~ Mary ~

What is without periods of rest will not endure ~~ Ovid

2012-01-12T22:05:00.001-06:00

What is without periods of rest will not endure ~~ Ovid
Originally uploaded by ~Mary~~

2012-01-09T09:24:00.001-06:00

New years feel clean. I like that.
That's all I've got to say about that right now

2012-01-01T13:07:00.008-06:00

2011 Book List

Martin and Osa ~ Kelly Enright

Opportunities: Jamie Leith in Dairien ~ Ian Hall
The Bean Trees ~ Barbara Kingsolver
Shanghai Girls ~ Lisa See
The Poisonwood Bible ~ Barbara Kingsolver
Water For Elephants ~ Sara Gruen
Shoot the Moon ~ Billie Letts
Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man ~ Fannie Flagg
The 8th Confession ~ James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
The Kitchen God's Wife ~ Amy Tan
The World Below ~ Sue Miller
10th Anniversary ~ James Patterson w/ Maxine Paetro
The Miracle of Mercy Land ~ River Jordan
Intrepreter of Maladies ~ Jhumpa Lahiri
Shepherd's Abiding ~ Jan Karon
Vampire Academy ~ Richelle Mead
The Christmas Cookie Club ~ Ann Pearlman
Private ~ James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
When You Are Engulfed in Flames ~ David Sedaris
Black & White ~ Dani Shapiro
Pawley's Island ~ Dorthea Benton Frank
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe ~ Fannie Flagg
The Book of Lost Things ~ John Connolly
Don't Blink ~ James Patterson & Howard Roughan
Light From Heaven ~ Jan Karon
Consider the Lobster (and other essays) ~ David Foster Wallace
Once in a Promised Land ~ Laila Halaby (book club)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan ~ Lisa See
Stuart a life backwards ~ Alexander Masters
In This Mountain ~ Jan Karon
Worst Case ~ James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
The Art of Racing in the Rain ~ Garth Stein
Unaccustomed Earth ~ Jhumpa Lahiri
Lost and Found ~ Carolyn Parkhurst
A Common Life ~ Jan Karon
The Reader ~ Bernhard Schlink
Blindness ~ José Saramago
A New Song ~ Jan Karon
We Need to Talk About Kevin~ Lionel Shriver (book club)
Out to Canaan ~ Jan Karon
The Girl Who Played With Fire ~ Stieg Larsson
A Thousand Splendid Suns ~~ Khaled Hosseini (read it again for book club)
These High Green Hills ~~ Jan Karon
Life if Pi ~~ Yann Martel
Moloka'i ~~ Alan Brennert
The Story of My Life An Afghan girl on the other side of the sky ~~ Farah Ahmedi w/ Tamim Ansary
A Light in the Window ~~ Jan Karon
I Alex Cross ~~James Patterson
Alex Cross's Trial ~~ James Patterson & Richard Dilallo
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ~~Douglas Adams
The Four Agreements ~ Don Miguel ( sadly I did not finish this book. It was too weird for my taste)
Chocolat ~ Joanne Harris
At Home in Mitford ~~ Jan Karon
A Wrinkle in Time ~~ Madeleine L'Engle

cat's got my tongue

2011-08-17T19:50:00.001-05:00

One would think that a woman of a "certain age" ( or more ) such as myself, would have one thing or another to write about here.
Not the case.

I guess I'm speechless

ch-ch-ch changes

2011-07-03T09:05:00.009-05:00

I need to make more changes.
Seems as though I have done more modifying of self in my middle years than at any other time in my life.

I am so not into feeling betrayed by those I am attempting to help any longer.
My union steward days are numbered. I was such a damn Polly Anna. It's nuts.
Why on earth I thought I could make a difference in a segment of the world that is over-run with political maneuvering and back-stabbing, is beyond me.
What the hell was I thinking?

So now, I begin to move on. I probably will lose some "friend ships", which makes me feel sad. But I will probably gain peacefulness and lose a major batch of life wrecking anxiety.

Like I've said for many moons, " I am a great supporter. I am not a great leader"
nor do I want to be.

"I yam what I yam" as the great philosopher Popeye once said.

it's puzzling

2011-06-04T18:42:00.000-05:00

I read a lot. Books, magazines, Internet ....
and I believe that I see a disturbing trend.
People are becoming more and more judgmental.

In this enlightened / post hippy / everybody thinks they're so damn intellectual age -people are becoming more judgmental.
of other people not less.
I find this disconcerting to say the least.

And some of these people , if you accused them of being judgmental , they would
vehemently deny it. but they are.

The hottest topics that I see this activity in are :

Religion

Politics

The trend is that if, say, I don't agree with your pursuit of spirituality or your
political ideology, it isn't just a matter of " hey Dude, we really have different approaches here " ( smiley face , warm fuzzy feeling still intact )

Nope Daddy-o it becomes an "I'm right and you're wrong" match that occasionally will include name calling and almost always includes escalated voices.

I've seen some pretty sad results of said matches too.

This would be the place where I would normally interject that this is all part of the plan. The dream or the matrix if you will, that our friends in control and their henchmen (read folks at CNN and Fox News etc.) are attempting to weave to distract us from what may truly be important and what we truly may have control over.

But I'm not going to. Even though I think it's true.

Part of the reason I think this is such odd behavior is because I would think that any of these people would get the concept that you catch more flys with honey than vinegar. You know? It doesn't make sense to alienate someone whom you are supposedly wanting to move to your side. Do they think they're going to just "hate" the other guy into agreeing?

Or, even more annoying, this full of themselves 'I'm so intellectual ' types that adopt the patronizing attitude of , like , well what do you expect, he/she really isn't all that bright.
Peee- yuke!

BUT

If I say anything about this stuff in real life, then I become the object of all the nauseating attitudes out there. Swish, all eyes turn towards me along with all the associated poison and ridicule.
*sigh*

so I mostly don't say anything.
I decided to tap this out here because I feel safe and hardly anyone besides me reads it anyway!

There, I feel better now.

The Custom House ~~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

2011-05-26T00:05:00.002-05:00

Human nature will not flourish, any more than a potato, if it be planted

and replanted , for too long a series of generations, in the same worn out

soil. My children have had other birthplaces, and, so far as their

fortunes may be within my control, shall strike their roots into

unaccustomed earth.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

I needed to write this down, that I never forget it

Osama bin Laden is Dead

2011-05-06T21:33:00.004-05:00

so he's gone. Will much change? I doubt it.
My constitution is still dead too. That's what bin Laden stole from me. Well, that and a Jimmy Buffett concert. I miss the constitution most.
(the Buffett concert is my personal loss from 9/11. Fairly minor it turns out, in the grand scheme of things. At the time I was pizzzzzzed!)
And truthfully, if we'd had a real president during the attacks of 9/11, my Constitution might still be in better shape. So really, Bush is as much to blame as bin Laden, if not more.
Still... I am glad he's gone. I hope it helps to bring closure to the many , many people the world over that have suffered so much loss because of his actions. It won't bring their people back, but perhaps they will feel a sense that justice has been served in some way.
So now, can we please bring our troops home. Can we please just cut Israel a giant check and tell them to budget it well. That this is the last one? I'm tired of my country sticking it's nose in places it not only doesn't belong, but is decidedly not wanted.
Fracken oil. That's has to be the real issue. Money changes everything as Cyndi Lauper once sang.
Well ... I hope something else will be on the news soon.
Obama will probably lose the election because he won't release the photos. I saw somewhere that Palin was criticizing Obama for the way things were done to take OBL down. She probably wanted to take her moose gun, or what ever it is, over there and fill him full of holes herself. I'm so sick of that brainless wench.
Well, so it seems that really I'm just purging my personal irritations here. I try to not discuss this kind of thing with hardly anyone except Richard. Too inflammatory, and I can't take it when people get all wound up over crap they have no control over.
so...if somehow someone ends up reading this, consider it my place to dump my personal feelings.
Let's start trying to make this country a place that's fun to live in again. Like when Ford invented the Mustang. And Leave it to Beaver was our reality TV.

I'm really tired ...

more blogging for the insanely lazy

2011-04-02T09:24:00.001-05:00

Recommendation :: employment

Toilet paper :: soft

Scissors :: rock/paper

Blaze :: chimnea

Frame :: photography

Process :: slow

Flight :: arrival

Irish :: whiskey

Glasses ::I got some new ones!

Campaign :: smear

2011-03-18T21:10:00.003-05:00

Oh what a Grand Tale!
and Grand Tale must be capitalized.
This book has been likened to stories such as "The Old Man and the Sea"
"Robinson Crusoe" and others, but for me it was much like reading Grimms Fairy Tales.
It was a wonderful, captivating, awful, sad, delightful, compelling, horrific ..story.
I was like a fish on a hook. I thought I could try just a taste, but nibble after nibble and then suddenly SLAM! the hook was set, I was caught unawares and I couldn't stop. Oh and I did want to more than once. Stop that is. Sometimes it became just too much, but those non-stopping times were the times I put away more pages than ever.
I won't bore myself and anyone that may read this with a "book report", but I will say that although one reviewer said that this book would make you find God. I do not agree with that assessment. What it will do is restore your belief in the power of story telling. Because that's exactly what it is. Powerful , awesome story telling.
I loved this book!

2011-03-10T10:20:00.002-06:00

You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus~~~~Mark Twain
Originally uploaded by ~Mary~~

old photo, but the quote feels timely to me ..

Best Book of the Year so far

2011-03-10T10:01:00.001-06:00

Moloka'i
by Alan Brennert

My favorite book of 2011 so far.

recluse II

2011-03-05T12:53:00.002-06:00

and now I am a recluse on Facebook too

recluse

2011-02-23T12:38:00.003-06:00

I am reclusive.
I have figured this out, although everyone else probably already knew it, over the past eight weeks that I have been almost exclusively in my house.
I don't usually seek out human company. I don't like to be in large groups.
The whole deal makes me feel odd. I wonder, if left entirely to my own devices what on earth I would turn out to be? A hermit?
I don't like bars particularly, weddings, bar mitzvahs, funerals, Wal Mart, amusement parks. I do OK in a concert environment I think, because you're actually only required to interact with the music. Everything else is optional.
I do OK at work because I have always kind of thought of my work persona as a role of sorts. Like I'm on stage. I think that's why I never called Suzanne , a customer at work. I'm not sure if I'd be able to take on a different role with her. It feels so intense. And I'm chicken.
I do like to garden. Read. Take photographs. Edit photographs. Do crossword puzzles.Take walks. Play with my dogs. All things that are primarily done on one's own.
Wonder what I'll be like when I'm old?

more blogging for the insanely lazy

2011-02-23T11:32:00.004-06:00

Maroon :: balloon

Save ::a tree

Smithereens :: smashed to

Conversation ::with a dog

Visual ::experience

Experience ::over rated

Steady ::moderate

Wives ::Stepford

Glass ::Ira

String ::section

unconscious mutterings

hmmmm

2011-02-20T10:34:00.002-06:00

Losing my blogging mojo.
I recently read that phrase on another blog and I totally get it. I feel as though I have nothing to say. Never-the-less I am going to say a few things because I'm here.
I stopped in to update my book list. That seems to be the only purpose of this space. I keep track of the books I've read. Not a total loss actually because I do tend to lose track and pick up books to read that I've already read. Bad memory I guess.
I have been stuck in this house since Dec. 27th.
Phooey. When I set out to schedule this surgery, Deb (Helus, my co-worker) asked if I was sure that I wanted to do it in the winter time. If I wouldn't prefer the warmer seasons so I could get out and about. In retrospect I see the wisdom in that. I have been stuck inside a very great deal due to the crummy winter weather we've had. I don't know what the snow fall totals are so far, but it's a BUNCH. However, that being said, I was missing a ton of work because of shoulder pain (primarily because it would keep me awake all night and I wasn't fit for working the next day. Even with my new later hours). and I was running seriously low on leave time, which I would need if I hoped to get a paycheck during my recovery period. I will be going back to work ( hopefully successfully) on March 1st. If it doesn't work out I will have to resubmit paperwork and see what happens. I am completely out of leave. This next week is on me. It's so odd to have Richard and I both off work with no money coming in. We have a bit of savings and the hope of his lawyer pulling in some kind of settlement for him soon. The settlement will be used to pay off the credit card debt we've incurred over the last months.
SO, in a perfect world I would have had shoulder surgery during the summer or fall months to allow me a little more entertainment. Even just going for a drive or sitting outside would have been nice. Still, I'm glad to have it over with and happy to be heading out of the whole ordeal.
So, I did have a couple things to say. Not terribly interesting, but there it is!

Unconscious Mutterings

2010-12-21T09:31:00.004-06:00

Charts :: maps

Best moment of 2010? :: there are five and I shall list them chronologically ~~ * Julie Strahan coming to visit. * reconnecting with my brother. * adopting Cristie and Rachael. * Sofia's birth. * my husband NOT having cancer

Checkered :: groovy diner tablecloth, vinyl naturally.

Glass :: fragile

Resolve? ::closely monitored thoughts

Expensive :: EVERYTHING

Humongous :: world

Scent :: freshly cut grass

Trashy :: romance novels

Candles :: necessary for my contentment

Yovillian

2010-11-27T08:19:00.013-06:00

Almost two years ago, winter of 2009 I believe, my friend Brett invited me to play Scrabble with him on Facebook.
Actually he was able to do this because I had already secretly made an account in an effort to understand the world my then 16 year old son was living in. Monosyllable answers thrown over his shoulder as he trotted upstairs left me feeling completely in the dark as to what sixteen year old boys did in their spare time in the 21st century.
My effort to stalk him on Facebook was useless. I never did find his page even and had pretty much given up the whole idea when I received an email saying that Brett , a Flickr buddy, had a 'friend' request for me on Facebook.

I actually couldn't even remember how to log on. Fortunately, in his infinite wisdom and foresight , Mark Zuckerberg,
made it possible for a not so savvy middle aged gal to hack into her own account.
and voila! I was able to be updated regularly on Brett's 'status' (important Facebook term)
AND play an eight day Scrabble game with him. and HE lives in Canada! How cool was THAT?!
Turns out that I bored quickly and divorced Facebook pretty early on. More about that
here.
Then, for reason's I don't even recall now, I logged back on to Facebook and again Voila! my account had been saved for me with all the posts and comments still intact.
Whew!
(sarcasm intended)

So there I was, browsing my family's status' and cringing at all the 'f' bombs my son was dropping.(Facebook etiquette indicates that unless your teenager is about to rob a gas station or do physical harm to him or herself, parents are NOT to interfere. And actually I dropped a fair amount of 'f' bombs myself at his age, just no Facebook for my parents to stalk me on. Which is a good thing, because I would probably just now be getting off restriction. but I 'm rambling here)
What the heck was I saying?...
Oh yes, I was enjoying Facebook in the normal facebooky way when I became aware of the advertisements than run down the right side of the FB page. Most of them having to do with things like lipo suction and magical diets (how the hell did Mark Zuckerberg know I was over weight? un-nerving to say the least)
A few regarding class reunions (bah) but one in particular that got my attention.
Yoville.
Hell, it even sounded cool.
Now I should note here that by this time my friend Jami already had me 'virtual' farming everyday in Farm Town. And really, I did enjoy that. Not as much as Jami who ultimately made a FarmTown farm for each of her three dogs in addition to herself, but I liked it. A mindless way to pass some time that I actually did find relaxing.
But Yoville damn..
so I logged on , made myself a character, moved into my virtual apartment and...
the rest is history.
History in the making I should say.
Now, as a seasoned Yovillian, in addition to my original apartment (they give you that one. No homeless people in Yoville), I own three houses and one dog. No cars or horses because they cost real $ and that seems over the top even for me.
My name is Mary Flynn and I'm a Yoville addict.
Oh good lord.
Most of my contacts that had started playing at one time or another, have since stopped. I'm still in there, visiting their apartment or house and gathering some coins. So I can buy more cool Yoville stuff of course.
w e l l .... it actually did start to get a bit dull for me. All the super cool houses cost real $, I had all the clothes that I liked. Now I was playing mostly from habit. Before and after work usually. And sometimes I even skipped my after work sessions.
But then Voila! again!
The Yoville moguls added more levels (I maxed out months ago) AND a contest! to win an Ipad. I want that!
SO here I am again, ardently playing Yoville every time my 'energy' refills. All I have to do is gain 20 levels before Jan. I can do this! I've gained 2 levels just since Thursday.(two days) Of course I'm competing with IBM executives that are playing at work to allow their minds to idle for a few minutes cuz everyone knows that's when the really great ideas drop themselves into your brain. Unfortunately , at the PO if you try to log on to Yoville it pops up with a "you've been blocked because this has no 'business' application"
That's why I need the Ipad! Then I can play Yoville at work too and truly be able to compete with the IBM execs.
It's good to have goals, don't you think?

Rhapsody in Blue as played by THS under the conduction of Steve Holloman 1997

2010-10-24T16:54:00.005-05:00

Untitled from Scha on Vimeo.

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." ~Dr. Seuss

2010-10-18T09:00:00.005-05:00

Dang...

I was glancing through some of this blog earlier today and discovered that I'm kind of a whiner.
Bunch of posts about not feeling well ; about being irritated . Generally negative stuff.

I don't actually think of myself as a negative person, but reading this drivel certainly makes me appear so. Maybe I should delete it and start over?
maybe I should vow not come here when I'm gloomy or sick?
sigh

I'm embarrassed.

well hell ... guess I can make a change.
Everyone's life is tough to one degree or another.
some folks just don't dwell on it.
You know, those people with no arms or legs that swim the English Channel and raise a family of four children while giving inspirational talks in their spare time.
They don't dwell on the negatives. Not exactly your downer type folks.

I have two arms and two legs. Never swam the English Channel, but I did spend a lot of my youth at Lake Shawnee. (yawn, I know .. it's the best I've got)
Have raised a family (am still raising) of four children.... no inspirational talks ..
yet.

Guess I'll just try to be a little more like that little old ant and do some rubber tree plant moving.
And for God's sake, I'll quit recording every gloomy depressing or pissed off thought I have.

Really, it's always about the focus ..
it's do-able.
:O)

A reminder to self to enjoy the life I live. It's the only one I'm getting!

2010-10-14T09:00:00.003-05:00

Today I re-post this as a reminder to myself to enjoy the life that I live.

May others find a little something to take with them also.

1. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. Sleep for 7 hours.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5. Play more games.

6. Read more books than you did in 2009.

7. Make time to pray. Prayer provides us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink plenty of water.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

14. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

15. Don't have negative thoughts about things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime..

17. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

18. Smile and laugh more.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with others.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Forgive everyone for everything.

26.. What other people think of you is none of your business.

27. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

28. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

29. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

30. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

31. The best is yet to come.

32. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

33. Do the right thing!

34. Call your family often.

35. Your inner most being is always happy. So be happy.

36. Each day give something good to others.

37. Don't over do. Keep your limits.

Right Now!

2010-10-10T06:21:00.005-05:00

1. I am thinking… How fortunate I am to have people in my life that are so supportive

2. I am thankful for… my family ... my friends ... my life

3. From the kitchen… comes a rich coffee aroma ... Sundays *sigh* are the best!

4. I am wearing… threadbare, comfy jammies with butterflies on them

5. I am creating…nothing ... I AM writing on my blog though!

6. I am going… to the renaissance festival today!

7. I am reading… Making Money by Terry Pratchett

8. I am hoping… to find the perfect outfit for Rachael's wedding

9. I am hearing… one of my dog's snoring

10. Around the house… we must plant some trees yet this fall ! A Redbud and maybe a shade tree in the back

11. One of my favorite things… Muppets!

12. A few plans for the rest of the week… keeping things low key , writing to Julie , enjoying life!

13. A picture to share…

2010-10-10T06:13:00.002-05:00

Helloooo it's me.

Stopped in to add a book to my list and thought I would tell myself hello

:O)

I find it easier to keep my book list here so that I don't lose it. I suspect I have missed adding one or two.

Been a busy summer. I'm thankful that it's over. I have made some changes in my life that I feel very peaceful with.

Things are looking up!

at last

2010-09-11T00:51:00.002-05:00

Tonight , at 8: 00 PM began my vacation.

At last. ...

I am tired clear through to my bone marrow.

too much work , too much travel , too much drama ..

I never expected my position with the Local (union) to include so much drama.

politics, yes. but not drama.

I'm so tired of being lied to. Do these people not realize that my respect for them is

dwindling away. No integrity from you . no respect from me.

*sigh*
enough with the self pity.

On the bright side here, no work until Sept. 27. It will be a lovely breather!

Bad Blogger

2010-07-25T12:11:00.001-05:00

i am a bad blogger.

i am exhausted

i need a change

something has got to give ..

2010~~ first quarter

2010-04-14T09:20:00.002-05:00

OK, here's the dang truth.
This has been a tough three months.

Here's another truth ~
I'm not as young as I used to be.

What a revelation, huh?

I started my new 'job' in January.
I took over the office of Clerk Craft Director in January.

That's a lot of change for an old girl like me.

My new 'job' actually entails two new jobs, one of which has been a struggle from the word go.
Which trickles down to making job # 2 a struggle.
Which further trickles down to making my position in our Local a struggle.

*sigh*

which seemed to further trickle down to some physical ailments.
I've been so sick!
Bah!
It really pisses me off . I hate being sick.

~The upside~

I'm feeling better these past two days than I have since December.
I see light at the end of the tunnel!
Yay!
My plans are.

Pick one thing I can do at a time and do that.
ie. get more rest
go back to the gym
leave work at work
do a little bit everyday to accomplish my goals
get my camera out!!

I think if I keep taking small bites, I'll get there.
Someday, these three new jobs will feel like an old friend, just as my last job ultimately did.

sick..sick..sick

2010-01-31T02:59:00.002-06:00

I'm sick.
and I don't remember ever feeling as crummy as this.
I've been to the doc, got some meds, and been sleeping for hours since.
Bah!
Wiping everything down with bleach in an effort to keep the guys from catching whatever it is.

Dr. Austria said that I have bronchitis and a sinus infection.
That's what he always says.
To find out anything specific, he would have to do cultures etc.
and like he pointed out once, the treatment would likely be the same.
So... what ever it is. I'll be so happy when it's gone!

workworkwork

2010-01-27T09:31:00.003-06:00

OK then...

I have a new 'job'.
Actually it's a new 'position', but at the Post Office we say we've gotten a new 'job'
This one is a little bit new. Different responsibilities ; a little more money. and of course, completely new hours and days off.

I'm adjusting.
Currently I am terribly homesick for my old 'job' and mostly my old co-workers.
Yet, I remind myself that when a prisoner is released from a long prison sentence , they miss the security of what they know so well.
In other words, this may still be the best move for me right now. I just need more time to adjust.

There are some positives manifesting already however.
ie the shoulder pain I've been dealing with for so many months ( the one that wakes me up in the night? that one.) is already easing considerably.
Saturdays off? I've got em.
Along with a promise from my supervisor that he won't ever have to 'mandatory' (postal grammar) me to work on Saturday, ever.
Speaking of supervisors.
I have a good one.
He's normal, he's human and he has compassion for people.
Huh... how did that happen in the Postal Service?
Anyway, I remember when he first hired on as a Letter Carrier. He's always been this way.
so..
I just need to give it some time. I will hopefully find my niche at the new position and make myself a little home here.
We'll see i guess!

Matthew Polly

2010-01-03T14:01:00.002-06:00

I ran into Matthew Polly's Mom at the grocery store the other day.

Seems his book is being looked at for a movie.

Now that is coolness.

Welcome back me!

2009-09-20T23:38:00.003-05:00

Hey!

I miss this place!

Finally, after many months, I feel as though I'm getting my sea legs.

(Yesterday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day after all!)

Last week I went driving in the Flint Hills and took some pics.

Finally, after so long.

And today, well here I am.

I'm beginning to feel like me!

I need a breather

2009-07-21T23:39:00.006-05:00

Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.

winnie the pooh

2009-07-11T21:49:00.002-05:00

I like beer.
There. I've said it. I'm outing myself !
and what image does that conjure up?
a bleached blonde in Daisy Duke cutoffs and a halter top, hanging out at the races with guys names Snake and Buck?

an old lady in a ball cap sitting on her front porch with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth growling at the neighbor kids?

how about a middle aged , slightly graying mother of four with a fat Chihuahua and a gimpy Lab mix sitting on her patio watching the sunset.

yeh, that one would be it.

I have decided to attribute my beer love to my Father who was
A. of German descent ( I hope that's not racial profiling..)
and
B. made home brew with my uncle when we were growing up.
I still have the crock actually.
and truth be told, I never drink much at a time.
One or two tops.
I just really love the taste. And the frosty coldness of the chilled mug.
mmmmm...... better than a milkshake!

( I don't even own a halter top!)

Smells

2009-07-09T08:05:00.005-05:00

I haven't written for so very long. I believe I'm beginning to catch up with my life now

I wanted to write this down so that I don't forget.
I love the smell of the Post Office in the evening when I'm the only one there.
It brings back so many memories.
Especially when I lock up the outer lobby.
The faint scent of paper and ink. A stamp-y smell too.
( you may need to be around a lot of stamps to recognize that odor!)
It reminds me of my Dad. When I was a child my father sold paper products.
Letterhead, envelopes and the like.
We had stacks of cartons filled with paper and envelopes and business cards
with Curtis 1000 Inc. stamped in the logo.
There is a distinct aroma to them.
I remember the first time I was on the workroom floor at the GMF for my tour of the plant on the day I interviewed. That was what struck me first. The smell.
I love it.
I also made many trips to the Post Office with my Father. I remember how cavernous the building seemed. Marble floors. Wooden tables with those ucky sponges floating in a bowl of water to wet the stamps with. Tomorrow I will be going to that same office in the morning for a retirement party for my friend.
It will still seem cavernous. The floors are still marble.
It's amazing.
Once in awhile I would go with my Dad to the old processing facility at night because he needed to get some mail out right away . We would drive to the dock and he would give the letters to a clerk. It was always so dark.
Anyway, maybe, if I believed in fate, I would say that I was meant to work at the Post Office.
and for sure , when those smells start drifting around in the evening...
well, I like it.

2009-06-07T10:20:00.002-05:00

Some days, the best thing to do is find a friend and play some Pooh Sticks.

I think today is one of those..

The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion

2009-05-31T08:36:00.002-05:00

The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion
Originally uploaded by ~Mary~~

Looking on the brighter side...
Sorry for the excursion into self pity land!

My Tripod is Dusty

2009-05-24T11:11:00.010-05:00

My tripod leans in exactly the same spot that I set it in February. My camera hangs in my closet.
So lately I've been taking my camera out and looking for at least something beautiful to see.
Sometimes things look even better through a viewfinder.
I don't post much to Flickr right now (publicly), because I don't have the time to visit a lot of contacts and that makes me feel like a heel.

Anyway, it made me happy to take these two shots, so I thought I'd post them here.
The Spiderwort is in my flower bed. It looked so pretty this morning with the sun shining so brightly on it.

The Puff Ball is in a weed patch at work. I really like these weeds, but I suppose that sooner or later someone with some 2-4-D will come along and spray them out. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy !

Weird Americans that piss me off...

2009-05-22T20:02:00.004-05:00

So I work with Jin. I have off and on for the last 16 years. We started at the Post Office on the same day in 1993.
She's in my top 10 favorite people in my world. She's funny, smart and works her tiny little butt off.
Did I mention that she has a degree in Chinese literature? Yeah, she's really smart. She was a teacher in Taiwan before she emigrated to the US. Here she works at the Post Office.
Such is life.
Anyway, she speaks really fine English. I have worked with a number of people of various ethnic backgrounds, and in my experience, Asian people struggle a little more with our language. They completely know what they want to say, but at times you can see them reaching for the exact translation that they want. Even after many, many years. This is absolutely no reflection on their intelligence. Our languages are simply just so very different.
Anyway, I have noticed that at times some Americans will either
a) assume that the Asian person they are speaking with is not very intelligent
or
b) assume that the person has very little command of the English language.

Big mistake .. on both parts.

Oh yeah Mr. Redneck, she understands every word you're saying
and don't forget that Chinese Literature degree...
just saying.

Anyway, the other day a fellow came to Jin's window at the P.O. to do some business.
(I actually wasn't there that day, but the story has been repeated to me on numerous occasions)
Apparently, he wasn't happy with the service he received(or else he was just just a tired, grouchy bastard), but instead of dealing with that issue, he stalked off and threw over his shoulder the comment "I need someone who speaks English"
I guess this guy had held up the line for quite some time and was loud enough that he had the attention of everyone in the room. Including the Asian guy right behind him in line.
As Mr. Annoyed walked away, Greg, one of our co-workers, said, "She DOES speak English"
and life at the P.O. continued on. Greg waited on the young Asian man who had been behind Mr. Annoyed and they discussed the situation a bit during the transaction.

ANYWAY, the point of this whole story is that the young Asian man from the other day was in our midst again today..
and today he taught us how to say "that guy is stupid" in Chinese. (with some extra coaching from Jin. :o) so.....the next time Mr. Annoyed shows up, we've all agreed to greet him with the only phrase we all know in Chinese. It maybe won't make much sense, but we'll all feel better. And our friend Jin will know we love her.
Revenge is sweet!

2009-05-18T08:45:00.003-05:00

I love shiny dangly things. I have shiny things hanging from tree branches , from curtain rods , lamps... It's just a thing I have. Perhaps I have a crow gene or something.
anyway, I saw this one at Pier One Imports the other day, and denied myself the pleasure. so yesterday... I went back and bought it. it's hanging in an east window. it's a happy thing this morning with the sun shining through it!

Where I sometimes go for advice

2009-05-17T01:31:00.002-05:00

“Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all
the things you can't hear, and not bothering.”

Winnie the Pooh

2009-04-30T07:07:00.003-05:00

Maybe that last post didn't make much sense ...
the hot dog thing.
It's just that I couldn't decide which was funnier to me,
the safety warning
or the 800 number to call for more information!
I will happily pay $5 for these hot dogs because
a. they're the best wieners in the world! (try them, I'm serious!)
and
b. the warning on the package caused great merriment in our home.
We laughed loud and long and clear!
so give them a try. just remember, if you're a child, stay in your seat until you're finished eating!

2009-04-29T13:17:00.005-05:00

Safety First!

Well the first thing you know old Jeds a millionaire...

2009-04-15T23:23:00.002-05:00

Here's what I want to know...
why is it that at any given moment on any given day I can sing every word to the theme song of The Beverly Hillbillies..
but...
sometimes I can't remember where I parked my car at the mall..
or my PIN number for the ATM..
or where I put the deposit book at work (today.. sheesh!)...
hmmm...
a mystery of the universe..

come and listen to a story bout a man named Jed... poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed..

good lord

Donna Reed I'm Not

2009-04-14T19:28:00.002-05:00

I"m back at work full time!! Yay!
My hat goes off to all the stay at home Moms and Home based business types.
Sheesh, I'm glad to be back at work!
Thank God for swell co-workers too.
and customers..
I love my job!!
( we may revisit this topic in July when everyone is taking vacations)
but for now, I'm a happy girl..

:o)

April

2009-04-01T09:12:00.007-05:00

Live Simply

expect little
give much

That is the header on my calendar for April.

seems like a good plan

Happy April!

on being trapped

2009-03-31T10:58:00.002-05:00

From this title one could think that I'm going to go on now about poor me being trapped in the house caring for my husband.
Actually quite the opposite is the case.
When my world became smaller, after Richard's accident, my needs also became smaller.
And I've begun to realize how our culture "traps" us into thinking we need so much.
Advertisements, peers, etc..
I think we tend to buy into it and start thinking that we can't possibly be happy if we don't have such and such. Whatever it may be. Gadgets, the "correct" job, certain relationships.
Then pretty soon.... voila, we aren't happy.
I remember some years back, I had a Basal Cell Carcinoma removed from my face.
Richard and I discussed it and decided that since it was outpatient surgery done under local anesthetic, he didn't need to take off from work and go with me.
I was content with that decision.
Then, after the surgery was over and I was released, the nurse was ready to help me leave and she asked me who had come along.When I told her "no one" that I was here alone, she became visibly sympathetic. Her pity for me was palpable. She wheeled me out to the exit and stood there while I walked to my car.
As you can imagine, by the time I got home, I was feeling quite sorry for myself.
Poor Me! I had a skin cancer removed and my husband didn't even come along!
After several hours of dark self pity, I remembered that this had been a conscious decision. I had been fine with it until the nurse started feeling sorry for me. She made me feel like I had a need.
It's that kind of thing I've been thinking about.
I get it with my car too. At work mostly.
God Mary! Your car is 14 years old! Oh my god! It has a dent in the fender. Kinda got a noisy fan belt too.
I don't fall for it though.
Big deal. It runs. Every single day. The heater works, the air conditioning, the brakes.
Hell, I'm happy!
Besides, I'd really rather have a new camera!
(hah! a weakness!)
and no new debts.
So really, not that I don't enjoy finer things in life. I think I'd rather regard them as the finer things and not as needs.
I prefer being thankful and happy with my world.
Not trapped into other people's ideas of what I need.

well,well,well....

2009-03-18T00:43:00.002-05:00

So.... 3/9/09, Richard fell from 14 feet to a concrete floor.
These are some of the things I've learned so far.
He's very fortunate to be alive.
We're very fortunate that he's alive , and not only that, although his injuries are numerous,none of them are life threatening and he will recover , maybe not to exactly 100%, but darn close.
Capable doctors and nurses make everything more bearable.
I need peace and quiet when I am under additional stress.
Mindless activities help me cope.
My kids are the greatest people on earth ( this should have been listed first! definitely!)

I am one lucky girl.

March is hopeful

2009-03-02T08:00:00.003-06:00

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day,
a fresh try , one more start,
with perhaps
a bit of magic
waiting somewhere
behind the morning

JB Priestly

Looking On The Bright Side

2009-02-27T08:24:00.001-06:00

Charles Schultz Philosophy

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners..

How did you do?

The point is , none of us remember the headliners of
yesterday.

They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies...

Awards tarnish.

Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners..

Now try this..

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!!

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials..

the most money...or the most awards.

They simply are the ones who care the most.

'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia !'

just some stuff

2009-02-25T06:17:00.004-06:00

Ugh.
I'm glad that February is nearly over.
I wish I was one of those real chilled out people that roll through life un- traumatized by the goings on in their world.
I apparently wasn't built that way. I take a troubling thought and roll it over and over in my mind as if to polish it to gleaming perfection.
I drive myself nuts!
Anyway, went to the Doc, got some meds for the new ulcer I've developed. Some chill pills to help me keep from dumping fresh acid in on my gut and some pain pills to keep me from ever reaching for ibuprofen again. Ever!

I have this friend , Theresa. ( a different Theresa from the one I've mentioned before)
I wish I could learn to be more like her.
She's the quintessential hippie. Completely relaxed and peaceful absolutely all the time.
(Well, except when she was married to her ex., but that doesn't count.There's a good reason he's an ex..)
She and her son Phil are moving to Arizona. Just pulling up and going. She says that everything she needs will fit in her car. Oh yeah, she has a set of four year old twins too! She had twins when she was 45 years old! Gawd! She's still mellow.. anyway, Phil is a junior in high school and wants to go to some college in Arizona, so they're moving to establish residency so tuition will be more reasonable.
I so wish I could just pull up and leave here. I don't know if I could find a mellower me somewhere else. Probably I'd need to make a mellower me before I left, cuz like Richard says, "wherever you go, there you are." Still, it might be easier..
I'm making that my retirement from the Post Office goal. I want to retire from there early and go somewhere else and work doing something different. I would transfer with the PO, but they aren't allowing transfers anymore.
So anyway, I've rattled on and on here plenty enough. Working on mellowing out and planning a move in several years.
It's a goal..

oh and ps. Richard is totally OK w/moving. Especially if he gets an ocean out of the deal..

Had An REM-fest....ended up posting a Troggs cover!

2009-02-21T23:14:00.008-06:00

I posted this song because usually Michael Stipe gets all the hoop-lah when you talk about REM. Personally, I think that with out Mike Mills' vocals , REM wouldn't exist as we know it.
AND! you and your friends can gather round the computer and do some Karaoke! The words are right there for you! Yay!

8 Mile ( not really.. really it's 8 days, but 8 Mile is a famous title and I wanted to use it)

2009-02-18T10:16:00.002-06:00

I am, in approx. 24 hours, retiring from Facebook.

I don't fit in at all. But unlike my younger years when I desperately wanted to fit in.

This time I'm kinda glad that I don't.
That may be the true mark of age.

It's a bit too "Seinfeld-y" ADD-ish for me.

just slapdashes of info about folks.
I did enjoy the "25 things about me" lists that Mandi and Cristie posted.
That was fun and interesting.
And I played (and won) a swell game of Scrabble with Brett from Mississauga.
( I think he may have let me win..)
It took 8 days.
Hence the title. The miles are actually more like 1100. Oh well.

Also, my son uses the "f" word at a really alarming pace. ( once or twice is way too much for Mom) and a couple of his friends , I think , belong in Reform School.

Just too many decisions required.
Do I yell at him for staying up all night at Wes'?
For swearing ?

I think I'll stick to parenting in the real life realm. That's plenty of responsibility for me.

So, ciao Facebook! I hardly knew thee!

She's Got (skinny) Legs

2009-02-13T08:00:00.002-06:00

You know, for the past three semesters of Rick's high school career, I have been noticing this certain phenomenon. Fully 85% of the girls in his school have skinny legs.
I got the figure mathematically you know. The number of mini vans in the drop off Que divided by the total weight of all the girls at TWHS x 16 ( average age).
These little sparrow legged girls clamber out of their Mom's SUVs with book bags twice their weight , puffy,quilted ski-like jackets that come to a very abrupt stop at the tiny little waists, followed by a gap covered with t-shirt material ( the total weight of which is approximately .003 oz) and following that , these itty-bitty blue jeans that closely represent a second skin.
Really tight.
The overall appearance is of a puffy little robin teetering about on it's spindly little legs. The robin's knees are backwards though, which somehow makes him appear sturdier than these tiny high school girls.
I think the total yardage of denim involved could be laid flat and make a couple of nice pot holders.

Don't get me wrong here. The girls are really cute. I'm just making an observation.

Comfort Food...

2009-02-11T06:34:00.005-06:00

Lately I've been seeking out comfort food for nearly every dinner I make.
Maybe it's a winter thing. February sometimes drags on and on for me.
Not my favorite month for sure.
Anyway, I had this beautiful photograph of a meal that I prepared and was going to post the pic and the recipe, but.. somehow, in my distractedness, I deleted the photo from my computer and had not backed it up on disk. Argh!
Anyway, I decided to share the recipe anyway, it's so yummy and so easy.
I actually found it in a box of Reynolds Oven Bags. Normally I just toss those kinds if things, but this one looked good enough to try. I'm glad I did.
Here goes..

Orange Teriyaki Beef Roast

1 Reynolds Oven Bag, large size
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 cloves garlic.minced
! teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 pound beef top round roast (at least one inch thick)
Hot cooked rice
1/4 cup sliced green onions

Shake flour in Reynolds oven bag; place in 13x9x2 inch baking pan.
Add orange juice, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar , garlic, orange peel and crushed red pepper to oven bag. Squeeze bag to blend in the flour.
Add beef to bag. Turn bag to coat beef with sauce.
Close oven bag with nylon tie. Marinate beef in the refrigerator 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 325 F. Cut six 1/2 inch slits in top of bag. Tuck ends of bag in pan.
Bake 35-45 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 145 F ( do not overcook)
Thinly slice beef. Stir sauce; serve with rice. Sprinkle with chopped green onions.
Makes 8 (3oz) servings.

Yum! so easy too.
I used top sirloin instead of Round cuz I like the flavor better and I also sprinkled sesame seeds on it before serving. It's a pretty dish.

Next time I make it, I'm going to increase the orange juice by 1/4 cup maybe and at least twice as much orange zest. I thnk it could use a little more of the pop that the orange flavor brings.

So there ya go, one of my comfort food dishes this month!

pain

2009-02-09T08:44:00.008-06:00

I have been thinking a lot about pain lately. For a number of reasons actually. I have chronic pain
I was talking to Mandi about pain, I visited my Dr. recently and we discussed pain.
But here's what really put me in overdrive .
I'm reading this book ( a novel) about a neurosurgeon that specializes in research. He's talking about phantom pain, you know,when people lose a limb or something and suffer from pain in the lost limb. Anyway he comments that the pain is just in their head.
"Well, no kidding" I thought . ALL pain is in your head .
(turns out that was exactly his point)
Anyway, that's what got me started. Now I don't have much understanding of the brain. Just your basic left hemisphere/ right hemisphere, frontal lobe, etc. terminology that I understand, and maybe a little more from all the reading I did after my Mom had a burst aneurysm, but I'm no genius.

this is a partial article I read on Wikipedia

Nociception (synonym: nocioception or nociperception) is defined as "the neural processes of encoding and processing noxious stimuli." It is the afferent activity produced in the peripheral and central nervous system by stimuli that have the potential to damage tissue. This activity is initiated by nociceptors, (also called pain receptors), that can detect mechanical, thermal or chemical changes, above a set threshold. Once stimulated, a nociceptor transmits a signal along the spinal cord, to the brain. Nociception triggers a variety of autonomic responses and may also result in the experience of pain in sentient beings.

The neurological basis and mechanisms for phantom limb pain are all derived from experimental theories and observations. Little is known about the true mechanism causing phantom pains, and many theories highly overlap. Historically, phantom pains were thought to originate from neuromas located at the stump tip. Traumatic neuromas, or non-tumor nerve injuries, often arise from surgeries and result from the abnormal growth of injured nerve fibers. Although stump neuromas contribute to phantom pains, they are not the sole cause. This is because patients with congenital limb deficiency can sometimes, although rare, experience phantom pains. This suggests that there is a central representation of the limb responsible for painful sensations (Ramachandran and Herstein, 1998). Currently, theories are based on altered neurological pathways and cortical reorganization. Although they are highly intertwined, mechanisms are often separated into peripheral, spinal, and central mechanisms.

hah.. they really don't know do they?

Everyone has their brain wired their way. Whatever their norm is.
For instance, some people see numbers as colors. ie. 1=red 2=yellow etc.
(synesthesia)
here's a link to a simple article describing this phenomenon

and I know what red looks like to me, but how do you perceive red? or yellow? etc..

OK, I know, I probably sound like a troglodyte. This is stuff we all think about in elementary school. I just got to thinking about it as applied to pain.
What is my perception of pain? Others? and how can a doctor diagnose and treat it?
You can't pull out the brain like a mother board in a computer or something and say "Aha! I can see why you suffer so much. This little do-hicky has come unhitched on one end. (or something)
or maybe they can . I don't really know what a Pet Scan or an MRI reveals. I seriously doubt it explains pain in any real way.

For instance, two years ago I had a tooth pulled. No real big deal. Got some pain meds, went home, recovered. Sort of. There was a piece of tooth left behind in my gum that flipped up and began to wear a little hole in my cheek, it wasn't really all that painful, mostly just annoying and I was concerned about long term effects. So.. back to the oral surgeon , she whacked the piece of tooth off with what looked exactly like wire cutters (ew!) and sent me on my way assuring me that the pain would be no where near as intense as when the tooth was actually pulled.
(in other words, no Rx for pain)
To her maybe! In her brain wiring, this was no big deal. For me it was excruciating. I soldiered on, because I'm always afraid to ask for pain medication, but truly, it was pretty awful.
For me.

Anyway, I could go on and on if anyone was bored enough to listen to me postulate and theorize about pain perception. I'm sure that volumes have been written on the topic, and I intend to read some.

Hah! What's your reality!!

another television commercial.. blast from the past!

2009-02-08T23:09:00.002-06:00

Just think, most of us could purchase several Sesame Street albums just from the change in the console of our cars!

2009-02-01T11:43:00.006-06:00

Many say that you can tell a lot about a person from the car they drive,
or by nosing through their medicine cabinet,
or maybe the books they read..or the artwork in their home.

I believe that a person's refrigerator magnets and the things on display under those magnets, speaks volumes about the individuals that live in that home at eat from that fridge..

Think of it..in fact, go look at your fridge. I'll wait.

See what I mean?
If your household has small children, you probably have wonderful artwork created from crayons and markers, maybe even construction paper and paste on display.

Older children? maybe a schedule of ball games, or concerts and music lessons.

Single? Perhaps schedules of meetings you plan to attend, or stock quotes, or maybe something from a book or the newspaper that inspires you..

Older people? A list of medications you take and the times of day to take them maybe. Or you children's phone numbers and maybe photographs of your grandchildren.

It can be anything, but I'll bet it's all you.
Whatever it is.

I too have things on my fridge that speak about me.
On the front, I have four magnets that tell a lot about my philosophy.
and it's not just the magnets, but who gave them to me that make them my favorites.

Mandi, who was influenced a lot in her childhood by older people( we had many friends that were her grandparents age or older and she called all of them "Grandma"
I imagine she really thought they were her grandma too!)
She gave me the Gertrude Stein magnet..

Rachael, who has come to the realization that no matter how odd our family may seem... we're certainly no stranger than most and even less weird than many..
She gave me the Joe Ancis magnet.

My sister Judy (BooBoo), who has a passion for all dogs everywhere. She taught me to find solace in the love of a dog more than any other person.
She gave me the Dog magnet.

And lastly, my friend Theresa, who knows me pretty damn well and still likes me, knows that if push comes to shove... no, I really don't give a s@$t what people think of me.
She gave me the magnet with the naughty word on it.

so that's my fridge..
what does yours say about you?

I Own Gym Clothes!

2009-01-26T10:11:00.003-06:00

See last night I was doing some laundry and as I hung up my yoga pants and tees, it occurs to me that I own gym clothes!
I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face..
I'm really not the gym type you see.
I used to actually just be a fairly active person. Lots of gardening, housework, always had a physical job..
then, age..less physical employment.. extra weight..
it all started creeping up on me.
plus my crummy feet.
added all together I began to develop arthritis is various joints, aches and pains here and there
etc..etc..
Finally, I did what I should have done at the first twinge of arthritis.
I joined a gym. And really, it's not too bad at all.
I happily pedal my way through House, The Closer, or what ever television show happens to be on that night. Then I let the Elliptical Machine kick my ass for 20 or so minutes.
( I totally have a love/hate relationship with that machine!)
Ha! So there you go!
I own gym clothes!
Hahahahaha!!

2009-01-26T00:00:00.000-06:00

I'm thinking of scouring You Tube for unbelievable commercials from my child hood.
When I watch something like this, I realize just how different the world I live in now is from the world that I grew up in.
Everything was not better in the old days.. no matter what they say! Just different.
Mandi and I were talking about some of the changes earlier in the day. We were discussing my mother , who as a young wife in the early 50s, had three babies in the first three years of her marriage. She was, needless to say, a housewife.
Three babies... no Pampers. Cloth diapers. Wringer washer on the back porch. No clothes dryer. A clothes line in the back yard. and funny little arrangements made from what looked like wooden dowels, to set around the house and dry clothes on if the weather was inclement.
No microwave ovens. Barely any "ready to eat" type foods. Campbells Soups a few other things I suppose.
No children's programming on television ( which I assure you would have been totally discouraged by my father anyway!) to entertain the kiddies so she could grab a moments peace.
and she was just the average housewife.... amazing
No wonder she got a job outside the home when all us kids were in school!
Anyway, I've spent much of the day thinking about some of the many changes in our culture just in my lifetime ... . Like a great snowball rolling down hill, picking up speed at an astronomical pace..
so weird..

How to love the life you live ~ since it IS the only one you get!

2009-01-24T11:54:00.008-06:00

Today I post this again as a reminder to myself of how I wish to live my life.

May others find a little something to take with them as a reminder to enjoy their life also.

1. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. Sleep for 7 hours.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5. Play more games.

6. Read more books than you did in 2008..

7. Make time to pray. Prayer provides us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink plenty of water.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

14. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his past mistakes. That will ruin your present happiness.

15. Don't have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime..

17. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

18. Smile and laugh more.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Forgive everyone for everything.

26.. What other people think of you is none of your business.

27. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

28. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

29. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

30. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

31. The best is yet to come.

32. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

33. Do the right thing!

34. Call your family often.

35. Your inner most being is always happy. So be happy.

36. Each day give something good to others.

37. Don't over do. Keep your limits.

whiny post

2009-01-24T11:03:00.000-06:00

sick,sick,sick of being sick..

that's all I've got to say about that right now.

30 days

2009-01-19T10:37:00.006-06:00

I have joined a new group on flickr. One object/30 days.

I so enjoyed the One Object 365 Day Project, but couldn't manage the commitment. I think I can make a 30 day go at it though.
Right now I'm still trying to decide what to photograph for 30 days. Something small-ish, portable, maybe with some texture and colors that will translate nicely.
I plan to start January 30 and go through February 28.
It seems that all I have around here in terms of smallish items are elephants, that are mostly grey and besides Ele ( if you have time, follow the link. he will melt your heart. guaranteed!) set the standard for elephant photos on flickr. I wouldn't even want to try to match up to that.
I have an assortment of chickens and roosters that were given to me during the Willie days. But that would seem too, I don't know, rooster-ish. Willie is my main dude in roosters.
Maybe I'll have to purchase something. I have 11 days yet.
I'm looking forward to this though. And hopefully in the interim I'll finish my ABC project. I still need X,Y and Z. I was challenged by a flickr friend to not use x-ray for "X". If anyone happens by this post and has any ideas, I'm open for suggestions!
anyhoo... It's going to be fun!

vitamins

2009-01-12T19:49:00.010-06:00

I have to know.

Why do they give daily multiple vitamins such weird names?

Today as I swallowed my "Centrum Silver",I fondly remembered the days of
"Chocks Chewables"

Where has all the time gone?
and why such weird names?

Maybe this is why?!
(life imitates art?)

dang, I really do love Lucy!

Pe-yew!

2009-01-08T22:17:00.003-06:00

somebody call Al Gore.

I have discovered what is apparently an inexhaustible energy resource.

It's like this... I've been home for three days with a couple different itis-es
(or maybe , itisii)
either way, I've been sick at home sharing my time with Bart,
a largish lab and dalmatian mix and
Peanut, a fattish chihuahua.

What they apparently do all day while we're away at work is fart!

seriously,the quantity of methane gas produced in my house is phenomenal.

If this energy could be harnessed, I'd say it could easily power an entire large city.
Maybe there could be a sign on the way into town, like the signs that indicate population or elevation.

Something like

Welcome to Paris!
Home of the Eiffel Tower!
The Louvre!
and all energy provided by Bart and Peanut!

Maybe they would even get paid!
now that would be cool.
They could go from eating machine fart producers
to productive members of society.

Thankfully, I believe I'll be able to work tomorrow.
The dogs can have the house to themselves again..

2009-01-05T09:39:00.001-06:00

Reading through Rachael's post "This is one do you can't undo" prompted me to think back to the shiny moments in between that I've enjoyed. I think that I wouldn't want to know the future.
What might you miss if you could see every life event ahead of time and weed out the imperfections?

Of course even this philosophy is flawed, as all of them are.

This "prescription for melancholy" pop song of Garth Brooks comes to mind.
I know. It's designed to make you feel emotional and sappy. Still, I love the words.

Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

resolutions...

2009-01-01T10:07:00.003-06:00

ok so it's true, I don't make New Years resolutions.

I do try to make changes, and although they seem subtle at first, in the long haul they do carry an impact.

In 2008 I decided to try putting myself in other's shoes a bit. I believe that I came out on the other side as a more understanding person. ( duh! that's what our mothers were trying to teach us when they told us to " put yourself in their shoes for a minute!")
Good thing it took slightly less than half a century for me to really give it a go! What if I never tried?
And I still don't remember to do it 100% of the time, yet even I can see the marked difference it has made.

Pray don't find fault in the man who limps,
or stumbles along the road
Unless you have worn the shoes he wears
or struggled beneath his load.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,
though hidden away from view,
And the burden he bears placed on your back
Might cause you to stagger too

author unknown

I can't wait to see what changes 2009 will bring.

Happy New Year!

Adele

2009-01-01T01:59:00.002-06:00

amazing..

and... Happy New Year!

Farenheit 451...or...Gee I'm a late bloomer

2008-12-28T14:02:00.004-06:00

Well, so here's the deal. I'm nearly 50 years old and I've only just recently read Farenheit 451.
I am a late bloomer.
On the other hand, I wonder if the impact of the book would have been as great
(on me) had I read it in my 20s or 30s .
I truly felt panicky during sections of the book. Most especially the sections dealing with the lack of inter personal relationships. And how people were plugged in to the racket surrounding them to the end that they were distracted from what was truly going on.
The theme of necessary destruction of evil to re-propagate goodness and truth is a really old one and seems to recur in print, film, etc. pretty frequently. Sort of the Phoenix of societies or cultures.

Anyway, all that aside, I thought I would share my favorite quote from the book as did my daughter some months ago.

Granger stood looking back with Montag. "Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my Grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there. It doesn't matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away.
The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching, he said. The lawn cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime.

there

Winnie the Pooh said it best..

2008-12-16T09:06:00.007-06:00

So last night before bed, the weatherman predicted light snow with a possible accumulation of 1".
I believe he was mistaken.
So, I'm shoveling snow off the drive way this AM. ( I have the day off from work) . When I get to the foot of the drive, I look back up at my work and realize, hey Mary, I think you're losing ground here! Down the snow falls nearly as quickly as it's removed.
That's when I was reminded of my old friend Winnie the Pooh, who said it best...

The more it snows
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
On snowing.

And nobody knows
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
Are growing.

The only solution for a day like this is really strong, really hot, really sweet tea.

It was fun!

2008-12-14T19:17:00.006-06:00

Part Deux @ The Booby Trap

Adrian To The Rescue @ The Booby Trap

What fun! I truly didn't expect to enjoy myself much last night when I played roadie for Rick's band and hung out in a crummy little bar downtown. What a cool surprise. Once I acclimated myself to the surroundings, it was a lot of fun. Honestly, I guess I had forgotten the crappy little bars that I had spent time in when I was younger. Certainly this was no worse and maybe even better than some of them!
Other than some equipment issues, Part Deux did very well. Extremely well at some points!
The second band is another high school band in Topeka, they have some really talented musicians. I was impressed! They also had some equipment issues. ie they blew a speaker! I actually felt the air blow over me when it blew. Crazy. Pissed off the sound guy though. The speaker was one that belonged to the bar. Guess he should do better sound checks eh?
The downside to my story is that I don't think I'm cut out for the staying out til 2 AM thing anymore. Not a drop of alcohol passed my lips all evening ( didn't think that risking being pulled over by a cop was worth it) and yet I felt totally hung over this AM. Probably all the noise,smoke and the really late hour. I'm still tired...
still, I'm glad I went..

A Girl and Her Contrabass

2008-12-08T08:57:00.008-06:00

Last night I went to the annual Christmas Vespers Concert by the Washburn University music department. This student and her bass totally captured my attention.

She was so completely at ease with this enormous instrument cradled in her arms, and when she wasn't playing a piece, she sat there with her arms draped around it so casually.

I tried to figure what her image reminded me of. What kind of relationship.
A lover? No.
A child? no.

I think what she and her instrument reminded me of was someone with a beloved pet.
Like horse people are you know? The way they seem more themselves when they are with horses. Like there is some kind of connection between the human and the horse.
The same seemed true with this student and her bass. They were connected. Like she was more herself with her instrument than with out it.

I wish that I could have spoken with her.

there!

2008-12-07T09:10:00.004-06:00

Today I've re-arranged my blog.
A little bit like rearranging furniture~only easier.

I felt cluttered.

Sometimes I think that I would like to live in a small 1 or 2 bedroom apartment with no space to clutter up.
The closest I've come has been 2 weeks spent in an extended stay hotel suite.
One bedroom,small kitchenette.
Two bathrooms and two televisions with a fireplace in the living room.
I liked it, but I was alone,so it's not a very good snapshot of what it would be like in the long term. I might actually be miserable.
anyway, my blog is uncluttered!

some things I've learned today..

2008-12-05T22:23:00.002-06:00

teen aged boys play rock music really loud
teen aged boys eat a whole lot! ( I actually already knew this, it was just really noticeable tonight)
when said boys come out of a 14 x 14 room with stacks of amplifiers, they talk really LOUD!
Mitch Mitchell died ( The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
sometimes those boys' music sounds amazing
even though it's so loud!

this probably won't surprise anybody!

2008-12-05T12:30:00.003-06:00

You Should Paint Your Room Green

Natural and balance, green can bring both calm and growth to your life.

Your green room will promote a more spiritual and peaceful outlook.

Green rooms are perfect for meditation, yoga, or just day dreaming.

What Color Should You Paint Your Room?

my new mantra ...if I had a mantra anyway

2008-12-02T20:11:00.002-06:00

"Some of your hurts you have cured, And the sharpest you still have survived, But what torments of grief you endured From the evil which never arrived." -
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Gloomy Outlook with Cheery Results

2008-12-01T17:39:00.000-06:00

You Are 61% Likely to Survive Another Great Depression

Even though you may not be expecting the worst, you're the type of person who prepares for the worst.

You live a relatively modest life. You don't overspend, and you aren't very materialistic.

You are also quite self sufficient and independent. You have many useful skills.

You can take care of yourself and those you love... which is crucial to surviving another Great Depression.

Could You Survive Another Great Depression?

Well how cheery is this?!

2008-11-18T07:02:00.003-06:00

Borrowed from~ Julie
1. My eye color: blue/hazel
2. Favorite car: Toyota Avalon (my favorite car that I've owned, lots of cars I suppose I would like to have)
3. Right-handed or left-handed: Right
4. Shoes you wore today:New Balance
5. My fears: hmmm mostly I suppose that I'm not a very good mother
6. Goal you would like to achieve this year: quit smoking ; improve overall health
7. Thoughts first waking up: crap I hate that alarm
8. My bedtime: 10:30 when I'm being good
9. Pepsi or Coke: Pepsi, of the diet persuasion
10. Single or Group Dates: I've been married since 11 bc. ok maybe not quite that long..
11. Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
12. Do you smoke: Yes
13. Do you sing: Yes , at home
14. Have you been in love: Yes
15. Do you want to get married : erm... my husband would be so pissed off! ;o)
16. Do you get along with your parents: They're both gone.
17. Do you play a musical instrument: nope
18. In the past month have you smoked: Yes.
19: Favorite candy bar: Probably Payday
20. In the past month have you gone on a date: Well, Richard and I went out for dinner one night and went to the bar that Ricky was playing at ( except I sat outside cuz the bar was so gross!)
21. All-time favorite sports team: that's tough.. Probably still the Minnesota Vikings
22. Ideal girlfriend/boyfriend: uhm no comment
23. My best friend(s): Probably Theresa and Debbie.. sometimes I'm a terrible friend and they never dessert me
24. Do you believe in love at first sight:Hah!
25. Favorite clothing brand: Coldwater Creek (I guess)
26. Dream vacation: Someplace warm
27. My favorite singer: Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Stipe, Ryan Tenholder ( ok, I just said Ryan cuz he's the singer for my son's band)
28. My favorite movie: Princess Bride, Blazing Saddles
29. Have you ever fired a gun: water pistol count?
30. Do you like answering these questions: that's a weird damn question..
31. Do you like yourself: yeh, pretty much
32. I am addicted to: cigarettes, photo editing,flickr, NFL football and Lost
33. Favorite drink: coffee, iced tea, diet Pepsi
34. Do you have a crush on anyone: Oh always!
35. Are you ticklish: yes
36. Favorite ice cream flavor: homemade vanilla (my Mom's recipe)
37. Define yourself in 3 words: short, middle aged, happy ( mostly)
38. Do you believe in God: yes
39. Favorite day of the week: Sunday
40. Heads or tails: Tails
41. Favorite author: JRR Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, tons more
42. What magazines do you read: People once in awhile and I hijack Ricky's Rolling Stone now and then....
43. Sweet or sour: sweet
44. Favorite chewing gum brand: I don't really chew gum much
45. My hair color: greying reddish brown
46. Height: 5′ 2" almost
47. My heritage: Scottish,German
48. My weakness: puppies, all dogs really... this list would never end if I wrote all of my weaknesses
49. My perfect pizza: vegetable with a really thin crust and no tomato sauce
50. My most overused phrase on IM: probably lol
51. My best physical feature:hmmm, maybe my eyes
52. Do you get motion sickness: sometimes
53. McDonalds or Burger King: Burger King Oh yeah baby! love that greasy Whopper!
54. Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:Lipton
55. Cappuccino or Coffee: Coffee
56. Do you swear: yup..
57. Do you want to go to college:yup
58. Do you think you’re attractive: define attractive, people don't barf when they look at me, what's the standard?!
59. Do you like thunderstorms: Love them!
60. In the past month have you drunk alcohol: yes
61. In the past month have you been on drugs: cholesterol meds?
62. Favorite cartoon as a child: never cared a lot for them until I had kids. Then I fell in love with Rocko's Modern Life
63. Favorite sport: NFL football
64. In the past month have you been on stage: I feel like I'm on stage everyday at work.. but no, I haven't
65. Ever been beaten up: nope
66. How you want to die: another weird damn question
67. Number of piercings: 2. both ears :o)
68. Favorite color: green
69. Favorite food dish: BBQ chicken
70. My parents are: Jack and Vi, both have passed on.
71. Do you have children: 4
72. Do you have pets: Two dogs Bart and Peanut
73. My favorite music genre: The kind that makes my heart sing at the moment! The only "music" I don't much care for is Rap . Still you gotta love Snoop Dog !
74. My favorite season: summer
75. Silver or Gold: silver
76. Who was the last person that called you: Mandi
77. Are you a good driver: yes
78. Would you rather be rich or famous: Rich
79. When I’m sad or down, I prefer to: sleep
80. What is your phone’s current ringtone: different one for each caller
81. The longest you’ve gone without sleeping: probably about 36-48 hours
82. What would you do with a million dollars: give some to my kids and spend the rest!
83. What makes you laugh: irony
84. Your favorite book: The Lord Of The Rings
85. Most embarrassing moment: too embarrassing to mention!
86. Favorite item that you currently own: my rice cooker ( it's a phase)
87. Have you ever moved: yep
88. Kisses or hugs: hugs definitely!
89. Are you a very emotional person: fraid so

tofu?

2008-11-17T11:36:00.002-06:00

So... today I have attempted to alter my Mom's yum-a-licious potato salad recipe by injecting tofu into the mix. Yup, bean curd. That stuff that has almost zero flavor and really is just all about texture and whatever other flavors you happen to mingle with it.

See, Richard has been hankering for potato salad. I actually do make a fair duplicate of Mom's , complete with 6 or 8 eggs, a couple cups of full on fat Miracle Whip and oh yes, some potatoes.

I decided to see if I could alter the recipe and still maintain the flavor. Cuz see, both of us recently had our physicals and while our cholesterol levels would make outstanding bowling scores, they simply caused our Dr. to shake his head and say " I don't know what you people eat but...." ( see previous post of Julie's Carbonara! Yum!)
Clearly it was time for a change. We've done really well actually. We don't do the NO fat foods, we've opted for lower fat and moderation. It seems more do-able. Richard actually lost five pounds the first four days of our new lifestyle. The bum.
Well, in any event, today I made the potato salad with TWO eggs and maybe 2 tablespoons of Miracle Whip in the dressing. I used tofu in it's stead. Lots of onion and celery and maybe a few more sweet pickles. Hoping that the extra flavors will meld nicely with the tofu and make a passable salad.

We'll be eating it tonight, so I'll update this post later!

Ceilings... glass or otherwise..

2008-11-17T09:28:00.004-06:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about the Sarah Pallin / Hillary Clinton / glass ceiling thing and I think that Sarah and Hillary have more in common than anyone ( even Saturday Night Live) would care to admit.
I keep going back in my mind to the primaries when Hillary kept claiming to have so much more experience than Barack Obama
But what troubles me is that it would seem, based on her claims while campaigning, that most of her experience was garnered through her husband. Bill was the Governor of Arkansas.. Bill was the President of the US.
Isn't that the same as saying that ... I don't know .. Lucy would be a good conductor because Ricky was? or that I could install phone systems because my husband does?
God help me, Gloria Steinem may strike me dead.. but I think it seems sexist the way Hillary did her campaign.
Now, I have to qualify this whole thing here by saying that If John McCain ever had my vote, he surely lost it when he brought Pallin on board. That was just a pathetically schmoozy political move attempting to lure we fluffy brained women to his camp( dripping sarcasm here!). Stupid move too ( politically speaking) I mean who the hell were the uber conservatives going to vote for anyway? Not Obama that's for sure. He should have aimed a little more center of the road-ish. Where the moderates live and work. Really John, if you think so poorly of women, that we aren't any smarter than that, then I guess maybe you shouldn't be president.
Sad in a way, because I've always admired McCain very much . If the republicans had run him instead of Bush low these many years ago, think how much better off our country may have been. Maybe not, but I have a suspicion that John McCain would be much less likely to be led around like a child by God knows who was leading Bush around.
Well, having said all that, I'm so hopeful now, so much more optimistic that we have someone coming to power that will lead is out of this horrendous mess that Bush and his failed policies (had to use that term, it almost seems to be a colloquialism now) have brought us to.

Things are looking up indeed.

Oh yeah, I did vote for a winner this time!

footnote here: Clinton has been a US Senator since 2000. THAT does give her more experience.. not her husband's work

I've taken about 1000 blog quizzes this weekend. Pathetic, I know

2008-11-09T11:06:00.003-06:00

This one I found interesting
Your Learning Style: Personal and Passionate

You are very flexible and curious about the world. Human understanding is very important to you.

You Should Study:

Anthropology

Architecture

Art

Art history

Art therapy

Classics

Counseling

Foreign Languages and Literature

International Studies

Linguistics

Literature

Psychology

Sociology

Teaching

What Should You Study?

2008-11-08T17:10:00.006-06:00

So I'm at work today. as usual, and a customer approaches my friend Wen-Jin ( she's from Taiwan) and asks for the "Abraham Lincoln" stamp. She and I exchange glances, racking our brains to remember if an Abraham Lincoln stamp is due to be released. ( I don't think so, but then again who knows, I don't read every word of every memo they put out).

So Jin turns to the customer and says brightly, " We have Frank Sinatra."

I laughed so hard, that I cried.

the wisdom for today

2008-11-06T07:56:00.001-06:00

Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.

Bill Shankly

Finally some hope....

2008-11-04T23:21:00.008-06:00

Yes, it would seem we can

well there you have it..

2008-11-04T19:18:00.001-06:00

You Are 86% Feminist

You are a total feminist. This doesn't mean you're a man hater (in fact, you may be a man).

You just think that men and women should be treated equally. It's a simple idea but somehow complicated for the world to put into action.

Are You a Feminist?

Election Day

2008-11-04T19:14:00.002-06:00

I hope the American public behave like adults ...

I'm so glad it's nearly over.

2008-11-03T08:08:00.018-06:00

This is a photo that my six year old niece Sammy took yesterday. Her sister Jessica ( another niece of course!) had told me

" Sammy takes great pictures!"I was curious to see what kind of shots she would choose. Her choices are fascinating. Not at all what I would expect from someone only six years old. When I first handed her the camera, she said," everything is all blurry." So I showed her how to focus. I don't remember ever hearing a child that young making a comment like that, or even caring if the subject was in focus. ( the camera was not complicated to use for sure, but still!)
Additionally, she is about the most photogenic individual I know . Looks like she can hang out on either side of the camera!

This is Sammy! ( the marking on her cheek is a temporary tattoo that she refused to wash off all weekend!)

investment strategy

2008-10-23T07:55:00.007-05:00

In light of the recent financial meltdown in the US (and globally I fear), I have embarked on a new investment strategy. I have begun investing in
night cream/wrinkle cream.
I've dabbled in this market for some years now, but because of recent fluctuations on Wall Street, I've become a serious investor.
I have the creams that guarantee to plump up your wrinkles, the creams that cause you to slide off your pillow at night,made from some highly viscous substance. And my personal favorite, the one that you apply after you use the fine grit sandpaper cleaner to remove make-up and
dead skin cells. (ew..)
Based on scientific calculations [ the number of creams purchased, divided by my age, multiplied by how many points the Dow drops on any given day, squared ] in several weeks I should have the complexion of someone 23.6 years old.
Seems like a sound investment to me!

I Had A Thousand Things To Say....

2008-10-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

But instead I'll say....

Happy Birthday Richard!

like he said earlier, " I done wore out the better part of 58."

:o)

Birthday Cake
Originally uploaded by Caro's Lines

Today we honor Langston Hughes... because he was cool .......... and because it's raining like crazy.

2008-10-21T21:56:00.001-05:00

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

~Langston Hughes

Quote For the Day

2008-10-20T10:28:00.003-05:00

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.
Mark Twain

Mark Twain

A posting to remind myself that I'm not lazy

2008-10-19T14:39:00.005-05:00

Baked a cake
Made baked beans
Washed dishes
Three loads of laundry
Moved my retirement $
Worked on the budget
Plus regular stuff ....ie... made the bed,showered,fed the dogs, swept the floor. Edited some pics,played on flickr

sometimes I feel like I don't work hard enough or something. today, I decided to remind myself that I do.
AND it's only 2:45 pm.

Later~~~
Two more loads of laundry, cook-out at my sister's ( that's what the cake and the baked beans were for), vacuumed the living room and Bart's room ( I used to call Bart's room the family room and then I realized the only family member that ever hung out in there is our big dog Bart)and ran to Walgreens for a couple of things.

I'm not as lazy as I thought!

2008-10-19T10:26:00.003-05:00

$ $ $ $ $ $

2008-10-16T19:15:00.002-05:00

I just checked my retirement investment.
I've lost $30,000

Thanks Wall Street.

hmmmm....whatever happened to tar and feathering?

2008-10-16T08:29:00.003-05:00

And these people, my friends , are the people that some economic plans would like to protect from taxation.

Does anyone realize how bad it is that the US government has to bail out the economy? With borrowed money I presume, since it doesn't have any. Something is terribly,terribly wrong.

14,000 Things To Be Happy About~~~Music For Wednesday

2008-10-15T08:27:00.002-05:00

Troubled Hubble ~~~ 14,000 Things To Be Happy About

Quote For Today

2008-10-14T19:41:00.001-05:00

If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be.

Yogi Berra

I made it!

2008-10-13T22:31:00.003-05:00

Julie's Carbonara.
Yummy and not too difficult!

and there's white wine leftover :o)

2008-10-13T15:22:00.001-05:00

Rats! I'd hoped I was a cuter dog!
(at least I'm loyal)

You Are an American Bulldog

You are a very imposing, powerful creature... but deep down, you're generally good natured.

You are incredibly energetic, and you like to blow off steam with sports and horsing around.

You are naturally courageous. You would run into a burning building to save someone you loved.

You intimidate people without trying to. Some people assume the worst of you when they first meet you.

What Breed of Dog Are You?

That One '08

2008-10-11T08:21:00.004-05:00

From Andrea's flickr site

some thoughts

2008-10-09T23:23:00.003-05:00

I tried to log onto my retirement account today and apparently forgot my account number. They're mailing it to me in real old fashioned mail. Probably just as well.

John McCain seems to be facilitating an anger management group in Wisconsin today. It actually struck me as rather humorous to watch. That probably makes me a bad person.
;o)

I had auditors hanging around me all day yesterday at work. Rather stressful. They only found a couple things to mention and even the auditors admitted that the things they found were fairly insignificant. Whew, glad that's over..

Ricky score 100% on his photography final last week! Yippee! He brought some negatives home tonite that he's going to print at school . He's pretty good!

Well, I believe that I have unburdened my tired little brain of it's very last thoughts. I must go to bed!

I really like these guys...

2008-10-07T08:31:00.003-05:00

Brothers and Sisters

what I'm listening to today..works well with the rainy weather.