Tranquil Tuesday

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Hello Tuesday! I hope that making it until Tuesday means that your Monday went well and you are feeling good about the week ahead. I do not want to get ahead of myself, but the two interviews I had yesterday seemed to have gone well and I even have another interview scheduled for Friday with another company. There is no denying that the last month has been slightly upsetting and a little discouraging, but there is a lot to say when we do not give up and throw in the towel. Many things in life are unsettling and can make us feel defeated, but the only way we can fail and be completed defeated is if we give up. I cannot lie there were many times during the past week I wanted to give up and surrender, but I think I am a little too stubborn or rather determined to do so.

I want to be able to help others surpass times of struggle because we all need to be lifted during our lives. Someone I know through Shipt delivery and now consider a good friend helped me see that I do deserve more in life than the past month provided. I respect other’s privacy, so I never share names but will be sure that she sees this! I want her to know how much she has helped me and how much I appreciate her! I think it is amazing how true it is that we do not encounter people by mistake because everyone enters our life for a reason!

The quote that I am sharing with y’all today, I found encouraging and meaningful, and hope it will do the same for you. I will explain why I found this so meaningful but would love to know what you think as well. There are always going to be some issues in life that may break us, but there are just as many reasons to smile. I know the most challenging times in life can cloud seeing the reasons to smile, but I promise they are there we just have to look a little deeper!

Thank you for visiting my site today! I hope you enjoyed what I have shared with you today and I look forward to reading your comments. I will be responding to all of your comments as quickly as I can. Hopefully you are having a good week so far and your week continues to get better until we make it to Friday again. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Been a while

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Catching-Up-and-My-Favorite-ThingsWOW, it feels like it has been forever since I did anything in the blogging community! While I was on my much needed vacation with my husband last week, I took a short break from doing anything involving a computer. The two of us went to my happy place, the BEACH, not only to celebrate my birthday, but also our 8 year wedding anniversary ❤. We had an amazing time together and had absolutely beautiful weather! It was so great being far away from the stresses of work and be able to just sit back listening to the ocean waves! I honestly find the sight and sounds of the ocean 🌊, while reading a great book to be the best way to relax and refresh!

I am very far behind on reading all of your posts, which I already know are fantastic. its-been-a-whileUnfortunately, I do have to work the weekend so I can’t say I will be able to catch up, but I will still try.

Considering I have been away for almost 2 weeks now, how have y’all been doing? I hope you are feeling well and your month has started off great! October is beautiful and my favorite month, which I am not just saying that because it is the month I was married in. I have always enjoyed the change in weather during October. Normally it isn’t too hot and not that cold, it is just right! Sounds kind of like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but yet so true! Of course the southern states are not always on the same page with my thought process and it was in the high 90’s ☀ for the first week of October, but thankfully over the weekend the temperatures are going to drop! It is crazy though because when I say the temperatures are going to drop, I mean drop more than 20 degrees in one day!

Like I already stated, my husband and I had a wonderful vacation. Of course it wasn’t long c620x376enough and it was painful to return to work. The insane thing is we didn’t get home until the early morning hours and I had to work that day. I was so exhausted; nothing bothered me at all because my mind was still at the beach and maybe I was half asleep still. Of course things not bothering me only lasted half a day and I will tell you more about this later. My boss is still the same idiot he has always been!

For my birthday we had a lovely dinner at a restaurant that was oceanfront 🌊! vacation and celebrationConsidering we were at the beach during the off season it wasn’t overly crowded, which was great! Thankfully my husband did not tell the waitress it was my birthday, so I didn’t have to deal with the wait staff singing happy birthday to me and embarrassing me. I do not like to be center of attention and would prefer to go unnoticed! 

The day after my birthday we went to another oceanfront restaurant to celebrate our 8 year wedding anniversary ❤! Back to back celebrations were nice and peaceful! It is so hard to believe we have already been married for 8 years ❤, I mean where does the time go? I still remember the day my husband proposed like it was yesterday and that was 9 years ago!

Sunrise at the beachI don’t know about you, but before last week there were times I was awake at sunrise, but never actually watched the sunrise. Standing out on the beach in the early morning hours watching the sun come up was a beautiful sight and pretty powerful! It really is amazing to watch as the sun slowly makes its way up to shine light on us all around the world! To think the sun I watched come up will also be seen on the other side of the world at some point. 

The weather was so clear we were even able to watch the sunset! The sun sets slowly over sunset at the beachthe horizons and it is quite magical, especially near the ocean! Of course I do think everything is magical and hypnotizing when I am at the beach!

I hope y’all have a wonderful weekend and you are able to enjoy every moment of it. I will be back to my normal routine next week and maybe even some extra surprises. I want to thank you for stopping by my site today and please know that I always appreciate your comments. Please never forget that no matter how busy I am, I am always sending y’all LOTS of love ❤, comfort, and many positive vibes!

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❤Always, Alyssa❤

Baby Girl Blitzen

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It has been a long time since I have written anything. I have been focused on reading because it helps me to drown out the realities of life, which have been overwhelmingly stressful. During the time I have been away from writing, so much has happened, and it would have been wise of me to utilize writing as my free therapy. Life can be a beautiful thing we are privileged to experience, but due to circumstances beyond our control, it can be frustrating and leave you feeling lost, hopeless, and confused. I will not go into everything that has transpired because that might be like information overload, and most of it is just the same old thing, like Groundhog Day, and nothing changes.  

For starters, the issue that is most on my mind and weighing me down with suppressed stress is that the newest addition to our kitty family, Blitzen, needs surgery. Blitzen is only ten months old and had a challenging beginning to her life. A few weeks after she was born, her mother (Camie, one of the feral cats in the neighborhood I have fed and grown attached to) brought her to our front porch. Blitzen had a terrible eye infection that, without treatment, she might not have survived and certainly could not see. Camie did not know what to do or have the means to care for this little kitten, so she trusted us to take care of her, which we did.  

After her first doctor’s visit, we nursed her back to health by providing her with medication for her eyes, food, and a warm place to sleep. For several weeks, I bottle-fed Blitzen regularly and helped her to learn how to eat kitten food. She has been a perfect little angel, starting the first day we laid eyes on her.  Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, I had to take Blitzen to the doctor because she was feeling unwell. Blitzen was diagnosed with a Urinary Tract Infection, so she had to take antibiotics for 7 days. Her health did improve, but then she started acting like she was not feeling well, so she took the antibiotics for another 10 days. After 17 days of antibiotics, Blitzen was still not well, so we went back to the doctor. After several tests, lots of stress, and tears, we learned that Blitzen was suffering from a failed kidney, which we must have removed. To think, if Blitzen had not gotten a UTI, it may have been several more years before we found out about her failing kidney, and the outcome could have been far different. 

Blitzen, my husband, and I met with the surgeon last week to go over the details, and we had the chance to ask questions and share any concerns. The surgeon answered all our questions and made us feel as comfortable as possible about the surgery. Blitzen is scheduled to have surgery on Thursday and will have to spend the night in the hospital, which we hate not having her home with us, but understand it is necessary. Of course, we will be worried about Blitzen until we bring her home from surgery and her recovery. Personally, I am confident in the surgeon’s abilities and feel everything will turn out well. 

When you love your cats as much as my husband and I do, knowing they are in pain or suffering from something they do not deserve, it is heartbreaking. We might be a little unusual, but we love our cats and treat them like they are our children because they are. I spend more time than I could explain tending to our cats and the feral cats outside. Our five cats are our pride and joy, and we would do anything to keep them safe and happy. They are all special in their own ways and unique in their personalities. Considering that we know them and how they behave, we also know when they are not feeling well.  

The past few days, my poor mind has been trying to keep my stress under control and not let it twist into the worst-case scenarios. This experience is taking me back to when we learned our dear, sweet, and loving cat, Sundance, was diagnosed with a large tumor on his right lung. Unfortunately, with his situation, the only thing I was able to do was to keep him as comfortable as possible, but it would never save his life. Thankfully, the situation with Blitzen is not as grim, and she can live a full and happy life with one kidney. 

Over the past few months, other issues have occurred, but I am not ready to write about them because they involve others. I do not want to expose anyone’s personal issues because I believe people should have privacy. Everyone handles stress and arduous situations differently. We all deal with personal issues in life, and often the people in our lives go through situations, either self-inflicted or random. Many of us already deal with too much stress, and when you add the stress of others, we are close to, it can be overwhelming and hard to deal with. The bottom line is, life is a challenging game of chance.  

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site today. After Blitzen’s surgery, I will post about her recovery. I hope you have all been doing well and managing life the best you can. Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love❤️, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes🦋! 

Always, Alyssa

Challenges Are Endless

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It has been a long time since I last wrote, and I have several reasons for finding it difficult. First, I have been experiencing vision issues. I do not understand the reason, but my vision is clear in the morning, but worsens as the day goes on. This has persisted for several weeks. I thought it was MS-related, but my neurologist thinks that it could be something different, but cannot say the cause. My visit to her on Thursday, as usual, left me discouraged and frustrated. Although I was reluctant to go, she heavily questioned my lack of recent MRIs and bloodwork while on Gilenya. She implied it was my fault, but seemed unaware that MRIs are extremely expensive, and I currently lack insurance. She suggested that not getting the yearly MRIs puts my health at risk and questioned whether Gilenya is right for me if I cannot comply. I mean, who is supposed to order the MRI? It is not something I can order myself, and she has not ordered one in a few years. Of course, I have not been into the office in the past few years either. Needless to say, I left my appointment in tears.

Anytime there is talk about changing my treatment plan, I feel upset because I believe Gilenya is preventing my MS from getting worse. I trust that most doctors are knowledgeable and want the best for their patients. Unfortunately, costs and insurance often influence medical decisions, especially in the United States. Sometimes, it seems like money matters more than patient interests. While I respect medical expertise, I know my own body best after 44 years of living with it, and ultimately, I must make my own decisions.  

Unfortunately, I did not get any answers from my MS Specialist about my recent vision issues, and I still struggle to see clearly later in the day. I think my next step in figuring out why my vision is not behaving is to go see my eye doctor, which is not as bad as the neurologist, and he has a personality. Chances are the vision disturbances have to do with dry eyes or, hopefully, nothing too serious. It probably would have been less of an emotional catastrophe if I had gone to my eye doctor first and continued to avoid the neurologist, but what’s done is done, and I cannot change it now. 

The other reason I have not been writing lately is that I have been reading fiction books. While my vision has created challenges, I find it harder to see a computer screen, but easier to see the words in a book. It sounds insane, but it has been what I have been dealing with for several weeks. With too much negativity lingering in the real world, reading fiction books has offered me an escape from the additional stress. While stress is terrible for everyone, stress is exceptionally harsh for people living with Multiple Sclerosis because the two are a toxic combination. For more than a year, I have read more than twenty books, with only two being nonfiction.   

Of course, writing can be beneficial for releasing stress, and it should be easy to avoid the toxicity of the news, but my husband watches a lot of the news. Much of the time, while he watches different news outlet stories, I can ignore them because I am focused on the book in my hand. News stories that are extremely difficult for me are those regarding Epstein and his friends and political nonsense. Reading has helped me tune out the noise of reality. Although I have always enjoyed writing, it has been too challenging due to my vision, and I want to spread positivity; finding the positive in life has been nearly impossible.  

The month of March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. For millions of people around the world living with Multiple Sclerosis, March serves as a way to help others understand this incurable illness. I have lived with Multiple Sclerosis for more than half of my life, and there are various challenges involved with this condition. The symptoms are different for each individual, and no two people will experience the same exact issues, but one thing we all endure is that there is no cure. Conditionals that do not offer cures can be very frustrating. One thing I will never forget is the fear that consumed me when I was first diagnosed at nineteen years old, and that fear lingers in my mind to this day. Of course, logically, I understand my fear of being in a wheelchair may never happen, and even if it does, I will still be alive and find a way to deal with the challenges.  

Thank you for visiting my site today! I hope you have a lovely weekend, and you can do something special just for yourself. I am trying to decide how to handle the vision issues, so it will be easier for me to write more. I want to ask you an important question to think about. What has been the best lesson you have learned so far in your life? I have learned that there are many things you cannot control, but must learn to survive this life. I never asked to have Multiple Sclerosis, but I know it could be worse than it is now. As always, I look forward to reading your comments and will respond as quickly as possible. Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love❤️, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes🌈! 

Always, Alyssa

MS-Related Pain

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It has been close to 25 years since I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Over the years, I have learned so much that I wish I didn’t know. Living with Multiple Sclerosis comes with too many unexpected and unpredictable issues. Still, these are all issues one must learn to accept and deal with because they are not going away. I remember when I was diagnosed, I thought my entire world was coming to an end. I only went to an eye doctor because I had lost vision in my left eye. Imagine beginning an appointment, preparing yourself to be blind in one eye, but leaving the doctor’s office after being told it was believed you had an incurable illness, and you were to get an MRI to confirm. Of course, I did not want to be blind, but I surely never expected or wanted Multiple Sclerosis. 

Over all the years living with Multiple Sclerosis, one thing I have become very well acquainted with is pain! My relationship with pain is not friendly or welcomed, but unfortunately, it is very close. I would almost say my relationship with pain is too close, but also one that will never end. Of course, the pain is there to welcome me to a new day, first thing in the morning, and stays there letting me know I have not escaped it. Unfortunately, my relationship with pain gets more intense in the evenings and tries to interrupt the sleep I need to recover from the day. If there is ever a time during the day when I think the pain has moved on, it abruptly reminds me that it is here to stay, no matter what I do, and the pain is not to be ignored.   

One of the most frustrating things about MS pain is that it is never straightforward. It rarely matches what I did the previous day, and it definitely does not follow any specific schedule. I can go to bed feeling one way, and wake up feeling something entirely different, from aching in ways I did not know were possible to feeling a way that does not make sense. I have tried placing the blame on anything but the MS, but logically, the pain is due to the MS.  

The problem that makes it harder is never just the pain; it is more about finding out how to live around and through it. I must take time to decide things like how bad it is today, what I can sensibly do, and whether there is anything worth pushing myself to do or not. There is always that silent fatigue lurking around that comes along with contentiously negotiating with my body.

There once was a time when I thought I had the power to control the pain, ignore the pain I was feeling, or, at the very least, I would downplay the intensity of the pain. Often, I would pretend I was not feeling any pain because I did not want to sound overly dramatic or like a reality. After all, none of that helped me feel any better. This may not be a huge surprise, but that did not work because I only felt more exhausted and extremely frustrated. Considering what I have learned so much, I try to listen to what my body is saying. If my body needs rest, I try to stop debating what my body needs and rest as much as I can. Through too much debate and resistance, I learned how to adjust my expectations and stop punishing myself for what was not achieved. I learned that some things are not as important as I think they are and can wait for another day. 

Honestly, this does not mean I have made peace with my constant pain because I continue getting frustrated. I do get irritated when my pain slows me down and does not allow me to do certain things. I do miss the version of myself I was before MS, a time when my body did not require too much thought and preparation. Of course, I have learned that pushing and punishing myself only adds more stress, which causes more pain, and I do not need any additional pain and discomfort.    

Living with constant pain has reshaped my views about strength because it is not pretending everything is okay. Strength involves admitting the pain but not surrendering to it. It means saying when you hurt and continue anyway, but at a different and possibly slower pace. It sometimes takes finding small things, even if they do not make everything completely better. Small things that have helped me include heating pads, sitting when it hurts too much to stand, standing when sitting hurts, warm bubble baths, cooling packs, or finding new things that help the pain.   

I have lived with MS-related body pain for more than half of my life, and it has made me more upfront, patient, and far less interested in what other people may think. MS is not seen or felt by others, but I know how I feel and what my body can handle, and I do not have to explain myself to everyone. Unfortunately, pain is a constant part of my life, and it is my reality. I can only hope and dream of a day in my future, pain, and I will not have a relationship, and we can end it, and part ways. Even if this relationship never has a chance of separating, a girl can dream! 

It has been challenging for me to write anything because I have been having vision issues. These issues have been going on since I had pink eye, but the blurry vision is in both of my eyes. Lately, even with my glasses on, my vision is still blurry. If I had to make an educated guess, I might say it was due to optic neuritis, but I do not want to accept this because it is terrifying.  I hope it has more to do with fatigue and nothing to do with optic neuritis, but we will see.   

Thank you for visiting my site today. I apologize that this post was so long, but I had a lot to say about MS-related pain. Of course, I do not hope you can relate to any of this, but if you do, please know you are not alone. I like to refer to today as Friday Eve because it sounds more optimistic, and I hope you are having a good week. As always, I look forward to reading any comments you have and will respond as quickly as possible. Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love❤️, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes🦋! 

Always, Alyssa

Remembering February Losses

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The month of February may be a shorter month, but it has left a few empty places in my heart. Of course, despite a couple of heartbreaking events that occurred during February, a few great things also happened. It is, as we have always heard, that you cannot have sunshine without darkness, and you cannot experience good without the bad. These are just some of the yin and yang that are involved in life, and there is no avoiding them. If you think about everything we go through in life, would we truly know love and happiness if we did not also experience hate and pain? I might be wrong, but I do not see how it would be possible. Everyone prefers to avoid the pains in life, whether they are emotional or physical, but it is possible that the pain helps us to enjoy the happy times even more.   

On February 7th, 2020, our sweet and loving cat Chloe took her final breath while resting as comfortably as possible in my lap. Even though we were aware that Chloe was going to pass away, nothing can prepare someone for a loss so tragic and painful. Unfortunately, Chloe was not the first loving cat we had lost, but it did not help prepare us or make the loss any easier. Chloe had battled with kidney issues, but was on a special diet to help slow any progression. I remember many trips to the veterinarian’s as I was completely dedicated to helping Chloe. I will never forget the day when one of the veterinarians told me Chloe would not survive the weekend, which was Friday, when I learned this terrible news. Of course, this news was devastating, but I did not want to believe or accept it, and might have lashed out at the veterinarian. I took Chloe home to keep her happy and comfortable after the appointment. The night before Chloe passed away, she slept near me throughout the night, but she did wet the bed, which was no fault of hers. Several hours later, resting peacefully, Chloe quietly passed away.  

Losing Chloe had an emotional impact on me, my husband, and our other cat, Sundance. While I cried for days, it was much harder watching Sundance grieve the loss of his best friend. It is hard enough for humans to deal with a devastating loss, but it is an entirely different process for a cat to deal with loss. Most people might not see or understand the emotions an animal has when they go through a loss, but we understood too well how Sundance was feeling because his expressions said more than he was able to vocalize. Even after we got Sundance a few more friends to play with, I do not think he ever forgot or got over the loss. Of course, he loved his new furry friends, Willow and Luna, but there was no replacing his love for Chloe.   

Four years later, we had to go through another painful situation with our beloved cat. Sundance was one of the most loving, happy, and amazing cats that had ever lived. Sundance knew nothing except unconditional love. This cat had the most vivid expressions, making it so you never had to guess how he was feeling. He absolutely adored Chloe and was heartbroken when she passed away, but he immediately fell in love with Willow and Luna. During the years we had him in our home, he brought us more joy than I ever expected, and we cherished every minute with him.  

Shortly after Sundance came to live with us, we discovered that he had asthma, but for the most part, it was controlled by medication. Unfortunately, once again, I learned terrible news about his fate because he had an inoperable tumor on one of his lungs, and considering he had lived with asthma, his other lung was not strong enough to handle any additional pressure. After a few months of treating the symptoms, I was able to do things such as feeding him baby food with a syringe, keeping him hydrated with fluids that I had to inject into him, and keeping him as comfortable as possible. Around 7:00 PM on February 10th, 2024, Sundance gained his angel wings and could visit his best friend, Chloe.  

My husband and I do not have children, well, children with two legs, but instead our children have four legs. Yes, we view our cats as if they were our children, and they are a strong and huge part of our family. For us, losing one of our cats feels like we lost a child, part of our hearts, and a family member we love dearly. The many years we spend loving and building bonds with our cats are special and priceless. Going through loss and intense grief is miserable, but it is a part of life that can’t be avoided. At this moment, we have five beautiful cats we love dearly, and I try not to imagine going through loss again. At the same time, I love every moment spent with these amazing little balls of love.  

Considering this post is much longer than I had planned, and I do not want to make you read a book, I will do another post regarding the positives of February. I also know this post was a little sad, and it was difficult to write, but I always try to honor both Chloe and Sundance as they deserve to be remembered. Even though the world is chaotic currently, and I am unable to catch a break in my life, my cats are what keep me going, as they bring so much joy into my life. After every storm in life, I manage to survive and get through; our five cats are what bring sunshine and happiness into my life. It might sound crazy, but they are the life jackets I am thrown when I feel like I am drowning.   

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope what I have shared provides light to the lives of two of my amazing cats who were taken away too soon. Chloe was only fifteen, and Sundance was thirteen years old; both will be missed forever. As I mentioned earlier, I plan to write another post about the positives of February, one of these is the day my hero and rock in life was born, my late grandfather. I hope you are enjoying your weekend, and you have done something for yourself. As always, I look forward to reading any comments you may have, and I will respond as quickly as possible. Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love❤️, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes😽! 

Always, Alyssa

Heavy Weight On Shoulders

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Happy Friday Eve, y’all! I hope you are doing well, and the week has treated you well. It has been a while since my last post, and I had promised myself I would write more, but too many things have gotten in the way. When I do write something, I am sharing it with others, so I would prefer it to be either optimistic or something happening in my life that I want to share with others. The only exciting thing that has happened recently was that we finally got snow. Of course, the week before we got snow❄️, we had a terrible ice storm🧊. I could have done without the ice🧊, but finally seeing snow on the ground, even if it was only for a few days, was nice! It rarely snows🌨️ in the south where I live, but when it does, everyone is sent into a panic, and they start preparing for their world to come crashing down. 

I have been applying for jobs daily, but there was one job I had seen posted several times and applied for each time. Finally, I received a call to schedule an interview, and I was over the moon excited. Of course, I was extremely nervous during the interview, but I tried. I was honest with all the questions I answered and was simply just myself. Now, I must wait to see if they want to schedule a second interview. It is not that I want the job, but that I need a job. I know I would do well with the job I interviewed for, but I hope the ladies who interviewed me thought the same.   Although life has not been easy lately, I refuse to surrender and will continue to fight until better days happen!

Unfortunately, I have been unemployed longer than I expected. I did apply for disability, but waiting for the government to do anything is like waiting for miracles. In my mind, the job I recently interviewed for was my only hope for a steady income and insurance, which has been lacking for too long. I have felt a heavy weight on my shoulders because I am doing everything possible to take care of myself. I also want to take care of my husband and our five amazing cats. It is something I cannot control, but I feel that if I did not excel during my interview, I ruined my chances of getting insurance again in the near future. For too long, I have felt like I have this heavy weight on my shoulders, while being held under water, and I cannot find my way to breathe easily again. This is an exhausting and stressful feeling, but the only thing I can control at this moment is to know I did the best I could during my interview, and I hope something good comes from it.   

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site today. I wanted to share a slight update on what has been happening in my life. I hope something I have shared helps you understand what I have been dealing with lately, and maybe something resonates with you. As always, I am looking forward to reading any comments you may have, and I will respond as quickly as possible. Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love❤️, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes🦋! 

Always, Alyssa

❄️Done With ICE!🧊

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Happy Friday to an amazing group of people whose thoughts I value. I hope you have been doing well. I know it has been a while since my last post, but sometimes life struggles get in the way of writing, especially when it comes to writing something optimistic. Of course, not working has taken a pessimistic toll on my views and thoughts, not to mention the fact of being without health insurance, while living with Multiple Sclerosis. It is terrifying to be without insurance because so much can go wrong, and things always go wrong at the worst of times. Regardless of what I have been trying to survive, I hope everyone reading this is doing well and taking care of themselves.   

During the past couple of weeks, there has been a massive issue with ice. Of course, two forms of ice have been causing issues for too many people. I will start with the easiest ice issue, as this form of ice is created by Mother Nature and not with malicious intent. In the south, where I live, we experienced a terrible ice storm, and when this type of issue occurs in areas that are not equipped or used to dealing with it, people often panic. Now, I did grow up in the northern part of the country, but it does not matter where anyone grew up or what they have dealt with in the past; ice is dangerous. Many feared there would be power outages, which can happen when the ice builds on power lines. Thankfully, our power did not go out, but we were prepared and had firewood to start a fire in the fireplace. We also ensured we had food in the house that could be eaten without power.

The ice was finally starting to melt, but once the temperatures dropped back to freezing, the ice froze again. Thankfully, there has not been as much ice. It was a crazy few days, and I started to think the only way through our front yard would be with ice skates. On one of the cold nights, we brought one of the feral cats inside for a few hours. Of course, we kept her separated from our cats because we do not know if she had anything contagious. I know we cannot save all the feral cats during the cold times, and they have their own process of staying safe, but it still makes me worry and breaks my heart that we cannot bring more of them inside and give them a good home.  Of course, we survived the ice storm, now we will be expecting snow this weekend! I think I am the only person who is looking forward to real snow❄️!!

The other form of ICE that has created many issues is the type fueled with hatred. ICE is the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has been raining hellacious problems in Minnesota. During the past two weeks, these ICE agents have murdered two innocent people. Whether this was cold-blooded murder or following orders from someone without a heart and soul, it is still very upsetting and tragic. Renee Good was a mother of three. Alex Pretti was a dedicated ICU nurse who had a license to carry a firearm at the time, but he did not point the gun at anyone, and he was trying to help another person who had been knocked to the ground by these ICE agents.   

These tragic events that occurred in Minnesota are sad and have enraged many people. It is just my opinion, and I am not trying to convince anyone reading this, but ICE must go away and stop killing innocent people. My heart breaks for the families of both Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as their lives were taken away from them far too soon. These senseless killings and the fear people are living with should never have happened, and someone needs to do the right thing and remove these agents. These ICE agents have little to no training and are behaving as though they are playing a video game, but this is not a game, and this is real people’s lives being destroyed.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site and read what I have written. I know nothing in this post was positive, but unfortunately, many terrible things are happening that must be addressed. Of course, I know there is nothing we can do as we are not part of the government, allowing the ICE agents to cause massive harm, but we can feel empathy for those who have been affected. I hope your week has been a good one, and that you have a lovely weekend. I know I have not been posting much lately, but I promise my next post will be far more optimistic. As always, I would love your feedback on what I have shared, and I will respond to all comments as quickly as possible. Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love❤️, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes😇! 

Always, Alyssa

Emotional Release

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Happy Saturday, y’all! I hope you are doing well and that you are ready to have a great weekend. Not much new has happened during the week, and I am still trying to deal with life’s challenges as they are thrown at me. The kitty crew is doing great and thriving, which is amazing. The weather has been much colder, so I worry about the outside feral cats, but I have learned that cats have an amazing ability to survive. I think many animals have an instinct that humans do not have, and are survivors. Of course, I still continue feeding the feral cats, and have made them a small enclosed area on the porch with large blankets to block the wind.

Recently, I was told I was passive-aggressive and had apparently had an expression on my face. First, I can admit that I can be passive-aggressive, especially when I am very irritated. It tends to happen when someone continues making comments about things I am aware of, or they say I am not thinking with common sense, or telling me I am doing something wrong, because I feel under attack. I find it incredibly aggravating when someone tells me what to do and does absolutely nothing to help. I have known my entire life that I do not have a good poker face, so whatever I am feeling will be written all over my face. Therefore, when I am annoyed or frustrated, it shows through my facial expressions. I have never been able to hide my feelings, no matter what they may be. I would guess Vegas is the last place I should ever go😊! 

How does it make you feel when someone is standing in a room, not helping with anything, yet will say what needs to be done? Personally, I think if someone has the sense and ability to think, they should be able to do whatever it is they are telling another person to do. One thing I have learned over the years is not to get overly worked up, especially about things I have no control over. We must indeed pick our battles because if we do not, we will be in a never-ending battle. I might not be the most patient person in the world, but I have learned to be much more patient with simple things in life, such as ignorance! I tend to let most things go and just move on, but I cannot help it; I get very frustrated when someone tries telling me what to do and does not help with their orders.   

During this recent event, when I was told I was passive-aggressive, I had just put Drano into the bathtub. I am fully aware of the dangers this can pose to our sweet cats, but I was watching to ensure they did not enter the bathroom. I know it may have been easier and maybe even smarter to have closed the door, but I was sitting with the cats, and they did not even try going into the bathroom. Of course, when my husband saw this, he made his thoughts clear about the dangers of Drano and cats. Clearly, he did not understand that I was not letting the cats into the bathroom where they could jump into the bathtub and be harmed. Anyone who knows me knows I would never harm any animals, especially our five amazing cats!   

I will admit, not working and waiting for a reply on the disability has caused some ill feelings. It was incredibly frustrating looking for a job, but being unsuccessful, which I think has a lot to do with the job market being terrible. It is not as though I am not qualified or do not have an educational background, because this does not apply to my background or qualifications. Not only is it frustrating searching for a job, but initially, my disability application was denied because they claimed they did not receive a response from those I listed on my application. I know for a fact that my husband did not receive anything to complete, and my mother said she did not either. Of course, I have appealed for their so-called decision because it was unfair and completely wrong. Of course, I believe this all goes back to the incompetent government, destroying the country and every citizen’s life!   

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site today. Most of this post was me venting about my frustrations because writing is one of the only ways I know to release my emotions. I would rather not talk about these frustrations because I might end up getting loud, and I may say things I will later regret. Some of what I have vented about may be something you have endured and overcome, and if this is true, please let me know how. I hope you had a great week, and you are looking forward to a lovely weekend. In every post I write, I always look forward to reading any comments you have, and this is especially true with what I have shared. I would love this opportunity. I will respond to all comments as quickly as possible! Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love❤️, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes😽! 

Always, Alyssa

Life Reflections

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There are many times when the memories from the past can blind us from where we are going in life. It is only natural for all humans to hold a grudge and not know the best way to release those emotions. Often, we let our past experiences dictate our future, and while this can sometimes result in a positive outcome, there are times when it can lead to negative consequences; both outcomes can be life-altering. Holding onto the past does not allow you to grow and enjoy the life we all deserve. Our lives may not be the dream we wanted them to be, but life does not have to be a nightmare either. The fact is, our lives are what we make them, and our choices along the way are a huge factor.  

Reflecting on our lives may not be an easy task, especially when you have buried too many demons. Unfortunately, no matter how deeply the demons are, they always resurface and are mostly unpredictable. Until we face our demons, they will never stop pulling us down and drowning us in their memories. Everyone deserves a good life, so we must face our demons and defeat them once and for all. No one must remain a slave to the demons we have buried; we can face them and overcome them with strength and determination.   

Our childhood years are the most impressionable years of our lives. We begin to learn who we are and build our strengths. Childhood can shape who we become as adults, and through the lessons learned, we start to understand the differences between right and wrong. The situations that occur during our younger years are issues we may carry with us, but those negative situations can create something inside us that helps us navigate through the years.

If we all take time to think about the issues from our lives that have caused pain and we carried that pain with us for years, we will start to understand the need for us to STOP and let go of the pain. When we carry hurt and disappointment with us for too many years, it does nothing to benefit our healing. The only thing we are doing by holding onto these negative emotions is damaging our hearts, souls, and optimism for the future. Sometimes it takes many tears to finally release ourselves from the past, but once we do, we may see our lives in an entirely different light, and that light will be brighter.   

For instance, consider years of cruelty and disappointment, once viewing the world with a sense of fear, now standing strong from growing up too fast. Haunting betrayals tried to distract from the bigger picture of happiness, but now she stands dressed in white, embarking on a future she did not know existed, one that holds safety, security, love, kindness, hope, and freedom from violence and lies. She dreamed of this beautiful day, and in her dreams, she wanted nothing more than what all little girls wanted: her daddy walking beside her, tears in his eyes because his little girl was happy and building her life. The lack of this was the last time she would allow the dreams of a father who loved her to break her heart.    

Proudly, she worked for years to let go of the pain caused and the tears she had in her eyes as she walked alone down the aisle to be married. She is sure he has regrets and, in a sense, that this day his heart broke as well. She knows that no one can turn back time and make the wrongs right, and knows holding this over him will not mend the broken hearts. Regardless of the pain caused by years of feeling unloved, she knows in her heart that her father loved her, but it was not the way she needed it. Does he know how to love her the way she desperately needed? Can she hear in his voice that he is trying to win her trust and love, but can he hear in her voice the fear of letting him back into her life and heart? Maybe. 

My main reason for this long post was to help others learn when it is time to release yourselves from disappointments and hurt. Of course, when working on releasing negative emotions, it can be beneficial to talk it out with the people who caused the pain; however, if that does not work or it is too uncomfortable to deal with, journaling your emotions can help you work through the challenges you face. The most important thing to remember is to understand that YOU are NOT alone and that YOU will overcome these challenges! 

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site and read this post today. I hope something I shared resonates with you and helps you to overcome the many challenges everyone faces throughout life. It is very critical to understand that you are stronger than you think, and you deserve the best life possible. As always, I look forward to reading your thoughts about what I have shared and will respond to all comments as quickly as possible. Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love❤️, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes🦋! 

Always, Alyssa

Political Bias Chaos

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The United States is supposed to be a free country where individuals can express their own opinions without fear of harm. Unfortunately, we are living in a country with too much hatred that is being inflamed by politics. Friends and families are arguing because of their political views, which is causing too much animosity. This has not been a slow and gradual issue, but one that is coming with a vengeance. Many of us were given good advice long ago not to discuss certain taboo issues with family and friends, and one of those issues was politics. 

Unfortunately, we continuously watch the news about outrage because senseless violence occurs too frequently. We have seen our government issue “special” agents to maintain control, but these so-called special agents are ICE agents with no law enforcement training or training of any kind. Why do we need ICE agents running through neighborhoods and communities looking for people they do not feel belong in the country? Why are these agents carrying deadly weapons and with a cowardly ideology to shoot anyone they feel threatened by or even think that somehow must be shot? These ICE agents were put in place by the most hateful people in the country, and their goal is to act solely based on hate.  

The truly devastating and heartbreaking matter that has plagued the country and world is disagreements regarding politics. Everything destructive is blamed on the opposite party, while another individual supports. Each of the political parties, Republicans and Democrats, behaves in very unethical and harsh manners. We are supposed to be one country, and each citizen has a right to respect, kindness, and love, but that is not what we are witnessing. No person wants to admit they are wrong about anything and will take their mistakes to the grave. Many people who voted for Donald Trump are silently coming to terms with the error of their ways, but some will strongly stand by their choice, even when they see the damage done to the country they live in.  

We are allowing hate-fueled rhetoric to influence our lives and cause massive issues with family and friends. For anyone who knows me, I am NOT and NEVER will be a supporter of Donald Trump. My opinion of this person, who claims to be a kind and caring man, has not wavered, and I have always viewed him as a form of evil we have not seen before. Do I have family and friends who disagree? Unfortunately, I have some people in my life with a different opinion about Trump, and this has caused numerous disagreements. Again, anyone who knows me should understand that when I am passionate about something, I have already given the topic enough thought, and my stance is firm. We must start to spread less hate and more love!

Each person must decide what is more important: maintaining our relationships with friends and family, or putting our political views ahead of everything else. This is a decision that can be made by each person, and they must acknowledge the impact it may have on their lives. There are many questions one must ask oneself before making any final decisions. One of the main things we must question is whether we are willing to let our political views be more significant than our personal relationships. Of course, I believe the way an individual leans with their political views can say a great deal about who they are as a person, and unfortunately, this is something that cannot be changed. I will never say that all Democrats are pure and kind because I am sure many are the direct opposite. I cannot say that all Republicans are full of hate and evil, but I will say they appear to think with less love and more hatred.   

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope you had a lovely week, and your weekend is filled with relaxation and happiness. I want everyone reading this post to understand that I respect your views and apologize if you find anything I have written offensive. I was never naive enough to believe 2026 would bring positive changes to the United States or political leaders, but I do hope everyone can see through the darkness and be kind, understanding, and loving to each person in your life, even though we may have differences. I would love to read your thoughts on what I shared today, and I will respond to all comments as quickly as possible. Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love❤️, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes🦋! 

Always, Alyssa