Happy New Year

Snow on the Wabash

5 on Friday

 
1) Do you remember your dreams?
Most of the time. Often they fade really fast and I am left only with general idea, and sometimes I remember them in detail.
2) Do you dream in color or black and white?
In color.
3) What is the scariest dream you have had?
The one that had something like a plot?
This one was pretty recent, like a few months ago. I  woke up, or at least it seemed that way, and saw this really creepy looking guy just kind of hovering over me. I couldn't move and I couldn't see anything but him. I could also just tell that he intended to hurt me. It seemed so real too which just adds to the whole creep factor. Even when I actually did wake up I was creeped out. I was creeped out a while afterwards too. That's how real it was. Even now I can see the guy pretty clearly.
4) What is the weirdest dream you have had?
Don't know. Everything looks so logical while I am asleep.
5) Have you ever had a dream come true?
No, I don't think it had ever happened.

Merry Christmas

Brain Teaser

I found this on facebook.  It took me awhile to figure it out.  But once you do it is so so so funny.   Good luck

Perception

 
THE SITUATION
In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.
About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.
At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
This experiment raised several questions:
*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?
Enjoy life NOW... it has an expiration date!

Sad

I have stepped away from the computer for the last few days.  Reading the accounts and listening to the news, makes me sad and yet at the same time so very very thankful.  I really don't have the words to say how I feel or what I think of the cowardly murder of so many innocent children and 5 brave teachers. I am sure the families who have lost children and loved ones would tell us to be thankful and to cherish our family. I hope we all can do that.

Christmas Cactus

I started off with 3 plants. I killed one almost immediately. One was puny and has almost died off a couple of times. Then there is this one.  It is loaded with blooms and is just gorgeous.  I had to share it here.  I will try to get more pictures when it is in full bloom. 

Dear Santa

I know you are not a miracle worker but I am hoping you are a wish granter. So here a a couple wishes I have for this Christmas.
1. I’m not dreaming of a white Christmas but of a Green one, all I am asking is for it to rain money. Yep you got it…money. It seems like that would the top wish on most folks Christmas lists. Even if you only let it rain for five minutes, that would be okay.
2.  This is a hard one Santa, but I think you can make it happen. Seize up all the utility company’s computers and while your at it all bill collectors phones. Let us have a peaceful and relaxing Christmas with out worries of bills coming due.  Maybe while your at it you could accidently cause the slate to be wiped clean so we can start over in the new year.
3.  Last but not least, Santa .. I am asking for JOY. And a whole lot of it, I am feeling sort of Grinchy at the moment, so leave me an extra dose.
Thanks Santa!
PS---I will leave you cookies.
PPS—There is a cold beer in the fridge with your name on it.

darkness and light

Just ten more days till the winter solstice.  Then it will start slowly getting lighter again. It is dark when we get up and dark before the 5 o’clock news comes on.  Today it is foggy and rainy with no snow on the ground to reflect any available light. Every day or so the sun comes out for a little bit and I squint gratefully into the light. Some people seem to like this time of year. They call it cozy.  Me, I feel all out of sorts and almost depressed. I will slog on thru this dark time of year and wonder why, even , when I know to expect this dark dismal time I let it affect me. 

 grateful

 [greyt-fuh l] 

adjective

1.warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful: I am grateful to you for your help.

2.expressing or actuated by gratitude: a grateful letter.

3.pleasing to the mind or senses; agreeable or welcome; refreshing: a grateful breeze.

Origin:
1545–55;  obsolete grate  pleasing (< Latin grātus ) + -ful

$5.37

That's what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bell said to me.
I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some change when the kid with the Elmo hairdo said the hardest thing anyone has ever said to me.  He said, "It's OK. I'll just give you the senior citizen discount." I turned to see who he was talking to and then heard the sound of change hitting the counter in front of me. "Only $4.68" he said cheerfully.
I stood there stupefied. I am 56, not even 60 yet?
A mere child!
Senior citizen?
I took my burrito and walked out to the truck wondering what was wrong with Elmo. Was he blind?As I sat in the truck, my blood began to boil.  Old? Me?  I'll show him, I thought. I opened the door and headed back inside. I strode to the counter, and there he was waiting with a smile.
Before I could say a word, he held up something and jingled it in front of me, like I could be that easily distracted!
What am I now? A toddler?
"Dude! Can't get too far without your car keys, eh?" I stared with utter disdain at the keys.  I began to rationalize in my mind!  "Leaving keys behind hardly makes a man elderly! It could happen to anyone!" I turned and headed back to the truck.
I slipped the key into the ignition, but it wouldn't turn. What now? I checked my keys and tried another. Still nothing.  That's when I noticed the purple beads hanging from my rear view mirror. I had no purple beads hanging from my rear view mirror.  Then, a few other objects came into focus:
The car seat in the back seat.
Happy Meal toys spread all over the floorboard.
A partially eaten doughnut on the dashboard.
Faster than you can say ginkgo biloba, I flew out of the alien vehicle.  Moments later I was speeding out of the parking lot, relieved to finally be leaving this nightmarish stop in my life. That is when I felt it, deep in the bowels of my stomach: hunger!  My stomach growled and churned, and I reached to grab my burrito,only it was nowhere to be found.
I swung the truck around, gathered my courage,and strode back into the restaurant one final time.
There Elmo stood, draped in youth and black nail polish.  All I could think was, "What is the world coming to?"  All I could say was, "Did I leave my food and drink in here"?  At this point I was ready to ask a Boy Scout to help me back to my vehicle, and then go straight home and apply for Social Security benefits.
Elmo had no clue.
I walked back out to the truck, and suddenly a young lad came up and tugged on my jeans to get my attention. He was holding up a drink and a bag.
His mother explained, "I think you left this in my truck by mistake." I took the food and drink from the little boy and sheepishly apologized.
She offered these kind words: "It's OK. My grandfather does stuff like this all the time."
All of this is to explain how I got a ticket doing 85 in a 40 mph zone. Yessss, I was racing some punk kid in a Toyota Prius. And no, I told the officer, I'm not too old to be driving this fast.
As I walked in the front door, my wife met me halfway down the hall. I handed her a bag of cold food and a $300 speeding ticket.
I promptly sat in my rocking chair and covered up my legs with a blankey.
The good news was I had successfully found my way home.(adapted from an email)

Monday with Morgan

Last year was very traumatic for Morgan.

This year was tear free.

Light and Darkness Season

Just ten more days till the winter solstice.  Then it will start slowly getting lighter again. It is dark when we get up and dark before the 5 o’clock news comes on.  Today it is foggy and rainy with no snow on the ground to reflect any available light. Every day or so the sun comes out for a little bit and I squint gratefully into the light. Some people seem to like this time of year. They call it cozy.  Me, I feel all out of sorts and almost depressed. I will slog on thru this dark time of year and wonder why, even , when I know to expect this dark dismal time I let it affect me. 

 grateful

 [greyt-fuh l] 

adjective

1.warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful: I am grateful to you for your help.

2.expressing or actuated by gratitude: a grateful letter.

3.pleasing to the mind or senses; agreeable or welcome; refreshing: a grateful breeze.

Origin:
1545–55;  obsolete grate  pleasing (< Latin grātus ) + -ful

December 7

On Dec. 7, 1941, while negotiations were going on with Japanese representatives in Washington, Japanese carrier-based planes swept in without warning over Oahu and attacked (7:55 '[AM]' local time) the bulk of the U.S. Pacific fleet, moored in Pearl Harbor. Nineteen naval vessels, including eight battleships, were sunk or severely damaged; 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed. Military casualties were 2,280 killed and 1,109 wounded; 68 civilians also died. On Dec. 8, the United States declared war on Japan.
Soon there will be no more survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is up to all of us to remember that day. We have to remember the horrors of war in hopes that someday the wars will be gone.

5 on Friday

1. What is the one place you never want to live?
Alaska. Canada. Russia. Either pole. Anywhere COLD.
2. Do you consider yourself to be a "picky eater"?
Not at all. I'll try about anything once. I like trying out new dishes. I'm even learning to like to cook.
3. What do you think people say about you behind your back?
I hope that they would say I am a good person. and not "That girl is a little psycho..."
4. If you could own and operate any major business what would be?
Major business? I would love to take over the VA Hospital for just a little while. Oh, the changes I would make.
5. Do you feel as if you are a black-and-white only person, or a person who sees many gray areas? That is to say, do you have strong opinions on everything, or do you recognize the need to compromise?
I see the world made up of many, many shades of gray.

Evidence

A mistake is evidence that someone has tried to do something...
Someone who never makes any mistakes has never tried to do anything at all.~ unknown

I have definitely tried to do something. I make mistakes all the time!

FOR THOSE OF US OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER

 
Hollywood Squares:
These great questions and answers are from the days when ' Hollywood Squares' game show responses were spontaneous, not scripted, as they are now. Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course…
 
Q. Paul, what is a good reason for pounding meat?
A. Paul Lynde: Loneliness!
(The audience laughed so long and so hard it took up almost 15 minutes of the show!)
Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.
Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be.
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.
Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years...
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.
Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.
Q. According to Cosmopolitan, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A. Rose Marie: No, wait until morning.
Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.
Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say 'I Love You'?
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty.
Q. What are 'Do It,' 'I Can Help,' and 'I Can't Get Enough'?
A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.
Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget.
Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.
Q.. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any
during the first year?
A.. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.
Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.
Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.
Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.
Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.
Q. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?
Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.
Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.
Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected
Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.
Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?
Q. When a couple have a baby, who is responsible for its sex?
A. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him.
Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet.
Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A. Paul Lynde: Point and laugh.

WE DON'T STOP LAUGHING BECAUSE WE GROW OLD,
WE GROW OLD BECAUSE WE STOP LAUGHING!
(from an email)

And the walls came tumbling down

They started around noon today.  Unloading a big yellow machine from a semi. Within an hour of the start time the old house was for all practical purposes gone.


There was a lot of noise, and a lot of dust.

He started at the back and soon I could see thru the windows and just that quick the back half was demolished.  I watched as it broke free of the foundation and started swaying back and forth.  But the demo man knew his stuff and it fell inward just as he had intended.

This was a large home and had 3 nice sized bedrooms upstairs,  a very large kitchen, one bathroom,  a bedroom down and a nice living area with a neat alcove. Off the kitchen was a nice sized laundry room.

And now it is a big old pile of rubble. The owner had moved out and more of less abandoned it years ago and the town finally condemned it and order the demolition.  I have very mixed feelings about this.  Yes it was an eye sore but also I think our town lost a little piece of its history when it came down.  Since I often share what is out my back door now you know what is out my front door. 

                                   And a picture of Miss Morgan.

Beware of Frog

5 on Friday

1.Have you ever left the country you live in and where?
Nope. I've traveled a little around the states...but not much...I visited Canada a time or two but it was a day trip, while visiting Niagara Falls.
2.What countries would you visit if time and money were not problems?
Time and money not a problem? When did I get a TARDIS?! That would be fantastic!... Australia for sure then I want go to the UK - England Ireland Scotland...And I've been told that Italy is wonderful. So, that's on my list. 
3.Out of all the foreign food you've tried, which is your favorite and why?
I don't really have a favorite...It all depends on the mood & the food. :) I kinda like Chinese, and Mexican.
4.Can you name all 7 continents? 
North and South America Africa Australia Europe Asia.....and I had to cheat because I couldn't remember Antarctica. (It's been a day or two since I've been in school!)
5.Which continent are you least likely to ever want to see and why?
That would be the above forgotten Antarctica....just because BURRRRRRRRR!!!

When in doubt, shut your mouth.

 

There seems to be an increasing number of stupid things being said to people who are upset. Are you guilty of any of these offenses?  Often times you come upon a coworker, a friend, or a family member who is obviously upset. Perhaps you do not know what has caused this. Perhaps you do. Either way you do not know what to say. Let me tell you right now: When in doubt, shut your mouth.

Lets look at some examples.

You come upon a friend and they are clearly upset. They feel as though every step in life they take forward, they are pushed back two. They feel as though they are not getting anywhere, like they are trapped. What do you do?
Correct answer: Put your hand on their shoulder and tell them that things WILL get better. Perhaps talk about some future plans that she can look forward to.
 Wrong answer: Say "Well, that is how life is. My whole life has been like that. You just gotta get used to it." This will only increase the feelings of hopelessness.

Your coworker is upset because they are stressing out about working with the public school systems.
Correct answer:  Put your hand on their shoulder.  Perhaps a small squeeze.  If you must say something, say "I understand and I know you will get through it."
Wrong answer:  Say "And this is only the beginning!"
 
Someone comes to you for help.  They have tried their hardest, but still cannot solve the problem.
Correct answer:  Say "Come sit down.  We will work through this together."
Wrong answer:  Say "You are a smart girl, you can figure it out."
In conclusion:  When in doubt, close your mouth!
 
This was adapted from an email, I thought it was very good advise.

4 things that make me cranky today.

1. Blogs with music Normally I read blogs first thing in the morning.and unexpected blaring music makes me very unhappy.
2. Lack of paragraphs Now, I am no English teacher and I do not claim to know anything much about grammar, but paragraphs are your friends. They are just easier on the eyes.
3. Caps Lock This goes for anything: blogs, email, fb, twitter, anything. Caps = Yelling. I don't like people yelling IRL either.
4. Commenters who have nothing nice to say Seriously, if you don't like the blog you can click away from it. Try it. See that ity-bity 'x' in the top corner of the screen? Click it. Good. Now you don't have to read blogs that make you so unhappy! Amazing! And I am not talking about followers that read the blog and just disagree sometimes. I am all up for discussions, but it the person that comes back week after week to say how much the blog sucks.

People Who Annoy Me This Week

 

1. Post-Election Activists
You know the types. They say nothing before the election. Probably do not vote. Then complain and complain and rally AFTER the election. Wednesday is not the right time to decide to protest, start groups, and rally. Monday probably would have been a better day for that. I cannot even look at FaceBook right now.
2. Lazy People
The people who use the elevator to go up one flight. The people who ride the bus for three blocks.  People who toss trash on the ground instead of placing in recycle containers or trash bins.
3. Elitist Environmentalists
Yes, being green is good for the environment, and is totally fashionable. I read a blog where the author suggested to start buying delicious organic soups and to donate your old soup to food banks. The commenters called her an elitist because why would you give poor people bad (read: Campbell's) soup? You should take that soup and composite it! These people are the elitists! People at food banks would rather Campbell's soup then no soup at all. You would really rather throw perfectly good soup onto the ground then give it to a hungry family? WTH?
4. People Who Don't Clean Up After Themselves nothing more needs to be said.

World’s largest army

The world's largest army...America's hunters!
I had never thought about this...
A blogger added up the deer license sales
in just a handful of states and arrived at a striking
conclusion:
There were over 600,000 hunters this season in the state of Wisconsin.
Allow me to restate that number:

Over the last several months, Wisconsin's hunters became the eighth largest army in the world.
More men under arms than in Iran.

More than France and Germany combined.
These men deployed to the woods of a single American state, Wisconsin, to hunt with
firearms, and no one was killed. That number pales in comparison to the 750,000 who hunted the woods of Pennsylvania and Michigan's 700,000 hunters, all of whom have now returned home safely. Toss in a quarter million hunters
in West Virginia and it literally establishes the fact
that the hunters of those four states alone would comprise the largest army in the world.
And then add in the total number of hunters in the other 46 states. It's millions more.
The point?
America will forever be safe from foreign invasion
with that kind of home-grown firepower.
Hunting.... it's not just
a way to fill the freezer..
It's a matter of national security.
***************************************
That's why all enemies, foreign and domestic, want to see us disarmed.
Food for thought, when next we consider gun control.
-------------------------------------
Overall it's true, so if we disregard some assumptions that hunters
don't possess the same skills as soldiers, the question would still remain... what army of
2 million would want to face 30, 40, 50 million armed citizens.
(IF YOU AGREE, AS I DO, PASS IT ON, I FEEL GOOD THAT I HAVE AN ARMY OF MILLIONS WHO WOULD PROTECT OUR LAND AND I SURE DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT TAKING CONTROL OF THE POSSESSION OF FIREARMS)

For the sake of our freedom, don't ever allow gun control or confiscation of guns.





In God We Trust
"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

--
ED HANKINS
(from an email)

5 on Friday

1. How long do your Thanksgiving leftovers usually last, and at what's the first non-Thanksgiving item you begin to crave when you tire of turkey?
For me, the first non-Thanksgiving item I crave is steak.  Since I no longer cook and go to my son’s I don’t have  left overs.
 

2. Of the following, which would you most prefer to be located:
a) Interstate highway traffic jam
b) Slow-moving checkout line
c) Dentist's chair
Been in all three but I think the checkout line wins it.
 
3. What is at the top of your personal Christmas gift wish list this year?
I don't have a wish list. Gave up on making one years ago because I never got anything on it anyways.  But if you really press me I would say a garage, just cause it drives my kids nuts.

4. What is your favorite classic 80's video game?
I guess it would have to be Ms. Pac man. I preferred pinball games.

5. What seasonal movies do you most look forward to this time of year? A Christmas Story.  I love this movie. I have watched it every year forever. 

Happy Thanksgiving

A Letter to Older Me

 

Dear Older Me,

I know I’ve got a few more years to go before I’m considered “old” so I’m telling you now, you’re in for the ride of your life. You will NOT grow old without a fight. It’s not that you’re in denial; you’re going to find that there’s way too much life to be lived still.

Play lots - video games, dance, paint, play with a yoyo, jump rope while singing the childhood jump rope songs, take in some homeless animals, and LAUGH!!! Create moments…seek moments where laughter is overflowing. Blow milk bubbles (of course, don’t forget to take Lactaid), lie on your back and watch the clouds. Have a picnic with your precious other, romancing and loving ever moment of his touch. (PS…there’s no such thing as being too old for romance).

You may not like the word “no” very much but brace yourself. Not every idea will be met with thumbs up, even from your kids. But that’s okay. By then, there will be ankle locators for the elderly so they’ll keep tabs on you wherever you are.

Oh, and by the way, prepare yourself, Older Me, because you are taking that Thelma and Louise trip living life close to the edge. Bring plenty of extra underpants because the trip will cause leakage in great proportions from laughing so hard. Also, never leave home without enough money in your pocket to either call a cab or for bail money. Never say never to jumping out of planes, going on a safari in Africa or staying in a 5 star hotel, being treated like royalty. You deserve to be waited on hand and foot, even if they are a bit wrinkly.

You’re going to love being a Grammie. It’s going to feel like nothing you’ve ever felt before to hold your beautiful grandbabies and know that you are holding a piece of heaven here on earth. It’s okay to slip the grandbabies cookies when their parents aren’t looking and give them the wink. It will always just be your secret.

Find a place to hang your car keys. You will lose them many times before you figure that one out.

As much as you hate the thought of hot flashes and irritability, enjoy every minute of it. It will save tons on the heating bill in the winter time.

When you get the urge to do something out of the ordinary, make sure that you tell someone what it is and where you’re going, just in case, somehow, along the way, you get lost and can’t find your way back home.

Laugh when you wear two different shoes or drop half a bagel down your cleavage….at least you will still have cleavage, even if it is tucked inside of your socks.

Sing loudly…and trust me, others will sing right along with you.

Never fear admitting you’ve forgotten something. It’s not that you’re forgetful, your brain is just taking a power nap.

Cherish time cuddling, and holding hands. And KISS long and passionately. Most of all, love yourself and all the other things will fall right into place.

Signed,

The younger ME

(adapted from an email)

STUDENT WHO OBTAINED 0% ON AN EXAM

 
(I would have given him 100%!)
Q 1. In which battle did Napoleon die? 
* His last battle.
Q 2. Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?
* At the bottom of the page.
Q 3. River Ravi flows in which state?
* Liquid.
Q 4. What is the main reason for divorce?
* Marriage.
Q 5. What is the main reason for failure?
* Exams.
Q 6. What can you never eat for breakfast?
* Lunch & dinner.
Q 7. What looks like half an apple?
* The other half.
Q 8. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what it will become?
* It will become wet.
Q 9. How can a man go eight days without sleeping ?
* He will sleep at night.
Q 10. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?
* You will never find an elephant with one hand.
Q 11. If you have three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in other hand, what do you have ?
* Very large hands.
Q 12. If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it?
* No time at all.  The wall has already been built.
Q 13. How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?
*Any way you want.  The concrete floor is not going to crack.
 
 
from an email thanks Joe.

Regret vs. Guilt

 

re⋅gret
  /rɪˈgrɛt/ [ri-gret] -gret⋅ted, -gret⋅ting, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to feel sorrow or remorse for (an act, fault, disappointment, etc.): He no sooner spoke than he regretted it.
2. to think of with a sense of loss: to regret one's vanished youth.
–noun
3. a sense of loss, disappointment, dissatisfaction, etc.
4. a feeling of sorrow or remorse for a fault, act, loss, disappointment, etc.
5. regrets, a polite, usually formal refusal of an invitation: I sent her my regrets.
6. a note expressing regret at one's inability to accept an invitation: I have had four acceptances and one regret.
guilt
  /gɪlt/ [gilt]
–noun
1. the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, esp. against moral or penal law; culpability: He admitted his guilt.
2. a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.
3. conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.: to live a life of guilt.

A lot of people regret things that they have done in their lives. I have always thought that I am not regretful. The things that I have done have made me who I am.
On the other hand, I feel guilty about everything. Seriously. I carry so much guilt around it's hard to stand sometimes.
How does regret compare to guilt?
First, with a quick look, guilt is way more serious. Sally regrets giving Sarah that last drink. Sally feels guilty about letting Sarah drive home drunk.
They are both feelings of remorse (deep and painful regret for wrongdoing; compunction).
Side note: Don't you hate it when you are trying to figure out the meaning of a word just to have the definitions circle around one another?
Regret is remorse for an act or fault. Guilt is remorse for a crime or offense. Geez.
I think the most important part of either of these definitions is that guilt is for something either real or imagined. Regrets are real. Ben called Lucy a b***h and regrets it. Lucy got angry, stormed out the door and got hit by a bus. Now Ben feels guilty about Lucy getting hit by the bus. Ben wasn't driving the bus. Calling Lucy a b***h did not cause her hospitalization.
Who knows, maybe Ben is better off.
What is my conclusion? I suppose it would be healthier to be regretful than guilt ridden. Especially for things out of your (my) control. I don't know if anyone else learned anything in the past couple of minutes (assuming you are a slow reader) but I did. I can't say that it will help or change anything, but I certainly learned something.

5 on Friday

1) Which one is more irritating- being too hot or being too cold?
Too cold; being too hot is sticky and uncomfortable, yes, but cold is genuinely PAINFUL. (Assuming, of course, that "too hot" is more of a weather thing and not actually being on fire...)
2) Were you born in the winter or the summer?
Yes....okay, okay, real answer is "winter"                     
 3) What are your favorite foods to eat when you need to warm up and cool down?
Hot chocolate and popsicles, respectively.
4) Which one are you more likely to suffer from- hay fever or flu- and does it run in your family?
Hay fever, and I haven't a clue if it runs in the family.
5) You are granted a day of perfect weather whenever you like. What day do you place it on and why?
Right in the middle of winter, probably in the middle of January, because that's about the time all the cruddy winter weather has really got me down and I could use a little sunshine!

Common denominator

 

If you are searching for the common denominator in your life, you are in luck. You are it. Now that you know you are the only consistent factor in any situation, you can begin to figure out how you are contributing to your recurring challenges and problems. This is great news because, once you realize you are at least part of the problem, you can begin to change your behavior, beliefs and attitudes that are contributing to the situation. Keep in mind that you have to concern yourself only with you, not with anyone else. You are the only one you can change. So don’t focus outside yourself. Focus on the common denominator. You will be amazed at the difference this process will make in your life. ~Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD

Homemade Christmas Gifts

My Dear Friends,

Like many of you, Christmas is tight for me this year.
I will be making bedroom slippers for you all as gifts.
Please let me know your sizes. You'll most likely agree that it's a splendid idea, and should you wish to do the same, I've included the instructions below.
How to make bedroom slippers out of maxi pads:
You need four maxi pads to make a pair.
Two of them get laid out flat, for the foot part.
The other two wrap around the toe area to form the top.
Tape or glue each side of the top pieces to the bottom of the foot part.
Decorate the tops with whatever you desire, silk flowers (this is most aesthetically appealing), etc.
These slippers are:
* Soft and Hygienic
* Non-slip grip strips on the soles
* Built in deodorant feature keeps feet smelling fresh
* No more bending over to mop up spills
* Disposable and biodegradable
* Environmentally safe
* Three convenient sizes: (1.) Regular, (2.) Light and (3.) Get out the Sand Bags.
I've attached a photo of the first pair I made so that you can see the nifty slippers for yourself....
Awaiting your response. It's crucial that I get the right size for each one of you.

My Christmas Cake Recipe

Once again this year, I’ve had requests for my Vodka Christmas Cake recipe so here goes. Please keep in your files as I am beginning to get tired of typing this up every year! 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 cup water, 1 tsp. salt , 1 cup brown sugar, Lemon juice, 4 large eggs, Nuts, 1......bottle Vodka, 2 cups dried fruit.
Sample a cup of Vodka to check quality.
Take a large bowl, check the Vodka again to be sure it is of the highest quality then Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point, it is best to make sure the Vodka is still OK. Try another cup just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 eegs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the fruit up off the floor, wash it and put it in the bowl a piece at a time trying to count it. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit getas stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver Sample the Vodka to test for tonsisticity. Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something. Check the Vodka. Now shit shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the Vodka and wipe the counter with the cat.
(Thanks Kathy)

Comic books

Back when I was growing up one of the biggest reading outlet was comic books.  My parents tolerated them but the truth was comic books inspired me to read.

Back then comic books were featured at the drug store, ten cent store, and most everywhere else. They were 5¢ each. I would save my money and go to the local drugstore, and buy my favorites.  After reading them my friends and I would trade them.  I don’t see comics around any more.  I think you have to actually go to a comic book store to purchase them nowadays.

We had a series called Classics Illustrated.  They were fantastic. If it wasn’t for them I never would have read actual books.  Seeing them in a comic book form started me reading books with out actual pictures.

Some I remember were White Fang,  The Three Musketeer's, Jungle Book, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea.

I sort of miss comic books.

What is a Veteran?

 
Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them, a pin holding a bone tighter, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul’s ally forged in the refinery of adversity.
A vet is a cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personal carriers didn’t run out of fuel.
A vet is the bar-room loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, Whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38^th parallel.
A vet is the Nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
A vet is the POW who went away one person and came back another- or didn’t come back at all.
A vet is the drill instructor who has never seen combat, but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account punks and gang members into Marines, Airmen, sailors. Soldiers and Coastguardsmen and teaching them to watch each other’s back.
A vet is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and metals with a prosthetic hand.
A vet is the career Quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
A vet is the thee anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean’s deep.
A vet is the old guy bagging the groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
A veteran _ whether active duty , retired , National Guard or Reserve - is someone who , at one point in their life , wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America for an amount “up to and including their very life”.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say, “Thank You.” That’s all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any metals they could have been awarded or were awarded.

5 on Friday

1. How much time do you spend on the Internet daily?
Way to much, I'd say a good four hours.
 
2. What are your favorite 3 websites?
Probably Facebook, twitter, and various blogs.
 
3. Do you eat at your computer?
Never ever do I eat at my computer.
 
4. Pick one and why - Reading the news online or in a newspaper?
EASY. Newspaper, hands down. Of course, I might be a little biased, since I worked for one. Still, I enjoy having a hard copy ... of everything. News and everything else. I don't like reading news and/or serious business online. And I love the crinkly sound it makes.
 
5. How many people are on your instant messenger buddy list?
about 50  I only talk to about 8 of them.