A Year of Blessings

Another calendar year has come to an end. Personally, I am ending 2010 a bit worse off than I ended 2009. That has been the pattern for several years now. Perhaps it has been the pattern all my life, but when I was so much better off I never noticed it. I must say that 2010 was mostly a happy year in my memory.
But this year has been especially good to me while attempting to bring me low. What am I thankful for?

• For my friends who go that extra mile for me.
• For my online friends who help me pass the time.
• While not at all healthy, I am still here with my family.
• I have discovered there are certain family members who's love goes far beyond words.
• I have discovered I care a LOT more about people than I do about rules.

Certainly, I could go on. And on. And on. Despite poor health. Despite the stresses I have faced. I think it has been a good year. And I am truly grateful.
I am also grateful to those of you who come to read what I write. I realize the posts on this blog are hardly informative or inspirational, but you come anyway. Thank you.
I hope your year has ended well for you.
God bless

I admit defeat

Here I sit wondering how did this aging thing happen. When did it happen. I remember turning 50 and feeling good. But it has been downhill ever since. Somewhere it happened. I guess the first I noticed it was in 2001 when I was diagnosed with COPD. Even on oxygen and other meds I have no where near the energy level I used to have. A great deal of my energy is used up just breathing. The bad part is I don’t feel bad. I still feel like I could do anything when my reality is I just can’t. And it sucks!

10 years ago I was a single hard working woman with a house and an old car. Life some times caved in on me, with home and or car repairs. Stress was a way of life for me. I owned my own business and that in itself was major stress. Fast forward to today and I am on disability and in forced retirement. Life is less stressful, except for the money part, and I am responding to it by trying to be the best me possible. However I find there is still stress.

I am getting older daily, and how I look and feel today is the best it will be and it is all downhill from here. I admit to being a little vain and the wrinkles, veiny skin and dark circles under my eyes, droopy boobs and gravity causing everything to sag. I am trying to hold off this aging thing but it is a losing battle and I have lost.

So I admit defeat and I will learn to love this aging droopy flabby wrinkly shell I am in. And if not love it then learn to accept it graciously and with good humor.

Is Spring just around the corner?

I think January and February are the LONGEST months of the year.
Winter! Grr....
However, I am thankful for central heat in my house, hot bath, and an electric blanket on my bed. So when counting my blessings doesn't help, I console myself with the fact that it could be worse!!

2010 Year in Review

1.~ What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before? Wow that is a hard one. I am more comfortable in my groove (rut to anyone else) that I don’t think there was anything worth mentioning.

2.~ Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Yes, I resolve to stop making resolutions. I suck at them. They last about 20 minutes into the New Year. This year, I figure if my resolution is to make no more resolutions, I'm good to go.

3.~ Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes I have a beautiful new Granddaughter Morgan Adele

4.~ Did anyone close to you die? Yes my only sister passed April 1.

5.~ What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? A bit more money,

6.~ What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Unfortunately I didn't have any dates, at least none worth mentioning. Oh wait, you mean a calendar date? So then June 12 and June 19.

7.~ What was your biggest achievement of the year? Keeping a good attitude and waking up every day

8.~ What was your biggest failure? Feeling sorry for myself

9.~ Did you suffer any serious injury or illness? My ego has been bruised a couple times

10.~ What was the best thing you bought? Wow that is a hard one. I will have to think on that one and get back to you. Nothing really stands out.

11.~ Whose behavior merited celebration? Katie’s grades I am so proud of her.

12.~ Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed? Michael Moore has always been totally opposite of everything I believe, I hope he understands that the very people who have fought and died for his right to act like a traitor continue to protect his rights even as he turns against them.

13.~ Where did most of your money go? I wish I knew, but I suspect utility bills.

14.~ What did you get really, really, really excited about? Morgan’s birth and Katie’s wedding

15.~ What do you wish you'd done more of? Laugh

16.~ What do you wish you'd done less of? Wasting my time.

17.~ Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don’t waste energy on hating any one or anything.

18.~ What was the best book you read? Water for Elephants loved it!

19.~ What did you want and not get? Botox

20.~ What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Classified info. But I will say I have had a quite a few annual 21st birthdays.

21.~ What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Seeing Greg

22.~ What political issue stirred you the most? Health Care I am still trying to figure out, is it a Band-Aid, a pill, or a suppository for the American People?

23.~ Who did you miss? Greg

24.~ What valuable life lesson did you learned in 2010. Happiness comes from within me, and another person isn't going to make me happy.

25.~ What sums up this year? It met but did not exceed my expectations.

Mixed up meme

A bunch of mixed up meme questions stolen from too many sources to mention, but the answers are totally mine:

1. Hard wood floors or wall-to-wall? , I admit to a preference for wall-to-wall carpet.

2. What is a nickname a former (or present) lover gave you?

3. What was the best party you have ever been to?

4. How many colors are you wearing now? 3

5. Are you an introvert or extrovert? I am an introvert, but I do a darn fine job of faking it as an extrovert.

6. What was the last book you read? Water for Elephants.

7. What's one piece of fiction that changed your life?

8. What is your favorite comic strip and why? Garfield because it absolutely cracks me up

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy recently? Hmmm - not really. I'm pretty happy right now!

10. What's your favorite dessert? Without question – it’s gotta be cheesecake.

11. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Ummm I don’t do mornings any more.

12. Name one website that you visit daily. Why do you read it? Facebook. Because I get a glimpse into the lives of people I don't get to see very often!

13. Could you make it 39 days on "Survivor"? Probably not. First, I really like food and comfort. I hate being cold - or hot. I look like crap in a bathing suit. And let's face it - I would never be able to keep my mouth shut long enough to stay under the radar.

14. Do you like to clean? Heck, no!!!

15. What was the last song to get stuck in your head? I’ve got a brand new pair of roller skates by Melanie.

16. What's the last movie you saw? The Rabbit Hole.

17. Pirates or Ninjas? Well, Johnny Depp has made it pirates - forever ... unless he comes out with a ninja movie, in which case I might reconsider!

18. Cats or dogs? CATS!

19. Chunky or smooth peanut butter? Either

20. What are you most looking forward to in the next six weeks? My birthday

Merry Christmas

Wishing you quiet peaceful moments to fully enjoy the wonders of this beautiful season and memories that will warm your heart long after Christmas has passed.

I wish you a joyous, delightful Christmas holiday. Thank you for being part of my world and making my life a whole lot brighter.

Christmas with a capitol C

Christmas and the TSA

Things to do on the Southside

Instead of stealing and or vandalizing or otherwise bothering Bobby G’s area perhaps you could try the following activities:

1. Start an Emo Band

2. Learn to read.

3. Paint a self portrait.

4. Build a house.

5. Dig for treasure that may or may not be buried in the park.

6. Walk around Walmart.

7. Recreate the Battle of Gettysburg in the street.

8. Find your real father.

9. Give back the bike you probably stole.

See there are plenty of things to do besides vandalizing and terrorizing the neighborhood.

Facts.

1. Americans fill in 54 acres of crossword puzzle space everyday.
2. The average Japanese drinks 4.8 gallons of liquor a year, the average American drinks 1.3 gallons.
3. 34% of U.S. men say meat makes up the largest portion of their diet, only 15% of women do. (sorry guys we don't want your meat :)
4. The end of the Cold War? Forty-eight U.S. spy rings were uncovered during the 1980's.
5. Q: Where are the world's largest sculptures? A: Mt. Rushmore.
6. Tired fact: During the work week, only 41% OF Americans get 7 or more nightly hours of sleep.
7. A dragonfly, the fastest insect, can move up to 35 m.p.h.
8. The double coconut palm produces the largest seeds (up to 60lbs.) in the plant kingdom.
9. Half of all Americans who visit psychiatrists are between the ages of 25 and 44.
10. There are more than 35 million ex-smokers in the U.S.

Advice

---

This is something we should all read at least once a week!
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.”
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

(from an email)

Sunday Sugar with Morgan and Santa:

Have you ever:

I'm a curious person by nature. Being the woman that I am, I'm curious...
Have you ever...

1. Made something to eat and then after it was done, didn't want it anymore?

2. Wear shoes that make fart sounds with every step you make but you pretend like you can't hear it?

3. Been so tired that even peeing was a chore?

4. Smashed a bug and then felt bad afterwards for smashing it?

5. Eaten gummy worms with a glass of wine?

6. Walked into a room and totally forgot why you went there?

7. Ran into someone and couldn't remember their names yet, they embraced you and were totally excited to talk to you. And...

8. Did you play it off like you knew the person just because you felt too foolish to ask who they were?

9. Said "excuse me" when you sneezed and no one else was in the room?

10. Read the end of a book because it wasn't holding your attention, yet, you wanted to know how the story ended?

11. Complimented someone and didn't really mean it?

Our real Problem

You, who worry about democrats versus republicans -- relax, here is our real problem.
In a Purdue University classroom, they were discussing the qualifications to be President of the United States . It was pretty simple: the candidate must be a natural born citizen of at least 35 years of age.
However, one girl in the class immediately started in on how unfair was the requirement to be a natural born citizen. In short, her opinion was that this requirement prevented many capable individuals from becoming president.
The class was taking it in and letting her rant, and not many jaws hit the floor when she wrapped up her argument by stating
"What makes a natural born citizen any more qualified to lead this country than one born by C-section?"
Yep, these are the same kind of 18-year-old that just voted in our last election!
They breed and they walk among us.

Out my Back Door

Merry Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

My favorite Snow movies:

1. Man from Snowy River,(1982) 102 min. - Epic romantic coming of age saga set in Australia with Kirk Douglas in two roles as twin brothers.

2. Ice Station Zebra (1968) 148 min. starring Rock Hudson,Jim Brown, Ernest Borgnine and Patrick McGoohan, this military Cold-War spy thriller is action and snow-packed.

3. Alive (1993) 127 min. - Ethan Hawke stars and John Malkovich narrates this harrowing true story of a South American Rugby team's desperate measures to survive after their plane crashes in the Andes Mountains. Not for the squeamish or small children.

4. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) Snow White, pursued by a jealous queen, hides with the Dwarfs; the queen feeds her a poison apple, but Prince Charming awakens her with a kiss.

5. Snow Day (2000) When a school in upstate New York is snowed in, a group of students hi-jack a plow to keep the school closed.

6. A Christmas Story (1983) Ralphie tries to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect gift for him in the 1940’s. You’ll shoot your eye out. (Love Love Love this movie)

7. Christmas Vacation (1989) The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster. My favorite quote:

Ellen: Clark, I think it'd be best if everyone went home... before things get worse.
Clark: WORSE? How could things get any worse? Take a look around here, Ellen. We're at the threshold of hell.

8. Snow Dogs (2002) When a Miami dentist inherits a team of sled dogs, he's got to learn the trade or lose his pack to a crusty mountain man.

9. Love Story (1970) Harvard Law student Oliver Barrett IV and music student Jennifer Cavilleri share a chemistry they cannot deny - and a love they cannot ignore

10. Doctor Zhiago (1965) Life of a married Russian doctor/poet who falls for a political activist's wife and experiences hardships during the Bolshevik Revolution.

These are a few of my favorite movies, that have snow in them. What are yours?

All wore out

Christmas shopping can really wear a girl out.

5 Christmas Questions

1. Where is the furthest you have traveled for Christmas and will you be traveling this year? I am a homebody for the holidays. I guess the furthest I have traveled was to Myrtle Beach a couple times and long ago to visit family in Florida.

2. Do you celebrate any other holiday this month? Kwanza? Chanukah? Festivus? Does New Year's Eve count!?

3. Who is the hardest person to shop for on your Christmas list and why do you think they are so hard to buy for? I do green Christmas’s.. Money is one size fits all

4. How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa? Stop believing? Never. I will always believe in the magic!

5. Fill in the blank; For me Christmas just wouldn't be the same without _______? Family

Choices

"When the choice is to be right or to be kind, always make the choice that brings peace." ~Wayne Dyer

The mighty Wabash is starting to freeze over.

Taken out my back door 12.7.10

Changes:

COMING CHANGES IN OUR daily LIVES
1. The Post Office.
They are in deep financial trouble. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive.
2. Banks.
Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with checks by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process checks. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the check, and in turn, the post office, the corner bank, the clerks at the counter.
3. The Newspaper.
The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.
4. The Book.
You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. Aren't you downloading music from iTunes for half the price of CD's?. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book.
5. The Land Line Telephone.
Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes.
6. Music.
The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading. It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who like to hear it. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalog items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book, "Appetite for Self-Destruction" by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, "Before the Music Dies."
7. Television.
Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix.
8. The "Things" That You Own.
Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system.
So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider. In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert.
9. Privacy.
If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7 "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. And "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again. All we will have that can't be changed are Memories.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT..... MOST OF THESE THINGS ARE ALREADY TAKING PLACE AND THE OUTCOME IS SET IN STONE .

(reprinted and adapted from an email)

Words I Hate

1. Panties….this word is so… like my grandma talking dirty.

2. Networking… pretty much any noun turned into a verb bothers me.

3. ASAP.. this is not a word people it is an acronym Ayysapp coming out of anyones mouth deserves a slap.

4. Supposobly… this is a made up word. it is supposedly people.

5. Guesstimate… ok it is either a guess or an estimate..

6. Stinkin.. .. why do people say something is so stinkin cute? there is nothing cute about stinkin.

7. Like….I like totally hate the like word 'like', when it's like used in that like way. Like you know what I'm saying? Like, for real.

8. Brain Fart….I HATE when people say 'brain fart'
Ugh gross!!!

9. The “F” word…When people drop "The F Word" in between each word of their question/statement/response/story. They use it as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, dangling participle, past, present and future tense. Doesn't matter - for some people, it's the All-Purpose word and it drives me nuts.

10. Special… It is used so much that it’s not.. well special.

11. The term, “Bestie.” This term along with BFF is perfectly acceptable. If you are twelve. This is not a term that should be used by grown women. And in my limited experience of hearing women over thirty use this term it is to refer to someone as said, “Bestie” to show that you aren’t the coveted “Bestie”. We are friends, but look at me and my BESTIE!!! Gahhhgah.

A date that will live in Infamy December 7,1941

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 America's naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by the forces of the Empire of Japan. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,100 were wounded. The attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships and damaged four more. It also damaged or sank three cruisers, three destroyers, one minelayer and damaged 188 aircraft. The day after the attack, the United States declared war on Japan and entered World War II. President Franklin Roosevelt, in a speech to congress, stated that the bombing of Pearl Harbor was "a date which will live in infamy"

My window sill today

With the weather outside so cold and snowy I thought I would just post pictures of my houseplants that are in bloom today.

This Christmas Cactus is loaded with blooms and is going to be spectacular when they are bloom.

I have no idea what sort of flower this is but it is beautiful.

This is my only African Violet and it is in bloom too!

Things that bother me today:

1. Conspiracy theories.
2. Celebrities claiming to be environmentalists.
3. How opening any cheap electronic item these days requires cutting up your finger with cheap impossible to open plastic molding covering.
4. The creepers at red lights. You know, those people that start inching forward in their cars slowly until the light turns green.
5. People letting their dogs use my yard as their toilet.
6. Keeping your Christmas lights up until February.
7. When the cashier gives you the change with the coins on top of the bills and for a moment you look like a fool jamming a large wad of cash into your purse.
8. Walking into a spider web
9. People who talk about their favorite sports team and say "WE" like they are a part of the team.
10. People who are late.

Integrity is in short supply now.

I'm an honest person. Most of my friends that are honest. People get away with whatever you let them. I've seen that with big corporatio­ns and the government­. It's also true for us ordinary folks. I've experience­d this firsthand in relationsh­ips. It probably sounds pretty cynical, but it's something I learned early on. I put a lot of faith in people and expect them to be moral, honest and that they stand by their word. I trust them to do the right thing.

I don't know where I rate on the scale, but I try to be honest and to live a life of integrity. I think all lies start with a lie to yourself, and this is where I concentrat­e my efforts. We have no control over others, we only have control over ourselves. All we can do is lead by example, and unfortunat­ely it seems as if many people lead with the wrong kind of example. I'm not so sure that things are any different today than they were decades ago.. There are many days that I don't have much faith in the goodness of others, yet I want others to have faith in my goodness. It's a double edged sword. I want things to be different, I want everyone to act with honesty and integrity. But I can only work on my own honesty and integrity and hope it rubs off on others.

Integrity is in short supply now. But I am patient…..and hopeful.

Cowboy wisdom; From TEXAS CORRAL, GRILL & SALOON ( good food)

Cowboy wisdom; From TEXAS CORRAL, GRILL & SALOON ( good food)

Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.

If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, Take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there with ya.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with watches you shave his face in the mirror every morning.

Don't squat with your spurs on.

CAREFUL is a naked man climbin' a barbwire fence.

A lasso is not a dating tool.

Ride the horse in the direction it's going.

The best way to cook any part of a rangy ol' Longhorn is to toss it into a pot with a horseshoe. And when the horseshoe is soft and tender, you can eat the beef.

A cowboy hat looks silly on anyone who isn't a cowboy.

If ya git ta thinkin' yer a person of influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

The only sumsitute for good manners is fast reflexes.

Solvin' problems is like throwin' cattle. Dig your heels on the big ones, and grab the little ones 'round the neck.

(thanks Joe)

Happy Birthday Joe!

Happy Birthday to my favorite brother, I love you.

She’s a Modern Girl

Just keeping in touch with her friends

Things that annoy me today:

1. People that snoop.
2. Dirty dishes in the sink.
3. Dirty keyboards.
4. Jerks who take up 2 parking spaces.
5. People who give their kids weird names
6. Telemarketers.
7. People who love to point out how wrong everyone else is while they are a walking train wreck
8. Grocery shopping carts with a bad wheel.
9. Kids with baggy pants hangin below their ass.
10. How commercialized the holidays are.

Sunday Sugar:

I Wish:

I wish I had gone to law school.
I wish I have traveled more.
I wish I had better speakers for my computer.
I wish I had gotten child support.
I wish I had paid attention during history class.
I wish I were an accomplished novelist.
I wish I was at peace with myself.
I wish I read well aloud.
I wish I could relax more.
I wish I had an ipad.
I wish I didn't feel broken.

Things to do when you're Sick

Nap
Read
Nap
Watch TV
Umm.... nap
Try not to breath on others.
Bleh.

Happy Thanksgiving!

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
G. Washington

Doctor Visit

(from an email)

Turkey Day Trivia

Interesting facts about Thanksgiving that each of us should know about:

• The first Thanksgiving celebration can be traced back to the Plymouth Pilgrims in the fall of 1621.
• The first Thanksgiving feast was held to thank the Lord for sparing the lives of the survivors of the Mayflower, who landed at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. The survivors included four adult women and almost forty percent children.
• The Wampanoag chief Massasoit and ninety of his tribesmen were also invited to the first thanksgiving feast. Governor William Bradford invited them for helping the Pilgrims surviving and teaching them the skills of cultivating the land.
• The celebration in 1621 lasted for three days and included games and food.
• The president to proclaim the first 'National Day of Thanksgiving' in 1789 was George Washington.
• Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, campaigned to make Thanksgiving a National Holiday in 1827 and succeeded.
• Abraham Lincoln announced Thanksgiving to be national holiday in his proclamation on October 3, 1863.
• The 'wishbone' of the turkey is used in a good luck ritual on Thanksgiving Day.
• Puritans of Mayflower used to drink Beer.

A very long post

The older we get....

ONE
Recently, when I went to McDonald's I saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9 or 12 Chicken McNuggets. I asked for a half dozen nuggets.
'We don't have half dozen nuggets,' said the
teenager at the counter. 'You don't?' I replied.
'We only have six, nine, or twelve,' was the reply.
'So I can't order a half dozen nuggets, but I can order six?' 'That's right.' So I shook my head and
ordered six McNuggets
(Unbelievable but
sadly true...)
TWO
I was checking
out at the local Walmart with just a few items
and the lady behind me put her things on the
belt close to mine. I picked up one of those
'dividers' that they keep by the cash register
and placed it between our things so they
wouldn't get mixed. After the girl had
scanned all of my items, she picked up the
'divider', looking it all over for the bar code
so she could scan it. Not finding the bar code, she said to me, 'Do you know how much this is?' I said to her 'I've changed my mind; I don't think I'll buy that today.' She said 'OK,' and I paid her for the things and left.
She had no clue to what had just happened.
THREE
A woman at work was seen putting a credit card into her floppy drive and pulling it out very quickly.
When I inquired as to what she was doing, she said she was shopping on the Internet and they kept asking
for a credit card number, so she was using the
ATM 'thingy.'
(keep
shuddering!!)
FOUR
I recently saw a distraught young lady weeping beside her car.
'Do you need some help?' I asked.
She replied, 'I knew I should have replaced the
battery to this remote door unlocker. Now I
can't get into my car. Do you think they
(pointing to a distant convenience store) would
have a battery to fit this?'
'Hmmm, I don't know. Do you have an alarm, too?' I asked. 'No, just this remote thingy,' she answered,
handing it and the car keys to me. As I
took the key and manually unlocked the door, I
replied, 'Why don't you drive over there and
check about the batteries. It's a long walk....'
PLEASE just lay down before you hurt yourself !!!

FIVE
Several years ago,
we had an Intern who was none too swift. One day
she was typing and turned to a secretary and
said, 'I'm almost out of typing paper. What do I
do?' 'Just use paper from the photocopier', the
secretary told her. With that, the intern took
her last remaining blank piece of paper, put it
on the photocopier and proceeded to make five
'blank' copies.
Brunette, by the way!!
SIX
A mother calls 911 very
worried asking the dispatcher if she needs to
take her kid to the emergency room, the kid had
eaten ants. The dispatcher tells her to give the
kid some Benadryl and he should be fine, the
mother says, 'I just gave him some ant
killer......'
Dispatcher: 'Rush him in to emergency!'

Life is tough.
It's even tougher if you're
stupid!!!!

Someone had to remind me, so I'm reminding you too. Don't
laugh.....it is all true...
Perks of reaching
50 or being over 60 and heading towards 70!

01. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
02. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
03. No one expects you to run--anywhere.
04. People call at 9 PM and ask,"did I wake you?"
05.People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
06. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
07. Things you buy now won't wear out.
08. You can eat supper at 4 PM.
09.You can live without sex but not your glasses.
10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
11. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
12. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.
13. You sing along with elevator music.
14. Your eyes won't get much worse.
15. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
16. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather
service.
17.Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them
either.
18. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.
19.You can't remember who sent you this list.
20. And you notice
these are all in Big Print for your convenience.


Never, under any circumstances,
take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night

from an email. tks Joe

Morgan and outside my back door.

Sad

A 30 something couple in Minneapolis Mn. Has opened a web site to take a poll to help them decide whether to abort their 17 week baby boy. It is complete with the baby's heart beat and ultrasound. According to their web site they are not sure they are ready to be parents. Interestingly this is her third pregnancy. The other two ended in a miscarriage. As of today the poll is 80.88% for Give Birth, and 19.12% to abort the baby. With a total of 99,716 votes. I think some one should set up a site to vote on and collect money to sterilize this couple. You can view this spectacle : Here

This is one of the saddest things I have ever read. I hope it is some sort of stunt and we have all been punked. This is not about changing your belief. Whether you are anti or pro .. you must admit this is heartless and attention grabbing.

Hard

The hardest thing to do is...

to not be cynical when you have all the reasons to be.

to look for the silver lining in the cloud when all you see is endless stretch of darkness.

to smile when things go wrong and to say - Yeah S**t happens!

to try to find the positive side of all negative outcomes.

to not believe when others try to drive home the point that you are a loser.

Post in which I get a little political.

Apparently a Wisconsin man, (is it me or does he look like Teddy Roosevelt's doppleganger?) Steven Cowan, was so enraged that Bristol Palin was not eliminated from Dancing With the Stars he shot his television set and then aimed his gun at his wife. His wife managed to escape and call the police who arrested him for reckless endangerment and he is facing up to 10 years in prison. Then guess what… out comes the old bipolar defense.

(I didn't realize DWTS even transmitted to Wisconsin! Shouldn't this guy be making cheese or something?)

Yeah, yeah...another bipolar disorder defense. Yes, we all know that Bristol is there because of her mother...duh...but people just have to ACCEPT that DWTS is NOT a dance competition...it's a variety show/quasi-competition. The popularity contest aspect is what makes it the show it is. So, let's all stop shooting our TV sets and whipping up conspiracy theories!!!

I wonder if she weren’t Sarah Palin’s daughter would this actually be news? Besides I thought they all shot their sets on Nov 2.

Wednesday with Morgan

The Way to Live

This is something we should all read at least once a week!!

Make sure you read to the end!
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer,

Cleveland , Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life

taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column

once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.

Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others.

You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.

But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.

But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life,

don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion.Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31.. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

(from an email)

NIMBY

This is a very difficult subject. A sex offender is set to move into our little town. He has purchased a house and will move in soon. He has spent 10 yrs in jail and has been out over a year. I live in Podunk, so I will experience first-hand the changes this has made. Not pretty at all. Some days I am mad as hell. Other days, I shake my head in sorrow I realize that our country's system is set up so that most offenders will not move beyond where they are now. This is a small safe town, one you can let your kids walk to the park, go to the store and get ice cream with out worrying. Everything will soon change.

It’s difficult to understand this, but this is the new reality for our town. It's easy to sit around and say, "Why did he pick our town?" Many of us are just a stone's throw away from this person’s home. Some say he has paid his debt to society and we should give him a fresh start..Easier said than done in today's world.

I think my feelings are really appropriate. It is very hard to see my neighborhood change.

411

Since the invention of the internet, the phone book is practically obsolete and finally being phased out.

The use of phone books have dropped from 25 percent down to 11, from 2005-2008. So I think it makes perfect sense to stop printing them.

New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania all approved Verizon's request to stop printing the White Pages this month. Virginia will be the next state in line, making 15 states who have stopped the directories or are in the process.

I won’t miss them, will you?

Old

“OLD” IS WHEN….. Your sweetie says, “Let’s go upstairs and make love,” and you answer, “Honey, I can’t do both!”
“OLD” IS WHEN….. Your friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes and you’re barefoot.
“OLD” IS WHEN….. A sexy babe catches your fancy and your pacemaker opens the garage door.
“OLD” IS WHEN….. Going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.
“OLD” IS WHEN….. You don’t care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don’t have to go along.
“OLD” IS WHEN….. When you are cautioned to slow down by the doctor instead of by the police.
“OLD” IS WHEN….. “Getting a little action” means I don’t need to take any fiber today.
“OLD” IS WHEN….. “Getting lucky” means you find your car in the parking lot.
“OLD” IS WHEN….. An “all-nighter” means not getting up to pee.

(from an email)

Veterans Day

It’s Veteran’s Day and I wish to add my tribute to all who have fought for our country. These soldiers and sailors and marines and air force men and women have earned our respect and gratitude.

10 Things

1. I don’t gamble.
2. I love to sleep.
3. I love Red Hot Fireballs.
4. I am terrified of snakes.
5. I can’t see my hand in front of my face.
6. I’m obsessed with statistics.
7. I don’t have a credit card.
8. I can cook and bake
9. I never finish anything.

Quiz

1. Other than news, sports, editorials and weather, which specific features or columns of the newspaper do you always read?
Obits, I know it sounds morbid, but I know a lot of old people

2. When do you normally do your Christmas shopping? Have you started this year's, yet? Do you intend to spend more, less or the same this year versus last year?
I am a non shopper, I give cash instead

3. You're having a true "TV Dinner," made by a classic character: who would you rather have in the kitchen:
A) Aunt Bee from "The Andy Griffith Show"
B) Alice from "The Brady Bunch"
C) June from "Leave it to Beaver"
D) Edith from "All in the Family"
E) Claire from "The Cosby Show"
Aunt Bee

4. What topic are you most sick of hearing about in blogland? Negative politics

5. What company is annoying you most with junk mail?
Credit cards and insurance.

6. What cheesy sitcom (from any era) most describes how you grew up? Your family, location, dynamics, details...All in the family

from an email.

Stuff

Stuff.. lots of stuff. My house is bursting with stuff. My stuff, my kids stuff. Keep sakes and clutter. Our whole lives we spend acquiring stuff. Our success is measured in part by how much stuff we own. New stuff, antique stuff, good stuff and stuff to jog our memory. In all my years I have never seen a u-haul following a hearse. So what happens to all this stuff we leave behind? Most of my stuff is ordinary. Nothing remarkable or valuable. But almost everything I own contains a memory.

Before I get too excited, I should find out what the stuff is worth. Not how much an appraiser says it's worth - what someone will pay me. I will probably be surprised at what my "priceless" antiques are worth.

The ultimate decision of what to do with any of these belongings is mine.

I am seeing how much work and stress is involved in this cleaning out process and I would like to make my exit easier on the ones left behind.

What I am trying to say (and obviously not very well) I am NOT talking about getting rid of my stuff. I am talking about the burden of what we leave behind is for our children .. or family.. how hard it is for me to do the right thing.. what is the right thing? we spend our life gathering things and in the end it means nothing but work for those left behind.

____________________________________________________________________________

Happy Birthday to my middle son Gary!

Sunday Sugar

Favorite Things

• Brand new socks
• Brushing with a new toothbrush
• Putting on clothes warm right out of the dryer
• Stretching
• Waking up and realizing I don’t have to get up.
• Getting mail that is not a bill
• Hearing laughter
• The smell of rain
• Old movies

RIP Sparky Anderson

Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson, who directed Cincinnati's Big Red Machine to back-to-back World Series championships and went on to win another title in Detroit in 1984, died Thursday. He was 76.
Anderson was the first manager to win World Series titles in both leagues and the only manager to lead two franchises in career wins.

Here are a few of my favorite Sparky quotes:

1. A baseball manager is a necessary evil.

2. I only had a high school education and believe me, I had to cheat to get that.

3. Me carrying a briefcase is like a hotdog wearing earrings.

4. People who live in the past generally are afraid to compete in the present. I've got my faults, but living in the past is not one of them. There's no future in it.

5. The great thing about baseball is when you're done, you'll only tell your grandchildren the good things. If they ask me about 1989, I'll tell them I had amnesia.

Rest in Peace Sparky.

------------------------------------------------------------------

I want to wish Morgan's daddy a very Happy Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Jimmy!

I

1. I really can’t handle people in my space.

2. I’m useless without a good 8 hrs sleep.

3. I am way to fond of my pajamas and slippers.

4. I make the best apple dumplings.

5. I really hate smoking.

6. I try too hard sometimes.

7. I say "you're welcome," when people don't thank me for, say, holding a door open.

8. I can't decide how I feel about bumper stickers.

9. I may be a stones throw away from insanity.

10. I am throwing out all nonessential numbers. This includes age and weight.

Time

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

- Mark Twain.

10 wishes

1. I wish to always be resourceful and move with the flow of life

2. I wish to be an eternal optimist.

3. I wish to keep being interested so I can be interesting.

4. I wish that I will never lose the twinkle in my eye.

5. I wish to always have a sense of humor.

6. I wish to always have a kind heart.

7. I wish to have a forgiving heart.

8. I wish to be in control of my happiness and not depend on others for it.

9. I wish for the courage to continue.

10.I wish to always be hopeful.

Crappy Times

Let me just say right away that I’m thankful for my family and friends. I am also thankful that I enjoy hundreds of freedoms daily that others in the world could only dream about. Just so you know, I feel quite blessed.
I recently read post about being thankful for people who help you through tough times in life and it made me stop and think of the people who have helped me. (There are several.) But it also led me to think of the crappy times themselves. And for as much as I would gladly hit the delete key and erase most of them from my life, I can’t. But in an odd way I’m thankful for them, too.
Rough times have shown me what I’m made of and who I can count on. They’ve allowed me to gain empathy for folks in similar situations. I think crap times have contributed just as much, if not more, to the person that I am as the good times have. At this ripe old age, I’ve dealt with a fair amount of crappiness. But the experiences have taught me that I’ll get through it eventually, even as I also know things will likely suck for a while. And that that’s just the way to has to be. So today I raise my glass to the crappy as well as to the good times. You can’t have one without the other.

Trash TV

In my hunt for the most mind numbing, cotton candy entertainment of the week, I flip through the channels quite a bit. Guess what I found, people? A new TV obsession: RuPaul's Drag Race. Oh yeah, THAT RuPaul.
It follows a competition between 9 fabulous drag queens to be the next superstar drag queen. Let me tell you, some of those “ladies” are very pretty. They are clearly professionals. They have baby soft skin, great bodies and have some fierce makeup skills. I have questions though, where do they put their .. er ..ahem.. um.. parts?? Anyone know?
Now they have a new show, Drag U, where nerdy every day girls are made up by drag queens and lip synch RuPaul songs. What next?

I'm glad

1. I'm glad that I have learned to ask for help when I need it instead of being ashamed that I can’t do everything myself.
2. I'm glad that I taught myself to cook...and do it well!
3. I'm glad I redecorated my home in thrifty chic because every day it makes me happy!
4. I'm glad that I am not anal retentive and research everything before making decisions because I like to be spontaneous and make mistakes so I can learn.
5. I’m glad I have met some great bloggy friends.
6. I’m glad I have this comfortable lifestyle and I'm grateful for all of my material possessions.
7. I’m glad for my home. Although it has its cracks & flaws
8. I’m glad I have learned some life lessons through painful situations. Ah the storms I have been through. But they've all helped me to become a better person.
9. 
   

Random thoughts about Charlie Sheen

I'm sure there is a rational explanation for all of this, and Teflon Charlie will be vindicated once more. And then, given another raise.

I happen to think Two and a Half men is HILARIOUS.
Granted it was much funnier in the earlier seasons and I have also been told I have 12 year old boy sense of humor. But I get it...it makes me laugh.

It sure would be nice to just press fast-forward on this tool's life story and get to the good part. You know, the part when it all ends in a tragically embarrassing blaze of glory involving hookers, drugs, minors and Polaroid's.

He acts this way AND gets paid millions with no repercussions

This guy is out of control and doesn't seem to care who he takes with him.

He acts like he's above everything and he actually is. What makes him so special? Really, I would kind of understand if he was a superstar. As it is, he's just a messed-up overpaid TV actor.

How is it that there is no sex tape out there starring him and his many STD’s?

And last but not least, maybe he was simply fighting off bed bugs when he trashed that hotel room?