A Bit of Silliness . . . (but I think it's food for thought!)

       Note:  If y'all haven't been there already, please stop by TGB and read 

Ronni's excellent post on what is being done to/in our country.     

I'm still buried with my book project (it's no longer a project -- it's become a mission) but I'm trying to keep up with y'all as well as the antics occurring in the world so I'm indulging in some silliness in the interest of maintaining a wee modicum of sanity in a world that's gone mad.   

Kent McKamy, whose emails help me maintain a modicum of sanity, sent along an excellent and funny piece that he received that not only made me laugh, but gave me food for thought.  He talked about collective nouns -- you know:  a gaggle of geese, a flock of sheep, a  school of fish, and my favorite: an exaltation of larks.  However, he included one that I really think is pertinent to today's political climate:  a congress of  baboons  and that, my friends, set me a-thinkin'. And henceforth, I shall refer to Speaker of the House, John Boehner, as the Chief Baboon.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

Notes for Friday

I was going to rant my little liberal heart out on John Boehner today but decided to let that wait until a bit more info surfaces.  (Are we running a nursery school or a government?  If it's the former, I think the wages of Congress should be reduced to minimum wage like most day care workers are paid.)  

* My good friend The Gabby Geezer and his lovely wife are celebrating fifty years of wedded bliss today. Do drop by and wish them many more!

* Also, stop by and visit my soul sister, Judy at Imagine and see what Irene the Terrible did to her lovely home in North Carolina!!!! "Yikes!" doesn't cover it!

* The folks at gawker.com zapped Bill O'Reilly. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy (and I hope y'all know that my tongue was firmly planted in my cheek as I typed this). I don't think I need to tell you what I think about O'Reilly's behavior.

* Howie over at DownWithTyranny thinks that Eric Cantor will be in trouble in his heavily GOP district come election time. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

Back to the project from hell!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Happy 86th Birthday, Millie!!!!!!!!

It's Millie Garfield's 86th Birthday!!!!  She's one of my very long-time Blogging friends and I love her dearly so head on over to her place and leave her some good wishes! 

Happy Birthday, Millie!!!!!

 And many more!!!!!

 

And here's a oldie for ya!!!!! Love ya, gal!!!!!



And we can't forget to pop the champagne . . . Mazel tov!!!!!



And have some cake!!!!



And don't for get to have many, many more!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Wonderful Thursday

The sun is shining in Ohio but my furnace is still running! Will we ever see real Spring weather? Will summer ever get here? Inquiring minds want to know. I'm tired of my sweaters who are begging for a rest and my spring/summer things are pleading to escape the closet. I love Ohio weather. :)

* I used some of the lovely eggs Gene brought me to make a truly stellar omelet last evening for supper. I added some Amish cheese and chopped up some Trail bologna (totally unlike any bologna y'all have ever had. It's an Ohio delicacy that I love.) and stuffed myself!

* Last Friday I went to open Miss Ruby's trunk and noticed that someone had tried to scratch his name on the trunk's lid. I looked around for Bryce and called him over to see the damage and ask if he saw anyone bothering Ruby. He said that his mom had yelled at the little kid who lives behind me and told him to get away from Miss Ruby. I called the cops. By the time they got here, he and his family were away and the nice officer said the detectives would be out to talk me. They haven't been so I had to call the detective bureau. They said they would send someone out. We'll see. Ruby and I want justice which, I'm told, will not happen. Body work is expensive. Sigh. Frankly, the kid's mother needs to pay attention to what her kids do but she doesn't.

Ronni Bennett asked us to share this video on our blogs. If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth every single second. And it's right for our country. Now this makes some serious sense:



And here's an interesting history lesson from Lawrence O'Donnell that puts things in perspective about this week's events:



Quote of the Week:

"Michele Bachmann! For People Who Find Sarah Palin Too Intellectual!" -- Bill Maher

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!

Kay

A Couple Notes

Thanks for all the good words yesterday -- especially the ones from Gene who made my Monday so very nice!!!

* Today getting in the swing of things was difficult but I did manage to get some visiting in and if y'all didn't see me, I'll be around.

* My computer woes continued and I finally decided to switch my default browser to Firefox. Hopefully, MSN can stuff it where the sun don't shine. We'll see how that goes so please bear with me as I adjust to the ins and outs as well as the peccadilloes that are always inherent in any software one encounters. Helpful hints and advice are always welcome.

* Glen Beck really did it this time . . . in less than two minutes! Y'all can see and read about it here.

* The Ohio Democratic Party is holding a 'Good Jobs, Strong Communities' Rally at the Statehouse in Columbus again on Thursday!!! I wish I could go but I can't. Think maybe we're fed up here in Buckeye land?

* Have y'all seen this man? He looks like a man to be reckoned with carefully.

I just wish he'd use some of that with certain members of Congress.

* Here's the song that's been (annoyingly) nagging at me since my birthday and I'm hoping that by posting it, it will go away and leave me be 64 my way. It's really sort of a guy song but it won't go away. Sigh.



Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

A Truly Excellent Day!

Yesterday was one of the nicest days I've had in a long time.
And quite welcome after a less than stellar (read: lousy) weekend but that's another blog and the results aren't in yet.

Miss Ruby and I put our worries on hold and headed west. She seemed ready and eager -- despite a bit of rain -- to get out and about to Wooster,
Ohio a lovely farming community and home to Rubbermaid and the College of Wooster, an excellent liberal arts institution.

Our intent in our visit was nothing to do with any of of the above. Our mission was to meet my good friend, as well as one of my favorite commenters here, Gene from Bellevue, OH for lunch! I also got to meet her nice husband and they presented me with a dozen organic, lo-cholesterol, healthy eggs laid by their hens. Great, huh? Her nice hubby headed down to Charm, OH (where I hope to take y'all sometime this summer) and Gene and I sat down, ordered lunch at an the excellent restaurant, and talked like we'd known each other for decades. Time just flew by as we talked and talked over our excellent meal. Y'all can holler at me because I completely forgot that I had my camera with me! (blush)

We will see each other again next month when I head to Toledo as Bellevue -- a very pretty little town --- is on my way. Hopefully, I'll remember to take photos!!!!

Y'all gotta know I'm going to be eating some serious omelets this week courtesy of their kindness. And I truly look forward to seeing Gene again -- she is really a terrific and interesting person. Meeting her was just what I needed to chase (what Hemingway called) the Black Dog from my doorstep and I feel very blessed that I met her and can count her as a friend as I do all y'all who I visit and who visit me.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

Over 1,000 Thoughts, Experiences and Rants!!!

Funny how things creep up on a body when one doesn't pay attention! Yesterday when I was editing the day's post, it hit me that somewhere amid my enthusiasm for Bernie Sanders' extended -- to put it mildly -- speech, I had reached 1,000 posts on my blog!!! Wow!!! Should I put up some golden arches?

I am amazed that I'm still here for a variety of reasons:

• Y'all have been putting up with me for so long and my readership has grown.
• It's still a mishmash of assorted nonsense.
• I still haven't got it as organized as I would like it to be.
• I still don't visit y'all as much as I'd like.

Soooooooo what's next?

• I'm considering converting to Blogger in draft so I can have various pages for other things I want to share.
• I want to make a few changes to my template. The 'orange' and funky font bug me.
• I want to get back to writing on my other blog. A few people have said they want to hear the rest of the story.
• Redo my blogs list and add some things to my sidebar.

I just hope that I can get organized enough to accomplish at least part these things done.

Many, many thanks to all y'all for your friendship, wisdom, and support in this endeavor -- I couldn't do it without you!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope y'all are having a great day!!!!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Keeping On Keeping On

I'm still fighting with this cold/whatever and am seriously tired of it. Assorted other nonsense adds to the 'fun' and do rain by the buckets pouring on -- I've had fun and, my friends, this ain't it so forgive me if I'm a bit snarky.

I get assistance with my utility bill because I'm low-income and I dutifully re-certified last month and had a long wait in line outside (which I think is the source of my current illness) and waited inside nearly all damned day last month to get things right -- or so I thought. Wrong!!!! AEP has everything all screwed up and wants me to pay nearly double the amount I'm supposed to pay and shows electricity as my primary heating source -- WRONG! I called Columbus to the Ohio office and they said to tell AEP to fix it so I did and they say our local office has to fix it. Right. I held strong and she finally told me that I needed to talk to the Public Utitlities Commission which almost sent me ballistic but, fortunately, I managed not to lose it. I called the PUCO and talked to a really nice, very helpful young lady named Maggie who checked out everything and said yes, my local agency messed up so I needed to call them which I just did and left a message for them to call. We shall see if they call back. If they don't, I just had a light bulb go off in my brain
and might have an end run through the red tape. Pray, light a candle, think good thoughts or whatever y'all do to get through hell. Thanks!!!!! In my next life I'm gonna be rich.

(Vent mode off)

* I got this marvelous history lesson from Russ up in Wisconsin and it's wonderful food for thought and if y'all forgot what was happening here before the American Revolution, it's a excellent reminder and germane to our country today. Here's an excellent short excerpt:

Incorporated companies with proper limitations and guards,
may in particular cases, be useful, but they are at best a necessary evil only. Monopolies and perpetuities are objects of just abhorrence. The former are unjust to the existing, the latter usurpations on the rights of future generations. It is not strange that the law which will not permit an individual to bequeath his property to the descendants of his own loins for more than a short and strictly defined term, should authorize an associated few to entail perpetual and indefeasible appropriations…? – James Madison, March 10, 1817

* If y'all like to bake for the holidays, you can have some awesome new cookie recipe delivered to your inbox here. I get these every every year and it's fun!!!

* This group's website is self-explanatory and doing good works that are working: Glen Beck kas no sponsors for his program in the UK due to their efforts. Imagine what would happen if we all told his sponsors that we would no longer buy their products/services as long as they funded Beck's lies. It works for me.

& I swiped this video (and added it to my YouTube Channel) from my friend Colleen whose quirky sense of humor meshes with mine!!!! Thanks, girlfriend!!!



* Any weekend the Buckeyes win a nail-biter and I get to hear/see wonderful music, it's a good thing! Too bad such euphoria gets dashed when one returns to the real world. Sigh. Hence the today's song screamed for a sappy oldie. Sigh. Tomorrow I hope to be back to my regular nutty, rockin' self.



Whew!!!! I started this post at 2 PM while I was in 'hold mode' and it's 10 pm now. Can y'all say distractions and interruptions? The worst part is that I don't have the problem resolved there goes my day tomorrow. Sigh.

Hope y'all are having a great day!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Mea Culpa!!!!

I was just over to visit my dear friend Alice's blog at My Wintersong because her dear husband posted an update on how she is doing and I am properly ashamed for whining this morning. Alice is going through her second round of chemotherapy for this week and having a rather hard time. Talk about hell on earth. However, it reminded me that my problem is nada in the grand scheme of things so I apologize profusely for complaining. I do, however, thank you for your support.

The bottom line is: "Everything that happens happens as it should, and if you observe carefully, you will find this to be so." -- Marcus Aurelius. When I get upset my powers of observation seem to disappear. Old Marcus also said, "The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing." and that I can relate to and understand.

And yes, I'll be around to get caught up on y'all a bit later.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

An Award for Moi?

I never cease to be astounded when one of my blogging buddies gives me an award. That my miscellaneous ramblings and rants would deserve such is always a surprise.

This one really threw me. My dear friend Joy of Joy of Six was the very first new friend to comment on my blog. (My first comment was from Hal of Always Question -- a longtime 'net friend who encouraged me to start this journey.) Joy has given me an the award above. As cranky as I've been lately, I wonder at that and whether I deserve it but here we go . . .

The simple rules that come with this award are:

1.When you receive this award, you must thank the person that awarded you in a new post.

2.Name 10 things that make you happy.

3.Pass this award on to 10 other bloggers who make you happy.

Thank you, Joy!!!! Any time your name appears in my mailbox, I smile and an award is icing on the cake!!!! You are a truly excellent friend!!!

Ten things that make me happy:

1. Sunny days with no obligations.

2. My grandsons and grandnieces

3. That my brother the 1st Sarge and his men are home from Iraq safely.

4. Small miracles.

5. Blogging and the friends that come with it.

6. Old movies

7. The Canton Symphony

8. Chocolate -- especially from Heggy's

9. Picnics

10. Visiting my home town.

Now the really hard part -- choosing 10 Bloggers to receive this award. I read so many really great blogs that this is always a toughie. My choices, in no particular order, are:

1. My talented young friend Ily of Another Day in Paradise keeps me smiling with her tales of her life and times in Miami. (The charcoal sketch she made of me hangs near my 'puter.)

2. Dianne of Forks of the Moment and Do You See What I See has a wonderful sense of humor and a fabulous gift as a photographer that make a visit to her an adventure.

3. Kay at Musings is always fun to visit with great photos and interesting stories of her travels and life in Hawaii.

4. Judy at Imagine . . . is one of my oldest and dearest friends -- not to mention my soul sister -- in the blogosphere and she always has something interesting to see and read.

5. Claude at Photoblogging in Paris leaves me marveling at her gorgeous photos of Paris as well as her travels around the world.

6. My good friend Naomi of A Little Red Hen has taken me on a cross country journey from New York City to Portland, Oregon punctuated with doses of political activism and her creative knitting for spice.

7. Rain of Rainy Day Thoughts is one of my best friends and, for my money, is one of the best political writers around and also writes about a lot of other interesting things as well -- with beautiful photography to boot!

8. Life in our nation's capital is often the topic at my dear friend M.E.'s blog, Xtreme English. She also writes about politics, life with cochlear implants, and a variety of other topics -- with a rapier wit and style!

9. My other dear friend Naomi at Here in the Hills calls herself The Old Old Lady of the Hills (Beverly, that is) but you wouldn't think so as she shares her busy life as well as lush photos of her gardens and lovely luncheons and parties as well as reminiscences about her careers as an actor and artist.

10. Gigi of gigi-hawaii writes about her life in Hawaii with humor and style and covers a variety of interesting topics and even excellent recipes -- she's published two cookbooks!!!!!

What I hate about awards is that I always have to choose among all and it's always so difficult because each blog I read is special to me in its own way as is its creator.

Thanks again, Joy -- I love you madly!!!!!

Hope y'all are having a great day!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

A Couple Notes

It's another day in paradise and a couple things caught my attention while I was thinking about a post for today.

* I thought my post on Tuesday was rather innocuous as far as politics go -- I didn't raise hell or place blame but just asked that those folks in D.C. get their act together and do something. I didn't think it would trigger a nasty response from a conservative sort who wanted to air his agenda here (which I did not allow). Then today Andrew Sullivan, who I admire greatly, posted this excellent quote at The Daily Dish that pretty much says what I was getting at in Tuesday's post only better as one would expect from the writer.

"Much indeed to be regretted, party disputes are now carried to such a length, and truth is so enveloped in mist and false representation, that it is extremely difficult to know through what channel to seek it. This difficulty to one, who is of no party, and whose sole wish is to pursue with undeviating steps a path which would lead this country to respectability, wealth, and happiness, is exceedingly to be lamented. But such, for wise purposes, it is presumed, is the turbulence of human passions in party disputes, when victory more than truth is the palm contended for," - George Washington, in a letter to Timothy Pickering, July 27, 1795.

* I loved all your great comments on yesterday's 'Sisters' post but I think Joy said it best: "One big happy family....that's how I like it, Kay. We're just a hoot!" We are a hoot and I love y'all madly!!!! Thanks so much for your love and support! Here's a video that I think works for us!!!!



* I visited my fine friend from Texas, Cowtown Pattie, tonight and my blood pressure went ballistic. Run -- don't walk -- over there to read what she's written so well. I've included the link to sign the petition and I've included the video below. The world as we know it is going to hell! I'm not worried about me -- I'm old. I'm worried about my grandchildren.



Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

Yes, We Are All Sisters Here!

I have never been a big devotee of the theory called Six Degrees of Separation but somehow it pops up now and again in my life and I can't help but wonder about its validity.

Today one of those those things happened and I realized the small community in which I reside here in the Blogosphere.

Over the weekend Alice of My Wintersong tagged me and two others with an award; I, in turn, tagged Rain, Darlene and M.E.. Darlene tagged Judy, Grannymar, and
Joy. Joy tagged Val, Merle, and Maria. Maria passed to me, Judy,and Mary.

Wow!!!!! It came full circle!!!!! We really are a small community here and I love you all!!! Ain't it grand?

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

Thanks, Alice!!!!!!!!!

My dear friend Alice whose blog, My Wintersong, is one of my favorite visits in The Land of Blog has graced me with an award called Over the Top. I'm not sure what the history is but I am very honored that she chose me. As always, there are several steps to accepting it: 1) Complete the survey with one word answers. (Like Alice, I consider this a genuine challenge.) 2) Choose three bloggers to receive the award (another challenge because I love y'all madly and narrowing the choice to three isn't easy!)

1. Where is your cell phone? charging
2. Your hair? thin
3. Your mother? crazy
4. Your father? deceased
5. Your favorite food? chocolate
6. Your dream last night? none
7. Your favorite drink? coffee
8. Your dream/goal? happiness
9. What room are you in? dining
10. Your hobby? volunteering
11. Your fear? poverty
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something you aren’t? reticent
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. Wish list item? stability
17. Where did you grow up? Ohio
18. Last thing you did? wrote
19. What are you wearing? sweats
20. Your TV? off
21. Your pet(s)? bear
22. Your friends? busy
23. Your life? challenging
24. Your mood? thoughtful
25. Missing someone? yes
26. Vehicle? red
27. Something you’re not wearing? bra
28. Your favorite store? discount
29. Your favorite color? red
30. When was the last time you laughed? now
31. Last time you cried? yesterday
32. Your best friend? Marcia
33. One place that I go over and over? library
34. One person who emails me regularly? M.E.
35. Favorite place to eat? Arcadia

Now the hard part: I have to give this award to three deserving bloggers and this always puts me crazy because I read so many blogs and I love all of you.

1. Rain of Rainy Day Thoughts writes intelligent, thoughtful pieces on a multitude of topics and is a great friend to boot!

2. Darlene of Darlene's Hodgepodge does excellent political writing and shares the beauty of Arizona as well as her life.

3. Xtreme English of the blog by the same name is also an excellent friend and writes on a whole range of topics with wonderful wit and style!

I hope y'all go visit these fine blogs and Alice, too!!!!!!

Have a great day!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

Cranky Wednesday

This week, so far, has been filled with assorted messes and disappointments. It's killing my enthusiasm and I can't sleep very well despite being tired and I've lost my appetite, too. I've spent all day dealing with bureaucrats and trying to muster some energy to no avail. This, of course, made a very cranky Wednesday but I'll spare you the details. I'm not much fun today.

* Obama is maintaining the status quo as near as I can tell and there is no end to war for our military in sight. We will continue to lose our children and that's a crime. Does anyone besides me recall that we never found any 'weapons of mass destruction' and that no Iraqis were caught after 9/11? I said my piece on Afghanistan earlier this week and still haven't changed my mind.

* Does anybody but me find all the hype about "Cap and Trade" confusing? I thought so. I have good news!!!! I visited my friend, Lilalia, over at Yum Yum Cafe and she posted an excellent, good old plain-speaking video about it -- just click on the link. And yeah, it's a scam that will make the greedy modern day robber barons richer and probably a bunch of Congress critters, too. Just say NO!

* Judy of Imagine . . . has some great photos of the Christmas floral arrangements she did for the Governor's Mansion in North Carolina. I guarantee that they will take your breath away and she promises more to come.

* From my "When What Freezes Over?" Department: Bank of America is going to repay the 45 billion bucks it received in TARP funds in the bank bailouts earlier this year. When do you think the other banks we bailed out will follow suit? I applaud Bank of America for their action.

On that mind-bending note I'm going to get outta here and hopefully get a decent night's sleep. Tomorrow means more phone calls to more bureaucracy and all the 'fun' that goes with it.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Happy Birthday, Judy!!!!!!!!!

It's Judy's Birthday!!!!!!! Some of you probably know her as kenju at Imagine . . . but I know her as my long lost sister!!!! We keep being amazed at the things we have in common and can only conclude that we were separated as toddlers. LOL

And I was able (through nefarious means, of course) to arrange a special treat for her!



You made it! Yeehaw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it only took ????????? years!!!!! LOL

And here's some musical/video "blast from the past" accompaniment. Enjoy!!!!



Here's to an awesome relaxing day, Judy!!!!!! I hope it's special and you celebrate well surrounded by those who you love and love you!!!!!!

Happy Blogging and Happy Birthday, Sis!!!!!!

Love and Hugssssssssssssss

Kay

Had to Post This!!!!!!

I'm terrible about checking my email accounts sometimes. I checked my gmail account and found this hysterical video from my dear, dear friend, M.E. aka Xtreme English. Go head -- check it out and laugh your asker off -- I did. And a huge "THANK YOU!!!!!!!" to M.E.!!!!!!!!!!

http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/?nid=AqsgkGRnFm69p.vNxF8etzExNDAyNTEy&referred_by=3095035-d4sCKvx&p=moveon

Make one for the Moms you know who need a boost and stop by to see M.E. -- her blog is always an adventure!!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Weird Thoughts at End of a Weird Week

It's been a hell of a week. Still beating my head against the wall but it looks as if a few things are easing. I was in a serious despair and truly worried about my fate. So I prayed -- not only my usual Hail Marys and Our Fathers -- but also the lovely invocation to the Celtic goddess Cerridwen, who the nice lady who reads my tarot for me now and then assigned to me. Hey!!! I talk to anyone if I think there's even a slight chance it will help. Then again, God probably heard me and said, "Uh-oh! Looks like she's on the edge -- I'd better help." At any rate a couple things are clearing up and I feel a bit better and more hopeful. There really are angels among us. I'm not out of the woods but I'm not tap-dancing on the edge.

* First and foremost, I want to apologize for not visiting y'all enough. I hope things are settling but then I could be wrong. I do hope that tomorrow and Sunday I can get caught up with y'all.

* The identity theft thing is still in its infancy. I'm still filing more reports to various and sundry agencies -- I think the list is endless. I went to our local cops and they said I didn't have enough info, Never mind that I had exactly what I was told to have for them have by the Feds. Sigh. I think I'm going to call down there on Monday and talk to someone with some rank.

* The other day my friend Richard chased me down --literally!!! I was driving downtown to the cop shop and this car honk at me. I couldn't see the driver so I just ignored it. When I got downtown and got out of my car, Richard pulled up and gave me hell. I laughed. Then he told me that he was headed out to the Preservation Society's new thrift shop and wanted me to come along. I explained that I needed to see the cops and made my apologies. When I was only there ten minutes on my fruitless mission, I decided to head over there. Rich was delighted when I found him and he had to show me around. It is a virtual treasure trove with all sorts of interesting things for the home from candy dishes to a pianos. There were even two Egyptian mummy cases! There were also a pair of vases that Rich thinks I should buy for my mantle. Richard is a marvelous decorator and I trust his judgement but told him that I'd think about them. I've been trying to get rid of clutter not add to it and, of course, I have to watch my pennies. I was, however, glad I went because it made Rich happy and I love wandering through places like that.

* I had a lovely conversation with M.E. aka ExtremeEnglish the other day. She is such a delight as anyone who visits her blog knows. She is also a wise lady as, when we were talking about Easter, she asked if I had my jellybeans yet. When I said "No." she informed me that, "A girl's gotta have her jelly beans." She's right and when I was out today, I'll be damned if every place I went was out of jelly beans. Sigh. I guess my mission for tomorrow is to find jelly beans -- a girl's gotta have her jelly beans. Indeed!

* Found a great radio station that plays old rock and roll. Cool, huh? They've been playing "Freebird" a lot lately so either a) they have a DJ that loves Skynrd as much as I do; or b ) it's a hint that I need to call my longtime 'Net and real time friend, Richard down in SC. He's supposed to have a kidney transplant sometime soon. We gotta get him back in uniform -- he makes the cutest Confederate soldier on the Civil War renactment circuit. LOL (He's the only Confederate soldier I know on the Civil War renactment circuit.) :-)

* No plans for Easter. I'll be right here -- hopefully getting work done around here and organizing things after Mass. I've been so tired and stressed that I've been sleeping 1o-12 hours a day. Not good. Yesterday is the first day in two weeks that I haven't taken at least one nap.
Hopefully I am getting over my malaise. Then again I might just take myself to the movies.

* My good friend and fellow rebel here in town, Diane, sent along this excellent video. I do love a cappella and this is incredibly excellent and fun. I think y'all will enjoy it as much as I do.



I hope y'all have had a great week and a better one next week if you didn't!!!!!! Remember all things must pass even if it doesn't seem if they ever will.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

It's Ronni's Birthday!!!!!!!

Today, April 7, 2008. is a special day for those of us who are honored to be Elderbloggers!!!!! It is the 68th birthday of our Fearless Leader (and my good friend!), Ronni Bennett, the founder of Elderbloggers and author of Time Goes By. Stop by and give her your best wishes for a wonderful day!!!!!!



Here's wishing you many more years of health and happiness!!!!!!!!!!! And many thanks for your wonderful efforts supporting elders as we navigate the sometimes difficult and rocky waters of aging!!

Ronni shares her birthday with Francis Ford Coppolla, Jackie Chan, Russell Crowe,
Tony Dorsett, Percy Faith, David Frost, James Garner, Billie Holiday, Janis Ian, Jon Oates, Wayne Rogers, Ravi Shankar, Walter Winchell, and William Wordsworth. Some rather august company there, don't y'all think? (I share mine with Rowdy Roddy Piper and Nikita Khrushchev . . . sigh.)

Anddddddddddddd somehow (giggle) I managed to get Sir Paul -- who is no longer a spring chicken himself and will soon be 67 years old -- to come by to sing for you!!!!! I hope you enjoy it!!!!!!



Happy Blogging and Happy Birthday, Ronni!!!!!!!

Sunday, Sunday Random Thoughts

It's been a tough couple weeks with all the upheaval with my job, the medical tests and assorted other nonsense. I think the operative phrase is above. I have been sleeping a lot and really on a downer. The list of those who have managed to annoy me is too lengthy to list and would bore y'all anyway so I'll spare you that and just share a couple things that have caught my attention.

* It's sunny and in the 40s in Ohio!!!! The ice on which I've damn near killed myself is gone and I'm going to give a big fat raspberry to our city's street department for their horrible disregard for our 'hood. I'm thinking I'm going to be at city council Monday night to kvetch. And Miss Ruby is going to get a much-needed bath!

* Speaking of city council, I'm dropping some research off for my councilman. Our idiot mayor (who proves The Peter Principle) wants to install those traffic cameras from Redflex. Y'all might be familiar with them. If you go through a light on the yellow, a month later you might get a $100 traffic ticket in the mail AND if you elect to question it, they slap and extra $20 on it. A right-thinking supreme court judge in Minnesota declared these cameras unconstitutional and now the city of Minneapolis has to cough up 2.6 million bucks to the 14,000 drivers who were fleeced by this scam. Whatta guy! I don't want "Big Brother" watching me and I suspect they can use these for purposes more nefarious as well. Do you have or did you have these in your town? I have visions of a rash of rear end collisions because people don't want a ticket. Sigh.

* I'm going to physical therapy twice a week. It makes my arm feel better but I'll be damned if I think it's solving anything. I keep forgetting to do my exercises so I'm not helping things much.

* I got the DVD of a film called "Mozartballs" which features two of my good blogging buddies, Steph of Incurable Insomniac and Lynette of Shades of Life in F Major. I really loved it. And I still haven't figured out why it struck a chord (no pun intended) in my soul. I need to watch it again. The website is really well done and I recommend you take a look.

* I went to our monthly First Friday event this past Friday night. I didn't have fun. Marcia invited a friend to join us who really didn't seem to like the arts so we wound up drinking. Argh! Now I'm not averse to quaffing a brew or two when I go there but I am there to see what's going on at the various events that are featured. If I had met them instead of riding with Marcia, I could have done my usual thing and gone a-wandering. Let's just say that I learned a lesson.

* Word is that I won't be working after June. Sigh. I did, however, have an epiphany while talking with a prospective employer on the phone the other day. I realized that I will be able to manage. I have survived on less than I'll have so I just crossed that off my worry list. I felt better with that realization. If I can get a couple days a week somewhere, I'll be delighted. If I don't I'll have more time for other projects that are languishing -- or find some new ways to waste time.

* Yesterday (Saturday) was my dad's birthday. Had he lived he would have been eighty-four. He's been gone for twenty-four years. I called my stepmom as I knew he would be very much on her mind. She was delighted and we had a nice talk about him. Both of us swear he's watching us. It's really weird.

* Just a caveat: please don't put groaners in comments. If you wish to have a groaner here, please send it to the email addy in the side bar. I'm trying to keep this feature afloat for y'all and it detracts from those who make the effort to support it. Thank you!

Well, enough kvetching for today. I'm off to get the Sunday paper and see if Lynda and Mike are around. AND I'm going to try to get around to see y'all when I get back. I do apologize but I've been exhausted and have to force myself to do anything.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Ohhhhhhhhhh!!! The Places You'll Go!!!!

I swiped the title for this post from Dr. Seuss. It seems appropriate because I've visited some pretty interesting and fun places -- for me anyway and wanted to share them with y'all.

The Library Thing bills itself as the world's largest book club. A body can post his/her entire library or as much as they wish. Membership is free (with limitations, of course). A life membership is only $25 and I think I'm gonna go for it. A tip of my Thinking Cap to M.E. for having the widget on her blog.

For a hearty laugh go look at OnGame Dating. The real hoot is their prices. I'll do my "happily ever after" single, thank you. I gag when I see the dating service ads on TV but this place takes it to new lows.

I'm wayyyy late in posting this but The National Endowment for the Arts' The Big Read has posted their September 2008-June 2009 reading list. Check your local library to see if they are participating. I've read ten of them and I figure I can read the rest by next September. It's an interesting list.

My dear, dear Fran of Sacred Ordinary mentioned Memiary at her blog the other day. They call it the weightless pocket diary and on their site they ask the question: Don't you wish you could remember five interesting things you did last Tuesday? My answer: "Hell, yeah!" and I signed up immediately. It's easy, quick and fun!

One my favorite sites for just doodling around in mind play is Smith Magazine's Six Word Memoirs. You tell a story in six words. It's really fun and makes an interesting writing prompt. Just reading others' submissions can be a hoot or a heartbreak.

If you liked today's post about the Founding Fathers on Religion, check out this site: Founding Fathers Religion Debate and Poll for further discussion on this topic.

There!!!!!!!! That should keep y'all busy for a while!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!

Kay