Sunrise

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Good Friday Morning! Click to turn the music ("Sunrise" by Norah Jones) on while you enjoy the pictures!

Dogs and Plants

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It started with this ......



Dogs going crazy tearing up, chewing up and eating my plants! I checked, and they aren't in danger with the plants I have here. But still..... Dang! [BTW, do you have houseplants that can be dangerous for your pets? If you're not sure, google it and check.]

At first, I scolded, but didn't worry a lot because they were pulling off the "babies" from the spider plant. Ultimately, that doesn't hurt the plant, and actually it will help the root system to grow stronger rather than putting it's growth into the starter plants.











However, I didn't want the plants to be too badly damaged so I moved these two huge pots off the floor, to the top of a tiled table. A few hours later, I put the baby gate in front of it, because The Kids simply stood on their hind legs and pulled off more babies AND began chewing on the big long leaves from the mother plant.

This morning I was sitting on the couch, and I looked over to find one of them eating the plants again.

The gate was in place. Entry to the Forbidden Land was gained via the back and/or arm of the couch. Where I was sitting!!


See how the pot on the left has shorter plants?

Yes, it had been eaten to about 1/4 the height it was yesterday!!

But the thing is, the errant dog was sitting right on top of those poor little plants,in that left-hand pot, and beginning to chomp on the taller big brother pot on the right!






Poor little plant!!



Can you guess which dog was sitting here?















Who, me? Awww, Mom!!!
















If you're gonna say things like that, I just won't look at you!















Nope! Not seeing you!!


















OK, I moved the table farther from the couch. I hope the plants survive.

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TV

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I don't usually watch TV all day long. I have today because I'm exhausted, and I really can't get up the energy to do much. I haven't slept through the night for several nights, 5 nights, I think. Then yesterday I had the headache all day long which sapped energy, too. I'm just lacking of energy.

So I've been a true couch potato today. As I'm vegging out on the couch, feeling sorry for myself, I'm noticing the commercials more than the shows, and do you know what? There are an awful lot of commercials about bodily functions! Medications for diarrhea, constipation, bladder control, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, menstrual, impotency, tooth care, dandruff, eye drops, ear cleaning .... those are the ones I can think of right now that I have seen today. Good gosh almighty!

I guess I need to turn it off, don't I? Yeah. But the controller is on the coffee table, and I'd have to move to reach it.

I wonder what's on TV tonight.

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Domestic Partnership

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New Mexico citizens are holding their collectives breaths right now. A bill legalizing domestic partnerships has made it's way out of committee and is now on the House floor. It is expected to be very close, but should the Lt. Governor need to cast her vote to break a tie, she has already announced that she will vote for the bill. The Senate is thought to be an easier path, so if the bill makes it there, it is likely to be passed. The governor has also vowed to sign it into law when it reaches his desk.

Opponents say this is a "step toward legalizing gay marriage." So what? I personally think marriage is overrated and unessential to happiness. Too many people thing being married assures a happily-ever-after life, but statistics show that is certainly not true. I'm sure most of you know be well enough by now to know that I favor this bill. I like it because it addresses all the citizens of the state, gay or straight, giving us the option to make choices that suit our own lives. Forget for a moment the testy issues of gay marriage. I've said before that I would probably never marry again. I possibly might choose to cohabit if I found someone I thought I could tolerate full time. If I should take either path, I would want that person to have certain rights should I choose to have him make end of life decisions for me, to be present with me during crisis, etc. I should be able to choose who has these privileges whether that person is married to me or not, whether that person (and myself) is gay or straight, whether our physical relationship is intimate or not. If I have chosen to share my life with a person, that person should have the right to share everything in my life, and vice-versa.

I'm less worried about the end of life financial issues. Those can be taken care of with legal documents, a will, a trust, joint ownership. I'm concerned about the issues of life while my feet are still hitting the pavement of my journey here on earth, being able to completely care for myself and whoever I choose to be my partner. For me, the ability to insure my partner isn't a factor, but if I were a few years younger it would be important.

This issue has been batted around for a long time here in NM. It hasn't passed in the past, but if it makes it through the House today, it will be a big step into the reality of today's world. What in the world are we waiting for? The bottom line is that this is a bill about ending discrimination. It needs to be.

**** Well, damn. It was just announced on TV that the bill failed in the Senate. However, there is another bill in the House that is being debated. I'll keep you posted.

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Super Scribbler

I'm SO bad. Cathy sent this to me a long time back, so long back that I don't remember when. I'm embarrassed. But I'm finally getting around to it. [blush]

I've been honored with a blogger award, the first in a long, long time. Thanks, Cathy, for noticing me. Cathy's blog, On the Banks of the Rio Grande is a great read, and she is so politically on target that I can hardly stand it!

The award?

Superior Scribbler Award. Well, that second word certainly fits me, doesn't it?


It is fun to be remembered, and especially when the rememberer (like that word?) is a published author! I would suppose that she knows a writer when she reads one. At least when pressed to come up with some names, I was in the top five! That says something, for sure!


OK, enough nonsense. Here is my list of recommendations:


Cheryl at Wishing and Discovering
Cheryl's blog is a fairly new one to me. I've enjoyed reading this blog for a number of reasons. Cheryl is a Social Worker, so she reminds me of my "past life." And she is amazingly honest about the struggles of being in the field while struggling to make the principles function in the family.

Momo-Mama
MM-MM has a way with words that I love. Her favorite topics are her kids and their antics, conversations and .... well, they are two funny, smart kids, and I enjoy reading about them through their mother's words. A very fun blog.

Cheryl Wray at Live with Cheryl
Cheryl is probably one of the most sincere people I can think of. She reminds me of the good things .... family, children, spirituality, living live fully. I admire her very much.

Rick at Hamguin's Hide-Not
I enjoy Rick's blog for the thought-provoking posts I've read there. Rick makes me think. I have found that some of his posts have challenged me to dig down and pull together my own thoughts and words at times that I might otherwise gloss over something. I like that.

Nick at Nick's Bytes
Nick is so multi-faceted in his life and his interests. His posts often touch me. His experiences at the VA remind me of times I spent there with my hub. The "causes" he champions line up so closely with my own, and I love to find someone near my own age who has benn there, done that, so nearly like I have.


So for anyone who's game, here are the details on how to pass it on:

*Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

*Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

* Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.

* Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

*Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

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Header Photo

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I decided that temperatures are so springlike that the picture in the header was just not quite right. So a search through the iPhoto collection took place at chez Lynilu. Ahhhhhh. That looks better!

Welcome Spring (official or not!!) !!!

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Ohhhhh.

Look at this awesome video that I found at Nick's blog and promptly, unabashedly stole it. Do you remember Peter, Paul & Mary? I'll bet all of you remember "Puff the Magic Dragon." This is a song I've never heard, but what an awesome message. BTW, the man signing does such a good job making it look like music, also.

"Don't Laugh At Me" by Peter, Paul & Mary



You know, if they played this every morning in a classroom, I wonder how much difference it might make on the kids as they grown up. Certainly couldn't hurt.

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Oh, yes!

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Identify! Identify! Identify!!!!

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I've been scanning photos to save them for the kids and cut down on what I have to find room to store. I ran across a bunch of me.



There are pictures of my other two brothers holding me, also, but I haven't found them yet.

Bonus Trivia

Some special trivia for Mardi Gras!!!

Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, is the religious name for Mardi Gras. New Orleans's fabled French Quarter, a neighborhood along Bourbon Street, is the center of Mardi Gras activities.

The Brazilian celebration is called Carnival. Portuguese immigrants first celebrated Carnival in Rio in the early 1800s with a game called entrudo, during which poor people sprayed each other with mud and sewage, while the elite used perfume sprays. The first masked ball was held in 1840, while the first street parades took place a few years later. They have evolved into a vast spectacle involving thousands of participants and hundreds of thousands of spectators.

Around 1900 in New Orleans there was increasing interaction between poor black musicians, whose drum playing was influenced by African musical styles, and mixed-race Creoles, who were trained in European classical music. The fusion of the various traditions created jazz, which soon spread up the Mississippi River to Memphis and Chicago, and across the country to Harlem, New York.

"Krewe" is a fanciful spelling of "crew." In 1857 a group of men founded the Krewe of Comus, because they feared the wild antics at Mardi Gras would prompt the authorities to stop the celebrations. They felt a secret organization might have a better chance of surviving. Since then, a number of other krewes have been established.

King Cakes are large, round cinnamon rolls covered with white icing and sprinkled with the Mardi Gras colors. A plastic baby the size of an almond is hidden inside. Whoever finds the baby is the next king or queen and must host the next King Cake party.

In 1872 Russian grand duke Alexis Romanoff visited New Orleans during Mardi Gras. A group of businessmen organized the Krewe of Rex to hold a parade and named a king and queen for the day, a tradition that has endured. They also used the colors of the House of Romanoff: purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. These have remained the official colors of Mardi Gras.

Tuesday Trivia

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February is Black History Month. Following is just a smidge of the things out there.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Dr. Carter G. Woodson established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915, and a year later founded the widely respected Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week.

Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

On February 23, 1868, W. E. B. DuBois, important civil rights leader and co-founder of the NAACP, was born.

On February 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment was passed, granting blacks the right to vote.

On February 25, 1870, the first black U.S. senator, Hiram R. Revels (1822-1901), took his oath of office.

On February 12, 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a group of concerned black and white citizens in New York City.

On February 1, 1960, in what would become a civil-rights movement milestone, a group of black Greensboro, N.C., college students began a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter.

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X, the militant leader who promoted Black Nationalism, was shot to death by three Black Muslims.

A few bits and pieces about a handful of Black Americans who have made a difference in our world (and BTW, there are so many more out there! Look them up!):

Sidney Poitier - When he won the Academy Award for lead actor in 1963's 'Lilies of the Field,' the Bahamas-born thespian was the first black man to receive such an honor. Poitier, whose seminal film work includes dramas and comedies, started in theater during the 1940s and made his film debut in 1950's 'No Way Out.' Knighted by the British Parliament, Sir Sidney Poitier has many honors to his credit and including best-selling author for his 2001 memoir 'Measureof a Man. 'His role in 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' blazed a trail in Hollywood by exploring taboo relationships between black men and white women.

Bill Cosby - The Philadelphia-born comedian is mostly known today for his groundbreaking 1980s black family sitcom, 'The Cosby Show.' But Cosby had already opened doors in the 1960s as the first lack lead in the network TV drama 'I Spy.'

Hannibal - Often called the greatest military strategist in history, Hannibal is best known for defeating the Romans in 218 B.C. in a surprise attack after crossing the snow-covered Alps by elephants while leading an army of 46,000.

Colin Powell - The Harlem-born, four-star general fought in the Viet Nam War and rose through the ranks to become National Security Advisor under Pres. Ronald Reagan. He was named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he led allied forces in the successful mission Operation Desert Storm. Once courted as a presidential candidate, Powell was appointed Secretary of State in 2001. He resigned in 2005 to run the America's Promise - Alliance for Youth foundation.

Muhammad-Ali - Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., Ali became boxing's man, myth and legend. With his athleticism, unnatural speed and fancy footwork, on his best night, it's hard to doubt he was the greatest of heavyweights. But it was that skill coupled with his supreme gift of poetic gab and self-promotion ("I am the greatest!") that helped Ali float, sting, and punch his way to the top. He's also got "world's most loved athlete" on lock.

Art Shell and Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard - When the NFL was organized in 1920, Fritz Pollard was one of only two black players that inaugural season. In 1921, Pollard became the first black head coach in the league when he became co-coach of the Akron Pros, while also playing running back for the team. Art Shell, who coached the Raiders from '89-'94, and in '06, is considered the first black head coach in the league's modern era, following a 64-year span of blatant shutouts after Fritz Pollard.

Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron - Jackie Robinson etched his name in history and became the first African-American ever to play Major League Baseball -- changing the game and the country. Decades later, Hank Aaron etched his own name in the books, weathering an assortment of racist hate mail to set baseball's home-run record in 1974, eclipsing Babe Ruth's hallowed mark of 714. Aaron's final record of 755 held for 33 years until surpassed by Barry Bonds in 2007.

Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe - These two are the Jackie Robinsons of tennis. Gibson was the first African-American to play in and win a Grand Slam event. She went on to win 11 major titles. Ashe remains the only African-American player to win the men's singles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, or Australian Open.

William Wells Brown and Phyllis Wheatley - Former slave-turned-abolitionist, William Wells Brown was known as the first African-American to publish a novel. His 1853 tome, 'Clotel' (or 'The President's Daughter') was based on the rumor that Thomas Jefferson fathered a daughter with his slave Sally Hemings. Phyllis Wheatley, born in The Gambia, Africa, was considered the first published African-American poet. Her claim to fame was the 1773 publication of 'Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, which some feel heralded the beginning era of African-American literature.

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How Old Are You?

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How many of you are old enough to get this? Be honest! But you don't have to confess your age, OK?

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Photographic History of America

These are some amazing pictures about the history of America. Worth a few minutes to view, for certain.

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2008/11/24/life-images-hosted-by-google/

Monday Movies

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This first video blows me away. Bruce Lee playing ping-pong?? But check out what he uses for a paddle!




Here's another on having to do with sports. How's this for a pool shot?

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And this one has nothing to do with sports. It is called the World's Costliest Ad. I just think it is fascinating, and when you see it here at Lynilu's Theater, it's not costly at all!

A Little Fun for Friday

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Awwwwright!!!! It's Friday! The week is over. Well, it will be as soon as you clock out this evening. I just got this in an email a day or so ago, and I thought it would be fun to have you look at this. It is called "Your Week in Three Words." Watch it, have a chuckle, then in the comments, tell us about your week in three words!





My week in three words .... Sleeping like crazy!!!

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Random & Odd

Random: I guess I'm not as bad with my internet addiction as I thought. At least I haven't gone this far. LOL!

Odd: I'm having hot flashes. At my age, I guess it isn't unusual, but I thought those were over and done. They seem to have crept back in. Six months ago I was having a 15-20 second hot flash a few times a week. Recently I'm having them a few times a day. What's with that? Does menopause have a rewind/replay button? If so, apparently I hit mine without knowing it.

Random: I've decided that I must resign myself to vacuuming every day. With 20 little pitter-paws running in and out all day long, too much is being tracked in to go with the twice a week schedule. So dusting three times a week and vacuuming daily is my task. Gah.

Odd: Have you noticed how inconsiderate and thoughtless people can be? I left something at the gallery when I brought everything home. I thought I'd brought it home, but finally decided, after looking through every possible file here at home, that I'd left it there. So I called yesterday to see if anyone had seen it there. A woman who started shortly before I left answered the phone, and she said yes, it was there, she had put it in my file. I started to ask her to put it where everyone knew where it was so I could pick it up, but mid-sentence, I said, "Never mind, I'm coming in town in about an hour, and I'll just pick it up."

An hour later I walked in and she started looking for it! LOOKING FOR IT!! She couldn't find it, and then realized it was in a box she had just moved to another office a few doors away. She left for about a minute, and returned saying that the boxes were all stacked up and she didn't have time to find it right then. Sigh.

First of all, if she knew I'd left it there, why didn't she tell me so before now? I see her several times a month, socially or when I drop by the gallery to visit. Secondly, when I told her I was going to be there in an hour, why did she put it in a box and carry it to the other office? I'm definitely sensing some passive-aggressive behavior here, are you?

OK, I'm R&O'd out. Actually, I thought there were a couple more, but I'm blanking. So I'm out!

Thought for Thursday

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Just Americans

A while back I was wanting to post a song here and couldn't figure out how to do it. Nick does so, and I asked some advice from him. After an email from Nick gave me some info, I did a little leg-work online, and guess what? It works!

Here is the song. It is called "Just Americans," written by Randy Sparks of The New Christie Minstrels. It is such a powerful song. It was written right after 9/11, and if this doesn't touch your heart, see a doctor ASAP.

Just Americans Lyrics

(written by: Randy Sparks/Dave Steffy)

On the tenth of September
We were black and we were white
We were brown
We were yellow
We were left and we were right
We were folks from the country
We were city dwellers too
And we often took for granted
We were red, white and blue

We were rich and we were poor
We were up and we were down
We were those who didn't matter
On the other side of town
In a moment of forever
It was not so long ago
We were recreated equal
And in my heart I know:

[chorus]

On September the eleventh
We became Just Americans
Other names were rendered obsolete
All I know about my neighbors
Is that they are Just Americans
Shoulder to shoulder, now, the circle is complete
We have learned how it feels to be Just Americans
Without the words that spells out 'us' and 'them'
And there's more to this feeling for our fellow Americans
Than hate for those we condemn

We wear yarmulkes and turbans
And, occasionally, a crown
We wear straw hats and ball caps
And when the team's in town
We show signs of disrespect
For those who've lost or won
But we know it's just a game
That the war was all in fun

We speak Russian and Tagalog
We speak French and Japanese
And our gift to one another
Is to worship as we please
We quite often get together
To protest or to rejoice
And when we speak in anger
It is with a single voice

[chorus]

On September the eleventh
We became Just Americans
Other names were rendered obsolete
All I know about my neighbors
Is that they are Just Americans
Shoulder to shoulder, now, the circle is complete
And we will fight, side by side, in the trenches of the universe
The cause of precious freedom to defend
And let it be remembered that
We are Just Americans
May this day never end
And I pray this day will never end

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A Trying Tuesday

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OK, I am a pretty intelligent person. I always place well above average on IQ tests. My reading comprehension is very good. I normally can hold my own in a friendly debate as I have a good grasp of the language, a broad vocabulary, and I do a good job of staying current with world events and technology. But, to paraphrase Pogo, I have met the enemy and the enemy is US.

OK, it's not really the enemy, but it feels like it at the moment. And the US is U.S., as in United States .... well, OK, not the whole US, but the Medicare branch of it.

GAH!!!!

As you know, a while back I got my packet to give me information to make decisions about what parts of the program I want to enroll in. There was a problem in that I noticed that I had not successfully changed my name, but that was quickly fixed, and I got a whole new package with corrected documents and forms.

A few days ago I began to read the material. There isn't a ton of it, but there is a myriad of details. I read a while, and I noticed I was reading without absorbing anything. In other words, my brain had shut down and was not processing anything. I decided to try it on a different day when my brain was less distracted. I've tried it two other times, and always with the same result. I just wasn't getting the context of the information, and I desperately needed to do so in order to make my decisions.

So last night I decided that I would plow through it today, regardless of anything. I vowed to put that task ahead of everything, even .... gasp! .... blogging! It has been a tough day. I've worked/read for a while, and when I finally grasped a point or a concept, I sighed with relief and gave myself a little break to do something else for a few minutes. Through the day I read, then put in a load of clothes, read, unloaded the dishwasher, read, blogged for a while, read, ate lunch, read, made a couple phone calls, read .... well you get it. Finally, about 3:00 light bulbs lit up over my head, brightly, and blinking in grand triumph! At that moment, all the points of the day fell into place like a row of dominoes as each one connects with the one next to it .... click, click, click!! Angels sang! Car horns tooted! And either God clapped his hands in joyous relief or there was a sonic boom. OK, I'm pretty sure it was a sonic boom, but the timing was coincidentally superb!

Now it doesn't seem so difficult, but good grief, it took a hundred Clydesdales pulling together to get me through it (and no, that does not mean I was drinking Bud!). I know it isn't just me, because I've heard many other grouse about it. However, when I am feeling inept, it doesn't matter how much company I have in my misery! I'm very glad it is over, and I am filling out paperwork for the parts that require it. Come April 1, I will be fully covered. Whew!!

Problem: At 2:15 I realized that I had an appointment for a haircut at 2:00. Thank goodness, she is a great gal, and she simply rescheduled me for tomorrow.

Once I was on level ground with the Medicare stuff, I decided that the dogs really needed to be trimmed a bit. The weather was pleasant, around 50-52°, so I went to the deck with them, and each baby got a tummy shave (so they don't tangle when they lay down), a paw trim, and got a touch up on their faces (trim between the eyes, shortened the beards). They look much better.

I forgot to close the dog door, so they tracked in a bunch of hair what I was trimming, but I wasn't worried. I got the vacuum out and began to clean it up. Oops! Something was wrong. It wasn't picking up, and it smelled like burning rubber. I turned it over, and the belt had slipped off track and was burning up. It was too messed up to put back on. Sigh. It was too late to go buy a new one (I'd been meaning to do that for several weeks.), so I'll do that in the morning. In the mean time, I have dog hair all over the living room! I could go drag out the shop vac, but it is harder than hell to actually vacuum a carpet with that. This late in the day, I'm just gonna be a lazy housekeeper and take care of things tomorrow.

I noticed while the vacuum was upside down, how dirty it was inside. Well, duh! Think of what goes through there! Anyway, I cleaned it up while I had the chance. Nasty job. shudder. I'll be glad to get it back together again tomorrow and be back to normal. Normal? My house? OK, just think in relative terms. That kind of normal.

It's been a day full of success and frustration. I guess I should be happy that it wasn't all frustration, right? Hmmm. OK, I'm happy!

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Sometimes ....

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Lolita does this! It is funny, because she barks at the others to get them to play, to get them to move, to get their attention. Sometimes she barks at me, seemingly to get my attention, but for a reason that escapes me most of the time. Sometimes I think she barks to hear her own voice. Sometimes she will be sitting quietly, and she suddenly open a barrage of this kind of random barking, seemingly for no reason, as if it has been welling up inside her and has just erupted through her mouth. Perhaps it is too quiet for Her Puppiness who just can't stand the silence. I really don't know.

Sometimes, she is such a puppy!! Where is that coming from?

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Tuesday Trivia

Last Friday was the 13th. I forgot that I had some trivia about it. So, since I already blew it, I'm going to add a conglomeration of trivia about holidays and superstitions, some connected to holidays.


FRIDAY THE THRITEENTH

Any month that starts on a Sunday will have a Friday the 13th in it.

There is a Norse myth about 12 gods who were having a dinner party when in walked an uninvited 13th guest - the mischievous Loki. According to the myth, Loki arranged for Hoder, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Balder the Beautiful, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe- tipped arrow. Balder died and the Earth went dark. The whole Earth mourned.

A particularly bad Friday the 13th occurred in the middle ages. On a Friday the 13th in 1306, King Philip of France arrested the revered Knights Templar and began torturing them, marking the occasion as a day of evil.

In ancient Rome, witches reportedly gathered in groups of 12. The 13th was believed to be the devil. Both Friday and the number 13 were once closely associated with capital punishment. In British tradition, Friday was the conventional day for public hangings, and there were supposedly 13 steps leading up to the noose.

Numerologists consider 12 a "complete" number. There are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 apostles of Jesus. In exceeding 12 by 1, 13's association with bad luck has to do with just being a little beyond completeness.

The fear of the number 13 is so great that more than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor, many airports skip the 13th gate, several cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue, and hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13.


HALLOWEEN
The next full moon on Halloween night will be October 31, 2020.

The Salem Witch trials of 1692 are known for burning so-called witches at the stake. Actually, not one witch died by burning; most were put to death by hanging. One unfortunate witch was “pressed” to death and several died in prison of natural causes.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Utah, in 2004, had the highest proportion of its total population trick-or-treating in the 5-to-13 year old age group with Alaska following closely behind.

Samhainophobia is an intense fear of Halloween.

Some people believe that if you see a spider on Halloween, it is the spirit of a loved one watching over you.

Vampire bats really do exist, but they are not from Transylvania. They live in Central and South America and feed on the blood of cattle, horses and birds.

VARIOUS HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS

Brazil’s most popular and festive holiday is Carnival. In fact, many people consider Carnival one of the world’s biggest celebrations. Each spring, on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, the streets of Brazil’s largest city, Rio de Janeiro, come alive with wild parties, festivals and glamorous balls.

At Chinese New Year celebrations, people wear red clothes, give children “lucky money” in red envelopes and set off firecrackers. Red symbolizes fire, which the Chinese believe drives away bad luck. Family members gather at each other's homes for extravagant meals. Chinese New Year ends with a lantern festival.

Each April 23, Turkey celebrates Cocuk Bayrami, or Children’s Day. Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk declared the holiday in 1920, as Turkey was becoming an independent nation after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, to illustrate that children were the future of the new nation.

Children in England celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of spring on May 1 each year. The festivities center around a huge striped maypole that’s decorated with flowers
and streamers. Children hold the streamers as they dance around the pole, weaving intricate patterns as they pass each other. May Day dates back to ancient times, when Romans honored Flora, the goddess of spring.

Every August, brothers and sisters in northern India show their love for each other by celebrating Raksha Bandhan. This tradition dates back more than 500 years. The girls tie a bracelet of silk threads, called a rakhi, around their brothers’ wrists. The boys then promise to protect their sisters. The siblings also give each other a piece of Indian candy, called laddu. At the end of the ceremony, the children exchange gifts.

On December 13, one of the longest and darkest nights of the winter, Swedes celebrate the festival of St. Lucia, the patron saint of light. In many homes, a girl gets up early in the morning and puts on a long white dress, with a red sash at the waist, and a laurel crown decorated with four candles. She serves her family warm lussekatt buns for breakfast. The buns, shaped like the number eight, are usually flavored with saffron and topped with raisins or nuts. Boys, called star boys, wear long white shirts and pointed hats. They help serve the buns. Children often go to school dressed in the costumes and serve the buns to their teachers.

LEAP YEAR

A tradition was introduced many centuries ago to allow women to propose to men during a leap year. This privilege of pro- posing was restricted to leap day in some areas. Leap day was sometimes known as 'Bachelors' Day'. A man was expected to pay a penalty, such as a gown or money, if he refused a marriage offer from a woman. The tradition's origin stemmed from an old Irish tale referring to St. Bridget striking a deal with St Patrick to allow women to propose to men every four years. This old custom was probably made to balance the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way to how the leap day balances the calendar.

It was also considered to be unlucky for someone to be born on a leap day in Scotland and for couples to marry on a leap year, including on a leap day, in Greece

Now, get back to work!!

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My Exercise Program Has Begun

I started exercising this morning. I have to do something about toning in general, but particularly working on my abs and downsizing my belly. I pulled out a set of ab exercises to see what I needed. The only tool was an exercise ball. So I got it out (it's been packed for about 4 years) and began to inflate it. It comes with a little foot pump, and I'd forgotten how many pumps it takes to inflate that sucker.

The ball is inflated, approximately half of it with my right leg and half with the left.

It is ready for tomorrow. I figure that pumping it up was enough for today.

Is there something wrong with that?


(If your answer is yes, don't leave a comment.)( Jus' sayin'.)

Monday Movies

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You know how hard it can be to find a parking place, don't you? Then you find one ....

.... and you realize the limitations of your driving skills!


So next time you decide to have someone just drop you at the door? Always be careful when you do that.

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My weekend so far

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A lazy Saturday afternoon ........

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Followed by an active Sunday morning .....

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Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

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I do love snow

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More snow pix. They're not today, but hold-overs from the other day. Still pretty cool ones, though!

***** Click on photo to see more ****

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Lincoln Trivia

Some belated (sorry, 'bout that) trivia about our 16th President, whose 200th birthday anniversary was celebrated this week:

Lincoln was the only President ever to obtain a patent. In 1849 he invented a complicated device for lifting ships over dangerous shoals by means of "buoyant air chambers." Much to Lincoln's disappointment, U.S. Patent No. 6,469 was never put into practical use.

The clutter in Lincoln's law office was notorious, and a continual source of irritation to his partner, William Herndon. On his desk, Lincoln kept one envelope marked "When you can't find it anywhere else, look into this."

In 1858, Lincoln was so concerned that the text of his "House divided" speech be reported accurately, that even after he had given a copy of the address to reporters, he insisted on going to the newspaper office himself and proofreading the galleys.

Counties in 18 U.S. states are named after Lincoln. (Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico (where I live), Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming)

He was the first president to be photographed at his inauguration. His assassin, John Wilkes Booth, can be seen standing among the crowd in the picture. (I looked up the picture, and it would be very difficult recognize anything,, so I didn’t bother to post it here.)

He was the first President to be assassinated and to lie in state.

Lincoln was the first president to have a beard while in office. He grew his beard out of the suggestion of a letter from 11 year old Grace Bedell from Westfield, New York in the fall of 1860.

In 1836, 24-years before he became president, Lincoln was the first elected official in U.S. history to favor extending the vote to women. Illinois state legislator Lincoln gave an area newspaper a statement endorsing "female suffrage."

In 1863, Lincoln declared the final Thursday in November to be a day of Thanksgiving, and the holiday has been celebrated annually at that time ever since. Prior to Lincoln's presidency, the Thanksgiving holiday, while a regional holiday in New England since the 17th century, had only been proclaimed by the federal government sporadically, the last such proclamation having come during James Madison's presidency.

Hodge-Podge

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Hodge: We have a new game at our house. Any time that someone, known as the designated eater (guess who). sits on the couch to eat something, all the other players crowd around, getting as close as possible without getting yelled at. When someone gets yelled at, all players scatter, pout, then as subtly as possible ease back in to the closest position. Game ends when the designated eater is finished and removes all plates, napkins, glasses, etc., from the game area. At this time, all players resume their previous positions, sprawled on the floor, acting as if the designated eater doesn't exist. Bonus points go to the player who is able to steal the designated eater's napkin before it is in the trash; triple points if said stolen napkin is carried out of the house.

Podge: I spent a couple hours in total wasted activity updating my Tomtom GPS today. I didn't but any updated maps. I'll wait until shortly before my next long road trip so it will be as current as possible. I just updated all the freebies. I downloaded several new voices; one is a nice male Aussie voice, another is Cleetus, a southern gentleman(?) ("Y'all kin git out now. Yer where you was goin'."), and Darth Vadar ("You have reached the Dark Side."). I'll be turning the GPS on for a while, even for local trips, just to hear the voices.

Hodge: I'm having a quiet day today, most spent on the couch listening to music, reading, and I'm going to put in a movie in a little bit. I'm full of aches. No, it isn't from the fall, at least not directly. The fibromyalgia is stirred up, probably secondary to the stress of the fall. Anyway, I'm taking it rather easy. I plan to take the gang for a walk a little later, but we won't go too far. It will do the kids good to stretch their legs and look for some new paths to take the next time they elope from home. Time well spent.

Podge: I bought a paring knife with a ceramic blade a couple months ago, and I absolutely love it. I bought it because (1) everyone can always use a good paring knife, and (2) it was the cheapest of the line, to see if I really liked it before spending on the larger, more expensive ones. It is wonderful. Well, as long as you keep away from your fingers with it! Dayumm, does that thing slice through a finger in nothing flat! It is super sharp. I've sliced my fingers several times, but never deeply (knock-knock). After using it for about a month, I decided to invest in another, and I ordered a 5 inch micro-serated slicing blade. It slices things so easily and something such as a tomato can be sliced ultra-thin. Marvelous! The only draw back is that you can't use them with glass cutting boards (dulls them before their time) so I had to invest in a couple little plastic cutting boards. I had quit using plastic for sanitation, and used a wooden board for only bread. But I'll just clean the plastic boards with bleach or peroxide to keep them safe. It's worth it to use the ceramic bladed knives.

Hodge: Life is pretty darn good, isn't it? I have few complaints, and the ones I do have should probably be ignored. Jus' sayin'.

Podge: I have no plans for tonight. Not that I usually do something on Saturday night, anyway. I must say, for the first time in quite a while, I actually sorta wish I had someone to spend a cozy evening with. Oh well! I should have thought about that a long time ago and been prepared by finding a man. I have several movies recorded or on rental, so I guess I'll tuck in with The Kids and make my eyes go square tonight. sigh.

OK, I'm hodge-podged out. I hope you all have a pleasant evening, whatever you're doing and whoever you're doing it with (or without). Happy Valentine's Day!!

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Happy Valentine's Day

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Some special 'toons for the day.




Ain't this the truth?

This touches me.



Uhhh.....


You know, of course, that one of my favorite strips is Mutts. And this week, the had the sweetest series.

HAPPY SWEETHEART'S DAY ! ! ! !

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#*^$@)^*$#!! REALLY!!!

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SONIC FREAKIN' DAMN BOOMS!!!!!!!!!!!!


Last summer we went through several weeks of sonic booms, thanks to the air force base 30-40 crow-flying miles from here. A furor went up and we learned that some special jets were flying and they were gearing up for another special kind of jets. The public was assured that this would be addressed and adjusted.

It was. We've had no sonic booms for months.

Until today. There were three booms in the last hour. The first two were AWFUL, especially the second which left me trembling and the dogs all frantic. Jazmyn is afraid of thunderstorms, and she was shaking like a leaf. She walked around with her tail dragging on the ground for 15-20 minutes after the boom, even after I held her and comforted her. The third one was apparently on the other side of the mountain, less powerful, but still startling and disturbing.

I called a couple people who live 10-15 miles away from me, and they had it too, saying that their windows rattled seriously, and one said the whole house shook, including the floor. So I called the air force base. Apparently I wasn't the only one, because the line was busy for several minutes. When I got through, the person taking the call in the Public Relations office said he would pass the information along (actually he said "push it upstairs"). He explained that he was taking information only when I asked a couple questions, so I said I want someone to call me back. He sounded surprised and said that he would need to fill out a form. After getting the information he said that he couldn't guarantee a call back. I informed him that if I don't hear back, I will be calling on a daily basis! HELLO???? I might not get a call back from his superiors???? That's not acceptable!

It is possible that I get the percussions of the sonic booms greater than others because of the elevation where I live. That was one of the big hoohas from last summer. Ruidoso, Cloudcroft are in the higher elevations like I am, and people were having more trouble, and the solution was .... supposedly .... to route the planes over less populated and lower elevation areas. If they are not sticking with their plans/promises they will certainly be hearing from Ms. Lynilu on a regular basis. I may reach first name basis with the PR office down there!

In KC, there is an air force base about the same distance away, but we never .... n.e.v.e.r .... had sonic booms. Different kinds of jets, perhaps, I donno. But c'mon!!

Do any of you live near an air force base? Do you have sonic booms?

PS added at 6:15 PM - I drove to the mailbox to get mail, and when I came back there was a message from a Captain in Public Relations at the air base!! He said he wanted me to be aware that he has my message and will be back with me as soon as he has some information about the noise complaint. And he left me his number to call if I wish to speak with him! I'll be danged. I'll call him tomorrow and thank him for his prompt attention.

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Why Me???

Last night I was asking "Why me???????"



This morning I got my answer.........




Sleeping was a major challenge. I woke several times, aching or actually hurting. Usually I would be able to reposition myself or rub on some topical pain relief or reattach the heat pad and go back to sleep. Once it took me almost 30 minutes to get comfortable enough to drop off again. But I slept a little later this morning, so perhaps some of that was made up.

I'm better now. I woke this morning with a lot of stiffness and pain. The pain was not severe, but it was very present. And the stiffness .... OMG. It took me almost 15 minutes to get out of bed. HONESTLY!!!! I inched up, stopped, waited a minute or so, and inched up a bit more. I repeated this process several times till I was upright and leaning on the headboard where I stayed a while. Eventually I got my feet out from the covers and on the floor, hobbled to the bathroom, then brushed my teeth and my hair. As I limped back, the bed looked really inviting, but I knew that if I got back in I would have to extricate myself yet again, so I decided against that. I turned on the burner under the teapot, fed the dogs, heated the heat pad in the microwave, and shuffled to the couch, where I remained for about 2 hours.

I finally got into the shower and now I feel decent. Not good, but decent. I'll not be running footraces or even doing much housework today, for sure, but I'll live. Next time, the UPS guy will just have to be confronted with my boobs in the thin t-shirt. I ain't going through this again!

Ouch

Around noon the dogs started barking on the front deck. This isn't necessarily unusual, but when they kept barking, I glanced out the window and saw the UPS truck pulling up the driveway and the driver tooted the horn about this time, too. Well, I was doing some housework and had on a top that I didn't want to be seen in .... or rather, I didn't want what was in the top to be seen. It is a very lightweight t-shirt and I didn't have on a bra. I dashed to the bedroom to put on another shirt.

By the time I was coming out of the bedroom, little Lolita had come running into the house. She was afraid of all the clamor of the other dogs or of the stranger, I'm not sure which. But she was scared of something and wanting to get to her mommy.

At this point, it is hard to explain what happened, but Lolita ran in front of me as I hurried. I nearly stepped on her, and in trying to avoid that, I bumped the baby gate that was leaning against the wall and knocked it down. As it fell, it landed on top of her, scaring the bejeebers out of her. She wasn't hurt, but terrified and began screaming. As she scrambled out from under it, she scooted it under my feet. I tripped on it and fell, smacking my left knee hard on the tile. Fortunately, she wasn't under me or the gate.

By this time Lola was scrambling all over me, looking for comfort. I untangled myself from the gate, picked her up and ran toward the front door. Just in time to see the UPS truck backing out of the driveway.

There was no package on the deck. There was no notice on the door or at the gate that comes onto the deck. Usually, the driver comes onto the deck. He knows The Kids are noisy but harmless. I called USP to find out about the delivery, and they have no record about a delivery at my address! WTF???

I suppose the driver might have pulled into the wrong place, but it isn't that easy out here. I mean, it's not like my house is nearly identical to the house on the next street in the same location. Every house is very different and there is no "same location" on the "next street." Besides, the drivers for all the delivery services know all of us [and how long we've lived here and where we came from and about our kids and grandkids, etc.], so thinking of a "wrong address" stop is a far stretch. I have no idea what happened.

OK, excitement over. I finished my tasks and watched a couple afternoon shows on the TV. Then I had dinner, played with the dogs for a while and watched Criminal Minds. When I was sitting still watching it, I began to notice little aches and pains. Apparently in my fall I strained my right shoulder, jarred my neck and back. No, my knee seems fine at this point, but I'm hurting several other places. I don't think any of it is serious, but I expect I'll be creaking around for a couple days. Damn.

I'm going to take some Tylenol, break open a couple heat packs and go to bed.

Didja ever have one of those days?

A Wowzer for Wednesday!

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OK, I'm headed to the beach this summer. Jus sayin'.

Inspired by Sasha Baron Cohen this NEW line of swimwear will rock next summer!

The future of men's bathing suits... !!

**** Note: If you are offended by near nude male figures, DO NOT click on the photo below. Oh, and unless you really want to explain these designs to the kids .... well, do I have to say it???? Now, if you want to see the big deal [giggle] click on the pic below!! (Sorry, I couldn't help myself on that one!!)

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Mother Nature's Gifts

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Now here's a good thing .... all that snow that the dogs repeatedly collected in their fur today? Now that it is dry, their coats are as soft and clean as can be! I was planning to give them a bath later this week, and now I think I can wait a few more days! Yay!! Just one of the little unexpected gifts in life!

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MORE!

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**** Added at 2:10 PM - it is snowing again, and snowing H.A.R.D!!!!! I can't see the road at this time! I may be in for a day or so!!

Some photos of just snow, no dogs.

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Yay! Snow Again!!

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WE ARE HAVING SNOW AGAIN! And this time it is really a snow! I have 2-3 inches,and it is still coming.

It began this morning, early. I woke around 7:00 and raised the blind in the bedroom, then settled back in to watch some news and weather. That is my regular routine. The dogs made their first outside run and came back in to snuggle with me. After a few minutes of snuggling, Max suddenly became alert to something outside. His head popped up, and he became very vigilant as he moved to the side of the bed nearest the window. I looked, expecting to see deer or something similar.

I saw nothing for a few seconds. Then I realized he was watching a few snowflakes drifting down. As I continued to watch him and the window, I was tickled to see him move his head back and forth slightly as he followed the flakes zig-zag path to the ground!

Within the next hour it was snowing with vigor! I could barely see the trees on the other side of my road, a distance of perhaps 100 feet. It was a gorgeous, heavy snowfall, and I've been enjoying it all morning. Currently, it has stopped snowing and I can see all the way across to the mountains again.

The pups have been in and out, playing all morning. At times, they've come in with so many snowballs in their feet and on their chests that they could barely walk. When they are that snow packed, I plop them in the bathtub and use the sprayer with tepid water to melt the snow. After I cuddle them and dry them a little, they are off and running again.

Little Lolita at one time curled up with me on the couch, and I tossed a throw over her. She wasn't shivering, but she loved the throw. A couple other times, she came in, jumped on the couch, and nosed under the throw! Smart cookie!



Jazi and Joey have both gone out for a while, but they've been contented to be in with me most of the morning.











A while ago, I noticed that Jazi was sitting on the front deck on a trunk, just watching the snow fall. Having the screen in this photo sucks, but I didn't dare open the door to take the picture. It's a cute how the smart girl stays dry but enjoys the outside. She loves sitting on the deck on on the steps out back to just look and listen and smell.








Here are some snaps of the snow romp from this morning.

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Now, in the last few minutes of my writing here, Jazi has suddenly decided to make up for lost time and had been running outside with the others. Looks like I'm in for more thaw-out baths!!

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TUESDAY TRIVIA

“The decision to kiss for the first time is the most crucial in any love story.
It changes the relationship of two people much more strongly
than even the final surrender;
because this kiss already has within it that surrender.”

Emil Ludwig, (1881-1948),
German Biographer and Writer
who is internationally known for many popular biographies.

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DATING AROUND THE WORLD

Dating is rare in Afghanistan because most marriages are arranged by parents, and schools are separate for boys and girls. The opportunities to meet are rare. Girls have a 7:00 P.M. curfew, while boys have an 11:00 P.M. curfew.

Most teens go out in large groups and don't pair off until they are 18 or 19 years old in Australia. Girls often ask out boys and pay for the date, too. Couples often go to dinner parties, barbecues, or the beach.

Dating is not allowed until the age of 15 in Central and South America. When of age, most boys and girls date in large groups, going out together to weekend dance parties. When not dancing, teens gather at local clubs to eat and talk.

Dating is usually a group event in Europe. In Finland, as many as 30 teens may attend a movie together. Slumber parties are common in Italy and Switzerland, where teens gather for parties at a home and sleep there when the party is over.

In Spain teens join a pandilla, a club or a group of friends with the same interests, like cycling or hiking. Dating is done one-to-one and both girls and boys ask each other out and split the cost of the evening's entertainment.

In Japan and Korea, most high school students don't date or go to parties, but spend their time studying instead. Dating begins in college, when only boys do the asking and pay for the dates.

MARRIAGE THROUGH THE AGES

In ancient Egypt, a woman's rights and privileges were equal to that of her husband. After marriage, women held control of their independence, property and wealth, and either person could easily get a divorce. For two people to be considered married, all they had to do was move in with each other.

Marriages in ancient Greece were arranged by parents and approved by the gods. Women in their early teens were married to men in their mid-thirties, and a husband had to buy his new wife from her father. Many couples did not see each other until after the ceremony, when the bridal veil was removed. On the night before the wedding, the girl's hair was cut off and she was bathed in holy water from a sacred fountain.

The Spartans believed that a person's athletic ability matched their fitness for marriage. Before marrying, a couple was required to wrestle in public to show their compatibility. The groom's father chose a bride for his son. Twelve months after the selection, the couple was married. During the marriage ceremony, the bride wore a white robe, a veil, and jewelry given to her by her new husband's family.

Roman brides wore white tunics with orange veils and orange slippers. Following the ceremony, the groom carried his bride over the threshold of their new home to symbolize his ownership of her.

Christian church marriages were thought to be made in heaven and therefore could never be broken. The father of the bride gave a dowry of land or money to the groom. If the marriage was unsuccessful, the wife and the dowry were returned to the father's home, but neither partner was allowed to remarry.

Until the 1400s, married couples did not live together in Japan. They stayed in separate homes, meeting only at night. The old Japanese word for marriage meant, “slip into the house by night.”

Monday Movie

This is hilarious!





Oh, dear! My eyes are watering!

I Don't Believe It!

I knew we were in for potential storms and even some possible snow showers, but I didn't expect this!



Did you hear Little Missy in the background? She's in the house, terrorizing the "big kids"!! She is one sassy little red head!

I know a lot of you are sick to death of snow, but I've had a fairly dry winter, so this is great! Bring on the moisture! Look at the size of the flakes in this next clip. Amazingly big, and FAT! They are like little tiny snowballs rather than snow flakes!




The temperature has dropped over 3° in the last 10 minutes. It's now 39° and it is beginning to stick. I'm 'sposed to go to dinner this evening. Wonder if I'll make it?

I just looked when this video finished uploading and it has fallen another 3°! Yike!

An Interesting Blog

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Do you dislike Ann Coulter as much as I do? If the answer is no, sign off now. You've been warned. If the answer is yes, you will enjoy (I guess that is the right word, although "enjoy" and "Ann Coulter" don't really fit together well) the last several posts at Margaret and Helen's blog. Helen is plain spoken, and minces little about something about which she has an opinion. And she has opinions! I think she feels at her age (82), she has a lot to say (you know, "so many things to say and so little time to say 'em") and is gonna get 'er said, by gum. You go, Helen!

Did anyone see the outrageous Ms. Coulter on The View recently? ARGH! The woman is weird! She is mean. She has no compassion for others. She is just vile. I realize we all think we are right about whatever we believe in, but most of us realize that there is a minute possibility that people with other opinions might be worth listening to and considering. NOT HER!!! Holy cow, she is scary in her rigidity!

Anyway, about the blog .... I read this blog regularly and get a real kick out of it. As I said, Helen speaks her mind, and when she chimes in, Margaret sounds like the calmer blog partner. She doesn't write often, and certainly is more reticent, but seems to generally share the opinions of Helen. I thoroughly enjoy Helen. She says things with gusto and with great conviction. She says things I wish I'd said! You should check out her opinions of the lovely Ms. Pa*lin back in the fall!

Helen says she honestly thinks "I have determined I can take her [Coulter's] skinny ass." Ya know.... I'll bet she could!

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