Ann

Although my financial situation is really the pits right now, I would have to turn down the offer. You see, I'm such a sentimental person and I love all my little "treasures" even if they are worthless. I just can't imagine leaving behind family photos, old butter churns, grandma's kitchen utensils, etc. Although the money could buy a lot of nice, new stuff and lots of peace of mind right now....my heart would be broken. And, there's not enough money to mend a broken heart!!!

Ginny...We both agree on Dancing and Idol. I love Dacid Cook and he is far from my usual style either music or musicians. I am very glad that Amanda went home last night!!! She must have thought this was a screaming contest, rather than a singing contest. People keep comparing her to Joplin but I can see no similarities. I was a Joplin fan and I could understand the words she was singing. I haven't been watching The Biggest Loser. I guess I should have been, as one of the finalists is from Titusville, which is in Brevard County, where I live. Our local paper has been giving her a lot of coverage. I can sympathize with your dilemma about what to watch, as I had the same problem with Deal or No Deal. As you know, I can't miss Howie!!! It's my goal to be a contestant on that show!!! I have the application but I need to find someone with the right camcorder (VHS format) to tape me and my support team. Hey gals....who wants to go with me to cheer me on? I need a support team of 3-4 people that are really outrageous. The wilder, the better!!!

Are you a Democrat, a Republican, or a Redneck? Here is a little test that will help you decide. The answer can be found by posing the following question: #You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, an Islamic Terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, praises Allah, raises the knife, and charges at you. You are carrying a Kimber 1911 cal. 45 ACP, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do? Democrat's Answer : Well, that's not enough information to answer the question! Does the man look poor or oppressed? Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack? Could we run away? What does my wife think? What about the kids? Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand? What does the law say about this situation? Does the pistol have appropriate safety built into it? Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind of message does this send to society and to my children? Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me? Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me? If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me? Should I call 9-1-1? Why is this street so deserted? We need to raise taxes, have paint and weed day and make this happier, healthier street that would discourage such behavior. This is all so confusing! I need to debate this with some friends for few days and try to come to a consensus. Republican's Answer: BANG! Redneck's Answer: BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG ! Click..... (Sounds of reloading) BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click Daughter: 'Nice grouping, Daddy! Were those the Winchester Silver Tips or Hollow Points?! ' Son: 'Can I shoot the next one?!' Wife: 'You ain't taking that to the Taxidermist

YOU COULD BE A REDNECK IF: A tornado hits your neighborhood and does $100,000 worth of improvements.

Paddy is driving home after downing a few at the local pub. He turns a corner and much to his horror he sees a tree in the middle of the road. He swerves to avoid it and almost too late realizes that there is yet another tree directly in his path. He swerves again and discovers that his drive home has turned into a slalom course, causing him to veer from side to side to avoid all the trees. Moments later he hears the sound of a police siren and brings his car to a stop. The officer, approaches Paddy's car and asks him what on earth he was doing. Paddy tells his story of the trees in the road when the officer stops him mid sentence and says, "Fer Chris sakes, Paddy, that's yer air freshener!"

How much do your family possessions and heirlooms mean to you? Let's imagine you were offered 1 million dollars to pack up your family and move into the home of your choice. One catch...you would be able to bring nothing with you except family and pets. Would you take that offer?

Randy, that's exactly where mine is going, too. But, I should have a few $$$ left over and I think I'll join Fred for a beer!!!

I just paid $3.19 yesterday, here in sunny Florida. Connie, you got a bargain...lol!!! I have been lumping all of my errands into one day of the week and doing them all at one time. I used to pop out to the store whenever I needed something but now, I plan meals more carefully, always make a list and try to shop for an entire week (or even two) at one time. This seems to be saving me money on groceries as well as gas.

HOW TO USE THE REBATE As you may have heard, the Bush Administration recently said that each and every one of would now get a nice rebate. If we spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China. If we spend it on gasoline it will all go to the Arabs. If we purchase a computer it will all go to India. If we purchase fruit and vegetables it will all go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. If we purchase a good car it will all go to Japan. If we purchase useless crap it will all go to Taiwan. None of it will help the American economy. We need to keep that money here in America. The only way to keep that money here at home is to buy beer, since those are the only businesses still in the US.

Since the increase in gas prices, what have you been doing to conserve?

Here, things really seem to have slowed down a lot. I have never seen a time, in the 20 years since I've lived in this area, that there haven't been any job listings in the paper for clerical, food service or miscellaneous. There are maybe three for domestic listings and about 15 daily for medical and professional. There are tons of foreclosures every week in my county (hundreds). The only place there seem to be lines is at the grocery store. People have drastically changed their grocery shopping habits. One Florida grocery chain, well known for quality and customer service but a little bit higher in price, has really been hurt by a lower price chain that has been having great sales. Not a good sign that people are willing to forego quality for price.

Lessons in Life By Regina Brett To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update: 1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. 12. It's OK to let your children see you cry. 13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it. 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry, God never blinks. 16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living or get busy dying. 17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today. 18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write. 19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer. 21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow. 23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain 25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years , will this matter?" 27. Always choose life. 28. Forgive everyone everything. 29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time. 31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch. 33. Believe in miracles. 34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do. 35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger. 36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young. 37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable. 38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. 41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful. 43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 45. The best is yet to come. 46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up. 47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 48. If you don't ask, you don't get. 49. Yield. 50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Although politicians and government officials are cautious about using the "R" word, do you think we're already in a recession?

Did anyone watch last night? It seems that a lot of the men are going to be really challenged this season. Tonight, I hope I can concentrate on watching the dancing, as it's so hard not to focus on Priscilla's lips!!!

Jackie....I tried your recipe and it was wonderful!!!

An Irish Pub Joke... An Irish man shows up in a pub one day and orders three pints of Guinness. He takes sips from each glass until they are empty and calls the bartender for three more. The bartender says, 'Sure it's up to yourself, but wouldn't you rather I was bringing them one at a time? Then they'll be fresh and cold.' 'Nah...' your man says, ' I'm preferrin' that ye bring 'em three at a time. You see, me and me two brothers would meet at a pub and drink and have good times. Now one is in Australia, the other in Canada and I'm here. We agreed before we split up that we'd drink to each other's honour this way.' 'Well,' says the bartender, 'that's a grand thing to do, all right. I'll bring the pints as you ask.' Well, time goes on and your man's peculiar habit is known and accepted by all the pub regulars. One day though, he comes in and orders only two pints. A hush falls over the pub. Naturally, everyone figures something happened to one of the brothers. A group of the regulars corner the bartender and finally persuade him to find out what happened. With a heavy heart, the bartender brings the two pints and says, 'Here's your pints... and let me offer my sincerest condolences. What happened?' The Irish man looks extremely puzzled for a moment, and then starts laughing. 'Oh, no, no, no! 'Tis nothing like that. You see, I've given up drinking for Lent...' An Irish Pub Joke... An Irish man has been at a pub all night drinking. The bartender finally says that the bar is closed. So your man stands up to leave and falls flat on his face. He figures he'll crawl outside and get some fresh air and maybe that will sober him up. Once outside he stands up but again falls flat on his face. He crawls home. Reaching the door he tries to stand up, and yet again, falls flat on his face. He crawls through the door and up the stairs. When he reaches his bed he summons the last of his strength and tries one final time to stand. It's no use. He tumbles into bed and is soon sound asleep, only to awaken the next morning to the sound of his wife standing over him shouting. 'So... you've been out drinking again!' 'How did you know?' he asks, his head hung in shame. 'The pub called-- you left your wheelchair down there again!' An Irish Pub Joke... An Irishman, an Englishman and a Scotsman go into a pub. Each orders a pint of Guinness. Just as the bartender hands them over, three flies buzz down and land-- one, two, three-- in each of the pints. The Englishman looks disgusted, pushes his pint away and demands another... the Scotsman picks out the fly, shrugs, and takes a long swallow. The Irishman reaches in to the glass, grabs the fly between his fingers and shakes him as hard as he can, shouting 'Spit it out, ya bloody b%$#@*! Spit it out!'

Today would have been my 30th wedding anniversary, had Dennis survived. Usually, on this date, I cry but today I just feel a little numb. I spent time this morning reflecting on 25 of those 30 years and remembering the good times. Oh, how I miss that man. You know, it was his idea to get married on St. Patrick's Day, as he thought getting married on a holiday would assure that he would never forget an anniversary.

I'm thinking of you, Tina.

What really motivates you to get things done?

That sounds like a great recipe, Jackie. You're going to make everyone hungry!!! I think I'll use your recipe tommorrow. Thanks for the tip.

Patti.. Don't think I've ever seen green wine but then there are a lot of things I'm a "greenhorn" about...lol! For years, I couldn't even stand the thought of corned beef, so I would eat the cabbage. A couple of years ago, my son cooked corned beef and cabbage for us and as we all know, when our kids cook we must eat it...regardless! I was shocked to find that I loved his corned beef. It seemed most of the times I had it before it was very. very moist and I'm a definite dry, well done meat person. So...YES...I'm cooking corned beef and cabbage tommorrow. Not sure if I will eat it but I'm going to pick my son's brain tonight for cooking tips.

I'm so very sorry to hear this news.

O know that many of us from this board have followed Dancing With The Stars for the past seasons and I just wanted to remind you that a new season begins tommorrow night. Usually, I'm not too big on television but at this time of the year, I have to keep a calendar. Thank goodness I have a DVR and can record one show while I watch another, as Dancing...American Idol and Deal or No Deal all come on at conflicting times and happen to be shows I'm addicted to. So...any other Dancing viewers here besides Ann and GinnyD? Oh yes...I do believe Lillian is also a fan of this show.