Witty Wednesday #9

Make Time for Small Reflections

"Laughter is an instant vacation." Milton Berle

According to recent studies, we need 12 laughs a day just to stay healthy. Therefore, before I share a few stories here, I offer all who pass this way the gift of a link from Simple Truths ... to brighten YOUR day. Perhaps like me you'll watch it more than once ... and perhaps choose to pass it along to others like I did.

Click if you missed my Monday Musings & wonder what I've been up to.
Sandee at Comedy Plus shares humor often ... and one of my recent favorites is Your Yearly Dementia Test.

My 9th Witty Wednesday

A Pot-Pourri of Stories:

Courtesy of Comedy Central's Jokes.com Newsletter ...

Duck Tales
A duck walks into a bar and asks the bar tender, "Got any 'gwapes'?", and the bartender replies, "No, sorry I don't sell grapes here." So the duck leaves and goes home to rest and the next day he walks into the same bar and asks the bar tender, "Got any gwapes?" The bartender replies, "No, sorry I don't sell grape here." The duck leaves and goes home to rest and the next day, he goes back to the bar and asks the bartender, "Got any gwapes?" The bartender angrily replies, "I don't want to have to tell you again, I don't sell grapes here and if you ask me again I will nail your beek to the counter of the bar!" The duck leaves and goes home to rest. The next day the duck goes to the bar and asks, "Got any nails?" The bartender looks at him and screams, "No, we don't have any nails!" The duck then asks, "Got any gwapes?"

First Time Golfer
A retiree was given a set of golf clubs by his co-workers. Thinking he'd try the game, he asked the local pro for lessons, explaining that he knew nothing whatever of the game.

The pro showed him the stance and swing, then said, "Just hit the ball toward the flag on the first green."

The novice teed up and smacked the ball straight down the fairway and onto the green, where it stopped inches from the hole.

"Now what?" the fellow asked the speechless pro.

"Uh... you're supposed to hit the ball into the cup," the pro finally said, after he was able to speak again.

"Oh great! NOW you tell me." said the beginner.

Lucky Driver
A police officer pulls over a driver and informs him that he has just won $5,000 in a safety competition, all because he is wearing his seat belt.

"What are you going to do with the prize money?" the officer asks.

The man responds, "I guess I'll go to driving school and get my license."

His wife says, "Officer, don't listen to him. He's a smart aleck when he's drunk."

The guy in the back seat pops up out from under the blanket and says, "I knew we wouldn't get far in this stolen car."

Just then a knock comes from the trunk and a voice calls out, "Are we over the border yet?"

Click for ChrisB at Ms Cellania
where I've enjoyed Witty Wednesday for a while now.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

A few ... Thoughts for Today
"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."
e.e. cummings

If you need a bit of laughter ...

Take Time for Small Reflections
This has NOTHING to do with the holidays,
but it DID make me laugh!

Found (with a couple of others) at Maithri's

These lovely comments from kids
... were found at Joy's & she graciously
gave me permission to share ... Enjoy!

I only know the names of two angels, Hark and Harold.

-Gregory, 5

Everybody's got it all wrong. Angels don't wear halos anymore. I forget why, but scientists are working on it
-Olive, 9

It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to Heaven, and then there's still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes.
-Matthew, 9

Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else.
-Mitchell, 7

My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science.
-Henry, 8

Angels don't eat, but they drink milk from Holy Cows!!!
-Jack, 6

Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got dead.
-Daniel, 9

When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath,
somewhere there's a tornado.
-Reagan, 10

Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go south for the winter.
-Sara, 6

Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son, who's a very good carpenter.
-Jared, 8

All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses, and boys didn't go for it.
-Antonio, 9

My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got a big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth.
-Ashley , 9

Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don't make the animals get better, they help the child get over it.
-Vicki, 8

What I don't get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them.
-Sarah, 7

After you leave me a comment, click for
What you miss when you don't attend church!
another brief video guaranteed to make you laugh
shared earlier today at Happily Retired Gal.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"You can't deny laughter; when it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants."
Stephen King, Hearts in Atlantis

Snowglobe Fun and NORAD Tracks Santa

Make Time for Small Reflections
Scroll down for NORAD tracks Santa Around the World!
Check out the Twelve Days of Christmas above
and click to listen to a unique version.

Rerun "Snow Fun" and Inspiration All in One
From December 28th, 2007 - Revised & Republished Today
(Click above for the original)

In my wanderings around the Blogosphere at the beginning of December of 2007, I happened upon this at Melissa's ... and was very glad she found it several years ago, bookmarked it, and shared it again this year. I shared it at Sacred Ruminations back then, but think this might be worth posting again here for whoever might not have seen it.

Click on the Snowglobe 2004 graphic
and follow the directions.

Warning: It's still addictive, but it will make you laugh!

Earlier today (back on 12-28-08), I shared a couple of personal memories on my other blog along with the inspirational video that triggered them. If you haven't visited there and have a bit of time, you might find these links worth checking out. (If you didn't know me back then, and you enjoy my personal memories & reflective anecdotes ... these are definitely for you.)

About NORAD

Click for Kids' Countdown
(including lots of games when you click various places)
and information about About Santa.

According to the official NORAD site:

"Santa Cams are ultra-cool, high-tech, high-speed digital cameras pre-positioned at many locations around the world only on Christmas Eve. The cameras capture images and videos of Santa and his reindeer as they make their journey around the world. Come back to this page on December 24 to see Santa fly!" Videos

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Morning Musings & a Me Me ME ... meme
are at Happily Retired Gal today
& a Slice of Life Piece
Memories of Dad
is yesterday's post there.

Thought for Today
"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."
e e cummings

Saturday Stuph - Remembering Dad ... Sharing Smiles ... and Happy Flag Day everybody

Scroll down for my 7th Smiley Saturday ;--)

This is my 5th...

This week's Saturday 9: Happy Father's Day Eve
Many of this week's questions relate to when we last saw, talked to or when we might next see our Dads. Since my father died of cancer in February of 1976 (when I was 30 and he 73), I thought I'd skip those ... so that leaves questions 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
I guess that makes mine Saturday 6 today!

1. How many siblings share your dad?
I'm the youngest of 3 kids ... my older brother died about a decade ago ... one month shy of his 65th birthday, so that leaves my sister and me. She's has been traveling the USA in an RV for the past few years since retiring from teaching. We connect often thanks to cell phones and we appreciate the free cell-to-cell minutes allowing for long conversations. Dad managed to find time to spend with each of us ... even when he worked LONG hours.

2. Do you gift him gifts on Father's Day?
As kids, the gifts we gave Dad were things we made ourselves because money was scarce. Once I had a job, I always bought gifts for him on Father's Day ... usually something I knew he'd love to have but never buy himself.

3. Have you ever had a tough time in your relationship with your father?
I don't remember any tough times or difficulties getting along with dad other than his 'typical fatherly concerns' about his teen-aged daughter 'dating' ... and even then he simply expressed them without being overly intrusive.

4. What was the last thing that you did with your dad?
Ah ... the last thing I did was to sit at his bedside and tell him he could die after all ... that we'd all manage somehow without him. Two & a half months earlier ...(at Thanksgiving)... he asked me to sit with him in the kitchen then proceeded to tell me how he'd lived a good life and I shouldn't 'be sad' when he died. My response was vehement! I told him to stop talking about death and reminded him that his dad lived to be 105 and I expected no less from him! (Denial WAS our family's way of dealing with 'stuph' like this ... and I learned it well from my mom). After all, I was only 30 ... much too young to lose a father to death, and he was young in heart, mind, body, & spirit! At that time he'd not yet seen a doctor but somehow knew what his symptoms meant. Interestingly, he 'hung on' long enough to give us all time to 'process' our impending loss and come to terms with it. Watching his health deteriorate over the next couple of months convinced me I'd been wrong ... and having the opportunity to apologize and thank him meant a great deal. He passed within hours of this conversation while my sister & I drove back to California, so I'm convinced he was waiting for me to come around.

5. Growing up, was your dad tough on you?
I was the proverbial 'apple of my dad's eye' and we shared a uniquely close relationship. He'd been ill and was out of work when I arrived on the scene ... and my mom let him provide 'primary care' for me while she busied herself with my older siblings and household matters. I have memories of those early years ... one of the most vivid is of him teaching me to turn a somersault on the front lawn. Later in his life I spent many an hour listening to baseball games on the radio with him while sorting through coins ... searching for the ones he needed to complete his collection.

6. Are you close to your father?
I carry dear memories with me and think of him daily ... so yes, even though it's been 33 years since that last day at his bedside in the hospital.

Click for other Saturday 9ers!
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I'm a happy camper generally ... (being an eternal optimist seems innate for me) ... but in case you missed it, you can read all about my 'good news' in yesterday's Haiku Friday #47 entitled Anticipation.

In addition, I appreciate all those who visited and left comments last week. Pressed for time lately, I've found myself leaving 'group responses' in comments rather than individual ones ... though if your email 'comes through' I've tried to respond individually when possible. I've also tried to visit your blogs and comment there, but sometimes my computer locks up on me. I'm still confused about how Blogger handles this because I know sometimes the comments I leave on the blogs of others contains my email link (smallreflections @ gmail.com) and sometimes it's listed as something like (noreply-comment @ blogger.com). This happens with comments others leave me as well. I wish I understood how this works.

I'm saddened this morning to learn of the sudden and unexpected death of Tim Russert and the continued flooding in the Midwest ... my heart goes out to all those affected by these (and other disastrous & war-related) events and my prayers are with these families as well.

During the week I came across two upbeat links I'd like to share with all today ... Clean Jokes (that made me laugh aloud) and Amazing Creativity (leaving me wondering at the imaginative potential of the human mind). I hope you have time to check them both out because they're wonderful ;--)

If you missed any of the links in my Smiley Saturday post of last week (and have a bit of time to sit a spell) ... I hope you'll check them out today.

Click for others participating in Smiley Saturday this week.

Happy Flag Day everyone!
Click to read Kwizgiver's excellent post with
historical information on the subject.

Thought for Today
"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." Clarence Budington Kelland

Smiley Saturday #6 and my 4th Saturday 9

Scroll down for Smiley Saturday ;--)

Note: Instead of sitting at my computer at home today I'm taking a Saturday class on 'Scrapbooking' with Photoshop ... so I'll be visiting blogs this afternoon after returning from class and walking Molly. In case you missed my Haiku Friday, I've learned how to make collages with Photoshop ... (you'll see 3 separate examples there) ... and I'm hoping to learn even more about how this in today's class.

This week's Saturday 9: Sharing Your Blog Habit
1. How long have you been blogging?
My first post appears on October 21, 2007 on this blog and October 22, 2007 on my other blog ... so that's about 7 and a half months. In that time I've accumulated 239 posts here at Small Reflections (240 counting this one), and 172 at Sacred Ruminations.

2. How did you start?
As a result of attending a one-week Writer's Retreat in Taos, New Mexico last summer ... I met several friends who told me about blogging and encouraged me visit some blogs and set up one of my own to share my writings. After returning home, Kara called me from her home in New Mexico and 'talked' me through the process of 'visiting' blogs ... then introduced me to Blogger and the templates. Within a few days I'd created a blog but not posted anything ... but with encouragement from Kara and my writing buddy, Jan, I jumped in with both hands (& all ten fingers), was discovered by Joy on my first day ... and have been posting daily ever since.

3. How often do you post on your blog?
At first I posted daily on BOTH blogs ... but early in 2008 I decided that was more than I could handle, so although I post daily (as a member of Blog 365) here at Small Reflections, I post 3-4 times per week at Sacred Ruminations. Even that is often challenging when life gets busy (like it's been for the past month or so), but I do the best I can.

4. Have you made good blogging friends?
Yes, I've met many interesting folks in this 'virtual world' and visit their blogs as often as possible. I enjoy reading & responding to comments they leave me here, and I always comment whenever I visit someone else. I've fallen behind in my blog-reading of late and have many unread messages in Google Reader, but hope to catch up in the weeks to come.

5. Have you talked to someone on the phone you met through blogging?
No

6. Have you met anyone from your blogging?
Nope

7. Have you had a crush on anyone you have not met?
Crush??? You've got to be kidding, right?

8. Have you had a romance with someone you have met?
Okay ... methinks I should have read ALL the questions before I started this meme. Rest assured, I'm not looking for 'romance' online. However, before the Internet was 'the World Wide Web' (in the 1980s & 90s) I did meet a number of folks online who have become friends I see regularly even now ... so I suppose it's possible I'll eventually meet a few of you folks from the Blogosphere at some point.

9. Do you suspect you get comments from someone interested in you?
Hopefully the bloggers who comment are interested in what I write and enjoy the social interaction of blogging as I do.

Click for others participating in Saturday 9 this week
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I'm a happy camper because
the French Open Championship Matches
will be played today and tomorrow.

Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer will vie against one another for the 4th year in a row on Sunday. It should be an excellent match, especially if the weather remains cool like it's been in Paris all week. Today Dinara Safina plays Ana Ivanovic for the women's championship. I'll be watching Sunday's match 'real time' ... (or perhaps 30 minutes delayed to avoid commercial breaks)... but will record today's match while I'm a class and watch when I return. I've shared poetic updates and photo collages for the past two weeks in case you missed our on the action.

Note: In case you missed them, you can see my Peace Globes & Blog Blasts for Peace at Small Reflections and at Sacred Ruminations. You'll find links to others who have participated as well. Visiting these bloggers this week has definitely put a smile on my face, and I suspect you'd find them uplifting like me.

Addendum at 6:45am Saturday morning:
I'm delighted to discover that Blogger cooperated this morning and published this post 'as scheduled' today.

I just added the 'fixed URL link' to Smiley Saturday's Mr. Linky at 'www.Lightening'.com and discovered today's 'theme' is taking care of ourselves ... a subject near and dear to my heart. Since I don't have time at the moment to come up with what I'd like to share on this topic, I add the following links to previous posts in which I've addressed this topic ... and hope you'll find them of interest. Counting my blessings always 'calms and centers' me ... and I do this daily in my personal journal ... frequently on my blogs. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Blog Your Blessings Sunday #1 (clicking on the label ReallyGoodThings will take you to similar posts at Sacred Ruminations) and So Many Blessings (Counting One by One) ... (clicking on the label REALLYGOODTHINGS will take you to additional posts like this at Small Reflections).

2. Living in Gratitude (especially when problems arise) is another (clicking on the label gratitude will take you to similar posts at Sacred Ruminations).

3. Finally LAUGHTER is healing ... and here are some posts that bring a smile to MY face: Thirteen Laughable Photos (clicking on the label LAUGHTER will bring you to others).

3. Heads or Tails #7 - Quotes & Images of Peace and On Mindfulness, Transforming Anger, Practicing Peace, and Making a Difference, and T-13 #11 on Healing Affirmations come to mind.

I wish you all a peace-filled day ... every day!

Click for others participating in Smiley Saturday this week.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thought for Today
"Strangers are just friends waiting to happen." Rod McKuen

Happy Easter (and yet another Tennis Update)

Women's final match
Kuznetsova played well, but
not aggressively

so Ivanovic
won the match in just two sets!
Now I shall watch Fish


play against the Serb,
Djokovic ... and hope it is
an exciting match!

When somebody wins,
I'll return to add a bit
more to this Haiku.


(5:15 PM addendum after the match)

Mardy Fish looked flat
in the first set after ten
hours on the courts

winning matches with
other players who were ranked
well above him ... yet

in the second set
just when Fish looked down and out
Mardy raised his game

surprising us all
once again! In a third set
Fish gave it his all

but the Serb did too.
Djokovic is champion
of this tournament!

Thought for Today
"What makes something special is not what you have to gain, but what you feel there is to lose." Andre Agassi

In case you missed these ...
there's more 'tennis' info in this week's T-13,
Friday's Haikus (here & here) and in
Saturday's post that also contains
some Easter fun!
Check them out
;--)

Photo sources: Sportfiles Photo Gallery, Yahoo Sports, and
the official Pacific Life Open website.

Meandering on Monday

If you took the weekend off from blogging, I didn't ... so you'll find two weekend posts here and here at Small Reflections, and two more at Sacred Ruminations here and here. Feel free to click on one or more and don't forget to leave a comment to let me know you stopped by while I was away today.

I'm off to meet up with my "happily retired" teacher friends who gather for lunch locally on the 2nd Monday of each month to catch up with one another. Sometimes there are 2 or 3 of us ... other times 10 or 12. It all depends on who's in town and what's happening in our lives. We started doing this in 2001 and always enjoy the interaction.

Thanks to Mary for this graphic!

Thought for Today

“Be who you are and say what you feel
because those who mind don’t matter
and those who matter don’t mind”
Dr.Seuss

Rerun "Snow Fun" and Inspiration All in One

In my wanderings around the Blogosphere at the beginning of December, I happened upon this at Melissa's ... and was very glad she found it several years ago, bookmarked it, and shared it again this year.
I shared it at Sacred Ruminations back then, but think this might be worth posting again here for whoever might not have seen it. Click on the Snowglobe graphic and follow the directions. Warning: It's still addictive, but it will make you laugh!

Earlier today, I shared a couple of personal memories on my other blog along with the inspirational video that triggered them. If you haven't visited there and have a bit of time, you might find these links worth checking out.

Miscellaneous Musings on the Day

Sigh!
Why can't I upload photos tonight?
I get the following message whenever I try:

We’re sorry, but we were unable to complete your request.

When reporting this error to Blogger Support or on the Blogger Help Group, please:

--Describe what you were doing when you got this error.

--Provide the following error code and additional information.

bX-5tdd1p

Additional information:

blogID: 3728583087900011692
host: www.blogger.com
uri: /upload-image.do

This information will help us to track down your specific problem and fix it! We apologize for the inconvenience.

Well ... I'm sending the info,
but my plans for tonight's post are Kaput!
So ... here are a few
questions
on my mind
this
evening.

1. Does anyone out there know why we aren't getting email notifications about comments today? Also, has anyone else noticed that some of our Web based, Word Press and Type Pad Blogger friends aren't coming through as URL links lately? Hopefully, like my Site Meter problems, these problems will get resolved quickly.

2. Is anyone else having difficulty logging in to the NaBloPoMo group at Ning? I can log on to Ning successfully, but once I try to connect with any of the groups there ... the second sign-in area doesn't want to accept my ID and password so I haven't been able to access my Web Page there for almost 2 days! I'm about to call it quits and stick with regular Blogs.

3. Did anyone else find this "lovely" list at Peajay's? In it young kids gave unique and personal definitions of "Love" ... and these were my three favorites:

-I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4 (I wonder how long THIS definition will hold up?)

-"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," Nikka - age 6 (Methinks this kid is an old soul)

-"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7 (How do we teach THIS lesson to kids today?)

4. You'll fine some chuckles just about every day at Mama Zen's Blog, but Monday's post is worth a special mention.

And finally:
--Reminder: You've got 10 more days to figure out the Christmas Carol Quiz answers and email them to me. Peajay is the first to get all 10 correct and has the Small Reflections Christmas Carol Quiz Award posted on her Blog. Who's going to be next?

Happy 2nd night of Hannukah
to all those who celebrate
this holiday.

Holidailies -- Introduction (just a little late)

Whilst perusing the "virtual world" this morning, I came perchance upon a site with THIS:

I thought to myself ... do I need some time off from Blogging for other things?

It's true December is a busier than normal month ... with holiday parties ... shopping ... gift wrapping ... Christmas cards (Ohmygosh - Reminder to self: I need to get crackin' on making those!) ... decorating ... baking ... (you get the idea), but I'm on a roll with NaBloPoMo and don't want to lose momentum. Participating in the 30 posts in 30 days activity led me to meet even more interesting folk and brought visitors to both my Blogs. Even now, I'm following up on those "leads" and may eventually find it overwhelming to keep up, but so far ... so good.

Fortunately, I discovered these as well:
You'll notice
I have added one
here at Small Reflections
and the other
at Sacred Ruminations
because

I've decided to

continue posting daily on both Blogs.

As some of you know, I began Blogging here on October 22nd of this year and at Sacred Ruminations on October 23rd. My "story" is in my Sidebar ... and additional info in my Profile ... so I won't repeat myself here. I will add that I wish I'd listened to friends and family sooner. They knew what I didn't ... that this is my element! It helps that I'm "happily retired" and have more time than most to "play" in this "virtual" universe. Often, I feel as if I've died and gone to heaven.

I've wandered through the "Blogosphere" visiting other Bloggers, reading & leaving comments, looking to see what's possible, returned to experiment and teach myself what I need to know to be creative here. I've posted something just about every day on each site, and had fun doing so ... figuring things out as I go. I appreciate those of you who have followed me back (who knew that would happen?) and left comments in return. Knowing there's an "audience" out there keeps me honest :)

So ... it's a good thing I continued to post daily because I'm not behind ... yet. Hopefully I won't let myself fall behind. I fully intend to meet the goal of 31 posts in 31 days from December 1st through January 1st! In addition, I plan to venture out and read what other Hollidailies bloggers are writing. I've added links in the Sidebar of both sites to relevant pages so that any of you who wish to enjoy these posts can do so with ease.

Now ... for my regular public service announcements :)
--If you need a laugh this evening, check out the video clip at Karyn's blog. (You know how important laughter is to me).
--Reminder: You've got 11 more days to figure out the Christmas Carol Quiz answers and email them to me. Peajay is the first to get all 10 correct and has the Small Reflections Christmas Carol Quiz Award posted on her Blog. Who's going to be next?

Happy 1st night of Hannukah
to all those who celebrate
this holiday.

What Happened to my SiteMeter Icons or Why Can't I Log onto my Account There Today?

Hmmm
the little icons
have disappeared
from both my Blogs
though the Page Element
with the codes
still seem to be present.
Did this happen to anyone else
or should I be feeling paranoid about now?

Addendum added here (at the urging of my "aging angels" one of whom is pictured here) in gratitude to Annie for her timely comment ... a link to lift your spirits (as it did mine) offered for for your viewing pleasure :)

"Over the River and Through the Woods to Grandmother's House we Go ... "

Hmm ... no horse ... no sleigh ... and no "Grandmother's house" any more in MY family (except for my brother's widow who lives in Hemet, but she's my age ... and we can't be old enough for this role, can we?) ... I plan to avoid mirrors today :-).

Until my siblings and I each got married (and for a few years afterwards), we observed Thanksgiving Day at home or with extended family. When we celebrated holidays with Dutch relatives on my Mom's side, it was always in someone's home ... with dinner served on the best dishes around a huge table, in a "formal" atmosphere, and staying out of trouble presented ongoing challenges, for I was the baby of the family, always trying to measure up to the "bigger kids" standards.

When I was born, my sister was 4 and my brother 9. Until my arrival, they had the dubious honor of being the youngest kids in the extended family because my mom was youngest of five and my dad second youngest of thirteen. Many of our cousins on my Dad's side of the family were married and had children our age & older by the time we arrived on the scene, so those were huge family gatherings ... often "potlucks" in a centrally located park ... where the men could play pinochle, the women visit while doing hand-crafts of some kind, and the kids entertain themselves playing together.

Turkey smells permeated the air and everyone helped with preparations. My mom's pies were the best! She made the thinnest, flakiest, melt-in-your-mouth crusts ever ... and I miss her presence here on earth. My Dad and brother have also passed on ... though memories fill my heart and soul.

Later, my siblings and I took turns having "Thanksgiving" at our respective homes. Mom always made pies, but we cooked turkey with all the trimmings ... and always invited what my brother-in-law laughingly referred to as "strays" ...(friends who for one reason or another couldn't celebrate with their own families)... to join our celebration. This year, my sister and her husband are off traveling in their RV (currently on the East Coast near Jekyll Island with two of my best friends and their husbands). They'll be celebrating the holiday together. How interesting that what goes around comes around ;-)

This year, my neighbor and friend who IS "Grandma" has invited me to share Thanksgiving at their house ... surrounded by kids, grandkids, and dogs of all sizes. Should be fun and I'm looking forward to the festivities. I wish you and yours a wonderful day of gratitude and fellowship.
Hugs and blessing,

My brother used to say "discretion is the better part of valor" and I'm taking it to heart today with GR

Alle alle auxen ... free!

After accumulating more than 900 new posts vying for my attention in Google Reader (watching the number drop as I devoted significant time to reading and leaving occasional comments on newly discovered Blogs ... only to see it climb again when I encountered more fascinating new sites everywhere I explored), I've decided to use the feature that allows me to "mark all posts as read" from now on when I add a new site, rather than continuing to try to "catch up" with previous posts as I've tried to do the past week or so. Clearly, it's a losing proposition anyway. Eventually I may go "exploring the past" ... but for now, I'm sticking with NEW posts to save my sanity. :)

I do like the convenience of GR letting me know when a Blog I've discovered (and enjoy reading) has something new so I don't need to search aimlessly any longer. Google Reading allows me to use my "computer time" more productively, and in addition, this nifty free program allows me to read posts "black on white" ... which is easier with these aging eyes than trying to decipher white writing on a dark background ... and that (in itself) is a gift to myself.

I've added a few new "favorites" to my link list here on Small Reflections finally (something I'd neglected for a while once I started using GR) and will try to keep it current as I find interesting Blogs. Live and learn ... baby steps. :)

Sign outside Moon River Gifts on the Enchanted Circle Drive near Taos, New Mexico

This is the way I'd like to run a business!
(If you have trouble reading it,
clicking on the picture makes it larger)

More Discoveries in Blogland and the "Real World" too -- or It's All About Balance

These may all be "old hat" to YOU, but I feel like a kid in a candy store and find myself wishing I'd found all this sooner.

Who knew? Certain not me ... but I'm learning about Widgets & iGoogle where I've created a personalized home page containing handy resources like Weather Forecasts ... Dictionary, Thesaurus, Spell-check & Wickipedia links ... Photo Links of all types ... Quotes ... even Games (like Bejeweled) and so much more, all right here on my computer screen at my fingertips ... instead of the blank page I've looked at all these years. Let's hear it for OPTIONS!

How fun to observe the "beach scene" I selected for a "theme" at the top of the page change as the day progresses. It was dark with I started in the wee hours of the morning, then the sun rose, and colors gradually shifted through the variations of a regular sunny day, followed by a gorgeous sunset and finally became evening again. It's all pretty cool!

In case you're wondering where "the dinosaur" has been, I've been living life out in the world with the TV & my computer turned off most of the time ... mindfully paying attention to each moment ... discovering peace is a choice at every turn, no matter what happens ... grateful for my "happily retired" lifestyle and the expansive time I now experience regularly (instead of rushing hither and yon trying to do too much ... focused on everyone else's needs rather than my own as I did for all those years in the work force) ... continuing to practice The Four Agreements as presented by Don Miguel Ruiz ... eating healthily ... looking for the upside in all things ... walking Molly at the beach ... getting together with friends ... gardening ... reading ... writing in my journals for myself ... trying to figure out what to do next ... and being here seems perfect for now.

Yesterday when I took Molly out to play in the front yard where she can run freely ... chasing & retrieving her favorite toy endlessly burning off energy, I smelled gas in the air ... knocked on my neighbor's door to get her input & help with tracking down the source (thinking I needed to alert the Gas Company right away) and afterwards we chatted a while ... discussing a variety of topics (including but not limited to)
--her concerns about why the mainstream media doesn't cover positive stories & how frustrated she feels at times to realize a few corporations have so much power to control the flow of information, exerting such influence in our society & the world at large
--my recent experiences on the computer, specifically Thailand Girl's Blog Blast for Peace and some of the other topics I've written about previously on this site and at Sacred Ruminations
--our shared concerns about the war in Iraq and other pressing issues
--discussions she has with her grown children and their kids about world affairs and personal choices

When she mentioned her daughter-in-law was interested in learning about Blogs, I encouraged her to tell Y to stop by ... and I invited B inside to show her what IS available "free" right here on the Web. She expressed amazement ... wondering aloud (as I often do) who pays for all this free "stuph".

The teacher in me is happy to share in this way ... spread the word ... bring others to this richly diverse community of individuals willing to share so freely ... who will, in turn, talk with others out in the world at large ... about issues that matter ... enriching us all.

With that in mind, this evening I offer the following links for your consideration:
The People who Matter Most
PhD - Short Course in Leadership

Did you know about:
--the Random Acts of Kindness website with inspirational stories and action ideas for communities and classrooms?
--the Giraffe Heroes blog encouraging people to overcome apathy and fear ... to stick their necks out and do something about the problems of our times?

And, if you need a chuckle, check out:
Train Ticket story
Two Duck Hunters from Wisconsin (mentioned in yesterday's post)

It's been a beautiful day in the neighborhood!
I hope YOURS was enjoyable too.
Have a wonderful weekend!

"Oh my Lord, there's so much to do! Tomorrow I think I'll pour a bucket of water down the mail shute!" ELOISE!!! (That's my name.)

Do you recall that song? I used to LOVE "Eloise" as a child. She did all the things I didn't dare try. I was such a good compliant child (otherwise known as a "wimp" or chicken) back in the day. Who knew I had such a wild child within?

And that reminds me of one of the songs I used to teach my students ... way back when. Always a big hit with the kids (who never failed to laugh hysterically whenever we sang it), parents used to share that it was one the entire family used to sing together ... often ... especially whenever someone blew it big time. Actually, that happened frequently in the middle of class as well ... always defusing embarrassingly tense situations.

I don't recall who wrote it ... or where I picked it up. Like the Eloise ditty ... it's a part of my memory from wherever. If I knew how to record it on YouTube and upload it there (as Olivia at Happy Luau did with her Gratitude Dance) perhaps I'd sing it for you and provide a link ... but I don't. So, here are the words. They'll have to suffice. If anyone knows the source, let me know and I'll add credits later.

Chorus:
I'm not perfect and I know I never will be
No one's perfect ... I know it's true.
Sisters and brothers, even dad's and mothers
All make mistakes, and I do too.

Verse 1:
In the yard I left the rake.
By the stairs I left my skates.
When my mom and dad discovered them,
I knew I'd made a big mistake.
When my bubble full of air ...
Got too near my mother's hair
I tried to pop it but it was too late!
I knew I'd made a big mistake ... Well

Chorus
I'm not perfect and I know I never will be
No one's perfect ... I know it's true.
Sisters and brothers, even dad's and mothers
All make mistakes, and I do too.

Verse 2:
My friends and I were having fun
Playing ball, I hit a run
When I heard the plate-glass window break
I knew I'd made a big mistake!
Filled my squirt-gun very full.
Then the trigger I did pull.
When the water hit my teacher's face,
I knew I'd made a big mistake ... well

Chorus:
I'm not perfect and I know I never will be
No one's perfect ... I know it's true.
Sisters and brothers, even dad's and mothers
All make mistakes, and I do too.

Verse 3:
Grannie baked an apple pie.
I ate so much I thought I'd die.
When I couldn't sleep for the belly-ache,
I knew I'd made a big mistake.

Uh -oh ... my memory just pooped out on me all of a sudden.
Sigh! These things happen. If someone out there remembers the rest, please add it in "Comments" and we'll all be grateful. Forgive me if it's out of order. I don't think I've even THOUGHT of this song for DECADES so I'm surprised this much remains. ;)

(It seems appropriate to end with)

Chorus:
I'm not perfect and I know I never will be
No one's perfect ... I know it's true.
Sisters and brothers, even dad's and mothers
All make mistakes, and I do too.


After thoughts:
--One thing I do recall is that we substituted the word "teachers" for the word "even" in the chorus to make it more inclusive ... so we sang "teachers, dads and mothers" instead.
--Remind me again why the arts no longer are included in public school curriculum. Seems to me there are valuable lessons learned through art, music, dance, play, drama and other subjects I loved to do as a kid and teach in my classroom later on. How did we let this happen?
--Maybe when I finish my month of daily Sacred Life posts at Sacred Ruminations, I'll switch to weekly Sacred Life Sunday posts and take up the One Thing - Be Brave challenge for the next month. Who knows ... I might even explore YouTube and sing this little ditty.

(Enough! THAT'S a topic for another day)