if you didn't have to 'worry' about bringing home the bacon? if no matter what you chose you would receive enough dough to pay all your monthly expenses (including housing/food/gas) have enough to spend on socializing and put away for a rainy day?
this is not a trick question.
this is not a 'i would sleep late & party all night & do whatever i felt like at the moment' scenario
this is based on the fact that we need money to live, but we often do jobs that give us the money yet we shortchange ourselves because we are not really living. only exsisting.
i would take pictures. photography has always been my passion since i first held a kodak instamatic with square flashcubes. then i would write. i would write stories and articles and essays and poems and i would incoporate the photos i took into the words i write. lastly i would scrapbook.
to encapsulate my vision of what i would do if i could create my dream job......
i would take pictures of 'YOU' (whoever was willing to hire me) i would capture 'YOUR' story in words and then i would save 'YOUR' memories in a scrapbook that 'YOU' would be able to keep forever.
.....so, where do i apply for this 'job'
lol.....if only fantasies weren't so inviting!
oh well....back to the grind....
Thursday, November 11, 2010
martha stewart alice waters spring chickenfried steak inspired casserole
i am writing this down for scott so that he can take it on the next foodnetwork star when he decides to win the title.........(this is the original, some alterations are necessary)
soak chicken thighs in buttermilk for 12-24 hrs (use skinless boneless)
dredge in flour
dunk in buttermilk
coat with panko
fry
drain
fry tater tots (enough to cover bottom of casserole dish)
layer tater tots & fried chicken in dish
cover with shredded cheese (this time used mexican blend & mozzerella)
cut tree meat to small chunks and brown in large frying pan
add chopped onion & garlic
stir in one LARGE can cream mushroom soup (think would also use fresh sliced 'shrooms if the persons eating dish like mushrooms)
whisk in one bottle of 2buck chuck
let simmer & reduce for approximately 20 min on med-low heat
when cool pour over chicken/tot/cheese
bake covered in oven at 350 for 1hr
top with french's french fried onions and return to oven without cover for 10-15 minutes or until onions are toasted.
soak chicken thighs in buttermilk for 12-24 hrs (use skinless boneless)
dredge in flour
dunk in buttermilk
coat with panko
fry
drain
fry tater tots (enough to cover bottom of casserole dish)
layer tater tots & fried chicken in dish
cover with shredded cheese (this time used mexican blend & mozzerella)
cut tree meat to small chunks and brown in large frying pan
add chopped onion & garlic
stir in one LARGE can cream mushroom soup (think would also use fresh sliced 'shrooms if the persons eating dish like mushrooms)
whisk in one bottle of 2buck chuck
let simmer & reduce for approximately 20 min on med-low heat
when cool pour over chicken/tot/cheese
bake covered in oven at 350 for 1hr
top with french's french fried onions and return to oven without cover for 10-15 minutes or until onions are toasted.
Monday, November 8, 2010
foggy
i'm kinda in a daze with all the stuff that's happened...
i'm missing my friend paula more than i thought i could. it saddens me to think.
i got a text from stokes this am thanking me for making the recording. he's going to incorporate the story into the song and then share a copy of it with me.
work is crazy busy in a catch-up kind of way.
we're getting closer to the holidays & i'm afraid that is going to affect me in a bad way.
i don't want to fall into a funk but i fear that i am falling......
looking for something to keep me afloat *sigh*
i'm missing my friend paula more than i thought i could. it saddens me to think.
i got a text from stokes this am thanking me for making the recording. he's going to incorporate the story into the song and then share a copy of it with me.
work is crazy busy in a catch-up kind of way.
we're getting closer to the holidays & i'm afraid that is going to affect me in a bad way.
i don't want to fall into a funk but i fear that i am falling......
looking for something to keep me afloat *sigh*
Sunday, November 7, 2010
...hold your head high. Don't ever let 'em define the light in your eyes. Love yourself, give them Hell. You can take on this world. You just stand and be strong
And then FIGHT LIKE A GIRL.....(bombshel)
we knew each other for such a short time, but i remember that first day we made contact. FINALLY a kindered sprit living here in this same small town. oh the concerts we have seen. the stories we shared......because of you i got an 'official' meet & greet with our guy gary!!!!
And then FIGHT LIKE A GIRL.....(bombshel)
we knew each other for such a short time, but i remember that first day we made contact. FINALLY a kindered sprit living here in this same small town. oh the concerts we have seen. the stories we shared......because of you i got an 'official' meet & greet with our guy gary!!!!
i am so glad you got the chance to live your life to the fullest you never once gave up hope. oh i know there are so many things that you had to leave 'undone', but you did all that you could. truly you are an inspiration to me and to countless other friends you have met along the way.
RIP PAULA, my friend you will be missed
Friday, November 5, 2010
favorite songs of my lifetime
when i die i hope they play these songs. ......they are intricately woven into the patchwork memories of my life...
IF I WERE A CARPENTER......would you marry me anyway, would you have my baby.
DELTA DAWN......what's that flower you have on, could it be a faded rose from days gone by.
GARDEN PARTY....you can't please everyone so you got to please yourself
EDELWEISS.....blossom of snow may you bloom and grow, bloom and grow forever
LIGHTS.....go down in the City, and the sun shines on the Bay, oh i wanna be there in my City....
AFTERNOON DELIGHT.....my motto's always been when it's right it's right.....sky rockets in flight...
JUNKFOOD JUNKE......in the daytime i'm mr natural, just as healthy as i can be, but at night i'm a junkfood junkie, good Lord have pity on me.
COME SAIL AWAY......set an open course for the virgin sea, cause i've got to be free, free to live the life that's ahead of me
TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD.....you'll never find your gold on a sandy beach, there ain't no Coup De Ville hiding in the bottom of a cracker jack box
SUMMER GIRLS......summertime is in the air, and summer girls are everywhere
COME AS YOU ARE....as i want you to be, as a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy
BE AS YOU ARE......i wanna go where i can lighten the load, drive a little while on the wrong side of the road......hang with the locals a the Quiet Mon, be a tourist, a beach bum, a star....
LIFE AIN'T ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL......but it's a beautiful ride
GLITTER IN THE AIR..........have you ever wished for an endless night, lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
IF I WERE A CARPENTER......would you marry me anyway, would you have my baby.
DELTA DAWN......what's that flower you have on, could it be a faded rose from days gone by.
GARDEN PARTY....you can't please everyone so you got to please yourself
EDELWEISS.....blossom of snow may you bloom and grow, bloom and grow forever
LIGHTS.....go down in the City, and the sun shines on the Bay, oh i wanna be there in my City....
AFTERNOON DELIGHT.....my motto's always been when it's right it's right.....sky rockets in flight...
JUNKFOOD JUNKE......in the daytime i'm mr natural, just as healthy as i can be, but at night i'm a junkfood junkie, good Lord have pity on me.
COME SAIL AWAY......set an open course for the virgin sea, cause i've got to be free, free to live the life that's ahead of me
TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD.....you'll never find your gold on a sandy beach, there ain't no Coup De Ville hiding in the bottom of a cracker jack box
SUMMER GIRLS......summertime is in the air, and summer girls are everywhere
COME AS YOU ARE....as i want you to be, as a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy
BE AS YOU ARE......i wanna go where i can lighten the load, drive a little while on the wrong side of the road......hang with the locals a the Quiet Mon, be a tourist, a beach bum, a star....
LIFE AIN'T ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL......but it's a beautiful ride
GLITTER IN THE AIR..........have you ever wished for an endless night, lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
You talk too much You never shut up!!
RUN DMC is running through my brain......as i sit here and start TYPING AGAIN!!!!
and TRUTHFULLY i have NOTHING left to say. i just have words bobbling around inside my brain causing me to not concentrate on the tasks at hand.
i envy those people called WRITERS.....the ones that are PAID to put words to paper (or in this case, screen).....those people that OTHER PEOPLE are hungry to read their next written words.......
i want to write.......i have LOTS of words in my head
but truthfully i have to tell myself no one REALLY wants to hear them....they are just a mixed up mumbo jumbo bouncing around aimlessly in my brain.
and TRUTHFULLY i have NOTHING left to say. i just have words bobbling around inside my brain causing me to not concentrate on the tasks at hand.
i envy those people called WRITERS.....the ones that are PAID to put words to paper (or in this case, screen).....those people that OTHER PEOPLE are hungry to read their next written words.......
i want to write.......i have LOTS of words in my head
but truthfully i have to tell myself no one REALLY wants to hear them....they are just a mixed up mumbo jumbo bouncing around aimlessly in my brain.
just a little blip
it started out as a random little thing.
i saw a post on the facebook wall from STOKES NIELSEN, singer/songwriter ....founding member of the LOST TRAILERS. he's working on a song called UNDERDOG and he was asking for feedback from people about their individual stories as 'underdogs' or of sports teams or other groups that are 'underdogs' in their communities and the things they have accomplished, the things they have overcome.
i felt compelled to respond and tell him about my sister bernadette, the rocky balboa of our family. definitely, an underdog with the cards stacked against her from the moment of her conception.
her biological mother was a drug abuser and had many psychological problems that made her an unstable candidate for parenthood. yet, it was in God's plan to bring a child into this world through her. before she was four years old bernadette had been in and out of foster care and been subjected to many things that no child should ever be forced to endure.
she was emotionally and developmentally scarred when she came to live with us. but somehow she knew she had come 'home' and she IMMEDIATELY 'adopted' our family as her own even though she was only supposed to stay with us for six weeks. it soon became apparent that there was room in our hearts to keep her forever and it was the hardest thing in the world to give her back at the end of those weeks.
it was not long after she left us that we got the call to say she was being placed back into foster care and would we step up and take on that responsibility. there was no doubt. no hesitation. of course the answer was yes. from that point on we were on a mission to make her a permanent member of our family.
we thought we lost her when, one sunny day, she was riding her bike and a hit-and-run driver collided with her, sent her flying over his truck and 15 feet into the air. she ended up in ICU for three days, they had her prepped for emergency surgery on her brain, we were in limbo waiting to see if she would make it. but, it's always been said that she has an army of guardian angels watching over her and keeping her safe from harm. that God put her here on this earth for a very important purpose, and she had not fulfilled that purpose yet.
from this accident she added some minor learning delays to her emotional and developmental delays. yet through it all she remained an outspoken, determined, spunky child who grew up to become an amazing woman. graduating high school with honors, she joined the united states air force at eighteen where she rose through the ranks to end her career as a tech-sergeant nine years later. she is now thirty years old, living in georgia, married to the love of her life, the mother of two small boys, working as a lab-tech, studying to become a registered nurse and as if this wasn't enough to fill her plate. she finally has discovered God's plan for her.
she learned that for the past four years in a row lakeland, ga in lanier county has the highest rate of child abuse/neglect in all of georgia. she, along with her close friend holly, is now working to become certified as a guardian ad litem and to establish HOPE HOUSE so that these children have a safe place to go and their parents and guardians have the resources to 'break the cycle' of abuse and neglect
she has come FULL CIRCLE from the small child with the odds stacked against her to this amazing strong and determined woman reaching out to help others in similar situations.
i saw a post on the facebook wall from STOKES NIELSEN, singer/songwriter ....founding member of the LOST TRAILERS. he's working on a song called UNDERDOG and he was asking for feedback from people about their individual stories as 'underdogs' or of sports teams or other groups that are 'underdogs' in their communities and the things they have accomplished, the things they have overcome.
i felt compelled to respond and tell him about my sister bernadette, the rocky balboa of our family. definitely, an underdog with the cards stacked against her from the moment of her conception.
her biological mother was a drug abuser and had many psychological problems that made her an unstable candidate for parenthood. yet, it was in God's plan to bring a child into this world through her. before she was four years old bernadette had been in and out of foster care and been subjected to many things that no child should ever be forced to endure.
she was emotionally and developmentally scarred when she came to live with us. but somehow she knew she had come 'home' and she IMMEDIATELY 'adopted' our family as her own even though she was only supposed to stay with us for six weeks. it soon became apparent that there was room in our hearts to keep her forever and it was the hardest thing in the world to give her back at the end of those weeks.
it was not long after she left us that we got the call to say she was being placed back into foster care and would we step up and take on that responsibility. there was no doubt. no hesitation. of course the answer was yes. from that point on we were on a mission to make her a permanent member of our family.
we thought we lost her when, one sunny day, she was riding her bike and a hit-and-run driver collided with her, sent her flying over his truck and 15 feet into the air. she ended up in ICU for three days, they had her prepped for emergency surgery on her brain, we were in limbo waiting to see if she would make it. but, it's always been said that she has an army of guardian angels watching over her and keeping her safe from harm. that God put her here on this earth for a very important purpose, and she had not fulfilled that purpose yet.
from this accident she added some minor learning delays to her emotional and developmental delays. yet through it all she remained an outspoken, determined, spunky child who grew up to become an amazing woman. graduating high school with honors, she joined the united states air force at eighteen where she rose through the ranks to end her career as a tech-sergeant nine years later. she is now thirty years old, living in georgia, married to the love of her life, the mother of two small boys, working as a lab-tech, studying to become a registered nurse and as if this wasn't enough to fill her plate. she finally has discovered God's plan for her.
she learned that for the past four years in a row lakeland, ga in lanier county has the highest rate of child abuse/neglect in all of georgia. she, along with her close friend holly, is now working to become certified as a guardian ad litem and to establish HOPE HOUSE so that these children have a safe place to go and their parents and guardians have the resources to 'break the cycle' of abuse and neglect
she has come FULL CIRCLE from the small child with the odds stacked against her to this amazing strong and determined woman reaching out to help others in similar situations.
i am a quirk
don't say you are going to do something if you are not going to do it
don't start a conversation if you are not willing to share it
don't pretend to be who you are not
don't live a lie to put yourself before others
don't talk out of both sides of your face
don't fool yourself into believing that others can't see through your facade
JUST
DON'T
DO
IT
.
.
.
don't start a conversation if you are not willing to share it
don't pretend to be who you are not
don't live a lie to put yourself before others
don't talk out of both sides of your face
don't fool yourself into believing that others can't see through your facade
JUST
DON'T
DO
IT
.
.
.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
ORANGE & BLACK 2010
FIRST i have to say i am more of a 'fair weather' baseball fan. It's not my first choice when asked to pick a favorite sport. BUT that being said, i have ALWAYS cheered for the San Francisco Giants anytime i was lucky enough as to be invited to go to the ballpark.
this 2010 post-season has, however, captivated my attention and i have watched all or most of all the post-season championship games
i was there sitting on the edge of my seat glued to the tv watching this 'misfit' team of AMAZING athletes as they advanced through the play-offs the 'experts' said it couldn't be done. they said phillie was gonna wipe the ground with san francisco. but this is the City that knows how! and boy did the GIANTS show it!!!
amazingly when all the dust settled the 2010 WORLD SERIES was to be played by two teams from the arizona training camps (i don't understand the significance of this, but i've heard it enough to know it must be important) neither team having won the championship title in the last 50+ years........these teams were the underdogs. the scrappers. the ones that were supposed to console themselves with 'maybe next year'........
i think the GIANTS surprised everyone ~ including themselves ~ when they won the first two games of the series against the RANGERS ...... then a moment of reality set in as the RANGERS took the third game, but much to the chagrin of the naysayers this was NOT the end of the GIANTS...... they came back more confident in the fourth game and clinched the victory in # 5 to become the
we couldn't be there with everyone for that grand finale monday night when the GIANTS beat the RANGERS one last time with a score of 3-1.....so we did the next best thing.....
on tuesday night, amy & the boys met me in walnut creek when i got off work and we drove into the City....we parked at AT&T PARK and walked around looking at all the orange lights.....we went across the street to AMICI's for dinner, we brought donald's for georgie but he wasn't very hungry! just happy to be drinking his orange (soda).....we ordered luke linguini with red sauce but it turns out he was much happier eating our NEW HAVEN (clam & bacon) pizza!!.......took lots of pictures of the stadium.....walked down by mccovy cove and peeked through the fence to see the field where games 1 and 2 were won....climbed all over the statue of Lou the Seal and ran around the fishing piers
the boys shouted ECHO ECHO ECHO into the empty corridors of the ballpark and luke said he's gonna hit a homerun.....BUT he said coach dave (their t-ball coach) not there...he at home!
ORANGE & BLACK
FEAR THE BEARD
DON'T STOP BELIEVING
THE TORTURE
and something about aubrey huff's lucky thong?!?
 |
| picture from yahoo.com |
 |
| picture from yahoo.com |
 |
| picture from yahoo.com |
i was there sitting on the edge of my seat glued to the tv watching this 'misfit' team of AMAZING athletes as they advanced through the play-offs the 'experts' said it couldn't be done. they said phillie was gonna wipe the ground with san francisco. but this is the City that knows how! and boy did the GIANTS show it!!!
amazingly when all the dust settled the 2010 WORLD SERIES was to be played by two teams from the arizona training camps (i don't understand the significance of this, but i've heard it enough to know it must be important) neither team having won the championship title in the last 50+ years........these teams were the underdogs. the scrappers. the ones that were supposed to console themselves with 'maybe next year'........
i think the GIANTS surprised everyone ~ including themselves ~ when they won the first two games of the series against the RANGERS ...... then a moment of reality set in as the RANGERS took the third game, but much to the chagrin of the naysayers this was NOT the end of the GIANTS...... they came back more confident in the fourth game and clinched the victory in # 5 to become the
2010 WORLD CHAMPION SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS!!!!!
they did it.....and we believed!
 |
| picture from yahoo.com |
san francisco has been awash in an orange glow since the start of the world series. city hall.....coit tower....various skyscrapers reaching for the stars all misty orange in the fog.......
we couldn't be there with everyone for that grand finale monday night when the GIANTS beat the RANGERS one last time with a score of 3-1.....so we did the next best thing.....
on tuesday night, amy & the boys met me in walnut creek when i got off work and we drove into the City....we parked at AT&T PARK and walked around looking at all the orange lights.....we went across the street to AMICI's for dinner, we brought donald's for georgie but he wasn't very hungry! just happy to be drinking his orange (soda).....we ordered luke linguini with red sauce but it turns out he was much happier eating our NEW HAVEN (clam & bacon) pizza!!.......took lots of pictures of the stadium.....walked down by mccovy cove and peeked through the fence to see the field where games 1 and 2 were won....climbed all over the statue of Lou the Seal and ran around the fishing piers
the boys shouted ECHO ECHO ECHO into the empty corridors of the ballpark and luke said he's gonna hit a homerun.....BUT he said coach dave (their t-ball coach) not there...he at home!from AT&T park we took a drive down to VAN NESS where we parked illegally and took pictures of CITY HALL and the OPERA HOUSE all bathed in glowing ORANGE.....next we cruised up and down gough street to lombard.....WEEEEEEE THOSE ARE SOME FUN HILLS!!! took the boys on their inaugural ride down the City's favorite crookedest street...and up to COIT TOWER ...also all a glow in ORANGE!
it was midnight before we got two very exhausted little boys home and into their beds....but oh the FUN they had!!!!!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
FRUSTRATION
this year has been an extemely long & frustrating one wrought with illness upon injury. i feel like such a sickly child. it seems like i hardly recover from one incident before i am hit over the head with yet another.
while none of these situations has been particularly earthshattering....none has been so castastrophical that it would alter the course of life as i know it....they have never-the-less been extremely FRUSTRATING!!!!
i haven't had so many illness and injuries in one year in FOREVER....or so it seems...... i do remember as a child always having colds and allergies and stuffy runny noses and congestion and the like. but starting in my late 20s on through my 30s and into my 40s i have been relatively healthy. an injury here or there the occasional illness once or twice during the year but NOTHING COMPARES to this year!!!!!
i have been hit with colds and sniffles and allergies and asthma and backaches and neck & shoulder issues and sciatica and foot problems yet to be dealt with and an infection of the skin and if there's a flu bug out there ~ it's gonna find me and make itself right at home!!!!
i am very much anticipating 2011 with the hopes that i will again have renewed health and vitality!!
SERIOUSLY! enough is enough!!!!!
while none of these situations has been particularly earthshattering....none has been so castastrophical that it would alter the course of life as i know it....they have never-the-less been extremely FRUSTRATING!!!!
i haven't had so many illness and injuries in one year in FOREVER....or so it seems...... i do remember as a child always having colds and allergies and stuffy runny noses and congestion and the like. but starting in my late 20s on through my 30s and into my 40s i have been relatively healthy. an injury here or there the occasional illness once or twice during the year but NOTHING COMPARES to this year!!!!!
i have been hit with colds and sniffles and allergies and asthma and backaches and neck & shoulder issues and sciatica and foot problems yet to be dealt with and an infection of the skin and if there's a flu bug out there ~ it's gonna find me and make itself right at home!!!!
i am very much anticipating 2011 with the hopes that i will again have renewed health and vitality!!
SERIOUSLY! enough is enough!!!!!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
DONALD's FRIDAY
they LOVE to go INTO the play area at McDonald's but we ONLY do that on fridays......any other day of the week, if they are so lucky as to get mcd's it is DRIVE THRU only!!!!
not too long ago, we discovered that george's classmate aaron and his grandma (patty) come to 'donald's friday too! so now the boys have a double treat to look forward to....
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| no one really wanted to get their picture taken at this moment |
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| luke just could NOT stand still & my phone isn't as quick as my camera! |
i can't think of a better way to spend a friday night!!!! lol...well at least for now......
sometimes our friend scott joins us on his way home from work too.......one time he brought baby maggie...we are hoping that soon josh will be old enough to come play with the boys too!
a couple weeks ago tammy & her girls met us for 'donald's friday.........it was GREAT FUN as the kids hadn't been able to play with each other in quite a long time!!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
blech!
sometimes the best way to get things out of my head is to put them into words on paper (or in the 21st century i suppose the 'new paper' is a computer screen) so pardon my regurgitations but i need to clear my head.....
and i am extremely frustrated that people don't seem to believe me when i am in the midst of an allergic crisis.....
my allergist told me i am highly, extremely allergic to cats and under no circumstances should i be where they are....................well, i do frequent a place where there are two 5month old kittens......they have been there since they were one month old....at first they did not seemed to cause me any allergic distress...but as they have gotten older, i have noticed symptoms getting stronger.....
monday night i was in this place for much longer than i had planned to be and by the time i got home i was sneezing & watery eyed and i woke up in the night wheezy. i know i have no one to blame for this situation but myself and i am doing everything 'medically correct' to overcome these symptoms and i will need to be more careful in the future (yes, the future - i can not forsee me NEVER GOING to this place again...it's impossible)
so that is frustration # 1.....i KNOW i can not stop going to this place, i know that i run the risk of having another acute episode
but the even HARDER PART is there are people that don't seem to understand how sick i am right now or that it will happen again.....it's like they think i am saying it on purpose that it's not real.....that i am making it up because i don't like cats...
i'm sorry that the worst of the attack happened when i was all alone and there was no one there to witness it and vouch for my sincerity.....but it DID happen, and i am still recovering from it.
the most hurtful accusation came from someone that should believe me and support me no matter what, and yet he said it's been over 24hrs that you have been out of contact with the cats and you are STILL having symptoms, unbelieveable!
that is my frustration #2 --- i feel as if people think i am lying and making this up and that hurts
**********
ok, i've purged these thoughts from my brain.....NOW can i get back to good thoughts?
and i am extremely frustrated that people don't seem to believe me when i am in the midst of an allergic crisis.....
my allergist told me i am highly, extremely allergic to cats and under no circumstances should i be where they are....................well, i do frequent a place where there are two 5month old kittens......they have been there since they were one month old....at first they did not seemed to cause me any allergic distress...but as they have gotten older, i have noticed symptoms getting stronger.....
monday night i was in this place for much longer than i had planned to be and by the time i got home i was sneezing & watery eyed and i woke up in the night wheezy. i know i have no one to blame for this situation but myself and i am doing everything 'medically correct' to overcome these symptoms and i will need to be more careful in the future (yes, the future - i can not forsee me NEVER GOING to this place again...it's impossible)
so that is frustration # 1.....i KNOW i can not stop going to this place, i know that i run the risk of having another acute episode
but the even HARDER PART is there are people that don't seem to understand how sick i am right now or that it will happen again.....it's like they think i am saying it on purpose that it's not real.....that i am making it up because i don't like cats...
i'm sorry that the worst of the attack happened when i was all alone and there was no one there to witness it and vouch for my sincerity.....but it DID happen, and i am still recovering from it.
the most hurtful accusation came from someone that should believe me and support me no matter what, and yet he said it's been over 24hrs that you have been out of contact with the cats and you are STILL having symptoms, unbelieveable!
that is my frustration #2 --- i feel as if people think i am lying and making this up and that hurts
**********
ok, i've purged these thoughts from my brain.....NOW can i get back to good thoughts?
Monday, October 11, 2010
RED MARBLES
another story i've 'borrowed' from emails.....
RED MARBLES
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas..
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?'
'H'lo , Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'
'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'
'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
'Good. Anything I can help you with?'
'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like to take some home ?' asked Mr.. Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'
'All I got's my prize marble here.'
'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller..
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'
'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home ?' the store owner asked.
'Not zackley but almost..'
'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'.. Mr. Miller told the boy.
'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store..'
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr... Miller had died.
They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts....all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her, and moved on to the casket..
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about colour or size.....they came to pay their debt.'
'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.'
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband.. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.... Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath..... I wish you many red marbles !
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...An unexpected phone call from an old friend...Green stoplights on your way to work....The fastest line at the grocery store...A good sing-along song on the radio...Your keys found right where you left them.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED
RED MARBLES
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas..
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?'
'H'lo , Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'
'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'
'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
'Good. Anything I can help you with?'
'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like to take some home ?' asked Mr.. Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'
'All I got's my prize marble here.'
'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller..
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'
'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home ?' the store owner asked.
'Not zackley but almost..'
'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'.. Mr. Miller told the boy.
'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store..'
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr... Miller had died.
They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts....all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her, and moved on to the casket..
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about colour or size.....they came to pay their debt.'
'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.'
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband.. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.... Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath..... I wish you many red marbles !
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...An unexpected phone call from an old friend...Green stoplights on your way to work....The fastest line at the grocery store...A good sing-along song on the radio...Your keys found right where you left them.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED
Sunday, October 10, 2010
chug-a chug-a chooo chooooo
had a GOOD DAY today......
we took the boys out to the RIO VISTA TRAIN MUSEUM & visited their pumpkin patch
we got to ride on an old restored L Taraval car from San Francisco. The conductor told us the train had been built in the 1930's and was retired from service in 1982.........Tom & I were thinking that it's possible that we may have gotten to ride on it when we were teenagers in the City.
the train took us to the pumpkin patch where we ran into George's classmate Aaron and his grandma Patty. a very fun afternoon climbing in the hayfort and playing some of the games jumping in the bouncy......
the weather was pretty awesome too.....mid to high 80's
AND to top off an already pretty fabulous day....i got to 'talk' (text) with friends that i hadn't heard from in quite a few days!!!! OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!
we took the boys out to the RIO VISTA TRAIN MUSEUM & visited their pumpkin patch
we got to ride on an old restored L Taraval car from San Francisco. The conductor told us the train had been built in the 1930's and was retired from service in 1982.........Tom & I were thinking that it's possible that we may have gotten to ride on it when we were teenagers in the City.
the train took us to the pumpkin patch where we ran into George's classmate Aaron and his grandma Patty. a very fun afternoon climbing in the hayfort and playing some of the games jumping in the bouncy......
the weather was pretty awesome too.....mid to high 80's
AND to top off an already pretty fabulous day....i got to 'talk' (text) with friends that i hadn't heard from in quite a few days!!!! OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!
Friday, October 8, 2010
omgossssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
it's friday ONCE AGAIN!!!!
sitting here listening to my favorite songs.............thinking about music and how important it is in my life.
music is always there ....at the forefront ~ at a concert ......in the background ~ on my iTouch or car radio
music is my thoughts and feelings put to a melody
music is soothing and comforting even during the most stressful times
music is a statement
music
music
music
my life without music would be empty...................i am open to all genres i have favorite songs from different artists that woven together form a patchwork quilt of my life
i am not a rocker
i am not a metal head
i am not a country girl (much to everyone's disbelief)
i am not a rapper
or a punk
i am a music lover. in my collection i have everything from the classics to show tunes to blues and jazz and of course i have TONS of rock classics and country!
i am an eclectic chooser of music, but the songs i like speak to me, speak for me. to truly know me you must understand the music.
sitting here listening to my favorite songs.............thinking about music and how important it is in my life.
music is always there ....at the forefront ~ at a concert ......in the background ~ on my iTouch or car radio
music is my thoughts and feelings put to a melody
music is soothing and comforting even during the most stressful times
music is a statement
music
music
music
my life without music would be empty...................i am open to all genres i have favorite songs from different artists that woven together form a patchwork quilt of my life
i am not a rocker
i am not a metal head
i am not a country girl (much to everyone's disbelief)
i am not a rapper
or a punk
i am a music lover. in my collection i have everything from the classics to show tunes to blues and jazz and of course i have TONS of rock classics and country!
i am an eclectic chooser of music, but the songs i like speak to me, speak for me. to truly know me you must understand the music.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
fruit of the vine
....how GREAT it is that we meet every week for bible reflection & group discussion. now don't start picturing me as a religious zealot......i'm not......
but we meet once a week.....it's loud and chaotic at times.....there's ALWAYS good food, yumm-o desserts! ....we come from different backgrounds, we belong to different churches, we have had different life experiences......yet we gather together as one group to share our lives, our beliefs, our selfs with each other gaining insight and helping each other to grow more in our journey with Christ. it's a GOOD fit!
but we meet once a week.....it's loud and chaotic at times.....there's ALWAYS good food, yumm-o desserts! ....we come from different backgrounds, we belong to different churches, we have had different life experiences......yet we gather together as one group to share our lives, our beliefs, our selfs with each other gaining insight and helping each other to grow more in our journey with Christ. it's a GOOD fit!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
i wanna be
the one that gets rescued from the burning building ~ i'm tired of being the one that gets left behind
right now i'm hearin' jennifer nettles singing in my head.........which is very odd since miranda lambert is the one that is singing in reality (on my computer) ....but i digress.......
right now i'm hearin' jennifer nettles singing in my head.........which is very odd since miranda lambert is the one that is singing in reality (on my computer) ....but i digress.......
I ain't settlin'
For just getting by
I've had enough so-so
For the rest of my life
Tired of shooting too low
So raise the bar high
"Just enough," ain't enough this time
I ain't settlin' for anything less than everything
h'mmm now... WHAT exactly is it that i want?
...a family to take care of
...a house big enough to entertain friends & family
...a kitchen to freeform gastronomical delights
...a 'job' that is creatively fulfilling and monetarily stable
...love
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
HEMINGWAY's WHISKEY
NEW MUSIC.........one of my favorite things in the world is hearing NEW music......
this is a cd i've been waiting for it has so many different sides...so many angles.....party hard...fall in love....break up ....grow up .......nostalgic.....escapin' reality
i fell IN LOVE with tequila & you the moment i heard it....i should have known that it was written by matreca berg, (jamie hanna's stepmom) and deana carter....the haunting lyrics combined with the harmony of kenny & grace potter's vocals paint such a vivid picture
somewhere with you with it's changing rhythms; the wistful breakup lyrics
the ode to youth nostalgia of the boys of fall, it's an anthem for football lovers past present & future. we've all been there (or will be there) when summer turns to fall and the boys in the gameday jersey's are the kings of the school
kenny has always admired hemingway, he is often quoted as saying that THE OLD MAN & THE SEA is one of his favorite books hemingway's whiskey is a haunting melodic song comparing his life to my own....what's good enough for hemingway is good enough for me.
and OF COURSE there's a BEACH DREAMIN' & ESCAPE song........tank top ~ love handles .....gone coastal! ...it's got the rockin' out guitar rifts that make you wanna get up and dance....it's got the lyrics that send you off on a daydream escapin' to the beaches and sunny days with no cares or worries
seven days love found & lost all in an instant; but this song reminds you of all those special moments that are branded into your heart forever. everyone one day sooner or later has the chance for this one-of-a-kind short lived forever love.
another song with upbeat rockin' rhthym live a little....all about life & love and feelin' good
LOVE hearing george jones singing with kenny on the classic small y'all.....i have always thought this was a great song.....and to hear them singing it together is AWESOME!!
the ways we grow up a little at a time, usually something significant happens in our life at that moment that causes us to get just a little bit more mature, to grow just a little wiser .....where i grew up hits those spots, wistfully looking back on the moments that changed our lives
round & round ......the grass is always greener in someone else's backyard. we always long for something that we don't have.........daydreams or regrets wanting what we can't have. in my head i can picture this song live, the guys rockin' out with their guitars on the stage
songs penned by kenny have his own special signature on the lyrics reminiscent of songs from BE AS YOU ARE reality... ain't ever goin' back again... i didn't get here alone .....these feel so personal, like glimpses into his thoughts, his soul.....these are the songs that feel most like the man in the hat up on stage opening his heart and letting us inside for a minute
i don't think there's a single song on this cd that i could not listen to over and over again.......and again ............................and again
this is a cd i've been waiting for it has so many different sides...so many angles.....party hard...fall in love....break up ....grow up .......nostalgic.....escapin' reality
i fell IN LOVE with tequila & you the moment i heard it....i should have known that it was written by matreca berg, (jamie hanna's stepmom) and deana carter....the haunting lyrics combined with the harmony of kenny & grace potter's vocals paint such a vivid picture
somewhere with you with it's changing rhythms; the wistful breakup lyrics
the ode to youth nostalgia of the boys of fall, it's an anthem for football lovers past present & future. we've all been there (or will be there) when summer turns to fall and the boys in the gameday jersey's are the kings of the school
kenny has always admired hemingway, he is often quoted as saying that THE OLD MAN & THE SEA is one of his favorite books hemingway's whiskey is a haunting melodic song comparing his life to my own....what's good enough for hemingway is good enough for me.
and OF COURSE there's a BEACH DREAMIN' & ESCAPE song........tank top ~ love handles .....gone coastal! ...it's got the rockin' out guitar rifts that make you wanna get up and dance....it's got the lyrics that send you off on a daydream escapin' to the beaches and sunny days with no cares or worries
seven days love found & lost all in an instant; but this song reminds you of all those special moments that are branded into your heart forever. everyone one day sooner or later has the chance for this one-of-a-kind short lived forever love.
another song with upbeat rockin' rhthym live a little....all about life & love and feelin' good
LOVE hearing george jones singing with kenny on the classic small y'all.....i have always thought this was a great song.....and to hear them singing it together is AWESOME!!
the ways we grow up a little at a time, usually something significant happens in our life at that moment that causes us to get just a little bit more mature, to grow just a little wiser .....where i grew up hits those spots, wistfully looking back on the moments that changed our lives
round & round ......the grass is always greener in someone else's backyard. we always long for something that we don't have.........daydreams or regrets wanting what we can't have. in my head i can picture this song live, the guys rockin' out with their guitars on the stage
songs penned by kenny have his own special signature on the lyrics reminiscent of songs from BE AS YOU ARE reality... ain't ever goin' back again... i didn't get here alone .....these feel so personal, like glimpses into his thoughts, his soul.....these are the songs that feel most like the man in the hat up on stage opening his heart and letting us inside for a minute
i don't think there's a single song on this cd that i could not listen to over and over again.......and again ............................and again
Monday, October 4, 2010
i wanna be like HER!
i have a friend that i met through other friends, we aren't super close. we haven't shared alot of 'girlie-secrets'. i wouldn't even classify our relationship as confidants. we are merely friends.
but i ADMIRE her chutzpah in the face of adversity!
she knows where to tell 'them' to go and she's not afraid to give them explicit directions on how to get there!
she's not gonna let anyone walk over her or take advantage of her good nature
she is in control of her destiny and if she chooses to let it freefall for a while that is her choice
she has a good head on her shoulders and a voice to speak out when she has something to say
she is courageous
she is fierce
she has a wicked sense of humor
she's got her own back & doesn't have to rely on anyone else for strength or fortitude.
but i ADMIRE her chutzpah in the face of adversity!
she knows where to tell 'them' to go and she's not afraid to give them explicit directions on how to get there!
she's not gonna let anyone walk over her or take advantage of her good nature
she is in control of her destiny and if she chooses to let it freefall for a while that is her choice
she has a good head on her shoulders and a voice to speak out when she has something to say
she is courageous
she is fierce
she has a wicked sense of humor
she's got her own back & doesn't have to rely on anyone else for strength or fortitude.
boomtown rats
tell me why i hate mondays....
tell me why i hate mondays.....
i woke up with this song on a continuous loop in my head.....and it is STILL there now!
i treated myself to a dirt tea this morning, hoping that it would improve my monday disposition......NOT
i am listening to my favorite songs on my iTouch, hoping that the glitter in the air, sweet tupelo honey and beatles singing out my name might motivate me into a happy space......NOT
what is it about this day that has me in such a funk?
i think maybe it's the change in the weather....change in the seasons. i do not go willingly into the dark night known as winter.....sure i am looking forward to not having triple-digits on the thermometer and i am looking forward to hot chocolate with marshmallos and thick creamy soups to warm my tummy....but i am inherently a summergirl (listen to the song by DINO....my guys MOVIN' used to sing this song just for me!)
Summertime's in the air ~ And summergirls are everywhere ~ They raise excitability ~ I like the things they do to me ~ Summergirls ~ All day long summergirls ~ Sing this song
Summergirls set the pace ~ With sugnlasses on their face ~ Excuse me if I stop and stare ~ I like the kind of clothes they wear ~ Summergirls all day long ~ I like summergirls ~Sing this song
then again, maybe it's not the weather....maybe it's something else. sometimes i can get so OCD about things. perhaps it's just that my morning commute was not exactly the same as it has been for the past few weeks....
*
|
*
|
*
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*
i want to lasso the moon & the stars ..... i want to drink coffee in the garden
tell me why i hate mondays.....
i woke up with this song on a continuous loop in my head.....and it is STILL there now!
i treated myself to a dirt tea this morning, hoping that it would improve my monday disposition......NOT
i am listening to my favorite songs on my iTouch, hoping that the glitter in the air, sweet tupelo honey and beatles singing out my name might motivate me into a happy space......NOT
what is it about this day that has me in such a funk?
i think maybe it's the change in the weather....change in the seasons. i do not go willingly into the dark night known as winter.....sure i am looking forward to not having triple-digits on the thermometer and i am looking forward to hot chocolate with marshmallos and thick creamy soups to warm my tummy....but i am inherently a summergirl (listen to the song by DINO....my guys MOVIN' used to sing this song just for me!)
Summertime's in the air ~ And summergirls are everywhere ~ They raise excitability ~ I like the things they do to me ~ Summergirls ~ All day long summergirls ~ Sing this song
Summergirls set the pace ~ With sugnlasses on their face ~ Excuse me if I stop and stare ~ I like the kind of clothes they wear ~ Summergirls all day long ~ I like summergirls ~Sing this song
then again, maybe it's not the weather....maybe it's something else. sometimes i can get so OCD about things. perhaps it's just that my morning commute was not exactly the same as it has been for the past few weeks....
*
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*
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*
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*
i want to lasso the moon & the stars ..... i want to drink coffee in the garden
Sunday, October 3, 2010
geeesh!
now that i've finally caught up with THAT i can start spewing all the other thoughts that have been building up in my mind................................
....and wouldn't ya know it?! .....i'm drawin' a BLANK!!!!
oh bother! guess i'll come back later
(truthfully, i do have something on my mind, just too hurt to put it into words right now.....no worries the words will come, eventually)
....and wouldn't ya know it?! .....i'm drawin' a BLANK!!!!
oh bother! guess i'll come back later
(truthfully, i do have something on my mind, just too hurt to put it into words right now.....no worries the words will come, eventually)
day 3: OLIVIA's BIRTHDAY
.....the big day FINALLY ARRIVED
Olivia's room had been expertly decorated by the imagineers & magic makers....and she recieved a GIANT birthday box with a special card and larger than life balloon from Mickey, himself!!
our agenda:
Breakfast with Mickey & friends
Glam make-over at the DISNEY 365 Studios
Cake with Pat E. Cake and Micky and Minnie
PLUS......as many rides as is humanly possible!!!
BREAKFAST with Mickey's friends:
The MAIN STREET PARADE:
BIRTHDAY PARTY with PAT E. CAKE:
 |
| the BIRTHDAY GIRL |
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| PAT E. CAKE |
M
I
C
see you REAL SOON!
K
E
Y
why? because we LIKE you!
M
O
U
S
E
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