Indoor Herbs/Garden - General

If you're a regular you've probably no doubt seen one of my prior posts regarding outdoors planting on a budget. For those of you as my first time reader, just peruse and you'll find it-it's an earlier post I've written. Moving along...

So in that said previous post I mentioned specifically some plants that were great for cooking as well as natural mosquito repellants during the hot season and for those plants to be placed near your main entryways or literally right next to the door that people most frequently use to enter into your home. Today's post expands on a little cool project that you can do indoors and not only can it be fun for the kiddos BUT it's still pocketbook friendly!

Back in 2018 I found some great items at Dollar Tree (a more upscale Dollar General feel and pricing) not really knowing how awesome they would have my plants turn out. First off, for any of you who are only Target or Walmart or whatever neighborhood market place you have and refuse to enter into some of those budget friendly spots-it's a darn shame because there are some great things in there I'll have you know! So taking my oldest (while pregnant again) into the Dollar Tree store we came upon some really fun items for the "spring" and "floral" section they organized at the front of the store. They had packages of "dirt-less dirt" which almost looked like a bunch of moss in a nicely packaged ziplock bag. Not knowing how much I would come to love them, I only placed six in my cart. I say six because in reading the directions you could put dirt in the flowering part you used the product in, you would just have to have more of the dirt-less product than actual dirt. Well right next to that package was the plastic flowering pots. Made a quick decision and decided to try my own take at vertical indoor herb garden.

I bought a total of twelve white plastic flowering pots, because I wanted my oldest to help me in decorating or making it an outdoor arts and crafts experience for her and I. Found some little chalkboard like signs that were on clips, so bought those with the idea to use those as my labels for the flowering pots. Then went back to the dirt-less package area and bought them out, buying and taking home with me a total of fifteen. I didn't know how they would (or wouldn't) work so I didn't want to risk wasting my time in coming back; I mean they were only a dollar a piece why would I bother leaving them at the store when I could just take them!

Well I knew that for the good stuff I had to buy at a better store, therefore there we went to Walmart to buy the white chalk paint marker, a package of paint pens, and the herbs that my oldest and I would be planting together in the house. so the total for it all: twelve flowering pots, fifteen dirt-less packages, the mini chalkboard signs, paint markers, chalk marker, four wood boards, some wood nails, the wall decals for the wall you'll see in the picture and of course the twelve plants to plant. The twelve plants consisted of lemon thyme, lavender, sweet mint, and cilantro; all of the above for the grand total of $96 and some change. It could have probably been less had ai not bought all of the dirt-less packages and started off with so many plants, but boy am I glad I did! We got home, unloaded everything onto a table in the garage and my oldest daughters proceeded in doing some arts and crafts with me while we did our project and assisted me in the planting portion of the project. When it came to setting up the wall she also helped me, in her way anyway. Below is the finished product.

I was SO shockingly surprised how well this little idea turned out and how much fun it was for my oldest and I, especially since we make a lot of sweet mint herbal sweet tea and for anyone who knows or uses sweet mint, the more you cut the faster and larger quantity of sweet mint grow in...well when you take care of your plants anyway. The dirt-less dirt was badass considering I was only watering once a week and no more than a cup so that the moisture retained (as the package explains) would work its magic. I mean I wasn't even using "plant food" it was just simple vitamin D light from the sun even though it was in a corner and the observational care. If I found that I may have missed the care of the plant and it would start to die off, I had the extra material on hand already to swap out plants/herbs and keep it all going.

The moral of the story is not only to incorporate your kids BUT that someone can not and should not dis the cheap locations and options for the category in use, such as the one used here, for gardening/planting. Are there any cool tips or creative streaks that you can provide?

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Electric Vehicles & Power Grid - General

Update below in bold italicized text: pictures with some statements below them.

OK so haters will be haters, but I would just like to begin with saying, that I'm not against clean energy measures such as windmills, solar power, and water powered energy resources. Bringing me to the topic at hand which are the much advertised and apparently on the rise designs of electric vehicles. 

First off, it's commendable that vehicle manufacturers are working into getting into a clean environment solution by designing and selling a vehicle without emissions. However, with that said there are two things that bother me the most when it comes to this step towards a "better environment". The biggest issue being that it's not affordable for everyone. None of these vehicles are affordable for anyone with less than perfect credit, who have a substantial amount of cash on hand, substantial downpayment, and/or makes six figures (realistically to afford the vehicle without concern of budgeting and other livelihood expenses). I mean none of them plug in to your typical 120V receptacle plug, you have to pay and make sure you add on/install the equipment your home will require in order for the home charging to not be a nuisance. I don't even want to begin to get into the fact that I dislike how TESLA (for example) has their website set up in order to browse options and prices, but as you can see, I highly doubt a middle class working American (single or married) could realistically afford (and maintain) the electric vehicle. 

Fine I won't completely harp on TESLA, lets provide some inside pricing into the Chevy electric truck:

-Silverador EV 3WT starts at $74,800 & $79,800 as the 4WT truck with more options. Even with the more "affordable" Volkswagon electric car (as displayed by the image below) the lowest priced model still would require no less than perfect credit (most probably, considering I don't see all the middle class buying those efficient vehicles) and/or a large down payment to decrease the monthly payments, etc. So I digress on the price tag of the vehicle being the first issue however this leads into the upfront cost of owning the electric vehicle. As I mentioned above, it doesn't plug into the typical 120V receptacle plug so you'll have to make sure that: 1)you home/domain/residence can support the output power of plugging in this vehicle to charge, that's if you're even lucky enough to have ability to plug up where you leave because last I checked I didn't see all apartment complexes having electricity parking spots built in-just saying! 2)so if you can support the output power the plug will require, GREAT! You can purchase the plug cord! You can charge your car! But you won't know the actual damage of each "plug up" until your electric bill comes in. Unless you're an older generation or have common sense to pay attention to your mannerism of driving and commute, most probably less than half the electric vehicle owners can properly gage what their own gas expense is monthly let alone what they think their budgeting would be for plugging up at their home. So give or take, you would be able to properly budget in your electric cost by the sixth month. Kudos to you, if you're the individual who budgets and tests or inquiries heavily to not risk these types of concerns or headaches - true adulting! Anyway! 3)Then if you're really one of those environmentally minded individuals you may want the solar charging package or the electric vehicle charging panel that you can purchase as well...more funds out and more funds out until you MAY POSSIBLY get a return for the additional expense come next tax year. 4)You will either pay for a yearly subscription or pay every time you charge your car-shoot I use valet less in a year than I think I would have to pay to charge my vehicle!

By the way, yes it's true, you could receive tax credit because of your electric vehicle purchase but only if you're applicable. You have to meeting the specific criteria required, it's not just about purchasing the electric vehicle and that's it. So here is the link to see if you qualify: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/credits-for-new-clean-vehicles-purchased-in-2023-or-after Consumer Reports published a detailed article in correlation to the purchase of the electric vehicle as well: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/electric-vehicles-that-qualify-for-new-ev-tax-credit-a9310530660/

Now to the climactic part of the post and the gigantic issue I see with electric vehicles. Again, I shall reiterate that as wonderful the application and design for such a vehicle is in today's world I feel that until they have solved the power grid situations then we really shouldn't be promoting the continued purchase of vehicles that will be required to be placed on the same power grids that some states are having concerns and/or issues of overloading. FOR EXAMPLE, where I live there are a few TESLA vehicle owners (some households with even two and I see the owner swapping the vehicles out throughout the week and weekend) - so I've seen when they've plugged their vehicles to the garage accessible power plug and others placing their vehicle cover when storms of any kind roll in. But you know what I don't see?....I don't see the TESLA panel and I sure as hell don't see any solar power panels to be able to charge their environment friendly electric vehicle. No, instead they are plugging up to the same power grid that powers our way of life. SO is there a reason why these hypocrites are only helping one aspect of the environment? Because last I checked power plants aren't all clean energy sources, just saying...OK fine fine, so you aren't claiming to be an environmentalist or pro electric cars for the environment, instead you want the tax credit. Fine get your damn credit but then do it right and get the fuck off the power grid I use, install you some solar panels then you can further your tax credit as well because you've purchased solar panels! GENIUS right!?! I'm pretty sure there's some laws/contracts/addendums or in the middle information but still the end result is what I'm mentioned, so if you ask me no I don't have those other links for the solar panels. 

So I noticed these charging stations in a shopping center for TESLA and hey guess what?! There are no solar panels anywhere in sight or even installed within the shopping center. Unless I'm mistaken (and I might be but I used to design MEP drawings in the electrical engineering department so I can see the power connection that's installed and at play here.) This does show that this charging station doesn't have clean energy to power and charge the electrical vehicles. So with so much articles and press on their clean energy, electric efficiency, and even promotions for their solar powered panels to use in homes/bought vehicles why isn't it being used here instead of sucking the energy from the power grid of where this is installed?...just sayin...

I mean as is TESLA charging stations are guess what?! ON THE ELECTRIC POWER GRID. They have minimal or close to none, charging locations where their own charging stands are actually solar powered; so you're talking clean energy all around to charge your vehicle and run your vehicle, wherever you can actually find those specific dozen in the entire nations (I don't know if that's the exact quantity just stating that for effect of sarcasm and disbelief is all). You can' google that and find out for yourself without taking my word for it. Shoot or even next time you see a designated TESLA charging station check it our for yourself. 

Texas I've seen have a lot going around but when I saw news like this pop up, I get a little frustrated at the electric vehicle owners...heck TESLA wouldn't probably even be so popular in Texas if it wasn't for the dumb Californians who've decided to move here and bring their dumbass laws/ideas and some companies. Texans are happy with everyone else from all the other 48 states (yes I said 48 because I'm not going to include Texas in that calculation, duh) but we can't stand born and raised Cali people...well fruits for thoughts...

Live power grid conditions: ERCOT asks Texans to conserve electricity Monday The operator of the Texas electric grid issued an appeal for energy conservation on Monday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
https://www.wfaa.com/mobile/article/news/local/texas/ercot-asking-texas-residents-businesses-conserve-power-monday-extreme-heat/287-d5e30072-f35e-45d7-9355-2b9b5b4787c4

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

Mountain Village Telluride - General

If you haven't made it out to Colorado state you really should plan something within your lifetime to see the beauty that lies within the Rocky Mountain terrains; whether it's with someone special, a group of friends, or a family trip. If this picture doesn't strike a "I wanna go tomorrow" or "plan an upcoming trip" then maybe some of the other photos I incorporate into this post prompt some "adventure" feelings. 

By the way, all the images in this post and on my social media regarding this post are my photos I personally took during my adventures in the state.

The first time I was in Colorado it was for a family trip during the spring time (if I remember correctly) that involved my parents and sister, then there was a second family trip that involved a caravan of three vehicles when it was filled with snow covered lands and mountain tops. Both trips involved the Aspen and Colorado Springs areas. So it was an eye opening journey and truly an adventure of an experience when I traveled to Colorado without any family in 2017. 

The drive alone through Colorado is breathtaking so obviously that's an experience of its own, but driving through the high peak areas or more specifically local country roads that are used for locals day to day traveling (instead of your typical highways) now that's one hell of a memorable view and moment. I wouldn't have even known about some of the places I will be mentioning if it wasn't at someone else's suggestion to go to the sites and locations I did. I will say that there's nothing wrong with adventuring alone but I think it best to at least go with someone who has been on the terrain and visited the sites first hand, makes things easier to navigate for sure.

A city to explore, visit, and enjoy is Telluride; a city in which looks to be the pit of an area surrounded my mountains. Such a quaint city with everything you need and so many things to enjoy and experience-mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, skiing (when it's the snowy winter season), canoeing, fishing, beautiful walking trails, flavors of hole in the wall restaurants, bakeries, off roading routes, and some cute little churches. This image below was walking alongside the riverbank that flows through Telluride.

It's a city that a car not what you'll need the entire time BUT, I suggest and feel that to truly enjoy the town you need to stay in the Telluride Mountain Village, that's where I stayed. It's a place at the top of the mountain ridge with its own town entry (like that of Telluride-see the entrance sign in my pic below). It's the equivalent of Frisco to Plano, or Highland Park to Dallas, or Woodlands to Houston, or Newark to Manhattan. 

The best part of this town is how it connects to Telluride. When you drive into the city you don't realize or notice where Telluride actually is. You'll see the various gondola's in transit throughout the air as you travel to either your rental home or hotel (that you've made reservations at) and just a very peaceful town. At the main entry to the "Village" is the fire department and police station, along with the main grocery store or market. The part I loved the most is that you didn't need a car at all to travel around unless you were traveling to one of the sites near to Telluride. Where we stayed at was not just a form of a ski resort, but an independent stay/company that had a few floors of the "hotel" for residential rentals and the remainder floors or "rooms" as part of the hotel accommodations. I'll have to write another post on the stay there because it's worth not only staying at but for any occasion you may have throughout the year out there. Valeting the vehicle, it wasn't taken out again until adventures to the near by sites occurred which was a blessing in disguise (especially if its your first time there) because you can literally just walk everywhere in this village and easily take the village gondola transportation to other areas of the village; example being, if you're needing to get something from their market/grocery store there's no need to take your vehicle, just board the gondola and easily bring back any groceries that you've purchased. The hotel though I think was in such a prime location because you felt a little secluded from the main traffic of the town natives and travelers, yet had a great distance from the main plaza where of course my handy Starbucks was located. However, in that altitude and in that state there's no way that Starbucks does any coffee or hot chocolate justice, you have to try the local stuff or find yourself a quaint little coffee shop (actually now that I think about it while I write, the hotel coffee was delicious and great during the morning breakfast).

When you walked from the hotel to the plaza, you pass a few restaurants but there's one specific Thai spot I absolutely fell in love with! As you enter the main plaza or court area you see this quaint architectural design of walkways and structures, with some more local restaurants and pubs, dessert and other food shops in addition to your shopping boutiques or clothing stores. The plaza area also leads to the other side of the village where the actual ski resorts and golf course are located; again, beautiful walk and just a calming path to venture on but there's also some rental residences and "hotels" within the plaza. Towards the outskirt of the plaza is one of the main gondola stations. I say one of the main ones because there are a total of four; they are all four connected on the main track so the plaza station is the second to last stop coming from Telluride, with the market being the last stop (again coming from Telluride) then the primary station is located in Telluride at the bottom of the base of the mountains. The  middle station is at the top of the mountain ridge where you have the choice to either get off for some beautiful trails or visit the mountain side restaurant otherwise you stay on and head down the mountain ridge to finally make your way to the city of Telluride, where you can immerse yourself in the town. 

In case you're wondering, some of the nearby cities (and I'll be writing some other posts on them) for some of the fun, historical, and adventurous sites are via a main highway or the locals country road pass; you have both Silverton and Durango.

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Give Back The Ring - Relationship

You may have already guessed what this post is about. You guessed it, this post involves the after or more correctly stated what I feel should happen when an engagement ends. Also none of the images are mine, they were just used after a google search "engagement ring montage". So I don't know how other females are or what their thought process is but I'm writing based off of my first hand experience and my thought process after breaking three engagements, and what occurred thereafter the broken engagement - and no I didn't keep any of the rings! As I'm writing this post I'm actually trying to go through my archived photos to see if I even have the pictures of these three beautiful rings...If I happen to find them I will make sure to update the post ;) Count on it! I digress and continue on to the main topic (not past engagement rings).

We are going to be breaking down the scenarios with the effect of the original owner/buyer of the engagement ring, rightfully keeping the ring. In order to better understand my breakdown, allow me to shed some light on my thought process. You see I believe that an engagement ring is not only a present symbol of the future promise to be made but it serves as a present symbol in the form of a "sparkling" gift to the understanding of a in the moment promise made between the couple. Whether someone spends a few hundred dollar or even thousands of dollars on the engagement ring, it remains being something symbolic to the person who purchased it; whether their hard work in purchasing something expensive for another, or the time spent in agony in choosing what they thought their loved one would like (as well as appreciate), or the shear size of the ring being the symbol of not only a financial foundation of their future but to imply a statement of ownership as well. All in all, there isn't just pressure on the person who accepts or denies the question made, but I believe there is more pressure on the person who is doing the asking. Now don't any one person misinterpret the statements I've just made, I'm not saying a males role is more important than a females role or that either party aren't taking a gamble or making a bet for the rest of their life; let me just put it to you this way, last I checked there aren't many or any women buying engagement rings for the men or doing much of the asking (even if the world claims women are doing it all). So now that you know my thought process, here we go! 

1)if you're involved with someone (no matter what the duration is) and the proposal has been made, where you receive an engagement ring because you've said yes; yes that ring is "yours" but remember it's the gift of what is to be not the guarantee. So if you mutually both agree to separate ways and call off the engagement wouldn't the most respectful/loving thing be to then return the engagement ring to its rightful owner-the one who presented it. Or how about the more conscientious thing to do if you truly cared for someone, "hey you spent so much money on this so take it back and see if there's any refund or money that you can get back." Why wouldn't you want to do to right by your partner, lover, best friend and confidant. 

2)you're involved with someone (no matter what the duration is) and the proposal has been made with the acceptance of the engagement ring. However the female who as originally accepted the ring is at a later time wanting to end the engagement and sever ties, therefore ending the relationship. Why would she have of need of the engagement ring; if she cared for the person who she was involved in a relationship with then why wouldn't she give back the ring that was presented to her. For me personally when I hear that the female keeps the ring, then she was more greedy for the "prosperous" aspect of the relationship/marriage to be, because now she's going to pawn off or reap the funds of whatever she gets from the ring. No offense to anyone but to close a chapter for the proviso relationship, you would want to get rid of the remains of it (regardless of good or bad memories) that in turn means the ring as well.

3)you're involved with someone (no matter what the duration is) and the proposal has been made with the acceptance of the engagement ring. However, the male is the one to call off the engagement and sever ties, therefore ending the relationship. I feel this is a situation where it warrants the ring to stay in the possession of the female to do as she pleases (as it was the male who presenting the ring with the proposal and is the one renegading after all that's transpired. 

4)you're involved with someone (no matter what the duration is) and the proposal has been made with the acceptance of the engagement ring, but the ring is an heirloom or family inherited jewel...some may argue on this point no matter what HOWEVER, as much as I am for evolving with the older traditions in play, when it comes to something like this a ring such as this should stay in the original family it is coming from. If that means she doesn't get it then too bad, life's full of disappointments so people should just deal with it. Actually no, more importantly if there was ever a shed of true emotions that transpired between the couple than what happens to the ring in a circumstance such as this would be an easy answer for all-that it remains with the person who presented the ring.

5)you're involved with someone (no matter what the duration is) and the proposal has been made with the acceptance of the engagement ring. If there is a circumstance involving an event of infidelity/cheating (especially when the relationship parameters are set to exclusive and monogamous) on the male then I believe it is at the discretion of the "ring bearer" (the person whose fingers the ring is worn on) what happens to the ring. Now if it's the other way around and the female cheated then, damn woman just give the man his ring so he can at least have enough money for some booze after the heartache and dent in his bank you just did him on top of cheating on him!

Everyone, obviously to each your own just please remember that regardless of broken hearts and/or mixed feelings you should: if your religious, treat others the way you would want to be treated or more importantly you wouldn't want your future son/daughter to be treated in a smilier fashion; not religious, karma is a bitch or if you want the universe to give to you positive energy that put out that same positive energy even though your engagement ended or think of one of your family members was being treated the same way-how would you react...

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

SEAL Team (Paramount +) - Recommend

For any fans out there for the SEAL Team TV series, this one goes out you. Those of you who haven't seen the show, I highly recommend it! (image below is not mine, taken from the google search)

If you're an advocate for military show series or perhaps you're just an avid military action viewer, then this is a TV series for you. There is a a valid "real life" feel to the drama introduced or incorporated into the series that it's tasteful and keeps the military family the focus with the action and intel being the focus. Although, I have to admit, that as understanding and appreciative as I am of the show shedding light on real life problems an operator has, I have to say that the Season 5 episodes got a little character Jason being pretty whiney...I see why and how they did it but thankfully everything was tastefully done for the most part. Seasons 2 and 3 I have to say was probably my highlight seasons to keep watching or re-watching. Then after a specific love interest takes fruit-I was hooked! If you were into this show as much as I was with characters Mandy and Jason, you know exactly what I'm getting at!...Love the true capturing of the brotherhood that Navy men believe in, especially SEALs so it's truly captivating and it can entrance you on some if not all the episodes; not just among there brothers themselves but even among the team members involved on their cases/missions. I don't just say all of this because I (do) like the show, but after dating two operators myself I have an appreciation for something's that are highlighted in this show...I digress.

The show was originally debuted and always shown on CBS, however towards the end of Season 5 (I believe) they transitioned over to the Paramount + online streaming platform. I wasn't to keen on the transition having already gotten used to the "time and place" sort of feel for the show, but I noticed that after their transition, the action into the show was more precise and the overall feel of the show wasn't so censored anymore. The vividness of the action and the graphicness of the injuries was just more realistic to the eye and felt like an R-rated action packed movie. My personal favorites were Season 2 and 3, but overall I'm still hooked on the whole show.

If you have never seen this show just watch some clips on YouTube to see if it piques your interest, otherwise for all your known fans, looks like Season 7 is a go! When, I have no idea! IF you have your Paramount + account and the series on your favorites/watchlist you'll know ;) 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman