Will We Make It?

Whew! When you hear the day I am going to have, you will be tired. It started about an hour ago when I woke up and began the day. Of course, farm life is a busy one, but this is not farm work calling my name really. I am leaving later today for a long planned trip to Myrtle Beach for a trip with my daughter, her fiancé, and some of his friends. Sounds like an easy day, right?

It might be if that was all I had to do today. The day started early though, because as many know, I help my in-laws quite often and I have several things of paperwork to do for them. I also have to get some things lined out for the sitter that will be with the grand doll as we are potty training and it needs to go smoothly. ( I hate leaving her even though I know I am getting burned out.) My husband is like a kid so I must make sure things are ready for him as well.

I need to leave at 7:30 a.m. this morning to head about 2 hours north of home to my Pink Zebra rally. I am super excited about it, but I wish it would have been a different day than today! We will be revealing the new catalog and our winter items!! It is always exciting to see what the founders have discovered for us to add to our line of amazing products and I am thrilled to see (or smell) the new scents that we will have available!!

Once home from there, it will be finish laundry, finish packing as time has been hectic this week, get some loving from my grand doll, cook dinner, do dishes, make sure all home bills are paid, pick up the living room and try to run the vacuum. I am sure then it will be time to head out on vacation and I will be one tired lady. I am sure I will sleep in the van tonight and that makes me nervous as I usually don't sleep in a car.

I have a good book packed and I have some other small activities packed. I am taking my work along as well because I truly never stop working. With the new catalog release, I will be anxiously working for my fall and winter sales and I am always looking to add team members to my team. I love sharing the opportunity to be your own boss, working for a company that truly loves their consultants, and one that allows me to earn trips and many other incentives.

My biggest worry today is whether we will make it to South Carolina safely without too many detours. I know many of the roads are still closed and I am fully aware that many places are still flooded, but we are being told by our resort that they are open for business and fully operational.

As you can tell, I better get busy. I am on my second cup of coffee and I have set here long enough. Take care and I will report back soon.

Bill Cosby: American Dad to American Sexual Predator

Bill Cosby, a well-known actor and comedian that at one time was considered America's Dad due to the success of The Cosby Show and the love people had for the actor himself has now fallen from grace as he was escorted off to prison on Tues. Sept. labeled a violent sexual predator by a judge and has many more accusers than what he was sentenced to 3-10 years in prison for.

Cosby, age 81, has been accused by more than 60 women of sexual assault. This sentence on Tuesday came following a long trial on sexual assault against Andrea Constand. Constand maintains that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Cosby while she was employed at Temple University and he was a member of the board there. Her case is one of the only ones that could still be taken to court due to the statute of limitations for others.

Miss Constand maintains that she knew Cosby through her work at the university and that she considered him a friend, but that on a fateful night in 2004 her life changed when Cosby gave her drugs and then sexually assaulted her. She says she was unable to move during the assault. Other women have said the same type of assault happened to them. Miss Constand maintains that her life drastically changed following that night. Her family agrees that she went from being a vibrant young woman full of life to almost a recluse for years. She still is not married or in a relationship, which could come from trust issues following Cosby's alleged attack.

Tuesday in the court room, Cosby's attorney's fought for no jail time due to Mr. Cosby's age, but the judge felt that age was not an issue due to the age Mr. Cosby was when the attack happened and that many men in prison age the same age or older than Cosby. The judge, Mr. Steven O'Neill simply told Cosby “It is time for justice. Mr. Cosby, this has all circled back to you. The time has come,” He sentenced Cosby to 3-10 years with Cosby leaving in handcuffs immediately following the sentencing and labeling him a violent sexual predator. Cosby will be required to register on the sexual offender list and must attend counseling following his release from prison. Cosby was fined $25,000 and has to pay all court costs. 

Mr. Cosby's conviction is one of the many that we might see following the recent "MeToo" movement that began. Many women have stepped forward to accuse powerful men of sexual harassment or assault in light of this movement. People like Harvey Weinstein, Les Moonves, Matt Lauer, and many others. It's almost another women's rights movement. 

Have we seen justice in this case? Is justice possible when a man or woman has sexually assaulted someone? 

Talent Abounds on "America's Got Talent" Finale

If you have  missed this season of "America's Got Talent", you may have well missed the best season yet. I have not always been a huge fan of the show, but this year the talent has captivated me and the people have lives that have fascinated me as well. The final 10 performed last night and let me tell you the stage was full of raw, electric talent!

Amazingly different personalities and lifestyles were represented but the talent that was there on that stage was refreshing, electrifying, energizing, and completely astonishing!! I believe that the judges were blown away by what performances were done last night and I believe that it will be hard to pick a winner based on talent.

Of course, I have my favorites and so I will talk of them. There are three people that completely stole my heart this season and they all three have made it this far and I hate to see any of them walk away tonight without the title of "America's Got Talent" winner. I would personally give them all money and a winner title, if I was able.

The first one to steal my heart was Michael Ketterer. Michael is a fabulously talented singer and he went with a very brave choice of songs last night singing, " Ain't No Mountain High Enough". He made it simply him and a piano on stage. You could hear the nerves, as one of the judges commented but Michael is just pure natural talent!! Plus, his story is one that will make you cry and want to give him a huge hug all at one time. 

Michael is a part time pediatric mental health nurse, a part time worship leader, and an amazing father. Michael cares about people! He has a love for people that many never get in their lifetime. He and his wife have adopted 5 boys from foster care with one being a special needs child with cerebral palsy. He has a daughter that dreamed of having three brothers and convinced him and his wife to adopt. His first call was for three boys, which he adopted and the love for his children comes out each time he talks about them. This man can change lives!! 

My second choice is  Samuel J. Comroe.  Samuel is a comedian that has simply stolen by heart and allowed me to see comedy as a talent. He is simply genuinely funny!! Samuel also has a story that pulls at my heart strings. At age 6, Samuel was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome and he does not try to hide it, but embraces it in his comedy. Many of his jokes are based on it. 

Samuel is a father of one beautiful daughter born just before his time on the show and is married to a beautiful woman from Bangladesh who is an illustrator. He has done some other bits on other shows and I am sure we will see much more of him. He is a true masterpiece.

My third favorite is Courtney Hadwin. Courtney is such a complete surprise when she sings. The stage totally gives her a new persona. At just 14 years old, Courtney looks very quiet and shy when she is being interviewed, but when she takes the stage, a much older and less shyer person is on that stage.  She was Howie Mandell's golden buzzer when she performed " Hard To Handle". Her performance on stage completely shocked the audience and the judges as she is simply a different person on stage.  Her talent is like that of James Brown, Janis Joplin, and even Tina Turner. This young lady will go places with her talent if she sticks with it. 

I hope you will watch the finale tonight and I hope to see one of these three on the stage as the season's winner!!

Successful Campout _ Brown County State Park, Horsemen's Camp

Well, fall is officially here as we have now been on our Labor Day Campout. UGH!! I hate to even say those words as I know winter is sure to be right around the corner as well. However, it was a successful campout filled with good friends, good food, and lots of fun!

Our neighbors own horses and we have become good friends over the years and we camp with them quite often. We usually go to Brown County State Park to camp with the horses and this time was no different. We did not take our horses this time as I had the grand daughter most of the weekend so I would not have ridden anyway. We will take them in October though and ride as the weather will hopefully, have cooled down some and we can actually enjoy riding.

We made a couple of trips to the nature center and we spent some time at the playground. We personally are friends with the gentleman that operates the saddle barn, Jordan and we always visit with him and the grand doll rides a pony or two or three. ( Three this time). He is the one who sold us her pony, Snickers. She loves her dearly, but Snickers can be a little on the pushy side so I am cautious about her walking her without me or Pappaw there.

Brown County State Park is beautiful, especially in the fall of the year. Leaf watching is one of the many reasons why tourists visit there. They have two campgrounds, a family one and the horsemen camp. I have never stayed in the family camp, but I'm sure it is as nice as the horsemen's camp. Many improvements have been made in the past couple of years to the horse camp and even most of the primitive toilets are now improved. New manure bins have been placed throughout the camp as well. Sites have been cleaned better and overall, it is a nice place to camp. I would like to see new hitching rails put in, but I am sure it would be an added expense that is just not necessary at this time. I do believe that someone that rides horses should be in charge of running that camp and not the park director as he does not ride horses at all.

I hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend and it is back to work as usual today!