I've got a favor to ask!

My buddy Eduardo the Snuggle Puggle

(and his mom and dad),

are participating in the Light The Night walk,

to earn money for the

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

This is a cause that is very near and dear to them.

Just look at that face.

He's begging you...

...would you please consider making a small donation?

$5 or $10 - Every dollar helps!

Ana's (Eduardo's mom) donation page can be found HERE.

Eduardo's post about the walk are

Here & Here

Thanks so much!

Drop by and tell them I sent you - please?

Lookie What I Got

My husband and I celebrated our

36th wedding anniversary on Monday.

I'm hoping that I get 36 more years,

with the wonderful man that I married.

Oscar Jr. came home early.

Big S made a roast in the croak pot,

with carrots and potatoes.

I made the gravy.

We spent a quiet evening at home

watching episodes of

Corner Gas.
It's nights like these,

that make life worth living!

Do you want to see what I got for my anniversary?

Okay - you twisted my arm!

I got Flowers,

and a Lucky Money Plant:-)

And this waaaaaaay cool

cleaning cart!

A Laptop Caddy

Here it is with all my stuff on it.

(See my review here.)

AND

If that wasn't enough,

I got one of these...

...I'm a happy camper and a

very very lucky woman!!!!!!

2010 Census Information

FYI

In an attempt to avoid talking about my utter failure,

in exercising each and every day,

during the last month...

I submit the following:

  About the 2010 Census

• The census is a count of everyone living in 
• the United States every 10 years.
• The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
• The next census is in 2010.
• Your participation in the census is required by law.
• It takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
• Federal law protects the personal information 
• you share during the census.
• Census data are used to distribute 
• Congressional seats to states, to make decisions 
• about what community services to provide, 
• and to distribute $400 billion in federal funds to 
• local, state and tribal governments each year.

Some concern about the upcoming U.S. Census 
taking place in 2010 
is already surfacing, as preparations 
for such a huge undertaking get

underway.  It is certainly possible that fake 
(or possibly other-than-honorable) 
census takers could appear and attempt 
to gain personal information that could be used 
for identify theft. 

Here's what to watch out for with the latest 
census going on. 
It has been verified as authentic.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE 2010 CENSUS !

With the U.S. Census process beginning, 
the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

advises people to be cooperative, 
but cautious , so as not to become a

victim of fraud or identity theft. 
The first phase of the 2010 U.S.

Census is under way as workers have begun 
verifying the addresses of

households across the country. 
Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census

workers will count every person in the United States 
and will gather information about 

every person living at each address 
including name, age, gender, race, 
and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference 
between a U.S.Census worker and a con artist? 
BBB offers the following advice:
** If aU.S. Census worker knocks on your door,
they will have a badge, a handheld device
a Census Bureau canvas bag, 
and a confidentiality notice. 
Ask to see their identification and their badge 
before answering their questions. 
However, you should never invite anyone 
you don't know into your home. **

 To see photo's of actual census 
workers go HERE.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors 
to verify address information . 
Do not give your Social Security number, 
credit card or banking information to anyone, 
even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. 
While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial

information, such as a salary range, 
it will not ask for Social Security, bank account, 
or credit card numbers, nor will employees

Solicit donations.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you 
by telephone,  mail, or in person at home. 
However, they will not contact you by Email, 
so be on the lookout for Email scams 
impersonating the Census. 
Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email 
that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau. 
For more advice on avoiding identity theft and

fraud, visit www.bbb.org

You can also go HERE to the 2010 Census site.

Sunday Offering 9/27/09

May Your Day Be Blessed

Where Does The Time GO?

You know that saying about time flying when you're having fun?

Well... I must be hav'n a ball!

 I don't  work "outside the home".

I only have one child here - and he's 25.
My husband is very neat and cleans up after himself. 
I don't have that much laundry.

So what the heck am I doing to make time go by so fast?

Blogging - yep - blogging...and I haven't really been doing it here! 

You see, I started entering contests online.

Then I discovered book blogs.

(Believe me - there are blogs for EVERYTHING!)

I started winning books right and left.

A light bulb went off in my head, and I thought

"maybe I could win all my families Christmas gifts this year."

Then, back in June

-because I've obviously lost my mind -

I decided to start a book blog of my own.

I never imagined that it would take off like a rocket.

I was just going to post a review every now and then.

Maybe do a giveaway once every 3 or 4 months.

Well let me tell you..it's become a full time job.

Not that I'm complaining... but there isn't the same connection

with my readers there

(except for Bingo - I love that woman)

as there is here.

This is my blog HOME.

This is where my friends are.

And I've let this place slide, and I sincerely apologize for that.

But there's something else.

I read all of your posts, and I feel so inadequate.

I feel as if I can't continue to come up with

new and funny, or  insightful material.

I've also been worried about posting anything that would be

objectionable to anyone.

I have strong religious and political views,

but I'm reluctant to post them here,

as I would never ever want to hurt anyone's feelings.

AND

Since big S took over the desk top, I haven't even been

uploading my photo's!

I'm a mess!

But, if you guys will stick with me

I'll try to do a better job.

Deal?

I Did Exercise Today...

That's my story, and I'm stick'n too it!

I'm So Sorry

30 Day Throw Down Members - DO NOT LOOK

Don't even think about peeking...not even with one eye closed!

Go away - seriously.

You do not want to see this.

Unh-unh - nope - no way.

Don't say I didn't warn ya!

I've discovered the most wonderful blog.

Christy Jordan's Southern Plate 

Recipes From Below The Mason-Dixon Line

She has the most wonderful "Down Home Southern" recipes.

Recipes that will make your tongue slap it's self silly.

Gracious me, she's got some good stuff.

If you dare... go HERE.

I'm Doing OK

I can't believe that it's Wednesday already. 
What happened to Tuesday?

I'm still holding my own. 
Weight hasn't gone up any more... yet.

The Gazelle has been shouting at me, but so far,
I've done a good job of ignoring it!

I'm cringing at the thought of
Robynn's Challenge
(exercise?) for next month.

I want to be honest,
so I may not be able to join in:-(

I'll have to do some real hard thinking

before I commit.

(NO not be committed... Spud Woman - 
no wisecracks from you:-)

Seeing Things a Little Differently

Now that I've had a couple of days to calm down

& 

I've taken some time to think about things...

...and I've come to the conclusion

that maybe losing all my emails wasn't such a horrible thing.

I now have 8 or 9  emails in my "Inbox", and it's rather nice not to have so much

"staring me in the face" ever time I check in.

Thanks for all your support.

The next time I have a melt down,

you can all just tell me to grow up!

BTW - I'm also over whatever bug got  a hold of me. 

I'm back up about a pound or so...

...but hoping not to put too much more back on.

I'll get back on the Gazelle today too - I promise!

Sunday Offering 9/20/09

May Your Day Be Blessed.

Bad Turns to Worse

How Do I Do These Things?

Yes, I know that I've been sick, and   I feel like crud. And now I'm flipping out. 

Somehow, someway, I managed to delete every single email in my In Box! 

I don't know how I did it. 

But I did... and it's all GONE. 

There was stuff in there that I've saved for YEARS. 

 

All Gone. 

All my approvals for giveaways on my book blog. 

Approvals for product reviews.

Deadlines for reviews.

PICTURES OF MY GRANDCHILDREN!!!

I'm so upset. 

I'm ticked off.

I am soooooooooo mad at myself. 

I'm beyond knowing what to do.

Got any suggestions?

Has another day gone by?

I've been sick for 3 days - down 11.2 lbs.

It's too bad that it will all come back on,

once I can keep anything down/in:-(

I didn't exercise today - maybe tomorrow.

SOS

I was just digging through the deep freezer, looking for a pork tenderloin,

to make for dinner tonight.

I never did find the pork, but all the way down in the bottom, I found a HUGE stash of *gulp*...

"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"

"
"
"
"
"
"
"

...these.

Help! 

Somebody please come save me from myself!

One More Day

One more day behind me.

  A lifetime ahead me.

I may just live:-)

30 Day Throw Down / Holding My Own I Guess

So far, so good.  Still no drive -thru food.  No sodas.  No fried foods.  Trying to eat more fruits and veggies.  Been on the Gazelle, and slowing adding more minutes.  Thinking of adding  Zumba workout soon.  Haven't heard of Zumba?  Check out my review HERE.

Sunday

May your day be blessed.

The Ukulele Orchestra of GB - You Dont bring me Flowers

My husbands got me hooked on YouTube...check this out!

We Must Never Forget!

Where were you - 9/11/01?

I was sitting at my desk at Bennett Christiansen Academy, where I worked as the Assistant to the Director.  My husband called to tell me about the first hit on the World Trade Center.  I immediately turned on my radio.  Moments later my boss (and dear friend) came rushing to the front office, and got on the computer.  Just a few minutes later, my husband called again...the second plane had hit!  

We sat dazed, not believing what we were seeing and hearing.  Ted (the Director) stayed at my desk, and I quietly went, from classroom to classroom, to tell the teachers what was going on.  We were notified by the school board, that we should expect phone calls from panicked parents, and that we should be ready to release our students as their parents arrived.  

The phone "rang off the hook"! 

The parents began to show up, looking dazed and bewildered. 

The news kept reporting more and more tragedies...the pentagon...the hijacked airliner. 

It was so surreal.  This couldn't be happening. A terrorist attack? 

This was the USA for crying out loud.  The strongest, most powerful nation on earth.  

When would it stop?  How many more people would die...today, and in the days to come? 

So many innocent people.  

The victims, their families and friends.  

The rescue personnel, and their families and friends.  

I vacillated between the emotions of  grief, horror, and disbelief. 

Ted headed across the parking lot, to the medical offices on the grounds of the school.  

One of the chiropractors had a TV in his waiting room. 

Many of the children left, but we tried to keep things 

as normal as possible for the remaining students.  

Lunch, free time, fun activities.

We had to keep fending off questions 

about why so many of the boys and girls had gone home.

I will say, that something good came out of this awful situation...

...the citizens of this country banded together, and stood firm.  

Blood donations...volunteer rescue groups.  

Doctors, nurses...meals, hugs, money and prayers. 

Unceasing prayers in homes, offices, churches. 

Flags hung in every store, and in most homes - on flagpoles, in windows, on walls.  

We stood united.

But how long did this camaraderie last?  When did our memories begin to fade?  How could we so easily slide into a "comfort zone"?  Do we only remember on the anniversary date each year? 

We do not need to live in a state of fear...but we do need to remember.

We need to remember those who died. 

We need to remember, and stand behind, the men and women

who continue to put their lives on the line

(Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force Coast Guard, Police Officers, 

Fire Fighters, Rescue Units,  etc. etc.)

to protect us, and this great country we are so blessed to live in. 
We need to remember, and...

...We Must NEVER FORGET!

The Bagpiper

A bagpiper was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man who had no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery in the remote countryside and this man would be the first to be laid to rest there. He was not familiar with the backwoods area, and he became lost and being a typical man, did not stop for directions. When he finally arrived an hour late, he saw the backhoe and the crew who were eating lunch but the hearse was nowhere in sight. He apologized to the workers for his tardiness and stepped to the side of the open grave where he saw the vault lid already in place. He assured the workers that he would not hold them up for long but he felt that going ahead and playing, was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. He played with all his heart and soul. As he played the workers began to weep. He played and he played like he'd never played before, from Going Home and The Lord is My Shepherd to Flowers of the Forest . He closed the lengthy session with Amazing Grace and walked to his car. As he was opening the door and taking off his coat, he overheard one of the workers saying to another, "Sweet Jazuz, Mary'n Joseph, I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

Do you need a laugh today?

If so - please feel free to go HERE.  

You won't be sorry!

30 Day Throw Down - Progress?

One week into Raving Robynn's 30 Day Throw Down...how many more to go?  I really don't know.

No Fast Food (or better choices when "there"), is really no problem for me.  I don't drive any more, and to be perfectly honest, I don't even leave the house much.  I'm a real homebody, and I'm totally happy inside my 4 little walls...I digress.  But, the no prepackaged food, going organic, and lot's more fresh vegetable and fruits & less meat - that's hard.  And what makes it harder is that I don't have support.  

No - I said that wrong...

...Oscar Jr.(what I'm gonna call the husband from now on (inside joke) is not into organics - and I do have to admit - he has some pretty solid reasons for this.  He loves Hamburger Helper - okay, that is weird.  He works loooooooooooong hours and has at least 2 hours of commute time each working day - so picking up fresh produce several time a week, just isn't going to happen.  He believes in the fast forward method of grocery shopping - you have a list, and fly through the store as fast as you can. It drives the man nuts, to stand around and compare prices, match coupons with sale items, read labels,,

and pick through the fruits and veggies.

I'm very very forgetful.  I have to do something over and over and over again...before it "clicks".  It's not that I'm lazy...I just forget to exercise. I also forget to eat - YES - really, I forget to eat.  Then, when I hit the "I;ve got the shakes and can't think" stage, I grab what's easiest, and start chowing down...and then I spiral downward.  Oscar Jr.  will even call several times a day to ask if I rememberd to eat.  I'll say "I'm gonna go fix something right now"...and then when I get off the phone, something else will cross my mind, and eating is forgotten.  When I hit the wall and have to eat, I just grab and stuff...and then I'm ravenous til the end of the day.  I also don't drink.  Not just that I don't drink ( no alcohol - ever), but I don't Drink.  I can easily go the whole day on less than a cup of anything fluid.  I Have to force myself to get liquids down.  This is something that I have been working on for years and years.

Excuses, excuses, excuses.  

Get this...last week I gained weight.  And no - not from adding muscle - that thought is a riot!

Baby steps I tell myself.  Baby steps.  Rome wasn't built in a day.  Yada, yada, yada.  Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I'll eat some worms.  Geesh - I think I need chocolate.  Yeah, that's it.  I need chocolate.  Is it any wonder that I need to lose 100 lbs.?  Yes I said 100.  Gosh - when I see that written down - it HURTS.  It physically hurts.  It mentally hurts.  It's overwhealming.  It's collossal. Excuse my while I  hyperventilate for a moment.  Aaaww crude - I just looked at the clock...it's almost noon, 

and I haven't eaten yet!

See what I mean?

Belief's To Relect On

Hang'n in there with the 30 Day Throw Down.
Haven't been on the Gazelle in a couple of days.
My feet and ankles have been soooo swollen
from sitting at the desk, 
instead of in my recliner with my laptop.  
Big S will be home in the next day or so, and that means, 
I can use my laptop again, 
with my feet elevated

and then you guys can all chew me out

if I don't post my exercise.
Doing okay with no fast food.
Got lots of good bread from Whole Foods, yesterday.

Need to put steel cut oats, 
butter (yes, I said butter) 
apples and some cheese

on my grocery list.


Want to get in on the fun? 
Go HERE to learn about :
Raving Robynn's 30 Day Throw Down

Go HERE to learn more about:

Get Moving with Mountain Woman and Tahtimbo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I received this from my daughter's mother-in-law, 

and loved it so much I decided to post it. 

Thanks Janice!

Beliefs to reflect on...

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born.  A Death Certificate shows that we died. Pictures show that we lived!  Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  I Believe...  That just because two people argue, that  doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, that doesn't mean they do love each other.   I Believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.    I Believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.   I Believe... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.   I Believe... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.  Same goes for true love.   I Believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life..   I Believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.   I Believe... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.   I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't. I Believe... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.    I Believe... That either you control your attitude or it controls you.      I Believe... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.      I Believe... That money is a lousy way of keeping score.    I Believe... That my best friend and I can do anything, or nothing, and have the best time.    I Believe.... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you  When you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.       I Believe... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had,    and what you've learned from them...and less to do with how many  birthdays you've celebrated.   I Believe... That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.  I Believe... That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.   I Believe... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.      I Believe... That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.    I Believe... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.      I Believe... That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.      I Believe... That even when you think you have no more to give, if a friend cries out to you...you will find the strength to help.   I Believe... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.      I Believe... That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.      I Believe... That you should send this to all of the people that you believe in. I just did.   The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; They just make the most of everything.   Thank you God for all the wonderful people who help us throughout the journey of life...   God Bless You!

Another Day Another Challenge!

I've been a zombie woman today.  Doesn't seem as if I've been able to get anything done...and I've felt toooooooo tired to climb on the Gazelle.  I had a very rough night and only got a couple of hours of sleep.  I lost a really important post over at Libby's Library News, I didn't get around to eating breakfast until about 11:30, and my ankles are so swollen, that they hurt.  About 10 minuets ago, I decided to jump on my dashboard 

and check out a few blog postings.  

WAM 

Red Pine Mountain 

jarred me out of my slump with her new blog 

Get Moving with Mountain and Tahtimbo. 

This is the perfect companion to 

Raving Robyns 30 Day Throw Down

and one more incentive to get my butt 

out of the recliner and onto my Gazelle.  

Head on over and join her challenge.  

(Pssssssssstt don't tell anybody, 

but there's a chance at winning something too:-)

Go HERE for the detials!

I Have a Guest Author Post - WooHoo

I have a guest author post today at 

Libby's Library News.

Michelle Moran has graciously dropped by my little ole book blog.

If you have a minute - Go Here - to read her post 

and get a chance to win 

a signed paperback copy of The Heretic Queen 

and 

a signed hardcover copy of Cleopatra's Daughter:a novel!

Good Recipe LInk for the Fast Food Throw Down Challenge!

 Jolly Mom has posted a recipe for Crockpot Oatmeal.

All natural wholesome ingredients, like steel cut oats...fresh apples, and vanilla.

YUM

If you haven't checked out her blog, you should.  

She has giveaways, articles, 

and recipes... and did I mention giveaways?