Ann

As we get older we sometimes begin to doubt our ability to "make a difference" in the world. It is at these times that our hopes are boosted by the remarkable achievements of other "seniors" who have found the courage to take on challenges that would make many of us wither. Harold Sclumberg is such a person. Very inspiring. I've often been asked, 'What do you old folks do now that you're retired'? Well..I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and one of the things I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, Scotch, and margaritas into urine. And I'm pretty damn good at it, too!!

Democrats, realizing the success of the President's 'Cash For Clunkers' rebate program,have revamped a major portion of their National Health Care Plan. President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Sen. Reed are expected to make this major announcement at a joint news conference later this week. I have obtained an advanced copy of the proposal which is named: "CASH FOR CODGERS" and it works like this -- Couples wishing to access health care funds in order to pay for the delivery of a child will be required to turn in one old person. The amount the government grants them will be fixed according to a sliding scale. Older and more prescription dependent codgers will garner the highest amounts. Special "Bonuses" will be paid for those submitting codgers in targeted groups, such as smokers, alcohol drinkers, persons 10 pounds over their government prescribed weight, and any member of the Republican Party. Smaller bonuses will be given for codgers who consume beef, soda, fried foods, potato chips, lattes, whole milk, dairy products, bacon, Brussel sprouts, or Girl Scout Cookies. All codgers will be rendered totally useless via toxic injection. This will insure that they are not secretly resold or their body parts harvested to keep other codgers in repair.

When I'm really bored, I clean house. I hate dusting and usually being bored stiff is all that can coax me into dusting.

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-lb. potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, then relax. Each day, you’ll find that a you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags. Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand, still holding your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.) After you feel confident at this level, put a potato in each bag. --

When you are bored, what do you do to pass the time?

Carrots, Eggs & Coffee A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again. A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling... It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them boil; without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.... Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee.. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?' Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. 'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying. May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!

The doctor, after an examination, sighed and said, 'I've got some bad news. You have cancer, and you'd best put your affairs in order..' The woman was shocked, but managed to compose herself and walk into the waiting room where her daughter had been waiting. 'Well, daughter, we women celebrate when things are good, and we celebrate when things don't go so well. In this case, things aren't well. I have cancer. So, let's head to the club and have a martini.' After 3 or 4 martinis, the two were feeling a little less somber. There were some laughs and more martinis. They were eventually approached by some of the woman's old friends, who were curious as to what the two were celebrating. The woman told her friends they were drinking to her impending end, 'I've been diagnosed with AIDS.' The friends were aghast, gave the woman their condolences and beat a hasty retreat. After the friends left, the woman's daughter leaned over and whispered, 'Momma, I thought you said you were dying of cancer, and you just told your friends you were dying of AIDS! Why did you do that??' 'Because I don't want any of those bitches sleeping with your father after I'm gone.' And THAT, my friends, is what is called, 'Putting Your Affairs In Order.' THOUGHT FOR THE DAY... Women are like phones: They like to be held, talked to, and touched often. But push the wrong button and your but is disconnected.

The IRS decides to audit Grandpa, and summons him to the IRS office. The IRS auditor was not surprised when Grandpa showed up with his attorney. The auditor said, 'Well, sir, you have an extravagant lifestyle and no full-time employment, Which you explain by saying that you win money 000. I'm not sure the IRS finds that believable.' I'm a great gambler, and I can prove it,' says Grandpa. 'How about a demonstration?' The auditor thinks for a moment and said, 'Okay. Go ahead.' Grandpa says, 'I'll bet you a thousand dollars that I can bite my own eye.' The auditor thinks a moment and says, 'It's a bet..' Grandpa removes his glass eye and bites it. The auditor's jaw drops. Grandpa says, 'Now, I'll bet you two thousand dollars that I can bite my other eye.' Now the auditor can tell Grandpa isn't blind, so he takes the bet.. Grandpa removes his dentures and bites his good eye. The stunned auditor now realizes he has wagered and lost three grand, with Grandpa's attorney as a witness. He starts to get nervous. 'Want to go double or nothing?' Grandpa asks 'I'll bet you six thousand dollars that I can stand on one side of your desk, and pee into that wastebasket on the other side, and never get a drop anywhere in between.' The auditor, twice burned, is cautious now, but he looks carefully and decides there's no way this old guy could possibly manage that stunt, so he agrees again. Grandpa stands beside the desk and unzips his pants, but although he strains mightily, he can't make the stream reach the wastebasket on the other side, so he pretty much urinates all over the auditor's desk. The auditor leaps with joy, realizing that he has just turned a major loss into a huge win. But Grandpa's own attorney moans and puts his head in his hands. 'Are you okay?' the auditor asks. 'Not really,' says the attorney. 'This morning, when Grandpa told me he'd been summoned for an audit, he bet me twenty-five thousand dollars that he could come in here and pee all over your desk and that you'd be happy about it!' Don't Mess with Old People!!

Judy...I am so happy to hear your results were great!!!! I'm so happy to hear about good things!!!

I love pickles!!! I love dill pickles probably the best and the crunchier the better. But, I love sweet pickles, too. When I have a grilled cheese sandwich, I have to have sweet pickle sliced on the side. Hubby introduced me to Mrs. Fannings sweet pickles and they're wonderful. But....I really love FRIED DILL PICKLES!!! Lil...I definitely am going to try your recipe. It sounds really good. I think I might want to add the pepper and kick 'em up a notch, as Emeril would say.

First of all, I have to ask where this month has gone? It seems like it was just August 1st a couple of days ago. Is time flying by quickly for everyone or is it just happening to me? I do remember that my mom used to tell me that older you become, the faster time flies by you. I do believe her words, now that I'm getting older!!! Now, for the question...... What is your favorite kind of pickles? No the name brand but the type of pickle itself?

Praying for only good results!!!

Praying for only good results!!!

Friday....my favorite day of the week has finally arrived. Since I love Fridays, I'm assuming everyone else does so, too, so here's your question.... Name one thing you are doing today, just because it's fun.

Friday....my favorite day of the week has finally arrived. Since I love Fridays, I'm assuming everyone else does so, too, so here's your question.... Name one thing you are doing today, just because it's fun.

Not cancer related but something someone here may need.... http://www.allaboutvision.com/viewpoint ... eniors.htm

Debbie...I'm so very sorry for the loss of your co-worker and friend. I know what a terrible effect this must be having on you. I'm thinking of you and praying you through these next few days.

It sounds like you came out alright on this one, Heidi. Glad you were able to avoid the traffic jams. I'm so excited that tomorrow will be my Friday!!! Ann

Now, I'll explain why I was asking this question. I have a friend that lives in the same area I live in but, due to work and life in general, we only see each other a couple of times a year. Her sons and my sons are very good friends and I see them often. I left my cell phone in the car on Friday night and when I got in the car on Saturday morning, there were multiple calls from one number. I thought the number looked familiar but wasn't sure whose number it was. So, I dialed and her husband answered and said she had been trying to phone me. I could hear in her voice that she was upset and was very afraid that she had bad news of some sort. She explained that she has had very few premonitions in her life but when they have happened, they have been very accurate. She told me about the latest, which had happened while she was driving past out local hospital. The vision was very realistic and involved a sniper with an assualt rifle on top of the hospital. She said she had felt a strong need to call me and warn me. She begged me to avoid that area for a couple of weeks. What she didn't know at the time was that I work less than 1/4 of a mile from that hospital. She was pretty freaked when I told her that. What I didn't tell her was about my son's appointment yesterday, which was at that hospital. During the entire appointment, I was starring out the window with my eyes glued on the roof. So, obviously nothing happened yesterday but I took this warning seriously. I still feel as if I should avoid passing by the hospital. What do you think???

Although I try really hard to order new, different things I usually stick with something that I've had before and liked. For years, I've been a TGIF Friday's fan. I can honestly say that I have never had a bad experience at a Friday's. I love their Jack Daniels Sauce and anything is good that I can put that sauce on...lol.

Do you believe in premonitions? Have you ever had a premonition or known someone that has them?

Heidi, I'm so envious of you!! I wish today was my Friday!!! Yes, I know that feeling of no work, no pay = no play all too well. I really don't mind working and am so thankful to have a job during these difficult economic times but when things are slow at work, the days just seem to drag on and that drives me crazy. I love working in a fast paced environment and that's just not happening right now. I love those days when you come in, work like mad and then look at the clock and the day's almost gone. Judy...sorry your eye is bugging you again. It sounds like allergies to me. I have problems with my eyes when there's a lot of oak pollen in the air. We're still hot, wet and humid here. We're supposed to get some big, choppy waves from Hurricane Bill this weekend and we're 900 miles away from Bill. I'm sure glad he isn't coming to visit us and I hope everyone else avoids him. GOOD NEWS - My son got the pins removed from his hand yesterday AND the cast came off!!! He was thrilled to have air circulating on his arm. He has to wear a splint but he can take it off to shower. He starts Occupational Therapy this afternoon, so that will get him out of the house. So...one more day until Friday!!! Yippee!!

Another very hot and humid day here on Florida's Space Coast. There's no rain yet but we are supposed to get very heavy rains all afternoon that will last until about midnight, as a result from Ana. I'm just so glad that Bill is staying on track and is still expected to turn, as that is one heck of a storm. The last think we need here is another hurricane. A lot of people are still trying to get their homes back in order after Francis and Jeanne in 2004. Many people had no insurance and have just had to repair things a little at a time. I'm taking my son to the ortho today to hopefully get the pins out of his hand. We thought they were coming out 3 weeks ago but the healing had not progressed as the doctor had anticipated, so he left them in for an additional 3 weeks. He has been more patient with this than I ever anticipated. Wearing a cast in this heat would have already driven me crazier than I already am. Good luck at the dentist, Judy. Making an appointment with the dentist is something I have been putting off for a while now, as I am petrified of even the thought of seeing a dentist!!! Denise...hope you get some new information from the EEG. Epilepsy can be a very difficult thing to diagnose. Also, congrats on finding your sister. I'm adopted and I can relate to your excitement. And yes, Facebook is great. I just found my best friend from over 40 years ago on Facebook and we are having a ball!!!

When you go into a restaurant that you've eaten at before, do you order something different or do you always order the same thing, knowing you've liked it before?

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Your Mum must have been one very special lady.