Honesty Is Still the Best Policy

Maybe it it time to get back to being accepting of coworkers', friends' and neighbors' honest feedback.

People who know me well know that it is dangerous to express an opinion about something or someone if they do not want an honest response from me.  That means there is a good chance they will be unhappy with my reply in a face to face conversation or in an email.

Over the years, I have learned which friends can handle honesty and those who cannot.  So I tend to distance myself from those who cannot.  Or to do as the little guy in the cartoon will do in the future -- just keep my own counsel.

Everyone has the right to his or her own opinion.  Just because someone else does not agree does not make them wrong...nor does it make them right.  It means you can respectfully agree to disagree.

So Congress must be a microcosm of our society.  Instead of addressing an issue directly, they go off in their little caucuses to complain about the other members because they have dared to disagree with them.  Or worse yet, they lie about them.

People seem to have lost the ability to respectfully agree to disagree.  It seems to be a "my way or no way" for so many in so many scenarios -- most with no connection to politics.  We are living in a very intolerant society where many believe that if you do not agree with them, you are wrong.

Until the average person become more tolerant of others and their ideas, beliefs and opinions we will remain in chaos at all levels.  It's time for honest discourse -- and acceptance of people who do not think exactly the way we do.

New Beginnings for the New Year

We spent Sunday afternoon shopping for a new car for Butch.  It was easy this time because we have a 2010 Camry XLE that we both really love.  I have been driving it most of the time and he has been driving a 2002 Dodge Intrepid since 2005.  It was time to trade and get him into a newer car because the Dodge was flashing strange lights on the dash every once in awhile.

Because of our love for the 2010 Camry XLE, we decided to limit our search to the 2014 Camrys.  We drove up to Sun Toyota.  I had looked online at their 2014 XLE inventory and seen one I thought was perfect for Butch...

I loved the color (typical woman's reaction) but not because of what most people would think.  I loved it because the first car my husband bought when we were dating was a Chevy that same color and no matter what color his car has been since then, I always think of him in a pretty blue car.

And this one is a beauty.  With a lot of bells and whistles.  We don't buy new cars often, normally keeping them for 10 to 12 years before getting a replacement.  So this one and my 2010 will probably be our last ones. So we went for the gold.  We're not "name brand" people.  Just give us the most we can get for our money and throw in good service, dependability and good looks.  We got it in the new Camry.

It will be our "around the USA" transportation some time in the next couple of years when we lock the doors on our house and head off for 6 months or more.

One of the fun things we encountered when we were buying this car was the "smart board" in the Finance Mgr's office.  We completed all the initialing on warranties, etc. using the smart board and then only had to sign once we'd reviewed everything and he printed out the paper.  No one had to pull out a pair of reading glasses. ;-)

We spent a pleasant 45 minutes while our salesman synchronized our cell phones and showed us how to work the different high-tech accessories. And four hours after we drove into the dealership, we drove out with out new car and a full tank of gas.  We didn't go straight home.  We drove to Sunset Beach first.  It was packed.  Beautiful sunset and no parking spaces available.  Then we drove out the causeway to Howard Park.  I suggested to my husband (who absolutely despises having his picture taken) that I's like to get a shot of him with the new "baby."  To my surprise, he turned the car around and parked along the causeway.  So Mr." I don't really need all this" let me know with that move that he was feeling pretty darn good about this portion of the children;s inheritance we had just spent.

Actually, it's probably because he knew it was too dark to get a good picture.  But the sunset is pretty, isn't it?

Our garage is a two car garage but that simply means the car in the garage shares it with Butch's tool benches, riding lawn mower and a million other "guy" type things.  I have been parking the 2010 Camry XLE in there for the last four years (and it still only has 15K on the odometer) but I suggested the new one needs to be garaged and the older one can go out on the driveway.  I'm still not used to seeing that beautiful "Clearwater Blue Metallic" vehicle when I go into the garage to get something out of the freezer or fridge out there.  I do like having my car on the driveway.  I don't have to back out and around the other car that way.  Besides, his is the one with the camera on the rear. ;-)

All of my friends need to be on alert.  When we do our around the USA trip, we will be visiting EVERYONE.  But it won't happen while we still have Beau so it will be a little while yet.

New laptop for me. New car for Butch.  We've both been reading manuals all day. LOL

Good Morning, 2014!

Good-bye to 2013.

Yesterday afternoon, Butch drove me to the bank and then to the library. (My "holiday" back is still giving me problems.)  I was able to give our library director checks that total $50,190.31 when added to the checks we had written for smaller amounts earlier in the year.

Writing those checks on behalf of the Friends of the Library and presenting them to Cari and staff is the highlight of my year.  I am hoping that our economy continues to improve so that we can continue to support them this way.

On our way home, we drove through Howard Park and Sunset Beach.  We have a low pressure system out in the Gulf that will eventually bring a Nor'easter to the states along the Atlantic Coast.  Right now it is sending a lot of cloud cover over us.  So it was not sunny afternoon yesterday.  But....still beautiful...always beautiful, no matter what Nature's mood.

I caught this shot of Howard Park beach with my phone's camera as we rode around the island.  I think most of us love a winter beach scene and this one is so typical with its blues, grays and browns.  Love the dunes, the sea grasses, and the palms.  All of this is man-made.  Kudos to our Pinellas County Park system and its eco-management.  This one beach park alone makes our annual $55 parking pass worth it.  Parking fees help offset the huge expense of our outstanding park system and I know the money is going for a good cause.

May 2014 bring everyone good health and happiness.  As in years passed, I'll need to keep in mind, though, that my happiness in this coming year is my own responsibility.  It is no one else's job to make, or keep, me happy.  It is a choice I make every day when I wake up.

Hope you choose to be happy, too.

Happy New Year!