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.