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Category Archives: Uncategorized

07 Sunday Aug 2022

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A Question for My Facebook Group

24 Sunday Jul 2022

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Holiday History: Independence Day

04 Monday Jul 2022

Posted by crashdlanding in BMB, Non-Fiction, Uncategorized

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BMB, crash landing, crashdlanding, Declaration of Independence, history, holiday, holiday history, Independence Day, July 4th, non-fiction

No, not the Will Smith movie.

Day Four of Birthday Month Blogs

What is it?

The Forth of July or Independence Day—I’ve always thought it was silly to call it the Fourth of July, that’s the date. But apparently that’s an official name for it?—anyway, it’s a yearly celebration of our nations independence from a king across the ocean.

If you click on the Google Doodle for today (if you don’t know it’s the redrawn logo for Google that changes for holidays and such) it takes you to a page with info about July 4th, or Independence day.

It was on 4th July, 1776, when Congress signed the Declaration of Independence of the United States, thereby giving freedom of the country from British Rule.

Google Doodle History link

Two days previous, on July 2nd, they’d voted to declare independence from Britain.

How’d it start?

The Revolutionary War in 1775 started because the 13 original colonies basically hated the colonial governments that represented the British crown. It was because of the war, also know as the American Revolution, that the people in the colonies began to want independence from their current government. That’s what eventually led to the Continental Congress voting on independence, and then signing of the Declaration of Independence (penned by Thomas Jefferson).

Of course the British government didn’t appreciate all this nonsense and war continued. But that’s not what this post is about.

People began celebrating the Declaration Independence when it was first read in the colonies. This often consisted of holding mock funerals for King George III, in representation of the end of his rule over the colonies. Considering they previously celebrated his birthday, this was certainly a unique turn of events.

Modern Celebrations

While fireworks have been in use for many reasons since around 200 BC so they aren’t unique to the celebration of the independence of a nation. But they began to appear in 4th celebrations as early as the first anniversary of the signing of the declaration. There was a 13 gun salute from a ship, and the Sons of Liberty shot fireworks over the Boston Common.

The Forth of July didn’t become a federal holiday until 1870, and in 1941 it became a paid holiday for federal employees.

Politically the holiday has declined in importance, but, like all holidays have, it has changed. It has become more of a leisure holiday. Families and friends gather for barbecues and fun and games AND BRIGHTLY COLORED EXPLOSIONS.

Some may say it has become the official day for kid’s carefully curated sleep schedules (you know, because of school) to become totally out of whack as loud noises and bright lights tend to make everyone a tad unstable.

Y’all can thank the hubs for this one. No clue where he stole it from.

You also cannot forget the ever present retail connection to the holiday. Like all modern versions of holidays, there’s a heavy undercurrent to Independence Day celebrations. No holiday can be complete without themed sales and deals.

Having a backyard BBQ? How about new grill from Home Depot or Lowes? Or a new television so you can watch fireworks from the comfort of your own home?

Or how about you just go out and purchase your government sanctioned sky explosions? The average American can spend hundreds of dollars at roadside fireworks stands.

And cities and counties spend those Americans hard earned tax dollars, anywhere from $2,000-$7,000 for 10-20 minutes of KABOOMS.

And that’s not even the fancy shows.

Kinda makes you wonder if the 56 fellers that signed the Declaration of Independence thought we’d be celebrating their act by scaring animals and some small children by exploding chemicals in the air with fire?

And with the state of the country today, many people aren’t celebrating freedom. To be honest, I only went to our local celebration last night because The Kid wanted too. But she ended up getting sick and we missed the finale.

I also must mention, that the town I live in canceled theirs because, of course, a shooting locally. Three police officers and a K-9 officer were killed. Didn’t feel right to celebrate.

In conclusion

I apologize if my hastily written post is, well, hastily written. But I wanted to post it, and love to do a little bit of googling.


Source 1, source 2, source 3.


Thanks for reading.

-c

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BMB: How I Found Out I Died. (Fiction)

03 Sunday Jul 2022

Posted by crashdlanding in BMB, Fiction, Uncategorized

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birthday month blogs, BMB, crash landing, crashdlanding, death, fiction, I liked this one, July, routine, work, writing

Day Three of Birthday Month of Blogs.

The day started out like every other. Woke up twenty minutes before my alarm, and barely dozed back off before the alarm finally buzzed. Got up, contemplating life choices for a moment before getting ready for work. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

I had zero customers ask me for help, which isn’t unusual on a Sunday morning. We don’t get many in before church.

I was able to get a lot more done on my ever growing list. This was in spite of all the cleaning up after other people I’d had to do. This too was not unusual.

Now, normally, when I have a lot to do, which isn’t unusual, I keep my nose in my own business and stay focused on what needs to be done. I don’t go looking for conversation when I need to be working.

I do, however, get distracted with tasks better left to a less busy day.

But I soon began to realize that none of my coworkers had spoken to me. I often saw them in passing, even if we are short handed on Sunday mornings. But not a one spoke to me. I quickly chalked it up (side note: I had to Google that to make sure I used it correctly) to either me being my grumpy self, or my running theory that no one really likes me. It was that or everyone was just as busy as I was.

When I used the radio to ask a question and no one answered, well, the radio has been wonky for a while. At least I can hear on it. Oh well.

When lunch time rolled around, I finished up some business and walked around to try and find someone to cover me. After a few minutes I saw someone from neighboring department. His keys worked on the locks in my area, so he was my usual coverage. I waved at him, signaling an L with my thumb and forefinger, and I thought he nodded.

I sat at lunch with my phone and earbuds, watching silly short-form videos. “I really need to quit this,” I thought to myself, for the hundredth time. But I continued watching, while the break room had people come and go, once again ignoring me.

When I went back out to the floor, the church crowded had begun to make their way in. This always made my job infinitely harder. Between helping customers and getting around them, it meant that my efficiency went downhill.

But no one asked me for help. I saw plenty of them ask my coworkers for help. They would struggle around my department a bit, even though I’d overheard what they’d been looking for and told them the exact location. When something was needed from a case, someone else got it. Phone calls were picked up before I got to them.

What was happening?

I stood for a moment, staring at my company provided device, not really seeing what was in my had but trying to work out in my mind what was really happening.

My paranoid brain thought it was a twisted torture intended to make me insane. Logic told me I was ridiculous.

Then this woman walked by. I didn’t notice her initially, she saw me first. She was older, maybe early to mid 50s. Dark gray hair, wild and curly and long. Clear blue eyes, eyes that belied her age. Gold wire framed glasses with big round lenses. And she wore a spectacularly shabby yet brightly colored dress.

She’d stopped right in front of me and did a double take. The most attention to have been paid me all day. “Well hello!” She said brightly.

“Oh, uh,” I stuttered. “Hello. Can I help you?”

“Nope.” She said, matter-of-factly. “But I can help you.”

After a moment’s confusion I replied. “Uh what now?”

“My dear, you don’t know?” She seemed sad. “Well, this can happen. It does quite often. I honestly think I’m the only one in this small town who has left their mind open.” She sighed. “It’s a shame really.”

“I’m confused.” I said finally.

“My dear,” she said, “what happened this morning? I feel like it was this morning. Still kind of fresh.”

“Nothing, the usual. I broke a jar of pimientos. Who puts glass jars on the top shelf?!” I said, exasperated. “Wait, why am I telling you this, I don’t know you.”

“I have that affect on the soul. You close yourself off a lot, don’t you? Don’t let your self open. Just go with the flow. So much negativity on you.” She scolded, then shrugged. “Oh well, too late now.”

“What are you talking about?!”

“Sweetheart, something happened this morning. But, I think you’re so used to a pattern, a routine, that you’re soul just went on about it’s day.”

“My soul? What do you know about my soul?”

“For one it’s tired. Had been for a while I think. But that’s not important. It needs to think about what happened this morning.”

“I—”

This morning? I woke up? Got ready for work. Drove here, there was a squirrel. But there’s always squirrels. I live in Tree City USA. There are small animals and birds everywhere. Stupid squirrel. Couldn’t decide which way to get out the road. It was too late to break so I swerved. “Oh.”

“There it is.”

“I, I swerved.” I mumbled. “I shoulda swerved right but I swerved left.” At least there weren’t other cars. “The River.” I said. “I knew those guardrails weren’t strong enough.” I said to myself. I looked up at her. “I’ve always been afraid of that River.”

“Yeah, it’s a scary river. Lotta people in there.”

“WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE?!” I shouted.

“Muscle memory.” She said, nonchalantly.

“Mus-what?”

“You know,” she said. “When your muscles and your brain are so used to something that they do it without you having to think about it?”

I rolled my eyes. “I know what it is.”

“Yeah, well your body had done this,” she gestured around. “That your soul just went ahead and did it. Despite the fact that it doesn’t have to anymore.”

“So,” I swallowed hard. “I’m dead?”

“You’re body, yes.” She said. “Yeah it’s probably still in the River in your vehicle.” She said, nodding. “What do you drive?” She asked.

“Did, drove.” I said, correcting her. “Uh, a truck.”

“Nice, those gas prices though.”

“Heh, yeah.” I agreed half-heartedly. “So, what now?”

“I don’t know, dear.” She answered. “That’s the beauty of it. You don’t have to do anything now.” She said, smiling. “But, I don’t recommend dropping in to see loved ones. At least not until you’re ready. Have some fun first.” With that she winked at me and walked away.

And that’s how I spent the first few months of my death making my favorite coworkers feel like they were slowly going insane.


Thanks for reading!

-c

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BMB: Story Time

02 Saturday Jul 2022

Posted by crashdlanding in BMB, Non-Fiction, Uncategorized

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crash landing, crashdlanding, family, friends, non-fiction, retail, The Kid, work

Today’s Blog was going to be a “Draft Day” post, but to be honest, my head wasn’t in the game. So I thought I’d share a story from today.

But first some Backstory

I used to work with a woman named Patty. I can share her name here, cause reasons. Patty was, well, you know how people say, “Older people are set in their ways”? Well, Patty knew what she would tolerate and what she wouldn’t. Patty had good and bad qualities, as we all do.

Patty, once she learned that I had a degree in education, wanted me to get back into teaching. This was when I wasn’t so far removed from the profession that it would be like teaching a caveman how to twitter. She even provided a reference for me, for the single solitary time I interviewed for a teaching position (we all know how that worked out). Also, Patty was a teacher before she worked in retail.

Whatever Patty may or may not have been, she had a big heart when she opened it up to people. If she liked you, you knew it. Sometimes.

Anywho

I was doing some price changes retail related tasks when I heard a voice. “There she is.” I turned my head to see not one but two former coworkers. Lets call them Mildred Lane and Opal. If you know who I’m talking about that could be hilarious. Anyway, apparently these two were out and about running errands. If this is what retired former retail coworkers do then sign me up.

Anyway, Mildred Lane was talking about me when she’d said, “There she is.” Mildred Lane, who is Patty’s twin sister, had retired about a year ago because an injury that wouldn’t quite heal, I think. Opal, I think, had just had enough of Retail Establishment’s nonsense, and had retired about the same time.

Mildred Lane had something for me. She had found it when going through Patty’s things. You see, Patty, had always been kind of quiet about anything she was really struggling with, health wise. I think she was just raised to not talk about things like that. But after retiring (she retired a few years before these two had) her health went downhill quickly. I don’t know the details, but she passed last year.

While I wasn’t super close with Patty, and some of my memories of her weren’t always positive, there is one thing I will absolutely never forget about Patty. She LOVED my baby. She was so happy for me when I found out I was pregnant, she got us baby shower gifts, and she even got The Kid gifts for Christmas. One of her favorite books, “The Night Before Christmas” is from Patty.

One Christmas, during my first polymer clay phase, I made Patty this cat, modeled after what I thought her beloved cat looked like. He looks a little like a child made him but by golly I thought it looked good. And Patty seemed to like it.

But I knew what this thing was that Mildred Lane had for me. She’d been in the store just a short while after Patty passed. She told me she found this thing she had for me and needed to bring it to me.

And here she was, handing me a blue grocery bag with what I knew was a picture of my baby. Literally, a picture of baby The Kid. In a frame.

Baby The Kid, circa 1,000 years ago. In a Snow White dress. I still have that somewhere.

I remember the day the picture was taken, vaguely. I remember Patty asked me if she could take her picture, and she then proceeded to take it to the photo center and have a copy printed off. She’d told me she was going to frame it.

Now, I realize to an outsider this might sound kinda creepy. But at this stage I had known and worked closely with Patty for the better part of five years or more. She went from being someone I was a bit intimidated by (literally everyone for me for a long time) to someone “you just need to know how to handle”.

But the fact that Patty had a picture of my kid, framed, in her home, well, I think it would make anyone feel good to know that someone you know loves your child.

I told The Kid about someone bringing me something, and I showed her that it was the picture. She got a little emotional, I think. Even though she probably doesn’t remember Patty much, I have told her about her before. She said exactly what I knew she’d say. “I’m going to keep it in my room!” And she did. It is by her bed as she sleeps right now. HOLY CRAP ITS ALMOST MIDNIGHT.

Turned things around, a little.

I had been having a bad day. I had a bad day yesterday, and today had been shaping up to be about the same. This is both all my fault and not at all my fault. But when someone brought me a framed picture of my own child, a picture that someone chose to display and possibly look upon daily, well then, that pushed my day gently in the opposite direction.

I mean, it still sucked. But, slightly less.


Thanks for Reading.

-c

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Birthday Month of Blogs

01 Friday Jul 2022

Posted by crashdlanding in BMB, Non-Fiction, Uncategorized

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birthday month blogs, blogging, BMB, crash landing, crashdlanding, non-fiction

Well, the background wasn’t supposed to be mint green but I’m tired now.

I swear I was going to think of a better name for it.

“Birthday Month of Blogs” (ok BMB for short) is going to be my attempt at blogging every day for a month. This is going to be difficult.

So why am I doing it?

I’m doing it because I paid… hold on… $186 for this website. That’s a Premium account, plus a domain (it has it listed separate) and G Suite. I paid the money, and I darn well better use it.

And this is the second year in a row! I think I’ve already blogged more this year, but still. The fact of the matter is that at the end of this year (all of these expire in March 2023) I will likely not renew. Despite the fact that I LOVE having a blog and my website, despite the fact that I would love to make a career of it, it’s just not sustainable.

I’ve attempted to turn this website into a blog and a storefront. I’ve also tried to set up a YEARLY subscription for $5. Oh, and it turns out you cannot monetize unless you pay… hold on…

Wait what

Ok. So, in doing some research for this post… tbh I was winging it this whole time… I have discovered some changes to my website host, WordPress. I need to look into these.

Anyway here’s the BMB Plan:

Expect to see the following posts and series’:

  • “YouTubers My Kid Watches: An Investigation” (series)
  • “Holiday History: Independence Day” (series)
  • “Randomized Fiction” (Fridays)
  • “Draft Day”
  • “‘The Wiser Moon – AP Harbor’ Album Review”
  • “Education Adjacent” (series)
  • And I can’t forget to include posts like this one that are absolutely bonkers and truly chaotic. I’m really at my best when chaos ensues.
I feel ya, Jean Luc, I feel ya.

I honestly love to entertain, whether you’re laughing with me, laughing at me, or just enjoying the emotional journey that I go on (my most popular post is about me accidentally forgetting to not renew a fitness app subscription). If I’ve made you laugh or even confused you, leave a comment. I could really use the dopamine.


Thanks for Reading!

-c

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Just practicing for next month bro. Thanks for noticing

25 Saturday Jun 2022

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Just practicing for next month bro. Thanks for noticing

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I got too much stuff

15 Wednesday Jun 2022

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No body reads these. I know that. It’s silly to think they do. And yet here I am. Stressed and posting.

I got too much stuff. I’ve got beading and jewelry supplies. I got books. I got books for teaching/education, books for reading, children a books. I’ve got notebooks and binders.

I’ve got lip balm crafting supplies and paper crafting and vinyl crafting. I own two different Cricuts. I have totes of things I haven’t used in ages. I have clothes, mostly dirty.

I hVe piles of things. I have no room for all the things I have.

Whenever is m start going though it all I start to get stressed and overwhelmed and want to just throw it all away. But I don’t want to throw it away because it’ll pile up in a landfill somewhere and we don’t need more of that.

I’m overwhelmed.

I can’t find my airpods. Again.

Im broke.

I’m tired.

And I’m still sick.

Woot.

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13 Monday Jun 2022

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Millipedes on my pillows.

08 Wednesday Jun 2022

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bugs #creepycrawly, crash landing, crashdlanding, millipede, non-fiction, stories, story, video

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Millipedes on my pillows.

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