5 on Friday

1. What is your opinion on karma?

  I really do believe that you get what you give...most of the time, as in a daily basis sort of way. The philosophy of karma works, as long as you don't think you did something awful when bad things do happen.

2. If anything, do you think attitude makes any difference? If you believe the world and life are good, will good things radiate toward you? If you believe otherwise, will it all be a self fulfilling prophecy?

 I think it helps. Although sometimes bad things  happen to good people. But overall, yes, I feel that attitude makes a difference - it also affects how you interpret what does happen to you . . . which might be even more important

3. How has luck/chance/facts-of-life/God/karma/nature treated you so far?

 That's a hard question. I have had some struggles/tragedies in my life but I feel they have made me a stronger/better person in the long run

 4. What is your opinion of the concept of destinies?

 I think we all have a multitude of options, but that some paths are better for us then others - it's up to us to find the best ones by exercising WILL.

5. Are both bad and good things needed in order to truly live life? Can you have the bad without the good? The good without the bad?

Both are necessary. we wouldn't know the worth of good things without bad things.
 

The little boy and the old man

I love Shel Silverstein for the short, creative ditties written in his books. Here is one from a Light in the Attic.

THE LITTLE BOY AND THE OLD MAN

Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the little old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded, "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man.

Me

I like to craft. However, I burn through crafty things and never go back to them. Just ask my defunct bins of paint, stitchery and decorating supplies. I am a fair weather friend when it comes to craftiness.

Ironically, I could use up all of my spending money on yarn that will just sit there.

 I have become super selective about the blogs I read. If yours tells me all about how perfect your life is and how perfect your children are and how perfect your world is, I probably will delete you from my bookmarks. If you tell me that you had a bad day or did some big goof once in a while or your daughter tells you that you have a big bottom, you can stay. You are real. I mean, come on! You can't be perfect ALL of the time.

I rarely comment on blogs. But I read them every day...

I use spell check far more than I want to admit. I still can't spell nessicar...necissary...nesisa...whatever.

When I meet a new person, I over share. Like get-nervous-and-word-vomit-until-I-die over share. Then I get all self-conscious and try to avoid that person until I can talk myself down about being a total nut-case. I have issues.

Farmer's Creed

(This applies to more than farming.  Thanks Joe.)

• I believe a man's greatest possession is his dignity and that no calling bestows this more abundantly than farming.
  
• I believe hard work and honest sweat are the building blocks of a person's character.
• I believe that farming, despite its hardships and disappointments, is the most honest and honorable way a man can spend his days on this earth.
• I believe my children are learning values that will last a lifetime and can be learned in no other way.
• I believe farming provides education for life and that no other occupation teaches so much about birth, growth and maturity in such a variety of ways.
• I believe many of the best things in life are free: the splendor of a sunrise, the rapture of wide open spaces, the exhilarating sight of your land greening each spring.
• I believe true happiness comes from watching your crops ripen in the field, your children grow tall in the sun, your whole family feel the pride that springs from their shared experience.
• I believe that by my toil I am giving more to the world than I am taking from it, an honor that does not come to all men.
• I believe my life will be measured ultimately by what I have done for my fellowmen, and by this standard I fear no judgment.
• I believe when a man grows old and sums up his days, he should be able to stand tall and feel pride in the life he's lived.

Written for New Holland and originally published in October 1975.

Manners 101

When I was a kid, manners was like part of the basic food groups. You either had it or you suffered the consequences.

Here's an idea of how my parents taught us and I in turn taught my kids:

1) Always say excuse me when walking in front of a person (like in a movie theater, church or grocery store).

2) Eat what's on your plate before you ask for seconds.

3) If you don't like what is on your plate, tough, you eat it anyway and you don't get down from the table until it's gone.

4) Ask to be excused once you have finished eating.

5) Never get into an adult conversation. When grownups are talking, even repeating what they are talking about is not acceptable.

6) Sassy mouths get a sore behind. When asked to do something, the answer is, "Yes, ma'am or sir" and not "why?"

7) Open the door for others.

8) Never cough or sneeze without putting your hand over your mouth.

9) Always show gratitude and say thank you, even if it's for something that you don't like.

10) If you need to interrupt a conversation between adults, make sure it's for a good reason, like the toilet is overflowing. If so, then wait until you are acknowledged and say, "Excuse me".

11) Always thank the birthday girl or boy for inviting you to their party. If it's your party, say thank you for coming to celebrate.

12) No burping or belching or picking your nose or rubbing your nose or farting at the table. Excuse yourself to the bathroom or burp quietly.

13) Use inside voices. Talk only as loud as every ear can hear.

14) Help others.

15) Never laugh at anyone's misfortunes.

16) Don't push or cut in line.

Maybe that's totally old fashioned but that's honestly the way I was raised.
Sometimes, I think that kids are given too much of a voice without allowing them to listen to others.

What do you think?

Downfalls and a picture

One of the major downfalls to becoming hooked on blogging is that I have recently spent A LOT of time reading other people's blogs. People I know, people I know only through the internet, and people I don't know from Adam (except, I know Adam--hi Adam). It seems like I've come across a huge pool of bloggers who have nothing but interesting things to write about, and they all write the most fascinating, funny, witty, poignant observations about random randomness. I have to admit, I'm a little intimidated by this. I think of something that I want to write about and then I think, no, that's not important. I've been doubting myself. But, tonight I finally realized that it's MY blog. Who cares if what I write isn't important/fascinating/funny/witty/poignant? So, that's that. I'm going to learn to stop worrying and love the blog.

 Morgan and Aggie best buds

5 On Friday

1.What natural disasters (earthquakes,tsunami,volcanoes,wildfires,tornadoes,hurricanes/typhoons/cyclones, floods, landslides, etc) is your area prone to?
My area is prone to tornadoes, floods, and snow/ice storms.

2. What natural disasters have you experienced firsthand?
I've been in a couple tornado storms, one tornado hit where I was working, all the sudden the lights were crashing down, and it was hailing inside I looked up and the roof was gone there were some bad injuries and a couple deaths that day. Also I have slept thru a couple  very minor earthquakes-- but nothing to cause damage, just feel mild shaking.  I've also been in a few nasty blizzard/ice storm situations.

3. Have you ever been evacuated due to a natural disaster?
No. 

4. Have you made/do you make any special preparations in case of natural disaster where you live?
I used to have a tornado bag with a first aid kit, water, flashlight, some snacks, and a pair of sturdy shoes in my basement just in case.

5. What type of natural disaster scares you the most?
Seismic disasters (earthquakes, tsunami, volcanoes) because there is no reliable or timely way to predict them. Storms generally come with advance notice, even if it's only enough time to get into a basement after hearing a tornado warning siren, and floods and fires usually have contributing factors that at least give a community warning they could be possible in the near future. It would be stressful to know that earthquakes, etc, don't have a season and can occur at any time of day in any weather.

A letter to my kids...

(a letter to my kids)
1. Smell me before I walk out the door. I don't want to be responsible for anyone being overcome by ancient perfume fumes.
2. I want a chia head. Yep. I can cut the hair, braid it, part it in the middle...rub it's head....
3. I want the clapper. I live to grow old just so I can clap on and clap off.
4. Don't withhold any information from me. I want to know when I'm expected to kick the bucket so I can go out and raise some hell before I go.
5. Don't expect me to eat my foods soft. If I can't chew, then I would much prefer a fried chicken with Ben and Jerry's ice cream  for dessert.
6. If by chance I end up needing a walker, please make sure it has turbo boost on it so it can fly me wherever I want to go.
7. If I look like crap, don't tell me that I look good and then behind my back talk about how I have one foot in death's door.
8. If I end up with Alzheimer's, don't feel bad if you have to tell me that you've heard the same story over and over again. Just give me "the look" and I'll shut up and move on to the next subject.
9. Don't suggest that I join the Red Hat club. I don't do hats and definitely not red ones.
10. Don't make excuses for me if we go out to eat an I  pull out my Tupperware. After all, I am on a limited budget.
11. No. I'm not ready for the talk. You know the one that says, "where do you want your plot to be and how big"? Surprise me! Better yet, just have me stuffed and park me in your living room so I will always been in your thoughts.   Love,  M0m

Abbott and Costello explain unemployment

COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America.

ABBOTT: Good Subject. Terrible Times. It's 8.3%.

COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?

ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.

COSTELLO: You just said 8.3%.

ABBOTT: 8.3% Unemployed.

COSTELLO: Right 8.3% out of work.

ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.

COSTELLO: Okay, so it's 16% unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, that's 8.3%...

COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 8.3% or 16%?

ABBOTT: 8.3% are unemployed. 16% are out of work.

COSTELLO: IF you are out of work you are unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, you can't count the "Out of Work" as the unemployed. You have to look for work to be unemployed.

COSTELLO: BUT THEY ARE OUT OF WORK!!!

ABBOTT: No, you miss my point.

COSTELLO: What point?

ABBOTT: Someone who doesn't look for work, can't be counted with those who look for work. It wouldn't be fair.

COSTELLO: To whom?

ABBOTT: The unemployed.

COSTELLO: But they are ALL out of work.

ABBOTT: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work. Those who are out of work stopped looking. They gave up. And, if you give up, you are no longer in the ranks of the unemployed.

COSTELLO: So if you're off the unemployment roles, that would count as less unemployment?

ABBOTT: Unemployment would go down. Absolutely!

COSTELLO: The unemployment just goes down because you don't look for work?

ABBOTT: Absolutely it goes down. That's how you get to 8.3%. Otherwise it would be 16%. You don't want to read about 16% unemployment, do ya?

COSTELLO: That would be frightening.

ABBOTT: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: Wait, I got a question for you. That means there are two ways to bring down the unemployment number?

ABBOTT: Two ways is correct.

COSTELLO: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?

ABBOTT: Correct.

COSTELLO: And unemployment can also go down if you stop looking for a job?

ABBOTT: Bingo.

COSTELLO: So there are two ways to bring unemployment down, and the easier of the two is to just stop looking for work.

ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like an economist.

COSTELLO: I don't even know what the hell I just said!

ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like a politician.
(from an email)

Ahhhhh now I feel better:

Things that annoy me today.

1. When someone hangs the toilet paper wrong. It’s over people.

2. People who brag about their drinking.

3. When gas prices go up instead of down.

4. People that drive around with a cell phone stuck to their head. What the heck is so important that you can't wait until you get home to use the phone? Meanwhile they are endangering everyone else on the road.

5. TELEMARKETERS, TELEMARKETERS, TELEMARKETERS, TELEMARKETERS. 11:00 pm on a Saturday night! 4:30 am on a Sunday morning! STOP IT!!!!!

6. Spoiled children, and people with an excessive sense of entitlement reminiscent of spoiled children.

7. When people coming on to the interstate don't understand it is up to them to merge and they have to actually look at oncoming traffic and fit in, not just go for it and make people slam on the brakes or nearly get into an accident. Accidents don't just happen....people cause them!!!

8. Famous people who name their kids such God-awful names.

9. Madelyn O'Hair...if she hadn't been around, kids would still be praying in schools and at school events. All the crap that happens now--gangs, juvenile crime, etc. would not be such a problem. May she burn forever.

10. People who dress to the nines to go to Walmart and bring their kids with their crusty noses, dirt rings around their necks, faded dirty clothes, and bare dirt crusted feet. I consider this a form of child abuse. These parents should be horsewhipped.

I want to be like:

A Child and find happiness in simple things like:

Eating Oreo cookies and not caring whether I have it on my face.
Laugh at silly things like farts, burps, dogs barking, peek a boo and making funny faces. 

 
Coloring a page in a coloring book and not caring if I stay inside the lines.
Looking at lights and thinking it's the coolest thing.
Eating ice cream and not worry about how many calories they are.
Walking in someone else's shoes and loving every minute of it!

Learning something new like drinking  with a straw and thinking it's the greatest thing.
I wouldn't have to worry about how much money I had.

I would see the good in people and not be critical of the bad.
I would dance in the rain.
Play in the mud.
Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the crust cut off.
Laugh at my own jokes.

Cry because I'm tired.

5 on Friday

1. It the election were tomorrow, who would you vote for?

I don’t vote for the party, I don’t vote for a person because of their looks or the color of their hair or skin.  I choose the candidate that closely matches my own beliefs. I understand compromise is necessary and ability to lead is a must. I always hope for honesty.

2. What are the main things that lead you to vote for a certain person?

in a candidate: I look for the ability to make the right points bluntly, effectively and briefly. I am suspect of hedgers. I am suspect of cautious fence-sitters.

In a president: I want tenacity, forthrightness and candor. Willing to fight against odds for what we care about, a willingness to compromise to achieve, a willingness to put the nation above party when its called for.
The desire to win cannot be overshadowed by the fear of losing.

3. Where do you get your info on the candidates?

Everywhere, TV, the web, newspapers and the radio.

4. Who was president when you were born?

Yikes that was a really long time ago.. FDR was in his third term as president.

5. If you could choose anyone, dead or alive, to be president, who would it be?

I would chose me because I know I would do a good job. But since my health is so fragile I guess I will go with Lincoln. Not only did he hold the Union together during,  it's most turbulent period, he influenced people who hated him, didn't want to fight, didn't mind slavery, and wanted to see the Union dissolve. Lincoln managed Washington DC, the War, and Politics with a skill unmatched in history.

Why

 

These are things I've been wondering for years....

Why do elderly men pull their pants all the way up to their waists?
Why do we close our eyes when we laugh or sneeze?
Why do people put stuffed animals on the dashboard or backwindow of their cars?
Why do men’s and women’s shirts have buttons on the opposite sides?
Why are tampon commercials so dang cheerful?
Why didn’t anyone share some Trix cereal with the Silly Rabbit?
What was the Hokie Pokie really all about?
Are baby carrots cut from regular sized carrots and shaped or are they carrots that never grew up?
Why starve a fever and feed a cold?
Why am I not supposed to cry over spilled milk?

Face book and the election

Today all I have is a couple questions about political ads and mudslinging on face book.

Would those political ads ever change your mind about what you think about the candidates and how you will vote?

Do you dislike negative ads as much as I do?

I look forward to your answers, be honest I can take it.

Honey Boo Boo

Oh my gosh what has the learning channel done now? I watched the premiere episode  and Wow! just Wow! Alana, (Honey Boo Boo) a 6 year old pageant contestant and her family. There is Mama June, (I felt that Mama June was actually a pretty together, good mom. She's always there for the kids, doesn't make them feel bad about their shortcomings and seems to be quite loving in her own way. Sure, the family is a bunch of crazy crackers, but heck, at least they're not on drugs.) who is 32 years old, she is married to Sugar Bear who is 40. Together they have 4 daughters, 6 year old Honey Boo Boo, 12 year old Pumpkin, 15 year old Chubbs,  and 17 year old Chickadee who is pregnant.  If you do the math June was 15 when she had Chickadee. They went off to get Chickadee a ultra sound and there was Honey Boo Boo on the bed putting the gel on her stomach. Then there was talk about where babies come from. Lots of talking about farting and a pet pig. I was  all set to hate this show but ended up sort of liking it. I say sort of because how can you hate a family that eats road kill, and buys stale food at an auction so they can save money to take their sassy mouthed Honey Boo Boo to pageants and buy her fancy tacky glitzy dresses to wear.  I also couldn't help but admire and appreciate that this family actually seems to LIKE and ENJOY one another. I could see getting tired of Alana after a certain point, but she made me laugh hard a few times at her remarks. I have to say I kinda like her. And I must say after watching this show I swear I will never feel weird, not normal or out of place ever again. I give this show one half thumb up.

Honey Boo Boo

It's been one of those days!

1. I should've known it was going to be one of those days when I attempted to pull up a pair of jeans and either they shrunk or my butt grew overnight.

2. I should've known it was going to be one of those days when I walked outside barefooted in 100 degree heat and came back inside with second degree burns.

3. I should've known it was going to be one of those days when I ran into a spider web and freaked out.

4. I should've known it was going to be one of those days when I plugged in the curling iron instead of the mixer.

Happy Monday!! I hope you are having a good day where ever you are.

5 on Friday

1. Bully, teacher's pet, geek, shy kid in the corner, or something else?
Shy kid in the corner. I  was the invisible person in class. I also was (and am) somewhat a loner and not good at making friends. So I was on my own, ignored even by bullies.

2. What did/do you usually eat during lunch time at school?
I went to school way before my small school had a cafeteria so I packed my lunch usually a sandwich and maybe a piece of fruit.

3. What did/do you normally wear to school? Thinking back to what you wore(if you've already graduated), do you like it?
I just wore general street clothes that were out of style. Girls wore dresses and boys wore slacks no jeans allowed. No ‘gym’ shoes allowed either. We wore saddle shoes and the guys wore white bucks. It was a different time.

4. Any sports/activities/clubs you participate(d) in?
I did not join any clubs or activities. I never was a joiner.

5. Any worthwhile friends you (would) still keep up with after graduation?
The only friend I didn't lose is one I knew way before school. There are a couple of people I wish I could get back in touch with, but I am bad at staying in contact.

I believe

1. I believe in miracles.

2. I believe in pink.

3. I believe laughter is the best medicine.

4. I believe in being strong.

5. I believe tomorrow is another day.

6. I believe some days should come with a warning label.

7. I believe what you send out to the universe you get back.

8. I believe if drama (trouble) follows you every where you go .. you are the drama (trouble).

9. I believe some people come into your life as a blessing and others as a lesson.

10. I believe everything happens for a reason, even if that reason is I am stupid and make bad decisions.

Things I've Learned....

1) The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Living in the moment creates more of a sense of contentment than looking far ahead.

2) When wine tasting, always swirl the wine around and sniff and then swirl again. It makes it seem like you know what you're doing when you really don't.

3) I've been mispronouncing the word "salmonella" all these years.  (It isn't samo but salmo).

4) Bananas and peanut butter is yummy. Elvis was right.

5) If I have a chance to come back as an animal, I choose the pig. They love playing in mud, don't care if they're fat and know how to kick it hard with a smile on their face.

6) Pit bulls have been given a bad rap.

7) I love it when my grand-kids calls me by my nickname. It makes me smile.

8) Bugs are very good at playing dead. To a point of faking rigor mortis even.

9) When the part on the toilet the breaks is called a ball cock, be very careful with describing the part needed at the hardware store within earshot of anyone else.

10) The blue dye found in M&Ms and Gatorade is known to speed up healing in spinal cord injuries.

Why

Here's a few questions I've been asking, "Why?"

1) Why do men take it personally when a male dog is getting neutered? 

2) Why would anyone allow their kid to lay on a dirty floor  and not even think about the shoes, dirt and germs that have been walking all over that floor.

3) Why do people insist on speaking Spanish to me when I clearly don't look Hispanic?

4) Why did I just make a great new  casserole only to sit down and figure out that I’m  not really "fond" of it?

5) Why does it when it rains, it pours? I mean, not only did one virus but five virus’ in my computer last week.

6) Why is pastrami so dang good but so salty?

7) Why do I feel so tired but yet fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the night, only to be wide awake?

8) Why am I worrying about my kids flight from Australia coming up next month? I'm always very concerned about the plane staying up in the air.

9) Why do guys exchange illnesses and symptoms with one another like they are playing a game called, "Top this Pain"?

10) Why do I  read the obits in the paper before anything else?

2 Irish women in a pub

I got nothing so here is a joke that made me smile:

Two women were sitting next to each other at a bar. After a while, one looks at the other and says, 'I can't help but think, from listening to you, that you're from Ireland .'
The other woman responds proudly, 'Yes, I sure am!'
The first one says, 'So am I! And where about in Ireland are ya from?'
The other woman answers, 'I'm from Dublin, I am.'
The first one responds, 'So, am I!! And what street did you live on in Dublin?'

 The other woman says, 'A lovely little area. It was in the west end. I lived on Warbury Street in the old central part of town.'
The first one says, 'Faith, and it's a small world. So did I! So did I! And what school did ya go to?'
The other woman answers, 'Well now, I went to Holy Heart of Mary, of course..'

 The first one gets really excited and says, 'And so did I! Tell me, what year did you graduate?'

The other woman answers, 'Well, now, let's see. I graduated in 1964.'
The first woman exclaims, 'The Good Lord must be smiling down upon us! I can hardly believe our good luck at winding up in the same pub tonight! Can you believe it? I graduated from Holy Heart of Mary in 1964 me self !'
About this time, Michael walks into the bar, sits down, and orders a beer.
Brian, the bartender, walks over to Michael shaking his head and mutters, 'It's going to be a long night tonight.'
Michael asks, 'Why do you say that, Brian?'
Brian answers, 'The Murphy twins are drunk again.

(thanks Joe)

Now this is a sign....

5 on Friday

1. How do you react to people begging at intersections?
I'll always try to give something to them , and if it's an actual charity organization or something like selling the vet’s poppy’s, the firemen with fill the boot etc.(in which case it probably doesn't count as begging).  
2. How do you react to people stranded in cars along the road?
It depends a lot on where I am,   All I can personally offer, though, is the use of my cell phone or jumper cables; I'm no good for changing tires or towing or anything like that.  
3. How do you react to telemarketers?
I don't tend to get a lot of telemarketing calls, thankfully (probably because I am on the do not call list), but I'm polite while still trying to get off the line quickly. (Does anyone actually ever buy things from telemarketers? ). I respect the fact that they are working and trying to support themselves and maybe their family. Sometimes I just lie and say I'm under 18 and my parents aren't home or something.  
4. How do you react to anonymous blog comments in your blog?
If they are rude etc. I'll just write them off as a troll and ignore them. If they're advertisement/spam comments, I sometimes will delete them. (For some reason I get very few trolls).
 5. How do you react to online quizzes?
I take them and enjoy them, generally.

Troubles and Woe

I've been having a  rough go of it lately. It seems like every time I turn around, I get another piece of bad news or something else negative (or costly) happens. I'm trying not get all down and "poor, poor pitiful me" about it. It is what it is. And, truthfully, some of it shouldn't have been all that unexpected--if only I had given it a proper place on my radar and not learned to tune out its annoying, constant blip. Just  for the past few days, I woke up and thought, "Hey, at least there's nothing else in my life that can possibly go wrong!" but then--just like that--something else happens.

I'm actually at the point where it's starting to get funny. For real. If anything else goes wrong, I'll probably just starting laughing. That's where I'm at. Truth be told, I've been lucky that the things that have gone wrong have all been fixable things that have just come at a  bad time, and have not been all health related. So, at least I have my health, such as it is.

Life truly is a journey, I feel like I had climbed halfway up the hill and then tripped and fell about two thirds of the way back down. Not only do I need to wait for all the wounds to heal, but then I need to get back up and cover all that distance again. It kind of sucks, but like I said before, it is what it is. As Maya Angelou so eloquently put it, "When you know better, do better." Now it's time to do better. It's hard. It seems like it's going to take a lot of hard work to get back on track. I'm sure that once stuff stops going wrong, and I have a couple weeks of sanity, it won't seem so bad. But for right now, I just don't know. It's hard to get a clear perspective while I'm still in the thick of it. But speaking of Journey, I'm going to listen to Don't Stop Believin' now. Maybe it'll make me feel better.

Out my back door today

The weather has been so horrible hot that I have not gotten to sit back here much this summer. I am hoping for a warm autumn. My windsock is so tangled. Do you see my tree face?

It is looking more and more like September out my back door. Thankfully it is still mostly green and gorgeous still. Little John is still fishing and now has a goose buddy. This is looking down river and shows more of the goldish color of the water plants.My white flowers that somehow survived the boiling hot summer and my neglect. I always only plant white flowers. Love them

Little John