't on this place as much seeing as I'm not staying here that much. Then of course while I am canning I think of all these things I can do to make my kitchen better accessible for the things I need to do, LOL. 

My motto during this time of year is, "They'll be time for everything when the canning is done." I remind myself of this as we're neck deep in our latest adventure. Something I wouldn't trade for the world :) Because frankly, life's too short to always be isolated from the things you enjoy doing. 

So wish me luck today as I venture back into that kitchen and finish getting things done, so I can get back to work this weekend and enjoying the wonderful company of my sister.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!















​







​ 

Life Happens

Good evening, everyone!!!

I know it's been awhile so let me catch you up on what's been happening in my world.

At the end of July my parents, my uncle, my sister, brother-in-law, and I headed out to Georgia to my grandparents home down there. My parents and uncle own this house now as they've both been gone for several years now. My sister and I have been canning for quite awhile now, and our grandparents used to have the most amazing garden in the entire world when we were growing up. Every time we go in the garden or start to can our latest canning adventure we normally start talking about our grandparents and how they must be looking down from heaven laughing at the two of us playing around in our little garden. 

So at the end of July we went on a journey to the past. Our parents had given us permission to come down and get their old gardening and canning items. You bet we jumped at the chance. Going to Georgia is like going home for us girls. The smell of that red clay. The feel of our grandparents surrounding that land. It is like heaven here on earth. Just being there you can still feel their love even after all these years. If you close your eyes, you can still see grandma in the kitchen cooking up a storm. Man, could that woman could cook. You can still feel granddaddy's big hugs and your feet come off the ground no matter how big you had gotten. 

Over the course of the last month it would be nice to grab a bit of advise from their wisdom as we face a sad time in our lives currently. Some bit of advise I could pass along to my own children when they need it the most. One thing I know for certain from just being their granddaughter is, "Love no matter what." Even when your hurting, even when your sad, always remember the love. This is something I have told myself a million times over in the course of the last month. Sorta my mantra if you will. I find peace in those words. Which is the one thing at this stage of my life I really need, peace.

I won't go into the details, but I will say at first this was a blow to my gut. I remember that first day, I was alone at the farm (my sister's place). We had been canning for weeks already, and my heart hurt so horribly I wasn't sure I would make it through that day.

It was my day off. Hubby and brother-in-law had gone off to town. My sister was at work. I was alone with all these feelings and all this pain in my soul. I decided I needed to go for a ride on the golf cart in the woods. Just me and nature. I had to get myself together. So, that's what I did. I rode awhile, cried a bit, prayed a whole lot. I have always been a firm believer in receiving signs from above. As I rode along I heard a noise. Something was following behind me a bit. Then I realized what it was. A momma deer. Her baby was just over a bit, having lunch under a few trees. I sat there, momma deer stayed behind me out of sight, but I knew she was watching me watch her baby. I sat there just watching this young deer have it's lunch. When it was threw it bound up the hillside, stopped and just looked down on me. It was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. I cried some more before reassuring myself this was the sign I was praying for. Peace overwhelmed me. 

Granted I knew and know that with these sorts of things drama likes to rear it's ugly head. I can't do it. I can't do the drama. So, I remember those words, "Love no matter what." 

Love doesn't mean you have to like things, it means that you accept what is happening at that moment and you try to deal with the emotions flowing through you, and pray a lot that things turn out how they are meant to be, not how you wish them to be, and you will be okay with that.

You also have to remind yourself what is happening may not be happening to you, but around you. And you have to remind yourself where your place is, on the outside looking in, not in the midst, but on the sidelines. 

So, in the midst of this ordeal I've been doing what I do. I spend a good deal of time with my sister, because we had the garden from heaven for sure this year. Some of our plants were taller than the two of us. We still have a mound of tomatoes that are not going to can themselves, and a ton of dehydrating left to be done. We've been at this for two months now, with me living in my camper more than at my house for that time frame. Thankfully, I find peace and tranquility on that property of hers and I am so blessed she and her family don't mind having me around so much LOL. 

A busy life keeps the mind from being idle. I'm so thankful to have her and this gardening/canning thing going on right now. It keeps me focused on where and what I need to be doing and helps me to put into perspective the feelings I have. It gives me the focus I need right now. I am so blessed for sure.

Life happens and we move forward. What awaits us only time will tell. One thing I know for certain, is I plan to keep a forward motion going. I will hold to my mantra, "Love no matter what," deep within me. I will mind my business and be who I am transforming into, no matter what is thrown at me. Because I started this evolving a long time ago, and I will keep it moving forward no matter what.

Everyone have a good night!!!

Blessings to all!!!

















​

Be still and listen...

Good evening, everyone!!!

I know I've been really quiet lately but sometimes you just have to think before you speak and sometimes speaking isn't the best way to get to the bottom of things. Sometimes you just have to be still and listen.

Sadly, my mind has been shoved in too many directions. I've seen post after post after post of too many friends joining the ranks of this side or that side of what they 'think' is important in this world. However, how much of what is being posted is really as important as it is made out to be???

Who do you believe??? Mainstream media peppered with social media gossip??? I think the best impact of this I've seen recently is when the police cam videos were released in the George Floyd case recently. It showed just how the mainstream news can take an ounce of truth, twist it up, and then social media make it explode into what it did. I'm not saying by any means what happened should have happened, that's not my point here, my point is, one ounce of truth to ninety ounces of speculation does not a true story make.

When covid hit, so many speculations hit the air waves, so many opinions, so many bandwagons. Then George Floyd's horrible death. Then riots. Then the bombshell of this pedophile ring. Good Lord, where does this year end??? Not to mention the just blunt disrespect for a US President that has gone on over the course of the last 4 years. I've never in my life seen such a bold disrespect of anyone in my life. But we should have known way back then we were headed in this direction. Why???

Because frankly, a world cannot sustain such hatred within it before collapse begins. Hate is a powerful emotion. It can be as all consuming as love. For the last couple of years I've jumped on here, preached about the hate in this world and how it needed to change.

Sadly, I've given up on preaching the need to spread positive vibes, the need to embrace your fellow man. I just don't have it in me any longer. 

They say change starts with oneself. I believe in that wholeheartedly. My heart breaks to see so much bitterness in this world presently. I've found myself being overwhelmed in the hatred. Feeling it to my core. 

They say a smile can change a person's entire day, but as you look around today, no one can see another's smile behind a mask. I pray the people who come in contact with me can tell by my eyes I'm smiling at them. 

I used to adore writing. Now, all I can wonder is it worth it? Does anyone see newsfeeds or blogs anymore that say something besides the typical social media arguments? Is anyone engaging in anything other than who will post the next thing they don't agree with???

I can't stand all the hatred. I've watched family members and friends turn against each other all because of a difference of opinion over the course of the last four years. Was the glue that bound you together so flimsy that one difference of opinion could make your entire relationship melt away? 

So, you see, the emotions that have been running rampant in this world around me has kept me from blogging. I needed to spend some time in a few quiet places, help get my thoughts together, and just breathe. I've spent time at my sister's place, one of my favorite spots for getting my soul right. Then we took a trip to Georgia to bring back some wonderful memories of our grandparents, another place to get my soul right.

I'm still not sure where I'm headed at the current moment. I do know for certain the Crazy Canning Ladies are back in full force this year :) With so many fun things planned this canning season and a few mishaps too I'm sure LOL. 

One thing I know for certain, however, is this old lady is doing her damned best to look to a bright future versus this hateful one I keep seeing out there. I will love with all my heart and soul, even those who push hard against loving me back. 

I'm looking forward to the canning season, the laughter, the comic relief it provides. I look forward to the deep conversations this leads to and even the nonsense ones as well. I look forward to learning new things, and opening up to new paths. 

Hopefully, by the time the winter months set in I'll have a better idea of where I'm headed and what I will be doing.

Everyone have a lovely evening!!!

Blessings to all!!!












​









​

Ready for a vacation...

Good evening, everyone!!!

Yep, I'm ready for a bit of R&R and it can't get here soon enough. Just four more days and I'm off for nine days, ahhhhhhhhhhh….

Not really doing much, just planting the garden, going on a few adventures, and doing some home improvements :) But at least I will get a break from the insanity for a bit. 

I see so many people yelling about reopening both pros and cons, and all I can do is laugh. Does anyone really believe things were truly shutdown??? Because from where I have stood nothing has really changed over the course of the last several months other than a handful of people 'said' they stayed home and I use that term very lightly because I frankly have only known a couple of people who actually took things seriously and did remain at home. 

Hence the reason I desperately need a vacation...

The other day I read an email that really made me go hmmmmm…. Let's just say if you have enough money to give the right person, well, it can buy you a lot in times like these. So no amount of what is right or wrong about this whole thing really truly matters to those it should. Just saying... So post away, pro and con it all you want, but you're wasting your time and energy and making enemies either way you go. The times where what the People want are long over I'm afraid. 

I know shocking I would be so callused about all of this, but let me just say while people were ordered to stay home, I have my little 'get out of jail free card' in my truck that I never once I had to show anyone while on my way to my work. I have watched my customer count go up and down, depending on the day of the week, nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year. In fact, customer count for this time of year has pretty much stayed the same day in and day out. Yet, our hours get cut, and we work one per shift in the midst of chaos. 

So if I sound callused about the whole thing, maybe it is because I am. I've had four family members (that I know of) who've had the virus, one who passed away this week from it. It is real, folks, and no amount of facts or pushy posts are going to change how people react to it. Everyone has free will, and boy have I seen free will being displayed all over the place. I've also seen first hand how people can be bought, and it disgusts me to say the least.

Now, would I have been out and about in it if I was not considered 'essential'? No, I wouldn't have. But I can also say I am more of a nonsocial person anyway. So, staying at home would not have bothered me at all, because that's what I do when I'm not at work already. I clearly understand there are many social butterflies out there who require interaction with people, I raised one and one of my grandchildren is the same way. But even they have played it safe, stayed home, and dealt with what comes with all of this.

I guess you could say I'm just ready for some time away from the insanity of what our world has become. Some time to recoup and revamp my system before I go back out into it once again. 

So stay safe out there. Do what you feel is right. And by all means be considerate of those who have no choice but to be out there every day.

Everyone have a good night!!!

Blessings to all!!!



















​

Getting back on track...

Good evening, everyone!!!

It has been a rough few months to say the least, with the 'shut down' the changes made in this life we know, and just trying to stay sane through it all.

As you know my day job is considered esstential so therefore I have been out in the public daily throughout this ordeal. Not as close to everything as some, such as my sister who is a nurse practitioner, which I pray for her and my other sister who is highly immune compromised, each day, along with many others.

My mind has not been so connected to much of anything other than worry for quite awhile, but as of a few weeks ago I changed that. I had to give my mind a rest from it all and find ways to let go of the stress of being an essential employee. That's not easy when you have sick people coming in each day, ensuring they cough on you, or sneeze on you, and just generally acting as if they don't care about the well being of their fellow man.

Sanitizing has become so routine now that it feels as if it has always been a part of the daily routine. We tease one another that our blood stream is 80% sanitizer these days. Which it must be working, knock on wood, because we've all managed to stay fairly healthy throughout all of this.

I needed something to get my mind right again, so my last four days off I spent three of them deep cleaning. Thankfully, the three older grandchildren came to help, because that upstairs hasn't been touched in two years except to add more crap to it. They worked their butts off, and they also kept me on track by encouraging me to keep going. Which I truly needed.

This week I got my smudging kit in and started smudging and meditation once again. This I haven't done in quite a few years and let's just say it has really been helpful in getting me back on track once again. All day when I felt myself starting to get a bit overwhelmed at work all I had to do was inhale and I could still smell the white sage and it calmed me immediately.

I believe I'm about ready to get the writing back on track again. Get back to work on getting Passionate Pursuit out and then on to the next, Jessie's Revenge :) I have just been so disconnected that writing (which normally grounds me) was not in the cards. I know me and I know when my emotions are running amok from trying to control what I cannot control, well, writing gets jumbled and then I have to go back and start over. That's not my goal here, my goal is to focus fully on the manuscript and get the best possible story out there.

What I do know is I cannot control what is happening around me. What I do know is, I can control how I react to it. A great deal of what is going on angers me, and it is this part of myself I fear the most. I work with a great bunch of people and I would hate to loose even one of them due to what we deal with each day. However, this is out of my control. What I can do, is do my very best to make our work enviroment as good as possible for those I care about. We now have the authority to ensure people maintain the 6 ft rule when inside our store, and I ensure that everytime a customer decides they are above the rules and infriges upon another customers space.

Asking a person who wants to control their enviroment to release that control to a greater power, is difficult sometimes. But, it has been necessary for my mental health to say the very least. So, I stay busy, both at work and at home. This allows me to have some control over my surroundings, which I desperately need right now.

So, as the title of this blog says, I'm getting back on track. I'm planning another big sweep of the last two rooms upstairs for my next days off. I've gotten most of my back porch ready for the up and coming warmer weather and have used it for meditation the last few days. Just waiting on the next sunny warm day to finish that up :)

I will continue smudging the day's negativity from my body and soul and bring a peace back to my being. The one thing I refuse to allow this period in life to take from me is my inner peace. I will fight hard to keep it, I will push through hell to keep my soul in tact. Because I will never allow the negativity that has swarmed this world to corrupt who I am or where I want to go in this life.

Everyone have a lovely night!!!

Blessings to all!!!















​ 

Stay home...

Good morning, everyone!!!

It saddens me to write this blog, but I have to get this stuff out of my system or I will explode in my reality.

When this virus hit our country I was taking over for my boss who had surgery. Every day something new was coming down from our corporate headquarters on changes we needed to make at our store to keep our customers and ourselves safe. My people are taking this very seriously. We sanitize hourly (and more) to keep the public safe when they come into our store. We wash our hands, sanitize our hands and clothes often, and pray a lot that we won't get this and take it home to our families.

Yet, each day we deal with people who are supposed to be staying home, safe in their houses, who've been put off work to help keep this under control, yet, here they are at our store grabbing a fountain pop because in their opinion 'it's essential' Yes, that is exactly what we hear. 

Now what you don't get to hear because my people and myself are too polite to say anything, okay, maybe it isn't that we're too polite to say anything but we do need our jobs in the end. 

Is that fountain pop worth risking not only your life but ours as well? Do you realize every time you go out in the world you risk getting this virus or giving this virus to others? 

Why are we open then??? Because our company provides essential items such as fuel for vehicles to those who are still required to go to work each day. You know police officers, firemen, and most of all our nursing staff that are out there trying their damn best to keep people alive. 

Since this virus has hit I've seen way too many people who are just all too self centered. I'm not saying don't go get food to feed your family, but don't take the whole damn family to do it. Let one person go to the store, get your supplies, then get home. When you get home, wash yourself, wash your clothing, and don't touch anyone until you have done so. 

This is a serious matter. People every day are being diagnosed and even dying. But yet, the majority of the population are acting as if this is some sort of vacation. So it keeps spreading and spreading. Then I hear all sorts of political bullshit because human nature is naturally going to try to blame anyone but ourselves.

This isn't a political issue folks, this is a humanity issue. I told my mother not so long ago, how can we expect people to think of others when we play hell getting them to realize how important their own life is??? This virus has shown that in spades. 

I know it's hard to stay home for some of you social butterflies, but people, you need to realize death isn't a joke. It is real, it is forever, and contrary to belief, it is final and no one is above it. It comes to all of us sooner or later. If you can prevent just one death by staying home, then please I beg you to do so.

If you are like me and have to work out in this world during this please stay safe. My thoughts and prayers are with you daily. My gut tightens every time I see someone out who has no valid reason to be out other than they just want to get out of the house for a moment. You are the ones that keep my stress levels up and my worry button going. 

We act so entitled these days. It is this attitude that is keeping this thing spreading, no President or Politician. We need to start taking responsibility for our own actions. You want to go outside, wonderful, go outside and explore your own yard. I bet there are things out there you never knew existed. Practice social distancing and quit giving workers who have to be at work every day a hard time for putting in place social distancing in their work place. 

Instead of placing blame ask yourself, what am I doing to help stop this virus on my level? How often each day are you leaving your house? How often are you going to your local Walmart and browsing the isles? Instead of going to the store five times a day because you want a fountain pop, try buying two liters or cans. No, it's not the same, but I promise when this is all over those fountain pops will still be there waiting for you. 

If I see one more meme placing blame on Political figures for something this entitled Country has deemed them responsible for I will probably explode. Because frankly, the blame lies within each of us, no one else. We need to step up and be responsible for our actions. Because frankly, these Political figures from the President all the way down to city government has reminded people over and over and over again to STAY HOME!!! When do you listen???

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!



















​













​

One more to go...

Good morning, everyone!!!

I've taken a couple of days off the writing since publishing Destiny's Price but starting today it is back to working both the day job and the writing job once again. The next goal is to get Passionate Pursuit edited and out by the first week of April. Then it will be a few months before Jessie's Revenge will be ready to go, seeing as I need to finish writing this one. 

I decided early on this year to push the mark this year with my writing career, so pushing it is the main goal for the year. I'm learning to balance things a bit this year. I mean really balancing things, because there are just some things I don't want to give up, such as spending time with my family and friends, adventures, and the necessary day job, and my writing. So a balancing act is what is required here. 

Also, if I've pushed myself too much, the ever necessary 'guilt free' day of relaxation is required to give myself revamp time. I'm not as young as I used to be that's for sure.

For my paranormal fans, don't worry, I'll be back to working on the Darkness series but it will be a little while before that happens, seeing as I want to get the Acceptance series out there this year. At least as many of them as possible this year.

Passionate Pursuit is next on the list. It just needs some edits and then it will be ready to go :) This one's Sam's story. It was a fun write and I adore his heroine, Rae Black. She's feisty and spunky, and not afraid of much in this world. She's also strong-willed and determined. Which is definitely the heroine Sam Davis needed.

So check out the new Cheyenne Bride and Destiny's Price over the next month and know Passionate Pursuit is fast on their heels.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!











​

Finally... Destiny's Price has gone live!!!

     Even the devil has a kinder heart than Destiny Connors’ pa. She never knew men to be humane. Her father beat her, sold her body, and left her for dead. Trust isn’t something that comes easily to her. Then Stephen Davis is thrown into her hell. He heals her physical wounds, but can he heal her soul? How can an upstanding rancher want to spend the rest of his life with a common whore? 
     Stephen Davis finds Destiny Conners near death. He realizes quickly she isn’t the girl he dreamed of this long year and a half. Could the girl he wanted to take out of poverty turn out to be the woman who rescues him from his own delusions?
He soon discovers love can come at a price.  Can he make Destiny believe she’s worth the cost? Or has her pa sealed her fate forever? 
Grab your copy today!!!

www.amazon.com/Destinys-Price-Acceptance-Book-2-ebook/dp/B085KV4GKK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Destiny%27s+Price+jj+devine&qid=1583610756&sr=8-1