tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73271689006824585072024-03-13T16:34:07.586-07:00Blabbin' Grammy A to Z Challenge
Anecdotes, Reflections and Other Stuff Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.comBlogger926125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-66655075498293636872015-05-13T03:37:00.002-07:002015-05-13T03:37:54.985-07:00Test - Part TwoWhen I was called to come into the testing area for the chemical stress test, I greeted and was greeted in return by the two ladies there. We remembered each other from the times before. Very simpatico.<br />
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I was immediately hooked up to the EKG stuff, and a blood pressure cuff was put on my right arm, followed by their beginning to monitor my vital signs. Then the chemical was injected into the iv needle, and I had to begin describing how I was reacting physically to it.<br />
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At once there is a constricting warm feeling in the throat, chest, and arms. They give you a cup of water to drink, with instructions to do so. At once, you feel nausea, have difficulty swallowing, and have a headache. Then the feeling begins to subside. My arms were hurting, so they gave me an injection of a drug to counteract the drug to simulate the stress. I can't remember the name of the counteracting drug.<br />
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They gave me a small bottle of orange juice and some peanut butter and crackers.<br />
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They could tell from the monitor when the pacemaker I have took over the beating of my heart. It actually does two-thirds of the heart beating.<br />
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After more rest, I repeated the fourteen minute picture taking session that I did at first. The needle was removed and after clipping the two arm bands, I was given the opportunity to say goodbye to the place until I return next Tuesday for the pacemaker check and to see the Doc and hear the results.<br />
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All my testing took about three hours or so.Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-63127524024997719042015-05-12T07:14:00.000-07:002015-05-12T07:14:07.285-07:00YesterdayFor those of you who have never had a chemical Stress Test or an Echocardiogram, this is how mine went yesterday.<br />
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After being checked in at the Heart and Vascular Center, you wait til your name is called. Then you proceed to the first room where you have an IV needle placed in a vein, after which they inject a radioactive isotope and you drink a cup of water. You then sit awhile and wait for the isotope to circulate to the heart.<br />
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Next step is going to another room where you lie on your back for fourteen excruciating minutes with arms above your head, while a machine makes a very slow circuit over the chest, taking pictures of the isotope circulating in the heart.<br />
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That was painful to me because of the spinal stenosis I have. I got up with numb feet and legs. <br />
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The next procedure is an Echocardiogram. In this procedure, electrodes such as are used in doing an ekg are placed on the chest. Then after donning a beautiful paper shirt or gown, open in the front, the patient lies on his (her) left side and the technician has an instrument such as sonograms are done with. The Tech applies a gel to the head of the instrument and proceeds to place it in various spots on and under the left breast of the patient and the action of the heart is registered on the machine that is operated by the tech.<br />
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Thirty minutes later, the patient is released to put their blouse or shirt back on, then head back to the waiting area. Ten or fifteen minutes later, after sitting in the waiting area again, the patient is called to have the stress test done.<br />
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Tomorrow, I will relate the procedure for that, because this is already longer than I thought it would be!Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-61351501417520526502015-05-11T04:52:00.001-07:002015-05-11T04:52:41.747-07:00What Next?<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The A to Z challenge brings on such a "high" that afterwards, I have to consider, What next? Another story, just chit-chat, or what? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning, I am headed towards getting a chemical stress test done (the first in two years). Pretty sure the results are not going to be what I would like to hear, but also pretty sure there's nothing I can do about it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No gloom and doom here, just plain truth. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyhow, I've been thinking about my next story and I do have plans to write one. A few thoughts have been rattling around in the old noggin, and pretty soon, I'm sure they will begin to take shape. In the meantime, I reckon maybe I'll just go on talking...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-77046169184488419742015-05-09T04:49:00.001-07:002015-05-09T04:49:52.571-07:00Is She a "Linus" Cat?I have a soft, cream-colored blanket that I used to put over my legs in cold weather. It is kept on my short couch in the living room.<br />
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On mornings after the nights that my cat, Bella, is yowling to know where I am, I come into the living room and see that blanket stretched out in the living room floor.<br />
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Has it become a security blanket for her, such as the one that Linus drags around?Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-21196814258214432052015-05-08T02:49:00.000-07:002015-05-08T02:49:12.864-07:00Commercial-a-holicIs that not really a word?<br />
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No matter! For more than seventy some odd years, I've loved hearing and after the advent of television, seeing commercials.<br />
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They were on often enough for me to commit many of them to memory to such a degree that I still can sing the ones from my childhood, such as the "Cream of Wheat " ditty that sponsored "Let's Pretend", which portrayed fairy tales back in the 1940's. The stories they acted out introduced the world of fantasy to me.<br />
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There were commercials that promoted cigarettes, such as the fellow named Johnny, a little person who had a big voice, and shouted, "Call for Philip Morrrris!"<br />
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Among the commercials that I have really enjoyed over the past few years are those promoting the insurance company called GEICO!<br />
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Some people find commercials irritating and time consuming. I just consider them to be another form of entertainment.<br />
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What about you?Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-29098038776740369452015-05-07T03:47:00.001-07:002015-05-07T03:47:59.623-07:00A Symbiotic RelationshipRight now, my life is a very sedentary, quiet one. No great upheavals or drama. That is the way I enjoy it right now. Recently, I took my four-year old cat, Bella, a gentle Tabby with blue eyes, to the vet's to have the front two paws declawed. I left her there for a week until her paws were healed.<br />
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I went to visit with her every day, except for the last day, Sunday, because the office was closed that day.<br />
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After I picked her up and brought her home, a three minute trip, I fed her, only to have her throw it up almost immediately.<br />
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She had been traumatized by the whole week, being away from me and going through the surgery.<br />
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Since coming home, she has not been more than six or seven feet away from me except to use her litter box. So, I have stayed home all week and just sat with her.<br />
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I'll be going out to breakfast with a good friend this morning. We'll see how that goes.<br />
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Bella is always waiting near the door when I come home.<br />
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Do you have a pet? Or are you their pet? It is, after all, a symbiotic relationship, is it not?Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-80192982685195415312015-05-06T03:50:00.001-07:002015-05-06T03:50:58.122-07:00Goals in Life<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yesterday, I mentioned in a comment an essay written by a man that is called "The Station". The person who wrote it was Robert J. Hastings. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, without the express approval by his estate, it is not supposed to be published, so instead of breaking the copyright law (after all, I would not want someone to publish my work without my approval, would I?), I will simply refer you to it. It is easy to find on the internet, simply enter "The Station by Robert J. Hastings" and you will be taken to it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Please do so; you will be pleasantly rewarded. It is an excellent piece of work. Since it was good enough to be used by Ann Landers Or Dear Abby, you know it's gotta be good. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When we begin our lives as babies, the only goals we have are being fed, diapered, kept comfortable and loved. Those are mostly the goals of our mamas, actually, if we are fortunate. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As we grow older our goals change, according to our lifestyles, and needs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But, as the essay I mentioned tells us, we are always looking ahead.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes, depending upon one's situations, the goal is just to survive to another day.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What are your goals?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I like to make people laugh and enjoy being around me. </span></span>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-99722589178739872015-05-05T05:52:00.000-07:002015-05-05T05:52:07.725-07:00Measurements of Life Sometimes it seems as though our lives are spent in measuring.<br />
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"What time is it? How many days til my birthday? How long until Christmas, or when does school let out for the Summer? "<br />
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The last question applies to teachers as well as parents and children.<br />
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We measure ingredients for cooking, for scientific formulas.<br />
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We take measurements if we make furniture or if we sew.<br />
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Then there is the question we face many times in life, "Will I measure up to expectations?"<br />
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The big question is, will we, like Nebuchadnezzar, be weighed in the balances, and be found wanting? (Not be found worthy)<br />
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<br />Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-25543761784419087462015-04-30T04:56:00.001-07:002015-04-30T04:56:10.200-07:00Zander<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Comment moderation is always off on this blog...Thanks. </b></i></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What's in a name? A few years ago, I heard a name that was new to me. Now, if this is your name, or that of a loved one, please forgive me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I asked myself, when I heard (read) the name, "Why would anybody on God's green earth ever hang a name like that on a pore (southern pronunciation) little, defenseless baby?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, I have two friends who named their little boys Zander, which is why I didn't ask it out loud.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, this morning, I looked it up. Come to find out, it is an abbreviated form of the name, Alexander, and its origin is Slavic and Greek. It means, "strong defender ".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My apologies for the critical view that I had taken. When I realize that I am wrong about something, I'll be the first to admit it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">More power to all you little Zanders out there! May you live up to the meaning of your name and defend the weak and powerless! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And don't pulverize them when they poke fun at your name, please.</span></span><br />
<br />Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-74373668921045049372015-04-29T03:32:00.000-07:002015-04-29T03:34:52.382-07:00Yielding<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Comment moderation has been turned off. Please leave a comment..</b></i></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of the most difficult lessons we face in life is that of yielding, or giving over, to another person or situation.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is an innate characteristic we possess.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is a lesson we have to learn over and over, from the time we are small children, learning to yield to parents demands, then in school to teachers' demands, and in, oh, so many situations as adults.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To be yielding is often considered to be soft, giving up, docile - yet, it sometimes requires great inner strength to yield or to cede what we hold dear. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In days of Old in England and France, the days of Kings and Knights, they had jousting tournaments, and other contests of strength and valor. When a knight was bested, he either yielded or was slain. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We
are cautioned, however, about yielding to temptation and are urged to yield
our lives to Christ and turn in faith to Him and Saving Grace.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-6823414029720371182015-04-28T04:06:00.000-07:002015-04-28T04:17:50.726-07:00Callie, The Xanthippe<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>Feel free to comment. Moderation is turned off. </b></i> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Herman Wilkins sighed. Callie Hawkes, next door, was at it again. Would she ever be happy with anything Benny did to try pleasing her?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Looking out his window, he observed the couple on their patio. Benny had just finished trimming the hedge around the edge of their yard, and, to Herman, it seemed to be quite even and neat.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I wish I could get mine to looking that good," Herman was thinking.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Benny sat down at the table, placing the hedge trimmers on the edge of the table. His wife, Callie, was sitting and drinking a cold glass of something, doing her usual carping. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Benny! </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Those hedges are not even! </span></span>Don't you know how to do anything?" She shouted shrilly at him. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Apparently not," he muttered to himself.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Get those nasty trimmers off the table! It's like living with a heathen!"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She went on, not stopping for a breath. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"You forgot to carry out the trash last night, and I had to do it myself! Just like everything else around here! God knows why I ever agreed to marry you! </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My dear Mama warned me! </span></span>She told me you'd wind up being the death of me! </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I didn't listen! More's the pity!</span></span></span></span>"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Hmmm. I agree, Callie." He muttered again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Herman turned away from the window, and went to hug his own wife, who was in the living room. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Outside, Benny stood, turned slightly, smiling, to the woman who never seemed to let up on her caustic criticism of him as a man. He picked up the hedge-trimmers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Perhaps I'd better have a go at a do-over," he replied and revved up the electric hedge trimmers. ...</span></span>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-72355699975643748122015-04-27T04:32:00.002-07:002015-04-27T04:32:41.448-07:00Wants, Wishes and Work <br />
<b><i>Comment moderation is turned off. Please feel free to comment. </i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We were poor, so there were no extras. Many times, food was scarce or non-existent. Mama had a "saying" for just about everything or situation .</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If we expressed a want, Mama would most likely counter with, "There's a man in jail, wantin' out, too."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We knew that meant we weren't going to have whatever we had asked for. But for years, I wondered who that man was, until I realized that she meant no particular person, just anybody who was in jail.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We might say we wished something and she would say, "Put the wish in one hand and spit in the other. See which one fills up first."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Through the years, we came to realize that in order to fulfill wants and wishes, we needed to work to do so. Rarely will any thing just be handed to us on a silver platter. My Mama encouraged us to always do our best</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Her saying for that was, "Things that you do, do with your might; things done by half are never done right."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Each of my siblings and I grew up with a wonderful work ethic. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The only things that come free to us are sunshine, rain, fresh air, and God's Love, personified in the person of Jesus the Christ, if we accept Him as our personal Savior.</span></span>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-46084036150651197322015-04-25T03:49:00.003-07:002015-04-25T03:51:00.784-07:00Victimology<b><i>Comment moderation is turned off. Please feel free to comment. Thanks.</i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you know any victims? I'll bet you do!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are the ones who are asking, "Why do things always have to happen to <i>me?</i> What did I do to deserve this?"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or they may think that everyone is out to get them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I just can't seem to get ahead...something is always getting in the way of success."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One doesn't have to be murdered to become a victim. It is many times the result of a state of mind. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure, bad things happen to people, but look at the stories of so many people who have overcome such things.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Helen Keller and Fanny Crosby are two good examples of blind people who turned tragedy into triumph.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every day, for those who read the newspapers or watch television, they see and hear stories of how people who could have turned sour on their circumstances turned around to help others. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Victimology can be turned into victory. </span></span><b><i> </i></b>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-75340681459107450282015-04-24T03:23:00.000-07:002015-04-24T03:23:49.993-07:00Under the Weather<i><b>Comment moderation is turned off. Please leave a comment (if you wish).</b></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, </span></span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so I looked this one up. I was curious about it, anyway. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seems that when sailors or persons who were on a ship would become seasick, they went below deck, where the rocking motion of the ship was not so great and the stomach could settle. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The illness would most often happen when the weather made the seas rough, thus causing the deck to be more difficult to stand on.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hence, one would be "under the weather" below deck, when they had to leave the deck and go below. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always pictured a person who was said to be under the weather, walking around with a rain cloud over their head. Ha. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><i><b> </b></i>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-1052641295287870212015-04-23T05:24:00.001-07:002015-04-23T05:24:47.515-07:00Time<i><b>Comment moderation is turned off (actually always). Please feel free to make a comment.</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We often think of time: what time is it? What time is the doctor's appointment? What time are they coming to visit? What time is ... and on and on.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people try to hold off the ravages of time by getting plastic surgery, or going to spas to rejuvenate. Hah! I'm proud of every line and wrinkle I have. I earned them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few quotes from various people about time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is the current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept away and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away." Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor of 2nd century AD.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Louis - Hector Berlioz, French composer conductor of the 1800's</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Life is precious and time is a key element. Let's make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." Harmon Killebrew, American Professional Baseball Player.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Time, you old Gypsy Man</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Will you not stay,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put up your caravan</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Just for one day?"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ralph Hodgson, British Poet </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This last one has been made into a song and was Frank Sinatra's last recording published. Kaye Ballard sings it on UTube. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are your thoughts on time, if you have time to share them? </span></span><i><b> </b></i>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-10925229536106048492015-04-22T03:18:00.002-07:002015-04-22T03:18:26.558-07:00Social Media<i><b>Comment moderation is turned off. Please feel free to comment. Thank you. </b></i> <br />
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Are you a "Tweeter"? Do you put your face (and other parts of your anatomy) on Facebook?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">How "social" are you in relation to web media?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Web media is a useful tool in the right hands. In the wrong hands, however, it can become a weapon.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> As I write this, I'm watching a television show about the growing abuse of web media.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Compared to some seniors my age (and some younger people, in fact) I may be considered quite knowledgeable in its use.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">However, I know almost nothing about it compared to what my children and grandchildren know.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are others who are in school and business that can top what my family members can do.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Like most everything, social media is used for both good, and evil. In the hands of criminals, or malicious people, it has become a disastrous tool.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One doesn't even have to be a user of the internet or social media to feel the abuse created through it by hackers. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Opinions, anyone? </span></span><br />
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Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-59064438872220532502015-04-21T03:41:00.002-07:002015-04-21T03:41:36.135-07:00The Relativity of Relatives<i><b>Comment moderation is off. Please feel free to comment. </b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The relativity of relatives has changed over the last forty years, or perhaps even longer ago than that.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What I'm trying to verbalize is the fact that since the fluidity of society has increased, cousins no longer necessarily grow up in the same town, city, or even state.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They no longer have that closeness of seeing each other more often than one week out of the year, or perhaps not even that much.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Close family members ( brothers and sisters) move to other places because of work demands. I have cousins that I was once close to, both in proximity and activities. Not so much any more.. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(And some of them have passed on through the years) Some I haven't laid eyes on in years; don't even know if they are still living, in fact.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I still love them, but what can we talk about other than "Old Times", and reminisce about who married who, and was that five kids they had or was it six...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If it were not for " Social media " even the amount of staying in touch that we do now, would be lost to many.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the final analysis, it's all relative, isn't it?</span></span>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-76839304347915954712015-04-20T04:48:00.001-07:002015-04-20T04:48:27.125-07:00Quilts<i><b>Comment moderation has been turned off (for a long time)....Please feel free to comment.</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Those of you who know me, know that I am a quilter of sorts (quilts, too, ha.) I don't claim to be expert at it. I just like to make them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My purpose today is just to show you some of the many (I've lost count) that I've made. I don't sell them, but give them away to friends and family. The main pattern I use is called the six hour quilt, based on the Log Cabin pattern. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It does take me more than six hours to make one, though. Some I've made are king and queen and twin size and are always reversible, with both sides being different.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqrSIji2so5xnJuUkZEVFV2-rFlswIQE7ScWjBvoECLcSNAgscWzl7unIhKns_KeG3t5_u2XUEypqE8qpGVC0PC-00VLkW8ta6jssIjSkNZzSs68rFIltLbh9QvhNEV0gOs_llCckmVg/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqrSIji2so5xnJuUkZEVFV2-rFlswIQE7ScWjBvoECLcSNAgscWzl7unIhKns_KeG3t5_u2XUEypqE8qpGVC0PC-00VLkW8ta6jssIjSkNZzSs68rFIltLbh9QvhNEV0gOs_llCckmVg/s1600/002.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB69LGApt5AAe86NwaXzhYjO59LfySyjKv61SPFNhDH_vxL_jo5CToVbldZkuOlGt4dzrmMCthG7tCwrPRaLD-6oTj7VGnq4QF9WKv8DOBD9BuT0_IuglmsrBsG-dJ4M8djcylCon0-fE/s1600/andrewnjulia's+quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB69LGApt5AAe86NwaXzhYjO59LfySyjKv61SPFNhDH_vxL_jo5CToVbldZkuOlGt4dzrmMCthG7tCwrPRaLD-6oTj7VGnq4QF9WKv8DOBD9BuT0_IuglmsrBsG-dJ4M8djcylCon0-fE/s1600/andrewnjulia's%2Bquilt.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is just a sampling. I'm not expert at placing the pictures where I want them. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sorry. Hope you enjoy looking at them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Grammy Ruby. </span></span><i><b> </b></i>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-57337230521230375802015-04-18T03:14:00.002-07:002015-04-18T03:20:04.480-07:00Phases and Pastimes <i><b>Comment moderation has been turned off. Comment away, please. Thanks. </b></i> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The major emphasis on our lives is about marriage, raising families, working, etc. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The minor is on pastimes. What we do with the leisure time is important, too. It fulfills the refreshing, the renewal of self. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Phases. Pastimes. That can be applied to many things. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm choosing to apply them to the </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">creative </span></span>sections of my life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In my creative phases were macramé, pottery and ceramics, Native American and regular storytelling, quilting, rubber stamping creations. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mixed in during those years was drawing, painting, and small item crafting. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I also embroidered and crocheted items. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Writing stories, blogging, and game playing take up a great deal of time at present. Working jigsaw and crossword puzzles are also lifetime enjoyments. Quilting, of course, cannot be left out. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Reading has been a pleasurable pastime during the last seventy-five years, and I can't forget all the music I have enjoyed, from big band of the 1940's to the music on American Idol and The Voice, along with church music and country music. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Much can be learned from all these things as well. What I have done as enjoyment, many people earn a living by doing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Of course, it stands without reason that I enjoy spending time with family. That is a given. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Wow! Isn't it amazing that there is so much clean stuff to enjoy here on God's Green Earth? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">How very blessed we all are! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What about your pastimes? </span></span></div>
Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-64930198205769364142015-04-17T03:54:00.000-07:002015-04-17T03:54:15.095-07:00Old at 82?<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>Comment moderation is turned off. Please feel free to leave comments. Thank you. </b></i> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Back when I was a kid, when someone reached the age of 65 or 70, they were considered to be really old, and, behaved so. But even so, they lived with family until they were called to die.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now, however, the number of people living into their 90's, is becoming quite common.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In fact, in the ladies' Sunday School class that I teach, seven or eight of them are older than I am (81). The oldest is 95 and is still driving. The majority of them live alone, but some live with family.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Both of my parents lived at home until they died in the hospital. My sister, Margaret, who never married, was their caregiver.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As for me, I am blessed in still being able to be on my own, paying my own bills, still driving, making my own decisions. I have no idea how long that will continue, but like most all seniors most likely do, dread the time when it is bound to change unless God sees fit to take me home first. I am very aware that it could change at any time. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If I did become disabled, who knows what would happen? Not I. I can only trust that my children would see that I am cared for.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Many of America's seniors face untenable situations in their daily lives . They live in nursing homes that are just holding pens comparable to cattle way stations. A fortunate few are in upscale places, but not with family, as they used to be. They are still just waiting, mostly.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Times have changed.</span></span>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-6746254463828468332015-04-16T03:07:00.003-07:002015-04-16T03:07:47.846-07:00Nap Time, Anyone?Naps, I'm in favor of them. In fact, hardly a day goes by without my taking a nap on purpose, or one that just happens. My body just shuts down for a few minutes, sometimes.<br />
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Hey, I think I feel one coming on right now. I've been sitting here working on a quilt, after a long day.<br />
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.<br />
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What? Did something just happen? Oh! Did I just drift off? Sorry !<br />
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Well, I'll see you tomorrow . I think maybe I hear my recliner calling me.<br />
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Ciao!Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-68505599883320898112015-04-15T03:24:00.002-07:002015-04-15T03:37:01.448-07:00Millinery - My Hat's Off to You!<i><b>Comment moderation is turned off. Comments are appreciated. Thanks. </b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Millinery - Ladies' hats to you -</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A long time ago (before my time of wearing them, by the way) if one wanted to purchase a lady's hat, one went to the millinery shop to obtain it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A hat could be ordered made the way one wanted it or it could be purchased ready-made. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've always loved hats. Maybe it is because of my stature??? I don't know. I just think they add to one's attractiveness, like a beautiful well-fitted dress or jacket. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">About twenty-five years ago, I began wearing them to church on Sunday morning, and I have continued the custom. Sure, I'm mostly the only one that does, but who cares? Not I. I never minded being the lone person to do something. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYefwOry8I5hqG0qG8dBhAth15XE7dUepocQD0x5eyKS6dSzt0HYm3QZBpkiqALxz-QEOVhJtfXryVFL4_tY8pXifFDzRfeEPMPtlhUAc-d6TjjmUO9-61FAz42FHu2amF5TqIAi1MJyM/s1600/getPart.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYefwOry8I5hqG0qG8dBhAth15XE7dUepocQD0x5eyKS6dSzt0HYm3QZBpkiqALxz-QEOVhJtfXryVFL4_tY8pXifFDzRfeEPMPtlhUAc-d6TjjmUO9-61FAz42FHu2amF5TqIAi1MJyM/s1600/getPart.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cUREeCfXZ1HHy8W40zPbbIW_w6LE8jT7vL3MoPfHP-Pvptrl0qA0X7FtcKKJXazgbbN834L6jLw_EkEEPvq5-iapHoiw7nGcYX1_YzLCKr0dDu_MGuU-HAUoEJBx0YySNXBBNLjwxBw/s1600/IMG_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cUREeCfXZ1HHy8W40zPbbIW_w6LE8jT7vL3MoPfHP-Pvptrl0qA0X7FtcKKJXazgbbN834L6jLw_EkEEPvq5-iapHoiw7nGcYX1_YzLCKr0dDu_MGuU-HAUoEJBx0YySNXBBNLjwxBw/s1600/IMG_0075.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On the bed are most of my Sunday hats, I took the pic while my cat, Bella, was sleeping. Ha.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The second picture is, of course, yours truly at Christmas a couple of years ago. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Do you have any hats? Do you wear them on Sunday or when? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></span><i><b> </b></i>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-27257408888280706442015-04-14T03:16:00.001-07:002015-04-14T03:18:47.288-07:00Literacy Is A Life Changer<i><b>Comment moderation has been turned off. All comments are appreciated.</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I taught school for twenty-eight years, as well as being an elementary school librarian part of those years. It is a tragedy to see adults, all the way from high school graduates to the elderly, who can't read above a fourth grade level.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Some of the posts I see on Facebook, convince me that some of the illiterate are appearing there. If you don't believe me, read some of them. You don't even have to read them closely. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Even in reading some books, I see blaring grammatical errors in them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You can bet your boots that people who say, "I don't like to read", are most likely among the functionally illiterate.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We give Bibles to people to read, then don't make sure that they are capable. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thirty-two (32) MILLION American adults are illiterate.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>21%</b></i> of <i><b>all</b></i> American adults read <i><b>below 5th Grade level</b></i> or not at all.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over 70 % of America's prison inmates read AT or BELOW a 4th grade level.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">85% of all juveniles who wind up in court system are illiterate.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A person who can read well can learn how to do almost anything, if it is in writing!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is not to say it is criminal to be unable to read, but oh, what a shame it is on us, we who claim to be the richest nation in the world (or used to be), to have so many people who can't read and experience that joy! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"There is no frigate like a book, To take us lands away,"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Emily Dickinson. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I cannot tell you the number of hours I have spent in far away places, reading. Well, that's a whole other story. </span></span>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-90324967608094547332015-04-13T03:20:00.001-07:002015-04-13T03:21:45.393-07:00Kisses<i><b>Comment moderation is off. I'd love to read your comments! Thanks. </b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Kisses... how many kinds are there? Just one, since a kiss is just a kiss, you say? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Nah! I got to thinking about it yesterday and decided to see how many I could think of. Once you begin thinking, I'll bet you could name a few more.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Baby kisses (the kind that babies give when they are just learning - open mouth on the side of your face or on your chin).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Perfunctory kisses - the kind that hubby gives wife when he gets ready to walk out the door on the way to work or appointment (whatever).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">First kisses - when you're just learning how.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Slobbery kisses - like the dog gives you (I don't let a dog kiss me)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Children's kisses - those unexpected wonderful gifts you receive when least expecting them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lover's kisses (well, there's all kinds of those - I won't go there)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sisterly kisses that are given among family members</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Friends' kisses of greeting. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Air kisses -- which ain't kisses really, as far as I'm concerned. (Yes, I know ain't is not grammatically correct, but here, who cares?) :P</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The kiss of betrayal, The Judas kiss. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Okay, you get the idea about kisses. I know there are probably a lot more. I'll leave it up to you to mention those.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Got any to mention? </span></span>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327168900682458507.post-30755101755045140482015-04-11T04:32:00.001-07:002015-04-11T04:34:56.892-07:00Joie de vivre<i><b>Comment moderation is turned off. I would love to have your comments. Gracias! Merci! Thank Ya! Danke! Grazi!</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Joie de vivre... the joy of living or of life. Do you still have it? Are you overflowing with it, or is it just somewhere hidden under the surface. If you've lost it, do you know where or how to find it? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to joke around, that I'm terrible punster. I'm so glad to be alive! How about you? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When you wake up each morning, do you look forward to the day and its events? Or do you say, "Umph. Wonder what I gotta do today?" </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Does each day look the same to you as you struggle from bed to get to the bathroom? Is there no joy in Mudville?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Or are you saying, "Wow! Thank you, God, for another day of life to enjoy the beautiful world you created for us!" </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just something to think about...If you feel down, look around you, and be glad you have another day of life that your mother struggled to give you, as you were brought into this world. Another day to serve God. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here's to Joie de Vivre! <i><b></b></i></span></span>Grammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080499751409620799noreply@blogger.com9