Good News for the Day

OK, I finally remembered to call about my lab work. They didn't call me because they've been inundated with calls about swine flu, no surprise. They were going crazy with the phone when I was there on Monday, and they suggested that I check back because they figured they would be treading water.

Everything is in good shape, inside the normal limits, except for one. Blasted old cholesterol. It's not bad. the triglycerides are good, the HDL is good and is way up there on the high side (that lowers my chances for heart attack), the LDL is good (also on the high side when it shouldn't be, but several points within the range), but the total cholesterol is over the desired total at 214 (should be under 200). This has been true for me for a long time. Because the HDL is so high, it pushed the total over the top. It's not a big concern thanks to the HDL, but I still need to work on getting it under 200. That means low fat cheeses, low fat milk, no chicken skin, no marbled red meats, eating oatmeal every day. Those are not a big problem. I don't like low fat cheese because it doesn't melt will in cooking, and low fat milk goes bad before I can drink it, but I'll adjust. I won't stop eating butter because margarine is just nasty, but I will cut my intake by at least half. I was eating oatmeal 4-5 times a week and got away from it a few months ago, and I'll start that again. For the most part the adjustments I need to make are small ones. she told me not to quit eating "the good things," just to cut the fat contents and least them less often. Very doable.

Since I'm increasing my exerce, that should help, too. As weight comes down, so will the cholesterol. It's kind of a natural process. By cutting the easy corners of fat intake, it won't seem too drastic. As I adjust to low fat, then I'll move to as many no fat items as I can.

Since it is not in the alarming zone, she was not highly concerned, but said if I want to check it again in three months, it can be done. She felt that just the minor changes as we discussed would bring it under 200 in the 90 day period. Sounds good to me.

So I'll live. Sorry, but that means I will continue to blather on in this blog. And of course you are required to continue reading. That's all there is to it. ;D

Lackadaisical Day

I woke this morning with absolutely no energy. I felt as if I had been hooked up to an energy-removing machine all night long. I don't feel bad. I'm just tired. I slurped coffee all morning, ate, then ate some more, and I'm finally feeling kinda sorta normal. I don't know what was going on. I'd hoped to work outside part of today, but I don't think I feel like it. Maybe later.

The weather is gorgeous. Our high today should be around 78°, and there is a nice breeze, not a gale, to keep it from feeling too warm. I hope I will feel like getting outside to take advantage of it. I'm switching the order of things I'd planned for today, in hopes that it will allow me to still get most of it done.

My dogs have apparently caught my lack of energy. They are all zonked around me right now. I sat down after eating to let it digest and watch The View, and suddenly all five are snoozing on the floor by my feet or on the couch! They played a lot earlier, so I think they are fine, but it is funny that they are taking an early nap today. They are usually go-go-go active almost all morning, then slow down in the PM.

I have started switching out my summer/winter wardrobe, and I'm nearly done. I've also pulled out a number of things I haven't worn in a couple years which I will take to the thrift shop today. I'll do more culling as I go. It amazes me how clothes seem to multiply in the closet. And except for three or four items purchased at the thrift and a couple pair of new jeans, I haven't brought it on myself. Those dang clothes are "gettin' busy" in the dark of the closet, I swear!

I donno. Maybe I should just change my whole day plan and simply crawl into the hammock. What do you think?

A New Day

I don't know. I just never could remember what I was going to write about yesterday. I'm guessing that tells you how important it was, doesn't it? Sheesh. Can you believe I throw such drivel at you? Oh! You can? You've read it before? Oops. Sorry about that! Well, here's some more!

I have a bit of a busy day ahead. Nothing drastic. I have to do some house cleaning and I need to get into town for several errands. I need to do errands in two directions, Capitan and Ruidoso, and I can't decide whether to try to do it all today or split it out. Tomorrow is possibly a photography and sketching day in the morning. Friday is yoga and a town festival, Smokey Bear Days. Saturday the festival continues. Sunday is a Laugh Parade in celebration of World Laughter Day. I'm going to be busy. But it will get done at some point.

Nights are finally warm enough that I could put my plants out, so yesterday I moved about half of them out on the deck. It looks nice to see them hanging and sitting out there. Plants at the front of a house make it more inviting, don't they?I had to be careful where I placed them so my little plant-killer can't get to them and eat them. She is such a handful!

I also unfolded furniture on the deck after cleaning and straightening. It is looking very good out there, but I still have some work to do. I have tools that have been stored there (I didn't know which ones I would need regularly so put them on the deck in the beginning) which need to be moved to the well house, and I have several things to haul to the dumpster. I'm still going through settling in, figuring out what I do and don't need. Sometimes I look at something I brought from KC and wonder why I kept it, but the thing is when I packed I didn't know where I was going to end up or what I would want and need. I also wonder why it is taking me so long to sort and get rid of things, till I realize the amount of things I had (have) to go through and how much my life changed in this time. Every time I look at something and say "I don't need that," it is like another weight lifts. I have to keep reminding myself it is a process not a product. A journey, not a destination.

I should probably get ready and get the day started.

Happy Hump Day!!

The Memory is the First Thing to Go, Right?

I'm in better shape today than I thought I would be. Some muscles are a little sore, but not terribly so. I certainly know that I had an exuberant workout, however, I'm still completely mobile. That's a very good thing! Now I need to get out and move around today to loosen up and keep the juices flowing. If it doesn't storm, I'll probably go hike with a couple of the Kids. If it starts getting messy, perhaps I'll so something like clean up and organize the deck where I can be protected from the weather. We'll see what happens.

Uhmmmm, OK. I had something else to write about, but my mind went blank. I've been sitting here for over an hour without being able to remember what it was, I guess that means I should just post this and come back, if and when my memory re-engages. Good grief!

Tuesday Trivia

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Spring brings thoughts of renewal, and for many of us, as we are beginning to take the lighter clothes and pack away the heavy winter ones, we think of .... fashion. So today is fashion, style, and things related there to. Prepare to be informed and wiser!



STYLE

The term “haute couture” is French. Haute means “high” or “elegant.” Couture literally means “sewing,” but has come to indicate the business of designing, creating, and selling custom-made, high fashion women's clothes.

To be called a haute couture house, a business must belong to the Syndical Chamber for Haute Couture in Paris, which is regulated by the French Department of Industry. Members must employ 15 or more people and present their collections twice a year. Each presentation must include at least 35 separate outfits for day and evening wear.

The syndicate has about 18 members, including such fashion giants as Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Pierre Cardin. The houses generate more than $1 billion in annual sales and employ close to 5,000 people, including 2,200 seamstresses. Workers often specialize in one area, such as feathers, fabric, buttons, shoes, etc.

Made from scratch for each customer, haute couture clothing typically requires three fittings. It usually takes from 100 to 400 hours to make one dress, costing from $26,000 to over $100,000. A tailored suit starts at $16,000, an evening gown at $60,000.

Today only 2,000 women in the world buy couture clothes; 60% are American. Only 200 are regular customers. Often, designers will loan clothes to movie stars or other public figures for publicity.

During fashion's “golden age,” after World War II, some 15,000 women wore couture. Socialites such as the Duchess of Windsor, Babe Paley, and Gloria Guiness would order whole collections at a time.

So .......... What’s the most you’ve paid for an outfit? I'm not confessin'!



OLD FASHION THAT IS NEW AGAIN

Long tops over leggings - This popular women's wear of the '80s was worn in the fifteenth century by men as a tunic over tights, like Robin Hood and his band of merry men.

Platform shoes - The ancient Romans wore platform shoes to keep their feet out of the mud and water. Platform shoes were revived in the '30s, the '70s, and again in the '90s in the U.S.

Shaved Heads - Both Egyptian women and men shaved their heads. Unlike today, the ancients covered their shaved heads with wigs.

Body Piercing - From earliest times, piercing the ears, nose, and bellybutton has been a superstitious practice: the holes were thought to release demons from the body. In Europe during the Renaissance, wearing one earring was the fashion.

Stick-on adornments - Known as beauty patches, stick-ons date back to ancient Rome. Women wore small patches of adhesive cloth cut into the shapes of stars, crescent moons, and hearts on their cheeks, foreheads, and throats. During the Middle Ages, beauty patches were used to cover smallpox scars.

Pea coats - Navy pea coats first appeared in Army-Navy stores after World War II. Since then they have had periodic revivals, including a period in the 1960s when they were worn by hippies. Pea coats resurfaced yet again in the winter of 1994.

MAKEUP & BEAUTY PRODUCTS
What won't we do for the sake of beauty...

Ambergris - Waxy and flammable, this substance with a sweet, earthy scent comes from the intestines of whales and is used in perfume manufacturing. Both men and women used to mold ambergris into beads so they could be worn as aromatic necklaces. Nowadays, synthetic ambergris is made so that whales are not slaughtered for this smelly product.

Wax - Although wax may not seem like an unusual ingredient in beauty products, it was odd the way men and women of ancient Egypt used this substance. They would stick a cone of pomade, or scented ointment, on the top of their head, and over time, their body heat would melt the wax and give off a pleasant aroma.

Carmine - Cochineal bugs, common in places such as Peru, Chile, Mexico, and the Canary Islands, are crushed for the carminic acid they produce, which is used to make a bright red dye called carmine. Carmine is a common ingredient in lipsticks, rouges and eye shadows, but is often produced synthetically today.

Guanine - Although it doesn't sound too appealing, crystals of guanine, a compound made from fish scales and guano (the excrement of bats and sea birds), refract light in a lovely, pearly way. Next time you notice the shiny appearance of your shampoo or nail polish, you'll know what is actually giving it that luminous glow!

Chitosan - Ever wondered what helps keep the moisture in facial cleansers and creams? Well, the answer is chitin, a starch found in the skeletons of shrimp, crabs, and other shellfish. Not only does it keep the stuff in the tube damp, this substance keeps skin moisturized, too.

Civet - Closely related to the mongoose, the civet has sacs near its anus that create secretions harvested for perfume. However, getting this stuff is painful for civets, so animal rights activists have succeeded in reducing this practice. Fortunately, synthetic materials provide the same stuff without harming the animals.

UNUSUAL PAGEANTS

Participants in the Miss Drumsticks contest in Yellville, Arkansas, better be ready to show some leg. Every October, contestants are judged on their legs ONLY to win the Miss Drumsticks title. Their legs and bodies are hidden behind a picture of a turkey so as to not influence the judges.

Star Trek fans will be pleased to know that there's a Miss Klingon Empire beauty pageant held every year in September at the Star Trek Convention at Dragon*Con in Atlanta. Contestants dress as a female Klingon character from any Star Trek TV series or movie, and they are judged on beauty, personality, and talent. Winners receive a trophy, a tiara, and a satin sash outlined in the official colors of the Klingon Empire, blue and green.

Guys and gals with skinny legs have the chance to be crowned Mr. or Mrs. Mosquito Legs in Clute, Texas. The pageant is part of the Great Texas Mosquito Festival, which is held in July. Anyone attending the festival is eligible to strut their skinny legs in short shorts for the honor of being named Mr. or Ms. Mosquito Legs.

In order to win the title of Miss Sweet Corn Queen, competitors better know how to butter their sweet corn. That is the task for participants to complete during the Miss Sweet Corn Queen pageant held each August in Mendota, Illinois. Local high-school girls compete for the title and a spot in the parade held at one of the largest harvest festivals in the Midwest.

Striptease dancers flock to the annual Miss Exotic World Pageant held at the Exotic World Burlesque Museum and Striptease Hall of Fame in Las Vegas every Memorial Day weekend. Ranging in age from 18 to 80, these burlesque beauties flirt with the judges with smiles, winks, and teases. The winner of the Miss Exotic World pageant gets a trophy and the right to be called the Miss America of Burlesque.

Humorist Gene Weingarten of The Washington Post once dubbed Battle Mountain, Nevada "the armpit of America" for its "lack of character and charm." Ever since, the residents of the town turned the joke into a celebration of "all things smelly" every August. Winners of the Armpit Beauty Pageant are determined by sweaty t-shirt contests, deodorant throws, and a "quick-draw" antiperspirant contest.

And a quote:

"Art produces ugly things which frequently become more beautiful with time.
Fashion, on the other hand, produces beautiful things which always become ugly with time."

~~Jean Cocteau, (1889-1963),
French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, boxing manager, playwright and filmmaker.

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The Day is Done

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I am back from the busy day, and a quick update is in order.

First, the physical: Everything seems to be fine. EKG, BP, pulse, etc, are all in the good range. Lab work will be back tomorrow or Wednesday, so that remains to be seen. I'm not terribly worried. PAP and mammogram are scheduled. Ta-dah!

The lesson with Linda: It was good. Basics, basics, basics, which I need very much. I have a short shopping list (we already bought most of what I need), and I need to just get busy playing with it to get myself off "pause." Linda told me she thought she needed to give me a soft kick in the butt to get me started. She's right. Without it, I would probably still be avoiding the easel and brushes a year from now! I'll be reading some material and playing with paints, pencils and pens over the next few days, and we'll do another lesson next week.

Yoga: It was also good. I was able to do every position, although holding some of them as long as others did was a problem. Others went better, and I kept up with everyone else. My muscles can feel the strain, but I suspect it will be manageable. I'm not terribly worried about it. But ask me tomorrow!

So, all is well. Thanks for your encouragement. It was hard to decide on a new doctor. I had been with my doc in KC for a long time, and there was an unexplainable comfort level with him. He will not likely be replaced as he is truly a one-of-a-kind. But I'll make do. The new clinic seems alright, and I assume that over time I will become more comfortable. Change is not easy, and at the top of my list is doctor, dentist and hair stylist. Even husbands are more easily replaced! LOL!

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Monday Movies

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I just love this first one. Technology is wonderful, isn't it? Do you send text messages? Isn't it wonderful to have instant communication? Can you believe how fast it is? Well, get a load of this.....






And then there is the fact that all babies needs mommies. We know that. But do you realize why daddies are in charge of babies? Well, here it is .....





And since the daddies have it so hard, here is something every one of them should have to offset the pain of fatherhood ....






Now, get to work! Someone's gotta pay the bills! (Send me your address, and I send you one of my bills to pay, OK?)

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A Movin' Monday Coming Up

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I have a physical tomorrow morning. On one hand it is good to get caught up and be sure all is well. On the other, I don't want any bad news! It has been 2 years since I have had a full check up, so a lot could change. I just hope it hasn't.

After that appointment, I'm meeting Linda for some lunch and an art lesson. She is going to teach me technique with water colors. I've never had luck with them, and that is one of her main areas of expertise. I hope I will be able to master it. It may not be what I stick with, but I still want to learn. I have painted with oils, and tried acrylics a time or two, many years ago. I don't consider myself an artist, but I enjoy painting. It is relaxing.
Wish me luck.

After that, we are going to a yoga class. Linda just began a week ago, and it sounds very interesting. It is made up of women from their 50s to their .... 90s! In fact, the teacher is, I think, in her 80s. And, one of the best parts, it only costs $5 per session. Well, yeah, I'll go and try it! You betcha!

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I'm probably going to be ready to collapse by tomorrow night! I'll let you know if I don't survive the day. LOL!

Big Grin on My Face!

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It's a good day to sing a Christmas carol (or at least to borrow the tune) at my house.

Do you see what I see?



Two eyes, two eyes, gleaming in the sun ..........

Hurrah!!!!!!

OMG!!!

No wonder Jazmyn has been irritated!!! Look what I just pulled out of her eye!!!


It is, at least I think, a feather! It is so heavily gooped up with the ointment I've been slathering in the eye that it is almost indefinable.

The vet looked in her eye the other day, as well as he could, but with dogs you can't ask them to roll their eyes down and up, right and left, so we assumed whatever had scratched was gone.

She came to me a few minutes ago, and since it was time to do the eye again, I picked her up and the point was sticking out from under her eyelid. I pulled it out, worried about just what it was. As soon as it come out, she sighed a huge sigh!!! Poor little girl!






I put it beside a toothpick so you can see the size. although it looks pretty small, remember, in an eye, it is HUGE! Think of having that in your eye!

I cleaned the eye and put more ointment in it. When I put her down, she went immediately to the food bowl and ate a good amount, so I'm thinking she is feeling much better now.


Holy cow, poor little baby. I'm SO glad it is out.

Another Sad Farewell

Ohhhhh. I hate hearing this: Bea Arthur

Freedom is Relative, Right?

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I've set the birdcage outside on the deck to let my little finches enjoy some fresh air. They are loving it! They've been talking to their wild cousins out in the trees, and soaking up the feeling of being in the great out-of-doors.

My little sweeties sing a lot and often in the house, but they have been even more vocal outside. It has been nonstop for nearly an hour since I put them outside. This is the first day I've felt that the air is warm enough and the wind is calm enough to do this. It is so good to see and hear them being so happy. We'll be doing this a lot this summer.

Just listen to this! Turn your sound up and enjoy the happiness!
(Sorry for the screen wire, but I tried taking the video outside, and the white cage bars in the bright light disallowed a decent picture.)




Ohhhhh ....

.... Isn't life beautiful????

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50 Things I Love

Shamelessly stolen from Julie. I like it because it's all positive.

Writing exercise #1. - 50 things I love.

1. My grandchildren
2. Sunny days with ....
3. ....Blue skies
4. Cool mountain paths
5. History
6. Cruises
7. Comfortable clothes
8. Mountain horizons
9. Old friends
10. New friends
11. Laughing
12. My fur babies
13. Fairy Dust inscense
14. My kids and my kids-in-law
15. Being retired
16. Traveling
17. Summer breezes
18. Seeing the stars, ALL of them, without city lights to interfere
19. Hearing children laugh
20. Dry climates
21. Hummingbirds
22. Music
23. Poetry
24. Green chili
25. The scent of the pines, and ....
26. ....Hearing the wind in the pines
27. Fresh-off-the-vine tomatoes
28. Knowing who I am
29. Trying new foods
30. New experiences
31. Puffy white clouds
32. Reading
33. Memories
34. Books
35. Comfortable shoes
36. Having hope
37. Writing
38. Art
39. Fresh cool water
40. Quiet
41. Happy chaos
42. A nice wine, especially Merlot or Shiraz
43. Making memories
44. Fresh fruit
45. Mexican food
46. Margaritas.
47. Creme brulée
48. Watching the birds at my feeders
49. Theater
50. Sunrises/sunsets

Oh my. Now you have to see this!! I had no idea! Completely amazing!!


http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=inwi10s22a3q81f

Stuff

My poor little Jazi. She is still having "icky eye." I talked to the vet, and he assures me that it is OK, the eye heals very slowly. She is still having a thick, gunky looking discharge, despite the gallons of ointment I'm putting in there. I'm cleaning her little face, especially around the eye, with saline solution (I still have a bunch left from my contact lens days), at least two times a day to keep the nastiness at a minimum.

On the positive side, she seems to feel fine, other than some irritation from the eye. Her appetite is good, and she is bouncy and wagging her tail all the time. Her obsession with being in the yard has eased. She still likes to be out there, but isn't overdoing it. Last night, she came in at a reasonable hour when I called her and stayed in with us till bedtime.

I need to DO something! I've done too much sitting over the past few days. I have to return some books to the library, so maybe a little trip to town will take care of my antsy-ness. Maybe a woodsy-walk with one or two of The Kids will help. Maybe some housework will shake it .... now, wait, I think I've lost my rational thinking with that last one.

Talk with y'all later!

**** Be sure to enjoy the video below!!! ****

Friday Fun

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A Friday Fun Thing. Ruth sent this to me just a few minutes ago, and I gotta share it!!! This will help you get in a good mood for the weekend. Listen, if you don't laugh, out loud and from the belly, over this, something is wrong, wrong, wrong with you, and you might just as well pull the shroud over your face and curl up in a hole, my friend!

It needs a little setup:

The Comedy Barn in Tennessee is home to a long-running variety show. One of the show’s staples is a standup comedian. For one bit, he pulls audience members onstage. But on this day, he got more than he bargained for.

One man breaks up the show. No, he’s not causing trouble. He’s just laughing. But isn’t comedy supposed to make you laugh?

Wait until you hear this guy. Even the professional can’t keep a straight face. Enjoy.

Oh, woooeeee! I'll be thinking of nuck-nuck-nuck all weekend!!!!

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Gloom and Boredom

The sky is overcast. Not completely, but mostly, and certainly enough to get on my nerves. I wish the sun would come out and make my smile wider. OK, enough of that.

The Dogs
Jazi is getting better every day. Her little eye is still not healed, but it is looking much better as we go. I have to do ointment in the eye four times a day, and I have to clean it with saline solution at least a couple times each day or the hair around it gets gunked up so badly that it is tough on us both to get it cleaned up.

She has begun to do something I don't understand. She goes outside and curls up in a clump of the grass that is turning green or in a hole dug in the ground. She stays there for hours. It worries me that she does this at night when I don't know what might be sneaking around outside. I have guessed that she is keeping her distance from me and the dreaded eye medication. I go get her and she curls up in my lap for a while, then out she goes again. Once we go to bed, she stays, but up till then, it is a constant problem.

I have a new training technique for bad behavior. I keep a water bottle loaded with water, and when one of them misbehaves, I squirt just once. They do not like this, and they immediately stop. It works on Max so well that when he starts growling, he immediately looks at me to see if I have the bottle in my hand! He has almost completely stopped the growling. When Sammy starts instigating something, I give him a squirt and it is over right NOW! And now, with Lola, it is working on her grumbling, growling and barking to convince one of the siblings to drop her precious chewies! This morning she was sitting on the couch, having a minor hissy-fit because Joey was chewing on one. She kept growling under her breath while trying to stare him down, something that wouldn't happen, because he is one cool customer who doesn't get rattled often. I gave her one little squirt of water, and she immediately stopped the noise. She sat very quietly for about 20 minutes, when he was done with it. She stood up and sneaked very carefully over to him, and clutched the chewy in her jaws, then walked away. As she sat down with it, she emitted a huge sigh, as if she had held it in as long as she could!

My feral cats are back and eating again. They took a vacation while my guests and their two dogs were here, go figure. Their dogs are medium size, probably around 30 pounds, and apparently, the cats didn't trust that they were kept inside at night. That's when they come to eat. I had catfood out for the entire week, and it wasn't touched so far as I could see. I'm glad to see it is being consumed again.

Well, I guess I will get myself out of the house and do some work in the yard. It will help me if I get busy, and it is cooler with the cloudiness. Actually it is 68°, so it merely looks cool. Good yardwork weather. sigh. I can't seem to talk myself out of this!

Thought for Thursday

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Today

Uhmmmm.... you KNOW I have to do this.







































































































































































But remember that today is only a reminder of what we have to do every single day. None of us is as good as we could be. Let's work on it.

Think green. Do green. Be green. Today and every day.

Wow!

Wow! Looka dis!!!

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2009-04-20-baby-mammoth_N.htm?se=yahoorefer

The Return of the Neglectful Blogger

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I'm baaaaaack!! My guests left this morning, and I'm resuming my regular life. Regular? Well, the sheets are being laundered, the vacuum is ready to run, and the dishes are getting done. Wouldn't you know, my dishwasher began, uhm, offering challenges right in the middle of all this? Fortunately, it is a small, inexpensive, easy to replace part, and I've only had to hand wash one load.

Soooooooo. What did we do? Uhm, what didn't we do?

Monday - They arrived after stopping at Old Lincoln on the way in to get a dose of history on Billy the Kid, the Lincoln County War, etc. I've done most of that before, so it was OK with me that they did that without me. We had dinner (the pasta for which I'm vaguely famous), visited a while and called it a day.

Tuesday - I took them to Capitan for a tour of the Smokey Bear Museum. This cousin is the daughter of the uncle who was part of the team that rescued the little bear who would become the icon for fire prevention back in 1950. She had not been there (the museum is, of course, newer and she moved away before its development), and I think she enjoyed it a lot. After that, we visited some art galleries in town, and they met some of my friends. Then we drove to Capitan Gap, where little Smokey was found, although we don't know where the exact location is. They let their dogs run around a little bit and get some exercise before we returned home. They insisted on taking me to dinner that night, since it was my birthday. We had good Mexican food and a margarita at one of my favorite restaurants, and we all enjoyed it. Of course, all day long we talked and even after coming home, talked some more.

Wednesday - We took a day to just sit at home and visit. Nothing great to report, other than both of them taking walks with the dogs, an every day event. Belinda followed an animal path behind my house and say lots of signs of deer and elk along the way. When she returned, she said she understood why I have trouble doing a lot of walking here; there is not one single road or path that does not include a steep incline.

Thursday - I had called to see about the hours at the Ft. Stanton Museum. I'd not been there, and I thought it might be interesting for us all. The hours on the answering machine said "Tuesday through Saturday, 10-4." But when we got there, a sign on the door said "April hours, Fri, Sat, Mon, 10-4." Grrrr. It's a small museum, but I thought it would be good because of the history. Ft. Stanton was home to the Buffalo Soldiers for many years, and was involved in some of the events of the Lincoln County War. Since we couldn't do that, I drove them to the cemetery on the grounds.

There are soldiers from the famous 9th Calvary buried there, and I'm sure, other soldiers of that era, too. "Black Jack" Pershing also served at Ft. Stanton. When the fort was abandoned by the military, it became a U.S. Marine Hospital that specialized in the treatment of patients with tuberculosis. After 40 years of serving tuberculosis patients, Fort Stanton then served as an internment camp for German and Japanese prisoners of war from World War II. In 1953, Fort Stanton and 1,320 acres surrounding it were donated to the New Mexico State Department of Public Welfare. Fort Stanton was transformed into a hospital for the developmentally disabled. In the mid-1990s, this hospital was closed. Fort Stanton is currently a New Mexico State Prison for Women. It has also served as a drug rehabilitation facility in recent years. The cemetery was taken over in the 1990's by the Merchant Marines and is one of the military cemeteries in NM.

We walked through the cemetery, reading some of the headstones, and just musing about the people resting there and their lives.

After this, we drove into Ruidoso and stopped at the Hubbard Museum of the American West, where we spent a couple hours looking at historical saddles, wheeled transportation (buggies, wagons, stage coaches, etc.), reading about the area history and looking at historical photographs of the area.

Then we stopped for a late lunch and did a wee bit of shopping. Yes, that was one heck of a day!

Friday - Another take-it-easy day with Allan joining us. Visiting was the whole agenda.

Saturday - My guests wanted to go into Ruidoso for a little more shopping. I elected to stay home. They had a lot of fun, found a number of bargains, and (God love 'em) brought me a gift certificate from my favorite dress shop in town. How unnecessary and wonderfully sweet of them! I fixed a good steak dinner and we all tumbled into bed.

Sunday - I woke to find Jazmyn had an eye swollen shut. I started her on antibiotic ointment which I keep here at all times. These little guys with prominent eyes are a bit more apt to have such problems than other breeds. We had plans to drive to Alamogordo to spend the day with more cousins, and I didn't feel I could leave her here without having the medication reapplied, so she got to go with us. By day's end, the eye looked a little better.

We had a fabulous day visiting with the family and eating marvelous food. We went to the cemetery and cleaned up the family plot while there were extras to help. I do a little of this from time to time when I'm down there, but it's a lot for one person, especially one who is getting up there in years. On the drive home Belinda, Rob, Allan and I stopped at K-Bob's, an area steak house chain, for dinner. Since we had steak the night before, we all got other things, but it was really good. I had a chicken fried steak that was awesome! The meat was tender and juicy, and the coating was wonderfully crispy. Yum!

Monday - The day started with a trip to the Vet. It turns out that Jazi has an abrasion on the eye, just in the top of the colored area. The vet put drops in the eye, and we could see a very large area that was, happily, already healing. He gave her a shot to relieve the itching and irritation for her, and I'll be continuing the ointment for two weeks. Poor little girl. She still is a little "squinty," but it is improving each day.

Late in the morning, Belinda, Rob and I took a short drive, about 8 miles or so from my house, to a small lake. Allan met us there and we had a picnic lunch, then Allan went on to work. The three of us hiked up a trail from the campground. I don't know how far we went, but I'm guessing we were about a mile from the camp into the national forest wilderness area that abuts the camp. While it was an uphill climb, it wasn't the severe incline such as I have around my house. I huffed and puffed up hills, then walked on semi-level paths for a bit and caught my breath, then uphill again. It was good exercise, enough to push me, but not enough to do damage.

You can see from these two pictures it is an incline, but not a killer.





















I'm always saddened when inconsiderate people damage the wilderness areas. You see the graffiti on this sign, and Rob picked up some aluminum cans along the way while I picked up a candy wrapper. These places are kept in their natural state, with no human intervention such as cutting trees, clearing underbrush, etc. It is that way so we can go on foot or on horseback and see the natural beauty as it has been forever. You don't get to see the unspoiled forest any other way, and I can't understand how people think it is OK to litter there, even more than anywhere else in our world.

OK, rant over.



I love seeing the renewal, here as a new little tree just about three feet tall, right alongside the old fallen warrior which will become soil replenishment over the years. Ahhh, what a natural, beautiful cycle.











The forest is dappled with sunlight on the ground, cool and peaceful, and the sky is a similar with the leafless branches, the evergreens, and the expanse of rich blue peeking through it all.












Rob is an avid photographer. He stayed in this position for upward of ten minutes, waiting for a tiny butterfly to open its wings!











The tiny stream was alongside the path most of the way. I like how the blue sky reflects in the water, and alongside the fresh green of the new grass.












Please click on this so you can see the detail. The delicate white flowers are so tiny you can hardly see them as you walk along. Compare them to the pine needles alongside. And those are "regular" size needles, not the long ones like ponderosa.











Lots of wild strawberries were alongside the path. Mmmmm, to go back in a few months and taste them!








When we returned home, Rob made me a gift of a walking stick he carved himself of Wyoming Juniper. He actually had several to pick from, and this is what I chose. It is large, approximately five feet tall, nearly as tall as me. I chose it because the length will be helpful when coming downhill, my biggest time of concern. I hold it about 18 inches from the head while walking or climbing, then slide near the top of the shaft to extend down ahead of me on the descent. The shorter ones would require me to bend to place it down the hill, so this will be easier on my back.

Speaking of my back, when we turned to return to the camp, I noticed that my lower back felt tight. I wondered if I would have a sore back today, as well as sore legs. I'm happy to report that all is fine, with just a bit of soreness in my knees. Good old arthritis. I'm very encouraged to return to some of the similar paths around the lake with one or two of my pups to get exercise, perhaps 2-3 times a week. Sound good? Wanna come along? Bring it!


Oh, goodness, it was a good week. We had a bite of breakfast this morning, and they left for Albuquerque. They will visit Belinda's son there for a few days, then move on to Wyoming. They are going to oversee the hosts of several campgrounds for the summer. Next winter, they are going to be near Ocala, FL, where they are going to be in charge of clearing hiking trails. What a life, eh?

I've had a wonderful, wonderful time, but it is also good to be back here. Could my life be any better? Nope, I don't think so. Oh wait. Maybe if I had a million dollars in the bank. But that's all it would take. Honest.

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I'm Working On It

We're going to have a quiet, lazy morning. This is a good time for me to try to catch up on your comments and me reading your posts. The operative word is try, of course. Be patient with me, OK?

And while you're waiting, here is a series of cartoons that have made me chuckle this week:

Relatives of the Best Kind

I'm having a wonderful time. Wish you were here!

My guests are a cousin/sister-in-law and her husband. I heard you say "Huh?" OK. She was a cousin to my late husband, but they were very close. My hub had no siblings, and although she is much younger than he was, they became close for many reasons. His father and her father were brothers. When his father died when he was just 5, her father and mother were there to help his mother raise him. For all practical purposes, his uncle became the closest thing to a father he had from that day forward.

When his cousin came along some 15 years after him, she idolized him. In fact, when he married his first wife and she was furiously jealous. Never mind that they were cousins. When you're just a little kid, being cousins doesn't mean anything in matters of the heart. Eventually, she got over it, forgave him and they became fast friends. By the time I married into the family, they called each other sister and brother, and that's how it has remained. Now, to my pleasure, she refers to me as her sister-in-law.

Got it?

This is the first time we've been together since my husband's death. She was with us during his last week. Last year she and her husband retired and have become full time RVers. they have been traveling around, visiting with their kids, family members, and friends. Currently they are returning to Wyoming where they have lived for the last several years. They will be hosting an RV campsite for the summer in the Big Horns. On their way, the made a special trip here to see me, Allan, and the cousins who still live in Alamogordo where they all grew up.

We have had a super time. We've done the sightseeing/touristy things. One was the Smokey Bear Museum which was pretty special, as it was her dad who was part of the crew that rescued Smokey in Capitan Gap. She had never been there, so that was a treat for her.

We've eaten out several times, enjoying some of my favorite foods at my favorite restaurants. And we have enjoyed lots of home-cooked yummies, too. Tonight we decided we've had a lot, too much of that good food, so we had cheese, crackers, sausage, carrots, celery and wine. That was good, too.

And between the various outings and in-ings, we have talked, talked, talked. I love catching up. It is so good to be with people I love, sharing our memories, telling new stories, and setting the world "right" again, laughing and crying.

The only trouble is .... I'm tired! Don't get me wrong, it is wonderful. I'm loving every minute of it. But I am tired. We're having an easy day tomorrow, probably staying home, then they are meeting with old friends for dinner. Saturday isn't planned yet, and I think we will just wait and see how we feel. Sunday will be the day for getting together with the rest of the cousins for a day of yakkity-yak. Then they will be leaving on Monday or Tuesday. I will hate to see them go. Yes, I'm tired, but it a really happy, contented kind that comes with reuniting with special people.

Don't you wish you were here?

Whatever-Day-It-Is Trivia

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This came in today, and I'll make it a quick post. I know it's not Tuesday. But it is Tax Day!

Tax Day is on April 15 each year because it allows the IRS more time to handle the work and also gives the government more time to offer taxpayers' refunds. This day was decided upon in 1955 after several changes over the years. It only changes if Tax Day falls on a weekend or holiday, and then Tax Day will be on the following business day.

The country's first income tax law came into existence in 1862. Due to the gigantic expense of the Civil War, a person earning between $600 to $10,000 paid a yearly tax rate of 3%; those that made more were taxed higher.

The Commissioner of Internal Revenue was formed in 1862 to assess and collect taxes as well as enforce tax laws by seizing property and income and using prosecution as punishment. In 1953, the Bureau of Interal Revenue became the Internal Revenue Service, or as we call it, the IRS.

There are over 7 million words in tax law and regulations. That beats the Bible, the Declaration of Independence, and the Gettysburg Address combined.

Almost 300,000 trees are cut down each year to make the paper for all the forms and instructions relating to taxes.

Tax Freedom Day is the one day that the country as a whole has earned enough income to fund its annual tax burden. This year's Tax Freedom day falls on April 13.

**********

"I'm proud to pay taxes in the United States; the

only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money."

Arthur Godfrey, (1903-1983), American radio and television broadcaster
and entertainer, sometimes introduced by the nickname, The
Old Redhead.

A Quickl Note, Part 2

I'm very tired. It has been a great day, but I'm too tired to write much now. I just want to let you know I am reading your comments and thank you for the BD wishes. I'm trying to check on your blogs as I can. I don't have the time or energy to comment or reply just now, but I will, OK?

Love ya all!

A Quick Note

My guests called a while ago. Their plans to arrive tomorrow or Wednesday have been jostled, and with my permission they are coming on in to my house this afternoon. Sooooooooooo .... I will probably be less active here on my own blog and reading at yours for the next week or so. Just thought I should let you know that my absence isn't because of a problem. Okey-dokey???

Soon, y'all!!

Monday Musings

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First of all, this cartoon just tickled me today ....



I have been having trouble with my sleep for a few days. It has been mostly because of the residual discomfort from the fall on Friday. I'm not hurting very bad, but I am uncomfortable, achy, the bruises tender. I've been waking several times each night, having to reposition myself to ease the pain. Most of the time I've gone back to sleep quickly, but a few times took an hour or more to be able to drop off again. So I'm sleep deprived, which doesn't help the body healing.

I was sleeping so well last night. I didn't wake once! Well, until 4:30ish, when I was awakened by one of the dogs running up the length of my body, right over all the bruises on my legs, and coming to rest on my chest! It was Jazi. And she was shaking, trembling like crazy. I suspected she heard something that sounded like thunder, because that is the only thing I've noted to cause her to shake like that. I cuddled her to me, but the shivering wouldn't quit. I was drifting off when I heard a click or beep kind of noise, and Jaz shivered harder. I listened without hearing it again. Drifting off, heard it again and Jazmyn shook harder.

I tiredly thought about what it could be, but I just couldn't identify it. I sat up in bed to listen and try to identify a direction, but I couldn't tell. It was just one little noise, then silence. After about 20 minutes, I finally realized it is similar to the kind of sound that reminds you there is a message on your cell phone. I checked it, but no, it wasn't that. I started looking around to see what else might make warning sounds. Suddenly, it hit me. It was the smoke detector! It turned out to be the carbon monoxide detector. I replaced the batteries. I suspect one of the batteries was not making good contact, because they all tested good, but I figured it was safer to just replace them.

By this time, it was almost 5:30, and I was wide awake. I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't. However, the dogs?? All sound asleep, even Jazi. My dogs are weird! I guess I shouldn't complain. Not everyone has a backup warning system to the fire/carbon monoxide detectors!

And then I saw this cartoon. Yeah.

And a few minutes ago, they were showing the new First Dog on the morning news. Lolita was the only dog in the room, but when they showed the photo of Bo, she leaped off the couch, ran across the room, put her paws on the entertainment center, and closely eyed the pictures on the screen. While she was there, her head cocked from side to side, and her tail was wagging. I'm guessing she approves!

Uh-oh. The Duggers are making an announcement in a few minutes. Sheesh. When will they stop? I love children, but this seems over the top to me. I know they aren't depending on any external support for their family, and I'm not criticizing (not exactly), but just wondering .... why??? I figure this news might be about the son who recently married. Perhaps he and his wife are expecting. Oh, goody, another generation! Well, we'll find out in a few minutes.

The pups have been very cuddly recently. (Speaking of the dogs, I'm one to talk about overdoing it, aren't I???) Little Lola has become noticeably affectionate. She has never been standoffish but I think she has just realized or accepted that this is forever. She often comes bouncing onto the couch and snuggles up with me. She stays for several minutes before bounding off to her next adventure. She used to stay with me a minute or less per "visit." The others have been more lingering with their snuggle time, too. Maybe it is spring??

Alright, I gotta get outta here. I have company arriving tomorrow or Wednesday for a week, and I have a few more things to do in preparation. Hope everyone has a good week!

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Monday Movies

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First off, the amazing stairs in Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe.





And an amazing young musical artist.




And for the fun of it .... The Front Fell Off.




Have a good week!!!

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Fun Friends and Floppy Falls

I went out to dinner tonight with Linda and her friend, Sandy. Sandy is visiting from out of town, and I was eager to meet her. We have "known" each other via emails and a couple phone conversations for several months, but had not had the face to face. I so enjoyed getting to finally meet her! Lovely lady!

We had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, and as usual, the food was excellent. I had a tortilla encrusted tilapia served on a bed of spicy angel hair pasta. They shared a huge paella. We ended with red velvet torte around. Everything was spectacular! We talked like, well, like three women can do, having much fun.

We are doing some more things tomorrow. Sandy is here for a fabric art show. Like Linda, she does silk art, wearable and frameable. Then tomorrow night, one of the galleries is having some sort of event, and we are going to do that and go to dinner again.

Before Sandy and Linda arrived, I went to the truck to get something I'd left there earlier. As I got out of the truck, my foot slipped in the gravel as I put it down on the ground. I started to fall, feet going backward, but to make matters worse, my feet went over the edge of the driveway and I slid right down the slope. I am skinned and bruised on an angle from my left ankle to my right hip. It ain't purdy. I also bruised my right upper arm, although I have struggled to figure out how that happened. It isn't scratched, no broken skin, but the bruise is absolutely awful there. GAH!! How do I do these things to myself?

I took some Tylenol before I left and I'm getting ready to take another dose before I go to bed, but I am dreading tomorrow. I hope I won't be too sore and stiff. Lawdy.

I think I'm going to hit the sack for tonight. See ya mañana!

Sunrise, Sunset

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I'm always showing you pictures of my sunrises, those beautiful, glorious sunrises. That's because my house faces East, so I see the sunrises often. I don't show you many sunset pictures because the sun sets behind my house. Since I'm on the east slope of the mountain, I see only part of the sunset, too. It is basically straight upthe mountain outside my back door. But the sunset are pretty spectacular, too. Wanna see?

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Maybe It's Just Me ....

.... but Yahoo is screwy recently. I've had various problems: often being unable to access my mail; trying to get to mail and getting a message "Connection denied" (what does that mean??); some of my groups in my contact list have disappeared, and I'm unable to replace them (if I use the same name, the list follows the original into oblivious, so I have to chose a new name for the same list of people); finding important mail in the spam folder; this morning I had 8 "new" messages that I had already received and replied to, all of them dated back in March.

Is anyone else having trouble?

4/9

Today is

4/9 Name Yourself Day

4/9 Winston Churchill Day

It is also the anniversary of my parents' marriage in 1931. Seventy-eight years. They lived till they celebrated 69 years together, then both were gone within 2 months. I miss them a lot.

Freebie Giveaway!!

Do ya wanna get in on a freebie? Limited offer!! Catherine's book is (finally) out! Check it out here.

I Suspect It is Not a Good Thing

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Is it a bad thing that I had to dust my exercise ball today, along with the furniture?

Yeah, I think so.

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Repeated Overstating Redundancy

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Weatherman just said "We have wind advisories for the northeast, eastern and western parts of the state." Yeah, OK. Isn't that the whole state, east and west? With northeast thrown in for good measure. It also looked on the map as if the whole state is under advisory, so that seemed like a redundant bit of verbal overkill. But maybe that is just me.

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Being Green

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I'm here to tell you that my daughter and I are some kinda green. Yes, we are!

I recently mailed her something. As I was packing and addressing the box, I remember thinking that I think it is a box she had sent me something in a while back. Not positive, but I think so. I always remove and shred any identifying labels from boxes, so I wasn't positive. So I fix my label for it and send it off to her.

A couple weeks later she had something to send to me. Today I was removing the labels and found it was the same box! She labeled over my labels and sent it back! This little box is very well traveled, being from FL to NM at least three times! Unfortunately, this morning I ripped up one side getting our layers of tough clear tape off, so I can't reuse it. But it is going to the recycle bin in town.

We good! We green!!

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4/8

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April 8, More of those strange "holidays."

Today is

All is Ours Day

Draw a Picture of a Bird Day

OK. I did!

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Hey! I'm a photographer, not an artist!!

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National No Housework Day

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Today is National No Housework Day! Really! Would I kid about something this important??

I'm rather disappointed. No, I'm really crushed. I had planned to clean house all day long, because I'm having company next week, and I thought I'd get the housework out of the way ahead of time, rather than waiting till the last moment as I usually do. I knew it was going to take me all day long, that I'd barely have time to eat or even have bathroom breaks, but I was prepared. Now I can't do that. Oh, dear, what am I going to do now?

In case you think I'm kidding about this, I heard it on the early news and to verify it I went to: http://www.holidayinsights.com/other/nohouseworkday.htm. Here is what I learned ....

No Housework Day

When : Always April 7th

No Housework Day is your chance to do anything, except housework. Better still, have someone else do the chores for a day. Housework is a daily, seemingly endless and repetitive groups of tasks. It often goes unrecognized and worst of all..... taken for granted. But, watch out! If the dishes aren't done, or there's no clean towels, somebody takes note.

There's two ways to celebrate this day:

If you normally do the housework around the house, cease and desist for this day. Instead, kick back and enjoy the day. Relax and do anything, except housework.

If you are a spouse or significant other, do the housework for your mate. It gives her (or him) a break from the housework. And, you just might get an appreciation of how much work it takes to keep up the house.

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Origin of No Housework Day:

Our research did not uncover a particular person who started this day, or when it was first celebrated.

We're pretty sure it originated by someone who was a wee bit tired of doing the daily chores, and just needed a day off. Most likely, they threw up their hands and said something like "That's it! I'm taking a day off from all of this work".

Whoever the genius was who first created this day, we salute you!

Today is also:

7 Caramel Popcorn Day - Most likely created by a popcorn maker, or an Ecard company.

7 World Health Day

Well, that's it. I'm tearfully resigned to honor the holiday. I hope you'll join me in this. I recommend we all spend today reading about caramel popcorn and world health since we can't so anything else. Well, you can read the trivia below before you start with the caramel popcorn, OK?

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Tuesday Trivia

Trivia about Food & Drink, lots of it. And if youre not hungry when you get through with this, sumthin's wrong wit' you!!

WINE

In 1880, California’s first Commissioner of Agriculture brought cuttings from France to California. He sent his first wine from his vines to the Gran Prix in Paris where it won top honors in 1889.

If a dry wine is fully fermented, about 40 percent of the sugar will be converted to carbon dioxide while 60 percent will be converted to alcohol.

The seeds and skin of the grape contain tannins. Tannin is a bitter tasting substance that cause the “dry mouth” feeling associated with some red wines.

The vintage year isn’t necessarily the year the wine was bottled. In the northern hemisphere, white wines may not be bottled the same year the grapes are picked.

Australia developed wine in a box in the ‘70s. The wine inside of the box is stored in a bladder that is not exposed to air. This means that the wine may last up to a few weeks compared to a few days.

The famous Chateau Petrus in Pomerol makes the world’s most expensive Merlot, which sells up to $2,500 or more.

POPCORN

Popcorn's scientific name is zea mays everta, and it is the only type of corn that will pop.

The first commercial popcorn machine was invented by Charles Cretors in Chicago in 1885. The business he founded still manufactures popcorn machines and other specialty equipment.

Each kernel contains a small amount of moisture. As the kernel is heated, this water turns to steam. Popcorn differs from other grains in that the kernel's shell is not water-permeable, so the steam cannot escape and pressure builds up until the kernel finally explodes, turning inside out.

Nebraska produces more popcorn than any other state in the country -- around 250 million pounds per year. That's about a quarter of all the popcorn produced annually in the United States.

On average, a kernel will pop when it reaches a temperature of 347 degress Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Unpopped kernels are called "old maids" or "spinsters."

Popped popcorn comes in two basic shapes: snowflake and mushroom. Movie theaters prefer snowflake because it's bigger. Confections such as caramel corn use mushroom because it won't crumble.

PRETZELS

In A.D. 610, while baking bread, an Italian monk decided to create a treat to motivate his students. He rolled out ropes of dough, twisted them to resemble hands crossed on the chest in prayer, and baked them. The monk named his snacks pretiola, Latin for "little reward." When pretiola arrived in Germany, they were called bretzels.

The pretzel has long been considered a good-luck symbol. German children wear pretzels around their necks on New Year's Day. In Austria in the 16th century, pretzels adorned Christmas trees, and they were hidden along with hard-boiled eggs on Easter morning.

Hard pretzels were "invented" in the late 1600s, when a snoozing apprentice in a Pennsylvania bakery accidentally overbaked his pretzels, creating crunchy, seemingly inedible, knots. Lucky for him that the master baker took a bite of his creation and loved it!

Until the 1930s, pretzels were handmade, and the average worker could twist 40 a minute. In 1935, the Reading Pretzel Machinery Company introduced the first automated pretzel machine, which enabled large bakeries to make 245 pretzels per minute, or five tons in a day.

More than $550 million worth of pretzels are sold in the United States annually; 80 percent are made in Pennsylvania, where hard pretzels originated.

Julius Sturgis opened the first commercial pretzel bakery in Lititz, Pennsylvania, in 1861. He received his original pretzel recipe as a thank you from a down-on-his-luck job seeker after Sturgis gave the man dinner.

CHEESE

Archaeological surveys show that cheese was being made from the milk of cows and goats in Mesopotamia before 6000 B.C.

Travelers from Asia are thought to have brought the art of cheese making to Europe, where the process was adapted and improved in European monasteries.

The world's largest consumers of cheese include Greece (63 pounds per person each year), France (54 pounds), Iceland (53 pounds), Germany (48 pounds), Italy (44 pounds), the Netherlands (40 pounds), the United States (31 pounds), Australia (27 pounds), and Canada (26 pounds).

The only cheeses native to the United States are American, jack, brick, and colby. All other types are modeled after cheeses brought to the country by European settlers.

Processed American cheese was developed in 1915 by J. L. Kraft (founder of Kraft Foods) as an alternative to the traditional cheeses that had a short shelf life.

Someone who sells cheese professionally at a cheese shop or specialty food store is called a cheese monger.

M & Ms

Forrest Mars came up with the idea for M&Ms during the Spanish Civil War when he learned that soldiers were looking for chocolate that could withstand hot temperatures. He developed the famous candy, which he originally packaged in heavy tubes.

In 1948, the packaging for M&Ms changed from a tube into the famous brown bag that we still know today.

The year 1954 was big for M&Ms: peanut M&Ms (only in brown) made their first appearance, the famous tagline, "melts in your mouth, not in your hands," is born, and the cartoony M&M characters make their television debut!

Red, green, and yellow colors were added to peanut M&Ms in 1960, but orange wasn't added until 1976.

M&Ms are introduced internationally in 1980, making their way to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.

In 1982, astronauts chose the candies to take with them into space, and they have been part of shuttle missions ever since!

And finally, a delicious quote:

"Strength is the ability to break a chocolate bar
into four pieces with your bare hands -
and then eat just one of those pieces."

Judith Viorst, (1931-),
American author, newspaper journalist, and
psychoanalysis researcher

HA!! Just try now to wait till lunch to eat!!