Jason closes his journal... Thanks!! I love you!!

[2dream]

I have often wondered if I would have the guts to step in like that. Not sure that I would. I have never been in that position and hope I never have to find out. I do know that if it were someone doing something to my children I could do it.

I think my doubts on my not being able to step up to the plate has something to do with living my sheltered little life, in a sheltered little Southern Town, with all the southernism's that go with that life.

But then again - I can be pretty gutsy sometimes. I have just never witnessed anything like that and can not imagine the emotions that must flow through you.

I personally would like to thank you for your service to your country which includes me and I never forget that. And for stepping in for the children involved in this and sorry your picnic got ruined. But you taught your children a valuable lesson.

I know its corny but it makes me think of the scene from Dirty Dancing when Patrick Swazye stood in front of a crowd and said somthing like, "I have never known anyone who stood up for someone even though it cost them personally". And "It taught me about the kind of person I want to be". Thats probably not word for word correct but its close.

You probably made every one present evaluate their own lives and you never know who you touched with your actions. Maybe it gave someone else the guts to step up to the plate next time.

I know it got me to thinking.

Long post but heart felt and I hope it all came across ok.

 

[reinbeau]

Jay, your control is now obvious, as is your passion, but let's not pick each other apart here. I agree with what you did, now with your further explanation, I think most understand the how and why.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

My apologies for disrupting your journal. Will contain my journal postings to my own.

 

[TanksHill]

Can't we all just get along????

We are not here to judge each other.

We are not here to criticize how others choose to live.

We are not here to judge how others raise their children.

We are here to support one another in learning ways to be more Self Sufficient. ie.. animal husbandry, alternative energy, gardening for your family, food storage, etc...

We share our journals with the hopes to........ I don't know let others learn about our lives. So they know more about our SS trials and how we handle the challenges in life.

If you don't like the way someone does something you have all the right in the world to disagree. But please everyone, do it with tact and discretion.

I really want to continue on this forum, but I hate feeling the tension. It does not go well with my morning coffee....

Gives me heartburn.

Sorry if I offended anyone, and again sorry for venting on your journal Jay. I just need to get that off my chest.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

Well said Gina.
Thanks for stepping up, peddler. And thanks for wearing that uniform. You, my dad, my best friend's DH who is headed to Iraq right now along with all the other members of our volunteer armed forces, well, you are all heros. In so many ways.

On a lighter note The tater baskets were a huge hit with my Facebook crowd. Many compliments were given. What they liked especially is that your metal frame is reusable & that you can use small amounts of wood for the bracing if you don't go with a metal frame.

 

[modern_pioneer]

I think that was well said, and needed to be said.

Thank you so much for that, I hope others as well as myself will take it to heart.

I journal to share my interesting points of my life, I also invite folks to post as well as post pictures. I have a great respect for elders, as noted several times, and they bring forth ideas and solutions to help better others. As before, I find it hard not to respond to people who criticize me. There is a difference between offering advice and being critical.

To be honest G, I don't think any one could have said it better than you did.

 

[modern_pioneer]

Last year when we purchased our pool we also purchased a solar cover. Well it does help to warm the pool, not at the 15 degree mark the OEM promises.

So I made my own solar heater from pvc water lines, which worked, but not enough.

Over winter, stored outside, they broke. With no materials on hand to make a new one, I decided to purchase a ready made one which measures 4 x 20 feet.

Taking off, putting on the solar cover was always a task, so I purchased a reel. I hadn't put the solar cover on yet this year because I had ordered the reel and was waiting to get it to rig it up.

With just the solar heater, the pool would warm up in the evening to 76 degrees, in the mornings though it would be back to 72 degrees.

After adding the solar cover two days ago, the water temp has slowly warmed up to a nice 79 degrees.

Dale has a natural gas heater on his pool, the install and heater was 2k plus his monthly gas bill in the summer is over 200 dollars, in the winter its in the 80 dollar area.

I paid a total of 600 dollars for everything, the solar cover will last 6-8 years, the solar heater will last ten plus years.

I would say heating my pool with solar power is the cheapest way. Both the cover and heater can and will be recycled.

 

[TanksHill]

Solar covers are big around my area. It just does not make sense to spend all that money heating a pool. I do have friends who will heat the Jacuzzi in the off season.

Great job working out the cost vs long term savings. A wise investment.

 

[modern_pioneer]

I didn't sleep well last night, and woke up feeling like my mind was racing, and my heart was heavy. I will take the higher road and keep my thoughts on these matters to myself.

From time to time, just like me, others have short comings. In order to make it full circle, I also have to forgive those that have short comings. Being on the receiving end this time, I see how hard forgiveness can be. With respect, I am glad you decided to edit your post, I finished reading G's post and deleted my counter post.

In the moment I was thinking of several comments made to me in private. I also had read Wandas post, thinking about the last lesson Free taught me when I had a short coming. By all means it was a group effort, as I was thinking about this community. When I read G's post, it reminded me why I am here.

I wish no more than what you have offered, not to post on my journal.

I am not here to gain popular vote, but rather to share my adventures of being SS myself. Like a good novel, what good is the adventure if you don't know/understand the person behind it....

Read my journal from the start, and you will see the ups and the downs. You will learn trials, people, life lessons, advice from elders, days of my youth, people that touched me and made a difference, my short comings, saddness, humor, love of family, ghost in my closet, success, failures, new things, who sucked in my life, things I ask about because I don't know, and this journal is about me and us as a community. Not about conflict.

I was honored when one reader took up reading my journal, at that time all 22 pages, for Earthday. She said direct quote

I took on your journal today and read all 22 pages of it. I cried, laughed, and rolled my eyes at the drama. It made me feel good that you are doing so much. Thank you for writing your journal, keep it up. I am not much of a poster but I always read your journal, Kenona

So I want to close this chapter in my journal, and have more peace as a community.

That is all I have to say about this matter.

 

[reinbeau]

You were both deeply moved emotionally, you both posted your personal experiences, you both shared, and you both learned. That is what this process should be about. Peace.