JUST ADD BEER

AND then there was Beer.. (Google Images, 2017)



It was my first party here at the resort.  The food was awful but I don't like smoke flavoring anyway (Brisket) , It wasn't as if the beef had been roasting for days or hours I am sure it had been flung together quickly and the flavoring poured over the top.   But who knows?? Who cares? just add beer.  The dinner was complementary to welcome the managers back for the season.  The beer was .25 a glass.  Pitchers of beer lined tables that had been taken since 1:00 PM while the party was still just being set up to begin at 3:00.  Jackets, purses, hats and strategically posted friends watched rows and tables of empty chairs ready to announce,"that's taken."  On one occasion I hovered too long around a table out of the sun, waiting on my mother to join me, as one of these watch dogs poised to attack, I saw the words on her lips, leaning forward on her chair, but I kept walking.  Found 4 nice seats at the bar, why not?  Padded comfortable, I laid out the sweater I had brought, then I sat down to watch over my "taken seats."  

GETTING SET UP

"So Here We Are" (Google Images 2017)

Its quiet, the wheels are chalked, the stabilizing jacks are down, the propane is on, the sewer is hooked up, the water is on, the patio rug is out, the awning is deployed, the dog is in her bed.  

We are planning dinner and trying to figure out if we are grilling or eating in and the ranger pulls up and asks us to change spots! 

Apparently, that one is reserved and he forgot to put a slip on the spot.  OMG!!! Count to ten, remain calm its just another error in a comedy of errors.  No need to get upset it happens more than not.  I have actually begun to expect mistakes.  My sandwiches are cold when they are ordered hot, my eggs are overcooked, my pizza was blackened, ?? what? the latest craze, burned food?  Dirty tables, inept sales persons, crazy drivers, and then camping to get away from it all and getting more of the same... 

We are in a resort now with several pools, a restaurant all kinds of activities, and we have been setting up for a week. The sun comes into our spot and shines all day on our patio despite the awning. Had to solve that.  No Internet as for some reason the parks is merely a hot spot and even though we are right close to the antennae we get nothing.  (Never had that happen before.)  

One must have a ticket to go to an event even if its not a performance for example, I have to have a ticket to make a bracelet aside from signing up...and if I don't have my name tag I am sol.  There's a card for doing laundry as one cannot pay cash due to something with Canadians.  However, there is a coin laundromat on premises but I cannot get quarters.  Went to Albertson's down the street and they had to sell me a complete roll.  Ate in the grill yesterday and was privy to a conversation about how the food service ends at 1:30 and no more orders could be taken because it was after 1:30 although the people had been seated around 1:15.  I heard them say, "We like people to sit near the bar and not out in the tables," Who knew?  So the waiter doesn't wait on them?  Then tells them they cannot get food.  Finally a manager comes out and tells them its OK and takes their order himself.  

They had a farmers market/craft sale yesterday and I had to park down the block as the vendors from outside the community park in the closest spots leaving none for the visitors who don't bike or golf cart in.    

I was swimming in the evening and parked my vehicle outside the gates where one is supposed to park.  While I was swimming someone came and locked me in.    I had to walk all the way around the building to get out and to my car.  Who knew?  

 Airplanes fly over at night as the flight plans change for some reason around 8 p.m.  Who knew? 

For the second time I tried to do my laundry and they are working on the water system and at the same time they have blocked off the roadway nearby. Who knew?  

Mom has the ability to go with the flow, for now, which is strange.  Usually she is the first to have a fit and complain. Therefore, I must accommodate whatever.  

However, next year I'm going to Yosemite.  

AMERICAN ROAD ADVENTURER

Google Images 2017

Hello beautiful friends and family... and possibly those of you who have stumbled upon my unique and interesting Blog.  

       It is no secret to you that I follow many blogs and Podcasts.  I also enjoy Vlogs on YouTube.  Depending on what I am into I try to gather as much information as I can to supplement my interests.  I am really enjoying a Vlog called Long, Long Honeymoon on YouTube.  The Vlog features a couple named Shaun and Christie Michael who have an Airstream RV and they travel all over the country.  http://longlonghoneymoon.com &  YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch? v=kzIET2FrnW4 and if you really enjoy the info (it’s awesome!) you can support them at: https://www.patreon.com/longlonghoneymoon

 I found this couple to be authentic and fun loving and Kristy doesn’t mind letting us see that she is also beautiful without her makeup.  (Inside Camping Joke), Shaun is able to cover the different aspects of the products they represent, and their travels, in a way that appeals to “we” analytical types, who need to know why?   “Loloho,” discusses a variety of topics from the best hats to sport, campgrounds for wildlife viewing, to equipment for your RV. I really appreciate how to do this and that (skills) and loved the "Top 5" Favorite Places to RV Camp in the USA.

I have learned how to “Swoop” (a RV parking maneuver), how to hook up RV to FHU and where I can get Blueberry Beer. Having hauled horses around for many years in a fully-loaded, 4-horse steel Tallboy, towing with an F150, 4x4, and earlier camping experiences with a StarCraft pop-up tent camper towing with a Chevy Astrovan, I do have some experience.  However, as of late I have developed a little more caution due to having matured and realized that there is much more involved than jumping in and “gettin er done.” Those of you who know me understand this aspect of my personality. 

Adding my mother to the quotient, who feels she has to giving her 2 cents to everything; driving an RV has changed its dynamics for me.

Also, she being reactionary there are often sounds, such as: sighing, moaning and that sucking in noise that one never gets used to, what’s that called? Alarm, Silent Screaming? Or Muffled agony?

Google Images, 2017

We are currently working on the walkie-talkie parking thing.  The dialogue follows this route:  Me head out window, “mom, mom, MOM! Push in the button on the side, then talk.” I say.  “Ok, I understand now,” she says.  The radio crackles in the cab of the RV, and then it goes silent.  Sticking my head out again, I say, “mom hold the button in while talking. “Ok “ I hear the radio crackle to life again and hear her mumble, “So bossy that kid.”

“Go really slow,” has taken on a new meaning for me (Loloho, expression). 

 I love my mom.  Before I moved in with her to help after my stepfather passed away. I was under the illusion I had great patience.  The key word there is “Illusion”

When I was doing the daily grind before I was forced into early retirement by a bad knee and a back injury I lived in another part of the country from my mom raising a family. Therefore, our time was limited to visits. She and my Stepdad would come to me in their Monaco Dynasty towing a Ford explorer.  Before hand negotiating a parking spot for them to park with my  with a neighbor.

On one occasion I was standing out in front, waiting for them on the cell phone, I saw them coming up the street. Mom said, “I see you”.  Expecting them to slow down and stop at least, they zipped right on by.

Now I kid you not, when that 45’ of RV towing the Explorer went by me he was doing about 35 and not slowing down, the wind action not only sucked me in but made my clothing and hair fly like I was in a tornado! I had to feel myself afterwards to see if I was still alive.  

Google Images 2017

The RV came to an abrupt halt at the corner and I heard my mom yelling at my stepdad, “you passed her!” This incident became a humorous story in our family that It was embellished differently at each telling. 

RV’S, probably enhance our lives beyond our own understanding.  Everyone camps now. Driving around town I can count at least 10 RVs at any given time of the year.  Every other house has an RV parked in the yard.  My latest travel aspiration is to go to Arizona.

The State we know as Arizona, comes from the Aztec word "Arizuma," this means Silver bearing. Therefore, Arizona is not only worth its weight in Silver (one of most precious metals in the world, second only to Gold). Arizona is known as the Grand Canyon State and is one of the most popular destinations for RVer’s on the West Coast. 

Why do I single out Arizona?  Having driven through many times on my way elsewhere, this will be my next vacation destination, so I am studying up.  A Video Coffee Table Book Arizona - State of Wonder was a good start; this 1 ½ hr. video depicts the state with beautiful images taken in some of the most unique parks in Arizona.  Including the Grand Canyon. Put out by Digital Video Destinations in 2009 it can be seen or purchased at Amazon.com.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002QHUTRO,

I hear the sunrises and sunsets are legendary, and the Saguaro is alive and well living in a National Park, a forest of Cacti! (Momentary silence please while we absorb that concept).  AND, the Arizona Cardinals practice football, not politics.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr6eA4wO8k 

Be Happy and keep coming back to Homeontheweekends.com for updates. 

https://www.50states.com/facts/arizona.htm Cited: 10/24/2017. (2017)

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SOWING AND REAPING

Google Images 2017

It seems like Pedophiles and sex abusers are everywhere.  Deviant thinking and filth have become the norm.  It dominates the airwaves and we have to hear about people that get caught up in those lifestyles every day.  Crimes against women and children and the elderly have increased, and animal abuse its a war being fought all over the globe.

Honestly, I appreciate the people in Hollywood finally getting what they deserve.  We are seeing a Biblical ideology called reaping and sowing in action. As in *Luke 8:17, For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known, or illuminated.   Its kind of refreshing to see the accused squirm as one and then another of the compromised emboldened to publicly tell their tales of being groomed and then exploited and abused in their attempt to become an actor or actress. 

The biggest consequence of the influence of Hollywood is the moral degradation of our society played out on the screen in the name of freedom of speech and treated as if it were the normal life.   I believe Hollywood has contributed if not heralded the demise of the moral structure of this country.  That said, I believe we are seeing just the tip of the iceberg.  For instance, Great Britain who recently revealed a whole den of pedophiles in politics,  and their own entertainment industry. It began when they found out an already dead entertainer, a radio personality named; Jimmy Savile, had been abusing children for 60 years!  Sex rings and human trafficking was uncovered throughout the United Kingdom. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Savile)

Even now in our own country  "Pizza Gate", http://thehill.com/homenews/media/330510-writer-who-pushed-pizzagate-conspiracy-theory-says-he-has-white-house-press I do not doubt its truth in any way.   With the suspected abuses reaching to modern-day candidates and political figures.

I have decided to write about this because its been a growing problem in this country the USA as well, many people are finding the strength to accuse their abusers and I wanted to mention my point of view on the whole thing.

It's nothing unusual.  It is called sin.  In fact its a sin against one's own body.  By including a child in the act one is performing a terrible sin against God and yourself and the child.   This kind of a sin is expressly abhorrent because it has a victim that is affected all of their lives.  Women and men who have been sexually abused have difficulty with love.   They often do not find healthy relationships all of their lives.  Being in the mental health profession myself I have found a pattern amongst most of those that I have counseled.  The abused child doesn't relate to sex in a normal healthy way.  Often they are unable to express their own needs in a healthy manner towards others.  I was trained to believe that abusers often become abusers themselves although,  I do not find that true. I find that those abused try harder to find sexual normalcy than those that become predators after they themselves have been prey.
I have also been able to say that when people come out and debate the age of consent and what is true innocence are walking in a realm of theorizing and validating wrongful acts.

 They do not understand that a child is not sexual.  The age of consent is when a child is grown and sexually mature, chooses a mate and becomes free to express their feelings in a monogamous relationship.  Defending illicit sexual acts by theorizing the validity of age and maturity is wrong.


Having been a foster parent for a few years one sees a lot. What adults do to children.   It's like having a puppy and one teaches the puppy how to adapt to the family lifestyle.  Its taught to live indoors, potty outside, sit and speak, walk on a leash,  and where to sleep.  Children would come to my home sometimes in the middle of the night having just been removed from their parents, They're always hostile unless they were the whistleblower, and even then they are sad because the consequence of their actions is being realized.  Most are not normal children that smile or play or even have manners. They were someones blank slate and that person abused and often neglected them. I gave up foster parenting after my own son was supposedly abused, by a foster child I had in my home. The agency I was working for took in a child that had not been fully investigated and I did not get his file, it was a temporary situation and he was supposed to be gone after a few hours.
A few hours turned into a few days and then a few weeks.  All the while, I had a young boy, 8 years old in my home that had abused and beaten his little sister. I knew that much.   The agency divulged his story in a counseling session where he claimed to have touched my little son.  It was a lie of course.   I  did not allow my son to be alone with any of the children I had in my home.

Then the agency required my son have to counsel for this event.  I considered this ridiculousness. I was shocked and embarrassed to have been working for such fools and I gave up the license.   I later requested my file under the freedom of information act and it arrived covered with black marker strikeouts.
I was able to make out a few accusations from foster children that I did not even have in my home.  Later in the documents, the accusations were stated to be unfounded.   Yet, I was never told of any of this.   There was never an incident inquiry, no one called me and yet they put those lies in my file.
They really do not care about the children.  They are for the most part intent on protecting themselves.  Every case manager I associated with had bad attitudes and could not follow through with their duties. Where I live,  I saw in the paper that a manager of the entire child protective services was put into jail for abusing his wife.  It was hushed up and buried. Later I heard his name again and he had not even been demoted. 

Why not? Just the stigma of such a thing should have caused his firing.  I was told when I inquired that it is very difficult to fire a state employee.   I have deemed that agency a branch of evil and I will not work with them anymore.  I warn other foster parents, now that I am a professional counselor, not to have anything to do with the child protective services. Sure, it's sad, yet until someone who has the authority to take apart those agencies and root out their bad practices, the foster care systems should become as archaic as the mental health institutions of old.

google Images 2017

     Back to Hollywood, I don't believe that Michael Jackson abused children.  He loved children.  I believe that everything they found at his Never Land Ranch was planted.
Was Micheal Jackson molested and abused in the music industry? You can bet he was.  It is a culture.

Already many of the long-dead actors and actresses have had their accusers come out with stories of situations where another actor, director, or producer, took advantage of them as child actors and actresses.  Not all of them had the guts Jody Foster had to punch someone who touched her inappropriately in the nose.
However, many of that generation of actors and actresses abusers are still alive and that actor or actress is still making their living from acting...  Yet I ask, whom best but they?

It's a shame that child actors who are now dead did not have a chance to tell their sordid tales.  I often think as I watch child actors that grew up in Hollywood, their parents shoved aside as they are taught by tutors and working outside the child labor laws for hours and hours.  Up before dawn and allowed to sleep only after it is a wrap.  The churning pace of the treadmill of Hollywood, so that we can be entertained.  Studios rolling in the cash through exploitation without bounds.  The carnage evident throughout the cemeteries in Los Angeles.  Suicides are prolific, sordid tales of alcohol and drug abuse. It is rare an actor is allowed to be truly successful and have a long and illustrious career.  Now we have to ask: who did they step on to be there?  Its always written off as depression.  Often the question is left hanging in the air.  Yes, say it," why would someone so successful and beautiful kill themselves, it must be a disease." No, its a culture of abuse, and exploitation. They are used up and then thrown away.

Marilyn Monroe is an example of this.  Weak and vulnerable, we women know the type some of us are the type.  Brought up to believe that we must have a man in our lives to validate our worth. Those times have passed.  Equality is almost the norm, sure there are male-dominated occupations, and sexual harassment on the job is prolific.    Life can be fully realized without the validation or love of the opposite sex.

Recently I was able to voice my "# Me Too" to my friends and family as this shout out goes viral.

I was sexually harassed at work.  This especially poignant as I was a single mom trying to support 3 children after a divorce.  A young mom working in a mostly male field, I had a trade.  I was not an educated professional at the time yet, that doesn't lessen the situations.
The harassment came from older men.  Usually, over 40 who were married and had different ideas about women in the workplace.  Most of the time it was insulting but harmless, I had to develop a thick skin.  Then one day after a harrowing week of multiple comments where the men would walk by and say to me,"quit." at the end of that day I found a Kleenex soaked with sperm in my personal space.    I went right to the supervisor which now I regret, he was also older and did as expected, covered for them.  I felt like I was in a catch 22.  As it was my word against theirs.  I felt I had to toughen up, especially after a female co-worker reacted by saying "whats wrong with a little chubby?" I sat shocked at her reaction.  "This is my workplace.  I am a professional and what the hell does something like that mean anyway?' it's disgusting."  I replied.   She said, it means someone likes you," and she laughed.
I was dumbfounded.  I fought being ashamed and concluded it was not my fault I was not the one that was strange.  I have raised that a man respected a woman.  I was used to Godley men who cherished their wives and here I was being exposed to basically animals.    It's a strange feeling, to be treated that way. One doesn't have a frame of reference to react.  At least I didn't. 

I began to obsess a bit about it, watching people come and go, suspecting them.  I had to develop a separatist mentality, I stopped socializing with any of my co-workers. especially the men I did not engage in any conversation of any kind unless it pertained to the job.  I did my job despite them in an exemplary manner, clocked out and went home.  I prayed each day in my car before I went to work and made sure that everything I did carried a clear message to them. "Stay away from me." I did that job for 7 years before

Now that I am older I am wiser and would have reacted differently.What happened to me was a crime. What I should have done was go above the authority of my supervisor (who was not receptive to my reports of harassment,) and then onto making a report to the police. 
I now know its workplace harassment.  I was a victim of not only workplace harassment but direct sexual harassment. 
Hollywood has many Harvey Weinstein's, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/10/16/me-too-alyssa-milano-urged-assault-victims-to-tweet-in-solidarity-the-response-was-massive/?utm_term=.18546aa7ef58  

Hollywoods Harvey doesn't know how to relate to women in a respectful manner, and it goes deeper than that, Harvey has done the big NO NO, he has utilized his position to exploit women for sex.  However, he finally got caught.  A woman that had the dignity, and self-respect, a woman who knew right from wrong had the courage to say,  "Hey that's wrong!"


This is not a new situation,  how many women have found themselves in that position or mine?  Wake up!  Make others accountable for their acts, have the courage to do what I should have.   Let us all shine a light on that darkness, don't keep their secrets, don't tell lies, just tell the truth until someone listens. 

# ME TOO #WHO TERRORIZED YOU? #WHO ABUSED YOU

Keep the dialogue going, Let's initiate the reaping.