Ann

Not sure if any of you have been watching America's Got Talent but I'm completely amazed by this guy. Watch..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvBbVFiFy5w http://www.metacafe.com/watch/739264/am ... ful_world/

Wow...TGIF and Fred's Birthday...all rolled into one day! Too much excitement for most...but I'm game! So..... HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRED!!! Sending big birthday hugs your way! Don't look, Kasey!!!

I absolutely would...in a heartbeat!!! Like others, I've done more foolish things in my life...for free! Dancing and clucking would ne a breeze for me. Hey, on a good day, for a good cause (like a cure), I would dance and cluck for free!!! As most of you have probably already guessed, I'm not the least bit shy!

(((((((Cindy))))) I'll be praying for your surgery to go well. Please let us know how you're doing.

Already a year? Seems like just yesterday that we heard about your Dad. I know how your Mom feels and I can imagine how helpless you must feel, as you can't take away her pain. It must be hard for her to see all of your Dad's things, just as they were, every day. I know that many of us that have lost a spouse either moved or redecorated, as facing the same surroundings every day was just too much. Maybe you could help your Mom begin the process of change by offering to help her redecorate...just a little bit at a time. Maybe that would give her something to occupy her mind. The truck must be very hard. I kept Dennis' truck in my driveway for a while and then realized I had to sell it. Every time I would come home and see the truck, I would expect him to be inside. I would think, "Wow, Dennis is home before me today." It really helped when I sold the truck. I know how difficult this is for both of you and I'm saying prayers.

Yes....writing those notes can be really hard. It seems that writning things down on paper makes them become so real. It took me quite some time to get my thank you notes written. Every time I would write something, I would read it over, break down, throw it away and start all over. Maybe instead of focusing on the reason you're sending the cards, you can write little notes about a happy memory that you have about Karen and the recipient of the card.

((((((((((Ginny))))))))) It's so nice to have such a good friend to hug!!! Three years...can it possibly be? It seems that there are times when clocks stop ticking, the world stops spinning and we stop breathing. During these times, life is as it was...if only in our memories. I love those times, as it makes me feel close rather than almost five years away. You have been such a great friend and real inspiration to so many spouses that have lost their loves. The love you and Earl shared is felt by so many of us, just by reading your posts through the years. I'll raise a toast to "The Duke" on Saturday and ask him to check in on Dennis!!!

I'm grateful that God has finally helped me to realize that my life is "the real thing" now and that the "dress rehearsal" is over.

What a beautiful daughter. I am so very sorry. I have no idea how you deal with a loss like this. God is with you, I'm sure.

I think we should all get together and audition for America's Got Talent. Don't you think we'd be a definitely good human interest story. We could tell the world how we all met and promote a cure for lung cancer in the process. Hey....not a bad idea for some free publicity!!!

If someone came up to you and offered to give you $1000 to dance like a chicken in front of the mall for 5 minutes , would you do it?

This is the song I had played for Dennis at his memorial service. I just found this on YouTube...from Ally McBeal...beautiful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICLqYhzjhFI

1. The dog is not allowed in the house. 2. Okay, the dog is allowed in the house, but only in certain rooms. 3. The dog is allowed in all rooms, but has to stay off the furniture. 4. The dog can get on the old furniture only. 5. Fine, the dog is allowed on all the furniture, but is not allowed to sleep with the humans on the bed. 6. Okay, the dog is allowed on the bed, but only by invitation. 7. The dog can sleep on the bed whenever he wants, but not under the covers. 8. The dog can sleep under the covers by invitation only 9. The dog can sleep under the covers every night. 10. Humans must ask permission to sleep under the covers with the dog.

I received this in my email -- it's cute, thought I'd share. I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back. When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness, and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, photos of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome. Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an infant. "This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday." "First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord." She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement. "Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. "She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, Oh, Oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.) "My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this." (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.) "And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!" (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was hilarious!) "Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, so there must be a lot of toys inside there." Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another "Middle Wife" comes along.

Coming here and venting was the best possible thing you could have done. Sometimes, even with a best friend, it's hard to actually "say" these words out loud. Here, we all relate to what you're saying and have either been where you now or are in the same place right now. You can't let all of this become trapped inside. Finding an outlet is the best thing. I can remember just getting in the car with the windows rolled up, driving around the block and screaming to the top of my lungs. Sounds crazy but it helped. I would feel about 20 pounds lighter (physically and mentally) when I got back from one of those drives. Please remember that we are here for you and many of us have spent a lot of time in the same "dark place." Saying prayers for you, your mom and your family.

A big city lawyer went dove hunting in rural Clayton's Marsh Creek area. He shot and dropped a dove, but it fell into a farmer's field on the other side of a fence. As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked him what he was doing. The litigator responded, "I shot a dove and it fell in this field, and now I'm going to retrieve it." The old farmer replied, "This is my property, and you are not coming over here." The indignant lawyer said, "I am one of the best trial attorneys in the United States and, if you don't let me get that dove, I'll sue you and take everything you own. The old farmer smiled and said, "Apparently, you don't know how we settle disputes in Clayton. We settle small disagreements like this with the 'Three Kick Rule.'" The lawyer asked, "What is the Three Kick Rule?" The Farmer replied, "Well, because the dispute occurred on my land, first I kick you three times and then you kick me three times and so on back and forth until someone gives up." The attorney quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger. He agreed to abide by the local custom. The old farmer slowly climbed down from the tractor and walked up to the attorney. His first kick planted the toe of his heavy steel toed work boot into the lawyer's groin and dropped him to his knees. His second kick to the midriff then made the lawyer lose his early morning breakfast. The lawyer was on all fours when the farmer's third kick to his rear end sent him face-first into a fresh cow pie. The lawyer summoned every bit of his will and managed to get to his feet. Wiping his face with the arm of his jacket, he said, "Okay, Now it's my turn." The old farmer smiled and said, "Naw, I give up. You can have the bird"

Larry...since you've been MIA for a couple of days, just wanted to make sure you know about the new GRATITUDE thread on the Inspirational Board. J.C. has graciously accepted the task of beginning the post each morning.

Larry....I have the feeling that you're one of these people that will never really "retire" so I think we're in for a long wait to ride in that PT Cruiser!!!

Impressive, Larry. I have always thought I would like to do a search of my roots someday. As far as I know, my family isn't connected to anyone historically famous. But, being adopted, I still have a limited amount of information about my blood relatives. Maybe someday I'll begin the search!

Good one, Larry. Now, since you brought up the subject, why is it that a man and a woman can be the exact same age and the man acts like he's just a young thing but looks at the woman as "mature." I just don't get it!!!

Ginny...How could I possibly have forgotten Mexican Train Dominoes? I absolutely love that game. We love to play that game with my DIL's mom and dad. I can play that game all night and not get tired. I also love Bunco now that I've finally learned enough about the rules of the game. I was so nervous when I first started playing Bunco. All of the gals had been playing together for years and Michelle's mom invited me to be a stand-in when it was her turn to host. So much fun now!

I'm so very sorry, Sherri. The obituary was a wonderful tribute to your Dad. He sounds like a really amazing man. I'll be saying prayers for you and your family.

poker would be my favorite....Texas Hold Em to be exact.

Come on, Larry. Think you're up to a wild, wacky drive around the country with a few wacky gals...and maybe a few guys (should we decide they can join us)?

The other day my neighbor, who is blonde, came running up to me in the driveway just jumping for joy! She said, "I have some really great news!" I said, "Great. Tell me why you're so happy." She stopped jumping and, breathing heavily from all the jumping up and down, told me that she was pregnant! I knew that she had been trying for a while so I told her, "That's great! I couldn't be happier for you. Then she said, "There's more." I asked, "What do you mean 'more'?" She said, "Well, we are not having just one baby. We are going to have TWINS!" Amazed at how she could know so soon after getting pregnant, I asked her how she knew. She said.... * * * (You're going to love this!) * * * * "Well, that was the easy part. I went to Wal-Mart and they actually had a home pregnancy kit in a TWIN-pack. ............ Both tests came out positive!"