Our LEAD Troublemaker!

A bit more nostalgia...

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Good Morning All;

Mother Natures Aprils Fools joke on us, (around these parts anyway), coming just a wee bit late this year...

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I am not even too sure if Punkie sees the humor in it!

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Is there a Ghost of Easters Past?

Because if there is, here we go...

We did not heat our basement; the only heat down there provided by the old wood/coal furnace we had... (and it gave off plenty as it chugged to life)...

But the basement was our cellar- kind of a cool place to store everything... Including our veggies, canned goods, and eggs. The older refrigerators we quite small on the inside, and so many things were simply kept out. Sounds horrendous in this day and age, but everything we had was fresh. Salmonella was quite unheard of, poultry laid fresh eggs, and as long as those eggs were gathered every morning they were fresh as could be! Being one of the few farms back then that produced "Grade A" Milk, we could have no chickens. (Separate barns would have been required for any other farm animal, save the cows). We received all of our eggs from neighbors and family close~by.

One year... I had to be 6 or 7 maybe, Mom had gotten all the preparations ready to color eggs. Of course we had to boil those eggs first... Mama had sent me down to the basement to get the eggs.

There were probably about 6 dozen then that we would use... I got them down off the shelf, and began to come back upstairs, when I tripped on the basement steps.

AND ON THE WAY UP !!!

There were eggs all over!

My life was OVER!

I was not only bruised, but cut a bit, AND terrified of even calling out FOR 'HELP'...

...So I did what any normal kid would do.

I began to cry.

Loudly, AND PROBABLY QUITE OBNOXIOUSLY TOO.

And of course Mom had to come see what the devil had made me cry.

(And ever so LOUDLY too)...

I remember the horrified look on her face as she rounded that corner... The sharp intake of breath just before she simply told me to "get up".

I heard her sigh. (And I remember the swat on my backside as I walked by her after she told me to get cleaned up).

By the time I was cleaned up, she had salvaged a LOT of those eggs.

And that 'trip' wasn't nearly as bad as what I had originally thought it to be...

We had probably about 4 dozen (give or take), left to color. But I think I probably ruined that day for everyone too.

I don't remember the Easter... Just that trip and fall...

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Fast forward a few years...

...to me~n~my girls...

Times were lean, and I usually got "hand~me~overs" from relatives and such for clothes for the girls. My aunts were wonderful about this, and mom would always pick up a few things when she would go to Goodwill or St. Vinnies too.

But one year, I wanted something more special...

I didn't have the money to go to the fabric store, but I sure had leftover fabric. And got busy making the girls their "new" easter outfits. Oh they weren't too "easter~ish", (unless red is now an easter color). But they sure had something new to wear. I used one of their shirts, and a pair of their pants for the pattern... And this is how they turned out!

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My little Jennifer Hope and Zoe Catherine in their "new" clothes...

Silly maybe, but 'cute' too!

(Of course, I was kind of biased)!

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Now to fast forward once more...

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And yes, this was our chief cook and bottle washer...

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But what you might NOT know is that she was also our lead troublemaker!

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Casey was about 6 years old; and for the Grace of God still believed in that same flop~earred rabbit that would come and hide eggs every Easter morning.

We were living on Jaworski Road... The phone rang that Holy Saturday afternoon. I answered it, and could barely make out my own mothers voice over her laughter... But she had asked was Casey home? Um yeah... So I put Casey on...

...I am right there, as I hear Casey say "Hi Grandma!" (in that excited and happy tone that beloved grandbabies always use)... ~I hear Casey say "What?!?!?!" ~And I watch her face turn a bit sour. ~A few seconds later she is almost crying... They talk a few more minutes and when I hear Casey say, "I love you too Grandma!" I know the conversation is over. She hands the phone back to me...

"Hello?" ... "HELLO?" ... "Mom?" ...Nothing. ...She had hung up.

And there was Casey standing by me as I hung up my phone too.

I asked her what was wrong? She said, "Grandma says the Easter Bunny is dead!"

A bit shocked, I giggle. (Bad choice of reactions)...

And so I ask...

She says, "Grandma went to go get her mail, and there he was, DEAD, in the middle of the road!"

I tried to quash that little voice in my head that had promptly begun singing the 'dead skunk' song)... ~crossin' the highway late last night, he shoulda looked left, and he shoulda looked right...

Then she said "Grandma is getting her shovel right now, and is gonna "BURY IT!"

...(hiccup~hiccup~hiccup)...

God help me, Mom...

I explained to Casey that Grandma was mistaken... (She sure left me holding the bag on this one when she'd hung up)...

I told Casey that it was only one of his helpers because the Easter Bunny is magic and would never just die in the middle of the road...

Troublemaker? Mama? ...(I rest my case).

Casey~Face was very hesitant to believe me... (Grandmas words are always more believable)...

That night then... to have Casey put flour down on the floor so she could see his footprints if he did come...

Smart kid~ ...(too smart)...

Waking the next morning to see his footprints there on the kitchen floor was more than enough validation for this precocious child of mine...

...And she happily went in search of the eggs he had hidden.

I didn't count those eggs that year...

hehehe

Have a splendid Saturday! I must go shovel snow...

XOXO
Anne

Nostalgic Easter...

Good Friday Morning...

On this very sacred day, I am not going to post about the Cross. Rather to share a few special memories of my own from Easters past...

Yes, as children we went to every Easter Service. This included everything from Ash Wednesday onward. Each week we would go after chores and milking was done to The~Stations~of~The~Cross masses. There were even special masses for Easter Monday at that point in time. And the term "Holy Day of Observation" meant we would go. We were raised very Christian, and quite Catholic.

That said, we were also raised to believe that some flop~eared rabbit brought us treats and hid many colored eggs too. (Even though we bought, cooked, and colored those same eggs for him)! He would come during the night, as we slept... We could always even see his paw~prints from his visit outside. But when we woke on Easter Morning we couldn't look for the eggs either. ("Mean", huh)? We were to get dressed and get out to the barn and get our chores done first. I am sure that Mary ALWAYS must have peeked... though as for me, (remember, the younger "angelic" child), would never have done such a thing! hehehe

When we were finished with our chores, (bathed and clean~smelling once again), we could then look for those eggs... And such a whirlwind this house had never seen before! Mama would sit and wait for us to bring them to her, and she would count each and every one. (There was always at least ONE that was very hard to find)... Sometimes, we would then 'hide' the eggs for Mom and Dad; sometimes we would do so for each other; depending upon how much time we had until mass at 10:00. (This was in the days before one could actually go to mass on Saturday and have it 'count' as a Sunday mass).

One year, "yours truly" had 'hid' an egg in Pa's suitcoat. Which of course he 'claimed' to have "found" during the gospel, and just had to chuckle out loud... risking a sharp poke in the ribs... (How come HE never did get poked, unless he was snoring)? After mass, we would come home, and change into more comfortable clothing; (to ruin your "Sunday Best" was just about the 11th Commandment). Mom would always start dinner then.

Hmmm... These were also the days that people ate 'breakfast', 'dinner', and 'supper'. ("Lunch" was something kids had to bring to school if their parents could not afford hot lunch).

For all of the 'special' holidays, dad would buy some Fresh Polish Sausage. Polska Keilbasa. (NOTE: This is NOT the kind you buy pre~packaged and pre~cooked in a Klements wrapper). It was always homemade from Blazeis Meat store. (Years earlier, Pa had done the butchering for John and Carl Blazei; so he knew this was the only place to go for his favorite meats).

I do not recall anything more of that Easter... save for the following weeks the weather must have warmed sufficiently to be able to go to church in short sleeves. But I do remember one Sunday following... There was an uproar upstairs as Dad was getting dressed for mass. Seems as though SOMEONE had forgotten all about that lone Easter egg that had stayed hidden in his coat pocket... Their closet was where they stored everything valuable, and so it didn't get opened on a regular basis...

So how come Moms old saying about birthdays did not apply then? (She always had said it was STILL our birthday as long as there was birthday 'cake' left). So wasn't it still Easter? And how come Dad didn't have to go to church that morning? He owned ONE suit, kids... and when it smelled like rotten eggs, (farmer or not, even dad wasn't going anywhere in it)! Hey, at least it wasn't a MOW~ISS! Click on purple "mowiss" there if you don't yet know that story...hehehe

I have since cut up that old suit and used the squares for in the quilts I made for Mary and myself... No it does not stink anymore- Mama actually made it right, somehow, by the following week...

That closet got painted that Spring; (and if I were to venture a guess, it was the last time it was painted too). hehehe

I hope you all have some grand plans for this Easter Weekend!

XOXO
Anne

PS You will note that my blast will be changing from time to time... Different quotes I have found, saved by Mama in her little books... She always wrote everything down; and I actually think I could post a new blast EVERY day for a few years, and NOT run out of things she copied down...

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Make or Break...

Good Thursday to All;

I am very, very 'behind' this morning... But I am slowly getting through a bunch of spring cleaning that HAS to be done. As it stands right now, I have 2 tables... Well, I DID.... (but they were around here somewhere, but have morphed into small indoor mountains of "schtuff" needing sorting, filing, and attention in some respect).

Will keep this short, because if I do not, those mountains will keep growing and growing and... ...(suffice it to say that my ceiling is not that high, nor are my walls are not that wide)!

But for the title above...

Just wanted to say that I have always spent a great deal of time and thought on some of my familys pages... And try to get to my friends as my time and thoughts for the day allow. (You ALL know that this does NOT always happen that way though)... My apologies for my inattentiveness.

So, in keeping with short and sweet; make and break, my questions for today are...

1. What makes a good blog? What kills it?

2. Do you delete comments? (Why or why not)?

and...

3. Have you ever broken any toes?

Really, I ask for a reason; (mostly cuz I am real nosy); but I shall share my own thoughts and ideas on a later blog.

Do have fun with these questions; it is time for me to find my tables, (and my filing cabinet too)!

Have a grand day!

XOXO
Anne

Laundry, Snow... (and The Strangled Honk)!

Good Morning All;

I am laughing at my "dryer fur" in the above picture... It seems as though even when I do the smallest loads, of separate colors, that the lint seems to be all dog fur! hehehe... And I think I should save all those little colored 'furballs' to 'make' little 'puppies' out of...

(WHAT'D'YA MEAN that's not where puppies come from)?

Oh anyway, these puppies of mine have so much fun playing together somedays. During a particularly rambunctious 'fight' over whose ball it was, they had to stop and look all over; trying to find where that odd noise was coming from...

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See the lone goose flying over them, making the strangest strangled "HONK" sound... Those dogs never did see the darned thing either...

(Spring is in the air, so it must have been the mating call of the goose)...

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Brings a whole new definition to the old saying that "Love is In the Air!"

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Speaking of 'odd' noises, the water softener is finishing its cycle as I write... Sounds as if there is something very strange in my basement! But that noise is from the water pressure I assume. Last year, (winter, of course), the discharge line had frozen and the softener water had drained all over the basement floor. At least Pa had put a drain in when he had dug out the basement, but what that left behind after it all had drained and dried was pretty (in an odd sort of way). And it made my entire floor sparkle! (Kind of a disasterous decoration though)!

I got some real good soup bones from Maplewood Meats, and some oxtail too. Mom would use this all for her soup way back when... But oh, how the times have changed! Adding a bunch of rice and barley, these dogs will be well fed; along with their vitamins... And then there are always those bones to keep them occupied for a long time too. DeeAnne's dog was affected by this awful recall... Seems to be doing better though. God Bless them both. (Please say a little prayer for them)...

It snowed last night (Mother Nature having her own weird sense of humor). My tulips and daffodils and hyacinths won't like it much, but they are hardy enough to survive it too. This really does happen more often than not... I still have to get that big garage door opened and try to get the tiller started... Then do a run~through on the garden. (Unfortunately my weeds are very hardy too)!

Caseys car, pinged by the hail only a few days ago, is now decorated with that splotchy winter white stuff...

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Hail!

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Punk, very unsure of what was happening, decided to venture out and take a look~see...

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Hmmmm!?!? ~Her very best puzzled look~

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Doing her best 'Henny Penny' imitation now... "I MUST go tell the king!"

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Speaking of water pressure, I had best get in the shower and check mine out once more!

Have a 'wunnaful' Wednesday! Do take care...

XOXO
Anne

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"Healthy Paranoia" perhaps?

Good Morning ALL...

I am alive... (that is, if feeling my heart beating in my head and face is indicative of "life")...

I have yet to find out who hit me in the face with that hammer too. (Fully half of it is still swollen, the antibiotics being slow to work)...

While I was in the process of posting my last entry, I began to see my dreaded spots, and jagged lines... And so, I HAVE BEEN pretty "dismal" here these past few days, to say the very least... Casey called yesterday when she was done with work, and had already called my doctor and set up an appointment for still another shot. (Why do these migraines keep intensifying in nature)? And why did those dots and jagged lines disappear after 2 hours, only to return after a while. I "saw" those auras for the better part of 6 hours on Sunday. Doc said it should not have been triggered by the clindamycin...

I am NOT a person to take antibiotics in the first place... preferring to "up" my intake of garlic, and the like, to kill off any invading "bugs" that might be there. (But when my face looks and feels like this, it is pretty hard to justify NOT taking whatever the dr. prescribes)! hehehe My head is MUCH better today, (and I am almost positive that by tomorrow I shall be writing about how much better my face/mouth is too)! And yes, I fully intend on taking this prescription to the very end. (Boy, that sounds ominous)...

I am thinking of 'road-tripping' very soon too! Yay! ...Old Mother Nature having prevented us from leaving last month and all... I know too, that I should NOT have made reference to the absent snows around these parts the other day... Today and tomorrow are looking a bit ridiculous here... To the North, and into the U.P. of Michigan, there are Winter Storm Wanings for up to 2' of new SNOW... We should get some, if only an inch or two or three (or...)... Good Grief!

Speaking of grief...

My heart is so sickened by all of these pet food recalls. And to that end, have posted what I read in Miss Anitas blogsite. CLICK HERE if you have not taken the time to click on my blast...

After I had read her entry, I regret to say that I am MORE than unhappy with the FDA and now also my own previous link to our IAMS and Eukanuba site. This company has taken it upon themselves to 'redo' their website after various complaints, and have made it almost impossible to find any info on their own recalls. (Listed on their top page however is the dislaimer that the recent recall does not affect any foods marketed outside of the US and Canada)!

Um... DUH?!?!

But anyway, here is the one link I was able to find within their website CLICK HERE for the IAMS and Eukanuba info links. (Note that when I had clicked on a number of these links, they were '404' nonexistent; ?? "Web page could not be found" )...

Guess I am right in feeding table scraps and cooking for these critters of mine!

Think now... I am also thinking that PEOPLE are justified in removing from their own diets any/everything that has wheat products in it. Please hear me out on this...

Written/updated yesterday are the following words of "simple brilliance": "The FDA said today that it has found no indication the contaminated ingredient is in any food humans eat. The agency said it would alert the public if it found melamine in any other foods."

...Great huh?

(Hmmmmm... Oh, ya mean AFTER PEOPLE START DYING too)???

Please bear in mind that our FDA has been wrong many times in the past regarding the food products and drugs that we ingest... That link should take you to their own recall and complaint stuff...

This from PETA... www.peta.org

"While cherished animal companions continue to die, the FDA is taking a "wait~and~see" approach and, even more appalling, concealing information to protect pet industry interests. " ???

HOW DARE THEY?

"With calls coming in to our (peta) office from people stating that their animals died after eating dry foods that have not yet been recalled, PETA confirmed with the FDA that it was also receiving such complaints..."

New this morning, a PET TREAT recall due to salmonella poisoning. CLICK HERE for that story.

Please take care of not only the four~legged furkids in your lives; but also the 2~legged varieties as well!

I am hearing now that this has somehow come from China? It is NOT only the company in Canada that this has affected. So, since this is all so vast and far~reaching, (and its implications seem almost endless), I have a question here for you... Am I the only one, or is anyone else ready to vote against anyone who is really INTO supporting importing anything that we can grow/manufacture on American soil? Because I personally believe it is high time to put our own AMERICAN Workers ALL back to work, don't you???

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OK, I really am NOT into political issues, (although my "welfare" blog entry has also taken on a real life of its own)... But I think my last paragraph also ties in with that past entry. (I do apologize to you for my, um, more "passionate" blogs)... Click on the blue words there if you haven't see that blog entry...

I hope you are all having a grand Tuesday...

XOXO
Anne

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Picture credits... Flag stolen from HERE Kidney stolen from HERE

Off With My Head!

Hi All...

And thus begins April, and our Easter Week...

I have begun it with an abscessed tooth. Not a kind thing to have in my mouth either. BUT, I do appreciate the swelling to a point, as it seems to fill out a few of my laugh lines! hehehe

I did finally break down and go in to the ER yesterday afternoon. We (Casey and I), were at the hospital for less than 1/2 an hour, all tolled. The Dr. took one look at my face, looked inside my mouth for a few seconds and wrote out a script for Clindamycin. Now why do I think that this is the same prescription that we had given "Moose~da~Kitty" when he was sick? ...And we ALL know what ultimately happened to HIM!!! Oh well.

Since I am in a bit of pain, since I am ever so late today, and since I am 'seeing dots' I shall keep this very short...

Enjoy what is left of your weekend!

XOXO
Anne

"Senile"... Like a Dog...

Good Morning ALL!

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this bears reposting today...

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And so I am thinking that March goes "Out" like a Lion this year too. (So does that mean that next year we will have IN like a lamb, and OUT like a lamb too)?

Curiouser and curiouser, this weather of ours...

It is 37 degrees, and damp too... (Much too cold for THIS sort of behavior too)...

click on the "THIS" above... (and don't forget to come back either)...

Now doesn't that story give a whole new meaning to the song "Little Willy" ?!??... hehehe

I know too, that this goes completely against my better judgement, (and also against everything I have P'sd and M'nd about this past month), but WHO MOVED MY SNOW???

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I am thinking it would be much nicer to be doing what Punkie is doing here...

(than to feel like I have woken up to a fist fight).

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Free Dermalogen? Collagen? My top lip is swollen up like a newfound plastic surgeon might leave it after a bit of lip augmentation... (And if I ever find out who snuck into my room in the middle of last night and hit me in the face with a sledge hammer, please know I WILL repay in kind one day)! hehehe

Having had dental work done in the past few months, I am thinking this has something to do with all of that. ??? It feels as though my top teeth have been frozen, and that the dentist has left the needle in... (and when I smile only half of my lip seems to agree)? Weird...

...Since I cannot duct tape an ice cube to my face, I was thinking that a little snow in one of those ziplocs would be very helpful... BUT ALAS, THERE IS NONE!

I have thought of a short trip to Antarctica...

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This actually looks highly attractive right about now!

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ANYWAY! ...On to other things...

Menu Foods have begun to recall DRY Cat (and Dog?) FOODS as well...

...Can anyone say "Table Scraps"???

I will do this for the next month; (or for however long it takes to ensure safe foods for them). The problem seems to be focused on the wheat gluten now... WTH? I do not think my dogs will complain with respect to a different menu, and a vitamin, every day; (besides, doing this will also enable me to better use up the contents of my freezer)!

I am NOT taking ANY Chances here...

I would rather have a fat(ter) dog than most, than have a dead one.

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Cat and Dog Foods RECALLS Links...

• Link to story... CLICK HERE
• Link to PETA... CLICK HERE (I do not usually agree with many things that PETA does, this is a good article, based on erring on the side of caution)....
• Link to Menu Foods... (And others)... CLICK HERE
• Link to IAMS and Eukanuba Foods Updated March 30, '07 CLICK HERE
• Link to Melamine CLICK HERE
• Link to aminopterin CLICK HERE

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I cannot begin to tell you how sick this whole ordeal is, and how very sad it makes me too. And where WILL it end? I do not know what other products Menu Foods makes, but I am thinking that it does not begin and end with Cat Food and Dog Food either. Like I said, I am NOT taking any chances.

Time for me to "fly" once again...

Have a "wunnaful", safe weekend... And do start some healthy cooking for your pets! make sure any vitamins you give to them do NOT have any wheat products in them either. ***A good Health Food Store always carrys pet products too. Call ahead and make sure that they have products in stock that are made from things that are made, grown, in the United States. (Lucky me, having Bay Natural Foods headquarters right in Green Bay)!

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Oh, and the title?

....This is the response you get from your daughter when you ask her, "Do you think that dogs get senile?"

And this lovely 26 year old replies...

"I have heard of many animals taking on the characteristics of their owners, so I would have to say 'Yes' to that question."

Oh.

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OK.

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...now wait a darned minute here...

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"WHAT?!?!?!?!"

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...Too funny for words...

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I am NOT senile!

Bwuahahahahaha!

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Welfare?, Subway, and 'Food for Thought'...

Good Morning!

What an interesting evening. And one that I have learned (TOO?) much from...

I was checking my email and came across a very interesting article on Public Assistance, Welfare and The Law.

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And I am hoping that this shows up large enough for you to read.

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(In case it does not, here is the text)...

Written by Leonard Wilson of Riddle, Oregon

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"I have a question, not only for Douglass County, but for the entire State of Oregon. Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as they see fit. In order to get that paycheck. I am required to pass a random urine test, which I have no problem with. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check, because I have to pass one to earn it for them?"

"Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sit on their butt. Could you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check."

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Sounds pretty good, yes???

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Of course me, NOT being able to come online without checking my 360; I had found myself on Miss Rebecca's Pages... And here were a few blogs that were very closely related to this email... (Note: She hates Gee Dubya). And so, I included the newspaper article that I had been sent, in my comments to her.

She wrote back to me then, and included a few "facts" of her own...

"Please pass this on to your friend...

My sister in law does have to pass or fail (depends how you look at it) a drug test to get her check. If she passes the drug test she loses the check.

You see she gets disability for being a drug addict who is so addicted the state says she cant work. All she has to do to get a check is fail a drug test every 6 months and go to therapy once a month. They also pay for her methadone.

I raise her kids and my taxes support her habit. Great system we have, yes?"

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How bad is this?!?!? (Personally I had to read it twice to make sure I had read it correctly to begin with)... Sadly, I had. While I have ALWAYS been of the mind that welfare and the like are necessary evils, this "qualification" has really made me ill.

I am sure that if anyone is in a position to accurately relate their states codes on this...

PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT HERE.

Is the law like this in your state?

Is it like this in all 50 states???

Kinda gets one more than a little upset!

And on to other topics...

I cruise around Yahoo 360, and stumble upon many interesting words, stories, poems, and their authors... I am sure many of you know that CaseyAnne used to work at Subway... And this morning I had come across a patron of Subways... Britt had a very interesting tale to tell too! Funny also... (click their names for their own facts and fictions).

But then, as I write I remember what happened to CaseyAnne while she had still been employed by the tacky gas station down the road... (Now that's a whole 'nother blog in and of itself, so I am not going to explain the 'tacky' part of that story right now)...

One day last Fall she had gotten a Subway sandwich to take to work with her for a bite of dinner should she get a break on her shift. She did. And so, she began to happily munch away on her sandwich! Mmmm. We do like Subway Food!!! (Especially knowing that their breads are baked fresh every morning)!

Imagine Caseys surprise when her coworker said, "there is something on your sandwich."

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Still happily chewing as she turned it over, this is what she found...

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THIS BLACK FLY IS BAKED RIGHT INTO THE BREAD!

(Oh Freakin' Hey! I KID YOU NOT)!!!

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I had frozen the sandwich immediately. As luck would have it, the next day is when she had had to go back to the hospital for emergency surgery on her 2nd spontaneous pneumothorax(ed) lung. And so I had not given it a second thought... (Until this morning). Digging around in my freezer, it was still there...

Hmmmmm.....

EAT FRESH! ...

Eat "Fresh WHAT" exactly????

(Well hey, it IS a fresh picture)!

I don't imagine anyone would do anything about this at this late date; but it sure is disgusting, GROSS, and probably quite UNhealthy too. (And I don't much care what Jared, Jon Lovitt, or any other of their spokespersons say)... Had Casey not been taken ill and hospitalized right then, I probably WOULD have contacted an attorney, (or at least the Brown County Health Department), to see what could have been done at that point.

Oh well. Live and learn.

And ALWAYS turn ANY sandwich over before you proceed to think you are enjoying it...

Oh my... Between the unappetizing and unappealing welfare system in place, (not to mention an equally inappetizing and unappealing Subway), it was inevitable to lose track of time here...

And I just cannot resist telling you that it is "time for me to FLY!"

(Oh, quit groaning now, you HAD to see that one coming)...

Have a grand weekend!

XOXO
Anne

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Sandals. Boobelage. Hate Me, Love Me -NAILED- The Cold Hard Truth

 

Good Morning!

This blog is inspired by an email received yesterday one of my oldest (hehehe) But dearest friends.

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(Thank you Beth)!

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(I will include her email to me at the end of this blog).

As warmer weather descends upon us, there are a few things we need to know about how to dress appropriately to still be comfortable; (and yet, to NOT be making anybody else feel UNcomfortable enough to spit/spew their food and drink through their mouths or noses; or in the worst case scenarios to force anyone to lose their lunch). This is an awful thing to do to anybody; (most especially to an unsuspecting stranger).

Shorts...

(Beach or otherwise)...

Men: Please keep your shorts 'long' enough to not expose any of your jewels.

No Speedos... (Honestly, a well~placed sock looks better than a Speedo). And absolutely no purple. (You WILL be snickered at; and the bright eyes you see looking at you are only hiding gales of laughter)...

Women. Irregardless of age, most of us are not the next Coppertone Baby. Shorts that show any portion of your gluteous maximus are not really cute. (That is what swimsuits are for). And for those same swimsuits, please make sure that your gluteous is at least in shape. (If it is not; well, that's what swimsuit covers are for).

The very same goes for any exposed "boobelage".

Speaking of "boobelage"...

Men, if your boobs are bigger than those of a postpubescent child, please keep them covered. (Personally, it leaves me highly depressed when a mans boobies are bigger than mine; and hang lower).
This is not cute in the least. It is just so sad for many of us. Please also remember this when you are mowing your front lawns, or doing anything within eyeshot of your street.
(Even a wife~beater/muscle shirt/singlet shirt will cover these all~too~feminine appendages of yours).
These shirts come in packs of three at any WalMart; so dust off your danged wallet and spend the $5.00 (for dignity sake).

Shoes.

More specifically... "SANDALS"

Sandals were created to bring a bit of comfort to your feet, (and to our noses).

***~Recently I have noticed that they can also be used to accurately judge any spouses, (male or female, prospective or otherwise); simply by determining how awful it might be to spend a single night in the same bed. If, upon awakening, your legs repeatedly look like you have been mauled by a lion, please either sleep on the couch or get a divorce... (or a cage)... If that lion hasn't had all of its shots, you will be subjecting yourself to many infections... (some of which are incurable)...

RIGHT?

Men and women: If you care to wear sandals, please do not allow your toes or feet to look like long, narrow brillo pads. I assure you that this is not attractive in the least. (And that YES, there is a reason why your dog, and the neighbors dogs, are constantly sniffing at your feet. (Simply put, you have gotten something yummy in your 'nitso').

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Toenails...

...How gross do they have to really get?

(Please refer to ***~ASTERISKS above)...

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Unless you are a duck... Your toenails should never be any shade of yellow; (whether they are painted, unpainted, or infected)...

...Please either get a pedicure, (men too), or see a podiatrist.

Fungal infections are as disgusting as growing your own mushrooms... (Which is exactly what will happen if you remain untreated).

Might I also suggest scouring your tub after each use... and changing your sheets more than once a year?

If you own old worn, holey and see~through socks, please keep them. (Your feet obviously need all the air they can get).

Soaking your tootsies daily, (or even once a week); in Epsom Salts, (add a little H2O2), will also keep those toenails fresh and decent.

Toenails should NEVER extend beyond the ends of your toes!

(Again, please refer to ***~ASTERISKS above)...

...This is dangerous to anyone that comes near to you for whatever reason. When we are swimming together in a pool or a lake, there is always the possibility that you will scratch me. (I get more than enough close calls from Mr. Schick, so I do not need you to be adding to this for me).

Buy yourself a toenail clippers and use it weekly. (They are not only for decorating your weekend/overnight/shaving bags).

Also purchase yourself some very good emery boards. When you are done clipping those toenails finish correctly by FILING THEM DOWN. (Yes, men too). This takes all of about one minute. Nobody wants to see your jagged nails; or the dirt beneath them. Clean out the cracks out too.

Please also file your heels with these magical emery boards- Do this before, and after, soaking your feet. Unless you are a barefoot mason your heels should not look like fresh concrete.

The magic boards can also be used to remove any pre~corn skin. It files off very nicely.
If it does not, please go buy some Dr. Scholls Corn Remover Pads.... (and USE them).

It should go without saying that sandals and socks should NEVER be paired together; unless it is in the following sentence.

"I WILL NOT WEAR SOCKS UNDER MY SANDALS!"

(This only tells us that you have NOT taken those few moments to ensure that you have nice feet... ...And that you have only tried to cover up something very gross and disgusting).

So now we will all be ready to wear sandals or even go barefoot! Yay!

There now, I feel better already!

I have had a bit of fun; and I do hope no one has taken offense..

Have a great Thursday!

XOXO
Anne

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...Oh and here is Bethels original email to me... The "inspiration" as it is!

 

"Happy sandal season!"

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Alright ladies, it's that time of year once again!!! I think we need to be reminded of a few things.

Ladies, PLEASE, raise your big toes and repeat after me below....

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The Open Toed Shoe Pledge...

As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the Rules when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes:

• I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.
• I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.
• I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.
• I will shave the hairs off my big toe.
• I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.
• If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.
• I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.
• I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.
• I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.
• I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.
• I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they are actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.
• I will promise to go to my local nail salon at least once per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $35 and worth EVERY penny).
• I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear... nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals.

Random, Scattered Thoughts for Today...

Good Morning ALL;

Have been reading the news here... And although I didn't really even know who she was the while she lived, I find it sad that Anna Nicole Smith had to die this way... And I do believe that even with all of her prescriptions, she would be alive today if it wasn't for that damned Methadone.

As most of you are already aware, this is the same drug that killed Reianna!

Please, PLEASE tell everyone you know NEVER to take methadone FOR ANY REASON.

I am also thinking that perhaps it is high time for ABC to repeat their story about methadone entitled "One Pill Can Kill." I believe they had aired it originally last October, shortly after Reianna died.

Why do the physicians keep prescribing this killer drug in the first place???

It is POISON.

Please see 20/20 article: "One Pill Can Kill"
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2475616&page=1

Please also SEND THIS LINK TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK, and to everyone in your 360 Friends list too. It is too important not to.

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Another note about those flowers peeking out... I don't think they will be 'flowering' this year, as the damnable rabbits are feasting upon each and every one of those little sprouts!

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Little buggars! ...& I don't care how 'cute' they are; (they STILL taste like chicken)!

Am thinking that when Sam and his cousin came to hunt 'em, they didn't take out enough of them.

And the other vermin around here, the bats, I should get a longer ladder and try to close up that little crack in the roofing by the chimney. While it is kinda cool to watch them come out at night, I do not think it is good to be harboring all these bats that seem to live under my roof. No, they aren't in the house... yet...

For more info on troublesome pests, (bats, bunnies, birds ,snakes and more), please go to http://www.abirdshome.com/habitat/profiles.htm (You can also learn how to attract the "better" kinds of wildlife)!

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Yesterday, Casey needed to go to one of her Labs... She had missed this lab last week and did not want to miss it again. She took my car, stopping off at Dereks home first (her car has been parked there ever since she was admitted to the hospital last week). She struggled even to get that far. Being dizzy, shaking, sweating, and in pain,; she did not care to venture any further to get to the campus at UWGB. Instead, she called the campus and was transferred to the registrars office. Only to learn that she had missed too many classes and she had a choice of being suspended, or withdrawing from her classes. She chose to withdraw yet again.

I do feel so badly for her. Besides Roberta taking a few nursing courses at Troy State, and then going to the College of Cosmetology; Casey is the only other of my daughters that, at such a young age has maintained her desire to keep up her accredited education. She also had to withdraw last semester when she had that part of her lung removed. Kind of a kick in the teeth for such an inspired and capable young lady; you would think the UW~System would have done everything in their power to help her acheive during these tough times. And her High "A" GPA is nothing to scoff at either! (Again you would think they would want to keep a student like this). Not so.

The apathy shown to her by her own profs also had my blood pressure rising. She had emailed them all last week. And she heard back from only ONE!!!! He was absolutely willing to do whatever was necessary to help her out and to allow her to catch up. (The rest of them don't seem to be worth the paper their checks are printed on)... She had to resend her emails to them (I am not sure if she ever even heard back after that).

I also think that a 'break' might be a blessing in disguise for a time. It will give her the time to get to Froedtert, and to have them make her better somehow; and it will also slow the pace of her somewhat hectic life. She will need (needs) to relax a while and recuperate. Like I said above, she is still in a bunch of pain, and along with all those other symptoms, is made also very nauseous by it too.

Maybe by the end of today we will know much more as to when we will be going back to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. (Dereks mom ended up driving Casey home yesterday, and Derek came to pick up his mom then when he was done with work).

Please just keep praying is all...

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Roberta stopped out yesterday before work too! Dropped off a few pictures for me to scan, and was on her way in then. Short and sweet. Nice to have her stopping in too! She called yesterday AM to check on Casey. Casey was still asleep... As Master Gabriel was also in the backseat when Berta got here. And he stayed that way too. (Why does the old saying about "sleeping dogs" come to mind)? hehehe Generally one to sleep good in the car, Gabriel had hollered almost for the whole drive...

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The quote on my top page, which a few of you have asked to steal, is by none other than General Norman Schwarzkopf... (I didn't have enough characters left to include who said it)... So yes, and absolutely, you may steal it away!

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So, such is Life in Flintville...

Hope your "Hump Day" is an awesome one!

XOXO
Anne

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From Ambien to Zoe~

...And (almost) EVERYTHING in~between...

(of course if you think of a topic I might have missed this year, please do let me know)!

...I've been told I am quite outspoken... (whatever THAT means)! hehehe

Good Morning!

It occurs to me that I have been a Yahoo~Blog~About for over a year already! How cool is that? And what a year it has been!

A Year of Nonsense!?!? (maybe on my part)... But a whole year of LQQKING forward to your own lives and times too!

THANK YOU!

Today is Miss Punkins First Birthday! And how fast she has grown... (and to what proportions too)!

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Yes, Punkie IS in there somewhere; (how so very tiny those pups were)!

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AND NOW THIS !!?!!

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Fighting over Millys SQUEAK ball...

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Miss Mama~Milly, (on the left)... as her "baby" looms over her...

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Milly now about 60 pounds, +/-, Punk weighs in at about 90...

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The old 'switcheroo' too; (as Milly was about 90 lbs. when she delivered those ten pups)!

And for the title... I was going over a few of my older blogs... And I saw when the doctor had prescribed that Ambien for me to use to fall asleep (and to stay that way). It didn't work, and so I still do not stay asleep... So here I am!

I was awoken this morning by such a bright light in my room... It has been warm outside, and I had all the windows open yesterday. Knowing it was only to get down to the mid~40's tonight, I left my bedroom windows open.

That bright light? The moon! It was about 1/2~way across my window before it woke me up...

So much to do yesterday... And I had said a silent prayer before I'd pulled my shorts on too. Only that they would still fit... (They did)! Yay!

I pulled out a bunch of plant wood that I 'shoulda' pulled last Fall already... But methinks I didn't do it because that is when Miss Casey had her partial pneumothorocotomy. (And after that I just probably plum forgot)! Most of those weeds are out now.

I trimmed the rosebush to within an inch of its life, (and then promptly stepped on the trimmings)! hehehe (Yes, of course I was barefoot)... Punk will usually help me remove the clippings and stuff, but she was a bit miffed when I wouldn't let her touch those branches. After hearing me cuss and dance around like a fool in the backyard, she took my word for not touching those branches.

What I found out there...

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My "Daffy~Dils".... And other things... popping their new, and promising, growth!

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My chives too! "Regular" in the old stone planter... ... my "Garlic Chives" on the rocks!

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I found some dead rhubarb.....

AND...

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my old wooden wheel drums of Devils Claws!

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Just a few weeks ago Roberta and I were not even too sure what those drums were!!!

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Pretty much covered by that last snowstorm....

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This past year... as they say, WHOO~HOO, WHAT A RIDE!!!

And what wonderful friends I have found through sharing my often mundane thoughts and life...

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I have shared my 'Ups' ...

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And a few scary "Downs"...

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CASEYANNE..................................ROBERTA

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Our Cat and Dogs...

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There was Amos... aka... "Moose~da~Kitty"

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12-25-93 ~ 07-23-06

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And of course, Milly and Punk

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There have been other critters too...

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HEHEHEHE! ....Heya Rita; I used "Vermin~B~Gone"!?!

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There is still a whole new world to share with you for the next year... (or two... or ten)?!?

And so for ALL of my friends, family, lurkers, and others... (you know who you are)... Here are some beautiful flowers...

(for You from Me this time)!

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Enjoy!

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Have a 'wunnaful' Tuesday! (And like I said earlier, let me know about any'missed' topics too)! hehehe

XOXO
Anne

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PS

I did try to tell Miss Punk that it was HER responsibility to be doing a blog today in honor of her BIG Number "1"...

...She turned tail on me and went back up to bed...

(Methinks that is dogspeak for "maybe later")...

"ARF!"