Knowing is half the battle...but who really does...

Have you ever wondered what makes siblings brought up in the same family with the same Mom and Dad, turn out so differently?
I do.
It has always amazed me why some children are sweet, loving, generous and good natured while a sib could be the extreme opposite.
Why is that?

That amazes me, but it is not that unusual, even when in a small family of two children.
Of course we expect larger families to have larger quantities of differentials.
I know what I am about to say is an extreme example, but do any of you out there remember the movie, ‘The Bad Seed’?
Yep, that is the extreme… to those who may not recall the premise or have never seen the flick let me give you a short synopsis…an only child was to the world angelic but in reality a serial murderess, at only eight years old! Scared the heck out of me as a child, but then we didn’t have the ratings system we have now so all movies were considered family entertainment, back in 1956. I bet it would have been an “R” rating if there were a rating system in check, and then I never would have seen it, since at that time I was very young myself, a mere six years old. That left all of us kiddies with the horrible thought that some kids are truly dangerous and not to be trusted when they acted saccharine sweet!
Eddie Haskell from the ‘Leave it to Beaver’ series also comes to mind but of course in not the same violent way, but rest assured he was extremely devious. He would be oh so polite to the adults and then scheme to do something just dreadful with his contemporaries leading the pact. In actuality, the actor, Ken Osmond, no relation, who played the role grew up quite well and became a very well respected police officer, who I believe now must be retired since he is in sixties.

The only reason I mention this is because lately we have been hearing on and off again from Hubby’s Sis and her Hubby and he and her have been trying to get into Mom’s garage where they supposedly left garden furniture, and wanted to return one of the beds they stole from the house, a trade. Well, while Hubby was up there he was in his Mom’s garage many times over the course of the week, and he didn’t see any boxes with outdoor furniture in it, and besides why now, they just had two feet of snow and are expecting more this week! He said that they can keep the bed they had stolen and he told them that they have nothing of theirs in Mom’s garage! After what they did to Hubby’s Mom, stealing so many of her things, money, antiques, stocks, bonds etc, you really can’t blame him for being suspicious, and rightfully so.
You see, they all grew up together, Hubby, Sis and Bro and had the same parents, and each one is so different personality wise, even somewhat in looks, but they are definitely biologically related; other than that not so much.

I only had a half brother, same Mom but different fathers, and so that is not a fair comparison for me to make, but we were definitely nothing alike.

On that thought to ponder, I will bid you all a good night and hope you all enjoy counting those blessings and we will too!

Anyone out there making up a New Year's resolution?

New Year’s resolution, what a predicament if you tell anyone close to you that you see often, say like everyday, a spouse or a child, woops then you better keep your promise to yourself or by golly they will let you know that you didn’t!

Now, New Year's Eve is this Thursday, and I wonder just how many of you out there do that sort of thing? In a way I am pretty sure many have the best of intentions of following through with their betterment of themselves and make those resolutions, but oh well, we all know how that goes…

It is not to say that we of the human race do not continue to desire or to keep our own self established wishes to improve on a yearly basis its just that I think that many of us give ourselves too many lofty goals or ones that are made halfheartedly.

I will loose ten pounds, quit smoking, try harder at this or that, are all some that I have heard myself over the years. And I have been one of those who when younger thought the idea was just dandy. But as we get older some of us, anyway consider that most of what we feel we must accomplish could be done at just about any time of the year not only on New Year’s Day.

Why, I finally did quit smoking on July 11.2006, a date that had no particular significance to me, but one that I will never forget just the same and I am still not smoking to this day.
That’s my point, if we truly want ourselves therefore our lives to be better there is no special date that you must wait to start!
You can start now, tomorrow or any day you so desire, and do you know why?
Because YOU want to!
Nobody can change you but you.
Although, many spouses and boyfriends/girlfriends or significant others at times appear to want to try, but it’s only something each one of us can do for or to ourselves!

I must admit that I too have tried to change someone under the so-called heading because I love you, ha! We all know that if we were not who we were they wouldn’t have fallen for us in the first place.

On that thoughtful note I will wish you all a good night and to all count those blessings and I will too!

A much calmer day today!

Do you know what finally calmed me to sleep last night?
A glass of red wine did the trick! Who needs warm milk? LOL

Why didn’t I think of that when I was suffering and unable to sleep the night before? I did try some decafe green tea.
Oh well, silly me, and it was so simple.

Not only did I sleep well for me last night; I napped this afternoon for a whole twenty minutes!

Somewhere I heard that is the recommended time allowance for a nap, any longer than a half an hour could cause grogginess and prevent sleeping that same night.
Makes sense to me, I seem to remember when the boys were young and they were outgrowing their naps if they would continue to take an afternoon one, it would be difficult to get them to bed that night.
I suppose as we get older we sort of retrogress to that same state.

As I first stated today was a much quieter day.
I made a super homemade fish chowder with shrimp and clams, veggies, and even some cheddar, a stick to your ribs type of yummy good stuff with my homemade corn bread on the side turning it into an entirely good for you meal, and we had it for our dinner, mmmmmm oh so good!

One of our favorite PBS how–to shows, This Old House, was finally back in its time slot, it had been missing for weeks, but get this, we kept getting the no signal sign across the screen. At first I thought that our antenna did not have enough oomph for our signal and so I called the place we bought it from, and they insisted it was the best for the job and also had the additional amplification necessary to do the job, and so after we conferred awhile we thought perhaps it was a flaw at the station, and so I called them.
They were all gone until after the first of the year, and they had no other number for their engineering department.
All the other channels worked so we truly believed that they were at fault.
Ten minutes left in the program and oddly enough the signal came back!
Just in time to see the next half hour of the same series, but the first one is lost forever?
The question mark is because I think I could watch it online but it takes forever to load.
Our computer not their problem this time, we still have dial up and everything takes forever.

Some of our other favorites on PBS are the History Detectives and Scientific America to name a few.

Sometimes relaxing and doing only what makes you happy is a good thing…nah at this stage of life, always try for the happiness mode!

Good night to all and to all count those blessings and we will too!

Today was Christmas...

But you know the expression that “every day seems just like the other”; well that was what today was like, on of all days, Christmas!
Sadly, days are gone with the big family gatherings, and children running around.
How I so wished for the next generation of that, but it did not happen.
No; not at all.

Our number one son, the eldest has a new girlfriend for nearly a year now that doesn’t seem at all interested in the family thing, since we have still not met her! All of his previous amours we have been able to meet and we included in all things family, but not this one…
And you all know about our estrangement from our youngest, his idea totally; not ours!

Other family is scattered hither and yon; from literally one coast of the country to the other, but you too have been told of them and if we lived closer who knows if that relationship would be one of closeness; I’m not going to fool myself, probably not.
And most all of mine is dead.

So now I can see why so many feel sad at this time of he year; it is a given.
When Hubby worked and if I knew I would be alone, which would be often since he was nice to cover for the young deputies so they could spend the time with their families, I would volunteer and serve Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter dinners at a local church, and feel very useful and happy that I could help.
But now I don’t have that option, since I can’t get around so well on my own, and I don’t drive anymore so there is more time to pine away the miserable lonely hours even with Hubby here who appears to not mind the less crowded rooms in our home, but I miss it, badly. I was rather a social butterfly in my day.

I do like being with other people and chatting up a storm, but Hubby not so much.
We were invited to our neighbors across the canal, but I am struggling with the after affects of one heck of a very sleepless night. It was after four A.M. when I finally closed my peepers. But this time not totally due to a painful night…I stupidly made myself a mocha hot chocolate using caffeinated coffee at about three thirty yesterday afternoon, and caffeine has this awful affect on me…and so I was up all night!
The results of one sleepless night I am paying for with exhaustion, pain, and irritability, which sadly to say Hubby reacts to just as irritably, and so we had many arguments today, and so neither of us would make good company for anyone not even ourselves.

I did try to nap, and just before writing this I also tried to go to bed, actually at this early hour I am dressed for it, but oddly enough it seems I am what they call overtired, is that too an oxymoron? Because now I cannot even lie down without my body screaming no!

And so I thought writing this now would help, but it hasn’t, and I don’t know what to do…I hope I have not acquired an irreversible sleep pattern, only time will tell…

Oh well… Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas Eve...

Ah the eve of any special holiday is rampant with anticipation, but none more so than on this prestigious occasion for all those little ones who tried so hard to behave and in all efforts to be good to be realized for the enormous rewards of that positive behavior to be seen by the almighty Claus, the Santa man, the St. of Nick, the Father of Christmas… I could go on but its best for you to see for yourselves and if I don’t say so myself educational for the kiddies too: copy and paste this site to see all the international names of the jolly chubby dear man in the red suit: http://www.christmas-day.org/multiculturism-santas.html
Another site of interest for following Santa’s path to your home: http://www.noradsanta.org/en/track3d.html

Aint technology great! Any-who those littuns should be good for at least a few hours, don’t you think?
We grownups can now think about how not to screw up the special day without using too much planning.
Better to let it all happen naturally and don’t be upset if things aren’t perfect, they never are, and who is perfect anyway! Not me, not you, nobody!
The best thing is to have lotsa fun!
The main thing is that everything is done by now, right?
If not, so you know that you did your best, and that’s all anyone can expect you to do, really.

Back to technology, it enabled me and Hubby again to send off our messages of holiday joy to the ones we care about.
Translation: we emailed Christmas cards from a classy site that we actually had to join and pay money for, but very worth it, and not that dear in price, and made us feel happy about what we sent; the site is copy and paste if interested: http://www.jacquielawson.com/default.asp

We have been using free E-cards for years but whenever anybody sent any from this particular site above that I mentioned we would be blown away by the product sent for years and so we finally joined!

Remember dearies that this is the night before so be a little traditional and read that famous poem, you know the one….”The night before Christmas…” Its one of the freebies in life, and it will mean so much to the children. If not in your hands try this technological miracle I am sure there is a link, nah better yet!

“ Twas the Night before Christmas Poem
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"”

Copy and paste: http://www.carols.org.uk/twas_the_night_before_christmas.htm
For more info and thanks to this site for the poem.

My present to all of you!

And good night to all and to all of you count those blessings and we will too!

I may be brief...

Eyes dilated wide open! Today was my visit to the ophthalmologist, and yes he did determine that my cataracts are worse, oddly enough in both eyes, and that they should come out and soon, but not until next year, my next appointment is January 6th!

And so since I do take nearly forever for my eyes to reverse themselves and they were dilated around three this afternoon and are no better now at nearly six I suspect that it will be a long fuzzy sighted night for me…since the last time that this dilation thing occurred at one P.M. and took until nearly nine P.M. before I had any normal looking pupils, oh well, we will see.. Means more now than when I usually say that!

Other than that the doc is the one who does work with you for a payment program and charges a fraction of what the other guys wanted, at $1877 an eye total surgery, compared to the other guys $5500 an eye, and yes, he is a board certified M.D. Ophthalmologist who studied at Johns Hopkins, how about that?! I guess my old ways of not giving up; and my good ole tried and true perseverance is still within me!

Tonight’s writing is a wee bit tricky, you know me; it is all that without dilated peepers, but tonight’s dealings are even more so. And so as I first indicated I will reluctantly say good night to all and to all count those blessings and we will too!

There's a chill in the air...

It’s cooler more than usual here today; ha you are all saying, serves you right for flaunting all those warm days at us!
You are right I shouldn’t have done it, but it felt so right to say it and besides the chamber of commerce appreciated the accolades of attitude, and ‘the see what you are missing’ style of my writing prowess.

But I digress, yes we were cooler here today, high sixties barely reaching seventy degrees, but…… tomorrow we’ll be back up into the mid to high seventies and by Christmas Eve near eighty! Ha, ha, ha… to you now!

Yes, dear readers we live in paradise, and we know that you are all jealous!
Do you all know how to rectify your problem?
Come on down!
Yes! We even have the accommodations to take on that massive migration!

Now you all must know that we have deals more deals than you can even imagine buy low sell nah let the grandkids sell after you are gone!
Since you are gonna wanta stay until taps are playing!
We are the up and coming state here, nearly a blank slate for jobs, housing and anything else that comes to mind.
Don’t forget we also have weather that is 99% of the time great!
And beaches that are circumventing our entire circumference!
Topographically speaking our innards contains orchards of citrus, strawberries, and we have cattle and horse ranches and antique towns that are a wee bit hilly.
We’ve got islands to our south, I suppose that you other place people have heard about the Florida Keys, well there they are right there in these US of A to enjoy and celebrate as if you were on a tropical island! One side you can swim in the Atlantic Ocean and on the other you can swim in the Gulf of Mexico, wow; same about either side of the state!
We got it all, and we love our tourists and homesteaders!

And so if you are all tired with shoveling those white fluffies, and downright annoyed by not being able to swim, surf, water ski, or boat, fish or scuba whenever you really want to, then I say COME ON DOWN!
PS: Oldies have a lottery, BINGO and arcades and don’t forget the Seminole Indian Gambling joints scattered throughout the state!

We sure seem to have more room than ever now, we lost a few of the chickens who couldn’t stick out the hard times and left, but that means we got more room for you!
So as I said before, just a few times…COME ON DOWN, ya hear?

Good night to all and to all count those blessings (we got those (blessings) here too in the sunshine state!), and we will count ours too!