Grandma Still Drives

 by Just_Lin

Grandma is eighty-eight years old and still drives her own car. She writes:

 
Dear Grand-Daughter,
 
The other day I went up to our local Christian book store and saw a 'Honk if you love Jesus' bumper sticker .. 
 
I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting. 
 
So, I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper. 
 
Boy, am I glad I did; what an uplifting experience that followed. 
 
I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good he is, and I didn't notice that the light had changed. 
 
It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed. 
 
I found that lot of people really love Jesus! 
 
While I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, 'For the love of God!' 
 
'Go! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, GO!' 
 
What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus! 
 
Everyone started honking! 
 
I just leaned out my window and started waving and smiling at all those loving people. 
 
I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love! 
 
There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a sunny beach. 
 
I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air. 
 
I asked my young teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant. 
 
He said it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something. 
 
Well, I have never met anyone from Hawaii , so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back. 
 
My grandson burst out laughing. 
 
Why even he was enjoying this religious experience!! 
 
A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. 
 
I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed. 
 
So, grinning, I waved at all my brothers and sisters, and drove on through the intersection. 
 
I noticed that I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared. 
 
So I slowed the car down, leaned out the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away. Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!! 
 
Will write again soon, 
 
Love, Grandma

Group Therapy

by Just Lin

A Canadian psychiatrist was conducting a group therapy session with four young mothers and their small children:

 

"You all have obsessions," he observed.

 

To the first mother, Mary, he said, "You are obsessed with eating. You've even named your daughter Candy."

 

He turned to the second Mom, Ann: "Your obsession is with money. Again, it manifests itself in your child's name, Penny."

 

He turned to the third Mom, Joyce: "Your obsession is alcohol. This too shows itself in your child's name, Brandy."

 

At this point, the fourth mother, Carol, quietly got up, took her little boy by the hand, and whispered, "Come on, Dick, this guy has no idea what he's talking about. Let's pick up Peter and Little Willy from school and go get dinner."

Beaver Creek Wildfire

by Just Lin

Beaver Creek Wildfire Video from SCVP Cordovano Video&Production on Vimeo.

Come Unto Me

by The Mavericks/submitted by Just Lin

I saw The Mavericks perform this song on The Tonight Show and loved it.  It makes me dance.

SWEET DREAMS, HOOTERS!

by Just Lin

I rarely have a dream; at least not one that I remember after waking.  Oh, sometimes I remember it for a fleeting second or two, but I can't hold on to it and it dissipates in the air like smoke. 

 

Dreams are fascinating things.  I've had some wonderfully erotic ones and just as I'm getting to the good part, I wake up.  How infuriating and frustrating is that?  Or is it too often like real life?  Hmmmm.......

 

Have you ever had a recurring dream or one that you were able to change as you were dreaming it?  I used to have a recurring dream about a Doberman Pinscher that was leaping over a fence, teeth bared and snarling, and about to attack me.  It was very dark and frightening.  As the dream was occuring, I was able to turn the dog into the dobie that was my pet and it was suddenly just a happy dog coming to greet me.  I had this dream so often that I would kind of talk to myself during the scary part and tell myself not to be afraid because the part was coming up where I can change it.  Fortunately, I haven't had that dream in many, many years now.  I guess I finally resolved those fears that caused it.

 

As a child, I dreamt that I could levitate.  It seemed so real to me that I was sure for a long time that it really happened.  It was similar to the flying dreams that some people have but my dream never took me outside.  I've never had a flying dream as an adult. 

 

I had a funny dream the other night.  In the dream, I was signing in for some kind of convention banquet thing. I was very dressed up but alone.  Apparently, it was a law enforcement occasion because I mentioned my deceased husband's name at the desk where we were to check in.  I'm referring to my second husband  He had been a police lieutenant. After signing in at the desk, I was directed to walk down a hall in the hotel to find the banquet room. As I was walking, I reached up to scratch my chin and discovered a hair there. I took hold of it between my thumb and forefinger and ran my fingers down it to see how long it was; one inch, two inches, three inches!  Still holding the hair, I extended my arm completely and I still hadn't reached the end of it!  I thought to myself that this must be a really fine and blonde hair because no one seemed to notice it.  I let go of it as I continued on to the banquet room and I was now aware of how it was trailing behind me, floating in the breeze as I walked.  For some reason, that pleased me.  LOL

 

I better go check in the mirror. 

Dog Shaming

by Just Lin

I CAN HEAR MUSIC

 by The Beach Boys featuring Kathy Troccoli

Submitted by Just Lin

 

A couple of weeks ago my Idaho friend asked me to listen to this song on YouTube.  It was released in 1969 and I can't say that I remember it but I sure do like it now.  I hadn't heard of Kathy Troccoli before, probably because she is better known as a Christian singer.  I love how her voice sounds on this song and how well it works with the Beach Boys' smooth harmonizing. 

MAYBE I'M A GOOD LISTENER?

by Just_Lin

I frequent a small, local coffee shop.  I've been going there for years so I'm one of the "regulars".  This means that the cooks and waitresses know my name and I know theirs.  I often chat a bit with the waitresses if time allows.  Not every day, though, and I'm usually reading my book while I eat. On occasion, I may end up sharing a booth with one of the other "regulars' and we'll have a little conversation while we eat.  We have some nice chats but, generally, I'm not a real big talker.  I'm more on the quiet side.

 

The coffee shop has a new waitress, Theresa.  I would guess Theresa is about 60 years old and wears her hair in a single braid that reaches her waist.  Theresa is a talker.  Today during my 1/2 hour lunch Theresa told me the following, all completely unsolicited by me.

 

Theresa likes to go to the other end of the mall to visit the tobacco shop because the clerk there has a chihuahua behind the counter that jumps up and down, up and down, so it can see her over over the top of the counter.  She said it's like he's on a pogo stick or something and she thinks it's soooo cute..... Unless, he's barking at something, then he's not so cute.  Very yappy.  She can't stand yappy dogs.  She could never have a yappy dog, she's more of a cat person.  She used to have a house cleaning business and she really liked it.  She cleaned some businesses, too.  This one house that she cleaned regularly was really quite large and a really nice house.  She really enjoyed cleaning that house but the owner was one of those people that cleaned the house before she got here.  (Tinka, are you reading this?)  She didn't like it that the owner would do that because then when she, herself, cleaned it, she couldn't tell that it looked any different than before she started.  Next door to this house was another house and the people there had two small dogs.  Those dogs would bark all day long.  They were very yappy.  Theresa wouldn't be able to handle that.  She asked about my dog, a pit bull, and answered her own question that pit bulls don't stand around barking all day.  She doesn't know how anybody could stand to have a dog like that and it would drive her crazy to live next door to that constant barking.  When Theresa got done at the coffee shop today, she was going to go to the store to pick up wine for her elderly mother who lives in a senior apartment complex.  It's really a pretty nice complex but she thought the one where she used to live was a little nicer.  Her mother didn't have any friends in the old one, though, so she wanted to move and this new place has worked out better because she has friends there, now.  When she talks to her mother on the phone her mother always complains about the phone not working well but Theresa suspects that the real problem that her mother is probably losing her hearing. 

 

I love to sit at the coffee shop, quietly reading my book while I eat.  This book is taking me a lot longer than usual to get through.  I think it has something to do with Theresa.

Take Your Tongue Out Of My Mouth

by Jeff Daniels

Submitted by Just Lin

This song just makes me laugh. Jeff Daniels wrote this "break up" song and performed it on Craig Ferguson's Late Late Show. Besides laughing, I also found myself tapping my foot.

A Father's Love

by Just Lin

Most people today think it improper to discipline children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.'

Since I'm a pilot, one that I have found very effective is for me is to just take the child for a flight during which I say nothing and give the child the opportunity to reflect on his or her behavior.

I don't know whether it's the steady vibration from the engines, or just the time away from any distractions such as TV, video games, computer, iPod, etc.

Either way, my kids usually calmed down and stop misbehaving after our flight together. I believe that eye to eye contact during these sessions is an important element in achieving the desired results.

I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique...

Works with grandkids, also.

Call Me Maybe - 2012 USA Olympic Swimming Team

by Just Lin

I've really been enjoying watching the Olympics and just saw this cute video this morning. Michael might even find something to like in here. LOL

Joan Osborne "Shake Your Hips"

Submitted by Just_Lin

At the local Curves where I exercise there is a message on a board that says that regular exercise increases strength, stamina, and flexability and reduces your real age by 2.8 years. I find that dancing is a great and fun way to exercise. Some songs, especially, make me want to get up and shake my booty. This song is one of them. Whenever I hear it while I'm driving in the car, I can't help but turn up the volume and shake my hips, even while in the driver's seat.

Hey Mama by Mat Kearney

Submitted by Just_Lin

Okay.  So I am suffering from old-timers' disease because I can't remember if I've submitted this vid before or not.  I like this song as it always makes me tap my feet and has an upbeat feel to it.  Also, it reminds me of some great memories I have of visiting New Orleans.

SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW

Sung by Gotye (featuring Kimbra)

Submitted by Just Lin

I really like this song and I like the video, too. Although the lyrics don't at all represent how things went with Custard and I, it is true that he's now become just somebody that I used to know. That still feels sad to me but it's getting better.

REVOLUTION GIRLS

by Just Lin

I saw this group on the Late Show with David Letterman the other night and thought it was quite a catchy tune.  I can't say that I'm a fan of mariachi music but this group is a little different and I found myself tapping my foot and moving to the beat.  I hope you enjoy it, too.

HAPPY, HAPPY, SKIP. SKIP

by Just_Lin

Today was a quiet Sunday at home.  I was just starting to simmer some meat for beef stew when I noticed that every time my granddaughter, Kaylee, went from one room to the next, she was skipping.  This had not been such a good idea a little earlier in the day when she and the dog, Ursula, collided resulting in Ursula getting kicked by a knee right in her mouth, and the granddaughter crumpling to the floor with grand theatrical wails about the tooth puncture that was now in her knee.  Fortunately, after applying an ice pack to the knee, all was well very soon and the skipping began again.

 

My granddaughter's jubilant skipping made me reflect on my own moments of joy and wondering when the last time was that I was that happy and carefree that it could manifest itself in skipping.  I decided that it was last February when I met Custard for a road trip.  I flew up north and he met me at the airport.  It was a great reunion because we hadn't seen each other in a long time.  After the hugs and kisses, we started walking hand in hand to the baggage claim area.  I had to stop for just a moment, and jump up and down a couple of times while clapping, all the while grinning ear to ear.  I was so very happy at that exact moment.  My joyous display made him laugh.  We had a lot of good laughs on that trip and I cherish every memory.

 

Can you recall the last time you felt so happy that you just wanted to skip or jump up and down?

Amazing Grace

Sung by The Blind Boys of Alabama

Submitted by Just_Lin

Since this is a Sunday Music Video, I thought it would be nice to have a gospel. This is the Blind Boys of Alabama singing "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun". The Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel group that first formed in 1939 at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind.

LET'S PRETEND

by Just Lin

During the last several months, I spent quite a bit of time in the house I grew up in.  That brought back memories of my childhood and all the great games I played with little more than my imagination. 

 

One thing that always fascinated me was the switchboard operators that I would see in old movies.  They were always so busy connecting their callers to the right office or hotel room or whatever.  I discovered that I could make my own switchboard by placing a shoe box upside down and putting the top of the box at right angles to it in order to make a backboard. I would then poke small holes in the surface of the box and also in the "backboard".  I would use the elastic bands from doll bonnets to be my telephone cables.  The metal ends on those bands kept the band in place when put through one of the holes.  In this way, I would connect my pretend calls.

 

I'm still kind of fascinated with switchboards.  Several years ago, I came across a beautiful wood and brass one in an antique store.  I imagine it came from a grand hotel.  I swear, if I had a bigger house I would have bought it just as a conversation piece.  It was kind of expensive but it would have made me happy and maybe I would have played with it late at night when no one was watching.  LOL 

 

What pretend games did you play when you were a child? 

A Better Place

by Just Lin

Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.  This song is from his recently released c/d, "Ghost on the Canvas".  It will no doubt be the last time that Mr. Campbell is in a recording studio. 

 

This song breaks my heart when I hear it.  It was absolutely horrible to watch my mother die from cancer but at least it was relatively quick.  I don't think I could have beared to watch her slip away slowly through Alzheimer's.  What a horrible disease it is.

Money Grabber

by Just Lin

In light of recent ecomonic turmoil, I thought this music video was appropriate. For some reason, I think of Congress every time I hear it. LOL