The Mouthy Mermaid Says, “So Much Going On and So Much to Be Grateful For!”

Good Morning Dear Readers,

As my title says, “So much going on and yes, I am grateful!”  We had a really fun party on Saturday celebrating our Freedom.  And, yes in these times it’s a difficult concept for me.  I really try to stay away from negative news.  I did have a person here wanting to bait me and argue with me about how wonderful his president is and I told him “This is not up for discussion.”  Mr. had already warned me about his friend.  As I have always said through out this political time, everyone has a right to their opinion.

This is a public domain picture because I learned a lesson about copy write.

Well, next:  Our local CBS new affiliate is coming over tomorrow at noon to interview me about Michael’s story of addiction.  I call it “The Highway To Hell.”  After it’s all done and said, what happens to us, the families??????  So, today, I am going to clean up a bit and get organized.  I am blessed to use my voice to address this issue, I guess?

And, I am having regular life coaching sessions with my friend Barbara Fredricks.  Here is a bit about Barbara:

We met a couple of years ago at a book fair that I was attend with my Aunt Rae.  Barbara is a Life Coach with an interesting background and all the right letters behind her name, as well as the author of “Addictions and Family Healing.”  Her book is about her son’s addiction and eventual recovery.  It’s a great book for anyone going through a loved one’s addiction.  She is a PK, (preacher’s kid) from Texas who became a special ed teacher because of course her son had a reading disability.  Later that same son’s addiction led her to become a therapist specializing in addiction and family recovery.  She gratefully says that she owes her career to her son.

My friends book is wonderful and so is she.

After being a therapist for many years, working with others issues as well as substance abuse, she became fascinated with he field of life coaching for people who  didn’t need extensive therapy but wanted someone to support them in moving on with their lives and regaining their peace and joy.  The people who have gone to her certainly seem to be on that happy road (ME, I am getting happier)!

https://www.amazon.com/Addictions-Family-Healing-Strategies-That/dp/158736705X

Barbara’s specializes in anyone in transition, family dysfunction, recovery, loss, retirement or just feeling stuck.  She is fabulous, smart, educated and most important affordable.  My dear friend can work with you on the phone or in person,  you can contact her at barbarafredricks@gmail.com or message me for more information.

You will read more about Barbara in the future.

Today, I am grateful for life, for a voice to fight addiction, for my lovely dogs and for my friends and family and of course for you all, my readers.

And, I am on count down time, 23 days until we go to San Diego!!!!!!!!!!!  Thank you Dear God.  It is so HOT here and so many fires.  Pray for Arizona.

Sending Happiness and Love to everyone today and as always thank you for reading The Mouthy Mermaid.

Love, 

Thelma

The Mouthy Mermaid Says Good Morning

Good Morning Dear Readers,

Well it’s 7:00 and I am up and dressed and ready to go.  I am meeting a friend for breakfast at 8:30.  See, working on the EXILE.

I have some great news.  Remember in my last blog I talked about having an interview with the news station.  Well, Well and well, they are sending a camera crew over to my house next week.  Dear God, what will I wear and should I get my hair done?????  Just kidding.  This story isn’t about me.  It was pretty interesting when I asked the lady where she wanted to go with this story her response was she wasn’t sure because there are so many aspects to the story of abuse and addiction.  She wants to meet me and see some pictures and so on.  I think this may be a blessing.  Also, setting up some kind of foundation is in my mind but I don’t know any of that yet.

And today, I am going to do something a bit different.  I am going to give you all a short travelogue on some of my favorite places in Arizona.  Because it is so HOT here I have to focus on other places…….

A favorite of mine, San Xavier Mission on the Indian Reservation about 20 minutes away, on the way to Nogales or Green Valley. Build in 1692. A truly spiritual place.

http://www.sanxaviermission.org/

A Tucson sunset from my front yard.
Sabino Canyon in the Spring. Not far from my house, a great place to hike and see wild life. Go in the winter.
Tombstone Arizona, The town to tough to die. I love it there. Lot’s of great stuff to do, bars, shops, gun fights, the usual tourist stuff.
Bisbee, Arizona once a thriving business area because of the mining. Now filled with artists, hippies and great shopping and it’s cooler there. A great visit.

And I have had a few really good times at this hotel.  (Not saying)

Pine Top Arizona. Last years vacation. 4 hours away and very cool weather and they have trees and lakes. We had a great fishing trip. We didn’t catch any fish.

So, enjoy my little photo documentary.  Have a great day and Do It.  or Not.   Love to you all.  AND STAY AS COOL AS POSSIBLE.

Thelma, The Mouthy Mermaid

 

 

And remember my friend’s book if you know someone who needs it.

My friends book is wonderful and so is she.

The Mouthy Mermaid Says When God Opens The Door Look Out Because A Miracle Is Going To Happen!!!!!

Real Thelma, not pretend Thelma.

Good Morning Dear Readers,

Well, I have lots of things to talk about today.  First of all, my self imposed exile is about over.  I am feeling better about life in general.  The exile is not my style, I am a goer and a doer.  I was burnt out and tired.  AND IT’S HOT, UGH.

I went to see my dear friend Barbara Fredricks yesterday who is a fabulous therapist and spent quite a bit of time with her.  https://www.amazon.com/Addictions-Family-Healing-Strategies-That/dp/158736705X/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498576289&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=Addicttions+and+family+healing

She wrote this book and it has helped me so much.  I am truly blessed and lucky to have so many wonderful loved ones.  Thank you.

My friends book is wonderful and so is she.

She had to remind me to use my toolbox.  My toolbox consists of self care, positive affirmations, meditation and prayer.  I was in such a funk I wasn’t using my tools.  So, she got me back on track.    And, I got my battery recharged on her wonderful energy table.  https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-23890/what-everyone-should-know-about-energy-healing.html

So I am feeling much better about life.  Back on track.  I do think when you lose a loved one you get some form of PTSD because I think I have it.

So, we have had 3 family functions in the last 3 weekends and I am pooped

This is a public domain picture because I learned a lesson about copy write.

and I think Mr. is too.  He would never admit it of course because he never complains.  He is a very manly type of guy and he works outside ever day. He is a phone pole guy, lineman.

Dear God.  And, I think we are going to have a party this weekend for the 4th.  I am never done.

And, here is my big news:  I saw a posting on Facebook about a month ago or so that our CBS local station was doing an investigative report about HEROIN in our city.  I was talking to my friend Natalie on Facebook Messenger at that point and I said “Do you think I should contact Jenna Wade ( She is the news person)  She said “YES.”  And I did and quite a bit of time went by.  And last Friday she messaged me and she is going to interview me today at 2.

I was pretty hesitant about doing this but after lots  discussion with my tribe and of course Mr.  Everyone thinks I should tell our story.  Who knows what or if she will even use it but I am doing it today.  Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In my world I really feel like the more I talk about this topic, maybe I will help another family or another user.  You never know.  So, as I have been in such a nasty funk God Blew The Door Open for me.  Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And maybe I will eventually get to some type of healing????

And I do have to say thank you to all the wonderful people who have been there for me and all the new wonderful people I have met on this journey. Sometimes I look at it in this way, God or the Universe put me here for a reason and maybe this is my reason.  Who knows.  Life Gives You Lessons, right?

Sending All My Love Today,

Thelma, The Mouthy Mermaid

PS  Show some love today:)

 

 

 

 

The Mouthy Mermaid talks About The Girdle Bathing Suit and Other Things Today!!!!!

Vacation a few years ago.

Good Morning Dear Readers,

Well, The Mouthy Mermaid is finally getting out of her mental funk.  Why was I in a mental funk who knows……I don’t…… but I know I am feeling better about life in general even though it’s about 114 degrees here in fabulous Tucson, Arizona.

So, a few short words about THE GIRDLE BATHING SUIT……DON’T GO THERE IF YOU CAN HELP IT.

This is how I felt in the new bathing suit.

So, I get we are aging women but REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  About a month or so ago Angel Girl were shopping at CostCo and they had really cute bathing suits for sale.  If you live in Tucson and have a pool a requirement is a closet of bathing suits because the chlorine eats up all that spandex.

So, we were looking at bathing suits and I picked one and I thought Angel Girl picked one, but she didn’t.  So, I buy a very cute bathing suit and it sat on the dresser for a few weeks because I really love my other Walmart cheap bathing suit and one day we were having people over and I  thought, hmmmm, I will wear my new bathing suit.

Well, putting on that bathing suit was like squeezing into a pair of the old days control top panty hose. I was thinking, really is this too tight, really should I take this back, really am I that FAT?  It was a miserable experience.  And I was dying laughing the entire time.  Finally, I got myself into this fancy new bathing suit and I thought, hmmmmmm?????  I’m going to take this back.  So, I go outside and Mr says “I love that suit, is it new?”  Hmmm.   It loosened up when I got in the pool.  Have I worn it again Hell NO.  Will I, maybe.

Who remembers these? OUCH

Why, do we as women feel we need to be thinner, cuter, sexier etc?  It has all been pounded in our heads by family, (mother) media, magazines, the doctor or WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!  All of this makes us, WOMEN feel like we don’t make the cut, we are NOT GOOD ENOUGH, PRETTY ENOUGH, ETC.  You all get the idea.

As I was at dinner the other night with our family for our 7 year old granddaughter’s birthday, she went to reach for another roll and her mother almost had a heart attack.  I about had a heart attack and felt like saying “leave her alone, she is 7 and happy and healthy.”  This is how we lead our children into eating disorders.  Her mother is very skinny.  I was not that happy with her.

Besides, the girdle bathing suit all Mermaid life is going well.  We are staying as cool as possible, the animals and the plants are mostly alive.  Living in this heat is so oppressive I don’t even know what to say.

The Tucson desert. This pic is from Sonoita, Arizona. There are huge fires there right now.

So, today I will do what I did yesterday, spend the day in the pool under an umbrella not wearing my girdle bathing suit.  I just can’t go there.

And, I am going to HH with some old friends this evening.  I had to ask what HH ment when they invited me.  LOL, I am not an HH person but I am excited to catch up with some old friends.  BTW, HH means Happy Hour.  I think I will have Ice Tea.  I am not much of a drinker.

So, on this very hot day I am sending Mermaid love to all of you.  I would love to hear what ya all have to say about THE GIRDLE BATHING SUIT.

Have a happy, positive and fun day.

Love, Thelma

The Mouthy Mermaid

 

 

Look at This from another blogger

Women half dressed wearing fish costumes. Men half dressed wearing fish costumes. Elaborate doos, makeup for days. Painted floats and classic cars. The streets filled with cheering crowds. Welcome to the Mermaid Parade. It’s quite a spectacle. When to go I’d read about the Parade for years before finally going in 2016. Once I was there, I felt […]

via Wondering What to do this Weekend? Go to The Coney Island Mermaid Parade — The Insatiable Traveler

The Mouthy Mermaid Talks About Life After Death

Good Morning Dear Readers,

As you can see from my title, Life After Death????  I don’t even know why I am writing about this today.  Why, I guess because it is constantly on my mind.

How do we get by?  How do we get through a death of a loved one?  About 10 years ago I lost my husband, he had been sick for a number of years, was it a shock or a surprise NO, was I sad and lost yes!!!!!  Did I make some crazy decisions, YES.  Am I OK, yes, now.

This death of Michael has totally rocked me!!!!!!!!!!!  It is constantly on my mind and in my soul.  Is this how it’s always going to be?  I don’t know.

Very weird things happen.  A few weeks ago, the doorbell rang and I answered the door, and a young man was outside and he said he was from Teen Challenge, Teen Challenge is a Christian based  drug abuse center and I think nation wide.  We chatted for a bit and he looked a lot like Michael.  I told him the Michael story and we prayed outside and he wrote his name down and asked if their group could add him to their nightly prayer list, of course I replied.  It was such a strange experience and a really warm feeling BECAUSE OF COURSE I TALKED TO MICHAEL MANY TIMES ABOUT TEEN CHALLENGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I truly believe God brought that kid to my house for a REASON or a LESSON.

Love and Blessings

I have really been in a weird, vague funk or something, I don’t really know what.  I have not wanted to interact much, I have been very low key, (not really my style), staying home and enjoying peace and quiet.  I think in this past year I have been a HUMAN DOING, NOT A HUMAN BEING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Aunt Rae)  I have been on a radio show about drugs, gotten his story on the front page of the newspaper, spoken to a few groups and met countless parents that have gone through the same thing.  I don’t even know how I meet these people, they just come to me in some way.  I think I am hot and tired and need rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And REALLY I am kinda sick of this entire subject, too bad it is EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the other side of all of this, I have had a sinus infection for I really think about a year and last Monday the doctor put me on a new med and I am feeling so much better, I can finally hear out of my right ear.  She said there was so much fluid in my ear if it didn’t clear up I would have to have surgery on my ear.  Now I am not saying HUH to everyone.  Thank you God.

My next goal:  Getting our family, animals and plants through a weekend with the temps up to 114.  That is unbearable for me.  I really dislike the heat and I don’t love living in Arizona.  The dust is not a happy place for me.

And on a side note, my little, sweet Shih Tzu, Lovey has lost his mind.  We have added a desert tortoise to our family in a lovely habitat in the backyard.  Lovey is obsessed about him and spends most of the day

My sweet Lovey!!!!!!!!!!!

outside barking at him.  Last night he was so dirty he had to have a hose bath and he has never had a hose bath in his life.  He gets his baths from Pampered Paws because Lovey is a pampered spoiled boy.  He was a bit in shock from a hose bath.  Therefore he hasn’t been barking at the turtle today.  Hmmmm!!!!  Did he learn a lesson?

So, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.  Really, I am feeling better and I am feeling better from writing all of this.   I guess!!!!!!

And to all my wonderful readers, Happy Father’s Day.  Have a wonderful weekend and live and love.  Eat the cake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS  Sending love to Renee, I know she will understand all of this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for Reading,

Love, Thelma, The Mouthy Mermaid

 

 

The Mouthy Mermaid talks About 20 Ways to get Through the Summer in Arizona

Good Morning Dear Readers,

As I am talking to ya all this morning, it’s not HOT yet, it’s 75.  I love 75, but as the week goes on it is going to get cooking, 111 by Sunday.  UGH.  But, yes it’s a dry heat!!!!  Whoever made that one up kills me.  Any way you look at it it’s HOT.  Here is my list on how to survive the HEAT in Arizona.

  1. Pretend you are a Mermaid.
  2. Go to the pool.

    New pool, new yard.
  3. Stay inside.
  4. Run your A/C so you don’t even care how much the bill is.
  5. Read a book.
  6. Take a nap.
  7. Binge watch Netflix.
  8. Don’t turn on the oven, because it’s like an oven outside.
  9. Go to the Mall, and I hate the Mall.
  10. Take an hour drive to the mountains.
  11. Drink water, drink water, drink water, drink water.
  12. Don’t watch the news, it will just make you hotter.
  13. Go to a church to meditate.

    Vacation a few years ago.
  14. Go to the grocery store.
  15. Order take out.
  16. Look on line and plan a pretend trip where it’s cool.
  17. Fool around on Facebook.
  18. Do your errands early.
  19. Don’t cook.
  20. Write a blog.

So that’s my list and I am sticking to it.  How do ya all get through the heat??????  Please share your tips with me because I feel like summer here is the most oppressive state of mind imaginable.

Sabino Canyon in the Spring

I do have a trip planned but not until August, I may die of heat by August.  I am looking forward to our summer Monsoons.  Can’t wait to have rain.

And, life in general.  Mermaid life is just fine, very quiet and low key and I guess that is what I need right now.  I don’t really have an answer for any of that.  I am OK and OK is OK.

 

 

Happy Tuesday,

Love, Thelma, The Mouthy Mermaid

PS  Congrats to Steve Kerr, a hometown BB player.  He is starting to remind me of Lute!!!!!!!!!