Catching up.

** I started this post two days ago. Finally finishing it up.

It’s Sunday morning and I am sitting here watching the British Open in Liverpool, as the players fight it out in the cool temps and pouring rain. What a mess for the golfers! It makes me think of hot summer days and global warming. Watching the golf in England you would never know it’s the hottest recorded summer in the United States. The temps rising is concerning (and dangerous for the elderly and poor) but I personally will take a couple of digits hotter versus a cold winter.

Yesterday I spent the morning outside doing lots of garden pruning, and cutting back shrubs. I sweated a lot. But, it felt good. Yes, you can call me weird. Ha

Here are some thoughts bouncing around in my head…

Summer always goes by too quickly. Always.

But I have had some wonderful experiences during it so far: First, the CMA Festival in Nashville with my daughters, and then heading up to NJ for a day at the Barefoot country festival in Wildwood, NJ with my bestie. The following week my daughter and family came to visit, and my bestie was down here in South Carolina so we got to spend some more time together. Finally, last week I enjoyed time both in Charlotte and at Lakeside, Ohio with all kinds of family. Some of them I don’t see very often.

I am looking forward to a quiet week ahead – and getting some books read. I ordered 4 for ‘summer reading’ and I’m starting “The Extraordinary Life of Same Hell” by Robert Dugoni now. I saw many good reviews about it on a Facebook book lovers site I follow, and on Goodreads. I will let you know. Join Goodreads if you want to stay up on what your friends are reading. I find many suggestions there and I appreciate it.

Flying: I went a long time not flying anywhere and then as life has it, I have flown 4 round trips in the last few months. In general they all went fine. One flight was delayed (a Spirit flight) because the flight attendants crew was required to have a certain amount of time for rest between their last flight at night and then the first one the next morning. My flight was supposed to leave at 7:00am – but was delayed an hour and a half. In general I prefer driving places because I have the control on my start time, the travel time, and plenty of space for what I want to take along.

I wrote a little something on Facebook about the new Jason Aldean song and video that has created controversy. Let me say here that I have always loved Jason’s music, and I have seen him live in concert quite a few times. He always puts on a good show.. Many may remember that he was the artist on stage in Las Vegas when the crazy man started firing an AR-15 and used other guns from high in a hotel that looked down on the venue. It was a horrible mass shooting, killing many and injuring hundreds. Jason and his wife, and their band, all were very frightened – of course. Afterwards they came out with a statement expressing sorrow, but never mentioned the gun crisis we have in America. He said he did not want to ‘be political.’ But his wife Brittney shortly after that created dividing talk by posting on Instagram some very conservative comments. And then the two went to a party at Maralago and posted a picture of them smiling away with Donald Trump. Aldean has not backed down on his beliefs – and he supports his wife. Brittney and her sister-in-law even started a conservative t-shirt company. So, now comes the song. Yes, some lyrics are worrisome, about small town people taking care of their own, etc. I have not watched the video. I guess I don ‘t want to give it my ‘hit’. But I have heard enough about it that shows some violence and he sings/stands in front of a small town courthouse, and he sings of ‘good ole boys’ taking care of business.

I wonder about all the people around Jason Aldean who let this song and video happen. What about the producer? The studio musicians? What about the record company – and Jason’s agent? His publicity people? There were lots of people who heard the song before it was released. There were many people involved in the making of the video. Nobody had a concern? Nobody spoke up??

As a country music fan, I have seen recently other ‘political issues’ facing artists and fans. The Bud Light ban. Kid Rock (and he isn’t even really country) putting out videos about it. Shooting the cans. John Rich of Big & Rich taking Bud out of his Nashville restaurant. The country music community is a perfect look at America as a whole. The community is made up of people of all ages, lots are from rural areas but some are urban, many are blue collar but certainly not all, and a portion support gun freedoms and other conservative beliefs. BUT NOT ALL. I hope people realize that there are lots of country music artists and performers who speak of unity, and equality, and kindness. Listen to their lyrics. One of the reasons I love country music is some of the really lovely lyrics.

Pets: I have always lived with pets. As a kid our family always had a Boston Terrier. They had these names: Pal, Ace, Deuce, another Ace. Once I got married we had Ralph, and Ally, then Lucky, and Peanut Butter, next came Miss Honeybee, and we still have Miss Daisy. A few kitties too: Gizzie and her babies born in our bushes – we kept Moonlight from her litter. Then Moonlight found us. Also, Kitty Girl, Sabrina, and now Hadley. I love pets. Hubby does too. As we get to this point in our lives though we are contemplating being ‘dog free’ after Daisy.

Can we stop hearing about Hunter? I mean really. Everybody (especially the right,) please just move on. I did read this morning tho that President Biden is not accepting that he is the grandfather to a young Hunter ‘love child’. That is sad. Families are difficult. ALL families are difficult. Biden has certainly had his share of pain and perhaps disappointment with members of his family. But, Joe, come on – be a role model to the little girl. Love her. It’s not her fault she was born.

As I said earlier, summer goes by too quickly – but, that means football season is a coming!! I always look forward to it. This year is no different. Hope springs eternal this time of year. Go Gamecocks!

Wondering… who plays Wordle and Words with Friends? I used to be a crossword puzzle person when we all got real newspapers delivered. Once we stopped getting a newspaper each morning, I went to other word games. I play both Wordle and Words with Friends. If you want to be my words friend, please feel free to invite me. I’ve got to keep the brain working!!

And – I have got to be keeping the body working: I have missed my weekly dancing while I was away on vacation and this Wednesday my instructor is away. Two weeks without dancing makes me sad.

This fall I plan to volunteer at a center called “Teach My People” in my town. “Teach my People” is an after school program for needy youth, and those who volunteer provide them snacks, help with homework, and play games, etc. during the hours until parents can come and get them. What do you do to give back? I believe putting in some time, and helping out a little bit, keeps a person grounded. Volunteering provides insight on how others live. There are so many, many ways to give back, to help out, to do something positive for others. I hope you consider it. You won’t regret it – and you will learn so much!!

Until then, enjoy summer!!