Punkin my spoiled rotten cat

This cat of mine drives me crazy!
I pour her a fresh glass of water, (yes I said glass), and she finds my stale water and reaches as far as she can get to drink MY water!
Why does it have to be MY water? Weird....
Today was a b-u-s-y day at work, and I believe the whole week will fly by.
That is good.
I'm going to try and take a day or two off next week to catch my breath.
Ooops the planes just buzzed my house on the way to my sister's neck of the woods. She'll be up most of the night now.
Hope your week is a peaceful one without storms!

Don't let your worries get the best of you;
remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Eye Test

Here's an interesting eye test.
http://home.mn.rr.com/t1camp1/Focus.swf

Try it out.

It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

Garbledegoop!

I am reaching for the Comforter to put on my bed this morning and this is what I see. My cat Elliott that thinks he is human sitting like a human in the chair next to my bed. He is such a character. I said "What are you doing" and he said "yeeoow". He even tries to talk like us. It wouldn't surprise me if he walked across the room on his hind legs.
Well I had another busy day today, and tomorrow I get up at 5:00 and go to Camano to interview more potential Operators. This definately is not a boring job! My mind does get a little boggled, and I need to take a day to do NOTHING on the weekend.
Well maybe I can do that next weekend. This is the week I take Hannah and my other friend in a wheelchair to lunch. I have GOT to find younger friends! Naw....I like doing this.
I had to get some Zyrtec for my allergies yesterday. My head was stuffy, eyes itchy and my lungs were hurting. There is a yellow haze all over my car. POLLEN!
Ahh yes, I love Spring!
Tomorrow is FRIDAY!! Yahoo!!!

How Do Crazy People Go Through The Forest?
They Take The Psycho Path

This is it, folks. My third time as drumming in our little Church. We have about 30-50 in the congregation, and 6 in the Worship Team. We all know each other and have a great time! We play for 1/2 hour then break for coffee and fellowship, then the sermon for 1/2 hour. So it is short and sweet. I am having a ball playing the drum!! Who'da thunk??

Whew, today got up to 65 degrees, and looking more like Spring every day!! I am ready to be able to keep my windows and doors open. I want to take a nap so bad right now, but if I do I won't be able to go to bed tonight. This time change really messes with my internal time clock and causes stress to me. Find a time and LEAVE IT ALONE!! The animals don't care what time it is.

Well better finish my chores so I can work next week.

What Do Fish Say When They Hit a Concrete Wall?
Dam!

This is for David:Three aspiring psychiatrists were attending their first class on emotional extremes.
"Just to establish some parameters,"
said the professor to the student from Michigan,
"What is the opposite of joy?"
"Sadness," said the student.
And the opposite of depression?" he asked of the young lady from California.
"Elation," she said.
"And you sir," he said to the young man from Texas,
"How about the opposite of woe?
"The Texan replied, "Sir, I believe that would be giddy up"

FRIDAY!!

This has been a L-O-N-G week! I'm training 5 new drivers. Two of them are plumbers and are real cut ups with no off switch, one retired city cop, a waitress and a massage therapist. All changing their careers to become a transit operator. It is a good job, and I take my work very seriously but at the same time we have FUN! I am exhausted from laughing so much. These days are good.
Well it is time to go to band practice for my drum. heeheeheehee I still can't believe I'm doing this! Tomorrow I get up at 6:30 on my DAY OFF to go to a counseling class for our Church. We are getting training to counsel folks. Something else I can do when I retire.
We LOSE an hour of SLEEP this weekend!!! WHHAAAAAAAA!!
Why can't they find a time and LEAVE IT ALONE!!!???
It is so stressful to people like me that are sleep depraved to switch our clocks twice a year.
Can you tell I am UPSET??
Well gotta go drummin'.

How Do You Catch a Unique Rabbit?
Unique Up On It.

How Do You Catch a Tame Rabbit?
Tame Way, Unique Up On It.

I have crooked teeth, and a GOAT has braces!

Well sorry 'bout that gross post, but I had absolutely nothing to post about and I got that email so I thought I'd share it.

I still have nothing to post about. I have been busy at work training 5 new drivers, and come home exhausted and crash. Tomorrow I go to Everett for a meeting with the DOT for a new Multi-modal station they are planning in Mukilteo sometime around 2008. Well now, aren't you glad I shared such exciting news? HAHAHA
That is my world right now. Work..Visit friends in Nursing Homes..Church..Work..etc.

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

A few things to make you stop and think...

During an hour's swimming at a municipal pool you will ingest 1/12 liter of urine. (When I'm there it will be more)heeheeheehee

In an average day your hands will have come into indirect contact with 15 penises (touching door handles, etc.)EEEEEEYYYUUUUU

An average person's yearly fast food intake will contain 12 pubic hairs. (I don't want to know how they got there)!!

In a year you will have swallowed 14 insects - while you slept!(gulp)

Annually you will shake hands with 2 women who have recently masturbated and failed to wash their hands. (good grief)

Annually you will shake hands with 26 men who have recently masturbated and failed to wash their hands. (I am going to quit shaking hands when I interview job applicants)!!

In a lifetime 22 workmen will have examined the contents of your dirty linen basket. (just HOW did they get into my house)?

At an average wedding reception you have a 1/100 chance of getting a cold sore from one of the guests. (Hmmm)

Daily you will breath in 1 liter of other peoples' anal gases. (Gee, is that all)? (And they say Diesel fumes are bad for ya)!

HAVE A GREAT DAY...

...and wash your hands!

Stuart Corey

Our beloved friend and Pastor Stuart Corey passed away this morning.
He was an inspiration to anyone that met him. He was a career Navy pilot and when he retired he started Island Ministries on the Island here. He was a very Spiritual man that trusted his life in the Lord. Sept 1st 2003 he was riding a bicycle in Canada and fell and broke his neck. His injuries were like Christopher Reeves. He depended on a machine to breathe. He was told her won't live through the night in Sept 2003, then was told he will never speak again but he beat those odds and started signing Amazing Grace in his hospital room. When he came to our Church we could hear every breath he took from the machine and I would look at him in awe, because he was HAPPY! He was happy because he knew the Lord, and knew his life here is just a breath until eternity. His wife Laraine was always by his side and she too was happy. It was like they knew a secret and was all excited to tell us. The secret is Jesus.
He is now dancing away with Jesus. You can read all about him on his website here: http://www.stuartcorey.com/ Do yourself a favor and visit his site and read his history.
You will be missed, Stu, and I feel honored to be one of your friends.

Hannah out to Dinner!

Last night I took Hannah to dinner. She practically begged me because her son is coming here for a month or so and he will starve her. He thinks she's too fat, and wants her to eat salad, and fruit. She's 90 years old for goodness sake...LET HER EAT!! When we were going there, she was enjoying the view from the bus window. We went down West Beach Road that overlooks Puget Sound. At night you can see the lights from Victoria 33 miles away.
She ordered clam chowder, steamed mussells, and Shrimp Scampi with mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus and zucchini. She ate most everything but the veggies.
She was really enjoying looking out the window at the dock and the whale watching boat. I said "Hey, lets go get on that boat". She just laughed. She said she thinks she has died and gone to Heaven! That was a great two hours!

Tonight I went to band practice and they said I'm good to go for Sunday morning! It is fun! I don't know if I'm any good, but they said I was doing just fine.
After practice was AA, then I stopped at Albertson's for a few items. I filled up my water jugs for drinking water at home and the machine cheated me out of 20 cents, so I just told the cashier. I told her it wasn't a big deal to me, but to be aware for the next sucker. She rang up my items, and I had a 24 bottle case of mountain spring water on sale for $5.99, regular $1.00 each bottle, so it was a great bargain saving $18.00!! When the gal rang up the case it rang the regular price then it gave me a $4.99 savings, charging me only $1.00 for the entire case.
I told her that wasn't right, so she re-rang the item. Again it gave me a $4.99 saving. she called the manager, and the manager did something to the the main computer and then said it will ring up the correct price. Well it didn't, so the gal told me to take it at that price. I felt weird doing that, but we tried to pay the regular price three times!
Well I get home and unloaded my car and noticed I didn't have my kitty litter!! It was $7.99!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Well I guess I didn't come out ahead after all!!
Yes, I will go back tomorrow with my receipt and tell them the story hoping to get my kitty litter and let them know about the error in the water pricing.
Whew!! It is hard trying to be honest!!

Opportunity may knock once,
but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

This is my "Field of Dreams" backyard!
Last year there was a Soccer field. This year they moved the Soccer field across the field and built this Baseball field. They put up fences, but I'm sure there will be a few fly balls. I can sit in my yard and scream real loud in pain when I see a ball coming my way. hehehehe
The School owns the field, and I am so glad they built the field instead of building a new High School!! WHEW! I still have my view, and I can grill some hot dogs and sell them and lemonade over my fence!! They promised they will not put up lights, so I can still sit on my deck at night and watch the mysterious night sky!



Tomorrow I am taking Hannah to dinner at the "Mad Crab" a restaurant on the waterfront. Her son is coming here for a few weeks and she wants to eat while she can, so I am letting her indulge!

People are funny;
they want the front of the bus,
the middle of the road,
and the back of the church.

Sunday

Well heck, I tried to post with pictures, but it got lost after an hour of typing and downloading the pictures. Hmmm, I wonder where they went?
Anyhoo, I was telling you what I did last night.
I went to the nursing home and got Hannah and wheeled her down the street to the AA meeting. As we were wheeling down the street we were both giggling as I yelled "Free at last"!! hehehehe. It was March birthday night, and I took her to get her 34 year chip. It was very inspiring to all of us, especially the newcomers. She shared a few stories, but if I tell you, I'd have to shoot ya.
I got her back at 9:30 and got home at 10:00.
This morning I had Bible study, and right after that I took a casserole to a sick friend and then went to Praise team practice. Yep....I'm gonna play my drum for the first time in Church tomorrow! I'm scared, but I'm going to pray about it then put it in God's hands. After practice the Mexicans came to have their Church service so I stayed for that. I feel honored to be included in their worship. They are my friends, but I don't understand them. But to pray with them as they pray is very spiritual!-------------Very spiritual.
After Church tomorrow is my small twelve step group then I take another casserole to my sick friend.
Whew! Another busy weekend!

Oh, by the way, my friend down the street called me tonight to tell me the frogs are late, but tonight they are out doing their Chorus!! 10 days late this year! I wonder what that means?

Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

I couldn't get into my blog for two days. I thought it was my computer, so I defragged, ran a full system virus check, but nothing worked. I could get into my sister's blog and others, so I let the committee in my head take over!
(I must've done something wrong)
(Did I say something illegal?)
(Am I being spied upon?)
(Did I download a picture and now I'm getting sued?)
(It must be something big!)
(Lock the doors!).
I finally fired the committee and decided it was something from the blogger end, and to worry about it tomorrow. Well I was right...blogger had something wrong and fixed it. So I am not being spied upon, and I can continue with my boring blog!
Well that is it. Nothing exciting happened today, just another FRIDAY!! YAHOO!!

Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?

Help!

Hmmm, I can get into edit, but I cannot open my blog from my computer.
It says I am not authorized to view the page. Whaaaa????
Can anyone else open it?

Yeouch!!

Yeouch, How'd you like to give birth to these triplets?!
Kinda cute, though, huh?
Speaking of frogs, I haven't heard my frog pond yet! I usually hear them on March 8 of every year! Here is last years post on March 8th:
Frogs
What is the "magic" about March 8th?
I never noticed the frogs coming out before. I was driving the bus once about 16 years ago and was driving by a pond and noticed the noise coming from it. Frogs singing their hearts out, the first I heard that year!! It was March 8th. I noticed the date, and then I never put another thought to it. The next year on March 8th I was driving by that same pond and sure enough the frogs were singing their hearts out!! The first I heard all year. I have told a few people and they just look at me and say "ok". They don't think it is weird at all. Well tonight I was coming home from a Youth Coalition Meeting and as I was coming in the door my phone rang. A friend of mine was all excited and said she can hear the frogs from her pond for the first time this year, and it is March 8th!! I had forgot about it being March 8th, and didn't think of the frogs, but she remembered me mentioning it last year, and just had to call me!! I went out on my porch, and sure enough, they are singing their hearts out!!
How do they know??????
Well it is March 14th now, and still NO FROGS!! I've heard a croak here and there, but not the big ponds!! Hmmmm, Global warming? It must be a secret warfare or something. Maybe we have the frog flu here instead of the bird flu, and everyone will croak!!
sorry

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

Pussy Willows

Every February I look for the Pussy Willows. They come out and are gone before you know it.
I like to pick a few branches and put in a vase without water.
How Pussy Willow got the name. (copied from Communigate website)
According to an old Polish legend, many springtimes ago a mother cat was crying at the bank of the river in which her kittens were drowning. The willows at the river's edge longed to help her, so they swept their long graceful branches into the waters to rescue the tiny kittens who had fallen into the river while chasing butterflies. The kittens gripped on tightly to their branches and were safely brought to shore. Each springtime since, goes the legend, the willow branches sprout tiny fur-like buds at their tips where the tiny kittens once clung.


Another version goes:

A farmer, annoyed that his barn cat had just given birth to another litter of kittens, decided that his farm had enough mouths to feed. He put the newborn babies in a feed sack, went down to the riverbank and threw the kittens in the water to be rid of them. In the turbulence of the fast moving river, the tie on the sack became loosened which set the kittens adrift. On the riverbank witnessing this horrible sight, the distressed mother cat wept loud and pitifully.

A cluster of willow bushes, along the riverbank downstream, heard her cries and in sympathy held out their branches like mooring lines. This enabled the desperately floundering kittens to grab hold as they drifted by. Now in mythology, when the life we are assigned on earth is doomed but because the spirit is eternal, myth dictates that the spirit can live on but must be in an another earthly form. Because the kittens were destined to die, but their spirits were saved, they then became part of the willows which had saved them. Ever since then, in Spring, the willow-without-a-flower decks itself out in gentle velvet buds that feel to the fingers like the silky coat of a small cat. These buds are known today as catkins and remarkably, in every country, these soft willow trees are named after cats.

Whatever happened to Preparations A through G?

Meme

Ellen tagged me to do this meme with five weird habits/facts about myself, so if you are shocked or disgusted, blame her....

1. When using toilet paper I have to have the paper tear off evenly. If it rips in half, I keep going until I have a perfect rip. HAHAHAHA perfect rip.....in the bathroom!! HAHAHAA .....get it?.....well moving on.....

2. Farts are the funniest thing ever! If I hear a fart at the wrong moment I start this hysterical giggle inside me then it erupts and I am out of control!! I even have a remote fart machine on my office door. People go by and push it all the time! I am sure, if I ever have a funeral (Which I won't because I will be cremated), my fart machine will go with me, and someone will push the remote button when the coffin goes by!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA That gives me a horrible idea!! HAHAHAHAHAHA never mind......

3. I am a multi-tasker, but not a multi-finisher. I can start something then my mind gets distracted and I start something else, then the phone will ring and I do something else, then I see something that needs to be done and I start that, then I see the thing I started in the first place, and go back to that after I pick this up, and get this done..........

4. If I hear a rumor or something said about me or a friend or heaven help them, a family member, I go right to the source and settle the matter. I don’t like to let things fester. I say it like it is, and pray for the best. I don’t like bad feelings. I forgive easily and expect the same.

5. I cannot leave clothes on the floor at all, not even towels. The only time dirty clothes are on my floor is when I am sorting them for laundry. I grew up with kittens and puppies that just love to do things on the clothes, therefore I cannot leave them on the floor.


I’ve probably got more quirks, but these are what comes to mind today.
I now tag
My sister
John
Esther
Special K
Sally

Wednesday's Wambling's.....er.....Rambling's

Whatever, I am having yet another night of not being able to sleep.
It must be because I slept so much last week when I had that flu bug! I was up last night until after 4, then tried my hardest to sleep, then I woke up at 9:00!!! I overslept through THREE alarm clocks! Now I am sleepless again! Hmm, sleepless in Seattle. Well actually Coupeville. I was tired all day today. I got off work at 4:15 and went home to get something to eat before my 5:00 hair appointment. I opened the refrigerator and didn't see anything exciting, and noticed I had a message on my answering machine. It was my friend Maria asking me to call her. We don't understand each other very well, but we do try to communicate. I called her, and she said "come, I make Tamales". Well I sure understand Tamales!! So I went over there and had two freshly homemade Tamales and some freshly homemade refried beans. Ahhhh, then I had to go to my hair appointment. I got a couple inches cut off my hair and it sure makes me feel much better! I then went to a meeting with my Church at my friend Debbies house. The Pastor wants us to go through some counseling classes to be of help in our Church. That is right up my alley, so I am looking forward to that! I got home at 10:00 and now it is 2:45 and I am wide awake!
SWELL. I have alot to do at work so I can get through the day without falling asleep at least.
Well I guess I should go count some of them sheep I hear in there!!

There is no key to happiness.
The door is always open.

Farewell my sweet friend Carolyn

Friday night my friend Carolyn lost her battle for breath and died.
She had a lung disease caused by smoking. She quit smoking years ago but the damage was done. She caught this horrid virus that is going around last week and went into the hospital and died.
She was a character. I loved her. I was her sponsor in AA. She came into the halls November 2003 and liked me and asked me to be her sponsor. I told her she has to not drink, and call me at least twice a week and go to meetings. Well she would call me mostly while I was at work, so she would leave a message on my phone talking to my two cats. I would press the message button and hear her voice "hello Punkin, hello Elliott, how are you two doin?". I'll miss her silly messages.
She had to use oxygen 24/7. I would watch her leave the meeting and walk 30 feet to her car and grasp the wheel leaning forward struggling for each breath, waiting for her lungs to get air. My heart would go out to her, but she refused help. She finally lost her battle, and is now pain free and in Heaven!!
Goodbye sweet friend, I will miss you, but we'll meet again.
Carolyn M. 1933-2006

Lesson of the Day:

Lesson of the Day: At 57 years old, ya'd think I'd know better, but NOOOOOOOO!
I have been horribly sick with the stomach flu for three days now, and just this afternoon felt good. In fact I feel almost better! But my stupidity ceases to amaze me (although I'm sure it doesn't amaze my sister at all). Tonight er, this morning about 2 am I was trying to sleep and my stomach was craving something. (making guirgling noises like hunger) So I get up and find some dill pickles. Hmmm, that looks great!! About three years ago I was buying dill pickles by the gallon, and eating them at midnight and drinking the pickle juice. So I figured I needed the salt with the dehydration from the flu, and there are no calories or fat content and no suger. So I sliced three of them and ate them and drank about 1/2 cup of pickle juice. I went back to bed and was snuggling in and about 20 minutes later I felt weird, so went to the bathroom and sat down and got rid of the pickles I thought, then stood up and projectile vomited all over the place!! Just chunky pickles and their juice. Elliott came running and looked at the mess and thought geeze, PICKLES!!?? He looked at me like he thought I was stupid for eating them!! He wasn't about to help me clean up the mess, thank God!
Hmmmppppffff!
I think I have been cured of the pickle cravings for a long long time now!!

The only two things we do with greater frequency in middle age
are urinate and attend funerals.

I have nothing to post about, so I thought I'd show off my two hanging lamps I made years ago.

The blue one was my first, then I made this pink one. It takes forever to cut the glass, then grind the edges, copperfoil around each little piece and then fit them together on a styrofaom mold then solder them together. It takes a steady hand. I haven't done this in years, as I have so much crap in my spare room that I cannot get to my work table. I guess I just lost interest.


Besides, everything I make for people they break then bring it back to me to 'fix'. It is easier to make a new one than fix the broken ones!
Well I have been up for two hours, that is a record for the past few days!
This internal flu is not a good thing to have!! Nope. I don't wish this on anyone, 'cept maybe those terrorist chickenshit cowardly guys!

When we get tangled up in our problems,
be still.
God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

This is me today. I woke up and was getting ready for work and felt sore all over again, then I was sick to my stomach! I waited awhile and felt worse, so I called in sick and went back to bed. I woke up at 12:30 and was still sore all over and this time my intestines felt all blown up and sore. I then stayed awhile in the bathroom and went back to bed. I have a slight fever and and a sicky headache and just feel horrible all over! Okay, enough of this!! I don't like being sick at all!!
Is this going on everywhere? Sheesh!!
Well I am off for my afternoon nap!!

Dear God,
I have a problem,
it's Me.

My cat is a character without even knowing it! My sister gave me this chair throw a few years ago, and I just put it on the chair when I looked over and there was Elliott sitting right next to the cat in the throw! 'Where's Waldo'? HAHAHAHA

I am sad today because two of our blogging friends had to close down their blogs.
I understand why, but feel sad anyway. I have to be very careful what I blog about because friends from work, Church, AA and family read this. I know this is my private blog, but it is on the World Wide Web, and anybody can read it. If I get mad at work and come here and vent, I would not be doing my job any favors. My job is in the public eye, so off work I am still representing my job. Same with family. If I get mad at my sis or brother, feelings can be hurt if I blog about it. If I blog about a person at AA, then I am in trouble there, because I broke their anonymity. Sooo, if I really want to vent I call my sponsor, or go tell Hannah. She is deaf so she is safe! HAHAHAHA
I wish my best to Dennis and Kim, and pray His will be done. They will get through this, and I have them in my prayers.

If you worry, you didn't pray ...
If you pray, don't worry.

Faith is the ability to not panic.

Friday Funnies

I am home today with a bad head cold. What else is new? I thought it was allergies, but it turned into a fever and chills, etc...etc! Hope it's not the bird flu from all my bird postings!!
So instead of thinking, I will share this cute email I received today:

TO: GOD: FROM: THE DOG
Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?
Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?
Dear God: Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the "Chrysler Eagle" the " Chrysler Beagle"?
Dear God: If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad dog?
Dear God: We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?
Dear God: More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.
Dear God: Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?
Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good dog.
1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.
2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.
3 I will not munch on "leftovers" in the kitty litter box, although they are tasty.
4. The diaper pail is not a cookie jar.
5. The sofa is not a 'face towel'. Neither are Mom and Dad's laps.
6. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.
7. My head does not belong in the refrigerator.
8. I will not bite the officer' s hand when he reaches in for Mom's driver's license and registration.
9. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.
10. Sticking my nose into someone's crotch is an unacceptable way of saying "hello".
11. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table.
12. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house - not after.
13. I will not throw up in the car.
14. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.
15. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch when we have company.
16. The cat is not a 'squeaky toy' so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.
And, finally, My last two questions . .
Dear God: Why do humans only have 10 Commandments and dogs have 16?

P.S. Dear God: When I get to Heaven may I have my testicles back?

I just got another funny email!
Check out this site!!

Another shot of the albino Peacock

I just can't get over the beauty of this bird. It is probably a different bird from yesterday, but the beauty is the same.
It is hard to believe that February 2006 is about over with! Is it my imagination or is the clock ticking faster and faster? I like to enjoy life each day, but it is going so fast I am trying to still enjoy yesterday when tomorrow arrives!! They say one day at a time, but they are melding together!

"Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!"

God is goooooood!

I woke up this morning with the moon shining in my eyes and hearing birds chirping outside.(better than inside, huh)? It was 20 degrees and the area is frozen white with the moisture that moved in last night. A real Winter Wonderland without snow.

I received this picture in a forwarded email and thought of God. Peacocks are a beautiful creation with their bright colors, but somehow this albino Peacock takes my breath away!

I better get ready for Church now. Have a marvelous Sunday!!

The SON is shining and He can certainly use you!

Brrrrrrrrrrr............

It is supposed to get into the teens tonight, so I decided to post this picture that I saw in an email.
I was watching a little television tonight before going to my AA meeting and saw a commercial for a car. It started out with a couple sitting in a restaurant and the gal looks away sitting there all ladylike, and the guy pours a glass of wine for her and drops a diamond ring in the glass for a proposal, and she turns and grabs the glass and gulps the entire contents and smiles and has no idea she drank an engagement ring, and the guy has this dumbfounded look on his face. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA That was ME in my younger years!! I hated to follow rules and I loved to shock people! I went to a party with a guy in Virginia Beach and it was with a bunch of officers hanging around a pool. I started out just fine in my mini dress and false eyelashes and wiglet. (this was 1972, I was cute then, ok?) As the party progressed and my sips went to gulps then chugging, I ended up in the pool dress and all! It was B-O-R-I-N-G!!!! All the guys and gals were hanging around acting all proper and everything and sipping their drinks!! SIPPING??? I had no concept of what sipping a drink was, much less not finishing it!! After I jumped in the pool, a few of the guys followed, but not my date. Well I didn't like him that much anyway. Too stiff!! I have no idea how I got home that night nor do I wish to try to remember. But I can tell you this, all those prim and proper gals probably have no rememberance of that night, but I sure do, and I am still giggling!! Heeheeheeheehee I bet they don't go to AA meetings on Friday nights now either. Sheesh, they don't know what they're missing! I am gonna slide into home base when I die yelling WHEEEEEEEEEEE...WHAT A RIDE!!
All this came from a commercial that I have no idea what they were selling. I will just laugh whenever I see it now!!

If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?

Soakin' up the sunbeams!

I stayed home today because I was 'sick in my muscles'. Sometimes all my muscles are so sore I cannot move without pain! I was like that today, so I stayed home from work and slept for 12 hours. I woke up at 2 this afternoon!! I got up and started my laundry and other menial chores, and went to make my bed and there they were! Right in my spot, and looking as lazy as anything can be!! My two lazy cats! Geeze, but they have a good life! They have no worries except that I might sleep in and they won't get fed by 7:00am!
I have some pain pills for days like this, but I find I look forward to the pills and take one for the effect. Hydrocodone 5/500. The doctor gives me 40 at a time and I save them for a time when I really need them. They do not cure the problem, they just hide the pain, or let you live with the pain and not care. I am an alcoholic, therefore I need to be very careful with pills like that! Yes, I take the pills, no I don't abuse them! Some alcoholics claim I should change my sobriety date if I take the pills. My first sponsor told me to throw them away! I am an alcoholic, not a martyr! Hogwash! I take them as the doctor prescribes, in fact I take them LESS than the doctor prescribes, therefore I still have 18 years sobriety. I did not take a pill today. I will however take them when I start training again, as I know that after a day riding in the bus sideways with new drivers stopping abrupty, will jar my back around and make me sore. Maybe not. I might get by without them. One day at a time here.
I see the temperature has dropped 7 degrees in an hour, so I must brace for that Arctic blast coming down the Frasier River Valley from Canada!
Everyone stay warm and safe now!!
Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

Mount Rainier

Our Winter mornings can be awesome. This is a picture of Mount Rainier at 7:25am this week. After a good rain or snow the air is so clean you can see Mount Rainier (Another Volcano) 150 miles away!! It is supposed to get really cold this week here. 20 miles south of us got 4" of snow last night. We just got a little hail, that's all. It is 35 degrees now, but going to get into the low 20's possibly colder. Thursday might bring a little snow. We'll see. The Northeast got dumped on!! I was in Connecticut in 1978 when "Blizzard Larry" dumped 2 feet of snow on us. It was really exciting to watch, when I went to bed it was about 8" deep, when I woke up the next morning the entire back of the house was covered in snow!! We were buried! I went to the front and it was only two feet. I never knew drifts could do that! I LOVED it!! Governor Grasso told us on television that the State was closed, and for everyone to stay home. Well where in the heck were we going with two feet of snow on the roads?? DOH!

I came home from work today and found this on my porch:

My Mexican Friends Karen and Karim gave me this big beautiful Valentine!! My heart burst with love when they showed it to me!!
I drove home and as I drove through the court I saw them and waved. They came running lickity split to my house and made sure I saw the surprise!! The looks on their faces was priceless. Karim is about 9 and Karen is about 7. Yes, they are Chris's cousins. I have been adopted and I LOVE it!!
I used to feel sorry for myself that I never had kids or grandkids, but heck, they sure fill the void for me!!
My 90 year old friend Hannah gave me these for my birthday:

Am I spoiled or what? Life is goooood!! I never dreamed my life would be this good in my younger years. I certainly feel God's Grace. I certainly do. AMEN!!

God is like...
TIDE
He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

When the sun comes out in February we have a beautiful day up here. After all those months of snow in the mountains, (That is Mount Baker) the air is clear and the mountains are showing all their glory! I cannot imagine living somewhere where there are no mountains or salt water.
Mount Baker has a 200 inch base this year. I have some friends that just got back from snow camping up there! They are absolutely crazy, that is why I love them! I camp up there in May for a week. I might do that again this year, maybe not. It is about an 80 mile drive to get there.
Oak Harbor is just around the point there. Those floats you see are the mussell rafts. I posted about them earlier. They have long ropes hanging under the rafts and blue shelled muscles grow on them and they harvest them and sell them. I love them steamed and dipped in garlic butter. NUMMY!! Or in with clam chowder. I am going to bed. I had a busy but fun day. I just had to post and get rid of that creepy catman post.

If people from Poland are called Poles,
why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

My Church friends had a birthday party for me and my friend Debby tonight. We met at the Asian Jumbo Buffet. That is my favorite quick foods restaurant. I fill up on shrimp fixed many different ways and hot spicy chicken. I don't get the rice or noodles, I just go for the meat! They also have the best crab rangoons around!!
The adorable red head girl was showing off the Boa I made for her last week. Her parents said she never ever takes it off!


Can you see the back of the head between the girl and her mom? That is of the "Catman". My sister wrote a blog on him this last Summer. He/she/it moved to Freeland the next town down the Island. He/she/it has had numerous tattoos and operations to make him/her/it look like a cat. He/she/it has had his/her/it's teeth filed into fangs, and operations on it's face to split the upper lip to look like a cat. They say He/she/it is a man, but I noticed it had boobs, so I really don't know what to think. I don't really stare at people like that, but I feel bad that a person has to disfigure his/her/ self for their religious beliefs. The Seattle Times wrote an article on him.
Freaky....just freaky!! I wonder....does he use the catbox and scratches to cover it? And does he lick himself to take a bath? EEEEYYYYUUUUU!




What can I say, it just freaks me out!!

I have a very busy weekend ahead of me. Tomorrow I have to get up at 6:00 and go to breakfast with guys from work and put on a video testing for new Operators, then get hom by three to get my two flea bitten cats to the groomers to get washed and de-flea'd!!
then my AA meeting, then come home and make spaghetti caserole for a potluck Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Saturday morning I run to an Estate sale then take Hannah to lunch then run home and bake the casserole and go to a potluck on the Southend at 6:30. Then Sunday is Church then a potluck. WHEW!! Full of friends and food, what more can you ask for? well ok, it would be better if all of you were here too!!


I wonder......Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?

The Morning After

I love a good storm every once in awhile, and to have a good one on my birthday...well I had a GREAT time!!
The winds came up around 2:00am and I stayed up for awhile then turned everything off and went to bed. The power went out at 10:00am. I was still in bed and my CPAP machine went off so I woke up gasping for air! A CPAP machine has a mask that fits over your nose and forces air through a hose to the mask that keeps your airway open during the night. My airway gets lazy and colapses during my sleep which makes me quit breathing for 20 seconds at a time during the night. I have used the machine for 5 years now and can't sleep without it. I actually wake up feeling like I've had a good night's sleep for once. So when the power goes out I know right away!!
I got up and brushed my teeth and fed the cats and sat there wondering what to do, as I get bored so easily. I have plenty of food and water, so I don't need to worry about that.
I sat and did some crocheting, then my sister stopped by with a card and gift then she left to go home and build a fire. When she got home she called me to brag about her having power. My power was still off, so about 4:00pm I was hungry and wanted some warm food. My friend Deb called and told me to meet her at our friend Sadie's house so she could shower, then we will go to dinner. Well she finally got finished around 6:00pm and we headed out to find a place. We tried 6 places and they were all packed with a waiting line out the doors, so we decided it was hamburgers! We got some burgers at Dairy Queen and I left to go home. I was still hungry so I stopped at Papa John's and got a small pizza and went home and ate the toppings and threw the crust away. I was stuffed! I took a hot bath and got my lanterns and shut the house and went to bed. I hooked up my CPAP machine to the converter and battery pack I bought for camping, set the lantern in the window and settled in with lots of covers on me and two cats next to me for warmth, got my book and opened it up and the power came on!! It was 10:00pm. So, I got up and turned on the news and did some blogging and went to bed about 2:00am.
I went to Church this morning and the Praise team played some good old Gospel music! It pumped us all up, and we even sang Amazing Grace!!
After the uplifting sermon I drove around in the BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE and took a few pictutres. The blockhouse up above was built in 1855 and was used for protection against the mean Indians from Vancouver Island (sorry to my Canadian friends). I love the way they cut the logs into Lincoln logs and put the buildings together!


Now I am getting ready for the next week of work and cooking the meals and doing my chores. I am actually gonna try to watch the Super Bowl only because the Seahwaks are playing and the entire area here is all pumped up for the game. I want to be able to say I actually watched the history making game when the Seahawks won the Superbowl!! I even painted my fingernails their colors.




GO SEAHAWKS!!
Actually, may the best team win, and whover does, it was a fun season!

There are three religious truths:
Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian faith.
Baptists do not recognize each other in the liquor store or at Hooters.

My little Helpers!

Every morning I have two shadows that follow my every step! They are at my dresser before I am. Trying to put my makeup on is a trial at times as you can see! Ya like the tricky way I planned on hiding me? HEHEHEHE
The lights are blinking already, and it is only midnight! The wind is just starting to pick up, and they are warning us that this could be the worst storm in years! UH-OH, and tomorrow is Super Bowl and Seattle Seahawks are playing!! It would be hilarious if the power went out in the entire area and the game was a history making one!! I do believe that the weather men are in cahoots with the generator makers, and give out warnings every once in awhile to sell the generators.
I don't have a generator, but I do have a back up power pack that will run my CPAP machine for 8 hours. I also have 25 gallons of water, plenty of food, and cat food, lots of blankets and candles and batteries. No plans for tomorrow, so I am prepared! Well the wind is gusting up to 25 right now so I better close this up. They are supposed to gust up to 80 or stronger. They warned us it could get to hurricane force. Hold on to your hats!!

If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...
does that mean that one enjoys it?

SURPRISE!!

The past three weeks at work have been very busy and stressful! I am volunteering at a play tonight for a fundraiser for the Forgotten Children's Fund here on the Island. The money will go for Christmas for poor children and their families. Being as I am staying out late tonight I decided to take tomorrow off so I can SLEEP in and rest then go shopping. So while I was going from one meeting to another, a lady came in and asked for me and gave me this darling basket of Violets!! I read the card and saw it was from a very special friend, and it really cheered me up! I could feel the stress pour out of me! You see I was so busy I actually didn't realize my birthday was coming up Saturday. Well when you get as old as the hills, you quit counting, but it is fun to celebrate! The people at work ooooed and ahhhed and asked me who it was from, and I told them a really special friend!
I got home at 4:30 and ran to the Playhouse to get ready for the play tonight. We only filled half the house, but we made a little money from it so it was worth it. It was Steel Magnolias, and it was done just great! The actresses were funny and I felt like I was right there in the Hair salon!














Well I was told after I took this picture that I was not allowed to. OOOPS! Sorry. i JUST WANTED TO HAVE A PICTURE FOR THE (WELL i HATE IT WHEN THAT CAPS LOCK BUTTON GETS PUSHED!!) There, I fixed it, any way, I just wanted a picture for the scrapbook for the forgotten Children's Fund.
I came home at 11:00 and played with my kitty.














Life is Gooooood!
Don't ya just want to rub the heck outa that soft flabby belly?
Well DON'T!! I warn ya, his claws are SHARP!!!
Have a great weekend, we are going to hold on tight around here I guess we are expecting a huge storm blowing in tomorrow night and Saturday. The weather report says they expect the strogest storm in years to hit. YIPPEEE!

OK.... so if the Jacksonville Jaguars are known as the "Jags"
and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are known as the "Bucs,"
what does that make the Tennessee Titans?

Maxine is SUPER!

What else can I say?

Maxine says it all!!

Have a great Thursday everyone!!

Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool? (My sentiments exactly)

It is a MISERABLE day today!

I took this picture at noon in Oak Harbor. I love to watch the ducks float around in the rough water. The storm is much worse now but it is too dark to take pictures!

Guess what, it's 39 degrees windy and raining......STILL!!

It gusted to 49 so far. It will get worse later. Of course it gets worse in the middle of the night when you can't go out and take pictures in it! Why is that?
I'm still not feeling up to par, so will shower early and go read my book in bed!

No great news to report today. I got up and went to work, drove to Oak Harbor to sign up 4 new Paratransit riders, went back to the office then came home. Whooot! It doesn't get any better than this!!

As income tax time approaches, did you ever notice:
When you put the two words "The" and "IRS" together it spells "THEIRS"?
Hmmmmmmmmm......

Picture of the day

This is my picture of the day. Two cats that hate each other sleeping together! Well actually they don't hate each other, the grey one 'Punkin' has no patience for a kitten 'Elliotte'. As soon as I get up from the chair, Punkin is curled up and sound asleep! She won't be around, but I get up from my chair and take two steps and look at my chair and there she is! Elliotte must've snuck up there while Punkin was asleep. He is such a character. I never see him curled up like Punkin, he sits in chairs, or lays upside down and watches you. Weird but adorable.
Well as you can see I have nothing whatsover to blog about. I have been on high doses of Augmentin, an antibiotic, for a sinus infection, and all I want to do is sleep, therefore that has been the extent of my weekend. I went to my AA meting Friday night, came home and slept until 10:30, went to lunch then came home and slept until 5:00, atr dinner and went to bed, and woke up at 8:30 for Church, came home and slept until 4:30! I am going to do my chores and go take my bath and go back to bed a read!! It is mostly for escape. It is 39 degrees, raining and very windy!! I am hibernating. Have a great Monday tomorrow!!

A door will snap shut only when you have left the keysinside.
(Yale Law of Destiny)

The METH epidemic

I go to alot of community meetings with my job. One meeting is the 'Island County Methamphetamine Action Team'. I went to the meeting yesterday and a nurse gave a presentation on methamphetamine and babies. There are babies born daily hooked on drugs from their mother. If you want to be awakened by this epidemic, go read this story:http://www.goanacortes.com/articles/2005/11/30/news/news08.txt
The ten year picture graduation of the woman on meth is blood curdling. To know the poisons they are using to make meth is blood curdling. There are meth labs in all sorts of neighborhoods. There is one in my trailer park. We can't catch them without a warrant, and they need actual proof before they can get a warrant. I can guarantee this, If I see a child even near that trailer I will call the cops and report abuse even if it is false! I want them to know they are being watched and what they are doing is not acceptable!!
It breaks my heart to see very young children being raised by alcoholic and drug addicted parents! A 50 year old lady brought her 5 month old grandchild to the meeting yesterday. He was born prematurely from a meth addict who was high at the time of his birth. Him and his brother was taken away from the gal and the grandmother is now raising them and they have no visitation rights until they can prove by blood test that they are clean of drugs. They cannot get a clean reading. The grandmother knows all too well the tricks because she herself was an addict but is clean and sober now for 15 years. She feels responsible for the entire mess, and is taking full responsibility of the babies.
Whew, to think it is going on right next door and nobody is watching or really cares. We are being taught on what to look for in children. As bus drivers, we at work can look at the children and see the progress of their behaviours. When we can, we report any suspicious behavior. We have cameras on all the buses for that purpose. School teachers are watching the behaviours and learning patterns.

We worry about the world, and send care to other countries, but we need to look in our own backyards and help out where we can!! Our country is in deep trouble because of the drug epidemic!! It has to STOP!!!
Whew, sorry about the serious blog today, but I worry about the innocent kids. We all need to keep our eyes open and watch the kids. I have alot of kids that visit my house, and I like them to know this is a safe place to come to. Every kid needs a place to go to that they know is safe.

When one wishes to unlock a door but has only one hand
free, the keys are in the opposite pocket. (Von Fumbles Law)

You know you are from the Northwest when...

The Pacific Northwest According To Jeff Foxworthy:

1. You know the state flower (Mildew). (yep)

2. You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.(yep)

3. Use the statement "sun break" and know what it means.(yep)

4. You know more than 10 ways to order coffee.(yep..vente decaf sugarfee iced latte w/regular milk)my favorite

5. You know more people who own boats than air conditioners.(yep)

6. You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.(yep)

7. You stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" Signal.(we don't have signals in Coupeville)

8. You consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain.(yep)

9. You can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Veneto's.(yep)

10. You know the difference between Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye Salmon.(yep)

11. You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Oregon, Yakima, and Willamette.(yep)

12. You consider swimming an indoor sport.(yep)

13. You can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food(yep)

14. In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark-while only working eight-hour days.(yep)

15. You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.(yep)(yep)

16. You are not fazed by "Today's forecast: showers followed by rain," and "Tomorrow's forecast: rain followed by showers."(yep)

17. You have no concept of humidity without precipitation.(yep)

18. You know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state of mind.(yep)

19. You can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot see through the cloud cover.(yep)

20. You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but still wear your hiking boots and parka.(yep)

21. You switch to your sandals when it gets about 60, but keep the socks on.(yep)

22. You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.(yep)

23. You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.(yep)umbrella??

24. You buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time.(yep)sunglasses??

25. You measure distance in hours.(yep)2 hours to Seattle! One hour to Bellingham!

26. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit under or over a raincoat.

27. You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Raining (Spring), Road Construction (Summer), Deer & Elk Season (Fall).(yep)

Never, under any circumstances,
take a sleeping pill and a laxative
on the same night.

I can't watch....I get too hyped up with the crowd! I just switched to the channel, and I could feel the electricity of the crowd! The score is 27-7 Seahawks in the 3rd. (whatever that means).
If the Seahawks win that means they go to the Superbowl.
I am not a Football fan, but I still think it is neat that the team is that close!
This would be the first time in the Superbowl for them.

UPDATE:
The two teams set for Super Bowl XL are making history. The Seahawks earned their first trip in team history with an impressive 34-14 victory over the Panthers. And the Steelers became the first No. 6 seed ever to make the Super Bowl by beating the Broncos in Denver. Full Story ...

• Panthers lose another RB | Photos
• Steelers take road to Detroit
• Bettis to end career in hometown
Well I watched the last of the game, and they made it!! I was so impressed....at 45 seconds left in the game, the other team just quit playing, and the two coaches walked up to each other and they both hugged each other in real sincerety!!
I am impressed! THAT is what Sports is about! Teamanship and Congratulating the winner, and NOT throwing fits and accusations to each other!
The Panthers (Wherever they are from) played a good game and lost gracefully. I applaud them!


Some days you're the bug;
some days you're the windshield.

A taste from the past!

I came home from my AA meeting at 10:00pm and had the munchies really bad and had NOTHING in my house to eat. Well there is alot to eat here, but nothing looked good. I was looking through my cupboard and noticed a can of brown bread! I don't remember buying it, and have had it for who knows how many years? Probably from one of my camping trips. Any way I opened it and sliced it and put butter on it and BAM!!
That old familiar taste from my childhood of molasses and raisins.
It was really good, so I will save the rest in a baggy for tomorrow. I think I remember mom putting warm baby prunes on it, then whipped cream. Or was that ginger bread? Mary Lou would know, she always remembers everything.

It is now pouring again. It was nice for awhile this afternoon then the rains returned. I saw some Snow Geese sitting in mud puddles all dirty.


Or should I say 'mud goose'.
Further down the road I saw a fireplug sitting in a huge puddle, so I took a picture. I thought it was funny.

Time for bed....Have a great weekend!

If at first you don't succeed,
skydiving is not for you.

I'm one tired kitty!!

My neighbor is 89 years old and lives alone. She has lived next door to me for about 15 years, and is like a mother to me. She talks with a New York accent and just loves to get in lively arguments.....er debates. She is a real sweety most of the time. Her daughter lives in town about two miles away. I went to bed about 9:30 Monday night and fell asleep about 10:00. The phone rang about 11:30 and it was my neighbor. She was concerned about her blood pressure so she called me. I have a blood pressure cuff that I let her use that fits on your wrist and is easy to take. The doctor has been monitoring her pressure for the past week, so I told her to keep the cuff for awhile. I was concerned that she called me so I ran over there in my nightgown and coat. She was talking so very melodramatic, and shaking like a leaf as soon as I got near to her. I reassured her and told her to give me her symptoms, and I took her vitals again. They were down from when she took it. She was still very concerned and said she has a heavy chest. Well that did it, so I called her daughter and told her I was calling the ambulance if she wanted me to. Her daughter came over in 5 minutes and got her to the hospital. I went back to bed about 1:00am. I woke up at 6:30 exhausted so called into work and said I was taking a vacation day and went back to sleep. She called again about 7:30 in the morning (bless her heart) and told me she was fine, that the doctor said it was because she quit taking her high blood pressure pills!! I said "you didn't tell me you quit taking your high blood pressure pills" she said back sheepishly, "I didn't? oh." Ah well. It is a good feeling knowing my neighbor thinks highly of me to call me first instead of 911 or her daughter. It is worth not having a good night's sleep once in awhile. I just pray someone 30 years younger than me moves in when my neighbor dies so she can take care of me!! hehehehe My poor neighbor has thought she has been dying since she hit her 80th birthday!! I just laugh at her now. I love her, and she loves me.

If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,
it wasprobably worth it.

I'm Baaaaaaack!

Well I finally figured out my username and password! I should use just one in everything I do so I won't get stumped again.
Yes, I wrote it down before but.....I cleaned the area around my computer and threw away my notes!
Any way, Mary Lou had a great birthday!
I had a very uneventful week here.
The weather....rainy in fact 27 straight days of rain. We actually have had some sun breaks like this afternoon. But south of us it is bad. Flooding rivers and mudslides where they have cleared the land and built huge expensive mansions on the hillside for a million dollar view. Well DUH! It really doesn't take a rocket Scientist to figure that one out now does it?
I haven't had my television on all day and it has been PEACEFUL!!

The full moon was yesterday.
When I was a bartender I could always tell when there was a full moon by the way the crowd was. When I worked on the ambulance I would start naming the full moons by the calls we were getting. For instance, we could go a year without a broken leg, then we'd get three in one night so I would call it the broken leg moon. Or heart attack, strokes, etc.
Well I noticed this weekend that there have been alot of angry people. I mentioned that today at the break at Church and people would nod and then relate their experience with an angry person. I saw a gal in the store I hadn't seen in awhile and said hello. She is my sister's neighbor and I asked her if she saw my sister chasing her dog on New Years. Well she started telling me about a man in her neighborhood that sets off fireworks on New Years Eve and getting her dogs and all the neighbor's dogs all excited and she got really angry about it and wouldn't stop ranting. Ooops. Sorry, something I said??
Has anyone else noticed any angry people this week?
This has been an angry moon.

It's always darkest before dawn.
So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper,
that's the time to do it.

Mary Lou turns 60 today!

Sixty years ago today a child was born to a Navy man and wife bringing their first child to this world.
Mary Lou is my older sister, so run over there and wish her a happy birthday!!

GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY.
GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
We make a Living by what we get,
We make a Life by what we give.

New Blogger

Run over and say hello to Paulasue!!
Brenda's little sister!!
Oh boy, anothern Southern Belle!!

A Doll from Santa By Alice Ferguson

I got this in an e-mail this morning and just had to share it with y'all!!

Alice's mother died when she was five years old. Although her nine brothers and sisters were loving and caring, they were no replacement for a mother's love. The year was 1925, and life was hard. Alice, who grew up to be my mother, told me that her family was too poor to even afford to give her a doll. In the aftermath of her loss, Alice vowed to care for others. First, her father, then her husband, later her three children and then her grandchildren were the main focus of her life. She felt that she could make up for her sad childhood through her dedication to her own family, but an unfilled void seemed to remain. In December 1982, I had a job at a local bank. One afternoon, we were decorating the tree in the bank lobby and singing carols, getting ready for the Christmas season. One of my customers approached me with a sample of her handiwork: beautiful handmade dolls. She was taking orders for Christmas. I decided to get one for my daughter, Katie, who was almost five years old. Then I had an idea. I asked my customer if she could make me a special doll for my mother - one with gray hair and spectacles: a grandmother doll. The doll maker felt that this idea was certainly unique and took it on as a creative challenge. So I placed my Christmas order: two dolls, one blonde and one gray-haired for Christmas morning! Things really started to fall into place when a friend had told me that his dad - who played Santa Claus at various charitable functions in my area - would be willing to make a visit on Christmas morning to our home to deliver my Katie her presents! Knowing that my parents would be there as well, I began to get ready for what would turn out to be one of the most memorable days of my mother's life. Christmas Day arrived and at the planned time, so did Santa Claus. I had prepared the presents for Santa to deliver, along with one for my mother tucked into the bottom of Santa's bag. Katie was surprised and elated that Santa had come to see her at her own house, the happiest I had ever seen her in her young life. My mother was enjoying watching her granddaughter's reaction to the visit from this special guest. As Santa turned to leave he looked once more into his knapsack and retrieved one more gift. As he asked who Alice was, my mother, taken aback by her name being called, indicated that she in fact was Alice. Santa handed her the gift, which was accompanied by a message card that read:For Alice: I was cleaning out my sleigh before my trip this year and came across this package that was supposed to be delivered on December 25, 1925. The present inside has aged, but I felt that you might still wish to have it. Many apologies for the lateness of the gift.Love,Santa Claus My mother's reaction was one of the most profound and deeply emotional scenes I have ever witnessed. She couldn't speak but only clasped the doll she had waited fifty-seven years to receive as tears of joy coursed down her cheeks. That doll, given by "Santa," made my mother the happiest "child" alive.

Reprinted by permission of Alice Ferguson (c) 1999 from Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul 2 by Jack Canfield,
Glenda

My 'blue eyed' cat.

Punkin really has Gold eyes, but the flash showed blue instead of red. Hmmm.
Actually I am posting just to post. Alot has happened at work but that is boring, Bible study was interesting, and AA tonight had a great speaker, but all that is stuff I cannot post on, so hmmmpppf.
I woke up around 1:30 this morning sneezing my CPAP mask off my face, and I got up and stayed up until 4:30 then forced myself back to bed. I was awake until about 5:30 and my alarm went off at 6:15, so my mind is mush about now.
I am not sleepy, but I am coming down with a hummer of a head cold! I haven't posted since Monday so I am doing it now, then I can sleep in until 10:00 tomorrow!! I was just having fun playing 'chase the laser light with Elliott. He is still looking for it! HAHAHAHA
Well I was trying to put the two pictures of Elliott under the HAHA's, but they ended up on top.
Oh well. I have no kids, so you get to see my cats!
I'm going to bed!

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach him how tofish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

New Years Day

Well this is about how I feel. I didn't party New Years Eve, but I am exhausted from the whole Christmas thing.
Time to relax and get back to healthy eating and early to bed.
I am starting my small group all over on step one this month.
Step One:
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable.
I have 18 and 1/2 years sober, but I continually work the steps. I work them now with my health. I am powerless over my Diabetes and aging, so I replace the word alcohol with Diabetes.
I have to remind myself daily that I am an alcoholic and that I have Diabetes. If I forget I will eat the wriong things and end up back on insulin which I refuse to do!!
I have been helping a few new people in the AA program so starting all over again will help them too. Twelve months...Twelve steps.

Well I better get stepping and get ready to return to work tomorrow!!

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.