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 |  Well let's just try this AGAIN! |
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I thought this was tough to start the first time....Don't worry I'll get it right SOME day.  Always there are nay-sayers. Just stick to your ideals. Hold fast to those dreams. Don't let go. |
| If you put a child to bed with butterfly kisses do you think they sleep happy? Telling a story to your child before they drift off - what is that like? I often wonder. Once upon a time there was a rare flower named Felicity which grew in a shaded glen. The glen was grassy softness and blue shadows. A small shiny stream bubbled through on its way to see the ocean. Butterfly kisses sweet child. Dream of that glen. Drift on the sweet waters until you reach the Ocean of Grownup Years. Felicity means happiness, joy and jumping up and down kind of fun. She was the color of bubble gum and smelled like fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. It was her job to fill the air of that glen with her sweet smells. Butterfly kisses child. Close your eyes and look beyond the darkness to the glen just ahead. Happiness waits there. In our adult years we see not the sweet glen with small bubbling brook, rather that intimidating ocean shoreline I think. Boulders obstruct our journey and sand gets in our shoes making us uncomfortable. Maturity is not just about how tall we are, how many birthdays we have had, but it is also about the pains of learning that Butterfly kisses are gone. Who puts us to bed with those? Who is it that tells us the happily-ever-after stories that eases us into sleep and happy dreams? That glen is still there it just is more difficult to remember isn't it? Looking over our shoulders we see a glimpse of it; we hope for one last look at where our innocence has flown. The Clock of Growing Up ticks loudly and we can only hear the thunder of Responsibility. Butterfly kisses to you all. Sweet Dreams as well. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| You know there are so many people who complain about co-workers. Yes there are. I am one of them so I get a vote here. Now I read in blogs how unhappy folks are at their jobs with other co-workers; the attitudes, lack of ethics, lack of brain power, and I had a thought. Perhaps we need to have a new method so everyone at work is forewarned about these folks. What do you think? Like a "WARNING - IDIOT APPROACHING" or something. I started ruminating on this problem. I thunk and thunk and B*A*M No, I didn't fall off my desk chair - again. I had an  ! Here is my solution to this ongoing problem. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Yup  I call them BUCKET-HEADS Now pictured above is the guy who is always in a panic, can't get anything done on time and the panic seems to escalate in proportion to his inability to work efficiently. Let's call this one......Mr. Paniclosaurus Say you just got to work and know that in one hour you have a meeting with all the department big wigs to go over that huge proposal that was supposed to be done in Power Point by: Mr. Paniclosaurus You walk by his office and see him, see the BUCKET and now know that instead of totally ruining your day with his inefficiency and inability to perform any given task without squealing like a little girl, you can calmly march to the CEO's office and let him know that the presentation has to be set for another day, and recommend he hand the task over to someone who can bring it home. If you believe this will lead to a promotion for yourself, volunteer for the job. You might want to recommend the CEO send Mr. Paniclosaurus to counseling for P.I.S.S. or Panic Induced Stupidity Syndrome. This takes all the horrid pressure off you and places it where it belongs - on the CEO. What do you think? I like the idea and will bring more of these BUCKET-HEADS to light soon! |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** When I start to think about a blog entry, billions of cells in my brain are fired up, my heart provides more blood to lube those brain cells and my entire body gets into the act. I wanted to do my blog entry, today, about money, people's reaction to it, their need for it, their insecurities about it, and those who have it as well as those who do not. I went out, looked at the statistics on spending, the economy (gak), articles written about money and suddenly hit on something so not money related - it shocked me. Now I had the art work done. I was geared up to write about money. This just jumped into my brain and wouldn't let me rest. Let me give you some background information first on this person. Aung San Suu Kyi is Burmese. She was born June 19, 1945 in Yangon (Rangoon). She is a nonviolent pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar (Burma), and a noted prisoner of conscience. A Buddhist, Suu Kyi won the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and in 1991 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her peaceful and non-violent struggle under a military dictatorship. I found her Freedom From Fear speech and I want to share just part of this with you now. "Within a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. Fear of imprisonment, fear of torture, fear of death, fear of losing friends, family, property or means of livelihood, fear of poverty, fear of isolation, fear of failure. A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the small, daily acts of courage which help to preserve man's self-respect and inherent human dignity. It is not easy for a people conditioned by fear under the iron rule of the principle that might is right to free themselves from the enervating miasma of fear. Yet even under the most crushing state machinery courage rises up again and again, for fear is not the natural state of civilized man. The wellspring of courage and endurance in the face of unbridled power is generally a firm belief in the sanctity of ethical principles combined with a historical sense that despite all setbacks the condition of man is set on an ultimate course for both spiritual and material advancement. It is his capacity for self-improvement and self-redemption which most distinguishes man from the mere brute. At the root of human responsibility is the concept of perfection, the urge to achieve it, the intelligence to find a path toward it, and the will to follow that path if not to the end at least the distance needed to rise above individual limitations and environmental impediments. It is man's vision of a world fit for rational, civilized humanity which leads him to dare and to suffer to build societies free from want and fear. Concepts such as truth, justice and compassion cannot be dismissed as trite when these are often the only bulwarks which stand against ruthless power." I don't know about my readers, but her words impacted me deeply. Here in America where we all take our freedoms for granted, including fear of not winning the lottery, we often forget how people struggle for freedom and are severely punished for speaking their minds in public. Here in America, people taunt politicians (and usually with good reason) not remembering that elsewhere in the world, no one is allowed to speak out at all or risk losing their family, their homes and even their lives. Here in America, people get wrapped up in a world built on chips, binary the language of the machine, and forget that elsewhere in the world real people have not the luxury of sitting and calmly writing their thoughts, dreams, stories down for the public to view. This is our species, yet we have managed to push all knowledge, all understanding of the fact that there are places in the world where people die for what we already have here in America. People are dying to gain freedom, as at one time in our history did our ancestors. "...fear tends to be the order of the day..." "It is his capacity for self-improvement and self-redemption which most distinguishes man from the mere brute." My hope is that one day, and please may it be soon, more of the world will have what we Americans take so for granted. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** So, you all know about The Magical Forest - right? You have either read about it, heard about it, or dreamed you were there. Not me! If I got transported to that Magical Forest it would go something like this: "Okay, wha - where am I? Wait...wait...maybe I'm dreaming this!" A mosquito lands on my arm and bites me. *SMACK* "Nope, not a dream - stoopid bug - hate those things! Now look a BUMP and it ITCHES!" Scratches madly. All my noise distracts me from the group of magical critters that have gathered on the edges of the clearing I'm in. There are gnomes, fairies, unicorns, and throw in some talking mushrooms just for kicks okay? "Who are you guys?" I am so not in the mood for company. "We live here in The Magical Forest! Who are you?" This from the brown spotted mushroom. The others seem to fear me - and they should! "Introductions later dude or dudette which ever, whatever you are. Right now I want to know HOW DO I GET OUT OF HERE?" "Why would you want to leave The Magical Forest? Why here you can have anything you wish for." The unicorn standing behind the brown spotted mushroom must have found his courage. "Really O'Reily? Okay, I want my desk, my computer, my LIFE BACK. Oh, and while you are at it - GET RID OF THE DEER FLIES AND MOSQUITOES!" They would stand around, I can see these useless critters, discussing my demands. "Helloooo...I'm right HERE! Now, get me out of this place!" "We cannot get you out I'm afraid. You are here now. There is no going back. We have no idea what a Combooter is but if you learn to get along with all the creatures here in The Magical For..." I would not let Mr. I Am So Smart Mushroom finish. I would go ballistic. Who wants to live in a place with NO COMPUTER? Not me. As for 'getting along' with those BUGS - forget that. See I am just not cut out for that fairytale mushy whoosie stuff. I like my hard technology, my firm grasp on my mouse and my fingers flying over the keyboard thank you anyway. ...get along with a mosquito...yeah I'll get along alright...*SMACK* *SWAT* *SSSTTTT* with bug spray I'll get along.... |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** See that picture? Well I'm starting a new tradition. That symbol means Nope - nuh uh - not even - don't go there. In Anyea-time it means: I can't blog today! Sorry you all who are so sweet and visit my port and everything. Anyea is worn out. Anyea is exhausted and tomorrow after I get some rest, I promise you a real honest to peanut butter blog entry. waves at all the wonderful people |
In Respectful Tribute to a Great Writer ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Author Robert Jordan, whose "Wheel of Time" series of fantasy novels sold millions of copies, died Sunday of a rare blood disease. He was 58. Whether you read Fantasy or not, this man was a writer that we will not see the likes of again in a very long time. His ability to weave his stories, using respect for the language and talent in his creation, was outstanding. Not everyone enjoys Fantasy and that is fine. We just lost one of our own. We lost a writer who loved his craft. He said in an interview once about writing, ""It goes beyond more than simply where the story is set. I believe it is something we take in in the air and the water. It's a matter of word choices — of the rhythms of sentences and the rhythm of speech in particular." A graduate of The Citadel, South Carolina's state military college, Rigney worked as a nuclear engineer at the old Charleston Naval Shipyard before taking up writing full time in 1977. He served two tours of duty with the Army in Vietnam. He was decorated several times, including winning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star. Did all these life experiences create the talent he used? Absolutely. I loved his series, own all the books and the first three Books on CD. I mourn his passing. I will miss his talent. We lost an artist. |
| You all remember how much fun that Sunday paper was when you were a kid right? I am referring to the SUNDAY FUNNIES. Please - like you were reading the regular pages when you were a kid. Anyhow, I think its time to bring back that fun aspect to Sunday. You will see, what I think anyway, a very funny photo. Okay I messed with it to give it that special touch. Now, this has no caption or anything like a cartoon would. Sorry, I tried to come up with something - I did. I just couldn't seem to come up with a one-liner or even more to add that little extra zest to it. Here's the deal. Sunday Fun needs YOUR help. I need you all to give me that one liner for this photo. I'll try to put some fun into your Sunday reads by posting something each Sunday that is "FUN". Put some "FUN" into my working Sundays by showing me how darn talented you all are. I can't wait to get home and see what you came up with! Enjoy, and if nothing comes to mind >shrug< oh well, I hope the picture at least makes you smile. Have a great day you all! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **  He is so funny! |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Everyone has times in their lives when they just are not picked. Little kids go through it. On the playground, teams formed, some kids just don't get picked. In high school, cliches are formed, some kids just are not picked. In our adult life, you go to the job, people have been there a long time, you just don't get picked. NOT ME BUSTER! I have this ability to push my way into pre-formed groups. I have no shame. Nuh uh! I'll just push in, laugh, tease, make fun of myself until they relent. That's why I tell people, you are either gonna love me - or hate me - no in between allowed. I understand "pecking order" really I do. Note: these next comments should hack some people off completely - I am so not PC The fat kid won't get picked for sports, too slow, would hold the team back. BS The geeky kid, won't get picked for anything really because well he/she is a geek! BS The old lady won't get promoted to a senior position because, well maybe they have health issues or will die soon, or worse retire soon. BS Then there are all those race issues, religious issues, sexual preference issues. To all this I simply say BS! I find that mentality of small-minded-bigotry boring. Oh, its aggravating at times too, but mostly it is boring. When will this HIGHLY evolved species - get over itself? When will people take all other's talents, abilities, sincere attempts to triumph, seriously? I have had customers who come in all dressed up in conservative glory (gak) and decide I am nothing more than brain dead slave material. Oh, wrong person to treat THAT way. The other co-workers will try to overhear what the conversation goes like just because I "crack them up". Last night an oriental man comes up (and trust me, pick any nationality here because I have had them all do this), is told we charge for plastic bags. He proceeds to give ME a lecture on the stupidity of Americans. Okay, that was mistake number one. THEN he translates all those BIG words he is using in his ranting. Mistake number two. THEN he looks me up and down and proceeds to have a conversation with himself about "women" and their lack of intelligence. Oh and like my Russian isn't going to come out? HELLLOOOOO... "Sir, I am sincerely sorry that you are incapable of fathoming the Earth's ecological catastrophe in regards to waste products. It seems you have not studied physics or geology or any real sciences. Therefore, it behooves me, as a responsible human being, to inform you, sir, that unless humans accept responsibility for their frivolous use of a by-product of petroleum everyone, including yourself will endure the horrendous end results." Well, that's all good and fine (yes I used 'behoove' - it seemed to just fit) but I was overheard by someone that is in charge. I was gently reminded that to chide a customer is not our way. To that I wanted to just say PPPPFFFTTTTT...with a lot of spit involved. Bottom line is no one wants to talk to me, be seen with me, or even acknowledge my existence. I "stepped over a line" it seems. >shrugs< Yeah well I had a nights sleep, got to rant a bit, BRING IT ON SUCKA!!! I refuse to be the one not picked because of stupid reasons. I will fight that pecking order and get where I want to be. Diplomacy is fine I suppose, but there are just times when a good slap down is called for. Plus - well gee, it was fun!  |
| Drops of water have been known to erode the strongest rock. Tiny ice crystals fracture huge cliffs. Wee small seeds have been found growing in the smallest of crevasses. They must know something. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** They don't give up. It's not in their nature. They just do what they have to do. Many times I have just wanted to stop trying. Stop trying to reach that dream. Stop beating my body up at two exhausting jobs. Stop getting out of bed in the morning. Humans have limits, physical, mental and spiritual. If one is worn out the others seem to fall in line. So, we give in, give up. Why then do so many keep on going on? What force in ourselves or in human nature push us to just keep going? Like that tiny fluff of dandelion seed who found a home in a crack of cement, we find resources of some kind to finish the job, complete the project, bring the dream to fulfillment. I have heard of the Human Spirit. Is that it? I read about extraordinary deeds performed by ordinary people. Where do they get that from? I watch small kindness to strangers occur and think what a difference it made to one person. A lady where I used to work was involved in the Animal Rights groups here in the valley. Trust me, someone needs to do something about all the 'domestic' pets dumped in the desert, in empty fields. She was such a tiny thing and so vehement about defenseless animals. A tigress about cruelty that humans are capable of. She was also very sweet and caring to other people. I found out, inadvertently, that she had been diagnosed with cancer. Just two people in the office knew this, myself and one other person. The lady didn't want anyone to know. She had maybe six months to live. Did it change how she faced life? Not one bit. She was still championing defenseless critters when I left that job. Looking out for something other than herself. Would you say she was stupid to not quit the job, go home, do whatever she needed to do and get ready to die? I wouldn't. She had a goal, a mission and she meant to do something with her last months of life. When I feel I can't keep this schedule up, that I can't lift one more box, smile at one more rude customer, pick up one more discarded item of clothing - I think of her. She was tenacious. She was feisty. She just wouldn't quit. I can't either. |
| So, I come in to read Blogs last night, after work and see - OH MY LEFT TOE NAIL - there is a PURPLE PEOPLE EATER TRYING TO EAT MY BLOG!!! When I calmed down, I realized that was no purple people/blog eater! I received an Award from *Barbara Maria*  and it was Purple!  and you can see it! Well I never let a good deed go unpunished...uhhh unrewarded, so in tribute to my Purple AwardiFairy - I give you this: ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Now, as you all know, Ms Barbara opened her Blog officially on 11-21-2006. From the humble beginnings: "I finally created something different. Wow! Yes green is my favorite color. Since I really don't have anything to say - this is just a test." to todays outpouring of her pain, she has been involved in WdC and in its members - "I'm telling you life would never be the same if writing .com bloggers ever decided to stop blogging." She has some interesting artistic items she has shared: "Enjoy the dancing hippo!" and enjoys relaxing past-times: "..wash the dog and the cat.." Her personal philosophy is down to earth: "Well, I got up, took a fast shower and made myself cute, cause you never know who you're gonna be eyeballed by when you go to Walmart." and she describes herself to her readers completely! "I am five foot three, I weigh about one hundred and twenty five pounds, I have long brown hair and hazel eyes and my favorite color is green. I love to sing and dance. I like to eat good cuban food, or seafood, or italian food, or mexican food, or chinese food, watermelon, strawberries, oh heck, I just looove food. I love the beach, even though I can't swim. I love to read and write poetry.(well, I try) I like to watch love stories and suspense movies. I like to just hang out at home in my tank tops and boxers and do nothing. I like to plant flowers and watch them grow. I like to paint, walls that is. I like to soak in a hot tub." All I can say to her at this point in her life is: THANK YOU BARBARA May your dancing hippo never fail, the cat and dog stay clean, your vocal talents only improve and above all....THOSE PEPPERS ARE HOT GIRL! |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** What is passion? Defined in a dictionary it is: "..overpowering emotion such as love, joy, hatred, or anger" Look on the web and you will see what people feel passionate about:  Football = passion Dog Breeding = passion Gaming = passion Writing = passion Any art form = passion A job = passion Your mate = passion Automobile = passion Food = passion Chocolate = passionWhat? Chocolate? Oh yeah - the food of all goddesses everywhere. Chocolate the one thing women can count on.  Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous?Because no one wants to quit. If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly. A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Tell me that isn't efficient! Plump lady to the waitress: I'd like Death by Chocolate for dessert, but only enough to put me in critical condition.Chocolate is the greatest gift to women ever created, next to the likes of Paul Newman and Gene Kelly. It's something that should be had on a daily basis. - Sandra Bullock Caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing. - Milton Hershey Never mind about 1066 William the Conqueror, 1087 William the Second. Such things are not going to affect one's life...but 1932 the Mars Bar and 1936 Maltesers and 1937 the Kit Kat - these dates are milestones in history and should be seared into the memory of every child in the country. - Roald Dahl As with most fine things, chocolate has its season. There is a simple memory aid that you can use to determine whether it is the correct time to order chocolate dishes: any month whose name contains the letter A, E, or U is the proper time for chocolate. - Sandra Boynton, Chocolate: the Consuming Passion And for those of you out there wondering about nutrients in chocolate - I'm here to tell you, chocolate is a vegetable. It comes from the cocoa bean, beans are veggies, 'nuff said. Put five women in one room who don't know each other, throw in some good chocolate and you can bet new friendships will be formed. Have you guessed my passion yet? Yes, I have a passion for chocolate. It began when I was very small and they introduced me to the Easter Bunny concept. I had this basket filled with candy and hard boiled eggs which had been decorated the night before. The coup d'grace was the HUGE box within which nestled a 100% chocolate rabbit. Pried those hard candy eyes right off that sucka and began on the ears. They had to pry me off the remains after five minutes. Something about a tummy ache, I don't know, wasn't really listening you see. I was floating on a cloud of chocolate effects. I have tried chocolate from all over the world; Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Sweden and yes, the U.S. Don't care - loved them all. How many of my readers (I direct this to the females in the audience) have seen the movie "Chocolat"? Uh huh...now THERE was a treat huh ladies? The only thing I thought was missing, was half way through it I ran out of my bag of chocolate kisses, dark chocolate of course. "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" - how many wanted to fall into that river just like that German fatty boy did? Not get sucked into the drain of course...just float and bob and duck your head under once in a while. NO ONE? Oh...must just be me then! I adore chocolate - I love it - I have to have some, even if it is only a small morsel, each and every day. MUST HAVE CHOCOLATE! I guess you would say I do have a passion. I know I say I do! |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** America - you have had more songs written about you; more stories have been inspired by you; your land has provided shelter for many from other lands. America - your scars are just as plentiful; your troubles just as sad; your people in such a hurry. America - one word that has been heard across the world. America - one nation under many beliefs holding all of us in her beauty. America - I will not forget what you have given and I will not forget that day in September where you were almost brought to your knees. I will not forget. O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for halcyon skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea! |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I have heard about "hindsight being 20/20" - we all have. I have heard people complain that if they only knew THEN what they know now. I think I need a rear view mirror to remind myself of things. I want to look backwards and see and feel what I saw and felt when I was writing. I don't know if it would help me now though. I thought a lot about this. If I could pull from the past into the now, would it get me out of this slump? We can't go back into a relationship the way it was at that particular time - right? We can't go back and take words we said in anger back - correct? So in reality even MY reality - I can never go back. I can't get to that golden time of writing where each day was a rainbow shower of words begging to be be written; ideas that could not stay contained; the joy of writing what I knew was in my very essence. I can't go back. Why does that make me so sad? In ten years will I look back again and see this period as unimportant? Will I have learned from this horrible period of my life? Will it have made me stronger? Weaker? Smarter? Braver? Will it gain me anything to have all my words gone? I hate this - truly I do. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I didn't think I would have to do this. I notice that stuff happens in blogs that sometimes brings my Russian out.  Here is the deal. If you come in to MY Blog to read it - then enjoy it, be inspired by it or whatever - but if it INSULTS you in any way...CLOSE THE FRICKIN' WINDOW okay? Now, I reserve the right to ignore anyone I so choose. Get over it. This is a writing site and I take that VERY seriously. I am a writer with no words inside right now, but I do know about FREEDOM of choice. My hopes for this Blog is that between the folks that come in and comment and myself I can find a way BACK to my words, stories, novels etc. I have no intention of curing cancer in here okay? I am not here to save the frickin' world - well except for that BullFrog Partee' thing... Seriously if you find my blog entry or entries offensive DO NOT READ THEM! YOU are a mature adult (and if you aren't why are you in an 18+ rated blog?) so you can freely make up your own mind. Rant over now...maybe...let me think...yeah it's over...  |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I have a new theme song! Sing with me now: A S'lothing I will go A S'lothing I will go Put down the rag and broom cuz A S'lothing I will go! No need to fret about that dirty dish No worries on that score When you do the S'Loth The only important thing Is that nothing gets done no mo' So.... A S'lothing I will go A S'lothing I will go Put down the rag and broom cuz A S'lothing I will go! Dirty clothes just lie there Look at me I don' care I am going to go a S'Lothing I certainly have the flair! Everyone now.... A S'lothing I will go A S'lothing I will go Put down the rag and broom cuz A S'lothing I will go! Wha? S'Lothing is a GOOD thing! Gives a body time to um, reflect! Yeah that's it - I reflected today. I reflected into my pillow about my bed being so comfortable. My puppies S'Lothed with me too. All of us sprawled out on that bed REFLECTING on things. We will get our wisdom on someday. What with all the REFLECTING we do. Actually they reflect alot more than I do. Maybe the licked their gained wisdom off?  I did promise myself that if I ever had more than six hours off, I would CLEAN and do LAUNDRY and DISHES and BRUSH my PUPPIES. But I decided today that I would invent a new life style called S'Loth. I am going to have buttons printed and everything. Then I will make tons of money - especially after I write the book that tells everyone the 1 step program to successful S'Lothing (sorry guys - can't give it away!) and make tons of money with which to put my S'Loth into perfect practice. They say practice makes perfect right? I love my new Phoolosophy - S'Lothing. It comes with its own mascot as pictured above. He needs a manicure and some new conditioner for his hair, but isn't he absolutely special? I would name him Wilbur but someone said Bugs Bunny named something that already.  My mascot needs a NAME! How can I introduce him on the Oprah Show with NO NAME? His picture up on Times Square - with NO NAME! This will not do. tsk tsk...If YOU were my mascot for S'Lothing what would you want your name to be? Come on you guys are my inspiration - INSPIRATION ME! Please? |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Three Dreams I want to come true – I dreamt of a ring. It was such a powerful image that I know someone, somewhere, someday will have it made for me and give it to me. I won’t describe it here as it must come true on its own. I had a laughing dream that woke me up. In the dream, I was sitting in an audience and there was a comic on stage. I don’t remember the jokes, or any of his routine, but I started laughing so hard in the dream – it woke me up still laughing! I believe laughter is healing. It touches us so deep inside and I don’t think we realize how much it helps. It takes away the dull edges of every day life, puts glitter in our minds and sprinkles star dust on our souls. I want my life to be like that dream maybe not every hour of every day, but laughter must be part of each day of my life. I had one dream where I was driving a Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class in metallic red, up a twisting turning mountain road. I was a shifting marvel let me tell you – well in my dream I was. The car hugged those curves and the engine gave all the power I wanted and more. Please understand I don’t know how to drive a stick, but in my dream I was amazing. I fell in love with the car, and some day – I would love to own one. I should learn to drive a stick huh? Daydreams are something else again and perhaps I’ll share those with you some day. I have so many daydreams it’s amazing I make it through a workday intact. The three listed above were sleeping dreams. I want each of them to come true. I do not need them to come true, I just really hope they do. |
| You may not like to think about it. You may wonder in the quiet shadows of your soul what will happen to you - when you get old and become a statistic. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** We see them everyday. Some alone, some with spouses or even with their caregivers - the elderly. Crippled, walking slowly and with great pain, some look so defeated and alone - one day this could well be you. Our elderly population is not going to go away, or even get smaller. Due to fewer births in the United States it is speculated that the group of elderly will continue to rise. In this country, extended families, where the elderly are taken care of at home, has all but disappeared. We are a "youth-oriented" society. No one wants to see wrinkles, age-spots, walkers, canes or white hair. We avert our eyes from anyone with these horrible disfigurations. Yet each and every one of us is faced with just that - old age. Don't kid yourself that you will never get old. Forget about pretending that it can or will pass you by. It won't. We avoid thinking about getting older because old age conjures up our worst fears: of being trapped in a bed or wheelchair, of being a burden, of losing our ability to think and reason — of being alone. As we get older we'll experience with mounting frequency the passing of friends and loved ones. Old age and loss go hand in hand. This bothers me on so many levels. As someone who wants and needs to know anything about everything, I know a great resource is the elderly. They have stories to tell - usually no one to tell them to. They sit alone, depressed and suicidal. Suicide isn't the choice of the young by any means. Every day in the United States, 17 adults over the age of 65 commit suicide — the highest suicide rate of any demographic group. Let us not forget the poverty many of our elderly have to live with either. Children and the old are the two groups hit the worst by poverty. Rising costs of health care, food, basic needs tend to strip our elderly of the means to use their retirement money on anything but meager basics - like cans of cat food to eat. I have been hungry. I have gone days without eating, just drinking water. I am young and strong. I survived it. The elderly can't. Social Security was set up as a temporary measure, this is true. I have read both sides of the fight about this issue, and let me explain something. Politicians know the mean average age of the voting public and know that in ten years that age will keep rising. People aren't having the number of babies in the United States anymore. The "future" generation of youth is shrinking while our aged population increases. By the time the "old" are in a majority position - we will have lost so many to the poverty of both financial as well as spiritual means. Take hope away from a human and they tend to give up. There is nothing romantic about getting old. There is nothing pretty about it and if you don't have courage now to face life - good luck if and when you get to the end of the journey. I used to visit the elderly in "facilities" meant to house them, keep them "safe" and provide "care". I visited and from conversations knew that the families of so many of these people ignored their old, rarely visited, called infrequently and cared about these family members little, if at all. I no longer have a vehicle to get me to these facilities and here in the Valley - there are hundreds of them. Please do yourself a favor. Find a care facility in your area. Adopt an elderly person. Spend time with them. Learn from them and show them you do care. It doesn't take much time or energy. No one has all that much more important stuff to do. Think of it this way - someday that person in the wheelchair - it could be you. Thank you. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** "Yup I remember that time well Sonny. Me and her was tight. She held me firmly in her grasp. Stranglehold almost. She made me do paper presses for hours. I tell ya boy, those were the days!" "Really dude? She doesn't do nuttin' with me. Oh yeah, once she tapped me against her keyboard. I'm tellin' ya the broad has no respect!" "Watch the way that ball rolls young un! Show some respect for your elders and for her too. She is not doing very well lately you know? Ever since that bomb hit she hasn't been the same." "What bomb? Like a neutron type? Homemade kind? Whatcha talkin' about Gramps?" "Oh for her kind it was the worst kind of bomb around. Bigger than those that our fellows wrote about during WW2. This one blew all her words away. Left her without anything to write." "Yeah well still old guy, I wanna do something ya know? I sit in this crapola house of plastic, laying around all day watching those looney stickers playing tag, blowing dog fur off myself and for what? She doesn't know I exist!" "Patience you young ink stick. She knows you are here alright. She just can't use your kind right now." "Sure she pounds those Key Brothers all the time though now don't she? Like whadda they have I don't? Tell me that!" "Yup, yup, there is a special bond between her and the Key Family at this point in her life. She used to need to have me around and would stick me places that I blush to tell someone of your tender years! My goodness I remember once, she put me behind her in her back pocket and I was almost destroyed when she sat down. She remembered just in time or those jeans would have held what was left of my life's blood." "Man, I could get used to being stuck in that place old fella. I mean, come on!" "Watch it Sonny - like I said you show some respect or I'll cap you and no one will ever be able to use you again." "Yeah, yeah yeah. So tell me about the 'good ole days' Gramps. I mean you ain't going to be seeing the light again. You are all dried up!" "Sad state for me it is. After all those stories and things I helped her put down. I hear the Neat Notepads have gone into hiding lately. Poor dears, they don't get out like they used to either. Why Stella Steno Pad and I had quite a thing going on for the longest time you know. I would sit nestled in those metal curls of hers and I would whisper love songs to her. She would get so flustered her pages would curl Heehee...yup those were the good ole days." "Can't we do something about this? I mean, you've been in her life now for what, five years? You must have some ideas on how I can get her ta notice me. I'm like brand new - a damn virgin! Man, those other guys in the house sure don't let me forget that I tell ya!" "Be patient little man. Some day the words will come back to live in her, then she'll need to carry you around all the time. She used to have ideas filling her up and had to write them down immediately. I don't know though. She seems so sad lately." "Yeah, like this morning! She opened the door to our house and I could feel her just staring at me. Gave me the willies I'm tellin' ya!" "Just be patient. It will happen. When it does you best make sure all your parts are in working order though. She goes to use you and you don't perform - pfft...out you go and she'll grab for someone else! You mark my words..." |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** It seems the new Political Party - The BullFrogs - have left many a Blogvillian confused. What is this partee...uh Party about they ask? Who are BullFrogs and what do they stand for? We, at BF Central, would like to clear up some of this confusion. Our staff, of one, has scurried about on a "fact finding" mission to bring you interesting information. Spread the word. You won't get warts either! -A BullFrog can jump as much as 20 times their own length. -The earliest known BullFrog fossils to date were found in Arizona and are believed to be from the late Jurassic period, about 190 million years ago. -Most BullFrogs can change their color somewhat to match their surroundings. -In Japan BullFrogs are symbols of good luck -In India BullFrogs personified thunder. -In China it wasn't the Man in the Moon but the BullFrog in the Moon. In a lunar eclipse the BullFrog swallowed the moon! -The golden poison arrow BullFrog of Columbia has a skin secretion that is so deadly it can not be handled by bare hands. Native Americans used the poison to coat their hunting arrows. Just 0.2 micrograms of his poison in your bloodstream would kill you. These small items are brought to you courtesy of The Tor For President Campaign. This is a non-profit (no kidding) organization. Contact the ChairFrog for further derails...details...sheesh! |
| ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Have you ever washed your hands at the kitchen sink, then gone to the freezer to grab some ice and have the ice stick to your wet hand? Me either! Have you ever stood in front of a class of about seventy people to give a huge presentation and have someone belch loudly while you were trying for serious? Nuh uh – me either! Have you ever been so tired when you got up late that you dressed too fast? Then when you got to school or work notice that you have on two completely different shoes? Nope, not me. Have you ever been at a zoo, seen a religious person walking towards you then a bird craps on them? You start laughing and can’t stop. Again a big - nope. Have you ever worn a hair extension thinking how wonderful you looked, then gone through a revolving door and have the hair piece get caught? Didn’t think so. Have you ever…WAIT ONE BLOODY MINUTE! Do you all think this stuff has happened to ME?  Embarrassing moments in our lives. Times we want the floor, sidewalk, earth to just open up wide and say “Ahhhh yet another one to swallow!” I was sitting at the Student Union one time, bragging to everyone that I could go up to anyone at all and say anything. What a fool I was. The bets were placed. The information given to me to say. Now all they needed was my “victim”. The man had just gathered up his tray of goodies at the counter, and was turning around when everyone at my table pointed and agreed he was the one. The Gentleman in question could have been a professor, a salesman of some sort – anything actually. What made him stand out was the suit and tie he wore, the shoes with the high shine and the carefully cut and combed hair. This was a university for the love of Hershey kisses! Well I wanted to win the bet, odds were running high against me you see. So, I without stopping to think about the ramifications of the situation should the Gentleman be someone who was actually “Important” (meaning could affect my graduation), got up and approached him. I had memorized the lines my friends had scripted well. “Sir, excuse me. Didn’t I see you last night? In the X-Club, you know the stripper bar? I thought I glimpsed you in the audience.” Okay, not a very bright thing to say if this were the Dean but it turned out it wasn’t the Dean. Oh no. No. No. No. Much worse than that. “Excuse me Miss. I don’t know you. I have no idea what you are talking about. Now, as you have mistaken me for someone else would you mind getting out of my way?” I know – I know. You are all screaming at me to just let it drop and apologize aren’t you? Nope – had to go that extra inning. “I was sure that was you that shoved the twenty dollar bill into my G-string!” I could hear gasps and laughter from my friends. No one protested me polishing their script, uh uh. If they had had pom-poms they would have been standing and cheering me on. At this point Gentleman Stranger looked upset a bit. I wanted to reassure him. “Don’t worry sir. We get a lot of married men who come into the club.” Just shoot me. I didn’t realize the Gentleman I as speaking to was a Diplomat who was visiting our campus to speak to students about going into the Diplomatic Corps for a living. He proved it by showing me his I.D then asked for mine. He then informed me, in glacier tones that he did not appreciate me using him as the butt of a stupid, immature, blah blah blah, joke. I wasn’t done yet. I would have dropped it had he not taken “that tone” with me. Seriously I would have apologized and walked away. He’s the one who waved that red cape in front of me! “Really sir? Well, since you don’t appreciate some simple, non-violent type of fun, or humor, perhaps you might want to check your zipper. That is what caught my eye initially you see. I was trying to break it to you gently but now…?” His hands were loaded with his tray of food and drink. Oh gee, he couldn’t remedy that situation immediately. I shrugged and walked away. My friends were nowhere to be seen. The table stood empty with our glasses and plates the only testimony that anyone had ever sat there. I wasn’t embarrassed – I was mad. People just take themselves too darn seriously. Plus he ruined what could have been, should have been, a harmless fun scenario. |
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