Create Dunkin’s Next Donut

 

 

 

 

 

Create Dunkin’s Next Donut.

How about this for a DVAM (Domestic Violence Awareness Month) creation donut?

 

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Lymphedema Fashion Scarf

As one that has Lymphedema in the legs since 2004, I just love it when folks can come up with creative solutions to the fashion of having to wear  unslightly compression garments, which always lead to questions of “What did you do to your leg/arm?”  “Is it going to go away?”  “Is it just water retention?” etc, etc.   Although this isn’t going to work for me with my lymphedema in my legs, it is nice to know that someone out there is thinking outside of the box to come up with some fashionista hints.

“My name is Debbie and I am a two-time survivor of early Breast Cancer.” I am also in the daily trenches of surviving BC’s chronic ‘dirty-little-secret’ of Lymphedema. LE is indeed a potentially life ending diagnosis, but beyond that little attention getter, it poses a daily & never ending array of life-challenging agonies, concerns and frustrations. Don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of LE. Based on my experience & that of a goodly number of my ‘swell’ LE friends, neither has much of the medical community. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

Like my early BC diagnosis, I am also in the short-end of the LE pool and I’m making it my daily work to stay here. Due to my various surgical procedures plus radiation and its aftermath plus a variety of other complications and set-backs, I have lymph nodes that no longer function properly. Ya never know how significant your lymph nodes are — until they get rearranged and quit smiling. My right arm (and yes I am right handed) no longer feels like it’s mine. It doesn’t feel like it belongs to me. It’s heavy. It tires. It’s dingy, pingy, Grumpy, sleepy and several of the other seven dwarfs as well, tho not Sneezy. I have a whole host of protective, proactive behaviors and exercises. You don’t even want to know about the threat from mosquito bites, I kid you not! Genuine threat the skeeters. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

The long and the short of it? I need to protect my effected arm by wearing a compression sleeve. I also wear other compression garments for various reasons and purposes, but that’s a whole different story and post. Today is about summer. Heat. Ugly sleeve. Intrusive questions from total strangers. [Like the waiter who looked at my compression sleeve and said with an air of knowing superiority, “Drug addiction issues, eh?” Nothing like an insightful waiter. How could I make that up?] This post is about my occasional desiring not to be a billboard for BC/LE. Going under-cover. Yes and fashion! Being the fashion maven that you’ve come to recognize here, you know how fashion plays a large part of my mindset. Here’s what I wrote last month over at BCO.

When we were in Europe, earlier this spring, EVERYONE was wearing scarves. Scarves were available EVERYwhere, in every possible design.

I bought a 6 foot scarf that is made of one continuous piece of ‘pre-pleated’ fabric which measures about 20 inches in it’s natural/scrunchie state. It measures about 40 inches when the fabric is pulled to it’s max width or flattened.

Anyhow. Quite by accident, while in Europe I wrapped the scarf around my compression sleeved arm while wearing a tank top. A little tuck here and there and I could have one ‘naked’ arm and one bare shoulder. VOILA!!!!!

For the first time in the summer I felt like I didn’t need to be ‘on guard’ from total strangers asking what I’d done to my arm. Oh happy day!!

Today, a delightfully warm summer day in the low 80’s, we went to see “Jersey Boys” and I decided to use my European scarf idea again & wanted it not to flop/slip around so much –with me tugging. So I made the scarf into a ‘tube’ by sewing it closed at one edge to slide my compression sleeve’d arm into and then just draped the rest of the length of the scarf around my neck. The sewing it shut/tube is a more permanent solution for using the scarf as a dressy hiding spot. I hope that this makes sense.

I have been experimenting with scarves for the last month.

Having enough length in the scarf seems to be the real solution — especially for the body-draping concept. I hope that the illustration gives the impression of just a scarf draped oh so casually across the shoulder (to the on-looker.)

The tube affair is the real camouflage.

As you may be realizing, I am now at the point of wearing just a sleeve for ‘everyday’ sitting at the theater events. I still wear my gauntlet when doing anything physical, flying etc etc.

I think with enough material in the scarf you could put a little stitch in the very end to create a mitten effect and still hide an entire gauntlet with ease.

The response from my LE cyber-friends round the globe has been awesome. They like it! They like it! I share here, just in case someone googles up LE and fashion (yeah, right!) My original post from BCO has been moved to the site specific for LE created by a trio of the kindest, most brilliant women on the planet called Step Up, Speak Out. It is an end-all, be-all site for support info and all things LE.

I hope that my sharing the same idea here, in this format gives some of my dear friends and supporters just a little further insight it what it means to be a survivor on a daily basis. If the post accomplishes that in the mind of one reader I have met my goal for the day.

***Oh and one more thing!!! When in doubt, out in the real world, if you meet someone with a “difference” in their appearance, count to 10 before you launch into a series of questions or insightful comments a la my waiter. If there’s any wondering at all on your part, you can always fall back on the tested and true voice of your Nana, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” The classics are indeed classic for a reason.

via RainbowsWithinReach: Lymphedema Fashion Scarf.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lymphedema-in-the-News/127336167284700

 

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Sherwood Forest Faire – Medieval Renaissance Park in Lost Pines between Austin and Houston.

The inaugual event is going to be about 35 miles west of Austin, off of Hwy 290 in the McDade area, from September 24-25, 2011.  More events also planned from February 11th – April 1st, 2012.

This should all be very interesting place to explore.  The hard economic times certainly lend itself to a need to escape into the mystical fairie tale times that the Sherwood Celtic stories that we have only read about in the past.  No longer, will Austinites have to think that the closest places for Ren Faires to be in Tomball/Magnolia, near Houston, or up towards the Waco area.

Have you ever been to a Renaissance Fair in the past?  Would you sign up for the upcoming events at this place?

Check out the link below for more details.

Sherwood Forest Faire – Medieval Renaissance Park in Lost Pines between Austin and Houston..

 

Tickets:

https://tix.extremetix.com/Online/?siteID=2462&cartID=ef3f66d9-0020-4637-a48b-9cbac571c7c8&eventID=28825

 

 

Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/SWFF2010?sk=app_212371285462773

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Jamie Oliver – A Hero in the American Public School Cafeteria System

Jamie Olive is my hero.  Last year, when he came to the United States and make a debut in the small, sleepy town in West Virginia, he clearly made an impact and difference in their lives.

This year, he might have taken on more than he could chew by tackling the enormous Los Angeles Community.  By the end of the last show, though, he gained the support of the new supertindent of the LA School system.

He’s got the right ideas though.  He wears his heart on his sleeve and is aiming to put things into good perspective with good eats, starting in the schools.

I thank him for his perseverance in keeping on the school systems.  I look forward to see the long range effects of his efforts.

What’s next for this hero?  Can’t wait to see what he’s got up his sleeve for the next leg of his crusade!

News | Jamie Oliver (US).

 

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The Google+ project: real life sharing, rethought for the web.

 

I got the opportunity to view this new social site through a *.tv broadcast today.  It poses some interesting opportunities, although I’m not sure that I would like to be on a webcam throughout the experience.  lol…

On this page is the interactive tour link so that you, too, can have an opportunity to view the interactive nature of this project in development that can take social media networking to an all new level.  Take a look and decide for yourself.

They’re currently testing with a small number of folks before it’s ready for everyone; however, you can sign up to be notified on this page too once it is released for public interaction and exploration.

I’m looking forward to it; how about you?

 

 

 

The Google+ project: real life sharing, rethought for the web..

 

 

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Chinese Male Cheerleader Brings it On! Video goes viral in the People’s Republic – Digg

Something you just don’t see everyday:

This Chinese cheerleader video from the Chinese Youtube Youku.com is going viral in the People’s Republic and around the world. The man clad in a skirt and flourishing kicks and arabesques is an unknown student from a Chinese university.

via Chinese Male Cheerleader Brings it On! Video goes viral in the People’s Republic – Digg.

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Dream For A Cure…

 

 

 

Being a lymphedema patient myself, and having a wonderfully doting and caring boyfriend who acts as my daily caregiver, I can appreciate reading this lymphedema patient’s daughter’s point of view as a caretaker.

I love the title of the blog as well — DREAM FOR A CURE… 🙂  This is definitely a common theme among all lymphedema patients and caregivers because this lymphedema condition isn’t necessarily a temporary condition but one that is a lifetime commitment to keep it from becoming a dangerous and lethal situation if left untended.

Be sure to take a glimpse at this blog and learn more about this condition that so desperately needs a cure. 🙂

Dream For A Cure….

 

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SoulNeeds Beta – Dashboard – txbluebonnet

One of the most creative and latest/greatest social sites being placed out on the world wide web recently is a site called, Soul Needs!

It really works on getting to know people for their wholesome goodness, as well as a place for each and every person to come and explore fitness by way of the mind, body and soul.

Create your own profile.

Explore the “Circles”, various communities centered around specific topics or needs for fulfillment — or, create your own.

Take the many quizes available on the site to explore where you stand with your mind, body, and soul.

There are also other areas in development — entertainment and events, to begin with.

If you are wanting something a little more fulfilling than the social sites you have been to lately, you really should take the time to explore this more by clicking on the link below:

 

SoulNeeds Beta – Dashboard – txbluebonnet.

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Domestic Violence Voices

Everyone needs a place to go to where they can heal, be safe to talk, and empower others along their healing journey.  For those traveling the healing journey due to domestic violence issues, Facebook’s page called, Domestic Violence Voices, offers just one such place.

It’s just a great feel good place with a great community spirit.

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Congratulations To Blake Shelton – ‘Honey Bee’ Is The New #1 Song In Country Music | The Country Site

Have loved getting to know another side of Blake Shelton on the hit show, The Voice.   Take a listen to this song… the Honey Bee…. love it!  Very cleverly done!

Congratulations To Blake Shelton – ‘Honey Bee’ Is The New #1 Song In Country Music | The Country Site.

 

 

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An Embarrassing Comment Upon Politicians

Oh, my! I just can’t believe that it has come down to discussing politician’s many love lives and infidelities, and let that drama get in way of what is truly underlying on the the important aspects of getting us out of this economic “bliss” and recession. Don’t get me wrong — when we vote a politician into office, we do hope and pray that they enstill the same morals and beliefs that are representative of our society as a whole, but let us not forget where our priorities should be.

Below is the humor made by a political cartoon today:

Can we please get down to the real business essential to our lives.

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DJ Devine is on Air??? Do what??? lol…

Was it four weeks of DJing that just passed?

Am I really on my 5th week of DJing now???

Wow!!!!

It hardly seems that soooo much time as passed when I am having sooo much fun learning about the world of DJing.

So many good things are happening.  I am having musicians wanting me to air their music and I am soooo very happy to do so.  I am all about the underdog and getting them some air time.  I am also all about not necessarily playing the same songs that you will hear on all other radio stations.  It might be a little bit of Indie music or a song that is sung by a well known singer or band that hasn’t been played in quite some time.

I have some bands giving me exclusivity to air their not yet released music as well.  I am so excited that they have their faith in me, which makes me so much more excited to do my shows.

Not this week, but next week, I am also looking forward to having a guest DJ on air with me.  Can’t wait until that happens. It’ll be fun to have the company of another DJ on air with me, who is also going to share with me some better organizational skills to get me set on the right track from my place.

Next week, too, I am meeting up with a dear musician friend of mine who is playing here in Austin for a change of pace. Can’t wait to see him and see what new materials he’ll let me share with you all. 😀

What other things are in store?  Who knows???? lol…

*Wishing that there were DJ passes to the SXSW shows here in Austin*

Guess you’ll just have to keep in touch and see what happens………………………

In the meantime………

Come on in and join in the fun….

DJ Devine,
Blue Orion Lounge
Playing songs from the last 4 decades, including some Austrialian, Latin, and British songs, as well as some Indie musicians.

MARCH 6 (THURS) 5-8p CST

MARCH 7  (FRI) 2-5p CST

MARCH 8 (SAT) 8a-2p CST
DJ DEVINE @
Blue Orion Radio –
(high band) http://www.sc.jji-radio.com:8008
(low band) http://www.sc.jji-radio.com:8010
Blue Orion Radio Lounge (in Fubar.com) – http://www.fubar.com/new_lounge.php?w=1&lid=53775
My show airs – as DJ Devine – Thurs 5-8pm, Fri 2-5pm, Sat 8a-2pm
Playing the last 4 decades of music

MUSICIANS — Please contact me and let me know if you have something you would like for me to consider airing!!

Come on in and join in on the fun….

DJ Devine,
Blue Orion Lounge
Playing songs from the last 4 decades, including some Austrialian, Latin, and British songs, as well as some Indie musicians.

MARCH 6 (THURS) 5-8p CST

MARCH 7 (FRI) 2-5p CST

MARCH 8 (SAT) 8a-2p CST

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LIST — *Valentine Candy Heart Comments*

1.  Be Mine

2.  Love is Sweet

3.  Charm Me

4.  Love Letter

5.  Sweet Home

6.  I ❤ You

7.  Marry Me

8.  Love Story

9.  Sweet Talk

10.  Best Friends

What is your favorite saying on the candy hearts?????  (It doesn’t have to be from one of the above mentioned in the list.)

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Making Lists…

Making lists doesn’t always put our world in order, but it certainly helps us to feel more orderly.

~ Anonymous

lol..

I don’t know how many lists that I have written over the years, but it has certainly made me rest better at nights very often so that I could have a renewed perspective of the upcoming day, as well as a renewed charge and dedication to eliminate as many of the items off of my lists.

How about yourself????

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Well, first off, I am going to have to learn a bit more about it before becoming an Internet DJ — lol…

One of the social sites that I go to has some lounges. They are pretty fun to get lost in, chat a bit, and listen to tunes from all eras (depending on the lounge that you are lounging around in).

There is one that I have been checking out lately and the owner has offered to train me on how to be a DJ. Can’t really pass up the opportunity to learn—we’ll know soon how much more involved it can be soon enough. I have to contact her on the Yahoo Messenger later today.

Is anyone out there an Internet DJ? Do you enjoy it? Do you have any tips or suggestions???

Look forward to hearing what folks have to say…..

It is certainly something different, and a whole new world to explore. Who knows where it will lead to—or, not! lol… It will be fun to explore, nontheless!

See more progress on: Become an Internet DJ?

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Do you ever feel like you have one of these days???? :)

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Scarlet Letter?

Today I awakened at my Alzhiemer’s client’s home to find that she is distraught over her cat.   She threw her cat out the door after the cat appearing to have changed colors (say what?). She said that the cat turned pink.  After seeing the cat last night myself and wondering if the cat were pregnant because she was big around, I was wondering if she meant that the cat was about to have babies or what.  Still not sure what she meant, but I encouraged her to take a shower after engaging her in the Joel Olsteen show this morning and having some freshly squeezed orange juice and toast.

I put out some cat food while she was in the shower after not seeing the cat myself.  After cleaning up the home we left but she thanked me for everything as she was encouraged by Joel Olsteen’s power talk about minimizing our adversities and putting a magnifying glass towards the bigger and better things to come for us ahead – and, she agreed the the shower did make her feel refreshed as well.

We set out and went to Denny’s for breakfast and then off to Sun Harvest for some bits and pieces for things to make at home.  Poor thing.  She got in her mind that she was going to make her famed chicken soup and when I told her that we might not need to buy a whole chicken because it won’t fit into the toaster oven, she felt despair and disgust to her son who had taken apart her stove to keep her from setting the place on fire accidentally.  I tried to point out that she might be able to do the same in a crockpot and she toyed with the idea for a moment then said, “No, I just want my stove to be working!”.  We went around and put some of those ingredients back and searched for other possibilities that she could do — for instance instant oatmeal with the water boiled in the electric kettle, etc.

When we finally got home, we prepared some tuna salad for sandwiches this week and put away the groceries we did purchase.  After calling her son to tell him that he really must get the stove working and hanging up on him after a conversation about his love life that isn’t working out too hot, she pulled up a chair for me to sit in and said, “Come.  Talk to me!”

I sat down and I got a lecture about taking a chance with life and finding a man for me.  She called me a “gootah” (phonetically correct, but Jewish for a woman that does things for everyone else but herself).  She says that she wants me to go out and spend $100 on myself — a new dress, earrings, lipstick — and go dancing.  She says that I should get a sign to wear (like a nametag) and say that I am a free woman! (I can just see it now — women who have already been married and are now divorced and/or widowed must wear a “W” – – an “M” inverted for “woman” and signifying turning over a new leaf!  OMG…lol…..

As I finally was heading out the door after spending 30-1/2 hrs this weekend with her this weekend, she said to me, “You are a lovely woman.  I enjoy spending time with you because you make me feel sane and you are fun to be around.  You need to buy that dress, earrings, and lipstick — and, find something daring to do!”  It almost sounded like a preacher giving me a charge to do for the week ahead, as well as a challenge to find something daring to do.

Thank goodness she has Alzhiemers and she may not remember that she told me that next weekend or I might have to actually report to her the daring thing that I did this week; however, on the other hand, because she does have some degrees of Alzheimers, I might have the same lecture next week.  Oh, nooooooo!!! lol….

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No Stealing the Joy!!

This is the first morning that I have felt half way awake since I woke up on Saturday afternoon b/c I then left Saturday night to work a shift from 6pm Saturday night until 2pm Sunday with an Alzhiemers client.  When I arrived her, there was a new shift person that was there for the first time and it had made her extremely nervous and frustrated.  I managed to settle her down that evening and she awoke refreshed and rearing to go, while I awoke with a backache from hell b/c I had slept on the wooden futon bed all wrong.

It took me a while to get moving and she hopped in and out of the room I was several times asking me what was the agenda today.  Finally, I got her engaged in the Joel Olsteen preacher from Lakewood Church in Houston TX on the television.  I told her that he was a powerful speaker and she sat and listened with great intensity.  He spoke about frustrations and not letting people get under your skin and get the best of you — in another words, not to let other people steal your joy.  This was poignant for her….

as well as for me (for what had happened earlier this past week and what is about to happen this week).

We both went forward into the day with a great attitude and went to have breakfast at an Austin tradition hole in the wall place, then tried to go to the LBJ Wildflower park (but we ended up being there an hour too early) then window shopping for a bit before we headed back home.  While we were back home she relaxed reading the NY Times Newspaper and a book about Elvis Pressely.  She became recharged and we headed to the local Dairy Queen to find a sign outside the door over a trashcan stating “Bad Attitudes Here” with an arrow directed towards the trashcan.  We laughed about the irony of it — especially after the Joel Olsteen sermon about the joy and marched into the Dairy Queen saying “No one is going to steal my Joy!” and ordered some delicious waffle sundaes.  (BTW, did you know that the first Dairy Queen was actually in Canada???  That was something that I hadn’t known before.)

At any rate, I went from her home to my home to sleep for a few hours before heading into an overnight shift.  Getting off Monday morning, I was still exhausted because I hadn’t caught up on my sleep yet.  Today, though, even after working last night on another overnight shift, I am feeling recharged (at least, for the moment…lol…).

On the desk I share with another employee at the hotline, I tore off the 7th quote of the day off of the 2008 calendar and revealed the 8th.  Today’s message was — “There’s nothing noble in being superior to someone else.  The one mobility is in being superior to your previous self.” — a Hindu proverb.  That is, indeed, so very true.

Today, the supervisors are meeting to decide about who is to get the permanent overnight shift (you see I have been working as a relief for the past 5 years) that is open.  Myself and two others applied.  One is disqualified from applying because she hasn’t been there long enough to transfer to another shift; the other one would not be a good choice because she has argued with the employees on the overnight shift in the past.  Hopefully, the logical choice will be me.  Even the overnight shift folks are all rooting for me.

But that has no effect on the rhyme or reason of the supervisor staff.  We’ll see.

All I know is that I am better today that I was yesterday — no matter their decision and choice — and, no one can still my joy.  My real joy isn’t whether I am working PT or FT; my real joy is being able to be the best advocate that I know myself to be.

Of course, I am going to have to remind myself to think positive.  My coworkers have already planned to order out for our meals tonight.  We’ll see and hope that that might be in celebration that I am “in” for the FT position.

No harm in keeping my fingers crossed for the best though, right?

Any prayers would be appreciated….as I really need the FT work income wise, which will allow me the opportunity to not work for 2 employers quite to the extent that I have been.

At any rate, please remember that there is no stealing the joy!!!

😀

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I believe — do you???

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Remaining Positive?

(Actually written 1/2/08:)

I saw a bumper sticker the other day and was puzzled slightly by what it said — “Those who abandon their dreams, will discourage others.”  Although I wrote it on my hand, and later on in my datebook journal I received as a Christmas gift, it just didn’t make sense to me until today.  After all, eventhough I haven’t achieved all of my dreams, I am still the cheerleader encouraging and empowering others to be able to move forward with their own dreams.

Today, though, I indeed had a v-8 moment and realized just what the bumper sticker could possibly mean.

For my living, I am an advocate for those who may not necessarily speak up for themselves.  Currently, I have found myself being an advocate for the elderly as part of my vocation and passion and, as a rule, I truly enjoy what I do.  One client though I have been struggling with to keep upbeat about it.

When I first started going to this client a few weeks ago, I was shocked by the care of his room.  While he may have incontinence, his room reaked of urine all over newspapers, bed linens, clothes, and such.  Apparently, he can’t remember to wear his “briefs”, the depends.  That, in itself is one thing, and makes my job enduring as each week I have to spend 3 hours waiting for the loads to wash through and I don’t feel like I can do this client justice fully because I don’t feel like I have as much time to visit with him, but he tends to stick things in the toilet and stops it up as well (ie, apparently he doesn’t like carrots so they end up in the toilet, which is very disgusting.  I end up having to call maintenance of the facility to come fix the toilet.  It shouldn’t get to the point it does.  The client has a phone; he could call for maintenance himself.  He also walks to the dining room each day; he could tell the management office his needs as well, but he chooses not to.  So, each week I return and I encounter much of the same thing.  You would think that someone wouldn’t want to stay in a room that smells like urine, much less sleep in wet sheets and covers each night.  Each week I keep thinking to myself, “Why, then, do I put myself through such turmoil?”

The answer lays in the fact that I continue to hope that I can make a difference in this man’s life, although, it appears that his level of care needs to be much higher.  This man, who used to not even move out of the bed, does now greet me at his door each week so I am doing something right, it would appear.

Too, while waiting for the clothese to be washed and dried, I’ve met other residents that walk (or, ride) by and they either wave or stop to talk to me for a bit.  I think that they are just happy to see someone else available to hear what they have to say about their day.  Some of them are now even introducing themselves to me with their names and inviting me to go visit them in their rooms — so many are just anxious to have company and companionship.  Even in an assisted living facility, so many residents keep to themselves, which is a shame.

Earlier this morning, I checked my Fubar page just as anyone might check their MySpace page or emails, and saw one of my best friends indicate that he was having trouble waking up this morning.  I called him and told him that, while he was having trouble waking up, I was having a great deal of trouble just motivating myself to move forward to go see this client this morning.  We were talking about why I was having trouble in particular today and he set a positive tone for me by saying to me, “At least, you will have lots to blog about today,” and he was right.

Although I am discouraged by this man’s seemingly giving up on his dreams of having a great life in spite of his health problems, I am discouraged (just like the bumper sticker says).  However, what relights my enthusiasm for returning each week is the brightened eyees and smiles of others I see each week at this facility.  Today, I was surprised, too, in that this man didn’t stay in his room while I was tending to his laundry down the hall.  He actually got up and took the trash to the laundry room area and later he came down to the sitting area and talked with me for a bit telling me that the maintenance has come while I was down here.  Not only once though, but three times!  Maybe next week, he’ll actually sit down and talk to me?  At any rate, any progress made is certainly making way for encouragement that my advocacy is making a difference.

I’ll certainly have to remind myself that, as I crawl out of bed next Wednesday morning, while advocacy work can indeed be very discouraging, it is encouraging to see when folks be able to crawl out of their hinderances (sometime created by themselves) and start getting a little more excited about life.  That is the reward I get in lieu of great monetary salaries, a richness more fulfilling to living a life than making a huge income and not being able to stop and observe life for what it is.  Humanity is a precious regard on this earth; unfortunately, most people are too focused on making the big bucks that they often forget the joys that would surround them if they would just stop and look!

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Global Warming in the United States???

In Slate.com there was a cartoon that indicated the lack of US cooperation with the Global Warming issue.  With Al Gore’s campaign for the “Inconvenient Truth” that he has been doing in the past few years, you would think that the prospect of US’s involvement with the global warming issues would be higher.  What this cartoon fails to portray is the thought of what cooperation is being had by the other countries in this world.  I wonder what that would actually look like????

 

 

 

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May we all feel changes for 2008,

unlike our favorite chickens!

lol…

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As Allergy Ridden as I am….

I sure feel like Heathcliff — excepting it has been ongoing for the past couple of weeks…and, I suspect, it isn’t going away anytime soon.  I saw something big, black and furry scurry aross the ditch along the roadway on the way into work tonight — it could have been a skunk that sprayed me and I wouldn’t have even known it.  I feel for Heathcliff, if he is truly having a stuffed up nose like many of us are right now….

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Merry Christmas!!

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Old Fashioned Caroling???

Gone seem to be the days when the neighbors would gather at someone’s home, practice some caroling songs that they would be singing, have hot chocolate and goodies to warm themselves up, put on their scarves and mittens, and head out the door to sing from house to house in their neighborhood.  Why would that be?  Could it be that everyone is so worried about being politically correct and afraid of offending someone by singing Christian Carols to a Jewish home, for instance??? 

Ughhhghghghhh……

Visiting a client the other day, I observed a groups of highschool gals that decided that they were trapse up and down the corridors of the facilities.  The smiles of joy on the faces of the residents as they openned up their doors and saw the young gals singing directly to them was priceless.  When I wasn’t looking they circled around me and sang to me as well.  What a comfort and joy that was to be sung to; I don’t remember feeling that sensation in such a long time and more people would greatly benefit in this world by the old fashion door to door caroling.

The commercials with the singing cards taken around by the carolers is great…as one of the carolers hands the card to the recipient, then whispers “open the card”.  The sparkling of the eyes as the song was played was a great surprise, but not quite as heartfelt as coming directly from the caroler’s voices.

Somehow things are getting away from the personalization of the event at times and that is a shame.  The traditions bring warmth, sense of friendships and a sense of belonging and being a part of an event, seem to be disappearing as more and more families opt for more automated, commercialized celebrations of the holidays.  That was seemingly emphasized sarcastically by the below Heathcliff cartoon.  Sad.  So sad!

Perhaps, traditions will begin again and renew the spirits of the holiday seasons for everyone….before we lose the giving spirit and generosity of Christmas.

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Evolution of a Snowman???

lol.. Like we here in Texas are going to know too much about this…. Even if we are going to get the opportunity to build a small one, it is gone within hours of building one — not days/weeks/months!! lol…

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Creative Career Marketing!

Not too sure that it is going to work for the Easter Bunny too, though!! 🙂

 

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Mike Huckabee on the “floating cross” image…

and the overreaction of the criticism of his message to wish everyone a Merry Christmas in one of his recent messages on tv.  This video is from the Today Show appearance…

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKMDJ46G4M4]

It is such a shame that folks have to be intimidated by expressing a simple greeting based on their religious belief.  Gone are the days in many countries that many have to hide the Bibles as a symbol of their quest for knowledge based in the Christian beliefs; why should the United States be so much in a uproar over a simple greeting — especially when the vast majority of the citizens of the United States have a founding belief based in some form of Christianity belief system.

A saying by Mahatma Ghandi:

“The need of the moment is not one religion, but mutual respect and tolerance of the devotees of the different religions.

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A Naughty Balloon: Good Grief!

What happend to the giving of the lump of coal in the stocking???

Can you imagine the psychiatrist bill in overcoming a child’s potential emotional impact from being degraded and humiliated by carrying a balloon marked “Naughty!”???  Of course, on the other hand, if the child deserved it though, is it good to hold them accountable for their actions throughout the year???? 😉

At any rate, Heathcliff certainly doesn’t look very happy, does he???

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How Do You Become a Shopping Mall Santa?

OMG….

just perusing Slate.com and came across a “recycled article” that is republished to make it a new article on Monday, December 17th called, “How to be a shopping-mall Santa”, which is indeed a very thorough article about Shopping Mall Santas.

It brought a smile to my face and a rush of memories as I had worked for one of the organizer companies of these Shopping Mall Santas one year.  It was a great time of coordinating with the malls all the Santas we needed to fill for their Santa photo opps within each of the malls.  Not only were we coordinating schedules for those Santas in Austin, but we were also involved in coordinating schedules for those Santas in many of the other malls in Houston, San Antonio and other metropolitan cities throughout Texas.

What an interesting year that was to be a behind the scenes coordinating elf to make sure that all the malls were fully staffed with the Santas – especially, when receiving the compliments from all the long time veteran Santas that were putting smiles on childrens faces.  After all, besides being the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is also about bringing a special joy and memories to all the children.

I am looking forward to going to the mall this year when I do get a chance — not really to do Christmas shopping as I have completed my Christmas shopping for this year — but to observe from a vantage point all the children’s faces light up when they see Santa Claus at the shopping mall to hear what they want for Christmas, as well as to get their photos taken with Santa.  My daughter is too old now to have her photo taken with Santa; however, I am hoping to get a picture of my 5 mo old granddaughter with Santa Claus.  I can’t wait!!

Hoping that visions of Santas in Shopping Malls may also bring rushes of fond memories of your childhood, or as a parent of young children this year!

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Okay… so, it has been a few weeks since I had checked my MySpace comments…

but when I checked it tonight, I found this Sesame Street cartoon in relation to Thanksgiving.  I know, it is SOOOO wrong! 🙂

Poor Big Bird! 😦

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Pre-Christmas Sales???

Obviously, Doug Savage may not be an eBay seller! 😉

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Chris Taylor: Stay Wild…

Congrats, Chris, on your new marriage….

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaH4iJVdcPU]

See Chris’ page on MySpace — http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=54285664

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Maybe a change of uniforms is necessary???

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Christmas Elf Annoyances??

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Awe – Doesn’t that take the fun out of it????

When I was little, we had lived up in Ft. Meade, Maryland, on Suzie Court.  When it snowed, it would snow very hard and we would have feet upon feet of snow — unlike where I live now in Texas where we are lucky if it snows above 3-5 inches!! lol…..

We would go sliding down behind the big hill behind our home and build tunnels in the snow — sending our parents in a panic when they couldn’t see us, but they knew we were out there playing somewhere — and, especially, when they knew that the snowplows were making their way in the streets.  Building our own snowman was half of the fun playing in the snow….

I certainly can’t see much fun taking it indoors; can you???

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Okay…. so 5 books a month hasn’t been accomplished…

to distribute and promote the Bookcrossings concept; however, I am seriously thinking about introducing these books on eBay as well.

Do you think people would buy these on eBay????

See more progress on: Distribute five books a month via Bookcrossings program

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Counting “God Bless You!”s …

has become a way of my looking at life in the advocacy world when answering domestic violence calls on a daily basis… or in working with the elderly… or in my victim advocacies….

It is a way of, essentially, looking at the glass half full rather than half empty. Instead of going home a bit exhausted from the many callers I wasn’t quite sure the seeds I was planting in planning for them to be safe and living a fruitful life was working, I started a while back counting the “God Bless You!”s I received that day. It would seem that those seeds might just germinate and grow into a future that one could have without victimization, harm, destructive behaviours, etc.

How many “God Bless You!”s have you received today??? or, how many “God Bless You!”s have you shared with someone else today???

See more progress on: Get more “God Bless You!”s

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“It’s Called Christmas with a Capital C” by Go Fish!

It’s about time…

bring back the jingle and the jangle back into Christmas!!

Make us proud of our beliefs…not having to hide them like many countries have to do in their countries.  After all, being proud of our beliefs and not having to hide our thoughts, dreams, and ambitions is part of what make Americans proud of their heritage as well as a number of other things (which are not directly related to the issuance of this song);  it is just about being able to be able to wish some one “Merry Christmas!” with no worries of being offensive to anyone.  After all, when someone wishes “Happy Chanukah!” to a Christian with Christian beliefs, they aren’t stammering and say “I am offended by what you said.”  Instead, Christians just generally nod and say to their Jewish friends, “and, may you have a Happy Chanukah!”

Bah humbug to the politically correct censorship and the victimization of the Christians to succumb to the numbness of the non-emotional impact of their beliefs, and let all the Christians sing along with Go Fish:

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ]

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Searching your dream job…

Does anyone actually achieve their dream job — or, is it just merely a figment of everyone’s imagination?

While someone may be doing the job they absolutely love to do, it may not pay all that well and they have to struggle to make ends meet.  Additionally, family members or friends may look down upon someone that isn’t mastering the financial ladder as someone that is being less than their full potential.

A friend was asking me tonight, who often plays “career coach” to me from time to time, what I want to be when I grow up.  If only I could pick and choose the qualities of each of my past jobs that I liked the best and make the ideal job that would be pleasing in all aspects — high income, advocacy, interaction with others, great researching skills, and so much more.

It was announced in the news and news media sources lately a lot about the newest generation of workforce employees are having a tendency to job hop more and have many more background experiences than their counterparts in generations slightly ahead of them.   No longer, for instance, is the trend that people people have jobs for more 20 or more years.  It would be unheard of, perhaps, to see these generation of workers retiring with a job of tenure of 40-50 years of service, as my bosses’ generations have done.

My parents will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this month.  Gone, too, are the days that many couples will look forward to see the day of having a 50th wedding anniversay, while couples in my parents’ generation and before saw 50th and 75th wedding anniversaries as part of the norm of the culture.

What has happened to our culture?  or, do we even have a culture to be considered these days?  What is to be considered about the American society?  Are we all going to be judged by the people who lead us — or what affect we, as individuals have upon our local and global societies?

Okay.  So, I have digressed. 

Does anyone actually achieve their dream job — or, is it just merely a figment of everyone’s imagination?

Does anyone have an answer????

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Where do you think it would be the quietest place???

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Tired of Storytelling??? ;)

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Reasons to be Thankful…

1.  I am alive and survived the 5th year after the death of my late husband!

2.  I have a beautiful daughter who has a loving hubby who both have a beautiful daughter (my first Granddaughter) born this year!

3.  I have parents who will share a 50th Wedding Anniversary this year!

4.  I have two adoring cats — Gibson and Moobaby!

5.  I have a loving family, although I do wish I could see them more often!

6.  I have caring friends who aren’t all into football!

7.  I love my advocacy work that I do, although (of course) I would wish that it would pay better!

8.  I am grateful that I don’t have significant health problems that would impair my dexterity or sight or hearing abilities.

9.  I am grateful that when I walk into a dining room, I am not feeling that I am walking to a whole new world!

10.  I am grateful that when I look into the mirror, I am not seeing anyone other than myself!

What are you thankful for today????

Being Grateful for the Gift of Today

“When you learn how to remain grateful every day you are developing a habit of happiness in your life. There is no such thing as an ordinary day. Every one of your days is a gift from God that is unique and irreplaceable. When you train your mind to see the good and discipline yourself to focus on the positive you’ll be happier, rise higher, and live the life of victory that God has in store for you.”

~Joel Olsteen

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While everything comes to a standstill during the holidays,

it is oftentimes that the social service industry is often at its busiest of times.

Pet sitters are needed for the pets while folks go on trips to visit relatives during the holidays.

Babysitters are needed so that the adults can go to their fabulously rocking, cheery holiday celebrations or just for some hassle free shopping.

Granny sitters are needed for the grandparents who aren’t able to get to see their families because their families can’t find it possible to have them travel with them to visit the families (especially, if there are health and health aid concerns), or if the places that they are staying at are understaffed.

It is often a thankless job, but someone comes to the aid for others to have the much needed enjoyment.   Just don’t forget to hug those workers as you see them today and throughout the holidays.  Their sacrifice often means that you are able to enjoy the holidays to the fullest.

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And, the world revolves around — who???

While raising my daughter, I grew up in a world that we tried to make sure that we made our children feel important although we were raising them often in two income families or a single parent family; oftentimes, overcompensating to make up for lost time.  Sometimes though there are children who have been raised to believe that they are “IT” and the world does revolve around them — perhaps, those are partially due to the fact that their lives became so public when they were so young and, now, they seem to thrive on the papparazzi that follows them.  This cartoon happens to eminate my feelings exactly when I hear about them on the tv as well; after all, with all the papparazzi, you would think that they have accomplished to win a Nobel Prize or something — not!!  After all, too — what does this say about our society who puts so much emphasis on folks who put on sunglasses and prance around town with much ado but just strutting themselves around, getting involved with the law, and running over a reporters sandal leaving a tire imprint on his socks which are being auctioned off on eBay for a charitable cause.  Say what???   lol….

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Is this live or memorex??? lol….

Lol… anyone who remembers the old Memorex commercials may know what I am talking about here!! lol…

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Aging Alphabet

Received this in an email from a friend in Canada….enjoy!!! 😀

A is for apple, and  B is for boat,

That used to be right, but now it won’t float!

Age before beauty is what we once said,

But let’s be a bit more realistic instead.

A is for arthritis;

B is the bad back,

C is the chest pains , perhaps car-d-iac?

D is for dental decay and decline,

E is for eyesight, can’t read that top line!

F is for fissures and fluid retention;

G is for gas which I’d rather not mention.

H is high blood pressure-I’d rather it low;

I   is for incisions with scars you can show.

J is for joints, out of socket, won’t mend,

K is for knees that crack when they bend.

L is for libido, what happened to sex?

M is for memory, I forget what comes next.

N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low;

O is for osteo, the bones that don’t grow!

P is for prescriptions, I have quite a few,

        Just give me a pill and I’ll be good as new!

Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?

R is for reflux, one meal turns to two.

S is for sleepless nights, counting my fears,

T is for Tinnitus; there’s bells in my ears!

U is for urinary; big troubles with flow;

V is for vertigo, that’s “dizzy,” you know.

W is for worry, NOW what’s going ’round?

X is for X ray, and what might be found.

Y is another year I’m left here behind,

Z  is for zest that I still have– in my mind.

 

I’ve survived all the symptoms, my body’s deployed,

And I am keeping twenty-six doctors fully employed!!!

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PBS Sprout – a New Jolly Green Giant???

No, I know.  Jolly Green Giant and Sprout are generally the animated characters associated with the line of vegetables that you see in your grocers’ aisles for many, many years and years throughout the past decades upon decades.

Today, though, while driving from home to a meeting this afternoon, I heard that they are advocating for a PBS station to be 24 hrs with all the fine programming  of Barney, La Madeline, and many others.  If you are 18 and above and without kids around you, you might be saying ughhhh… not more of that; however, if you have children, you are probably jumping with glee.  Although there are special programming for children that are 24 hrs, there are none strictly for the school age child. 

Of course, they are not probably up 24 hrs a day; however, consider the child late up at night with fevers, sickness, or night terrors.  This might be nice to have. 

What I see this as being, perhaps, providing a pre-school age channel that doesn’t jump from the pre-school shows to the elementary and/or junior high-school scheduling.  That pre-school child wouldn’t be limited to a certain timeframe during the mornng or afternoon to accomodate the scheduling of the other age groups on the PBS network.

I, who watched my siblings grow up with Sesame Street and the like, think it is a terrific idea.  What about you?

If you are in favor for your area’s cable stations to include this 24hr PBS channel in their offering of the network systems, you can call 1-866-9-SPROUT and follow the phone sequence to show your interest.   I understand that, too, you can go onto the super highway network under the URL of http://www.sproutonline.com/sprout/home/jump.aspx to demonstrate your interest as well.

While some might view this as a means of some people to placate and/or substitute their children’s daily activities with the PBS Sprout Program, I do see it as a means to enable our pre-school children to jumpstart into their learning since so much more is demanded from their learning than they had before (ie some aspects of Algebra is taught in Elementary School whereas, back in my day at least, it wasn’t a subject matter until the 9th grade at the very least.

Check it out — let folks know what you think!!  It may well be the new Jolly Green Giant leap for the PBS network system!! 🙂

1-866-9-SPROUT

http://www.sproutonline.com/sprout/home/jump.aspx

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Did you remember to set your clocks back on Sunday? lol….

 

Seriously, I wish it were ever that simple!!

LOL!!!

 

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A Woman is Beautiful at any Age…

“A woman is beautiful at any age, if she feels good about herself.”

–Rose Morgan

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Good Morning, Monday!! … lol ….

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Way to go, Longhorns!! :D

This is just in…..

Final: Horns come back to defeat Oklahoma State 38-35

Saturday, November 3, 2007, 06:13 PM

STILLWATER, Okla. — Big leads are never safe when Oklahoma State plays Texas. On Saturday, the Cowboys built a three-touchdown lead, only to see the Longhorns come back and win on the game’s final play.

Ryan Bailey booted a 40-yard field goal for the Longhorns as time expired for the most improbable 38-35 Texas victory, giving Mack Brown a 10-0 slate against the Cowboys.

FOURTH QUARTER

The Longhorns began a comeback bid with a pair of touchdown runs by Jamaal Charles. Colt McCoy set up both with big plays. The first was a 17-yard gain by McCoy on second-and-23, part of a 59-yard scoring drive. Charles capped it off with an 18-yard TD run to cut OSU’s lead to 35-21.

The Cowboys’ punter then pinned Texas to its own 1 yard line. McCoy found Quan Cosby for 15 yards on second down for a little breathing room. Then Charles broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run to cut the Cowboys’ lead to a touchdown, 35-28.

After an OSU punt again pinned Texas deep, this time at its own 9, the Longhorns’ offense again struck quickly. McCoy scrambled for 16 yards on first down, and Charles broke free for 14 on the next play. That led to a 60-yard bomb from McCoy to Jordan Shipley to the 1 yard line, where Vondrell McGee banged in the tying touchdown with 3:22 to play.

But the Cowboys didn’t roll over. After a Texas facemask penalty extended OSU’s kick return to the Cowboys’ 45 yard line, Zac Robinson lofted a screen pass to Dantrell Savage, who turned it into a 35-yard gain. But the OSU drive ended without points, when Jason Ricks missed a 32-yard field goal attempt wide right.

Texas took over at its 20 yard line with 1:13 to play. The Longhorns advanced to the Cowboys’ 40 on a 30-yard pass to Jermichael Finley with 29 seconds left. Then facing third-and-11, McCoy scrambled left for 14 yards to the Cowboys’ 27. That set up Bailey’s heroics. He came in with two seconds to play and booted the 40-yard field goal as time expired for a 38-35 Texas victory.

The Longhorns are now 8-2 on the year and 4-2 in Big 12 play. They are in second place in the South division, with Oklahoma (3-1 in conference play) hosting Texas A&M (3-2) tonight. Oklahoma State fell to 3-2 in conference play and 5-4 on the season.

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Woodrow Landfair….

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE16oMoVzCs]

One leg of his life journey — the whole story yet to be unfolded before our eyes.  Are you reaching for your dreams??? or, are you willing to procrastinate your entire life away???

Kat

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We are shaped by…

“We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Would you do this for a thrill seeking moment???

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afr43HrG26o]

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Who Says Big Boys Don’t Cry??? lol…

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Amazing Painter at it Again! Firefighter Omage!!

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZFkZiwMLZ4]

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Internet Dating and Dating Applications???

I know that whenever I have even considered dating anyone from a distance, especially that I have initially met off of the internet, I have sent them no less than 100 questions to complete. In some instances, it has been much longer than that — just short of actually running a background check. 🙂

Here is an application that is available on the internet, available through an organization called ApplySpace.   One of the things that I don’t like about their form is there is not a way seemingly to adjust the questions, but please check it out and let me know what you think….

Is it enough questions to ask?

Would you ask more?

If given the opportunity to ask additional questions, what would you ask???

Please advise…

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Happiness is like a butterfly???

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Taking debt for granted….

So many folks feel that, if they get too far into debt, they’ll just file bankruptcy. Discovered this cartoon on Slate.com today, and it couldn’t have been depicted any better….

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Is it Cursh or Crush??? lol… and, what is “wating”???

1 Cursh Message Wating

Find Out Who has a Crush On You Sign Up Today & Find Out!

www.CrushRequest.com

LOL… Has Google Ads heard of a Spell Check??? 🙂  Found this above ad in one of the Google Ad Sense Banners.

This should go down in the books as “How not to place an ad!” 

Someone mentioned that, perhaps, it was intentional — “after all, it got my interest, didn’t it?”  My response to that is:  “I don’t know… It got my attention because my Mom was a Journalism and English major.  To me, it is a huge turn off and I would completely detract me from utilizing their services.”   🙂

What do you think?

Would a gimmick of marketing by choice bad spelling offer you a opportunity to click to see what they are all about? or, does it become offensive and a complete turn off?  What saeth you???

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How Much are YOU Getting Paid to Blog???

Yuwie is quickly becoming a phenomena of this day and age.  There are many social sites out there, and there are many blogging sites out there….

but,

what if you could truly do both….

and

make money!!!

Yikes, can it really be true??? Yes…

Just check this out for yourself and Click Here>>>> for more information about the Yuwie phenomena!!

or, just plan to check out my profile on there by clicking here! 🙂  Remember that Kathryn sent you there! 😀

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I won, I won, I won!!

Well, I didn’t win anything here in WordPress (yet!! lol…), but one of my loves and passions is photography. I am getting published soon in the Parade Magazine. The pay isn’t too much, but it is a $100 more than I had in my bank today!! lol….

I’ll certainly try to keep you posted on when it officially comes out…but, I am dancing on cloud 10,000!! 😉

Hope you are all off to a phenomenal weekend! ttyml….

Your friend,

Kat

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For Anyone That is a Pet Owner in This World….

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Worrying is like a Rocking Chair???

Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but doesn’t get you anywhere. – Anonymous

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Savage Chicken on Pranks!

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Longhorn Triathlon — premptor to USA Halfmax Triathlon Championship in MO in Sept 2008

OMG — what a good event this Sunday, October 7, 2007, benefiting CASA and Hope Alliance!! 😀

Check out the web page for the Longhorn Half-Iron Triathlon for more details!! 🙂

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Geico’s Caveman Meets The View!!!

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx9vW6lHDqY]

OMG! Did he just say Neil Diamond??? lol…

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Is this Canada???

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0IQNwZ-zsI]

 [YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-LzM9fMS-0]

What is it that Toronto really represents??? 🙂

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Amazing Reinvented Technology!!

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg7fVMiwCvY]

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Help Me — I am Shrinking!! :)

I have a skin irritation call rosacea. Many famous people have it.  Winston Churchill, in fact, had it with his nose being so red all the time…. largely due to being irritated by his massive drinking binges.  Honestly, I think Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer had it too — because I certainly feel like Rudolph when it gets really bad.

There is currently a drug trial going on for a new topical medication being placed on market soon for it, after it passes the clinic trials and FDA regulation.  At any rate, I had to go to the clinic to be examined.

At first the nurse who examined me first said that I probably wouldn’t qualify because my case isn’t all that bad, but allowed me to be examined by the doctor just in case.  They both inquired about how I have managed to keep it in check so well.  “Well, I obey the doctor’s advice!!” lol…

* limit my exposure to spicy foods, alcohol, sunlight, etc.
* wear minimal makeup, although keeping my face clean with soft, sensitive soaps and lotions
* minimize stress factors and remain calm
* etc., etc….

They were impressed but have allowed me to continue to participate and put me through the usual steps of a check up. 

My weight was higher than I anticipated, but I think that they are wrong… otherwise instead of my cats weighing 9 pounds and 19 pounds, they would weigh 39 pounds and 49 pounds.  I don’t think so!!  Good thing I weigh my cats, huh??? lol…. 

My height was 1-1/2 inches shorter than I had last been measured.  Now, I know that my Mom has a degenerative bone disease; it looks like I might too, if their records are correct.  I’ll definitely have to look into that and make sure and possibly find Sally Fields to ask her what she is taking for the prevention/treatment of the same thing!!

When it came time to take my blood pressure though it was only 108/62.  The nurse was surprised…and she stated to me, “There has to be something to remaining calm and not stressing out, don’t you think?”

Yeah, I agreed with her.  Although I am probably not height/weight proportionate and no skinnie minnie by any means, none of my doctors could complain because I do try to do everything else right — including my b/p down.

In the meantime, I have got to do something about the height thing….

I certainly don’t want folks to be looking towards the floor and say, “Hellllloooo downnnnn there.  Can you hearrrr meeeee?” lol…..

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Savage Chicken – Animation Debut!!

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXKGVuoHzvk]

 Click here>>> for some behind the scenes information about the making of this video for the video contest!!! 😀

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Speed Interview!!

LOL…

Although my interview was comprised of a full 30 minutes, I never before in my life have felt so very rushed.

As soon as I arrived (early), I was given a packet of information to read and review. Sat down for a few moments to read through it all and door opens to the waiting room — “Kathryn??”

I look up and respond by stating, “Yes!”…then I was wisked through a maze of hallways and locked doors with special keying sequences to a very back conference room where another lady sat.

This is “L….”… (about all that I heard at the moment b/c I was catching my breath from chasing her down the maze of hallways!!)…

A brief explanation of the job description and expectations. Then we went through some questions and answers period where they wrote down my answers to all the questions I responding to. Reading their writings upside down, I take note that they aren’t writing verbatim but catching key words and phrases down.

Any questions??? (My mind is racing from answering all the questions that they had asked of me. Plus, I am familiar with the roles that I would be doing as I have been in the field for more than 15-20 years.) I began by stating, “No, not really, but….” and then summarized my experiences and how I thought I would be a best fit for the job opportunity at hand. She turns to “L….” and asks her if she has any questions for me (after passing her a note that she had to run off to another interview). What could “L….” say, but “No”??? She asked me to complete the signing of the forms packet I was given when I arrived and give them to the receptionist after I had a chance to finish reading them. Told her that I really had a chance to read through them and could sign them now (so I did very, very quickly)!!

When we were done, I was wisked down other hallways on her way to another interview in another conference room on the way out of the building. On the way to the door to the lobby, she hollers at me, “Don’t forget to sign those forms and give them to the receptionist.” The look on my face must have been priceless as I gazed back at her… and she added, “Oh, never mind. You just did that, didn’t you???”

As I exit out the lobby door and head out the building door, I am thinking to myself, that was the fastest, whirlwind interview I have had in my lifetime. I don’t know whether that was a good sign or not.

We shall see!!!!

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Bruce Springsteen on Believing…

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When is a kiss more than a kiss???

Are they not the cutest??? lol…

Disclaimer: The photo isn’t one of mine, but one sent via email……

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Medieval Help Desk

Before there were computers, there was a help desk for introducing the book! 😀

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAWR6hzZek]

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Losing or not losing??

“Lose your wealth, you lose nothing. Lose your health, you lose something. Lose your integrity, you lose everything.”

– Stew Leonard

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The Painter – Definitely Worth Checking Out!! :D

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIJtKxdRQzY]

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You suspect your cats being up to no good?

Well, if you are like this guy, you can creat a webcam for your cat to see “just where does he go” when he goes out and play—See Mr. Lee’s Catcam. It is hilarious to see just where all this cat does go on his adventures outdoors. Be sure to look down at bottom of the initial page for a series of photos from Mr. Lee’s trip (adventures!).

As for me, I am wondering how do my cats, who seem to turn into Dr. Seuss’s “Thing 1” and “Thing 2” while I am gone, seem to always manage to pull the curtain down in the living room, for instance, here lately!! Actually, they shouldn’t be doing that any more as I have nailed the spring rod into the inner portion of the window frame. If they try, they will be in for a surprise…or, I am going to have a shredded curtain one! lol…

I am beginning to think that setting up a private webcam just might be a great idea to see what is happening when I am away from the home—and, to see if the addage of “While the owner’s away, the cats will play!” is truly true!! 😀

What do you think????

See more progress on: Webcam my cats

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Mema

Well my daughter had her baby yesterday, but the day before they had the baby, they had text message calling me “Mema”. Looks like I am going to be called “Mema” when the granddaughter is old enough to say anything…. 😀

K

See more progress on: Pick a name for my Granddaughter to call me

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Sometimes, it is not for us to ask the reason why….

but, to just accept the why nots and proceed forward. 🙂

As much as we prepare for everything, we often find ourselves never truly prepared.

Take for example, today…

1. I decide to make it a day for my daughter by taking her to breakfast.

2. Then I gave her a choice of what to do next. She chose to go for a pedicure. The one she wanted to go to wasn’t open, so we randomly go to another nail salon. Miraculous there was a woman that had worked in OB/GYN who happened to settle some of my daughter’s qualms about having her baby.

3. Afterwards, I went to work and she went off to meet up with her Dad who had just returned from Iraq for a spell.

4. After he left, her water breaks and she races to the hospital where she meets up with her boyfriend and myself.

Long story short….a beautiful life arrives today instead for waiting until the due date. In the midst of things, a bag they had prepared to bring to the hospital is left at home. I didn’t have time to do all the things that I had hoped I would be able to do.

However, all the preparations in the world would have never prepared us truly for the amazing life being brought into this world today. You just accept it, love the new life, and move forward with a commitment towards making this world as safe as possible for that new life.

I am counting this as being completed as such. Wouldn’t you???

See more progress on: prepare for being a Grandma by July 8th

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Mr. Bean on Elementary Dating Guidelines…

Mr. Bean can be absolutely hilarious…

Enjoy!!

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luBbtOoVOKU]

For more bits of laughter, check out my HUMOR MEDICINE tab….

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Shirley Temple on Santa Claus:

“I stopped believing in Santa Claus when my mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.”

 

– Shirley Temple

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Photography daytrips…

can be quite interesting. I haven’t really done it in a while (since my Annual Bluebonnet Daytrip this past spring), excepting for some time I took in taking an off the beaten path way to an out of town meeting that I had earlier this month. (If I can’t make time for a daytrip, I can a least squeeze in some time whenever I can!)

The picture of the longhorns is a prime example of some good opportunities stemming from just making the time. Had I not taken an off beaten path (which was also a shortcut) coming back home from the out of town meeting, I would not have happened across this Mama Longhorn and her calf who was just getting his/her horns. Isn’t that just the cutest thing you have seen????

Themes for photography daytrips can be good. Any ideas what my theme for an upcoming daytrip should be????

See more progress on: go on a photography daytrip excursion

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Boredom Hurts – Falling Guy

Go to Boredomhurts.com for more… 🙂

[YouTube= http://www.youtube.com/?v=wtORhyLaQ4w%5D

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Where is Jeff Foxworthy….

because these folks certainly need a “stupid” sign made for them….

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqLIQa05uLY]

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Gold & Books…

 

“If you drop gold and books, pick up the books first, then the gold.”

 

– Jewish Saying

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Adversity per Einstein

“Adversity introduces a man to himself.”

 

– Albert Einstein

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Is there hope for us? :)

Let us not forget that Christopher Columbus

did not know where he was going.

When he got back,

he didn’t know where he had been.

And he did it all on borrowed money.

There’s hope for all of us!

                                    — Terry Braverman

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Is money an excuse for your living???

 

“Money is just an excuse to avoid thinking very much about the life you are living.”

 

– Michael Lewis, Wall Street writer

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Good Communication

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.”

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

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Lol… my horoscope for today???

Here is your Work Horoscope
for Tuesday, June 12:

The weather forecast didn’t say so, but you’re experiencing a serious brainstorm today, with all the flashes of brilliant ideas that entails. Your enthusiasm and electricity turn you into a natural leader.

Funny.  I wonder if that also means that I am going to ace my math exam this morning???? 😉

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Scotch Tape Art???

Can you believe these are made from ordinary scotch tape????

For more things exuding a sense of humor, check out more under my tab HUMOR MEDICINE! 😀

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How would you like to be known as “LAME”???

Visited some family in San Antonio this past weekend. Some of them told me that, like Austin has the phrase of “Keep Austin Weird”, San Antonio has adopted the phrase, “Keep San Antonio Lame”!

What the heck??? 😉

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A Bit of Creativity at HEB???

I missed out on the beginning of the contests, but this was a great outlet for YouTubers who are creative in the mind and soul….

HEB Commercial Contest — Go check it out!  Some very creative submissions are here!

and, for those who love to write….

HEB Scriptwriting Contest — Be sure to check this out as well.  Definitely will see some creative ideas here!

You may not be able to enter yourself this time around, but please vote for your favorites and put your thinking cap on in case they offer these opportunities again soon.   If you are in a need of some inspirations, definitely check those out above, as well as the My Commercial Creations already done!

Enjoy!!!

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Cheddar Vision TV :D

Everyone is getting in on the web cam thing these days, even a cheddar cheese factory in Germany (West Country Farmhouse Cheesemakers) that has set up a web cam in their shed to watch the mold grow on some cheese, which is a process that helps the cheese to age to perfection.

YouTube has taken the opportunity to do a time lapse video of the watching the cheddar cheese growing from 0-3 months, see below:

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVMt9ECdOjA]

While watching the cheddar cheese mold at an ever so slow rate of speed, it is a great marketing gimmick to get folks to their site. I wonder how their sales are because of the draws just to see the CheddarVision.tv!?!

 

 

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Shane Brenier’s Birthday Greeting Card World Record Status

Today, on May 21, 2007, I heard from the TLP Foundation wherein they confirmed that the last that they have heard, there has been more than 1 million greeting cards received for his birthday. Keep them coming!!! 😀

See “Happy Birthday, Shane?” for more about the whole story and where to send your greeting card to him today!

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Procrastination — who me??? ;)

Seeing a blurb in SparkPeople in posing the question, “Is Procrastination Curable?”, I decided that it just might be a great time to write about it (that ugly word we all hate to admit to – procrastination):

“Procrastination. Putting off until tomorrow what you could do today. Is there a more counterproductive habit around? It causes more stress and anxiety than the Grinch in December. Procrastination solves nothing and usually makes things worse. It piles up unfinished business that lurks in and preoccupies the dark corners of your brain. You hope the pile will disappear, but for some reason it doesn’t. The worst part is that once we put off things we’d rather not do, we start to delay the fun stuff as well. How many times have you said “no” to an opportunity because you had to take care of something you put off earlier? How many lost opportunities can you accept? Let’s make action a habit instead. Tomorrow, focus on your toughest hurdle first. Get just that one thing out of the way and enjoy the rest of the day. Be firm and don’t let yourself off the hook. After all, it’s not going away. Follow that one strategy and you’ll be surprised how the momentum carries through the rest of the day. Do it now!!”

Procrastination can often rear its ugly head up in my world…

* cleaning house and decluttering one’s own life (in and outside of the home)

* remembering to take care of own’s own health before the needs of others around us (taking care of others is important, but without our own health in good shape, we aren’t going to be any good to them)

* writing a blog posting on a difficult (often controversial) subject matter

* remembering to have some humor and laughter in one’s own life (after all, laughter and humor can oftentimes be the best medicine in this world)

* delaying responding to a job offer or date because one thinks too long about it

* remembering to love yourself as well as others around yourself

* delaying to buy something that you really need while it is on sale

* remembering to say prayers for others around you (so often we pray for our own needs naturally before praying for others) and maintain the spirituality in our lives

* writing or calling a friend even just to tell them that you are thinking about them rather than waiting until you have something truly earth shattering to say

* remembering to continue to build relationships around us (building relationships is a two way street; if you haven’t heard from someone lately, contact them today!)

* taking time for oneself to have a vacation from work thinking that the needs of the business may not survive if you are not there

* remembering to be one’s own best advocate

* being that part of the village that helps a child

* remembering that we don’t have to be paid for everything that we do; it is okay to volunteer your time to meeting the needs of others

* and, so very much more!!

We all do it — procrastinate on some degree or level.   Recently, I have been guilty of it as well and have begun to take action.  For example, oftentimes, I will just let some ailments cure themselves; however, I have advocated for myself and found a way to get the treatment that I needed most immediately in order to feel “whole” and “healthy” in spite of having no insurance to pay for the needed care.  It took some whining and stomping of feet in an sense to get what I needed done, but after a lot of pleading, it has been taken care of this weekend.  Although the aftermath is currently a bit painful, it is certainly a window of opportunity to feel healthy again.

I have also done something about the feeling my career may be going as far as it may go by, upon hearing of a grant education opportunity to take a new path, I immediately responded and presented my case and won an opportunity to take that path through some additional education.  I am excited about that opportunity and look forward to learning, once again, about a field of sciences — a path that I should have continued some 30 years ago, but got diverted all because of a physics course that I had been advised wrong about.  That is a long story and all a part of history.

My daughter is about to have a baby girl in a little over a month from now.  I am truly excited about the baby coming into the world and have been enthusiastic in helping them as much as I can.   Because of her anticipated arrival, I have been making an effort to declutter much of my home and life so that focus can be had to help them out whenever possible as well.

I have vowed to make 2007 a part of making it about me this year — no longer procrastinating fussing about getting help for my health ailments that prevent myself being “whole” on the inside; no longer procrastinating about doing  something that might help me get out of the rut that I feel myself in career wise; etc.  Although, I love what I am doing for a career right now, it is barely able to meet the obligations for my bills and nothing left over for me.  I have no money available to do as I would like to do — travel, make myself more healthy, visit friends and family that live far away, etc.

What say you?  It isn’t too late to make 2007 a part of making it all about you either.  It is never too late, it is just delayed greatly if you procrastinate too much.  What procrastinations are you going to put aside to move forward in your life???

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Happy Birthday, Shane????

How many ways can you say “Happy Birthday” to an eight year old who is also a cancer patient???

Received this in the email today.  It has a direct link, too, to his site encouraging everyone to massively cooperate and send this young guy a means to get his wish for breaking the Guiness World Records for the most cards received.

The email:

 Shane Bernier is a cancer patient at the Children’s Hospital of eastern Ontario. 

He turns eight on May 30. His dream is to set a record for the most birthday cards ever received.

It will be a wonderful sign of support from the EMS community to help him reach his goal, so please consider sending him a birthday greeting.

His address is:

Shane Bernier
Box 484
Lancaster
Ontario
K0C 1N0

For more information go to : http://shanebernier.ca/

For more information about this feat that is set out before Shane Bernier, please read also Birthday Cards for Shane Bernier which confirms that he is indeed setting out to achieve this milestone.

Best of luck to you Shane, and many wishes for your future “Happy Birthday” card accomplishment, traveling to you from all over the world!!

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How True It Is…

“It takes a minute to have a crush on someone,

an hour to like someone,

and a day to love someone…

but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.”

 

~Anonymous

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How Often Do You See A Smiling Bank Robber???

and a woman at that????  A Wachovia Bank in North Austin was robbed by this woman on Monday afternoon.

She wasn’t stupid though as she blended in well with the dress style of the nearby High School that lets students off campus for lunch.  After she robbed the bank, she ran off.  Because she blended in well with others in the area, no one noticed where she had gone.

 

Austin Police Department asks that anyone who recognizes her to please contact them.

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Do you need subtitles?

This was just a joke posted on YouTube June 8, 2006; however, every now and then we need something to chuckle about. The guy being interviewed is hilarious. Hope it brightens up your day….

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaYu757gFs]

 

NOTE:  If you still need more bits and pieces of humor, check out my HUMOR MEDICINE tab with additional bits and pieces of humor I have added along the way.

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Would your blog posting’s title pass Andy Rooney’s standards???

When I watched tonight’s episode (May 6, 2007) of Andy Rooney, on 60 Minutes, I couldn’t help but think about this when listening to his rants about some of the headlines he has been reading in the newspapers.

Does he only read newspapers that he can physically hold on to and see?  More than likely.  It seems that, throughout the years, I remember seeing an episode about that, too.

If he were to browse, though, through the the blogs that are out there on the world wide web of today, would he be just as equally or more critical, or would he be happy with our creativity?

Maybe some day, we will see Andy Rooney say, “Okay, the bloggers who are offering their opinions often about news and other events going on in the world are truly being very creative with the titles they head up on their postings!” Do you think it would be possible???? 😉

I have loved watching Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes for as long as I can remember because of his unique perspective on things, even though it can be a bit twisted with that dry, sometimes sarcastic sense of humor. You have to admit though that, as a fellow writer/blogger, it would certainly be an interesting episode to watch indeed!! 😀

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Humor Medicine

Laughter can be the best medicine as is often told. Once, when I had a case of pneumonia, my doctor exhibited humor as best he could. One day, he flew into the bed areas with his white doctor’s coat spread out like he was flying in with a white cape — a super doctor to the rescue.
I try to pass along things with a bit of humor to folks to help them share a bit of laughter along the way. Some of these were passed on by my friends and aquaintences through mail, word of mouth, and emails. As such, this section will lead you to various pages full of humor medicine to hopefully shed a bit of laughter in your day.  This is constantly being updated and has something for folks with all sorts of humor tastes!

Happy Trails!!

Humor Medicine « Worldly Inquiring Mind “iWIM” 😀

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