MIND YOUR MATTER

by Scirish

I know it’s early, but grab your coffee and a pen and paper. Ready? Go to the link and see what happens.

click here

I’m sure all of us have had those moments when we just “knew” what the person we were talking to was going to say. Or, we have had other people finish our sentences for us. Why does this happen? Are we really reading minds?

According to Psychology Today, we are, in a way. “Every day, whether we're pushing for a raise, wrestling with the kids over homework, or judging whether a friend really likes our latest redecorating spree, we're reading each other's minds. Drawing on our observations, our databank of memories, our powers of reason, and our wellsprings of emotion, we constantly make educated guesses about what another person is thinking and feeling. Throughout the most heated argument or the most lighthearted chat, we're intently collecting clues to what's on the other person's mind at the moment. "It's a perceptual ability I call mindsight," says Daniel Siegel, UCLA psychiatrist and author of The Mindful Brain. "It allows your brain to create a map of another person's internal state."

That got me thinking; (very quietly of course) do we have a defense against this “mindsight”? What if we don’t want another person to know what we’re thinking? I believe we alter our physical clues, such as tone of voice or body language to throw the other person off track. But what if we couldn’t? What if we all could read minds? Would we be kinder, gentler people? Or would there be havoc and mayhem? What do you think Owls? If you had a choice, would you want to be able to read everyone’s mind? Would it make a difference in your choice if you were the only one that could do it? I just “know” there are going to be some interesting responses.

Blogger Confessional

8th Grade

By Lois Lane

Even if you aren't Catholic there's times in life when you want to spill out your confessions to cleanse your conscience. Today is that day for me.

Forgive me bloggers, for I have sinned. It has been one week since my last real visit to the nest. I wish I could say I have been busy working or taking a lovely vacation with family, but truth is, I've been cheating on all of you.

*Hangs head in shame*

You see, it all started when one of my old classmates recognized my photo on Facebook. Even though I go by a moniker, there was no hiding this mug of mine.

Once I came out of my state of shock, I answered and accepted him as a friend. Before long, the majority of my 8th grade class was back in my life as if they'd never left. I've spent every free internet moment catching up on the last 20-plus years of their lives. Which is reason #1 why I haven't been here.

It amazes me what the mind can dig up. You see a thumbnail photo of a friend and a flash of information takes over the mind. Memory lane has been good to me.

It's funny that this specific group of people from so long ago, were some of the closest friends of mine. I believe because in elementary school (it was a k-8 school) we went through so many stages and phases, and they were there through it all.

By the time high school came along, we had already changed. Many moved away. New friends didn't get to learn as much about who we were or where we came from. College friends and adult friends never got to know the internal workings of our lives either.

The older we get, the more guarded we become. If we could open ourselves up and just be, like we were so long ago, we would all have too many friends to count.

The internet, my blog, this blog are a few of the places where I've let my guard down, offering up the real me. I believe that is why I feel so close to you all, and why I feel so guilty about not being here lately.

If you're on Facebook, please add me. My name is Lois Twater, which is a story in itself. Facebook wouldn't accept Lois Lane as a real name. Since I am cautious about my real identity online, putting my real name wasn't an option. So I asked my teenaged son for some help.

"Find me a name as close to Lois Lane as you can."

Within seconds, I was Lois Twater.

Our real last name causes teenaged boys to call my son twat and twater, among many other fun nicknames. When my son had his Facebook account, he went by Harry Twater. Yes, I'm so proud. Anyhow, that's where the name came from.

I've missed you all, and will be back just as soon as I catch up with my past, or visa versa.

When did I become “older”?

by Dianne in Denver

I was talking to my granddaughters the other day and one of them wanted to know “how old I was when my mom let me get a cell phone.” I told them I was 40! You can imagine how astonished they both were to hear how old I was. I then had to explain to them that cell phones hadn’t even been invented yet and that is why I didn’t have one. I had another experience recently with my grandson talking about past Presidents that had been killed and I told him that I remember when Kennedy died. As I was telling him, he interrupted and very seriously wanted to know if I was there when Lincoln was shot!! These are funny stories but these children were both very serious when asking me their questions.

My granddaughters, 8 and 10, always want to be older. They ask me how old I will be when they are different ages. Recently, they told me they wanted to get married when they were thirty and asked how old I would be then. I told them I would be dead and to quit wishing my life away!!

I ordered a pizza the other night, and when the person asked me for my address, I drew a complete blank. I quickly looked for a bill or something with my address on it and felt myself begin to panic. I was home alone, so there was no one to ask. I found something with my address on it and pretended to be someone visiting and ordering a pizza. Now that scared me!!!

It is like I am still 30 or so in my head and have completely forgotten how old I really am or look. I no longer get asked if I am a senior at the movie theater. They just assume I am. I sometimes wonder how the 16 year old taking my money knows that about me.

I was at a birthday party with my grandchildren and they were being taught a “new” dance…..it was the Charleston. Now, I am not old enough to say I used to dance that (remember, I graduated from high school in ‘64) but I certainly know the Charleston and maybe even danced it a time or two. I explained to them it was a dance that my mom used to do. I just got “the look” from them.

Sometimes I think I can still do the things I used to do…like roller skating with the kids, and then I remember I’m not always able to. I have a very healthy 94 yr old aunt that tells me the same thing. She doesn’t get around as well and says she forgets she is 94 because once again in her mind, she is a younger age.

I was just wondering if any of these things have happened to any of you. Let’s share some of the things that have happened to you. Maybe none of these things have happened to you yet, and if that is the case…….I salute you!! ……because you’re a damn liar!!!

The Music of Rodrigo y Gabriela

by Just Lin

I so envy people with musical talent. I have none. Zero. Nada. Zip. I can't sing and I can't play an instrument. I think it would be such a wonderful gift to create music. If I were to play an instrument, I would want to play the guitar. I actually took a few lessons from a flamenco guitarist many years ago, but then life got in the way and I was unable to continue.

Every once in a while, a musical artist comes along that literally stops me in my tracks. I remember the first time I heard Andrea Bocelli sing. I was absolutely spellbound. That also happened back in December of 2006 when I was listening to, but not really watching, The Late Show with David Letterman. He introduced two guitarists from Mexico, Rodrigo and Gabriela, and right from the beginning, they grabbed my full attention. I was mesmerized. There are other videos on the internet of their performances but this is the one I saw that night. Enjoy.

Bingo

by Iteach

Where to start? Where to begin? It is hard to start the story of my grandma there is just so much to say. She lived a rich life full of travel, hardship, and love. I watched my grandpa say good-bye to his beautiful bride of 63 years. Her three children are mourning together peacefully. Her 7 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren have been swapping funny grandma stories all weekend.

I think I will talk about my favorite memories. One of my favorite memories of her is playing Bingo with her on Friday nights at the American Legion. Boy, could she play that game. She could play many cards at once and not miss a number. She also kept one eye her cards and one eye on my one card in case I missed a number. She always sat in the same place with her good luck charms in front of her cards. We would pig out on grilled cheese sandwiches and french fries. The smoke at that place was awful, but being with my grandma was priceless. I would have went anywhere to be with her.

Besides Bingo, she also had me hooked on Lawrence Welk. My grandma could find his reruns all the time. I loved watching her smile as she listed to all those treasured songs. Boy did that show make her happy!

She was also an avid camper. I loved visiting her at the campgrounds and playing in her camper. It was so much fun especially with my six other cousins. I wish I could be in her camper again!

Do you have any favorite memories of your grandma? She was the only grandma I ever had, I sure do miss you grandma.

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The Adventures of Birdee!

I have always said "Our Birdee" was nothing but trouble, from the first encounter I had with her, I knew my life would change. Mo warned me, but I was too curious, so I let her enter my life, and boy was I in for a ride.

She seems to think its ok, to fly around the nest, chirping away, using bird language, that makes no sense at all, and even tho she claims to be a expert at playing the piano, her beak and wings hit the wrong keys, and the sound is deafening.

The trees are her home, and she gladly sits in them, while watching the world around her, when she can sneak into someones window she does so with glee, and creates havoc as she flies thru. There are times she invites her bird friends, and the havoc is like the movie "The Birds", yes scary.

When she plays cards with Mo and Ronnie her games are never fair, and she will do what she has to do to win, if she has to cheat she will, and in turn will take all the money with her. She loves money, and at times you will even see her eat it. With all the money stashed in her beak , she will buy shovels, dog food, pepto bismol, beer and the Dance, Dance Revolution. She is a Dance, Dance Revolution fanatic, and uses it daily, that is why she has such skinny chickenowl legs.

Her manners are somewhat horrendous as she will
poop wherever she is, she has a good aim, so one must always look above and dodge the poop, however, be very careful, because her aim is so good, she will get ya right in the eye. Jax has been trying to train her to use the toilet, but always has to hand her the toilet paper, for if it was up to Birdee she would just poop and go.

Her drinking has definitely gotten out of hand, she loves Beer and will drink 48 beers in one hour, when confronted, she will deny her problem, and with beer in hand fly away. She will find a place to land, her favorite, a pool, once she lands, she makes herself comfy on a raft made only for birds, she will float as she drinks. Swimming is definitely out of the question, as too many beers and swimming just don't mix, its definitely not for the birds.

All this has been documented in the video below, I needed proof of her trouble making ways, as she is always blaming me or Mo. So now the truth will come out and I can rest my head on my pillow at night with ease.



There is something I have not mentioned, after all the turmoil Birdee ensues, she has most definitely been a bright light in my life.

She has become my friend, she is there whenever needed, and will always bring a smile to my face. Her wit can be infectious, and she is more than willing to give herself up for a chuckle. She will play along with me, and always takes what I throw her way, she is definitely a good sport.

Jax, I, Mo and Ronnie, are actually grateful for her trouble making ways, but most of all for her friendship.

Her friendship indeed, and I would not change it for the world~

~ Testify to Love ~

Chosen by Tina~in_ut

I thought I was just going to hear Wynonna sing this beautiful song when I found this video, but when I watched it, I cried and it reminded me that when we lose someone, the only thing that we can do is give thanks for the time we had with them. I never watched Touched by an Angel, but I heard that it was a very special show. I love Wynonna’s voice. It’s so powerful and I think this song is perfect for a Sunday, no matter what your personal beliefs are.