The Coming Year...

Here we are given a clean slate… a new year..
What are you going to do with it, that you haven’t
done in the past many years of your life?

I am not talking about resolutions, as that is 99%

worthless.

I am talking about goals. What is it you like to do?

Besides the lost weight, make more money, and all the
other things people use for resolutions.
 
I haven’t really gave it a lot of thought……
I have a couple of things I would like to do this
year, that I had not done in the past….as well as
a few things I was doing last year. 

Right now, I am doing what I usually do each year

at this time.. TAXES.. getting all the paper work ready.
I put most of the papers in a file over the year, so it was just
going thru the rest of the papers in the file to make sure I have
them all.. I have that 95% done.. and most of the rest is waiting
for banks, jobs and SS to send the forms for income tax filing.

But after that, I have two projects that I have in mind for the

next two months.. and….AND… AND… I AM REAL
EXCITED… as the King has got his truck in the garage.

I helped him 2 weeks ago to find one of the stalls in his garage.

We actually saw and swept the floor… he found tools he didn’t
even know he had!! He said it was like Christmas all over again.
And after that we brought in the truck frame that
he needs to finish stripping so he can put his 47 Ford pick up truck
on.. That will be a Christmas miracle in its self..  

So maybe this will be the year of the projects..

No matter which side of the aisle

No matter which side of the aisle you stand on,

you got to be pretty disgusted with Congress.

 

We sit here and wonder where are they leading us

and why are we following.  I guess the reason why

we are following is, because we have no other choice.

At least for another year or so. The midterm election.

And even then, the sheep will still vote for the same wolves.

Seems that we rather cuss the rut, then change it.

 

Myself, I gave up on these soap operas that Congress drags

us thru time after time.. the buffoon of actions the two

parties dance thru…taking senior citizens heart thru hell.

Last time they did it.. there was talk if there would even

be Social Security checks for the elderly.  What cruelty.

 

So this past time, I refuse to read or watch anything on it.

Kind of irritated my friends. They could not get me to have

an opinion… meaning they couldn’t bring me down with them

in an argument.  They didn’t seem to be very happy for the

last few months… but I was fine..

Have to remember to do that more often.. ha-ha

 

For some reason, Wall Street seems to be pretty happy, after

all it went up 300 points just with the news of the passing of

some of the cliff bill.  I don’t know why, as no one else is.

 

One of the reasons why I didn’t invest time into this mess,

was because I knew how ever it went down, it was not going

to be for the people… one way or another, we would be paying

more. And we will.  The other thing is.. what else is on that bill?

No one is saying.. they never do… but I don’t know a bill that

hasn’t had its own load of pork on it…come together like pork

and beans . 

 

And that is what you and I will be eating… it will be the only

thing we will be able to afford………maybe.  

   

The Project of Balloons and Ice

For the past week, I have been playing with balloons, 

water, and food coloring… It was a fun project, that was on Facebook about September.

 So little over a week ago, bought some balloons, got out the old food coloring and started to fill balloons. Found some old neon food coloring.

I started out filling the balloons, and then went to put the food coloring in.. Which was not such a great idea as the water tries to get out of the balloon before you can get the color in… and fingers were green.. (Note to self, use gloves)….

 So next one I put the color in first… hooked the balloon on the faucet and filled… until it sat on the sink floor.. Then squish off at mid neck of the balloon.. and disconnect balloon. Then back tie off the neck of the balloon.. worked a lot better. Then took the balloons, one by one out and set them in the snow, and waited for them to freeze.

 Day two, check them .. only an egg shell frozen top… bottom still water.  

Day three… check them.. tops froze more but still bottoms water….Turn over each balloon. 

 Day four… move balloons out in the middle of the yard so not protected By the house.  And turn back on the bottoms as there are froze some.

 Day five… about an inch froze around the whole balloon, but water in the middle… temps had dipped below 25 so was starting to solidify.  One balloon had split on one… so took all of the balloons off ..all the balls.

Day six, balls all froze solid…but some leaked.. which still wasn’t bad, as they made a crystal like look to the ball…

It was a fun project, and would be a blast to do with kids… grandkids and etc.

Well, worth the trouble.. but I think next time I do it… I might start them off in the freezer, as the temps would be steady.. as in the beginning our temps were in low 30’s to 28… at the end our temps dipped to 17 and they did much better.

 So if you try it.. you might consider start in the freezer…or at least have your outdoor temps be 15 and below.. 

 

Here is what they all looked like as they went … and don’t forget the gloves.. otherwise you will have green, blue, yellow and red fingers.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The End of the Year Thoughts

It is the time of the year to look back in our thoughts of what the year has been like.
More or less another year blown to hell…

As I look back, I think of 2012, as the year of sadness.  It isn’t because of the economy. That is bad enough in itself.. but actually, the economy is trying raise up, and with one foot on the ground, the other on its knee.. as it tries to come to a stand,

we still have the chicken little’s put it down at each corner, with rumors and downplays.

What I find is not only the sadness of Connecticut  26 people with 20 of them being children…the firemen drawn to a fire, only to have the owner kill two, wound two others, the mall and the theater also in play.. where the mentally ill feel killing

others will solve what ever problems they have… finding out it doesn’t and killing themselves most of the time.    

It is sad that Congress is granted a raise… while they are suppose to be finding way to make cuts… using military, education, and the disable the first cuts… yet never cut their own wages, benefits. Not wanting to have those over the $250,000 pay more taxes,

because that would mean themselves.

It is sad, that the nation as a whole spent 2012, fighting with itself, over what is right for the people.. with the Democrats thinking of party only… and the Republican party being in such a disarray that they didn’t know what they wanted, what their own policies were, and so split among themselves they couldn’t  bring up a candidate that the public could trust.  And when the public decided that a known President was better than a flip flopping candidate whose own son says now.. that his heart was never in it. It showed.
But rather than bring their group together, find a common ground, and bring their thoughts back to the 2000 year and out of the 1940’ thoughts on women, and other minorities.. they chose to blame the Democrats and the public.  

We still have a Congress who rather fight parties, than to come together for the country. This year has been the worse year for this…and the whole country feels it. That is why I find this, the saddest year of all..

So let’s hope that the year 2013, will find us looking for some of the golden moments, instead of trying to find the warts of life.   Let us know we still live in the best country of all. Why else would so many still want to run across our borders?  May we find solutions to our ills, instead of looking  for blame.  May we find kindness and give kindness, instead of looking for how to destroy others.

May our government start to make us proud, instead of shaking our heads in disbelief.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, to you all.. may 2013 bring you health, safety and joy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

 

 

 

THE YEAR WAS 1944....

The world was at war.. my father worked civil service for the Torpedo Station in Newport R.I.

 But on this day, 68 years ago, my father celebrated the birth of his only son. And even as times were bumpy thru that relationship over the years, he never waivered in his love for his son. Don’t get me wrong, I know Dad loved us both to his dying day…even when we didn’t do him proud 100% of the time. 

My mom was bummed out, not because he had a son.. but because she had a baby 2 days before Christmas…. And in the old days, you stayed in the hospital for 10 to 14 days to make sure the two of you were going home healthy.. And the new mother knew what she was in for, once home… too bad they don’t still do that.

 And I am sure I was the typical older sister of 4 years older, who was thrilled for about 10 minutes… as it was my job from then on end, as that older sister to not only watch out for my little brother… but to make his life as miserable as I could… just as he fulfilled his job to make mine as miserable as well..

 

I knew the jig was up, the following Christmas… and for several after… at least 5.
See the year before Roy was born… I was given by SANTA… a full fledged Lionel Train with tracks…and tunnels. And water tower.. that went around under the tree each year.  Which a year or two later BECAME… Roy’s train.

Now this wasn’t a big deal at first, because Dad would never ever let us touch it. We might break it.. and we didn’t know how to handle the switch, so we were only allowed to watch. 

But by the time he was 5.. he got not only an erector set (remember where you could build anything with metal sticks.. and parts) I got Tinker Toys set.(not a big deal to a 9 year old girl… )

And he and Roy built all kinds of thing together… AND…AND…ROY

GOT TO RUN THE TRAIN… oh, he was careful, because Dad was
right beside him giving him inch by inch directions…. So good, Dad
said… and then he made the mistake of going to the kitchen to get
himself a cup of coffee… whoo whoo whoo… chuca chucla…
Swiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiz by went the train.. little smoke puffs.. and WHACK!! TRAIN WRECK…  oh, like a wicked big sister I was.. I laughed and laughed.. even my mother was laughing.. some how I don’t think the look on my father’s face could be described as humor… black cloud maybe… while he did not yell, well, not real loud… just some muddering under his breath, asking for help.. I think anyway, from higher above..

Because I did hear Jesus’s name.. and something about mother of God. Yep, Dad and Roy were on their way…going thru life with the ups and downs.

And while the hospital taught my mother what she was in for soon with raising her child.. they didn't go into the dealings of teenagers.. which then my brother became my partner in crime of driving my parents nuts.

 Roy, I am sure, has been paid back by his own son.. who he dearly loves, even thru the bumps of life..  and Roy’s grandchildren have done him proud, just as mine have, with running their parents thru what is life’s up and downs of life..

 

Oh,for the wisdom’s I send each year… 68 is nothing but good.. and wait until you get to be 70. That is where you start looking at your heel, to see if they printed the expiration date there yet…. And thankful .. they haven’t..  and to live  each day to the fullest… May your health hold strong…

And when the day comes, if I go before you…. It is your job to continue the words of wisdom.. and when I go, you will hear those words of terror… “I’M TELLING,MOM!! as I leave.. And it will really piss me off, if I hear you say it first...

 

So Happy BIRTHDAY.. old man… my little brother… and yes, I remember your replies, of… no matter how old you get… I WILL ALWAYS BE OLDER … which I think is the pay back of life…

 

Reflections of life...

What you are here? Does that mean the world didn’t end?
Just as I expected…
So I decided to do honors to the this short day….

Life is good.... and I am so blessed...

I love the whiteness of the winter... it is cleansing of the soul with its pureness...
I love the stillness of the winter forest.... silence is golden

I am at a good place in life. I have so much to be grateful for.. Children that I am proud of.. with grandchildren who are becoming adults themselves with their own children. All of them great people, and it amazes me that they are my family.

And a husband who treats me like a queen, even when I don’t act like one..

I am amazed at people who call me friend.. especially sometimes I am not too proud of myself.. they raises me with their wings,

of hope and things will be better... and feel grateful when I can do the same for them.

I hope out of tragedy of the past month, that there grows an attempt to understand instead of blame.. to stop yelling at each other, and to try to see how to help our fellowman. There be one step of peace, one comment of praise and positive that others will see it and try their best to do the same.

So on this day of short hours.. may we take time to smell the roses of life.. and appreciate what we have.. and how blessed we are

 

Death be kind...

This Christmas season seems to be shadowing by death.
I have had several people I know who passed away in the past week and half.… and the King just learn of two he knows..December is not suppose to be for funerals.

And of course, everyone knows about last Friday, that tore the nation’s heart out.

So hold your love ones closely this holiday season. Hug your

kids dearly… There can’t be anything that is so seriously bad, that you continue to fight with those close to you.  This is the time to search your soul, and pick your battles.. as we have found out this past week, life can disappear in a flash.

So in memory of all those who have passed this December and this year.. let’s find the joy of life. Celebrate the birth of our Savior, and if you have a problem with that.. then your higher power.. even if it is only Santa Claus which brings joy to children.. of all ages.

But most of all.. at the end of the day.. give hugs to all…

I am skipping next week.. going to give my mind a rest.  
With a special one that I am going to do on Sunday, for some
one in my life.

So I wish you a very Merry Christmas…filled with surprises in packages, great gathering of friends and family.. good food…. Remember this is the last great supper of the year.. and next year you diet.. lol..

May you get what you need and some of what you want..

 

People frustrate me

With the Sandy Hook situation, there are still rumors going around..with out any facts behind them.. The media does not even find out or do the research for their stories.  They run with what they THINK is the truth.. and then change it later to the facts.. which can take hours, days or even weeks.

Take the fact that they said the mother worked at the school.  So everyone thought the guy got in, because of her.  Now the truth comes out that she did not even work there.  Now what? So why did he pick that school? Those children? We may never know.

 Then you have the people running around yelling they are going to take our guns away from us.. That is what Obama said in his speech..  Which if you were listening to him closely, he did NOT say he was going after the guns. He just said there had to be changes made.  He wasn’t pacific about what he thought should be done.. and I would take it that he was leaving it open for a reason. Like to get input from everyone.. every side.. but the truth of the matter as he stated.. SOMETHING HAS TO BE CHANGED. 

 

Even the NRA, which usually is posturing with their own agenda, has been silent until Tuesday… saying they were silent in respect for the families involved. And they, too, say there has to be a change.. and they are working on that.

But the chicken littles who run around with their mouths going and their minds disengaged, spouting off… on things they have no base for, no facts, and just spouting off..  Which frustrates the heck out of me.

So far, Obama and the NRA, have the right idea.. wait and see.. get groups together to see what they can come up with. Using reasoning.

I would like to see… if you own a gun, you have a gun safe. Most of these of late, are guns that were bought legally. But stolen by someone else (be it family or friend) and used. If they had been locked up in a safe, that wouldn’t have happen. It isn’t the answer, but it is a start.

 

The other main thing.. what connects all of these, besides the fact that guns were used? It is the fact that these men were all mental health problems.. The Virginia killer, the Arizona killer, the Portland mall killer, the school house killer.. and most of the ones before..  So I would say we have a huge problem in the mental health issues here. Do you think?  One of the first budget cuts is mental health. Also there are so many parents dealing daily with children, who need help.  Who are help some and then the insurance company dumps them. Or there is no help.

If the anti-gun lobby had spent as much on the mental health issues as they did for anti-gun lobbyist.. we would be working on the problem. I am glad to see that this is of high concern now. Hopefully, not to be brushed under the rug again.