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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

My Piggies!

by Maureen

A few blogs ago, BEBBI asked how my adoration of piggies began. So, I decided to write about it. It is nothing earth shattering and really rather boring!

A number of years ago I worked as a Manager for Harry and David. The company also owned a gardening division called Jackson and Perkins. I saw the cutest planter and it was called Pickles the Pig. It was a mommy pig that was the planter and a whole gaggle of baby piggies around her. It was so adorable and EXPENSIVE. A couple of years later I was running a warehouse sale for the company and OMG, there was Pickles! And she was only $20! I HAD to have her. I brought her home and she sits in my living room with beautiful (!) silk flowers in her! I still love my little Pickles. My friend Joni always teases me about her and I have told Joni many times that when I die, she is inheriting Pickles and if she doesn't love her like I do I will haunt her from the grave!

A couple of years after that I went to Italy. In a little shop in Venice I found the cutest little pig family...mama, papa and baby. They were hand blown Murano glass. The biggest one, Papa, was only about an inch high and the baby was teeny. I had to have this family and that began my collection. I found a few more tiny glass piggies to bring back to my sty! In my mind, my collection would be small and only little glass piggies.

Needless to say, I have acquired mugs, bowls, banks and other assorted pigs! ENOUGH! I had to tell people to stop giving me pigs. My house was being overrun! I have even moved some to my desk at work!

So that is how my love of piggies began. They are the cutest things, right?! I told ya it was boring!

What kind of collections do you have that have gotten out of control?

85 comments:

  1. oh yay...piggies~ will read momentarily~ (had to steal Janice's computer so I could try for first! She needs it back and I need to sign in!)

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  2. Mo...

    Everytime I see a pig I think of you, because I know you love pigs, its not because I want to eat you!

    :O)

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  3. Good morning Carol and Tina! Mo, I've wondered what your deal is with pigs. I thought maybe you had them as pets. You may think it's boring, but it's interesting as Hell to the rest of us.

    Have a great Tuesday, everyone!

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  4. Mo..

    The only thing I can think of that I collect is beanie babies,I think they are so cute.. I actually have not bought one in sometime now. But I love the ones I have..

    If Joni wont take care of Pickles I will.. Just mail it fedex!

    :O)

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  5. Off to work..

    everyone have a great day!

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  6. Good Morning Hooters!

    Nice to see you back in 1st tina~

    Frogs- that is my obsession. I have frog things. I am lobbying for hubby to get me those 2 dwarf frogs they are selling at the Hallmark stores. I have stuffed frogs, garden frogs, candle frogs, ornament frogs- all things frogs.

    Hope everyone has a good HUMP day!

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  7. Good Morning Tina - Congrats on being 1st.

    Good Morning Carol and Bonachichi.

    Maureen _ I will read your blog as soon as I eat something. I know it will be a great blog.

    I loved the band concert my grandson was in last night but my back and legs are paying for it today. It was worth it though. I will be back in a while. Have a great day everyone. Love, Tinka

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  8. Have a great Tuesday? Why can't I ever keep the days straight?

    Tools. Tools and computer parts. That's what I collect. You can always use a good tool.

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  9. 'weenie: No collections, I'm afraid. I'm not much of a collector! However, Huz did briefly consider getting a pot-bellied pig as a pet many years ago, as he (and I) are allergic to cats and dogs. He thought better of the idea when he realized that they grow to quite a size!

    Tinkatia: hang in there!

    Good morning, Tina, Carol, Bon, and Goldie! :)

    Zona: :|... :D !!

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  10. Good morning/afternoon!

    Janice Congrats on first! Tina tries to take credit but it's your computer and you are the one that was logged on early enough....ijs.

    MO What a cute blog and cute blog. Thank you for sharing your collection with us.

    I used to collect cats, real ones, kind of, since there were so many feral cats around here. I would catch the kittens and domesticate them, vaccinate and neuter them. I ended up with 40 since I could never find enough homes. I did have a license from the city to have them. Over the years, people gave me lots of cat related things and I still have some of them around the house. I only have two old cats left now, that are real. : )

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  11. "cute blog cute blog" ???? I have no idea what that means. Just go with it, okay?

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  12. It is a very cute blog and I expected to see pictures of your pedi toes, MO. I will be back to comment later as heading out to meet a friend and there is some snow on the ground so leaving a few seconds early.

    J/L: I just have to ask....did all these 40 cats roam around inside your house and was it 40 all at one time?

    BEAR: You have probably collected bears in your hay day.

    BBL

    PS Congrats on first JANICE.

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  13. MO: This little piggy went to market..this little piggy stayed home...oh..not those kind of piggies...sorry! ;)

    I have collected so many things over the years..it might be easier to list what I haven't collected! The thing that's really sad is we don't even look at any of the stuff..it's all stored away in boxes..yet I can't bring myself to get rid of anything! A couple years ago when we made our Wills, we left each collection to someone special..consider that fair warning!! :D

    MO..I loved reading your blog today..thank you!

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  14. Dianne Yes, I had them all at the same time. They were free to be inside or outside in my large backyard. We had constructed a special fence that kept them on my property. Some of them remained semi-feral and chose not to spend time in the house. However, on any given night, I could count 25 or so on couches and chairs around the house.

    I also have a stamp collection but I was only collecting for less than 2 yrs during the late 60's when I processed payments mailed into the gas company I worked for. I was always surprised that someone would use ancient stamps to mail in a payment. The oldest stamp I collected is from 1867.

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  15. TINA: Congrats on FIRST! Are scrapbooking supplies considered a collection? ;)

    CAROL: Congrats..I love the QOTD..it still makes me laugh..

    GOLDIE: You do know I'm going to send you frogs now..don't you? ;)

    TINKA! Great to see you back again..I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with your password..I wish someone could figure that out! I hope your legs are feeling better..

    BONACHI: I almost wrote.."you have a great Tuesday too.."..lol..

    J/LIN: My sister did the same thing..she still has about 8 cats she takes care of..but she has made it clear she does NOT want any cat books, cat notepads..cat anything..she says the real thing is more than enough! :D

    DIANNE: You're leaving a few 'seconds' early? You must have this time thing down pat.. ;)

    LOL@ Congrats on first Janice!!

    HI BEAR! How you? ;)

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  16. Hi hooters,

    Congrats to Janice (and Tina I guess) for being 1st today!

    MO I used to collect any and everyting that was in the shape of a heart. I had probably over 100 pairs of heart-shaped earrings alone. I had jewelry, candles, anything you can imagine.

    Now, my mom collects angel/nurse stuff for me. I have a curio cabinet that is stuffed full of figurines. She gives me a new one every Christmas! They are all really beautiful.

    The only other thing I collect are the state quarters that I blogged about (which is just about complete thanx to several hooters!)

    Have a great Weds!

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  17. Greetings from Vegas! This is my 5th day here. We head back home on Fri. which happens to be my youngest son's birthday. He is the one supervising my kitchen project while I am away. He has been sending me vids & pics of the progress. Today the granite top installers came in to take measurements. I have been on the phone giving my son instructions on how to forge my name on my personal checks to pay for the deposit. lol! I can't wait to see the finished product!

    I wish I had time to comment on all the blogs. I did read them. I have to thank Carol for sending me the url to the nest. I have a new mini laptop and forgot to put in my bookmarks.I hate writing on my Blkberry.
    Have a great day everyone!!

    BTW The Donny & Marie show was sweet. Donny brought out his trophy from DWTS and of course ribbed his sister about it! She said "Hey I did it in a dress and backwards" lol!!

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  18. Good evening Tina, Carol, Bonachichi, Goldie, Tinka, Whabbear, Just Lin, Dianne, Zona, EBJ and Mary!

    Congrats on 1st Janice!

    Interesting blog Maureen. At one time I collected Star Trek stuff. I have books, magazines, playing cards, trading cards, mugs, a watch, hats, comics, action figures, xmas ornaments, board game, shot glass, coasters and about 100 video tapes of episodes, movies and specials I taped off TV. Spme day I would like to have all 5 series on DVD and all the movies too...when I get rich.

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  19. When would you like to have a Christmas party, or would you? These are the dates I've chosen (cause Carol asked me to):

    Friday 11th
    Saturday 12th
    Friday 18th
    Saturday 19th

    If anyone thinks another day is better like us know here.

    I think the dress code should be black tie ONLY. What do you all think? Carol?

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  20. Afternoon Glories!

    Congrats on first Tina!

    Mo my problem is not one collection but several. I am in the process of deciding which ones to keep and what to get rid of.

    Lets see the vintage hats may go. But I love the vintage purses.

    Some of my American pottery dinnerware pieces may go, except the pieces and pattern that started that madness. They were from Mr. Lynn D's Grandmother and I love the pattern.

    I am looking at parting with some of my vintage postcards, sheetmusic, black and white still photo's of movie stars, salt and peppers, ,magazines and LP,s all I think may go.

    I think I will keep my vintage and art glass pieces and focus on those, and my vintage and new brooches and pins. I also collect necklaces with magnifing glass in the center. These are harder to find and I have some lovely pieces.

    I will have to keep the vintage cameras and equipement as Mr. Lynn D won't part with them.

    Oh and quilt blocks and quilt tops. Don't know what I am going to do with them. Mr. Lynn D's Mom started this obsession as I have a box of pieces she started when she was alive and never got to finish.

    I know there are more but just typing this has overwhelmed me. Really need to thin things out.

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  22. Oh and there is also the collection of dust that goes with all of these items. If anyone wants that I will gladly ship it to you for free!

    Shirley I vote for the 19th as I have grandkids the weekend of the 12th and also a bazaar to work for a fund raiser.

    Black tie sounds like fun!

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  23. testing it keeps swallowing my comments is this working?

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  24. okayyy blogger is acting way weird. The delete was mine as it double posted after it showed it didn't post.

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  25. We nearly had a dogtastrophe yesterday with Nikki. I caught her sniffing some pieces of Match-Light charcoal. At first I didn't think she had actually eaten any..but a half hour later she threw up a black glob full of charcoal. I called the vet and he told me to give her a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide every ten minutes until she threw up again. After one dose..she was throwing up all over the backyard..it was horrible. It seemed like it took forever for her to stop. The vet then told us to watch her closely for 24 hours to see if she acted lethargic or out of sorts..and to bring her in immediately if she did. She slept most of the night..and has been drinking water and sleeping today. I did get her to eat some kibble..and she seems better. I was so scared yesterday. I love Nik..and when it seemed that we might lose her..I realized just how much..does that make sense?

    Thanks JODI, BARB, DIANNE and TINKA for the prayers and good thoughts..I really think it helped.

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  26. LynnD, I am glad to see someone else unable to handle blogger. The IT peeps are probably aware of the problem and are trying to fix it. When it magically goes away, we'll know the blogger fairies have been at work.

    You have some unusual collections; It sounds like a job, organizing all that stuff. I hate to say it, but I think I like your dust collection best. I don't want it, mind you. I just like the idea that you have one.

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  27. Ps/ Sorry that was kinda gross..

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  28. Mo, I know some people who have a pet pig. She was the cutest little thing! Then, when she was about 6-9 months old, we all discovered she is a he. Now he is about 450 pounds.

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  29. What fun comments today! Thanks for sharing with us.

    ZONA...I', glad you posted that about Nikki. As we all said yesterday, anything and everything is welcome here if you need us. And I am so glad Nik is doing better today...and you, too!!

    SHIRLEY...anytime is fine for me as I have no life!! I think black tie is a great idea. I will need to go shopping for a black tie as I don't have one ;)~ LOL! Can I make some appetizers for the party?And maybe EBJ can make the monkey bread since she has a new bundt pan!!

    LYNN...LOL@at the dust collection! I forgot I have one of those, too!!

    GOLDIE...frogs are fun! There is a girl at work that collects them, too. For her birthday, I was responsible for getting some decorations and I saw a frog card for .88 cents so I got it for her...regardless of the fact the card was a "congratulations on the birth of your son" card!!

    EBJ...the nursing collectibles are really nice. And special as they come from your mom.

    JUST LIN...hmmm, collecting cats! I think you were saving cats more then collecting them.

    CAROL...Awww, pigs remind you of me! YAY! I have bags of beanie babies in my closet. I need to get rid of them one of these days...you want them? And thanks for offering Pickles a home! Remember, she is an indoor pig!

    TINKA...I am sad you are in such pain so much of the time. I bet your grandson was so ahppy you were there.

    CHI CHI...tools are fun! I would love to have a little pot bellied pig as a pet, but it would be too unfair to the piggy to have it stuck in the house all the time. Glad you didn't find the blog too boring.

    WHABBY...I would have thought you collect scientific periodicals. Is DIANNE correct when she thought you collected "bears" before tying the knot??!!

    DIANNE...I bet you collect recipes and cooking utensils!!!

    MARY...you collect winnings!! I can't wait to see pics of the new kitchen. So fun!

    Blogger is weird for me, too.

    Speaking of piggies...must go and make a ham sandwich for dinner!

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  30. Did, or is anyone watching the NBC lighting of the tree special? Is it only me or did it appear that Michael Buble seemed not to into it? Or maybe drunk?

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  31. Zona I am so sorry about Nik!!! I hope she feels even better tomorrow. Dogs are so much like toddlers and it seems they will eat anything. (((Hugs)))

    Bon I hope those blogger fairies fix thing soon! Always freaks me out and I think my computer is having the problems.

    Mo seems dust is something we all collect. LOL Love ya!

    I am so sore and tired and have a lovely red stinging rash on my wrists and hands from organizing the walk in freezer at the food bank. Need to figure out what to put on it. I think it is freezer burn. It was 10 degrees in there and I had on gloves and long sleeves but it did not seem to help.

    Gonna check my cafe and hit the sack.

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  32. LYNN...if you check back in, try aloe vera, if you have it. Or some vitamin E. But remember that freezer burn is not the same as jelly fish sting and DON'T pee on it...ijs!!!!

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  33. Tina: Congrats on first!

    Mo: Wow, I inspired a blog. That was cool to come here and see my name. I had no idea you even saw my question, but I did go back and look to see if you answered.

    The only out of control thing we have is that my oldest son collects Pandas. He is OVERRUN with them for sure. He has so many. It is amazing how out of control it can get. He has everything you can think of in pandas.

    I don't have anything like that except I do have Norman Rockwell plates which I love and I have quite a few.

    Okay..I did 17,761 steps today! woo hoo hoo. I walked over 6 miles!

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  34. LynnD: LOL at the "collection of dust"!

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  35. Zona: That would so scary! I am glad Nik is on the mend. Him being lethargic must have really worried you!

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  36. And still blogger has the numbers off..how random..lol.

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  37. Damn it, LynnD! You took my collection! I collect dust and like to keep it all over the house~

    Hi SG!~ :)~

    All you bitches that congratulated Janice on #1....GTH!!!! I GOT FIRST! You've created a monster, you know~ (and I don't mean me!)

    Mo~ I collect scrapbook shit~ I went again tonight! omg!!!~

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  38. Zona- bring on the frogs! I am so glad that Niki is better- whew, I know when Pepp is sick it scares me to death! Our babies.....

    I vote for ... I'm not sure! I am picking up the grandkids on the 12th and I am having a big party on the 19th (you are all invited-no black tie needed)!!!

    Seems like a quiet day in the nest. I need to shag my ass to bed now- so waving a wing at all you late nighters!!

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  39. Bebbi, you should have stopped in a few days ago. We were trying to blame you for some stuff and your name was all over the place.

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  40. Zona, I am sorry to hear about Nik. It seems more scary because our pets can't tell us what hurts. Kudos to you for noticing and taking care of it.

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  41. Zona: Yikes! Hugs!!

    'weenie: No, not too many! My first boyfriend when I moved to CA was a bear, the second boyfriend wasn't, and then there was Jim!

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  42. Zona..

    Sorry about Nikki.. I am sure Nikki will be up and about in a few days..

    Good thoughts coming your way..

    ♥♥

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  43. Lynn..

    Ouch! sorry about your wrists.. you work so hard.. Kudos!

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  44. Well not Kudos for your wrists.. Kudos for what you do...

    :O)

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  45. Shirley...

    I think we should do the 18th.. I have a dinner to attend to on the 19th down the Jersey Shore, so I will be gone most of the late afternoon till nite..

    Soooo if everyone is good with the 18th, then I say lets do it...

    I will wait till tomorrow comments, if all agree then the 18th it is..

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  46. Mo..

    No, I did not see the lighting.. strange about Michael he is usually on his game.. but perhaps he had a few holiday drinks..

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  47. Mo..

    You never said Pickles was a indoor pig.. I will have to rethink this.. cause I think I prefer my pet pig outside.. Unless its potty trained..

    :O)

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  48. Shirley.. I just saw your vote for the 12th..

    Ok, we can do the 12th if that works better..

    We will decide tomorrow..

    12 or 18?

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  49. Mary..

    Glad you found us.. :O)

    Tinka..

    So glad the band concert was great, and glad you enjoyed.. family is so special

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  50. Mo..

    Eating yourself??? So wrong!!!!

    Zona...

    I got a kick out of the QOTD as well, when J/L sent it to me she wrote...

    "classy joint" I just about spit out my Cawfee.. LMAO..

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  51. Bebbi..

    Congrats on all your steps..

    Question for ya....

    How long does it take you to walk
    6 miles???

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  52. I am seeing double...

    time for bed..

    Nite!

    :O)

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  53. hmmmmmm...what about the 17th? The 16th is hubby's b-day....and we have to go to a dinner....and besides...it's Mary's b-day too.....so we are celebrating his b-day on the 18th.....and the 19th we are going to an xmas party for reals...no black tie tho....we're all wearing red ones~ and the 12th just seems too early.....of course....the company xmas party is this saturday....so what the hell do I know?~

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  54. The 12 seems like a good night for a party. Hanukkah starts at sundown on the 11th.

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  55. I BEAT THE MASTER!

    bwahahahahahahahaha

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  56. no partying during Hanukkah!!!!! It's against the rules! I bought the rule book...I know what I'm talking about!!!~

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  57. SHIRLEY...wake up and run to the stats and MARK THAT DOWN!!

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  58. TINA...you better return the book because it is WRONG!

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  59. it is not! I got it in Rome! It's perfect!!~

    p.s.~ Does anyone use Lemon Pledge?~

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  60. That is a random question. What do you use it for...something other then furniture cleaning?? LOL!!!

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  61. Hey, has anyone heard from SCIRISH?

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  62. God I am late!

    Evening ladies and gentleman!!

    I collect many things....but what I have the most of is prosthetic eyes........you really can't have too many....I even have one that is wall-eyed....looks up from the outer corner of the eye.....its fun to wear and watch people try to figure out where to look at you....lol

    I also collect walking canes for the blind.....you say crazy? I say put on some dark glasses and get in a long line...fumble and stumble once....and to the front of the line you go!!

    Also works well getting you pre-boarded on airliners and put in first class......just remember not to go digging through the Sky Mall catalog......

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  63. hey goofball (no pun intended!), I thought you didn't fly commercial anymore!~ ijs~

    Mo~ I don't use it~ uh duh~ that would mean I dust~

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  64. Mo, I collect some things on purpose and some other things (like dust) not so much. My first collection is Gone With The Wind Sutff. I have plates, figurines, music boxes, a lunch pail, a paper doll book (thanks Zona) and various other things. I also have a huge collection of Pegasus stuff and that is also my on my license plate. I finally had to tell my family to QUIT! I am running out of room.

    I inadvertently have a collection of scrapbook and card making crap. Probably not as much as Tina and MEK, but a LOT. I really didn't mean to collect all this stuff and my Hubby is probably rolling over in his grave because he was NOT a collector or saver of anything.

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  65. Tina, I see clearly that you got first and who the heck is Janice? Did I miss something?

    Zona, I'm so relieved that Nik is OK. I know how scary that was for you.

    Mary, I hope you win loads of $$$.

    December is here and Christmas Promise is up and running. I worked almost all day today and I go back on Friday. So far we will provide gifts for 255 families. We also will be giving over 750 Christmas stockings to underprivileged children in the community. The stockings are decorated and filled by community organizations (Girl Scouts, Red Hatters, etc.) or individuals and delivered to group homes and juvenile hall and some schools. My sorority has decorated and filled 30 stockings so far.

    It is so uplifting to see how generous people can be, especially in these economic times.

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  66. Tina....I said getting YOU pre-boarded...not me......PAY ATTENTION!!

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  67. Zona I'm so glad that Nikki is okay. I know that was scary. Dogs eat such weird things sometimes.

    Tina I use Lemon Pledge. Why?

    Scirish Where are you? I hope you are doing okay.

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  68. Nighters, HOoters! Sweet dreams.

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  69. I used to collect Hummels that my grandmother started me on. I have quite a collection. I have a Wizard of Oz room/office. I used to have a lot of other collectioins (music boxes, clowns, dolphins) and it just became too much "stuff" around and I am trying to get rid of some of the "stuff".

    ZONA: Glad your dog was okay.

    SHIRLEY: Hmmmm, Christmas party...well, I will be gone to the mountains for a Christmas train ride with my kids and husband on the night of the 19th so I guess everyone has something on a day so you are going to just have tp pick and tell us. I will go pick up a black tie for the patty. I hope it isn't as cold then as it is tonight....13 degrees--and with only a black tie on our butts will freeze!!

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