Mark's Thoughts, Musings and Just Plain Cool Stuff

Blue Roses

2010-05-11T13:29:00.001-05:00

This is a story my uncle sent me, I don't know if it true or not.

If it's not, you should make it become true.

Having four visiting family members, the wife was very busy, so I

offered to go to the store for her to get some needed items, which

included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags, detergent, and Clorox.

So off I went.

I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies, and headed for

the checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a

young man who appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a

hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there.

This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in

a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here."

It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged, and also startled as

he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by.

His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey

Buddy, what's your name?"

"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded

proudly. "Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny,

but my name is Steve."

"Steve, like Stevarino?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny?"

"How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over

from the next aisle.. "You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good

boy and let the man pass by."

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more

minutes about summer, bicycles, and school. I watched his brown eyes

dance with excitement because he was the center of someone's

attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking

the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't

even look at him, much less talk to him. I told her that it was my

pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from,

other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in

God's Garden; however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be

appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a

Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their

heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a

blessing from God.

She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked,

"Who are you?"

Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion but I sure

love living in God's garden."

She reached out, squeezed my hand, and said, "God bless you!" and then

I had tears in my eyes.

May I suggest that the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, don't turn your

head and walk off. Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why?

Because, by the grace of GOD, this mother or father could be you.

This could be your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew. What a

difference a moment can mean to that person or their family.

From an old dandelion!

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the

rest to God.

"People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Breakfast at McDonalds

2010-02-10T10:57:00.001-06:00

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.'

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake,
literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.
It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then
even my husband did...

I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling'

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.

He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.

He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.'

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you.. God is here working through me to give you hope.'

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope.

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers, but we are believers.

That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.

I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?'

I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

'Excuse me, Are you Jesus?'

2010-02-02T15:39:00.001-06:00

This is really powerful and makes one think!!!!

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. ALL BUT ONE!!! He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.
    He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.
He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, 'Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?' She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, 'I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly.'

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, 'Mister.......' He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, 'Are you Jesus?'
    He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: 'Are you Jesus?'

Do people mistake you for Jesus?
That's our Destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.
If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.
Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.
You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Please share this.... Sometimes we just take things for granted, when we really need to be sharing what we know...Thanks

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
TOO MANY CHRISTIANS ARE NO LONGER FISHERS OF MEN BUT KEEPERS OF THE AQUARIUM.

You Could Be Losing Business

2009-10-27T20:19:00.001-05:00

If you own your own company and don't have a presence out on the Internet, you could and most likely are – losing business!

Our society is very spoiled. If someone wants to find a company to do business with, chances are they will look for it on the Internet. Using Google or another search engine such as Bing is of second nature to most in this information era. We can easily type in Chinese Restaurant, Elk Grove Village, IL and it will bring us up a list of those restaurants available to us. If we want to find out more about a company, we can use Yelp.com and see what people have to say, good or bad.

Many potential customers will move on to the next available company they find, if you're information is not available to them. It could be as simple as a web page with contact information and some information about your company.

Possibilities Abound!

Here are some of the places to market your business:

Create a website. You don't have to sell anything there; just having a presence is enough. Make sure it has all your contact info, including phone, address and email address. A link to Google maps showing where you are is a nice touch, but not needed. Make sure you talk about your business and what you do or sell, etc.

Merchant Circle. You can create a free page to start and then build to a paying page later on.

http://universalbusinesslisting.org/businesses - This service provides a free listing that can be upgraded to a very nice listing for $30.00 a year.

www.Yelp.com. Create a free listing for yourself here. People can then rate you on whatever you do. Better do a good job or this can come back to bite you in the rear.

Create a Blog. You can create a free blog and have it point to your website. www.blogger.com is a great starting place.

Create a Facebook page. www.facebook.com will allow you to create a free business page. You can invite friends to become fans, invite fans to events, such as sales and link to your website. You can also connect Facebook to www.Twitter.com. Again have Twitter point to your website.

www.myspace.com – Create a free page here and point it to your website.

Notice that all roads lead to your website. Promote it as often as you can. Make you website address as easy to remember as possible and when you advertise the site name make it in upper and lower case letters, so it is easier to read.

Example: WWW.MYWEBSITE.COM or www.MyWebSite.com which is easier to read?

By promoting your website through all these other means, you are also pushing your Google search score higher and higher. This is a good thing and will help when people are searching for your product or service. Also try a local ad out on Google or Facebook, bring in business you would never otherwise have!

Here are some more free places to list your business:

Google Maps, Yahoo! Local, Microsoft Live, AskCity, MapQuest, CitySearch, local.com, Zoominfo

I am not affiliated with any of the above companies nor do I endorse them.

Bypass Cellphone Voicemail Instructions with One Star Pound - Voicemail - Lifehacker

2009-08-04T13:26:00.000-05:00

Bypass Cellphone Voicemail Instructions with One Star Pound - Voicemail - Lifehacker

How Many Mark O'Meara's Are There?

2009-06-23T06:40:00.000-05:00

HowManyOfMe.com

There are
22
people with my name in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Video of a Modem From the 60's connecting to the Internet

2009-05-29T11:17:00.001-05:00

Your Business Card Is Crap!

2009-04-23T10:50:00.000-05:00

Toby Mac Video With Kirk Franklin and Mandisa

2009-04-03T07:35:00.001-05:00

List of Passwords you shouldn't ever use

2009-03-27T07:33:00.000-05:00

List of Passwords you shouldn't ever use

Slashfood Readers Pick the Best Sandwiches in America - Slashfood

2009-03-18T11:26:00.000-05:00

Slashfood Readers Pick the Best Sandwiches in America - Slashfood

The 32 Most Commonly Misused Words and Phrases | HELP! Educational Blog

2009-03-17T07:27:00.000-05:00

The 32 Most Commonly Misused Words and Phrases | HELP! Educational Blog

12 Year Old Special Effects Genius

2009-03-12T10:36:00.000-05:00

My Nephew's Entry In The CareerBuilder.com Contest

2009-03-10T13:16:00.000-05:00

PoconoRecord.com: Slideshow: The dangers of plastic bags

2009-03-10T13:05:00.000-05:00

PoconoRecord.com: Slideshow: The dangers of plastic bags

Fast Food: Ads vs. Reality

2009-02-23T10:07:00.001-06:00

Fast Food: Ads vs. Reality

2009-02-23T10:07:00.000-06:00

Fast Food: Ads vs. Reality

Lifehacker Top 10: Top 10 Obscure Google Search Tricks

2009-02-23T09:53:00.000-06:00

Lifehacker Top 10: Top 10 Obscure Google Search Tricks

YouTube Offering iPod-Ready Video Downloads « THE FIRE WIRE

2009-01-23T12:45:00.000-06:00

YouTube Offering iPod-Ready Video Downloads « THE FIRE WIRE

Change the Ball Color Game

2008-12-29T13:58:00.001-06:00

This can be done. I have changed the color several times. Patience, patience, patience!

http://thedogpaddler.com/RandomUploads/Ball/ball.htm

Stethoscope Video

2008-12-29T13:33:00.000-06:00

Logan, The Sky Angel Cowboy

2008-12-17T15:38:00.001-06:00

Gallery - Snowflakes as you've never seen them before - Image 1 - New Scientist

2008-12-10T22:26:00.000-06:00

Gallery - Snowflakes as you've never seen them before - Image 1 - New Scientist

Festival of Lights Parade

2008-11-26T15:56:00.002-06:00

It's Coming! Friday night, November 28, 2008 at 7:00 pm!

It's the Annual Downtown Crystal Lake Festival of Lights Parade!

For more information, go to the Downtown Crystal Lake Website

Click here for a link - Downtown Crystal Lake Festival Of Lights Parade

Stop by and see me announcing the parade outside of Dalzall Jeweler's across from the clocktower. Make sure you say Hi! Get there early and See Ya There!

We Are The Old Video

2008-11-18T21:39:00.002-06:00

Bottom Row, Left to Right: John Sebastian (Lovin' Spoonful), Axel Bundy, Richie Havens

Top Row, Left to Right: Spencer Davis, Mark Lindsey (Paul Revere & The Raiders), Robbie Krieger (The Doors), Peter Noone (Hermans Hermits)

mental_floss Blog » The Secrets Behind Your Favorite Toys

2008-11-18T21:31:00.000-06:00

mental_floss Blog » The Secrets Behind Your Favorite Toys

Short Video

2008-10-23T20:31:00.001-05:00

Fireproof - The Movie

2008-10-17T08:54:00.002-05:00

My wife and I went to the movies last night. This is indeed a treat, since we feel most of the movies out there are not worth the price of admission ($9.00 per person).

We went and saw a movie called Fireproof which starred Kirk Cameron, whom most of you will remember from the TV show "Growing Pains" We both loved the movie and thought it was definately worth the price of admission. I highly recommend the movie not only to Christians, but to non-Christians as well.

Are you having problems with your marriage? You might want to consider seeing this movie for sure and visit the website below for tools to help you rebuild it, yes it is worth it!

http://fireproofmymarriage.com/

Here is a website for the movie itself:

http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/

Household: Earmark New and Used Kitchen Sponges

2008-10-01T08:49:00.000-05:00

Household: Earmark New and Used Kitchen Sponges

1971 Photo From Grammar School

2008-09-25T12:57:00.003-05:00

Top Row:
Lee Kozie, David Schwab, Mark O'Meara, Perry Pogorniak, Ben Kaleta, Dominick Vivorito, Kevin Keyser

3rd Row:
Frank Fontana, Jim Nowakoski, Vince Pusateri, Grant Gessner, ?, Anton Bzowy, Rich Zameda, Jeff Callies, Jeff Southwell, John Madej

2nd Row:
Dolores Eberle, Glenda Munger, Margaret Thron, Sherry Conklin, Donna Mueller, Carol Stuber, Barb ?, Cynthia Szymanski, Ruth Thomies (teacher)

Bottom Row:
Cindy Bishop, Fran Hulsart, Carrie Schwartz, Donna Bellafiore, Wendy Sharp, Debbie Mikolajczyk, ?, Susan Miller

Baptisim At Indian Trails Beach

2008-09-24T07:57:00.005-05:00

Char and I were Baptised as adults last Sunday at Indian Trails Beach in Lake In The Hills. Senior Pastor Dan Harrison preceded over the event along with Associate Pastor Rich Wollford. It was a life changing experience. More photos to come soon!

My Uncle - Daniel O'Meara Leaves Us For Heaven

2008-09-23T08:22:00.000-05:00

Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services: Obituaries

It's Lovely! I'll Take It!: Chicago

2008-09-04T09:32:00.000-05:00

These are some interesting real photo's of Real Estate for sale.

It's Lovely! I'll Take It!: Chicago

A little bit of everything...: The Faces Behind The Voices

2008-08-22T15:42:00.000-05:00

A little bit of everything...: The Faces Behind The Voices

Watch Rush Play Tom Sawyer on Rock Band

2008-07-26T17:47:00.001-05:00

Here is a video of the rock group - Rush trying to play their hit "Tom Sawyer" on the "Rock Band" game.

Donate Food To Animal Shelters

2008-07-12T08:17:00.001-05:00

Click on the link below to donate free food to animal shelters and play trivia at the same time! Go here everyday for a new question!

Money Celebrities Pictures - Strange Money Celebrities Pics

2008-06-26T13:50:00.000-05:00

Money Celebrities Pictures - Strange Money Celebrities Pics

Chris Doyle Presents - Reasonably Clever! Wasting your workday since 1995

2008-06-24T08:55:00.001-05:00

Chris Doyle Presents - Reasonably Clever! Wasting your workday since 1995

Create a Mini-Mizer in virtual plastic of yourself.

Just stupid mindless fun. We need that sometimes!

Here is what I did for myself!

12 Comic Book Ads That Taught Us To Be Cynical | Cracked.com

2008-06-23T09:36:00.000-05:00

12 Comic Book Ads That Taught Us To Be Cynical | Cracked.com

RepairPal

2008-06-15T10:22:00.000-05:00

Do you feel your being ripped off on automotive repairs? Compare prices in your area. Very cool idea!

RepairPal

Knock Knock... Who's there.. Mr Pizza Guy. I didn't order a pizza!

2008-06-06T13:02:00.000-05:00

Cruel Pizza Advertisement « THE FIRE WIRE

Please Remember Our Brave Men and Women Overseas

2008-05-24T08:39:00.002-05:00

Click on this link below to see a truly wonderful website. I hope it give you a chill down your spine as it did to me.

http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/Battle%20Hymn/index.htm

God Bless our Servicemen and women... past, present and future!

May our lord and saviour watch over them and keep them safe from harm.

I ask this in Jesus's name...

AMEN!

For Star Wars Fans Who Love The Blues

2008-05-15T11:07:00.001-05:00

Keep watching until the 30 second mark and you will see Darth Vader being bluesy.

Are You A Chicago Public School Alumni

2008-04-29T15:03:00.001-05:00

Here is a new website for folks to connect.

http://www.cpsalumni.org/

Game Show Dumb Luck

2008-04-10T15:31:00.000-05:00

Ben Stein is EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed

2008-04-09T08:05:00.001-05:00

Coming to a theater near you on April 18, 2008. See it!

Ben Stein is EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed

Red Skelton Video

2008-04-03T16:07:00.000-05:00

Virtual Pilot Game

2008-04-01T10:44:00.001-05:00

I Need Spring!

2008-03-26T08:44:00.003-05:00

I need the Spring and I need it bad! I know it is officially Spring by calendar rules, but I need the weather of Spring. I want to hear the Birds chirpping, see the green grass and buds on the trees. I want to see flowers poking their heads out of the ground.

I want to go for walks around the neighborhood, ride my bike instead of driving. I want to shut off the furnace to stop the gas company from raping me.

Please let it come soon!

Watch... and Learn

2008-03-20T07:56:00.000-05:00

Mandles - Candles For Men

2008-03-15T08:20:00.000-05:00

Poodle Fitness

2008-03-12T15:08:00.001-05:00

Poodle Fitness Video

Jay Leno Inhales Anti-Helium

2008-03-12T14:02:00.001-05:00

Food Court Musical

2008-03-10T08:23:00.003-05:00

From the team of Improv Everywhere, a musical breaks out in a food court, here they describe the action:

"For our latest mission, 16 agents staged a spontaneous musical in the food court of a Los Angeles shopping mall. We used wireless microphones to amplify the vocal performances and mix them together with the music through the mall’s PA system. We filmed the mission with hidden cameras, mostly behind two-way mirrors. Apart from our performers, no one in the food court was aware of what was happening. "

Great Movie For The Whole Family

2008-03-07T15:43:00.002-06:00

My wife and I saw a great movie the other day. The Ultimate Gift was based on a book by Jim Stovall. I highly recommend it. It is rated PG, so use your judgement with the little ones.

Playa Cofi Jukebox - Our Musical Heritage

2008-02-27T18:15:00.000-06:00

Playa Cofi Jukebox - Our Musical Heritage

One Of The Greatest Gags Ever Played

2008-02-14T13:57:00.000-06:00

THE OLD FISHERMAN - A story to tell your children.

2008-02-13T08:26:00.003-06:00

Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore . We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to out-patients at the Clinic.

One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. "Why, he's hardly taller than my eight-year-old," I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But the appalling thing was his face, lopsided from swelling, red and raw Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, "Good evening. I've come to see if you've a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there's no bus 'till morning."

He told me he'd been hunting for a room since noon but with no success; no one seemed to have a room. "I guess it's my face. I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more tre atments..." For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: "I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning." I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. I went inside and finished getting supper.

When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us. "No thank you. I have plenty" And he held up a brown paper bag. When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn't take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body.

He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn't tell it by way of complaint; in fact, every other sentence was prefaced with thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going.

At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children's room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded, and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said, "Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I won't put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair." He paused a moment and then added, "Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind."

I told him he was welcome to come again. And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they'd be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4 a.m. , and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us. In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden.

Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious.

When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after he left that first morning. "Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people!" Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice But, oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illness would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God.

Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse. As she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, "If this were my plant, I'd put it in the loveliest container I had!" My friend changed my mind. "I ran short of pots," she explained, "and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn't mind starting out in this old pail. It's just for a little while, till I can put it out in the garden." She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in heaven. There's an especially beautiful one," God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. "He won't mind starting in this small body."

All this happened long ago -- and now, in God's garden, how tall this lovely soul must stand. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." People are put in our life for a reason. Don't miss the chance to embrace them.

Pie Face Game Video

2008-02-11T09:36:00.000-06:00

I don't know why this never took off. They should bring this game back out and people can use it to solve their differences with pies rather than fighting.

Watch Lancelot Link Secret Chimp

2008-02-03T07:44:00.000-06:00

The Great Garloo

2008-01-31T08:17:00.000-06:00

Now where can you find a faithful servent these days for only $17.98? Not in my neck of the woods!

Space Food Sticks

2008-01-30T07:29:00.000-06:00

Do you remember these. I remember they had a weird paste like texture, but didn't taste that bad. We always bought peanut butter. Their marketing was way ahead of it's time - only 44 calories!

A House Sparrow's Day | By Dianne J Bell | Category: Fine Art Photography | Blurb

2008-01-29T11:05:00.000-06:00

A House Sparrow's Day By Dianne J Bell Category: Fine Art Photography Blurb: "A House Sparrow's Day"

If your a birdwatcher or nature lover, my aunt's book is the one for you.

Watch the preview, see the movie....

2008-01-23T12:00:00.000-06:00

I found this link on www.filegirl.com.

5 Food Rules to Break - MSN Health & Fitness - Nutrition

2008-01-22T12:49:00.000-06:00

5 Food Rules to Break - MSN Health & Fitness - Nutrition

Birthday Calculator

2008-01-21T12:46:00.000-06:00

Birthday Calculator

Defunct Chicago Area Businesses

2008-01-17T16:11:00.000-06:00

I made a couple of changes. I removed Lord & Taylor (I was informed they are still around). I also removed Orange Julius, since they are making a comeback in Chicago in 2008. Anyone have any to add?

Wiebolts
Main Street (now Kohl's)
Jack In The Box (still in other states and southern Illinois)
Chicken Delight ("Don't cook tonight, call Chicken Delight", still in other states)
Robert Hall
Winchell Donuts
Silo Electronics
Sounds Good Music
Flipside Records
Pacific Stereo
Mayflower Supermarket
Kohls Supermarket
Standard Gas Stations
Handy Andy Home Improvments
Service Merchandise
McDades
United Audio
Fotomat
Montgomery Wards
M&R Movie Theaters
Plitt Movie Theathers
Wags Restaurants (they had the best Patty-Melts)
Woolworths
Kresges
Ames Dept. Stores
JoJo's Restaurants
Venture
Turnstyle
Polk Brothers (who remembers the Polk-A-Lay-Lee, a huge sitar looking ukelalee)
Poppin' Fresh Pies (now Baker's Square)
Morrie Mages Sporting Goods
Bosa Donuts
Franks Nursery and Crafts
A&P Foods
Kroch and Brentanos Bookstore
Crown Books
National Tea
Jewel Tea (now just Jewel)
Madigans Clothing
Bargin Town (now Toys 'R Us)
Dog N' Suds Drive-Ins
Sinclair Gas Stations
Yankee Doodle Dandy Fast Food
Chas. A Stevens Clothing
Highland Electronics
Big Boy Restaurants
Amoco Gas Stations
Community Discount
Kroger Foods
Playback Electronics (I used to buy all my car stereos and 8 tracks there)
Cock Robin Ice Cream
BJ's Warehouse Club
Pacific Stereo
Shakey's Pizza (sing along pizza place, follow the bouncing ball)
Ponderosa Steak House
Bonnanza Steak House
Ground Round
Chicken Unlimited
Goldblatts
Thom Mcann Shoes
Zayre
Lee Wards Crafts
Arthur Treachers Fish & Chips
Sizzlers
Texaco Gas Stations
Purple Martin Gas Stations
Ground Round Restaurants (throw your peanut shells on the floor)
Saxons Paint and Wallpaper
Mr Donut
Hot Sam Pretzels (only in malls)
Docktor's Pet Stores
Merry-Go-Round Clothing Stores
Amy Joy Donuts
Stuart Anderson's Cattle Company
Eggheads Software
Herman's Sporting goods
Builders Square (thanks for this one, I was going crazy trying to think of the name of this place. This was owned by KMart)
PharMor
Golden Bear Restaurants
Peppers Waterbeds
Thompson's
Wanzer Dairy
Steinberg Baum
Shoppers World
Omni Food Store
Highland Appliances
Galyans
Child World
Eagle Food
W.T. Grants E.J.Korvettes
HomeBase
Italian U-Boat Submarines
Topps
Marshall Fields (now Macy's)

Crabby Old Man Poem

2008-01-17T16:04:00.000-06:00

This is something my uncle sent me, so I thought I would share.

CRABBY OLD MAN

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Tampa , Florida , it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Missouri . The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this "anonymous" poem winging across the Internet.

Crabby Old Man

What do you see nurses? ......What do you see?
What are you thinking......when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man, ....not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .......with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food.......and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice....."I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice .....the things that you do.
And forever is losing ............. a sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not...........lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding ...... the long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse......you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am ...... as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .......as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten......with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .......who love one another

A young boy of Sixteen ..........with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now. ..........a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty .........my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows........that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now .......... I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide ........ and a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty ........ my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other ......... with ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons ........have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me........to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .......... babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children ......... my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me ......... my wife is now dead.
I look at the future .............I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing ........young of their own.
And I think of the years...... and the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man.........and nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age .......look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles..........grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone........where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass ...... a young guy still dwells,
And now and again .........my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys.............. I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living.......... ...life over again.

I think of the years ...all too few......gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact........that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people ..........open and see..
Not a crabby old man. Look closer....see........ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might
brush aside without looking at the young soul within.....we will all,
one day, be there, too!

Flame gun ad from 1972 - Boing Boing

2008-01-17T08:37:00.000-06:00

Flame gun ad from 1972 - Boing Boing

I thought this was pretty funny. I really like the line - "So easy even your wife could use it". I guess they had to stop selling them due to high product liability insurance!

Spotlight on the Great Chicago Artists of Yesterday

2008-01-11T08:37:00.000-06:00

Chicago has been the birthplace of many great musical artists such as:

Styx
Chicago
Buckinghams
Cryan Shames
New Colony Six
Lou Rawls
Chaka Khan
Ral Donner
American Breed
Ides Of March
Survivor
REO Speedwagon

Here are a couple of old videos from the Buckinghams

Don't You Care

Kind Of A Drag

Coolest Video Ever

2007-12-20T08:20:00.000-06:00

My niece Randee sent me a link to this video on You Tube. It is done by people wearing white gloves under a black light. Very cool and creative!

The Beatles Doing Stairway to Heaven.... Sort Of

2007-12-19T07:48:00.000-06:00

Here is a fun video of a Beatles tribute band - The Beatnix doing a Beatle type version of Stairway to Heaven.

Gifts Of Service

2007-12-18T15:36:00.000-06:00

The Pastor at our church gave us 7 coupons this last Sunday. Each coupon was labeled "Gift of Service". He asked us to perform 7 Gifts of Service before Christmas to honor our Savior. These gifts can be any type of service and you can use the coupons to write down what you did to remind yourself. Here are some "Gifts of Service" I came up with.

Perhaps you can do some of these and use your own coupons.

Volunteer some time at a retirement home or shelter
Shovel your neighbors walk
Bring a shopping cart back to the store from the parking lot
Donate some food to a local pet shelter
Donate some food to a local food pantry
Open a door for someone
Run an errand for an eldery neighbor or friend
Donate a toy to a needy child this Christmas
Donate something needed to a homeless shelter. Call one near you to find out what is needed.
Donate something needed to a retirement home. Call one near you to find out what is needed.

Let me hear from some other people out there what you have done for service.

Here are a couple of cool websites to go to! These are gifts of service as well!

http://freerice.com/index.php - Improve your vocabulary and donate free rice at the same time!

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/ Click on the button and donate food to animal rescue! Buy something and donate even more!

I Am Thankful...

2007-11-19T07:38:00.000-06:00

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. .

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE. AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

The Law of the Garbage Truck

2007-11-15T08:50:00.000-06:00

I received this story from my Uncle Denny. Visit his website - www.cedarstump.us - Great wood carvings!

I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab.

This is what happened:I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by mere inches! The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was actually friendly! So, I asked him, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"

And this is when my taxi driver told me about what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck." Many people are like Garbage Trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it, and if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. Instead, just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happier because you did. So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck."

I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me?AND, how often do I then take their garbage and spread it onto other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I resolved, "I'm not going to do it anymore,"then I, too, began to see Garbage Trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead People". Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off.And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit and was ready to make the next play his best.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more Garbage Trucks simply pass you by? Here's my bet ... You'll be happier. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so ...Love the people who treat you right;Forget about the ones who don't.Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance ... take it and if it changes your life ... let it!Nobody said it would be easy - They just promised it would be worth it!

********************************************************

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Choose your words, for they become actions.
Understand your actions, for they become habits.
Study your habits, for they will become your character.
Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Quiz: How well do you know the United States? - U.S. News - MSNBC.com

2007-11-06T06:52:00.000-06:00

Take this quiz and see how you do. I only scored 72%. Yikes!

Quiz: How well do you know the United States? - U.S. News - MSNBC.com

Red Marbles

2007-11-05T09:10:00.000-06:00

I love these stories. I don't know or even care if they really happened, they touch our hearts and help to facilitate acts of kindness and compassion. Perhaps you can do at least one act of compassion or kindness this week.

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me. "Hello Barry, how are you today?" "H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good." "They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?" "Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time." "Good. Anything I can help you with?" "No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas." "Would you like to take some home?" asked Mr. Miller. "No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with." "Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?" "All I got's my prize marble here." "Is that right? Let me see it" said Miller. "Here 'tis. She's a dandy." "I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?" the store owner asked. "Not zackley but almost." "Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble" . Mr. Miller told the boy. "Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller." Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.

When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store." I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man.

A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.

Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. "Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt." "We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ." With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!

Here are some acts of kindness to help motivate you!

Take your old magazines and books to a Retirement Home, Homeless Facility or any type of shelter.
Buy 2 extra cans of vegetables that are on sale and bring them to you local food pantry.
Pay the toll for the car behind you.
Hold the door open for someone.
Say "Good Morning" or "Good Evening" to a stranger
Say "Bless You" to someone you don't know when they sneeze.
Park your car a little further away at the supermarket. This will allow someone with lesser health park closer and allow you to get fit walking those extra steps.
When doing your Christmas cards this year, add an extra one and mail it to:

A Recovering American Soldier

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue,NW

Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Great Tips

2007-11-05T08:47:00.000-06:00

1. Reheat Pizza

Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove , set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

2. Easy Deviled Eggs

Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal , mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients , reseal , keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly , cut the tip of the baggy , squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

3. Expanding Frosting

When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store , whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

4. Reheating refrigerated bread

To warm biscuits , pancakes , or muffins that were refrigerated , place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

5. Newspaper weeds away

Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

6. Broken Glass

Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

7. No More Mosquitoes

Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

8. Squirrel Away!

To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

9. Flexible vacuum

To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

10. Reducing Static Cling

Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.

11. Measuring Cups

Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

12. Foggy Windshield?

Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

13. Reopening envelope

If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside , just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

14. Conditioner

Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...

15. Goodbye Fruit Flies

To get rid of pesky fruit flies , take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid , mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

16. Get Rid of Ants

Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it , take it "home", can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains , but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

17. INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS

The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink, ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material - I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. WELL...the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film , but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free - that nice fragrance too, you know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box, well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire & potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long!

How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that So , I thought I'd share!

Note: I went to my dryer & tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water & a nylon brush & I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it the water ran right Thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!

Resin identification code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2007-10-31T12:54:00.000-05:00

Resin identification code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Satellite Dish Sticker - Pimp your satellite dish

2007-10-30T09:02:00.000-05:00

Satellite Dish Sticker - Pimp your satellite dish

Senses Challenge

2007-10-25T13:06:00.000-05:00

Now you can order through my Amazon Store!

2007-10-25T09:54:00.000-05:00

You can now order most anything you want from my Amazon Store. Take a look under the links section for My Amazon Store and order away. When you check out, you will be doing so under Amazon.com's secure server.

Thanks!!!

Pedometers

2007-10-02T13:43:00.000-05:00

In my opinion, this is one of the best pedometers available. Buy it here!

You can purchase many more wonderful items, by using my Amazon store. Just click on the link in the links section below.

Mental Floss - What Ever Happened to Those Advertising Icons?

2007-09-21T09:03:00.000-05:00

mental_floss magazine - Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix

Home Inspection Nightmares II | Manage Your Home | Planning and Ideas | This Old House - 1

2007-09-19T10:34:00.000-05:00

Home Inspection Nightmares II Manage Your Home Planning and Ideas This Old House - 1

Check out all the galleries!

Vacation, Sweet Vacation

2007-09-12T10:29:00.000-05:00

I'm on vacation all this week! Although you might not think so. I still check my email @ least twice a day! ;-)

Last Saturday, September 8th we went to my nephew Curt's 40th birthday party. We had a great time, most of my family was there...

Curt, his wife Michele and their 2 daughters - Haley and Kelly.
My nephew Scott, his wife Gail and their 2 daughters - Abigal and Sara.
My Niece Randee, her husband Mike and their 2 daughters - Kelsey and Bridgette and their son Ben.
My sister Dawn and her husband Tom.
My Brother Kevin, his wife Colleen and their two sons - Kyle and Colin.
My nephew Tim and his wife Melissa.
My nephew Patrick.
My mother June.
MIA were my brother Tim, his son Sean and his wife Georgia, my nephew Ryan and my niece Caitlyn.

It was great to see everyone, the food was good and plentiful and the conversation great!

Hoping to have the floor finished this week, along with re grouting the shower!

What I'm Reading:

What I'm Watching on DVD:
FlightPlan - Jodie Foster, While transporting her recently deceased husbands casket to America, widower Kyle Pratt's daughter disappears on a huge jumbo jet. Very suspenseful

Most Love Dogs - Diane Lane and John Cusack. Typical romantic comedy. I only loved it because of John Cusack. I love everything he does.

What I'm Watching on TV:

Living With Ed

Damages

Dog The Bounty Hunter

Notice: Resident Evil:Extinction Coming out this Fall!

Senses Challenge

2007-08-27T10:55:00.000-05:00

Senses Challenge - A fun and interesting test for your senses!

The Rain In Spain

2007-08-24T07:28:00.000-05:00

The rain has just been unbelieveable! Will it ever stop! I have two more weeks before vacation. Yippee! I need to finish laying my bamboo flooring in our family room. I was 3/4 of the way down before I ran into a problem joining a hallway to the mainroom due to a wall not being square. This is one of my many projects to finish.

What I'm Reading:
Step on a Crack - James Patterson
Excellent! New Character - Michael Bennett, a detective with 10 adopted children and a wife with terminal cancer.

What I'm Listening To:
Lincoln Brewster - All To You
Great Christian Rock with amazing guitar.

What I'm Watching:

What I'm Using:
Microsoft OneNote
What a great way to organize all your notes and bits of information.
You can clip screens from web pages to pages in a notebook, add text, add hyperlinks and search for easily all in one easy to use product.
I LOVE IT!

Single and Christian In Chicago?

2007-08-23T22:27:00.000-05:00

Check out this website!

WWW.JoyfulSingles.com

Want To Rule The Web?

2007-08-23T22:24:00.000-05:00

Buy this book!

Lots of helpful hints, web sites, etc!

Very Reasonable Price!

Why I Will Never Buy Another Saturn!

2007-08-18T10:53:00.000-05:00

I own a Saturn 2000 L6. I recently went to the dealer in Dundee, IL to check out an air conditioning problem. After charging me $130 to charge the freon, they told me the compressor was bad and it was $1000 to replace it. That's right one thousand dollars! Not trusting the dealer, I went to my local mechanic. She took a look at it and agreed it was the compressor. She called around to all of her auto parts suppliers and lo and behold... none of them carry the part. You can only buy the part from Saturn if you are a dealer.

Two years ago, my battery went dead. Guess what, I could not replace the battery myself. Saturn had to replace it.

I have had the ignition changed 3 times under warranty and it went bad again. The taillight assembly had to be repaired at least 2 times.

The last time I took it to the dealer it cost me $800 and that was only getting half of what they told me was wrong getting fixed.

No more Saturn for me! I was proud to buy American, but perhps Toyota will appreciate my business.

I think I will totally avoid GMC products totally!

World Clock

2007-08-07T08:58:00.000-05:00

Dog Tricks

2007-08-02T12:47:00.000-05:00

Dog Tricks..

I have no idea how they do this:
TYPE IN a command and see what happens... sit, roll over, down, stand, sing, dance, shake, fetch, play dead etc. and...it's also very cute if you type in a command that's not recognized...!!
Make sure you type in "Kiss" too, but do it last.

I Do Dog Tricks

Brain Tuner

2007-08-01T12:43:00.001-05:00

Update On The World As I Know It

2007-07-27T11:00:00.000-05:00

I have not had a post in awhile, so here we go!

First, who else is annoyed by the TV stations, showing animated advertisements for other shows at the bottom of their screens. Even the station logo at the bottom right is a bother. Not much going on, I joined a Men's Golf League on Wednesday evenings. That is a lot of fun. We play at Redtail Golf Club in Lakewood. I just bought a new putter, a Odyssey White Hot XG #7. I love it! I tried 6-7 different putters at Dick's Sporting Goods and at first I liked the White Steel 2-ball, but after many practice putts, I wound up with the #7.

What I Am Reading:

Green Tip:

Unplug unsed appliances such as toasters, coffee makers, etc. They still draw power even though they are not being used. Do this with cell phone chargers as well.

Fish Heads Video

2007-07-10T12:29:00.000-05:00

One of my favorites and I'm sure it's going to be one of yours!

Fish Heads Video

Went to the Lake In The Hills Rockin' Rotary Ribfest last Sunday and saw Maggie Speaks! Food was good, band was better! Check them out when you can!

What I'm Reading:

What I'm Listening To:

My Father

2007-06-17T14:54:00.000-05:00

I never really knew my father, not in the way a son should know his father. I knew who he was and what he stood for, I knew what he looked like, how his voice sounded and what he did for a living. But, I never really knew my father as a man. Who he really was inside. He died from lung cancer when I was ten year old. I never got to enjoy things that most boys got to enjoy with their fathers.

I never had him teach me how to play baseball or fix a car or how to ask a girl on a date. Oh sure, I had other family members teach me these things, but I still feel like I was somehow cheated out of a piece of my life that I will never get back. Those precious memories that stay with a person for the rest of their life. Although I never really knew him, I miss him. I miss the moments we did spend together. The times we built kites together and flew them in the playlot at Wm. P. Gray Elmentary School. The times we went to the movies in downtown Chicago on my half days of school. How he would always take me to the Treasure Chest Magic Shop and tell me I could get one magic trick. How he would say to choose carefully as if it were an important world changing descision. Looking back, maybe the magic mexican jumping beans were not the greatest choice. I can still remember him taking me to his work - a police station and how I sat in awe looking at the jail cells. I remember his bushy eyebrows that felt like little wires. I remember all the silly little things that really don't matter, but to me somehow they do. Maybe because that is all I have, are those silly little memories.

When my father passed away in 1969 I was never allowed to see him in the hospital, nor was I allowed to go to his funeral. After all I was only ten years old and my mother said I was a sensitve child. She was probably right, maybe it was better for me to remember him the way he was in my memory and not see him in that condition.

This is just something I wanted to get off my chest and share with everyone. Remember your father and remember you can lose him or your mother at any time without warning. Keep the relationship there for the both of you. Father's take care of your bodies, you have a responsibility out there.. your child.

Mo Green Ideas

2007-06-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

Been doing a lot a reading online at lime.com. So, we found some new ideas to implement.

We are no longer using the dry cycle on our dishwasher. We open it open at the end to let the steam out.
I now use environmentally friendly dishwasher soap.
I unplug all phone chargers and all other electrical items(toasters, blenders, coffee makers) when not in use.
We now use white vinegar instead of Cascade in the dishwasher.

Had a great time last Saturday at our Small Group from Church BBQ. Played a fun game called ladder golf. We dined on the finest hot dogs, hamburgers, beans and potato salad. Almost everyone made it. Bob and Michelle could not, since they were celebrating their 1 year anniversary.

Let me know your green ideas!

Green Festivals - View picture GFCH2007_Emily-Kenny

2007-05-31T10:11:00.000-05:00

Picture of me taking a snooze at the Green Festival in Chicago. I'm laying down on a wool mattress that is like a pad. Very comfortable!

Green Festivals - View picture GFCH2007_Emily-Kenny

Green Festivals - View picture GFCH2007_Emily-Kenny

2007-05-31T10:10:00.000-05:00

Picture of me taking a snooze at the Green Festival in Chicago. I'm laying down on a wool mattress that is like a pad. Very comfortable!

Green Festivals - View picture GFCH2007_Emily-Kenny