2010, IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR.....

We started 2010, like any other year…
But quickly it turn like no other year like it…
By the end of January, I found out that we
were going to Hawaii.. HAWAII !!!!
I had never been to

Hawaii…neither had the King.

February, we were off to Hawaii, there were 12 of
us. 3 sons and their wives, one daughter and her Guy…
plus two grandchildren. We walked into the
house and I had a OH, MY GOD, moment. The
house had 8 bedrooms, I forgot how many bathrooms
and a pool in the patio… The view from my bedroom
was of the ocean on one side and the bay on the other.
Each day was more wonderful than the one before. Luau,
Whale watching from a boat, snokling in clear water,
tattoo for the King and I.. plus one grandchild. The
ARIZONA MEMORIAL, so much more… a trip to last
me a lifetime.

Coming back home was still good. And as the summer
came and went we had so much fun on our boat of the
year before. Fishing, sight seeing, it was a glorious time
on the Lake.

Then Fall, brought another surprise.. a Moose tag for the
King… and then a month later, the hunt, which I got to go
with him. He shoots with a gun, I shoot with a camera.. I
don’t like him hunting by himself. When he goes deer and
elk,… it with about 15 guys and gals in a hunting camp. But
Moose hunting is an individual hunt, as not many get a tag.
And most save their vacation for the deer/elk hunting season.
On our 4th day out, the King scored his Moose. And I was with
him, it was sublime… he was so thrilled, and I took pictures.

As we headed into Winter, some health concerns came up
for me.. my platelets were very very low… So a series of
test, which proved my liver, kidneys and spleen were in
great shape.. and a bone marrow test proved that they were
producing platelets just fine.. So while we don’t know what
Is causing this…we know it is NOT, several things, among
them, cancer. About that time the King’s knee started to
act up… and that proved out to be a pinched nerve in the
knee… takes about 2 to 3 months to get over…. Which he
was told to stay off of it… YEA, RIGHT… about that time
snow started to show up, which made stay inactive with the knee
impossible. Besides the more he used it the better it felt….until the
next morning…

But all of this is minor stuff… Even with the water heater blowing its bottom
seal, can’t deter that… And even with some family changes we had hope
wouldn’t happen… all of it is life… and some what minor compare to so many
others with so many more serious problems than ours… Like the sadness
of a Christmas card coming to notify me ..one of my dear friends from my
childhood passed away in September. My prayers with her family.

So for us 2010 WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR… I hope it was for the
rest of you too… and may 2011 is beyond your expectations… filled
with good health, a wealth that makes a comfortable life for you all,
filled with joyous laughter… as laughter makes everything durable.

HAPPY NEW YEAR …. TO YOU ALL… DEAR READERS…

Well, that was a revolting discovery!!!!!!

What a way to end the year…
I was trying to find some jello to make after dinner.
As I was going thru my back cupboard, my foot seemed
to be a little warm. And I could hear water like it was
bubbling down inside the water heater next to me.

Bingo, yes, the warm feeling was the tank leaking.
Which started a 2 hour problem to take care of.
And yes, it was warranty for 12 years… and guess
which year this is…. 13 years…

After much moping, disconnecting, more moping,
The King got it on to the dolly, only to find the dolly
had a flat. Undo tank from dolly… back out to the
garage, fill dolly tire with air… back to the tank,
hook up again. And slowly but surely it is backed
out of the back room to the kitchen.

Now we have a very small kitchen.. about 6 x 5 area
to work in… which is now filled with things taken out
of the back room so we can remove tank. So he is
snaking the dolly thru,. I open the door, step out holding
the screen door open. Up to the door sill..stop… so he
goes back again.. with a little more speed… almost getting
it over the hump… I tell him to get more lead way and a little
more speed… of which it came flying over the hump and with
the weight, is jerked out of the Kings hands goes the handle..

THUMP, OUT GOES THE TANK ON ITS SIDE. And WATER
flying out of the top connection and the bottom… some of it on the
floor, the rest….thankfully out side… on the deck.
I had to stifle myself, as the King doesn’t have much of a
sense of humor at times like that.

As much as we tried to swing it around to the edge, we only got part
way… So tomorrow… we will have an ice skating rink for
a back deck. AND we get to go find a water heater NOW…
Not a ordered in one week type, but off the floor one..
hopefully Home Depot will have them there.

Just what we wanted some last minute year ending excitement.

THE WEATHER OUT THERE IS FRIGHTFUL!!!

for the love of his dog, the King snow blows a round path around the yard...

I don't do half sick bery well

I do wellness very well… even do very
sick, pretty darn good. That is where I
am in bed and just want to be left alone.
Don’t come in and ask me if I need anything.
Just let me lie there and die, because dying
would feel better than what I would be feeling
at the time.

But half sick, I don’t do very well at all. Because I
am well enough to see what I could be doing, yet
don’t have the energy to do it very well. And that is
where I am this week. Just a mere two days before
Christmas day, I got a start of a cold. By Christmas
Eve, I was in the full blown coughing spells. And my
voice, well, it sounds worse than I feel.

So is it feed a cold and starve a fever? Or the other
way around.. While I really didn’t feel like eating, I
ate some food in hopes that it would fight the cold.
Christmas day felt somewhat better so we went to our daughters
for dinner, warding off all those hugs, telling of how they too could
be like me… While I like sharing things, sickness is not one
of them. And it irritates me when others decided to share
theirs with me. Being I had several people tell me they
had colds, I don’t know which one decided to share it with
me.

So here I am at half staff or half mast or what ever… wanting
to do things, not actually wanting to.. I did get all the Christmas
things put away except for the Christmas cards..

Well, it is back to the soup, and cough drops, (gosh they
Taste horrible.. but they work. Maybe I will do the wash.
Stay warm and dry… and warn off the cold germs.

Merry Christmas

Once again I am going to rely on 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 Christmasthat forevermore endures,

Leave its richest blessing in the hearts of you and yours.

My Christmas Card List written by George A. Gladden, Sr

So once again...I wish you all.... my dear readers...A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS........
and especially to George A. Gladden Sr. where ever you may be...
yak at you after Christmas...

I...AM..NOT....HAPPY...!!!!!

Over the many years of being a housewife, I
have gagged myself, almost poison myself,
cleaning the oven. The concoctions the stores
put out for cleaning an oven, I am surprised
they have not killed some one…

So about 3 years ago, when we went down and
bought a brand new stove (I never had a new one
before) I noticed among its many things was an
SELF CLEANING OVEN button. Wow. Self cleaning.

Like I said I have had this stove for 3 years, but did
not have a need to clean it, as I was so proud of it,
I would clean it as soon as a drop of anything hit it.
I even bought those aluminum slide ins for the floor
of the oven.

Well, the other day, I noticed the window was getting
pretty spotted by some thing the King had cooked in
the oven last week. And there was on spot on the back
floor when the aluminum didn’t quite cover.

So figured I should get the book out and read up on how
to use the SELF CLEANING button.

To my dismay, it said I couldn’t leave the racks in, as it
would discolor them. Also I should take soap and water
and clean the stop in the back. NEVER USE HARSH CLEANER.
Ok, not a biggy.

I read that the oven would be very hot so not to touch the
stove while cleaning. It also said there would be a smell, so
if I had a bird in the kitchen, that I should remove it. (who has
a bird in the kitchen, unless you are cooking it?).

So after reading it really well, I hit the magic button called
Cleaning… I could chose 2, 3 or 4 hours.. went for the middle
one …3 hours.. It was after dinner tonight, we settled into a movie
while it cleaned.

With in 20 minutes I am looking for a cloth to put over my mouth.
The smell was gagging me.. as much or more than the chemicals
I used in the past. Even the dog hid behind the King with

her nose buried in to his shirt. We finally came up with an idea to

hang a blanket over the door way (no door) to cut down on the smell.

Which helped a small amount.
We endured 2 and half hours of this. To the point I was wondering maybe
we should have had a bird to tell us if it was safe to breathe..

The bell went off, the oven had to cool off for a hour more before it would
unlock the door on the oven. Then, the big opening, open the door to see this
wonder of all wonders… the SELF CLEANING OVEN!!… much to my horror,
It was a bloody mess as the Brits would say. Not only was the window not clean
but it look twice as bad as it did before. And the ashes they said would be there
just for the sweeping up, and the oven was done… was not there to sweep up
but I had white spats of spots all over the damn oven. On the sides, the top and
the bottom floor of it. I was pissed…. So I got out the soapy water they mention
that would just wipe the ash off… THEY LIED!!! So with cleaners which they
forbid me to use on the oven.. or the window.. (will damage product) and got

on my knees and reached in the chamber of horrors and started to clean. Gagging
thru the smell of the oven. And the window, soap and water be damned.. I got
a scrubber and started to scrub the NOW COOKED ON… mess. Took me
a half an hour to clean it all up… I was not happy. I shut the door, and then
the second horror set in… Seems while it was baking the oven clean, the

air/steam that went out of the oven vents… turn the white oven door, tan for

about a inch. And the door was ….well, for lack of a better word.. icky. So I

clean the whole front of the oven. Then I open the door to what they call the

warming oven. (in the old days it was the broiler) and for love of God!!!!!

It looked like Mt. St. Helens in there… I started to clean it up, and my heart

just wasn’t in it… I shut the door, and I will wait until tomorrow morning,

to clean it up. I am beat and I am going to bed.

SELF CLEANING, MY ASS… I ….AM….NOT…. HAPPY…

Parent sues McDonald???

A woman is suing McDonald's and wants no toys or
have them change to a more healthy meal. Even when
there are other choices in a regular meal. Just not the
Happy Meals.

And why is this? Was it for better meal for her child?
NO, it is because her child raises so much hell for her,
that she can’t take it. So why does she even go to
McDonalds, after all there is Burger King and a bunch
of others. Why punish the nation because you can’t control your child?
What is next? Store will have to hide their toys so the child doesn’t
see them? So the child doesn’t throw a tantrum and you
can’t say no? What about the clothing stores? Hide the most
popular clothing (Hannah Montana and such) because your child
might see them and raise cain because you won’t buy them?
All just because you can’t be a strong parent, that you lack good
parenting skills?

My kids learned really fast that a temper tantrum cut the store visit real short.
And next time I went to the store, they got to stay home because they couldn’t’ behave. After staying home a couple of times, they learn to behave. No, it wasn’t
easy. I lived 15 miles from town. So leaving the store without the rest of the products I came to get, was not the easiest of things. And to go shopping when
my husband came home or Saturday when he was at home to watch the kids
that got left behind, wasn’t convenience for us either but a learning tool.

They were taught to “LOOK WITH YOUR EYES AND NOT YOUR HANDS”
And they still remember it today in their adulthood, as the saying still comes up
in their conversations about the good old days. After all, the store is not your child’s toy room. Keep their hands off of the merchandise unless you are buying it.

If your child misbehaves at the store it is YOUR fault. Think it can’t be done?
watch any Mennonite family, or any other such type of family. They are the
best behaved children of this era. And they don’t beat their children. They teach by example and response to responsible to one’s actions.

You treat your child as a spoil child they will become one. You give them control over your life…they will take it.

Today make a promise to take control as a parent. Give consequence to bad behavior and it if inconvenience you a bit, too bad… the long run will prove out
to the good of your child. Your friends will be thankful, and your children will thank you later, as they become responsible adults. They will learn they are NOT entitled to everything NOW!

Same goes for grandparents… remember this your child, not your parents. They
had their shot at it, with their own rules… now is your time to have rules for your
children. Stand up for your children and your rules and rights. Say no. Everything
in moderation… if the grandparent HAS TO, then tell them to buy books for the child. And if it is a small child, then the grandparent can spend some quality time
by reading the book with them.

WTH?

What is going on with people… the news has adult children

doing the unspeakable to their parents or grandparents.

We had the grandson, who found his grandfather dead in his home.

Did he call other relatives, or 911? No, he took the money out of his

Grandfather’s wallet and took his car. Then came back with his sister

and they ransacked the house getting more things.

Another story is about how a mother who is elderly, decided to give

her oldest son the power of attonery and had him take care of her

finances for her. BAD MISTAKE!!! Seems he has a gambling problem

so has spent all the money in the bank, and now the house is in arrears

and she is losing it.

Then there is the son who is mad at his mother because she would no longer give him $50 a day, so he kept her from going anywhere, and went out to the barn and kill her two dogs.

This is all in the past couple weeks…

What the Hell?

I would like another restaurant...

We have over 40 restaurants in our immediate area..
Meaning Sandpoint, and Ponderay. Proabably about
10 more if you include Sagle and Kootenai. So we aren’t
lacking in restaurants.

There are several Mexican ones, and now we have about 6 or7
hamburger ones with the new Paul Bunyon hamburger place that
just open… So why do I want another one..with all of these to chose
from?

There is two I would love to see. I would love to see
a Greek Restaurant, and I would love to see one out at
the airport. One where there is a big window so you could
watch the airplanes land and take off.
One of my fondest childhood memories is watching plane come
and go at a little mom and pop type café that the local town had
at their airport. Which was about the same size of Sandpoint’s airport.

So what kind of restaurant is lacking in your town?

Does your family have a hero within?

We do… his name is Paul. He is my cousin.
And the incident happen about 60 years ago
When he was about 9 or 10 years old.

I can close my eyes and see the same scene as
if it was yesterday.

It was a sunny day. And we were at 3rd Beach in
Middletown, R.I. We were near the Navy side as
my uncle was in the Navy. We would go down there
often with my Aunt Harriet’s family. She had 4 children
at that time and Dad just had my brother and myself..
We would have clam bakes or just picnic lunch with
tuna fish, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with pop.

This day we were all playing on the beach and for some
reason my cousin Paul, his brother Parker and my brother Roy
decided to get into the rowboat and go out a short distance.

As I was making sand castles, I heard yelling, and then saw my
father run as fast as he could past me, with my Uncle Tiny behind
him, followed by my mother and my Aunt Harriet. I can still see
my father in his black bathing suit, jumping into the surf and swimming
as fast as he could. Arriving at the boat, where my cousin Paul was
hanging on to the boat with one hand and hanging on to my brother
with the other. My brother fighting to get away and going down under
again. As Paul raised him up one more time, Dad grabbed him. They
were in about 6 or 7 feet of water. Way over any of the boy’s head.
Everyone was so proud of Paul, and got lots of hugs from all of the
adults. I don’t know what my folks did for Paul as a reward, but I
am sure there was something done.

To this day, my brother still thinks of Paul being a hero. We all do.
My brother was about 5 or 6 at the time… he will be 66 this month.

THANKS, PAUL

Are you a Donor?

Are you a donor?

It is a shame that there are so many people in need of hearts, liver
Eyes, and etc. And yet people died every day with those very parts.

Lot of it has to do with the general population putting so much into
the person who died, that it horrifies them to think of the removal
of those parts.

I have been a future donor since the 1980’s. When I am gone, what
a waste to have them buried with me. If someone can see, or needs
a liver, or anything else that will be burnt with me… more power to them.
We really need to get over the thought of we need to go with all our body
parts with us. For those of us who believe we will go to heaven, we don’t
get to take the body with us…it is our souls that go to heaven. So why
not get as much use out of the body to help others. I think it is kind of
selfish not to be a donor.

How about you? Are you a donor? Have you told your family incase
they are asked?

Fruitcake...love it or hate it...

I happen to like Fruit cake.... even those that they sold a few years back, for a buck.

But I refuse to pay $8 for a 2 inch wide by 4 inch long (mini loaf) fruitcake.

My mom made the best one... she would take a quarter of it out each year.

She made huge circle ones... and she wrapped it in rum soaked cheese cloth.

Each year resoaking the cheese cloth before she rewrapped the fruitcake.

And return it back to the freezer.

Needless to say, the 4th quarter REALLY REALLY tasted great... lol...

While I have made a few over the years.. making it in August for the season,

I haven't done one in about 5 years. Just can't get into Christmas baking in

August. When I came across a Christmas Fruitcake Cookie recipe, it seem like

the ideal thing to make. And it is good, even if you hate the cake you will like the

cookies... So here is the recipe.

Christmas Fruitcake Cookies...

Butter, softened 1 cup Sugar 1 1/2 cups

Eggs 2 Flour 2 1/2 cups

Salt 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda 1 teaspoon

Cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon Cloves, ground 1/4 teaspoon

Allspice, ground 1/4 teaspoon Dates, dried, chopped 1 cup

Pecans, chopped 2 cups Pineapple, dried, chopped 1 cup

Cherries, dried, chopped 1 cup

METHOD OF PREPARATION

1. Preheat an oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, add the softened butter and sugar. Whisk until well blended.

3. Beat in the eggs well to incorporate.

4. Add the flour and spices. Mix well.

5. Add the dried fruits and nuts. Mix well.

6. Drop spoonfuls onto a lightly greased sheet pan and bake for 12-14 minutes.

7. Let rest then store in air tight container until

Winter Scenes on a dreary day....

On this Saturday morning, the King asked what do you want to do today... and I thought
for a moment, and said... how would you like to go for a photo shot... yea, like
I am a great photographer...lol... but he said where... I said the city beach/park.

These pictures came out like I had in my mind... you don't have to have full
colors to have a great picture as we know... there are a lot of black and white's
that we see, that would not be quite so, if in color... and the same can be said
for not the best of days...

So here you got, some great pictures I think, of the dreary day... hope you
enjoy them.


Here we have some picnic benches/tables being stored until nicer weather

Trees standing tall...

above a few trees that are naked for the winter, waiting to be clothed in leaves again..

with their fellow fir trees in their green...

One of the trains heading out of town, heading down south of Sandpoint

The empty dock laying in wait of a busy summer...

The city gazebo sitting empty in the winter day...

No swimmer until January 1st.... so no guards needed....

Even our Liberty Lady standing over our beach thru snow and rainy,

as well as sunny days.

This has always been MY BENCH.... it is where I come to find a relaxing time, times

of thoughts, and even a place I shared with my grandson, when we have had some

serious discussions over the years... He has promised to bring me here in my wheel

chair in my old age for one last look before I die...

As you can see, someone else claimed this bench... this little piece of honor has claimed

MY BENCH.... I wonder... would they let me put my name near his?

From behind OUR bench you can see..... from left to right, the view.....in the next 5

pictures...

the Monarch's

This is looking over by zoom lens... to the left view of the bench...Hope

Here comes a train ....coming in to Sandpoint from the South.... a long one...



Some of the birds were hitching a ride on a piece of ice...

Walkers on the path.... one walking and the other stopping to look thru his zoom lens....

A few duck sticking it out in the cold water...

Some drift wood on the beach...

Look who beat me back to the car.... with the heater on....

No dogs on this beach...but some one was sitting in the King's jacket for the ride..

Great Aunt Em...

A wonderful little lost soul…. Who I dearly loved. She would braid my hair, make apple sauce for me… and taught me how to get rid of hiccups by taking a teaspoon of sugar and then drink down a full glass of water…

Auntie Em was a lost soul because as a young girl she got married and was deserted shortly after… in the early 1900’s it was common for men of royalty, of lost kingdoms to come to United States and marry rich girls. Thusly getting to live the life styles he was use to before his kingdom fell. Vanderbilt’s family had one of their daughters marry such a man. Most of the time the mother picks out these gentlemen(?)..hoping their daughters will be addressed as Princess. Some times the gentlemen(of question) would come to America seeking his own rich young lady.

Such a man, did come to Newport to find what he thought was a rich girl.
That girl was my Aunt Em. But when he figured out that Aunt Em’s family was not rich, just was well off enough to have a nice home and etc. He left before the dawn of light. Aunt Em sat on the curb for many days, waiting for her Prince to come back…he never did. And Aunt Em was never right after that… But she was the sweetest of Aunts. She died at the age of 96, after falling down the stairs at
An institution… My mother said she died of a broken heart and she thought the nurses were rough with her. As in her elder age I suspect she had what we now call Alzheimer’s, and fought with them.. She died about 2 weeks after getting there.

But my memories are of her waking me up from my nap. My mother would go get Aunt Em when she was canning. As Aunt Em loved to can fruit and such.
I would be woken up by her stroking my hair. She loved to brush it and braid it.

Aunt Em loved ribbon candy. And that is what my mother and I would bring to her each year for Christmas. And the last time I saw her alive, she was 95, long gray hair, down to her waist, and long fingernails… she was living with her sister in law. She was getting hard for her to handle. But that Christmas, she looked at the ribbon candy, and then at me… and took her hand and stroked my hair…just like old times… and we both smiled..

Pearl Harbor

This past February we went to Hawaii. One can not go to Hawaii with

out visiting Pearl Harbor... at least one should go...

I think I have already told you about how we were there at the same time

a choral group went. And mid way thru our time there... they gathered in the

middle in a circle and sang God Bless America.... not a dry eye was there...

The pictures say it all... the list of those who died on the Arizona..sailors as well

as Marines... the flag waving as we left the Memorial site.

GOD BLESS AMERICA...MAY WE ALWAYS BE FREE....

Who do you drop from your Christmas list?

When I was working, Christmas was quite
a bit overwhelming… new people came and
went so each year was different. Some how
I always pulled it off. Coming up with new ideas
of what to get for present. Nothing really fancy,
or expense. Cups with pens (aides always need
pens) Gloves with pens and etc. Until we came up
with a dandy idea… food for food bank… solved
everything.

After I retired my present list cut quite a bit. And
the same thing when the King retired. And now
there are some friends to eliminate. Some moved
away, some we haven’t been in contact with for
the year. So we cross our fingers that they don’t
send something or the one close don’t come by
with one, even tho we haven’t see them since
last Christmas.

To be honest with you, I am horrible when it
comes to Christmas… I don’t mellow out until about
noon on Christmas day.

But the question is who do you take off of your Christmas
card list? And even your present list? Over the years I
have told my friends, if you are really my friend… send me
a card…no present PLEASE… keep the gifts for your kids
and grandchildren… but there is always someone… someone
who will say, well, I saw it and had to get it for you… you don’t
need to give me anything.. but you feel like a heel because
you didn’t… I hate it..

Love the reason, hate the season… but this year I pledge to
do better.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if peace was contagious

Let's say that again....
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if peace was contagious

Seems like most of our wars are over religion…which is weird when you
understand that our God is a loving and giving God, who teaches us
love and understanding… Yet mankind seem to find that to start wars,
because of different religions.

But wouldn’t it be wonderful, for each act of kindness, would continue on
to the next person. Passing from person to person, from nation to nation.
We all don’t fight over the different styles of clothing, why do we feel the need
to fight over the difference of beliefs? If we don’t care what pants or skirts, or
shirts the other wears and there is a BIG varieties of them… why do we feel
the need to care about what the other persons beliefs are?

Why can’t peace be like a smile, it gets passed on from person to person.
You walk down the street and someone smiles at you as they go by… and the
next thing you know, you are smiling too…

There was what was called a flash mob who showed up at a mall in Nov. 13th
They, out of the blue, started one by one to sing a song, Hallelujah …. Slowly
one after the other joined… and THEN a lot of the crowd join them… and such joy on all of their faces. Even those who were not singing… were smiling and then after it was over the applause was so loud…. For just a few minutes… a few minutes in all their busy lives… they sang, they smiled, total strangers… smiling
and all at peace…. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were all like that…

My ex-husband complain to a friend after our divorce, that one the things he couldn’t stand about me… was I always saw the world thru rose colored glasses.
I hope I never lose that…

By the way… this is the site of the flash group… it is well worth your time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE I understand that it has happen twice more since this November 13th incident… go watch, it will make your day.

I will not be Grinch this year...

I am not going to let anything upset my day.
I am tired of a year of listening to negatives.
Republican hate monologues, or any of the
other stuff…

I usually do terrible around the holidays, I
can’t tell you why because I have never been
able to figure it out for myself… over 40 years
of being a Grinch. But not this year… I have
resolved to have a good winter. To have good
holidays.

I started with my outside decorations as you

can see...
I am going to listen to upbeat music and cook
good things for others to eat.
This is going to be a good winter, this is going to
be a good winter… this is going to be a good winter

Humming can get you killed...

oh, no, it is snowing again.....

On Saturday, after lunch I was busy with
taking the wash out of the washer and putting It
in the the dryer… and because I was by myself,
I was humming along a tune… and then as one
does sometimes, some of the words slip out.

As the words came out, I was rounding the kitchen
heading into the dining room, to come upon my
husband…who was scowling at me… taking his
gloves off, and his boots. I didn’t quite get it, until
I was in the bathroom getting more wash. Because
I had started it again, and the words that made my
snow blowing husband scowl was…. Let it snow, let
It snow…

Then today, I was minding my own business. Just
sweeping the kitchen floor, humming along… when
I looked up… there was that look again. If looks could
kill, I know I would be dead… then it dawn on me I was
humming Jingle Bells…

Guys who spend hours snow plowing and blowing out
driveways… don’t have a lot of sense of humor..

I just don't get men...

When women have a project or a job to be done
in their home or for their children… other women
will offer to help out… and that woman will accept
the help.. two set of hands makes the task so much
easier…

But what the heck is with men? My husband is among
those who will have a job to do, that it would be so much
easier for two. Even when help is offered, he will either say
“no, I got it” or worse yet, he will accept it and say “first thing
in the morning”… then because he is an early riser.. he does
it himself… so when the one who offers gets here… he has
it all done.

And God help you, if you as the wife tell someone he could use
help.

Case in point was this past weekend…Our light went out over
the sink. So we went to Home Depot and got a new one.

For 4 hours we fought it, fought it because in the process somehow
we blew a breaker, and then for a while we had no electric for the
heater, several lights. All those on the same breaker BUT the
breaker wasn’t blown, the second time. The tester showed there
was power to the fixtures and lights…
Finally by trial and error we found out that there was a loose
connection of a ground wire on middle of the kitchen ceiling light.
It is all the same junction box. It was only by the flicker of the lights
coming back on, that he found it.

After he fix it, he wanted no part of the over the sink light. So that
is for another day when nerves aren’t so fragile. During this mess and
trying to figure out what was going on.. about 2 hours into the mess…
I said….. maybe we should call Tim, (he does maintenance for
a living). That didn’t go over well…

Is this a macho thing?

Trying to find my house..

With the holidays and visitors,
things get put away in darnest places…
Some of it was in the back room (catch all room)
And some of it in our bedroom, and then there
on top of the washer, and shelves… up here,
over there…

Now I have to find all of it, and put it back where
I had it. The worse time I had was a few years
ago, when I just boxed it up… then forget where
I put the box for about 6 months.

I sure wish I could declutter my life… or at least
the house… I have gone thru many times since
I retired…gave away, threw away more stuff, yet
here it is…. stuff everywhere…

Past couple days

The table was set The cook was putting the final touches on it...

then that night....... winter started to rear its head....seriously

And the return of Misty's running track....

and the calm of the evening sets..... after 18" of snow or more...

The GooseThanksgiving...

In the past, I have told about Thanksgiving at my parents,
and at my Aunt and Uncle’s… which will
stay in my heart and mind all the rest of my mind.

But there are the little Thanksgivings too…one which is
the time my deceased husband decided we were going to have
goose for Thanksgiving.. He didn’t like turkey all that
much… So that year, in Rhode Island, he got a goose.

No, no, not the store bought kind… He was a hunter, so
he went out and shot one.. brought it home.
He defeathered, and cleaned it out. I took one look at it
and I bought a turkey for the rest of us.

Don’t get me wrong. I have always ate what Marv shot.
but you had to be there… the kids took one look and
started to laugh. I went over to see what was up. I am
telling you, that goose must have came across with
Columbus. I thought goose had a large breast on them.
more so than a turkey.. but this goose, the poor thing,
had a very high breast BONE… and the breast were
as shallow as 1920 flapper dancer. I asked him, is that how
they really are suppose to look? He said it wasn’t bad.
And he was eating goose. No problem… that was the
Year of the Goose and Turkey Thanksgiving… and I
saw him sneak some turkey meat… but the goose was
the most pathetic thing I ever saw… and there was no
more talk of goose for Thanksgiving… Venison? Yes, but
no goose…

I will be having a full house of 12 around our table this year.
I have one son with his family up visiting thru the holiday,
but he decided to have dinner with friends. I am sure his
little ones will have a better time there… nothing is more
boring for little guys than 12 adults talking…
So we have been enjoying his family ,they came Thursday,
and will leave next Friday. So I won’t be blogging the rest
of the week, as I enjoy my grandchildren.


So I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving, with lots of good
food, good friends and family and laughter heard thru your house.
And remember to take a minute before you start your meal, to
remember all the things you are thankful for in your life and others.
Me?

I am thankful for my family… all of them.. children, grandchildren, and
great grandchildren. I have been so blessed… I am thankful for a man
who tolerates my attitudes when they surely could be better.
I am thankful for all the troops, men and women, who are overseas…and
my heart goes out largely to their families who will have to depend on
family and friends to get thru this holiday. And I am thankful for God, with
His patience with me, and helping me thru these health test that I have
endured and will go thru… I am truly a piece of clay, in his hands… and
I have promised to try to keep my fingers out of the clay..

God bless… be safe, be health… and remember patience in the crowds.

Old man is snoring...

It's raining, it's snowing... the old man is snoring..

that was what I thought of when I looked outside this

morning...

Guess we are going to be dealing with this for a couple of days,

and then the temps are dipping into the teens for daytime... so guess

I have to give in and admit winter is coming in the back door...

This and that...

Had kind of a busy day today, so I am late.

Got up this morning and the King said… it snowed..
I looked out the window and said what snow… that isn’t
snow.. there was only a 1/8 of an inch if that. I see more
frost on the grass in the early morning… than that…
and of course it was gone by 8.

Then I headed in to the hospital for a bone marrow test,
and I got to say they were really nice there. Great really.
While I have always thought of myself as a tough old bird,
I found out that not quite as tough as I thought. Years ago,
I saw where they were asking for people to be tested for
bone marrow to become donor’s.. and I thought about doing
that.. Well, forget that… well, maybe if it was a love one.
They take it from your hip bone, just in case you are going
in for one… they give the area a couple shots of novacaine.
Which they said it is like a bee sting.. A GIANT BEE…
I will tell you, it is do able…but it was no picnic either… now
got to wait a week to get the results..

Headed for home and it is raining like a banshee… but at least
it isn’t snow… and I swear every time I go by the bypass that is
going in, they change the road that goes under it on the north
end… never know which place I am suppose to be on. I will be
glad when it is done.. They sure have a lot of it done.

MAD as HELL...

And I am not going to take it anymore…
That is the way we feel when things go
wrong with a product we buy. Or a company
who acts like you don’t exist after you bought
the product…

Well, your worries are over…you now have a
place to vent your frustrations. A place that even
the company checks out because they don’t want
their company trashed. So they check it out and
give their side or contact you fast so you won’t
complain anymore or you will go back and tell how
well they took care of the problem. This is better than
word of mouth. It is word of computer and on line…
go their site and check it out…http://www.gri.pe/

Of Winters Past....

As winter starts to raise its head, it brings back
memories of winters past.

I like snow, I don’t like ice. And now that I am
retired, it is really nice. I don’t have to drive
when it is nasty. I can stay home and look out
the window, with hot tea in my hand… and
admire the beauty of it all.

A good winter has 4 feet of snow. That is what I
like. It packs against the house and helps it keep
warm. I can remember as a kid that people use to
stack bales of straw around their houses up to the
windows. Especially those who were out in the
middle of the farm land and the wind could whip thru.

We use to take our wheelbarrows out of the barn
after doing a stall and put it against the barn until we had
it covered around the north and east sides. Other wise it was
down the trail and up the ramp to the manure pile.

Many winters was full of sleds and then later snow
mobiles. With snow angels, even in the middle of the
night. Many of mid night calls were to my kids as we
would go out and do snow angels, or play in the snow.
Sometimes, especially when they got older….when they
would refuse to get out of a warm bed, until I shamed
them into joining me.

Yes, winter is still fun, and I still do snow angels, just not
in the middle of the night anymore….maybe I should…
Never too old for snow angels....

Veteran Day....

Every year we honor our Veteran’s. Some get invited
to schools. Some are at the cemetery to honor those
who have gone before us…

It is always a sad time. To know so many died for
us..you and I and the rest of the country. So we have the
freedoms we share these days.

Which makes me wonder sometimes…
were we worth it? So many young men, and
now we have middle age and women, in our troops.
Are we worth it?

We have become a whining, sniveling bitching
country. Nothing is good enough for us. We want
everything now. And as our country sits on the edge,
we citizen cry about us. What it is doing to us. We
want the government out of our hair, yet blame it
when we don’t have what we want.

For today, let’s hope everyone can put their problems,
and ideals to the side… and honor the men and women
who gave us the chance to live in this wonderful country,
with all of its warts.

And pray for the ones who are overseas, and about to go
overseas… pray for their families who go without their
spouses and parents. And don’t forget to say thank you,
most humbly ….THANK YOU, to you all, Vets as well as
the troops serving now.

This is snow???

This doesn't look like snow....
The forecaster said snow on the ground by morning... we got a update at each
news time all day yesterday, how it was coming across the state of Washington.
And by nightfall it will be in Spokane and surrounding areas (we qualify as
surrounding areas) so we were ready... we didn't even get rain!

The good news is, no shoveling, which it wasn't going to be that much anyway...
but also in place is the wonderful SUNSHINE..
So I am out of here... early, to do something, even if it is wrong...

My Daylight body....

My body goes with daylight. Meaning when the sun is up, my body
wakes me and I get out of bed. And when it is dark, I start to run
down. Probably comes from my childhood. As we woke up at dawn
to do the farm work. And my folks had us in bed by the time it got
dark or shortly after. I think 8p.m. was our bedtime for winter.

Over the years, I was always an early riser. And raising kids you are up
early out of survival or call. And when I worked I was up at 3am, to
be at work by 5am. Then I switched to going to bed at 6am and going
to work at 10pm. When I went on Noc shift. So my own body had to adjust.

Now that I am retired and have no deadline, or early call, I can get
up when I want. Which is usually dawn. So summer, I am up and
on the run early and loving it… And of course, the sun is still going
at 9 to 9:30 pm. So I love summer…

I think the coined phase OLD MAN WINTER, is for a good reason.
because that is how I feel in the winter. And these gloomy mornings,
haven’t encourage my bouncing out of bed. More like dragging a wet
dishrag out. I mull around in my pj’s with my cup of coffee and paper
in hand, looking out to a bleak day. At least the afternoons were
deemable last week. But this week the forecast isn’t looking good.

So when we went off daylight savings and had gloomy mornings, and
dark afternoons… well, my body doesn’t know what to do. Heck, on
Sunday, I was thinking it was bedtime, and it was only 5 pm.
This isn’t looking good, for this winter, if I am in this mode already.
Usually this hits about January or February.

Private Lives...

Are we expecting the same of reporters as we do teacher and preachers?

Are they not to have any personal life..any personal thoughts that they can
say out loud?

Do you agree with all your bosses or companies beliefs? And do you change
yours at home or quit and go where they have the same beliefs?

As far as I am concern, if a journalist or reporter reports the news as it is…
I don’t care what he things of that news if he voices it at home. Or while he
is not working. If he does an opinion show then they are paying him for his
opinion. And then if he decides to support that opinion in his private life, they
should not be surprised. If he gives money for a candidate or party, that is
his business.

Two reporters have gotten into more trouble for voicing or supporting their
own thoughts. Not while on their show, but in private life. One from his home
and the other on another show. For their networks to take them to task for it, just
doesn’t seem right. To fire them for that, seems unreasonable. Maybe a violation
of their rights, freedom of speech? I know that both companies have talked about
other things they were upset with the reporters, but that isn’t what they were
fired for.

Nor is it ok to go into shock or horror, if you see your child’s teacher having a
beer and enjoying him/herself with friends while on their own time. Same thing
with the preacher. He/she is not going to go to hell for having a beer.
Drunkenness is different, but I wouldn’t want to see my boss drunk or anyone
for that matter.

Why I love living in Bonner County, Idaho.......

The snow is back, as some of us locals know, for a week.... but will there be more on Tuesday?While taking that picture of the snow in the mountains... at my feet were the Johnny Pop-ups as some call them.. Tiny violets is what I call them..

And this is an unsolicited commercial.... I got one of those coupon books a couple weeks ago..

In there was a new place I had not heard of... so I venture out to check it out. It is where

the old Northern Lights building use to be. There is about 3 places there in one building.

One called the DISH, one is called SUBWAY and this new one is called BABS... I tell you,

the food was wonderful.. got a pizza and something called a Stromboli. The King

said the pizza was great.... got him his favorite Meat Lovers... I ordered the Stromboli for

myself... I am here to tell you it was to die for... Never heard of it. There have several

East Coast type foods... Hero sandwiches.. (haven't heard that term since I left home.)

and MEATBALLS... REAL ITALIAN MEATBALLS... not those sawdust combo.. but

honest to goodness MEATBALLS.. I am really looking forward to going down and

ordering the Meatball Hero... So if you are up in Sandpoint area, go to hwy 200 and

Division Street intersection... on the left side is Babs, on the back side. So turn down

Division and go to the back of the building. If you are come from Priest River, turn

right just after the light and go around back.

It will be well worth your trip... And Babs is a nice gal to talk to as well...

Officially Old...

I knew I was old.. after all 70 is not young.
I don’t feel old, still feel like 48 even tho
the mirror tells me some old lady took over
my body…

But yesterday’s mail made it official… I am old.
I got an ad for THE SCOOTER STORE… they
gave me a coupon for a free consultation. Even
a free puzzle and game books… WTH????

They must have a mailing list from SS or AARP.
Because so far so good, I am walking quite well,
Thank you very much.

The Day after Blues....

Or as in this case, reds… as Idaho is so red it bleeds..
On the National level, it ought to be interesting how
the Freshmen and women, of Congress do with the
Old Guard.

On the State level, as I said Idaho is so red it bleeds.
The people have never seen a Republican they didn’t like.
They rather have a bad Republican than a good Democrat.
and it is showing this day after. With the Governor who
supposedly no one likes, is leading by a 60% or more as
the last tallys of the absentee are being counted. He knew
he had it in the bag. That is why he rarely does debates and
etc. After all if he wins the primary, why go to any more trouble.

Then there is the State/National meaning the person we send
to D.C., to do what we want… ya, like that happens… although
we did come close last time. It seems like he isn’t going to
make it this time… So if you believe the campaign ads, we
will have a pro illegal immigrants lawyer going to Washington
for us. REPUBLICAN, of course… These two races as you can
tell, disgust me.. while I suspect the Governor would get back
in… I truly thought the Democrat candidate had a chance and
it would be close. And it truly saddens me that it was such a
wide difference. The other is still in question, as we have
the absentee ballots yet, and it is a close race. It will be interest
to see how Mr. Hart did as we know the write in didn’t have a
chance.. and Mr. Hart is the one on our tax commission, yet
decided he didn’t like income taxes, so he hasn’t paid his state
nor federal for quite a while. So other than the write in, he is
unchallenged. So it will be interesting to see how many people
actually filled in the oval dot FOR him.

On our local area, it is politics as usual, most ran unchallenged,
But they are good people even if they are Republican. Lol..
And the commissioners race is still up in the air, a little. The
absentees will make the difference if they win big or barely got
thru.

And the bug in the ointment, is a Republican Challenger, which
I didn’t know they had an official title….but he already started
his protest about the absentee ballots… He is one of those
Professional complainers about anything non Republican.
One of those that we shake our heads at, because of his sour grapes
attitude even before there is time for it.

ELECTION DAY and EXPECTATIONS

Here we are as a nation, some sitting on pins and needles,
to see if their guy/gal got in. Or do we have new laws to
abide by.

What I am wondering is… what does the Tea Party, and the
rest think is going to happen from February 2011 to say
December 2011 or 2012? As of January, their person is there in
the state capital or Washington D.C., what changes do the
people of “throw the bums out” generation think is going to
happen. Is the government going to come to a stop and do
a reverse? The Government is like a freight train. It takes
miles/months and sometimes years to put on the brakes.
And then to build up steam to start off in a different direction.

So what are these “newbie” going to be able to accomplish in
their 2, 4 year term, that they can run back home to their state
or district and say to the voters…LOOK what I did. See I told
you I would be the best choice because I did this…

What are the chances, other than voting on issues, will they be
able to make a difference? They will try to get on committees,
but they won’t be on any big time committees. Newbies, better
known as Freshmen, (neither congresses are political correct with
the word, person) are put on committees of the older ones choice.
They also are on the low step of that committee. It isn’t until they
have been there years before they get to be the head of any good
Committees. And to bring up a law or ruling, forget about it.
Freshmen rarely get their voices above the floor level. Kind of
like being back in high school. The Seniors don’t like the Freshmen
any more than they did in high school. They are tolerated.

So what do you all expect to happen in the next year? And will
your guy/gal be the one that the ads will be complaining about
next election time around? Or will things be so quiet, no one will
know they were there? Did you keep a list of promises made so
you can see if they did. I really didn’t see any promises of things
to be done by the candidate. It was mostly the other guy is the
rotten egg and I will save you.

The other thing that bothers me is, why is it outsiders come in
And tell us what is good for our state? Either our guy/gal is good
or not for us. We should be the only ones deciding that. Should not
be any outside of the state money nor people coming here to tell us
how we should vote. Go tell your own state people.

Hope I am around to see in 2-4 years from
now to see how this all turns out.

Finally the end of the ads...

Well, tomorrow people go to vote for whom they desire
to represent them, and vote for different laws, policies and
etc.

Some of the voters have already voted, which seems odd to me,
a long time poll place voter. But if it works for them, that’s ok,
at least they voted.

We already have challengers up here in Bonner County raising cain.
He has decided that he doesn’t like how the envelopes for absentee
Votes are being treated.
Of course his own candidate is running for County Clerk, makes
one wonder if that is the reasoning behind his challenge. Maybe
he figures his guy is going to lose, so he wants to get a protest
in early.

But at least the ads will be gone. But I am not foolish enough to
think this will be the end of this election. With so many zoom to
the right wingers, they protest everything, if they had seen the
program I saw on Sunday on PBS, it would send them reeling. Giving
them more to run with, as their sabers wave in the air.

But vote you must… think yours don’t count? Ask Mike Kennedy, in
Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, after winning by 3 to 5 votes and almost a year
of lawsuit over it. Do you really want a policy, law, or any other voting
selection, be passed by a mere 5? Do you want the guy or gal, you can’t
stand win?

Remember, if you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice in the outcome and
you deserve what you get. The rest of us may not get who we want, but
at least we had a voice. We get to gripe, you do not…

Hope to see you at the polls, if you haven’t already voted.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.....

I had the King take me to work on that day...but he wouldn't let me wear the head as
we drove as he didn't want to scare people...lol.... and then he let me out 2 blocks
away from work...

The worse one at work was the year before...on the day that my partner and I (without telling the other) wore clown outfits and makeup.... and we had to sign in a 80+ lady who was going
to live with us for 2 weeks while her family went on vacation. Can you imagine
being in a strange place with strangers, and sitting in the room and in come these
two clowns... who start to ask you questions... lol This was at a nursing home in
1988.

The Independent Thinker/the Independent Voter

We, the Independent voter, as we chose the man/woman who we THINK
will be fair and vote for the country and not the party, seem to be gaining ground.
All the graph works you see shows the Independent voter area larger than before.

But are we the silent majority and if we are…are we sitting here not caring for either side,
are we complaining and not voting or haphazardly voting? Well, if that is the case…don’t whine come November 7th (takes a few days for the fur to settle) or beyond? No vote, no rights of complaints is my theory. In fact it is my first question when someone complains. If the answer is no… end of conversation as far as I am concern.. I have no time to listen to someone who didn’t take the time to vote. No excuses.. There are the absentee ballots.

These parties that we have here, are like raising children. The Democrats who tend to
let the child run wild and giving everything to that child. Don’t want to kill their spirit.
The Republicans, are like the old time minister, who keeps that child close. No partying, no music, no dancing no jewelry, nose to the grindstone… close to the shoulder and the answer is always NO.


My fellow independent voter like the pendulum effect of the common sense middle.
I raised my children like that, I live my life like that. Extremes to the
either side doesn’t seem right to me. I have talked about belonging to the Cafeteria
Party, where we walk down the aisle each election, picking from each side. But this year the pickings are thin. We are on the midterms diet. But vote we must. There are local policies to vote on as well as candidates. We need to wade thru the cesspool of ads,
and try to figure out who is best, even if it is the best of the two evils. And try to
understand the policies they want to make or change… if you still don’t understand,
then vote no, at least you won’t be kicking yourself later because you voted yes, and
that was against everything you believe.

I don’t want our country to have a free range, but I don’t want it shut up in the closet either. If we don’t vote, we have no rights to complain… and we deserve what we get, what we didn’t chose to make a decision about.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?

While I was away from the blog, One of
the things that sicken me was the news.

Not the political ads, even tho they were
nauseating.. but the death of children.
Not by accident, but by lack of concern,
anger, frustration, by men and women.

What is wrong with people? Why oh, why
does a woman date, live with, leave their
children with these men? When I was
single mother between marriages, I never
even let the men who I was dating, meet my
kids. And I sure the heck would not have them
live with me. Are women that needy? We sure
have come a long way ,baby.

As I have written before years ago…CHILDREN.
ARE. NOT. DISPOSABLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yet in our area… meaning Spokane, Coeur d Alene,
And surrounding areas…has had 5… 5 !!!!… beaten
and some killed in a matter of 3 weeks.
One of which was just a day or two after one had made
headlines.
I could not watch the news… made me sick. Both with
the piece of work, who did the deed, but with the women
who let them be with their children.

What's in your bathroom?

On a television show years ago, I saw
where one of the actors was in a friends
bathroom. That actor looked thru the
medience cabinet !!! Have you ever done that?

I haven’t. Never even thought of it, before the show.
Makes me shudder to even think of it now, and
EVEN MORE, the thought that someone would do that
in my bathroom. I have a boring cabinet, but still.

What is in your bathroom cabinet? Have you ever
looked in someone else’s… and if you do, would you
be ok with someone looking in yours?

And, if you are in your friend’s bathroom. You are on
the throne…there is a magazine on the counter across
from you… So do you read it? If you do… do you put it
back on the counter EXACTLY how it was sitting before?
So no one would know you read it, Or do you just place it
back up on the counter with out thinking what position it was in before?

Women with no names....

I was going thru a lot of papers and books.
Among them was one from a church. I took
it for granted it was a cookbook like churches
put out annually.

But this one wasn’t. It was mostly ads and names,
for a Bazaar that was going to be going on.
It had the people it was dedicated to, which was
my Great Aunt May and Uncle Bill. And then there
was a list of committees and who was on each
of these committees. The booklet was from
the 1960’s …1961 I believe.

Do you know what I learn from that booklet?
I learn that women did not have first names
in the 1960’s. Not unless they were single.
As all the rest of the women only had a name
of “MRS.” Not one single first name. Unless
it was started with “Miss”. Men had first names.
Mr. And Mrs. Wm. Smith…Mr. And Mrs. John Doe.

Wonder what year women started to have first names.

My Time is just about up....

I have been busy for the past 10 days or so,
with many projects and I have just about all
of my goals done. All but one scratched out
and today finishing that one off..

The King has been hunting, in the ELK CAMP.
Which is 8 men and two women. One is a wife and
one is an 18 yr. old daughter who has hunted with
her dad for many years. And the ages range from 18
to 87. So the old men of the group, which the King
is one of them, kind of keep a lid on the partying of
the younger ones. But one thing they all agree on is
the hunt is the reason why they are there, year after year.
Filling the freezer is the main goal.

Also there is the written code is, no one leaves camp until
all have gotten their elk. The ones who have gotten their elk
and deer become drivers for the others. Which the King has
become, as he got his last week. So now he drives the hunter
to the top of the ridge, and then goes down to the bottom and
waits for the hunter to come out and give him/her a ride back
to camp. And if the hunter gets his, then the King finds a way
to get as close as he can to the kill and help bring the animal
to camp.

The King has the hunter who is 87. Who he admires his
stamina, as this man handles the trails like a 20 year old.

So the King has had the best time of his life… and after 3
years of dry runs in the elk department, it is wonderful he
not only drew a moose tag, but was able to fill out his moose
tag, elk tag, and deer tag… Our freezer will be full and that
will help our budget greatly.

So next week back to normal, what ever that is… and blogging..And turning the remote back over to the King… ;-(

My Buttons were pushed!!!

I said I would be busy this week and I am…
But that isn’t what pushed my buttons,
and got me riled…

I called my bank’s 24 hour phone connection
to see if a check had cleared. In that process,
I found out there was a charge against my
account (with others) for $75. So I went in
and checked all my charges against my account.
All of them I had in my registry …but the $75.
So I went back a week to see where I had used
my debit card… still no $75. So I finally broke
down and called the bank to find out where I had
used my debit card and not put it in my registry.

NOW, THAT IS WHERE MY BUTTON WAS
PUSHED!!!.

I had not lost my mind, I had not forgot to put the
amount in my registry…. So where did it come from?
It seems when you use your debit card at a gas station,
it charges $75 and then later… it charges the actually
amount. LATER!!!. HOW MUCH LATER? I don’t
know because that doesn’t show up on your statement.
The amount I had put in my gas tank? $32. 69!.. so the
gas station had over charged my account $42.31!!!!!
So if I had only $50 in my account and put the $32.69,
knowing I had enough to cover it… I WOULD BE
OVERDRAWN !!! Then of course adding to
that the overdrawn charge. HOLY COW….

The gal at the bank said most gas stations do that,
the way to get around that is to go inside and pay for
it in there….
The kicker is.. the pump did not give a receipt, so I had to go inside
and get that…. The gal at the bank kind of laughed..
at the ironic part of that… I wasn’t laughing… and
guess I know I will not use my debit card anymore.
Now why is it, it doesn’t do that to the gas credit card?
Or do they? But at least you aren’t overdrawn with fees.

GUEST AUTHOR

This was on Facebook, and for those who don’t do Facebook
There is a status slot to fill in your thoughts. And a lot of times you see
someone else’s status and you are asked to copy and paste it to
your profile status slot if you also believe it to be true…. So I did that
yesterday. A fellow blogger named Thom has posted it on his status.
And today, there was a comment. A great answer to the statement.
So below this statement you will find an comment from my guest author.

1 of every 10 people born is gay. That means 1 of every 10 people is instantly put down, given bad labels, left alone, put in a minority, andso much else. All for something they didn't ask for. Many gay teens arecommitting suicide as a way of escaping. If you want to tell them life will get better, and you respect them for who they are, copy and paste this.

THE GUEST AUTHOR’S COMMENT….
"As someone who was born gay and someone who has and is going threw the prejudice and ignorance of not only people but a former employer. I am fighting to make things better to let these kids know that life will get better and to hopefully make things better so the next generation does not have to go threw the things I have. Do not let being gay define who you are as it is not a death sentence, let what type of human being you are define you. I always say that I am not proud of being gay, but I am not ashamed of being gay either, as it is not a matter of pride or shame it is just the way that Grandfather made me. I do not usually speak out about being gay especially in public forums, but felt it was important to do it this time if even one kid listens to what I have to say and it helps them. I am 45 years young and I went through 9 years of counseling to deal with the effects of my childhood abuse and before I came to grips with being gay at age 38. Because of a prejudice father, society, and a church I was lead to believe that I had a demon in me and that there was something mentally wrong with me because of how I felt so I buried my feelings at a very young age. This caused more damage then the physical abuse I endured as a child. I consider myself very lucky in the fact that Grandfather, the lessons of my Mom and Dad and yes even the things I endured as a child made me very strong and the fact that when I did come to grips with being gay, that all the shame, fear, and guilt went out the window. I give credit to myself first and foremost for surviving, to my counselor Carolyn of 9 years who had to of been sent by Grandfather to help me, and the acceptance of my Grandmother, mother, sister and my true friends. People who will not accept you because you are gay is no different then if they didn’t accept you because you liked the color blue instead of green, they are very shallow people who are not worth your time and the effort. I feel sorry for them, as it seems the ones I have delta with are so miserable in there own lives that they can only feel better by making those around them as miserable as they are, don’t give them the satisfaction or time of day. Surround yourself with positive people who love you for who you are not what you are. Do not hide or be ashamed of yourself, have strength and most importantly self respect and let no one take it away from you as that is your biggest asset. My counselor taught me that no one can make you do or feel anything you don’t allow them to make you do or feel. They act and you have a choice of how you will or will not react. Self respect, self Love, and self protection is some of the hardest things to obtain and keep, think of the person that you most love in your life and in any situation think of how you would feel if it where happening to them and let that be the guide for yourself. Only by being LIVING proof can we make a difference in prejudice and ignorance, weather we are women, man, black, native, or gay. So please I beg of you to hang in there kids, find and surround yourself with supportive people who love you for who you are, a beautiful and loving spirit that deserves love and respect, not what they think or want you to be.
CHEYENNE…

Because I believe when divorced, the children should live where they feel the most comfortable, Cheyenne moved back and forth between my ex and myself. Something’s you don’t learn until a child is older. So when she mentions Father, that was her birth father. When she refers to Dad, that was my second husband. Who she dearly loved and chose to take his name when she became an adult. Reference to Grandfather, is to her belief in the Native American side of her…
I am proud to say, Cheyenne is my daughter…