Raising Boys...

This picture is a small glimpse of what a mother of boys accepts as normal. 

Of course there's Lego men hiding in the towels. They have to dry off after being submerged in a shower that normally shouldn't hold three inches of water.

Of course they're STILL in the towels three days later...with added Lego weapons of mass destruction that come in the form of fallen pieces that camouflage themselves against matching floor tile!

After stepping on one as I got IN the shower, they're now conducting recon at the bottom of the Lego bin.

Boys. Raise them enough to marry them off then let their future wives take over.  I've reassured my husband (who says I'll outlive him), when he goes I'm not raising another one.

The Hidden Jackalope

In February 2015, I stumbled upon the hobby of painting that has turned into a passion.  Painting almost every day since, some days for hours well past my bed time, I’ve improved with each piece of art.  There’s one thing that has remained consistent in my paintings since then that a few of you already know about: The Hidden Jackalope. 

The only painting where he’s in plain view is ‘Red Forest’.   

It was a joke with my city raised husband when we would visit my country raised family.  They lived far enough into the woods where they couldn’t get good cable or cell phone reception.  At night when a forest creature would run past us he would ask, “What was that?” to which I would reply, “Jackalope!”   

When my husband asked me what something was in one of my paintings that was my immediate reply.  Every painting since includes a hidden Jackalope.  If you look close enough, in the right light, or at an odd angle, and sometimes even where you look back to repeatedly, you may just see him.  If not, then ask someone who owns one of my paintings and they may be willing to help you find him. 

Happy hunting!  

   

Dear Mr. Ice Cube,...

“The song is as relevant to me today as it was when we recorded it. We appeal to the good cops to weed out these bad cops and maybe we’ll get some progress.” ~O'Shea Jackson, a.k.a. Ice Cube, reference his N.W.A. song 'F--k tha Police'.

This statement in its full context (found here on Yahoo) is like fighting fire with fire.  It only makes the issue worse.  If there's going to be any chance at real change FOR THE BETTER then support the good cops, start sharing the good stories about police, and all of our men and women willing to put their lives on the line for complete strangers.  Somehow in the mix of this police hatred it's turned into a race-baiter's playground.  Since when are all police white?  The political asshats who are stirring the pot on this should check their eyesight.  
If they want to make a race issue against police, they should look at gender issues too.  Like why, as a female officer, I have to wear a duty belt and holster designed for a male?  We're individually fitted for our vests so why not tailor our essential tools to us as well?  I'll tell you why.  Because no one gives a damn about what it takes to do our job.  They expect us to do it no matter what we have or don't have in order to get it done.  In return, I expect law abiding citizens to comply to lawful directions just as I expect the law breaking citizens to be made to comply.  The road to hell is paved with good intentions.  I'll take that trip just to stand guard at the gates of hell and make sure none of those bastards ever get out.  

This is the beginning of what a nation without law enforcement will be like:  (CNN) A Birmingham, Alabama, police detective who was pistol-whipped unconscious said Friday that he hesitated to use force because he didn't want to be accused of needlessly killing an unarmed man. "A lot of officers are being too cautious because of what's going on in the media," said the officer, who asked to remain anonymous for the safety of his family. "I hesitated because I didn't want to be in the media like I am right now."

Wake up, America.  When we as law enforcement hesitate to protect ourselves, do you really think we'll jump in to protect you?  You can't fight fire with fire, Mr. 'Ice Cube'.  Even firefighters use water to put out the flames.  

The hardest thing to understand about Freedom of Speech is that for law enforcement it's not free.  Others can spew their hatred and personal beliefs, where we are expected to just nod agree or be publicly persecuted for having an individual opinion. 

Instead of listening to the hatred and supporting the hashtags for #blacklivesmatter vs #policelivesmatter as a negative platform, we should be blasting the social media bullies who created such a divide.  My life matters.  My family's lives matter.  The people I'm sworn to protect, their lives matter.  The guy who threatens me and points a gun in my face, his life matters, even when I end it.  No headline is going to stop me from protecting myself or those around me.  The few injustices by officers who made bad decisions or who are corrupt and abuse their power is FAR outweighed by the silent thousands who are good officers, who walk the line and uphold justice, and put their lives on the line every day for a thankless society.  

I'm blessed to work with men and women who know my ability to do my job is more important than the color of my skin.  I'm blessed to live in a community where the majority appreciate law enforcement. 

Here's to all the good law enforcement officers.  And here's some POSITIVE NEWS for law enforcement, take a look at these good cops: 

Georgia Cop Saves 2 Lives in 1 Shift

Maryland Officer Saves 10-day Old from Choking

Austin Police Officer Saves Woman's Life During Traffic Stop

Ft. Lauderdale Police Officer Saves Woman's Life

Ft. Worth Police Officer Kellie Whitehead Saves Drowning Man From Lake Como


"To change the hearts and minds of men you must learn to listen; otherwise your words will fall on deaf ears, for the opinions of fools are always louder. ~L.S. Buckley"

Hobby or Addiction??

36" x 48" canvas

 22" x 28" canvas

16" x 20" canvas

16" x 20" canvas

16" x 20" canvas

24 x 36" canvas

36" x 48" canvas

18" x 24" canvas

24" x 48" canvas

30" x 40" canvas

24" x 24" canvas

24" x 24" canvas

16" x 24" canvas

16" x 40" canvas

24" x 48" canvas

16" x 40" canvas

16" x 40" canvas

24" x 24" canvas

16" x 40" canvas

48" x 60" canvas

12" x 36" canvas (SOLD)

48" x 60" canvas

24" x 36" canvas

24" x 48" canvas (SOLD)

11" x 14" foam board

 12" x 12" canvas (SOLD)

18" x 24" canvas (SOLD)

24" x 48" canvas

16" x 20" canvas

#Mylifematters

The controversy over whose life matters with hashtag #blacklivesmatter and #bluelivesmatter is stupid.  You know whose life matters? Mine.  My life matters.  

I’m more than the thin blue line I walk, the badge I wear, the uniform and agency I represent.  I’m also a mom, wife, daughter, sister, mentor, and friend.  I do my best to make the right decisions, to help others, and to make this world a safer place.  I matter because of all of those things.  I matter because those things matter to me.  I matter because I choose to.  

Justice is blind.  People are not.  We judge by what we see and hear, and what we see is from a narrowed perspective, what we hear is what we are told.  It takes more than one person to make a nation so violent and unforgiving.  It will take more than one person to make our nation peaceful and able to forgive.

#Mylifematters.  Does yours?

St. John's Island, USVI

Enough said...