Comments

Recently, I been receiving more comments than ever before. Just want to say "thank you" to all you readers out there that are commenting. It is those comments that make blogging worth while. I know I need to do more commenting on the blogs I read. I vow to start doing that more often. Those of you who read my blog and comment, thanks, and to those of you who blog, keep up the good work. I think we all have a lot to say!

Peace,

JE

The Green Thing!

Anyone over the age of 35 should read this, as i copied this from a friend ..Checking out at the supermarket recently, the young cashier suggested I should bring my own carrier bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. I apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days." The cashier responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations." She was right about one thing -- our generation didn't have the green thing in “Our” day. So what did we have back then…? After some reflection and soul-searching on "Our" day here's what I remembered we did have.... Back then,we had paper bags, plastic was not offered, we had pasteboard cartons of milk, or we returned milk bottles, coke bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles repeatedly. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day. We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator or lift in every store and office building. We walked to the supermarket and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two minutes up the road. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day. Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day. Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a big screen the size of Texas. We played outside with sticks and balls, we didn't know what video games were. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used screwed up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then. We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then. Back then, people took the bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint. But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Titleless

I have a dear, sweet friend, age 50 (-+) who has just found out that she has colon cancer. She was to see the surgeon today. I haven't heard the results yet. But, she said that when the doc told her what was wrong, her first thought was, "I want my mom."
I was telling my daughter this and she said, " I am in touch with that emotion. When Mom died, I wanted her back, and I couldn't understand how the rest of the world just kept on doing what it was doing, people kept laughing, and I was miserable 'cause my mom just died."
I know how they felt, too. When my wife died, I wanted my mom. My mother was the kindest gentlest soul that there ever was, and if she had been here, she would have helped my kids and I through the loss.
All this brought back another memory. When my dad passed away in 1968, I can remember Mom telling me that in the last few moments of his life, Dad asked for his mom.
In thinking about all this, I have come to the conclusion that we want our moms whenever there is a crisis. Who did most of us turn to when we were children and had a crisis, even a minor boo-boo? It was mom. Moms are natural nurturers. I loved my dad, my kids love me, and I am sure my friend loves her dad, but because of Mom's gentle love, constant, and available, we always turn to her first.
Tonight, Prof came home and was unloading about her day at school. Both good and bad. Then she apologized because she felt she was bringing negativity into my home. She said that when she was in Montana teaching, if she had a bad day at school, she had no family nearby to unload on, so she would pick up the phone and call her mom.
So, you moms out there, bless you all!
I wonder how Eve handled Cain and Abel???

Peace,
JE

Happy Birthday to You!

Tomorrow, April 23, is my good friend Curley's birthday. We have known each other for quite a while. She is a wonderful friend, mom, wife and substitute mom to Prof.
Happy Birthday, Curley. Many happy more.!

It's so nice to have you as a friend and in our lives.

Luv ya,
JE and Company!

"Sing, Sing a Song"

Today one of my quartets performed in concert at our bass's mother's retirement community. We sang a wide collection of gospel, contemporary Christian, and familiar hymns. There were about 30 people in attendance. It was a nice afternoon. Many of the little old ladies sang along during the hymn sing.
This was a bittersweet time for me. I have sung in this quartet for about 10 years. We formed it for a special number in a Christmas cantata and have been singing every since. Today, I decided it was time for me to step aside from the group. My reason is probably selfish. But I just don't want to do it any more. I don't know quite how I am going to tell the rest of the group, though. I surely don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but I just really don't have the energy, nor the enthusiasm for it anymore.
I sing in another quartet which is all men. That one I intend to keep singing in until I either can't sing anymore, or I die trying. LOL! I have formed a bond with the other three guys that would be very hard to give up. Also, the kind of music, though it is also religious, speaks to me in ways that I cannot explain here. And the lush harmonies of 4 part men's voices are fun to sing and to listen to.
Am I being selfish? I hope not. I feel that in the other quartet, we have outlived our music quality, and too, every time we practice, it just keeps getting harder and harder, both to sing and even to schedule a practice. Our soprano is a mother of 13 and 9 year old children, our alto and I are both retired teachers, but she is lots more involved in things, is married and she and her hubby like to travel. Our bass is in extremely poor health, on dialysis daily, and has had two near death traumas in the last 5 years. Our pianist teaches first grade and is our town's mayor's wife, also our church organist and chancel choir director. So, you can see how scheduling a practice is tough.
So, as I ponder this, I think it's just time. Time for a good thing to come to an end. At least for me. If the rest of them want to continue, and they can surely find another tenor, that is alright with me. I love them all and bless them.

Peace,
JE

Weird But True

I am reading a novel called L.A. Mental by Neil McMahon.  To make a long synopsis shorter, it is about a group of film makers in Hollywood experimenting with brain infusion of nanoparticles and mind control using quantum physics.  Really, I thought it was going to be another murder mystery/thriller, but have I ever changed my mind.  This is out of my comfort zone and area of knowledge.  As we said in the 60's "Far Out."

Anyhow, I digress...I was reading until about midnight last night.  Then I turned of my lights and listened to my Walkman MP3 player.  I fell asleep listening and woke up about 2 AM and turned off the music and when I turned over to put the player and earbuds into the nightstand drawer, there was my novel GLOWING IN THE DARK.  Well, that woke me completely up and I laid there humming the theme from "The Twilight Zone."  I didn't know if I even wanted to go back to sleep.  This morning I checked out the cover of the book.  The jacket paper is obviously treated with the same type of stuff that makes glo-stiks glow.

I am finishing that novel today, in the daylight and returning it to the library before their close-of-business.  This was just too weird!

Peace, (maybe later on)
JE

Change Anyway

Well Bloggers and readers, I guess the change took place in the blog site during the night.  I guess in some instances that change is good.  I'm not too sure about this one.  But what can a fella do when he turns on his computer and goes to his blog site and "voila" there is change.  All I can do is adapt.  So, if this posts fine, and if it doesn't...well, I guess I will figure it out.

Peace,
 JE

What I just read...

The Territory by Tricia Fields: This is an action-packed, crime-fiction, first novel by a Hoosier author. Tricia Fields might live in the Midwest, but she sure knows her way around the land right next to the Rio Grande in Texas.
Josie Gray is the police chief in the small border town of Artemis, TX. She has a squad of three, including herself, and is trying to fight off two major Mexican drug cartels. Even with the help of the county sheriff and the Border Patrol, she has her work cut out for her.
Lots of action, a little humor, and a little romance thrown in for good measure. What else could a reader ask for?
All I can say is that J.A. Jance's character, Joanna Brady, better step aside. Josie Gray is on the loose and she's taking over!

Peace,
JE

MLB

"There is no crying in baseball!" Well, tonight there might have been. I just watched my favorite Texas Rangers run the score up on the Red Sox. I finally turned it off with the score at 14 to 2. 3 homers in a row in the top of the 8th.
Don't tell me that "there's no crying in baseball." I saw one pissed off coach and the pitcher for the Sox couldn't hold his head up.

Go Rangers!

Peace,
JE

New Toy

Okay, I know that it won't mean much to you folks who don't like to craft, but I have a new toy to play with now. I have been watching for a Cricut Expressions (tm) on e bay for quite a while. They are pretty spendy if you buy one new, but every once in a while they pop up on e bay for a fairly reasonable amount.
For you who don't know what I am talking about, A Cricut is an electronic device that cuts paper into letters or shapes after you input the data. I bought a used one several years ago, but it was small, and didn't have all the bells and whistles on it that the newer ones had. (Just like all other technology and cars, they are outdated rapidly).
Last week I found this reconditioned one on e bay for an excellent "buy now" price. Now, bear in mind, I have never purchased anything on there, so I was a little skeptical. Curley assured me that her husband "Fisherman" has bought things, both large (a bass boat) and small (fishing lures) on there, so I could be safe, especially if I bought from a dealer that had 4 or five stars after their name.(This one did)
The Cricut arrived via UPS. I have had a ball trying out the different things it will do. It came with a video which helped a lot, and I also downloaded some software from the manufacturer onto my used laptop, so I can tandem the two and do amazing things.
I can see the dust accumulating, and the grass growing, but I sit here at my studio table creating still another greeting card. Maybe some of you will receive one. Oh, wait, I don't have addresses for snail mail, so the best I can do will be to post some pics of the cards I am making on here.
Let the fun continue. For me....the rest of you can just yawn, and hope tomorrow's post is more interesting. LOL!

Peace,
JE

BTW: Thanks for all the feedback about the appalling adult. I am proud of my son, told him so, and think, therefore, enough has been said and that I will keep my mouth shut. Imagine that!

Appalling Behavior for an Adult

I got home from church yesterday and before long my son called. He was "fuming." He told me that he and Miss K were in church yesterday and afterwards they were standing talking to a friend of my son's. Another guy, who is quite a bit older than me came up and began talking about something happening in Florida or somewhere. He used the "N" word. Yes, you read right, the real for sure "n" word and said that it was a "n" problem they were having wherever it was . Then he turned to my son and asked him what the "n" population was in the correctional facility where he worked.
My son said, and I quote, "First of all, we don't use the "n" word here, or anywhere else, and especially not in front of my 4 year old daughter. Secondly, it's really none of your business, and if I used that word on my job, I would lose my job."
He was upset that this person, who is a neighbor of theirs would talk that way in this day and age of political correctness. He was also hoping that Miss K, who picks up on about everything right now didn't say the word.
After listening to my son, I am appalled that an educated, adult would stoop so low. I am inclined to corner this guy at church next Sunday and talk to him about it. After all we do have some people of other ethnic backgrounds at our church. I would hate for them to hear this guy spouting his "trash mouth." Then again, is it really my place to say anything? Maybe my son said enough yesterday.

JE

Scaling Down!

I have been going thru the kitchen cabinets once more getting rid of stuff that either never use, have two or more of , or I ask myself, "what is this and what is it doing in my kitchen." I have discovered that we at one time owned 5 different sets of dishes. I need one. We have about a million coffee mugs of different shapes and sizes. I use one, and need a couple for company. Of course each set of dishes has matching cups or mugs, so I have many to choose from besides the odd ones. I have two corner cupboards full of odds and ends of crystal and silver stuff, serving things, salt and peppers, and other objects that I wonder about. I also have an antique "secretary" that contains my late wife's tea pot collection. They haven't been moved since way before she passed away, and I can guarantee you that most of them were collected for the mere fact that they were tea pots, not for their usefulness.
I also have enough Christmas decorations to fully decorate at least 6 trees, and at one time we had nine (yes I said 9) trees decorated. I have condensed all I can. I need to get rid of stuff. The kids already have what they want, or have spoken for what they desire to have, and this is just the rest of the leftovers.
I have tried selling on eBay and that's more hassle than I want to do. I never have luck at having rummage sales either. The last one I tried, I was open for 2 days and made a grand total of $50.00 or so. It's not worth the work involved.
So, I am thinking of donating all the stuff I want to get rid of to my church for their massive rummage sale. They have one once a year and it is huge. It's only one day long, but the crowds are massive. I am checking into the "charitable donation" aspect of doing this, and think I can claim a set amount on my taxes, which would benefit me, and the stuff sold would benefit the church. Most of the money earned there goes to our mission projects, so it's a worthy cause.
So, I am deciding what to keep, what to toss, and what to give away. This will take a while, but, hey, all I got is time!

Peace,
JE

Eating Habits are Hard to Break

When I was a mere lad at home, Mom always made sure my Bro and I ate well. She insisted that we eat a hearty breakfast, and always had a good, nutritious evening meal. Five days a week, we ate lunch in the school cafeteria, so basically we were well fed.
In college, I ate at a little diner close to school for breakfast. Coffee and toast, and maybe, a sausage sandwich. No lunch, as my schedule didn't permit it, and then for evening supper, my roomie and I usually ate something fried. Hamburger, pork chops and the like.
Into marriage, I learned very quickly that my wife was an excellent cook and we ate well. Too well, and too many potatoes and starch. I balooned. She did too, but her's was from the growing child inside. For 38 years I ate very well.
Now, not so much. I look for easy fixes, and have learned to like TV Dinners, and frozen entres. But my really favorite food group is chocolate! I like chocolate just about any way one can get it. As long as it doesn't contain coconut, I will eat it. French Silk pie is one of my favorites, as are brownies and no bake chocolate cookies. I like chocolate covered graham crackers, and often scarf down a few with my morning coffee. I like chocolate chip cookies, although I think oatmeal raisin are my very favorite (huh? no chocolate there!). I learned long ago that nothing goes better with a cold beer than a Hershey bar, no almonds!
Now, I also like salads, and chicken. I am trying to stay away from red meat, except once in a while, and I am trying to develop a taste for salmon. My sister-in-law taught me how to bake salmon and serve it with a mango salsa (fresh mango, red onion and cilantro) which I could eat every day if I could afford it.
I just don't worry about eating as much as I used to. If I am hungry, I eat. If not, I don't. With Prof and Kiddo living with me right now, meals are a little more timely, but often they are both out and about and, when left to my own devices, I revert back to the bare necessities. Beer and chocolate, with a side of chicken salad. LOL!

Just a Thought!

...remember when we were YOUNG and couldn't wait to grow up? ...WOW, what the hell were we thinking!?!?

Think Outside the Glass!

A new discovery, though, probably, I am not the first to try this.

Drive thru your nearest Taco Bell. Order a "Classic Limeade Sparkler, either a 16 oz. or even better, a 20 oz. Take it home and add a 2 oz jigger of Jose Cuervo to the 16 oz, or even better, a 3 oz jigger of Jose Cuervo to the 20 oz Sparkler, put the lid back on and enjoy a super Margarita!

What fun this is! I had a 16 oz and a 20 oz one on Saturday night! Maybe that was a wee bit too much Margarita. Especially since I had to get up and be in choir at church the next morning.

Peace, LOL!
JE

One of those days!

Every once in a while, not too often, I have one of those days where I feel "at loose ends." Today was one of those. I attended church, sang in the choir, and had a joyful worship experience. Prof and I stopped at McDonald's after church for a large coffee, then came on home.
The rest of the day, I just wandered around the yard, did some crafting, went for a drive, visited my late wife's grave, took an nap and ate some supper.
Now, it's barely dark, and I feel like I am still looking for something to do. I don't feel like reading, or crafting, and Sunday night TV sucks! (As do most nights of TV). I think this "disjointed" feeling is hard to deal with. I never know just how to handle myself when I feel like this. It's like being on a slow moving treadmill. Or something. Oh well, maybe this too shall pass. Then it will be on to bigger and better things tomorrow. (But, at the price of fuel these days, it better be close to home. LOL!)

Peace,
JE

A Friend Is...

A friend is:

A healing balm for all broken parts,

A light at the end of a long dark tunnel,

The warmth of dawn after the endless cold winter,

Laughter in the face of grief,

Honesty when life is a jumble of lies,

Sanity in a world gone mad.

On this, Easter Sunday, I praise the Lord for my friends.

Peace,

JE

The Three of Us

Here's a three generation pic of my clan. I label it as father, son and holy terror, just because RJ was not a happy camper at the time. But we had a few good moments before the camera came out. I think RJ secretly wanted to be behind the camera instead of in front of it. (His Mommy was behind the camera!)

Peace,
JE

I found out just today that RJ was catching a cold that evening, but no one realized it until the next day!

Something New

Today I got two new things. First, I got a small bag of MINT flavored M & M's. Since mint and chocolate are two of my favorite food groups, I was ecstatic. I thought I had had them before, but the more I ate of them, I decided I had not. Maybe they are new. I asked Prof if she thought if I took a small bag of them to the Dairy Queen, they would make me a Mint M and M Blizzard. She laughed and said that probably not, but if she knew someone who worked there, she would find out.

Secondly, Prof gave me an early early birthday present. She gave me a Nook Color. Wow! I am really enthused about it and want to learn all I can about how it works. I got an account set up at Barnes and Noble, and intend to use it. We were there at the time, so I could go on their wireless service, and even checked my e mail. Advanced technology at my fingertips. Now all I have to do is learn how to use it. Might take time, but I bet I can do it.

Prof and I spent the day with two of my cousins. We sat at Barnes and Noble in Indianapolis for about 2 hours and visited, then we went to Red Robin for lunch and spent another 2 hours visiting, then back to Barnes and Noble. After the cousins left to trek on home, Prof and I went to Hobby Lobby where I picked up a few things for my card crafting.
It was a great day. We all laughed a lot over the silly stuff that we remembered about our folks and I found out stuff that I never knew about my favorite uncle and aunt. I'm sure the cousins found out stuff about my side of the family they never knew. We shared some coveted recipes; one for brown sugar cookies that our great grandmother used to make. We always thought it was a secret kept in the family, but cousin R said that everyone had it. What a let down. LOL! Prof decided to spend a few days in Indy with a friend, so I came on home by myself, stopped at the grocery, and arrived safely. These days are priceless!

Peace,
JE