I warned of the potential for political rants on this blog. If you don't like those, you don't have to read it, unless you want to. This is going to be one of those rants, and then I will get back onto the farm.
Those of you who came to this page from Facebook or Twitter, as I assume most readers will, may have noticed me making argumentative responses onto Tea Party links and posts and whatnot. A Confession: I am fascinated by politics, kind of oddly curious about how a civilization chooses to govern itself. I like observing the mechanics of political parties and grassroots movements and elections. I also like seeing how popular culture changes along with national and local politics, especially in new media where everything, even politics, is new.
I honestly don't know if that's a weird thing to think about, but there you go. I'm a junkie for this stuff. My own political persuasion, if it isn't obvious, is bleeding-heart liberal. My husband's description of my politics: "You love causes. You care about people of other cultures and races and sexual orientations and you stand up for them. And you love getting mad at people who don't do that."
He has me on that last part, especially. I am not a person to get angry, but on this stuff, I can be sharp-tongued. I care about the environment, and how the cultures and generations relate to each other. Intolerance and ignorance make me angry. Which brings us, naturally, to the Tea Party.
It all started with a link. A distant cousin, a Friend on Facebook--which is now a thing, different from a Regular (or IRL) Friend--shared a link from the Tea Party's Facebook page. Being the junkie that I am, I clicked. I don't have a clue what the story was about, but it. Pissed. Me. Off. I dashed off a witty, indignant comment. Immediately, a response! I'm an idiot! Wait. What?
No, I'm not. I simply have an opinion. I may be a liberal, but I am certainly not a libturd. Or a Marxist - because according to this Tea Party guy, there are still lots of Marxists running around and I am one of them. He could not explain to me how my comment demonstrated that I am a Marxist, but he was kind enough to point out that I was an idiot for not realizing this myself. Idiot was a big one. I was frequently an idiot, apparently for having the opinions I do.
Whatever that opinion was, it seemed that it was always exaggerated to a ridiculous place, and thus it could be instantly assumed that I was simply stupid or offensive. I like the President well enough, and think he's doing OK against some massive challenges, but he isn't my Messiah. I believe the scientists who say evolution and global warming are real, God notwithstanding, but I don't hate Christians, nor am I persecuting them by saying so. I believe marijuana should be legalized, for both medicinal and recreational use, but I am not a stoner living in my parents' basement. (Though I did buy their old house, and I do share an office with them. Okay, maybe I am a stoner living in my parents' basement.)
My politics are not generally off-putting. I like people. I believe in respecting others and being nice. I suppose that can get naggy, but they HATED me. They called me names, and yelled at me, and told me I was stupid. I argued with them, because by now it's personal. And I said some bad words. I believe the phrase that got me kicked off the Official Tea Party dot Org Facebook Page was, "Oh my fucking God, haven't you people ever heard of a metaphor?"
I went back on to another Tea Party Facebook affiliate today, to remind myself what an unpleasant experience it is. I don't hope to make it a habit, but really, it was an interesting learning experience. If you don't like them (and seriously, if you've read this freakin' thing, I know you had to have looked for the Facebook posts by now) don't read them. Or do. Hate read them if you like. Just don't call me an idiot. It's rude. Oh my fucking God is it rude.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Just Like Poltergeist, I'm Back.
It has been two and a half years since I have used this blog. I haven't gone back to read what I wrote in December of 2012. I'll let you know if I do.
I have decided to try and resurrect this blog. I won't be starting out again with the intensity I had before, but I do hope if I start writing again, I will find the enthusiasm I had at that time. Some unexpected obstacles came in my way, and in the way of the project at the farm. Some of the obstacles turned out to be blessings for us. Others turned out to be inconveniences. And still others altered the dynamics in my family in ways both blessed and inconvenient.
Honestly, I don't feel the need to delve into those obstacles, because in most cases they are no longer obstacles but permanent changes in my life that I have accepted. The bottom line is, I am doing well. Which is, of course, the reason I want to write again. When I'm sad (or very busy), my writing becomes very personal, because it has to be therapeutic. When I'm happy, I'm ready to share my life with others in my favorite form of expression - writing.
And since I'm sharing good news - and at this point, if you've read this far in, it means you care - I'm very happy to say that the farm project is back on the horizon. I can hear your applause now.
The official business reason that the farm project didn't launch as fully as I had hoped is because we had to put our money elsewhere in our business. The opportunity to make a real estate acquisition came up, and we couldn't say no. It was a piece of property that we had been leasing for about 10 years, and using as our Production facility, and it is ideal for that operation. It is an absolutely beautiful agrarian (wetland) property that can't be used for development, but can and should absolutely be used for agricultural purposes.
The land is a great asset to our family and our business, and I'm glad we made the purchase. But, of course, beautiful agrarian properties aren't inexpensive. Neither are the upgrades to the facility, which you don't want to make to a property you lease, but can make to a property you own. The growth in our Production department is amazing, between the wonderful employees (both current and former) and those upgrades, which are nearly complete.
So, barring any more major land acquisitions needing to happen immediately, we can turn our attention back to the farm. Not that the farm has been off of our radar entirely, because it hasn't. Farmer Kyle is still working for Southwood, every year adding to the production of delicious local vegetables and fruits. He has a staff of five skilled farm workers, and thanks to a group marketing effort, Southwood Farm produce is currently found in local restaurants, the new Farmers' Market at Guthrie Green in downtown Tulsa, and in the Southwood retail store at 9025 S. Lewis.
Our plan this year is to complete the utility infrastructure, which will open up the back half of the property to irrigation and power capabilities. Which means it's time to start having some big conversations about how we're going to use that farm. I'm looking forward to having those conversations, and to sharing our progress on this little blog again. I'll probably also share some political commentary, and parenting anecdotes, but I'm assuming that if you've read THIS far, that's cool with you because you really, really, really like me. And for that I thank you, Mom.
I'm happy to be back!!!
I have decided to try and resurrect this blog. I won't be starting out again with the intensity I had before, but I do hope if I start writing again, I will find the enthusiasm I had at that time. Some unexpected obstacles came in my way, and in the way of the project at the farm. Some of the obstacles turned out to be blessings for us. Others turned out to be inconveniences. And still others altered the dynamics in my family in ways both blessed and inconvenient.
Honestly, I don't feel the need to delve into those obstacles, because in most cases they are no longer obstacles but permanent changes in my life that I have accepted. The bottom line is, I am doing well. Which is, of course, the reason I want to write again. When I'm sad (or very busy), my writing becomes very personal, because it has to be therapeutic. When I'm happy, I'm ready to share my life with others in my favorite form of expression - writing.
And since I'm sharing good news - and at this point, if you've read this far in, it means you care - I'm very happy to say that the farm project is back on the horizon. I can hear your applause now.
The official business reason that the farm project didn't launch as fully as I had hoped is because we had to put our money elsewhere in our business. The opportunity to make a real estate acquisition came up, and we couldn't say no. It was a piece of property that we had been leasing for about 10 years, and using as our Production facility, and it is ideal for that operation. It is an absolutely beautiful agrarian (wetland) property that can't be used for development, but can and should absolutely be used for agricultural purposes.
The land is a great asset to our family and our business, and I'm glad we made the purchase. But, of course, beautiful agrarian properties aren't inexpensive. Neither are the upgrades to the facility, which you don't want to make to a property you lease, but can make to a property you own. The growth in our Production department is amazing, between the wonderful employees (both current and former) and those upgrades, which are nearly complete.
So, barring any more major land acquisitions needing to happen immediately, we can turn our attention back to the farm. Not that the farm has been off of our radar entirely, because it hasn't. Farmer Kyle is still working for Southwood, every year adding to the production of delicious local vegetables and fruits. He has a staff of five skilled farm workers, and thanks to a group marketing effort, Southwood Farm produce is currently found in local restaurants, the new Farmers' Market at Guthrie Green in downtown Tulsa, and in the Southwood retail store at 9025 S. Lewis.
Our plan this year is to complete the utility infrastructure, which will open up the back half of the property to irrigation and power capabilities. Which means it's time to start having some big conversations about how we're going to use that farm. I'm looking forward to having those conversations, and to sharing our progress on this little blog again. I'll probably also share some political commentary, and parenting anecdotes, but I'm assuming that if you've read THIS far, that's cool with you because you really, really, really like me. And for that I thank you, Mom.
I'm happy to be back!!!
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