Beth's Year-End Answers

BabiTag Comments - Sassy Trendy Sexy

Here goes:

1. What did I learn? (skills, knowledge, awareness, etc.)

How to say 'NO' kindly but firmly.

2. What did I accomplish?

I went back to work after a ten month break.

3. What would I have done differently?

Nothing.

Why?

Because what's done is done, and I can't change it.

4. What did I complete or release?

Anger

4 (cont): What still feels incomplete to me?

Compassion for all, even myself.

5. What were the most significant events of the year past?
List the top three.

1. I went back to work.

2. I'm finally living alone again, for the first time in years.

3. I finally decided to act on something I have put off for years.

6. What did I do right?

Helped my family.

What do I feel especially good about?

Writing and meditating every day.

What was my greatest contribution?

To my family.

7. What were the fun things I did?

Whatever I wanted to do.

What were the not-so-fun?

Helping my family move out of state, 2,000 miles away from me.

8. What were my biggest challenges/roadblocks/difficulties?

Pulling my head out of my butt and taking charge of my life again.

9. How am I different this year than last?

I'm mentally and physically healthier also.

10. For what am I particularly grateful?

Prayer. It keeps me centered.

Happy New Year from A Writer's Edge

From Georganna at A Writer's Edge

Happy New Year Around The World

Happy New Year In Other Languages For Everyone Around The World
Afghani - Saale Nao Mubbarak
Afrikaans -Gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian - Gezuar Vitin e Ri
Arabic - Antum salimoun
Armenian - Snorhavor Nor Tari
Assyrian - Sheta Brikhta
Azeri - Yeni Iliniz Mubarek!
Bengali - Shuvo Nabo Barsho
Cambodian - Soursdey Chhnam Tmei
Catalan - FELIÇ ANY NOU
Chinese - Chu Shen Tan / Xin Nian Kuai Le
Corsican Language - Pace e Salute
Croatian - Sretna Nova godina!
Cymraeg (Welsh) - Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Czechoslovakia - Scastny Novy Rok
Danish - Godt Nytår
Dhivehi - Ufaaveri Aa Aharakah Edhen
Dutch - GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR!
Eskimo - Kiortame pivdluaritlo
Esperanto - Felican Novan Jaron
Estonians - Head uut aastat!
Ethiopian - MELKAM ADDIS AMET YIHUNELIWO!
Finnish - Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French - Bonne Annee
Gaelic - Bliadhna mhath ur
German - Prosit Neujahr
Greek - Kenourios Chronos
Gujarati - Nutan Varshbhinandan
Hawaiian - Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew - L’Shannah Tovah
Hindi - Nav varsh ka shubkamnayein
Hong Kong (Cantonese) - Sun Leen Fai Lok
Hungarian - Boldog Ooy Ayvet
Indonesian - Selamat Tahun Baru
Iranian - Saleh now mobarak
Iraqi - Sanah Jadidah
Irish - Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian - Felice anno nuovo
Japanese - Akimashite Omedetto Gozaimasu
Kabyle - Asegwas Amegaz
Kannada - Hosa Varushadha Shubhashayagalu
Kisii - SOMWAKA OMOYIA OMUYA
Khmer - Sua Sdei tfnam tmei
Korea - Saehae Bock Mani ba deu sei yo!
Kurdish - NEWROZ PIROZBE
Lithuanian - Laimingu Naujuju Metu
Laotian - Sabai dee pee mai
Macedonian - Srekjna Nova Godina
Malay - Selamat Tahun Baru
Marathi - Nveen Varshachy Shubhechcha
Malayalam - Puthuvatsara Aashamsakal
Maltese - Is-Sena t- Tajba
Nepal - Nawa Barsha ko Shuvakamana
Norwegian - Godt Nyttår
Papua New Guinea - Nupela yia i go long yu
Pashto - Nawai Kall Mo Mubarak Shah
Persian - Saleh now ra tabrik migouyam
Philippines - Manigong Bagong Taon
Polish - Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese - Feliz Ano Novo
Punjabi - Nave sal di mubarakan
Romanian - AN NOU FERICIT
Russian - S Novim Godom
Samoa - Manuia le Tausaga Fou
Serbo-Croatian - Sretna nova godina
Sindhi - Nayou Saal Mubbarak Hoje
Singhalese - Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Siraiki - Nawan Saal Shala Mubarak Theevay
Slovak - A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovenian - sreèno novo leto
Somali - Iyo Sanad Cusub Oo Fiican!
Spanish - Feliz Ano ~Nuevo
Swahili - Heri Za Mwaka Mpyaº
Swedish - GOTT NYTT ÅR! /Gott nytt år!
Sudanese - Warsa Enggal
Tamil - Eniya Puthandu Nalvazhthukkal
Telegu - Noothana samvatsara shubhakankshalu
Thai - Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish - Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian - Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku
Urdu - Naya Saal Mubbarak Ho
Uzbek - Yangi Yil Bilan
Vietnamese - Chuc Mung Tan Nien

This will also be posted on other blogs I author and co-author.

Happy New Year to Everyone, and all the best for 2008,

Colin

My Blogging Meme For You - Reflections: Top Ten List of Year-End Questions

In order to embrace the new, we must release the old.
I want you (and me) to reflect upon what you did, how you felt, what you liked, what you didn't and what you learned.
This is my Blogging Meme to you, (and the last of the year for me :)

1. What did I learn? (skills, knowledge, awareness, etc.) That I need to have more patience with myself and others.
2. What did I accomplish? Got out of a unhealthy marriage.
3. What would I have done differently? Would not have left Arizona
Why? Because I am freezing my ass off in New Hampshire
4. What did I complete or release? I got off my anti-depressants. Let go of my marriage
4 (cont): What still feels incomplete to me? Me
5. What were the most significant events of the year past?
List the top three.
1. I left my marriage
2. I moved to New Hampshire
3. I maintained undetectable status with Hepatitis C
6. What did I do right? Believed in myself
What do I feel especially good about? I am becoming more self-confident and sure of myself
What was my greatest contribution? Taking care of my Niece over the summer and my Cousin now
7. What were the fun things I did? Went to Cape Cod for a weekend
What were the not-so-fun? Getting off anti-depressants
8. What were my biggest challenges/roadblocks/difficulties? Getting out of my own way
9. How am I different this year than last? Healthier - physically and mentally
10. For what am I particularly grateful? Not giving up on myself and my life

I Tag:

1. Bobbarama
2. Polli
3. Dave
4. Billy
5. Ted
6. Rod
7. Beth
8. Mark
9. Peter
10. Michael

And this means you too Cotjo, Jos and Mimi ...and all the rest of the Authors here :)

Girl Scout cookie time

Are you ready for January 12? Well, that is the day Girl Scouts start taking orders for Girl Scout cookies...I should know cause i became a leader for my daughters troop this year...My daughters goal is 500 boxes this year..She wants to be in the 500 club..Did you know that girlscouts do get prizes for all the cookies that they sell? Trust me, GirlScouts can be very persistant and will not take no for an answer...Here in Arizona the cookies are $4.00 a box..

Survey for money

Hubby is still sick but when the phone rang to take a survey he asked me to do it so he wouldn't lose his good standing...whatever that means. He takes them all the time and gets between $25 and $50 dollars..apparently your answers determine what dollar amount you receive.
1. Are you married or do you have a significant other?
me: I'm married
2. Do you now work outside the home?
me; no
3. Are you white..black..Spanish..or other?
me white.
4. are you under 18 or over 65?
me; no
5. are you in a clandestine relationship?
me; no...why do you know someone?
6. are you planning on having more children?
me; gasp no
7. have you traveled abroad for business in the last 5 years?
me; no
8. have you traveled in the U.S. in the last 5 years
me; yes..we go to Florida and..
9. do you own a time share?
me no
10. do you plan on owning a time share?
me; no
Thank you your two dollars and fifty cents will be sent to you in four to six weeks...
hubby said...what do you mean? that's all? yeah I said what a ripoff..I bet you told the truth didn't you? Oh boy...women

Georgie the Brown-Nosed Puppet

You know Donald and Condi
And Scooter and Rove,
Mukasey and Chertoff,
Gates and Cheney.
Now let us recall,
the most famous Puppet of all
Georgie the brown-nosed Puppet
Has a very brown nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other Bushies
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Georgie
Join in any Party games
Then one foggy Pre-War Eve
Cheney came to say
Georgie with your nose so brown
Won't you start to bomb tonight?
Then all the Bushies loved him
And they shouted out with glee
Georgie the brown-nosed Puppet
You'll go down in history!

(To the tune of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
This came to me this morning - when the Muse calls I listen

A Politically Correct Christmas Greeting

Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all;

Additionally,a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions have helped make our society great, without regard to the race, creed, color, religious, or sexual preferences of the wishes.

(Disclaimer: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.)

Source: Christmas Humor

why Jesus is better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole ...
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh ...
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year ...
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies ...
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited ...
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa ...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap ...
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy (or girl,) what's your name?" ...
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ...
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ...
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry" ...
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

"Santa's little helpers make toys ...
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa is a "jolly old elf"...
JESUS is the King of Kings

Santa may make you chuckle but ...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

Colin

The Angel Atop The Tree

One Christmas, Santa was having a really bad day.

The local elves union was up in arms over their contract and were threatening a walk-out.

Mrs. Clause was peeved that Santa was never around to appreciate all of the hard work she had been doing around the house.

Santa decided he needed to go home, sit in front of a fire and relax. When he got there, Mrs. Clause was all up in his face and wouldn't let down.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

It was Rudolph. He said the reindeer were sick and tired of Santa not upgrading to the new lightweight sleigh and they were joining the elves walkout.

Santa slammed the door and threatened: "The next person who knocks on that door is gonna get it!"

At that time, there was a knock on the door.

Santa flung the door open and there stood a tiny little angel.

The angel had been searching for the perfect Christmas tree for Santa's house all day long, until it found the perfect one.

The little angel asked, "Santa, I was wondering where you would like me to stick this tree?"

And that is the story of how the angel atop the tree tradition began.

Merry Christmas everyone......and please remember those less fortunate than ourselves.

Christmas is the time when we celebrate the birth of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, born in a stable to grow into the most remarkable of men. Celebrate the remembrance of this birth with goodwill to all mankind, and pray for peace on earth on this Holy Day.

Colin

Once Upon a Squirrelly Night

Once Upon a Squirrelly Night

Up on a tree top,
Hop, hop, hop,
I saw Santa go flop, flop, flop.

Onto a limb he did bend,
Along came the snow & the wind began to blow,
Up in the tree top,
Hop, hop, hop,
I saw Santa drop, drop, drop.

He fell to the ground & looked around,
And shouted to all & to all he said:
I think I hit my head!

Up in a tree top,
Hop, hop, hop,
I saw Santa go chop, chop, chop,
As he shouted with glee,
This will make a pretty Christmas Tree!

Up in the tree top,
Hop, hippity hop,
I saw Santa wiggle his red nose,
And atop the tree a star began to glow,
Santa was so happy he did such a jig that shook the twigs,
When up in the tree top,
Plop, plop, plop,
Down fell I onto this jolly guy.

He laughed so loud it broke the clouds,
When down flew his reindeer and all his gear,
Then off to the North Pole he did fly,
And I swear this story is not a lie,
For he gave me these here nuts & some Band-Aids for my cuts!

Yes, once upon a tree top – hop, hop, hop,
I saw Santa go flop, flop, flop.

© - Jeane Michelle Culp (#Z987C46Y)

To Santa

To Scrooge

To whom ever hacked MyBlogLog. I am trying to deal with a death in my Family and do not need this. Meanwhile, many of us are trying to enjoy Christmas online. Stop being a Scrooge.

Christmas Camel Carving

Every year a spectacular magic fills the air. It starts about October with carving the Pumpkin. Then in November, the Turkey. Than by December a piece of our heart has already begun to be carved out and gifted to others as kind deeds increase and shine more predominately. Any indifferences with Family and Friends are all but forgotten. Smiles are given to Strangers we chance to see here and there. Suddenly we don’t mind the heavy traffic, circling parking lots for a space, or standing in long lines. We can even climb the highest tree to place an ornament atop. Wobbly ladders press against homes with legs in the snow or on thin ice - we clamber the rungs to dangle lights while our lives hang in the balance. Throw caution to the wind and step onto the decorated tile nailed roofs. We are invincible! And so it was for my Sister. Having never used a jigsaw before except to assemble a picture, she takes the awkward tool in hand and with nothing more than the power of sheer determination – she begins! My two young Nephews, perhaps for fear of life and limbs - pretend to busy themselves else where with what ever it is young Teenagers do. Then when all is saw and done, they gather near their Mom. Mentally I’m sure they were counting digits and when they reached 10, noting all her fingers and toes intact – they delight in the joy of Camels amid the still dusty mist! And so in the Spirit of this magical Season; I share the lawn awaited results!

Happy Birthday Colin!!!!

I found out today is Colin`s Birthday today..Please come wish him a Happy Birthday!

purplefrog

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to all Blue Ribbon Bloggers, and all readers of this blog.

The picture to the right is a family photo, taken in the 1970s, I think. My mother loved Christmas, and she decorated with style every year.

My mother and father are both dead, my brother is in Florida, my son and grandchildren are in the Midwest.

But I'm not sad-- far from it, for they are all in my heart and mind, all the family holidays that we celebrated together, through good times and bad.

My prayers go out to all of you during the last legal holidays of 2007.

Please take the time to say thanks for every day you are able to draw breath and live in this world.

Try to remember all the good in the world, rather than the hatred and violence we are exposed to every day.

Shortly before he died, my father looked at me with tears in his eyes and asked me to be kind to all living creatures.

I'm going to pass his words on to all of you.

Happy holidays.

A Message from Santa Claus

Ho! Ho! Ho! Everyone

I want to apologize to everyone for not being online much lately. It is an important time of the year when Santa should be here and I am very aware of that.

Unfortunately, there is a person here in BlogWorld who seems intent on making sure that I am not part of the Christmas Season here at MBL this year.

Every time I log on, or check an email or anything I am immediately targeted and then have to go about fixing my computer yet again. Si far to date I have had to reformat my hard drive 5 times and then reload and configure all of the software. Each time seems to be different and it sometimes takes me days to get back online.

Just a word to the person doing it... I know who you are and so far have resisted the urge to publicly discredit you. It is not my nature to be negative or revengeful but it is nearly at the time when I will be forced to name you in the hope that that will stop you from this continual harassment that you seem intent on.

All I want to do is bring cheer and happiness and peace and joy and love to all of you at this special time and it hurts me more than I can say that I have been continually stopped from doing so.

I intend to stay online as much as possible but if I disappear once more unexpectedly you will know why and I do apologize for it. It's my job as Santa to bring the Christmas cheer to all of you and it hurts me to be unable to do that properly.

May Christmas be that special time that you expect and may all of your wishes come true. Please remember though the true meaning of Christmas this and every year is to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Christ child. That is what Christmas really IS all about.

Merry Christmas to all of you and thank you for your support and loyalty over the past few months. It has been a wonderful experience.

as always,
Santa ô¿ô

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’

This version of 'Twas the night before Christmas' was written by a peace keeping soldier

Twas the night before Christmas
He lived all alone
In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone
I had come down the chimney with presents to give
And to see just who in this home did live

I looked all about a strange sight I did see
No tinsel no presents not even a tree
No stocking by the mantle just boots filled with sand
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands
With medals and badges awards of all kinds
A sober thought came through my mind
For this house was different it was dark and dreary
I found the home of a soldier once I could see clearly
The soldier lay sleeping silent alone
Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home
The face was so gentle the room in such disorder
Not how I pictured a lone British soldier
Was this the hero of whom I’d just read
Curled up on a poncho the floor for a bed

I realised the families that I saw this night
Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight
Soon round the world the children would play
And grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day

They all enjoy freedom each month of the year
Because of the soldiers like the one lying here
I couldn't help wonder how many alone
On a cold Christmas eve in a land far from home

The very though brought a tear to my eye
I dropped to my knees and started to cry
The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice
'Santa don't cry this life is my choice
I fight for freedom I don't ask for more
My life is my god, my country, my corps'

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep
I couldn't control it I continued to weep

I kept watch for hours so silent and still
And we both sat and shivered from the cold nights chill
I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night
This guardian of honour so willing to fight

Then the soldier rolled over with a voice soft and pure
Whispered 'carry on Santa its Christmas day all is secure'
One look at my watch and I knew he was right
'Merry Christmas my friend and to all a good night'

Merry Christmas to all of the Blue Ribbon Authors and Readers. Thank you for being here.

Spare a though for those less fortunate than ourselves, and if you can do just a little something to help someone, your kindness will always be remembered.

Colin This post also reproduced on my Life blog and Santa's Community blog

Merry Christmas To All Blue Ribbon Bloggers And Readers

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to all Blue Ribbon Bloggers and readers!

The week before Christmas just some sillyness

Twas the week before Christmas and every one's frantic
Santa was crazed with his best authors antics
Kim at lake trees and perps were not to be found
Polli and eddiejohn had also gone to ground
where was cotojo and zubli the ones he could trust
magical cat was at crank mamas it was all so unjust
were speedycat and manpoo up to more silly pranks
Santa was angry where were his thanks
sandy g and y were his very last hope
jos and mauniejames called the blog fairy's remote
is everything ready does he even suspect
its a party for Santa now who would object
all had been working at a devilish pace
to prove that they loved him before his long race
deliving gifts to all his beloved children
I think they will be forgiven they were some of his minions
all the people who love him, I've mentioned a few
but the amount of his bloggers are maney and grew
have a wonderful holiday and your familys too
Santa loves all of us..how lucky we are
but I still need a laptop and maybe a new car

So much to do

I have so much to do... both the nice maunie james and the selfish maunie james... the nice maunie james is off visiting elderly relatives and friends and finishing up their shopping wrapping and delivering some cookies and a small custard pie for one a chocolate cake to another.. well you get the idea... she is also at the post office sending out last minute packages for their children and taking them to last minute doctors appointments.. seeing that their homes are shoveled and they have adequate food in and have someplace to go for Christmas.... the selfish maunie james.. well she saves many steps and calls everyone to ask if they need her.. but you know people don't want to be a bother... so the selfish and the nice maunie james gets her coat and boots and a warm scarf and mittens... all the stuff... and drags hubby with her.. (he's not working today) and off they go... hopefully it won't take all day... but if you mention it.. it's not a good deed... just a gift of love...

Dixie

Christmas Elf Name


My Christmas Elf Name is







Get your Christmas Elf Name at JokesUnlimited.com

My First Post On Blue Ribbon Bloggers

My dearest friend Maunie from Maunie James and my dear friend Sandy G from At Your Service have both honored my humble blog with this beautiful Best Friends Award.

Now, being who I am I am going to do something completely out of character...as if LOL.

I have recently been given the honor by Gracie Belle of co-authoring on the Blue Ribbon Bloggers, so I am going to pass this award on to all of my fellow co-authors, many of whom I know and those I don't I am sure I will soon get to know :)

They are:

**Ann - Admin **Jeane Michelle - Admin **Jos - Admin *Anndi *Beth Allen *Bob *Bond *Bud *Carol *Chesca *Christy *Deborah *Dixie *Drew *Elizabeth *EmmyRose *Ev Nucci *Gale Martin *Georganna *Graciel *Janice *Joey *Judy *Karl/Frogster *Kathleen *Kimberly *Lady Rose *Lillie Ammann *Linda *Lynda *Mark *Maunie James *Meghan *Michelle Dyer *Mimi Lenox *Nihal *Pendullum *Polliwog *Sam Chan *Santa Claus *Shinade *Tish *Walks Far Woman Dan Linda Raven Moore

Am I bad or am I bad, more link love :)

Happy Holidays to all and have a wonderful week.

purplefrogcat

Myspace Comment Generators at YourSpaceIsBest.com

an Invitation

Hello Blue Ribbon Bloggers!


I want to invite to all of you to drop by my Lupus blog “Dancing With Butterflies” on the 14th of December.Marilyn Morris author of Diagnosis: Lupus: The Intimate Journal of a Lupus Patient will be gracing my blog on as part of her virtual book tour. I hope you can find time to visit me.

If you know someone suffering from Lupus, her book is truly an inspiration for other Lupies like me to go on and live a normal life. I was personally inspired by her book and I was crying the whole time, it was as if reading through my very own journal. Make sure to drop by and meet this fascinating author. Hope to see you there!

Christmas tree: kitty safe?

Is your Christmas tree kitty safe? I know mine is. I have 4 kittens and adult cats.. Over the year we have learned to have all the breakable one towards the top of the tree... That includes all the handmade ones from the kids and the ones we had when we were younger... The none breakable ones are safe to have on the bottom with the cats.. Make sure the lights are tied on the tree real good-cats are real good trying to hang themselves.. Try to make sure they don`t chew on the wires or they can become fried kitties and you wouldn`t want that do you? If you plan on having a cut tree, please water or sprite to water it..Anything else is toxic and can kill your cat.. Do not have any garland on the tree-cats like to chew on it and its not good for their tummy`s.. I keep a spray bottle with me in case they try to climb the tree... The last thing i want is a tree on its side or finding that my branches are bent down and i can`t get them back up the way they used to be... I have a hard enough time trying to keep the tree looking decent with the kids around... Good luck with everything this holiday season and be safe....


Purplefrogcat

Give A Great Gift This Holiday Season

May the world hug you today
With its warmth, and love.
And may the wind carry a voice
That tells you there is Family, Friends
Sitting in another corner of the world wishing you well!
(From The Difference Between Strength and Courage ~Author Unknown~)



Remember, Hugs are what makes the World round.

*Let us extend in open arms, compassionate Hugs to all involved in these Related Posts:

November 2007 SCHP’s Fatality by Chris at Signal46.com

Three children died in a house fire today by eastcoastdweller at In Search of Isis

**Special Requests:

A Hug to Betzy from Anonymous

Hugs To Minut and Family From Eddy

Hugs, two more unfortunate deaths on the SC Highways; a GrandMother and a pregnant Teenager

Hugs to All Military Men, Women, Family, Friends whom can not be Home for the Holidays

Hugs to my Nephews whose biological Father recently passed away - Love Auntie Michelle

Know Someone who needs a Hug? Fill the with your links or Their Names – by emailing them to HUGS or request via comment. I will be updating regularly.

You're Invited To Sit in On: Free Hugs!, Not Your Usual Holiday Chat

Do You Remember Your First Childhood Crush?

Do you remember your first childhood crush? Mine was on a boy named Dexter, in my third grade class.

I don't remember much about him, except that he loved to draw, and drew a perfect Charlie Brown from Peanuts. Dexter sat across from me in class, so I watched him draw everyday instead of listening to our teacher. Actually, my third grade teacher's voice was reminiscent of the adult voices in the Charlie Brown television specials anyway-
a muffled bloc, bloc, bloc ... Our poor teacher rambled a bunch of jumbled grown-up words, that we "bright-eyed and bushy tailed" third graders, hadn't the slightest interest in, especially me, since Dexter was the center of my world. Our teacher's name was Mrs. Keysler, she wore cat-eyed sixties style glasses with a chain that jangled when she walked, thereby warning us of her presence at recess.

Anyway back to Dexter, who I wouldn't remember as well if it weren't for a humiliating experience in class one day. I was staring at him, my heart ricocheting in my chest, when I noticed a shiny whistle on his desk. Any other time I wouldn't have taken my eyes off Dexter, but this day was different, because he brought the whistle, and the whistle was stiff competition. Dexter's new whistle wasn't one of those toy whistles one would find in a Kracker Jack box... no sirree. Dexter's whistle was a genuine silver army grade whistle, and I was fascinated by it. Dexter noticed me staring at it resting on the corner of his desk by his drawing pad, so he quietly picked it up and placed it in my hand, while Mrs. Keyster continued with bloc, bloc, bloc, bah, bloc in the background... I felt an array of exciting new emotions overwhelm me, beginning with feeling like a different person. I was holding the whistle Dexter put in my hand, and sitting close enough to him to touch his copper colored hair. I was in a trance as I turned the whistle over and over in my hand, put it in my mouth, and blew it as hard as I could- the room went silent.

However, the hushed sound of children’s voices began to fill the empty silence, followed by that snickering sound children make before the finger pointing begins... It's such an annoying tactic among tattlers, whose goal at this time in their life, is early retirement from their duties as teachers pet. I could feel the stares, and of course, see their self-serving tattler fingers rise to the occasion, which happened to be in my direction! I heard one little girl cry, “She is sooo dumb!” as I sat there horrified, my face growing hot and flushed with humiliation.

Humiliation is just one of an array of emotions I associate with the day I blew Dexter's whistle; it's also one of those funny to me now, not so funny then, experiences especially since my teacher made me stand in the back of the classroom the rest of the day.

After that, Dexter (who may have turned out to be an illustrator) looked at me with a cautious look on his face for what seemed like the rest of my life, and the girl who called me “soooo dumb” turned out to be one of my closest friends, even if it was years later. We never know what our children are going through in a day, or experiencing with their first crush, do we?


More posts from this author on A Nice Place In The Sun

Googling Beth Allen

Have you ever Google'd (is that a word?) yourself?

I have an ongoing Google alert for my name, but for grins I ran a Google search of my name this morning.

1. New Zealand actress Beth Allen.
   
2. Beth-Allen Ladder and Equipment Company in Pennsylvania.
3. The IMDb information for the actress in number 1.
   
4. The Wikipedia entry for the actress in number 1.
   
5. Beth Allen, an economist at The University of Minnesota.
6. Beth Allen Online, the actress in #1.
7. Beth Allen, the actress in#1, also has an entry at tv.com.
8. Random House author search for the works of Beth Allen (my search produced no results, sadly).
9. Me, finally!
10. Beth Allen, a Prudential Real Estate Agent in Port Orchard, Washington.

I have some work to do, because the last time I did a Google search on myself (I had my original Beth Allen blog at the time), I came up #1.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Happy Thanksgiving Day EveryOne!

The Pumpkin
By John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)

Ah! On Thanksgiving Day, when from East and from West,
From North and from South come the pilgrim and guest,
When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board
The old broken links of affection restored,
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before,
What moistens the lip, and what brightens the eye?
What calls back the past, like the rich pumpkin pie?

O, fruit loved of boyhood! the old days recalling;
When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling!
When wild, ugly faces were carved in its skin,
Glaring out through the dark with a candle within!
When we laughed round the corn heap, with hearts all in tune,
Our chair a broad pumpkin, our lantern the moon,
Telling tales of the fairy who traveled like steam
In a pumpkin-shell coach, with two rats for her team!

Then, thanks for thy present! - none sweeter or better
E'er smoked from an oven or circled a platter!
Fairer hands never wrought at a pastry more fine,
Brighter eyes never watched o'er its baking than thine!
And the prayer, which my mouth is too full to express,
Swells my heart that thy shadow may never be less,
That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below,
And the fame of thy worth like a pumpkin-vine grow,
And thy life be as sweet, and its last sunset sky
Gold-tinted and fair as thine own pumpkin-pie!

Woman crashes into hair salon - Vehicular weirdness- msnbc.com

Woman crashes into hair salon - Vehicular weirdness- msnbc.com

I'm always on the lookout for senior citizen stories, because I am so close to being a senior myself (and by some accounts I'm already there).

Della Miller, is 73 and lives in Soldotna, Alaska.

Della wanted to get her hair done, so she drove to the beauty salon, then drove into the salon by crashing through the windows of the unfortunate business.

To be fair, the parking area in front of the salon was covered with snow.

Della's car needs repair work to the tune of $2,500.

The building she crashed into needs about $1,500 repair work.

No one was injured, but one customer was knocked across the room when Della crashed through the windows.

Della did not get a ticket for the accident.

But she did get her hair done.

Trash the dress wedding photos - Styledash

Trash the dress wedding photos - Styledash

Trash the dress wedding photos, where young women wade into muddy ponds or do something else to ruin a beautiful wedding dress, really makes me laugh.

There's a personal reason, of course.

While waiting for my divorce papers to arrive, I put my wedding dress into my father's burning barrel in Wolcott, New York.

Then I lit a match and threw it into the barrel, cackling and dancing around the barrel like one of the witches from Macbeth.

Of course, I always miss trends, because I burned my dress in the Year of Our Lord 1976.

Check out the wedding photos--they are so interesting.

This is my first post on Blue Ribbon Bloggers, and thanks so much for asking me to join. I am honored and pleased to be here.

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today

You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this. For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on...If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, "Who's on First?" might have turned out something like this:COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTTABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.ABBOTT: Mac?COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.ABBOTT: Your computer?COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.ABBOTT: Mac?COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.ABBOTT: What about Windows?COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?ABBOTT: Wallpaper.COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.ABBOTT: Software for Windows?COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?ABBOTT: Office.COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?ABBOTT: I just did.COSTELLO: You just did what?ABBOTT: Recommend something.COSTELLO: You recommended something?ABBOTT: Yes.COSTELLO: For my office?ABBOTT: Yes.COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?ABBOTT: Office.COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?ABBOTT: Word.COSTELLO: What word?ABBOTT: Word in Office.COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?ABBOTT: Money.COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?ABBOTT: Money.COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?ABBOTT: Money.COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?ABBOTT: One copy.COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!(A few days later)ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?ABBOTT: Click on "START".............

The Laughing Azaleas

Christy, from Christy's Coffee Break and fellow Blue Ribbon Blog member tagged me with her Freaky Friday meme in September, as embarrassing as that it is to admit. It took me this long to respond because I couldn't think of one weird or interesting thing that happened to me, until I found this old picture of my grandmothers Azalea bush. This is a story I've never told anyone.

This meme was written with the option to tag, but if you have a bizarre memory I would suggest you write about it. Because I may not have remembered this experience if I hadn't been wondering what to write for this meme, and I'm glad I remembered. In addition, it would be sad to see this meme die out just because no one can think of anything. So do some brain storming and try to think of a bizarre experience that happened to you, I think you'll be glad you did.

The Laughing Azalea Bush

My grandmother’s house rested behind a circular driveway made of gravel. I remember the gravel changing the color of my bicycle tires when I was a child... Those little white shells used for driveways do the same thing, except the tires change a white chalky color instead of rusty gravel. My grandmother Nana's house and yard were paradise and to me concrete evidence that heaven existed. The three-acre wonderland was everything a twelve-year-old child needed to find satisfaction in his/her surroundings. I spent as much time in Nana’s yard as possible, although I knew she would put me to work before the end of the day. However, the sheer pleasure of being in her fabulous yard was more than enough compensation for picking up sticks and raking leaves all afternoon. My siblings and I found pure joy in everything we did there. Whether we were playing games, climbing trees, or working, it was an environment perfumed with the intoxicating smells of magnolia blossoms and azalea bushes. In addition, within the branches of the trees lay the excitement of whatever new Louisiana wildlife creature we had recently decided to adopt. After all, everything has to eat and the yard belonged as much to the animals as the rest of us.

That is for animals, because I didn't feel the same way about insects, even if they are living things, and I wished they didn't populate bushes. Especially since Nana’s job for me entailed rescuing azalea bushes from a certain strangulation by a honey suckle vine. Suffering from agoraphobia in the South was a nightmare within itself, so I was already ear marked as a sissy because of my paralyzing fear of insects, especially spiders, by the time I became a yard worker. I spent one weekend grounded after spending the night at Nana’s with a friend. My crime was letting out a blood-curdling scream one Saturday morning, after my friend woke me pointing to the most terrifying spider ever invented above my head!

My agoraphobia continued to cause problems for me, especially on my job at Nana's, due to the fear of running into my spider friend again. The problem progressed to the point to where every time I worked in the yard, I let out blood curtailing screams imaging spiders falling on me, no doubt a flashback from that fateful morning.

Hence, by the time I heard voices in the bushes one day, my grandmother had grown accustomed to my blood curdling screams. The day in question is the day I heard laughing from within an azalea bush under attack. It was a bush closest to the road; in fact, the bush would've been directly on the road, if not for the ditch between the bushes and the yard. Just think of everything lined up in this order: the front yard, the bushes, other foliage, a ditch, then the road.

I was supposed to pull the honey suckle vines from the bushes then carry them to an old well we used to burn weeds and sticks. But I wanted to keep as much distance from the creatures as possible, so I'd grab a vine and run in the opposite direction until it broke away from the bush- I would repeat this action until the vine released it's grip on the bush and set it free. But, every time I repeated this procedure, I could see Nana becoming more aggravated with me for making a big mess of the rest of the yard. I prayed I would get finished before she finally lost patience with me and completely let go of her composure.

This was my routine: grab a vine, turn around, and run! Grab a vine, turn around, and run!

That is until the fateful day in question, when I heard what sounded like voices coming from the foliage on the other side of the bush. Actually, I heard a child’s laugh that was so real I thought it was a friend of mine watching me from the street. Excited about who came to visit, I walked inside the foliage, which resembled a little forest, only to find it empty, not a soul was there. I shouted my friend’s name: “Ellen?” Dead silence, one of those eerily dead silences, coupled with the shivery feelings of being alone in the dense foliage. What followed was the best blood curdling screams I've summoned to this day! I couldn’t stop screaming; I was so scared I couldn’t find my way out of the foliage and onto the other side of the bushes. I could see my grandmother running from the porch, shouting, “Be still, Ann. Be still! “

She told me later that she thought I had been bitten by a snake. She also led me to some old steps three or so feet from the sound of the laugh. The steps led to a house built before Nana’s which burned down some seventy-five to one-hundred years before.

Was it the imagination of an imaginative already-petrified child, maybe, or the laughter from one a hundred years before?


Authors Note: This post is a gift from a member of the Blue Ribbon Bloggers, in addition to a post in the archives of A Nice Place In The Sun.

Thanks for reading.

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The Wonders of Beauty Never Cease

Beauty continues to radiate at She Walks In Beauty with Walking Partners:

Gracie

Lyn

Deborah

Recent Posts:

• Winehiker Witiculture - Oct 29, 2007 - zephyr01
• GURUSHABAD: HE 'WALKS IN BEAUTY' - Oct 22, 2007 - Lyn
• THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL WORLD OF BLOGGERS~~~ - Oct 17, 2007 - Lyn
• Kim Barker Creates Beauty - Oct 12, 2007 - zephyr01
• Quotes - Oct 9, 2007 - zephyr01

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron click to listen

(Byron read by Classic Poetry Aloud: http://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com/
Giving voice to classic poetry.)

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies,

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meets in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellow'd to that tender light

Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.



One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impair'd the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress

Or softly lightens o'er her face,

Where thoughts serenely sweet express

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.



And on that cheek and o'er that brow

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,—

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent.