Thursday, December 18, 2008

ON VACATION....

This blog is closing down for the Christmas holiday. Blogging will resume on January 5. Have a blessed Christmas and a very happy New Year.

Thanks for stopping in.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The Silent Treatment...

Have you ever had a disagreement with your hubby and then gave him the "silent treatment?" Most women have. Sometmes men do the same, but they just aren't as good as women. Check out the story below...

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 AM." He left it where he knew she would find it.

The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't woken him. Then he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The note said, "It is 4:00 AM. Wake up."

Men just are not equipped for these kinds of contests.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Creativity Breeds in Chaos...

My writing office has taken over. I no longer have control. I squeeze myself to my keyboard which is surrounded by pop cans, bible, nail cream, organizer, magazines, important mail, address labels, a storyboard, cups of pens and markers, a box of tissues, phone, a bowl of stale popcorn, lists...

I cannot think in this chaos. Yet, this is when I can allow my fingers to fly across the keyboard without worrying about editing, or getting every word just right. I don't look around, I keep my eyes focused on the monitor, and give free rein to my brain. I don't have to think. I just have to write.

And the story flows....

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, December 12, 2008

A Snail Tale...

Two snails were taking a leisurely walk one day enjoying the beautiful fall weather. Suddenly a turtle jumped out of the bushes and beat them senseless. Hours later they awoke in the hospital. The doctor looked grim and said, "You've received a lot of injuries and it would be helpful if you could tell me what happened." Both snails replied...


Are you ready for this?



"We don't know. It all happened so fast!"


Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

What To Do When You Can't Sleep...

Pull out a hand-held game of Phase 10 and play a classic game...and win. Listen to the song play while reading "you win!".

Read three chapters of a book which you started, but isn't too exciting to put down. Close the book and get out of bed.

Decide what to order for your upcoming Christmas party. Count up how much money it's going to set you back, but still it's worth it not to cook.

Eat cheese and crackers. Think about hot chocolate and decide it's too much trouble.

Read through the latest Lifeway Christian Stores flyer.

Make a list of the people who will be coming to your Christmas party and make sure you have enough gifts.

Look through your change and get excited because you have one of the last three quarters you need to complete your set.

Pick up the book you put down earlier and read another chapter.

Write a blog....

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

I Want a GPS for Christmas

I'm directionally challenged, although with a map I can find the right direction by turning the map so that it's facing the direction we're going...that's when hubby is driving and I'm the navigator. However, I do a lot of driving on my own and I try to follow the directions on Mapquest. This is a challenge when traveling by yourself or waiting for my co-rider to catch up and read the directions before I pass my turn. So, I want a GPS for Christmas. I'm buying it for myself out of my Christmas bonus. But, I don't know the first thing about them. I need something easy...no hard installation, and I don't want to leave it in the car to be stolen. I do want it to talk to me and tell me where to turn, rather than have to constantly look at the map.

So, can anyone give me some guidance? I've been reading the specs on-line which only confuses me more. And I don't want to spend over $150. I'm cheap, but I want the best for my money. **grin**

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Christmas Tree Trimming...for cats...

It's that time of year again when we put up our artificial tree, spend hours arranging the lights, adding the ornaments, ribbons, and birds...

Yep, this is the year of the "red" Christmas tree. The tree with the red poinsettias, and red cardinals. Two years ago, the cats managed to practically destroy the tree by climbing and laying on the branches, snatching the poinsettias and birds and batting the red satin balls around the floor. Once, they knocked the entire tree over. By the time Christmas morning arrived, both the tree and I were bedraggled and wishing it was New Year's.

This year, the cats are two years older, so I'm hoping for the best. So far, I've only had to replace a few of the satin balls after hearing them hit the floor and go rolling...with a cat in hot pursuit.

The entire bottom of the tree has no ornaments at all, but this hasn't discouraged the cats from going after their prey. So far, they haven't attempted climbing the tree...thankfully, for the cardinals are resting in the highest branches. But, who knows. Tomorrow I may come home from work and find that beautiful tree...destroyed.

Ho, ho, ho!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Monday, December 08, 2008

Honey, Who Took the Remote?

Have you seen your hubby hold a remote (which obviously needs new batteries) and click it over and over to no avail? Have you seen him stand and move closer and closer to the screen as he tries to make it work?

Well, I received a humorous email which I felt was very appropriate during this commercial Christmas rush. I mean, after all, aren't we women the ones who are responsible for purchasing the majority of the gifts? And, while we are out shopping, our hubbies are sitting in the recliner, remote in hand, enjoying football.

Enjoy!

"Cash, check or charge?" I asked after folding items the woman wished to purchase. As she fumbled for her wallet, I noticed a remote control for a television set in her purse. "So do you always carry your TV remote?" I asked. "No," she replied, "but my husband refused to come shopping with me. I figured this was hte most evil thing I could do to him legally."

Thanks for stopping by...and remember to laugh. It's healthy!

Friday, December 05, 2008

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall

My friend and I walk on our breaks at work. We bundle up and laugh at the cold, biting air. Tears escape from the bite of the wind and run down my cheeks, but when we're finished I feel so renewed.

Today, I was pretty well chained to my desk except for those two breaks. When I went to the ladies room, I did what needed to be done, washed my hands and escaped back to my desk.

Late this afternoon, while making a bathroom trip, I looked up and caught sight of my reflection...and the black smudged below and beside my eyes, trails coursing down one cheek. Egads! And no one had told me!

Now, I imagine all the men thought I was in my office all day crying. **sigh** I wonder if I can milk this and get some sympathy gifts? I mean, after all, Christmas is coming.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Suntan Lotion for Your Cat??????

I thought I had heard it all...until I turned over my daily cat calendar to find a beautiful white cat. It was sitting in profile on a fence post. Then I read the caption. I couldn't believe it.

The gist--if you have a cat with a white face, it is very sensitive to the sun. And, you should get a special suntan lotion for protection.

I don't know about you, but I've never seen a sunburned cat. Have you?

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

It's That Time of Year Again...

Every year, following the tradition of my mother, I purchase Christmas cards to send to family and close friends. This year, I bought two boxes while browsing through Barnes and Noble. The cards are beautiful renditions of Thomas Kincaide.

They've been sitting on my desk for three days now. I stare at them and know I must make time to sign and address them. I vow to mail them early this year so they will be received before Christmas.

Let's see--there are twenty two days left. It will take me at least two days to get them ready. I have to stand in line at the post office and purchase Christmas stamps. I have to work every day and have only my lunch hours free...but I don't want to work on Christmas cards at lunch. That would be stressful. I need to unstress by reading. That leaves the evenings. But then I have to cook dinner, clean up, exercise, do some writing...hmmm. What about the weekends?

I have to grocery shop and clean house on Saturday in preparation for a writer's group meeting at my house on Sunday after church. Ah, the following weekend...nope. That's reserved for our family get-together. And then...Oops the last weekend before Christmas. If I mail the cards on the 22nd they probably won't arrive before Christmas...again.

Why do I put myself through all this stress? Ah, but the cards are so beautiful...

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Braving the Elements...

My friend and I walk on our breaks at work. We started doing this last July and we have been faithful. We walked when the temps were in the high eighties and even nineties when sweat dripped from our armpits and people cleared the hallways when we returned. Now the weather has changed...drastically, but we have continued walking when it isn't raining and the wind isn't howling.

Today we bundled up and headed out the door to brave the elements. Snowflakes drifted around us. We wore winter jackets and matching knit hats bearing "Samuel Adams" on the earpieces (the emblem meaning the ale, not the man). Such cute little earflaps with knitted ends to tie under our chins. The end result meant our hair would be sculpted to our heads for the remainder of the day. We turned the corner and felt the wind blowing against our backs. We chatted and continued walking, enjoying the brisk weather and the glowing feeling in our cheeks. A half-mile later, we looped around and headed back...directly into the wind.

Even the ear flaps couldn't stop the fingers of cold from driving down into my ear canals. And my nose! Can we say icicles formed on the hairs inside? And those beautiful snowflakes now froze on my glasses and burned the exposed areas of my face. I looked at my friend and thought she'd turned into the headless horseman. All I saw was the collar of her coat, but then I noticed a bit of blue plaid...the top of that Sam Adams cap. I couldn't laugh for to do so would mean getting frostbite of the lungs. The last half-hour of that walk was equivalent to "dead man walking."

Needless to say, we did not go outdoors to walk in the afternoon. I suppose they'll find our frozen bodies sometime tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.