They Walk Among Us

by Goldie

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have"...........Thomas Jefferson   

A DC  'airport ticket agent' offers some examples of  'WHY' our country is in trouble!

1. I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman (Carol Shea-Porter) ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window.  (On an airplane!)

2. I got a call from a Kansas Congressman's (Moore) staffer (Howard Bauleke), who wanted to go to Cape Town.  I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information,  and then he interrupted me with,  ''I'm not trying to make you look stupid,  but Cape Town is in Massachusetts ..''

Without trying to make him look stupid, I calmly explained,  ''Cape Cod is in Massachusetts ,   Cape Town is in South Africa .''
His response -- click..

3. A senior Vermont Congressman (Bernie Sanders) called, furious about a Florida package we did.  I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando .  He said he was expecting an ocean-view room.  I tried to explain that's not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state.

He replied, 'Don't lie to me!, I looked on the map, and Florida is a very THIN state!!''  (OMG)

4. I got a call from a lawmaker's wife (Landra Reid) who asked,  ''Is it possible to see England from Canada ?''

I said,  ''No.''

She said,  ''But they look so close on the map''  (OMG, again!)

5. An aide for a cabinet member (Janet Napolitano) once called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas ..  I pulled up the reservation and noticed he had only a 1-hour layover in Dallas ...  When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said,  ''I heard Dallas was a big airport, and we will need a car to drive between gates to save time.''  (Aghhhh)

6. An Illinois Congresswoman (Jan Schakowsky) called last week.  She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:30 a.m.,  and got to Chicago at 8:33 a.m.

I explained that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois , but she couldn't understand the concept of time zones.  Finally, I told her the plane went fast, and she bought that.

7. A New York lawmaker, (Jerrold Nadler) called and asked, ''Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to whom?''  I said,  'No, why do you ask?'

He replied,  ''Well, when I checked in with the airline,  they put a tag on my luggage that said (FAT),  and I'm overweight.  I think that's very rude!''

After putting him on hold for a minute, while I looked into it. (I was dying laughing).  I came back and explained the city code for Fresno , Ca. is (FAT - Fresno Air Terminal), and the airline was just putting a destination tag on his luggage..

8. A Senator John Kerry aide (Lindsay Ross) called to inquire about a trip package to Hawaii .  After going over all the cost info, she asked,  ''Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii ?''

9. I just got off the phone with a freshman Congressman, Bobby Bright from Ala who asked, ''How do I know which plane to get on?''

I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, ''I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these planes have numbers on them.''

10 Senator Dianne Feinstein called and said, ''I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola , Florida . Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?''

I asked if she meant fly to Pensacola and fly on a commuter plane.

She said, ''Yeah, whatever, smarty!''

11 Mary Landrieu, La. Senator, called and had a question about the documents she needed in order to fly to China .  After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded her that she needed a visa.  "Oh, no I don't.   I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those.''

I double checked and sure enough, her stay required a visa.  When I told her this she said, ''Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!''

12 A New Jersey Congressman (John Adler) called to make reservations, ''I want to go from Chicago to Rhino,   New York .''

I was at a loss for words.  Finally, I said, ''Are you sure that's the name of the town?''
 'Yes, what flights do you have?'' replied the man.
 After some searching, I came back with, ''I'm sorry, sir, I've looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a rhino anywhere."

''The man retorted, ''Oh, don't be silly! Everyone knows where it is.  Check your map!''

So I scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, ''You don't mean Buffalo , do you?''

The reply?  ''Whatever!  I knew it was a big animal.''

Now you know why the Government is in the shape it's in!

Could ANYONE be this DUMB?

YES, THEY WALK AMONG US, ARE IN POLITICS, AND THEY CONTINUE TO BREED.

I don't write it, I just offer it for your consideration.   Like manure, you just gotta spread it around.

No NURSING HOME FOR me!!!

by Goldie

No nursing home for us.  We'll be checking into a Holiday Inn!  With the average cost for a nursing home care costing $188.00 per day, there is a better way when we get old and too feeble.  I've already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn. For a combined long term stay discount and senior discount, it's $59.23 per night. Breakfast is included, and some have happy hours in the afternoon. That leaves  $128.77 a day for lunch and dinner in any restaurant we want, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies. Plus, they provide a spa, swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer-dryer, etc. Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap.

$5 worth of tips a day you'll have the entire staff scrambling to help you.   They treat you like a customer, not a patient. There's a city bus stop out front, and seniors ride free.  The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp).

To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays. 

For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants there.  While you're at the airport, fly somewhere.  Otherwise, the cash keeps building up.  It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Holiday Inn will take your reservation today. And you're not stuck in one place forever -- you can move from Inn to Inn, or even from city to city. Want to see  Hawaii?  They have Holiday Inn there too. TV broken?  Light bulbs need changing?  Need a mattress replaced?  No problem. They fix everything,  and apologize for the inconvenience.

The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid checks to see if you are ok.  If not, they'll call an ambulance .. . . or the undertaker. If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.

And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini-vacation. 

The grandkids can use the pool.   What more could I ask for?

So, when I reach that golden age, I'll face it with a grin.   

AIDS WARNING!
   To all of  you approaching 50 or have REACHED 50 and past,  this  email is especially for you...... SENIOR  CITIZENS  
ARE THE NATION'S LEADING CARRIERS OF AIDS!

HEARING  AIDS 
BAND AIDS 
ROLL  AIDS 
WALKING AIDS  
MEDICAL AIDS 
GOVERNMENT  AIDS 
MOST OF ALL,  
MONETARY  AID TO THEIR KIDS!
Not  forgetting HIV (Hair is Vanishing)

      

Light and Gentle Thoughts for the day...

by Goldie

Birds of a feather flock together . . . .and then shit on your car.

A penny saved is a government oversight.

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

He who hesitates is probably right.

Did you ever notice: The Roman Numerals for forty (40) are  XL.

If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.

The sole purpose of a child's middle name is so he can tell when he's really in trouble..

Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words 'The' and 'IRS' together it spells 'Theirs...'

Aging: Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.

Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know 'why' I look this way.  I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth, think of Algebra.

You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.  Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.

Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth . . . . . . .AMEN!

A Million Kisses

by Goldie

Hubby and I recently celebrated our anniversary with a weekend away.  Before dinner, we went down to the casino to play a little, hopefully to win enough to pay for that lobster I was planning on eating.  (Ate the lobster, bit didn't win enough to pay for it.)

I sat at a slot machine next to a lady who was probably in her early 70's.  We started to chat and she was high-fiving whenever one of us won even the smallest amount.  We had a lot of fun together.  When she commented on my outfit and asked why I was so dressed up, I told her that it was my anniversary and we were going to dinner in a little while. 

She congratulated me and asked how many years.  I told her 28, and she said to me that she had been married for 23 years, but they had actually lived together for 13 years before that.  She said that she loved everything about living together first.  She enjoyed the flowers, the candy, the gifts and all the extra attention she got before she agreed to get married.  When I asked her why she got married if she liked all that, she chuckled and said that he wore her down asking.  Then she told me that he had passed away just 2 years ago.

I automatically replied, "I'm sorry."  She smiled at me and said, "Thank you, but you don't have to be sorry because before he left, I gave him a million kisses.  That will keep me until we are together again."

Shortly after this exchange, it was time for dinner.  As I got up and we said our goodbyes and good lucks, she put her hand on my arm and said, "Don't forget to give that man of yours a million kisses, because you just never know when you will need them."

Hubby and I are building up our bank of a million kisses.

The Gift

by Goldie

I was given a remarkable gift.  I cannot put it on the mantel, wear it, or hold it in my hand.  The only place for this gift is in my heart, and it is tucked in there and can never be taken away.  Actually, it was 2 gifts wrapped in one.

For years I (we) have bought new teddy bears and donated them to Hospice Care.  I make it a personal mission to collect as many as I can.  They are called Dori bears, named after the women who started the tradition.  Every patient who enters, and any child that comes to visit, gets a bear.  The bears must be at least 10 inches and have the tags on them.  Build-A-Bear is my favorite and they know me by name in the store.

I knew the story of the Dori bears because my fabulous neighbor Susan is a Hospice nurse.  I collect them and then donate them thru Susan.  She takes them to Hospice and from there they go to the patients and families.  We have often talked of her taking me to the hospice center to tour it, but to date, we just haven't coordinated a time.

Not so long ago, my dear friend was sitting at Hospice with her dad and she called me.  Would I come be with her?  Of course I would, so I grabbed the big bag of my current stock of bears, hopped in the car (got lost of course), but found my way to the Hospice Center.  When I got out of the care, she commented, "I didn't know you were moving in."  She has a wicked sense of humor.

I stopped at the desk and gave my donation to a nurse who was so gracious and acted like I had given them my last dollar.  From there I took a deep breath and walked into the room with my friend.  What did I see?  Dad with his arms around a bear.  I also saw a beautiful facility that amazed me, and the tenderness and kindness of the staff.  What a fabulous place.  What I thought would be a sterile environment is a place I hope to be, if ever I need it.

But that was the second gift.  The first was when my friend called and asked me to come.  She asked me to share in one of the most personal and emotional times of her life.  I saw the love she had for her father and the unselfish wish she had for him t go on to be with her Mom and brother.  She talked to him, stroked his arm, hugged him, and even sang a little.  We talked, cried, and joked, or sat in silence.  We cracked open a couple of beers and toasted to him.

The following day, her Dad went to dance with her Mom again.  I was part of that emotional experience, and it brought a lot of memories of my own Dad passing ~ but I wouldn't have traded one second of the time or experience with her.

A few years ago, this same friend gave me a necklace.  It says, "girlfriends are the family we choose for ourselves."  I am so grateful she chose me to be her family.

"The Mosque" Opinion of a Survivor

by Goldie/M

First let me say that it was an honor for "M" to agree to discuss our debate and share her thoughts about the blog. M (as she will be referred to) told me that she thought the writer of the blog (DeeDee) did a terrific job of expressing her thoughts and the she was quite taken with her style and the way she relayed them.

M told me that she considers herself a survivor of 9/11. Not from the actual physical attacks, but of the emotional attack. The following is from M as told to me. I have done my best to quote accurately and I hope I have done so. M is a soft-spoken woman, but with a fierce personality and opinions. She asked me not to use her real name because of her children. She tries to live a quiet, normal life and she and her children honor 9/11, but she does her best not to make it the focus of their lives. She has given interviews in the past, and invariably someone will try to contact her children and ask them questions as well.
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"From the moment it became a realization that my world had just come to a crashing halt, I blamed God." The God I knew and was raised with, the God my Husband was raised with, and the God my children were being raised with. How could MY GOD allow this to happen? A Catholic Church stands across the street from where my husband worked. Shouldn’t God have been there to protect him and all the others who perished that day? Didn’t we go to Mass, and try to live by the laws of church? Allah had attacked and God had let it happen.

The first year after the attack, I was in a fog. Many family members took turns to come stay and helped with the kids. Had they not, I don’t know that I would have lived. I had become so full of misery, hate, and fear that I couldn’t function rationally. I threw my Rosary and God out.

I could not get into a cab if there was a Middle-Eastern man driving. I backed away and took another route if I was walking and someone who "looked" like they were "Muslim" came my way. I literally was shaking during a recital when my daughter was standing next to a child of Middle Eastern decent. An innocent child! I had let fear and irrational behaviors take over. It was at that point which I knew I had to pull myself together and get on with living, for myself, my children and for ‘Jeff.’

It took me a long time to realize that my God and everyone else’s God didn’t make this happen. Allah had nothing to do with the terrorists; Allah was nothing more than a pawn in the mass murder of so many. Jeff’s death was the most painful thing I had to go through in life. Never getting to say goodbye, never finding his body, having to tell my children and try to explain when I did not have any answers. Two of my children don’t remember him- only from pictures and video’s because they were so young.

Over time, with much therapy, support groups and my church-yes, the same one I so easily blamed, I see things a different way. I see that it was the extremists using the name of their God in vain to shine light on themselves. The cowards who physically killed all those innocent people also caused much pain for the innocent Muslim people who had nothing to do with the terror. Except to worship in a faith that was soiled by terrorists, and share an ethnic heritage, they could not be farther apart in worlds.

So, my not so simple answer is this: YES in capital letters, the Mosque, which is also a community center, should be built. I believe all the debate over this has been perpetrated by the Media and politicians weighing in their personal beliefs. The politicians, and yes the President, should only be commenting on the legality of it. If the permits are in order for zoning, there is a constitutional right. We as a nation, we can not take away the very rights that make this country what it is-and what the terrorists tried to take away from us. We must unite, not push others away.

The terrorists will not use this Mosque. The people who will use this facility are Americans, just like you and me. They did not ask for the hand that was dealt them. Many of whom were born here in this country; some are second and third generation. Do we remember the Japanese camps after Pearl Harbor? The segregation and the way we treated citizens of our own country? We cannot allow that to happen again. We all came to this country through forefathers from a foreign land. We can never forget that.

The best way to honor those who died that day is to show the `terrorist world` that they did not bring down our country, or tear our beliefs of freedom and justice apart. We have to be strong, and stand one united.

Birdie ( no, not our Birdee) watching

by Goldie

I have discovered a new passion. Identifying birds I see. I even bought a book “Birds of Wisconsin” to better help me. Now, for years I have been smart enough to identify Robins, Cardinals and yellow finch (flying Lemon’s as my dad called them). The usual mundane sort of bird that you see on a daily or at least a regular basis. But something happened a few years ago to change that for me.

We were driving in MN through the woods of a resort we were at. Suddenly, I screamed at Mr. Goldie to ‘STOP THE CAR”. “LOOK!!!!!!! DO YOU SEE THAT?” It was a pterodactyl burrowing into the tree. OMG, I had never seen anything like it! He says to me “look at what, the woodpecker?” “Woodpecker? That is no woodpecker- LOOK AT THE SIZE OF IT!”. He looks again and informs me it is indeed a woodpecker. “Looks just like Woody Woodpecker doesn’t it?” Then he asks me “you didn’t think that was just a cartoon did you?”. Ummmm, yes. Hell, in southern Wisconsin our woodpeckers are only the size of Robins. Who knew? Apparently he did, and got a good laugh about my astonishment and awe that Woody Woodpecker was indeed modeled after a real bird (which is apparently still thriving and putting the fear of God into insects living in Minnesota).

Since that time, I have looked up birds and have been so happy when I can identify the names or see birds I had not ever seen before. Lots of new ones around the ponds we walk Pepper, and in our own back yard or at the camper.

Now we all know that birds are hatched. So finding bird eggs is exciting for me too. I have found robin eggs and sparrow eggs, etc. I always wonder when I see the shell if the bird hatched and lived or if it fell from the tree or was gotten by some varmint. I mostly wonder what kind of bird it would have been.

A few weeks ago we were walking Pepper when I spotted it! An egg I had no clue about. Hidden slightly under a pine, in the grass by the sidewalk we were on. I thrust the dogs leash into Mr. Goldie’s hand and told him to keep her away. I leaned down and peered intently at my treasure. It was slightly mud splattered from the recent rain and was a faded reddish color with and almost iridescent inside. I gently picked it up and examined it. I had never seen a red egg, and while one end appeared to be broken through, it was almost intact.

I was so excited about my find. I was going to carry it home and look it up. At this point Mr. Goldie’s attention was back to me (he had been picking up dog poop) and he asked to see it. I ever so gently placed it in his palm and admonished him to be careful. Don’t break it!!

After several seconds of looking at my little birdie egg, I asked him if he knew what kind of bird it had come from. His lip quivered and I gave him the evil eye. “WHAT?” ( I am not liking the way his lip is quivering even harder) when he bursts out laughing!! “WHAT THE F*** ARE YOU LAUGHING ABOUT?” I demanded to know. He gently hands back my egg and looks me in the eye and says “Goldie, that is from the elusive Christmas bird”. He cracks himself up again when he sees my face and reaction as it sinks in. My prized treasure was a broken Christmas light!

Oh well, if laughter is the best medicine, then Mr. Goldie is going to live a long time thanks to all the ‘medicine’ I provide for him!

I for one shall continue my blissful search for new birdies. Never mind the entertainment it provides him.

Things that make you wonder

by Goldie

Remember the building that burned down next to us last August? Very sad – it housed the 4-C community coordinated childcare office as well as Lutheran Social Services. I have already commented on the blog that the construction guys are not up the same caliber of physique as my fireman.

The good news is that they are re-building. The walls are up they are really cooking on this place. Been working it now for a couple of months. So yesterday, as I am leaving work I see at the end of cul-du-sac our building is on, a HUGE banner proclaiming that tomorrow- May 21st, 2009 is the ground-breaking event for the new building from 11 to 2 p.m. HELLO? Hasn’t that ship already sailed? A groundbreaking for a ½ constructed building? Hmmm, makes you shake your head on who came up with that idea.

Another head-scratcher. My oldest son, 29 years old (I was just a baby when I had him) calls this morning and says he needs me to fax him a copy of his High School diploma. Why? Well it seems that the Paramedical Program he is enrolling in requires it. I say to him “ son, you are already enrolled in college (required high school info too) and just got your semester grades (which were fantastic) and you are an accredited, certified EMT and RTA. Why don’t they just use the transcript from the college you are enrolled in?? He asked the same question. Nope- don’t care if you are in college, graduated college or have any degrees or are the Surgeon General- they want to make sure you graduated High School. WTF? So I have now sent an 11-year-old High School Diploma copy to him and he has to acquire his High School transcripts once again. Makes sense to me, NOT.

One more thing- ever notice when you walk in to a store they have reusable bags for sale? Usually close to the entrances where you walk in at many Mall stores. However, when you get to the checkout with the stuff you really didn’t intend to purchase, but did anyway, they don’t sell the bags at the counter?? Again, whose brainchild is this? If I know I am buying stuff I take my bags in. If I end up buying stuff and didn’t plan ahead, I would like the bag at the counter to purchase. HELLO MACYS and PENNY’S are you listening??????

So what makes you shake your head- especially knowing that someone is paid to think these things through and this is the best they can do??

Goodbye Mr. Blackwell

Joan Collins, Mr Blackwell's Pick for worst dressed in, 1983

by Goldie

The man famous for his “Worst dressed list” has passed away. I often laughed at his comments and thoughts on various celebs and their attire. I will miss the chuckles and my feeling of being ‘catty’ when I agreed with his assessments. RIP Mr. Blackwell.

This makes me think about where I would be on the list. Certainly I am not the worst dressed, but I won’t make any fashion magazine anytime soon. You see, something happened to me. Middle age. While a part of me still strives to look presentable and even a bit fashionable when in public, the other side of me just doesn’t care.

I don’t do high heels and I go for comfort above all else. So my shoes are mostly Born’s or Clarks. I keep a pair of slippers under my desk and wear them around the office if no clients are in. I keep a sweater nearby in case I get cold. I don’t do feathers, sequins or 20 pounds of jewelry. My jeans are not falling off my hips and my belly is not bare.

I wear sweats and fuzzy slippers at home, with no bra. So if you come to my door- well you are in for a treat! I wear jeans that have stretch to them and shirts that are not clingy and tight. I don’t feel the need to show cleavage when it is 20 below zero- I bundle up from top to bottom and my boots don’t have 3 inch heels on them! My underwear stays in place because I have enough fabric to cover all my butt, no string up the middle.

I am the vanilla in a chocolate world of fashion. So I guess I do know where I fall on the list. I wouldn’t make the list- no one would notice me! In my humble opinion, that is a good thing.

However, there has been a time or two when I look back and think- OMG what was I thinking! Like the time I wore a pair of red and black velvet pants with a black see-thru blouse over a black bra. That was definitely one of those “happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” outfits!

Anything you wore thinking you were ‘all it’ and now wish it was all a bad dream?

Unsung Hero's

Thank you to the Unsung Hero’s

Fireman working on the fire

by Goldie

As many of you know the office building next to mine burned down last week. It was a horrific fire that left 2 non- profit businesses without a home and scrambling to provide services to their clients. The fire began during the night, raged with 40 feet flames at times and then flared and smoldered for 2 days.

Twice during the fire and aftermath, I encountered the police and firemen in my office. The first time was an officer asking me if he could use our microwave to heat his lunch, he was starving and had to stay in his patrol car in front of the building. As he stood staring at the container in his hand he said he didn’t have a fork. I did and gave it to him. He thanked me profusely.

The second time was when a fireman came in and said that they needed us to evacuate our just opened parking lot. They needed to bring in heavy equipment to cave in part of the still smoldering building. Would I please go around the building and tell everyone? Of course I would. He thanked me.

However, it should be everyone in my building, who is sending out the huge thank you. We were spared, separated only by a narrow driveway from a burning inferno. The fact that our building was saved from any damage in itself was incredible. Our places of business are intact and we have jobs to go to without the interruption and chaos of trying to rebuild.

There is nothing left but a side door, some bricks, beams and a huge pile of debris from the building next door. Yet the people who lost everything in that building put up a big Thank you to the men and women who risked their well being to fight that fire. On that white door that still stands, in colored markers it says “Thank You MFD” (Madison Fire Dept).

The building that burned down

I am ashamed to say that when that officer and that fireman thanked me- it should have been me who said, “No, thank you and for what you do”. All too often we take for granted that the people doing their jobs are doing just that, doing their job. We forget the risks they take and the impact it can have on our lives.

So, thank you Madison Fire Dept and Madison Police Dept for all you did for us that day and everyday.

I fully intend to make sure in the future that I thank them personally. My son is an EMT – I know that he too does it for the love of his job (it sure isn’t the money) so thank you to him and all EMT’s as well.

Is there someone whom you believe needs to be thanked for his or her work, who often goes as an unsung hero?

“ My Mother would have killed me, and still will.”

by goldie

We were recently walking with our 24-year-old son in Chicago when a woman approached carrying several bags and getting her keys out. She stopped and attempted to open her building door. My son rushed over, held the door for her and picked up a bag she dropped. She said thank you, and as we walked away he said, “oh wasn’t that nice, she said thank you”. Then he said, “isn’t it sad that I think it is special when someone says thank you instead of expecting it?”

We went on to talk about manners in general and he said, “do you know how many times a day I say to other people “my mother would have killed me and still will if I acted like that!”

He said he was talking about adults, not children, and usually middle aged adults at that.

He is a flight attendant, the ones who take the abuse for the ticket prices and long lines. The one who you carp at about cramped seating, no food, bad food and general issues that are unpleasant to you about the airlines. He is also the one who will give all to save your ass in an emergency, who is trained in CPR and First Aid and can pretty much build you a shelter out of box of aluminum foil if you crash into that mountain top. But he loves his job anyway.

He says he is amazed at how people treat each other, the awful way they use manners and how many people live in their own “me world”. He has also had the other side of the spectrum too.

He recently had Brooke Shields as a passenger and said she is one of the nicest, most respectful people he has ever met. He has met lots of celebs, is not impressed per say with fame, just with their manners and treatment of others.

As we walked down the street to the restaurant we were going too, we all paid extra attention to the people we saw. We saw a young couple stop and help a mother navigate her child’s wagon across busy N. Clark St. We saw people honking and flipping off a delivery driver.

When we got to the restaurant there was a 15-minute wait. We said we would go to the bar – and immediately a young couple offered us their seats. We declined but chatted with them. We asked why they offered up their seats and the young man, in full tattoos, nose rings and spike hair said “that is how I was raised – my mom would slap me upside the head if I didn’t offer a lady my seat.” OMG- it was so surreal to hear him say that when we had just been discussing the subject. He was the perfect gentleman, he did is mom proud.

I guess the moral of the story is that the next time you are tempted to be rude to someone or talk with food in your mouth, spraying the people next to you – think about it.

If your mother “would kill me if I acted like that” then don’t.

Has someone done something really nice for you lately, like that young man did, without expecting anything in return??

What's in a name?

our daily blog today
is from goldie

i can't wait to hear how
we all picked ours~~

What's in a name?

by Goldie

We were all given a name chosen by someone else when we were born. We had no say in it, and love it or hate, it is yours. Mine is Heidi.

Our online name is different. We got to make the choice as to what our name would be. My email, myspace and blogging name are all GOLDIE. Because of my affection to golden retriever's? No. I have never had one. I have a wonderful, beautiful Black Lab who I would throw myself, if need be, under a bus for. (I am hoping that won't be anytime soon!)

Years ago a little old man would call our office and ask questions about his account. Just checking if we had the correct address, beneficiary, etc. Nothing ever changed, so there was no need. It didn't take me long to figure out he was lonely and wanted to chat. This went on for about a year.

One day he said to me that I reminded him of his dog. Huh? I wasn't' sure if I should be insulted or not.

Then he said the nicest thing that I think I ever heard. He said that I was like his golden retriever, GOLDIE-she listened patiently while he rambled, never judged or interrupted and made him feel like what he said mattered.

Insulted? No, he paid me the highest compliment I had ever received.

A week later I got my first email account. When the tech asked what name I wanted to use- you guessed it- GOLDIE@..

That same day I found out the little old gentleman had passed away.
I have used that moniker ever since for everything online.

So how did you choose your online name? Is it your own, a made up one, your location? What is the story to your 'identity'?