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Advice for the Next President of the USA  Part I

8/26/2015

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WARNING-This blog post may offend some people and I just want everyone to know that is not my intent.  Read at your own risk...

First of all, I am a writer and a businessperson, not a politician.  I don't have a degree in political science but I do have some legal knowledge from a couple years spent in law school. I don't promote party politics as I don't think being part of a certain party makes a person any better to be the leader of our great nation than any other party. However, I have been known to register as a certain party as a strategic move...such as my most recent one where I registered so I could vote in the primary election against a senator that our state needed to retire. But that was then and this is now.

I don't believe in being politically correct and I don't believe in vying for re-election by stooping to special interest groups.  Our President is supposed to represent the citizens of this country to the best of his or her ability and sometimes that means telling the special interests group to go pound sand. In fact, most of the time that is what it means. So let's start right here...with this comment...supposed to represent the citizens of this country...

Immigration is once again at the top of the agenda for the elections and something that most of the candidates don't understand is that illegal immigrants are NOT citizens and do not deserve representation of their interests.  Nor do the American people want the interests of illegal immigrants put above our own.  There are laws on the books that address how illegal immigrants are supposed to be handled...they are supposed to be deported. So the new President doesn't have to wait for Congress to get off their high horses and pass a bill to deal with illegal immigration...all he or she has to do is enforce the law that already exists.

The future of Social Security...or the lack thereof...is something else that needs to be addressed. I don't know about the rest of you but I've been paying into that damned 'insurance' fund for almost 40 years as has my employers over those years. But our money got spent along the way for things such as foreign aid to countries who hate us and to recipients of Social Security Disability. Now, I'm not trying to say that there are not profoundly disabled adults that deserve to be taken care of...but I am saying that there are folks on disability that could actually do some sort of work. Make a fulfilling contribution to society in some way. I mean, in the early 1990s Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act that requires employers to "make reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities."  Ok...so can you tell me why there are people sitting home collecting money for doing nothing just because they are morbidly obese, alcoholics, have chronic pain, mental illness, etc?  Seriously, companies in our country feel the need to send certain jobs overseas because they can't get qualified workers here? Seems to me that call center jobs would be perfect for someone who may not be able to stand in a factory all day but can sit at home and draw a check while they sit on the internet or the phone for 75 percent of their time.  Right? Bring those jobs back to the United States and take a hard look at who is collecting disability and what they do with their free time. 

Let's talk about the trend toward government assistance.  Encouraging handouts.  What are some of the things that are causing families to be on public assistance?  Well, one that I can think of is the number of single parent families that are not getting a dime of support from the absent parent.  How about this...when the farmers start complaining that they need guest workers to pick their crops...give them incentives to employ the dead beats who aren't paying a dime to help support their children.  Then round up the dead beats and give them a choice...get a job and allow their employers to make their support payments through payroll deduction or send them to live where the migrant workers would have lived and put guards there to make sure that they stay and work for the farmers and their support get paid through payroll deduction.  Which would then put a lot of single parent families in a position to become more financially independent and less dependent upon public assistance.

For those families who have spent generations on public assistance or those families who plan a living by having children to keep them in a strategic position to receive assistance for as many years as possible...give them the money to get an education or help them with child care so that they can get a job.  Public assistance should be short term, not a lifestyle.  And if you are on public assistance you should have to be regularly tested for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine...if you can afford to buy any of those items then you should be able to buy food for your children or pay your own rent.  Right?  Give incentives to those families who genuinely try to do something for themselves such as get an education...if you go to school and get an education then let them continue to receive the necessary assistance in the way of child care while they are in school and for the first couple of years after they graduate and get a job.  Give them a hand up not a hand out.

Besides, our tax dollars are better spent on the protection of our country which means the strengthening of our military.  Paying our soldiers for what they are worth.  They put their lives on the line each and every day to protect our country and when they are no longer in the military, make sure that they have jobs and homes and adequate health care.  Not one Veteran should be homeless, hungry or sick without health care.

Health care.  Sure, everyone should have health care.  But it should be at the same level as their earnings.  Able to work and don't?  Then you get basic health care at a nominal cost to you.  Wellness treatments once a year and regular dental care.  Generic, life preserving prescription drugs.  Birth control.  But not free care at the emergency room every time that one of their kids gets a runny nose.  You want better health care?  Then get an education, get a good job, and find an employer who provides health care to their employees.  Or become an entrepreneur, get rich, and pay for your own health care.

Don't worry about insignificant things..who cares whether people of the same sex get married?  Under the law marriage is a contract and if there are two adults that want to enter a contract by all means, let them do it.  Take the religious part out of it.  Religion has no place in government, the Constitution says so.  And by bringing up the Biblical argument about marriage being intended to be between a man and a woman is bringing religion into a governmental matter.  This is a free country and people should be free to enter into any union that they want to enter into.  Let it go...
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Newest Additions....

8/25/2015

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This weekend we welcomed two new additions...Meet Thor (the tan fella on the left) and Fienna (the pretty white doe on the right).  I had never given much thought to having goats, quite frankly, they used to frighten me because of their serpentine looking eyes.  But these two are pretty lovable!  They are both around four months old and as sweet as can be.  It was an interesting afternoon when we put them inside the fence with Pops--the miniature horse that doubles as a jack ass at times.  Initially, we thought that he was chasing after them because he was being mean as he has a tendency to do but yesterday morning, I realized that he was chasing after them to try to get them to chase after him.  He wanted to play.  And poor little Oscar...he got close enough for Thor to sniff his nose and put his head down to try to get Oscar to play...only Oscar decided that he didn't want any part of it.  
Next on the list for new additions will be a few chickens...and maybe a couple of guinea hens to keep the bugs away.  I'm excited to have the goats and am looking forward to learning how to milk and how to use the milk that Fienna produces.  I'm looking forward to having farm fresh eggs so that I can make some rich egg noodles for fall and winter comfort food.  
Speaking of comfort food...I think that is my favorite thing about fall..which is just around the corner.  I have noticed some trees are starting to take on a hint of orange and there's a certain chill in the morning and evening air.  It's like summer is winding down and fall is running right in to take its place.  That means pretty soon there will be pumpkins and mums displayed at the farm markets and it will be time to dig out the old scarecrow and plop him on the front porch.
Autumn is my favorite time of the year...
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Amazing Women Authors...

8/13/2015

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I am so very blessed to be part of such a wonderful, talented group of women who are not only romance authors but who share a lot of the same interests and values as myself.  We have been working diligently to create our very first anthology which I am pleased to announce will be released on October 21, 2015.  
Our anthology is a potpourri of many writing styles as well as sub-genres in romance including paranormal, time travel, contemporary, historical and sci-fi stories.  Watch for sneak peaks throughout the next few weeks into the creative minds of our group of authors.  
My contribution is a paranormal ghost tale where a pair of lovers during Civil War come full circle when their modern day counter parts are fated to meet and bring the story full circle...that's all I'm saying...
Seriously...watch for this one...there's something for everyone!!
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Thought for Thursday from Romance Writers Weekly

8/13/2015

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Hello everyone!  I'm very excited to be a new member of Romance Writers Weekly!  And as such, I will be sharing our Thursday blogger on my own page for your enjoyment.  I would also invite you to head on over and see what Romance Writers Weekly has to offer...
THOUGHT FOR THURSDAY – #LSTRAATR (SAY WHAT?)Posted on August 13, 2015 by scmitchell
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Hello. S. C. Mitchell here, and today I am proud and happy to be a part of two firsts.

First first: Welcome to the first of a new series of blogs by the Romance Writers Weekly crew. Each week one of our authors will be by to share their Thought for Thursday. It should be a great way to slide into the weekend.

Second First: This blog is also the first in a series I plan to start on my own blog (https://scmitchell.wordpress.com/). I was going to call it: Love Songs That Really Aren’t All That Romantic. But that seemed like a long title. So, because everything today needs a hashtag, I’m calling it #LSTRAATR. (That probably isn’t any more rememberable, but what the heck.)

Anyway, today I’m kicking off the series with a classic hit from my era, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes by Bobby Vee.

Watch this:

https://youtu.be/3GQAmTznY2o

Oh, that seemed romantic, didn’t it? I mean, they drove off together smiling on a motorcycle at the end, right?

Let’s analyze.

In the first verse we learn that this jackass doesn’t trust his girlfriend not to cheat on him, even though she told him she wasn’t like that.

The chorus tells us he knows enough gabby people that if she does cheat, he’ll know, so she better watch out. (Who would date this guy?)

We’re not off to a very good start here, let’s check the next verse to see if there’s any romance here.

Nope. He’s calling her a liar and a cheat. And he assumes that even when she is at home, she’s funneling guys in and out of her house. (So if he believes that, why is he dating her?)

Well, at least there’s one more verse. Another chance for redemption of this idiot.

Are you kidding me? He’s using his unfounded suspicion that she’s cheating on him to cheat on her. This guy is a complete jerk. (Not Bobby Vee. I’m talking about the guy the song is about.)

Conclusion: This couple is doomed from the start. Even if she is a cheater, he’s a presumptuous jackass looking for an excuse to cheat. Then again…maybe these two deserve each other.

Amount of romance in this song: None at all.

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One of the pitfalls...

8/8/2015

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Living in the country has its pitfalls...such as sketchy internet service!  Today I actually have internet service since I am at the library for our Crossroads Romance Writers monthly meeting so I am taking advantage of getting here early to catch up on my blog writing and review writing.  And I've certainly read some good books lately!  Today I posted a review on my bookshelf for a young adult romantic suspense that I think that anyone who likes romance and suspense would enjoy.  If you get a chance, skip on over to my bookshelf and take a look.
It's been a busy couple of weeks since I last posted...a book signing in Cincinnati where I got some ideas for some fantastic swag that I hope I will have back in time for the Kentuckiana Authors book signing in Louisville on September 19th.  I harvested my first meager picking of green beans...a whole whipped cream container full...lol...but I'm telling myself that next year's garden will be much better! As you can see by the photos, my big sunflowers are reaching for the sky and the smaller ones are starting to show their sunny faces...the birds will certainly be happy little feathered friends this fall and winter. On my drive to and from the book signing my muse whispered a new book idea in my ear and I've been diligently working on it...if you like romantic humor...this is one you want to watch for and I'm thinking it will be released yet this year.    I have also been busy editing the first book of my Vengeance series for release by Soul Mate Publishing, so watch for the release date right here on my blog.
I hope that everyone is having a wonderful summer, now that all the rains have diminished and the sun has been coming out on a regular basis, I am starting to really enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.  My otherwise pale skin has taken on a golden hue and I have a permanent blush on my face.  I'm enjoying eating fresh fruits and vegetables as much as I can so I have a lot of energy these days.  As I think I've mentioned before, I have pretty much gone to eating mostly organic only food and it has paid off...between the good food, fresh air, working in the lawn and garden, and drinking my detox water...I have managed to lose 20 pounds since winter and it was EASY!!  With that...I want to share my detox water ingredients and my recipe for homemade, organic guacamole which has become my lunch go to for the last few weeks:
DETOX WATER
1 gallon water
1 lime cut into chunks or sliced
1 lemon cut into chunks or sliced
1 cucumber sliced
7-8 fresh mint leaves
1 1/2" piece of ginger root
Remember, if you truly want to detox, make sure that you use only organic ingredients.  Toss all the fresh stuff into the water and keep it in the fridge...I keep adding water as I remove water and the gallon will last about 3-4 days!  (I used to suffer from acid reflux and had to take medicine daily...since drinking this I have not used my medicine in over a month!)
TERESA'S GUACAMOLE
4-5 organic avocados
1 large tomato
1 small onion
1/2 green bell pepper
1 garlic clove
chili powder
fresh cilantro
1 lime
1 orange
Peel and mash avocados in a bowl.  Finely chop up tomato, onion, pepper, garlic clove and add to the avocados.  Add cilantro, chili powder and salt and pepper to taste.  Squeeze the lime juice and orange juice into the mixture...chill and serve as you wish.
HINT:  If you are in a hurry...purchase fresh made pico (I buy this from the local Meijer) and add to your mashed avocados and squeeze in the orange and lime juice.
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    I love the peace and quiet of living in the country.  It inspires me and refreshes me at the end of a long day.

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