Can we talk? (Book) http://www.Writing.Com/main/profile.php/blog/heartburn/action/archive I am seeking advice on selling some collectibles I have recently been given. Comic books, homies, die-cast cars, trading cards, Simpson's stuff, and a lot of other small toys. I have a couple thousand comic books, which I have not inventoried. The boxes are still closed. Many are brand new, and cover price only. Probably 90% or more are pri...[Read Full Post] Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:39:03 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/746934 It's almost a month since my brother was found dead, at home alone. He was 59. He had sleep apnea, and it finally did him in. Everyday I cry. I know now all the suffering he endured, quietly, and privately. I miss him. We have to change the way we shop and cook, since we had him over at least twice a week. Family celebrations won't be ...[Read Full Post] Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:56:12 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/746832 Go Giants. Give to the local food bank to Stop Hunger. (Give soup for Souper-Bowl.) Finally saw The Pianist. Enthralling movie. Disappointed that he couldn't locate the German soldier in time. I don't mind Ellen Degeneres as the spokesperson for J C Penny. No one objected when she represented Cover Girl. What's the big...[Read Full Post] Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:38:12 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/746471 When a loved one passes, someone has to go through their things and dispose of them. So my elderly father and I have this job, to sort, discard, donate, or give away my late brother's belongings. It's a hard chore, but at least therapeutic. For a little longer, you connect with your lost one, by touching his belongings, by glimpsing into the ...[Read Full Post] Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:25:40 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/745384 It is a hard, hard thing to say good-bye forever to a younger brother. The last 8 days have been the longest of my life. It seems like ages since we found out about my brother's heart attack, and yet it is still hard to believe it happened. We are all tired and worn out, although we've had plenty of sleep and haven't eaten quite well, than...[Read Full Post] Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:53:32 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/745216 My life, and my brothers' and father's, will never be the same again without Harry. He was larger than life. He would object to a memorial service or eulogies, although he had both. He had a wake another night, while all his old friends from high school gathered for hamburgers, beer, and stories. I loved him as only you can love family....[Read Full Post] Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:29:11 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/744992 My 59 year old brother passed away. It was shocking to us. We knew he was not well, we did not know how bad it was. He thought he was shielding us, I guess, from his misery. It doesn't help us now as we put the pieces together and know just how much he was suffering and for so long. My father is in his 80's and he's not handling it ...[Read Full Post] Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:11:59 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/744314 Where would we be without hope? Expect good things in 2012. This year could see your best poems or your completed novel. Or you could actually start to supplement or replace your income by selling your materials! You might produce the great American novel, or write a world classic.Don't worry about disappointment. Just look for the good th...[Read Full Post] Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:02:30 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/742998 May all the sorrows, disappointments, and heartbreaks of 2011 be behind you. May you find health, prosperity, laughter and happiness in 2012. May the joy of writing always be yours. Happy New Year. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:59:10 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/742888 My young friend, Anthony, whom I met through WDC, posed the question a day or so ago to his friends. It struck me as a good one for anyone over 20 years old. Yes, we have changed in our life circumstances, health, and so forth, but the world has changed, too. So I pass the question on to anyone who reads this. What were you doing as 1991 drew t...[Read Full Post] Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:10:00 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/742660 Another year. Another Christmas and I'm not ready. There's barely enough time to get off from work, get the last two gifts, and get home and then to start the serious stuff: Wrapping, moving presents to the tree, last minute dusting, vacuuming, polishing. And laundry, fresh linens, the usual pre-guest rituals. Cooking anything that can be prep...[Read Full Post] Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:21:21 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/742435 It's that time when people start fretting over gift giving again. "Why do we buy adults gifts?", "I hate spending all that money on gifts people don't like or won't use", etc., etc. Well, my first response is that if giving a gift doesn't give you joy, don't do it. I give gifts because I like to please pe...[Read Full Post] Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:03:08 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/741080 I love to go to YouTube. I look up a song that's sticking in my brain, and then listen to it repeatedly, sometimes by different artists. It's amazing how one song can be interpreted so differently by so many different people. And sometimes, I am able to pick "the" definitive version. Usually, I like several. For instance, "Y...[Read Full Post] Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:28:32 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/738905 I'm not a Charlie Sheen fan. With that being said, his show was going down hill, even for a nasty, in-your-face kind of comedy. Chances are it would end soon even with Charlie still in the show. All shows end eventually because the writers simply play out the idea, and the audience tires of it. For some reason, the audience was still hanging o...[Read Full Post] Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:11:06 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/737369 It's that time of year. Don't pass up your opportunity to get a flu shot. They are safe. Very few people have bad reactions, so don't let exaggerated tales of woe scare you off. Get your shot! So much time is lost from work because of flu. Or worse people come back to work too soon or wait until they are really sick and pass thei...[Read Full Post] Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:59:15 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/737141 Today, there are a lot of flags flying. Speeches have been made, symbolic acts have taken place, patriotic music has been played. Prayers have been said and tears have been shed. Ten years later, we are still shaken and moved and grieved by the attacks of 9-11. It is good to remember what we have been through as individuals, as communities, ...[Read Full Post] Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:19:45 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/733862 I don't want to give anyone the wrong impression. I'm not a fanatic about dusting. In fact, my motto is tha a woman with an immaculate home has a dull life. However, I'll pass along a little tip I learned recently. Not only is glass cleaner, or "blue juice" amongst cleaning enthusiasts, bad for keyboards and electronic pa...[Read Full Post] Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:42:59 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/733327 It doesn't matter what type of music video I pull up, the comments under it tend to be obscene and angry. If you hate opera, why are you viewing opera videos. If you hate John Wayne, why are you looking at clips from his movies? And why waste your time arguing with people you don't know and will never meet over trivial stuff? So much an...[Read Full Post] Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:16:02 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/732668 It is not just my aging imagination. I listened to one of the big wigs at the medical center talking over lunch in our office yesterday about ill-mannered people at the hospital. Bad manners are not limited to class or social standing. People with steady professional careers, wealth, and excellent education have atrocious manners, are self-centered...[Read Full Post] Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:20:25 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/732059 Too many people take their kids shopping without teaching them good manners first. They destroy the stores, the merchandise, and wear down the nerves of shopkeepers and customers. Babies and toddlers should not be out past their bedtimes or at their mealtimes. That would do a lot to reduce crying, whinging, and temperfits. The parents sho...[Read Full Post] Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:38:50 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/731974 I walk on the other side of the road from my university job in order to avoid the panhandlers. The side I was using is more direct, fewer crossovers; but I'm on a limited budget, and I have a hard time refusing beggars. I walk there, as a matter of fact, to save money on parking, to get to the bus station for my bus. It's a half hour walk, g...[Read Full Post] Sun, 10 Jul 2011 16:25:40 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/728354 In Flanders Fields By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw...[Read Full Post] Sun, 29 May 2011 21:11:31 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/725055 As I re-potted red begonias, candy-striped petunias, and coleus, I thought how I have enjoyed doing this since my college days. I did not start early because of my grandmother with the green thumb and my father the vegetable gardener. My great-aunt Ruth had a green thumb, too. I remember she had plants in all kinds of pots, including old pans an...[Read Full Post] Sun, 22 May 2011 21:39:33 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/724502 I'll pass a tip I just learned from Julia Childs. If you love mushrooms the way I and my relatives do, lay them flat in the pan to saute. It's the only way to brown them. I tend to pile them up; the liquid seeps out with heat, and the olive oil coats them as they shrink, but they don't all brown. So I've tried laying them all flat, an...[Read Full Post] Sat, 21 May 2011 13:07:15 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/724410 We just can't pass a sensational story. The name of the "other woman" and her teenage son have been released by shock-driven press with no regard for the boy or what this will do to his life. Other kids will tease him, he'll be ashamed to go out, not because of his parents' immoral behavior, but for the verbal abuse and the pic...[Read Full Post] Thu, 19 May 2011 23:47:03 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/724324 Like most people I struggle to make a living. After a long period of unemployment, then half a year of underemployment part-time, I now go to two part-time jobs. One of them has parking problems, so I commute a combination of car, bus, trolley, and walking. The half hour of walking is a much needed exercise, so I don't regret that part. But the t...[Read Full Post] Thu, 12 May 2011 13:57:29 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/723864 My father is in his 80's and has been sick lately. He's still going pretty strong, still works at least 30 hours a week, drives where he wants, gardens, shops, does his own laundry, etc. But he's been under the weather, and won't eat, and sleeps a lot when he's not working. He even left work a few minutes early a few days. ...[Read Full Post] Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:02:53 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/722490 It's still early, but here's a heads up. Herman Cain is a name we will here more often in the next year or so. He's a black Republican, a mathematician and businessman with great leadership experience. He has clear-headed ideas and is worth a good listen. Keep your ears open and see where he goes....[Read Full Post] Sat, 09 Apr 2011 12:09:18 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/721883 Please, please, please, put away the cell phone when you are dealing with someone else face to face. Don't be rude. When you can't get off the phone long enough to order at McDonald's, pay at the butcher shop, or pick up your dry cleaning, you are basically saying to that clerk, butcher, or dry cleaner, "You are beneath me. I don&#3...[Read Full Post] Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:02:23 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/720697 An assortment of thoughts: Just what is "reverse racism" supposed to be? Does that imply that only a certain race or ethnic group can be racist? Wouldn't "reverse racism" be a preference for or deference to the other race? Racism is just racism, no matter who practices it. If a Muslim is prejudiced against Jews, he is ...[Read Full Post] Sun, 23 Jan 2011 20:11:43 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/716254 The presents have been opened. The meal was served, and it was delicious. Pictures were taken, the little one entertained the adults, phone calls were exchanged, and short naps were taken. The dishwasher has finished running, and the first two rounds of guests have departed. I've cleaned up and walked around the outside in the snow which is stil...[Read Full Post] Sat, 25 Dec 2010 19:55:30 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/714090 Working for a living is a fact of life. Not many Christmas movies or TV shows show this, but have their characters on vacation before the holidays. Working when I'd rather be decorating, baking, or housecleaning, or wrapping or shopping, isn't so bad. However, covering for employees who call in sick or don't show up is a real pai...[Read Full Post] Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:50:26 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/714040 Wrapped gifts are beginning to accumulate. The tree is decorated. The mantles in the family room and the dining room are decorated. Animated figures have fresh batteries. I can't wait for the two year old to come visit and see all our grown--up "toys"! I'm reading some Christmas short novels, listening to John Tesh on the radio ...[Read Full Post] Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:09:51 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/713742 To one and all, happy holidays. May you savor every day, the weather whatever it may be, the hustle and bustle, the chores, the music-good or bad. It's all tradition. It reminds us of our past, our roots, and it stirs up deep feelings. No matter what your beliefs or experience, you can have peace and enjoy all of it. Take the bad with the good, an...[Read Full Post] Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:51:04 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/713492 Working in retail can disillusion a person. Thievery is rampant. Customers and employees alike believe it is okay to take what isn't theirs and what they won't pay for. Evidence is all around us, empty wrappers, old clothes in packages where new ones used to be. You can study the tapes--every store has them--you see regular customers walking o...[Read Full Post] Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:45:04 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/713410 Everyone knows the song of Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. As a faithful customer of Montgomery Wards until they shut down their last and most successful store, I know his story well. He was created for and promoted by the company. Every Christmas, Montgomery Wards gave away free coloring books. They bought the books from another company,...[Read Full Post] Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:06:49 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/713224 You already know this. I don't need to tell you. Stop often and "save and edit". A call came in as I neared the end of a long blog. I have satellite connection for the web, but sometimes the phone interferes. ( know there shouldn't be any problem without dial-up, but reality says differently.) You guessed it. By the time I thought of s...[Read Full Post] Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:08:24 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/713071 Now that the weeks of planning and coordinating a large family gathering for Thanksgiving is over in a flash, and all the attention to detail went unnoticed, and the hours of cleaning turned to disaster, it's time to start the next holiday. It's time to change the fall decor and the table linens, put away the good dishes for a few weeks, and...[Read Full Post] Sat, 27 Nov 2010 14:29:25 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/712469 "People who cope best with the ups and downs of life are the ones who regularly practice gratitude." So true. A positive outlook always helps get us through the valleys and shadows. So, I'm listing things for which I am thankful. Tastebuds. How dreary life would be without them. Colors: we live in a kodachrome world. Fingers....[Read Full Post] Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:07:29 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/712159 I read an interesting statement today, supposedly an old adage, but it was new to me. In every avalanche, there is a little snowflake saying softly, "Not guilty". How striking! A beautiful, tiny, delicate snowflake, so innocent and so appealing. Yet with millions of others like it, under the right circumstances, how terrifying! M...[Read Full Post] Sat, 20 Nov 2010 01:38:05 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/711827 I haven't given up blogging or writing. I've just been really busy. I think of things to write while driving, or working, or trying to fall asleep, but have little time to sit down and write. Typical, I suppose of most writers. As soon as I sit down, I feel guilty about other things that need to be done, like pay bills, or clean house. I will ...[Read Full Post] Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:07:54 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/711195 Juan Williams is a good guy. He's willing to talk with his adversaries in a calm and reasonable manner. He uses good sense and seems to have solid values. NPR is giving him a raw deal. NPR is proving to be narrow minded, not open to discussion, and more interested in political correctness than truth or value. Mr. Williams was fired by NP...[Read Full Post] Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:54:51 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/708997 I was asked to write a short devotional for a local Advent booklet. Thought I'd see if anyone would care to comment on the following. Psalm 97:1-6 Sometimes the world can seem overwhelming and frightening. Wars wage on, governments are corrupt, and politics are dishonest and self-serving. Nuclear weapons, terrorism, and drug cartels...[Read Full Post] Sun, 17 Oct 2010 23:40:44 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/708697 Oh, please, wake up. It's for the ratings, the limelight. Bill O'Reilly went on The View knowing something would happen. The co-hosts were ready to make something happen. And it did. They all got what they wanted, time on the news shows on every network, "front page" on internet news. Their shenannigans got more people to view that episod...[Read Full Post] Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:38:58 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/708549 Murdoch, CEO of the company that owns Fox News testified before Congress this week about "law abiding illegal aliens".Does the head of a large corporation not see the contradictions in that phrase? Illegal aliens are breaking the law, or they would not be illegal aliens. Maybe he meant those who are not engaged in violent crimes or dr...[Read Full Post] Sat, 02 Oct 2010 02:25:13 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/707446 Congress should never have recessed without deciding on the tax issue. They put politics first in a shameless way. American individuals and business owners need to now how things will change in only 3 months. This will affect the economy. Small business owners will not give out Christmas bonuses because they do not know what will happen with t...[Read Full Post] Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:07:50 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/707403 The blue collar comedy guys have been over-exposed to my way of thinking. They're old and tired and annoying. And yet, some of their stuff sticks. Not the "get 'er done". I'm sick of that! But some of their things are just so basic. In my part-time job, people come to the cash registers and stand beside you and ask &...[Read Full Post] Sat, 25 Sep 2010 14:01:12 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/706972 It's a bad economy, so after being unemployed for a long time, I took a low-paying, part-time job as a "closer". I was told I'd be a cashier for about 30-45 minutes a night while the cashiers did breaks and got rid of merchandise left by customers who picked up too much while shopping then felt remorse when it was time to pay. Well, it...[Read Full Post] Sat, 25 Sep 2010 13:24:25 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/706935 I'm trying to quote from memory: What, though the radiance which was once so bright Be now forever taken from my sight, Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendor in the grass and glory in the flower, We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind, In the primal sympathy Which having been, must ever be, In the soot...[Read Full Post] Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:01:54 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/706723 I've always enjoyed small projects like embroidery or crocheting. I like seeing something "come to life" in my hands. Maybe if I were an artist or a good photographer, I wouldn't need crafts. I always look at scenery and notice the lines, the blend of colors, the depth, the shadows. I can see all that, but I can't recreate...[Read Full Post] Sun, 19 Sep 2010 16:47:21 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/706492 Cell phones can be very annoying. Other peoples cell phones, that is. There's the guy in the restaurant who gets a call from work every 5 minutes. He talks loudly, so that everyone knows his employees can't survive a lunch hour without him. Or the guy who talks really loud into his head set all through the grocery store, so that every...[Read Full Post] Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:46:37 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/705621 Browsed the "singles" ads in the local paper the other day. Very funny reading. What if these ads were truthful? Ex: Over 35, don't want to settle down, will dump you in 6 mos to a year, you must have fantastic bod and face, I'm average with male pattern baldness, separate finances, no pets, athletic, smart, will flirt with your friend...[Read Full Post] Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:22:24 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/705379 I've been working nights this summer, so I've missed at least the first half of each show, sometimes, the whole episode. The only ones I saw all the way were the early ones with the freaks and geeks still audtitioning. But I still have my favorites. Of the 24 semi-finalists, I hope these make it to the final ten: singers Michael Grimm, De...[Read Full Post] Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:10:36 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/705056 I have a relative who can't conceive that a good person is capable of bad things. Maybe it's a man thing. For instance, if a man is abusive to his children, but the children love him, then he wasn't a bad guy, maybe not so abusive after all. If a man is capable of being a good grandfather, then he must have been a good father. Right? ...[Read Full Post] Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:25:00 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/704914 I have to weigh in on this mosque issue. While I am a Christian and a conservative, I try to be open-minded and stick to the basics. I generally favor the working class and individual rights over the state, yet I feel party lines have become blurred in recent years. Republican and Democrat don't mean what those names used to as the parties have...[Read Full Post] Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:26:44 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/703856 I have many peeves, but one that I find especially irritating is the nature of a lot of forwarded emails. "If you don't pass this one" or whatever version of that appears, claims that you are part of the problem, don't love your country or aren't very Christian, or some other guilt-arousing accusation. The truth is that I ...[Read Full Post] Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:42:12 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/702821 Tired of hearing about Lindsay every day? I am. The media should back off. We all love to see self-centered irresponsible celebrities have their downfalls, a kind of justice in the public eye. In this case, it's become obvious that the girl is not going to see the light bulb come on, she won't seek redemption on her own. If you've ever k...[Read Full Post] Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:51:20 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/702414 Practical jokes are not a sign of maturity. I've done my share when I was younger. But I've never understood why we glorify them. I could never stand Candid Camera when I was young. How could it be entertainment to decieve someone and then laugh at them. More recently Howie Mandel ran one season (thanks to the networks for not continuing it)...[Read Full Post] Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:34:22 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/702174 It is a habit now to remember this day, to make him feel special, to give him some attention however small. This is the first birthday since he passed away. I've thought about it all week. Today he was with me all day. I miss going to a grave and carrying flowers. Cremation robs us of that ritual. I was looking at some flowers and thought of the b...[Read Full Post] Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:01:41 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/702128 Ever caught yourself reading a cereal box? Whether it's the "ABC's of Cereal" (I read that one this morning. It's about Folate and Iron, Vitamin D, etc.), great movie quotes (like "Yo, Adrianne"), the whole grain story, or how the Care Bears find their way home, they can be very entertaining while munching your Cheerios o...[Read Full Post] Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:07:38 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/701809 I feel like such a nerd. I now know what a Green Lantern is. The super hero is really just a pilot on planet earth who has been selected to be one member of an intergalactic police force, called The Green Lanterns. There's about 2800 of them! The one in the comic book has one area of space to patrol. His special power ring gives him whatever he th...[Read Full Post] Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:50:06 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/701729 After a long period of unemployment, I have finally found a part-time, low pay job. It will barely net me enough to pay the monthly medical insurance and car insurance. Mind you I am no spring chicken living in my father's home, with no expectations of ever repaying room and board, or medical after insurance, or gas, or car upkeep. I'm gripin...[Read Full Post] Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:43:38 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/701417 Recently, I came across the address of an old friend with whom I have not corresponded in about 10 years. It's been even longer since we saw each other face to face. I sent her a card. She's very stable in a solid marriage. I knew the address would still be good. She emailed me back and asked for my phone number. I emailed it to her. Last n...[Read Full Post] Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:20:31 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/701264 I really like pushing baking soda as a household staple. It's safe in most cases and does a variety of work. It fits in a green home. Use it as a backup when you run out of toothpaste. It removes stains and freshens breath. You can also use it just for the occasional brushing to whiten teeth. Be sure it's fresh soda and not one that&#...[Read Full Post] Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:47:32 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/701108 To all you students preparing for your first year of college: Congratulations and best wishes. While passing all your classes and making good grades is extremely important, so is forming good relationships. Make sure you work on your social interaction, too. Keep your friends from high school and the neighborhood, but form lots of ...[Read Full Post] Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:51:58 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/700915 Not all our founding fathers were of one mind. In fact, there were strong disagreements amongst them, but they were able to work together to hammer out some basic principals by which they could all live. You really can't speak or write about what our forefathers intended because they didn't all agree on every issue. And in the two c...[Read Full Post] Mon, 05 Jul 2010 03:08:34 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/700855 Sean Penn, a decent actor since he grew up, was in the news recently making a dumb comment. (Imagine a movie star making a dumb comment.) He actually said in front of a camera and microphone, that people who held a different opionion should be locked up as felons. Sorry, Sean, you play sensitive roles, but you are very insensitive to others&#...[Read Full Post] Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:56:30 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/700569 No one in my circle wants to hear me say it. Nonetheless, I am still grieving the death of my ex-husband. We were divorced for several years. We lived in different towns. Yet we remained in touch, and shared every thing. I can't used to not having him in my life. At times, I think of him, and it seems okay, and I go on. Other times, I thi...[Read Full Post] Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:56:27 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/699949 While most of us tend to think of honoring someone as praising them, giving them gifts or awards, there may be other more significant ways to honor them. Sometimes just thanking them is an honor, as in the case of a teacher or counselor, who may not realize the affect they had on you. For parents, or guardians, perhaps the best way to honor th...[Read Full Post] Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:47:10 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/699795 Once again it's Father's Day, another chance to focus on our fathers' shortcomings, be they minor or major. I rush to say I had a good father with only minor flaws. He was hard-working, stable, dedicated to his wife and children, even to his own family and to his wife's parents. He was and is honest and decent and caring and sacrifici...[Read Full Post] Sat, 19 Jun 2010 14:44:42 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/699641 When we ponder our own mortality, occasionally we think about what we leave behind. Do I have the garage cleaned out? How about the sheds and the attic? Did I take those old clothes to Goodwill? Will the ones concerned find my instructions, if any, or the insurance papers, or all the bank accounts, etc? And if there's a current health concern, or ...[Read Full Post] Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:06:05 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/699372 We all want to be remembered when we are gone. We'd prefer to live forever in a healthy state, but if we have to die, then we want to be remembered well. We want our lives to have mattered to someone. How we accomplish this remembrance changes according to our personalities. Some want to do establish scholarships or buildings or buisness be...[Read Full Post] Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:47:42 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/698764 Oh, Paul. Whatever happened to "Please, Love Me Do" or "All We Need Is Love"? Now you've become partisan? Disaster, Paul, first love of my life! Don't you know that all politicians inevitably sell out? No matter how pure they are when they start out, they all become tainted. Fund-raising and campaigning is only the ...[Read Full Post] Sat, 05 Jun 2010 14:45:53 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/698237 Memorial Day by Joyce Kilmer The bugle echoes shrill and sweet, But not of war it sings to-day. The road is rhythmic with the feet Of men-at-arms who come to pray. The roses blossom white and red On tombs where weary soldiers lie; Flags wave above the honored dead And martial music cleaves the sky. Above their ...[Read Full Post] Thu, 27 May 2010 20:34:22 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/697497 American Revolution Facts Honoring The Dead Memorial Day Dates Memorial Day Flowers Memorial Day Quotes Memorial Day Reflections Moment of Rememberance Observe Memorial Day Origin of Memorial Day President Proclamation 2004 September 11 Memorial Day Poems C-W-Johnson Eula Gladys Lincoln Freedom is not free Joyce Kilmer Not At My...[Read Full Post] Thu, 27 May 2010 20:28:54 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/697496 As the big celebritory weekend comes upon us, it is nice to remember it's more than some picnics, special sales, and a holiday for government workers. (Why do we tax payers give a paid holiday to government workers, when we don't get one?) Today, mostly for commercial reasoms, we remember all those whom we have lost. We'll place flowers o...[Read Full Post] Wed, 26 May 2010 02:05:52 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/697355 Okay. It's time to stand up for Arizona. Before jumping to conclusions and condemning those legislators, people, especially media and politicians, should read the new law. Then, if you still object, tell us how you plan to defend the people who live there from danger and property destruction. The federal government has failed to defend the...[Read Full Post] Thu, 20 May 2010 22:50:54 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/696849 Reading about my county, it occurred to me that some people, nerdy maybe, like myself, would like a "who's who" of local people from its beginning to the present age. I started a list of such names as I know, and then looked for names of significance of which I know little. I have uncovered a lot, so far. Determining who should b...[Read Full Post] Wed, 19 May 2010 12:06:43 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/696692 So, I like to watch the guests with Jay Leno. We all need our resting moments in the evening without serious brain usage, okay? Last night, Trump was his guest. No, I don't like him any better now, or know anything new about him. But Jay mentioned that in some unnamed survey, "You're fired" was No. 3 for best known TV lines. &#...[Read Full Post] Sat, 15 May 2010 12:14:41 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/696245 The rich boy, with a criminal record already for minor violent acts, kicked in the door of his ex-girlfriend's bedroom in her apartment with other girls. Not a big person, he was bigger than her. Both were athletes; both played college lacrosse. He picked her up by the neck and slammed her head into the wall. She was found dead, covered...[Read Full Post] Fri, 07 May 2010 22:03:03 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/695518 I had a revelation today. Someone was telling a story that happened to him recently, and he commented that the guy looked so old. Of course, they were the same age, but he couldn't believe that the man looked so much older. Then he grinned and said, "I'm glad that I don't look that old." I feel that same way all the time. I...[Read Full Post] Sun, 02 May 2010 23:04:39 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/695035 I know there's a law about truth in advertising, but there are many ways around it. Take for example the product honey. How complicated can it be to take honey out of the comb and put it in a jar (other than bees)? Well, reading the label can be very tricky. If the jar says only "honey", then it can be part corn syrup or other a...[Read Full Post] Sat, 01 May 2010 14:04:18 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/694877 I once had a friend from Tunisia. My co-workers and I tried asking about the country, but he had little to say. But it got me interested, so I researched it. I found out about the invasion of the French and the Italians from across the Mediterranean to avoid the wars and the oppression of the Jews. That's why today, the principal languages...[Read Full Post] Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:23:46 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/694481 Most adults hate that 6th grade thru 9th grade age of kids. They're noisy, rebellious, and contentious. They're awkward and harder to please. You can expect less respect, generally. (There's always individual exceptions to every generality.) I say it's a great age. Remember what it was like? Every nerve ending is alive. Everyth...[Read Full Post] Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:08:42 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/694108 Most jobs these days are listed on a computer service. Even the employment commission refers to hotjobs.com or craigslist. So you would think that job hunting would be easier, as long as you have computer access. I guess I should explain for the younger generations. Back in the 80's, you had to have a typewriter or word processor or rent...[Read Full Post] Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:06:16 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/694077 I just didn't get it. The president of Iran swears the Holocaust never happened. I wrote him off as a crazy. He's old enough and educated enough to know better. Now, word has gotten out that Great Britain's education leaders are considering rewriting the history books and deleting the Holocaust from the history curriculum, because...[Read Full Post] Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:11:21 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/693899 Everyone's ranting. No answers. Here's the bottom line for people like me. My insurance expired. I need to get new insurance immediately. I can't go over 60 days without it or my rates will be hiked up, so I'm told. I've been three weeks without it. My premiums will be very high. I expected it to be high, but maybe $5...[Read Full Post] Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:27:16 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/693807 I knew I had to get the family photos organized, labeled, and filed. I didn't know where to start or how to sort. I have old albums, new albums, frames that need to be replaced, and a lot of duplicates with no where to put them. Now, I've found out the best way to preserve them is to digitize them. I had purchased DVDs to back up by f...[Read Full Post] Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:32:04 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/693121 I finally was a high school student by 10th grade. The building still seemed crowded. We had bomb threats on a regular basis, which meant trips out to the football field for hours, while the police and dogs searched the building. Stories rose every day about a mini-riot or threats to a teacher. We actually made a paragraph in Time magazine, because ...[Read Full Post] Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:21:41 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/692694 By my ninth grade year, the new junior highs still weren't ready. By that time, a nearby black elementary school was emptied and mildly renovated. They couldn't repeat the 8th grade experiment in disaster, but they had to take pressure off the other schools. Again, the intention was to take 7th grade out of all the elementary schools, and 8t...[Read Full Post] Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:37:29 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/692451 I don't hear much about my old high school any more. It's been turned into a rather nice, functional county office building. The football field is the lower parking lot. It's remembered primarily for its transformation from a run-down, out-grown high school into a beautiful government building. My school was the only school ...[Read Full Post] Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:33:55 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/692409 Well, I survived the day. Church was nice. The kids were wonderful. We are really fortunate to have outstanding musicians, while many churches can't get a passable regular pianist. At home, everything was going smoothly and according to plan. I had announced dinner in 5 minutes. Then I dropped a huge bowl of sweet potatoes, top down. Ma...[Read Full Post] Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:59:42 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/692301 This day has so many meanings. It's a rite of spring for many. New clothes, new shoes, new hair-dos. New toys. It's a spring version of Christmas, softened up a bit budget-wise. For some, it means a lot of flowers for the cemeteries. I know one woman, a retired florist, who put together nine arrangements and delivered them over the wee...[Read Full Post] Sun, 04 Apr 2010 01:35:18 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/692210 Sometimes it seems so unfair. Look at all the babies that are abused, physically or mentally. Babies that are unwanted, unloved. The parents feel like they are a burden. They get dumped on the grandparents or put up for adoption or have to settle for a lousy life. These babies won't get the love or mental security or intellectual stimulation the...[Read Full Post] Sat, 03 Apr 2010 02:11:58 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/692078 Health care reform, health reform, health insurance reform. All separate ideas, but the terms are intermingled daily in the media. Most people know the health care system in America is broken. Maybe it never really worked right for everyone, but it felt like it got worse for a lot of people. Now changes are being made, but a lot of us don&...[Read Full Post] Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:11:01 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/691897 Speaking from the compassionate point of view, I have to ask myself who deserves health care and if there is a priority list. For example, most people will agree with me that elective surgery is not a priority. But even there, when do we draw the line? Say someone has skin lesions, which arrive with age. Should insurance be required to cover...[Read Full Post] Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:10:12 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/691852 It was the last week of April. Classes were over, and exams were just beginning. Carol had one earlier that day. I was having my first the next day. We had been studying non-stop, except for meals in the campus dining hall. It was freshman year, and we both had a full load, including science, math, and history. Math had been so easy in high sch...[Read Full Post] Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:30:38 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/691530 When we come to an intersection, we have signs and traffic lights helping us to choose our way. If we take the wrong turn, we can usually take a do-over, but it costs some time and gas money, depending on whether we circle the block or have to go miles to find a turning around point on the interstate. We might have directions from someone else to h...[Read Full Post] Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:23:33 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/691477 I'm not getting old. I don't know why other people are. I find out that someone is my age or a year or two younger, and I always feel shocked. How come they look so old for such a young age? I certainly don't look that bad, thank goodness. People my age just look and act younger than those folks. And I don't want to ...[Read Full Post] Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:55:35 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/691189 I had an animated, but fun, conversation with two of my brothers this afternoon and one sister-in-law. We decided that we are walking volumes of useless trivia. For instance, did you know that James Arness was 6'7. He couldn't appear in a movie with John Wayne because it would make the Duke look short. Wayne was considered for the part ...[Read Full Post] Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:03:29 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/690987