From Inside Out Now

Progress With My Wild-Caught Cockatoo

Joey Bird boy has been my companion bird since 1990 something when I adopted him. Click here for his story. We have been together for over 20 years and he will always be a wild Umbrella Cockatoo. Notice that one of his nails is missing and the band on his leg. He came to me this way. I have no idea how he lost that nail. 

I don’t think he was handled very much before he came home to live with me.…

Face It, It Is All About Perspective

Read this quote. This was written to a friend on Facebook. I removed names to protect their identities because it doesn’t really matter who said it. It matters that their faith led them to this point and the person believes this is the correct way to believe. I will ask you some questions after you read this:

“Hi, We’re not sure if you were going to come downor when and if you were going to do…

Violence Called Last Night; I Answered

Voices raising in tone and volume alerted me that something was happening. I turned down my TV to listen; gaging if danger was lurking near by. My building is usually so quiet and everyone gets along. There is a disturbance in The Force.

Military Police training in crisis intervention and domestic violence taught me when/if I needed to act. During the moments of evaluation,  I checked what shoes…

Lines of separation; fading away 

Re-painting paint; back ordered. 

Our controllers are nervous. 

Will we File 13 the order?

Yes, I do go out in public like this. On purpose.

Reinventing myself takes a sense of humor, an “in the moment” intelligence, the courage to do what comes naturally, watch human nature, and maintain a present presence. However, I am not the perpetual happy type, that's way too creepy even for me.

I find many unhappy people most willing to tell me about why they are so unhappy around about and for their life. Even to me, a "no stranger to paradise" type. So, I do what I do best. ME. 

I am an interactor. I have a long trail of embarrassing moments behind me and I am no slouch when it comes to another possibility of doing it again to myself. I have had many laughs at myself, too. Those are the best!

OD green uniform otherwise known as a “pickle suit” as a Military Police soldier is how I served. From guarding nuke missile sites in Germany; guarding VIP duty in Washington DC; to more tear gas chambers in Seoul, Korea; 6 years on active duty still influences my life and scared my body.

I trained right beside the men without exception. No make up class for the woman soldier except on how to apply camouflage with bug juice. I trained in foxholes, marched in full gear with an 80 lb. pack on my back, learned urban warfare, flew in helicopters, crawled through barbed wire and mud while live fire zoomed overhead. I qualified with M16 rifle with an M203 grenade launcher, my side arm was a .45 (or .38 when they wouldn't allow me to carry my .45) for most of my military career. 

Women are just as dangerous (if not more so) when ordered. For many years, we were not allowed to be in combat by law; but, that doesn't mean we didn't learn the ways of the biggest gang in the world. We have earned the stripes we wear by honing our skills as a soldier.  

I wear my Veterans hat to show a woman veteran stands before them; and, to bring awareness that women have volunteered to serve in the military.