12/21/1961 Daily News

Share what you know about the year you were born.


Google. New York mobster, Joe Gallo, sentenced for extortion receiving only 7-14 years. 

On my early birthday, important events were happening on the first day of winter solstice in 1961 and four days away from Christmas.

In addition, the US involvement in Vietnam was escalating. While, Fairbanks Alaska, experienced an all time low in temperature. 

In entertainment news, the song, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” was the number one song by The Tokens. 

https://www.nytimes.com/sitemap/1961/12/21/

Go to the link to read what the, “New York Times,” happened that day while I was in the hospital about three weeks early.

Thank you,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Home Protection

Decided to get more aggressive with a problem that doesn’t seem to go away. Unfortunately, the issue does include my personal safety at my own home.

Currently, I have a coworker who likes to control everyone around her because if you’re her friend, she can control what is being said about her. Her work ethic is below par which is why I’m doing her previous tasks now. In addition, the owner of the company likes her way more than me which is all good with me.

Since the end of the mowing season in north Texas which was about Halloween, my gates to my backyard remained unlocked for my lawn guys to mow.

About that time, my coworker showed up at 3am on a Monday and startled a neighbor who doesn’t need more to deal with. I overheard the conversation and did nothing. Recently, she was back at my home again. This visit, she painted a huge log near my property line in my backyard white and splattered the paint on my brick hunter green trim on my home. When she visits like this, I never mention it at work what’s happening at my house.

Last night, I decided to finally lock the gate this morning which I already had the lock and the cord. In addition, I purchased remote window cameras from Amazon for my front door and for my bedroom window near the gate for the backyard. My feeling is that she’ll be back after Christmas to scare me into thinking that she can control my life.

Yes, it’s my fault for not locking this gate after the mowing season ended. There’s another way to get to my backyard but my A/C unit and trees make it difficult to enter and near my neighbors cameras. With that being stated, she’s illegally crossing onto privately owned property at odd times at night. Plus, damaging property with paint.

After my cameras get installed, I will review footage and pass on time stamped pictures to the authorities, if needed. Plus, her name and address. Also, I know that the locked gate is a deterrent because she would have to climb over with her short height.

This Holiday season especially the New Year, I hope that you review the things that matter to you like home safety.

Making Changes for the Better,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Judging of Other’s Character

Are you a good judge of character?

During my life, like you, one finds people who you believe are good and who you believe others are bad normally based on the first impression. With that, one sees mannerisms, behavior and how one dresses plus speech. One sees what that person allows others to see them as. First impressions are usually the most genuine of others that are used as a basis of how one will be treated.

For myself, I trust what I sense being around others more than the person him/her self. Normally, I don’t mix well with too many others so I trust my gut feeling on first impression.

My confession is that I second guessed what I sensed about my ex husband when I first met him. My wrongful behavior cost me ten years of life plus a few to recover. I have become more cautious since my divorce in 1994. Although, my ex hasn’t since he’s been married three times since, unfortunately, for him.

Instead of looking at behavior, at dress, and at speech, look inside of what you sense or feel around someone because it doesn’t lie.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Security & Safety

In the recent months, I have had people who willingly walking on my property including a fenced backyard. Believe that it’s time for a change.

While I have an idea who is crossing onto my property at night without invitation, I need to catch them legally and be dealt with properly. Someone who I work with feels that I need to give in to her control so she’s been attempting to scare me. HR is not an avenue since it’s not happening at work. About two months ago, I heard my coworker who surprised my neighbor about 3am on a Monday morning who acted like it was normal. My neighbor stressed out about it. Last night about 3am, I heard someone who sprayed ammonia which I could smell then, later, I noticed that part of my external wall had white paint marks then a log painted in my backyard.

The only way to legally end this is to install security cameras to send footage to the local police for trespassing and vandalizing my property. Tonight, I did contact a neighbor who has advised me on occasion and whose wife works for the police in a non-uniform position.

The odd thing is that, like before, I know I’m moving out of State and even where but not when and how. Keeping it to myself for protection of employment and for privacy.

My goal is to end this peacefully and quietly with the person who I suspect will be apprehended with due process of law. Then, let our employer sort it out which I could be out of a job because the person is a favorite which I will be blamed. Toxic levels to the max at work.

Sincerely,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

December 21

Today is my birthday of 64 years young which I don’t feel, act or look my age. Thankful.

On this day, I arrived one month early of my set range of my expected arrival because my Dad who was a physician overestimated my Mom’s tolerance level. He told her that he was having an affair and that she was about half way through her pregnancy. I met my half sister years later but no relationship with her.

From that, I spent almost a year in pediatric ICU because my life expectancy started as hours, then days, next weeks after 90 days then years. Also, I was targeted for special education as well. Have had dental and vision problems most of my life. Cardiovascular issues as well. Smallest one in my family. Although, some family members treat me differently than my full term siblings. Plus, my life has been a constant reminder of the consequences of my Dad’s unchanged behavior when he was still with us.

Thankful to be alive and to exceed every marker that experts placed before me. Thankful for friends who looked beyond my shortcomings and stayed.

Cheers!

Leslie Elizabeth David.

The Power of Being Happy

Life brings me the most “happiness” when I relearn a thousand times over that it’s a mindset over circumstance and not allowing the circumstance to control one’s mind.

For example, Christmas was a huge stress event for me that normally a three plus hour drive from west Michigan to northern Michigan on US-131 that is a freeway when I enter the road but changes to a two lane highway north of Cadillac. Also, the amount of snow on the ground significantly increases as well.

Then, you add family dynamics into the picture. Me, being born premie and being a free spirit with no problem being truthful and honest sends the ripple of added stress to the Holiday. Normally, my coat wasn’t even off before the criticism began.

At one point, I decided that I will no longer handover the my power and my control to be happy over the Holiday to any of my family members. Tested the theory one year by staying put in west Michigan instead of driving north which proved that I was allowing them to get to me to be a downer and rain on my happiness. Honestly, one of the best Christmas’s ever!!

The following year, I did drive the 3.5 hours north which I knew that the only way that I was going to survive and be somewhat happy is to no longer allow comments from parents and family members to destroy me. It worked. The “not giving a f$&@“ attitude turned things right side up for me. The realization that the tables have turned didn’t sit well with them so I packed up and left.

A few years later, I moved to north Texas which the powers that be (my parents) did try legally stopping me from moving with attorneys who remembered me well as a high school cheerleader positively. Being a competent adult, I knew they had no feet legally to stand on as well.

Today, I am thankful for the years that I was strong and didn’t allow family to control my happiness and the years that I was weak and allowed them to control it gave me a strong sense of their true colors and being a learning experience.

In closing, families aren’t always supportive and loving like a Hallmark movie suggests during the Holiday season. In some cities like Detroit and Cleveland, domestic violence increases significantly over Christmas. So, choose happiness this season. Don’t let them get into you. You have the power to choose.

Merry Christmas,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Source of Inspiration

Recently, a couple of people who I have had conversations with asked me why I write or blog. Comments about challenging my brain have been most prevalent.

My answer is my source of inspiration is my soul where most of my the words that I type have meaning and come to life.

What inspires you to create?

Please share to encourage the community of writers here.

Thank you,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Dining Local for Early Celebration

For my early birthday celebration today, I’m dining at a local place that sources locally as much as it can in north Texas.

Tomorrow is my birth, December 21st, which I had an early birth with loads of problems being a premie. The good news is that I have outlived and outdone every expectation and barrier set before me. The outcome is a strong minded and free spirited woman who’s not afraid of the truth. 64 years young with lots of energy. Trusting intuition all the way.

Today, in north Texas, I’ll be visiting my all time favorite place of, Whiskey Cake, that is also part of Mexican Sugar and Ida Claire. All have craft beers, locally sourced ingredients and unique menus. It’s always a fun dining experience even sitting at the bar by myself.

Have fun today!

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Others Who I Admire

What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

Others who I admire have changed as I grow older and hopefully wiser.

In my younger years, particularly, in high school when I got into watch a certain soap opera of, “General Hospital,” primarily the story of Luke and Laura. This show became a weekday obsession. My admiration of the younger actors/actresses making history on this show.

In college, I started admiring a couple of professors who were intelligent, smart and had a sense of humor. The school was part of Michigan State University that had a flight school and a maritime academy which students who attended these areas of study I admired for each taking risks in their chosen professions of air and of water.

Post college, I admired people in my class who got the job after interviewing senior year in job fairs. Two of my old roommates received offers and accepted employment by connections made at school.

Later on in life post divorce, I admired people who had successful marriages of commitment and loyalty. I used to admire my parent’s relationship as a married couple. Unfortunately, I have learned truths about their life together that’s far from admirable.

As I become 64 years old, the people who overcame obstacles in life while playing the game fairly and honestly are the ones who I admire. The average person who’s willing to work hard to use the funds for college, for marriage, for travel and for retirement.

In closing, who or what we admire is a reflection of ourselves that, fortunately, can change as we mature. Choose wisely.

Leslie Elizabeth David.