Bye Bye 2008 - - Welcome 2009, I think!

It’s New Year’s Eve. Less than FOUR HOURS from 2009. I guess that means that it’s time for a review of 2008. And than maybe a quick look at my hopes for the upcoming year.

In a nutshell . . . 2008 pretty well was a yucky year for most everyone I know! Gas prices wwaayy too high - and then dropping like a rock. Groceries so high I’m considering giving up food. Real estate prices still falling. The stock market just going completely to h*ll in a hand basket. The Big 3 auto makers begging for our tax $$ (like we don’t need it ourselves). Financial outfits claiming they need a bailout while they wine and dine and pay HUGE bonuses to the idiots that put them on the brink of disaster!

But, there were good things, too! Over at mycharmingkids (McKMama’s blog) little Stellan was born as pretty much the miracle of the year! Although he’s in the hospital right now fighting RSV, it looks like he’s turned the corner and is going to be just fine! The most recent posts are very encouraging. My Pickle and MH are doing just GREAT in school, in their sports AND in their citizenship. They are both turning into terrific participants in our world. I’m so very proud of them. Of course, their Mom and Dad are pretty neat, too - but there is just something about watching your grand kids turning into ‘people’ that is so satisfying. I’m not the least bit prejudiced, these two are just really, really special!

Another good thing I have notice recently is that people seem nicer. They say hello on the street or smile and nod in passing. When they see someone in trouble, they actually try to help! At the grocery store, if someone is a couple of dollars short, other people in line pull out their change and make up the difference! Last week, I went through a toll booth - and they wouldn’t let me pay! Said the guy ahead of me paid my toll! I think this is something we should all be doing for each other. More than once, I have given a restaurant manager money to pay (or help pay) the bill for someone that looked like they could use a little help. Or if there was a little old lady in line behind me at the grocery store I might give the cashier $20 to pay toward her bill. I’m not rich, but I would much rather spend a little like that than on a frill for myself. I get such a good feeling from doing a little ‘secret pal’ treat for someone that I will probably never see again - I’ll never know their name - I’ll never know their circumstances. I just know how great it made me feel to do it!

For 2009 I am really hoping that there will be more improvement in our economy. That all of our troops can come home safely. That my husband and I can spend some time with our wonderful K, JB, Pickle, MH, Larry and Lucy . . . and maybe even sneak in some fly fishing (mmmmmm, trout)! That the construction business will get busier than ever so JB will be working his buns off! And that people will continue to be kinder to one another!

HOW A CAT VIEWS HIS PROPERTY

3 - And you better not try to take it away!

How a Dog Views His Property

1. If I like it, it's mine.

2. If its in my mouth, it's mine.

3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.

4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.

5. If I'm chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.

6. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.

7. If it just looks like mine, it's mine.

8. If I saw it first, it's mine.

9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.

10. If I have no interest in it, but you want it, it's mine.

11. If its broken, it's yours.

CHRISTMAS COOKIE RULES

1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.

2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.

3. If a friend comes over while you are making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calories free - rule #1 applies to your friend. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone, and being the friend that you are makes your cookie calorie free.

4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.

5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.

6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have 3 and green ones have 5 - one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!

7. Cookies eaten while watching Miracle on 34th Street have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.

8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.

9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate has no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!

And finally...

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories.

Bubba Claus Is Coming To Town!

A Note from: Santa Claus

I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will no longer serve the States of Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas on Christmas Eve. Due to the overwhelming current population of the earth, my contract was renegotiated by North American Fairies and Elves Local 209. As part of the new and better contract I also get longer breaks for milk and cookies so keep that in mind. However, I'm certain that your children will be in good hands with your local replacement, who happens to be my third cousin, Bubba Claus. His side of the family is from the South Pole. He shares my goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls; however, there are a few differences between us.

Differences such as:

1. There is no danger of the Grinch stealing your presents from Bubba Claus. He has a gun rack on his sleigh and a bumper sticker that reads: "These toys insured by Smith and Wesson."

2. Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers that children leave an RC cola and pork rinds or a moon pie on the fireplace. And Bubba doesn't smoke a pipe. He dips a little snuff though, so please have an empty spit can handy.

3. Bubba Claus' sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flyin' coon dogs instead of reindeer. I made the mistake of loaning him a couple of my reindeer one time, and Blitzen's head now overlooks Bubba's fireplace.

4. You won't hear "On Comet, on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen.." when Bubba Claus arrives. Instead, you'll hear, "On Earnhardt, on Andretti, on Elliott and Petty."

5. "Ho, Ho, Ho!" has been replaced by "Yee Haw!" And you also are likely to hear Bubba's elves respond, "I her'd dat!"

6. As required by Southern highway laws, Bubba Claus' sleigh does have a Yosemite Sam safety sticker on the back with the words "Back Off."

7. The usual Christmas movie classics such as "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life" will not be shown in your negotiated viewing area. Instead, you'll see "Boss Hogg Saves Christmas" and "Smokey and the Bandit IV" featuring Burt Reynolds as Bubba Claus. And Finally,

8. Bubba Claus doesn't always wear a belt. If I were you, I'd make sure you, the wife, and the kids turn the other way when he bends over to put presents under the tree.

Sincerely Yours,

Santa Claus

Here's a picture of

Bubba Claus

The Reason For The Season!

It's CHRISTmas Eve - and let's all please make sure to remember the true reason for the season. If it were not for our Saviour, there would most certainly not be a CHRISTmas - and there would probably not be a you or me either.

So, while sharing our joys and gifts with family and friends, be sure to take at least a few minutes to remind ourselves why we have this wonderful celebration!

And, if you are so inclined, try to remember someone less fortunate. Drop a dollar in a red kettle, give some extra groceries to a food bank or do what you can to help someone who needs it more than you!

Merry CHRISTmas! I'll be back with some Bubba Claus humor later - be sure to tune in after 10pm!

When did we lose control?

When did we lose control? No - this isn’t a political complaint. I’m talking television commercials here - something of REAL importance!

I just saw a young, preppy cow asking for my vote for her as the happiest California cow! Followed immediately by ShamWow! Here’s Progressive.com selling Santa insurance for his "vehicles" - with his St. Bernard (complete with antlers) at his side. And we could all stand listening to just one more chorus of "Free Credit Report Dot Com"!

The preppy cow is, like, just sooooo cute! It makes me want to call whoever is in charge of all the happy cow commercials and beg them to let her star in ALL of there ads for ever and ever! And I don’t know about you but ShamWow! is one those products that I just can’t possibly ever live without. Only $19.95, and if I call "right now" they’re going to DOUBLE my order! Finally we have Progressive.com. We all know the lovely sales lady who gives such great personal service at the insurance store. Well, there she is, helping Santa select just the perfect insurance for his er, um "vehicles"! She’s just so sweet - even asking if those antlers are real! Those poor guys trying to be a band by doing the freecreditreport.com thing really need some help. Are we allowed to send them donations?

Yep, those are some pretty good ads, all facts considered - it beats the heck out of all those others out there for all those ‘personal dysfunction’ problems. And how many more times will we have to watch Mucinex eliminate mucus?

Not me! Monday!! Free Therapy!!

Ah, yes - free therapy. Let's see just what I didn't do this week . . . .

While driving to work Wednesday morning, I was about half way there and just knew that something didn't feel right. Kept driving. Kept wondering. Oh - Darn! NO - I did NOT forget my shoes! Living here in Florida has its advantages - but being late for work because I forgot my shoes?! Good thing that didn't happen!

And that same evening while relaxing in my hot tub, there is just no way I was reaching for my big tall glass of iced tea and layed my paperback book down right on the top of the water! How long does it take a paperback to dry, anyway? Not that I would have a reason to ask!

My last Not Me this evening . . . . . while running the vacuum cleaner last week, I never ran right over the long fringe on a throw rug in the bedroom, causing a tangled mess involving the fringe and the brushes on the vacuum that took me roughly 45 minutes to un-knot!

Sports on Television!

Along with the REASON FOR THE SEASON - all of the wonderful food - fabulous decorations - happy people - grumpy shoppers and good spirited peace on earth feelings . . . here come the BOWL GAMES!!

Oh boy! I really do love some good college football - especially if it's really cold or raining or snowing or better yet, all three! I know - if it was my son out there I'm sure I would feel differently, but admit it - there's just something about watching those guys go sliding across the field! I've never really enjoyed pro football. But I will watch the Super Bowl - those commercials are GREAT!

I also enjoy just about any Olympic sport. I had heard about curling when I went to college in Northern Michigan, but had never seen it until the Winter Olympics were in Italy. I couldn't believe that I was fascinated with it. It's kind of like shuffleboard without the sunburn! It's the only time I've ever seen a broom used for something fun!

I do have to say that cricket isn't much fun. It was on the other day. I couldn't figure out what was going on so I googled the rules and was reading about it as the game was going on. I never did 'get it'.

I'm a race fan! Circle track, road course, drag track, off-road, stadium - whatever! I was pretty much raised on NASCAR with a little NHRA thrown in and some rally and off-road here and there. Been around it since the mid 1950's (sheesh, I can't be that old!) and love it still! I imagine there will be some big adjustments coming in 2009 with sponsorship money probably being tight and a lot of fans not being able to justify the increasing expense of attending races! Hopefully it won't create too much of a problem with the television coverage. I've gotten to where I think tv is better than being there in person. Yes, the sounds and smells just aren't the same - but those instant re-plays just can't be beat. . . . . and no traffic jam to get home!

Baseball is great, too. Again I prefer college to professional - - and I love soft ball! Slow pitch or fast pitch are both a lot of fun to watch. And those girls are really, really serious about their game!

Horses! Yeah, I never got over my 'little girl's' love of horses. I do like watching jumping - but will watch rodeo and almost anything else with pretty horses in it!

Water sports - I watch just about anything involving water. Not just boat racing and that kind of thing. I have a niece that started competition swimming at about 5. She's still swimming in her 40's and still holds records from high school, college and her senior swimming! And I still love watching it. I like the diving competitions, too. How they do that stuff without knocking their brains out on the diving boards I'll never understand! I get a kick out of surfing and water skiing, too!

Oh My Gosh!!! I'm a sports fanatic!!! I just realized. Maybe not even just a fan. I might just be a sports junkie!! No - - - not that bad! I don't like wrestling - boxing - martial arts, etc. But I will watch and ice hockey game from time to time.

I even watch track and field events!

What's wrong with me???

Yes, I do participate in some. We have a local drag track. Friends own cars that we go watch several times a year. We fish (a lot) - and I do NOT enjoy that on television! We take the rat terriers to some beaches on the river near us and encourage their splashing, swimming, barkfests while we roar with laughter!

And I almost forgot . . . . high school football is only as good as the DRUM LINE in the band!

MY PICKS FOR "GOOFBALL" AWARDS - 2008

Award Winning School Board Ruling: Orange County, Florida School Board decided to change the high school starting times this year. Yep, they had a lot of parents really angry. Didn't matter that neither the parents nor the students wanted the change - they put it into effect. And now it is four months later. What's that you say? Oh, yeah. They're changing back to the old schedule again first of the year. Seems like the new time just wasn't working out.

Best New Spelling of The Name of My State: After all of our election problems. After School Board rulings like the one above and so many other truly ding-bat, goofball, screwed-up things that keep happening here in Florida - I hereby nominate that we change our name to . . . . FLORI-DUH!

Dumbest Convenience Store Burglar: Poor dummy broke through the roof of a convenience store. Dropped down into the store. Piled cartons of cigarettes and cases of beer up next to the door. And couldn't get out! Tried to break out through the doors and windows but they were Lexan and wouldn't break. He couldn't find anything to climb on to get high enough to go back through the roof. So - he sat down, drank beer and smoked until the employees came to open in the morning. They saw him before they even put the key in the door - called the police - and the poor guy was arrested without incident!

Most Frequent Winner/ Worst Looser/ Most Disliked/ Biggest Whiner/ Championship Pain in the Neck NASCAR Driver: Kyle Bush - - - Yes, he won A LOT! But when he lost, it was always someone else's fault. He never hesitated to ram, push or outright crash other cars - but if another driver came near enough to disturb the air around his car, he would whine like a little girl. Yep, he spent most of 2008 just being a full-blown pain in the neck.

The Big Three Auto Makers: It's bad enough that on their first trip they each spent who knows how much flying that long, long way from Detroit to Washington on their individual corporate jets - but when they came back, they each drove in separate vehicles! You guys ever hear of a car pool?

Auto Makers Unions: This one is kind of hard for me. I understand the need for unions. They truly do serve a very important purpose in the working world - BUT!!!! When the industry that all your membership works for is getting ready to close down at least one of only three major manufacturers left, why not consider making some temporary concessions? Everyone could take a very small percent pay cut, or vacation cut or some kind of cut that could possibly loosen up a little cash to help the companies get things back in line. Taking a small cut now would be a lot better than having one complete manufacturer shut down forever! Shouldn't all of the people directly involved in that industry show that they are willing to give a little before they ask every tax paying American to bail them out?

Wall Street Money Beggers Doing it Wrong: Those dummies at AIG who begged for (and received) amazing amounts of our money . . . and then spent huge amounts of it on lavish parties and trips for themselves and clients! I bet none of US were on any of those excursions!

Politically Correct Award: Nope, not what you think it is. You will NOT find me presenting any award for anything that resembles 'politically correct' behaviour. I like a little off-color joke now and then. I don't mind being called 'honey' from time to time. I am not offended if I hear someone refer to a 'chairman' who is a woman. Sheesh, people, toughen up a little. I don't mind whatever you celebrate or believe in. Let me enjoy what I wish to enjoy. I know it sounds so simple - but why can't it be simple? You do your thing and I will respect that - I'll do mine and you respect that! Wow, that was easy! We were taught that in the sandbox at daycare when I was about 4! I guess that's why I never understood war.

Goofball Politics Award: How about just one huge award to most folks involved in any way in politics during the year 2008! I know there are bound to have been some good stuff going on out there somewhere . . . . but, boy did we hear and see some doozies going on, huh?

And now for Madoff: Keep your chin up Madoff. All is not lost. You still have the homes, yachts, cars, art, etc. that you can sell to pay for your defense!

Do you have a favorite? Something I forgot to mention? Leave me a comment!

THURSDAY'S THOUGHT

Grandkids are adorable! I'll get that out of the way right now. We love all of our grandkids so much it hurts!! BUT . . . when one of them calls and asks Grampaw if he was a Pilgrim!!!!!

Thought I would laugh til I cried!

She's in pre-school and this has been on her mind since before Thanksgiving when it was discussed in class. I guess that the concept of time and age haven't kicked in yet.

Grampaw did not seem to think it was nearly as funny as I did!

I wonder when she'll ask if Betsy Ross and I were good friends???

Do you believe?????

Do you believe in ghosts? I'm not sure if I really believe. I can't say that I don't believe. I think I'm leaning more toward thinking that there is really something to it - but what it is I just don't know.

My feelings are based mostly on the following personal experience. In the 80's I was living in Durham, NC directly across the street from my Grandmother. She was a very independent woman and had lost most everything in the 'great depression' - managed to work herself back into a pretty comfortable position. She owned her own engraving company and was well off when she died.

She had set up her will and estate quite well - leaving me as her executor. But she had also warned me to be very careful with everything around the house since she had a habit of hiding things in unlikely places. And these items consisted of anything from cash to teapots!

My mother, son and I very systematically went through the entire house. Yep, we found lots of stuff. Much more than we ever expected.

When we decided we were finished (after about 2 weeks), my mom and I started getting all of the items ready for each of the people who had inherited them. We began to hear footsteps up on the second floor. Very distinctly you could hear them going from the top of the stairs to one particular window in the library. After listening to this maybe 8 times, the two of us went upstairs to the window. There was a large secretary beside the window that we had checked twice. This time, we found cash and jewelry clearly laying in one of the drawers! There is just no way that we could have both miss it before.

A few days later we started hearing noises in the farthest north edge of the attic. This is an area where there is no flooring, just insulation - and I had to lay down and scoot up under the eaves to get to a medium sized old cardboard box. When I managed to pull it out - I was amazed to find a sterling silver water pitcher wrapped in old rags!

We set a mouse trap in the broom closet because we kept hearing little scratching noises coming from there. No sooner would we set the trap - than it would snap shut, no mouse, bait in tact. Over and over . . . finally we pulled everything out of the closet. Yep, in a paper bag full of rags was over $2,000 in cash!

There were a few more times that Grandma made her presence known. She led me to look under a large bow front chest (actually under the carpet that was under the chest) to find a diamond broach - - - - A rip in the backing of a framed painting bugged me for days before I finally got a little mirror and looked in the rip, yes, more cash!

No, I can't say that was her 'ghost'. I don't know what it was. But I do know that something made us check all those specific things for a third or fourth time.

I also know that I have felt that my mom, my dad and a dear, dear friend have all made me feel that they were near me in some way - just when I needed them. Were they really there - or was I just using my imagination to help myself get through a rough spot?

I KNOW IT'S NOT A FULL MOON!

I'm sure that there are a lot of loonies out there that don't need the excuse of a full moon to be just a little off-center. But why does it seem like I am constantly running into these select individuals? Like the guy who came into the auto repair shop where I work saying he needed to buy a battery for his car. We sold him what he said he needed. Two days later, he's back - complaining that our Interstate battery was bad! We finally talked him into letting us check it . . . Yep, his alternator was bad - not the dang battery!

Have I mentioned that I live on an island? It's the same island where Kennedy Space Center is located - Merritt Island, Florida. To leave our island, you either drive west over a draw bridge or you drive south over a draw bridge. Well, they are doing maintenance work on the south draw bridge right now . . . and in the afternoon rush hour the usually congested two lanes are now an impossible one lane. Each idiot thinking that if he tail-gates the vehicle ahead of him, everything will go so much faster! Sure it will! Especially while the police are visiting the two or three rear-ender accidents a day that we're having!

Here's a few items I would love to add to our list of regular service items at our repair shop:

Turn Signal Fluid Check

Seasonal Air Change for All Tires

Spare Tire Alignment

Rear Seat Adjustment

Back-up Light Alignment

No, I'd never do it - but there are days when it's tempting!

Have a great Wednesday!!

Update on the update - Quick Update on MckMama's Raffle

Thanks to everyone who helped MckMama with her raffle - - Looks like over $16,000 $19,000!! was raised in only 2 weeks for the three worthy charities! A big pat on the back to all of us!!

CHRISTMAS FUN

You do know, of course, that there is only one (1) fruitcake in the whole world! People just keep passing it around and re-gifting it cause nobody wants to eat it!

I'm pretty sure this is meant for all those bankers and Wall Street folks - and maybe that Illinois Governor!

Why, yes! I believe that was Santa - good thing you're not the great watch dog you claimed to be!

FRIDAY FUNNIES!!

I don't know about you, but I could really use from Friday Funnies this week!

Of course I do have to start out with the rat terrier - in honor of Dixie and Rascal (our rat terrier children).

I don't think either of them would bother a duck either - but watch out if you're an armadillo . . . . sheesh do they hate armadillos in their yard!











Here's a pretty good "everything" card for us to use instead of wasting postage sending cards for each and every holiday! I'd say it pretty much covers them all!

I think we've all had a major snowball malfunction like this one!!

I hate to say this - and if you are related to these fine folks - sorry - BUT . . . IDIOTS!!!

Yes, those are flip flops supporting the power strip that is plugged into the extension cord in the lower left corner - providing electricity to all the goodies on the table in the pool!

Gonna go finish the last of my CHRISTmas shopping (I hope) tomorrow - and I might even finish the cards before Monday. I'm not running a little behind am I??

Wondering on Wednesday

I wonder . . . if it's really true what they say about the full moon making things really weird? I know my boss sure gets jumpy and hard to deal with the closer we get to a full moon!



I wonder . . . why Dixie, our female rat terrier will come out of her warm bed to go outside about 11pm every night. As soon as she gets back inside ~ here comes Rascal wanting his turn outside! Why won't they go together? They go out at the same time all day long. Why not at night?



I wonder . . . why Niblet, my sugar glider, starts ringing his little bell immediately after the dogs come in from the 11pm romp? He rings the bell, runs in his wheel, chatters like crazy - just waiting for me to open his cage and let him out. He then pounces on my head and jumps around waiting for me to go to the kitchen. Oh Boy, FRUIT!!! WORMS!!! Once his little dish is loaded, he jumps on my shoulder and jabbers until I take him AND the food back to his cage!



I wonder . . . why they call it 'tourist season' if we're not allowed to shoot 'em!


I wonder . . . why every time I pull into the parking lot at the Magic Kingdom I instantly turn into a 6 year old! Does not happen at EPCOT, MGM, Animal Kingdom, Busch, Universal - ONLY Magic Kingdom!! I stare in awe - and grin like an idiot!

I wonder . . . what would make two fairly rational adults purchase a really PINK hunting rifle for their FOUR YEAR OLD granddaughter? WITH the pink camo carrying case! Well, her brother was 7 when we gave him the .22 he got his first deer with.

I wonder . . . if I'm the only one excited about LOST coming back January 21st?

I wonder . . . if anyone else wonders?

Question: Why to women bitch so much?
Answer: We're not allowed to belch, burp, fart, cuss or sweat! If we didn't bitch, we'd . . . . . . . EXPLODE!!!!!

IT'S NOT ME MONDAY TIME AGAIN!

I did not start doing my laundry yesterday - and quit right in the middle of it. Got enough done to get through a few days. Might finish it today - or might not!

And while fixing a pretty darned good spaghetti dinner this week I would never dip into that new container of chocolate chip ice cream in the freezer!

Saturday, while fishing (not catching), I certainly DIDN'T peel several shrimp and feed them to those really cute little sand pipers that were running up and down the beach!

And I would NEVER EVER pick most of the lima beans out of my mixed vegetables while eating the other night and feed them to the doggies! Who knew rat terriers liked lima beans?

Finally - - I could not have taken a 2 hour nap Sunday . . . nope, not me. It's too close to CHRISTmas and I have way too much to do to be taking naps!

And what didn't you do this week - - hmmmmmm? Leave me a comment!!!

ONCE AGAIN I PRESENT SATURDAY SEVEN!

1. Hubby and I went surf fishing to feed the fish at the beach today! I guess you get the idea that maybe we were not really catching any of those fish. Nope - got a little sunburn and wind burn. Also trying to improve my cast, I waded out just a tiny bit too far just as a wave broke - and pretty much ended up really cold and wet from the hips down. The air wasn't that cold but the water sure was! We did have a great time and watched the sand pipers running their tiny little legs off trying to avoid the waves! Those things are so quick.



2. A few years ago the Winn Dixie chain closed all the stores that were very close to us. We were left with very little choice unless we wanted to drive quite a distance . . . it was Publix or nothing. Don't get me wrong. Publix is great for a lot of reasons - but can be a little high priced unless they are having some killer specials. We recently got an Aldi a block away from Publix! Oh boy! A new bargain store (we thought). Oops! Very little choice - very few bargains - bring a quarter to use a shopping cart and bring your own bags. It won't make it in this area for long unless they lower prices - they are higher than Publix (and it's all off-brand!). But on the way home from fishing we came through Titusville and I got to shop in Winn Dixie!! Woo-Hoo! Sure doesn't take much to entertain me, does it!?



3. Anybody out in blogland shop at WOOT! like me? One of my favorite places, though I admit I don't buy much - I do enjoy reading their product descriptions . . . and will pay lots of attention to Woot-offs just in case a Random Bag of Carp comes up . . finally got one in October! Not to shabby . . . ended up with 4 working Sansas and a great camera bag for $8!



4. Left the two rat terriers home while we were gone for six hours today. They are used to hubby being home almost all the time - and surprised us by doing a little re-arranging while we were gone. They took all the pillows from the big chair-and-a-half and the couch and arranged them in the living room floor. Tugged them pretty much into a group and were laying on them in front of the TV that we left on for them! Gotta love 'em!



5. Tomorrow is laundry day . . . UGH. Why couldn't the dogs do the laundry instead of laying around watching TV all afternoon?

6. If you haven't been over to 'my charming kids' yet to enter her raffle - go take a peek. Just click on the big raffle icon at the top of my sidebar . . . I know you'll love her - - - and the raffle is making $$$ for three very worthy causes. They have already collected over $10,000! What a great thing she's doing.

7. I'm trying to watch football while doing this. I do LOVE football in the rain or snow. This one is USF and WVU in the snow. Not much snow - but those poor guys are sliding all over the place! I think when they invented those domes they made a huge mistake! Football in rain and snow is kind of like NASCAR at Bristol! The way the sport was meant to be!

Okay, that's it for this Saturday Seven! Leave me a comment - or question - I'm starting to feel like I'm talking to myself . . . not sure what a shrink would say about that!

OH BOY! IT'S FRIDAY!!

I am sooooo glad it's Friday! I've been stuck working double duty this week because the other half of our office staff is out having surgery! Sheesh - I'm gettin' too old for this!
Don't get me wrong. Her surgery is really serious stuff and I am truly concerned about her - but keeping up with the whole office on my own is more than I want to do. I'll hang in there just because she's such a sweetie - but I hope she gets back soon.
Her husband did call - her surgery looks like a success - doesn't look quite as critical as the doctors thought - but we won't know for sure until all the lab tests come back. Sounds like pretty good news to me!

REMINDER

Please don't forget to click on the icon at the top of my sidebar . . . that will take you to the amazing raffle going on at 'my charming kids'. MckMama is giving away a really great Rebel camera outfit with tons of goodies to go with it - and ALL proceeds will go to three great charities, or you can click here. . http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ and just go to her blog . . . the raffle icon is at the top! Be careful - it's easy to get addicted to her and her many small children!

THURSDAY'S THOUGHT

I saw this picture the other day and just simply fell in love. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to just relax this completely!

Wouldn't it be nice to be so innocent - to have so few worries - that this kind of sleep was just the normal every night habit!

Maybe I'll encourage my grandson, Pickle, to go into some type of research where we can all get this kind of rest any time we want.

Yep, that just might my New Year's resolution!

RAFFLE FOR A KILLER REBEL CAMERA OUTFIT!!!

Hey, everybody!! Rush over to my charming kids to check out the great raffle she has going until December 14. Click on the BIG RAFFLE BUTTON at the top of my sidebar - that will take you there.

MckMama and a friend are donating everthing to three very worthy causes - and the camera outfit looks really fantastic! You get the Rebel Camera, Long Lens, Bag and more - be sure to check it out.

If you don't know MckMama yet - read a few of her tales and you'll be hooked! Four kids ages 3 and under, Prince Charming for a husband, great sense of humor - and reading her words is like sitting down with a cup of coffee and having a great chat with laughter, warmth and tears! Instant friendship in cyberspace!

Now, click that RAFFLE BUTTON - and after you enter the raffle, hang around a while and read about the MckFamily and their adventures!

MY FIRST "NOT ME MONDAY"

For those of you not familiar with "Not me Monday", it is the cheapest therapy out in the cyber world - thanks to MckMama - at My Charming Kids (see link on the right)! What did you 'not' do this week?

There is absolutely no way possible that I just fed my husband and myself TV Dinners! Nope, not me - a good wife would never do that this close to Christmas!!

I did not stay up until 2 o'clock this morning just to finish reading a really good book! I knew I would never sleep well unless I knew 'who done it'!

While putting up the outdoor Christmas decorations I did not convince one of the neighborhood teenage boys to give me a hand - and his mom wouldn't let me pay him! Me??? Use teenage slave labor??? NEVER!

When one of my Grandsons (Little W - who is 9) announced he wanted a tatoo - it never crossed my mind to picture him in a black leather jacket sitting on a big old Harley!

That's it for me. Leave me some comments on what you didn't do lately.

Where Did My Sunday Go?

I've lost my Sunday! Sheesh, it seems like it just started - and all of a sudden it's almost 10:30pm! The end of my lovely four day weekend! Well, poop!

I guess it's back to the same old grind tomorrow - housework - work-work - and joining the human race again. Ugh - but then again, it won't be that bad.

We've got Brighthouse coming in to change over the phone system at work . . . goodbye A T & T - - - and please, oh please, I hope Brighthouse is as good as they claim they are! We do get to keep our phone numbers - - but we've gotta change e-mail . . . . . so I have to contact ALL our vendors, on-line customers, etc. and send them new contact info . . . . Brighthouse wouldn't let me have an address ahead of time. So, once we're hooked up, I get to pick the address and send out notices - change addresses on all the accounts where we get news letters and notify everyone of our new address! And - the boss will expect me to keep up with everything else that's going on at the same time! Happy, happy, joy, joy!

IT'S TIME FOR MY SATURDAY SEVEN!

Here are my miscellaneous Saturday Seven! I've picked seven items from the news of the week and here are my thoughts on them.

1. I guess Mumbai would have to be first. What is the world coming to when Jewish Centers, Five Star Hotels, etc. are under seige - for endless hours - well over 100 innocent lives lost and no one has come forward and said what they intended to accomplish with all of this!?

2. On a much, much lighter note - There is a gentleman who owns a Christmas tree farm somewhere here in the States. For the past several years he has been giving free trees to Servicemen/women and their families. This year he has been fighting prostrate cancer - so the people he has been helping all these years are now taking turns helping him with his trees that he can no longer lift! They say it's only fair since he has given so much to them.

3. It looks like Black Friday was black in more than one way. In California two complete idiots shot and killed each other in the middle of a Toys R Us store! I can't imagine what could possibly prompt anyone to carry a gun into a toy store to start with - let alone have a shoot-out in the middle of their shopping trip!

4. And in New York the crowd was so out of control at a WalMart that they forced the doors - appears they came right off the hinges. Ended up trampling an employee to death. And then the shoppers actually got mad when they tried to close the store because of it! I am sometimes so ashamed of my fellow human beings!

5. My grandson, Pickle, made the Principal's Honor Roll - again! He's in middle school and has worked really hard to get those great grades!

6. Granddaughter, MH, got good grades, too - and is doing really well with her cheer squad. They won a National Championship last year - and are shooting for it again!

7. Greatest news of all! I got the Christmas decorations up - inside - outside - everything. So glad it got done before the weatherman's predicted rain hits us Sunday!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Yes, it's Thanksgiving - at least for about another half-hour! We've just had a lazy day here around the house. Baked a chicken with all the traditional goodies - and ate enough to last us for at least a few days!

Started me thinking about Thanksgivings from my childhood. I remember driving from Charlotte to Durham to my Grandmothers' house for Thanksgiving dinner for years and years. Boy, could that lady cook!

There was always a turkey AND a ham. Mashed potatoes AND yams - both grown in her garden. Pecan and pumpkin pies - again from pecan trees in her yard and pumpkin vines in her garden. Green beans, corn and whatever other veggies she had either canned or frozen at their peak! And the cookies! There were probably at least 6 or 8 different kinds of cookies. Cakes made from scratch and banana pudding to die for!!

Once the table was set, we had better be dressed up - no jeans and tee-shirts at her dining room table - and spotlessly clean! That table would be groaning under the weight of all that food! The five in our family, Grandma & Grandpa, and anyone else who showed up were fed until we couldn't walk!

Once everything was cleaned up and put away - except the pies, cakes, pudding and cookies - most everyone would settle down in the "sun room" to watch football - between the warmth of the company and the warmth of the room, we rarely saw more than the first couple of plays . . . but we sure did get some good naps!

That was in the late 1950's and early 1960's. I hope there are still families out there doing it that way now. It was only a two hour drive back then. Our nearest son is 4 1/2 hours away - daughter is almost 8 hours and our other son is 9 hours! I guess that's what we get for living so far away. Ahhh, but we make up for it at other times of the year. We invade them and spoil the grandkids like crazy!

It's almost Thanksgiving!!

Yep, I guess I'm just about as happy as this doggie! I know the economy is in a total mess. I know everyone is worried about jobs. I know we're all concerned about how we're going to pay for Christmas. The housing market stinks. I know a lot of us are worried about how the new president is going to handle things. I know that there are so very many things happening right now that could make this the worst year ever for all of us.

But, I choose to look at it from a different direction. I have four walls and a roof over my head. It's not a huge estate - but it IS a pretty decent home.

My children are grown, pretty happy and are all able to take care of themselves and their own families.

I have electricity 24/7! Not like some 3rd world countries where it's only on for a couple of hours a day.

The gas prices around here are down to only $1.73/gallon!!! I can afford to fill up my 2001 SUV without having to take out a loan!

I have a grocery store a few miles from home where there is always food on the shelves - and I can usually come up with enough money to buy enough food to feed my husband and myself - - and the rat terriers - - and the sugar glider!

We can drive from the Atlantic to the Pacific without once having to show and ID just because we want to cross a state border!

Yep, I'd say I'm pretty happy right where I am. Things could always be lots better of course - but I don't think they are so bad, are they?

On this day of thanks - let's all try to find all of those positive things in our lives and be as thankful as possible for these happy, happy things!

LIVE AND LET LIVE!

I have a neighbor who is about 66 years old. She's really very nice. A good neighbor who keeps her yard neat and helps anyone around here who needs her. BUT, she painted her house a few weeks ago - yes, she painted it herself - and did a beautiful job. The main part is a nice cream color and the trim is really, really BLUE ! Only not that pretty. It's actually not a very attractive color at all. Oh, well, I thought. It IS her house and she did do a great job.

However, several of our other neighbors are just about going nuts over this! Our area has no restrictions - that's why a lot of us live here - we don't want restrictions for ourselves. But all of a sudden some people are really trying to restrict HER. One guy called Code Enforcement. They came out and upset our sweet neighbor terribly, telling her that the others in the area were complaining.

Now I have changed my mind. . . . I LOVE her new paint job! It has spunk . . . it adds a little spice to the neighborhood. We're not talking about some swanky gated community here. This is just a little group of little houses - maybe a total of about 50 or 60 - none of them worth more than $100,000 if that - and her place looks better than the ones owned by some of the loudest complainers.

Live and let live, people. This in no way is going to hurt you. I am encouraging her to keep her shutters and trim just as blue as she likes - and have offered to help her paint next time!

Find something worthwhile to worry about.

A TURTLE NEVER GETS ANYWHERE UNLESS HE STICKS HIS NECK OUT

Don't we all wish we had that kind of courage. Actually, I don't know if this little pup is that brave or if he just doesn't know any better!

I think sometimes it's better not to know that you can't do something. I can relate it to something I've heard in NASCAR racing. Benny Parsons used to say, "That rookie just hasn't learned that he can't go three wide in that turn!" as we all watched that rookie not only go three wide, but pass two cars while doing it! Had he been told that morning that he should NEVER try to go three wide in those turns - just think - - he might never have gotten past those other cars!

Maybe someone else can't do it -- but maybe, just maybe, you CAN! If nobody will get killed because you tried - give it a shot! You might just amaze yourself!

None of us should ever say "I CAN'T' unless we have given a good effort to try at least once in our lives.

THIS IS TRUE TOGETHERNESS!

I fell in love with this one! Somehow, kids and their pets just seem to make profound statements without even speaking!

Just another day!

I love this picture! Scares me to death, though. Is this a 'sign' of things to come? Maybe these guys should be inside the shcool instead of painting the streets - - - or is this the new grafiti??

Education just ain't what it used to be!

Me thinks that Dixie, Rascal and Niblet could do a better job.