A Gentle Way For Tourists to See Cities

Now animal activists want to remove the horse-drawn carriages from New York City.

In many major cities of the world, you can tour the downtown area riding in a carriage drawn by a horse. It is such a nice thing to do!

I personally find it difficult to believe that these horses are mistreated. The person who would buy a carriage to tour the city, showing tourists the the sights first-hand knows this horse is his livelihood and probably takes very good care of him.

This is not a time in history to do away with gentle niceties!

A Feel Good Story About Some Texans . . .

Here is a story to at least make us think a little about some of our beliefs.

We are in tough times: everybody knows that.

Many of us have cut back or are cutting back, especially if we are seniors, on fixed incomes with investments that have shrunk. We gasp each time we hear of high-paid executives of failing companies reaching for more bailouts, taking b0nuses, ordering jets. It is a rather ugly time for America.

This past week most of us have been following the first two weeks of the Obama administration and hoping - yes, and praying - that Barack Obama and his Team can help all of us back to some sort of solvency.

On TV there are ads offering to purchase old and broken gold jewelry. Everywhere there are ads for debt consolidation companies. There are many temptations to let go of something we could do without to raise a little cushion of cash.

In Atlanta, Georgia, there is a young family - parents and three children - who found out in the past year that two of their children needed special care for medical problems.

It is not so odd that the Peters family put their belongings on E-Bay.

What is unusual is the response outsiders had.

First, other people established a website for these people which you can visit to see some kind and some not so kind remarks. They did this in hopes of people sending the Peters family some cash. They were hoping the Peters would not have to sell their things.

There was a winning bid on E-Bay the other day - from a Texas couple, Donnia & Keith Blair.

The winning bid - for about $40,000 of household stuff and a 2000 Chevy Tahoe - was for $20,000.

So, what is the story here? The Blairs do not want any of the stuff and have said that the Peters can sort of think of themselves as storing the things. The Blairs just want the Peters to have the $20,000.

What motivates a couple like the Blairs to give someone they don't know, a real nice break like that? What motivates the people who have given online to give money to someone they do not even know?

Many Christians believe in tithing - in giving 10% of what they earn back to the Lord (The Church). Many believe that everything we have comes from God.

It is very interesting that here in East Texas, peoples' gifts to their churches have remained level during this past year. Why is that?

Why would someone just give away $20,000 to someone they do not even know? Why indeed!

I am not sure these are valid questions! Too many people see life only from a glass half-empty mentality.

Why ask "Why" when you could ask, "Why not?"

I don't think I know the Blairs and I do not know where in Texas they live. Texas is big, but in the twelve years I have been here, I have seen lots of people help others.

Several times, I have seen people stand up and say we don't need to all contribute money for something, because they will be happy to donate the amount needed.

I watched a man and his wife applaud one Sunday when someone thanked the anonymous donor of new computer equipment. That man and his wife genuinely wanted to remain unknown, but Hubby and I were there when he carried in the new things.

There is something very special about doing something for someone without them knowing who did it.

In our church we have a Mission Group and each quarter we select who we are going to help. Each of us who can gives extra to that mission. We have helped some local projects, but we have also sent Peruvian students to college and helped Habitat for Humanity.

For all I know, the Blairs are not the "Blairs" at all. They could be people I already know. I can, however, tell you something about the Blairs. They sleep at night and are thankful for everything they personally have. They might live in a house just like mine - not too big, not too small. They are extremely thankful that they do not have children who need expensive medical attention. Gee, maybe they don't even have children of their own. Perhaps they inherited some money. Perhaps they won one of the Texas Lottery games that Keith and I have not . . . yet.

I am pretty happy to see the Family in Atlanta benefit from the couple in Texas. I am always sad to see skeptical people. Did everyone forget that it is more blessed to give than to receive?

Oh, yes, one more thing. How special are their parents that they were willing to do without so their children could have what they needed? That is a very special family and they will be blessed more than they have already been.

http://site.everythingweown.com

foxnews.com - EBay Winners . . .

Once A Marine by Nick Popaditch: The Cigar Marine

Jesse is coming home to America this week. He is not quite finished his tour yet but we sure will be glad to see him. He joined the Marines right out of high school and has had three tours of Iraq. We pray for him all the time, just as all families and friends pray for these young men.

Is there a Jesse in your family or your circle of friends, your church? His father once told me that always, Jesse wanted to help people. He was home one time when we had our Sisters in Christ Banquet and he helped serve the ladies alongside the other men of the church. I cannot see that Jesse sees himself as any different from anybody. Mind you, his whole family is kind of like that.

So, I was interested to catch an interview with another very special Marine who has written a book, Once A Marine. This book is available (signed) at his website or at places like Amazon.com. It originally came out in October.

I am not very military-smart, but there was a picture of a marine, holding a cigar in his hand, driving a tank at the Saddam Hussein statue they pulled down. Nick, from Indianapolis, Indiana, was that "Cigar Marine". He says people sent him all manner of cigars after seeing the picture. Unfortunately, that is not the end of Nick's story.

Later, Nick was very badly injured. He did survive but lost one eye and most of the sight in his other eye. He usually wears an eye patch, but does wear a prosthetic eye with a Marine emblem on it.

Nick loved being a Marine; Nick loves life! Now; Nick is going to be a High School Teacher! (High School Teachers and Marines need about the same amount of courage!)

There is an expression: Once A Marine, Always A Marine. It is considered discourteous to use the term ex-Marine. The correct expression would be "former enlisted Marine" or "former commissioned officer Marine". Hence the title of Nick's book.

One hopes this book will become a movie! Websites where you can learn more and see official photos are listed:

http://www.cigarmarine.com

http://www.onceamarine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPDpg7FC0sI

CHARM: Me . . . A Senior?

At the bottom of today's blog, there is a link to a wonderful local magazine my friend Denise Hoepfner edits. Charm is distributed with our Lufkin Daily News and is found at various shops around town. It's fun because it is about local people, places and things and you'll often see someone you know in there. The cover this time features a couple who have been married for 60 years! Gee, they sure don't remind me of my grandparents from the 50s! (You'll find me on page 9 in a story about social networking.)

Denise was in the theater lobby when Keith & I exited the first showing of Charlie Wilson's War here in Lufkin, to ask us questions. When I joined Facebook, I found her there along with Ashley Cook who is now the City Editor of Lufkin Daily.

Ashley has been to our home because she wrote a couple of very nice stories about me when I was becoming an American Citizen back in (finally) 2004. Yup - I've been a Citizen for 5 years now!

When I joined Facebook, I also found two local friends who are pretty close to me in age, so I will have to live with us being called "seniors". That's what we like to be called when it means a discount, right?

Denise also has featured the year 1959 - because of course, that is 50 years ago. So, now is a good time to mention again that Keith & I will be travelling to Toronto for my 50th St.Clement's School Reunion. (My friend, Nina once asked me why our reunions did not coincide and of course that is because we used to have five years of high school in Ontario. )

Now, St.Clement's is a girls' school where we even had religion classes and an assembly each morning. I used to get there on a TTC (Toronto Transit Authority) bus, and the building then was a lot different from the one I will see this year. When I started in fall of 1954, the "Upper School" - grades 9 to 13 were held in a modest building with a small laboratory and a basement where Phys. Ed. , Assembly and Lunch were held. Junior School (grades 1 to 6 or 8) was in a two-storey house., across a small area where we could play basketball.

I should mention here that for "lower school", I went to Havergal College which had boarding students, a large, grand building and massive grounds where I learned to play tennis, my sport of choice in my youth. During Grade Eight, my friend, Judy, invited me to her place in a Detroit suburb for the Easter vacation. Her father just happened to be the Executive V.P of Ford Motor Company whose executive Canadian offices were still in Windsor.

Judy and I flew on a DC-3 and it was my first flight. I was thirteen and what a week that was! Judy's family lived in a house with about 17 rooms on an immense property and had staff and two Boxer dogs. They were wonderful people and treated me like royalty. When I got back to Toronto, my parents started seriously looking for another girls school (no distractions for learning, you know) with a mix of girls from families more like ours. (They were probably disappointed to ultimately find lots of wealth there as well, but the school itself was certainly less unpretentious. )

Today, I still get a kick out of checking the bottom of the hymns I remember so well from assemblies at that school because Frances Ridley Havergal wrote many of them and that is why they are so familiar! So Havergal was not totally lost on me!

Back to St. Clement's. I am a Life Member of the Alumni Association and logged two years on their Executive back in the 80s when it was created. I have gone to some of the reunions since I have been in East Texas and they are enjoyable. It is fun to see old classmates - sorry, girls - who have aged right along with me.

A few years ago, a new building rose on the same site - on St.Clement's Avenue, near YONGE STREET, about six blocks north of Eglinton Avenue. It was about four or five stories with a basketball court on the roof.

One of the most interesting things for me this year will be to see the newest St.Clement's building. Toronto real estate is extremely expensive (compared to East Texas) but probably no worse than cities like New York and Los Angeles. One of the parents and his company worked at picking up the block of houses on that side of the street. From my own real estate sales experience, I can assure you this is one of the trickiest achievements and that was a wonderful feat for the school!

So, when I go up in May, I will see a structure totally unlike the original one with high tech facilities and equipment, still in that wonderful North Toronto location! On Friday evening, they will treat me to wine and a viewing of art by students. (Wine at St. Clement's! That was a shock to me the first time we had that reception!)

My friend, Andrea has said she will come in this year. She sends detailed messages at Christmas each year of her events that keep her commuting from Canada to England and back. Well, heck, is that any bigger commute than Texas to Toronto to Texas? Ah Ha!

There are some girls who live in Western Provinces, and one in Florida, but most have stayed in the Toronto area.

There is another perk I received this year, not so much because I am a Senior, but because I have been a member for 30 years. Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) has made me a Life Member. That is really nice for me because (perhaps some of you know) my late husband, John Devlin, was not only a Life Member of CKC but also served as Vice President and Chair of many committees during his 50 years as an International All Breed Dog Judge. (I was happy they did this even though I am in Texas now.)

I have never been sure of the expression, "With Age Comes Wisdom", but I do know that if you are healthy and able to get around fairly easily, there are lots of perks that come with being a Senior!

http://shopping.lufkindailynews.com/SS/Page.aspx?secid=59744&pagenum=9&sstarg=&facing=false&

How To Stay Trim and Healthy In The White House

Chicago native, Sam Bass, has been invited by the Obama family to come to the White House to be their chef. He is 28 years old and was working with them in Chicago.

Mr. Bass is concerned about healthy eating. There is a staff already there to prepare for special functions.

This will set a nice example for the rest of us. If you've noticed, the Obama Family all look pretty healthy!

This ties in nicely with Richard Simmons' call for healthier eating and more exercise, particularly for children. Obesity is a big problem for children and adults alike in our country.

He Was There!

There is a wonderful columnist, Leon Hale, who writes for the Houston Chronicle and currently is doing a blog. He will never retire and he loves to tell the stories of the old days.

The other day, Leon Hale wrote a blog that really spoke to my heart.

I haven't talked a lot about it, but I was saddened when I came to East Texas to find less Blacks and Whites socializing than what I was used to in Toronto.

The stories I heard of how African-Americans were treated in the South were heart-breaking. Because I wouldn't give up, I made Black friends here and in fact, they are probably my truest friends!

So, Leon Hale told about a son of a maid in his neighborhood who used to kick the football around in the front yard after Leon's white friends had left. The bottom line was that Leon was watching the crowds in Washington last week and he was thinking his friend was probably there. (Of course, we don't know for sure if that man is even still alive, but I, too, would like to think he was there.) For sure he would have been watching his TV to see how a Black person finally broke down a bunch of barriers and is living - for all of us - the Dream of Martin Luther King, Jr.

I made a new friend on Facebook who went from Houston to Washington for that man and all those just like him. She had tickets and gathered her family from various places and her bottom line was that you could not put a price tag on that experience.

The best part for me was that Carolyn sent pictures from her phone of her family, the massive crowds, her tickets, her autographed photos of the President and Vice-President. I printed a few of those and along with the best photos I could find of Barack and Michelle Obama, I started my own scrapbook of this historical event.

After the Inauguration, Carolyn and her family toured Washington and so there are pictures of where MLK stood and the words on the inside and outside of the Lincoln Memorial.

Yesterday I told you about my wonderful friend whose Grandma wasn't home when the school bus brought her home yesterday. She's 8 years old and in Grade 4. I told you we did a couple of multiplication tables and had the Willie Nelson bear sing and offered her a cookie. I guess I didn't tell you she is African-American, did I?

I have told her Grandma, my precious friend, that I just don't get it - but she knows I do. When her late husband told us about sitting at the back of the bus when he came home from war wearing his uniform, I cried. When I think about the things they have told me, I still cry for how these people were treated.

So, how happy was I yesterday to show Grandma and "Susie" the beginning of my album of the Inauguration?

Just as Leon's friend was there in Washington, I think Susie's Grandpa was there too.

I talked a bit to Susie about how hard she must work in school to get really great grades so she can be whatever she wants to be. Then, I told her,

"Well, we have a Black President now, but do you know what we have not had?" She shook her head like the good listener she can be.

"We have not yet had a WOMAN President!"

Still lots to conquer when you're only eight years old!

http://blogs.chron.com/leonhale/2009/01/was_my_friend_at_the_inaugurat.html

What If You're Not Home When The School Bus Brings Your Child Home?

We have some wonderful neighbors and one of them has a granddaughter I'll call Susie.

Susie knows that she can come to our house and stay for a while. We have all the phone numbers to get in touch with her family.

Now, Buddy the Lhasa knows the time Susie's bus comes and he knows it came early today! That was okay because she had somewhere to go. Susie came in, had a cookie and played with Buddy. Then she recited two arithmetic multiplication tables and looked at the pages I have so far cropped of the inauguration and played the Willie Nelson teddy bear who sings "On The Road Again".

If we had not been home, the family at the corner would have been.

Shouldn't every child have that safe haven?

Duke Ellington Quarter Coming!

While Hubby is still waiting for a Hawaii quarter to round out his collection, the U.S. Mint has unveiled its new 25 cent piece for District of Columbia. It features Duke Ellington and Washington City's motto, "Justice for All".

This coin is the first quarter for 2009 and kicks off the DC and U.S. Territories Quarters Program.

Duke Ellington is a fine choice not only because he was born in Washington but because jazz is THE true American art form.

Collectors can buy these in bulk online for now. There will be an event to celebrate this coin later.

Hmm . . . just when your folder was just about full!

What's On Your Desk?

It's not very often that I have "writer's block" but today was hectic and I really could not focus on anything you'd like to read.

So, while thinking of what to write, I looked up at the books on the shelf of my computer desk.

When you go to a lot of homes, you don't see bookshelves with real books on them. When you do, if you look at the titles, you'll learn a little bit about the people who live there.

We have lots of shelves in our "great room" and without going out there, I can tell you there are reference books - atlas books, bibles, dog books, cookbooks, and some autobiographies on the one side of the fireplace. On the other, there are trinkets, and memories. On one and a half shelves there is a collection of Americana that people have given me since I became a citizen.

Back here, in my work area, where nobody visits, it is more definitive. I have some "Dummies" books on how to use various computer programs. Who would have ever thought that people would buy books for dummies? Catchy title for sure!

There are lots of dictionaries - big ones, little ones, a Thesaurus, and German, Spanish, French-language ones. There is one of Papiamento: that is the native language spoken in Aruba when Keith worked there many years ago. (I might need to refer to that!) There are books on writing technique and marketing alongside Bill Graham and Wayne Dyer. There is another book on Lhasa Apso, and a couple of photos of Hubby and me. There is some stationery and various size envelopes, alongside fresh printer cartridges.

To the left is where the real prizes are - my Toronto Blue Jay cap (old style), and an autographed baseball from one of the years they won the World Series. I see a small Houston Aeros hockey stick, a jar that counts the coins you put in it and . . . a small Ronald McDonald!

To the right of my computer is my Rolodex and my Sisters in Spirit Cup from my friend Bonnie, that holds my pencils, scissors, and pens. I see a Canada pen there which of course I am reluctant to toss even though it is dry.

To be fair, I must tell you there are files waiting to go in the cabinet. You have those too, right? There's a calculator and another bible.

What's on your desk?

There's No One As Irish As Barack Obama!

If you haven't yet heard this song, composed and sung by the Corrigan Brothers, an Irish folk group, do go to the link below to see an animated version - my personal favorite! (You will also find other versions on YouTube.com of the Corrigan Brothers singing.)

A friend drew my attention to this tom-foolery yesterday. This is light-hearted fun that is perfect for taking our minds off the realities of today. All of us with links to Maritime Canada really understand how much fun can be had with this sort of parody.

Word is that Barack Obama's great, great, great grandfather, Falmouth Kerney, resided in Moneygall (Ireland) before emigrating to the United States in 1850. The animated version gives "dancing" lyrics and is absolute fun. ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HplZ_taHXLM

Time to Scrapbook the Inauguration

I love to scrapbook and tonight I was "cropping" the Inauguration of Barack Obama. This is an event that your children and grandchildren will want to know about and remember. There are photos online which you can download for your own use. You will find photos in many current magazines.

Don't forget to journal about what you were doing - were you at work; were you at home? Put down the dates, identify the people in the photos and some of the special things that were said. Add a little about where you live, how old everyone in your family is, where you live, and your impressions. Talk about how you feel about this historical day.

I used patriotic paper for the actual swearing in and a photo of the Lincoln bible. I used wonderful papers to compliment Michelle Obama's outfit. I still have the Inauguration Balls still to do and I will be using silvers and whites.

You'll be glad you put down your thoughts and detailed it for future generations and they will love to see just how history was made. And yes . . . this time we are a part of history!

A Great Hat for Aretha!

If "The Queen of Soul" wanted to have a special hat to sing at the inauguration, she would probably go to a man named Song, right?

Well, that is exactly what happened and that is just another thing that makes life - and writing a blog - so fun!

When I was a kid (yup, there she goes again), my mother wore hats all the time - to just about everywhere. We all wore hats to church.
Today, hats are not so popular.

A 36-year-old South Korean immigrant named Luke Song (honestly) is a designer for Song Millinery, his family's business in Detroit. (They sell to about 500 millinery boutiques across America.)

Thanks to Aretha Franklin walking into Song Millinery and asking for a bow on one hat to be placed on another hat to match a coat she had already purchased, Mr. Song's phone is ringing loudly this week!

Mr. Song will not be selling the exact hat but has offered something similar in satin ribbon for $179 and people are buying!

Now, if Mr. Song would just start turning out those plain ties Mr. Obama and his staff are wearing, he could capture the tie market too!

http://www.mrsongmillinery.com

You Gotta Love It!

I hope you got to see a little of the Obamas dancing at some of the 10 Inaugural balls because it helped us get to know them a little better.

The first lady's gown was very pretty and not overdone. It suited her perfectly.

The President doesn't have to worry about being asked to compete on Dancing With The Stars (ABC) but I think his style is similar to that of many men today.

The line he used that endeared me was a really old one that many of us heard a long time ago . . .

"I'm gonna dance with the one who 'brung' me." You gotta love that!

Keep That Pen Handy, Mr. President!

I have been thinking recently about when the salaries of doctors were capped in Ontario - in the late 1990s. Since it is a socialized system, that was a government decision.

There are many people whose salaries are absolutely beyond reason, in particular some executives of major corporations and some athletes.

It is hard to believe that some team sports are paying individual players exorbitant salaries, far beyond what any individual needs to live a luxurious life. The bottom line in sports is that tickets are priced beyond what an average family can afford.

(As an aside and I know this is perhaps small of me, but there is one thing that truly troubles me when I watch professional basketball. These men are making huge bucks and they miss the FREE throw! I can hardly believe that! It is called "free" and gives you an opportunity to throw that ball like you did in your driveway when you were a kid! Sounds simple to me!)

In the case of corporations, it is hard to fathom that executives are making enormous salaries and bonuses while the companies' stocks are sinking.

I cannot believe that humans are so indispensable that they should be making millions of dollars, particularly when the economy is making it very difficult for the average citizen to balance his budget, much less pay college tuition, travel or purchase new things.

When we cannot spend, more bad things happen to the economy. It's pretty simple math.

How happy I am to see President Barack Obama start at his own desk by capping all White House salaries over $100,000 today.

Thank you, Mr. President - keep going!

Inauguration Parade, Washington DC January 2009

Inauguration Parade, Washington DC January 2009, originally uploaded by sini.vlaisavljevic.com.

Today is THE day of this decade, if not of this generation. Martin Luther King Jr. believed we would have a black President within 4 decades. He called it pretty close, didn't he?

God Bless Barack & Michelle Obama and God Bless America!

Not Such A Patriotic Thing To Do!

Sometime between the hours of 11:00 p.m. last night and 7:00 a.m. this morning - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - and the day before the Inauguration of Barack Obama, the American flag flying in front of our house was stolen. We have replaced it with another one but we feel really sad about this.

Vanilla?

I thought I should take a moment to explain what I mean when I use the term "vanilla" about my writing. Vanilla is the most bland flavor and generally I try to write blogs that are inoffensive and do not get people upset. I guess it is one of my downfalls that I like to be liked!

A Very Big Job!

Sometimes I think it is an advantage that I have come from somewhere else to East Texas. I know I am different. (People point out that I speak differently.) Perhaps this is not a bad thing that I have a different view and have only been here for twelve years. You know I came from Toronto, a diverse city where people of all colors and languages mix and mingle. A person can go into any restaurant and see people of all nationalities and hear many languages spoken.

America - The United States - and Canada are countries full of immigrants. (I too am an immigrant!) If no one had chosen to come to North America, we would be very sparsely populated and we would not have come as far as we supposedly have.

How far have we really come since Martin Luther King Jr. had his dream? How many African-Americans truly have the same opportunities that White Americans have?

Actually, if you look closely, you can see that some Blacks are actually doing very well. Why is it that there is not a higher percentage of successful Blacks? Is Barack Obama being President going to change that? Young Blacks need role models. Barack Obama is a not the first person to represent what can be achieved if you work hard at attaining your goals. He just happens to be the first one to run and be elected President.

It could very well have been Colin Powell instead of Barack Obama. If you recall, he told Barbara Walters he did not have "the fire in his belly" to be President.

Condoleza Rice has served America well as Secretary of State. If you look carefully, you will find several outstanding Blacks in government and business. What is it that separates successful Blacks from non-achievers?

Many - not all - young Black people have been raised in single-parent families with no father. Mr. Obama has mentioned this and of course, comedian Bill Cosby has also addressed this.

The figures for young Black men graduating high school in United States are around 32%.

It is long overdue that people who are true patriots of the United States - people who really want to see things go well - extended a hand to underpriviledged Black young people. It is time for faith-based groups to mentor young Blacks who do not have enough positive role models.

It is time for Blacks and Whites to work toward encouraging disadvantaged young Black people, showing them that the road to achievement is paved with hard work and kind actions. I have heard some of the stories that are passed down from grandparents to parents to children about how badly Blacks have been treated, particularly in the South. It is fact that Blacks were abused terribly.

Will Barack Obama make a difference to what young African-Americans can achieve? Maybe, maybe not. He is indeed an excellent role model, as is his wife, Michelle. I see and know other Blacks with all the same characteristics as they have developed. But we must reach out to others who have not had loving parents who worked at two jobs to send their children to college. We must show the not-so-privileged that they too can have the American Dream, no matter what their color.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Are We Close To Your Dream?

Watching the train ride today from Philadelphia to Washington today and anticipating the inauguration of Barack Obama, I cannot help wondering if we are heading toward the dream Dr. King had for us! We still have lots of work to do, but it looks like it really could happen! Rest In Peace, Dr. King!

Discombobulated? Uh Oh!

Hubby Keith's cell phone fell out of our SUV onto the hot pavement at Ralph and Kacoo's Seafood Restaurant on a Sunday a few months ago. I forgot to mention this, didn't I?

Long story short, the phone fried while we ate Sunday lunch and realized it was missing a couple of hours later. It was a goner. AT&T replaced it for him. No problem.

Keith was not disoriented or in any sort of trance. He just doesn't like to keep
his cell phone in his pocket while he's driving. No problem.

Our almost President, Barack Obama dropped his cell phone - make that Blackberry
- onto the tarmac while he was exiting his car - make that limo.

Not his wife, even, but reporters I tell you - called him "discombobulated".

A secret service agent picked up the Blackberry, put it back together, and handed it to Mr. Obama.

Oh, my, is the honeymoon already over for Mr. Obama? If they are calling him "discombobulated" today, what will they be calling him next Wednesday?

National Buy A Newspaper Day

Monday, February 2, 2009 has been declared National Buy a Newspaper Day!

The first of my writing that was published was an article on shopping and playing in the town where I was living. Especially, I recall talking about not going elsewhere to shop and using the huge city park which I had found empty. The editor liked it so much, she put it on the top third of the editorial page. I have always believed in patronizing facilities and shopping where you live. It absolutely makes economical sense! We need to support where we live and work! (Have I said that enough different ways?)

My old friend, Frank Hilliard who now does the blog Mesopotamia West (with lots sterner articles than I do), started his career as a reporter for the Kelowna Courier in British Columbia.

As I have said before, I simply cannot understand people not wanting to read their local paper every day. How is it possible to truly keep up with local events without it?

Most newspapers today have magazines inserted once a week, once a month or quarterly, featuring national and local people, issues and ideas. Most of these are not online.

From a practical standpoint, it definitely is more difficult to drink your morning coffee while looking at the paper online! Online you cannot see all those ads that give you coupons for special buys at various stores. On Sundays, you have all those beautiful inserts to help you find where the bargains are this week! (I hate to pay full price for anything!)

Just by turning the pages, you can see all the little things that are happening in your own hometown. It's true you can see most of the newspaper online, but do you really want to spending the rest of your life continuously at the computer keyboard? You could be in your recliner, feet up, with coffee or juice by your side!

The idea of no longer having a real newspaper every day parallels not sitting down to a family dinner. It is just one more thing taken away from our lifestyle that has kept us in touch over the years.

Do remember to buy a newspaper on Monday, February 2nd and even better, subscribe to your local paper for home delivery today.

Newspapers reflect how our hometown economy is doing. Keep it strong! You can read more and join this effort at

http://www.buyanewspaperday.com

Why Can't I Understand?

Ever since I was a child, I wanted others to understand my thoughts, wants, needs. That should be a common thing among humans.

Buddy, our Lhasa Apso, who is now five and a half, can communicate quite well but he doesn't use words. Oh, he understands a lot of words, but he does not speak words. None of my dogs have done that - bright though many of them have been!

You see, that should be one more thing that separates humans from animals. Humans should be able to make themselves well understood by other people.

Everyday I see young people who have trouble stringing words together to make a sentence, particularly written. I know I am getting older and my ways are not necessarily their ways, but one would think that if they want us to understand them at all, they would make an endeavor to speak some semblance of correct English.

Now, I am always reminding you that I was not born in Texas. I know Texans think I sound more like an Englishman (not even Canadian) than an American. That may be true, but I did pass my American Citizenship Test with 100% and that included a short test of my communication skills. So, I have "passed muster" on how to communicate to an American!

There was an article in this morning's Lufkin Daily News by an Associated Press medical writer using the word "snuck" in the article and in the caption under the attendant photo. Well, our household dictionaries have been here for a while and did not include that word.

In my endeavor to be current, I googled the word, "snuck" and I found it to be acceptable in today's language. Okay, point taken. (My using the word "googled" as a very should tip you that I try to be current.)

Then, I went to my e-mail and found my TSN (The Sports Network, Canada) summary waiting for me. The most interesting story in there for me was about CFL (Canadian Football League) salaries.

CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said in a statement,

"The Board of Governors has strived to maintain that affordability, accessibility and prudence in holding the cap number steady for 2009."

Last year, the cap on salaries was increased but this year they are holding the line! What is that cap? My friends, that cap on a CFL football player's salary is $4.05 million.

There is a slight connection - for me, anyway - between the current linguistic skills of the younger generation and this cap on CFL players' salaries.

I have long felt that sports heroes - those who are at the top of their game - should be role models for young people. Young people learn at home and school, true, but they also learn from what they read and what they see on TV.

Sometimes when I see a football player interviewed, I can surmise his attitude from the look on his face, but many times I genuinely cannot understand what he is saying. Is that the way it should be, or should the teams be hiring people - yeah, people like me - to help these young players communicate better and therefore improve the image of professional sports?

Yes, I know the English language has evolved and I think most of us try to keep up with it. The best example of English evolving is the newer translations of the Bible. When I was a kid, The King James Version was the one we used. Now we also have the NIV (New International Version) but we also have some study bibles. When I really want to understand, I go to a special study version so I am not just reading words but am truly understanding.

So, why can't I understand all the young people? Being understood is fundamental to getting what you want in life. (Even Buddy knows that!)

Could You Leave The Blue Bell Ice Cream, Mr. Bush?

If you watched Larry King Live (CNN) last night, you saw the same interview we saw. Did you have any sense of sadness, watching the President and First Lady answer Larry's questions? I did.

Now is a good time to remind everyone of a few things. Enemies flying (our) planes into office towers did not happen on anyone else's watch. George W. Bush did not cause this to happen but he certainly did his best to see that it didn't happen again and on his watch, it did not!

If there was any live being under George W. Bush's Oval Office Desk, it was as my late husband, John Devlin, used to call them - "Scottish Gentlemen". That would be Scottish Terriers - Barney and Mrs. Beasley. And . . . at no time time did Mr. Bush 43 point a finger at us and tell us otherwise.

Has everyone forgotten the presidencies before Mr. Bush? Apparently so, because we are seeing as much of his predecessor as we can stand.

I was reminded the other day of a quote from (Canadian Prime Minister) Pierre Elliott Trudeau about an ugly remark Richard Nixon made about him,

"I've been called worse (things) by better men."

We have been truly blessed to have such gentle and Christian people as President and First Lady, George W. and Laura Bush in the White House these past eight years.

Ah yes, I am wondering if he was so bad, how did George W. get elected for a second term?

We are awaiting Barack Obama and we pray for him and wish him well. He has a huge load of problems on the desk but is trying to pick advisors who will help him to try some new and innovative solutions. In four years, will the press speak of him like they are speaking of Bush 43 now? Maybe. Maybe not. Time will tell.

There was an interesting moment for me at scrapbooking last Friday. I had a photo inscribed to "Mr. Sutton" by George W. and Laura and I cropped it. I didn't use patriotic paper, I used a beautiful green scroll paper to back it. I know how patriotic they are but I am wishing them a fine life back here in Texas. The photo is from when they both looked younger than they do now, after the rigor of eight years. The interesting part was that my friends came over to look at that page and comment that they wished they had an autographed portrait of George W. and Laura.

Now, of course, I live in Texas and the Bushes are Texans. I wish the press would be a little gentler on them because we do not have a crystal ball to see what will happen on Mr. Obama's watch.

Oh yes, there is one thing I'd like to ask of the Bushes as they walk out the door:

Could you leave all the Blue Bell Ice Cream that's in the freezer for the Obama family? They deserve to start off tasting the sweetest, most beautiful ice cream made in America. (And I'll bet that if they like it as much as we do - especially Pralines & Cream - that Blue Bell would continue to ship it from Texas up to the White House! It's especially nice to have a dish of Blue Bell after a grueling day and I think the Obamas are in for a few of those!

Be well, Howie!

This is the way I remember Howie Mandel when I came upon him in the Thornhill Farmers Market, just north of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) limits. Handsome! Smiling! He was casually checking out the fruits, veggies and general merchandise early on a Friday evening. Howie's mother lived a few blocks away and he often visited Toronto.

There are so many entertainers who came from Canada to United States, but Howie is really one of my favorites! He is a genuinely creative person whose accomplishments include the children's cartooon Bobbie's World, the character Fiscus on St.Elsewhere, nightclub and theater stints and more latterly, Deal or No Deal.

Howie, now 53, was working in Toronto for some segments of his new program, "Howie Do It", when he was taken to hospital after experiencing an irregular heartbeat. Fortunately, he did not have a heart attack. He should be released today.

Years ago, Howie had to have medical assistance to remove a rubber glove from his head. This was a prop he used to use. Whatever it took to get a laugh!

Most older native Torontonians know that Howie was expelled from a North York high school for a prank that was beyond what most students would think up. He called a company and made an appointment for them to come out for talks about a library to the constructed in the school. Doesn't that actually seem mild by today's standards?

On stage, Howie did a rather off-color show. I did not realize this and bought two tickets and took an older lady friend to the O'Keefe Center (two names ago). It was one of my more embarrassing moments. (I have heard Howie tell audiences of his current Deal or No Deal that his nightclub shows are not for children.)

Howie has done well over the years, appearing on all the talk shows and always enjoying people. We say a prayer for him today that this will just be a warning for him that he is no longer that kid back at Graydon Hall H.S. We'd hate to see Howie grow up totally - we want him to still be funny - but we also want him to be healthy!

National Clean Off Your Desk Day!

Well, I received an e-mail mentioning that today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day!

Does that mean to do all the work on my desk or to tidy the piles, filing some items away in the cabinet?

Well, January is a time for fresh starts for all of us so let us clear at least some clutter today.

Oh, and Mr. President, that would include you! Time to clear off the Oval Office desk and polish your cowboy boots. In eight days, you'll be outta there and back here in Texas!

Oh Look, It's Martha From Texas!

Well, we're planning a trip to Toronto in the spring! Even after twelve years in East Texas, I still enjoy going "home" for a visit! I think probably everyone who lives far away from where they were raised feels the same way!

We were there the year before last and since then one cousin and one friend have died. Time does march on and although I don't dwell on it, I do feel bad that I am not there to be part of the grieving process and so closure is a bit harder for me.

Writing my book, Bumpy Road To Texas, has helped me put several things into perspective. Also, it is so nifty that I have a close friend living near me who shares Canadian roots with me.

I think people who have always lived in one place, or at least in the same country all of their life do not realize that just the little things you take for granted make up part of the picture you look for when you go "back home".

We have often gone up in May and that is in part because my High School Reunion is held then. My birthday is then too, so I always look for lilac bushes because in North Toronto, that is when they bloomed. We always picked bouquets and brought them in on my birthday. We have bushes called Crepe Myrtle here in East Texas and they look very similar but they do not have the same scent.

I always go to Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaws. I usually go to the Bay because they generally have some nifty souvenirs. Yes, we do have drug stores and grocery stores and a department store here. You cannot get a Hudson Bay Company striped scarf at the Belk Department store and you cannot purchase Habitant French-Canadian Pea Soup at Brookshire's!

Swiss Chalet is always the first restaurant I look for in any Canadian city. Now, Hubby Keith does not always order the Quarter Chicken Dinner and that really centers him out as an American! To me, Swiss Chalet is a BBQ chicken restaurant, but to an Southern American, barbeque is "kicked-up" a lot hotter than that. Ah, yes, that reminds me that I really must take a bottle of real hot sauce . . .

Toronto has got bigger and bigger and so I am very lucky that I still have friends in Port Hope where it is very laid back. Oh yes, there is a Swiss Chalet there!

I think one of the very best parts of "going home" is that it always seems like just yesterday I last saw everyone. That probably has a lot to do with keeping in touch via e-mail and Facebook.

There is one young man who wasn't yet born when I lived there. So William sees me a little differently. I will knock on the door at number 17 and he will open it and say,

"Oh look, it's Martha from Texas!"

Do You Think It Will Be Snowing On the 20th?

It will be moving day for two families on Tuesday, the 20th of this month. Closing day for both families is the same day. One is a young family of four moving in from their house in Chicago. (Well, actually, they have been staying at a hotel. )

The couple moving out are retiring - going back to Texas. Their problem will be to separate the things they want to take back to their Crawford ranch from the items that will go to their new home in the Dallas area.

The retired couple will be flying out that day to another city - Midland, Texas to greet all their old friends from their home town who are organizing a celebration of their homecoming. That's kind of nice!

The family moving in will have to have their bedrooms in order and you can bet their daughters will be making their own beds on Wednesday before leaving for school.

I read that a staff of 93 will be putting all this into effect so that Barack and Michelle will just have to climb the stairs after the ball is over.

(I seem to recall us having only three men move us eleven years ago and they even had time figuring out which was the "great room" which was marked on the most boxes. Typical for the south, our house has one main room which has to be divided by furniture placement to create a living and a dining area.)

Now, the last time the girls were out late (Election Night), they didn't get to school till 10:00 a.m. You remember the fuss and the comment from one of the girls: "Well, that was embarrassing!"

Sometimes we forget how even the most famous people have to go through all the ordinary things we all do. It's just a little more complicated . . .

Now, I do wonder if it will be snowing that day?

2009 Looks Busy for Us!

That's Missy on the Left!

This is the year I get to go to my St.Clements' School Reunion Luncheon in Toronto on the house. (That's only 1600 miles there and 1600 miles back for a free lunch. Hence the expression, "there are no free lunches!")

The Canadian Kennel Club has sent me a message congratulating me on becoming a Life Member of CKC this year.

My feelings about these honorariums run from feeling rather old to feeling pretty good that I have now lived longer than my parents lived and even though I now live in East Texas, I still have ties to my homeland.

I was not a great achiever in school. As you might expect, I did well in English because I always loved writing. If you like doing something, you generally can do well at it! One tip I have tried to pass on to any youngster who might listen, is that I felt badly once I realized that History and Geography were strictly memorization subjects. Why didn't my parents point that out? I did play basketball, field hockey, and tennis. I even taught tennis to children at St. James-Bond United Church, one block from the family home in North Toronto.

I loved socializing and partying and making friends - I was always outgoing.

My feelings about the Canadian Kennel Club run deep and I think it is very special to be a Life Member. I had never owned any dog, much less a purebred dog until at age 37 I married an international all-breed dog judge (John Devlin) and was thrown into the deep end, as it were.

I quickly learned a little bit about all purebred breeds because I never knew what breed my dinner companions would own. We travelled Canada extensively and into the U.S. and Latin America. I wrote about purebred dogs and travel. I am still pretty good at identifying the breeds as well as their characteristics. I edited the Canadian Shih Tzu Club bulletin for about four years.

I owned, bred and showed Shih Tzu for 25 years and really studied that breed. When my last homebred Shih Tzu (Harry) died, we decided on Buddy, the Lhasa Apso. I had owned three Lhasa - BoBo, Garbo I and Garbo II, so I did know quite a lot about the breed. We found Buddy in Nacogdoches on a street named Martha at Lucas Lhasas who breed very fine dogs. The great part is that we do not show or breed Buddy and so he is free to be himself.

Buddy has become a wonderful addition to our household and tends to keep us on our toes! He is pretty much to the standard, although perhaps a bit Texas-sized. His joy is guarding our backyard, something his breed is supposed to do. He also is a little more clown-like than my others as well as being very smart.

So, we are just at the beginning of the year and already have lots planned. I get to visit my dear friend, Judy in Port Hope who always treats us like royalty. And on our way back, we will get to visit Keith's sister, Louise in the Cleveland, Ohio area. (Note to Missy, Louise's cat: sorry to be talking so much about dogs today!)

Barack Obama: Not a Moment to Waste!

Every time I watch Barack Obama speak, I cannot help but see what a calm, quiet and quick thinker he seems to be. Back during debates I noticed this and now that he has been elected and we see him with his proposals to get America back on track, it is even more obvious.

Sometimes it seems as though he is not using a teleprompter, although I would think he does.

A person who speaks this well is very rare! This man instills confidence in his listeners and if we pay attention, I think we will get a true feel for the reason he will be our next President.

As for the complaints of his having an Office of the President-Elect, picking his team of advisers and delivering updates to the American public, I can only ask if you really think we have a moment to wait? I think not! We need to get United States - in particular our economy - back on track.

God Bless and watch over Barack Obama and God Bless America!

The King Lives On

If you've been paying attention, then you know that today would have been Elvis' 74th birthday. So, that means that I am older now, right? So, you must be older too!

For some total relaxation, today, Turner Classic Movies is running Elvis movies and early this evening (6:15 p.m. Eastern), they will show Elvis on Tour 1972.

Let's watch this man who never really seemed to take himself seriously and kick back!

If you want a little more, Larry King Live (9:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN) will have Priscilla Presley from Graceland.

I see, however, that Larry doesn't want us to totally relax as he will also have Suze Orman with her 2009 financial tips. Hmmm . . .

A Special Lady Helps Us Honor a Special Father

When I married Keith and moved to East Texas twelve years ago, I didn't have too many close relatives in Ontario to leave behind. The only living family I had were cousins, and I had some good friends. (I do still have extended family in Nova Scotia and British Columbia.)

I made a new friend here in East Texas about two years ago, through her father-in-law, an Illinois snowbird who attended our church during the winter months.

As you get older you realize that there are more unusual things happen than you would ever expect. You also realize that there are plenty of coincidences. Many times when you travel you meet friends from way back or people who live just blocks from you. But over the years, I had only met a few Canadians here.

This man's daughter-in-law not only turned out to be Canadian-born, she had come from Peterborough, which is about a 30 to 40 minute drive from Port Hope where I was living before coming to Texas. (I had lived in Toronto most of my life, moving to Port Hope for a little more than two years.)

Last year, we met this friend's mother and father and visited with them over lunch here.

A few months ago, my friend's father became ill and was in Peterborough Hospital off and on for a couple of months.

Now, this was not a good time to be travelling back and forth and there were a lot of trips - both flying and driving from East Texas to Ontario.

One time, my friend and her two elder daughters drove non-stop (and had a blow out) from here to Peterborough. His grandaughters were able to see their grandfather alive one last time. They made it back home safely.

Sometimes, my friend would e-mail, sometimes we talked on cell phones. Once she was in Windsor; once in the grocery store, once at Houston Airport. I never knew where she would be!

We prayed at Angel of Joy every week for her father and mother and family and for her and her family as they travelled back and forth.

My wonderful Port Hope friend, Judy, was available if needed and she had everyone praying up there too! Thank you, Judy!

He died on December 12th. The funeral was on December 20th.

There was nothing we could do but pray that everyone would be safe and everyone would get back home well and healthy and in one piece.

When the family came back, some came on planes on various days and four in a car through BUFFALO at night during a blizzard. (Now they know they should have come through Windsor/Detroit!)

My friend stayed with her Mother. They went to the Guelph area during the holiday week. Then they travelled over to Quebec to spend New Year's with relatives there.

I got a call yesterday from my friend that she was home safely now. Could Keith & I come to her friend Cindy's home for dinner to honor the memory of her father tonight?

How special was that? There were photos - old photos and photos from the funeral. Cindy knew we felt quite helpless down here. It was a big gathering because these people have a lot of friends and family. My friend knew everyone was there for her.

Keith and I sat with a couple and their daughter who originally had come to East Texas from Niagara Falls, Ontario in the late 80s. She had brought date squares - exactly like my Grandmother used to make! And we talked about how my Grandmother and Grandfather lived on their Canadian pensions of $40 each. Then I had to mention that my Uncle Gideon and Aunt Flo lived on only one of those $40 pensions and banked the other. I told them about how they used to walk across the street to Loblaw's (Supermarket) do buy their groceries.

(My friend and relatives know I like to stop into Loblaw's and Shoppers Drug Mart, Swiss Chalet and Tim Horton's when I am up there. There's something about sharing the special places you miss with someone else who misses them too!)

Keith told them how we were married in Niagara Falls. She said, ah yes, "Honeymoon Capital of the World". Of course, that is the title of one of the chapters in my book, Bumpy Road To Texas.

It was so comfortable. So special. Cindy's home was still trimmed for Christmas. Unsure what I should do, I took pink roses and that seemed just right.

The evening was just a short get-together but it seemed so special. Thank you, Cindy, for doing that! Thank you for helping us all to express just how sorry we are. You are a very special lady!

How good it is to have caring friends!

Number One Resolution: Lose Weight!

Probably the number one resolution made each new year is to lose weight. Of course, quitting smoking used to be big and I am not sure how many people want to quit drinking.

If we believe that losing weight is the number one resolution, then we also know it is probably number one on the list of things that get forgotten.

I have fought weight all my life. I lean very heavily (oops . . . ) on Richard Simmons and this week we have been able to watch Bob Greene (Oprah's consultant) with his advice as well.

Most of Larry King Live (CNN) tonight focused on Oprah Winfrey's continuing battle to keep the weight off. The salient point made was that we who have this problem, must continue for our entire lives to "watch the weight". Nobody wants to hear that because basically we feel if we have tackled a problem - lost the weight - that should be it.

Well, reformed alcoholics can tell you that they have to take life one day at a time and their battle is never really over. Probably we should understand better that over-eating is also an addiction.

What was said tonight was that keeping weight down to the level we would like is a lifetime mission.

Richard Simmons is his own proof that keeping weight off is a lifetime event. I remember his talking one time about frying up and eating a whole pound of bacon after a California earthquake. (It is worth noting that in 2008, Richard ate fast food only once and only three pizzas. So, his healthy eating habits coupled with exercise are beyond the level of most of us.)

I try really hard not to have fattening things in the house, but especially over the holidays, they creep into the shopping buggy. I know not having them around is the way to not eat them. Of course, it must be noted that portion control is very important.

There is an interesting thing I know about losing weight and getting down to the weight you should be. As you are losing the weight, people are very interested as they watch you fit into smaller sizes. When someone comments on how good you look, that is very exhilarating! As I watched the clips of Oprah getting ready for photo shoots for her O Magazine tonight, I saw how good she felt about herself and how she was - well, kind of giddy about it! Part of the problem for us who have lost a lot of weight is that those comments tend to trickle down. People just assume we will look great every day.

All of us who have to be careful about what we eat have triggers that set us off eating badly. It could be an argument, stress, loneliness, loss - any number of events in our everyday life. As Oprah phrased it, food is the drug of her choice. That would be true of a lot of us!

If you have friends you know have problems keeping trim, do encourage them with kind comments and invite them to restaurants where it is possible to eat healthy. If a person says they will not have any of the pizza you just ordered in, leave it at that. Believe me, the smell is very strong and it takes all the willpower available to resist it! (A trick I use is to always have a 100 calorie snack bar in my purse. I try to never let myself get hungry. That is the only way I can resist the pizza.)

Now, I am down ten pounds in my current push to get healthier again. When I lose ten more, I will be down to my lowest weight in the past 35 years again. So, it could happen that I lose even more this time and really feel good and good about myself!

Below are the websites for Oprah Winfrey and Richard Simmons:

http://www.oprah.com http://www.richardsimmons.com

Keeping Track of Friends & Relatives in Real Time

My Space and Facebook help us keep track of people at a distance in real time.

I know how the weather is affecting my niece and sister-in-law in Nova Scotia and my friend visiting Ontario can tell me exactly where she had lunch in Port Hope yesterday.

No large phone charges, no roaming charges, no wondering if someone is going to answer, and no worry about time zones.

I can also keep track of some old friends in Raleigh - okay, sorry guys - you're actually pretty young!

With people being so scattered, this is an easy, time-effective way to see what everyone is doing. People can post photos they took yesterday!

A major advantage is just going to one website to see all messages. Yes, yes, I know this is the lazy man's way of keeping in touch, but it's effective and I am trying to learn to be part of the times!

I have one friend in Port Hope who writes beautiful letters to me, and I have a lot of trouble sitting down to reply. I know that is a great art. Somehow, although we have all the time savers we have, we no longer seem to have the time for these niceties

So, I'm just trying to keep up . . .

Need A Way to Spend Your Cash?

Well, here we are in this new year of 2009, with a new President coming to office and all of us trying to forge ahead to clear off the slate and start fresh.

Did you ever notice that when times are tough, there are more offers, more ways to take your money than usual?

Anyone who has been in a big city mall has probably seen at some time celebrities - particularly athletes - signing autographs for pay. I always thought that was pretty odd because these people get paid big bucks for just doing their job. I think it is strange that they would sit in the middle of a mall and sign an autograph for cash. Seems a bit greedy!

Well, on the computer today, there is an ad from our old friend, William Shatner, for a new online autograph service. Yup, you can go to liveautographs.com and get something signed - with a video of the person signing it - for a price. Makes a nice birthday gift. Hum . . .

So, here we are in 2009 with no shortages of ways to spend our money. Would this be your choice of a way to part with your cash?

Delaware Punch - Another Forbidden!

This weekend seems more than a transition than a totally new beginning. There are still parties to attend, people to write and everyone needs to catch up on their sleep!

We got to meet Ziggy today and she was just as sweet as she could be. She was very polite about all the people visiting her family's home. She's a Welsh Terrier, two years old and is in Pastor's family.

They opened their home to us and everyone brought their very fanciest treats for a smorgasbord of delight. (We took an assortment of pickles - some homemade.)

We were introduced to Delaware Punch which was very delicious but when offered the can - available they say at H.E.B. - there it was in fine print - 45 grams of sugar!

I swear on Richard Simmons' video that I only drank one glass of that cherry-colored elixir!

Wow! I gotta keep away from those punches or Richard will kill me! On second thought, the punch will kill me!

It was a delightful party to kick off the New Year. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Writing That Makes You Go, "Huh?"

Everyday I read really good material written by bloggers and everyday I read newspaper copy that goes without proofreading. There are lots of accounts that make you go: "Huh?" Here is today's gem:

"The study identified food 'stressors', such as sugar, caffeine, alcohol and chocolate as improving mental health when participants reduced or removed them from their diets.' "

People relying on spellcheckers without anyone actually reading through the copy are sure to produce statements that make you go, "What did they say?"

In writing as everywhere else, we have come to rely on technology and some of us tend not to double check by reading and perhaps having someone else read our copy.

Shall we re-write that sentence so you know what was really being said?

"The study showed that sugar, caffeine, alcohol and chocolate are detrimental to mental health. Improvement results when these foods are removed from the diet."

You got that now?

Not Quite Into Routine!

We definitely were not into any type of routine today. Hubby was watching scattered bowl games and we did catch the Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Day Concert on PBS.

We sent out an e-mail greeting card with the same theme, so that was kind of fun.

Thank you notes have been sent - we try to be good about that!

We still need to sit down to look at the Christmas cards we received from folks we did not have a proper address for and send them little notes.

We ate very badly today which is not good for starting the new year, is it? We did have a good breakfast, but kinda snacked from there. Hmmm . . .

Now, I did get all my stuff together for marathon cropping (scrapbooking) tomorrow and Hubby has it in the car. He is so efficient! He will be taking down the outdoor decorations tomorrow. He says it's easy. Easy for him - he's an Engineer!

We are lucky, we do not have to be anywhere tomorrow, so we can use the weekend to finish off the little details to get the new year in gear. I do have my daily calendar book in order. I have my potluck ready for cropping. I have my outfit set out for tomorrow. We always set out clothes out the night before - it makes life so much easier! Hope you do that too!

Trust you noticed that the Waterford Crystal Ball pictured below from last night's Time's Square Drop was called the Angel of Joy ball! Hmmm. . . sounds familiar to us because that is also the name of our church.

Let us all pull ourselves together, spending less, planning more and counting down to the new administration who just might have some goodies for us in a few months!

Could any of you use a bailout? Well, how 'bout a tax break (Two months' reprieve was suggested by our very own Louie Gohmert!) How 'bout a larger incentive program than we had last year?

Let us all pray that finances will recover and we will see more plus days on the Dow. Let us pray for the wisdom, guidance and good health of Barack Obama and his team!

Let us pray for a better year in 2009!

Happy 2009!