Ann

Happy

I think I could handle 3 days alone without leaving the house. I can't even imagine how many things I would get caught up on. Wow...electricity would hopefully mean that my 'puter was up and running!

Would you be happy to stay home alone for 3 days... not going out of the house for anything? (You would be prepared for it, and yes, you have electricity and heat)

I love our Becky Snowflake!!!!

If Men Got Pregnant: Maternity leave would last two years...with full pay There would be a cure for stretch marks Natural childbirth would become obsolete Morning sickness would rank as the nation's #1 health problem All methods of birth control would be 100% effective Children would be kept in the hospital until toilet trained Men would be eager to talk about commitment They wouldn't think twins were so cute Sons would have to be home from dates by 10:00 PM Briefcases would be used as diaper bags Paternity suits would be a fashion line of clothes They'd stay in bed during the entire pregnancy Restaurants would include ice cream and pickles as main entrees Women would rule the world!!!

Click on the numbers from 1 to 33 in order. http://flash.abunawaf.com/2005/12/game33.swf

I'm usually much better at faces than remembering names but not always. I tend to associate faces with the places that I usually see the person, so when I see that person somewhere else I have a hard time remembering exactly who they are. For instance, I have been going into one little shop here for years. I know the owner, know her name and always call her by name when I go into the shop. Well...I saw her at Target once and totally couldn't remember who she was. Eventually, it hit me who she was but what a scary feeling until I remembered. For weeks, I was sure that Alzheimer and I were destined to meet. Unfortunately, I don't have any good tips for remembering names.

Can you name each person's dog on the list below? example: Charlie Brown's dog = Snoopy (answer) Here's the list: 1. Barry Manilow's dog 2. Betty Boop's dog 3. Adolph Hitler's dog 4. Dennis the Menace's dog 5. Superman's dog 6. Marylin Monroe's dog 7. Grizzly Adams' dog 8. Swiss Family Robinson's dog

Are you better at remembering names or faces? Do you have any tricks up your sleeve for remembering names?

Theory of a "Thousand Marbles." The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable. A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it: I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whom-ever he was talking with something about "a thousand marbles." I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say. "Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. It's too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital" he continued. "Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles." "You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years. "Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays." "I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear." "Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight." "Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time." "It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. This is a 75 Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!" You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter.. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles...

A Lick And A Promise "I'll just give this a lick and a promise," my mother said as she quickly mopped up a spill on the floor without moving any of the furniture. "What is that supposed to mean," I asked as in my young mind I envisioned someone licking the floor with his or her tongue. "It means that I'm in a hurry and I'm busy canning tomatoes so I am going to just give it a lick with the mop and promise to come back and do the job right later. "A lick and a promise" was just one of the many old phrases that I remember my mother, grandmother, and others using that they probably heard from the generations before them. With the passing of time, many old phrases become obsolete or even disappear.This is unfortunate because some of them are very appropriate and humorous. Here is a list that I came up with that I remember my parents and grandparents using that we don't hear much anymore. Perhaps you have some memorable old phrases of your own that you could add to the list: A Bone to Pick (someone who wants to discuss a disagreement) An Axe to Grind (Someone who has a hidden motive.This phrase is said to have originated from Benjamin Franklin who told a story about a devious man who asked how a grinding wheel worked. He ended up walking away with his axe sharpened free of charge) A bad apple spoils the whole barrel (one corrupt person can cause all the others to go bad if you don't remove the bad one) At sea (lost or not understanding something) Bad Egg (Someone who was not a good person) Barking at a knot (meaning that your efforts were as useless as a dog barking at a knot.) Bee in your bonnet (To have an idea that won't let loose) Been through the mill (had a rough time of it) Between hay and grass (Not a child or an adult) Blinky (Between sweet and sour as in milk) Calaboose (a jail) Cattywampus (Something that sits crooked such as a piece of furniture sitting at an angle) Dicker (To barter or trade) Feather In Your Cap (to accomplish a goal. This came from years ago in wartime when warriors might receive a feather they would put in their cap for defeating an enemy) Hold your horses (Be patient!) I reckon (I suppose) Jawing (Talking or arguing) Kit and caboodle (The whole thing) Madder than an old wet hen (really angry) Needs taken down a notch or two (like notches in a belt usually a young person who thinks too highly of himself and needs a lesson) No Spring Chicken (Not young anymore) Persnickety (overly particular or snobbish) Pert-near (short for pretty near) Pretty is as pretty does (your actions are more important than your looks) Scalawag (a rascal or unprincipled person) Scarce as hen's teeth (something difficult to obtain) Skedaddle (Get out of here quickly) Sparking (courting) Straight >From the Horse's Mouth (privileged information from the one concerned) Stringing around, gallivanting around, or piddling (Not doing anything of value) Sunday go to meetin' dress (The best dress you had) We wash up real fine (is another goodie....) Tie the Knot (to get married) Too many irons in the fire (to be involved in too many things) Tuckered out (tired and all worn out) Under the weather (not feeling well this term came from going below deck on ships due to sea sickness thus you go below or under the weather) Wearing your "best bib and tucker" (Being all dressed up) You ain't the only duck in the pond (It's not all about you) No I didn't write this...I received it in an email Can you add any to this?????

What an amazing dream, Kim. I think you're right on with your thoughts about the meaning of the dream. Since Dennis died, I have had some really strange dreams. When I sit down and really think about what I dreamed, they usually have some special meaning.

Yep, Randy...made me laugh!!! How true!!!

Gutsy

Excerpts from a Dog's Daily Diary: 8:00 am-Dog food! My favorite thing! 9:30 am-A car ride! My favorite thing! 9:40 am-A walk in the park! My favorite thing! 10:30 am-Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing! 12:00 pm-Lunch! My favorite thing! 1:00 pm-Played in the yard! My favorite thing! 3:00 pm-Wagged my tail! My favorite thing! 5:00 pm-Milk bones! My favorite thing! 7:00 pm-Got to play ball! My favorite thing! 8:00 pm-Wow! Watched TV with my people! My favorite thing! 11:00 pm-Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing! Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary: Day 683 of my captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them; I once again vomit on the floor. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. The audacity! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return! He is obviously retarded ! The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe... for now...

Biscuits and Gravy

What's your favorite time of day? Are you a morning, afternoon or evening person?

Fat, of course

Don, thank you for posting the words to one of my very favorite songs. I think of Dennis every single time I hear this song. When I'm having a bad day or just having problems, it seems that this song will always come on the radio. It's almost like a "sign" that Dennis is right here with me. I know you can feel Lucie when you hear these words.

(((((((((((((((Sarah))))))))))))))

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

OK, let's name two things that go together like two peas in a pod. I'll start...... Milk and Cookies

You automatically double-knot everything you tie. You find yourself humming the Barney song as you do the dishes. You hear a baby cry in the grocery store, and you start to gently sway back and forth, back and forth. However, your children are at school! You actually start to like the smell of strained carrots mixed with applesauce. You weep through the scene in Dumbo when his mom is taken away, not to mention what Bambi does to you. You get soooo into crafts you contemplate writing a book called 101 Fun Crafts to do with Dryer Lint and Eggshells. You spend a half hour searching for your sunglasses only to have your teenager say, "Mom, why don't you wear the ones you pushed up on your head?" You are out for a nice romantic meal with your husband, enjoying some real adult conversation, when suddenly you realize that you've reached over and started to cut up his steak!

Three vampires walk into a bar and sit down at a table. The waitress comes over and asks the first vampire what he would like. The first vampire responds, "I vould like some blood." The waitress turns to the second vampire and asks what he would like. The vampire responds, "I vould like some blood." The waitress turns to the third vampire and asks what he would like. The vampire responds, "I vould like some plasma." The waitress looks up and says, "Let me see if I have this order correct. You want two bloods and a blood light?"

Years ago a Southern grandmother gave a new bride the following recipe: This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook - with spelling errors and all. WASHING CLOTHES Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes or house if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lye soap in boilin water. Sort things, make 3 piles 1 pile white, 1 pile colored, 1 pile work britches and rags. Boil good whites first. To make starch, get starch tub, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water. Take white things, rub dirty spots on scrub board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored. Wrench whites first. Don't boil colored, just wrench and starch. Take things out of boilin kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench in wrench tub, and starch in starch tub. Hang good clothes on line. Check clothespins for splintrs and clothesline for bird droppins. Hang old rags on fence. Spread tea towels on grass. Watch for rain clouds. Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. Turn tubs upside down. Wash up, put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew up cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings. After a spell, take in, fold up dry clothes. Sprinkle water on ironin peces. Roll up each pece tight in a wad. Put all together in ironin basket. ================================================ Paste this over your washer and dryer. Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks. First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer, also your toilet---those two-holers used to get mighty cold!