Dems Da Rules. HeatherPandemic Thoughts

Dems Da Rules.

In an effort to help others in public spaces of town avoid any embarrassing confrontations or misunderstandings, you gotta know the rules of your environment. Many places have different rules, which could become confusing. Here they are,  simplified, by where you may be and during what time.   Worker Rules Your boss is not required to disclose a possible exposure unless there’s a positive test…
Heather
August 5, 2020
Just the Facts, Ma’am HeatherPandemic Thoughts

Just the Facts, Ma’am

There's alot of things we know, we either don't think about it or weren't paying attention. We hold these truths, what shall we do with them? Here are statements I think we all, as Americans united, can agree are factual. Fact: We cannot choose our gender, race, family or intrinsic qualities. Fact: We know there’s a ladder and a ceiling. Some have further to climb,…
Heather
July 11, 2020
Staying Safe during Masked Destruction DIY HeatherPandemic Thoughts

Staying Safe during Masked Destruction DIY

Many of my friends and neighbors have been #SafeAtHome during the Pandemic which has led to many home improvement projects. I've not had the #AloneTogether experience, but that's not a criticism. I did get some days here or there to work from home and saved alot of money not going out or traveling for vacations. So I, like many, am tackling home improvement projects with…
Heather
July 2, 2020
The Genius of Ricky Gervais Pandemic Thoughts

The Genius of Ricky Gervais

I hadn't watched the Office until my son wanted to binge it on Netflix. I knew this Gervais bloke was behind the original UK version, and that the show is hilarious, but it didn't phase me in the least. My introduction to the Mr. Ricky Gervais came differently than most. Yet unexposed to the Office, I still absolutely adored his witty, authentic story telling since…
Heather
June 3, 2020
Take Us to Your Leader Pandemic Thoughts

Take Us to Your Leader

Usually, when communities across a country can organize and centralize within a day, there's a hierarchy of leadership. Just as armies form and infiltrate to use force as a means to demand control. Generals, captains, sergeants... Photo Credit - Dallas Morning Star Who is their leader? Our fellow US citizens are fighting, destroying, burning - basically shitting in our own bed - alongside strangers who…
Heather
May 31, 2020
Can I Mask a Question? Pandemic Thoughts

Can I Mask a Question?

Masks I fully agree with every frontline worker who wear masks being very angry on Facebook about those refusing to wear masks. But I don’t want to wear one either. We need to come together and agree on something. We disagree with the purpose we are told for why they are needed now when they weren’t before. Even several weeks into this shutdown. I feel…
Heather
May 18, 2020
Stranded or Strange, Deep Thoughts During the Daily Commute Pandemic Thoughts

Stranded or Strange, Deep Thoughts During the Daily Commute

I had a few thoughts on my commute in to work today. I first realized that I should appreciate the lighter traffic and open roads. Similar to the time I got stranded in the Detroit Airport by myself and just took it all in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgZwvvfvgVM This was me, back in my previous life of traveling, alot. I then thought, you know what, that Stan Lee…
Heather
May 5, 2020
The Great Hate Challenge Pandemic Thoughts

The Great Hate Challenge

I have learned a lot about people socially during this Covidiocy we are in.  I see a lot of opposing views and comments on social media, always have. These days I wonder if the work or stay home stress is causing it to be so much angrier. I just can't these days.  I've begun socially distancing myself from social media for the sake of sanity. I…
Heather
April 25, 2020
The Only Employee Who Should Fear Being Let Go HeatherPandemic Thoughts

The Only Employee Who Should Fear Being Let Go

I keep reading all of these fear-inducing articles about what employees should fear losing their jobs right now – entry-level, duplicate duties, overpaid managers…. Look, I fully get that in a grim and gloom world, that’s a natural assessment of the weakest links who shouldn’t get a rose to move on to another week of reality. Sure, maybe this is the excuse your boss needed…
Heather
March 31, 2020
Stop Breaking the Boomers HeatherPandemic Thoughts

Stop Breaking the Boomers

I believe that starting today, the President should be able to approve any and all marketing plans for products that target our senior citizens as consumers. The specific advertising categories are drugs, unsound financial gimmicks or any service that uses fear and panic as the tactic for a call to action. Here's my why story to support that statement. Like, what the hell is this…
Heather
March 17, 2020
Oh, give me a home. Pandemic Thoughts

Oh, give me a home.

If you’re a buffalo, where you're born determines your qualityof life. I think they're Bison, actually? Bison Wild Wings just doesn't have that ring to it though. If you’re born in Yellowstone, you’re only threat ispossibly getting struck by a car. Live long and Prosper. If you’re born on a buffalo farm in Iowa, well, It may be tight spaces and facing amidlife meat cleaver.…
Heather
March 15, 2020
Can you feel it coming in the air tonight Pandemic Thoughts

Can you feel it coming in the air tonight

Pretty surreal and validating experience flying this past week. Que the Phil Collins Drum solo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wwJUZCfpuI I must say, having round trip airplane rows to myself and a Chicago layover both ways with no lines was quite refreshing. Having the American Airlines ticketing staff call me by name while I was still at the kiosk was a memorable customer experience. “Hey, Heather - I’m printing…
Heather
March 11, 2020
Yeah, Me Too. Same. Heather

Yeah, Me Too. Same.

I think enough time has passed to return back to the original common phrase for agreeing with something that someone else says. Yeah, me too. After all, it’s as common of language as the basic aisle chatter at Kroger: How are you? Fine, and you? Good to see you. Yeah, me too. From basic acquaintance to friend to family to a stranger in line at…
Heather
February 29, 2020
Stop and Go Day Food for thought

Stop and Go Day

Today I drove to an appt that’s on the other side of the closest city. So it’s a clip but I enjoy her keeping it real with me about working harder on getting healthy. I’ve plateaued recently and have really felt like writing for myself and for work and since I only have so much evening time, I recently began blowing off physical activity for…
Heather
February 20, 2020
Let’s talk about poop Heather

Let’s talk about poop

There seem to be more game-changers in our life now than any generation before us. Or are there? We still say new inventions are the best thing since sliced bread so maybe every age has game-changers to talk about around the water cooler. Here's a twist on one game-changer that takes the ewww out of poo. Let’s forget inventions like flying, driving, television and the…
Heather
February 17, 2020
Overthinking the Repercussions of Accepting a Status Quo Mindset. Food for thoughtHeather

Overthinking the Repercussions of Accepting a Status Quo Mindset.

Do I give in or get back up? Chicken or the egg? I’ve really been trying to crack my own code. Get out of my head. Practice the repetition needed to recondition my mind to healthier habits while trying to give up the unhealthy ones. I'm digging deep to find ways to relax, reflect the conundrum of whether I create more problems or simply point…
Heather
February 11, 2020
Mmmmm … Matches Heather

Mmmmm … Matches

Since our daughter grew up and moved out, I’ve been the single woman in my home. Meaning I live with my husband, two teenage sons, a challenged male puggle, and a high maintenance female little white dog that doesn’t count because she needs to calm down to qualify as my girl which happens barely often enough to try and help her overcome her type A…
Heather
February 4, 2020
The tragedy of Kobe brings Hollywood together. Heather

The tragedy of Kobe brings Hollywood together.

Today, as we hear the sad, awful news that the VP of the NBA, Kobe Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter accident, we can take comfort in knowing that his passing has not been in vain. It's caused a country of healing. It's caused the largest forgiveness movement of Hollywood's biggest proponents of burning every man who ever had a questionable action against women.…
Heather
January 26, 2020
Will Gen Z save us all? Thank Boomers. Heather

Will Gen Z save us all? Thank Boomers.

I’m classified as Generation X. Raised by Boomers. Raising Generation Z teens. Here's my story as to why they may just be the saving Grace we need. But don't tell them - they've got enough things to worry about right now. So what do these titles mean? I’m stereotyped into a certain generation, just like Millennials and those observant Gen Z kidderoos that are growing…
Heather
January 21, 2020
$19 a month and a free blanket Heather

$19 a month and a free blanket

For only 63 cents a day, you can impact a life... All of these organizations' commercials, production and social proof of the need pull at every heartstring. Since they are all $19 a month and come with a free blanket, I thought It may be beneficial to combine them in one place, for free to help you pick which one. Shriners is wonderful. These kids…
Heather
December 31, 2019
Take a Day HeatherPandemic Thoughts

Take a Day

My wish, hope, prayer is that you get a day that’s yours. Here’s how I started mine. A day where the only interruptions are made by you. A day where the only decisions are made by you. A day where you create something satisfying. A day where you feel something gratifying. A day where you feel validated for taking your day. A day you cut…
Heather
December 30, 2019
Confrontation Constipation Food for thoughtHeather

Confrontation Constipation

We’re afraid to offend the offensive.   It’s like confrontation constipation with a touch of avoidance followed by an uneasy head nod and a forced smile. But that's not all that happens. That's just the external indicators that you are internalizing whatever on-no-you-didn't thing that just happened while you keep it together. That's ok though, take a moment. Breathe. Contemplating your reaction allows you to…
Heather
December 28, 2019
Finding Free Adrenaline Food for thoughtHeather

Finding Free Adrenaline

If I were a stereotypical thrill-seeker, today I went skydiving after work. I accomplished things that gave me an adrenaline rush that kept rolling. It doesn’t change anything, but the rush is fuel for my soul. I conquered some fears that pick up every metaphoric brick I let fall away and put it back where it belongs. I got this. Lol. I almost forgot. Today…
Heather
December 17, 2019
Words of Wisdom from Jessica Lange Food for thoughtHeather

Words of Wisdom from Jessica Lange

If you didn’t already love every beautiful, tormented, multi-layered, strong and sometimes very ill and wretchedly fearsome articulate character portrayed by Jessica Lange, you’re going to love her much more when you read her wisdom playing the greatest role ever - her life story, unscripted. These quotes remind me that to live a life of extraordinary, pretend like Jessica Lange is watching you - and…
Heather
November 19, 2019
7 Ways to Fight Anxiety and Reduce Stress Food for thoughtHeather

7 Ways to Fight Anxiety and Reduce Stress

We don’t talk about anxiety enough. We don’t learn how to identify it, where it comes from or how we internalize it. We can take pills to suppress it, and before I get any further into this story – I fully understand that some people biologically, hormonally – require medication. I’m not trained or schooled in any medical way either. I’ve just taken a lot…
Heather
November 7, 2019
What I Think About Teen Trick Or Treaters Heather

What I Think About Teen Trick Or Treaters

I’ve heard people talk about older kids trick or treating and they didn’t agree with giving candy to them. I kindly disagree.   Tonight, my 15 and 13-year-old sons are out there, with their friends and a pillowcase loving life right now.   These are good, kind, smart, funny young men who are not playing video games.   They aren’t on their phones or computers.…
Heather
November 4, 2019
Dancing with Our Stars – The Clear Winners Are…. These Guys Heather

Dancing with Our Stars – The Clear Winners Are…. These Guys

Remember those friends of ours I mentioned in the Desitination40 story? Well, here’s a good reason why my Mark and I agree they’re our people. Why their best friends I hope all grown-up, lifelong #NoRegerts married couples seek in life to be their people. A mirror couple to be BFF’s with. Cause you have similar foundations. We had quite a few of these gem couples…
Heather
October 20, 2019
Why Dermographism Woke Me Heather

Why Dermographism Woke Me

In hindsight, I should've listened to my skin sooner. I kept getting itchy, very itchy - and once I scratched, it tripled in itchy and turned into hives. My nose and cheeks flush red. Anything rubbing or touching my skin snuggly triggered the itch areas worse. I had no idea what was going on. So after nearly two weeks, I called my doctor. She observed…
Heather
October 14, 2019
Good girls gone bad to even worse. Heather

Good girls gone bad to even worse.

I actually knew this girl. I knew lots of girls similar with challenging childhoods. Hundreds of girls. Girls like her have a harder place to succeed from. These teens come from all race and zip code. What they shared was their cyclic life, raised generations deep in a void mindset. I think that when you see that spark of possibility, of hope and see that…
Heather
October 5, 2019
3 Things to Consider Before Shopping Facebook Ads Food for thought

3 Things to Consider Before Shopping Facebook Ads

Facebook ads, no matter how cool, persuasive, funny and correctly targeted to you - are going to quite possibly be from a country far, far away. (And retargeted with every single ad just like it when you click) They are getting much more sophisticated in appearance. So if you open the ad, shop inside the pop-up and complete your order within Facebook, consider these three…
Heather
September 20, 2019
Rappers in Suburbia Paradise Heather

Rappers in Suburbia Paradise

I really like the man my teen son is becoming. I believe his group of friends are, too. They're good boys. They listen to music with meaning. Today marks a transitional day in the Oh Hey Heather house. Our oldest son has decided at 15.5 years, we should take the hardly used basement family room to convert into his bedroom. His friends use it most,…
Heather
August 30, 2019
Hey Girl, Sit Down. And Learn From Sturgis Women. Food for thought

Hey Girl, Sit Down. And Learn From Sturgis Women.

If you’re using a public restroom, it’s because you gotta go. The term public restroom is loosely defined as anywhere you can acceptably drop the drawers and let out a self satisfying exhale of letting it go. Swanky department stores to weekend strong porta-johns that could use a bit more ventilation and blue water, they all qualify. Whatever spectrum of potty exposure you’ve put yourself…
Heather
August 10, 2019
I got big Plains Heather

I got big Plains

The plains. So wide. Just wide. I mean, Iowa is wide. Headed to Bree’s new house in Iowa yesterday. Ohio has wide places. Ohio’s sunset last week This highway is so far ahead straight that it’s like you just can’t see that far straight ahead. Moments when I wish I had a fancy camera because this doesn’t do it justice. But this.  It’s just wide,…
Heather
August 4, 2019
If America was a Company Food for thoughtHeather

If America was a Company

I am so over politics.  I don’t even want to call it that anymore. It’s no longer politics or bipartisanship anyway. So for this story, I am going to use the analogy that our wonderful country is actually a company. We as Americans whether working, stay at home parenting, student, retired, volunteering – however you contribute(d) to the economy and progress of this country –…
Heather
July 12, 2019
ABC’s The Bachelor Needs a Makeover Heather

ABC’s The Bachelor Needs a Makeover

An Open Letter to the Bachelor Can you imagine the scenario: a perfect gentleman has a serious girlfriend whose parents aren’t frequently able to visit? Cue in ABC's The Bachelor, specifically the third to the last episode - also known as - the top 4 finalists' home visits. So here’s my vision of a new, revamped Bachelor season. Yes, a swooning, record-breaking season where you…
Heather
June 13, 2019
Rain – The Nasty 4 Letter Word Heather

Rain – The Nasty 4 Letter Word

The rain that most of the midwest, agricultural states have received this year is something awful. In my 43 years of living in WVa, then Iowa and now recently, Ohio - I have not experienced in memory this heightened concern. I'm not sure how many ways it's affecting so many unknown factors with farmers who still can't plant any seeds because it hasn't been dry…
Heather
May 22, 2019
When You Know Where Everything Is Heather

When You Know Where Everything Is

If you’re like me, you know where stuff is. For some, it’s a photographic memory, where you can see exactly where the random pack of 3M strips are or where that engraved flask is that he got from his brother’s wedding 19 years ago.  Only for crap though. I am glad networking events have name tags. But it’s impressive. Kinda like that refreshing baby boomer…
Heather
May 21, 2019
Can We Keep 2019 Hairstyles in Fashion – Forever? Please? Food for thoughtHeather

Can We Keep 2019 Hairstyles in Fashion – Forever? Please?

I do stuff to my hair for work. Or if I'm going somewhere nicer than usual. You know, a date or concert or something. But that's about it. Over the years, as I am sure everyone, even short hair folks, switched it up. Changed something. Color, style, length, part... We will do so in the future, too. Cut and color is always fun to experiment…
Heather
March 28, 2019
Accepting the New “Weak “- Shut Out The Mean Girl in Your Head Food for thoughtHeather

Accepting the New “Weak “- Shut Out The Mean Girl in Your Head

A lot of people are ashamed. Scared. Embarrassed. Too afraid to tell their story that brought them here today. I’ve done that all of my adult life. I felt the shame from people who knew little bits of my story back in high school and before I left town. With my head hung low. Why? Every. Single. Person. Every single person has a story. Sure,…
Heather
March 7, 2019
What Your Children Teach You About Leaving Neverland Food for thoughtHeather

What Your Children Teach You About Leaving Neverland

Sitting in a hotel room, two hours off my timezone and sleepless. Here's HBO with a new documentary. I'm curious. I didn't expect it to align with anything I'm already talking about. On the HBO documentary, Leaving Neverland, James Safechuck explains how his son is growing to the exact age that he was when Michael Jackson began abusing him in the early 90’s. He went…
Heather
March 5, 2019
But Did You Die? Food for thoughtHeather

But Did You Die?

Today I found out I have a hole in my heart. I spent a week of wait for an echocradiogram after three weeks of figuring out the right blood pressure med for my new high blood pressure scare. The hole - It’s called a PFO. You can live with it. There’s a concern about blood clots passing through it and getting in the wrong stream but…
Heather
March 1, 2019
Yardscaping and Good Kids Heather

Yardscaping and Good Kids

Funny story really. My son’s friend was hanging out here the same time my parents from West Virginia were spending the weekend to visit. Well, it’s Sunday afternoon and they have their stuff packed by the door while we play one last game of train dominoes. So by their last trip to the car, three pairs of shoes sat there. I knew my stepmom was…
Heather
February 24, 2019
Reality vs. Really Good TV plus How the Bachelor Could be Better Heather

Reality vs. Really Good TV plus How the Bachelor Could be Better

There’s TV shows you can’t really double or triple screen with because you have to watch it. You might miss something. And you don’t want to miss something. You know, Game of Thrones, This is Us and Schitt's Creek to name a few. Sure, you might play a quick round of Words2, text someone back or check some snaps but generally, you watch them scene…
Heather
February 21, 2019