Category: Rants Raves

Posted in Rants Raves

Quid pro quo

Posted on by Christy Petty

As of today I am on probation, for 6 months,180 days. I must commit no offenses agaist the laws of the State of Texas or any state including traffic offenses. They tell me actually no traffic offenses, but I am not planning on committing any others, either.

I was accused of failing to yield to a vehicle entering or leaving highway. Accused. By a police officer, who happened to be the vehicle leaving the highway. He is, was and always will be WRONG.

I did yield.  To the vehicle in front of him (another police man) AND to the policeman, who claimed I did not , who was driving very fast (probably to proverbial doughnut shop) behind the first police vehicle, AND to the construction cones that ate up my lane. AND again, to the same policeman as he waved me into his lane ahead of him. Stupid move, on my part, to beleive he was being courteous. The policeman informed me he had it on tape that I was in the postion in front of him, though it was straddeling my ended lane and his traveling lane, so if I contested then he could show what happened. But not his waving me in.

Here are/were my choices for the ‘pleaing of this accusation:

  • Guilty– pay it and it go on driving record-cost Court cost $97 and ticket fee $32, and what ever premium hike insurance comes up with.
  • No Contest/Guilty pay it and pay to go to driving school and it not go on record.–cost $97 and ticket fee $32, $10 driving record from DPS and $25 online driving class.
  • Not Guilty and go to judge or jury trial- my choice. –$200 bond, refundable IF win, and a court fee(which could be $1-higher depending on ? ) IF loose then pay ticket and it goes on record.

Today I received the other option choice, from the city attorney,( who ‘they’ suggest I speak to, though he is not ‘for’ me but for the State of Texas, prosecutor of me).  Probation, pay the  $32 and $97 and be ‘good’ for 6 months. The prosecutor emphasized that it would basically be my word against the policeman who does have a tape of the alleged ‘crime’.  He explained the policeman states  I was beyond the yeild line, so that would go against me.  I agree that I was beyond the line, at the time #2 policeman came, waiting at the cones for him to pass on by. MMMmmm.

So my choice.

What I have to consider:

  • I don’t like to pay anyone any money, for something I, me, myself, don’t get. I am not a good donator. 
  • I don’t like to be accused of something I did not do. And I very much like to point out that.  I don’t like being caught at actually doing wrong either, but I do take responsibility of it.
  • I don’t want to pay extra on insurance, insurance is a pet peeve of mine also.
  • I want to pay the least amount possible to get out of this mess.
  • I don’t like to gamble, it depends too much on the ‘dealer’ and my being able to play my cards right, and ‘they’ not having one up their sleeve.

I chose to take the six months. It is the least amount of money, of all the amounts due. Yes, if I won on trial, which I may have, it would have been  basically nothing, BUT, if I lost, it would cost me more out of pocket and my insurance would go up, double whammy.  No, I don’t get the satisfaction of proving myself innocent, and rubbing the punk kid cop’s face in his wrongness. (Maybe I need to work on this need for vindication)

There is another plus with the 6 months probation, I will be paying attention to my driving all the more.  I will not be fudging on the speed. I will not be talking on the phone in town, and then realize I am driving through a school zone. In checking my p’s and q’s ,just for a day, I realized I have become a slacker driver.. There have been a lot of deadly wrecks here recently. I need to be paying attention. So now I will be.

I think about not ‘doing’ wheat, being a choice. One no one really likes to make. None of us ‘deserves’ being gluten intolerant, we did nothing wrong. Sometimes we resist and won’t accept the fact that there is no way out, other than removing the wheat, and we will try everything else. Pills, masking/treating symptoms, surgery, denial. We will pay with money and pain and misery, instead of just retraining ourselves. Putting ourselves on probation, removing the wheat, and getting better.  Once you make the choice to remove wheat, you find it really did not cost you anything, compared to all you saved, yourself included.

Do the right thing. Go on probation from wheat, for 6 months. Know that if you mess up you will cost you more physically, mentally and monetarily.   Pay attention to the wheat and you will pay attention to everything you put in your body. On 4/12/2013 you will find that you feel better, look better, and think better. You will be better for it.

Posted in Christy's Concepts, Rants Raves

Moderately Aged

Posted on by Christy Petty

I have struggled with weight, overage of, for years. Blamed it on many things, pregnancy, undiagnosed thyroid, pituitary tumor, hormone treatment, never on me eating way more of the wrong things and not exercising enough. I still think my metabolism is that of a sloth, but I finally got it in my head that with diligence, exercise, controlling my eating and putting my extra poundage in Gods hands (YES God can even help me lose weight). This realization came when I saw a number on a scale in a MD office that I just could not tolerate. Won’t tell what it was, yet.

I researched some ‘diets’ or better said, nutrition changes I needed. About a year ago I adopted a low carb, no sugar way first. This was a good move. I also started walking about 1.5-2 miles a day– I toned and lost some- Looked good on my Zambia/France trip, not near the weight I wanted to be, but better. Then winter weather, holidays and sickness hit, and I gained some back :(.

Around March I bought a scale, my 49th was coming soon. A young lady ,Micah, with our church, nutritionist and exerciseist started a workout program at the church, as a her love offering. I started going in late April. Paying attention to carbs is not helping much though. A fellow blogger flamidwyfe. was posting her journey with Dukan Diet- She impressed me, I bought the book.  Pulled all carbs and all sugars out of diet May 7.  I have lost 18 lbs since that day. 24 since the no tolerance day, over a year ago. Gained about 10 in between.  I have about 25 to 30 to go.

The last few lbs with the excellent MWF work out with Micah and walking all the other days is getting me some compliments.  Yes proud, but …. I know me, I was trying very hard to not like it too much and reward myself with slacking.  I have a lot to go!!! I know I know I know, it is how you look and feel NOT the number. I know what I look like under the clothes, they don’t.

Well, yesterday I was at work out- 8:30, this seemed to be a butt day. Micah rotates the focus so just as you get able to move she attacks another part of the body. Butt and leg really work better for me, I hate arms, so this was a good day.  30 minutes into work out, we are doing steps on curbs, either running or stepping. I step, low impact works best with my knees. I am feeling good, 2 of the girls noticed my weight loss and mentioned it. Step , step , step step, step-POP- something in my calf is SCREAMING at me. The first thing that flashed through my head was the ‘internal sound’ was like a rubber band pop. I knew it was not a cramp, but I thought maybe I could walk it– Nope. Anyway, ended up having to stop for the day and hobbled off to my car.

Timing was good actually, Evan had an appointment, so I was needing to meet him anyway.  As I drove I found the hurt was pretty intense, holding the brake caused my whole leg to shake, not good.  I called my ortho. Got an appointment for today.

Here is result of that visit 

The diagnosis is a small tear of the gastrocnemius(calf muscle) not complete and not the Achilles. It will heal up good in about 6 weeks. The doc says it is a common injury, I think he was being polite to not mention whom it is common with.  This is taken from article at footeducation.com : Calf (Gastrocnemius) muscle tears typically occur in moderately active individuals in their 30s, 40s, and 50s while performing actions that put maximal tension on the gastrocnemius muscle. “Weekend warriors”, who have often lost flexibility in their muscles are at greater risk for partial or complete muscle rupture.  as well as this Calf (Gastrocnemius) muscle tears commonly occur in middle-aged recreational athletes while performing actions that require sudden changes in direction.    So conclusion, this wanna be old lady did something a lot of middle-aged moderately active individuals do.   REALLY? I thought I was doing more than moderate.

So, now? I think I go to Pilates, I HAVE to do something. Moderate Pilates.

Posted in Christy's Concepts, Rants Raves

Day 11 – A picture of something you hate

Posted on by Christy Petty
 This is Midland Memorial Hospital, I hate this place. Not just because it is a hospital. I don’t hate Dallas Childrens Hospital. I don’t hate Medical City Dallas. I don’t hate Cook’s in Fort Worth.I don’t hate Odessa Regional Medical Center.  I don’t hate UMC or Covenant Hospital’s in Lubbock.  All of these hospitals I have experienced. Only Midland Memorial have we received inadequate even harmful treatment, EVERY TIME!
Different doctors, different nurses, different maladies, different patients, but not different results, with Midland Memorial. We have sat in the emergency room with a broken arm, a broken ankle, a choking child, a broken wrist, a ‘broken’ back/vertebrae, shoulder broken off of clavicle, broken elbow, elbows out of joint, pneumonia from asphyxiation, blood clots.  All mismanaged, or misdiagnosed, or made worse from treatment.  All had to be treated correctly AFTER leaving the hospital, some had to repair damage done at the hospital.
Beyond emergency care was birthing of my 3 children, all three there were mistakes made either with me or my children, with IV’s, Feedings, medications. Evan had anesthesiologist mistakes made that will last him a lifetime. Nurses undid what Dr.s did. My dad was over medicated. Xrays have been misread. Tests have been lost and botched. Yes, MD’s, Nurses, Anesthesiologist all were responsible for their mistakes, but all of these mistakes happened consistently in this hospital.
The other hospitals did surgeries, treated illness, ran tests, researched, set bones, reset bones, anesthetized, without causing damage, they actually healed.  Sure some of the food was not great. Yes they had a moody nurse or two, but never did they do harm.
Midland Memorial is the only hospital in Midland County. No competition. Most of the people who go there don’t have the ‘experience’ we have with hospitals, so I suppose they think this is the way hospitals should be? Our saying about Midland Memorial” You go there to die.–  I HATE Midland Memorial Hospital.
Posted in Christy's Concepts, Rants Raves

Day 10 – A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with

Posted on by Christy Petty

I hope the photo challenge police don’t get me for this. But like #9 I just can not come up with a ‘person’. Keith of course is in the running, just as in #9, because he has been ‘in’ my life the most.

Also not real sure on the ‘messed up’ definition. Messed up as in goofy fun a bit on the dangerous or just plain wrong? Either way I don’t have a person to point my finger at, except myself. As far as I can remember I am the person I am always with when I have done something goofy fun and a bit on the dangerous side, or just plain wrong ;).

Even this posting- I myself ‘messed up’ all by myself- I posted it Saturday and something went very wrong– This is a reposting of the first.

The first I wrote of why I am a  ‘all by myself’ — I will try again. It is not a sad thing, really. I am an introvert.  YES,  DAMN IT I AM.  Introvert does not mean shy, though I don’t think shy people can be extroverts. I do like people I like being around people, I like talking to people, I like, very much, having friends. BUT, I think think think think think think think, before I can ever figure out what to say to start a conversation. I like my time alone, A LOT. If I am with people for a bit, I really need time away, to gel.

I have issues being a people pleaser, YET I don’t change the way I am, or think, or do to please people.(which some do just to make others happy) I just want people to like me for me, accept me for me.   So when someone questions my methods of madness or point out the same. When someone critisizes me or my ….whatever,  I construe it as they don’t like me. I am wrong. I get that now.

I do what I do because I feel led to, it feels right, or I know it is right. I probably act on feelings and perception first and thinking next. This being me, I may do a few more ‘messed up’ things in the eyes of others–Which brings me back to the people pleaser thing. — I suppose you could say I don’t conform. It is not a bad thing,

Romans 12:22 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Not that all I do, is approved by God. I, at least, am not doing it for the world, that has to count for something 😉

So Me, Myself and I am/are the person I do the most messed up things with– I got proof.

Posted in Exhort Pray Praise..., Rants Raves

Integrity

Posted on by Christy Petty

I am being convicted, by God. He does that often, usually it is a string of circumstances, life experiences, mine and others, sermons, lessons I am doing, TV shows, movies, and some stress or tension is usually involved. By itself none mean much but put it all together, God is teaching me sumthin.

  • I started the Beth Moore Daniel study, got a great price on it at a gun show I went to with Keith.  The theme, thus far, is integrity, standing for what you believe in, not succumbing to the world.
  • I just finished Ephesians study, on this blog, most of my concentration went into the whole armor of God, standing firm, the only way to be victorious is with God.
  • I read Life Lesson ? and answer in Real Simple magazine,  Is it ever appropriate to spill a friends secret?  The answer was no EXCEPT when the secret involves a major ethical breech or could harm someone.
  • I started attending an exercise program with a group of women in my church, it is intense (for me). I have to make myself go and do it.  It is a great workout, I thought I was doing well on my own walking everyday. I am disappointed in myself for not working harder prior to this. I am frustrated that since starting this I have actually gained weight, (I am NOT eating more!!) Not getting instant results is making me very frustrated which makes me feel very shallow and weak.   I want to quit.
  • I adopted a new way of eating months ago, and it was working, I was doing exercise with it.  I lost about 20 lbs. Holidays and cold weather and whatever caused me to lose focus,and gain 10 lbs. At the beginning of all of this get down to business and lose I realized I was not depending on God, but the quick fix of a pill, or starvation or…I blamed my fat on pituitary, thyroid hormones.  I prayed and repented of not trusting that He alone is my strength. I know that is where my strength and perseverance and loss came from. Then I forgot. I have let other ideas, the want for quick fix come in, when the weight came back.  I stopped eating correctly, skip meals, complain about my afternoon snacks, punishing myself for slipping up.
  • My Sunday School lessons are all focused on the sins of man and plan of God to redeem – It spans from creation to resurrection.  We have been in the escaping Egypt and in the desert for the past several weeks, finally reaching the promised land, only to have the doubters bring on 40 more years of misery. I have taught this curriculum for years, and each year I glean more.  This year I am struck by:
  1.  Moses arguing with God that he should not be the one that does the leading, so God adds Aaron
  2. Aaron’s sons just tweaking worship a bit and ‘getting’ killed by God.
  3. God’s tough love BECAUSE the people keep wanting the worldly comforts instead of HIS promised land.- Poiseness snakes
  4. Moses never reaching the promised land because he let his anger override his obedience to God.
  5. Caleb and Joshua standing and speaking up, opposing the world, believing in the promises of God. Not going with the crowd.
  6. Caleb and Joshua being the only ones, in their generation to enter Canaan.
  7. Caleb and Joshua still having to endure 40 years in wilderness, because of the lack of faith of the others. Or lack of integrity of others. And accepting it, with integrity.
  8. God’s follow through- He tells what He wants, what He expects and what will happen if we do not agree. He promises consequences for us, good and bad, the rest is up to us to abide or not. God does not change, ever. That is integrity, that is love.
  • A blog post of a fellow blogger Chief of the Least of a YouTube of Penn being impressed  by a Christian with integrity.
  • Witnessing those in positions of leadership not showing integrity. How very disappointing it is to see someone you trust to protect and teach and be truthful not doing so. To watch leaders lie and omit truths all in order to protect another’s lies and mistakes.
  • Watched the movie “Seven Days in Utopia.”  It is about believing in what you do. Believing in God’s power. Acting on that belief even when the world thinks your crazy. NOT CONFORMING. Integrity.
  • I telling a friend of a wrong they were doing, knowing full well they would be angry with me, willing to accept the rejection ( I HATE REJECTION), they rejecting me and my surviving it. And then they thanking me for being honest and apologizing.

My lesson is: Integrity is standing firm, standing up for truth. Integrity is pushing myself into an unnatural uncomfortable position. Integrity is righteous. Integrity is respected. I must work to have integrity and to keep it. Integrity is knowing when I am wrong and admitting it. Integrity is knowing when I am right and standing for it. Integrity does not hide. Integrity does not lie. Integrity does not fear. Integrity does not run away.

I do not show integrity always. I worry on the rejection of man far too much, though I am growing out of that more everyday.  Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God?…….If I were still trying to please men,  I would not be a servant of Christ.  Gal 1:10    I let my anger, my fear direct me instead of God, at times. I let others convince me that I am not acceptable if I do not conform to the world.   Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I see these times of conviction as God refining me.  Preparing me today, for eternity.

He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness.  Malichi 3:3

Posted in Rants Raves

Resolving Frustration

Posted on by Christy Petty

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Well my list of frustrations yesterday included not having Evan’s bathroom completed.  We have the holes in place for the shower, toilet and bathroom sink. We even have the kitchen sink hooked up to drain out, no  faucet till this week. We just did not have the ‘stuff’ line hooked up to the septic tanks. Had about 100 feet trench to dig and hook up to the main line.  Having a place for all the stuff to go was essential, so Keith had come to another ‘stall’ as we were waiting for the septic guy to be able to fit us in.   Evan has been coming over to the BIG HOUSE for his OUTHOUSE.

This week the septic guy came!! Whoo hoo.  Kirk did a great job, dug and hooked up in less than 8 hours.  Keith went out the same night and bought a toilet. Next day we bought the kitchen faucet and bathroom sink.  Keith put in the kitchen faucet that night.  Turned it on and the sink started to fill.  Keith worked on it about an hour trying to plunge and such. Decided to call it a night.  We figured Evan had poured some grease and gunk through and it needed to be cleaned at the trap.

I finished grouting the kitchen counters yesterday, and told Evan “This weekend we will get most of the plumbing done. Promise.”  I should not do that.

This AM we got up, slowly. Last night we celebrated with an ex coworker of Keith’s, yesterday was her last day with the Post Office, soooooooo happy for her!! Keith’s day will come!  Also yesterday I started an exercise class at the church, an hour of pure torture, my butt and thighs were SCREAMING at me this morning.  So slowly we started moving.  Planning to start with the kitchen sink and move on to the toilet and bath sink and be finished by 1 at the latest.

Lee calls.  He is helping cook for a ‘date night’ at our church tonight, Keith is helping him cook.  Lee is coming out to get the potatoes that he had his ‘help’ pick up for him yesterday.  Lee and Tanah and Ty arrive we get to visit with them, just as Lee is about to leave he asks ” Mom are you going to town today?”

I say “Later.” I am planning trip after we get all plumbing done to go get mirror for Evan’s bath.

Lee says ” Good I figured I would take Dad with me and we would unload the wood at the church and you could pick him up. Dad that ok with you?”

Keith says “Well we were going to do the plumbing in Evan’s first, but I guess we could get the mirror now.”

So, at 12 we have finally finished with the wood and picked up the mirror and driving home hungry, so we stop at Jason’s.  Keith has announced that he has to be back at the church at 3 and the flange on the toilet will have to be set in concrete after he chinks out some concrete to make it level with the floor. So we will probably just fix the kitchen sink drain issue.

We get home and time as it is we must wash and wrap the 65 potatoes that are Keith’s assignment and get them cooking before we work on the apartment.

Keith has decided to take the P trap off, that is bound to be where the clog is.  It is not.  Then he decides after we can not run a wire up and around the other part of drain, maybe more clog there.  The lines out of the apartment have been in place for MONTHS, just waiting for the septic to connect, so maybe some of the dirt accumulation has clogged it somewhere.  We should have checked that before we connected everything and buried it. I feel my frustrations building.

Keith cuts the line under the sink so we have a straight shot to push through.  We push wire through, some resistance, then it is gone.  Weird.  Keith has me check the toilet line as he blows air through the sink pipe, nothing comes through.  So logic says something is in the way between the sink and toilet line- before it goes out.  MMMM. Oh and Keith has to go shower now for evening. ARGGGGG. No resolution to my tension, just a bit more of a tug.

Keith goes in, after he tells me HE is not the one that promised the plumbing this weekend.  Man oh Man tension is getting tighter and tighter.

I contemplate what he has said, about the plumbing, I think if I can do SOMETHING maybe I can get us a step further.  I think about the shower drain, which is just 3 feet to the right of the toilet drain.  I pry off the plastic cover, look in a dark hole, grab a paint roller extender and poke it in. Resistance.  Jab, resist, jab, resist jab, clear…. Maybe!!  I pull out the pole, blackish water drips off. I then search a flashlight to look in.  Finally find one,  turn it on, look in and— YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIKKS, beady black eyes surrounds by slimy goo squirm at me.    I screamed like a girl.

HUGE toad was in the drain. He probably was camping out in the open drain and then we trapped him in when we closed everything off. His only place is to live as close to the fresh air as possible, the other way is a stinky methane gassed suffocation.

That scream was so relieving! I must do it more. As I laughed at myself and our ‘clog the frog’ I walked to the house to tell Keith.  Keith was getting ready, and a bit cold from our last conversation.  Clog was a great ice breaker.

Keith left for cooking at church.  And I went to get Clog out.  The pipe is about a 24 inch drop to the T, Clog is propped just at the bottom above the water. Water is what stands in the drainage, right now just water. Each time I poked at Clog with anything, he would puff up and fill the whole pipe.  First thought to drop a washer tied to a string, get it under him and pull and maybe it would urge him up.  Nope, just hit him on head.  Poured water through made him wiggle and the washer fell under him.  Pulled and he would come some but eventually let the washer pull passed him.  I did this about 5 x’s. Then I started a search for something stiff that I could push past him and hook him with to pull. Finally decided on a hanger, from Evan’s closet.  I worried at first about poking him, then realized I had come to the tension point of wanting relief so much if Clog became a shish kabob I could live with that.  I ran down the hanger, still had the washer on the string down the hole too.  I started pulling, easily, it was working, pulling both. I got him just inches to the top something adjusted and he started to fall, I may could have grabbed him, physically, but mentally I had to not.  Second try, just the hanger, I hooked underneath and started to pull, he was coming, I worried a bit about the poke, then thought about all the crippled toads I see when it rains, either maimed from the cats, dogs or shovels, I gave a swift pull and he was out, splat on the floor. Ta Da!!! One frustration  down!!!

Clog has no war wounds. I scooped him in a coffee container, and took him over to the yard, took his picture and sent him on his way.  Hopefully the clog was only Clog, we will see tomorrow.

Posted in Exhort Pray Praise..., Rants Raves

When Do We Compromise?

Posted on by Christy Petty

This heresy is still going on– Satan started it, with ” Nope, God did not mean really die” And now these false prophets continue it. This blog was written in 2008. I have just become aware of this heresy in 2012, that leaders in churches are being turned. And running the sheep off of a cliff!
Beware of wolves in sheeps clothing!!

expreacherman's avatarNotes From A Retired Preacher

When do we compromise our faith, our beliefs, our principles, our morals?

There are organizations and people, leaders and Pastors who are trying to undermine our fundamental Bible faith.

Compromise and acceptance of error is not new. It has been around for thousands of years– in fact since the beginning and has continued until today.

God told Adam and Eve,

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof .” Genesis 2:17

And in direct contradiction to what God commanded, Satan (the Old Serpent) told Eve,

“And the serpent said unto the woman, :” Genesis 3:4

The Nation of Israel rebelled against God’s commands to Moses and compromised by building their special idols.

Paul wrote letters to the Corinthian Church, the Galatian church and many other churches to warn against doctrinal and moral compromise…

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