Sometimes fragments and germs of ideas are bounced around in several different ways before they truly come together. When they do finally come together, it can be downright magical. It all started with the simple notion that I am a writer and I love genealogy. Once those two things became known, a cousin suggested I write about the history of the family business on my Mom’s side of the family. That idea has been kicking around for a while, I am far from ready to go there for a whole host of reasons, but it was something important, an idea. By the way, if you are reading this L., I haven’t completely given up on that idea.
Fast forward a couple of years and all of a sudden my parents and siblings are aware of my blog. Not only are they aware of my writing, they actually think I am a good writer. No bias there, right? Here’s the thing: I think the biggest praise was from my Dad. He is not the type to give praise for just anything, whether or not you are his child. The fact that he is even aware of my writing is huge. But I digress.
So, as my Mom is boosting my ego by telling me my entire nuclear family is at least somewhat impressed by my writing, she completes the idea. She thinks I should write the history of our family business, the history of Russell Canoe Livery. I like to think of it as The Story of Us. The thing is that Russell Canoe Livery is such a family oriented business, and I hope it always will be, that it will be impossible to write about the livery without writing extensively about the history of my Dad’s family, as well as our own. The entire idea gets at the very heart of our family, the reason I decided to study business in the first place, and even who I am as a person. I want to make this clear: I can’t imagine my family not owning the canoe livery. I can’t imagine growing up not working for my parents. It will always be very near and dear to my heart.
Aside from all of that, it is a compelling story. It is a story of entrepreneurship. It is the story of a mother and son working together to keep a business running under less than ideal circumstances. It is the story of two baby-boomers raising a family of three kids. It is also the story of the love between grandparents and grandkids. It is also the story of an extremely small town that likes to keep to itself. It is also the story of friendly competition and a changing society.
I have to do this. If nothing else I have to do this for my nephew and any future nieces and nephews. They all deserve to know the story.
Oh, and not to get political, but: Yes, my family did build this. We did it DESPITE government actions.
By the way, if you’ve never had the pleasure of watching America The Story of Us on The History Channel, it is wonderful, even if long. It is a unique look at what makes the US what we are today.
Anyone who is anyone is gearing up for the April 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge. Originally I hadn’t planned a theme. I’m not normally a theme person per se. However, the more I learned about the challenge, and those participating, the more I realized that I did indeed need a theme. So here it goes. After originally considering a tropical theme, I realized it was way too broad. I try to write what I know, so I decided on The Beatles A to Z, including solo works. Love them or hate them, there is a ton of fun material. Here is the tentative list. I’m even going to try to tie it all together à la a concept album, an idea pioneered by the Beatles. Enjoy!
Photograph of The Beatles as they arrive in New York City in 1964 Français : Photographie de The Beatles, lors de leur arrivée à New York City en 1964 Italiano: Fotografia dei Beatles al loro arrivo a New York City nel 1964 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Oh, and by the way, do check out Nickers And Ink, an online friend who will also be participating this year!
There are so many things running through my head at the moment. Lately I’ve come to realize the thousand of different ways we all hurt one another, intentionally and unintentionally. Why can’t people live and let live? That is what angers me most. Why must people force their views on others? I’ve heard all too much regarding the entire contraception debacle, and the non-existent “war on women.” I just can’t bring myself to fully discuss those topics and all they entail just yet. I’ve noticed a few people clicking on my Reproductive Rights page. Again, like the main Turner Syndrome page, I want to make sure I get it right.
I hope I am not the only one who feels so confused at the moment. While I am well aware of what I believe and where I stand on the issues, I’m having a hard time figuring out where I personally fit in. I just hope I figure it out before it is too late. Something’s gotta give. I can’t honestly believe the one thing I want out of life will be forever out of my reach.
Happy Saturday morning! I’m hoping to get a few things done around here, so don’t be surprised to see several posts, new and/or rearranged pages, and who knows what. Let’s face it: I’ve fallen in love with blogging. It is the hobby I searched for desperately for so many years.
My Dad always threw himself into his favorite hobbies, hunting and fishing and generally spending time outdoors. Even as a child, I wanted to have something special in my life that served the same purpose. No, I was never going to be a huntress, unlike Katniss Everdeen or my little sister. Still, there had to be something out there for me to pursue, something worthwhile. For a while it appeared as though writing and reading were it, but it always seemed as though something were missing. Blogging really brought it all together now that I’m finally taking the time to meet other bloggers and create a sense of community. For the last several years I’ve read various bloggers on several subjects, but I never really commented or became a part of the conversation. I’m just glad I finally found something worth pursuing.
Last night I’d planned on a few rants I’d hoped to post. I was not in a good mood or frame of mind. I must’ve been extremely tired as I fell asleep before 9 PM. The sentiment is still there, and I still feel the need to call attention to various and sundry hypocrisies present in what passes for “culture” and politics today. I am extremely angry about it all, as both a conservative and as a woman, and especially as a woman with Turner Syndrome, more on that later.
My biggest question is this: Why is it not socially acceptable in our society for women to be anything other than liberal progressives? That may or may not be true, but it is the impression I get. Sarah Palin and Michelle Malkin are living examples of what society does to women who do not follow the liberal/progressive narrative.
I use Sarah Palin and Michelle Malkin as examples simply because of the two very different outcomes they experienced due to attacks from the mainstream media. Sarah Palin never had a chance. Period. My impression is that she was always too much her own woman to play along to get along. This is precisely why I will never get involved with politics. If I have an opinion, I will state it, as you all well know if you follow my blog for any length of time. I do not care one bit about political expediency and never will. As I said earlier, Sarah Palin never had a chance to even be treated fairly, much less fully articulate her positions on anything.
Michelle Malkin, on the other hand, never seemed to be as much of a high profile target as Sarah Palin, Laura Ingraham , or Ann Coulter. That isn’t saying much. If you read her blog at all, which can be found here, she discusses hate mail she receives and just how much flak she gets for daring to be a conservative woman who also happens to be Asian-American. She’s done much to expose the political elite and hypocrisy at all levels. I deeply respect that.
I suppose that is enough of a political rant for the moment. What I don’t understand is this: Why is it socially and culturally acceptable to call conservative women denigrating names, and worse, but when a conservative icon does the same, people are finally morally outraged? I don’t understand why more people don’t see the deep hypocrisy in this. Since when isn’t American society big enough for at least two political perspectives? I, for one, will not be shut up. I wish someone could give me more than just a superficial answer to my questions.
Again, happy Saturday! I promise not everything I post today will be politically charged. Promise.
Historic Standish, Michigan Train Depot ~ Copyright 2008-2012 Mark Blehm
Fortunately the Anchoress is still among the living. I don’t mean to make light of her current suffering, but the post is funny at points. Unfortunately it would be much funnier if it weren’t so true. She pretty states that she can’t take the current media spin on current events. Well, I can’t either. I’m disgusted. It angers me deeply. I desperately need to find an outlet for all of this bottled up anger. Now.
What gets me most is just how short-sighted and naïve people can be. Politicians, as always, play to the lowest common denominator. At one point we had a supposedly impartial media that at least attempted to provide people with some semblance of the truth. Of course, in the United States, in 2012, that is long gone. I’m left wondering what I can believe in at this point. It certainly isn’t the economic system or our narcissistic culture. When my ancestors sought to create the life they wanted in freedom, they moved to the United States. Where am I supposed to turn?
I just finished a page highlighting a few of my favorite political quotes and personalities. I included the page under the Quotes and My Political Views pages. Note that both the pages included above are identical. I simply wanted the same content in two different areas of the blog. Please take the time to look around. I’d love some feedback on all of the pages. Below is just a sample from the new page.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. Benjamin Franklin
It is a grand mistake to think of being great without goodness and I pronounce it as certain that there was never a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous. Benjamin Franklin
A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circlue of our felicities. Thomas Jefferson
Books constitute capital. A library book lasts as long as a house, for hundreds of years. It is not, then, an article of mere consumption but fairly of capital, and often in the case of professional men, setting out in life, it is their only capital. Thomas Jefferson
Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples’ liberty’s teeth. George Washington
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. George Washington
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. George Washington
Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected. George Washington
A friend is one who has the same enemies as you have. Abraham Lincoln
A house divided against itself cannot stand. Abraham Lincoln
Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them? Abraham Lincoln
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. Abraham Lincoln
Ballots are the rightful and peaceful successors to bullets. Abraham Lincoln
Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. Abraham Lincoln
Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren’t very new at all. Abraham Lincoln
Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. Abraham Lincoln
Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them. Abraham Lincoln
I’ve tried writing this post several times over the last five months or so. Sometimes there is so much to say, no mere words can do the subject justice. Somewhere along the line, somewhere between childhood and adulthood, I forgot what baseball once meant to me. I also forgot just how intertwined baseball is with some of my favorite childhood memories.
It all started with me getting the crazy idea that my baseball obsessed boyfriend Brian and I should watch the Ken Burns’ documentary Baseball, all almost 20 hours of it. I checked it out from the library sometime early in September. Brian and I then spent the next couple of weeks watching the entire documentary, including great interviews with Bob Costas, Yogi Berra, and Rachel Robinson, the widow of Jackie Robinson, among others.
For me, the most memorable part of the series had to be the clip of Bob Costas discussing his first experience at Yankee Stadium with his father. As a young child, he was awed by the sheer size of the stadium and the size of the pitching mound. After the game, fans back then could cross the field to a second exit. As Bob Costas and his father crossed the field, he became very upset. He loved baseball so much that somewhere during his childhood he got the idea that Yankee greats such as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were buried on the field. He didn’t want to disturb what he believed to be their graves. The stories of baseball memories bringing together fathers and sons, as well as fathers and daughters, stayed with me.
I found myself asking why baseball is so different from football, hockey, or basketball. I’m not sure, but I do know this: there is something about baseball that transcends time. I have memories of watching the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 1997 with my Dad, as well as countless other games, but my most powerful memories all relate to baseball.
Many of my earliest memories of my Dad involve baseball. As a very young child, I remember watching the Detroit Tigers with my Dad and eating Schwann’s black cherry ice cream. Somehow my Dad ended up attending one of the 1984 World Series games at Tiger Stadium. At that game he bought a signed baseball that sat on the roll-top desk in his office for years. In fact, it might still be there. I loved that baseball and thought that it was amazing that my Dad attended one of the World Series games. I also remember rummaging through the top drawer of my Dad’s desk and coming across his father’s Mason ring. In the eyes of a young girl, the Masonic symbol was a baseball diamond. Above all, there were the games.
Throughout my early childhood, my Dad, a former high school athlete who played football, basketball, and baseball, played on a men’s softball team. As a preschooler, I loved watching my Dad play ball. I liked the entire experience. I was so proud to have my Dad out there in his lucky #3 baseball hat with his well-worn glove. I loved watching him bat.
Of course, it wasn’t just about baseball. I also loved playing in the dirt next to the dugout, running around the poker straight pine trees behind the dugout, and playing with the old-fashioned water pump between the dugout and the pines. More than anything, I loved going to the bar with everyone after the games. As my Dad and his friends, along with their wives and girlfriends, drank pitchers of beer and talked, I played pinball, foosball, Pac Man, and enjoyed pop and chips. It is no wonder I could relate to adults well as a child. I spent a lot of time around adults and enjoyed every minute of it.
I also loved spending time at my Grandparents’ house. A trip to my Dad’s parent’s home was never complete without spending time with their neighbor’s son, Brian K. We were the same age and he happened to have something I wanted desperately as a child, a tree house! I vividly remember one afternoon spent playing in his tree house. His dog somehow came off his lead and I became scared as I really didn’t know his dog. Brian K. told me to hang out in the tree house until he chained up the dog.
It was that day his Mom invited me to attend one of Brian K.’s Little League game with his family. In the eyes of six year-old, it was a very big deal. I felt honored to be setting on the sidelines cheering on Brian K. along with his parents. At the time, of course, I wanted to be out there on the field too. While I did play softball for one season at age 11, I am no athlete. My Grandpa R., who loved to watch me play, insisted he never saw anyone walk more than I did. As I’ve always been exceedingly short, no one ever learned how to pitch to me. Instead, I collected baseball cards.
I’m not exactly sure when and why I started collecting baseball cards, but my favorite will always be the Topps 1987 wood grain cards. They remind me of my Grandpa B. My maternal great-grandparents owned a cottage on Sage Lake in northern Michigan. I spent many summer weekends there with my parents, my sister, my grandparents, and most of my extended family. My Grandpa loved to get all of his grandkids, all girls at the time, in his station wagon to take them to the candy store. He’d let us pick out whatever we wanted. I picked out baseball cards to add to my collection, mainly ’87 Topps. I still have my baseball card collection and fond memories of my Grandpa asking me if I was sure that is what I wanted.
I loved everything about collecting baseball cards. Organizing them by team, deciding which packs of cards to purchase, and looking up prices all were fun. It is fitting that I lost interest in collecting cards as I became a teenager. My last full set dates to the strike shortened 1994 season. Around that time I lost interest in baseball. Coincidentally, it is also the same year the local grocery store, my favorite place to purchase cards, closed.
Around that time my Dad took my little sister, my little brother, and me to a Tigers game at Tiger Stadium on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull. That day happened to be Little League Day. My Dad knew this, so he had my sister wear her softball shirt, my brother his t-ball shirt and hat, and me my old softball shirt. As a result, we had the opportunity to go out onto the field before the game. I’ll never forget looking back at the stands of old Tiger Stadium from the field. I’m grateful to my Dad for ensuring his kids had that experience. There is nothing better than going to a baseball game with your Dad. Having the opportunity to get out on the field of a historic stadium made it that much better.
Somehow I lost interest in the game, but it is still there, was always there, waiting to be rediscovered. While it was not our first date, Brian and I did go to a Lansing Lugnut’s game at Oldsmobile Park in 2004. It happened to be Senior night for MSU students. We had a wonderful time. It should’ve been my first clue as to what extent baseball would play a role in our relationship.
Since we began dating in 2004, I attended his cousin’s wedding at Comerica Park, the new home of the Tigers, an experience which deserves its own post; I endured the 2005 World Series win of the Chicago White Sox, Brian’s favorite team; I suffered through the loss of a World Series with the Tigers in 2006; and each year, the baseball rivalries begin again. Brian’s Mom, Cindy, roots for the New York Yankees because of Curtis Granderson. Brian roots for the Chicago White Sox for no apparent reason. Meanwhile, Brian’s younger brother Todd and I root for the Tigers as proud Michiganders. Baseball season is never boring as long as Brian is in my life.
The Detroit Tigers all reported to spring training in Lakeland, Florida yesterday. I can’t wait for the new season to begin! I may personally not know the stats week to week, but I do know who does. I hope Prince Fielder becomes an important part of the team. Here’s to a great season for the Tigers! May they beat the White Sox and the Yankees always and forever.
I finally updated the My Political Views page here at Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde. The original piece can still be found at My Political Views ~ The Beginning. There is and was so much more I need to say. I wish I could afford to be apolitical, but I just can’t. The Republican primary takes place in Michigan on Tuesday. I’m left voting for the “best” of a bunch of bad options. Unfortunately, I’m not sure who would be a truly good option. There is a reason why the best and brightest avoid running for political office.
Please feel free to look around at the new page. I’m always looking for feedback and/or discussion.
There is not a single item in the above post I can refute. My issue is this: What am I personally supposed to do to help resolve the problems listed? I’d love to know. Increasingly I feel left with fewer options than ever. What angers me most is that there is no Plan B if the U.S. faces a series of serious crises all at once. Unfortunately I’ve travelled just enough in my life to fully understand how unique we are as a nation. I just hope it isn’t too late.
Copyright 2011-2012 Ziiplight
Copyright 2011-2012 Ziiplight
Both photos used courtesy of Ziiplight (Copyright 2011/2012). Please check out the website. It is beautiful!
I believe I forgot to mention just how much I love Freshly Pressed and WordPress. This beautiful Saturday morning I discovered the post below on Freshly Pressed. It is exactly what I need to hear today.
I had an earlier version of this post which I lost when Word decided to crash on me. Unfortunately the recovery version didn’t include the latest paragraph, and I accidently dumped the entire thing. In the end, it isn’t a bad thing. I started to discuss precisely why I need to hear the message in the above post today. It turned out to be incredibly lengthy and much more well-suited for my About Me page. I may just have to do that in the future. The gist of the message is this: I can’t understand why I am now so risk adverse in my career today when I was the EXACT opposite in my academic career at Michigan State University. I consider my years at MSU extremely successful. Unfortunately, I have yet to really do much of anything with my “career.” I’m merely getting by.
Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde 