Good luck charms

OK, this might be fun....

Do any of you have anything that you consider lucky?? Like maybe a rabbit's foot, or do you believe in making wishes when you break a wish bone or blow out your birthday candles?

Let me know if you have anything you consider lucky, and I'll do my best to find out the origin behind the story. I got a book called "The Good Luck Book" that has an A-Z guide of all kinds of things...it's pretty cool.

Here are my examples:
I have always loved and collected jade...my Dad always told me it was good luck....this is what the book says:

Jade:From the earliest times in China, jade charms in the shape of bats or storks have been believed to ensure long life. Jade carvings worn around the neck have been powerful lucky charms among the Chinese since the fouteenth century B.C. Even today, a Chinese businessperson might feel luckier holding a jade amulet when making important decisions.

In other parts of the world, jade is regarded as a charm against problems with the eyes. And from ancient times through the Middle Ages, it was used as a prescription for curing kidney disease. When Europeans first arrived in Central America, they were amazed to discover that the Incas in Peru shared this belief and routinely relied on jade charms to prevent kidney problems.

In many cultures, jade amulets are considered the best possible protection for women in childbirth. Some believe the stone is a bringer of rain and that it can drive away wild beasts and evil spirits. It is said to cure dropsy, abolish thirst and relieve palpitations of the heart. Few charms are more effective in assuring victory in battle or protecting against being struck by lightning.

Black Cat:
As superstitions go, the idea that black cats are unlucky is of fairly recent vintage. It dates back to the Middle Ages, when just about everybody believed in witches. They also believed a witch had the power to become a cat and that black was always the color of choice. It followed that if a black cat should cross your path, it just might be a witch in disguise and that could bring nithing but bad luck.

Sometimes a black cat can bring good luck. They are regarded as very lucky in Japan. American folk wisdom has it that if one comes to your door, it brings good fortune to the household. Sailors have long believed that a black cat aboard ship will ensure a safe voyage, and for generations sailors' wives have adopted black cats to help guarantee that their husbands will come home safe and sound.


Anyway, I have found this book very intriguing, and it has a story for all types of good luck charms and traditions. Everything you could think of from shrunken heads to horseshoes to four leaf clovers has a reason behind it. So, if you're curious about anything like that, let me know, and I'll see if I can find it.

Until then....wishing you all the best luck in the world!!!!

Loving work as usual...........

I'm in the middle of a 16 hour shift at work.......and this is how I feel........

Bloggin' fool.....

Ah yes....I'm a bloggin' fool tonight....I'm on a roll folks, so watch out!!!

I love poetry...yes I'm a little sappy that way, but I really appreciate something that catches my attention such as these few gems I will share here.

From my book called "Earth Prayers"

Waking up this morning, I smile,
Twenty four brand new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully in each moment
and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.

~~THICH NHAT HANH~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Within the circles of our lives
we dance the circles of the years,
the circles of the seasons
within the circles of the years,
the cycles of the moon
within the circles of the seasons,
the circles of our reasons
within the cycles of the moon.

Again, again we come and go,
changed, changing. Hands
join, unjoin in love and fear,
grief and joy. The circles turn,
each giving into each, into all.
Only music keeps us here,

each by all other held.
In the hold of hands and eyes
we turn in pairs, that joining
joining each to all again.

And then we turn aside, alone,
out of the sunlight gone

into the darker circles of return.

~~WENDELL BERRY~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave,
There are souls that are our and true,
Then give the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.

Give love, and love to your life will flow,
A strength in your utmost need,
Have faith, and a score of hearts will show
Their faith in your word and deed.

Give truth, and your gift will be paid in kind;
And honor will honor meet;
And a smile that is sweet will surely find
A smile that is just as sweet.

Give pitty and sorrow to those who mourn,
You will gather in flowers again
The scattered seeds from your thought outborne
Though the sowing seemed but vain.

For life is the mirror of king and slave,
'Tis just what we are and do;
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.

~~MADELINE BRIDGES~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This next poem kind of popped out of nowhere just at the right time. I picked up a book called "Poems That Touch the Heart" that was copyrighted in 1946 at a rummage sale and opened right up to this page......the timing couldn't have been better. I have a close friend whose wife recently filed for divorce....he was huge part of my support system through my divorce...and now it's my turn. Sometimes it takes others' misfortune to bring us back to reality.

Sometimes we go our way carefree;
No trouble comes to mar
The routine of our lives, and we
Forget there is a scar
Or wound in other lives, till pain
Descends on someone near
To us, and then our hearts regain
Lost kindliness; we hear
With understanding of the woes
Of others--a rebirth
Comes, and we feel for all of those
Who suffer here on earth.

~~MARGARET E. BRUNER~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Song For You

Some of you may remember my entry about the song that Leon Russell and Ray Charles sang for Willie Nelson on his birthday bash DVD.

Just lettin' you all know that it's still bringing me to tears. I don't know what it is about that song...or maybe it's the combination of Leon and Ray and Willie's tears...whatever it is, I feel compelled to share the lyrics with you.

So here goes.......

A Song For You

i've been so many places
in my life and times
i've sung alot of songs
i've made some bad rhymes


i've acted out my love on stages
with ten thousand people watching
but we're alone now
and i'm singing this song to you


and i know your image of me
is what i hope to be
i treat anyone kindly
but darling can't you see


theres no one more important to me
darling can't you please see through me
cause were alone now
and im singing this song to you


you taught me precious secrets
of a truth, witholding nothing
you came out in front
and i was hiding


but now i'm so much better
and if my words don't come together
listen to the melody
cause my love is there, hiding


i love you in a place
where theres no space and time
i love you for all my life
you are a friend of mine


and when my life is over
remember when we were together
we were alone
and i was singing this song to you


but i love you in a place
where theres no space and time
i love you for all my life
you are a friend of mine


and when my life is over
remember when we were together
we were alone
and i was singing this song for you


we were alone
and i was singing this song for you
we were alone
and i was singing my song
...singing this song for you

~~~Leon Russell~~~

Now, lets break this down a little.....obviously, Ray Charles is no longer with us, so the line when he sang "and when my life is over, remember when we were together, we were alone, and I was singing this song for you" is heart wrenching.

Also, I have yet to hear a line in a poem, a song, or just a sincere and genuine comment that touches me like "I love you in a place where there's no space and time." Wow...if anyone ever came up with that line for me....I would've been theirs on the spot!!

There's one last line that I want to point out that really touches me as well. That's when Leon says "but now I'm so much better, and if my words don't come together, listen to the melody, cause my love is there, hiding."

There's a little pause between "there" and "hiding" that gives me just enough time to let the tears start rollin'

Where would I be without my music??????

RIP BOB

RIP Bob Marley who passed away 25 years ago on May 11, 2006......


From India eNews.com


New York, May 10 (DPA) The cannabis-smoking Bob Marley, the leading prophet of the Rastafarian religion who died 25 years ago on May 11, remains an enduring symbol of reggae, a Caribbean style of music that emphasises social and political grievances with mesmerising melodies.

Among Hopi Indians, Bob Marley fulfilled a centuries-old prophecy. The Nepalese consider him the incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu and Australian Aboriginals honour the reggae legend as a prophet for peace and the rights of the oppressed.Marley lifted his voice fiercely and poetically against the suffering in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica, and the arrogant attitude of the white upper class.

Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war, me say war, Marley sang in the song War.

Marley accurately predicted his music would live on after his untimely death in a Miami hospital at age 36, when cancer had spread from a spot of melanoma on his foot to his brain.After introducing Jamaican music to the world, Marley became the first musician of that country to achieve international stardom. No other reggae musician has reached his level of fame.

Marleys popularity resurfaces with each new generation of young people as they experiment with marijuana.The many images of Marley smoking a joint continue to appear on modern-day record releases and posters, and are a rallying cry for Rastafarians who consider cannabis a part of their religion that helps them get closer to their inner spirit - and who try to defend its use as such when they are arrested.

Marley drew huge audiences around the world and he died when his star was still on the rise. Some people consider the charismatic singer and songwriter the greatest rock star of all time.

Aside from reggae, Marley gave the world dreadlocks and red, green and yellow crocheted caps - colours synonymous with the Rastafarian movement, of which Marley was a member and later its most important prophet, especially among the poor people of Jamaica where the religion developed.

Most Rastafari believe that the Ethiopian monarch Haile Selassie I, who came to power in 1930 and died in 1975, was a reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
The belief emerged in Jamaica under the influence of Marcus Garveys Back to Africa movement, which held Selassie to be the Black Messiah. Selassie, a devout Christian, never encouraged the belief.

Rastafari teaching is still a cornerstone in the conscience of Marley fans.

Just recently, fans in Passau, Germany, vandalized the spire of the citys cathedral by spray-painting the words Jah is mighty in the colours red, green and yellow. Jah is the Rastafari name for god.

Robert Nesta Marley was born Feb 6, 1945, in Rhoden Hall Jamaica, to a black Jamaican mother and a white British navy officer father who largely disappeared from Marley and his mothers life.

At age 14, Marley left his village to work in Kingston as a welder. In 1964, with short hair stylish at the time, he founded the group that eventually was called the Wailers with Peter Tosh.

For 10 years his fame was limited to the Caribbean island.British guitar virtuoso Eric Clapton, who had risen to fame in the 60s, helped Marley achieve international recognition with his chart-topping cover version of Marleys song, I Shot the Sheriff.

In 1974, Marley released his breakthrough album Natty Dread, an immediate hit among European Bohemians and hippies in New York Citys Greenwich Village. It included the song No Woman, No Cry and soon after, Marleys albums were selling millions worldwide.

By the mid 70s Marley was so revered in Jamaica that his influence as a poet and prophet became a political threat.In December 1976, he was wounded in an attack at his home in Kingston. He left Jamaica for more than a year, releasing his biggest album to date - Exodus - in 1977 with the hit songs Jamming and One Love/People Get Ready.

By 1980, Marley was enjoying worldwide popularity and preparing for a US tour, but his health suddenly forced him to withdraw from the spotlight.He collapsed while jogging in New York Citys Central Park and underwent cancer surgery in Miami. In early 1981 he spent time at a cancer clinic in Germany, receiving treatment with herbal teas and grains.As he embarked on his return journey to the US, he collapsed in Munich airport and died only a few days later in Miami.

Marley left behind 11 children fathered with eight different women, hundreds of songs written in his relatively short career of 15 years and a steady stream of royalties.

He was honoured in Jamaica in 1990 when the country declared his birthday, Feb 6, a national holiday.

Roller Coaster Ride

Well, the last few weeks have provided a long winding road of emotions.....I'm glad to say that I think the majority of the chaos is over.

Most of you know that my step-mother, Roberta, passed away a few weeks ago. Her illness had been a huge struggle for me because of our lack of contact over the last few years. Her battle is over now, and I pray she is at peace.

Of course, our precious Ian was finally brought into the world only about ten days ago, and boy what a scare that was!! I'm very happy to say that he and Mom are back at home and from what I hear, all is well. That little Ian gave us all a good scare....I think he'll do everything to the extreme if he follows his ways of his first few days on this earth.

One of my best friends, Mandy, got married last weekend. After seeing the struggles she's been through, I am so excited to see things working out for her. I am puppy-sitting for her right now, so I have five...yes...five wienie dogs at the house right now.
The wedding was beautiful and flawless. Nobody fell or messed up their lines. No one knocked over any candles or caught their hair on fire, so it was perfect. Now, I'm not normally an emotional person, but for some reason, Mandy really got me when she was dancing with her dad at the reception. I sat with her younger sister and teared up while they danced to Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. It was good to see her and her father so close that day. They get along well, but aren't as close as I was with my father. Of course, I compared a lot that went on that day to how I would've been with my dad, so I was abnormally emotional that day.

Ryan and I also had our good friends Jeff and Karen, from St. Louis, over for the weekend. What a hectic weekend to have company, but we still managed to cram in a lot of partying....it's always so good to see them. We only see them a couple times a year, so it's always hard to say goodbye.

I picked up the phone shortly after Jeff and Karen left, only to hear my mom on the other line crying her eyes out. Her cat had been hit by a car. The really bad part of it is the fact that the nieghbors saw it happen and said the driver swerved to hit the cat.....ooohhhhh that pisses me off!!! That's just like hitting a little girl's kitty.....my mom takes things like that very hard. Although she doesn't mean to, she often exresses her emotions in a very childish manner, so I've been trying to console her the past few days.

However, I have felt extremely happy about the beautiful weather we've had recently. I've been able to get out and do some yard work, which always makes me feel good. I always say I'm solar powered....I feel much better when I have the sun to fuel me.

So, after the roller coaster of dealing with death in a couple different situations, new life being brought into the world, good company, beautiful weather, and sharing the joy of marraige of my friends, I'm ready for a slow steady predictable ride for awhile............

........anyone have a Harley they could take me for a nice long road trip on??????

Ready when you are!!!!!

need I say more?????

May is Mental Health Month

It's hard to believe it's almost May already!! It's just around the corner!! With May on it's way, we have Mental Health Month coming up soon.

Dad was always involved in fund raisers and educating people with his own knowledge of mental illness, and of course, he was an inspiration to me in all his efforts with the mentally ill.

This weekend, Ryan and I are walking in the "Homeward Bound" walk in Indy to raise money to help the homeless. We were able to choose exactly which organization we would like our donations to go to, and I chose the Mental Health Association. My donations will specifically go to the homeless in central Indiana who have mental illnesses. It helps them seek help, find support groups, get job coaches, and find a safe home or group home if that's the best thing for that individual.

So, I'm starting a couple days early for Mental Health Month, but I plan on getting involved with a couple other activities to help raise money and/or bring awareness to our communities about mental illness. In June, I will be involved in another walk in Indy that's sponsored by the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill (NAMI.) The goal for the all the people involved in raising the money is $75,000.00. With only 45 days to go until the walk, we are only at 10% of our goal. Hopefully with all the walkers' donations, we will meet, and maybe even exceed our goal.

The theme for Mental Health Month this year is MIND YOUR HEALTH, which focuses on the mind-body connection. It has been proven in many cases that with good mental health, your physical health is easier to manage. Mental health issues often turn into physical health issues. Stress and anxiety can be very hard on your body physically. NAMI and other mental health organizations hope to bring more awareness to the country about mental health issues, and how they can be treated and sometimes avoided completely with the right knowledge.

I hope that my interest in this will bring more people to research it for themselves. It can be very difficult to deal with mental illness, whether it's you or someone you love, or maybe even people you interact with on the job or in public. Knowledge is the best defense when it comes to helping someone or helping yourself.

Am I really THAT OLD??????

Well, as most of you know, I turned 30 last year. I have alwyas been very fortunate as far as not looking my age, and until 30 hit, I never really felt my age either. It seems crazy, but I now believe people when they tell me it's downhill after 30.

I have had so many problems with my health over the last few months. I thought it was all in my head at first, but today, my OBGYN confirmed I'm not totally crazy...at least in this case :-)

I started having night sweats a few months ago. At first, I thought it was something like too many blankets, pajamas that were too thick etc. After I changed the bedding and what I wear to bed, the night sweats kept happening. It's horrible!!! I will wake up five or six times every night drenched in sweat. If I'm wearing anything :-0, I have to change my clothes several times each night. I also push Ryan over in bed so I can get to a dry spot. I have actually been so hot a couple times that Ryan has woken me up because HE can't sleep. For awhile, my therapist and I thought it was perhaps stress related. I have had trouble sleeping for reasons other than the night sweats, so he put me on a sleeping pill called Lunesta. When I first started the Lunesta, I would sleep well all night, but I knew that I had been sweating because I'd wake up to my alarm with wet, curly hair stuck to the back of my neck. Now that I've been taking them for awhile, I will wake up a few times each night again. It has become a real pain in the a**!!!

Anyway, I had the joy of seeing my OBGYN today for my yearly exam and mentioned this to him. He ran some blood work, and called back only a couple hours later to tell me he's putting me on a new birth control with a higher level of estrogen. He said my hormones are unbalanced, which can be a sign of early menopause. He called my night sweats "hot flashes." I never thought I would be having hot flashes at the age of 30!!!

I may be the first of the cousins to go through this crap!!! Dr. Hott doesn't expect me to see full blown menopause for several years, but he said I will probably be through it by the age of 40. As long as we can keep my hormones levelled out, he doesn't think I will have anything to worry about for a few years. But, WOW, I sure didn't expect THAT news!!! I kept telling people, kind of jokingly, that I was starting menopause, never thinking that was even close to the truth.

So, Sarah, keep havin' those babies for us, because if I don't start soon, I'll probably never have any....and I don't plan on trying any time soon either!!! Some people might be heart-broken by the news if they wanted children, but I've been so indecisive about it that I feel like this is just meant to be. I haven't had children yet for a reason. I'm not ready, and I don't know if I ever will be. If menopuase sneaks up on me, I believe it has happened this way for a reason.

A Beautiful Mind

I just started reading A Beautiful Mind by Silvia Nasar. Most of you are probably familiar with the movie starring Russell Crowe as John Nash. If you haven't seen it...I highly recommend it.

Here is a link to his autobiography:
http://nobelprize.org/economics/laureates/1994/nash-autobio.html

This movie, and now the book, have both been a huge eye-opener to me. It is so much easier to understand the reality of a schizophrenic's delusions after seeing scenes with people in them that didn't really exist. The first time I saw the movie, I was dumfounded when I realized that John's best friend and roommate through college was all a delusion. This helped me to understand the fact that you can't reason with someone when the things they see are just as real to them as anything a healthy-minded person sees.

I've often mentioned to people that I think I'm going crazy...the answer I've gotten from several people is the same.....crazy people don't know they're going crazy. That makes me feel a little better, but John Nash was eventually able to differentiate between his delusions and reality. Of course, he was a genius, and well....I'm not!!!


Within the first three pages, I came across these words that remind me so much of my mom, who is a paranoid schizophrenic.

Some creative people...of predominantely schizoid or depressive temperaments...use their creative capacities in a defensive way. If creative work protects a man from mental illness, it is small wonder that he pursues it with avidity. The schizoid state...is characterized by a sense of meaninglessness and futility. For most people, interaction with others provides most of what they require to find meaning and significance in life. For the schizoid person, however, this is not the case. Creative activity is a particularly apt way to express himself...the activity is solitary...but the ability to create, and the productions which result from such ability, are generally regarded as possessing value by our society.

Before the actual diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, my mother divulged herself in many artistic activites. Sometimes, she wouldn't speak for days, but she would practice her belly dancing for hours on end, and then go paint two or three paintings each day. Her art was so expressive that somehow it seemed OK that she didn't have anything to say. Her art spoke for her. She is a terrific artist. She married Will a couple years ago (also a paranoid schizophrenic) and because of his interest in art, she has become more involved in painting again.

When either one of them go through a couple of their "bad days" as I call them, they tend to bury themselves in artwork. Sometimes they will get on a kick where they have no room left on their walls due to the huge amounts of artwork they have displayed. I'm not sure what has happened to all the work they have both done. It seems to disappear from time to time.

This book has brought a lot of awareness to me about how to deal with Mom and her delusions. One of her delusions consists of talking with a Belgian soldier. Luckily, she hasn't heard from him for awhile. When she does, however, I know now that reasoning with her is not really an option. There's no possible way for her to realize he's not there. It's a hard thing to deal with sometimes, but I have learned over the years that it's best just to listen and let her live out the delusions. She has not been violent in any way for a long time, and that is the only time I think I will ever find it necessary to step in and try to control a situation with her again. Unforunately, violence comes along with the territory sometimes, but I feel better prepared for anything like that after having seen things from a little different perspective.

Houston....We Have a Problem.........

I recieved this as an e-mail.....kind of a joke type thing, but if these statements are true, I'd like to know how these idiots have made it through everyday life. Have a look for yourself. What do you think???

Why our country is in trouble
Perhaps this will explain it all........

A Washington, DC airport ticket agent offers some examples of why our country is in trouble!

1. I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window. --------------------------------------------------------------------

2. I got a call from a candidate's staffer, who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information, then she interrupted me with, "I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts,"
Without trying to make her look stupid, I calmly explained, "Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa,"
Her response - click. --------------------------------------------------------------------

3. A senior Vermont Congressman called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room.
I tried to explain that's not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state.

He replied, "Don't lie to me, I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state!" --------------------------------------------------------------------

4. I got a call from a lawmaker's wife who asked, "Is it possible to see England from Canada?" I said, "No." She said, "But they look so close on the map." -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. An aide for a cabinet member once called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed he had only a 1-hour layover in Dallas.
When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, "I heard Dallas was a big airport, and we will need a car to drive between gates to save time."
---------------------------------------------------

6. An Illinois Congresswoman called last week. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:30 am and got to Chicago at 8:33 am.
I explained that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois, but she couldn't understand the concept of time zones.
Finally, I told her the plane went fast, and she bought that. --------------------------------------------------------------------

7. A New York lawmaker called and asked, "Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to whom?"
I said, "No, why do you ask?"
She replied, "Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said (FAT), and I'm overweight. I think that's very rude!"After putting her on hold for a minute while I looked into it (I was laughing) I came back and explained the city code for Fresno, CA is (FAT), and the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage. --------------------------------------------------------------------

8. A Senator's aide called to inquire about a trip package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, "Would it be cheaper to fly to California, and then take the train to Hawaii?" --------------------------------------------------------------------

9. I just got off the phone with a freshman Congressman who asked, "How do I know which plane to get on?" I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, "I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these planes have numbers on them." --------------------------------------------------------------------

10. A lady Senator called and said, "I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola, Florida. Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?" I asked if she meant fly to Pensacola, Fl. on a commuter plane.
She said, "Yeah, whatever, smarty!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------

11. A senior Senator called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him that he needed a visa. "Oh, no I don't. I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those."
I double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, "Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!" --------------------------------------------------------------------

12. A New Mexico Congresswoman called to make reservations, "I want to go from Chicago to Rhino, New York." I was at a loss for words.
Finally, I said, "Are you sure that's the name of the town?"
"Yes, what flights do you have?" replied the lady.

After some searching, I came back with, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I've looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a Rhino anywhere."
The lady retorted, "Oh, don't be silly! Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!"
So I scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, "You don't mean Buffalo, do you?"
The reply? "Whatever! I knew it was a big animal". --------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Andrea!!!

Well, thanks to Andrea, I found out about the Leon Russell show this past weekend just in time!!!

Ryan actually had a three day weekend, so whenI found out he didn't have to work Friday, I decided it was destiny for us to go see Leon. Ryan NEVER gets a Friday off work. I was supposed to be on call, but got someone to cover for me until Saturday morning.

So, Ryan and I had the pleasure of seeing Leon Russell live this past weekend. It was an awesome show. Leon is looking a little older than his age, but after a life on the road, I guess a little premature aging may be expected. We were laughing with some of the other fans about how Leon already looked old in the seventies when he was touring with Willie Nelson.

We picked up a DVD called "Out of the Deep Freeze" which is made up of footage from Leon's shows that was thought to be lost. However, someone found it just a few years ago in a deep freezer of one of the guys who had helped with the tour years ago. It is crazy to see Leon in 1972 when he was only my age (30) and he looked 60 then. I can't believe he's still touring....and doing a great job at it!!!

Energy is not exactly on his side these days. In fact, after the main part of the show, Leon said, "OK, now this is the part of the show when I would normally leave the stage and you would yell for an encore. If you could all just pretend I left and came back, that would be great, because my feet hurt, I'm old, and if I leave this stage, I leave for good."

I only came to tears once throughout the show. it was exactly when I expected it to happen....when Leon was singing "A Song For You" which is the song he and Ray Charles sang to Willie on his birthday. I still cry when I see it.....I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that there's a line that says something like "when I'm gone, remember when we were alone and I sang this song for you." Oh man, it's hard to see Ray say those words knowing he wasn't around long after that was recorded.

Overall, it was a fantastic evening. I'm very happy to say that I've had the chance to see Leon Russell live. I would love to see him again sometime. We'll just have to see how he does on this tour. there may be another tour in the works if his health holds up for a few more years. He'll definitely be on my must-see list as long as he's around!!!

Thanks again Andrea!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISSY!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISSY!!!!!!
WE ALL LOVE YOU!!!!

my space site

Myspace Animations
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Just wanted to let everyone know that I have a myspace site now. Feel free to stop in an leave me a message or comment. I'll have some blogs posted there too. There's a link directly to my site to your right. Come say HI!!!!!!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=67027969

Dog Philosophy

This was originally sent to me from a fellow dog-lover......I'm sure you'll agree with the "Dog Philosophy."

Dog Philosophy

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. -Anonymous

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. -Ann Landers

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die want to go where they went.-Will Rogers

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.-Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. -Andy Rooney

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made.-M. Acklam


Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. -Sigmund Freud

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. -Rita Rudner

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. -Robert Benchley

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.-Franklin P. Jones

If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons. -James Thurber

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. -UnknownMy dog is worried about the economy because Pal is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. -Joe Weinstein

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! -Anne Tyler

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. -Mark Twain

You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would'vethought of that!' - Dave Barry

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. -Phil Pastoret

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.

What are true friends for???

Most of you who know me also know Jerry, my weenie on wheels!!!

Luckily, Jerry has had an amazing recovery with his wheelchair. When he was first injured, he had no control over his bowels or his bladder. I had to express his bladder for him at least three times a day to help him urinate, and well, when he had to poop, it just fell out when it was ready. I know this is gross....but that is where the "true friend" part of the story comes in.

He now has total control over his bladder. His bowel control has gotten better, but when he feels it coming, you don't have much time to get him out the door. Every once in awhile, when I don't move quick enough, we'll end up with a little mess on our hands.

So, I'm in the kitchen today, fixing a sandwich before I have to go to work, and as I come into the living room, I see my neighbor, Cindy, bent over a pile of MY dog's poop picking it up for me. I said "What are you doing?!?!? You don't have to get that...he's my dog, and it's my mess." Her response was, "Well, what are friends for?" Bless her heart, we both had bad timing as far as watching him and not getting him outside quick enough, but she knew I was getting ready to eat and didn't want me to have to deal with it.

How many friends do you have or know that would pick up poop for you? I feel pretty special today :-)

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This has nothing to do with my dog or my friend, but I found it amazing. Take the time to watch this video if you can......I thought Jerry was a "Wonder Dog" but that was before I found out about "Faith."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKyhOJccIuA&search=faith%20dog

Music pick for today...or tonight :-)

You may know him best for the song "Lean on Me" but Bill Withers has a lot more than just that to be famous for!!!

I picked up his greatest hits CD just for the son"Ain't No Sunshine" and was pleasantly surprised when I found many other familiar tunes that I didn't even know he sang.

All I can tell you is this is one of the best CDs you could put in if you're ready for a nice romantic evening. It's one of those albums you can put in, light a few candles, and let the night take you wherever it wants. We'll just leave the rest to your imaginations...................


"Ain't no Sunshine" is one of those songs that brings me to chills every single time I hear it. If you haven't heard it for awhile, use all your computer capabilities and see if you can find it somewhere...that song alone is a must have!!!!!!!!

Songs of a Psychotic

In all my ebay hunting, I came across a very interesting book of poetry that I couldn't pass up. It's called "The Cliff's Edge-Songs of a Psychotic." It was written by a young lady in the 1950's during her stay at a mental institution. The introduction states that she was in one of the "nation's largest mental hospitals." I would love to know where she was exactly, but haven't had much luck finding her info online.

Most of the poetry was written when she was eighteen years old. Even in an altered mental state, it's hard to believe these thoughts and words came from someone so young.

Having seen my mother go through so much in mental institutions all my life, it has been very heart-rending to read her words. She speaks of very specific situations such as shock therapy (which my mom has been through several times) group therapy, and suicidal thoughts.

Here are a couple examples of her work that touched me.



Pendulum - Pulse
This is the rhythm of my life-
The slow
Unhurried swinging of a pendulum,
Marking with fatal pulse the season's round.
The spring outside means nothing;
For, to me,
Fear like the winter snow has frozen my heart.

And can it be that once again the hours,
Passing in cycle slow, will bring the flowers?
Or will Time's muffled drums beat out for me
A long death-march...into Eternity?



Alter Christus
Lord, for the pain I cursed You for last night
I do most gladly offer thanks today...
For, not with pride but deep humility
In me, and by me, and through me, I find-You!
In my stripped loneliness, Your own imprisonment-
My bruises mark Your scourging; and the same
Rude jests ring in my ears that rand in Yours-
And round my aching head I seem to feel
Even today, the racking crown of thorns...
I too was bound-and, though I never died,
I was like You-my spirit crucified.

Willie & Ray bringin' me to tears

All I can say is WOW!!!

If you are a Willie fan and you haven't seen this...you are missing a real treasure.

This was one of the best impulse buys I've ever picked up.

It was actually a broadcast for Willie's 70th birthday party.

There were several people that joined the festivites. The best of them all, though, has brought me to tears every time I've watched it. Now, normally, I'm not an easy person to bring to tears(Thanks to my Lexapro) but the trio of Leon Russell, Willie, and Ray Charles makes me cry every time. I thought it would get easier the more I watched it, but that hasn't been the case so far. They sang a song written by Leon called "A Song For You." It is even more poignant knowing that Ray would only be around a short time after this was filmed.

What really gets me is when Ray is singing his part....just as if he's singing right to Willie. There are a couple shots of Willie tearing up. And even one time I think he literally heaved to get his breath from the deep crying inside that he tried so gallantly to hide. That's when I lose it every time.

There are several other people who sit in with Willie that pull off some mind blowing performances. Norah Jones was absolutely fabulous. She's got such a gentle voice.....it blends very nicely with Willie. Another nice addition to the show was Steven Tyler with "One Time Too Many." Definitely the most shocking part was when Wyclef Jean came out and pulled off a reggae rendition of "All the Girls I've Loved Before." Last but not least, another one of my favorites, Paul Simon, came out to sing "Homeward Bound." Another tear-jerker.

This is by far one of the most touching music performances that I have in my collection.

I'm just so overwhelmed with the Willie, Ray, and Leon performance......I've rarely been pushed to tears by something I've seen on my TV. Live performances are different, on the other hand.....I've cried like a baby more than once at live shows.

Anyway, I felt the need to share my tears of joy with all of you. If anyone ever wants to borrow this, let me know. Or better yet, we could have a party at my house after I get it fixed up and we can all cry together......Love you all!!!!!

A little useless info for everyone!!!

On Wednesday of this week (or Tuesday night for us night owls,) at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06.
That won't ever happen again. At least in our lifetimes!

The question is: Do we really care?

You may now return to your abnormal life.