Friday Feast

It's been a few week since I've done one of these. I'm such a crybaby but it's hot again (106) and our overnight low was 80, which broke a record. The photos I had intended to use for a post are on Kodak's site which just happens to be down right now, so feast time it is!

Appetizer:

Who is the easiest person for you to talk to? Most things, my husband; girlie things, my cousin.

Soup:

If you could live in any ancient city during the height of the quality of its society and culture, which one would you choose? I love history and have often thought about this question but then I think about the lack of sanitation and deodorant and my enthusiasm wanes...maybe somewhere in England or Scotland before the Industrial Revolution.

Salad:

What is the most exciting event you’ve ever witnessed? Definitely the birth of my kids (in the mirror the doctors would tilt so you could witness the actual birth. The husband wasn't allowed in the room! Remember, this was the dark ages!!!) My daughters and their husbands wanted me in the room when my grandchildren were born, and since I wasn't all drugged-up, it was even more exciting!

Main Course:

If you were a celebrity, what would you do for a publicity stunt? This would go down in tabloid history: I would be caught in public reading a book!

Dessert:

What do you consider the ideal age to have a first child? Certainly not 18 like I was! My brother and his wife were in their thirties. They had more patience, understanding and nurturing skills at that age.

Here's the link to other Friday Feast participants.

Thursday Thirteen - Movie Cliches

1. When a girl is in a house all by herself in a horror movie, it is always raining or thunder and lightening outside.
2. In all junior highs, the popular girls have big boobs, while the geeky girls are flat-chested.

3. In movies when a character is brushing his/her teeth, they never get toothpaste on their mouth or rinse out the toothbrush when through brushing.
4. Anybody eating chinese food always eats it out of the box with chopsticks.

5. If you try to get your ex-partner back by going out with someone else in order to make your

ex jealous, you will succeed but by the time you have achieved what you set out to do you will have fallen for the other person.

6. A good guy will never, ever, shoot a bad guy in the kneecap, even if it would be incredibly helpful to him.

7. In any musical, no matter how tough the gang and/or bad guy, they/he can always belt out a heartfelt melody in a deep and lilting baritone voice.

8. A woman´s shoes always make high heel clacking sounds, regardless which shoe type she wears.

9. Whenever at a bar or dance with loud music cranked up on high, the couple the audience sees talking have perfectly audible voices and can talk as though there is no music playing.

10. In most 80's action flicks, business men and security guards look like Huey Lewis or Bruce Springsteen.

11. The villain will always have thousands of henchmen working for him or a small army that follows him.

12. There is always a full moon when people go to bed. When the lights are turned off, a delayed light turns on, causing a blue cast in the room they could read by.

13. If you are going to be killed it has to be at a time when you are alone and it has to be at night and raining.

Here's the link to more Thursday Thirteen participants!

A New Award...

Comedy Plus is one generous lady! She's very busy, handing out awards. Here's the latest:

She is one of the biggest and brightest stars on the blogs and I wish I had a badge to honor her with. She's everyone's friend and supporter and always has a kind, gentle word. Thanks, Sandee (I love your photo!)...

Thank You, Shaz...

I've never been able to accept a compliment graciously. I always stammer and stutter and never know what to say! Whether it's someone telling me my hair looks nice or my boss telling me I did a good job - I always feel like a nitwit, never having the right words.

Now, these awards...I'm really in a stew! People have taken the time to do something nice and have written especially complimentary things. I am very flattered and sincerely honored. My mom always told me the best thing to do is just say, "Thank you," and mean it.

This is from Shaz, at Us Danes:

"It's been a while since we gave an "Us Danes Dig It" away mainly as there were so many awards flying around. A quick reminder of why we do the "Dig It" is because we can! Yup, there's no criteria, it's just a way of appreciating someone elses Blog, friendship, humour or character. So, "Dig It" number 5 is going to . . . . . .
This lady's blog title entices us in with the phrase "Little Echoes of Light, Life & Love; Life at it's Best & it's Worst". She loves her animals & owns this beautiful little pooch . . .She shares so much of herself with a warmth that makes you glow after visiting her blog & leaves the most encouraging comments on other people's blogs."

In Loving Memory...

Ubee

Loving Mo did his best to rescue this little angel - my heart goes out to you.

We need more people willing to reach out to critters that can't fend for themselves.

To all of you who have furry friends waiting for you on the bridge...

Wordless Wednesday

Here's the link to visit other Wordless Wednesday participants

The 19 Rules for Good Riting

THE 19 RULES FOR GOOD RITING

1. Each pronoun agrees with their antecedent..

2. Just between you and I, case is important.

3. Verbs has to agree with their subject.

4. Watch out for irregular verbs which has cropped up into our language.

5. Don't use no double negatives.

6. A writer mustn't shift your point of view.

7. When dangling, don't use participles.

8. Join clauses good like a conjunction should.

9. And don't use conjunctions to start sentences.

10. Don't use a run-on sentence you got to punctuate it.

11. About sentence fragments.

12. In letters themes reports articles and stuff like that we use commas to keep strings apart.

13. Don't use commas, which aren't necessary.

14. Its important to use apostrophe's right.

15. Don't abbrev.

16. Check to see if you any words out.

17. In my opinion I think that the author when he is writing should not get into the habit of making use of too many unnecessary words which he does not really need.

18. Then, of course, there's that old one: Never use a preposition to end a sentence with.

19. Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.

~~~~~~Dedicated to Miss Bee~~~~~~

I "Heart" Your Blog, Too!!!

Everyone's favorite "Funny Girl," Comedy Plus, has really given out a nice award! I am truly honored to be on her reading list. Not only is she full of funny stuff, she's got a heart of gold!

Thanks, Sandee!!!

I'm going to attempt to pass these along to the people I can't live without on a daily basis; those who give little gems of wisdom, delight and pieces of themselves away with perfection.

Manic Monday - Faith

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"

(Hebrews 11:1)

I was raised in a family of faith. Would I be a believer if things had been different? I truthfully don't know. I do know that faith has provided a lifeline during times in my life that I wanted to lie down and cease to exist, to give up. Faith has sustained me. I do know that faith can falter and that I have had my dry spells in the valley. I do know that faith does not exist in temporal things. I do not place my faith in science or man. Faith stems from a stream of living water provided by a loving God.

It is not fashionable to be a believer these days...thanks in part to the TV charlatans who prance and perform vile acts of shame for their own glory; upon whose wrists dangle Rolex watches and heavy gold bracelets; who own jet airplanes and more than one mansion and TV stations and bilk elderly folks from their savings. I wouldn't want to be a part of that crowd, either!

Book stores are full of best sellers telling us again that belief in God is for the unwashed masses and those whose IQ is sub par. I guess Nietzsche didn't get it correct. I thought he already said that "God is dead." We need newer, smarter people bringing us that message, I guess. It's cool to be an atheist nowadays.

King Solomon said that "there is nothing new under the sun," wise man that he was. All things come and go in cycles and this trend of non-belief will reverse itself when the next crisis comes. All I know is "I believe." Faith has been given to me - it is outside of myself. It's that "still, small voice that convinces me to keep putting one foot in front of the other and encourages me to hush, and listen for the sound of angels' wings...(Psalm 91)

Be sure and visit Mo for more Manic Monday~~~

Sunday Blessings

August, 1954

My mom was 37 and had just given birth to my little brother.

I was seven and couldn't have been happier, although you

sure couldn't tell it from either one of our faces!

Photo Hunt - Happy

Technically, I didn't take this photo - my hubman did, but I was more than "happy," - I think hysterical covers it.
In the photo of Katie, I call her "Katie Simmons," because of the tongue action she's got going on. Reminds me of Gene Simmons from KISS - should he ever be so cute! But she looks SO happy...

Please visit other Photo Hunt participants and our host, TN Chick!

Happy Birthday, Daughter Dear!

Happy Birthday, Dear Daughter!

***I dedicate this to you, baby, along with many birthday wishes!***

Corinne has been through a very rough two and-a-half years, having lost her husband in April 2005, leaving her with a couple of teen-aged sons and a cabinet shop to run. She had never had any hands-on dealings with the business and was tempted to sell, but was too concerned about what would happen to the employees. So, with the help of a newly-made office manager, she continued the business and is now a successful business woman!

She has chauffered boys to soccer matches all over California, and even England! She hasn't had a weekend to call her own in ages. She's gone through car accidents with beginning drivers, guitar lessons, garage bands and all-boy swim parties; with a lot more patience than her mother showed her.

Girl, you've come through the valley, and you're starting to walk on the mountaintops once again. We love you more than you can possibly know and wish the very best for you.

Love,

Mom

Thank You, Lord!

Miss Bee's surgery went well and I am giving thanks!

Thursday Thirteen - Games

Before I learned about the wonderful world of blogging, I used to spend a lot of time in the evening playing games. I soon tired of Solitaire and stumbled on "Real Arcade." I've been on board with them for a couple of years and have about 100 games loaded but these are the ones I play the most frequently. Besides word games, I love the shoot 'em up stuff, along with matches.
I've read all sorts of information that tells me that as we age, we need to learn new skills. Well, this is mine! Be alert. The world needs new "lerts." Okay, I know it's old but it's still funny!

Age of Japan
The Rise of Atlantis
Phlinx to Go
Mahjong Escape - Anchient China
Mystery case Files - Prime Suspects
Aloha Solitaire
Scrabble
Word Mojo Gold
Big Kahuna Words
Wonderlines
Glyph
Luxor
Inca Quest

Be sure to visit other Thursday Thirteen players!

Wordless Wednesday

Manic Monday - Deal

It was officially one minute until midnight when I started this...so Mo, I made it!!!

I've been having problems with my internet and I almost didn't make it at all!

It seems as if every time I thought of the word DEAL, the most vivid connotation I got was to "deal with it." A lot of people I know right now are dealing with health issues. What are they doing? They're "dealing" with it. My cousin's son (yes, he's my cousin, too) is still in the intensive care unit after, I think, six weeks? They're trying to wean him off of the ventilator but they had to do a tracheotomy. The doctors predict that he'll be fine but he'll be insulin dependent the rest of his life - he's forty one. His illness stemmed from the pancreas. His wife and daughters, mom and dad - they're all dealing with it.

I have a friend whose brother has pancreatic cancer. I've known him and his wife for at least 35 years. He's dealing with it... A friend from church died yesterday. He was 78. His family will deal with his loss.

Old age, aging parents, moving, grandchilden in the armed forces; tornadoes, floods, fires, hurricanes - people deal with them. A love gone cold, death, divorce - people deal with this, too.

All in all, we humans are a fairly resilient bunch. We manage to pick ourselves up and keep plodding along, telling ourselves things will get better. Some sooner than others. I'm one of the slower ones.

Sunday Blessings, Everyone...

Painting by Juno Galang

Photo Hunt - Two

KATIE (Shih Tzu) and ZOE (Mini-Schnauzer)

"Well, it's about time you got home!"
We got them a week apart so they'd always have a buddy
but they're very close to their people, too!
Ha, ha! You have to take a bath! (But Zoe's next!)

Please visit TN Chick and join the Photo Hunt and have fun!

Disco IS Dead

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

Really, Really Stupid Criminal!

This photo provided by the Ashland Police Dept. shows Kasey G. Kazee, 24, of Ashland, Ky.,who was charged with first-degree robbery, according to Ashland Police Sgt. Mark McDowell. Kazee had his head wrapped in duct tape to conceal his identity when he tried to rob Shamrock Liquors Friday, Aug. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/ Ashland Police Dept.)
All I can say, is "PLEASE DON'T PROCREATE!!!"

Thursday Thirteen - Phobias

You've probably heard of arachnophobia, thanks in part to the movie with the same name, and claustrophobia, but what about Gephyrophobia or Mysophobia? I was surprised to see that I suffer from several of these! What about you??? Leave your phobias in the comment section and we'll all compare. Thanks!

1. Ailurophobia: Fear of cats

The only cats I'm afraid of are the ones on "America's Funniest Home Videos" who can talk!

Remember the cat who repeatedly said, " Mama, mama!" Freaky!
2. Cynophobia: Fear of dogs

You guys know I love dogs; it's the dawgs I'm a little leary of, and anything that foams at the mouth.
3. Entomophobia: Fear of insects

I am not inordinately afraid of "bugs," but we went camping one year where they took on prehistoric dimensions! Something landed on our picnic table that sounded like a helicopter coming in for a landing! Some scary stuff!!!

4. Ereuthophobia: Fear of blushing

Now, this one really surprised me! I have a strange fear of the "old lady applying too much blush" syndrome. I saw a photo of myself and I realized I had a heavy hand with the blush and knew the time had come - to buy a mirror with better magnification so I can see what the heck I'm doing without my glasses on! I looked like "Raggedy Anne." Gag...
5. Gephyrophobia: Fear of crossing a bridge

This one has a lot of us nowadays, especially after the tragedy in Minneapolis.
6. Gymnophobia: Fear of seeing a naked person

Uh, yeah! Especially myself in the bathroom mirror! It's worse than Texas Chainsaw Massacre!
7. Ichthyophobia: Fear of fish

I'm only afraid of fish that have fins and swim while this eerie music plays in the background: ta-dum, ta-dum, ta-dum...(Technically, is a shark a fish?)
8. Mysophobia: Fear of dirt

I'm very afraid of any dirt that may get dished out about me. It could be juicy! (Sure...)
9. Nostophobia: Fear of going home

My first husband had this but only when he and Jack Daniels had gotten together.

10.Ophidiophobia: Fear of snakes
Only the vipers and those in the humanoid group.

11. Phobophobia: Fear of phobias
Does this mean some people sit around being afraid of being afraid? Scary!

12. Psychrophobia: Fear of the cold

Nope, not me! I have the opposite. I have "Gehennaphobia," and an extreme fear of weather systems over 75 degrees! (Notice the spelling of this phobia - awfully close to "psycho!"
13. Spectrophobia: Fear of mirrors

This fear goes hand-in-hand with No. 6. Sometimes I can be walking about and glimpse this person who sort of looks like me but yet, doesn't look like I ought to look. She scares me. I think it's my reflection. Shiver....

Be sure to check out all the other Thursday Thirteen participants!

Wordless Wednesday

"Nice Matters" Award

How do you thank someone for being nice? "Crazy Working Mom" is one of the blogosphere's best! She is married to a wonderful guy and has two precious munchkins that she is head-over-heels in love with; yet she is like a lot of you - she works full time outside of the home, too! Hence her blog name!

She has honored me with the neatest award: Nice Matters Award, and here is what she said:

"Gracie from Echos of Grace is such a kind hearted person. I love her quirky posts. She is so heart felt about everything she says. She doesn't hold anything back and that is my favorite part of Gracie. She tells it like it is! Thank you, Gracie...for being YOU!"

In some circles, being nice is not the "in" thing to be, but in my little world, I'd much rather be known for being nice than rich! Thanks, CWM!!!

Now comes the hard part: I have to choose people to pass this along to and right off the bat, I can think of at least 50! Okay, deep breath. I hate this part...

Crazy 4 Pink This is my youngest blogging buddy. She's just getting started and doing a real good job. She's getting ready to move and it's right before school so drop by and let her know she's gonna be just fine!

Asara This lady has one tender heart and took some pretty difficult steps recently in her life. She works hard and is a full-time people-pleaser. People gravitate to her because of her warmth and wittiness - all in one package!

Katie's Reading... Katie's is one of the first blogs I found when I started out. She is a voracious reader and is a writer, as well. Her reviews are wonderful and I actually placed a book in my Amazon wishlist based on her review! She's one of blogdoms brightest and is sure to go places...and on top of that? She's a nice as heck!

Mel This young lady has seen more heartbreak in her tender years than most of us will see in a lifetime, after losing her fiance to the war in Iraq. But she continues on, attending a wedding tonight, where her fallen hero will be honored. If you want nice with an edge, go visit Mel's blog. She is one strong young woman who would love to share her hero's story with you.

A Laugh is Good for the Soul

What Kind of Leader Are You?

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I don't think this will go in my resume...

A Thoughtful Blogger? Hmmmm....

Katie wants me to give this award to Daphne, Chloe, and Jazper, at "Purrchance to Dream," on behalf of their "bean," who does so much good work for all the kitties who need forever homes. So dear Kitties, please give "Not the Mama" a big purr and a lick on the chin along with this award!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This award is for a blogging family who sacrificed a whole lot on behalf of our country. Sgt Dub spent many a moon in Afghanistan while Miss Dub and Mrs. Dubb kept the home fires burning. Now that Sgt. Dub is home, he is fighting a different enemy - he is a policeman in Oklahoma City! To a courageous family!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jannaverse, Jannagraphics , Jantrails This creative lady just had her first anniversary in the bloggosphere and hates summers as much as I do, or maybe more since she suffers without the luxury of an air conditioner. She is a very talented graphic artist and extremely funny person, as well. You will enjoy her sense of humor!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have found a new inspirational blog - "A Friend, at Hearts and Homes. She's a hospice nurse and takes care of those of us who are close to stepping into eternity. She is an extremely compassionate person - which certainly helps in her line of work! But it is so sincere and you can feel this in her posts. She's someone I feel I would want at my side during a crisis. I would dearly love to meet her someday...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vic Grace, Cariboo Ponderer

I always come away from Vic's site with a new bit of information. She lives in the great northwest and shares her land with all sorts of wild creatures and you will learn a lot about them. She also writes about different things and I guarantee you'll never be bored!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thanks to Sarge Charlie, everyone's hero, for giving me the "Thoughtful Blogger Award." Here's what Sarge had to say...

Amazing Gracie, that is a name that fits the person, she is one amazing lady, when I had a problem understand a UK blogger, Gracie posted this: just got back from visiting Claire at "A Little Piece of Me." I treasure my friendship with Claire but being a Brit, she uses some unique phrases that leave me bumfuzzled, such as relating that she is "cream crackered." I found a neat blog by a Brit who does his best to explain some of the "Britishisms" for us dunderheaded Americans. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Oh, by the way, we're taking up a collection to send Claire to Podunk for a week so she can learn some real doosies!
How is that for a thoughtful.....

Now, I have the pleasure of giving these five awards to people I admire and it's not an easy task! So many of my blogging friends have received these already so I want to try and give these to people who don't have one yet and are really deserving, too.

Award Rules
1) If you have received an award simply choose
either the dark or light background image and save
it to your files, then post it proudly on your blog!

2) Pass the award on to five other people, you can
choose any of the awards from the series, you do not
have to pass out the exact award you received.
Choose whichever of the awards below that you'd like
to give out. You can give out one of each or five of
the same one, whatever you prefer.

3) You can change the size and color of awards to
suit your blog, that's up to you, it's your blog,
just leave the titles the same.

4) Please link back to this post so that people can
read these rules and so that the meanings of the
awards will not be lost.

5) If you feel that you or a friend are deserving of
an award and no one has given one to you yet then
email me at sayhitochristy(at)hotmail.com and tell
me about your website.

Manic Monday - Drop

"Just Say Mo" and visit Manic Monday

Today's theme is "Drop" and the first thing that came to mind, besides my terminal klutziness, is the gut-wrenching drop of a roller coaster as it hits that first big drop. Just the apprehension is enough to make every pore of your body break out in sweat!

Photo Hunt - Row

Here's a ROW of Homes!

Here's a ROW of Books!

Here's a ROW of Hawaiian shirts!

PhotoHunt

Way Behind...

My apologies to all - I have been doing some research - and life in general - has kept me from visiting my favorite blogs and my new visitors. I will be by as soon as I can. I haven't forgotten any of you!
Cooler dreams and root beer floats,

Gracie

Does this make me look FAT?

We have women in the military, but they don't put us in the front lines. They don't know if we can fight, if we can kill. I think we can. All the general has to do is walk over to the women and say, "You see the enemy over there? They say you look fat in those uniforms."

---Elayne Boosler

Government Stupidity - A Fable (?)

Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said someone may steal from it at night, so they created a night watchman position (GS-4) and hired a person for the job.

Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planning position and hired two people: one person to write the instructions (GS-12) and one person to do time studies (GS-11).

Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?" So they created a Q.C. position and hired two people, one GS-9 to do the studies and one GS-11 to write the reports.

Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?" So they created the following positions, a timekeeper (GS-09) and a payroll officer (GS-11) and hired two people.

Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?"
So they created an administrative position and hired three people: an Admin. Officer (GM-13), an Assistant Admin. Officer (GS-13) and a Legal Secretary (GS-08).

Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one year and we are $18,000 over budget, we must cutback overall cost," so they laid off the night watchman.

Calling all Texans!!!

Anyone out there know much about TEXAS?!?!? My daughter, who works for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (Accountant) is looking for a promotion and one position is in Beaumont, TX; the other is in Three Rivers, which is in between San Antonio and Corpus Christi. She was also looking at a position in Ray Brook, N.Y., but after I did some sleuthing for her, she decided that wasn't where she wanted to be, due to the winters.

Seriously, any info anyone may have would be greatly appreciated!!!

Middle Name Meme

The Battle Ax

Sarge Charlie tagged me for this one:

You have to post these rules before you give the facts.

1. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name.
2. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.

4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

I'm one of those rarities who doesn't have a middle name. My last name, combined with my first, had w-a-y too many syllables so my mo m and dad decided to spare me any more. I've chosen my "pen name" as a middle name for the purpose of this meme.

G - Grateful. I have had so many blessings in my life, beginning with my parents.

R - Reserved. I've had people tell me that they thought I was stuck-up until they got to know me. I guess I'm not the most open book in the library! I try to exude warmth but I guess it doesn't work. As I've gotten older, it comes more naturally. I come from German lineage - what can I say! Once you get to know me, I'm a real hoot. Well, maybe not a "hoot," but I DO like to have fun!

A - Artsy-Fartsy. I have always been a "sketcher." I love to dabble with color and have tried everything from macrame in the '60's, to alternate art currently.

*C - Cherry Hogs. I have two and can't imagine being without one! I got my first one when I was five.

*I'm taking this "Claire-speak" seriously! For fun, I'm letting you figure this one out...

E - Earthy. I tend to fool most folks who think I'm strictly a "girlie-girl." It's true that I love fine things but I'm quite a tom-boy at heart.

Wordless Wednesday

One Kind Act Wednesday

My apologies to "Loving Annie." I have neglected her Wednesday meme. It's not that I don't want to participate - it's just that I forget to think of anything I've done that merits blog-room.
This week I did something that I was afraid to do but followed through on. I told someone the truth. Telling a loved one the truth can be a risky proposition because in certain instances, the truth can hurt. But loving someone also involves trust.
Love and trust share equal space and in the end, the truth was validated. Don't be afraid to give the truth to someone you love.

THe Mo Show - Now on Wednesdays!

This is bound to be a great show! We all have our favorites, whether it's "All in the Family," or the "Brady Bunch," or "Friends."
I'll never forget watching George Jefferson and Archie Bunker go at each other, using language we NEVER thought we'd hear on TV. I have no doubt it was partly responsible for bringing down some of the racial barriers left over from the sixties. The crowd we hung around with wouldn't even make plans on Friday nights until the show was over. We'd gather at someone's house to watch it first before going any where - it was that important to us.
Oh, Archie...That voice. Dear, sweet Edith. What a ditz! But was there ever a more loveable soul on TV? Torn between two eras and trying to make peace with both of them!!!
Be certain to listen in to "The Mo Show," and share your favorite moments! Your memories may be more recent than mine (as in most of you!!!) but they all will be wonderful...

Manic Monday - Lie

My friend, Mo, has done it this week: I'm stumped! I've got so many ways to go with this, I didn't know which way to go...So here it is:

I get the goofiest e-mail from well-intentioned friends who would never think of lying but are propagating lies, just the same. My former sister-in-law still thinks that the board of Proctor and Gamble are Satan worshippers, all because of the moon and stars in their logo. Have you ever received that e-mail? Sheesh! Any person with a brain (sorry, former sister-in-law) wouldn't forward that crap, but they do. Then there's one going around now about the Pepsi can. It seems that Pepsi decided to remove the words "Under God" from a patriotic soft drink can. Heaven forbid! (Didn't happen!)

And then there are those that tug at your heartstrings: A story about a 6-year old girl who, while on a visit to Wal-Mart with her brother, gets trapped in a bathroom during a fire. At first her family assumes she has died but they later learn she's in the hospital, is severely burned, and needs surgery. The family can't pay for it, but you can help because AOL is going to give $2 toward her medical care for every email that is forwarded around the Internet. FICTION!

I know you've all seen these things. Some of them promise tons of money by big companies if you just forward an e-mail. Sure enough.

I was always taught to verify stuff before I passed it along as truth. So once I got my first Nigerian prince e-mail, I learned about "Truth or Fiction" and "Snopes" , where you can verify any story making the rounds. In fact, both sites are fascinating reading! It is amazing what gets passed around out there! And they also have some pretty amazing doctored photos, too.

So, the next time you get an e-mail from weird "Cousin Eddie," and you're just not too sure about it, check out "Truth or Fiction" or "Snopes."

And just for fun, here's a photo of Katie lying down with her "baby."

Claire-Speak

I just got back from visiting Claire at "A Little Piece of Me." I treasure my friendship with Claire but being a Brit, she uses some unique phrases that leave me bumfuzzled, such as relating that she is "cream crackered." I found a neat blog by a Brit who does his best to explain some of the "Britishisms" for us dunderheaded Americans. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Oh, by the way, we're taking up a collection to send Claire to Podunk for a week so she can learn some real doosies!

"CREAM CRACKERED"

Michael Quinion writes on international English from a British viewpoint
[Q] From Mark Alfson, Florida: “I’m having trouble with a Brit expression that I haven’t been able to find a translation for: cream crackered. I have a feeling I know what it means, something like ‘tired, beaten, or broken’. Is that right?”
[A] Yes, it is.
Can I assume you know what cream crackers literally are? Sometimes I have trouble knowing which comestibles are known in the USA and which not. A cream cracker is a savoury dry biscuit, often eaten with cheese. Sometime in the past thirty years or so the phrase has become rhyming slang in Britain for knackered. That’s a slightly older slang term — there are examples going back into the 1950s — which means exhausted or worn out. It can also mean some piece of equipment which is damaged or broken. Both senses are common.
Where it comes from is not entirely certain. A knacker from the sixteenth century on was a harness maker or saddler. The word just might have come from knack, a trinket (which we still have, but only as one half of the reduplicated knick-knack), because the knacker originally only made the small bits of harness. Another sense from the beginning of the nineteenth century was for a person who bought old or worn-out horses and slaughtered them for their meat, hides and hoofs. He worked from a knacker’s yard. A possible link with the modern slang sense is obvious enough: if you’re knackered you’re fit only for the knacker’s yard.
But there’s another slang sense of knackers, for the testicles, which grew up a little later, possibly also from knack, but possibly from yet another sense of knacker, that of castanets (which could be an altered form of knockers, but might come from an obsolete sense of knack, to knock or to make a sharp, abrupt noise). To knacker, therefore, is to castrate.
Modern dictionaries are cautious about whether knackered has its origin in the horse-slaughterer sense or the castration one. However, British men often use it in such a way that they take it to mean the latter, even if that isn’t actually where it came from.
After all that, I’m cream-crackered ...

Chasing My Tail

The past few days have not been kind: the dishwasher threw up all over the kitchen floor, which is that nasty kitchen carpet and I had to have two separate repairment come take a look. It's been hotter than blue blazes and going out and watering has really been hard. The sprinkler system doesn't work correctly so everything has to be hand watered, and of course, I moved with at least 100 potted and hanging plants! So I wanted to make a short post, just letting you all know I'm still among the living (I like the Brits way of using "amongst").

The fine-feathered beastie here is "Spanky," the one responsible for taking chunks out of my earlobes, neck and cheek. I think that was pretty much teenaged behavior as it hasn't happened in a long time - we seem to have come to an "agreement." Don't bite me and you won't get your little green neck wrung. Seems to have worked!

I run the faucet with tepid water into the sink, he wades out and gives himself a good soaking, and shakes off just like a dog. Then he's back to his house for a good preening. If we don't follow this routine, he'll give himself a bath in his drinking water cup! Since his species (Nanday Conure) originates in the rain forests, you can see why he likes his bath! I've had his companionship for fifteen years now. He's quite the character. He has a short vocabulary but his squawk is equal the decible of a rock band. Conures are known for their loud voices! Just another perk of being a bird owner...(and being part crazy)

Wishing you all juicy dragonflies and rainbows!

Wordless Wednesday - Pull My Feather