Theres just life

In honor of Valentines Day

2012-02-14T14:57:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

In honor of Valentine's Day I would like to share a quote on Love.... the reason for the day, at least now.

"Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."

Franklin Jones

As for the true history of the day: Watch this video from the History Chanel.

I would also like to personally thank the Aztecs for their contribution to the day....

And last but far from least...

A tribute to the day and to Whitney...

Rest In Peace. You and your beautiful voice will be missed.

I know. I am behind the times...

2011-11-13T22:32:00.001-06:00

Yes, I know. I am behind the times. I don't have a smartphone. My digital camera is a Kodak with 3.0 pixels. My laptop doesn't have Wi-fi... or sound (it's broken). Would you believe I listen to music on CDs, you know those things that look like DVD but don't have a picture, only sound. MP3 is just letters and a number to me. Oh and my DVD is not a Blu-Ray either.

Sony Walkman NWZS544PNK

Is it just me or does this remind you of Mickey Mouse?

I also read books on the go by taking a printed copy with me. My hospital emergency bag contains one or more books, Magazines, puzzle books and crocheting, as well as toiletries and medical records. After all I never know how long I will be there. This last visit was 5 days, and I forgot to pack the book.

Yes, I know all about the kindles, as everyone from the librarian to the little lady at the hospital gift shop has told me to get one. (I was buying used books to read on my latest stay at the time.) You can't turn on a TV or search the Internet with out knowing that the new Kindle Fire is coming out November 15th.

New Amazon Kindle Fire

Bloggers and newspaper columnists are all touting the usefulness of all the new technology. Even the owner of the tire store, who hates computers couldn't believe I didn't have a smart phone. He proceed to tell me all the wonderful things his phone could do and why I really needed to get one.

Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

So what is the hold up, am I just afraid of all the new stuff?

Heck no. I would love to have the latest and greatest. After all I am one of the few people who bought a RCA disk player when they first came out. Any one remember those things? The movie came on disk the size of vinyl record albums.

The problem is all this stuff cost money and I tend to spend money on things I want... like electricity, phone service, gas, food. And a couple of things I don't want like doctor's visits and prescriptions.

So even though I would love an Ipad or Kindle I am just going to keep on toting my big bag with all the stuff in it back and forth to doctor's and hospitals. Probably more often now according to the Neurosurgeon. But just think I am building my muscles in my arms, while I am waiting to win the lottery.

So am I the only one without all the new gadgets or does it just seem that way?

***By the way I found all the above items on Amazon.

Happy Halloween...

2011-10-30T21:29:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!!!!

Drawing by Pamela Jo

Do you know the origins of Halloween?

Well according to History.com, it was a Celtic holiday. Check it out.

Ancient Origins of Halloween

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

The above article is from The history channel website at www.history.com/topics/halloween

The also have articles of Famous American Ghosts...like the ones that haunt the USS Constitution. The history of the Jack-o-latern...an Irish folktale about a man named "Stingy Jack" and lots of other fascinating things.

Since I live out in the woods and don't get trick or treaters, we will be spending our halloween watching monster movies.

How are you out in blogland going to spend yours? Let me know in the comment section. While your there see if you can guess who my pumpkins are...hint 2 of them will really crack you up and the other one could solve problem of who the mischief makers are.

The Weather and Zombies...

2011-10-17T18:13:00.000-05:00

I went to the Weather Channel to check out the 10 day forecast, but I learned more than what clothes I need for the week. Being that it is October and a lot of us have Zombies on our minds I thought I would pass along these links as a public service. (well, having Zombies on our minds is better than eating our minds, right**** Sorry I had too.)

The people at the Weather Channel website, weather.com, in their ever increasing attempt to keep us informed, has a interview with Dr. Dale Dixon of the CDD.

What is the CDD you ask. The CDD is the Center for Disease Development. The place for answers about post-apocalyptic zombies. Have you ever thought about how weather affects zombies? Do they know to come in out of a Thunderstorm? Would they hid from a Tornado? Can they swim? Since they are no longer warm blooded, does the cold still affect them?

Find the answers to these questions and more. How you ask...why clicking this link .

So are you ready. Do you have your Zombie preparedness kit ready? Do you even know what you need for the kit?

This is stright from the CDC web site...

So what do you need to do before zombies…or hurricanes or pandemics for example, actually happen? First of all, you should have an emergency kit in your house. This includes things like water, food, and other supplies to get you through the first couple of days before you can locate a zombie-free refugee camp (or in the event of a natural disaster, it will buy you some time until you are able to make your way to an evacuation shelter or utility lines are restored). Below are a few items you should include in your kit, for a full list visit the CDC Emergency page.

*Water (1 gallon per person per day)
*Food (stock up on non-perishable items that you eat regularly)
*Medications (this includes prescription and non-prescription meds)
*Tools and Supplies (utility knife, duct tape, battery powered radio, etc.)
*Sanitation and Hygiene (household bleach, soap, towels, etc.)
*Clothing and Bedding (a change of clothes for each family member and blankets)
*Important documents (copies of your driver’s license, passport, and birth certificate to name a few)
*First Aid supplies (although you’re a goner if a zombie bites you, you can use these supplies to
treat basic cuts and lacerations that you might get during a tornado or hurricane)

To read the CDC entire article Click the zombie below...

AHHH!!! My Muses are at war....

2011-10-12T19:51:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted, but it seems my Muses are at war with each other. It's not that they aren't giving me any ideas. They are... lots of them....all at once.

Before I get a chance to write one down completely, another gets thrown at me. Everyone wants to be first. They are throwing their ideas so fast a furious that all I get is a great big wall of words that don't make any sense.

There was something about a book, a party, rain, dogs, crocheting...I even think Dracula was in there somewhere.

See what happens when you take time off. Now if I can just get them to take turns, I will be set for a while.

HEY...What did I say about shoving. Get back in line...NO single file....

This may take a while. Wish me luck...

I wonder if he ever had this problem?

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada....

2011-10-09T20:12:00.000-05:00

I almost missed it... again.

But this year, I was reminded before it was over.

I would like to wish all those in the great lands of Canada....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Picture from prek-8.com

*** I wish I could claim the above picture but I borrowed these pictures from free locations on the internet....Did I mention I almost forgot until the last minute again!!!! I'll try to do better next year and draw them myself....

I'm Back...

2011-10-03T20:32:00.000-05:00

So what does a blogger do when she doesn't have the internet....

Well, if your me you pull up your graphics program and get busy drawing.

drawing by Pamela Jo

I'm still not too happy with the surf spray. I'll have to work on that some more. But now it is time to catch up with everyone...

No Cartoons...I Don't want to grow up...

2011-09-19T13:58:00.000-05:00

If growing up means you have to give away your love for cartoons, games and fun, especially CARTOONS....Well as the Sopranos would say forgetaboutit.

I mean were in the world would we be without imagination, dreams and fun. **shudder** I wouldn't even want to think about it. It is truly the stuff of nightmares.

Wait... even nightmares require imagination...Don't they???

Let's ask Steven King the 'King of nightmares'. I know his books have given me a lot of them.

“Hey, Steven, You know about causing nightmares. How do you do it?”
“Description begins in the writers' imagination, but finishes in the reader's“ Steven King.

Well I guess we wouldn't even have nightmares in a world without imagination, or at least not the kind of nightmares we like to have. (Is that an oxymoron...)

I remember as a kid that no matter what the week was like, Saturday morning cartoons could make you forget it and be happy for awhile. Saturday was the only day I liked getting up early. I would even set the alarm so I could get to the television before my brothers did, so I could pick the channel. (yeah, we lived in the stone-age when there was only ONE television in the house.)

All 3 channels, yes that's right THREE, had cartoons from 7:30 to Noon. Cartoons not live action shows, those were for after school. Then at noon the dad's would take over with the sport shows. Of course there were cartoons during the week, but never 4 hours of them.

There was an almost endless parade of your favorites. Bugs and Daffy, The Road Runner, Atom Ant, Aqua Man, Yogi and BooBoo.

And you can't forget The Jetsons, The Flintstones,I mean where else could you go from the Stone-age to the the Space-age in one hour.

Then in later years you had Scooby Doo, Batman, Josie and the Pussycats, Hong Kong Phooey, Dastardly and Muttley, The Smurfs and lot of others.

I even got to see Pebbles and Bamm Bamm grow up and get their own show.

What could be better... curled up with a blanket in your favorite spot on the sofa or floor with a cold bowl of cereal, and all the bright colors from the screen the only light to be seen. All was right with your world then.

Besides how else where you going to decide what you wanted for Christmas and your birthday if you didn't get to see the commercials. Saturday morning was necessary.

Yes, Saturday morning cartoon may have been the start of the weekend, but “The Wonderful World of Disney” was the weekends last hurrah.

But that is another post...

Can you find your favorites?

Heavens to murgatroid...That's a lot of cartoons.

2011-09-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

Arizona Slot Canyon Mud

I found this picture on the National Geographic photo page. Click here to check it out.

Now I know why young children eat mud. Even I would have to try a taste if I was there. Of course I am a huge Chocoholic.

Okay I can't stand it... I have got to check out the kitchen for anything chocolate NOW!!!! (Runs to kitchen throws open doors and tosses everything out....) Where did I put that chocolate....

Early Warning...I might be off for awhile...

2011-09-13T01:00:00.000-05:00

Just thought I would give you all a heads up. I am not abandoning the blog world and all my old, as well as new friends. But if I disappear for awhile, I will be back.

With all the hospital trips (3 for him, 2 for me) in the last couple of months, we are running a little long on expenses. So if I can't convince the our internet provider to give us a little break, they will turn it off before our next payday at the first of the month.

So if I don't see you around; just know I am missing you all and counting the days until I'm back on.

Oh yes, does anyone out there have a spell I can cast over the bills to make them disappear, or at least shrink???

I seem to be flooded with them lately. Thank goodness I learned to swim when I was a younger. Come to think of it a boat might be in order too.

Now where did I put those life-jackets?

Drawing by Pamela Jo

And the Winner is....

2011-09-11T20:14:00.000-05:00

Once again we where at our home away from home....the hospital. Since I don't have a wireless tablet or laptop or internet smart phone, I am totally cut off from all my fellow bloggers. Jack keeps saying he wants to get me one, but on a very limited income that is a luxury we can not afford. But we are back now...I hope for quite awhile...so I have written a short story for you to read. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know how it is and if I could improve on it. Thank you very much for staying with me through out our up and downs.

And the Winner is....

They only thought they had outgrown us. That they had left us behind with all the other superstitions. But we were there; just under the surface the whole time. Love and Hate are the two sides of the coin of life. There can never be one with out the other. But we are working to flip the coin to our side once and for all.

We are the Gods and Goddesses of War.

We have had many names, some well known, some not. Who has not heard the names Ares, Athena, Mars, and Seth, just to name a few. But our names from Babylonian, Assyrian, Mayan, and Aztec times are all but forgotten. The names of Erra, Ashur, Ah Chuy Kak, and Camaxtli are little known in today's world.

We have worked tirelessly through out history trying many ways to come on top. But there was always someone there to remind people of the good side of man.

The God of love has many names himself and many helpers. They are always there thwarting our attempts to rule the world of man.

We can not win the battle face to face. That lesson has been learned well. So how do we win? There has been many a gathering dedicated to this problem until Ictinike came up with the solution...

The way to win was to not have to face of the God of love. And how do we do that? By using the cover of love and protection to our advantage. We use the fact that the one God of love is known by many names to many people.

We make man think he is protecting others from hate and intolerance. Because it may upset and cause anguish to the others; man will then forbid one group of the God of love's helpers from speaking out if another group is present. If no one is allowed to speak of love and acceptance, then the emotions of hate, intolerance, and evil will be able to rule. The coin will flip to our side and bury the other side at last.

Yes, that is the way we will win the battle. We will rule the world and no one will be any the wiser.

©2011 Pamela Jo

Welcome to my new Followers...

2011-08-30T03:49:00.000-05:00

I would like to take a moment today to welcome all my new followers and fellow campaigners, and tell you a little something about me.

Everyone who has been following me for a while, know I have a really weird sense of humor. Of course that is the nice way of saying I am off my rocker ... totally loony toons. If you didn't already know that, well I guess I just explained a lot, didn't I.

All of you new followers... You have been warned.

My philosophy life is too short to spend it being serious all the time, (okay, okay for more than 2 seconds) and to get through this life sane...ish you can either laugh or cry. I chose to laugh, because crying makes my nose run and my eyes red. Not a pretty picture.

I am a Proud Texan, born and raised. I was born many moons ago in San Antonio, the birthplace of the Alamo. (Yeah that Alamo, no, the real one. Not the Hollywood one.)

The Alamo San Antonio, Tx

I have lived all over Texas: San Antonio, Corpus Christi. Fort Worth, Houston, Katy, Magnolia, Spring Branch, Shepherd and Coldspring. Yep, my family moved around a lot.

I have been: an office worker, dance instructor, a massage therapist, delivery person, Insurance agent, sales person, Manager. I was even an extra on a movie once. I never did figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up.

I have fallen out of trees, off boats, been through about 4 hurricanes, too many tornadoes to count, a few wreck (some NOT my fault) and now have a heart condition that has slowed me down. Yes my Guardian Angel is up for platinum wings. She earned her silver and gold in record time.

I like music, movies (old and new), books, gardening, sewing, crocheting, drawing (especially cartoons- the laugh thing again), cooking, dogs, astronomy.... long walks in the woods, okay now I sound like I'm looking for a date.

You probably got the picture. I have a wide variety of interests, which might explain why I hop from subject to subject like a hyper rabbit.

OH YES...AND I CAN'T SPELL WORTH A DARN!!!!

So now you know a little about me. Welcome, and come on in...If you dare. You can't say you haven't been warned.

3D artist... WOW...

2011-08-25T15:39:00.000-05:00

Have you seen these guys? It is amazing what they can do with a little chalk or paint.

How does he do it??? Watch this story from CBS news.

Here is another group of guys at work.

If your afraid of heights you might want to avoid this sidewalk.

I am a Campaigner...

2011-08-24T20:44:00.002-05:00

I have wanted to join Rachael Harrie of Rach Writes on her crusades ever since she started them. I just always got there late. That old procrastination thingy again.

But this time I made it before the deadline. I was so excited I joined a few different groups. I know I am an over achieving procrastinator, what can I say. But everyone has been having so much fun with Rachael that I just had to get in on the action too.

Her new Campaign starts on August 22, 2011 and goes to October 3rd, 2011. But the deadline to join is August 31st, 2011. Check out The Writers' Platform- Building Campaign here, and join the fun.

Good-bye to my little editor...

2011-08-23T19:43:00.000-05:00

This is a very difficult post to write, because I hate saying good-bye. Especially when I know it is forever.

We lost our little Foxy to old age on August 13th. She passed away quietly at my feet under my desk. Still keeping up her job as editor to the end.

Ms. Foxy at work.

Good-bye Ms. Foxy. You are still loved and will be missed.

Rain, Rain, come this way....

2011-08-21T01:37:00.000-05:00

Just in case you haven't guessed by now, I live the Texas, the east Texas Piney Woods to be exact. It is a great area with lots of trees and creeks and wildlife. But what we don't have, at least not this year, is RAIN. We are in the worst drought since they started keeping records in 1895. This has caused the trees, plants, and grasses to dry out. That in turn has caused numerous wild fires. Luckily for us they haven't gotten too close to our house. Though the state has lost about 3.4 million acres to wildfire so far, and they are still happening.

Since I have to cart water from the well to the garden, I have just about given up on it producing much this year. I am going to put in a fall garden and hope for the best. It is still hurricane season you know. Maybe we will get part of a nice tropical depression. No, I don't want another hurricane. We are still trying to clean up after the last one.

I was looking on google to see if I could find some good news about the weather. One of the things I did find is Rain Turtles.

Created by Pamela Jo

According to Wikipedia...

A rain turtle is a ritual believed to bring about rain, especially in periods of drought. The practice is commonly considered to be of Native American origin. To perform the ceremony, one uses a stick to draw a turtle facing West in the sand or dirt of an area in need of rain. The stick is then driven into the ground so that it remains protruding from the turtle's back. The time required for the action to take effect varies from one account to another, ranging from occurring instantaneously to taking several days.
The practice has become somewhat common with surveyors, hunters, ranchers, gardeners and other people working outdoors, particularly in the Western United States.[1] Some people that work outside and rely on favorable work conditions might draw this, in hopes that it will rain and will get them out of work. Getting caught doing this at a job site might result in the person that drew it to get into trouble.

Oh and just in case you are wondering, my computer desk faces south, so the above turtle is facing West. I'm hoping for quick results (I wonder if their is a Rain Rabbit?)

I had to add this video just so I could remember what rain sounded like.

I miss rainy weather...

And now I would like to end this post with a simple prayer for some much needed rain...

“God, you send rains in season. It is a season of need in Texas. Send more rain to that parched land and more again across all the thirsty southern states. Find a small and willing cloud sitting bored over some vacant part of the Caribbean, and give it a push toward Houston. Make a Hurricane, perhaps, not strong enough to destroy, but filled with warmed moisture and send it North. We ask you for rain. Let the drought unite many millions to ask you for help. We trust in you. You made the world to need the waters of heaven. You made the world to need the waters of life. You are the source of rain. We ask you. Let it rain. In Jesus name.”

Posted by Mark Herringshaw

Architecture...What type are you...

2011-07-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

I have been searching the real estate ads again. Still trying to get to the mountains, especially after all this heat. I found these ads, no I can't afford it but I had to look anyway.

This got me to thinking of the difference between modern and traditional architecture. Most people love one and hate the other. There are also people who have their favorite, but can appreciate them both. Which one are you?

Check out the differences....

The outside...

The living room with a fireplace...

The kitchen...

The bedroom...

The yards...

Of course they both have something in common....

Mountain views!!!!

Me, I am more the traditional romantic kind of person. That and a pack rat. I just don't fit those clean lines.

Oh and by the way both of these are for sale in the Sanoma Valley Area of California. Even if I won the lottery I couldn't afford them.

Morning Alarm Clock...

2011-07-25T14:26:00.001-05:00

I was looking around the web last night and I think I finally found an Alarm that I couldn't possibly sleep through.

What do you think?

I found this guy in California.

I think he could get me up in the mornings...me and the whole county.

Rough couple of weeks...

2011-07-17T17:01:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't been posting, but it has been a rough couple of weeks.

My father passed away on July 5th, and his memorial service was the following Tuesday.

James W. Hampton
Miss you Daddy.

Then on Wednesday, I had to take Jack (my fiance) to the ER. They intern transferred him to a bigger hospital an hour from our home. Where he still is undergoing a lot of tests.

So I have been running from hospital to home to check on things and back again. I'm pretty sure I passed myself at least a couple of times on the road.

Hopefully. Things will settle back down soon, and I can get back on schedule. Now would be a great time to have an IPad or a Kindle. Then I could stay up on my reading and writing without losing my pen or my book every 5 minutes....

I try to catch you all up soon. I am getting a lot of material and research done on hospitals, that's for sure.

Let Freedom Ring...

2011-07-04T17:11:00.000-05:00

Just think the fireworks that started in 1775 at Lexington and Concord....

And re-ignited in 1812....

Would lead to these fireworks 236 years later....

Happy Birthday United States of America!!!

You may not be perfect but you are my home and that makes you perfect to me....

Sending Out My Love...

2011-06-27T23:58:00.000-05:00

I was reading today about an old school friend, who is losing his brother to cancer. It reminded me that we never really know how long we will have on this earth. No matter what it is never as long as we think it is.

In away a terrible disease maybe a blessing in disguise. It gives us the kick in the pants we need to talk and make our peace with each other. To tell the person how much we love them and reminisce about all the good times.

When we lose them suddenly, everything we wanted to say remains unsaid. We wind up carrying around the guilt that we never really found the time for that phone call, to drop that card in the mail or even to email them.

You know it is so easy to forget to let those you love the most know about it. We find it really easy to say I love that song...I love that book... OMG I loved him/her in that. We find it so easy to express our love for inanimate items, shows, stars, food, animals, you name it we LOVE it.

But when it comes to those really close to us....we don't say the words. I guess we automatically assume since we know it … they know it.

But do they?

Think about it. Do you know for sure what is in the minds of your brother, sister, mother, father, or child? Do you know for sure without a single doubt your husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend loves you? How about the cousin, Aunt, Uncle or Grandparent you haven't seen or spoken with in over a year?

How about your best friend of all times, the one you argued with the last time you spoke to them? You don't even remember what the argument was about now. Oh, but surely they know you didn't mean it when you said .... But do they really.

I don't know about you but my ESP is on the fritz. I don't even know what I'm thinking half the time. I also know how easy it is to say the wrong thing and not even realize it. I may not be limber enough to kick like the Radio City Rockettes, but I can get my foot in my mouth without even trying.

Image via Wikipedia

So I would like to take this time to say to all my family far and wide, and all my friends.

I LOVE YOU, MORE THAN I CAN EVER SAY!!!!

I think about you often. A lot more often than I let you know, and I am sorry for that. I will try to do better, but life has away of getting in the way. And days have a way of running together. Just remember that if I hurt your feelings or said something you didn't like, I really didn't mean it. It was just foot in mouth disease, and I am sorry. I would never intentionally say anything to hurt you.

Now if you will excuss me I need to facebook, twitter, email and call some very important people in my life. Dang...it's too late to call now but I can at least do the rest.

How about you?

And before I forget to all those who are following and reading this blog....

THANK YOU. I REALLY APRECIATE ALL OF YOU.

I just wanted you know that now.

Oh and for those who may not know who the Radio City Rockettes are, check this out....

What a View...#fridayflash

2011-06-23T11:41:00.000-05:00

What a View...

What a view. I can see for miles from up here. I have never really appreciated this view, never really looked at it. I was always too busy to take the time. It's only by accident that I am enjoying it now.

I can see the deep navigation channel from here. The water changes from the light blue of the shallows to a deep navy. Those small islands look like bright green paint spatters.

Over there you can see the chemical storage tanks. Hey some of them do they do have floating roofs, would you look at that.

In this direction you can see the skyline of downtown. Boy that sure has grown since I first moved here. Just look at all that traffic. I sure am glad I don't have to drive in that.

I always knew there were a lot of ships on these waterways, but I never realized the variety. The big cargo ships, loaded with shipping boxes that look like a child's building blocks. The flat barges with everything from machinery to piles of ore or dirt or what ever that is. Boy would my kids like to climb those hills.

There goes a tour boat. Man they do they keep that thing clean, the sun reflecting off that white can blind you. I can barely make out all the people waving at me. Might as well wave back, Hi.

And of course, all the tug boats are running around trying to heard everything in their way. Kinda like that new blue heeler puppy we got that herds everything with legs no matter what the size.

There's the Coast guard cutters. The authority of the waves. I have a lot of respect for those men and women. They are out there everyday risking their lives and limbs to keep us safe.

Ah, here comes the fire boat. Would you look at those water guns. Man I would love to get my hands on one of those. I could think of a couple of people I would like to soak. Looks like they got a big latter for rescues too.

Yeah the view up here is great. But, since I had 4 cups of coffee this morning I sure hope they hurry and get me untangled from this damn crane.

Houston Ship Channel

Happy Birthday ME...

2011-06-19T23:58:00.001-05:00

No it is NOT my birthday. It is my baby sisters. I will be nice and not say which birthday it is...She knows where I live and can out run me.

When she was born, my mother told me and my brothers we would have to help her learn to spell her name. So when we called her we would spell it out. That quickly got shortened to just the first to letters, and she became M.E.

Well for my baby brother's birthday I threw a virtual party...so...

HAPPY SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY, SIS!!!!

Here is the cake. Go ahead and blow out the candles....

Have a glass of wine....

I had a sushi bar set up for you...

And I brought in some of your favorite musicians...

What a concert... Loved it...

Dedicated to your modeling...remember the hair show...

Just for the fun of it....

Road trips from College to the dance hall...

Vince is always right....

And one more from Bon Jovi. This is from me to you...

As you can tell my sister loves good music of all kinds.

Happy Birthday Sis... Enjoy your day...

Happy Father's Day to all you Daddies...

2011-06-19T16:17:00.002-05:00

Image by Jim, the Photographer via Flickr

I would like to wish all the Dads of the world a Happy Father's Day. I am not sure if it is celibrated around the world or on the same day, but it doesn't matter. The Fathers of the world deserve praise everyday of the year. With out you we would not be here.

I would like to wish an extra special Happy Father's Day to all the Daddies out there, after all it takes someone special to be a Daddy.

A Daddy is the person who raises you to be who you are, even if he isn't you biological father. He wipes your tears, teaches you to ride a bike, how to fish, and how to drive (though I will never know how he could hold his breath that long).

It's your Daddy who chases away the monster's under your bed and out of the closet. Daddy is the one to squash the big icky bug that chased you. He is the one who makes the best hamburgers and bar-b-q.

He is also the one who taught you right from wrong, even when it hurt him as much as you. He is the one you never wanted to disappoint. The one you want to live up to.

Yes, just about every man can be a Father, but there are a special few who can be a Daddy.

This Picture of my Daddy was taken by my Sister.

One year today...

2011-06-14T21:54:00.001-05:00

Oh goodness.... I started this blog one year ago today. Can you believe it? I made my first anniversary.

This calls for a celebration!!!

During the past year I have met so many interesting people on line, Mothers, Fathers, daughters and sons, city dwellers and country people, photographers, musicians, actors, directors, and of course authors. Lots and lots of authors.

I have been able to travel and learn about the world, through the eyes of those who live there. I have seen so many wonderful places and things, through the lenses of some really amazing photographers. (India...Coffee Rings Everywhere and Australia....Publish or Parish, just to name 2 of many)

I have been entertained daily with the humor, and the insightful stories of great story tellers. (I never realize how many people out there spent their days thinking up ways murder someone and getting paid for it, instead of arrested.) I have also discovered that Death loves peanuts and drives a Harley.

I wonder if it is this fire bike???

I have learned I am not alone in this big old world. There are others out there just as crazy as I am. (What a relief. I will know a lot of people when they finally lock me away.)

To all of you out there who take the time to read about little old me. (Humbly bows head) Thank You. I don't know what I would do without you to keep me sane...ish.

If you would like to read my very first post, you will find it here.

(I wonder if I could knock off the IRS and call it research....)

Mermaid or Whale...

2011-06-11T22:07:00.000-05:00

I got an email from a friend who passed along this story. After I read it I knew I would have to pass it along. Take a moment to read this, then decide.

Would you want to be a mermaid ...

Or a whale....

Recently, in a large city in Australia ,
a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in
the window of a gym.
It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not
match those of the woman on the poster,
  responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.


To Whom It May Concern,
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins,
sea lions, curious humans.)
They have an active sex life,
get pregnant and have adorable baby whales.
They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing
themselves with shrimp.
They play and swim in the seas,
seeing wonderful places like Patagonia ,
the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia .
Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs.
They are incredible creatures
and virtually have no predators
other than humans.
They are loved, protected and admired
by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist.
If they did exist,
they would be lining up outside the offices
of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity
crisis. Fish or human?
They don't have a sex life
because they kill men who get close to them,
not to mention how could they have sex?
Just look at them ... where is IT?
Therefore, they don't have kids either.
Not to mention,
who wants to get close to a girl who smells
like a fish store?


The choice is perfectly clear to me:

I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads
the idea that only skinny people are beautiful,
but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids,
a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver,
and a piece of chocolate with my friends.

With time, we gain weight
because we accumulate so much information and wisdom
in our heads that when there is no more room,
it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.
So we aren't heavy,
we are enormously cultured,
educated and happy.
Beginning today,
when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think,
¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨

Image via Wikipedia

When was the last time you saw a mermaid leap for joy???

She makes a good argument, but she had me at chocolate and ice cream. Let's see you get to travel, see exotic places and marine life. Have lots of friends and not have to worry about your diet....

I want to be a whale. How about you?

What a Dad...

2011-06-08T19:06:00.000-05:00

I saw an article in the Houston Chronicle about the "Wave at The Bus" Dad. If you haven't seen this check it out.

This dad gets up everyday of the school year and waves his teenager off to school on the bus. Sounds sweet doesn't it....Well... He waves every morning in a different costume. Yes, you read that right...costume. The Little Mermaid, a Pirate, a blushing BRIDE..(yes, he wore a real wedding dress.) just to name a few.

This dad and the whole family have been written up in numerous papers. Is it embarrassing to his son... of course, that's the whole point. But the kid has a great attitude about it too.

All I have to say is....

"Way to go Dale. I wish there was someone like you in my neighborhood. If there was I think I would become a morning person just to see you wave."

Check out their website for the pictures. Since I didn't have permission to post one yet, I didn't.
But you have to see these costumes. Click here for Wave at the Bus.

In honor of Dale's White Wedding Wave...

Laura Eno has done it again....

2011-06-07T16:26:00.001-05:00

Well that busy bee writer, Laura Eno, has done it again.

Yep, she has another book out. Today is the release of "Tempest Child" her latest Young Adult romantic fiction. Check out her release party on facebook.

Check out this cover....

Here is the blurb on the back cover....

As future Queen and Guardian of the Elements, Princess Skylather'cha'eab thought her worst nightmare was the impending find-a-husband party until events take an ominous turn. Now she must put her life at risk to save her Kingdom.

Armed with only a staff, a bow, and her wits, Skyla's world is turned upside-down when she enters the Crossroads and encounters the beast she's destined to kill. Does she have the courage to sort truth from lie, or will she die not knowing who betrayed her?

If you would like to read the first chapter you can check it out by just clicking here.

Tempest Child is avalible in paperback and kindle versions at amazon. com. Smashwords is also carring it in various e-formates. Go get your copy today.

HEY I SAID NOW....GO!!!
They are going fast you don't want to be left out, do you?

Let's all do the Carlton...

2011-06-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

To help you out with your Back to Work Blues, I thought I would post this as a public service...

I saw this t-shirt....

and it reminded me of this....

You just can't help but laugh when you watch the Carlton dance from "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air".

You can find the above T-shirt at Donkey Tees. Thanks to Laugh Quotes for showing me the site.

Oh and for all of you who don't know what the sit-com "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", it also stared this guy....

Image via Wikipedia

Will Smith

Forget the back, poor me...

2011-06-03T22:45:00.000-05:00

You know the old joke about your back goes out more than you do....

Well, my back decided to go out today, and hasn't gotten back yet... or at least not in a correct UN-painful position. But then it could be that it just pissed the muscles off by going out without them.
What ever the cause, the rest of me is left to suffer the consequences. That means it is really hard to sit for long or stand or squat.

What even worse … I know how to pick things up and bend and everything to prevent this from happening. I was a pain therapist. I taught people how to take care of their backs. Okay I lectured most of them, but hey they wouldn't listen.... just like me.
I told them over and over "do as I say....NOT as I do".

Oh well I guess I will head to the bed with an ice pack and pout because once again my back went out without me.

Oh well, the upside of this is no housework...

I use to have this book... It has some great exercises in it
for back pain as well as the correct posture to prevent it.

What is Memorial Day...

2011-05-30T00:01:00.005-05:00

What is Memorial Day? To many people, Memorial Day means a 3 day weekend, picnics, bar-b-q's, and SALES.

When I was growing up it meant the official start of 3 whole months of Summer Vacation. School ended at Memorial Day and didn't start back until Labor Day. Family vacations were scheduled and planned. Now school doesn't let out until the first of June and starts back the middle of August. So much for getting in that extra day of Family time.

But is that all Memorial Day means?

No. That is not how it started out. My Grandfather was a marine in World War II, so I knew it had something to do with the remembering the dead. We would meet up with my relatives and all go to the cemetery to place flowers on the graves of our relatives. My parents would point out the graves of great Aunts and Uncles, Grandparents and cousins. They would share stories about them and their lives. It was interesting, but hey, I was a kid that wasn't as exciting as the beach. Now I wish I had paid closer attention.

Later on I found out that Memorial Day was actually to honor our service men who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and died for their family and their country. Veteran's Day is to honor all who served, but Memorial Day is for remembering those who died.

Memorial day was originally called Decoration Day, and was started after the Civil War to honor the soldiers who had died. It was an unofficial ceremony that grew thought out the United States, until 1868 when General John A. Logan gave an official proclamation. The proclamation was made on May 5, 1868 and the first official holiday was May 30th, 1868.

Decoration Day was changed to Memorial Day after World War I, when it became the day to honor all military who had died in any war.

So in honor of those who fought and died for their families, beliefs and country I am posting these songs.

This one was written and sung by Ssgt. Barry Sadler a medic in the Green Berets...

This one was written by the grandson of Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie, a member of the Seaforth Highlanders during World War 1, who died by bayonet while protecting a fallen friend....

This one is dedicated to all military men and women. I have to warn you you will need another hankie for this one....

A Day in Paradise... #fridayflash

2011-05-26T17:32:00.003-05:00

A Day in Paradise...

The day started as any other day in Paradise. The gentle trade winds causing the fronds on the palms to wave a welcoming greeting to those at sea. The inhabitants of the island scurried about getting their day started.

Along the shore the pool boys at the hotels were setting out clean towels on chase lounges. Cooks were good-naturedly haggling over price with local fisherman and farmers. Hotel guess lazily started making their way out of their rooms to greet a new day.

Yes, just another day in Paradise. The waves gently lapped the sands of the beach. Slowly in and out, in and out, in and out... the rhythm hypnotic and peaceful. Lulling you into a trance like state.

Then the rhythm abruptly changed. The ocean inhales deeply followed by a jarring silence.

Everything stops in mid-motion. The pool boys forget the towels. The cooks, fisherman, and farmers fall silent. The people lying on the beach slowly sit up. As if turned by invisible hands, all heads turn toward the ocean.

The water rushing out as if pursued by the very devil himself, reveals the undersea cliffs and valleys of the great mountains that are Hawaii.

The shore stretches out as far as the eye can see. The shimmering scales of fish catch the eye as they flounder in the sand that, only moments before, was covered in water. In the distance the barnacle encrusted bones of once proud sailing ships are touched by the sunlight they have not felt in hundreds of years. The only hint that the ocean is still out there is the taste of salt on the breeze.

Where has the ocean gone? What is happening?

As the island seems to hold its breath, waiting for the return of the ocean. Two waves of movement are seen on land.

The tourist move toward the strange site in awe. Cameras attached to their faces recording it all for the tales they will weave on their return homes. Oblivious to the fact the islanders are moving in the opposite direction toward the mountain tops.

Running and climbing higher and higher as fast as they can. They do not slowing down to look back. The islanders know what is coming. They have heard the stories passed down from the time of the Kings. The stories of the old gods, who would take the water from the shores only to bring it back to destroy and kill.

Suddenly the quite is split with a ear shattering siren, and one whispered word becomes a roar … TSUNAMI.

©2010 Pamela Jo

Image via Wikipedia

Check out other writers stories here at #FridayFlash.

It's a bird, It's a plane, It's a CAR????

2011-05-24T01:10:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was The Houston Art Car Parade sponsored by The Orange Show. This is a free parade that every year turns into a bigger and bigger festival.
The idea of the art car parade is if it has wheels and is decorated... you can enter it in the parade.

Check out this car....

Peep Car

What did they use? Look closer...

Yes that's right it is Marshmallow Peeps.

This is one of my favorite ~~drinks~~ songs....

Margaritaville

What could be better on a hot Houston day....

I'm not sure what this is but is I look in the mirror and see it... I'm letting it by.

Art Car Parade

If you would like to check out some of the other participants check out the photos on Chanel 13 the Houston ABC affiliate. Be prepared to take a while there are 167 photos but there are some great cars. Check them out here.

The first car was made by students. Great job don't you think?

I'm still here and waiting...

2011-05-21T23:34:00.000-05:00

First off, I am not an expert. I don't have any special knowledge. I can't even quote the bible, but I do know how to look up a reference and read. I haven't even read Revelations to the end, I have the same really bad nightmare every time I try. I don't condemn anyone for their beliefs. (After all even Jesus was considered a false prophet then and to some now.) We are all members of the same race.... human and as such I offer my friendship to all.
That being said....

When I saw this....

I thought of this...

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Mathew 24:36

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Mark 13:32

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority."
Acts 1:7

When I hear anyone saying that they know the date the world will end, I remember this...

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Mathew 7:15

...and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Mathew 24:11-13

Enough said...

I hope you all have a wonderful week, year and life. Don't let anyone take your happiness and beliefs away from you.

As for the Revelations thing, maybe it's time to try again ...

Forbes list of 100 Worlds most powerful Celebrities...

2011-05-18T17:19:00.001-05:00

I was just looking over the newspaper and what do I see. Forbes has released their top 100 list of most worlds most powerful celebrities of 2011. You will never guess who is number 1... Wrong Oprah has been knocked out of the number one spot by … are you ready for it...

Lady Gaga...

Image via Wikipedia

Oprah is now number 2, though she is still number One in pay.

Image via Wikipedia

Four Authors also made the list....

James Patterson is no. 37

Danielle Steele is no. 78

Stephen King is no. 79

Have you ever noticed how the only animals Steven King writes about are ones that scare the hell out of you???

Stephanie Meyer is no. 90

Looking over this list of musicians, actors, radio personalties and sports figures, I am really worried. Don't get me wrong I do like a lot of them, but to think that we place that much influent with any human being is alarming.
Human beings are fallible, that is what makes us human. Another thing that is scary is 4 in the top 10 are under the age of 28, one isn't even of legal age yet.

Just think this person is the one who is influencing the youth of today....

Image via Wikipedia

I don't know her personally and I have heard some good things. I just think these people have enough to worry about in their life with out the adding the strain Forbes just put on them.

Just think these people are the worlds role models....

Wow... and I thought vampires and demons were scary.

Check out the list for yourself here is the link.

Gossip Lines of the Past...

2011-05-13T14:23:00.000-05:00

I was looking at the Lehman's site today and I saw this poem. I knew I had to share it....

Image via Wikipedia

A Clothesline Poem (Anonymous)

A clothesline was a news forecast, to neighbors passing by

There were no secrets you could keep when clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link, for neighbors always knew

If company had stopped on by to spend a night or two.

For then you’d see the “fancy” sheets and towels upon the line

You’d see the “company tablecloth” with intricate design.

The line announced a baby’s birth, from folks who lived inside

As brand-new infant clothes were hung, so carefully with pride!

The ages of the children could, so readily by known;

By watching how the sizes changed, you’d know how much they’d grown!

It also told when illness struck, as extra sheets were hung;

Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too haphazardly were strung.

It also said, “Gone on vacation now,” when lines hung limp and bare.

It told, “We’re back!” when full lines sagged with not an inch to spare!

New folks in town were scorned upon, if wash was dingy and gray,

As neighbors carefully raised their brows, and looked the other way…

But clotheslines now are of the past, for dryers make work much less.

Now what goes on inside a home is anybody’s guess!

I really miss that way of life, it was a friendly sign;

When neighbors knew each other best by what hung on the line.

So it has been a human trait since time began to peak at your neighbors, and then spread the news. Always in a most concerned way, of course.

Oscar Wilde once said "The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about."

Just what kind of good neighbor would we be if we let that happen on our block. We are not our brother's keeper, but we are are neighbor's public relations person. It is an important job, that we must not ignore.

Of course, today we have home owner's Associations' rules banning outdoor clothes lines. This makes the job a lot harder to do.

Facts...

2011-05-11T17:51:00.000-05:00

What are the facts? I looked up the definition of the word fact and this is what I found out...
The FACTS are confusing. I always thought they were so simple. A fact was the truth. But this is the definitions I found...

Merriam-Webster

fact /'fakt/ noun
1 a : a thing done b : CRIME 1
2 : the quality of being actual
3 : something that actually exists or occurs
4 : a piece of information about something presented as true and accurate
- in fact : in truth : ACTUALLY

Okay that not too confusing, I guess.

Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary (This is for people who are learning English as a second language.)

fact /ˈfækt/ noun

plural facts
1 [count] : something that truly exists or happens : something that has actual existence
▪ Rapid electronic communication is now a fact. — often used in the phrase the fact that ▪ It's hard to accept the fact that she's gone. [=it's hard to accept that she's gone] ▪ What they're proposing is impractical, apart from the fact that it's also illegal. ▪ In spite of the fact that he was sick [=although he was sick], I went to visit him.
2 : a true piece of information [count]
▪ The book is filled with interesting facts and figures. ▪ Those are the (cold) hard facts of the case. ▪ I know for a fact that he did it. [=I am sure that he did it] ▪ He did it, and that's a fact. ▪ There's no doubt that he did it. The facts speak for themselves. [=the facts make it clear that he did it] [noncount] ▪ It can sometimes be hard to separate fact from fiction. [=to know what is true and what is false]

Now this one I like, it is just what I thought fact was. I should have stopped reading here. But know I had to check out one more...

Bouvier's Law Dictionary

FACT. An action; a thing done. It is either simple or compound.
2. A fact is simple when it expresses a purely material act unconnected
with any moral qualification; for example, to say Peter went into his house,
is to express a simple fact. A compound fact contains the materiality of the
act, and the qualification which that act has in its connexion with morals
and, the law. To say, then, that Peter has stolen a horse, is to express a
compound fact; for the fact of stealing, expresses at the same time, the
material fact of taking the horse, and of taking him with the guilty
intention of depriving the owner of his property and appropriating it to his
own use; which is a violation of the law of property.
3. Fact. is also put in opposition to law; in every case which has to
be tried there are facts to be established, and the law which bears on those
facts.
4. Facts are also to be considered as material or immaterial. Material
facts are those which are essential to the right of action or defence, and
therefore of the substance of the one or the other - these must always be
proved; or immaterial, which are those not essential to the cause of action
- these need not be proved. 3 Bouv. Inst. n. 3150-53.
5. Facts are generally determined by a jury,; but there are many facts,
which, not being the principal matters in issue, may be decided by the
court; such, for example, whether a subpoena has or has not been served;
whether a party has or has not been summoned, &c. As to pleading material
facts, see Gould. Pl. c. 3, s. 28. As to quality of facts proved, see 3
Bouv. Inst. n. 3150. Vide Eng. Ecc. R. 401-2, and the article Circumstances.

No I didn't miss anything. The definition started with 2. You can see for yourself if you look here. Leave it to Lawyers to really screw something simple up. It remindes me of a joke I heard.

"What do you get when you cross the Godfather with a Lawyer?'
"An offer you can't understand"

I now have a headache and am so confused... and that's a FACT.

This clip is what got me on my search today. It was one of my favorite lines from a Television show.

This is Walter Brennan in "The Guns of Will Sonnett" a show that was on from 1967 to 1969.

Oh yes and the Fact of the matter is blogger decided to mess with the colors of my post. I just hope the blue goes back to the white it is suppose to be when I post it. I tried changing it on the Posting page but I couldn't see the white on white. Ah well, such is the drama of blogging.

Happy Mother's Day...

2011-05-08T17:05:00.000-05:00

I am a little late posting this today. I think I over did it at the party I threw my brother yesterday. So with out further delay I would like to wish everyone out there a Happy Mother's Day.

The mother's of the world are the most important people there are. With out them we would not be who we are. Mom molds us into what we are with love and guidance.

A true Mother doesn't have to give birth to give love. I am sure all of us have had more than one mother help us along our path. With a gentle touch, a tender smile or a kind word they, they guide you along.

Mother's are just angles in disguise. When the light is right you can even see their wings.

picture from Flash-screen.com

Happy Mother's Day to all the hidden Angels through out the world, past, present and future.

Momma I love you always and miss you much.

Happy 50th Birthday Alan....

2011-05-08T00:02:00.000-05:00

Yes I just told the world how old my younger brother is. But since he is busy right now partting to celebrate, I think I can get away with it.

Right this minute on Saturday May 7th, he is having a huge blow out party with count them two, yes two live bands, at his house. WOO HOO, it's time to party.

Because of the distance, health and truck problems I couldn't be there, so I decided to have a web party for him here.

Grab a some food...

A piece of cake....

And your favorite drink....

And party down, to some of the songs I know my brother will remember from his past.

And of course there was these guys...

This one is for all the Midnight movies....

Wish I could have found the original one for you.

Now it is time to sing the birthday song....

Thank you all for coming to my birthday party for my brother. Please remember not to drink and blog. I hope you all had a good time.

Oh and Alan we did get the bail money up so go all out at your party. We got you covered. Love you.

Y and Z...

2011-04-30T17:02:00.003-05:00

I missed posting on Y yesterday so this post is a double header.

For Y I decided to do those daring youths who rebel against their parents.

Like these young ladies, who the cops had to check out for decency sake...

A cop measuring to see if swimsuit is legal.

Or how about these young men or is it young women, just look how long that hair is...

Just remember, when you think your pulling the wool over your parents eyes...They have already tried pulling it over their parents.

In some cases its..."Been there...Done it Better."

Cover of Will Rogers

"Your mothers get mighty shocked at you girls nowadays, but in her day, her mother was just on the verge of sending her to reform school."

Will Rogers 1879-1935

And now to wrap up this challenging challenge, I present Z...as in Zero, Zilch left too write. Wait I need a tissue * dabs at eyes, blows nose loudly*.

Okay I am ready now.

Z is for ZULU...

Zulu Witchdoctor

This one is for both Y and Z....

Young Zulu Couple

These pictures remind me of the old joke...

"I just got back from Africa. I was playing cards with the natives."

"Oh Zulus?"

"No. I usually won."

I would like to apologize for that joke. I think I might have had just a bit too much A to Z Challenge fun....

And as a final tribute to the A to Z challenge, a picture that goes from A to Z....

Albino Zebra

X is for X-Ray...

2011-04-28T21:39:00.000-05:00

If you are like me when you think of X-Ray, you think of something like this...

A chest x-ray is interesting .... Okay it's boring unless your into that sort of thing. I'm not.

Now this is interesting....

And this is funny....

But these are beautiful...

I love the colors in this one.

This looks like a big soap bubble in space.

This one reminds me of an Opal with its flashes of colors.

These pictures where taken by NASA at the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. They have a lot of really great pictures and also some Hi-Resolution once you
can download and print out. You can check them out by clicking here

Related articles

W is for Wind....

2011-04-27T18:39:00.000-05:00

   I was thinking about what to post for W and a lot of words came to mind. Then I looked out the Window and saw how windy it was today. It got me thinking of the wind and all the things I like about it.
   Wind is a natural force. It could be gentle like a cool breeze on a hot day. Or it can be strong like the damaging winds in a tornado or hurricane. I have seen both sides over and over during my life. And I still love the wind. I am mesmerized by it.
   I can sit at the window and watch the wind blow for hours. The trees swaying, the sunlight flashing of the surface of the leaves as they move.
   As a child I use to try to lean into the wind and hope it would send me flying up into the air, like Sally Fields in "The Flying Nun". I alway wanted one of those hats "The Flying Nun" wore so I could fly too.

Image via Wikipedia

Even today in a strong wind you can close your eyes and feel like you are flying. You hear the roar of the wind in your ears and the caress on your body making your clothes flap and sound like wings.

Here are a couple of my favorite wind songs....

What are your favorite wind memories???

V is for Volcano...

2011-04-26T00:01:00.004-05:00

I was stumbling around on internet on day (no, I was NOT drinking...okay I had coffee) when I found this....

Eyjafuallajokull Volcano, Iceland

This was the picture of the day at The National Geographics site. This is the volcano erruption that played havic with the air travel last year. Now I see why...WOW.

U is for Useful...

2011-04-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

   I couldn't help but post this. I want a useful dog just like Jesse. That would sure be useful in my daily life. How about yours?

   Now if you will excuse me I am going to gather my mob and sit them down to watch Jesse. Hopefully something will rub off.

   There I go dreaming again... but some dreams do come true. Don't they?

Wishing Everyone a Happy Easter...

2011-04-24T17:18:00.000-05:00

Taking a moment on this glorious day to wish everyone a Happy and Enjoyable Easter.

I hope you and yours have a great day, however you chose to celebrate.

T is for Twain...Mark Twain....

2011-04-23T00:01:00.002-05:00

Today's letter is T....

Image via Wikipedia

One of the most famous and loved American writer of all times was Mark Twain. Below are a few of the quotes he left us and they are just as applicable now as the day he wrote them.

On growing old...

"When I was younger I could remember anything, whether it happened or not."

"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen."

On Human Nature...

"The more things are forbidden, the more popular they become."

"Action speaks louder than words but no nearly as often."

On succeeding in life...

"To succeed in life you need two things: ignorance and confidence."

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

He must have had governments and politicians in mind with these...

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time , and your government when it deserves it."

"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please."

"The more you explain it, the more I don't understand it."

And remember his advice when you think about politics and governments...

"When angry, count to four. When very angry, swear."

Twain's advice on writing...

"Substitute "Damn" every time you are inclined to write "Very"; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be."

"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug."

And as a last bit of advice remember this one...

"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living.

The world owes you nothing. It was here first."

S is for Spell-Check...

2011-04-22T19:33:00.000-05:00

   When I write my blog or anything, the one tool that helps the most is Spell-check. It is also the one tool that causes the most aggravation.

   I have always had trouble with spelling. The best I can do is write the word and see if it looks right.

   Don't get me wrong I can read and understand lots of things. But when it comes to getting them from my mind to my hand...well, they sometimes get really jumbled up. I do have a mild case of dyslexia, mostly with numbers and mostly when I am tired.

   I sometimes feel like a teacher. Okay everyone line up in order we are going on a trip...Stay in line...is everyone here... No cutting in line. Get back to your place.

   But alas, like the substitute teacher taking on the unruly classroom. I some times fail miserably. That is when I count on my seating chart. otherwise know as Spell-check.

   But the problem arises when there is more than one student with the same name. Say you have 3 Bobbys (oh and by the way spell-check says Bobbys is wrong), but which one is the right Bobby. To find the answer you check the last name. You now know who is Bobby Smith, who is Bobbee James, and who is Bobbie Lee.

   The problem with spell-check is it only tells you the first name. So how do I know which one to pick. What I need is a Dictionary or at least a Thesaurus. I never had this problem when I was looking words up in those.

   Why not use the dictionary on the computer, you may ask. Well you see, on the one I have it can't find the word if it is not spelled correctly. See my problem.

   Another problem some of the words I use are words that spell-check doesn't recognize (like the ones Laura at A Shift in Dimensions has been posting on her blog this month.) So I wind up changing the way I write sometimes to the way spell-check wants me to write.

   Ah, well apparently everyone is a critic...even my word processor in office.

Oh and by the way....

   HAPPY EARTH DAY....Get out there and plant something. Even if it is your butt on a bench at the park.

Support your planet, It supports you !!!

I want one..... Think it would help???

Now if I could just find one that will correct my sentence structure
and erase the errant commas.

R is for Real Simple...

2011-04-21T01:33:00.000-05:00

   Today I am not talking about something that is simple, I am talking about something that is Real Simple. Have you ever noticed that when someone tells you “It's real simple”... IT'S NOT.

   Like the time you got directions to a friend's house for dinner party.

“It's real simple just turn at the church right after the chicken place...” Sounds easy enough. Then you when you get there, you see 3 chicken places on both sides the road and no church. Now what???

   You don't want to appear like a fool, after all remember it is real simple to find, so you keep driving up and down the road. You finally give up and call to say your lost, only to find out the CHURCH is the old grocery store with a banner in the window that you can't see after dark.

   Another example I just saw was in the Magazine REAL SIMPLE. They show you how to naturally color easter eggs. They actually use these words... “Easy recipes for adding colors to your eggs the all-natural way”

   Here is how they color an easter egg blue...

   Ingredients:
   1 lb frozen blueberries
   2 cups water
   1 Tablespoon lemon juice

   1) On the stove top, bring the frozen blueberries and water to a boil in a pot. Boil for 5 minutes.
   2)Pour liquid into cup or bowl, straining out blueberries with a strainer.
   3)Add lemon juice.

Letting him do it would be real simple.

   Here is how we always color an Easter egg blue...

   Ingredients:
   blue food coloring
   1 Tablespoon vinegar
   ½ cup Room temperature water

   1)Put vinegar in a small bowl or cup add 20 drops of blue food coloring. Stir to mix.
   2)Pour water in to cut or bowl.

   So which one do you think is real simple. Don't get me wrong, I am all for doing things the natural way with out chemicals. Just don't tell me how real simple it is.

   Besides I like my blueberries in muffins or pancakes, not on my Easter eggshells.

   By the way if you want to find out how to make the colors yellow and orange the all-natural way check out the article on-line here.

Image via Wikipedia

Next I suppose someone will tell me these are real simple to do.

Q is for Queen...

2011-04-20T14:30:00.001-05:00

   When I hear the word Queen. I think of two things.

   Queen Latifah...

And then there were these guys...

Though you is you have ever watched sports, you would know this one better...

   Though I am sure when most of the world hears the word Queen, this is who comes to their mind....

I must say HM Queen Elizabeth II has more class and style than anyone else I have ever seen. I have a great admiration for her.

P is for Perfection and Procrastination....

2011-04-20T00:30:00.000-05:00

   If there are two words that go hand and hand in the English language they are perfection and procrastination.

   It is usually the pursuit of perfection that causes us to procrastinate. I grew up with the expression “If something is worth doing, it's worth doing well.” or as my Dad like to say...”Whole hog or stay at home.”

   So I decided to look up what other people think of these two words....

First perfection, of course, I mean you can't start with procrastination. There is a law about that somewhere I'm sure.

Image via Wikipedia

   Winston Churchill had this to say about perfection:

   “They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.”

   I knew I liked that man...

Christian arthor Edith Schaeffer said this:

   "People throw away what they could have by insisting on perfection, which they cannot have, and looking for it where they will never find it."

   Arthor Hugh Prather said this:

   “Perfectionism is slow death”

   Boy do I agree with that....

   Okay, I have put it off long enough. Now here is what was said about procrastination.

   Journalist Don Marquis had this to say:

   “Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.”

   Arthor G. B. Stern put her own spin on it:

   “One thing that's good about procrastination is that you always have something planned for tomorrow.”

   You gotta admit she is right about that one....

   And then there was this guy, who procrastinated so long he didn't get credit for the quote:

   “Procrastination avoids boredom; one never has the feeling that there is nothing important to do”

   Like maybe claiming your work....

   I will leave you with this quote that sums both words up nicely....

“Were I to await perfection, my book would never be finished”

Chinese Proverbs

Oops...

2011-04-19T15:54:00.000-05:00

Oh No... I didn't make my O post.

I was going to write it when I go back from town. But I got back too late. I even knew what I was going to write about.

N is for Nest...Eagles Nest...

2011-04-16T17:16:00.000-05:00

   There was a story in our area newspaper at the first of the month about a live cam on a Bald Eagles nest. The nest had 3 eggs that were expected to hatch any day . This is a video of the 2nd egg to hatch.

   They say the nest is 80 feet in the air. It is 6 feet wide and 4 feet deep and weights about 1000 lbs. Wow... I could fit in that nest. Though I probably weight more than the eagles do.

   If you would like to see a live shot of the nest you can go to this link and see whats happening now.
Raptor Resource Project.

  You will see the mom and dad feeding and caring for the young ones. It you squeamish I must warn you about the dead animals they bring to the nest to eat. I found it fascinating, but then I am a little weird.

Or so I have been told.

Image via Wikipedia

There are actually Bald Eagles that live around our area. We see them flying over head every once in awhile. They are huge and their shadow covers more than half of our roof. It is an amazing thing to see.

M is for Memories...

2011-04-15T00:01:00.001-05:00

Today letter is M. So I am doing one on memories, no not about what I remember happening. That would either be too long or blank depending on how much coffee I've had. No today's post is about songs that bring back memories for me.

To start with there is this one....

Yes, I will admit it I was a big fan of The Monkees. I wouldn't miss a single epesode on TV, and I had all their records...45s and LPs. Besides how could I not include them, their are 3 Ms....Monkees...Micky...Mike (sorry Davy and Peter).

Image via Wikipedia

                                       Yes, I had this one!

How about this group....

   This song by The Mommas and The Pappas just seem to fit this time of year. I know a lot of you up North are probably California Dreamin' right now.

   This last one remindes me of High School. We had a jukebox in the cafeteria and this song played at least once everyday at lunch.

   So that's what The Rolling Stones looked like...I had forgotten. How about you can you pick out Keith Richards in this video, without no fair looking to see what instrument they are playing.
   These guys have had a lot of history and made a lot of memories for all of us.

   Now I'm afraid to look in the mirror and see how much I have changed. I think I will stick with my memories of what I looked like.

L is for Lone Star...Texas that is...

2011-04-14T00:01:00.011-05:00

   In my trip around the blogging world, I have seen so many badges. Canadian bloggers, blogging Moms, Australian bloggers, over 40 bloggers, homesteaders blog, etc...etc...

   I was feeling left out. *sniff-grabs tissue* So I decided if I couldn't be invited to their party, I would have one of my own. So I grabbed a cup of coffee, locked myself into the office, pulled up my graphics program and...

The Lone Star Blogger

   The A to Z challenge just seemed like the right time to introduce this to y'all (Hey, I am Texan through and through).

   If you are a Texas blogger...(yes Lori you are one too. Once a Texan always a Texan)... grab the badge and proudly proclaim for all to see "I am a Texas Blogger".

   If you would like let me know and I will add you to the Texas Blogger page I created.

Come on Texans lets show our colors....

K is for Kindle...

2011-04-13T21:01:00.000-05:00

It seems like everywhere I go on the web people are talking about the Kindle from Amazon. Some with love and adoration. Some with suspension and loathing. So what kind of person are you.

Is this your idea library...

Or is this more to your liking...

When you travel would you rather carry this...

Or this...

Would you rather shop here for your books...

Or here....

Forget the book. Anyone know where I can order the body???

   What would I like???

   How about both.

   I love the idea of curling up in a library with a good book and fire. But the beach thing is very tempting too.

   Going on a trip, even if it is to the doctors office, I would prefer the kindle. (And so would my back!!!)

   Nothing beats a good book store. The smell, the excitement of finding a new treasure. Talking about the books and authors. But ordering it online in your pajamas when you are still awake at 3:30 in the morning sounds real good too. Of course you could order the hardcover and paperback books then as well, but you can't read them until you fell asleep. (At least not that night)

   Check out all the books you can get too...Look here..

Next week Ipad or Kindle....just kidding.

J is for JSC....

2011-04-12T16:28:00.005-05:00

I was going to dedicate today to all the Js in my family... 2 Grandfathers, an Uncle, my Father, my brother all named James, there is probably a whole lot more that I can't remember. Then there are 2 Joshuas. I have an Aunt Joyce (who by the way named ME). A cousin Jaeneen (I know I spelled it wrong, sorry my mind isn't working). And way too many to remember others.

But then I heard this...

Houston we've had a problem: 'Space City' snubbed in bid for retired space shuttle

Image via Wikipedia

...."The shuttle really is a program initiated here in Houston," said George Abbey, former director of Johnson Space Center from 1996 to 2001. "We're the ones who came up with the concept. We designed it. We tested it. We operated it. Certainly Houston ought to be number one on the list."

I am so spitting mad right now. (Sorry I have paper towels over on the table there) The entire world knows that The Kennedy Space Center and the Johnson Space Center are the home of NASA. But because Texas didn't vote the way certain people think they should, we are being punished. I have read papers from all the cities in contetion for the shuttles and the commenters in all of them say they hope to get the 4th shuttle. The other 3 should go to the Smithsonian, Kennedy Space Center and Johnson Space Center.

Image via Wikipedia

Is it just me?

I remember driving to Houston as a child, just to see the Johnson Space Center. We toured all the rockets and looked at the Gemini capsule and the lunar lander. I was amazed at all the different languages I heard and people I saw. I was hoping to meet a real live Astronaut. Just check out the website here.

Even today most of the Astronauts and their family's have homes in the Houston area. They train and work at the JSC. The honest to goodness Rocket Scientist live and work here.

Okay I am sorry I just needed to vent.

Now if you will excuse me I think I would like to go send a couple of people to Moon myself.

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”

Mark Twain 1835-1910

I is for Ice Cream....

2011-04-11T04:03:00.000-05:00

On my recipe blog Grandmom's Recipes. Today I have a Ice cream recipe. So to go along with the Ice Cream theme and the fact that the high temprature is suppose to be 88°. So did I just sleep through spring and wake up in summer???? But I digress...What I was going to say is, it seems like the perfect time to share a time line of the History of Ice Cream.

So grab an ice cream cone, sit back and enjoy...

The History of Ice Cream

1000 B.C. The Emperors of China enjoy snow ice cream.

62 A.D. Roman Emperor Nero sends slaves to get snow for his

ice cream.

1295 Marco Polo gives Italy a new snow ice cream.

1533 Catherine de Medici takes ice cream to France.

1600 Charles I takes a recipe for ice cream to England.

1700 Governor Bladen of Maryland, who was from England,

served ice cream at his home in the colonies.

1776 First ice cream palor in America opens in New York City.

1812 Dolly Madison served ice cream to White House Guests.

1843 Nancy Johnston invents the hand cranked ice cream freezer.

1903 Italo Marchinony invents the ice cream cone.

1904 Ernest Hamwi makes waffle cones at the St.Louis World Fair.

1919 Christian Kent Nelson invents the "I-Scream Bar". Mrs. Stover

wife of Russell Stover the local chocolate producer suggested

the name "Eskimo Pie"

1922 The Good Humor Bar is invented. It was the first Ice Cream Bar

on a stick. It was originally known as

"Good Humor Ice Cream Suckers"

1946 The first Baskin-Robbins ice cream store opens in California.

1983 Cookies 'N Cream is invented.

H is for Hampton...

2011-04-09T15:46:00.001-05:00

I have been told my entire life that I am a decindent of General Wade Hampton III. A General in the Civil War (can war actually be civil???). So for H, I would like to introduce you to my Great-Great-Great (I don't how many) Grandfather.

Wade Hampton III 1818-1902

Image via Wikipedia

I am also proticipating in the A to Z blog challenge on my recipe Blog.
Grandmom's Recipes, check it out.

G is for Garden....

2011-04-08T16:21:00.000-05:00

The battle lines have been drawn.

My Potatoes and Beans

The commanders take their places.

The Weed Demon and my Gardening Angel

The spies have infiltrated behind the enemy lines.

They get everywhere!!!!

The armies have arisen from their earthy graves.

Gold Potatoes

Pigweed

Let the war begin.

"The kiss of the sun for pardon,

The song of the birds for mirth,

One is nearer God's heart in a garden

Than anywhere else on earth."

~Dorothy Frances Gurney~

F is for ??? ....

2011-04-07T00:01:00.001-05:00

   Help I am frantic.

   My muses are missing in action. They are probably frolicking with friends. Leaving me to flounder in front of the computer.

   They are the ones that said we should flock together in fellowship (I sure don't talk that way) with the bloggers in the A to Z challenge... and then they were late on the letter E.

   Today for the letter F they are no where to be found. They are freaking me out. If you find them could you please forward their location to me. Better yet just Fax it. I am so furious at their flight from their function in this partnership, I just might fire them.

   Who am I fooling, we all know I will forgive them when they finally fly back. Besides the fables they will fabricate are the fiber that forms my posts.

“Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from the flukes of the universe, the kindness of the muses.”

Amy Tan

E is for.... Excitment.

2011-04-06T14:01:00.000-05:00

   I couldn't think of an E post. My muses must have been sleeping...Then my stepson called. He was talking so fast on the answering machine all I got was “Hey Pop its me....”

   So what is the post you ask.... Excitement.

   Excitement, changes a person. You can just see and hear them morphing into an other being right in front of you. They stand up taller. Their eyes light up. Their voice get stronger and higher. And the words literally explode out of them.

    If that person is a fast talker usually...go luck trying to listen to them. My ears are can not listen that fast. I just try to catch the major words as they fly by, and fill in the rest.

   An other thing about Enthusiasm is it is contagious and highly addictive. Luckily they haven't found a cure for it yet. But I am sure some evil person is out there as we speak trying to find one.

    I wish today is that everyone out there in the blog-a-spear catches it.

“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”

Gloria Steinem

D is for Dancers....

2011-04-05T01:44:00.000-05:00

Okay, how could D not be dancers. I have had a love affair with musicals all my life. Not to mention having taught ballroom (think Dancing with the Stars) and country western (Urban Cowboy). Yes, I even taught a little disco...very little, I started teaching in the final days of the disco craze.

So today is dedicated to some of my favorite dancers. How many do you know.

Gene Kelly Fred Astaire

Donald O'Connor                                              Danny Kaye

Vera Allen                                                         Cyd Charisse



And more recently...

Mikhail Baryshnikov                                        Gregory Hines

Patrick Swayze Savion Glover

If you have never seen these people dance, do yourself a favor and check them out on youtube.

C is for creative cussing...

2011-04-03T20:26:00.000-05:00

   First off I would like to give Giggle, Laugh, Cry credit for this blog. She had a B blog about ... are you ready “Butterfly butts”. Her daughter recommended it, saying its funny. She was right. Her mom said her daughter used “Butterfly Butts” like most people use “Oh, Shoot”. It got me thinking about cursing and the creative way we use it.
When I was younger, I didn't cuss... at least not the words you hear today. Today, thanks to having to fill out multiple copies of government forms...I would make a sailor proud...but not my mom. So I am trying to clean up my act....again, and it reminded me of all the ways people cuss when they don't want to get caught cussing.

Some of my favorite examples are...

Yosemite Sam's “Dag Nabit” or is that one word...

Ritchie Cunningham's “H...E...double toothpicks”...

Marty the Zebra in Madagascar “Sugar...Honey...Ice...Tea” I had to hear this twice before I caught it. (Okay, okay I like cartoons. Who doesn't? That and comedy are 2 more favorite C words.)

   So I have come to the conclusion that I agree with Mel Gibson's character in “Signs”. Curse words are not so much the word as how you use them. So why not use something that makes you smile and gets you out of the bad mood your in.

   I am sure you all have examples of creative cursing yourselves. Why not share them in the comments below.

Artwork by Pamela Jo

B is for Blue Bonnets...

2011-04-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

This time of year is a special time for Texans. It is time the bluebonnets and other wildflowers put on a spectacular show. The show is free. Everyone is invited and it can be seen on roadsides all around the state.

Image via Wikipedia

There are pictures going back generations of Texas families and children posed in the middle of a field of blue. These road trips are still made today. Drive any highway in Texas and you will find cars on the side of the road next to the bluebonnets with cameras out.

In honor of this annual event, I am posting the poem the Legend of the Bluebonnet. Enjoy...

The Legend of the Bluebonnet

The Texas fields are covered
With a blanket of deep blue.
But for a little Indian girl,
This would not be true.

Texas land was buried and dry.
Rains just would not come.
Indians danced and prayed for rain,
And beat upon their drums.

The Chief made a proclamation.
He appealed to one and all.
A prized possession must be sacrificed
Before the rains would fall.

The Indian camp was silent,
While each person searched his heart.
But when it came to sacrifice,
With possessions they would not part.

Suddenly a little girl stepped forth,
Holding her blue-clad doll.
She placed it in the roaring fire
and raindrops began to fall.

The rain brought forth the grass,
Among its blades, flowers of blue.
To be a sign for all the time
Of a love so pure and true.

Author Unknown

If you would like to see more of these beautiful flowers check out the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center here.

A is for Apple...

2011-04-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

Click here and check out everyone else...

Today is April 1st... April Fools day. But more importantly the beginning of the A to Z Challenge. One post for every letter of the alphabet, everyday except Sundays. It starts today with A and ends April 30th with Z. Check out all the other protectionists (over 800) by clicking on the picture above. I decided to start with a fridayflash fiction story ...after all it is Friday, April 1st.

A is for Apple....

“A is for apple...J is for Jacks...Cinnamon toasty, Apple Jacks.”

Ahhh, how I hate that jingle. It has been stuck in my head for weeks now. It just keeps repeating over and over and over and over.

I can't sleep. I can't think. My nerves are so on edge the Doctor had to prescribe Amitriptylin for me. Even that doesn't get rid of it. It just tones it down.

I wish I had been born into an Amish family. They have the right idea. No television, no radio, no outside influences. My life would be so much better now without them.

If I had never seen a television, I would have never seen that commercial. If I had never seen that commercial, I would never have gotten that jingle stuck in my head. If I had never got it stuck in my head, I would not be crazy now.

Most of all I wish that guy had not told me he was the one that wrote it. He seemed like a nice guy.... too bad.

And so the Madness Begins....

Wish list Wednesday...

2011-03-30T16:42:00.001-05:00

   Well, it is Wednesday again. Time to send another group of wishes out into the universe to see what happens.

A practical wish....

Weather alert radios. As we don't have Television coverage here, we don't see the weather warnings. So this would be great to have.

I would like to have 2...

One portable....

   This one has a solar cell and a hand crank for power.

One a desk model with an alarm feature...

   This one has S.A.M.E. feature that allows you to program for your local area so you don't hear those that don't concern you.

What would I like to learn.

How about how to make your own soaps. My sister does this and her soaps are wonderful. The don't dry out your skin and smell divine.

Why not learn a little at a time to be self reliant. If our great grandparent's were cut off from town for a while, it was no problem. They had all they needed at home. But now a days if you couldn't get to the store for a week or so most of us would be up the proverbial creek.

Oh I would like to add a luxury item to the wish list....

A real feather bed. I slept on one when I visited Austria and German. There is nothing as warm and comfortable as being cradled by a soft feather bed when you sleep.

Now who do I wish to have lunch with this week....


Paula Deen

She reminds me so much of my own mother, and I really miss her. Plus Paula Deen has overcome a lot of obstacles in her life. I think she would be inspiring to talk to, add fun to cook with.

A Beautiful Award...

2011-03-25T17:59:00.000-05:00

The other day I was checking my blog comments and I got one from Deidria Eden-Coppel of A Storybook World. She was letting me know she really likes my blog and that she had something for me over on her blog. So off I went to check it out.

Look what I found....

                                           Wow...Isn't it gorgeous.

   I am so thrilled not only by the award but by her blog. You really have to check this one out.

   Go now here now. I'll wait.

   Okay welcome back. Isn't she the cutest thing? I learned Deidria is a full time writer and she also does animation for ebooks. Talk about talented...and busy. She also has a website.

    So once again I would like to thank Deidria very much for the award. It is now proudly posted on my new awards page as well. As a matter of fact it is the award that got my butt in gear to make an awards page.

Elizabeth Taylor 1932 - 2011...

2011-03-24T20:34:00.000-05:00

The world lost another great actor yesterday.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor....

Image via Wikipedia

Ms. Taylor was great at her craft, with the movies. She proved that over 70 times and awards to prove it. She was a beautiful lady and made a beautiful bride. She proved that one seven times.

One of my favorite movies of hers was Cleopatra.

Image by mharrsch via Flickr

What was your favorite movie of hers?

Wish list Wednesday...

2011-03-22T22:35:00.000-05:00

Since last weeks wish list was postponed due to the electric going out and frying the modem, it got me thinking about emergencies, power falures and *SHUDDER* hurricanes.

   So my practical wish this week is....

   Aladdin Mantle lamps... they put off a lot more light than candles and other wick type lamps... or so a lot of bloggers out there have told me. With the lights going off during storms.... or when the power company trims the trees and knocks it out by accident....these would we great to have around.

   You should see the collection they have. If you think they are too expensive for emergencies only, plan a lights out family night. Light the lamps, pull out the boardgames, and reconnect with those strangers who live under your roof.

Of course I already have candles, flashlights and wick lanterns...but would you just look how these look. Who wouldn't want one.

    Of course my all time wish for this situation would be....

   Lights go out a minute later... let there be light. It should even keep the modem up. Oh and the freezer going, that is always a good thing.

And lets not forget the coffee maker...

I guess I need one of these until then.

    What would I wish to learn....

    How to knit. My Aunt Darla taught me when I was little but I forgot. I really would like to learn again and get good at it.

The types of yarn out there are so great. The colors are pretty and the varieties. Wool...what kind? Alpaca, cashmere, merino, washable wool, blended.

   Of course, I can crochet and I love it. But the patterns you can create with knitted stitches are so great. I would love to be able to make my own funky socks and sweaters.

   Who do I wish I could have lunch with this week, hmmm....

How about Ron Howard... yep, Opie, Richie Cunningham...him.

Image by New England Secession via Flickr

And of course, my last wish is that the DSL is never down and my muses are always up.

Signs of Spring...

2011-03-21T00:29:00.000-05:00

I went out walking the other day with my camera. I was looking for signs that the weather was making a turn to the warmer to stay. Not just tease us then freeze again.

Okay the weeds are starting to green up but there is still a lot of dead looking stuff. I guess I need a closer look....

Wait that looks purple. Maybe...

Yes, the red bud tree is in bloom.

And look what else I found...

Carolina Jasmine...I thought I caught its light fragrance on the wind.

The trees are just starting to bud out.

The wild dewberry vines are blooming. I've got to remember were these are, so I pick the berries later.

I'm not sure what this bush is, but the bees sure like it.

I think Spring is getting dressed and about to make her royal appearance.

Soon it will be time to take a ride to see the Bluebonnets and other wildflowers in bloom along the roadways.

AHHHH! Spring and right on time...

Happy St Patrick's Day...

2011-03-17T21:04:00.000-05:00

Okay I just made it. The power went off yesterday and the surge blew out the DSL modem. So my wish list yesterday didn't happen. But I made St. Patrick's Day... barely.

So here goes....

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone


drawing by Pamela Jo

In honor of the day here are a few things Irish for your reading pleasure.

Just about everyone has heard of Irish Coffee, but do you know it origins...

Irish Coffee was born on a miserable winter in the 1940's.

A group of American passengers on a PAN AM flying boat landed in Foynes port, County Limerick*. The chef at the restaurant and coffee shop was Joseph Sheridan. Seeking a way to warm the freezing passengers, he added a measure of Irish Whiskey to their coffee. The grateful passengers enjoyed their drinks and ask if it was Brazilian coffee. Joe quickly informed them no it was IRISH coffee, and the legendary drink was born.

Pam AM Boeing 314 Clipper

I have found 14 different recipes for Irish Coffee on line, but this one is the original ....

The Original Irish Coffee Recipe

1) Preheat a stemmed 6 oz. whiskey goblet or Irish coffee glass with boiling water. Pour out the boiling water.

2) Add one jigger of good Irish whiskey.

3) Add three sugar cubes.

4) Pour in strong black coffee. Leave an inch below the top. Stir to dissolve the sugar.

5) Gently pour in some very lightly whipped heavy cream to the brim. You can pour it over a spoon so it won't mix in with the coffee.

Image via Wikipedia

Here are just a few Irish blessings to brighten your day...

May the roof above us never fall in, and may the friends gathered below it never fall out.

May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.

May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.

May your neighbors respect you,

Trouble neglect you,

The angels protect you,

And heaven accept you.

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door.

Image via Wikipedia

And I will end with an Irish Ghost ....

Ballygally Castle in County Antrim, currently a hotel owned by a major chain, is allegedly one of the most haunted places in the country. Lady Isobel Shaw, whose husband built the castle in 1625, is said to knock on doors at night and then disappear. While alive, Ms. Shaw was locked in her room by her husband and starved, until she leapt to her death from a window.

Check out this fun site here for recipes, games, and many things Irish.

THE DELUSIONAL DOOM BLOGFEST...

2011-03-14T23:09:00.000-05:00

   Today is the 15th of March. Also known as the ides of March. If you know your history this is the day Julius Ceasar was killed in the year 44 BC while attending the Roman senate. In honor of this day Hart at Confessions of a Watery Tart is holding THE DELUSIONAL DOOM BLOGFEST.
   Here is my humble offering. Don't forget to check out the other stories. There are sure to be a lot of great ones.

   Hey, put down that knife right now. The death is suppose to be fictional. Jeez, you take everything so literal don't you.

   Voice over radio anounces:

    The evening news is being brought to you tonight by Wee, Barrie, Um and How. The place to call for all your underground needs.

The top story today is the death of Ambiguous They, his wife Them and son Theirs. The family's bodies were discovered when firefighters extinguished a blaze at the family's home.
   The cause is still under investigation. An unnamed source with the medical examiners office said it appears the family spontaneously combusted while eating dinner.
   Arson investigators found the remains of voodoo dolls in a bonfire in the back of the property, but said this couldn't have caused the house fire.
   Police detectives have confirmed that there has been thousands of threats on the family's life, and that if the deaths were found to be a homicide it would take sometime to narrow down the list of suspects.
   Our reporter contacted Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau to find out is the presents of voodoo dolls on the property could have a standing on the deaths. Ms. Laveau giggled and stated that those dolls are her best sellers, but refused to answer any other questions.
   Neighbors of the family have said they didn't see anything suspicious last night, but stated it was just a matter of time before something happened.
   Ambiguous They runs the company “Their Fault” that set up all the protocols, laws and rules for the world. He also is in charge of whether or not those rules can be bent or broken. He has been grooming his son Theirs to take over the family business when he retires. The new banking and tax laws were Theirs. Them is the treasurer for the business. All monies collected goes to Them.

   In other news today...

Daylight savings time...

2011-03-14T00:31:00.000-05:00

I want to move to Arizona. Not only do they have great scenery like this...

And this...

They don't have this...

   I really hate Daylight savings time. It is the only thing I have against Ben Franklin. But at least our founding fathers back then didn't like the idea of daylight savings time either.

   Personally I think the coffee lobbyist paid off congress to get it passed.

   Now if you will excuse me, I am going back to bed. (Yawning loudly) Maybe when I wake up I will find out it has all been a bad dream...

My Favorite Picture Book Blogfest

2011-03-10T00:01:00.002-06:00

   Today I am protecipating in Megan of The Write at Home Mom's blogfeat. She has asked everyone to tell what their favorite picture book is. This is to honor all those authors who go us all started reading and enjoying stories.

   Today I would like to introduce my favorite picture book or rather books.
I just can't decide on just one of the series.

   Alexandra Day's Carl the Rottweiler books. I have been hooked since I saw the first Carl and baby book. "Good Dog, Carl"

   These books are great because the artwork is extrodinary. Children of all ages will enjoy these books. There are very few words. The stories are all told by pictures. This allows your to make up your own stories, so they are constantly changing.

   I use to have all the Carl books at my house for any children that came over. I also bought my sister a set for her daughters and son. They enjoyed them tremendously, and you should have heard their stories of Carl.

   There are quite a few Carl book out now. Do yourself and every child you know a favor and check them out.

Oh and check out Carl's website as well you will find it at www.gooddogcarl.com