Birthday Extravaganza

Each decade was memorable....30---a pair of diamond earrings.....40--a trip to Germany....50---playing sax in a blues band in a St. Louis Blues Club and everyone in the club there to celebrate my birthday......60--a Bahama cruise with my daughter, drinking rum punch and doing the Limbo....Can we top this...Wait a minute! I'm not ready to celebrate another decade!!!! This is just another birthday in between the milestones.  Why not just a wild, crazy week-end with my BFG's...Julie and Christi?......Soooooo...Christi and I talked for 3 hours on the phone today and tossed a few ideas around for the BIG BASH.  Why is money even involved?  Girls just wanna have fun, you know.  But three people coming from 3 locations involves air fare, hotels, etc.  Of course there is also the limo, the casinos, the restaurants, room service, need I go on?  We discussed the casino at Niagra Falls, the southern hospitality of Tunica, Mississippi casinos, and neighboring Memphis, Tennessee; and Boston, New York, and the 2nd largest casino in the world: Foxwoods in Connecticut.  Whoo,Whee...Shake the money tree honey, cause I'm too old to shake my money maker.   Viva Las Vegas! Why didn't we even consider it?    I had a little chat with "Captain Kirk" on Priceline and now we're dating.  What a guy!  3 nights and roundtrip airfair to the MGM Grande Tower Suites for $500 apiece...Just bring your jukebox money!!!  This B-day holiday is nearly 6 months away but with stilettos to buy and nails to do, you just can't procrastinate.  This gives me  a delicious distraction from every bell ringing group and girl scout troop who wants to come to Micro-World this month and entertain us.  Good God!! Eleven different groups are coming in the next 20 days to perform Christmas programs for us.  Bless their little hearts and bon voyage.  I'm leaving in 6 days to board a cruise ship bound for the caribbean.  You've got to take the holidays with a grain of salt and I've found out that it helps to accompany that with a little tequilla and lime.  See you in Margarita Ville! I think I spelled that wrong, but I'm sure you understand. 
Christmas was wonderful with 4 precious children anxiously waiting for Santa, a fire in the fireplace, presents to hide, goodies to bake, Christmas pagents at church, and programs at school.  Now it's octogenarians creeping with walkers, fighting at Bingo, and nodding off during the weekly movie & popcorn night.  I'm not cynical...I just need to escape during the holidays so it IS a holiday, and not just another day in the "Night of the Living Dead".  I'm not poking fun or being mean, it's just that way here in Micro-World.  So , the planning and plotting of escapes continue.......ideas welcome

mug shots wanted

I realize of course, that readers who visit my blog would enjoy seeing a picture.  It somehow satisfies human curiosity.  If you have any, send them my way.  I was browsing my selection of photos and realized they are mostly scenery, buildings, cruise ships, grandchildren and an occasional husband photo.  Oh by the way, if you send a photo, you could also include instructions on how to post it. Then stand back and enjoy the view....slide shows will be forth coming (maybe?).  Time for my oatmeal...be back soon.

Honk If You Love Jesus

The other day I went up to our local Christian book store and saw a bumper sticker that said, "HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS".  I was in a "Hallaluiah" kind of mood since I had just come from choir practice, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting. So...I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper.  I felt a sudden rush of giddiness. So, this is what "impulse buying" is all about, I thought.  Boy, am I glad I did! What an uplifting experience followed.  On the way home I stopped at a red light at a busy intersection.  I was lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is and I didn't notice that the light had changed.  It's a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd have never noticed.  It was then that I found that LOTS of people love Jesus!  The driver in the second car behind me leaned out of his window and shouted, "For the love of God! Go! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, GO!"  What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus!  Then everyone started honking.  It was thrilling. I leaned out my window and started waving and smiling at all those loving people. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love.  There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a sunny beach.  I saw another guy waving in a cute way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air.  I asked my grandson in the back seat what that meant.  He said it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something.  Well, I have never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back.  Then I noticed the light had changed. So I waved at all my "brothers and sisters" and drove on through the intersection.  I noticed that I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared.  So I slowed the car down, leaned out the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.  Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks. Just think, I would have never known so many people love Jesus if I had not bought that bumper sticker.  A little impulse buying is good for the soul!  I can't wait to get on the road again!

The Sidestep--latest political dance craze competes with DWTS

Two days ago I read (or heard...but at my age what does it matter?) that Dancing With the Stars was currently the number 1 rated TV program.  Yeah! for my side!  It happens to be my favorite program. Actually it's the ONLY program I watch on TV.  Tonight was a very special night for DWTS.  It was their 200th episode.  They planned a very special and entertaining evening, complete with Rod Stewart, clips and appearances of many past contestants, complete with awards for both serious and funny categories.  It was also "elimination" night and fans were anxiously tuned in to see who was going home.  Guess who else was having a special night?  Politicians and registered voters.
What the....?!!!  The media  felt that blurry images of people standing in line to vote should take precedance over the number 1 rated TV program!  The outrage was deafening. (At least from MY sofa).  However, I was intrigued by ABC's report that in Bridgeport, CT only 21,000 ballots were printed and sent to the polls.  This city has over 60,000 registered voters.  Huh?  Isn't CT the snooty state who boasts ( and believes) that they have the best schools in the nation?  I see some folks sadly lacking in basic math skills.  Or was it all planned to manipulate the outcome.  Conspiracy theory?...Graft?...I hope I've got you thinking.  Another question on my mind is, why were ballots being PRINTED?!!!  Isn't this the age of touch-screens, or at least basic electronics?  And doesn't CT incessantly brag about it's standing as one on the "richest states".  Again, what the ?.......Hey, CT.  If you have weath and superior education, why are you using paper ballots, and why can't your city employees figure simple math, i.e., 60,000 voters=60,000 ballots.  I smell a rat in the cheese.  Actually, I don't want this information.  I just want to know if Sarah Palin's daughter will finally stop dancing and go back to Alaska.  Also, why can't Apolo Ohno give up speed skating and come back to DWTS as an instructor?  Many women are needing to keep looking at him. 
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Saving Daylight

Who does not want to save daylight?  who doesn't want more light at the end of the day to drive home from work, have a backyard barbeque, take a walk after dinner, play with your kids out in the yard, sit on your deck or patio with a friend and a cocktail.....Are you seeing this clearly now?  OK.  Now picture doing all these things or any other end of the day activities in about two weeks.  If you can't picture it can you?  In fact you can't see at all.
Because you are in the DARK!  That's right, folks.  It will be dark at 4:30pm.  You will be driving home from work feeling tired and defeated.  You'll arrive home to cranky kids who can't ride a skateboard or a bike because its night time.  This gets better.  On the week-end when you want to sleep-in, the sunlight will be blinding you as it mercilessly streams through your bedroom windows at 6:oo AM.  Every year at this time depression settles over many people and the medical world has been quick to recognize yet another opportunity to create wealth.  Your depression is now labeled, SADD.  You have a medical condition due to sunlight deprivation.  Your doctor can treat you with a special  UV lamp and some happy pills.  Of course it will cost you.  Hey, how about this?  Why don't we "save" daylight all year long and skip the confusing "fall back, spring forward" ritual with our clocks.  At this time of the year, Mother Nature is already cutting back on available daylight.  Why do we feel that we just have to help her along.  Believe me dear Congress, SHE does not need your help. Don't you people have enough projects to involve yourself in?  Winter is depressing enough without you taking another precious hour of daylight from us.  Sorry dear reader; I got a little worked up and started ranting at our government. It happens. (one of the reasons why I never discuss politics).  You don't want to get me started.  Speaking of starting....It's time to start my work day, but do check back. I have a lot more to say about the evils of Standard Time.