October 2, 2018

Shared from Rack Junkies 
A potential record! Monster Idaho bull elk!

Shared from Tara Ross --
On this day in 1835, the Texas Revolution begins!
Did you know that the first battle was fought because Texans decided that the Mexicans would have to pull an old, small cannon out of their cold, dead hands?
Does that fact, alone, explain my home state?!  ;)
The Texas Revolution wasn’t fought entirely over one old cannon, of course.
That cannon was just the straw that broke the camel’s back, prompting a skirmish that came to be known as the Battle of Gonzales.
In 1835, Texans (or “Texians”) were concerned about the increasingly dictatorial Mexican government and its army. But the town of Gonzales found itself in the crossfire for a rather unexpected reason!
It possessed one small cannon that had come from San Antonio de Béxar in 1831.
Some thought the cannon was loaned, others thought it had been given.
Either way, Gonzales felt that it needed the cannon to scare off local Indian tribes. 
As tensions between the Mexican government and the Texians escalated, the Mexicans decided that Gonzales could not keep its cannon anymore.
The given reason was that the cannon had been given only as a loan.
But perhaps the real reason is that the government wanted to disarm citizens?
Either way, town officials were notified that the cannon must be returned. 
The alcalde, or mayor, of Gonzales called a town meeting and a vote was taken.
All but three people agreed: Gonzales should keep its cannon! 
Nevertheless, Mexican commander Francisco de Castañeda was sent to retrieve the cannon. 
The Mexican force reached the Guadalupe River on September 29, but then it got stuck.
Recent rains had made the river difficult to cross.
Complicating matters, Texians had taken all the boats from Castañeda’s side of the river.
Eighteen Texians were now guarding the river on the other side.
In the meantime, Gonzales was calling for help from nearby towns.
Its citizens buried the cannon in a nearby peach orchard.
Come hell or high water, they were not giving up that cannon! 
The Texians managed to stall for a while.
Castañeda wanted to talk, but the Texians noted that the talks were more properly held with the alcalde, Andrew Ponton.
(Surprise, surprise. He wasn’t there.)
Even when the Texians did engage in talks, they just shouted across the river at Castañeda.
At one point, a single Mexican was allowed to swim back and forth with messages.
What a scene! ;)
Naturally, the delay mostly ensured that the Texians got reinforcements.
The stalemate continued until October 1, when Castañeda moved his men a few miles upriver.
By now, the Texians were getting tired of the situation.
They dug up the cannon and created shrapnel from anything they could find.
They hauled the cannon across the river and approached the Mexican camp early on October 2.
A thick fog hid them from view.
A few shots were exchanged during the early morning hours, but the more serious fighting began after sunrise.
Naturally, the controversial cannon was brought into battle.
The Texians had created a white flag, which waved proudly over the cannon. 
You guessed it.
The flag bore the words: “Come and Take It.”
The fighting itself was more of a brief skirmish than a true battle.
In the end, Castañeda quickly retreated because he thought his orders required him to do so before the conflict escalated into war. 
His retreat came too late.
The Texas Revolution was on. 

Shared from:  Lacy Elizabeth Mason
Why am I using insulin that expired 2 years ago? I have a great job. I work 5-7 days a week. I went to college for 8+ years. This is oftentimes NOT enough to afford insulin in our country. Type 1 Diabetics are withholding insulin, using the black market, using expired insulin, and DYING because 3 companies in the U.S. control the price of a drug we cannot live without. A drug that was sold for $3 a vial when it was first made so that everyone could afford it. Today, a month’s supply of this insulin pen - one of two kinds that I need - costs $550-$600. That means it’s too precious to throw away, even if it’s expired. I use what I have, and whatever I can get, or I go without. Does this upset you? Because it should. Be aware that this is happening. Be vocal about it. Hold drug companies accountable. Life for Type 1’s shouldn’t be like this. 

We went thru this with Rick, as a Type 2 diabetic, too. It's not right! Too much of life as a diabetic is stress filled, having the medication that makes living possible should NOT be part of that stress!

It's not that hard.
A kind word.
A compliment
(there is always something good to say about someone else).
A small act of kindness.
It's not that hard!
​

Today, I miss hearing that I look good, or cute, or sexy, or something.
Not because I am vain, I'm not.
Not because I think I am any of those, I don't. Not because I am fishing for compliments, I am not.
(How many times did I tell Rick that he was biased? That he felt obligated to tell me? That he needed new glasses? Sigh)
But when you are struggling with the day to day living of life as a widow (or widower) ... well,
​it sounds and feels better to hear the words and to know that someone cares.

Sadly, we don't more often than not.
Because we are afraid of being taken out of context, being misunderstood.
We tell ourselves that others know how we feel, so there are no need for words.
This is perhaps the greatest missing in my life -
not only HEARING the words, "I love you" ...
​but SAYING the words OUT LOUD, "I love you". :(

Shared from: The Diabetic Journey 
Insulin is the same as needing oxygen to breathe.
People with #type1 diabetes don’t make insulin on their own and insulin is needed for their cells to breathe. Lack of insulin is deadly and it slowly kills the organs in the body over time or can quickly cause DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) and can lead to death.
No one in need of lifesaving insulin should ever go without due to rising high costs.
​Insulin should be affordable and accessible to all.