Happy New Year.

I love lists!

1. Your shoes are the first thing people subconsciously notice about you. Wear nice shoes.
2. If you sit for more than 11 hours a day, there's a 50% chance you'll die within the next 3 years.
3. There are at least 6 people in the world who look exactly like you. There's a 9% chance that you'll meet one of them in your lifetime.
4. Sleeping without a pillow reduces back pain and keeps your spine stronger.
5. A person’s height is determined by their father, and their weight is determined by their mother.
6. If a part of your body "falls asleep", You can almost always "wake it up" by shaking your head.
7. There are three things the human brain cannot resist noticing - food, attractive people and danger.
8. Right-handed people tend to chew food on their right side.
9. Putting dry tea bags in gym bags or smelly shoes will absorb the unpleasant odor.
10. According to Albert Einstein, if honey bees were to disappear from earth, humans would be dead within 4 years.
11. There are so many kinds of apples, that if you ate a new one every day, it would take over 20 years to try them all.
12. You can survive without eating for weeks, but you will only live 11 days without sleeping.
13. People who laugh a lot are healthier than those who don’t.
14. Laziness and inactivity kills just as many people as smoking.
15. A human brain has a capacity to store 5 times as much information as Wikipedia.
16. Our brain uses the same amount of power as a 10-watt light bulb!!
17. Our body gives enough heat in 30 minutes to boil 1.5 liters of water!!
18. The Ovum egg is the largest cell and the sperm is the smallest cell!!
19. Stomach acid (conc. HCl) is strong enough to dissolve razor blades!!
20. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day & while you walk, SMILE. It is the ultimate antidepressant.
21. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
22. When you wake up in the morning, pray to ask God's guidance for your purpose, today.
23. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
24. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, broccoli, and almonds.
25. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
26. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts and things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
27. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
28. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
29. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Forgive them for everything.
30. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
31. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
32. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
33. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
34. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
35. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
36. Help the needy, Be generous! Be a 'Giver' not a 'Taker'
37. What other people think of you is none of your business.
38. Time heals everything.
39. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
40. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. Each night before you go to bed, pray to God and be thankful for what you accomplished, today. What if you woke up this morning and only had what you thanked God for yesterday? DON’T FORGET TO THANK GOD FOR EVERYTHING.
43. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Today

• Wind
• Ice
• Cold
• Freezing Rain
• Sleet
• Wind
• Potato Soup
• Netflix
• Easy Chair
• Wind

Merry Christmas

Things I'm sick and tired of

• Star Wars
• The actual size of a Subway sandwich.
• How cold it is.  It's winter, people, get over it.
• The Great Flu Shot Debate.
• When people get a stomach virus and call it the flu.
• When people get a cold and call it the flu.
• Conspiracy theories.
• Caitlin Jenner.  
• The Kardashians.
• Politicians.

5 on Friday

1. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A Mom, Teacher, Nurse.

2. Did you follow through? If not, what happened?
No. I went through a whole lot of other options till I ended up a business owner. I'm still wondering what I want to be when I grow up. :)
 
3. Is your life turning out the way you thought it would when you were a kid? If not, is it better or worse?
It's different, but I can't judge better or worse. I have a good life. 
 
4. Paradoxes aside, if you could time-travel back to when you were 10 years old, what would you tell your 10-year-old self?
Not to worry so much about the small stuff.
 
5. Do you think the child you were, would like the adult you've become?
I know she would, because I do.

In a mood

Crap I think about

• It was pert near 70 here yesterday.  "Pert near" means almost for my family in the south.
• In other words, I wonder if I will ever stop sweating.
• I'm still online shopping,even though I don’t need anything.
• I really need to have my hair trimmed and shaped up.
• I am ready for Christmas.
• I am also ready for March.
• What are some good movies on Netflix?  I need something exciting to watch.
• Yay, Downton Abbey will be back next month, it will also be it’s last season.  How did that happen?

5 for Friday

1. What is your favorite  thing about Christmas?
Driving through the neighborhoods and seeing a the lights. It cheers me up. Oh and the Music! 

2. Did you believe in Santa Claus? If so, what was the best gift from him? 
I do believe, but I can't remember what was the best present. I treasure every gift. 

3. Do you have a Christmas Tree? Ribbon, Angel, Star or ______ on Top?
Yes I  have a little Charlie Brown Christmas tree. There is an ribbon on top.
 
4. Best stocking stuffer you got?
Candy! Lots and lots of candy! 

5. Wishing for a White Christmas? Certainly! Christmas is the best time for snow; I get pretty sick of it, afterward.

Unappreciative People

Webster’s Dictionary defines “Ingratitude” as: “Forgetfulness of, or poor return for, kindness received.” It can also be defined as not appreciating or valuing what you have, or have been given. Unexpressed gratitude is also ingratitude!
 
It is a shame that  most people seem to not have time for thankfulness. Work, traffic, family, soccer practice, doctor appointments, and countless other things are their main priorities. They seem to have no time to thank others. 
 
But consider the following. Have you ever given someone a gift and not received thanks for it? Have you ever been in a grocery store or restaurant and were not thanked for your business? Have you ever felt unappreciated by family or friends? If so, how did it make you feel? Probably not very good.
 
A simple Thank You, a quick text or phone call is all it takes.  When someone takes time to remember you on your Birthday with a gift (no matter how small) just remember that they took time out of their busy life  to remember you on your special day or event.  So take time to let them know it arrived and that you appreciate being remembered.. .
Rant over

Out my back window this morning

5 for Friday

1. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas I hope it snows.
2. Do you send Christmas cards?
I do. It's a time to connect with people that I don't hear from during the rest of the year.  I send out about 60.
3. What has been your favorite Christmas gift to date?
That's hard to say. I've gotten so many wonderful gifts over the years. I think  my favorite has to be the Mother;s  ring my kids gave me. 2 blues stones and 1 topaz stone  in a gold setting. I put it on and have not taken it off.
4. Do you have a favorite cold weather drink?
Just regular black tea.
5. Do you do charity work during the holidays?
I do. Doesn’t everyone

STuff I think about

• I can like being called ma'am.
• I can appreciate a good hand-written thank you note.
• A first aid kit is a good thing to have on hand.
• So are tweezers.
• I can appreciate a simple thank you. Period.
• I don't have to suffer fools or toxic people.
• Differences of opinion are just that.
• I like to play Words with Friends and Trivia Crack.
• I appreciate  my down time.
• I like my doctor. It's a good thing since I seem to see her often.
• I can say "no" more often.
• I don't feel unfriendly for not wanting to breathe second hand smoke.
• I can honor my children's independence. Mostly.

First snow of the season Nov. 21, 2015

 

Poor Little John .. he is still fishing and his buddy Goose is keeping him company.

 

The snow is coming down at a pretty good rate. This is the Markle Park across the Wabash River

 

Looking east up river at the park across the Wabash

 

Looking west at the big old pine tree and Little John.

 

Brrrr but it sure is pretty

Looking to the west at my PINK barn and the big pine Tree. Yes the barn really is pink. Because it is mine and I can .. haha

5 for Friday

1.Do you celebrate the religious aspect of Christmas or the commercial aspect of Christmas?
 I sort of hate how commercial it is.
I just like being with my family, seeing my friends and having a couple of nice days with no arguments or animosity. It's nice.

2.What's your favorite activity to celebrate the holidays? (i.e. baking, making ornaments, etc.) I don't really have one. Unless you count curling up somewhere warm to watch A Christmas Story. I love me some Ralphie

3.Would you rather give or receive?
I feel awkward receiving presents, but I love giving them.

4.What is the gift you are most anxious to give this holiday season and who is it for? What makes is so special?
I'm anxious to give Morgan her gifts. I got her an early reader Bible and a toy.
I'm also anxious that I had to set a limit this year again,.

5.What is the most memorable gift you have ever gotten for Christmas? Why did it stand out more compared to other ones?
This falls in the "be careful what you ask for" category: One year I put Socks and Underwear on my gift wish list, just to be stupid. Sure enough, they showed up under the tree, beautifully wrapped and everything. Obviously not the most extravagant gift ever, but I've never forgotten it!.

Random Tuesday

Gratitude

• my children
• my brother
• my family
• my friends
• my helpers
• my health
• my roof
• my pillow
• my memories
• my freedom
• myself

It's what is sustaining me today. You?

5 for Friday

1. What's your favorite smell in nature? The  air after a storm.

2. What smell makes you nostalgic, and why? Lilacs They remind me of my Grandma, who used to put a vase of them on the kitchen table when they were in season.

3. What smell makes you happy?  In general, all Christmasy scents make me happy. Piney scents; ocean scents.

4. What do the seasons smell of?  Winter - pine and cinnamon, Spring - grass, roses, Summer - heat (it does have a smell), sweat, grilling, Fall - damp leaves, rain, pumpkin

5. What is the last thing you actively remember smelling? I just had the most delicious cup of coffee; the old paperwork I'm going through (well, avoiding going through, right this moment).

Thank You

Monday Memories:

 

• Peter Max posters.
• Mary Quant.
• OJ cans as hair rollers.
• The Zodiak Killer.
• Bonne Bell 1006.
• Klackers.
• 4 TV channels.
• The milkman.
• Earth shoes.
• Ashtrays in doctors' offices.
• Mercurochrome. With the wand.
• Denim binders.

You?

5 For Friday

1. What do you really want to be when you grow up?
I wanted to be an astronaut. And I wanted to own a  knitting machine so I could make sweaters for people I've never even met.
But, my goal was to become a veterinarian, 'cause I really love children!

2. Where were you born?
Logansport Indiana

 3. Who were you with on September 11, 2001?
I was here alone watching the Today Show and drinking my first cup of coffee. I stayed glued to the TV the rest of the day and for many days to follow..


 4. When do you brush your teeth?
Before bed and in the morning after breakfast.

5. Where is Waldo?
Trick question. Last time I saw Waldo he was in the Himalayas but that was a decade ago, So I am pretty sure the right answer is that he is  in a book.

Things that I think about on Thursdays

• I do not understand why people post so much personal information on facebook.
• Nancy Grace annoys the tar out of me..
• I am having leftover Chinese food  for breakfast.
• I have somehow become an early to rise person.
• I slept with the windows open last night
• I am ready for boots and sweater weather.
• Why do people keep saying "on point"?
• I have a wacky horoscope today. It's telling me to be in denial.
• I have lately become obsessed with  angels.
• I have my sight set on a really nice binding machine on Amazon.
• I cannot eat enough cookies.  
• I might also have an issue with dill pickles.  And sauerkraut.
• And Viennese Coffee.

Things my Spam Folder tells me

 

• I have millions of dollars waiting for me in Africa.
• I don't ever have to worry about erectile dysfunction ever again.
• My hip injury recall is all taken care of. Whatever that is....
• Single moms make $1,470 per week working from home.
• The Scooter Store wants me to become a client.
• I also have millions of euros waiting for me.
• Alexander McQueen left me all his money!
• There are lots of dating sites for people over 50.
• Olive Garden really misses me.
• I am eligible for a Master Card. Platinum.
• If I buy an iRenew bracelet, I will never have a health issue. Ever.
• I have a dead relative in Latvia who left me $12 million.

5 for Friday

 1. What sets you apart from your friends? I am a very open book , and i don't care what other people think for the most part
 2. What sets you apart from your family? same thing ,
 3. What sets you apart from your coworkers/fellow students? n/a 
 4. What is the one thing about you that is most unique? I am me and that is it , I am not jealous and always giving 
 5. What is your most interesting quality? I will always do anything to help anyone and some time it bites me in the butt but I still do it.

Out My Back Door Oct 24, 2015

 

Looking south west out my door over the Wabash River

 

West looking at little John and his pet goose 

 

South across the Wabash

 

South 

 

Up river to the east

 

South

Thanks to Greg for taking these photos for me

Autumn Friday Five

 

 
1. What do you like or dislike about autumn?
I love the color of the leaves, the color of the sky, and the cooler weather
2. Have you raked leaves into a pile just to jump in them?
Raked leaves, many times, but I have never done so just to jump in them. I was always afraid of being impaled on a stick.
3. Have you ever carved a pumpkin and how did it turn out?
Yep so many I can’t count them.
4. Have you ever eaten anything made from pumpkins other than pie?
Pumpkin cake.
5. Where is a good spot to see the leaves change color where you live?
My backdoor. There is a gorgeous view over the Wabash River and the Markle Park.

Wednesday Thoughts

• Sunscreen and lots of water are the best things you can do for your skin.
• All roads do, in fact, lead to Rome. At least they do in Italy.
• There is very little better in this world than receiving a bouquet of flowers for no reason at all.
• It really is all small stuff.
• There comes a point when toenails are too long. It usually happens in a matter of hours.
• You probably don't need to cleanse your colon. It's pretty efficient on its own.
• Managing your expectations makes for few disappointments.
• It really is about calories in versus calories burned.
• Do you ever learn a new word and then see it used ten minutes later? I love it when that happens.
•  Is it possible for a person to be stupid and a narcissist?
• I love every season.
•  I have learned that the older I get, well, the older I get.

Ready for Halloween

5 for Friday

1. What would you do if a random stranger gave you a bouquet of roses?
I would probably ask them what they wanted, because I can't imagine a random stranger giving me anything without them wanting something in return.
2. What is the most commonly used color in your house?
Brown, it's my favorite.
3. What color is your favorite t-shirt?
I don’t really have one, but if forced I would say pink.
4. If you could go back in time, what time would you live in and where would you live?
I think it would be kind of awesome to live in the 1920s in a big city.
5. If you could have any ONE thing in the entire world (not including money) what would it be?
I would love to have my own personal draft room, bigger than the one I already have --- a whole room devoted to nothing but crafts, with built in bookcases, easy chair and a working fireplace

Wednesday Thoughts

• That little white chin hair.
• Dull tweezers.
• The Donald on Twitter.
• The scale.
• Phlegm.
• Democrat Debate pfffttt
• Tissues without lotion.
• Underwear FAIL.
• Citibank.
• Cubs Win 
• Lamar Odem.

5 for Friday

1. One place you volunteer (or would like to)? Why? I am a shut in so I do shut in stuff.. like I crochet Prayer Shawls for the Church and Lapghans for the nursing home.. as to why.. isn’t it obvious? To help others of course.
2. One book you'd like to see made into a movie? Why? None-I tend to not like movie adaptations of books


3. One creature (living, extinct, or mythical) you'd like for a pet? Why? A pot belly pig. I just think it would be cool.

4. One place on Earth you'd like to visit? Why? Alaska. Pictures of it look so beautiful and I've just always wanted to go there.

5. One talent or skill you'd like to develop? Why? I love to knit and I'd like to become better at it, be able to do more than just wash cloths and scarves. I find it relaxing.

A year ago

One year ago today my sweet grandson Aa was riding his motorcycle to Bluffton to get a hair cut.  Part way there a mini van pulled out from a side road and Aa clipped the back of the van. Some how he managed to steer around most of it and keep his bike upright and made it to a grassy ditch. 
He had a badly injured right foot.. I was home and I heard an ambulance go by , I had no idea that it carried my precious boy to Lutheran Hospital.  I later got a call from his mom telling me what had happened. 
As more details came available  I learned that the driver of the van was from Burma or Myanmar or what ever it is called to day.  He had a license and insurance and he did not speak English. Yup you guessed it.. he had the very very minimum you can carry.. $15,000.  and that probably did not even cover the ambulance and ER fees. So here we have a badly injured young man, thru no fault of his, who is now in debt for hospital care.  You can't sue because the driver has nothing, will likely never have anything.  Aa is tough like his gram and even tho they had to amputate some of his foot, he is doing well and has gone on with his life.(He even got his black belt last Spring).. And yet nothing will ever be the same. 

5 for Friday

1. If you could have a super power, which one would you have? The ability to do nothing. yes. nothing!


2. What would be your supername? The Procrastinator! lol....I have no idea
  3. Who would be your arch-nemesis and what would be their superpower? Deadline.......the only thing that can foil The Procrastinator! 
  4. Who would be your sidekick and would they have a superpower? Time-Line....what else? contolling time!! ha! The perfect duo!
 
5. What would be your motto? Tomorrow!....

More stuff I remember that makes me old:

• Naugahyde
• Carol Merrill
• Romper Room Weather Colorforms
• Elephant bell pants
• Pearl Drops Tooth Polish
• The Carol Burnett Show
• Earth Shoes
• Eastern Airlines
• Leotards
• Creepy Crawlers
• Braniff Airlines
• Smothers Brothers
• The first Smiley Face
• Paper Dolls (real ones)
• The Monkees

And there's much more but I can't remember it.

5 for Friday

1. Bully, teacher's pet, geek, shy kid in the corner, or something else? I was seen as the really quiet girl who got on with her work, rarely participated in class and generally did very well. Actually, I spent a lot of time passing notes with my friends, writing letters when I should have been working and generally not listening.

2. What did/do you usually eat during lunch time at school? I'd have sandwiches. We did not have a cafeteria back then so we packed our lunches.
3. What did/do you normally wear to school? Thinking back to what you wore(if you've already graduated), do you like it? We had to wear dresses or skirts and the boys wore chinos and button shirts. Well we were much more presentable than kids now days I think.
4. Any sports/activities/clubs you participate(d) in? Nope. I wasn't sporty and I wasn't musical. That didn't really leave anything for me to participate in. I was also too shy and too reluctant to give up my free time to do anything like that.

5. Any worthwhile friends you (would) still keep up with after graduation? I've kept in touch with many of my friends since we left school. There were some I kept in touch with for years, but that dropped off. Now it's just meeting at funerals.

Favorites

• Flipper
• The High Chapparral
• Mannix
• Barnaby Jones
• The Secret Storm
• Love American Style
• Julia
• The Courtship of Eddie's Father
• The Edge of Night
• Welcome Back Mr. Kotter
• Room 222
• Here Come the Brides
• Dark Shadows
• Lost in Space
• Medical Center
• Family Affair

And your favorites?

5 for Friday

1. What is the best part about late summer?
Probably knowing that the cooler temps of Fall are on the way. Especially today with the 80º temps. But also Becca's  birthday.
2. What is your favorite memory and why?
That is going to require some thinking.
3. When you were small, did you realize summer vacations were not going to happen forever?
I take this question to mean did you realize when you grow up that you don't automatically get summer vacations from work/school... And the answer to that is yes.. eventually... when I got OLD!!! Which, of course, was a really really really long long time from then. :)
4. Where was your favorite summer vacation? why?
Camping! I loved to camp. Sitting in the woods and listening to the quiet after spending a day walking trails. Walking in the morning and picking up little stones. I loved the trips to the Turkey Run State Park. 
5. If you could have one last real summer vacation and cost was not an issue, where would you go and why? I would take my boys and their families and cross the country a few times seeing all the fun, neat things that we want to see.

Drivel

• Love is not a feeling, it is a behavior.
• You don't really have to have 8 glasses of water every day.
• "Parent" is actually a verb.
• Don't "say," just "do."
• How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours. ~ Wayne Dyer
• That clean underwear thing you've always heard? It's true.
• Love is when two people know everything about each other, and it's okay.
• True friends stab you in the front. ~ Oscar Wilde
• A dirty diaper always needs to be changed as soon as possible.
• Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. ~ George Washington
• The only way to have a friend is to be one. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~ Abraham Lincoln

5 for Friday

1. If there was one thing about your body you could change, what would it be?
I'd add wings. ;)
No, seriously, tho...I'd probably change my HAIR; I have the worst, most unruly hair in the entire Western Universe. I'd make it curly and uber low-maintenance.

2. Would you rather lose 10lbs or 10 points off your IQ?
Pardon the expression, but this one's a complete no-brainer. ;)
I'd rather lose the 10 pounds; ain't NOBODY making me dumber!

3. When you look in the mirror, are you happy with what you see?
For the most part I am happy with everything I see but it makes me "know I am getting older" and that is sometimes hard to accept. Mostly tho I am thankful. 
 
4. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Blondes do have more fun so ..... yes.

5. How often do you weigh yourself?
Given that I don't even OWN a scale...so never.

5 for 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...and not near as much as I would like to!
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!... I want to start in the UK - England Ireland Scotland...
And I've been told that Italy is wonderful. So, that's on my list.  Australia for sure.

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. :)
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!!!

5 for Friday

1.You are on your way to work, when suddenly a wormhole to the far side of the galaxy opens in the middle of the road. You are thus the first to meet the alien being that emerges. Despite your protestations, you are now Earth’s unofficial First Contact ambassador. What will you say to the visitor?
I'd ask him if he had any questions. I'm really bad a supplying information unless someone asks a specific question.

2. A wandering trading caravan emerges from the wormhole. They plan to stay on Earth for a few weeks, and then will move on to the next planet and the next. Whatever you said must have really impressed them, because they offer to let you and a few other humans come along with them. The only catch is that the caravan probably won’t be back to Earth. Would you go? Why or why not?
No I would not. I'm  a big fan of Earth.

3. Suppose you decided to go. The master of the caravan will allow you to bring along whatever trinkets and baubles you think will sell on alien worlds, and will also allow you to bring exactly five other items that you may always keep. Clearly, he does not mean practical items like shoes or a toothbrush. What would you bring?
My computer and computer accessories, some chocolate, some other stuff I can't think of. 

4.Suppose you decided to stay home after all. The caravan master offers you a parting gift. You may choose among super-brain pills, a flying car, a robot butler, or an invisibility belt. Which would you choose and why?  Probably the invisible belt. I am nosy and would love to eavesdrop and watch people, or just hang out by myself in public places without people looking at me awkwardly like I'm some sad nobody. Second place is the brain pills, but I worry about the side effects of intense genius.

5. Suppose you ended up taking the super-brain pills. You now have a head the size, shape, and color of a watermelon. But you also now have the most fantastic mind the world has ever seen. What would be the first task you set it to?
Figuring out how to make my head not look so ugly and imposing.

Anna Duggar

I want to talk about Anna Duggar. Everyone is laughing about Josh Duggar being on Ashley Madison, but I want to direct it to Anna. Anna is in the very worst position she could possibly be in right now. She was crippled by her parents by not getting an education, having no work experience, or life experience for that matter, and then shackled to this loser. Yes his family is famous and yes they have money.  But she was taught that her sole purpose in life and the most meaningful thing she could do was to be chaste and proper, a devout wife and mother. Anna Duggar did that. She followed the rules that were imposed on her and this is what she got in reward.  A husband who molested his own sisters, but that he was also unfaithful to her in the very most humiliating way possible. While she was fulfilling her “duties” of providing him with four children and raising them.  She lived up to the standards that men set for her to be chaste and Godly and in return the “man” who demanded this from her sought out women who were the opposite. “Be this” they told her. She was. It wasn’t enough.
It seems men are born with power and we must teach our daughters that they do not have to be beholden to men. They do not have to marry a man that their father deems “acceptable” or to stay married to a man who proves himself UNACCEPTABLE. Educate your girls, give them the tools they need to survive on their own.  Josh Duggar should be cowering in fear of Anna right now. But he isn’t. He should be quaking in far that his house will fall down around him.
Anna you don’t deserve this and your children don’t deserve it. you are strong and you are capable I will respect any decision you make but for your sake I hope you leave.

5 for Friday

1. What is your morning routine?
I don't really have a morning routine. Right now it's get up around 9ish, start the computer, check e-mails, switch on the TV, watch news, brush teeth and such, make coffee. Then I usually just lounge until I really wake up fully around 11ish. 

2. What is your nightly routine?
The usual, brush teeth and such, check e-mails again, shut down the computer, go to bed sometime around midnight, watch TV, sleep.

3. Do you like to listen to the radio when you sleep or have it quiet?
I like to watch TV, before falling asleep.  I never turn it off  though. I started sleeping with the TV on when I was first divorced, it covers the noises in this old house and keeps me from being scared.

4. What do you like to sleep in?
I always sleep in a  long silky night gown.

5. What is the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning?
"Damn. I need coffee." Then “Yay I made it to another day”

Running low on Tolerance

 ...I miss Johnny Carson.

I never knew what his politics were. He was just funny.

These so called "late night comedians" today...Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert...they're just nags shoving their Leftist politics down our throats. 

They're not funny. They're boring.

Maybe it's the long winter that is getting to me.  Maybe it's just me.  Are any of you feeling the same?  Please tell me that I have some company in my little cranky world.

5 on Friday

1. What is your favorite song right now? Why?
for some reason I've been wandering around the house singing Etta James "AT Last" in a kind of Bill Murray-esque lounge-singer sort of way – I blame that commercial.

2. What genre of music makes you the happiest?
So many!! Singer/songwriters, Big Band Jazz, torch singers, techno dance music, blues...

3. What would you name your band and what kind of music would you play?
My band would be the "Tin Roof Merry All-Stars" - we play outsider and visionary music inspired by the desert, small mammals, and the forest. I'm the lead caterwaller.  We wear a fetish-inspired uniform designer clothing and at key points in the show, we all strip down to various states of undress and reveal vintage undergarments, and Yoko Ono occasionally sits in as a guest.

4. What is your favorite lyric of all time? Why?
My answer to this is it would have to be almost ANY Cole Porter lyric. How can you go wrong there?

5. What band/artist could you never live without? Why?
The Beatles. I love listening to them and their music to me is like breathing. I could  possibly live without them but why would you want to?

It is finally here .. 1st day of Kindergarten.

A little shy as usual but we think she is excited. 

Corbin started 8th grade today..

5 For Friday

1. If you could change one life-changing event in the life of someone important to you, would you?
Probably not. Life-changing events are there to be life-changing, and I might not like the altered result any better. 

2. Which do you think is easier to do, being friends for many years, or being life partners for many years?
I don't seem to be particularly good at either, so I don't claim any authority, but I would guess being friends. 

3. Have you ever walked away from someone you considered a friend?
Yes. And I should do it a little more quickly when I decide I need to. I have a history of getting myself into emotionally dangerous relationships. Sometimes, you can love someone but you cannot be around them.

4. If you had to choose between telling the truth and hurting a friend or lying and making them happy, which would you choose?
Before , it would have been a difficult choice, but now I am firmly grounded in the belief that honesty is more important than happiness.

5. Which would you rather hear--the truth which will hurt, or the comforting lie?
I would frankly rather hear the comforting lie, though I recognize that isn't the better option and I should opt for the truth. (And I would tell my own friends the truth). Part of this is that I recognize that I tend to reject the truth when given to me by others; I need to find it for myself. So I would rather not hear the painful truth, but discover it on my own and deal with it in my own way.

5 for Friday

1. What about you makes you unique? - Nothing in particular. I guess my set of beliefs and viewpoints are unique as a group, but individually, there's always someone else who thinks the same thing.

2. What aspect of your physical appearance do you think makes you stick out from the crowd? - Nothing. (I'm not saying this in a self-depreciating way. I just blend in, is all. I like it that way. I hate excessive attention.)

3. What do you always have with you while out in public? (for example, earrings, purse, wallet, watch, etc.) - My messenger bag.

4. Is there anything about your body that you think isn't normal? - No.

5. What are you complimented on (looks, smarts, anything) the most? Why do you think that's the case? - (a) My intelligence. (b) My relative sanity. I think that's the case because they're qualities that a lot of people lack. I'm not saying I'm the only smart, sane person, of course. Far from it. Comments like that are worth so, so, so much more than compliments on looks to me.

5 for Friday

1. Would you rather be too hot or too cold? Why? Too cold. The fact that we just had two days and three nights of 90 degree weather and super high humidity and dew points, might have something to do with this.

2. What's your favorite way to stay cool? Stay inside in the  air conditioning.

3. What's your favorite way to stay warm? Pull on a sweater, brew a cup of tea, turn on the Edenpure  heater and watch a movie.

4. When you see or hear the word "summer", what comes to mind? I love summer but my breathing loves winter and cooler weather more

5. Any major summer plans this year? Yep. Mostly family related stuff, but it's with the fun family members so it's all good.

Caitlin Jenner

Dear Caitlin Jenner......being a female, I have never felt brave or courageous or under pressure to pick out my shoes or dress. Courage as a female, is facing your days with a bald head and battle scars from cancer. Courage as a female is carrying a child for 9 mos that you weren't planning on having. Courage as a female is being Mom & Dad to a child while putting food on the table because you are all that child has. Courage as a female is busting your butt to make it in a man's world. Courage as a female is to learn to walk out after you have been beaten by someone who "loves" you. We don't play dress up to feel brave, we are brave in our raw, authentic selves. You will find the most brave women in this world do not dress in the finest fashions adorned by jewels and make-up. They carry crowns of grey hair, wrinkles, tired bodies and weathered hands. Learn the difference. Sincerely, a real woman.

Why I support the Duggar family.

 

I love the Duggar’s. I commend the Duggar’s on how they raise their children. How strong their love is. How close their family is. How they help less fortunate. How they stay true to their faith. How they focus on the positive & not the negative. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are not responsible for what their son did. Josh is his own person and 12 years ago, Josh made his own decisions. I do not fault Jim Bob and Michelle whatsoever. What I personally am interested in is how they handled the unfortunate incidents. This is really just so awful. I thought I would just share some thoughts. This is my opinion only.
First, while all of this has been going on, I have never, ever, ever seen one person say "I defend Josh Duggar". I read tabloids, gossip sites, online articles, Facebook posts, etc. etc. No one defends Josh Duggar. Who in the world could? Who in the world would? There's NO justifying what Josh Duggar did. Anyone, in their right mind, knows that. I'm so tired of people saying "if you don't condemn him, then you're defending him!" Nope. Not at all. The acts Josh Duggar committed is disgusting. Violating others will never, ever be ok.
And then there are the lies. The twisting. My God. I know what Josh did. We all know what Josh did. It was 12 years ago. Does that make it right? Of course not. It will never be right. It will never be ok. It will never be acceptable. But really, what do people want? Do they want him to go back to treatment now? Do they want him to go to jail now? Do they want him to lose his family and  children? Do they want the death penalty? People are out for blood! Which I totally get, had this inexcusable behavior continued. But it didn't, which even every single victim stated in the police report. When the Duggar’s realized they needed outside help, when the changes they had implemented failed, they removed him from the home immediately. They got him treatment. But oh, wait! That's not good enough, because it's not the exact, type of treatment 'everyone else' would have chose. Let's focus on the type of treatment and that people didn't approve, instead of focusing on the fact the treatment WORKED! Isn't that all that matters? The treatment was a success! Josh also got counseling, by a licensed professional, as did the girls. They all received professional counseling.
And the "they hid this information! They covered it up!" Really? They told people. They sought help. They contacted the church. And if there's one thing I know, if one has something to hide, something to cover up, DON'T TELL THE CHURCH! Is Josh supposed to go up to people now and say "Hey man, how are you! I molested 5 young girls twelve years ago! So nice to meet you!" Or, Jim Bob? "It was so nice to get to know you. Thanks for helping me out today. Oh, by the way, my oldest son molested 5 young girls 12 years ago." What do people want from this family? Action isn't/wasn't good enough, change isn't/wasn't good enough, apologies aren't/weren't good enough, Josh resigned from his job, the show is temporarily off the TLC - what? Lives utterly and completely destroyed forever??  No compassion, no letting them live life again, no thanking God he changed? And if you watched the interview, Ms. Kelly pointed out that statistics prove people who commit crimes such as this when they are younger - 90% never, ever do it again. (I can't remember the exact percentage, but it close to that.)
You know what else I really am having a hard time digesting? The language, the verbal accusations, the hate, the tone - all of it - I read from other 'adults'. I'll be honest, it's shocking. And it makes me sick. Everyone is not going to agree on a subject such as this. Disagreeing is ok. God made individuals, not duplicates. But the choice of words, the choice of assumptions, the choice of accusation (there WAS NO RAPE! There was not even skin to skin contact!!) and the downright disgusting language is actually making me click off of articles and stop reading. It's filth. There's no reason to resort to that. It just makes a volatile situation that much worse. And it lets me know that there are soooooooo many 'adults' out there who in actuality, aren't adults at all, and don't know how to conduct themselves accordingly. We live in such a sad society.
I feel so sorry for this family. All of them. Experiencing this type of nightmare hell has to be completely unbearable the first time. Talk about having your lives turned upside down. But to have all of this resurface, in a public, brutal, vicious way, with a lot of the information falsified, is heartbreaking. Frustrating, maddening, but mostly, heartbreaking. When does it end? Where does it end? Will it end?
This is what I know. Nothing will ever make what Josh Duggar did right. There is no making it right. There's just not. There is treatment(s), changing, growing, forgiveness, God & time. And praise God for all of those.
I support the Duggar’s. I've never met the Duggar’s . I hope their show continues because they bring hope and inspiration to so many who are lost. And now, after this turn of events, they might even reach more people who are hurt, confused and lost, due an incident(s) similar to what transpired in the Duggar’s lives all those years ago.
We must recognize the fact that good people do bad things. I agree with that wholeheartedly. We must understand people can be truly sorry after doing wrong. We must acknowledge when people change and prove that fact year after year. We must love. We must support. We must help. We must take a stand when we believe others are wronged. We must live, because life is short. But most of all? We must have compassion.
Blessings to you all.

5 on Friday.

1. If you owned a restaurant, what kind of food would you serve?
Italian food, cause I love it so.
2. What is your favorite restaurant and why?
Italian restaurants. But I rarely go to restaurants so I haven't got a specific favorite.
3. What is your favorite fast food place?
Bummies of course.
4. If you had to choose only one type of food to eat for a year, what would it be?
Spaghetti in all the different forms.
5. What is your favorite cereal?
Quaker Oatmeal.

The Ocean - ALL you Need to Know!!

Children Writing About the Ocean.
1) - This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles.(Kelly, age 6 )

2) - Oysters' balls are called pearls. (Jerry, age 6)

3) - If you are surrounded by ocean, you are an island. If you don't
have ocean all round you, you are incontinent. (Mike, age 7)

4) - Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily
Richardson . She's not my friend any more. (Kylie, age 6)

5) - A dolphin breaths through an asshole on the top of its head.
(Billy, age 8)

6) - My uncle goes out in his boat with 2 other men and a woman and
pots and comes back with crabs. (Millie, age 6)

7) - When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross
the ocean. Sometimes when the wind didn't blow the sailors would whistle
to make the wind come. My brother said they would have been
better off eating beans. (William, age 7)

8) - Mermaids live in the ocean. I like mermaids. They are beautiful
and I like their shiny tails, but how on earth do mermaids get pregnant?
Like, really? (Helen, age 6)
9) - I'm not going to write about the ocean. My baby brother is
always crying, my Dad keeps yelling at my Mom, and my big sister has
just got pregnant, so I can't think what to write. (Amy, age 6)

10) - Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels
can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think
they have to plug themselves in to chargers. (Christopher, age 7)

11) - When you go swimming in the ocean, it is very cold, and it
makes my willy small. ( Kevin , age 6)

12) - Divers have to be safe when they go under the water. Divers can't
go down alone, so they have to go down on each other. ( Becky , age 8)

13) - On vacation my Mom went water skiing. She fell off when she
was going very fast. She says she won't do it again because water fired
right up her big fat ass. (Julie, age 7)

14) - The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fish don't
drown I don't know. (Bobby, age 6)

15) - My dad was a sailor on the ocean. He knows all about the
ocean. What he doesn't know is why he quit being a sailor and married my
mom. (James, age 7)
copied from an email.

Estranged

Estranged:

adjective

1.

displaying or evincing a feeling of alienation; alienated.

Today would have been my sisters birthday.  She has been gone for a few years now.  We were estranged when she passed. 

She was mad at me.  I have no real clue as to why.  She would not take my calls.  I should have tried harder.  I have such guilt.

Estranged

adjective

1.

displaying or evincing a feeling of alienation; alienated.

 

Today would have been my sisters birthday.  She has been gone for a few years now.  We were estranged when she passed.   

Guess where I went.... oh and I turned 5 too!