"It's All Sham Pain" Thanks Five Finger Death Punch

I like to listen to "metal" and many a poetic lyric has resonated with me.  None more so lately, than Five Finger Death Punch's "Sham Pain."  If you can take a few swear words, YouTube it.  LOL

I love how they twisted those words....LOVE it!   That is exactly how I have been feeling lately.  This is the jest of what I get out of it.  A sham is something that is not exactly what it is presented to be, false, bogus and pain is what it is.  Champagne = celebration....Sham Pain = how I feel lately!

Let's break this down to what Dicky Bird has been doing and you will see how funny this is to me.  Have you seen those Pinterest Nail or Fails?  Or the pictures of people trying to copy it, "how they look...how I look..." you know what I'm saying, right?  To me, this song is on those same lines. 

O.k. we live in a social media driven world.  No matter if you are a cook in the school kitchen, mom on the playground, a fitness coach or an antique dealer, we all share our day in some way on social media.  None more so than those of us who are self-employed.  We have to!  For real or how is anyone going to see what we do.  If you are in the business, you know what I mean and it's hard for some of us, less than savvy users.  

After all the wonderful shows that occurred over the weekend, looking at the amazing booths....I felt defeated!  My stuff sucks!  Come one now....we've all been there!  Then I heard this song and I knew I would blog about this.  It's all "sham pain!"

Oh, don't get me wrong, I love looking at all the perfectly staged, meticulously manicured images that pop up on my news feeds, I do!  When you promote yourself, style or items for sale - you need to!  For the most part, I'm inspired, but at times, if I'm being honest, discouraged.  It's all "sham pain!"

I had to laugh yesterday, as Lisa and I were working, this song ran through my head.  Oh we could and do, post nice pictures of the items at our sales, but do any of you know what we had to dig through to get it?  Many times, lots of critter poops...for real!   People always say, "I would love to do what you do" - but, could you?  It's not easy, even though some of the images make it look that way.  It's all "sham pain."

I wanted to post this for my Motivation Monday, but I was working at our sale all day and then a Town of Ringle meeting.  I was going to try to squeeze it in before I fell asleep, just so I could say I posted on Monday....but, then again, its all "sham pain."  

I hope that you would think on the twist in these words the next time you feel like I have been.  It really makes me laugh.  The chorus of the song is this:  "all in all it's a good life, I got what I want, I can't complain.  I'm living the good life, a toast to you know, it's all "sham pain."  

So, I will - champagne = celebrate what I do the best way I can do it, but keep in mind, it's all "sham pain!"

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Comment Help - Blogger Problems

I don't even know if this will work, as I don't know if I can even receive comments.  But, do any of you out there know how to get back your old comments.  I've spent - I won't share how long...googling, asking, HELP boards, Blogger Reply....to no avail....I did something and I don't know what.  I don't even know how to get back to the broken I can't receive messages.... I just want my old comments back, I want to have anyone be able to leave a comment and I want them to be seen on the blog.  Any ideas?  Thanks

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

I Choose You

"If I've never said this or have an opportunity to say it again, I want you to know that - I choose you!"  

I know I've talked about being picked last at every gym class, not being popular, last of 6 kids, end of the line hand me downs, growing up in a church where my siblings chose "them" over me....I mean I could go on....but, I think you get the picture.  All of those things make me look like a baby and I hate posting about this, but I have to.  I hope this helps someone else.  And, yes, I know Jesus chooses us.  He does, and loves us, this is not about my insecurity in that.  It's about being human and living with other humans being human....we fail many times.

You know what??...what people say about us, the things that happen to us as kids really do have a long lasting affect.  I thought I was over some of them...but, I guess those wounds run deep.  Come on, I can't be the only one who, maybe out of the blue, hear a word or see something and you're right back in 2nd grade.  Even an old scab or scar will bleed if you pick at long enough.  

I had a rough day recently, where it was the "perfect storm" where many of my past insecurities and hurts came all down to one sentence someone said to me....in front of my daughter.  I was back in 2nd grade....I do know that the stage of life I'm in plays a role in my emotions now.  

I shared these things with my brother Frank who is also my pastor.  When I call him, I will say..."I'm telling you this as my brother, not my pastor..." I have to define what capacity he is listening to me in...LOL.  He let me vent, point out some "truths" to him and before I could even get in a rebuttal to what I thought he was going to say...he said that first statement to me..."I choose you..."  Wow, it was like a wave running over me.  I know this sounds silly or simple - it is!  I'm not denying that.  However, how that made me feel erased many of my old hurts.  

So now, I've decided to tell others that same statement, because it made me feel so good.  If you happen to be reading this and feeling down, know that He (Jesus) does choose you!  Me, Dicky Bird's Nest, the blogger, is happy you are reading this and maybe following along.  I choose you, my reader, to share all of these ups and downs with that maybe you can benefit from my vulnerability in writing.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Web Lessons

This spider is actually the size of a quarter.  I saw it only after I walked face first into it's beautiful web.  It found a nice spot to sleep in our barn.  I'm torn about what to think of it.  On one had it's scary and yet again beautiful; it's web is a nuisance, but productive and it's a helpful creature with a nasty bite.  I had an allergic reaction to a spider bite just last month.  By the way, put raw honey on them...it really works!

This spider had my thinking about a blog post.  I could go in the direction of getting tangled in a web..."oh what a web we weave..."  That would be a good one.  I could do it on "itsy bitsy spider, after the rain, getting knocked down, back up the spout..."  That has some substance too.  Then I thought of how a spider waits, waits patiently for a fly to land in their web.  Then I had to chuckle...as I was in the barn going through old inventory to put on my Town Hall Trinkets On Line Estate Sale group on face book:
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1914536328603700/?source_id=729693193716630   doing just that.  I was creating a "web" of images to post and now I patiently wait for some sales.   I had to laugh, so this is the direction of my post.  


I know for some of us, blogging is an extension of our social media marketing.   However you look at it, through blogging we are marketing ourselves, ideals, style, image and for some items for sale.  I've been doing "this" what I do for a long time.  Long before social media.  It still never ceases to amaze me how this all works.  "This" as in social media.  That in itself would be a good post about the "web" ....LOL.  

So, I will weave my creative little web and sit and wait.  Wait for more LIKES, wait for more followers, wait for more members, wait for more sales....wait....  Taking lessons from this spider and the "web."  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Living Estate Sale for Mel & Noreen Podolske

For those who live close here is the Craigslist ad:

 https://wausau.craigslist.org/gms/d/living-estate-sale-mel-noreen/6682802665.html

Mel and Noreen are my friend Ann's parents.  I'm helping them sell what they have left now that they moved into an elderly living complex.  Mel was the industrial arts teacher for decades in the D.C. Everest school district in Schofield.

Anyway, Lisa and I have worked several "estate" type sales this year...all of which have had weird weather!  From 22" of snow to 100 degrees of hot and humid.  This home is on an island and we have had severe weather and storms yesterday and now predicted for today....I surely hope it doesn't flood!

Do you remember HeeHaw?  "If it weren't for bad luck 'we'd' have no luck at all....gloom, despair and agony on me...."  That will be how we remember our 2018 sales.  

Lisa said something so funny...but, true...you all know we've been doing things like this for over 25 years, right?!?  I don't know why people don't know this...it's our plight I guess!  Anyway, she said "we finally have some great sales and now this stuff" Ya, our luck!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Motivational Monday - Hold'em or Fold'em

"You've got to know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em, know when to walk away, know when to run....."

O.k. now try to get that song out of your head....thanks Kenny Rogers.  

I used a deck of cards analogy just yesterday talking with Justine about something that happened to me on Friday.  This song came to mind this morning for my Motivational Monday post.  It's not the post I was working on in my head, I'll save that one for another day.....sometimes life throws you another post.  

I was talking with Al the other night and I came to the conclusion that I'm am and I always have been the "cheerleader."  Oh, I never was a real cheerleader....I was too chubby.  Anyway, looking back, I have always been the one cheering others on, patting them on the back and sticking up for the underdog.  

Did I ever tell you about my experience at Auctioneering School?   First off, it was a week away from Al and my girls, in another state, I drove to, by myself and attended with 40 other people I never met.   As the days went on and we practiced our "calling" I was the one and I mean ONLY one to start to clap for the others even when they sucked and trust me they did!  After I started, the rest of the class joined in.  

Every time, I mean EVERY time it was my turn - no one....not one clap.....are you kidding me.  I finally said....(and by the way, don't give me a microphone...LOL) "hey, I clapped for you guys and some of you really suck!"  It was not till that moment several days into the week....that they finally clapped!  Do you know how hard it is to do something your not the best at and not receive any encouragement or affirmation - well, let me tell you, it was tough!  The lack of it made me, force them, to do so.  I went from cheerleader to judge and jury.  And that right there my friends is me!

After a bit of self reflection, I have come to the conclusion that I must embrace my "specialness,"  I have an unique placement on the "spectrum" somewhere between manic and depressive, in the middle of OCD, skirting around Asperger's  and shake in a bit of "I need to tell the truth" and "you need to hear it" right there....that's it....you have me.  Don't get me wrong, when I was a kid, lack of diagnosis and understanding all this was the norm.  Thank God it was!  

You can try to deny, but all of us - we ALL are on the spectrum!  I'm not trying to deligitimize diagnosed syndromes, these are real and for some real hard to live with.  I am, however, trying to state that we need to learn to work with it - the special gift God created us with.  

Somehow, this post did lead into the one I was working in my head - I love that!  I admire Temple Grandin - she spells it out so well here in this video: 
 https://www.ted.com/talks/temple_grandin_the_world_needs_all_kinds_of_minds#t-154694
I will have more on that in future posts.  

Ok, after saying all that, where does the hold'em and fold'em come to play...who holds what cards....and why the analogy?  

I use it to Motivate us to know ourselves, when we are gonna blow, when we are gonna cry, when we are gonna (yes I'm saying gonna....cuz... I'ma gonna try to explain this) when we are to walk away and when we are to run.  Guess what?  We can decided - yep, it's up to us!  Make the right choice.  I've made lots of wrong ones in my life and then had to regret it later.  

The next time you are in a situation where you're gonna....(fill in the blank)....think on Kenny Rogers....look at your hand, know your cards, know yourself and make a choice.  Hold'em, fold'em, walk away or run....it's your choice....choose wisely my friend.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.    

Ringle Harvest Day was Featured in Wisconsin Central Times News

I am so excited to share that the Marathon County, Wisconsin Central Time News has an article "Tell me Something I Don't Know About....RINGLE that features the Ringle Harvest Day https://www.facebook.com/RingleHarvestDayFleaMarket/

Jessica (Laska) Meadows, grew up just down the road from our farm.  Her dad, had a wonderful pumpkin patch with those huge 100's pound pumpkins.  In fact, he even sold some of them at one of the first Ringle Harvest Days when it was held at our farm.  He has passed on now, however every time I see one of those pumpkins I think of him.  

In fact, I didn't even know all of the cool things about Ringle that she shares in her article.  I love the history.  Please go to the link and read it:
  https://wisconsincentraltimenews.com/2018/08/20/tell-me-something-i-dont-know-about-ringle/

Thank you Jessica for featuring the event and sharing such heartfelt words about our community.  We are so blessed to live here and you express that so beautifully.  

And as always, Blessings from Ringle, WI....oh and Jessica said this, which I truly love:  One thing is for sure . . .

Ringle may be a small town, but it’s a place filled with wonderful people who want to give back to their community and who hold a deep sense of pride and respect for our natural resources and environment.

I invite you to come visit Ringle and fall in love with its natural beauty and charm the way I did as a child — and then again as an adult!