Happy New Year!

Wishing all of you a safe, happy, healthy, New Year with enough money, just enough love and just enough! XO

Can you believe it?

(No. This is not my house. This is somewhere in Canada.)

Can you believe this is the last week of 2009? Where oh where did the time go?

Merry Christmas!

Snowmobile Trail

Snowmobile Trail Closed Due to Traffic Jam!

One Nation Under God

This is very moving and very thought-provoking. I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VUo8OuFaiI

Dressed Up

Need I say more?

Slip Sliding Away

I know I should have posted an update yesterday, but I was just a bit unnerved after we got home.

We were on our way up north. We had decided to go on up even though Mother Nature had dumped about 1 inch of snow on Friday night -- kindly depositing it over a glaze of frozen rain. When we started out, we didn't think it was going to be that bad. But then we got on the express way.

Everything was going OK until we got about 10 miles from home.

There were cars in ditches in one piece, cars that had spun out (or been knocked there by someone else being the reason) and were crumpled in a heap against the braided steel cable fences they had put in place in the summer to keep people from careening onto the other side of the expressway.

We were cautious. The hubs is an excellent driver -- he's been doing it a lot of years :-).

We were almost to Novi -- about 40 miles from home -- when the unforseen happened. We, for no apparent reason other than it was slick as a baby's butt, went into a hard spin. He fought the wheel and got us out of that spin only to immediately go into another one. Six spins (and fingernail prints in my palms) later we were still all in one piece and we made the decision that 222 miles of that was just not worth it. So, we turned around and came home.

It was so scarey that I didn't say a word to him while he was trying to save our behinds... and I usually always have something to say! Of course, after it was all over and we were safely home I did point out that every once in awhile I do know when to keep quiet! LOL

So, I missed seeing my sister and all the family. I'm really sorry for that because I know there won't be too many more family Christmas parties. But I do know that when the weather presents us with a nicer, ice-free day, we are going to head up "just because" and at least see Sissy.

(I have absolutely no idea why it will put some returns in my post and not others! Sorry about it looking like a 2 year old did it.)

Christmas Up North

It is the time of year for our family Christmas party up north. It will be so good to see everyone!

Oops

Uh oh. It's Friday already. I've been a total slacker this week!

Indiana Style

My friend Larry sent me this and it is excellent! Enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kYEK-pxs_A&feature=channel

The Birth of the Blues

This is great! Enjoy!!

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPH0-g25Vl8>

Happy Whatever!

I got this from my friend Sandi. I just had to post it. It will make you laugh hard!

Company Memo

FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: October 1, 2009

RE: Gala Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House.There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols.... feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus!

A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00 PM. Exchanges of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees! Our CEO will make a special announcement at that time! Merry Christmas to you and your family,

Patty

Company Memo

FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: October 2, 2009

RE: Gala Holiday Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on, we're calling it our " Holiday Party." The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians and to those still celebrating Reconciliation Day. There will be no Christmas tree and no Christmas carols will be sung.

We will have other types of music for your enjoyment. Happy now? Happy Holidays to you and your family,

Patty

Company Memo

FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: October 3, 2009

RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table, you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, "AA Only," you wouldn't be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this? Somebody?

And sorry, but forget about the gift exchange, no gifts are allowed since the union members feel that $10.00 is too much money and the executives believe $10.00 is a little chintzy.

REMEMBER: NO GIFTS EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.

Patty

Company Memo

FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: October 4, 2009

RE: Generic Holiday Party

What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20th begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs. Perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party or else package everything for you to take it home in little foil doggy baggy. Will that work? Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet, and pregnant women will get the table closest to the restrooms.

Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with Gay men, each group will have their own table.

Yes, there will be flower arrangement for the Gay men's table.

To the person asking permission to cross dress, the Grill House asks that no cross-dressing be allowed, apparently because of concerns about confusion in the restrooms. Sorry.

We will have booster seats for short people.

Low-fat food will be available for those on a diet.

I am sorry to report that we cannot control the amount of salt used in the food. The Grill House suggests that people with high blood pressure taste a bite first.

There will be fresh "low sugar" fruits as dessert for diabetics, but the restaurant cannot supply "no sugar" desserts. Sorry! Did I miss anything?!?!?

Patty

Company Memo

FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All F*%^ing Employees

DATE: October 5, 2009

RE: The F*%^ing Holiday Party

I've had it with you vegetarian pricks!!! We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put it, and you'll get your f*%^ing salad bar, including organic tomatoes. But you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them scream right NOW! The rest of you f*%^ing wierdos can kiss my *ss. I hope you all have a rotten holiday!

Drive drunk and die, The B*tch from H*ll!!!

Company Memo

FROM: Joan Bishop, Acting Human Resources Director

DATE: October 6, 2009

RE: Patty Lewis and Holiday Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery from her recent nervous breakdown and I'll continue to forward your cards to her at the asylum.

In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.

Happy Whatever!

Joan

Alberta... Clipper calling

It is COLD! I'm not ready for this. Make it go away. Alberta, your Clipper is calling you to come and get it!

Hang on to your hat!

Can we say windy? Batten down the hatches! And it's COLD!!!

Yuck

(This picture, by the way, was taken by Ken Dow in Corinna, Maine several years ago.)


According to the weather people, it's going to get ugly out there. Why is that? Can't we send it to Alberta for once instead of them sending that crap to us?

Christmas Lights

This is pretty neat!

Tiny Cabin

THE TINY CABIN

A social worker from a big City in Massachusetts recently transferred to the Mountains of North Carolina and Georgia and was on the first tour of her new territory when she came upon the tiniest cabin she had ever seen in her life.

Intrigued, she went up and knocked on the door.

"Anybody home?" she asked.

"Yep," came a kid's voice through the door.

"Is your father there?" asked the social worker.

"Pa? Nope, he left afore Ma came in," said the kid.

"Well, is your mother there?" persisted the social worker.

"Ma? Nope, she left just afore I got here," said the kid.

"But," protested the social worker, "are you never together as a family?"

"Sure, but not here," said the kid through the door. "This is the outhouse!"

(I just couldn't resist! Thanks, Frank!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Some of you have probably seen this but I thought it would be good to send it again this year. Take care. Hope you are looking forward to a “Wonderful Christmas Season.”



*Twas the Month Before Christmas*

*When all through our land,*

*Not a Christian was praying*

*Nor taking a stand.*

*See the PC Police had taken away,*

*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*

*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*

*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*

* December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*

*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*

*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*

*Something was changing, something quite odd!*

*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*

*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*

*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*

* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*

*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*

*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*

*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*

*Now Pelosi, Now Reed, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*

*On Boxer, On Rangel, On Kerry, On Clinton!*

*And at the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*

*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*

*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*

*Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*

*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*

*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*

*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*

*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*

*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS , not Happy Holiday !*

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet during the holidays a MERRY CHRISTMAS! Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!

Happy Friday!

It was a rough week!

I am hoping that everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I had computer problems and had to have it serviced. Just got it back last night and now I'm wading through a gazillion emails. Sigh. Sure missed being able to post -- it's been so long I'd almost forgotten how! LOL!

Things Remembered

This is for all who have ever been to the old Tiger Stadium. This beautiful stadium is no more. Torn down because no one loved it quite enough. Sigh.

This is SO cute!

http://icanhascheezburger.com/2009/11/18/funny-pictures-video-kitteh-climbs-policeman/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ICanHasCheezburger+%28I+CAN+HAS+CHEEZBURGER%3F%29

Where does it go?

OK. Where IS the time going? It can't be Thanksgiving next week already!

I think the words below speak volumes:

TWO WOLVES

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. "One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."

The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

WW Dog

Good dog!

Creamy Pumpkin Pie

This is from the South Beach newsletter that I get. Here it is for anyone who would like to try it!

Daily Dish

A Creamy Pumpkin Pie

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, there’s no better way to end this festive dinner than with a pumpkin pie. If you’re already planning your holiday meal, or you want to enjoy this favorite fall vegetable another time, this creamy pumpkin pie makes a great finale to any meal.
Pumpkin Pie (Phase 2)

Description Redolent with warm spices, this creamy treat is enhanced with a delightfully crispy, light crust that tastes deceivingly buttery, though no butter is used. Whipped topping and chocolate shavings make a gorgeous and irresistible topping, if desired.

Serves 8

Ingredients

6 (9" by 14") sheets whole-wheat phyllo dough, thawed
1/3 cup granular sugar substitute
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 large egg whites
1 large egg yolk
1 (12-ounce) can 2% evaporated milk
2 tablespoons sugar-free maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Light or fat-free whipped topping (optional)
Bittersweet chocolate for shavings (optional)

Instructions

Position rack in middle of oven and heat oven to 350°F. Stack phyllo sheets on plastic wrap or waxed paper; cover with a barely damp towel to prevent sheets from drying out.

Lightly coat 9" pie plate with cooking spray. Lay 1 phyllo sheet in the pie plate. Coat sheet with cooking spray, making sure to spray edges. Repeat with remaining sheets, rotating each slightly in the pan to form a circle. Fold and crimp edges.

Place a piece of parchment or waxed paper on top of crust. Weigh crust down with pie weights or dried beans and bake until edges are lightly golden, about 10 minutes. While crust is baking, combine sugar substitute, cinnamon, ginger, salt, cloves, and nutmeg in a medium bowl.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer at medium speed, beat pumpkin puree, egg whites, and egg yolk until well blended. Slowly add milk, maple syrup, and vanilla, beating until blended. Add spice mixture and blend well.

Remove pie weights from crust. Pour filling into crust and bake until tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove pie from oven and cool at room temperature to set. Just before serving, top each slice of pie with 1 to 2 tablespoons whipped topping and chocolate shavings (if desired).

Nutritional information

Per serving:
130 calories
2.5 g fat (1 g sat)
19 g carbohydrate
7 g protein
2 g fiber
300 mg sodium

The Zipper

If you haven't seen this, you are definitely going to laugh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWH-VToohro

Happy Birthday, Sissy!

See that lovely lady on the left with the white sweatshirt on? That's my sister! Today is her birthday. (Should I tell them how old you are?) Well, I think I should brag about her age -- she is 82 today! I love you TONS!!!!

IMHO (in my humble opinion)

I'm probably opening up a can of worms here -- but, I just don't get what people see in Taylor Swift. Honestly. I don't. She hurts my ears!

U.S.S. New York

To all that serve and have served -- thank you.

Military Pay

I received this in an email this morning and thought it VERY appropriate that I share.


This Cindy Williams is NOT the "Laverne & Shirley" Cindy Williams. She is a Assistant Director for National Security in the Congressional Budget Office...... /////////

Military Pay

This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the Washington Times about MILITARY PAY -- it should be printed in all newspapers across America.

Ms. Cindy Williams wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year citing that she stated 13% wage increase was more than they deserve. A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get a bonus for this.

"Ms Williams: I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GIs earn enough" and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes per month. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40, after. I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum........... I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions. Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN; I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment experience." As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone - obviously they've been squandering the "vast" piles of cash the government has been giving them. Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE (meal-ready- to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor. Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your opened piece. But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it. You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies. And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve? You can kiss my royal red a**!!!

A1C Michael Bragg Hill AFB AFNCC

IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. THANK YOU.

A bit of Maine Foliage

Happy Birthday, Bobby!

Love, Auntie Kay

Flair

Screensavers

I used to have this beautiful screensaver that had a lovely white house (looked like a New England house) with the windows all aglow, and you could see a Christmas tree through the windows. Snow fell and it played "So This Is Christmas." When I got the new computer, that was not one of the files that was loaded from my old one onto the new one. Does anyone have that screensaver? If you do, could you send it to me? Or, if you know where I could go to download it, that would be good, too! I would be forever grateful because it was one of my favorites. I lost so many of my screensavers when I got the new computer. Very big sigh.

Good Bye, Mom

A young man shopping in a supermarket noticed a little old lady following him around. If he stopped, she stopped. Furthermore she kept staring at him.

She finally overtook him at the checkout, and she turned to him and said, "I hope I haven't made you feel ill at ease; it's just that you look so much like my late son."

He answered, "That's okay."

"I know it's silly, but if you'd call out 'Good bye, Mom' as I leave the store, it would make me feel so happy."

She then went through the checkout, and as she was on her way out of the store, the man called out, "Goodbye, Mom."

The little old lady waved and smiled back at him.

Pleased that he had brought a little sunshine into someone's day, he went to pay for his groceries.

"That comes to $121.85," said the clerk.

"How come so much? I only bought 5 items."

The clerk replied, "Yeah, but your Mother said you'd be paying for her things, too."

Bet you thought this was going to be a tear jerker. Don't trust Little Old Ladies!!

(Yes, I laughed, too.)

Recipe for a cold, rainy day

One of the Betty Crocker recipes I get through a newsletter. Here's the link!

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/chicken-chili-over-corn-muffins/e21be239-08be-43e6-9ec0-3db8b7d97b36?WT.dcsvid=NDc4MTE3Nzg0OQS2&rvrin=5442B642-992C-4374-B58C-FAF4F095A75F&WT.mc_id=Newsletter_DME_11_1_2009

(Whew! That is a long one, isn't it?!)

Mondays

I think this just about says it all. Don't you?

November

In Western Christianity, All Souls' Day commemorates the faithful departed. This day is principally observed in the Catholic Church, although some churches of the Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Churches also celebrate it. The Eastern Orthodox churches observes several All Souls' Days during the year. The Roman Catholic celebration is based on the doctrine that the souls of the faithful which at death have not been cleansed from the temporal punishment due to venial sins, or have not fully been purged from attachment to mortal sins, cannot attain the beatific vision in heaven yet, and that they may be helped to do so by prayer and by the sacrifice of the Mass (see Purgatory). In other words, when they died, they had not yet attained full sanctification and moral perfection, a requirement for entrance into Heaven. This sanctification is carried out posthumously in Purgatory.

All Souls' Day is also known as the Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed. The official Latin designation Commemoratio omnium Fidelium Defunctorum, on which this last name is based, is rendered more literally in Portuguese Comemoração de todos os Fiéis Defuntos and many other languages. Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos or de los Difuntos) is used in Spanish-speaking countries, and Thursday of the Dead (Yom el Maouta) in Lebanon, Israel and Syria.

The Western celebration of All Souls' Day is on 2 November and follows All Saints' Day, which commemorates the departed who have attained the beatific vision. If 2 November falls on a Sunday, the Mass is of All Souls, but the Office is that of the Sunday. However, Morning and Evening Prayer (Lauds and Vespers) for the Dead, in which the people participate, may be said. In pre-1969 calendars, which some still follow, and in the Anglican Communion, All Souls Day is instead transferred, whenever 2 November falls on a Sunday, to the next day, 3 November, which was the case in 2008.

The Eastern Orthodox Church dedicates several days throughout the year to the dead, mostly on Saturdays, because of Jesus' resting in the tomb on Saturday.

Welcome to November!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween

It's getting closer! Pretty soon there will be short, strange-looking people at your door!

Where did it go?

Can it truly be? Is it really less than 2 months until Christmas? What happened?!

Interesting History

Old-Line Retailers – Where Did They Go?

Arbor Drugs
Arbor Drugs opened its doors in Troy in 1974, when founder Eugene Applebaum combined several drug stores under the name. At the time, he owned a handful of pharmacies, including one in Ann Arbor. Because the Ann Arbor store was the best of the bunch, he decided to use the second half of the city’s name for his business.

Atlas Beverage Company
For more than 60 years, Atlas Beverage Company produced carbonated beverages with names like Brownie Root Beer, Bulldog Ginger Beer, Cheer-Up, V-Mix, and Golden & Pale Dry Ginger Ale. A Polish immigrant in Hamtramck founded the company in 1929, and it closed in 1996.

Barthwell Drugs
When the pharmacy where Sidney Barthwell was employed failed during the Great Depression, Barthwell borrowed $500 from friends to open Barthwell Drugs in 1933. Barthwell Drugs grew to become the largest chain of black-owned drugstores in the United States, with a total of nine stores and three ice-cream parlors. Although the chain no longer exists, the Barthwell legacy remains in Detroit with the establishment the Sidney Barthwell Endowed Scholarship at Wayne State Universitys College of Pharmacy.

Burroughs
The Burroughs Adding Machine Company moved to Detroit in 1904 and was once the largest adding-machine company in the United States. William Seward Burroughs founded the company when he invented the Burroughs Registering Accountant in the 1880s; it was the first practical adding-listing machine that printed calculations on paper tapes. The company partnered with the Sperry Corporation in the 80s and is now called Unisys. Although the company is now headquartered in Blue Bell, N.Y., it still occupies the old Burroughs factory and office space in Plymouth, Mich.

B. Siegel Company
B. Siegel Company’s fine-clothing store in Detroit was originally Heyns Bazaar, until Benjamin Siegel purchased it in the late 1800s and changed the stores name. The Woodward Avenue shop was reputed to be the finest and most complete suit and cloak store in America, until the company filed for bankruptcy in 1981.

Crowley Milner and Company (Crowleys)
When Detroit department store Partridge and Blackwell was struggling to stay in business, the Crowley brothers stepped in and took over. In the early 1900s, the store flourished by catering to the citys affluent clientele, but by the end of the century, Crowleys had bowed out of the market.

Cunninghams
Andrew Cunningham opened Cunninghams Drugs in 1889 and had 11 stores in downtown Detroit when the company was purchased by Economical Drugs owner Nate Shapero in 1931. Cunninghams was famous for its special promotions and used an elephant symbol to represent their jumbo sodas, sundaes, and photo-print services. The chains slogans included "Don't say drug store, say Cunninghams, and "We're a drug store and a whole lot more."

Farmer Jack
The story of Farmer Jack stores can be traced to 1924, when Russian immigrant Tom Borman opened Tom's Quality Meats in Detroit. Tom and his brother, Al, ran grocery stores that were a metro Detroit staple, becoming Farmer Jack in 1966. The last remaining Farmer Jack stores closed in 2007 (some were converted to A&P’s).

Federals
Steven Wests spans a range of endeavors, from writing five self-help books to committing some major tax evasion. He's perhaps best-known in the Detroit area for (BURNING), taking over Federals department store in the late 70s. In 1980, Federals dissolved.

F&M
Phar-Mor, Drug Emporium, and F&M were once the most powerful bargain drugstore chains in America. The industry was pioneered in Ferndale when Fred and Margaret Cohen opened the first F&M in 1955. The Cohens' business strategy was selling brand-name products at bargain prices, relying on word-of-mouth advertising, and banking on stock-up shopping popular in more affluent areas. When the Cohens sold the business in 1977, their 9,000-square-foot store was grossing $13 million per year.

Fretters
Ollie Fretter opened his first self-titled electronics store in Livonia in the 1950s. He may best be remembered for his commercials, in which he promised, "I'll give you five pounds of coffee if I can't beat your best deal."

Gantos
Lebanese immigrant Theodore Gantos long dreamed of opening his own linen store, and when the devastation of the Great Depression ended, he did just that. With his wife, Haseebie, he opened the first Gantos store in Grand Rapids in 1932. Over the next few decades, the store shifted gears to become a successful women’s-wear boutique before going out of business in 2000.

Grinnells Pianos
Once known as the largest piano factory on the earth, Grinnells Pianos opened its doors in Holly, Mich., in 1913. The company lasted for nearly a century, thanks in part to its quality pianos and to its consistent community involvement hosting annual statewide music festivals.

Harmony House
Carl Thom opened the first Harmony House music store in Hazel Park in 1947. Known for its superb selection of Detroit music, the chain grew to 38 stores before finally closing in 2002.

Highland Superstores
In 1933, Harry Mondry founded the first Highland Appliance Store, named for its location in Highland Park. The company had a dramatic rise and fall in its time, expanding to three states before finally liquidating in 1993.

Himelhochs
The first Himelhochs clothing store opened on Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit in 1907. Fifty years later, the chain had stretched across the country, and even to Paris. But in 1977, the company filed for bankruptcy and closed. Its original location on Washington has been preserved as a historic landmark.

Hudsons
The J.L. Hudson Company was founded in 1881 by Joseph L. Hudson. The 29-story flagship store, located at 1206 Woodward in downtown Detroit, was the worlds tallest department store throughout most of the 20th century, with 706 fitting rooms, 68 elevators, 51 display windows, five restaurants, a fine-art gallery, and a wine department. After many changes in the retail sector, the chain was eventually folded into Macys.

Hughes & Hatcher
In 1910, Fred Hughes and Leslie Hatcher opened their clothing store in downtown Detroit, and it soon became the top name in gentle men’s fine apparel. Aside from its stupendously stylish suits, Hughes & Hatcher was known for having the largest display windows in town.

Jacobsons
In 1838, the first Jacobsons store opened in Reed City, Mich. The store catered to the fashion needs of upscale Michigan clientele, and eventually expanded to Florida and other states. The store is still profitable in Florida, but the Michigan stores, after more than 150 years, remain closed.

Joshua Doore Furniture
In 1973, Harvey Leach opened the doors to Joshua Doore and, for years, drew in customers with the charming slogan “You've got an uncle in the furniture business.” A few years later, amid the company’s transformation into Uncle Robinson Furniture, Leach was found dead in the trunk of his car, allegedly as a result of financial challenges.

Kerns
Where the Compuware building stands in downtown Detroit today once stood another grand retailer of the citys golden era, Kerns Department Store. Kerns opened in 1900 and competed with J.L. Hudsons until closing in 1959. After much restoration, the famous Kerns clock was rededicated by Compuware in 2003.

Kinsel Drug Store
The next time you need a remedy for a late-night cough, you can thank Edward C. Kinsel, who opened Detroit’s first 24-hour drugstore. Kinsels opened in 1894 and offered patrons everything from cold remedies to cold cuts.

Klines
Eugene B. Kline founded Klines women’s fashion store in 1911. The chic-looking store on Woodward Avenue was called the most modern store in the country in 1940.

Merchant of Vino
Founded in 1974, Merchant of Vino was well known for its fine wine and gourmet foods. Although Eddie Jonna eventually sold his popular chain to Whole Foods Co., his sons Marc and Matthew picked up where their father left off, opening the state-of-the-art Plum Markets now seen around metro Detroit.

New York Carpet World
Marvin Berlin opened New York Carpet World in 1967. Along with his partner, Irving Nusbaum, Berlin grew the chain to an impressive 250 stores in 17 states, including Michigan, making it the top source for household flooring.

Perrys Drug Store
Jack A. Robinson founded the hugely successful Perrys Drug Store chain, which was taken over by Rite-Aid in the mid-90s. The first Perrys store opened in Pontiac in 1957, named for its location on Perry Street.

Pfeiffer Brewing Company
Conrad Pfeiffer began brewing his own beer in 1882. His Art Deco red-brick brewery was built between Beaufait and Bellevue avenues on the east side of Detroit, complete with a stable and hospitality area that offered tours, products for sale, and a beer garden. Pfeiffer Brewing Company began producing its olive-drab cans with black lettering for the government during World War II, soon after it began selling its yellow Johnny Fifer cans to the public.

R.H. Fyfe and Company
Detroit was once home to the largest shoe store in the world. Fyfes opened in 1865 and, by 1919, it had expanded to include 10 floors of shoes and service areas, as well as a miniature-golf course. After closing, the headquarters at Woodward and Adams was converted into residential lofts.

Sams Jams
Opened in 1979, Sams Jams was a hip Ferndale record shop where customers could always find rare and vintage tunes. Sams frequently hosted album signings with popular and alternative bands of the day. But much to the dismay of the local underground music community, Sams closed its doors in 1993.

Sanders
Frederick Sanders opened his first retail shop in downtown Detroit on June 17, 1875. At one time, Sanders had over 57 stores around town selling an assortment of candy, fudge toppings, and baked goods. Sanders sold his first Ice Cream Soda in 1876, when he substituted ice cream for the sweet cream used in his Sweet Cream Soda.

Sebastian S. Kresge/Kmart
With his humble beginnings, historic philanthropist Sebastian S. Kresge likely couldn't have imagined that the city of Detroit would turn his modest five-and-dime store into the gargantuan enterprise it became. S.S. Kresge Co. opened in Detroit in 1899, and later expanded into Kmart Corporation, before merging with Sears, Roebuck & Co.

Sibleys Shoes
Aaron Ross and Norm Rosenfeld opened the first Sibleys shoe store in Detroit in 1920 and soon expanded to various locations throughout Michigan and Ohio. Headquartered in the Fox Building and, for a time, the Renaissance Center, the chain was finally dismantled in 2003.

Strohs
In 1850, Bernhard Stroh established what would become a Detroit institution, then referred to as Lions Head brewery. During Prohibition, the company stayed afloat by producing ice cream and near beer and selling it in grocery stores and ice-cream parlors (Strohs Ice Cream can still be found today). With its headquarters at Grand Park Centre near Grand Circus Park, Strohs was family-owned and -operated for more than 145 years.

Thorn Apple Valley
After miraculously escaping from a Polish concentration camp during World War II , Henry Dorfman immigrated into the United States and opened his own butcher shop in Detroit in 1949. The small company, originally called Frederick Packing Company, expanded nationwide and was renamed Thorn Apple Valley in 1984.

Towne Club
In the mid 1960s, Harold Samhat began selling Towne Club soda at various pop center around Detroit. Towne Club, sold in wooden crates with 24 glass bottles in each, was more affordable than Coke or Pepsi and was famous for its wide variety of flavors.

Twin Pines Dairy Farm
It's been a long time since fresh milk, cream, and cottage cheese were delivered right to your milk chute, but for almost 20 years, Twin Pines was perhaps Detroits finest creamery. Before the emergence of convenience stores, Twin Pines was such a success that it even had its own children’s television show, Milky's Party Time, from 1950 to 1967.

Vernors
Legend has it that Vernors ginger ale was created in 1866 when Detroit pharmacist James Vernor returned home from the Civil War and found that the syrup he'd created and stored for four years had transformed into a deliciously different drink. Combined with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (preferably Strohs), the distinctly Detroit soda created a Midwest delicacy: the Boston cooler, believed to be named after Detroits Boston Boulevard.

Winkelmans
The first Winkelmans store was built in Detroit in 1928. The founders, brothers Isadore and Leon Winkelman, were born and raised in the Upper Peninsula, but fell in love with the city and stayed to open their successful clothing stores.

Woolworths
Perhaps the best-known of the old five-and-dimes was Woolworths, which expanded into a larger discount store chain and thrived for most of the 20th century. After the stores demise in the 80s, the company broke off into several parts, including a sportswear division now known as Foot Locker.

Found!

This is the cutest spot. I know someone who says "squee" all the time.... now I know why! Check it out!

http://dailysquee.com/

snopes.com: No Plate

snopes.com: No Plate

Posted using ShareThis

You are going to just love this!

Happy Birthday!

Happy 6th Birthday, Scooter (Noah)!

Love, Grandma

Senior Trick or Treating

You know you are too old to Trick or Treat when:

10. You keep knocking on your own front door.

9. You remove your false teeth to change your appearance.

8. You ask for soft high fiber candy only.

7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over.

6. People say: 'Great Boris Karloff Mask,' and you're not wearing a mask.

5. When the door opens you yell, 'Trick or...' and can't remember the rest.

4. By the end of the night, you have a bag full of restraining orders.

3. You have to carefully choose a costume that doesn't dislodge your hairpiece.

2. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker.

And the number one reason Seniors should not go Trick Or Treating...

* * * 1. You keep having to go home to pee.

No matter, have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN anyway.

Why We Love Children

1 ) NUDITY I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, 'Mom, that lady isn't wearing a seat belt!'
2) OPINIONS On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, 'The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents.'
3) KETCHUP A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. 'Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle.'
4) MORE NUDITY A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, 'What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?'
5 ) POLICE # 1 While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, 'Are you a cop? Yes,' I answered and continued writing the report. My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?' 'Yes, that's right,' I told her. 'Well, then,' she said as she extended her foot toward me, 'would you please tie my shoe?'
6) POLICE # 2 It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K -9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked. 'It sure is,' I replied. Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, 'What 'd he do?'
7) ELDERLY While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, 'The tooth fairy will never believe this!'
8) DRESS-UP A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, 'Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit.' 'And why not, darling?' 'You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning.'
9) DEATH ; While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: 'Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.' (I want this line used at my funeral!)
10) SCHOOL A little girl had just finished her first week of school. 'I'm just wasting my time,' she said to her mother. 'I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!'
11) BIBLE A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. 'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out. 'What have you got there, dear?' With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think it's Adam's underwear!'

NOW IF THIS DIDN'T BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY, GO BACK TO BED AND FORGET IT.

Fall Splendor

Hearts & Flowers

A cardiologist died and was given an elaborate funeral. A huge heart covered in flowers stood behind the casket during the service.

Following the eulogy, the heart opened, and the casket rolled inside. The heart then closed, sealing the doctor in the beautiful heart forever.

At that point, one of the mourners burst into laughter.

When all eyes stared at him, he said, "I'm sorry, I was just thinking of my own funeral...I'm a gynecologist."

That's when the proctologist left.

Maxine

Autumn Splendor

I don't know where this was taken or who took it, but it is a favorite and I thought I would share. Beautiful, isn't it?

Betty Crocker

I can't remember if I've ever put this link on here, so I'm putting it on again (I'm too lazy to look to see if it's in my labels). *grin*

DinnerMadeEasy@emails.BettyCrocker.com

They have a lot of great stuff when you sign up to receive the newsletter! Yummm!

Sweetness!

Happy Tuesday!

How's That?

A little something to tickle your funny bone!

p.s. Happy Columbus Day!

Award and Meme...

A Meme And An Award!........

My friend Carol, at http://charliandme.blogspot.com/ has posted a meme and an award! This seems like a great way to get to know one another a little bit better and it sounds like it will be fun to do. The rules are, that in order to receive the award, you must do the meme and you can only use ONE WORD answers. I think for most of us this is not as easy as it sounds but I will certainly give it a try. Now I'm supposed to pass the award along to six other blogger's, but being the a little rebel I like Carol, I'm offering it to all of you who read my blog......So here goes......

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse

2. Your hair? Silver

3. Your mother? Heaven

4. Your father? Heaven

5. Your favorite food? Pizza

6. Your dream last night? About my friend KB

7. Your favorite drink? Water

8. Your dream/ goal? Peace

9. What room are you in? Computer

10. Your hobby? Facebook

11. Your fear? War

12. Where do you want to be six years? Here

13. Where were you last night? Here

14. Something that you aren't? Superficial

15. Muffins? Blueberry!

16. Wish list item? Peace

17. Where did you grow up? Michigan

18. Last thing you did? Game

19. What are you wearing? Jammies

20. Your TV? Off

21. Your pets? Cats

22. Friends? Absolutely!

23. Your life? Busy

24. Your mood? Happy

25. Missing someone? Always

26. Vehicle? Corolla

27. Something you're not wearing? Makeup

28. Your favorite store? Walmart!

29. Your favorite color? Blue

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? Today

32. Your best friend? God

33. One place you go over and over? Work

34. One person who e-mails you regularly? Sissy

35. Favorite place to eat? CozyCorner

I hope all of you will join me in doing the meme. Don't forget to leave a comment here so I can pop over to read yours. It really was fun! All you have to do is answer all of the questions using one word answers and pick up the sweet little award for yourself.

Autumn

Gabriel & Stanley

This is so cute! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgW2qgMsnzw

Oops!

Holy cow! I can't believe I have been so bad! I haven't posted since Sunday. Sorry guys! Here's a little something I had tucked away.

21 things to remember.......

1. No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission.
2. Most people will be about as happy as they decide to be.
3. Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.
4. Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.
5. Success stops when you do.
6. When your ship comes in.... make sure you are willing to unload it.
7. You will never "have it all together."
8. Life is a journey...not a destination. Enjoy the trip!
9. The biggest lie on the planet: "When I get what I want, I will be happy."
10. The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.
11. I've learned that ultimately, 'takers' lose and 'givers' win.
12. Life's precious moments don't have value, unless they are shared.
13. If you don't start, it's certain you won't arrive.
14. We often fear the thing we want the most.
15. He or she who laughs......lasts.
16. Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.
17. Look for opportunities...not guarantees.
18. Life is what's coming....not what was.
19. Success is getting up one more time.
20. Now is the most interesting time of all.
21. When things go wrong.....don't go with them.

Betty Crocker

I get a newsletter from Betty Crocker, and I thought I would share with anyone who is interested. I am going to try to post the link to the latest newsletter that I received. I sure hope it works! Enjoy!!

http://recp.mkt32.net/servlet/MailView?m=4241995&r=NDc4MTE3Nzg0OQS2&j=MTM4Mzc1ODkxIAS2&mt=1

I Wish...

Click on the picture to open it up in a new window so that you can read it. I apologize for the small size.

So Cute!

Cute!

This Just In...

My son had this to say on facebook...

"This Breaking News has just been handed to me; the Detroit Lions have just WON their first regular season game, could the night-mare be over... film at eleven!"

Can it really be? Is it really possible?

And now Shields Pizza is going to be making a whole lot of pizzas and have very crowded dining rooms in their locations! LOL

Potted Plants

Something to keep in mind when you're out there doing all that yard work.

Garden Grass Snakes also known as Garter Snakes (Thamnophissirtalis) can be dangerous. Yes, grass snakes, not rattlesnakes. Here's why..

A couple in Sweetwater, Texas, had a lot of potted plants. During a recent cold spell, the wife was bringing a lot of them indoors to protect them from a possible freeze.It turned out that a little green garden grass snake was hidden in one of the plants. When it had warmed up, it slithered out and the wife saw it go under the sofa.

She let out a very loud scream.

The husband (who was taking a shower) ran out into the living room naked to see what the problem was. She told him there was a snake under the sofa.

He got down on the floor on his hands and knees to look for it. About that time the family dog came and cold-nosed him on the behind. He thought the snake had bitten him, so he screamed and fell over on the floor.

His wife thought he had had a heart attack, so she covered him up, told him to lie still and called an ambulance. The attendants rushed in, would not listen to his protests, loaded him on the stretcher, and started carrying him out.

About that time, the snake came out from under the sofa and the Emergency Medical Technician saw it and dropped his end of the stretcher. That's when the man broke his leg and why he is still in the hospital.

The wife still had the problem of the snake in the house, so she called on a neighbor who volunteered to capture the snake. He armed himself with a rolled-up newspaper and began poking under the couch. Soon he decided it was gone and told the woman, who sat down on the sofa in relief. But while relaxing, her hand dangled in between the cushions, where she felt the snake wriggling around. She screamed and fainted, the snake rushed back under the sofa.

The neighbor man, seeing her lying there passed out, tried to use CPR to revive her. The neighbor's wife, who had just returned from shopping at the grocery store, saw her husband's mouth on the woman's mouth and slammed her husband in the back of the head with a bag of canned goods, knocking him out and cutting his scalp to a point where it needed stitches.

The noise woke the woman from her dead faint and she saw her neighbor lying on the floor with his wife bending over him, so she assumed that the snake had bitten him. She went to the kitchen and got a small bottle of whiskey, and began pouring it down the man's throat.

By now, the police had arrived.

Breath here......

They saw the unconscious man, smelled the whiskey, and assumed that a drunken fight had occurred. They were about to arrest them all, when the women tried to explain how it all happened over a little green snake.

The police called an ambulance, which took away the neighbor and his sobbing wife.

Now, the little snake again crawled out from under the sofa and one of the policemen drew his gun and fired at it. He missed the snake and hit the leg of the end table. The table fell over, the lamp on it shattered and, as the bulb broke, it started a fire in the drapes.

The other policeman tried to beat out the flames, and fell through the window into the yard on top of the family dog who, startled, jumped out and raced into the street, where an oncoming car swerved to avoid it and smashed into the parked police car.

Meanwhile, neighbors saw the burning drapes and called in the fire department. The firemen had started raising the fire ladder when they were halfway down the street. The rising ladder tore out the overhead wires, put out the power, and disconnected the telephones in a ten-square city block area (but they did get the house fire out).

Time passed! Both men were discharged from the hospital, the house was repaired, the dog came home, the police acquired a new car and all was right with their world.

A while later they were watching TV and the weatherman announced a cold snap for that night. The wife asked her husband if he thought they should bring in their plants for the night?

GOOD NIGHT

Nope. Sure Didn't!

It's a Battle!

Tribe

One of my favorite pictures. I just thought I would share.

The Music Stopped

I received the following email and felt that this needed to be passed on to you - hope you do the same. For those who are unaware, at a Military theater, the National Anthem is played before every movie. Now read this email:


THE MUSIC STOPPED

This is written from a Chaplain in Iraq:

I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3' here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem the music stopped.

Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments; and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.

Here, the 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again. The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect to happen? Even here I would imagine laughter, as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start.

But here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every Soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off:

"And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave."

It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq. I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you here. Remember them as they fight for you!

Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad. For many have already paid the ultimate price..

Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins
LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad.

(I don't know about anyone else, but I am very proud to be an American and I am very thankful for every single soldier!)

Time

OK. Where did it go? It seems just like it just turned spring yesterday. What happened?!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Mikey!!!

Lexiograms

1. A bicycle can't stand alone because it is two-tired.
2. A properly written will is a dead giveaway.
3. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
4. She had a boyfriend with a wooden leg, but broke it off.
5. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
6. If you don't pay your exorcist you get repossessed.
7. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
8. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
9. The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.
10. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in linoleum blown apart.
11. He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
12. A lot of money is tainted. "Taint yours and taint mine."
13. A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.
14. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
15. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
16. When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.
17. Those who jump off a Paris bridge are in Seine.
18. When an actress saw her first strands of gray hair she thought she'd dye.
19. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.
20. Marathon runners with bad footwear suffer the agony of defeat.

Family Foto

Is this not cute or what?!

Happy Anniversary!

Yep. Me & the Hubs -- 20 years today!

Patrick Swayze

Rest in peace, Patrick. I thought you were the best!

Facebook

Well, I'm getting more and more hooked on Facebook. I have 4 farms, a tank of fish, wonderful friends and family, a game of Farkle, an apartment in YoVille, and a Las Vegas slot spot! Now, one of my friends helped me put a link to this spot on that spot! How cool is that?!

Huh?

Just Click

Hi, all you animal lovers. This is pretty simple. Please tell ten friends to tell ten today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals.
It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on the purple box "fund food for animals" for free. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/negle cted animals in exchange for advertising.
Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.


http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com


AGAIN, PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS!!!

p.s. Don't forget the other tabs.... Hunger, Breast Cancer, Children's Health, Literacy and Rain Forest... a click a day for those, too!

Never Forget!

If we choose to forget, they win.

A Balanced Life

Washer

My washer came today! Hurray!!!

Help!

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OK. Is it me or is it Blogger? I am praying it is Blogger.

Update: It was, thankfully, Blogger!

Simple Joys

New Washer

Well, I finally did it. I bought a new washer. Sticker shock wouldn't even begin to describe it. I did not end up with a front loader. The deciding factor in that was that you have to leave the door to the washer open for the rubber seal to breath between washings. With two nosy kittehs, that would definitely not work. So, I got another Whirlpool. We will see how this one works out. You don't pick a water level, it does it for you (don't ask ME how it knows how much water to put in it). You can pick your water temperature and whether you are using fabric softener or not. You also don't pick the time you need the clothes to wash. It is supposed to know that too. We will see if that works or not. They may be coming to get it if it doesn't know how to do those things! I could also have any color I wanted as long as it was white.