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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER INTO MY THOUGHTS ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** All I really care to be in life is 'contributing'. A special THANK YOU! to all who have contributed to mine here at WDC. ![Merit Badge in Creativity
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Recognizing your three entries into the Bloggers Contest.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Creativity-2180.gif) Blessings! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** C.L. Hanna ~ Lottie  REMINDER: Everyday that you can wake up free, it's going to be a great day! Find Me Here Also:http://www.clhanna.com ~ Visit My Website http://www.en.articlesgratuits.com/login/articles.php |
....this is in follow up to my earlier blog entry for today. After discussing this whole coffee thing with the likes of Nada   and pencilsoverpens - I AM OFF TO GET THE COFFEE!  I never said I was trying to kick the addiction  Mmmmmmmmmmm....I can smell it now! |
| I'm admitting here for the first time...that I am guilty. I am guilty of enjoying a good cup of coffee. Or two. I have finally admitted to myself (and now to the world) that I NEED coffee. Yesterday, I spent most of the day feeling awful! I had a headache that would not quit...even after two aspirin. My body ached and I was in a stupor all day long. I was just plain miserable and didn't much care. I believe that it was all because I was out of coffee. Every morning I have two cups of coffee. That is usually my daily intake. I rarely have coffee after noon. But in the morning, I NEED MY COFFEE. Okay, well I never would have admitted that before yesterday. I would have said, "I LIKE to have coffee every morning" or "I WANT coffee every morning" - but I would not have admitted to being addicted and feeling the pain of withdrawal if I did not have my morning coffee. I am feeling much better today. I am still out of regular coffee, but I have decided to try an experiment. I am going to drink de-caf. I am going to see if my body REALLY is addicted to the caffeine...or if perhaps my tastebuds and nose can be satisfied with the UNleaded version of the brew. Maybe my 'episode' yesterday had NOTHING to do with the missed morning coffee. Maybe I sat too long and that's why my body ached. Maybe I sat too long because I was just tired from not getting much sleep the night before. Maybe my all-day-headache was from allergies. And maybe, just maybe, it won't matter at all that I don't have any REAL coffee in my system again today. C.L. takes a drinks of De-caf. C.L. shivers and cries, "What IS that stuff?" Experiment ends. Deemed unsuccessful. Results conclusive. |
| Hubby went back to work today after 84 days off due to colon re-section surgery. It was quiet with him gone. My husband is one who can not go for long without noise. I am one who can go for days with no television, radio or c.d. player. Not Hubby. If there is no machine making loud noises...he is making the noise. He can not even walk through the house quietly. He even sleeps loudly! Just about everything about my husband is loud - including the Hawaiian shirts he loves to wear. I crave solitude. I love to hear only the sounds of the wind rustling the trees, the rain falling, the birds singing. I have tried at various times to whisper something in confidence to Hubby, only to have him loudly ask, "What?" We have had very few secrets in our life together. Hubby has 'shop ears'. He also played in Rock and Roll bands. He does not hear well, and that can be frustrating to someone like myself who can hear too much at times. It can be frustrating to him, as well. When you don't hear well, you tend to think that people mumble. You also miss a lot of things...but one thing you don't often miss out on is sleep. Hubby can sleep anywhere at almost anytime, in great part due to his inability to be easily disturbed by noise at normal levels. So, today was quiet around the house. It was so much fun to be able to write this morning without being disturbed. Well...that is until Hubby decided to call me from work. He called the first time and asked if I was getting a lot accomplished (without his presence). Of course I fibbed just a little and said, "No." The second time he called, he wondered if I was accomplishing much since he was continuing to interrupt me by calling again. Even as I write this, he is loudly singing crazy songs - in between commercials - while watching the baseball game. But, this morning I was able to write in solitude for several hours and it was wonderful! Hubby has recovered from a very lengthy illness and for this we are both thankful! As a result of his ability to finally return to work, I feel my writing beginning to recover, as well.  |
| Whew! The dreaded yard sale is over! It was over before the scheduled quitting time. Too few shoppers and too much sun caused us to make the decision to close up shop earlier than advertised. At the last minute, two ladies showed up ready to go through the items, both those that remained visible and those which had been packed up. They spent a little money and that made for a better ending to the sale. We felt a little less like 'quitters', somehow. Although it was not as profitable as we had hoped it would be, everyone did earn a little spare cash. I've said it before and I'll say it again...it's always surprising what does and does not sell at yard sales. One woman asked me if the large calculator I had priced at $5.00 actually worked. I said, "Yes, it works fine...I only used it a couple of times when I lost the one arm that holds the paper roll." She had been carrying it toward me as though to pay for it. One 'arm' and ONLY one arm was plainly attached to the calculator, but when I said what I said...she looked at it and put it back on the table. Sheesh! I should have just said, "Yes." All in all, it was very uneventful. Not very interesting at all, until Saturday, late morning. At that time a man asked who owned the house and I made myself known. He asked if I knew that the house had been built as a wedding gift. I did. He said that he'd first encountered the house back in 1967 when he had begun to collect antique clocks. The owners at that time had owned a shop in the front of the house which was where antique clocks were repaired and sold. We had purchased the house from the clock man's widow in 1977. The story of the doctor building the house as a wedding gift to his daughter was told to us at that time. Since purchasing this house, we have attempted to sell it without success. We have rented it out numerous times. We finally decided to return to the house and return it to the condition it deserves. It is a charming house with wonderful quaint details. We were paid so many compliments during the yard sale by people who have been watching the 'restoration' progress. It never occurred to me that so many area people might have noticed our efforts. One woman even said she would like to recommend me to her neighbors who have need of landscaping and aren't sure what to do.  That was exciting!I gave several people a tour of the back yard and answered many questions about the selection of plantings around the house. What a feeling of community the house and yard seemed to spark! (And the funny thing is...I really don't think it so 'outstanding'). It is always more fun to see things through the eyes of others, don't you agree? Well...the yard sale is over, but who knows, maybe something else is just about to begin! I think it was actually more of a YARD sale, than we realized...the yard (and house) really sold themselves to many of the visitors. |
| Every once in a while something so small can seem so huge. When it is a problem, that can be a...well, a problem! But, when it is an unexpected, pleasurable experience...that is a blessing! Tomorrow is the dreaded Yard Sale. This afternoon our wonderful neighbors invited us over to their house to share in the evening meal. It was an invitation that was both unexpected and appreciated, as I have been cleaning, sorting and 'stickering' stuff for days. To not have to think about what to have for supper was a relief. To not have to eat fast-food was a bigger relief! Our neighbors had been on a vacation, recently. They visited a lovely mountain lake where they caught many fish. Guess what we had for supper? Yep! Along with mashed potatoes which had been topped with cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon, coleslaw that was to die for, green beans, fresh yeast rolls with butter and homemade strawberry jam, and for dessert - homemade strawberry pie (they picked the strawberries, too) with whipped cream! It was DELICIOUS! These neighbors are a blessing. They are a treasure and we are so glad that they are OUR neighbors. We talked and laughed for a couple of hours. The food was great...but the real enjoyment are the people, the family, who are our neighbors. When you have neighbors like ours, the world just seems a little bit better place to live. I'm still not looking forward to that Yard Sale tomorrow...but, my outlook was sure made better by the strawberry pie tonight! |
| I am always finding myself "sorry" for something. Either I have a bad attitude, made an out-of-line remark, or just plain forgot something or someone when I should have remembered. Today, I'm apologizing for my boring life! My life, as it is at the current moment, is completely and without a doubt BORING. Hence, I can think of nothing to blog about today. I know you are probably thinking, "How boring could it be?" But I am not exaggerating. The most excitement I will have had in many a long day now, will be the Yard Sale which I am going to endure this Friday and Saturday. It will be at my home, in my driveway, but will offer items supplied by my married daughter and possibly my single son (should he manage to actually find the time to assemble his stuff) and possibly even some things from his girlfriend. I have already committed to this project by putting an ad in the local paper. I know I will work like a dog...and make less money than the advertising will cost me...but, it seems I will at least have a little social activity for a couple of days in a row. So again, I apologize that this is all I could muster up for today's blog...I guess that's just the way it is somedays. Like Tor says, "Somedays you get the bear and somedays the bear gets you." I would add, "But, when the bear doesn't even care to give it a go, you know your life is boring! LOL!!! |
| This is a very short and selfish entry today. I would like to invite all who find this blog to read the "daily" short story I am working on here on WDC. It won't take much of your time...but it would be helpful to me to hear from those whom I trust and count as friends. Let me know what you think (if anything) about the story as it unfolds, but even more than that - critique my grammar, please. I am a comma addict! There...I've said it. I need all of the help I can get to end the horrid misuse of the things! Here is the item:"Invalid Item"  I hope that you will stop by and have a read on me! |
| Yesterday was the start of the wedding season for our family. Between June and October of this year, we have a total of five nieces and nephews who are going to be tying the knot. Yesterday was the first and it was lovely, however, five weddings means at least five showers, as well. That's a lot of gifts! I decided to purchase the shower gifts, but give money to each of the happy couples for the actual wedding gifts. My husband went to purchase a card for yesterday's affair and thought that he would help out by purchasing ALL of the cards at once. That would have been fine, but he also decided that he would get two cards the same, two other cards the same, and one entirely different. To clear that up - I have two sets of matching cards and one card without a match. I know this does NOT seem a big deal...unless you understand that two of the nieces are sisters and two of the nephews are brothers. In other words, I had to think it out carefully and "mark" which cards to use for whom so that there would not be the same card given among siblings. I just think it a little impersonal if I give the same card to sisters (especially) because they will probably see each others cards. Guys may not notice this type of thing, but I think that girls may. I usually choose cards based upon the individual(s) who will be receiving the card. I think a card should be personal. My husband had it all figured out in a minute and could not see why it should give me any concern. The problem I was having was that two of the cards just seemed 'wrong' for the individuals that they would have to go to. They just don't seem to 'fit'. I suppose when it's all said and done it will be the money that matters to the recipients. And, after all, it will all look the same. It will all be the same color and say the same thing, so what's the difference? It's not a bad deal, either. We give them a little something in a card and we get to dance and dine on good food and cake! Not a bad deal at all! |
| Looking around blogville it seems to me that many writers appreciate Wednesdays. Maybe most people appreciate Wednesdays and blogville just happens to be inhabited by writers, but at any rate it would seem that Wednesdays are appreciated. I like Wednesdays for two reasons. The first reason is that whatever negative or less than desirable thing(s) may have occurred previously - it's now in the past. It's behind me! The second reason is that I have something to look forward to...the end of the week - better known as the weekend! Wednesdays are mid-week which reminds me a bit of mid-life. Similar to reaching mid-life, reaching mid-week allows many of us to slow down a bit, to reflect a little, perhaps measure our previous accomplishments and plan for what we need to accomplish before the end confronts us. We all know that we are able to enjoy the week-ends more when there is nothing unfinished looming over us. Ahhh...Wednesdays. Ahhh...Mid-life. Both tend to be a little more inspiring. We realize that we can relax a bit and yet, we also realize that we have much more to do. We have a little more time to be creative, and we also have a little less time to finish whatever it is we start. We have come to a place where we can be relieved that some things are behind us, yet know that the end will also quickly be upon us. I like Wednesdays, mid-week. I think I like mid-life, so far. But I guess if I am to enjoy the week-end, I had better tie up all the loose ends. Hmmmm...sounds like a good plan for mid-life, as well. |
| It was a wonderful day for sailing yesterday. So, since the kids were both busy with their own lives and could not spend the day with their father, we joined another couple - good friends - who were also in the same boat There were strong winds as we set sail on the small Beneteau and the temperature out on the water was perfect. Thankfully, our captain friend is focused and experienced because we had a couple of 'thrilling' moments as the gusts had us quickly shifting our positions to better balance the vessel. Sailing is more fun when there is a little excitement and when the air is 90 degrees and you get blind-sided by 70 degree water it is more than refreshing, to say the least! Coming back to port was a much slower process. Tacking back and forth as the winds died down I was given the honor of steering the boat. It was a long relaxing and enjoyable sail, but by the time we had docked our appetites had us anxious for some good food. Seafood seemed the best follow up to our afternoon and evening of sailing, so we headed to a Red Lobster and a whale of a feast! Sailing is not for everyone, but we are always glad for the opportunity to enjoy a good time on the water with a nice stiff breeze and good friends. There aren't too many other activities which can be both relaxing and exhilarating all at once, depending on the conditions. And of course, the conditions can change very suddenly...making it interesting and challenging at any given moment. Though it may seem like no big deal, sailing requires skill and forethought as well as knowledge of the boat and it's equipment. We wouldn't think of going out on the water without someone like our friend who is qualified in every aspect of sailing. Yet, he trusts us to take the helm once in a while and expects us to all do our part with the sails, etc. He remains in charge while allowing us to be active participants, which keeps it from being boring. That seems to be a good example of how the Christian life works, too. God is the capable, in control captain, who allows us to actively participate as we sail through this life. Sometimes the winds are just right and sometimes there is a lull. Sometimes we are going at full speed and sometimes we have to tack back and forth, exercising patience. Sometimes we have the wind in our sails and sometimes we get the wind knocked out of our sails. We can even get docked at times, because it is better and safer for us. Like sailing, the more I experience and know of life, the more I can appreciate the need for a GREAT captain in my boat! |
| It's Father's Day. My father died when I was 23. I was a new mother with an eight month old daughter. My youngest brother, who was very close to my father, was only 18 and my little sister who actually saw her daddy die had just turned 9. It is never easy to lose your father at any age, young or not so young. I am thankful to have known my father. Many children are growing up in homes where there is no father, no male role-model, no 'head' of the household. The statistic I recently heard was that 50% of the children growing up today are doing so without a dad. I am not sure that I can even begin to imagine what effects on society will be realized as a result of this statistic. To never have had a father must be even worse than having your dad die at the young age of 49, as I did. Many others have had fathers who don't deserve to wear that title. Men who have dishonored themselves, their wives, their children and the station of fatherhood, should be ashamed and held accountable. To have a father who causes harm instead of providing protection for his family must be worse than I can imagine, and to me such a man is not a real father. A man such as this is not even a man, but rather a plague on society. Men, be careful how you live. Whether or not you realize it there are children watching you. There are younger men watching you. You are constantly teaching. Does that surprise you? It's true. As a man, you are being looked up to by those around you. It's just the natural way of humankind to look to the men in our homes and our society for direction and leadership. Boys will be boys, for awhile, and then they will be men! Girls are soon young women, looking for husbands. Both are measuring and weighing and considering what the men in their lives have done or not done. What fathers show their children, how they interact with their children, how they treat their wives - the mother of their children - these are the lessons which are being taught and learned every day. Each generation is at the mercy of the previous generation. What we understand, how we interact, what we stand for or tolerate, is in part handed down from the generation before us. Fathers, real men, strong male leadership, are all more important to the future success of our society than we are often willing to admit. I had a wonderful father. I never had to fear my father, though I had every reason to respect him. He was kind and loving, but he was also strong. When he said "no" he meant it. When he said "yes" he meant it. He provided for his family. He spent time with his family. He was responsible. He was dependable. He was careful of how he lived his life and was well respected. He was a real man, a real husband, a real dad. I miss my father. I miss what he contributed to my life and to our family. I miss what I had because it was so good. I was blessed and I know that. Men, be careful how you live. You have within you the ability, the possibility, to bless a future generation or curse it. You are needed. You are longed for. Real men, real dads, real husbands, are necessary. Society will not survive if left fatherless and abandoned. Like the Marines, society today is looking for a few good men! Happy Father's Day! |
| We all would like to know why we are here and what we are doing, what our purpose is exactly. We may even ask the questions and seek the answers on a daily basis. If and when we get the answers to our questions, we don't always like them and they don't always make sense to us. It would be nice if everything always made sense and everything always flowed along like a perfect rhyme; like beautiful poetry. It would eliminate so much stress and stop the constant questioning in our minds, wouldn't it? That's what my relationship with God does for me. Somehow, believing and trusting in Him allows me a little less stress and relieves my anxieties. I feel there is a better, more natural flow to life. Maybe it's because I am not trying to supply all of the answers, but relying on Him to reveal them in His timing. Maybe the fact that I am trusting in His abilities over mine grants me freedom from insurmountable stress levels. It's not easy to just trust. Neither is it easy to go it alone without any faith. Sure, for many trying to believe in a God whom they can not see and touch just leads to even more questions. Understanding that, I don't try to force this faith of mine on others. It is something which must be individually acquired. Individuals must come to a place in their journey through life where they come to the end of themselves and begin to search for that which they acknowledge is 'missing'. The person who admits that they have questions which they can not answer, needs which they and others can not meet and an emptiness which never seems to be filled, are the persons who are able to at least try faith in God on for size. They are shopping, so to speak. I am always willing to share my faith...and if any are ready to 'buy' what I have discovered, I am willing to lay it out for their further inspection, but it is a free gift, and that is what makes it so ideal. You can always give a gift back! It doesn't cost anything, so a person isn't out anything! It's perfect! It's a perfect gift which offers perfect love and perfect peace...no strings attached and no obligations other than to believe, trust, and live eternally...within the perfect care and support of the perfect Father who sacrificed His perfect Son for those who would just accept the perfect gift He offers every single imperfect person who is interested enough to repent of their sins. (And all of us know that we have done wrong things - no matter how we try to convince ourselves that it's just about doing whatever 'feels right or feels good' - we just don't like calling those wrong things sins!) The poet in me loves a GREAT rhyme. The person I am loves having a reason, a purpose for being alive. If I can't figure it out, I trust God to show me. Like a good poem, it sounds better when I allow Him to be in control and like a good story, I know the ending won't disappoint. Maybe that's why I am finding so many other writers who love God and feel called according to His purposes. |
| Yesterday was a lovely day where I live. It was a perfect day for a garden party! Several of my girlfriends came to a light luncheon in my backyard. The table was covered in a Wedding Ring quilt which my great-grandmother pieced and my mother quilted many, many years ago. Over top the quilt I placed a snow white cut-work topper. In the center of the table was placed a nose-gay of deep burgundy, miniature roses from the one friend's garden. Pots of pansies and violas surrounded the seating area, offering their sweet subtle scent. The sound of the birds and the waterfall in the pond added to the effect. We dined on spinach salad, created from the bounty of another friend's garden, my delicious salmon spread, topped with scallions and cucumber slices on Italian and Pumpernickel breads. Another of the girls brought a cheesecake sampler. We drank Swedish style pear sparkler and finished off with coffee and tea. Ricky Nelson sang a forlorn song about a negative concert experience he had in 1971 or 1972. The song, "Garden Party", was a huge success for him, turning a negative into a positive ~ which was also lucrative. He wasn't happy with the 'garden party' he had attended...but our garden party was wonderful! In tribute I would like to share: I went to a Garden Party With some of my best friends A chance to share some delicacies From our kitchens and gardens When they came to my garden party They all knew my name They were glad to eat and laugh with me And I was glad they came So, it's all right now We really do know how To have fun and enjoy ourselves We do it very well! Garden parties are the best!!! |
| Shhhhh!!! The chickens are all asleep. Whew! It's peaceful around the blogging community this evening. But 'sleeping chickens' poses a question which only those who write can appreciate. Q. Should we let sleeping chickens... (a.) lie or (b.) lay? To lie means "to rest" or "to recline"...therefore, that would fit the dilemma perfectly well. However, lay means to "put" or "to place" and would work equally well since chickens lay eggs. And no one would want to deny chickens the right to do this - even in their sleep, right? So...do we let the sleeping chickens lie - or lay? You vote. Personally, I say, "Let Sleeping Chickens lie...because you know those chickens have never told the truth yet. In fact, if you promise NOT to repeat this information...I'll let you in on a little secret. The Poultry Pulitzer Prize Panel has hinted to me that they have been investigating this whole chicken blogging fiasco and have some pretty convincing evidence that cc ~ otherwise known as Mr. Cluck Cluck ~ does not exist! Shhhh!!!! Calm down and be quiet! You will wake up those darn chickens! |
***This is a WDC alert.*** Please use caution when maneuvering through the blogging process here at Writing.Com. Dr. C. Ever Cooped has announced the discovery of a known health hazard among the daily blogs. "Chicken doo-doo abounds at WDC," Dr. C. Ever Cooped announced Tuesday, June 13, 2006 at the National Eat More Beef Convention. He went on to warn, "Bloggers should exercise extreme caution when viewing blogs written by those who are flinging chicken doo-doo. Those who attempt to clean up any of the doo-doo are also at great risk of infectious laughter and should wash their hands well after any contact with soiled blogs." Dr. Ever Cooped could not be reached for comment as of this evening. His assistant stated that the Dr. is presently out of the country working on legislation which will combat Perversion of Poultry, but that he plans to attend the Poultry Pulitzer Prize awards ceremony later this week. This has been a WDC Alert! |
| According to my sources, the coveted Poultry Pulitzer Prize is about to be awarded. The announcement is expected sometime later this week. Nominees for the award have been passionately penning their preoccupations with poultry. Passivity is not possible for these peacocks. No, they have proudly strutted their penchant for poultry via prolific pieces written and placed here on WDC blogs. Those among the WDC blogging pecking order who are being considered for the Poultry Pulitzer Prize are: It has been rumored that payola has been discussed ~ but sources close to the pair of pundits say that is totally pathetic and probably proffered by a pathological liar. Pitiful! There is a profound prognosis by the Poultry Pulitzer Prize Panel that the proficient penmen named as possible procurers of the Prize, may BOTH win. Both have shown a profusion of profundity about poultry. Both have proclaimed pursuit of particular peafowl and both have also claimed that the other has purloined said precious peafowl. Both have been puzzling. Pursuant to the rules of the Poultry Pulitzer Prize Panel, any personal puffery is prohibited. Profanity is also prohibited, as is any blogging piece deemed less than pukka. All plucky material is plumb pleasurable and permissible if not provoking in nature. The proof is in the pudding. Public interest in poultry has caused this year's Poultry Pulitzer Prize to be greatly pondered. Preparations are underway for the pronouncement. |
| Today, I have decided to become a writer for hire. You may wonder how it is that I have come to this decision. Well, I'll tell you. It just sounded good! But aside from that...It's what I want to do...so I thought that I would just put it out there for the world to see. Every now and then a person just has to believe in themselves enough to jump. When everyone else is saying, "That's too risky," or, "You can't be serious," a person has to dare to prove them wrong and have the confidence to try, anyway. In a constantly changing world, it's okay to make changes in your life, once-in-a-while. Change is stimulating and can help the creativity within to be stirred up. Change usually produces something - you know, the ripple effect. Change brings freedom from boredom and gives new perspective. Change can be our friend! So, I am making a subtle change in my life today. No longer will I be just a writer...starting today, I am a writer for hire. Laugh if you must - but already I am seeing myself in a different light. I have potential! I am doing something important! I am turning over a new leaf and expanding my horizons! Hey!  Why are you still laughing?  O.K. You can STOP now!!! |
| Who am I writing for and why? This is a question which Wren Howard asked recently in her blog,"Ten-Finger Exercises" . I thought it a good question, one which I felt like taking a crack at answering. Unlike some writers, I don't think that I write for myself. I may write for the enjoyment which I receive from the act, but what I write is not usually for me or my benefit. Blogging - which I consider to be a more personal form of writing - is more for my benefit than the poetry or short stories I find coming from within my creative being. Blogging is probably the closest I get to writing for myself and yet even my blogs can sometimes take the route of a pep-talk or mini-sermon. I may read and read again the many things I have written, but I always feel as though I am offering something to those whom I hope will happen upon my work and help themselves to a meal of it. I look at each piece I write as something of an appetizer, entrée, side-dish or even a dessert. If it doesn't settle well with a reader, then they may have a sensitivity to the subject matter. Maybe I didn't cook it long enough or maybe it was over-cooked. Just like a meal, there are any number of reasons it may not go down well with a particular partaker. Sometimes it may be my fault. Sometimes they may just be finicky. Though I write for the potential reader, I also feel that I write for God. I may not do it in a traditional way or in a way that advertises that I am a born-again-believer, but everything that I write comes from my heart (unless it's for a contest and then it may just come from a prompt). When I write from my heart, I am writing from the place where God's Spirit dwells within this body here on this planet. He resides within me and I can not write but that I am writing from a mind affected by His continual presence. Therefore, I usually have trouble writing when I lose my eternal perspective and feel 'un-inspired' for a time. Thankfully, these periods are short-lived. Thankfully, God doesn't allow me to stay un-focused for very long, reminding me of Who He is and who I am in Him. It's a wonderful relationship without which I can not function .So, I write for God in the sense that to write one must be creative and all creativity (I believe) comes from the Creator, God. I know that there are those who do NOT agree with my beliefs, but because of what I am inspired to write about...I find that they may still be able to benefit from my work. So, I write for God and for others and then, because I want to make a difference in this world, I guess that I do write for myself as well...because you see, if I am doing what I was created to do, then I am enjoying myself...so I am also writing for myself. And just like this moment...I actually can benefit from reading my own piece. Wow, this has been a good blogging day! A race-horse is bred to run. He runs because it's in him to do that. He runs because those who are in control of him make a way for him to be in races. And he runs because it is what he loves to do! |
| One thing that I try to avoid - unless unforeseen events cause impossible circumstances - is giving my word and then not following through. In other words, if I make a promise I keep it. If I can NOT keep my word I at least make contact with the party being affected and explain my situation and offer an alternate plan. It just seems to me that when I have said that I will do a particular thing or take a certain action at a specific time, in a specific way then it is my responsibility to show respect for myself and the person or people with whom I have made the arrangements and follow through as promised. Apparently, this is not as important to some. Handshakes and smiles are polite. But a promise - giving your word - should be held as an uncompromising standard among people. If you don't mean it or have no intentions of holding to a promise - then don't speak it. Do not insult the one you are addressing by telling them you will do something if you are not prepared to take every measure possible to complete the action. It is disrespectful and it makes you appear as one who can not be fully trusted or relied upon. Now that I have that off of my chest... Give me your honest opinions, if you would, to this question: If after a job interview, you are told that you will be receiving a phone call by or on a certain date but the call doesn't come and it's the weekend...do you (a.) assume that you did not get the job. (b.) assume that something came up to prevent the call being placed on the said day before the weekend began, so it may come on Monday. (c.) assume that a person who does not contact you when they promised is not the type of person you wish to work for, anyway. I'm just curious as to how the majority of you would react (or have reacted) to this scenario (as I am aware that it happens all too frequently). You have my word that I will not continue to whine about this any longer! |
| I awoke this morning with my head in the clouds. It was warm and muggy and I just wanted to stay put. I was comfortable and feeling lazy. Suddenly, a loud, crashing noise thundered nearby, shaking me where I lay and putting the very fear of God in me. I felt myself trembling all over. Another crash! The brightest light I had ever seen in my life lit the entire sky for a brief moment. The next thing I knew I was falling. There was nothing I could do. I fell slowly at first and then I could literally feel the air rushing past me as I picked up speed in my descent. Surprisingly, I did not panic. It was the realization that there was absolutely nothing that I could do to prevent whatever was to happen in the next few minutes, which gave me an almost surreal feeling of calm. There was nothing to grab hold of, nothing for me to do but wait for the imminent landing. What would it be like, the landing? Where would I end up? What would I feel? These were the only thoughts which fleetingly passed through my mind as I continued my fall. Then, I saw it. It was a bucket and it was rushing up to meet me. Or was it actually that I was swiftly rushing toward it? Funny how you notice things when you are in a stressful situation. I noticed, for instance, that the bucket was a bright orange color, splashed with mud around it's bottom. It seemed small at first, then larger and larger as I sped toward it. I remember thinking, "Oh good! The handle is not sticking up." As the mouth of the orange bucket neared, I could only close my eyes and wait for impact. The last thing I remembered was the feel of the plastic as I smashed head-long into that bucket. This was how it was to end, then. This was the destiny, the fate which was mine. To my great sorrow, I would never be anything more than just a drop in the bucket. *The day in the life of a raindrop...Inspired by Tor on a very uninspiring day ~ Thanks, Tor! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** C.L. Hanna ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
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