End of another year....2009

Here we are at the end of not only a year
but a decade. And as I have said in the past.
Well, there goes another year gone to hell in
a bucket

What do we have more of or less of than a year
ago, as we looked back in 2009?

I guess I would have to say, my health, which is a
big blessing. Same for the King, again, a big blessing.

We have a roof over our head,
We have food in the cupboards,
We have enough money to pay our bills
We have gas in our vehicles to be able to
go places,
We have good friends that we enjoy and
they seem to enjoy us.
We have clothes and heat to keep warm.
We live in a freedom of our country.
We enjoy hunting, fishing and the pursuit
of happiness.

So all in all I would say that the King and I,
are very blessed. And 2009 has been good
to us.

As for the decade, well, there is so much
that has happen, but you can google or watch
any television channel and they will tell you
the changes of electronic, terrorist, and the
great changes of good and bad in all of our
lives.

For me, I became a blogger, when 10 years
ago, I didn't know what a blog was. 5 years
ago today I walked out of the door, where I
worked for over 17 years, for the last time to
retire. I have more grandchildren, and great
grandchildren. And still with the same wonderful
guy... I am totally blessed.

May 2010 bring you good health, enough in
life to keep you happy and lots of good friends.

Stupidity

I really have a hard time with people of stupidity.
Those are the ones who do not use common sense
or if they do, they ignore it.
It isn't because they aren't smart enough, they just
rather blame someone else for their bad choices.

The latest is the GPS, that people buy for their cars.
We have one. And like it. The King calls ours, Bertha.
Especially when he has decided to take a short cut
that he is aware of and Bertha isn't. So she is constantly
saying, "recalculating, recalculating.".. trying to find her way
to our destination.

But it has come out that twice now, in a short time, two
different families followed the GPS directions. One is an
elderly couple and the other one is a young couple. The
elderly couple ended up in their car for 3 days before
finally, their cell phone got a signal. Traveling 30 miles down
a bad road. I don't know how far the young couple went, nor
do I know how long they were in their stuck car.

The breakdown is... the GPS will show where a road is.
And there was a road there, where they traveled. But
common sense tells you if the road had snow, lots of snow,
built up on this road, that MAYBE, JUST MAYBE you should
NOT follow it. GPS shows where there is a road, not road
conditions, or weather conditions. That is where you the
operator are suppose to have good judgment. Don't blame
the GPS for your bad choice.

Had the road been flooded would they still have drove on
that road because the GPS said there was a road there?
That is as bad as the guy who got up from his RV drivers
seat, after putting it in autodrive, to have a cup of coffee.

Come on, people, use your head.

Making lemonade out of lemon type of a day

The King's new hobby.....ice fishing...

Merry Christmas

I hate to repeat myself...but this poem says it
oh, so much better than I. I found it on a card
sent to me 3 years ago... it is the best I have
ever found. So here you are, the wise words of
George A. Gladden Sr

MY CHRISTMAS CARD LIST
I have a list of folks I know,
all written in a book,
And every year when Christmas comes,
I go and take a look.

That is when I realize these names are all a part,
not of the book they're written in,
but of my very heart.

For each name stands for someone
who has crossed my path sometime,
And in that meeting they've become
the rhythm in each rhyme.

While it may sound fantastic
for me to make this claim,
I really feel that I'm composed
of each remembered name.

And while you may not be aware
of any special link.
Just meeting you has changed my life
much more than you think.

For once I've met somebody,
the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word
or of a friendly face.

So, never think my Christmas cards
are just a mere routine
Of names upon a Christmas list,
forgotten in between.

For when I send a Christmas card
that is addressed to you,
It's because you're on the list
of folks I'm endeared to.

For I am but a total of the many folks I've met,
And you happen to be one of those
I prefer not to forget.

Whether I have known you
for many years or few,
In some way you have had a part
in shaping things I do.

And every year when Christmas comes
I realize a new,
The best gift life can offer
is meeting folks like you.

So may the spirit of Christmas
that forevermore endures,
Leave its richest blessing
in the hearts of you and yours.

My Christmas Card List
written by George A. Gladden, Sr.
and once again...
I wish you all.... my dear readers...
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS........

I am going to be having some computer
work done tomorrow or the next... so will
be back after Christmas....

THANK YOU NOTES?

When you are given a gift, do you write a thank you note?
Do you call instead? Or do you sit down and write out a
thank you note and mail it?
Or being we are more into internet, do you sent an email?
Or is just saying thank you, at the time the gift is given
to you, enough?

The Emily Post correctness is you write a note of thanks.
Not just a card, but to actually write a note of thanks and
how much you appreciate it. She would never go for the
email thank you note.

I know I was required, even as a small child, to write a note of thanks.
I also trained my children to write a note of thanks when it was a gift
sent to them. If they were hand given, then I let them off with just saying
thank you. Which they usually did on their own.

My own deal is... I just say thank you to the person as it is given.
If they mail one to me, then I either call, (because I think a phone call
is just as personal) or write a note.

If we are at a group gathering such as Christmas time, I say thank you,
as I open it and see it... and then before I leave the gathering, I go over
and tell the giver, thank you again.

So what is your procedure and what do you have your children do.
Do you write a note? Or is this a lost art?

One of those days...

with the overcast day, where all you see is rain and clouds... this is the best way to
spend the day...especially on a weekend.

Looking at a gift horse in the mouth...

Did you or do you get a gift for Christmas from
your employer?

I know some get bonuses..ranging from $25 to
maybe up to a thousand or so. Some of us....
got a turkey.

For 10 years we use to get a turkey.
We referred to it as a glove box turkey,
as they were so small. About 10 pounds
or less.

The last couple of years that I worked we
had a new owner, and we got a $25 gift
card for Wal-Mart. Which was listed on
our payroll statement as a gift and then
the taxes were deducted for it. Meaning
we got $22.

Most of us where ok with the turkey or the
gift card, until we found out that our boss
got $500 or more. Kind of damping the feeling,
when you know you literally busted your back
lifting, getting thrown up on, cussed out, and
kept the place going thru sickness as well as
health. But that is the way things go... so
I guess one shouldn't look a gift horse in the
mouth.

Voting for Obama...a year later...

Here we are a year later... and how do I feel about voting for Obama?

I know a lot of people will say I am naive, but I am still ok with voting
for Obama. Considering the choices given, I still glad I voted for him.

While there are somethings that I wish he handled better, and I am
not really happy with his choices of cabinet, still I am ok with it.

I think he brings class to the office. And yes, I think of John Kennedy
when I see the family pictures of him and his family.

Maybe I am not so upset as others is because I don't blame him for
a lot, that others do. I am also willing to wait and see what happens.

A lot of people are ready to criticize before he even finishes what he
has in mind. I also feel it takes a lot of time for things to change.
He was handed a big mess, like it or not, Bush people. A bigger
mess than either Obama or Biden even thought.

And probably I give him a pass because I understand the 101 of
government.... that being the President isn't really in charge of our
laws and rules... Congress is. Remember what I told you before.
ANY President who has brought an idea or bill to Congress, is
at their mercy. They can dump it on the floor right away. They
can table it, or they can run it thru and vote it out. So where does
he have control of it? Then Congress can come up with what ever
they please, run it thru if they get it out of committee, and send it
to the President. He can veto it....but ... Congress has another
shot at it... they get 2/3rds to override the veto... and it becomes
law anyway. Where does he have control over that?

President is a person who TRIES to do what he thinks is best,
CONGRESS decides if that is good or not. Other than that,
he is the one who is the head of the country for other countries to
meet with, as well as our Secretary of State.

So I don't get angry at the President, I get angry at CONGRESS.
And the worse of it all is .... as an Idahoian, I get upset with states,
such a California who send us the such horrible people, who have
been there long enough to make it miserable for us. That is where
limits would be good...as we can't vote the bums out.

So I still feel ok with my vote, and sometimes wonder about those
who lost, what they would have done that they think is better. And
being one of them is still in Congress, why didn't he come up with a
better idea for the health bill and etc.? After all, Obama said months
ago, he was open for suggestions.

So do I still have HOPE????? Yes.

Oh, the weather outside is delightful?

They say that pictures say a thousand words....

and in this case that is true... so here is outside,

and Misty burrowing in among the wash just out

of the dryer.....

The Written Word...

When I was in high school in the 1950's,
a girlfriend and I got caught passing notes.
Of which, my girlfriend being the one who
had the note at the time, was made to stand
up and read what was in the note....all of it.
Meaning my words as well as her own.

I don't recall what we were writing about, but
it wasn't good for it to be announced to all.
Nothing horrible by today's standards but not
good, never the less.
It was quite embarrassing for us teens ..

From that I learn... NEVER EVER, EVER, EVER
WRITE DOWN ANYTHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT
EVERYONE TO READ. Treat all notes, letters, and
etc. as if you are writing for a newspaper for all to read.
It has served me well.

So when I hear about how emails, text messages, even
voice messages are used against people....and then they
think it is private, I got to ask... WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

Of all things, email, text messages and voice messages
are pretty much open for any who can access it and many
do. One way or another. And if you are famous? Well, expect
those messages, either written or voiced, to be on national
news. Because there is 98% it will.

Again, the lesson of 50 years ago...
NEVER EVER,EVER, EVER, WRITE DOWN ANYTHING,
THAT YOU DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO READ.
It is a hard lesson, of which Tiger Woods and many others
have found out, but do they learn.. we will see.

Driving in the snow

98% OF AMERICANS SAY 'OH SHIT' BEFORE
GOING IN THE DITCH ON A SLIPPERY ROAD.

THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM IDAHO,

AND THEY SAY HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS!!!
-- Always try to be positive!!

latest email

HOW COLD IS IT?

How cold is it? Too damn cold...
We have had wake up temps ranging
from 0 to 5 and warming up to 12 to 17
during the day. As late as 11am we have
seen the single digit.

And then... then they add in the WIND CHILL FACTOR!
You can have 3 and with wind chill factor it can be
-20 depending on how windy it is... and we have had
from 5 to 47 mph winds. So you can see we are
fighting stinging faces, hands and etc.

I realize they add in the WIND CHILL FACTOR
for our protection.. but in my book there is the
cold, Idaho cold and DAMN IT IS FLAMING COLD.

I don't go out in DAMN IT IS FLAMING COLD.
For those of you die heart wind chill people, that
is anything below -10 in my book.

The End of the World, or is it?

I guess I didn't appreciate my mother as much as I should have.
She did ingrain in me, to question things, and not to get too upset
of the unknown.

In the 1950's there were people who were building bomb shelters.
This was full of food and water and beds and etc. All of which was
to keep you safe from the bomb. Don't know how much supplies
they had, for how many days. Some actually dug holes in the ground
and some used their basements. For those who don't know what a
basement is, it is a large room or several rooms below the ground,
under your house. A lot of houses are built without them, it seems.

Anyway, Mom's theory was if the bomb goes off in the good old
USA, then you bend over, kiss your arse good by, because you
aren't going to remember even doing it. That any bomb shelter
would become a grave, because how were you going to keep the
fumes out of the air ducts. And you have to have air ducts to breathe.

So in 1961 or 62, I forgot which one it was... I was living in California.
National City to be exact. And the talk was about the end of the
world ... seems it was going to flood. My neighbors were all excited.
Seems some place in Arizona was going to be the only place to
survive. So my neighbors on the night of the big flood and the end
of the world, were getting up on top of the roof of their homes.
They had blankets, pillows, beer, ( I guess they figure that would
take the fear away). One of the neighbors fell off the roof about
2am and broke his arm. But they helped him back up, as they
didn't want him to drown. I kind of laughed at them, and told
them, I was going into the house with my kids and sleep on
our own beds. As I didn't believe it. Seems they thought the
water would come up when part of California fell off in to the ocean.
I woke up the next morning and went outside with my cup of coffee
at day break, and you know the world was still there and no floods.
But there sure were a lot of grouchy neighbors.

So with the 2012 bit, I am not getting excited. I figure I will be here
3 years later to enjoy my 75th birthday. You see, if it should happen,
it happens... it is what it is... but so far my mother has been right.
Much a do about nothing.

Why Tiger Woods?

I am sure as everyone else, I am tired of the Tiger Woods deal.
Why is it the media has to beat us over the head with a subject
or subjects until we are fed up and indifferent towards that subject?

They ask, Why Tiger? Why? My answer is why not Tiger? He is
a man. No, this isn't a man bashing post. I have still have a lot of
respect over all for the man and his golf game. Personally, I don't
even know the man, so I feel it is between he and his wife. No, I
don't think because he promotes himself as a product to do with
golf, he deserves what the media gives him. He does not promote
his family. There are rare pictures of his wife and children. He promotes
businesses. Golf or products such as Buick.

I felt the same way about Tiger and his wife, as I did (well maybe not as
much as) when I learned this past summer that one of our friend couples,
separated. It sadden us. Surprised us, we didn't have a clue, and felt
sad. Same thing with Tiger and his wife. It is sad, and I hope they
can repair it. They have children..

Global Warming...

With the newest out on the Global Warming, it has done more damage
than the warming itself. The lack of trust we all have in the first place and
now with this, will anyone ever really believe anything they say.

I have always suspect their theory's wouldn't hold water anyway. But I
am just an old lady who thinks logical and this just didn't add up logically.
I watched the Gore's movie and it just didn't add up correctly.

I have lived long enough to see the earth change over and over again.
Some times in 20 year cycles and some times in 7. Be it snow storms
or hurricane's or even flooding and even the hot summers and mild winters.

The sad thing about this is the fact that people while throw out the whole
story. And one thing is true, humans are the most wasteful, trashiest, uncaring
for what Mother Nature and the Lord have gave us.

Don't get me wrong, there are some out there and have been for years, who
are trying to clean up the earth. At least in America, any way. Hopefully in
other countries too. And hopefully this won't stop them.

I had gone back home to R.I. to live in the late 1970's. There was a group who
were trying so hard to clean up Narragansett Bay. They had Save the Bay stickers,
and ads every where. It was really hard work to get the people to listen and to
clean up the bay. http://www.savebay.org/Page.aspx?pid=253

See there is a small island called Jamestown that my father
lived on as a boy. We still have relatives there. And ever since the beginning of
time, the people who lived on the island, emptied out their sewerages into the
bay. I was clamming one time with one of the locals... and I saw this pipe about
6 inches around sticking out of the ground above the water level of low tide.
I asked what they were for, as there was one for each house on the bay.
I was horrified to learn that it was a sewer pipe from the house. Emptying
out into the Bay...Been there since beginning of time. The town is over
300 years old.

Since then, thru the fight of Save the Bay, Jamestown put in a new sewage
treatment plant and has upgraded their sewer system. Hopefully everyone is
attached to it. I do know it is illegal to dump sewerage in to the Bay.

There are such organizers for different causes, for different projects, who
really are doing a good job of cleaning up the rivers, lakes, and other sources.
Hopefully this deceitful group did not louse it up for those who are truthful with
their projects. We all need to be careful how we treat our earth.

Mom's Cookie recipe

AGGRESSION COOKIES

3 cup brown sugar 3 cups margarine

6 cups of oatmeal 1 tablespoon baking soda

3 cups of flour

Put all this in a huge bowl and mash, knead,and squeeze (see name of cookies). then form it into small balls of a good Italian meatball size. Put on the ungreased cookie sheet. Butter the bottom of the small glass or jar, dip it in to granulated sugar and mash the balls flat. Keep doing it. (you may have to butter the jar/glass twice) but re-dip it in sugar for each ball. Then bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes. depending how big the balls are... on how many cookies you get.

My mother use to start her Christmas baking about Nov. And this is one of the recipes she used often. She said as the baking went some times this was a good mood buster...but over the years I have found it to be a great kids recipes. Just throw the ingredients in the bowl..have the kids wash their hands and arms really well and let them at it. They have a blast. Then I would help them row the balls... and let them mash them. You have to watch the boys as they get a little gunho with the mashing part. But the cookies taste great and the kids have a great time helping..it is really a wonderful grandparent/grandchild project. So enjoy.

Christmas Lights....

I was busy on Monday getting the lights out.
I have unfolded the tree and hung it. We have one of
those flat Christmas trees. It works great in our space
lacking house. It hangs on the wall just great.

I got the Santa and reindeer with sleigh on the fence.
Checked out the lights on the fence and they are all
good to go.

House lights? I am one of those who people talk about.
My Christmas house lights are up year round. Got tired of
fighting to get them in the freezing cold of Dec. Also the
great thing about it is we can be found easy. Want to find
our house? Just let us know you are coming. And we
will turn on the lights, after all how many houses have
their Christmas lights on in the summer...lol.. Also we
use them with the American Flag light we have for
July 4th.

Merry Christmas and Happy 4th of July.. we are ready.

Gate Crashers

I have to laugh about these gate crashers..
they sure made some red faces and probably
some heads roll at the White House.

Got to ask tho... how many of the guest
showed up with their own camera crew?
Seems the Bravo channel sent a camera
crew to record all the people these to crashers
met. So when they showed up with the camera
didn't that flag the couple?

I heard in the background when they announced
their name, to the group in the room. Who tells them
that? The couple? Or is there a list that they had?

The other thing of interest to me from the get go was
everyone was talking about how the President could
have been at risk. Yet no one, I saw or heard said
anything about the guest and that they could have
been a target. Actually, I didn't hear the guest mention
in anyway at all.

Oh, well, it was a slow news weekend. Until the
Lacey, Wa. tragic story that unfold.

I AM A LAZY COOK......

When I got married at 19, I was fair cook.
I cut up my own chicken. Heck, I killed my own
chicken. I use to make my own bread. Potato
bread was one of my favorites.

When the kids got older, I did cinnamon rolls
from scratch. I made spaghetti sauce from scratch.
I made my own chili... and none of it came out of
a can. Well, the tomato sauce and paste I used
did.

I made cakes from scratch and the icing to go with it.
We even made our own ice cream in the summer. First
with the crank and then with the electric one.

Then somewhere down the road, I got sloppy, and
bought Ragu instead of making my own, just throwing
in the meat and seasoned. Cake mixes came into the
picture as well as store bought bread,

And now if the recipe calls for over 4 ingredients, I skip
it. What happen to the drive and the pleasure of having
things come out of the work. Seems only Christmas
cooking I still do. The cookies and liqueur, breads,
and some times candies. But the rest... I am lazy.

Magnets....

Front door....
Back door

Kitchen cupboards....

How many magnets do you have on your refrigerator?

I only have two... because some one told me it draws
from the electricity on the refrigerator and has it use more
electricity. Don't know if there is any truth to that, but
didn't want to take any chances.

But I do have metal cabinets in the kitchen and I have
a front door and a back door that is metal. so I made up
on those for the lack of the refrigerator.

I remember some of the past. There were the ABC's
section that my kids use to make up words. And one
that was back in the 60's which was a foam rubber/sponge
like design. Most of them were either roosters or hens. But
there were some fish and etc. They were made of the
rubber/sponge like with all kinds of sparkle stuff on them
to make the scales for the fish and feathers for the birds.
Most of mine come from sayings or ads for companies.
Some are butterflies, (my favorite) or drawings on them.
And some are from travels and states.

Mine hold up, notes of "do not forget", recipes, coupons, and
pictures.

So what do you have on your refrig or cupboards?
And what is yours holding up?

One of those days...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Memories of Thanksgiving Past

Many years ago, about 28 or so, my then husband Marv and
our family went to my parent's for Thanksgiving.

The kids lucked out to be able to sit at the kids table. They
didn't think so at the time, just as I didn't think so, many years in the
past. But believe me, it was better at the kids table.

When we sat down, I saw the table of many past Thanksgivings.
Marv was horrified at what he saw. See he was a good old boy from
Minnesota and he was a fork, knife and spoon type of a man.
What he saw, puzzled him and scared him, he looked at me for
guidance. I told him follow me, but the scheme of things is to go
from the outside in with the utensils. And what ever you do, DON'T
EAT OFF THE PLATE..

See,what he saw was a skinny short fork, a normal fork, and a small fork.
Then on the other side of a big plate, was a knife, a teaspoon and a big spoon.
In front of that was a small plate with a tad square of butter, a little tiny bowl,
with a tiny spoon in it (it was salt) and a water glass.

He looked at me with question on his mind, when I repeated..DON'T EAT OFF
THE PLATE..

Mom showed up with shrimp cocktail in a little bowl which she sat on the PLATE.
I picked up the small skinny fork, and Marv follow thru. That is a cocktail fork, I told
him.

Then Mom removed that when we were finished, to be replaced with a small bowl of
French Onion Soup, that was placed on the PLATE. I picked up the large spoon.
Soup spoon I told him, he nodded.

When we finished the soup, it was removed and replaced with a normal plate.
Mom put on the serving bowls of turnips, squash, mash potatoes, gravy bowls,
dishes with sweet pickles and dill pickles. Also black olives and green stuffed
olives and pickled tiny onions. Bowls of cranberries and bowls of jelly cranberries.

Off to the side was a small table, which Dad was cutting the turkey.
We would in turn hand him our normal plate and he would put what you wanted
on it for meal. Then it was returned to have us,to rotate to bowls with vegetables around
the table until everyone had some of each. As well as the pickles and etc. and the
buns that were placed on the table. Use the big fork, I told Marv, he nodded.

And then we ate. Conversation would flow, and laughter.

After we were done with the main meal, the plates and bowls were removed. To be
replaced by 3 to 4 pies, And small plates put on the PLATE. And then I took the
last fork, and explain, dessert fork. Marv nodded.

After we got done and started to leave the table, Marv asked... what is with the
PLATE? I told him it was called a serving plate and that is what everything is
put on as he could see. I told him, other than that, don't ask, as I don't know.. It
has just been that way all thru the years. It was the subject of many conversations
later in years for Marv.

The men would go in and watch television (usually football) and my mother would put
away all of the food. And go in with the adults. I.... on the other hand...no matter what
age, did the dishes. And the only dish washer my mother had was me....

Then in about 1955, God sent an angel to our house for Thanksgiving. She came as a
guest of a good friend of our family who later married this angel. The angel's name is
Josephine. She came into the kitchen and said, "you dry as you know where to put all
of the dishes and pans." I told her quietly (I was 15) that she was suppose to be in the
living room with the adults. She said, "Oh, no, I am staying until the last pan is done,
so get over, get your dish towel, and let's get started". Ah, yes, Angel Josephine, each
year helped me until I left home, and then she helped mom.

So HAPPY THANKSGIVING, ANGEL JOSEPHINE... may you enjoy the dinner with
friends... and not have to do the dishes.

One Man/dog's fun is another's misery

On Sunday, while Misty was outside playing in the snow, the cat, Rokon sat, in

disgust, at the window inside.

Just like human's... those who cuss the snow, and those who are joyous at the

first snowflake, with thoughts of skiing for the weekend.

I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK...

I want the days when a kid tries to kiss a girl in the 2nd grad..
not be treated like a sex offender
A kid with camping utensil not be kicked out of school.
Where kids don't get arrested for having a food fight.
where they got sent to the principal and they called your
folks. No child was handcuffed and sent off to jail.

Where kids can still send letters to Santa.

Where a state can't tell you what size or how
many televisions you can own and use. If your
electric bill is high, you paid it, or got rid of the
television on your own.. because you couldn't
afford it anymore. The State didn't decide for you.

Where those who come to this country are proud to go
to night school to learn English, the language of their new
country.

Where we raised the flag, wear the flag, put the flag on
anything we own and not offend anyone, because we
are all proud to be Americans.

Where, when we do something stupid like spill
coffee on ourselves, we don't blame the coffee
maker or maker and sue.

When a kid/teen does a harmless prank,
they don't go to jail. They just have to clean
up the mess.

Where you believe in one political party or
the other, and no one slams your personality.

Where you can say Thank God, when someone
is ok, after a tragic accident, and people aren't
offended because you used the G word.

When you say she for a boat, or man for a hole
in the ground and people don't complain about
sexual remarks.

When men respected woman. And women
respected men. And children respected their
elders. And clean language was the
normal. The others used only in non mixed
company

Where people said Merry Christmas and Happy
Hanuka without anyone getting offend. You said
it because you honestly wished them that.

I have ruin two people's lives....

I have two people in my life that I have
made them cynical, angry at times.
Not at me...but at life. At the government.

Both of these people could have cared
less about politics 4 years ago. Both
did not pay that much attention to the news.
One of which had not voted for years if at all.

Both of them voted last year. They voted on
both sides. Meaning one went for McCain
and the other went for Obama.

The one who voted for McCain was almost
disowned by the family. They came to visit
saw the sign in the yard for McCain, and
turn around and left without going to the
door. That family member called all the
others and told how the person had lost
their mind and was voting for McCain of
all people. Which is kind of ironic considering
this is a Republican state.

But I feel bad, really I do. I took two people
who were happy go lucky. Could care less
about politics, figuring there was nothing the
average person could do.

But I had told the two, you can not complain
about how government was doing things if
you did not vote. Doesn't make any difference
who you vote for, but at least you voiced your
choice. That gives you grinching rights. And
don't vote for just anyone... be informed and
make a choice. I don't care who you chose, just
make sure you agree with that person. Be it
local or state or Federal.

All seem innocent enough at the time. The
right thing to say and do. But now they both
are upset, angry at times, fear the worse.

One is my friend, the other is my husband.
Almost wish I could change it back.

Happy birthday, mm

Can't help looking...

What was it Ray Stevens said in his song?
DON'T LOOK MABLE...too late, Mable looked.

Watching Palin is like driving by a car wreck and
you don't want to look but you can't help yourself.

Now that I don't have to worry about her winning with McCain,
and there isn't politics per say ads thrown here and there.
I figured I would watch Oprah and see if I had changed my
mind about her. After all Oprah isn't hard
hitting news reporter, so it would be more personality.

As I watched and listen to her reports of McCain mishandling of her,
her surprise of how the press treated her children and etc.
I still see her as a naive, still blaming others but never being
accountable herself.

Her answers of foreign affairs were scary, especially of the withdrawal
of Israel from Gaza. She didn't agree with it. And her thought of Palestine
should have less, when Israel takes more of Gaza.
Look at the map that Dogwalking has on her blog at:
http://dogwalkmusings.blogspot.com/2009/11/right-within-our-own-borders.html

Guess she didn't pay attention to Geography pre WW II and who own the
land before the United Nation decided to give land there to the German Jews.

She says she is interesting to do things for the country, and make things better,
stand up for those of need... Maybe she should start in her own state. Her
native Alaskan's, the Eskimos in the outer limits of the towns and cities, need
her to go to bat for good health care, clean water and etc. If she wants to make
a name for herself, go do something about that... she didn't do anything but
fly by's while Governor.

Buying underpants

I am buying my own underpants...
Now that doesn't seem like much,
maybe even be more than the person
wants to know.

But you got to understand, I didn't buy
my own underpants for over 20 years.
No, I don't by in lots, nor were the ones
I was wearing 20 years old.

See, my aunt use to buy them for my
birthday each year and also for Christmas.
She sent white ones because, for work I
had to wear white pants, so colors were
out. Twice a year I got a years supply
of white undies.

Then she passed away in 2006. And then
it dawn on me as I was opening the last
batch, that I would have to buy my own.
Which was quite a shocker as I didn't
know what size I wore. I never looked
before, I just wore them.

Then the next Christmas, I got a package
of underpants, from my daughter. And
also a nice little note came from my
cousin, the daughter of my aunt... with
a note of here is some $$ to buy some
... you got it.. underpants. lol..

But I finally had jumped in
and bought some underpants. I even
broke the line and got colors. And I
couldn't believe the choices of sizes
and shapes.
How do those girls wear those tongs?

Watching the toilet paper roll...

There once was a man, 15 years ago, who told me that...
Life is like toilet paper, the closer you get to the end the faster it goes.


My father lived to 82, my mother 74. Most of the family
lived to 75 and up. Even have some 90 year olds in there.
So I took 30, 40, and 50 and even 60 in stride...
So why is turning 70 next spring, kicking my butt?

I don't think of it often, but every so often I do and when
I do, it kicks me bad. I don't get depressed so to speak,
but I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me.

Makes you rethink of thinking of the future. After
all I might not be around to see something that
people talk about being in 5 years. Some times
when I read about things in the world.. well, makes
me wonder..maybe it isn't so bad after all, not being
around.

Or a salesperson wants to know if I want a 5 year
warranty on the product I am buying...

I am glad I am a person who believes in living life
to its fullest...but every so often.... well, you know.
the toilet roll looks barer.

In Hopes we don't forget

a slice of the wall.....the young man is 6 feet tall

Taking a week off

I am going to take a week off... no particular reason..

just because I can...

Leap of Faith

Leap of faith

When you have children you worry about raising them up to adults.
You worry about health, you worry about drugs, you worry about education.
Then they make it to adulthood. Marrying, having children of their own.
Most think that is it, and life goes on and so does theirs. And that is
true for most cases.

About 19 years ago, we had Desert Storm. And my son who is in the
Reserves, called to tell me that he had put his name on the list to go.
That he was now on the 24 hour stand by list. Meaning that he had to be ready
to go within 24 hours. We talked about him going, and how he had
everything taken care of. And I was doing well with all this news. As
those parents of Reserves or Regular Armed Services do... and then
he said... and I got my will taken care of today. A tear rolls down the
cheek, one by one, slowly... and you are glad you are on phone, and
you quietly say ok, and he said, Love ya, Mom, got to go. Love you too,
is your answer...... as this take a leap of faith.

This year, my baby... my 39 year old baby, tells me she has bought a
motorcycle.(Deep breath).. hoping she takes her classes she talks
about, after her son graduation. Yes, it is... (ok.... another deep breath)
I saw the bike, seems small and innocent enough. She does well with
her classes, and seems to have deep respect for the bike. Then another
call. She sees a bike on Criagslist. A Harley Davidson. Pink with flames.
(I know in my heart she is getting it) And yes, she does. And she brings
it by a week later. It is a beautiful bike and her smile is from ear to ear.

And as she leaves my driveway each time, so happy with her Harley,
I am happy for her but I pray her deceased father will watch over her.

And it is another HUGE LEAP OF FAITH.

Ah, Silence...

Ah, Silence....

No more elections talk. No more election TV ads.
No more phone calls for different candidates.

Did the many items pass in Spokane?
Did the jail pass in Cda?
Did the water dept. in Sandpoint pass?
Which was an unfair ballot, as Sandpoint water
is in Ponderay as well as Kootenai, and neither
town got to vote on that. A good question is why?
After all we are stuck with the higher bill with out
choices, where Sandpoint decides our fate.

Ah peace and quiet... I hope

"update" maybe not so quiet in Coeur d'Alene.

Points...mileages, and rewards....

You have seen those points they keep trying to get you
to add and then cash in for rewards.

The airlines have them.
Hallmark has them, your credit card has them.
Even the banks are getting in on this point thing.


See you spend money, get points.
Use your bank card, get points.
Use your Hallmark card, get points.
Fly everywhere...get points or mileage.

The only downside of all of this, at least for me..
has been that I usually have anywhere from 200
to 1000 points... and the lowest of low rewards
are starting at 10,000. So this seem like a worthless
deal.

Last break-a-way of 2009

We took some time to ourselves this weekend... went to near Lewiston to do
some steelhead fishing...well, the King did... I read a book and Misty did some
checking things out... and this is some of the views we saw...
This is looking down on Lewiston from the Lewiston Grade.We found this little roadside area that we parted right by the river...

As Misty and I walked the shore, we found a few things... one being this jaw.
It was very thin.... don't know what it belong to.

Just left of center you can see someone sitting on the shore line.

this was near a boat ramp. And there was a nice hole there in the water...

supposely where fish like to hide... well, they did that well.

Lo, and behold, that person sitting waiting patiencely for the evasive fish was....

the King. Not looking very happy.... but he had fun.

Looking down the river.....

looking up the river

We were down in a hole like... and the sun shone up on the hills around us...

This is the jawbone we found...don't know what it belongs to

This is one of the catch and release fish that didn't make it... the wild ones are catch

and release while the hatchery ones are keepers... that is if you are luck enough to

get some... which the campers above us were... they got 2 for the day.
We saw 4 of these laying on the shore in different stages of rot..

Some more of the view.... we are a very lucky country... and especially those

of us in Idaho

I love rocks... of different colors and shapes... usually bring some home, to

the King's disgust... but if I had my way, all of these would have been in the camper

before I left... I could use them in my gardens... but I was kind this time.

So you see, I only took pictures this time.. well, I did sneak a couple small ones

in my pocket, but not this one.

of course a trip isn't without our Misty... and she was so polite as you can

see with her table manners



Did some one say dessert???

.

Happy Halloween.....

BOO

can you tell who it is???

Flying again....

We have been informed that our kids are kidnapping us next February,
in honor of my forth coming 70's birthday in April. We don't know where
we are going but ......it entails, flying.

With the new policies (and yes, I have flown several times since the
strip show of Homeland Security) and then add on top of this.. the biggest
fear of any passenger....inattentive pilots.... we hear about the TWO
inattentive pilots, who took off their headphones (WHY???) to discuss
schedules. Isn't this up there with text messaging while driving? Although,
if they were text messaging, then they would have got the message,
that they over shot the airport. BY OVER A 100 MILES!!.

This wasn't always the case. I flew out of Providence, R.I. in 1958, on my
first flight, to Florida. Considering I only left R.I. once in my life... and rarely left Newport
County in a car, that was a leap of faith.Especially raised with a mother whose
thoughts were, if God wanted us to fly... he would have gave us wings on our
bodies. But at 18, one is brave.

Then I flew from the West Coast to the East Coast so many times, I
can't remember... but it sure was over 20 times. Even when one time
there was a water leak, that didn't shake my thoughts of flying. I knew
O'Hara like the freeways of our area... And knew if I flew in on one side,
I was guaranteed that I was flying out of the other side, 2 stories difference.
I knew the subway, the stairs and how to do it the fastest. So flying
was no big deal...

And hopefully, I remember those feelings come February. Because right
now, I am wondering...Do you think when I enter the plane, if I ask the pilot
if he is going to be paying attention all the time, he will be insulted?

Neither man nor beast

Well, with the rain coming down the road, filling in
the ditches, this is not fit for man nor beast..

The cat snuggled in a nice warm spot. The dog's
pad with a shirt that is there. And the dog has found
one of us to lay down next to us as we watch tv or read
a book.
And on a mission of duty outside. She ran as close to
the house as possible.
One time the King took her out and put her down
on the lawn mid way and she shot back to the
house with ears flopping. She was having no
part of that. Too bad dogs aren't litter trained too.

I have caught up on some of my magazines.
Down to one and then I have the two books.
I have the Kennedy book and also have Mitch
Albom's book ..have a little faith it is a true story.
I like Albom's books.

So snuggle in all of you... winter is coming.
Luckily it isn't snowing down here yet!.

Subjects that didn't make the cut...

When I come up with an idea for a post, I have to
write it down right away... or at least a small part of
it. So later when I have the time, I can flush them out
to a post for the day.

So I end up with notes here and there...
Use to have a spot called blog ideas, but had to write them
on paper, because the computer isn't always around.

So here is a few that didn't make the cut...

Bored women should not have access to power tools.
This was going to be how I have gotten in trouble with
power tools and my projects. Because power tools have
let me tear things apart that I haven't necessarily gotten
back together. Some things sometimes come apart easier
than they go back together. The King hates that. If he had
his way, I would never have access to power tools.

Characters that I raised my children with.
This was going to be some of the characters that
came into my life during child rearing years. And
their influence on the kids.

Old sayings that keep coming back around.
This was going to be some sayings I hear now, that
I first heard as a kid.

Fool me once, what a shame....
Fool me twice, shame on you....
Fool me three times, shame on me...

What goes around, comes around.

And my favorite since I was 8...
I don't get mad, I get even....

The first two have possibilities so they might make it yet.

Train going thru Sandpoint

There is a man name Pete, who shared his pictures that he took in Sandpoint, of the
recent passing thru of the steam train returning to Portland Oregon. My understanding
he took these pictures from his boat.
As it passed thru the land of emails... I was honored to be one of the ones who was
on the receiving end.

I don't know who you are, Pete, but thank you so much for sharing with us all.

GRIEVING...WHEN IS IT TIME?

Too soon? when then?
and who judges when?

This is not about anyone in particular. It could be written by you,
or me. anyone who has lost a spouse.
Well, I am writing it but with several people in mind. As
it has happen to many.

Losing one's spouse is devastating. Especially when it is
sudden. Heart attack? car accident? no good byes, lots of
feelings to sort out. Leaving one in a spin for at least a year.
Some even more.

Then there is the ones where you do have good byes. Years.
Those who are sick a very long time. The spouse/caretaker,
lives it every day, day in and day out. Especially if the sick one
is at home all that time. Even with outside help, the caretaker
is on duty 24/7. Day after day of stress, that those who have
not gone thru it, don't really understand.

The caretaker loves their spouse. Almost more than life.
They get tired but they wouldn't have it any other way.
It is their desire to do a good job of taking care of the
love one... after all the vows say "til death do us part".
Their life and body is wound in the sickness. And sometimes
it takes the caretaker. They will pass before the spouse.

When finally the end comes. The caretaker is left empty.
The tightly wound life, is all of sudden gone. Leaving the
spouse/caretaker suspend in a void, that once was so full, that
there were not even moments alone. Then the duty to
take care of the precious end of the spouse. The funeral,
or memorial, dealing with family members, making sure
they are ok. People stay with them, family and friends.
And then it is all over. The end..........

So the spouse goes thru the motions of life. Working,
takes up a lot of the time. The nights are lonely and
empty. The grieving is lightening up some. And family
has gone back to their lives. And life returns to normal
for everyone.

Then somewhere, a grocery store, church, walk in a park,
maybe an old friend from years before.... some where, some
one enters that person life. Some times it happens in a year,
some times earlier. Maybe months from the death of their
spouse. Some one who you enjoy talking to. Some one
who you share a dinner with, maybe a movie. Some one
who gives you a hug, when you have not been hugged
by someone other than the quick ones from family and
friends. You feel the warmth of it, almost makes you
melt, you have forgotten how it felt. And then maybe
a little guilt, because you feel like you are cheating. Yet
tears of acceptance.

More dinners, movies and laughter, gosh you haven't laughed
in a long time. You start to enjoy your time with the person.
Look forward to a phone call, or a walk on the beach or park.
Things are starting to look up, life... seems to be starting again.
You feel free and enjoying life in all of its phases.

AND THEN.. some one ... family, or a friend, let's slip a few
words, of don't you think it is a little soon? What would your
love one think? Others are more understanding, and tell
you that your spouse would want you to start life over and
get on with your own life. You might have even had the
discussion with your spouse. Long good byes do provide
some heavy discussions, even if it is a short thought.

So, is it too soon? When will you know it is ok? Will people,
friends and family understand? Will they understand that
you have been wound up in sickness and death, lost of love?
Will they understand you are starting to feel free again. And
is that bad? How long do they think you should grieve? How
long would they grieve? Do they understand that you started
grieving in private when you and your spouse found out that
their illness was terminal? Don't they understand that you
still love your spouse? You still miss them with all your heart,
but you also know you have to go on with life?
It isn't about sex, it is about companionship...

I hope they will understand that grieving for 3 or 4 months is just
as acceptable, as years for others... especially when the spouse
has been ill for year or years... before you judge, try to understand.

How did we survive?

Another email of how did we survive our childhood....
I will leave some of it for you to read... as I go visiting today......
and my question is.. truly how did we survive and how did my
children, as I also did the same with them, as they grew up.

My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread Mayo on the same
cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't seem to
get food poisoning.'
My Mom used to defrost hamburger on the counter and I used to eat it
raw sometimes, too. Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a
brown paper bag, not in ice pack coolers, but I can't remember getting
e.coli.

We all took gym, not PE...and risked permanent injury with a pair of
high top Ked's (only worn in gym) instead of having cross-training
athletic shoes with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors.
I can't recall any injuries but they must have happened because they tell
us how much safer we are now. We all wore white, short sleeved,
buttoned shirts and (short) blue shorts for gym, washed over the
weekend and brought back clean on Monday. We all took showers at end
of Gym before going to our next class. Flunking gym was not an option...
Even for stupid kids! I guess PE mustbe much harder than gym.

Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the national anthem,
and staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative
attention..I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was
allowed to be proud of myself.

I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station,
Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations. We played outside
all day long, coming in at dark.
We played 'king of the hill' on piles of gravel left on vacant
construction sites, and when we got hurt, Mom pulled out the 48-cent
bottle of mercurochrome (kids liked it better because it didn't sting
like iodine did) and then we got our butt spanked.
Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a
$49 bottle of antibiotics, and then Mom calls the attorney to sue the
contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was
such a threat.We didn't act up at the neighbor's house either, because if we did we
got our butt spanked there and then we got our butt spanked again when
we got home.

I recall Donny Reynolds from next door coming over and doing his tricks
on the front stoop, just before he fell off.
Little did his Mom know that she could have owned our house.
Instead, she picked him up and swatted him for being such a goof.
It was a neighborhood run amuck.
To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they
were from a dysfunctional family. How could we possibly have known
that we needed to get into group
therapy and anger management classes.

And we had lead paint on our cribs and we chewed on those rails.
We drank water out of hoses...
We swam at the river or creek, with out life guards.

We didn't act up in school, because the teacher smacked us and then our
parents did the same when we got home... Same thing when we acted up
in town. Some one would call our parents and they knew before we got home.

How did we ever survive?? And lived good normal lives?

Penny Candy Stores...

I am sure everyone has gotten the email about being
"Older than Dirt". You know the list of things they
ask do you remember.

Like the pop bottle with a cork stopper with
holes on the metal top. Which those of us
over 50 know that it was used to sprinkle
water on your clothes, before there were steam
irons.

Also the mention of penny candy. Do you
remember the local penny candy stores.
Where we probably sent the owners to
early drunkenness. With our constant indecisions
of which candy we really wanted, changing at
least 10 times or more before we finally settled
our bounty.

At Halloween, those could be wax vampire teeth,
big lips, and mustaches. And of course the many
other choices of different colors of candy, malt
balls, and tiny wax pop bottles, about 2 inches high.
Filled with Kool-Aid type juice.

My favorite was double bubble (it was a inch square
of bubble gum). Which got me in trouble and I got
kicked out of Brownies.

So those of you over 50, do you remember a local
penny candy store? Which Halloween candy do you
remember?
Did you drive the owner crazy?

Holiday Chores....

It is now the start of some of
the chores of the holidays.

Some people who do crafts for the
holidays are finishing up their gifts.
Others are starting their cooking of
cookies, cakes, breads, and jams
to be given away at Christmas.

For me, it brings back a memory.
As I was cleaning out a cabinet,
which became a catch all of junk,
I was cleaning dishes and etc.
These were dishes that were down
below in a cupboard part. And dust
and dirt had gotten in there over the
summer.

One dish in particular kicked in the
memory. As it had silver part to this
dish. A combo glass bowl that fit in
to a silver holder and lid for the bowl.

My years at home, every November
it was cleaning of silver ware of all
kinds and styles and shapes. I hated
that chore.

Black color soap, brushes, cloths.
Scrub but don't scratch, polish by
lots of elbow grease. Which had nothing
to do with elbows or grease. My mother
had dishes, plates, and silverware, meaning
forks, knives , spoons and serving spoons.
It would take hours.

Even when I moved back for 4 years as adult,
I got recruited for silver polishing duty. Which
didn't seem quite so bad, but still not my favorite
thing to do.

I don't remember my brother doing it while I was
living there. But maybe he had it when I moved away.
I, luckly, one have one item...

Also the other polish job I had all year around is the
copper bottom pots. That involved salt, and lemon juice.
I never own a copper bottom pot because of that. They
look beautiful when polished... but I hated the cleaning
part, especially if I had cuts on my fingers.

Good bye...garden...for this year

NEIGHBOR WATCH or NEIGHBOR SPIES?

Neighbor Watch or Neighbor Spies?

In the 1940 and 50's when I was being raised, we had neighbors
that watched out for each other... even in the 20 and 30's, maybe before... if your neighbor had a problem, you tried to help.

Women, whose husband's and son's, who went to war, were
watched over by the neighbors, helping where they could.

It wasn't until the late 40's and 50's that the public
found out how this kind of thing was turned against
the neighborhood, with neighbors spying on each
other. Mainly against Jews in Germany or other
countries. Written in books like Anne Frank.
As Americans, we were horrified at such a
community thing.

In the 70s and 80's neighborhood watch came
into play due to home crimes. Burglaries, and
vandalism. You called the police if you saw any
thing suspicious in your neighborhood. Drug houses,
people around your neighbors house that you didn't
recognize. Maybe you just took down the license
plate number, just in case something happen.

Now in the days of the 2009, they are asking
for neighborhood watch be beefed up. Become
even more observant. But how much, and what is to be
reported? With these days of camera, and
especially phone camera's... will my
neighbor be taking pictures of me using what
they think is too much water on my lawn?
Will I be reported because my street has a
15mph limit and I am doing 20?
Will my every move be Twittered to the police?

Personally I have a great neighborhood. We pretty
much live and let live policy, and if needed the other
is there. We do have one guy who is quick on the
phone reporting the dumbest things. And we are
use to him and I am sure the red face police who
have had to check out his reports of underage drinking,
to find a 4 years olds birthday party, are on to him
as well. But, it does give you something to think
about, as they ask for a beefed up Neighborhood
Watch.

ARE BLOGS LIKE HOME RADIO STATIONS OF THE PAST?

Those of us who are over 50 remember the home radio
stations. If we didn't have one in our town, then we
heard or read about them. The writer Fannie Flagg
wrote about them in her stories. Midwest was famous
for them.

They had the local news, weather and some gossip
on them. And were on the air for a few hours each
day, except for Sunday, of course. Some times
even having a local talent sing or play an
instrument.

Which some could even say that those radio stations
which closed down by the 60's, has been replaced in
the present and now time, by blogs.

As the majority of the blogs are like mine, mostly
about this and that, that comes to my mind. And
others do report on what is going on in the local
town. Or a hobby that the writer has.

Then of course you have the political and etc.
I wonder, did those local radio stations that were
broadcasting from the home, did they have political
subjects too?

WHAT IS THIS PLANT???

We cut down our tree, which was one of the fir type...
and then this appeared. It grew up to about 4 feet.
We thought it was a sunflower when it started to come
up, as we have feeders in the yard and sunflowers are part
of the feed. And it looked like one.

I touched the leaves one day when I saw it wasn't the
usual like buds for the sunflowers. And the leaves were
velvet in touch. Very soft.

I kept watching the buds to see what kind of flowers were
going to come out of this. But none ever came. Those little
bud looking things, had yellow in there, but it never open.

So last week, I dug it up and threw it in the garbage. Why?
Because with my luck it is probably the worse weed, that would
promote millions on my lawn. So I chicken out and dug it up.
The interesting thing of this is, not only the soft velvet leaves, but
there is no other one like it on my property, nor neither of my
nieghbors. (is that correct word usagage, Marianne?)

So do you know what it is? I sure like to know.

Name this plant

Do you really want to fly anymore?

Remember when flying was something you look
forward to? Unless it was for work, I guess it wasn't
so much fun. But when you flew home to see the folks,
Or a vacation... the flight was part of the deal and fun.

Now.. it is a burden.. because you worry about getting
there on time, because you have to allow extra time to
check in. And to get thru the electronic checks. Doing
your strip for the terrorist checkers.

Before your family went with you to the flight area.
Now you can't. You use to come off the plane and look
for a familiar face... now you walk like cattle thru the
halls until you get your luggage then you can search
out for your family or friends.

And now, it isn't all the checking in, but the extra
prices that have been stacking on since the first of
the year.
First it was extra charge for your extra luggage,
and then for any luggage, $15 to $30
extra leg room...$25
blanket and pillow ...$7.
food and drink is extra now.

And now they want to charge extra for the
busy days of flight. Like all the holidays.
So if you are going home to see the folks
this Thanksgiving, or Christmas time...
figure you are going to spend $10 more.

Flying is becoming the thing to do for the
rich once again. As that was what flying was
in the 1950's

Good Advice for fighting any flu

Got this as a email, I thought it was good advice for any flu... so
thought this was a good way to pass it on..... Good common sense,
remember that? So here you go.. read it and follow it...

Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).
The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat...
In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid
coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions.
Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection,
in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and
development of secondary infections, some very simple steps,
not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be
practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one.. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population..*

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

I also will tell you, use those wipes you see when you got into the grocery
store.. One of the biggest germ holders (just like the commerical shows)
also phones and door knobs. cis