0 TO 60....WAY TO FAST FOR ME!

Received this in an email and thought it was fitting for my upcoming birthday!

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events.
The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general..

The Grandmother replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born before:

' television
' penicillin
' polio shots
' frozen foods
' Xerox
' contact lenses
' Frisbees and
' the pill

There were no:

' credit cards
' laser beams or
' ball-point pens

Man had not invented:

' pantyhose
' air conditioners
' dishwashers
' clothes dryers
' and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and
' man hadn't yet walked on the moon

Your Grandfather and I got married first, .. ... ... and then lived together..

Every family had a father and a mother.

Until I was 25, I called every man older than me, "Sir".
And after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir."

We were before gay-rights, computer- dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.
Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense.

We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.

Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege...

We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent.

Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins.

Draft dodgers were those who closed front doors as the evening breeze started.

Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums.

We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings.

We listened to Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios.

And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.

If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk

The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam....

Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.

We had 5 &10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents.

Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel.

And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards.

You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600, . .. . but who could afford one?
Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon.

In my day:

' "grass" was mowed,
' "coke" was a cold drink,
' "pot" was something your mother cooked in and
' "rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby.
' "Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office,
' " chip" meant a piece of wood,
' "hardware" was found in a hardware store and
' "software" wasn't even a word.

And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby.

No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap. and how old do you think I am?

I bet you have this old lady in mind....you are in for a shock!

Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time.

Are you ready ?????

This woman would be only 59 years old!

That's me until Monday!


New post at Debby's Tree today!

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

Click on the button and get your questions from Joyce!

1. It is officially fall here in North America...I realize not everyone who participates in the Hodgepodge lives in North America but if you do, what's your favorite memory of Summer 2011? If you're not in North America, what's your favorite memory of the season just ending on your side of the world?
Well that would be my 3 week trip to Europe. London ~ Paris ~ Italy

2. Your favorite nut? You know I mean the edible kind, right?
I think maybe it's the cashew but their is a new nut at Costco that I am in love with. It is a cross between an almond and macadamia.

3. What activity puts your sense of balance to the test?
Nothing that I can think of. This girl loves the Tilt-A-Whirl. My family says I should have been an astronaut.

4. How would you describe your sense of humor?
It has always been really great but lately I'm just too crabby to be funny.

5. September 28th is National Ask a Stupid Question Day...what's your stupid question?
Do people melt in the rain?

6. Roller skates~hula hoop~jump rope...which activity would you most enjoy? Yes, you have to choose.
I think at this point and time in my life I would like to skate.

7. What's your most sentimental possession?
Okay, this is a hard one. I have a giraffe that means a lot to me. It was one of those gifts that I mentioned in passing. The one you want your husband to remember but he never really remembers those things. He always wants a list! Well this particular time he remembered. It was like over 30 years ago. I also have a small white bible that belonged to my mother and I carried it when I got remarried to my husband in '89. I also carried a handkerchief that belonged to my dad with the initial "R" on it.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
If you have been following me for awhile you might remember this post where I wasn't really thrilled about our empty nest becoming full again. Our daughter, son-in-law and their dog Charlie moved in here with us in March a year and a half ago. Well it has really turned out to be very nice. It gives Mark and I the opportunity to travel with them being here to watch the house and Skye. Well they are all out of town this week and I miss them. Skye is moping around missing all of them :( Never thought these words would come out of my mouth!

POST IT NOTE TUESDAY + 2 ON TUESDAY

This is fun, you should try it!

Thought I would give this a try today!

What two television shows that have gone off the air do you miss?

Well I just mentioned one in my Post It Notes: ALL MY CHILDREN

I miss Brothers & Sisters, I really loved that show.

FAIR+FOOD+FUN=

A Great Day!

(click to enlarge the photos)

Let's see how much we can eat!

Let the games begin! I was thankful Dylan road the Tilt-A-Whirl with me. I could ride all day. I LOVE IT! He was a good sport. They would not let people ride single otherwise I would have road it a dozen more times.

A wonderful small train village.

Some silly fun!

Fun at Photobucket!

Let me just say that almost all of us could have gotten into Disneyland for what we spent! Even got in for $1.00!!! How do people do it with a large family? I really feel sorry for those on a strict budget.


You can see Amber riding the bull at the Fair here!
Head on over and watch it.....

P.S. If you follow Debby's Tree there is a new post to see!

PLAYING HOOKIE

Rather then write my post about the L A County Fair and all the fun foods that I ate I played hookie today. I played around on Photobucket and I pinned for several hours at Pinterest! So in the meantime you can enjoy these photos.

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

Click on the button and join in!

1. Do you like chili? Red or white? Beans or no beans? Spice or no spice? Toppings?
Yes I like chili. Actually I now make a black bean chili that we love. (our daughter doesn't eat meat) I can't say it's real spicy. We like cheese and sour cream on top.

2. Red~Orange~Gold...your favorite fall color?
I would have to pick Orange.

3. Who did you idolize when you were growing up?
Don't remember anyone special when I was young. But as I got older it has always been Barry Manilow and John Travolta. Always and forever!

4. When was the last time you did something 'arts and craftsy'? Share please.
Haven't done anything in a long time. I am pretty good at ordering pictures on canvas, that is art you know!

5. What's a place that makes you really nervous?
The dentist so I don't go! I think jury duty makes me nervous too.

6. Horse back riding...yay or nay (neigh?)
Haven't been in awhile but I say yay!

7. What is your favorite cliche?
Are you kidding me! ~ Honest to God ~ No way! ~ I can't believe it!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

While staying in London near the airport at a Marriott Hotel I fell in love with the lotion they had in the bathroom. I actually borrowed some extra ones from a cart. {shoosh} I finally googled it, its only been close to three months since we came home! Anyway it is from Pecksniff's and it's from their mood therapy line called CALM: Relax and de-stress with orange, mandarin, coriander, nutmeg and geranium. I thought it might be clove because it certainly has a hint of it and I love it. So needless to say I have an order coming over from Brighton, East Sussex UK which is where their flagship store is. I am also trying the cologne and a candle. Honestly I wish I could put my arm through your screen so you could smell this stuff!

POST IT NOTE TUESDAY ~ EARLY EDITION ~

Click the button and join in!

I HAVE MORE TO SAY....

After Sunday September 11, 2011 I have been going over a lot of things in my head. I wanted to share a few of my thoughts with you.

I come from a family of worriers, it's in our blood. I can also say I am a bit of a "the glass is half full" person. I was the girl, when girl scouts was planning a camping trip, who said "but what if it rains?" There is a dark side to me that I don't like. My mind will, on occasion, be burying someone in my family. This doesn't control my life but I do go there more often then I desire. Sometimes I just say "evil demons get out of my mind." I didn't think I had passed the worrying on to my children but I do remember a time when I was trying to convince my son, who was maybe 7 at the time, to wear boxer shorts to bed in the summer and he said "but what if there is a fire?" He had to be in pajamas to be prepared for the worse. So maybe I passed a few worries on to them! You should see how overprotective I am with Skye!

This is why I don't read the paper or watch the news on television. I just need to stay in my own little world because it is already too heavy for me to handle at times. Yet I have been so blessed from God, He has given me so many things to be thankful for. There are things from my childhood that I don't remember and I learned to block out pain. I cry more now but it doesn't always come when it should, it will come more when I am alone. Imagine going to the funeral for your friends 13 year old son and not being able to cry. I am not a cold person, my heart is filled with compassion and I think you would agree with me on this.

I need to know the good after the bad. I need to know there is hope after loss. I crave the beauty after the storm. I remember when one of our neighbors years ago lost their son who was in high school to a heart attack. It was so sad. Then a few months later I heard the mother on the phone talking with someone and she was laughing. I can't even describe what that did for my heart. The fact that she would be able to laugh again was something I needed to know.

So I decided that I did not want to spend 9/11 watching memorial services because I knew I would have a hard time but still wanted to honor those who lost their lives. I prayed for everyone, keeping them in my thoughts all day. What I did watch were some specials that sounded very interesting. On Showtime I watched a show called Rebirth, a documentary that followed the lives of five people who suffered grievous losses on 9/11. It focused on their recovery and hope for the future. It took you through the years from 2001 and how their lives have changed. Then I watched a special on the History channel called Making the 9/11 Memorial. This show was amazing and I hope to visit the memorial site someday. I also watched two special on the OWN channel that were very good. One was called Twins of the Twin Towers. There were approximately 46 twins who lost their twin on 9/11. This was a British documentary and it was excellent. The other one was called From the Ground Up which profiled the widows of five NYC firefighters who died on 9/11. These shows did show footage from that day but all the shows focused on their lives following that horrific day. They showed where they are today, showing the courage it took for them to move forward. If you ever see them in your guide they are definitely worth watching.

So many lives changed that day. There was of course the lives of the families who lost their loved ones, they would never be the same and our country would forever be changed. I just recently read a post from a friend I follow and never realized how something like this changed her life and the life of so many others who had parents in the service. She was 16 at the time when her mother was called to duty following 9/11. At 16 years old she was now going to help her father and her younger brother during her mothers absence. My friend is Kerri over at Wish You Were Here . I would love for you to read her post from 9/11. Her mother was recently on leave and they were able to spend some nice quality time with her. They had a family day where her mother was awarded for her service while being deployed and Kerri was also honored with a medal for her help and service while her mother was gone. I think it was awesome that they honored her. So head on over and give Kerri a big hug!

New post over at Debby's Tree. (Series Part Two)

You can vote for me "Just Breathe" at Free Fringes!

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

Hodgepodge Questions-Vol 44

1. What do you do at the first sign of a cold? Will you get a flu shot this year?
As soon as I get that first sign I know it will be in my lungs the next day. I often have to up my steroids and if that's not enough I need to get medication from the doctor. No I do not get flu shots. I had an allergy doctor many years ago who told me I should not get them. I know I am in the group who should but I seldom get the flu.

2. What advice can you give about how to conquer fear?
It depends on the fear but I would suggest putting your trust in God. If the fear is keeping you at home keeping you from living your life then you need to seek medical help.

3. Share two good things about your life right now.
(1)The fact that both of our children have grown into wonderful adults, are our friends and that they both have people in their lives who love them. (2) The fact that the people in my life whom I love dearly are all currently healthy.

4. A hot fall fashion trend in 2011 is a return to sixties style...tunics with pants, shift dresses, pencil skirts, cinched waists, bold prints, high necklines and short lengths to name a few. How does this fashion trend fit with your wardrobe and personal sense of style?
It doesn't fit in at all for me. I do not have the body to wear these things. I do at times wear a long tunic with pants but that's about it.

5. Were you involved in scouting as a kid? How about as an adult?
Yes I was a girl scout. No I haven't been involved as an adult.

6. Apple, pear, plum, pumpkin...your favorite fall flavor?
Pumpkin! But I love them all.

7. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher?
Compassion and patience.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Well tonight is the Big Brother season finale. I am actually going out most of the day, visiting with a dear friend and her children, so I don't have to be a big ball of nervousness all day! I absolutely love this show, have followed for all of the seasons. I am always sad when it ends and I will also miss my three hours that I tape each night on Showtime called After Dark. That is when you really get to know them. I usually watch it in the morning while I blog.

FLOWERS IN HER HAIR

Flowers everywhere.... It's been awhile since I did a Miss Skye B post!

Remember this song from the Cowsills in 1967. I was in High School at the time. Anyway we have these beautiful flowing bushes in the yard and she of course is always chasing something around them. She will come out with flowers all over her. I sing that song whenever I see her with flowers in her hair. Of course the flowers end up everywhere, especially all around the house! (can you see how much she needed a haircut?)

Then I knew (I knew... I knew... I knew... I knew)
She could make me happy (happy... happy)
(She could make me very happy)
Flowers in her hair (in her hair)
Flowers everywhere (everywhere)

Every once in awhile we will give Skye a water bottle to play with. She loves to play with them. (yes I am aware of the dangers of her swallowing plastic, we are very careful and keep a very close watch on her and the bottle) We get a kick out of the way she holds it up like a baby bottle. Someday I will have to get a baby bottle and get some pictures of her!

Skye and Charlie in the pool this summer. This year Charlie just would not allow one toy in the pool. Put them in and he worked very hard until they all were out of the pool. He would do this over and over again. Skye is always looking for something in the bottom, only God knows what, and she is always dipping her face in to get it!

I think I mentioned on Tuesday how crazy Skye is about the lizards in the yard. She has to check each spot each morning, all the places they like to hang out at! She saw one go into these bushes the other day and followed it into in! She is on the hunt all day long. So last Sunday she saw a lizard go under the metal umbrella holder in the yard. She was there all day waiting for it to leave! She is very OCD about lizards and her pink tennis ball.

Well here she is after her haircut on Wednesday. It's a little shorter then I usually do but it grows pretty fast and she has a very thick coat so within a few weeks she will be a cute bundle of fur again! She spent the rest of the day sleeping.

(I love the flower girl)
Oh I don't know just why; she simply caught my eye
(I love the flower girl)
She seemed so sweet and kind; she crept into my mind
(To my mind ... to my mind)

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