The swirl of the water

Geez, I have missed blogging, my days have been crazy, I truly don't know where this week went. I wonder at times, how I get thru this craziness we call life. My business has def picked up, which I must say, must mean the economy is hopefully on a upswing. I, however, forgot how to work busy, so many months have passed of my business being slow, that now when the phones are ringing and the door is swinging open, I get lost. Literally lost in a swirl of toilet water. And I truly have to swim back up to the surface with all that rotten spew that we see so often in our toilet. Kicking and screaming I resurface, trying hard to hold my breath, and once up, I release a sign of relief and spit out a few unmentionables.

It is good to splash around in toilet water every now and again, as it def brings you back to reality. Coming back up, leaves the toilet rim a distance memory, and the lost seem more manageable.

Have I mentioned how much I miss blogging....

:O)

My kind of tryout!

by EBJ

This is one of my all time favorite video clips from Saturday Night Live. I was a Chris Farley fan, and I think this is one of his funniest performances ever!

Free Video Hosting

Meet the Marciano's

The Marciano's, circa 1958

With the recent passing of my uncle (my mothers brother), my cousin, his daughter, had this picture displayed at his wake. This picture was taken on his wedding day at the reception. When I saw this picture I stared at it in awe, as it was so comforting to see all my aunts and uncles, some of my older cousins, and of course my grandmother. I am not in this picture, as it was taken before I was born, but my brother is, he is standing in back of the little boy in the very front (center of picture), behind my brother is (sitting) Aunt Jo.

My mother comes from a family of twelve and they are all in the picture. I don't remember ever seeing a picture where the twelve of them are present at one time. I love how they are all dressed, so perfect. None of them were
financially well off, but you can never tell in this picture, as they all made the best of what they had.

My big Italian family roots started in Naples, Italy with my grandfather coming over thru Ellis Island, and settling in Newark, NJ. They all lived in a cold water flat on a street, where the houses where crammed in next to each other and their doors had no locks, as there was no fear. Things were simple then, they did not have much, but they had each other. My grandmother always made "wet" dishes for their meals (see my vid, if you are brave) as they could not afford meats. All my aunts and uncles went to work at a very young age to help pay the bills. They shared clothes and shoes throughout their childhood years. And as my mother tells me, they were always happy.

I have always cherished my mothers family, as they have def given me the laughter that I remember as a child. Some of my uncles had nicknames, and I always called them by such. Uncle Porky, Uncle Joe Brown, Uncle Ju Ju, Uncle Nutch to name a few. I am told each of these nicknames had a meaning and I believe I was told the stories behind these nicknames, however I can't remember them. I guess I can't remember the stories as it was not important to me, what was important, is being with them, and making the memories that we did, which will be stored in my heart forever.

Out of the twelve three are left, including my mom. I am one of 32 cousins which range in age from 60ish to 30ish. I don't see them all, but I do see some, and keep in touch with others thru e-mail.

I stared at this picture for hours and tried to plant my mind into theirs, as I wondered what they were thinking, did they know how the world would change, did they know those simple days of doors unlocked where to be no more. It is quite a mystery what their thoughts where and I will never know. What I do know, is I knew each of them, they all make me proud to be a part of this family, and most proud of my heritage. The family bond that is so clearly evident in this picture is a true statement of my being and what I have become. I do say this often, and I mean it so, I am so very grateful.

~ My Favorite Acceptance Speech ~

by Tina~in_ut

Watching the Oscars got me thinking about my favorite acceptance speech. It was by Meryl Streep at the Golden Globe Awards in 2007. She was so in command and funny and brilliant. You can tell she had been around for a long time and had something to say and didn't care how long it took or if anyone cared what she was saying. I remember after I had replayed it for about the 10th time, I wrote the whole thing out for a friend of mine that was working that night. Yes, she thought I was crazy, but every time I watch this speech, I grin from ear to ear and just had to share it. I hope it puts a smile on your face too~

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Name Game

by EBJ

After sharing some interesting names on the blog recently, I thought it would be fun to share even more!

Ever meet or know someone with a funny name? Ever see an odd or bizarre street sign? How about a town or city with an unusual name?

Back in my NICU days, I took care of

Mary, Mary and Mary, triplets
Stefan and Stefon, boy twins
Peter, Paul and Mary, triplets
Symphony Lemon, baby girl
Ta'sheanaD'shanae (first name of a premie baby girl who weighed just over 1 lb...we used to say her name was longer than she was!)
Clymaxx , baby girl of a teen mom
Holden Myown, first and middle name of baby boy
Harley Davidson
D'Lingerie
LaTrina

Recently, a woman named Cleopatra came into the clinic where I work.
Near Boise, Idaho, we saw Chicken Dinner Road
There is an actual Lois Lane in the town next to where I live
In the town I grew up in, I knew a guy named Dick Soares (a police officer!)
One of my middle school teachers was Mr. Silver, he had kids named Quick and Sterling
My best friend claimed that her brother was friends with a guy named Jack Mehoff
A gal I used to carpool with had the last name of Kuntz (pronounced Coonts, but who would know that?)
I have known people with the last names of Bunn, Butz, Wiener and Cox (sounds like a law firm lol)
A gal I used to work with had the last name of Areola

OK lets hear some good stuff! And I'm sure I'll think of more too!

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Labels

by Iteach

Labels have been heavy on my mind lately. They are everywhere and lately the negative ones have been clouding my mind. It is amazing how powerful they can be and the reaction you get when you receive a not so friendly label. The following labels pertain to myself.

overweight
plus size
limited budget
PMS


Then I think of my darling husband.

recession
job cuts
unemployment
hiring freezes

Next come my children, especially my sons. They have been hit with labels since the age of two and I have been told from the doctor more may come as they get older.

At work I'm bombarded with labels. It is overwhelming at times. Children come to my room with labels I have never heard of and then there are the curriculum labels. I'm rubbing my head thinking about all the different names they have for teaching reading and it is so goofy.

So what is my point? I'm not sure. (lol) I'm just tired of these labels. I don't want to live in denial, but I'm ready to create new ones. Ones that put a smile on your face. Okay, owls, put your thinking caps on and lets give the above labels a twist. :)

Elvis - Suspicious Minds

Chosen by EBJ

I think this is a good music video for a Sunday. I have always liked this Elvis song, and it is set to some good pictures.

Enjoy!

There is a meaning~~

so where does the time go
if you stop and think does it
come back, can you remember?

a friend, old charmer in my life
reappears at my door, sometime
last year, we reconnect, we begin
the friendship again, the charm
returns, the memories flood back,
the feelings renewed, once more
to move on again, let it go, be still

yesterday, reappears again, my face
his smile, to close, laughter, hugs

he just called, let it ring,
one more call, let it ring, phone off

all to familiar for me, to much hurt
way to close, must push away, to much
to come along, to much to stand in
the way, never not just me

been there, done that, can't do it again
must move on, must bury deep, remember
the years, let them go by, it is today,
yesterday a memory, be still
once more, when and if it can be me

there is a reason, the hurt, questions
raised, why, no answer, it is as it
should be, deep in the heart, it hides,
to be there forever more

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Winter, Spring, Forward

So we have reached the middle of February and I truly have the winter blues. I am feeling fine, its just this weather that gives me this docile feeling. I kinda just want to veg, and keep to myself. I know when spring arrives my body will move, and I will look around as if I have never seen things, that of course I have. Its a renewed feeling that spring gives me. I have always lived my life according to the season, I guess that comes from living in NJ, where our seasons are true to what they should be.

I have been watching/reading the news to much, which I contribute to my veg state. I saw that NY Post Chimp Cartoon, I was not crazy about the satire of it, however I shrugged it off. I then read on CNN that Al Sharpton got involved and is considering it racist. He is asking that the NY Post apologize for the satire. The NY post is not having any of it, and will not apologize, they did release a statement tho, stating something to the like that it was a parody on the stimulus bill. I for one dislike Al Sharpton
immensely, he always puts himself in these situations and is forever calling the race card. Since I am from NJ and he is a New Yorker, I see alot of him in our local news, and I am so tired of his antics. Whenever something he thinks is racists he has to bring it to the forefront. I remember many years ago, he became a mentor to a young African American girl, who stated she was raped by white men. As time went on and the date was set to go to court, the girl admitted she lied about the whole ordeal. Al Sharpton never apologized for his actions in defending her, he never stood at the podium that he so loves to do, to tell the world that he was wrong, he just dropped out of sight. He still parades around NY with 10 or more people around him trying to direct the world. I have seen many a parody on other political events and no one said a word. What gets my goat the most is, America has changed, a change that he so wanted, yet he keeps going back. Damn him, shouldn't someone tell him its all about going forward.

Al Sharpton, get over yourself.

When spring comes I won't be watching/reading the news so much, I will be out and about, living this life that was given to me. I will continue to go forward with the Spring Season, because I have no use for looking back, forward is definitely the way to go.

Don't ya think?

What did you say?

by Tina~in_ut

'New In Town' Emergency Contact @ Yahoo! Video

I had a chance to see New In Town over the weekend. It was a cute chick flick/feel good movie. One of the things I liked the best about it was the accents of the characters. At work, I get to speak to people from all over the country and all over the world. I hear every kind of accent there is. I can usually tell after the first few sentences, where a person is from. I love to hear different accents and colloquialisms. I am hard of hearing so I close my eyes to make sure I don't have any distractions and I visualize what people are saying. I've done this for so long, that I now find myself talking to people using THEIR accent.

I am very good at sounding like I'm from Texas. I'm even better at sounding like I'm from India. I can pronounce almost any city in India just like a local. My favourite is Calcutta. I can't explain how to say it, but it's cool. I talk to a lot of people in our Dallas office and have learned a lot from them. It isn't just all about the y'all's.....although I love that. There is the long drawn out Thaaaaaannnnnkkkkk Yoooooouuuuuuuu~ Followed of course by the long drawn out Fuuuuuuuuucckkkkkk Yoooooooouuuuuuuu! (I didn't hear that from anyone in the Dallas office....I'm just sayin'~)

I talked to a passenger from Florida the other day and I could have sworn she was from New York. She had a slight New York accent. I asked her where she was from and she said Amsterdam. I was baffled. I know that they learn English at an early age there, but she really sounded like she had at least lived in New York. It turns out, when she was in her teens, her family did move to New York and she didn't move to Florida until she was in her 20's. I knew it!

Jodi is one of my favourite people to talk to, not only because she's such a hoot, but also because of the fun ways she pronounces words. I have so much fun with her. "We talk aboot almost anything, even the cooch in the living room!" That's one of our jokes. It makes me wonder if I have an accent or if I sound different to others. Do you think you have an accent?

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What's On Your Bumper?

Did you ever see bumper stickers that just
happen to crack you up. Shirley sent me these,
and I just had to share....

If You're Not A Hemorrhoid, Get Off My Ass.

If You Don't Believe In Oral Sex, Keep Your Mouth Shut.

Who Lit The Fuse On Your Tampon?

Horn Broken... Watch For Finger.

Cover Me I'm Changing Lanes

Caution - Driver Legally Blonde!

Saw It... Wanted It... Had A Fit... Got It!

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My Child is named.......

by Mary/Mi


I got this off a ladies travel site.
It was meant for Valentine's Day, but
I feel I can share it, no matter what day it is.

It kind of puts things in perspective.
Maybe we aren't as bad off as
we think,or maybe we should feel "blessed"
for what we DO have, eh?


My Child is Named for an African Man

As well as being a foster parent, Canadian Journeywoman, Karen Elliot is a web designer and freelance artist. She and her husband live in a small hamlet in rural Canada with their two biological children and a continual stream of others who pass through on their childhood journey. When I think of Africa, I don't often think about my trip drifting in a dugout canoe among hippos and crocodiles through a remote place in Botswana. I don't often think of sitting by a secluded watering hole watching wild animals drink and play, or the once-in-a-lifetime experience viewing the spectacular Victoria Falls. When I think of Africa, I remember a man I called Niki.

A man on a deserted road...

I arrived in Africa with a backpack and a desire to see and experience the continent. Two months later I came home emotionally drained and affected in ways I never anticipated. I did all the touristy things - climbed Table Mountain, went on safari, hiked Fish River Canyon - but that in no way compared to the man I met on a deserted road on the way to South Africa.
"Niki" stood by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. He sat, squatting by a pile of wood in a posture I would never be able to mimic for more than two minutes. I walked up to him and a huge grin split his face. We introduced ourselves in the language of hands and broken English. I found out he had family nearby and was selling wood. His name was something so complex that he laughed when I tried to pronounce it - and he seemed pleased when I shortened it to "Niki". I pointed to the Canadian flag on my backpack and his eyes lit up and he said "CaNAaada" as if he was talking about a mystical place that existed in his dreams.

No money please food...

He dug into his pile of wood and pulled out the most beautiful carving I had ever seen. It was the face of an elephant - ears flared; trunk gracefully curved - carved from a solid piece of wood. It was truly the work of an artist - and was a stark contrast to the desolation and barrenness of the land around us. I asked him how much it cost – prepared to haggle down from some ridiculous amount I expected him to quote - and he smiled wanly and said "No money. Please...food?" I opened up my bag of food and gave it all to him. The size of his smile must have broken world records. He kept saying "come, come" so I ended up following Niki away from the road (a bit concerned as to where I was being taken) but soon noticed a small hut in the distance, and realized he was taking me to his home.

The family clapped...

There were so many children everywhere - too many to count. He introduced me to his family and showed them the food. His wife grabbed my hand crying - hugging a day-old loaf of bread over her pregnant belly. I was pulled to their communal pot where children were scooping up food with their hands and eating hungrily. They backed away at a word from their mother - still hungry - so a white-faced stranger could eat their meal. I tried to refuse, but they were adamant that I eat. So I crouched by their cooking pot, eating, while this desperately hungry family watched. And smiled. And clapped. Loathe to leave, I spent the afternoon playing foot-ball with the children. When it was time to go, I found "Niki" in his hut and tried to offer him some money. He refused even after countless attempts to persuade him. He pointed to his wife, to his children, and to all the food I had brought - which wasn't that much in my eyes - and said "I am blessed."

I gave birth to my first child...

After visiting other poor villages - with people demanding, clutching, and begging for anything I owned or possessed – I was truly amazed that this man asked me for nothing but food. In his eyes, he had everything he could possibly want and was satisfied with so little. And that made me want to give him everything I had. So I left Niki - this blessed man - in his tiny hut in the desert - with a pregnant wife, countless children, and food for maybe one more day. And I got on a plane and came home to the mystical place that existed in Niki's dreams. The following year I gave birth to my first child. We named her Nicole. We call her Niki. One day she will know the story behind her name and that carved elephant that sits on top of her dresser.

I am blessed.

click here for website

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Laughter, its good for the soul!

by Iteach

Humor- Boy do I need it right now! Between funerals, sickness, and everything else I need a good laugh. So I started thinking about all the sitcoms that have made me laugh. I think Taxi is the one that actually had me crying from laughter the most. I remember watching it with my dad when I lived at home. It was so much fun watching him laugh. I can still his face getting red, laughing hard, and an occasional loud toot coming out. That's my dad, his whole body laughs with him. :)

I hope you enjoy this clip with a toot!

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~ Viva La Vida ~

Chosen by Tina~in_ut

Every time I hear this song on the radio, my hand automatically reaches to turn up the volume. I drive down the freeway dancing, singing and music blaring. When I saw Coldplay on Saturday Night Live, I was enthralled with the energy the band had. I found this video and related to the enthusiasm of the crowd. I can't keep still either. There are many theories as to the meaning of the lyrics, but it doesn't really matter to me what the song is about. I just love how it makes me feel.....happy. And it doesn't hurt that they won 3 Grammy's last week. Enjoy~

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Happy Valentines Day!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

They say today is a day for love,
and I agree. It does not matter
with who you share the love
as long as the love is there
Valentines Day can be.

So for all who read this blog,
enjoy this day, love all you can,
and always know that love
is right beside you.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Rechewed gum anyone?

Oh my, what the heck happen to Joaquin Phoenix?

I heard about his appearance on the Letterman show, as I did not see it Wednesday night. When I found it on youtube, I could not believe what he looked like, but most importantly how he spoke, or actually did not speak. I remember him the most from the movie "Walk the Line" which is one of my favorite movies, he was terrific as Johnny Cash.

To be honest while watching this video, I cracked up, as Letterman was so funny. His interactions with Joaquin were priceless. However the more I thought about it, I realized how sad for him, he looked so out of his element. I have heard he has a drug habit, not sure if that's true tho, but his body movements and facial expressions sure did look strange.

I am sure some have seen this video, but I had to share, because it is definitely one of a kind..

And note to self, if ever I go on the Letterman show, don't chew gum! :O)

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Sometimes

sometimes there is light, and sometimes there is darkness

sometimes there is laughter, and sometimes there is tears

sometimes there is hurt, and sometimes there is glee

sometimes there is wealth, and sometimes there is lack of means

sometimes there is life, and sometimes there is death

sometimes there are words, and sometimes there is silence

sometimes life will be, and sometimes life will be

and thru all these sometimes, we are here, to listen, to talk, to share

i am grateful

♥♥♥

Venus!

High above in the sky, there is world we very seldom think about,
but when something in the sky
ignites our interest,
we then realize, there is so much more out there.

Hope this makes you all smile, as that is its intention.

Enjoy

:O)

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When is it enough?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I have been glued to the news stations since Nadya Suleman gave birth to octuplets. At first I thought it was someone who was not able to have children naturally so she did the standard fertility treatments that were available to her . However, the more time that went by, Nadya's life story started to surface.

When I first learned she had an additional 6 children I was shocked, and wondered why she would want more, and why would a fertility doctor agree to aid her in her quest. I was more shocked to find out she was a single parent living with her parents and she was jobless. It was very clear to me after reading many articles and seeing the news that she could not possibly take good care of all these children.

I am certainly not saying having a lot of children is not good. In many circumstances a big family is something that a lot people want, such as the "Duggers". What has upset me is the reasoning behind Nadya's decision, she states, she is a only child and always wished for siblings, so being a only child has made her want to have as many children as possible. It seems it did not matter to her, that her parents would have to help raise her children, or how she would raise them jobless. It really grabs me at the heart and all I can think about is her selfishness. I believe every child she had was for her own needs, so she could feel wanted, so she could bury her own feelings of not being wanted. These children where born to comfort her, which of course it should be the other way around. It is sort of a role reversal, in a very sad way.

Her parents are at their wits end, as she stays at the hospital with those precious babies, her parents are raising her children, and tending to their needs, the needs that a mother should be tending to. Her parents are already financially strapped, they lost one of their homes due to non payment on the mortgage. Nadya's mother stated Nadya was suppose to help her mother pay some of the house expenses, but never did, and my
goodness how could she, she is jobless.

This should have not gone this far, there should be a limit on fertility treatments. Life is not a game, children are precious and should be treated so. I want to see how she is going to raise these 14 children on her own. When the older ones are getting ready for school and she has 8 hungry babies to feed. I want to see how much government money is going to be sent her way so she can clothe and feed her children.

Modern Technology in medicine has given us so much, it gives life to a heart that can't beat on its own, it gives limbs to ones that have lost one, it allows organs to go from one human to other. But when does it end, when is it enough?

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Update.. I saw on the news last night that 3 of her 6 children are disabled and each of the three receive financial government assistance each month..

And what if, any of the 8 need financial assistance? Should the government pay? I say NO!

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Update number 2... the family now has a website and are accepting donations thru paypal, can you even imagine this!!!!

click here for the website

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Playing for Change

by Vig





I have watched this video at last twenty times in the last while. And since there have been over 5 million views, chances are you have seen it as well. It touches me deeply. I love the song to begin with, and in this rendition I love how the different styles and musical textures meld so well together. And it just sounds good. I have been trying to think of a topic to come from this video and I can’t really think of one. So I will give you a couple of the thoughts that are wandering around my brain. “Playing for Change” the producers of this video – see themselves as “a group of artists and inspired people who have come together to connect the world through music”. I think this is an amazing commitment to peace, but is this possible? Is music really a global unifier? How does music connect you with people who you might not normally connect with? If we substitute the word "supports" for "stands by", who stands by you and who do you stand by? What does this song or this version, mean to you?

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A song for you

Chosen by Bebbi

I heard this song today (Monday, 1/26/09) when I was coming back from lunch and going into work. I had to stop and listen to the whole thing before I could go in. This song expresses my feelings for the people in the nest and the nest itself. I thank God every day for it. I feel really lucky to be a part of such a great group of women. I know, I am sappy, but hey..this is how I feel. We all build each other up so much. It is just NICE..the nicest thing I have experienced in a long time.

It is Plain White Tees 1 2 3 4

Thanks for sharing it with me :O)

AND THE SURVEY SAYS...

by Maureen

I was laying here in bed thinking about those silly surveys we all see. I was wondering who spends their time making them up...and why!!!!! So, I decided I am going to make my own and see where it leads!

Wanna play?

1. If you could only pick one food that you would have to have for every meal, forever, what would it be?

DUH....pork! The other white meat and oh so versatile!

2. If you won the lottery...the big one...would you quit your job?

HELL TO THE YEAH! I would march into my bosses cubicle and resign in person! Then I would fly first class to my previous employer, wave the ticket in their faces and tell them where to go! Since I would never need them for a reference again!

3. If you only had 15 minutes left of internet service, what would you do with it?

Send a shitload of those stupid forwards that tell you that you better forward it in 11 minutes or else! Then I would stop in at the nest and say toodles to everyone and leave my phone number!

4. What is your favorite joke of all time?

Why was the snowman so happy? He saw the snowblower coming!

5. American Idol (FOX), The Bachelor (ABC), Big Brother (CBS) Biggest Loser (NBC)are all on at the same time. You don’t have a recorder, tivo or dvr...what do you watch?

I would have to turn off the tv...read a book and then go on the nest and ask for spoilers!

6. If you could go back to any age, what age would you be?

I would be 7 again. No worries. Parents provided all the essentials for life. The biggest problem was what toy to play with at the moment. Both parents still alive and brother

was not an asshole yet! (P.S...he’s not an asshole anymore!)

7. What would you do if you wrote a blog and nobody commented on it?

I would steal all of Shirley’s water soakers, snow ball launchers and water balloons and then climb the ladder up to the top of the tree, wait until the next blog came out, and, BAM...soak y’all!!

I will be interested to read your answers to these all important, life altering questions ;)~

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Special Times

Halloween 2008,
They still love getting dressed up!

I had the most wonderful dinner with my family recently, my eldest nephew turned 29, so we all went out and celebrated.

What is it about going out to dinner with the family, that just makes it so special, the conversation, the food, the wine, it just all flows, nothing is strained, (well except for my Dad which is a whole other blog).

It is so wonderful to see my nephews together and so happy, it amazes me how well they all get along and make each other laugh. It could be the silliest of things, and yet the laughter will erupt. They hang out together all the time, each of their friends, are friends with all three of them.

The brother connect is something so special to witness. And in times of need they are there for each other. The goofiness is the best part of all three of them, there is never a lack of silliness. I smile the most when I am with them. And when I look at a picture as the one above, I appreciate them and life so much more.

Mary/Mi, posted a comment, that I thought was so special, she loved the way I "connected" with my nephews, and the memories that we make together. She mentioned she does the same with her nieces for they are just as special to her as my nephews are to me. Whabby considered it a "circle of life" issue, and stated how my life has been enriched by having my nephews around me, and I so agree.

It is such a privilege to enjoy your family, to watch them grow, to see what they become. I always say, without my family to complete me, I would not be who I am, and it really is so true. I do not have children of my own, and have always wished it to be, however, instead I was given three wonderful blessings, as this is the way it was suppose to be, and I could not be happier.

Fun times, Fun memories!

:O)

What the Future Holds?

by Sacbarb

A friend recently sent this to me and I was casually listening to it while doing something else at the same time. It starts out with a sentiment I have heard many times and frankly, am bored with. Suddenly, it caught my attention and I started actually watching it. I had to play it again to fully appreciate it.

I really hope the second half of this video proves to be true.

At a meeting of the American Association of Retired People (AARP), they showed a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20 year old. The contest was titled "u @ 50."

This video won second place. When the video ended, everyone in the room was awestruck and broke into spontaneous applause.

So simple and yet so brilliant. Please take a minute to watch it.

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“What Have You Done Today?”

by MEK

Every Tuesday night when the Biggest Loser comes on, I get a little emotional with its theme song – “What Have You Done Today, To Make YOU Feel Proud?”

I have been writing versions of this blog since last September (or maybe before) – but each time – I decide that I do NOT want to publish it. I have been so proud of so many things that I have been able to do, overcome or just feel, etc. – But not real sure that I have wanted to share them with “everyone”.

I have been proud of the fact that I have NOT spoken publicly about SO many things that have been eating at me for so long.

I have been proud that I was there for a family member that needed me during their six/eight weeks of recovery.

I was extremely honored and proud when Carol dedicated a blog to me – since she and I “get it”.

I have been proud to be a new aunt and just love those little nephews with all my being.

I am proud of myself for having the courage to stay with Barney as he took his last breath. That was the hardest thing I have EVER had to do.

I am proud that we gave a little shelter puppy a new home filled with tons of love (even though there are tons of sleepless nights and energy like I have never seen before).

I could go on and on – but I won’t. As you can see – with each week that I have been writing and re-writing this blog – more and more things come to mind.

But – my proudest moment lately – I did NOT purchase the Russell Stover Valentine box of candy that was screaming my name in Walgreens today!! (LOL) So, I can watch The Biggest Loser tonight and know that I made myself proud TODAY!!

I guess it’s the little things in life that are important in the grand scheme of things.

What have you done today to make YOURSELF proud?

Super Sunday!

I am not a big sports fan, however if I do watch sports it is always football. I like the excitement of the game, and it never seems to drag thru (like baseball). So when the Superbowl approaches, I have the excitement in me of a five yr old at Christmas.

6pm on the dot the teams are introduced and I feel myself getting all pumped up, I am literally staring at the TV, with not a waiver of movement. Each year I count the minutes after the introduction to the start of the Star Spangled Banner. I knew this year it would be Jennifer Hudson, I also knew I would feel emotional, as she has had such a tough year. To my complete surprise prior to Jennifer Hudson singing, the crew of US Air Flight 1549 appear, I was so overcome with emotions, that I forgot to breathe. My SSO hit me on the back several times, and I began to breathe again. Wow, what a sight and how good it felt to breathe again. When Jennifer Hudson took to the podium and I saw her sigh, the tears began again, however the SSO told me he was not going to help me again, so I was on my own. As the tears flowed (and I remembered to breathe) I watch her sing our National Anthem with such conviction and pride, that my pride to be an American swelled.

Click here for a great picture

Click here to watch Jennifer Hudson sing the National Anthem

Watching the game, I was sitting at the edge of my barstool, (with drink and cigarette in hand), it truly was a Super game, it reminded me of last year and how the Giants pulled it off in the last few seconds. I was routing for the Cardinals, and they almost had it. But it was not meant to be, and as always in a game, the best team wins. So Congrats to the Steelers.

As I watched the SuperBowl, and looked around at a very crowded bar, I had forgotten about the economy and the struggles of each of us. Next to me a man was paying his bill, I overheard him splitting the bill with his buddies, there were three of them, he asked very calmly for $250.00 each, $750.00, WTF did they eat and drink for that kind of money, I was floored. On the other side of me, "John" as he called himself, was pulling out hundreds at a time for drinks and of course flirting with the barmaids. No one seemed to be bothered with the money that was being spent. So yes, I was certainly in dreamland for a bit, but as we all know when the sun shines again, reality shines thru as well, and I wondered if all those ppl were now hitting themselves in the head for all the money they spent.

The Super Bowl of Football is definitely a American Tradition, it shows America as a whole, can come together to route for our American Teams.

We as Americans can give salute to our sport hero's, and yes they get paid a lot of money for what they do. But what you get from a day such as Superbowl Sunday, is pride in this country we call home.

America the Beautiful, from sea to shining sea.




My favorite commercial

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We are at PeeWee, PieWhy, PayWhy, Payless….We are eating at Pei Wei!!!

by Tina~in_ut

A funny thing happened to me on my way to Arizona. I met up with Dianne and Zona. On our last night together, we planned to go to dinner and a movie. The movie was not meant to be. Someone, who shall be nameless, was too tired. So instead, after dinner, we went back to Zona’s house at about 9:30pm, and proceeded to laugh almost non-stop until 4 in the morning. Yes….I said 4am! I am so grateful that I was able to spend some time with these wacky ladies. I think everyone needs a little getaway once in a while and what better place to do it than in the Valley of the Sun with great friends~

**No owl was harmed in the making of this mini-series.

**No food was spilled on any shirt during the making of this made for TV movie.

**There was absolutely no alcohol consumed during the making of this film.

**I’m not saying there wasn’t alcohol consumed at some point over the weekend, though! :D

Single Ladies

Chosen by Dianne in Denver

I like this song because it has a catchy tune. It makes me want to dance and sing along with Beyonce, just like Justin Timberlake. I love that it’s one of the songs that make my grandkid’s think I’m hip! I like how Beyonce jiggles her head and wiggles her hands and arms. It was so much fun teaching my new friends in Arizona how to dance like Beyonce. Oops, I forgot! What happens in Arizona, stays in Arizona! :D

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