I know. I am behind the times...

   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...

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...

   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....

   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....

   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....