Dear Co-Authors

Due to illness, I am leaving the blogosphere. Perhaps later, this will be meant as an opportunity for me to finish writing some books I once started.

As Blue Ribbon Bloggers continues to grow, remember that though - importantly - an admin is like a Caregiver who volunteers their time to help and assist with the blog and Co-Bloggers, ultimately it is each one of you, your posts, your causes, that continues to make BRB the terrific site many enjoy visiting in the blogosphere.

This is Your site and so if you haven’t seen a post here at BRB in awhile, feel free to copy and paste any from your site(s) to allow others to continue to get to know you, make suggestions, a challenge, continue to show your support for your Fellow BRB with your great and appreciated comments...

For each Co-Author here at BRB is part of a magnificent Team, a Team of People who Francesca Faerie gave the Blue Ribbon Blogger Award, an Award as she said, “to shine light on those that show love and kindness and to honor them”. And the Blue Ribbon Bloggers site started by her Daughter Gracie Belle is what Francesca Faerie wanted for You – for each one of you to be known for the wonderful individuals you are and for your many fantastic sites.

Thank You All for sharing a part of yourself here at Blue Ribbon Bloggers.

Hugs From The Universe
Michelle

Hello My Fellow Bloggers!

I have missed reading you alls posts and I am looking forward to catching-up! This week has been a real Bleep, I mean doozy for me. You know it’s going to be a bad week when Monday begins with an early dark dawn drive in the fog to work. I broke the number one rule of the road, never follow the car in front of you. Having done so, I ended up following a car into a gated, small wooded desolated area. Strangely my first thoughts were, oh please don’t let my car stall, don’t let me get bogged down back here, don’t be a murder, don’t be dumping a body for me to witness. Perhaps the driver was thinking the same thing about me because fortunately the auto began turning around, apparently having made a wrong turn also due to the thick mist. The rest of my week is a bit foggy. Mostly stress related work issues of the higher ups emphasizing daily the rules and regulations. Possible a strategy to pressure some of us employees into quitting, since we are currently overstaffed for the decreasing work load. Then Tuesday my car broke down, luckily not in a deserted area. However; I am still in sticker shock – a $500 car repair involving the ignition module – supposedly the central nervous system of the auto that controls the rpms, spark plugs, distributor cap, etc. There is never a good time for your car to break down, however; this was the worse as I had an important Doctor appointment I had to cancel due to a lack of transportation arrangements. An appointment with a Specialist that now I can not get in to see for another 3 months. Needless to say, none of these events have helped my health. For the most part, migraines that are increasingly becoming worse daily. All I can say is what the bleep, what a week. Hope you all had a much better week than this!

My Role Model

Out Of The Box! M.P.H.

In 1998, I had called my Aunt and Uncle to let them know that my Mother’s Husband had departed from his battle with cancer. To this day I still remember my Aunt’s voice as she broke the news to me on the phone, my Uncle died unexpectedly in his sleep of a brain aneurysm. Serendipitously, both men died within 24 hours of one another. A few years later while sorting through the baited rat trap of boxes I had accumulated over the years, I had to face and embrace the memories of my Uncle Bill. Each photo found, showed him as a tall lanky Gentleman whom never seemed to age. Amidst my collection were letters from him and my Aunt; places they had been, things they were doing. A wonderful assortment of cherished birthday and holiday cards from them - expanding from my youth to that of an adult. And with each memorabilia, I found myself on a journey down memory lane filled with echoing heart felt laughter and love. My Uncle Bill made his living painting homes and in-between his brush decorated canvases with beautiful pictures. My favorite are those of trees and covered bridges. Recently franscud; Francis Scudellari Author of Caught In The Stream posted about Mr. Potato Head. I mention this because one of my fondest childhood memories is when my Aunt and Uncle took me on a trip with them to Tennessee, for their Daughter’s wedding. First, one must envision such a tall man being the owner of and driving a VW, back in the days when these adorable beetle bugs were petite. As a child, I always found it humorous and amazing how my Uncle Bill fit himself into this car. In Tennessee, Uncle Bill took me for my first double dipped ice cream cone! Outside the snack bar, my top scoop plummeted to the ground immediately. Uncle Bill merely smiled; gently taking my hand, he walked me into the ice cream shop again, for another delicious dip atop my cone! On our way back from the wedding, the heater in the VW decided to quit. When Uncle Bill stopped to get a few repair supplies, he made a side stop into a near by store where he bought me, yes – Mr. Potato Head! And so, with permission from Francis; for all those boxes that couldn’t hold all my treasures of yesterday; I present to you my Readers, Mr. Potato Head, for all to enjoy! May such a photo be liken a feather duster on the memory box in your minds and bring you treasured smiles also.

When putting things back together again was simple:



My Uncle Bill and Aunt Ella

Here’s to you, my Uncle Bill!


Previously posted at Binding Ink on Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Team Spirit!

The Team Spirit of Blue Ribbon Bloggers is shining bright as always! Suggestions for posts, challenges, etc. are always welcome.

Currently we have Mo with “Do you have a role model in your life”


from his post Thinking Of Family. Feel free to share with us your pictures and/or posts about your role models!

For the time being; while I am currently sorting through my pictures for a pix, purplefrogcat(kim) has posted What kind of car has been your problem vehicle? receiving several comments worthy of a post:

Mo from It's A Blog Eat Blog World said...

My worst car was also a Ford.
They don't call 'em
Found On Road Dead for nothing, ya know.
Mine would see a hill in the distance and slow down.
Then, in a parking garage, during a winter, the transmission fell out of it with no warning. I had to pay the parking garage fee for the towtruck, too!!!!

My most reliable car: a Pontiac Vibe

Ellen from Positive Communication said...

My best and worst cars ever are Alfa Romeo's.. Beautiful, fast italian cars, but trustworthy... uhmm.. not..

One day one of my colleagues suggested that the car should have been delivered with a standard bookshelf.. so I'd have something to read every time the car broke down..

Linda from Are We There Yet?? said...

Probably my worst car ever was a Ford also. It was the only one that I ever had the transmission go on. I traded it in a few years back for my current car which is a Mazda 3S. It hasn't given me a bit of trouble - knock on wood!

As for myself - ndpthepoetress Jeane Michelle, personally I think my car woes could out do anyone. Lets see, Buick Skylark. Crossing the road with traffic coming at my passenger and driver side door – the drive shaft drops! Thankfully, I managed to skid safely across the road.


Pinto, not sure what kind, just rather small – my little Brother was in town on a rather heavy rainy night. He had stopped by my job to surprise me for a visit. On the ride home that night the water level on the road stalled my car. We didn’t want to impede traffic so my Brother and I pushed my Pinto off the street and accidently into a deep ditch. Needless to say, my car drowned head first.

Unbeknownst to me, a vindictive Person once put sugar into the gas tank of my Dodge Colt station wagon. The next day, traveling on the interstate during lunch hour bumper to bumper traffic, my car suddenly stalled out. Just as traffic was starting to pick up speed, another auto came racing off an exit ramp and suddenly rear ended my stalled car with me in it. My car was totaled but fortunately I had only minor injures and back problems that had me out of work for nearly two years.

Several pictures to accommodate this post will pursue as soon as found :)

Thanks you all; keep the posts a coming, comments, challenges, pictures, etc. always welcomed!

Hoppy Easter!

All Who Celebrate This Holiday:




And For Those Who Enjoy Pondering:

Main-stream Society has done far more irrectifiable damage to individualism than any distraught bullies have ever hoped to inflict upon seemingly Plain Janes or Computer Geeks. One need not be of Christian faith to enjoy the spirit of Easter nor does one need to be so of Christian faith as not to be able to participate in the frills of Easter. For there is such a thing called a medium – a middle ground; a point of view midway between extremes. Truly here is where individualism thrives. But how many dare to walk such a thin line? Come, stray for a moment if you will and walk with me away from the main-stream. For surely if it is true that life imitates art and art imitates life than what of this book called the Bible so many protest, perhaps merely literature, symbolism at its best . Gethsemane? Surely “[Surprisedbyjoy writes all of us will experience Gethsemanes in our lifetime. They are moments of great distress, fear and anguish. We may be experience hatred and betrayal. We may be called to pick up our ‘wounds’ and we don’t want to do it. Even Christ needed companions in Gethsemane. Sleeping friends were better than being alone. …we would be wise to ask for friends to be with us in our Gethsemanes. Don’t be upset when ‘some’ let us down. Judas betrayed, the others slumbered, Peter denied their relationship and they all ran away in fear. We see a picture of life drama and human frailties.]” This is Gethsemane, merely truth; facing the truth – moments of truth. As for the cross, we all have ours to bear, some more than others. I think the hardest cross to lay down and upon is forgiveness. “[Surprisedbyjoy states All of us have forgiveness issues. Human nature clings to grudge holding which leads to destructive bitterness and venom. For ‘any hope of any kind of’ growth, healing and maturity, ‘though’ we must forgive]” Often the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. Truly we are our own worse enemies at times. And so begins the crucifixion; we crucify those who have done us wrong and worse we crucify ourselves. It is a vicious circle, one perhaps of a dog trying to chew his own legs off only to succeed in immobilizing himself to never walk again. Oh but if we could forgive, especially ourselves we would truly rise again anew. A testament to all the Doubting Toms! Here in lays the problems, here in indeed. Inside this fleshy shell of ours, our very own tomb. Maybe the secret is buried in first healing the wounds; rather inflicted by others, and/or circumstances, or self. After all it is Spring and ‘Hope Springs Eternal’. And so this is Easter, the passing over and into the realizations of Gethsemane. We have ventured far enough now from the Main-stream Society for most to have seen the middle ground of art imitating life. I much rather join the allusion and dance with the Easter Bunny and color eggs than spend any more time dissecting life’s many illusions, delusions. Cause for now; liken love, spring is in the air - spring is every where!

repost

Binding InkEasterBlue Ribbon Bloggers

Green Cheers!

To all Readers of BRB, To all You who kindly take the time to Comment here at BRB, and to Each Blue Ribbon Blogger:

Cheers



Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My Wish 4 U!

Good Morning!

Just wanted to share this story with you and to say truly I wish you enough...

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.

The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom.'

They kissed, and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'

'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead, and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough. May I ask what that means?'

She began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.' She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.

Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Then, she began to cry, and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire life to forget them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE.....

To all my friends and loved ones,

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God

Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.

Found on the internet somewhere, kindly emailed to me, from my heart I am glad to share with each of you and wish you all enough!

Getting to Know You!

Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say

Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day .. by ... day.
Getting to Know You

Ok, I’m really not going to serenade you, instead I’ll answer the call of the wild, the nutty, the best posters - BRB Co-Authors, in re to Link Call: Your Favorite Things. So I thought this tag would help to answer a few of my favorite things and also encourage all Blue Ribbon Bloggers to join in the fun, even if you have already posted about your favorite things!

Getting to Know You

Copy this entire list of questions and change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then tag and pass it along to other blogging friends. Let’s see how well we can get to know one another!

1. What is your occupation? Support Associate for a Government Contractor
2. What color are your socks right now? Slipper socks… WINNIE THE POOH
3. What are you listening to right now? Annie Lennox Take Me To The River
4. What was the last thing that you ate? Pizza
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes!
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Bittersweet from 1990–1992 Crayola crayon colors
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My Little Sissy Sis!
!!8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Like, Love, Adore, Admire, Cherish Deborah from Climate of Our Future!
9. Favorite drink? Coffee, oh wait… more coffee!
10. What is your favorite sport to watch? Basketball
11. Have you ever dyed your hair? No, however; sadly soon as my Silver Linings are starting to show
12 Pet, Pets names? Cats: Whoopee Doo, Sir Socrates, Lady Honey Dew; Fish: Art
13. Favorite food? Fried Shrimp
14. Last movie you watched? When Nietzsche Wept
15. Favorite Day of the year? Easter (I still believe in the Easter Bunny!)
16. What do you do to vent anger? Dancing
17. What was your favorite toy as a child? Easy-Bake Oven
18. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Fall, every season I fall in love again with the many colors of the leaves
19. Hugs or kisses? Hugs of course, ‘Hugs to all from the Universe’ is my motto!
20. What kind of pie? Cherry
21. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes
22. Who is most likely to respond? Everyone, Family, Friends
23. Who is least likely to respond? Tech Support
24. Living arrangements? A Woman is entitled to keep a few secrets :)
25. When was the last time you cried? To recently, too many deaths of those I know, to much sad tv news
26. What is on the floor of your closet? Camping gear
*27. Who is the Friend, Friends you have had the longest that you are sending this to? All Blue Ribbon Bloggers Co-Authors , each of whom I enjoy getting to know more about and reading their posts.
*28. The Friend, Friends you have known the shortest amount of time that you are sending this to? All Original Blue Ribbon Bloggers who haven’t posted yet or recently. We would love to learn more about them! Come on, join the Family of Fun! Here’s a great opportunity with this tag!
29. Favorite smell? Peach Candles
30. What inspires you? Random selected words in the Dictionary, Philosophy, etc.
31. What are you afraid of? Even my own shadow at times :)
32. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Spicy, bring on the jalapenos, hot sauce, wasabi, etc.
33. Favorite car? Any that runs
34. Favorite pet breed? Maine Coon Cats
35. Number of keys on your key ring? 8
36. How many years at your current job? 3
37. Favorite day of the week? Friday of course, last day of my work week!
38. How many provinces have you lived in? One
39. How many countries have you been to? Currently none

Tag Your It! Let the Fun begin with 'Getting to Know You'!

The Red Carpet

I had not decided yet what to post in response to Another Link Call: Your favorite post. When Sunday, my Sister’s Husband had just returned home from war after his 13 month duty. Hopefully he won’t have to return again. Then sorrowfully the decision about a favorite post of mine from my site has been made for me. Cause mournfully I received the news that a Co-Worker lost his battle with cancer Sunday night. The sad news arrived today, just as a Friend of mine was undergoing a breast biopsy and we are currently awaiting the results. Therefore; in honor of my Co-Worker, I repost the following from my site. May countless Prayers reach his Family and Friends and help them to find the comfort needed during their time of grief. For he may have lost the battle with cancer but he left heart prints in many of our lives and hearts. And I’m certain somewhere above he is dancing on a red carpet to the Pearly Gates.

Friday, June 29, 2007

Awe yeah, the almighty red carpet! When people imagine the red carpet, they often envision – lights, camera, action – Hollywood! Star strutted status of various anticipated prestigious awards! Or Royalty and their entourage. However; there are numerous monumental red carpet moments in every ones life! Be it a Prom or Graduation. Job promotion or Career transformation. Marriage or get the Cradle ready. A Recreational recognition in Sports, Art, the Community, etc. The Cherry runner is afoot endlessly for any ripeness!

Oh, but heed the slippery slopes whence lay the thinly padded ‘blush mat’ of Shame. For even many a President have walked this crimson carpet. For example, he who could not quote “Fool Me Once Shame on You; Fool Me Twice Shame on Me”, has now ironically earned the name, ‘Bush Shame’.

And so there are occasions to proudly roll out the ‘burgundy carpet’ and there are times to tread lightly upon it. Today though; I learnt about the ‘ruby carpeted Encore’. Whence from behind the camouflaged curtain a figure appears to take a final bow. However; if any of us had to walk this red carpet, surely none could ever be as diligent as this distinguished Gentleman.

Scene: Work

Gathering: Employers, Employees, Co-Workers, Friends

Enter: Distinguished Gentleman

Précis of Speech: As most of you all know, today is my last day at work as I have been diagnosed with a rare inoperable stomach caner and will be going to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland for treatment.

This Distinguished Gentleman continued, I am not much of a religious man yet. However; if some of you are – please remember to include my Wife in your prayers also. He then added his usual sense of humor to what has to be the bleakest moment in his life. Having returned home from War some years ago, he promised himself milkshakes! Stating, and though there is no scientific proof rather Arby’s or Wendy’s or McDonald's… milkshakes may have contributed to his stomach cancer; he sure enjoyed them as we all can tell by the size of his belly. He continued by humorously going into detail about how our Security Personnel adamantly would not let him enter the work premises today because he inadvertently forgot his proper identification. Ending, he therefore must leave before Security towed his car off.

Here is a man; already burdened with irrefutable fate, having to put his best foot forward for his peers – Friends…, whilst being ridiculed by his and our own Security System. Yet instead of giving up, turning his automobile around, and just returning home; he – being the Distinguished Gentleman he is - merely parks his auto on the side and walks inside his place of employment, sequentially to pace the ‘ruby carpet’ for us.

Surely cancer does not stand a fighting chance against such a Man with this kind of admirable caliber!

"Is That All There Is" by Peggy Lee

Doggone Funny!

Looks like Pepper is laughing

Pepper {female} (Parents: Betzy and Edwin)

Smiles Wanted!

Answering The Blue Ribbon Bloggers Humor Call!:

Who likes doing laundry? Except for those Martha Stewart ‘Washabuzybees’, hardly anyone! It’s another chore on that invisible, endless list of things that need to be done. Like grocery shopping, if you want to eat. House cleaning, if you don’t want your place to be condemned. (Nothing like a wrecking ball to wreck your life.) Work, if you don’t want to be homeless. Yes, that wonderfully invisible, forever increasing - better known as, the 'to-do' list. Wouldn’t life be much simpler if everyone just went around stinking dirty, hungry, and homeless? Think about how much time could be saved! And no more spending your hard earned money on another endless list of ‘things to buy’ to get the to-do list done. Like deodorant, laundry detergent, dish detergent, soap, food, lights, rent, mortgage… Instead of dying filthy rich, by working ourselves to death - we all could just die from stinkin’ starvation. Well, that just seems a little too ‘foul’ for me. So where was that freakin’ list, oh yes laundry. Meanwhile; when we launder those wearable items, wouldn’t it be nice if we could also just wash our problems away! Apparently, now we can with:

Well Happy Washing Readers! May you often see the rainbow, in spite of the rain.

© - Jeane Michelle Culp

Originally Posted on Binding Ink

Technorati Tags Blue Ribbon Bloggers,Binding Ink,humor

Treads of A Murder

In the cloak of darkness the heart pounded detrimentally inside her chest, as if insistent on immediate release; while perspiration dripped from numerous sweat glands she never knew her flesh had. Suddenly, the body she was hauling tumbled to the ground and descended along a steep hill. Panicky, she ran toward the already rotting carcass. In the hurried course her high heels broke as she toppled onto the mossy wet leafed ground, tasting dirt from her moist glossy lips. Her nose was within a few inches of the cadaver, the stench reeked with a combination of dumpster garbage and human sewage waste. Sickeningly nauseated she some how managed to rise, brushing the earths remnants from herself with her now bloodily scratched hands. Then, as if without any forethought whatsoever; she grasped the stiff body and lugged it toward a nearby river bank. Briefly, as if to catch a breath; she sat on the moist ground surrounded by the night. Her fleeting thoughts interrupted abruptly to realize she had not brought a shovel. Frantically she looked around in the moonlight. Broken twigs were scattered amidst the thickening, as she hurriedly threw them aside to at last find a short broken, rigid tree limb. She began to dig furiously right there beneath her feet, until the depth was sufficient. By now the crack of dawn was awakening, worn out she clasped the foul body, dragging it inside the hole. Her bare, scuffed raw hands clumping dirt rapidly over the grave. Content with her undertaking, she staggered toward the river. Achingly she knelt down to fling the icy water onto herself, simultaneously seeming to cleanse some of the filth from her skin and mind. Exhausted, she began the journey toward the hill top where her car was parked. Finally she arrived, fumbling with keys until the door unlocked, she climbed inside. Idle, hands on the wheel; she reflected on the nights’ escapade. If only someone had driven a little slower, perhaps none of this would have happened. Or if someone merely attended to the matter themselves when the incident occurred, than maybe she would not had to taken care of the dreadful situation. For as her bumper sticker states, 'God Bless the animals that cross to and fro, for they know not which way to go'.

By © - Jeane Michelle Culp

Originally posted on Binding Ink

Technorati Tags Binding Ink,Blue Ribbon Bloggers

Wild Call!

It’s the call of the wild! No the call of the nutty :), oh that was by the nutty Jos Link Call Invitation where Mo started a mo about Mo with 25 Things About Mo. Jos followed, 3 Answers, "Answering to my own BRB Link Call Invitation, and inspired by Mo's wonderful "get to know Mo" post." Maunie James joined in the fun with All about Maun! Than before the nutty wildness, others like wonderful Susan Helene Gottfried posted her Seven Things meme! And now here’s my meme about me, a combination of two posts 8 Random Facts about Me and Amazing MeMe (caution: may cause drowsiness):

1. I’ve written over 5,000 poems and aspire to publish them one day. Currently, I am also writing 8 different books - at one time.

2. All my posts have a purpose, however; often I will not direct Readers toward such – I prefer to let each Reader construe for themselves, thus respecting their individualism.

3. As a child, I actually was bitten on the hand by a real monkey that was being walked down the street - on a leash by its’ owner. Nonetheless; I simply adore monkeys, real or replicated.

4. I once wanted to be a Nun and it’s not to late!

5. People are my passion. I always welcome e-mails and enjoy getting to know each persons’ unique characteristics that make up the totality of themselves as an individual in Society.

6. The violin is my musical instrument of preference.

7. I adamantly believe that racial prejudice is ignorance - when we all bleed the same color blood. Hence, I say: have ye who are prejudice slit thou own wrists first; if your blood be red as all human beings - than either bleed to death or shut up.

8. I like frogs! Not only because FROG stands for Fully Rely On God, but also because I think frogs are cute!

1. Starting at about age 12, I secretly wanted to become an Opera Singer. A few years ago, my Mother having learnt my secret than gifted me an audio course “How to Listen to an Understand Opera”. Such has rekindled my dream, and if not for my Smoker Lungs…

2. I enjoy playing the game Scrabble by myself with two complete sets of tiles.

3. I know how and have rebuilt a carburetor, installed a starter, replaced a tie rod end, however; I don’t know how to check the air in my tires without letting the air out in the process. I’ve never learnt how to change my own oil and I do not like to check my own fluids even though I know how to.

4. I know a Lady who carries her Husbands’ ashes in the trunk of her car. She says they always wanted to travel together but never had the chance, now they can.

5. I drive a hooptie. As many Judges on Court TV shows say, if you can’t afford the payments of a new auto, don’t go into debt – drive a hooptie until you can in actuality afford something else.

6. When I have an idea for poem I can’t express, I’ll pick up my guitar and sing words that enter my mind, though I don’t know a single cord on a guitar nor how to pluck any known tunes.

7. I once tried to save my pet aquatic frog by giving him CPR via administrating him air from a tube attached to the aquarium pump. Sadly he could not be resuscitated.



Binding Ink!

Stress Stinks

Talk about a stinking bad day; cow patties plunged down into the deep fiery depths below, can only begin to describe such wretchedness. Yesterday I arrived at work to see Security Guards surrounding someone who is stretched out on the cold ground of the parking lot. Nearing the scene I hear a familiar voice, as suddenly my throat drops to the pit of my stomach. The Person on the ground is my Friend who tells me in her usual joking voice, well I’ve done it again. The first thoughts that flew out as words in my mouth were, you went and had another heart attack? Fortunately not! Apparently she had tripped and fell. The darken early icy morning showed a thin blanket flapping in the wind while trying to keep her covered. She refused an ambulance saying she couldn’t afford the expense and insisted she was ok. Unable to ease her mind of the cost and possible need to at least have an ambulance medic check her injuries; I asked if she could be taken inside away from the cold, however; a Guard stated they couldn’t let her move yet. It must have been 20 minutes or longer of my Friend persisting she was ok before anyone could then help her enter the building under the agreement that her Daughter would come and take her home or to a Doctor if needed. Once inside, she was then given a cold ice pack to put on her injured knee. Talk about a cold way to handle matters, dang! My Friend was back to work today, still having refused to go see a Doctor – insisting she is ok except for hobbling around on an extremely bruised knee.

Yesterday continued with the new pressure in our Department of an increase from 700 to 900 per Person, production daily. I was down to the last hour and merely 30 more to go when anything that could go wrong went wrong. Paper ran out and had to be changed twice. Then on the final minutes, I was short exactly one and had to go plunder quickly for a remedy. All in all, I managed to achieve the newly set goal. Yet learned, never ask if things could get much worse:

After work, I walked out to my car to find a puddle of liquid green death yet to intoxicate the surrounding bare leaf trees. First the cold murdered my snail Sleuth, then the cold tried to freeze my Friend, now perhaps karmatically the cold was trying to bust my engine block. Knowing the temperatures were to drop even lower that night, I slowly drove to my mechanic. Couldn’t be as simple as a thermostat, or upper or lower radiator hose; no – it had to be the worse case scenario, my water pump was gone. The only warning, the wee hours of morning before - my low coolant light came on. So I pulled over to the nearest well lit area without any water near by, forethought: I opted to pour straight antifreeze into the reservoir for fear of opening a hot radiator cap. Afterthought: maybe that wasn’t such a bright idea, perhaps the undiluted solution acted as acid on the water pump or seal.

Well, back to my not so cowriffic yesterday: a Friend and I decided to hang out at a restaurant where I could unwind from such a stressful day, while my car was being repaired. Only we couldn’t even begin to enjoy our drinks for the pollution of two Waitresses perfumes going down our throats! Look, clean air is an essential for me - I have to be able to breath while smoking because I have asthma/bronchitis. So we left that restaurant and went to another place.

All in all, my car was able to be fixed that night, my Friend is ok, and production is but a number. Still, what a day of cow patties plunged down into the deep fiery depths below! What a stinkin’ crappy day, ug!

Technorati Tags Binding Ink, stress

Shell of a Cold Murder

Currently, my only pet resides in a simple basic starter aquarium. This has afforded me the luxury of conserving precious global energy while saving on my electric bill by turning off all household lights and the a/c heater unit before going to work daily. Noting, having any other pets one should never turn the ac heater unit completely off; instead set the unit thermostat at a low comfortable setting for the preservation of the pets essentially crucial wellbeing.

Recently I adopted a snail to keep my single beta fish company and help clean his vicinity. The name of my fish is Art. An ongoing joke between us and my Friends who are humored by the fact that all I need to do is say, ‘Art, where art thou’ and the fish will indeed come to the front of the aquarium. Then if I proceed to say ‘Art Arty Art-Art’, my fish will happily perform a flip flapping aquatic dance. Anyone who knows me or has followed some of my writings, will admit that I have an unusual close pet relationship with any of my aqua Friends. In-fact, I confessed in my 7 Weird or Random Facts Meme that “I once tried to save my pet aquatic frog by giving him CPR via administrating him air from a tube attached to the aquarium pump. Sadly he could not be resuscitated.”

I first became aware of my odd attachment when my ‘once upon a time’ pet cat, Sir Socrates brought me his most prized catch. That day, I thought nothing of having heard some minor clattering in the other room. At least not until later when I looked down at Sir Socrates. There he had rolled in from two other rooms and proudly laid at my feet, my pet fish! Needless to say, I was devastated and unable to revive the poor little finner. Sir Socrates on the other hand, well he lived to old age. And he was not punished for his natural instincts, instead I merely built a better aquarium lid.

Many a fish, frog, snail, and aquariums have come into my life since than and gone. The most fun is picking a name. My Mother is often kind to remind me of the time I brought two tree frogs inside for the night. Something I sometimes did for harmless entertainment. I would place tree frogs in a aired waterless goldfish bowl, add food, decorate with tree limbs and leaves. Observe their behavior and listen to their ribbits, then set them free the next morning, outdoors in a natural wooded arena. The two my Mom remembers most is Mr. Limpet (from the 1964 movie The Incredible Mr. Limpet starring Don Knotts) and Mrs. Tax a Daisy (because it was tax time). Par to tradition, now was the time to name my new snail.

So happen the night prior I had a dream, an unusual event for myself as a persistent lack of R.E.M. sleep remains a semi-medical mystery to my physicians. My rare dream began with brown and black horses lined in front of a smooth wired fence. Next, someone was parking my car beside these horses. I was briefly upset that anyone would be driving my car when suddenly the driver side door opened to reveal the now hopping out driver to be a brown Dachshund Weiner dog. Perhaps a pun on the Datsun Nissan auto, however; my car is an Oldsmobile. Nonetheless, in my dream I was to proceed with a delivery of herbs to a Lady whom lived in a nearby village. Legend had it, that there existed an elephant with feet of a three-toed sleuth and whom ever saw this elephant would go crazy. No, not a three toed sloth, definitely sleuth. So happened this Lady not only saw the elephant, she became its’ primary caregiver. However; to stop her insanity, she had to take a daily supply of certain herbs that a local root doctor concocted. My dream basically ended there. Needless to say; when I got my snail, I appropriately named it Sleuth.

Sleuth wasted no time inspecting the new surroundings and vacuuming. A week later in normal environmental conservation fashion, I turned off the ac heater unit. The temperature outside was below 20, so as an additional precautionary measure, I wrapped a towel around the small aquarium and left for work. When I arrived home to unwrap the towel, I found Art cuddled atop of Sleuth. Motherly thinking, how sweet they are keeping each other warm. Then guiltily wondering if the temperature inside my residence had become to cold for them. And just as quickly, panicked that perhaps they weren’t cuddling nor freezing. What if Sleuth accidently clamped down on one of Arts’ fins and the fish was trapped! Instantaneously, I reached my arm into the icy water and with my hand brushed the two apart. Fortunately, Art wasn’t ensnared. Unfortunately, Sleuth may have passed away by means of a cold murder. However; I’m still investigating as snails do have the tendency to hibernate inwardly for awhile. So for now, I have Sleuth in a temperature controlled liquid bowl, awaiting hopefully a resurrection. If not, I may in any case be thankful that in addition to escargot, I could have also had a frozen fish stick. Not that I would literally eat either one, just admittedly the guilt is starting to eat away at me.

Environmental lesson learned: to help save the planet, perhaps start with one aquatic pet at a time, assuring first and foremost that at least a heater is installed in even the smallest of fish bowls.

Do You Know the Sign?

the gratitude campaign (short)

The below was emailed to me:
From KING 5 News:

----- Original Message -----
From: *@*
To: nomdeplumethepoetress@gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 9:50 AM
Subject: king5.com article from *

* [*@*] has sent you a story from king5.com.
(Page at: http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_092307WAB_gratitude_campaign_SW.102c1d0ba.html)

Seattle man starts 'Gratitude Campaign' to thank soldiers
05:51 PM PDT on Sunday, September 23, 2007

By DEBORAH FELDMAN / KING 5 News

[SEATTLE - What began as a simple idea to say thank you to soldiers he passed on the street, has blossomed into a full scale campaign for Seattlite Scott Truitt.

He says many Americans want to express their gratitude to members of our military, but most aren't really sure how to proceed.

"I think there's a lot of politics wrapped around the military and that can get confusing for a lot of people," he said.

Both Truitt's father and father-in-law spent decades in the military, but even so, he realizes approaching strangers can be a little awkward at times.

"For several years I've been walking up and saying thank you to them when I've see them and sometimes its a really comfortable situation, and sometimes its not so comfortable," he said.

So he decided it would be nice to simply have a gesture to say thank you quickly and comfortably.

"The sign language sign for thank you starts at the chin and we thought geez, if you don't know what this means, you might not take it kindly. And that's certainly not the message we wanted to send," he said.

After a little research, he came up with a new idea.

"The gesture starts with your hand on your heart as if you're about to do the Pledge of Allegiance. And then you just bring the hand down and out in front of you. It actually means thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said.

Truitt hopes his Gratitude Campaign will spread across the country, and says even if soldiers don't know exactly what the gesture means, they'll realize if it originates on the heart, its got to be good.

Truitt hopes his video will continue to be shown at the start of every home Seahawks game this season.]

The Gratitude Campaign

Do You Know the Sign?


I'd like to also add a BIG Thank You to all Military Men and Women!

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!

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