Archive for Thursday

{ November 20, 2008 @ 3:59 am } · { Health, Home, HUMOR, Jefé, Thursday }
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Thursday 13 below my health update.

Well, my 1st annual follow-up from my heart ablation at the end of September of last year is over. After doing an EKG and many other tests, I got a good report! I asked several questions and he answered them thoroughly…I like this guy. That is saying a whole heckuva lot if you want to really know. I told him I didn’t like my other cardiologist after so many bad side effects from Lisinopril and he doing nothing to change and me ending up in ER…that he said he understood. He then didn’t degrade the former cardiologist, nor did he pressure me in any way to get a new one. Giving me a ‘good to go’ and ‘good to do’, I’m feeling mighty fine. I pray it continues to be good for me. He also told me to get my cholesterol down…well, I had to explain to him [since he knows the list of medications I'm taking] that I got my cholesterol down WITHOUT any prescription drugs. He was amazed and very pleased!! As I am. Too, I hope I can continue to do so, tho I must confess I ate red meat a couple of times. Which I vowed not to do again. I felt relieved that all was well with my ticker! I feel now that it’s not a time bomb waiting to go off…[tho in the back of my head I do know that I'll always be a 'high risk' patient]. If all goes well, I don’t need to return for another year. And my Primary Care Physician only wants to see me for picking up my blood work papers if I continue to feel well. That says a lot to me also. I’m happy with the outcome.

edition #83


[click to play a short 'tribal beat' for ambiance!]



…and here she is again!!! I love humor, I love joking, I love laughter. Hope you will too. My thirteen this week comes from a wise ol’ lady named Jefé [pronounced HEH fay in Spanish slang - meaning 'boss or chief', being in this case, a "chieftress" but I like Jefé - you guessed it, I really DO have chin whiskers'] These are thirteen[?] tried and true living experiences from the aged one with her keen perception on life——-

1] Noah kept his bees in archives!

2] Part-time bandleaders semi-conductors.

3] Think about it: Pilots take crash-courses; it’s called simulation.

4] Speaking of pilots, getting off a non-stop flight would be a challenge.

5] I ‘ve, in all my years, not seen a toad use his stool yet.

6] For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.

7] Support bacteria – they’re the only culture some people have.

8] Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life. Trust me.

9] The sooner you fall behind, the more time you’ll have to catch up.

10] A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

11] Success always occurs in private, and failure in full view.

12] After driving in Texas, I’m convinced that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone licensed in this state would be stupid enough to try and pass them.

13] Just seeing if you’re paying attention!!! Oh….sorry, my last bit of knowledge is: A man who walks sideways will get to Bangkok!

{ November 13, 2008 @ 10:06 am } · { Home, Thursday, Trivia, Vienna Boys Choir }
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My Thursday 13 list is below my first entry for today’s section…scroll down to find the Thursday 13 Button Graphic, but for now, just

GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME!!

For dinner Tuesday night, in the ‘fridge we had leftover vegetable egg rolls and sweet and sour sauce that I made [from scratch, yes indeedy!]. But neither one of us actually wanted to cook or clean up before going to the cathedral for a beautiful evening planned. Instead, we dressed for the evening, casual dress, and began our evening with Bud and I going out to Fuddrucker’s. We special ordered our burgers [I had chicken] and enjoyed the 50′S AND 60′S ambiance; the decorated walls of course. Not the great looking abs in the next booth! [kidding!] Naturally, Bud always picks an area with one of his favorites –with the view of John Wayne crap memorabilia. I sat in front of the Beatles to dine. Not bad for a gal who grew up with them, right?

As the juke box played oldies but goodies, we munched away on our burgers and fries. I was anxious to go downtown by the bay, up on Upper Broadway Street [situated on a hill] overlooking the city and bay, to sit inside the Cathedral and enjoy the evening out together. It was a long awaited treat. For years I have loved to listen to this infamous group. I could hardly wait. Once we completed our meal we had about twenty minutes to get to the church on time. It wasn’t too far, and it’s an easy trip to follow all the interchanges and head to town. The concern of finding a parking place within easy access of the cathedral’s steps was on my mind tho. If we had to park a goodly distance away, we needed time for walking so not to miss too much!

Getting the car parked and walking up the cliff to the cathedral, lit up beautifully on a warm comfortable breezy evening, was a perfect setting for the night ahead. I was getting excited. I’ve watched this group ever since I was a child that I can remember. And it was going to be a true pleasure. Altho, the group was just a small part of the entire entourage, it was still going to be worth being there. This photo is of Corpus Christi’s Cathedral. The concert being held inside its doors Tuesday evening was the Silver Anniversary of the Cathedral’s Concert programs. Now, as I grew up in a Catholic environment, a Cathedral was HUGE…I always think of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. that blew me away with the pure elegance of architecture and the glass and steeples; the three towers, [not to mention one of the windows containing 'moon rock']….but here in Corpus this is a small one compared to what I grew up with, tho, a cathedral can be large OR small, and named so because this is the ‘main’ church of Catholicism and houses the Bishop. His throne is called Cathedra, the center of his diocese.

As we walked up the steps, and entered through the main doors, we were greeted by the hosts and hostesses of the evening and, of course, the sculptures…

While I stopped to photograph this grotto to my left as I entered, Bud was handed a couple of programs and the lights flickered and dimmed and the applause was deafening. The main cathedral itself can accomodate nearly 1500 plus a balcony and if need be, standing room. We weren’t late but a little late to find a good seat. That’s okay. Their voices carry well…and the acoustical walls that surround the altar are perfect! As we entered through the interior doors, we were greeted with the sounds of wonderment. One of the most beautiful sounds in this world, if you want my opinion….

THE WORLD RENOWNED VIENNA BOYS CHOIR

The choir, huge in its entirety, breaks up into smaller groups to tour the world. The group we had to sing for us this particular evening consisted of about 25 boys. Ranging in age from ten to fourteen [the eleven year old happened to be celebrating his birthday Tuesday]. Sorry, for the poor quality of the photos [enlarging them helps some], but cameras were not allowed, so I used the cellphone and of course, with the phone, picture quality is about nil. The gentleman to my left whispered that there was going to be a photo op later, at the reception when the concert was concluded.

But with that said, that didn’t stop me from making use of the phone carried with me. Here, the boys sing a rendition of “I am from Austria” composed by R. Fendrich [1955]. We also had a solo performance of one of my favorites “Amazing Grace” by John Newton. I had tears welling up through this solo, so the camera didn’t come in handy there! It was a most splendid evening venture. I enjoyed it so much.


[Above] Th Evening’s Program

Being that I don’t yet know by heart how the contraption camera and the functions work, I tried to zoom in…and failed to get much of the group…Oh well. I tried. And the photo is somewhat ‘fuzzy’ and blotchy at the same time, it’s still worth keeping. When the songs chosen for the night was in need of the Choirmaster to be seated at the grand piano, the little boy to his left was the sheet music page turner. Did I say how much I love this group of singers. It’s like a nature’s chorus to my ears!!!

I was lucky enough to get this photo of the Choirmaster. A bit of his background: He was born in Istanbul. Played a flute and piano as a child, going on to study choral conducting, voice, piano, and flute at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna. The Vienna Boys Choir began over 500 years ago, in 1498. Emperor Maximilian moved his court and musicians from Innsbruck to Vienna. Until 1918, the choir was exclusively for the imperial court. Some famous, the likes of Schubert and the Haydn brothers were at one time choir boys. Because of costs for upkeep for the boys, they began to hold concerts outside the court. Today, there are about 100 choristers between the ages of 10 and fourteen, now divided into four different groups touring; performing around 300 concerts yearly. The boys today are not exclusively Austrian…they come from all walks of life, from all over the world!


-edition #82

Then, for my thirteen, a whole completely different thought…….

Have You Ever Wondered?

1 … why strips of dried beef are called “beef jerky”?

    The name given to this meat was charqui, a Spanish word meaning dried meat. When the meat was beef, the dried strips were called “beef charqui,” which was later pronounced — and spelled — “beef jerky.”

2 … why someone happy is said to be ‘on cloud nine’?

    Types of clouds are numbered according to the altitudes they attain, with nine being the highest cloud. So if someone is on cloud nine, that person is floating well above worldly cares.

3 … why someone not doing their job well is said to be “not worth his salt”?

    At one time soldiers in ancient Rome were paid, in part, with a ration of salt called a salarium, from the Latin word sal meaning salt. If a soldier’s performance was not up to standard, that soldier was said to be “not worth his salt.”

4 … why popcorn pops?

    Popcorn, a variety of Indian corn called Zea mays everta, is different from ordinary corn in that it has a harder outer shell. As the corn is heated, moisture in its starchy grains is converted to steam, causing a tremendous pressure to be exerted against the shell. The tough shell stands up under the pressure for a while but eventually breaks down and the kernel explodes with such force that is throws out its while, pulpy insides, making an audible popping sound in the process.

5 … why girls’ short socks are called “bobby socks”?

    “Bobby” comes from bob, meaning to cut short, as in bobtail and bobby pins — pins used with bobbed hair. Since the socks described by the term are cut much shorter than the earlier knee-high socks girls wore, they were called “bobby socks.”

6 … why the words ‘may day’ is used for signaling you’re in trouble?

    This comes from the French m’aidez, which means “help me” and which is pronounced “mayday.”

7 … why the letter ‘x’ represents the unknown?

    The Arabic word used to represent an unknown quantity was shei. This was transcribed in Greek to Xei and later shortened to just X.

8 … why ’7 years of bad luck’ when a mirror is broken?

    Centuries ago many believed that a person’s image in a mirror was a reflection of that person’s soul. That is why the legendary vampire, who had no soul, casts no reflection in a mirror. To the people who held this belief, breaking a mirror meant preventing a part of the soul from reuniting with its body. The absence of a portion of the soul, it was believed, would certainly lead to ill fortune. But why seven years? This goes back to a Roman belief that a person’s health and fortune changed every seven years.

9 … why someone is called ‘son of a gun’?

    Today, the expression is used in a friendly, joking manner, but originally it had a quite different meaning. There was a time when women were allowed to live on board naval ships, and it is said that when secret rendez-vous took place between these women and the ship’s crew, the meeting place was usually behind a canvas screen near the midship gun. Therefore, when a male child of uncertain parentage was born aboard the ship, he was entered in the ship’s log as a “son of a gun.”

10 … why a wedding ring is worn on the left third finger?

    It was once believed that a vein of blood ran directly from the third finger on the left hand to the heart. The vein was called vena amoris, or the vein of love, and early writings on matrimonial procedure suggested that it would be appropriated for one’s wedding ring to be worn on that special finger.

11 … why we shake our heads up and down for affirmative and side to side for negative?

    The best explanation for this comes from Charles Darwin, who related these gestures to a baby’s nursing habits. The forward head motion, or nod, is supposedly a breast-seeking pattern while shaking the head from side to side is a breast-rejecting motion. That is, in the first instance, the baby is saying “yes” and in the second it is saying “no”. This is confirmed by the fact that a baby born deaf and blind will nod for “yes” and shake its head for “no”.

12 … why when completing a job, it’s referred to doing “the whole nine yards”?

    The term “the whole nine yards” came from WWII fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 calibre machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, they got “the whole nine yards”.

13 … ever hear of the expression: “Where in the Sam Hill did he go?”

    The expression Sam Hill was born in early 19th century America. During that time, it was considered vulgar and improper to use profanity in civilized conversation. This included the word hell. This expression was the result of altering the word hell, using hill instead to deem it proper to use in public. The use of the name Sam is believed to have been derived from Samiel, the devil in von Weber’s opera Der Freishuetz, first performed in New York City in 1825. Upon putting those two words together, listeners were able to quickly realize that the speaker was referring to hell.

. . . to be continued

{ November 13, 2008 @ 10:06 am } · { Home, Thursday, Trivia, Vienna Boys Choir }
{ Leave a Comment }

My Thursday 13 list is below my first entry for today’s section…scroll down to find the Thursday 13 Button Graphic, but for now, just

GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME!!

For dinner Tuesday night, in the ‘fridge we had leftover vegetable egg rolls and sweet and sour sauce that I made [from scratch, yes indeedy!]. But neither one of us actually wanted to cook or clean up before going to the cathedral for a beautiful evening planned. Instead, we dressed for the evening, casual dress, and began our evening with Bud and I going out to Fuddrucker’s. We special ordered our burgers [I had chicken] and enjoyed the 50′S AND 60′S ambiance; the decorated walls of course. Not the great looking abs in the next booth! [kidding!] Naturally, Bud always picks an area with one of his favorites –with the view of John Wayne crap memorabilia. I sat in front of the Beatles to dine. Not bad for a gal who grew up with them, right?

As the juke box played oldies but goodies, we munched away on our burgers and fries. I was anxious to go downtown by the bay, up on Upper Broadway Street [situated on a hill] overlooking the city and bay, to sit inside the Cathedral and enjoy the evening out together. It was a long awaited treat. For years I have loved to listen to this infamous group. I could hardly wait. Once we completed our meal we had about twenty minutes to get to the church on time. It wasn’t too far, and it’s an easy trip to follow all the interchanges and head to town. The concern of finding a parking place within easy access of the cathedral’s steps was on my mind tho. If we had to park a goodly distance away, we needed time for walking so not to miss too much!

Getting the car parked and walking up the cliff to the cathedral, lit up beautifully on a warm comfortable breezy evening, was a perfect setting for the night ahead. I was getting excited. I’ve watched this group ever since I was a child that I can remember. And it was going to be a true pleasure. Altho, the group was just a small part of the entire entourage, it was still going to be worth being there. This photo is of Corpus Christi’s Cathedral. The concert being held inside its doors Tuesday evening was the Silver Anniversary of the Cathedral’s Concert programs. Now, as I grew up in a Catholic environment, a Cathedral was HUGE…I always think of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. that blew me away with the pure elegance of architecture and the glass and steeples; the three towers, [not to mention one of the windows containing 'moon rock']….but here in Corpus this is a small one compared to what I grew up with, tho, a cathedral can be large OR small, and named so because this is the ‘main’ church of Catholicism and houses the Bishop. His throne is called Cathedra, the center of his diocese.

As we walked up the steps, and entered through the main doors, we were greeted by the hosts and hostesses of the evening and, of course, the sculptures…

While I stopped to photograph this grotto to my left as I entered, Bud was handed a couple of programs and the lights flickered and dimmed and the applause was deafening. The main cathedral itself can accomodate nearly 1500 plus a balcony and if need be, standing room. We weren’t late but a little late to find a good seat. That’s okay. Their voices carry well…and the acoustical walls that surround the altar are perfect! As we entered through the interior doors, we were greeted with the sounds of wonderment. One of the most beautiful sounds in this world, if you want my opinion….

THE WORLD RENOWNED VIENNA BOYS CHOIR

The choir, huge in its entirety, breaks up into smaller groups to tour the world. The group we had to sing for us this particular evening consisted of about 25 boys. Ranging in age from ten to fourteen [the eleven year old happened to be celebrating his birthday Tuesday]. Sorry, for the poor quality of the photos [enlarging them helps some], but cameras were not allowed, so I used the cellphone and of course, with the phone, picture quality is about nil. The gentleman to my left whispered that there was going to be a photo op later, at the reception when the concert was concluded.

But with that said, that didn’t stop me from making use of the phone carried with me. Here, the boys sing a rendition of “I am from Austria” composed by R. Fendrich [1955]. We also had a solo performance of one of my favorites “Amazing Grace” by John Newton. I had tears welling up through this solo, so the camera didn’t come in handy there! It was a most splendid evening venture. I enjoyed it so much.


[Above] Th Evening’s Program

Being that I don’t yet know by heart how the contraption camera and the functions work, I tried to zoom in…and failed to get much of the group…Oh well. I tried. And the photo is somewhat ‘fuzzy’ and blotchy at the same time, it’s still worth keeping. When the songs chosen for the night was in need of the Choirmaster to be seated at the grand piano, the little boy to his left was the sheet music page turner. Did I say how much I love this group of singers. It’s like a nature’s chorus to my ears!!!

I was lucky enough to get this photo of the Choirmaster. A bit of his background: He was born in Istanbul. Played a flute and piano as a child, going on to study choral conducting, voice, piano, and flute at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna. The Vienna Boys Choir began over 500 years ago, in 1498. Emperor Maximilian moved his court and musicians from Innsbruck to Vienna. Until 1918, the choir was exclusively for the imperial court. Some famous, the likes of Schubert and the Haydn brothers were at one time choir boys. Because of costs for upkeep for the boys, they began to hold concerts outside the court. Today, there are about 100 choristers between the ages of 10 and fourteen, now divided into four different groups touring; performing around 300 concerts yearly. The boys today are not exclusively Austrian…they come from all walks of life, from all over the world!


-edition #82

Then, for my thirteen, a whole completely different thought…….

Have You Ever Wondered?

1 … why strips of dried beef are called “beef jerky”?

    The name given to this meat was charqui, a Spanish word meaning dried meat. When the meat was beef, the dried strips were called “beef charqui,” which was later pronounced — and spelled — “beef jerky.”

2 … why someone happy is said to be ‘on cloud nine’?

    Types of clouds are numbered according to the altitudes they attain, with nine being the highest cloud. So if someone is on cloud nine, that person is floating well above worldly cares.

3 … why someone not doing their job well is said to be “not worth his salt”?

    At one time soldiers in ancient Rome were paid, in part, with a ration of salt called a salarium, from the Latin word sal meaning salt. If a soldier’s performance was not up to standard, that soldier was said to be “not worth his salt.”

4 … why popcorn pops?

    Popcorn, a variety of Indian corn called Zea mays everta, is different from ordinary corn in that it has a harder outer shell. As the corn is heated, moisture in its starchy grains is converted to steam, causing a tremendous pressure to be exerted against the shell. The tough shell stands up under the pressure for a while but eventually breaks down and the kernel explodes with such force that is throws out its while, pulpy insides, making an audible popping sound in the process.

5 … why girls’ short socks are called “bobby socks”?

    “Bobby” comes from bob, meaning to cut short, as in bobtail and bobby pins — pins used with bobbed hair. Since the socks described by the term are cut much shorter than the earlier knee-high socks girls wore, they were called “bobby socks.”

6 … why the words ‘may day’ is used for signaling you’re in trouble?

    This comes from the French m’aidez, which means “help me” and which is pronounced “mayday.”

7 … why the letter ‘x’ represents the unknown?

    The Arabic word used to represent an unknown quantity was shei. This was transcribed in Greek to Xei and later shortened to just X.

8 … why ’7 years of bad luck’ when a mirror is broken?

    Centuries ago many believed that a person’s image in a mirror was a reflection of that person’s soul. That is why the legendary vampire, who had no soul, casts no reflection in a mirror. To the people who held this belief, breaking a mirror meant preventing a part of the soul from reuniting with its body. The absence of a portion of the soul, it was believed, would certainly lead to ill fortune. But why seven years? This goes back to a Roman belief that a person’s health and fortune changed every seven years.

9 … why someone is called ‘son of a gun’?

    Today, the expression is used in a friendly, joking manner, but originally it had a quite different meaning. There was a time when women were allowed to live on board naval ships, and it is said that when secret rendez-vous took place between these women and the ship’s crew, the meeting place was usually behind a canvas screen near the midship gun. Therefore, when a male child of uncertain parentage was born aboard the ship, he was entered in the ship’s log as a “son of a gun.”

10 … why a wedding ring is worn on the left third finger?

    It was once believed that a vein of blood ran directly from the third finger on the left hand to the heart. The vein was called vena amoris, or the vein of love, and early writings on matrimonial procedure suggested that it would be appropriated for one’s wedding ring to be worn on that special finger.

11 … why we shake our heads up and down for affirmative and side to side for negative?

    The best explanation for this comes from Charles Darwin, who related these gestures to a baby’s nursing habits. The forward head motion, or nod, is supposedly a breast-seeking pattern while shaking the head from side to side is a breast-rejecting motion. That is, in the first instance, the baby is saying “yes” and in the second it is saying “no”. This is confirmed by the fact that a baby born deaf and blind will nod for “yes” and shake its head for “no”.

12 … why when completing a job, it’s referred to doing “the whole nine yards”?

    The term “the whole nine yards” came from WWII fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 calibre machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, they got “the whole nine yards”.

13 … ever hear of the expression: “Where in the Sam Hill did he go?”

    The expression Sam Hill was born in early 19th century America. During that time, it was considered vulgar and improper to use profanity in civilized conversation. This included the word hell. This expression was the result of altering the word hell, using hill instead to deem it proper to use in public. The use of the name Sam is believed to have been derived from Samiel, the devil in von Weber’s opera Der Freishuetz, first performed in New York City in 1825. Upon putting those two words together, listeners were able to quickly realize that the speaker was referring to hell.

. . . to be continued

{ October 30, 2008 @ 2:09 am } · { AWARD, HALLOWEEN, HUMOR, Thursday, Treats }
{ Leave a Comment }

Halloween Humor


-edition #81

1] You know you’re too old for trick ‘r treating if:

    When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over. When the door opens you yell, “Trick or…” and you can’t remember the rest. You’re the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker. You ask for high fiber candy only. You get winded from knocking on the door.
2] When Trick ‘r treating, avoid these houses:
    Any house whose only entrance goes to the basement. Any house that growls “get out.” Any house that wasn’t there only a minute ago…
3] Trick ‘r treating by your ‘sign’–
    Aries pushes the others aside to get to the door first. Taurus will only eat the finest of Swiss chocolates. Gemini goes around the neighborhood once, changes costumes and goes around again. Cancer stays at home and gives candy to the other trick-or-treaters. Leo plans their costume for months, then won’t go out because someone else had the same idea. Virgo wears a neatly-pressed suit and tells everyone they’re a bookkeeper. Libra is still standing in front of the closet trying to decide on a costume. Scorpio isn’t in it for the candy. Sagittarius will manage to wander to the next town. Capricorn makes a list of all the houses that give good candy and the optimal route to take. Aquarius builds their costume out of spare flashlights and spends all night tinkering when it shorts. Pisces skips the whole thing to compose poetry to the Moon.
4] Pun on words: This guy goes to a Halloween party with a girl on his back. “What on earth are you?” asks the host. “I’m a snail,” says the guy. “But… you have a girl on your back,” replies the host. “Yeah, he says, “that’s Michelle!”

5] If on Halloween, the appliances operate by themselves, LEAVE!!

6] Don’t accept candy from the dead!

7] Stay OFF Elm Street!

8] If you completely forget it’s Halloween:

    Answer the door dressed as a pilgrim. Stare at the trick-or-treaters for a moment, pretend to be confused, and start flipping through a calendar.
9] What do you call a ghost’s mother and father?
    Transparents!
10] What do you get when you divide the circumference of a jack-o-lantern
by it’s diameter?
    Pumpkin Pi.
11] Why can people near Beethoven’s grave hear all his symphonies being played backwards?
    Because Beethoven is decomposing!
12] Vampire’s Bar
    Three vampires walk into a bar.The waitress comes up to them and asks them what they’ll have. The first vampire says, (Transylvanian accent inferred) “I’ll have a glass of O Positive.” The second vampire says, “I’ll have a glass of AB Negative.” The third vampire says, “I’m the designated driver. I’ll just have a glass of plasma.” The waitress turns toward the bartender and yells, “Gimme two bloods and one blood lite!”
13] A man is walking home alone late on Halloween night.
It’s dark, and the streetlights are out. Suddenly, he hears

BUMP!

BUMP!

BUMP!

Behind him. He walks faster, but the sound keeps coming.

BUMP!

BUMP!

BUMP!

Worried he is being followed, he glances behind him and through the darkness, and he can just see an upright coffin.
No one seems to be holding the coffin; it’s just bumping down the street behind him.
The man is scared. He’s sure it’s following him! In an effort to shake it off, her turns a corner. To his relief, the sound stops. He keeps walking but before a minute has passed, he hears the familiar sound behind him again:

BUMP!

BUMP!

BUMP!

He is terrified! He starts to run towards his home, but the faster he runs, the faster the coffin bounces along behind him!

Bumpity BUMP!

Bumpity BUMP!

Bumpity BUMP!

He pushes open his front gate, and runs up the path, fumbling for his keys. The coffin reaches the gate and effortlessly pushes it open. It’s right behind him!!!
Finally his shaking hands manage to unlock his front door. He has no time to slam it behind him; the coffin is right on his heels! He rushes up the stairs, praying the coffin cannot climb after him.

BUMP!

BUMP!

BUMP!

The coffin pauses at the bottom of the stairs. The man breathes a sigh of relief but …

clappity BUMP…

clappity BUMP…

clappity BUMP…

The coffin is now climbing the stairs behind him. He runs to the bathroom perhaps he can lock himself in there! His heart pounds and his lungs hurt with the exertion of running for his life! He has only just latched the bathroom door when …

CRASH!!!

The coffin breaks through the bathroom door!

What can he do? The coffin is nearly upon him! He reaches out for something heavy that he can throw at the coffin, and his hand comes to rest on a large bottle of cough syrup.
Desperately, he throws the cough syrup as hard as he can at the coffin and…

…finally the coffin stops!!

~…end Thursday 13
[comment HERE to skip the Halloween Handouts]

<><><>

Friday is Halloween!!! Oh, yay I say!!!
The last of the treats’ll be handed out,
and tho just another day, ’tis really quite so keen…
HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL! And to all a good day –I shout!

Here are the friends who will receive the Halloween treats from me today:

Kitten
Sandcastle Momma
Suzanne

…and here is the treat:

If you see your name above, click on the treat and it’ll open in a new window, then click to save.

<><><>

I received this award Monday from Patricia!! It’s awesome! Thank you. Thank you for thinking of me when you passed this on to your blog friends. It truly made me day!

{ October 30, 2008 @ 2:09 am } · { AWARD, HALLOWEEN, HUMOR, Thursday, Treats }
{ Leave a Comment }

Halloween Humor


-edition #81

1] You know you’re too old for trick ‘r treating if:

    When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over. When the door opens you yell, “Trick or…” and you can’t remember the rest. You’re the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker. You ask for high fiber candy only. You get winded from knocking on the door.
2] When Trick ‘r treating, avoid these houses:
    Any house whose only entrance goes to the basement. Any house that growls “get out.” Any house that wasn’t there only a minute ago…
3] Trick ‘r treating by your ‘sign’–
    Aries pushes the others aside to get to the door first. Taurus will only eat the finest of Swiss chocolates. Gemini goes around the neighborhood once, changes costumes and goes around again. Cancer stays at home and gives candy to the other trick-or-treaters. Leo plans their costume for months, then won’t go out because someone else had the same idea. Virgo wears a neatly-pressed suit and tells everyone they’re a bookkeeper. Libra is still standing in front of the closet trying to decide on a costume. Scorpio isn’t in it for the candy. Sagittarius will manage to wander to the next town. Capricorn makes a list of all the houses that give good candy and the optimal route to take. Aquarius builds their costume out of spare flashlights and spends all night tinkering when it shorts. Pisces skips the whole thing to compose poetry to the Moon.
4] Pun on words: This guy goes to a Halloween party with a girl on his back. “What on earth are you?” asks the host. “I’m a snail,” says the guy. “But… you have a girl on your back,” replies the host. “Yeah, he says, “that’s Michelle!”

5] If on Halloween, the appliances operate by themselves, LEAVE!!

6] Don’t accept candy from the dead!

7] Stay OFF Elm Street!

8] If you completely forget it’s Halloween:

    Answer the door dressed as a pilgrim. Stare at the trick-or-treaters for a moment, pretend to be confused, and start flipping through a calendar.
9] What do you call a ghost’s mother and father?
    Transparents!
10] What do you get when you divide the circumference of a jack-o-lantern
by it’s diameter?
    Pumpkin Pi.
11] Why can people near Beethoven’s grave hear all his symphonies being played backwards?
    Because Beethoven is decomposing!
12] Vampire’s Bar
    Three vampires walk into a bar.The waitress comes up to them and asks them what they’ll have. The first vampire says, (Transylvanian accent inferred) “I’ll have a glass of O Positive.” The second vampire says, “I’ll have a glass of AB Negative.” The third vampire says, “I’m the designated driver. I’ll just have a glass of plasma.” The waitress turns toward the bartender and yells, “Gimme two bloods and one blood lite!”
13] A man is walking home alone late on Halloween night.
It’s dark, and the streetlights are out. Suddenly, he hears

BUMP!

BUMP!

BUMP!

Behind him. He walks faster, but the sound keeps coming.

BUMP!

BUMP!

BUMP!

Worried he is being followed, he glances behind him and through the darkness, and he can just see an upright coffin.
No one seems to be holding the coffin; it’s just bumping down the street behind him.
The man is scared. He’s sure it’s following him! In an effort to shake it off, her turns a corner. To his relief, the sound stops. He keeps walking but before a minute has passed, he hears the familiar sound behind him again:

BUMP!

BUMP!

BUMP!

He is terrified! He starts to run towards his home, but the faster he runs, the faster the coffin bounces along behind him!

Bumpity BUMP!

Bumpity BUMP!

Bumpity BUMP!

He pushes open his front gate, and runs up the path, fumbling for his keys. The coffin reaches the gate and effortlessly pushes it open. It’s right behind him!!!
Finally his shaking hands manage to unlock his front door. He has no time to slam it behind him; the coffin is right on his heels! He rushes up the stairs, praying the coffin cannot climb after him.

BUMP!

BUMP!

BUMP!

The coffin pauses at the bottom of the stairs. The man breathes a sigh of relief but …

clappity BUMP…

clappity BUMP…

clappity BUMP…

The coffin is now climbing the stairs behind him. He runs to the bathroom perhaps he can lock himself in there! His heart pounds and his lungs hurt with the exertion of running for his life! He has only just latched the bathroom door when …

CRASH!!!

The coffin breaks through the bathroom door!

What can he do? The coffin is nearly upon him! He reaches out for something heavy that he can throw at the coffin, and his hand comes to rest on a large bottle of cough syrup.
Desperately, he throws the cough syrup as hard as he can at the coffin and…

…finally the coffin stops!!

~…end Thursday 13
[comment HERE to skip the Halloween Handouts]

<><><>

Friday is Halloween!!! Oh, yay I say!!!
The last of the treats’ll be handed out,
and tho just another day, ’tis really quite so keen…
HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL! And to all a good day –I shout!

Here are the friends who will receive the Halloween treats from me today:

Kitten
Sandcastle Momma
Suzanne

…and here is the treat:

If you see your name above, click on the treat and it’ll open in a new window, then click to save.

<><><>

I received this award Monday from Patricia!! It’s awesome! Thank you. Thank you for thinking of me when you passed this on to your blog friends. It truly made me day!

{ October 23, 2008 @ 3:51 pm } · { Achmed, Beach, BIRDS, HALLOWEEN, Home, Hurricane, Politics, Thursday, Treats }
{ Leave a Comment }


[this week, 13+photos of eclectic choices -edition #80]

“SILENCE!!!!—— I ….”

I was still recouping from last Friday Night on Sunday!! The Jeff Dunham show actually began on time [usually when we attend these 'concerts' they make us wait, but not this one]. The bank center where the event was being held was packed. We had pretty good seats, but not front row. By the time I got into ticketmaster, the front rows were taken already. But we had section B, floor, row two and seats 12 and 13 near the stage. And luck was on my side, we had no one to the left of us…so, we were very comfortable. Believe me when I say it was elbow to elbow. It was like squirming sardines, packed so close.

And loud. But, don’t get me wrong, I love loud when it comes to having fun. And this was fun! So much fun that I ached halfway through the show. I haven’t laughed this hard and this long for soooooooo long. And the concert lasted hours! It started shortly after 8 and went to about 11:30/11:45!! When we got home afterward, we were tired. No, Exhausted— But, truthfully, it was a good exhaustion [I'll be trying for days now to get back to normal].

First, the Guitar Guy. If you follow Jeff Dunham, you know now that Achmed sings with the Guitar Guy. Brian Haner. He and Achmed sing a version of a Christmas song “Jingle Bombs”. Well, at eight, on stage comes Brian. And he can really play the guitar. He had me so hyped up. He actually played a Guns and Roses…’Sweet Child of Mine’. Loud enough to probably break a few eardrums…but wow!!! And his comedy routine while playing was a hoot!!! He entertained us and played his guitar about 20 to 30 minutes. About a ten minute break then before the star Walter, Achmed, JEFF comes on stage. Okay…Bud and I go out and get a beer. Nice and cold and icy. It hit the spot.

…back to our seats! Lights dim…anticipation of an hour of gut splitting laughter ahead!!

On stage comes Jeff! He does a new stand up routine about his three teen-aged daughters. That was very funny. A short synopsis you want? Well, if you have a daughter, you know what he’s talking about….boobs appearing, dating, cars. He described how ‘evil’ his wife was while he was out on the road with his show…they bought their daughter an used car for her 16th birthday. Wife tapes a lot of the girls’ lives for Jeff since he’s on tour a lot. The car…daughter pumping gas for the first time…wife videotaping…Jeff telling us the whole spiel! Funny!!! He then, gets us riled —and to our delight, out comes Walter!!!

Then…

He’s such a grumpy ol’ man, you just gotta love the guy! Walter has been around a long time and knows all about life! You just can’t disagree with his attitude! He’s right on. His way of thinking is just too good. And so often his statements make you just say “YA!!! You’re so right Walter!” “Way to go!” “More, more!!!” His routine was quite eloquent if I may say so. I loved the part where he tells Jeff that he has suspicions of the fact that Jeff needs to be watched. The reason, he has been to his house and he has seen all the shooting missiles. All encased. [remember three daughters and a wife at home!] And that they have to be missiles!!! He has seen the tiny fuse [the string] on each and every one of them!!! [of course if you'd been there, you'd know that he was talking about the use of tampons...all over the house! Guess you had to be there....

On to my favorite---

Walter goes back into his beloved trunk, and on stage comes my most favorite. The unbelievably appealing dead terrorist....Achmed!! I yelled, stood up, and whistled to his entry! I just love the guy. Did I say he's adorable? Yes indeedy, he IS!! And with the 'new' routine -that Jeff informed us all will be shown on Comedy Central during the holiday months on cable- it'll be about the holidays of course. And to my ultimate delight, Achmed had his Santa hat on. You see, he's a terrorist that has remained 'alive' but botched his mission....he is so funny!! I laughed and laughed. Some new, some of the more usual routine, but all so refreshing to see them 'live and in person'!!!! Of course by the end of this segment, which ran about 40 minutes maybe...Achmed calls for the Guitar Guy, and sings his ever so popular Jingle Bombs!! [to the tune of Jingle Bells] I’ve seen and listened to this song for so long, I can mouth the words, I love it that much—

    Dashing through the sand
    with a bomb strapped to my back.
    I have a nasty plan
    for Christmas in Iraq.

    I got through checkpoint A,
    but not through checkpoint B.
    That’s when I got shot in the ass
    by the US Military…

    Oooh, jingle bombs, jingle bombs
    Mine blew up you see.
    Where are all the virgins
    that Bin Laden promised me?

    Oooh, jingle bombs, jingle bombs
    U.S. soldiers shot me dead.
    The only thing that I have left
    is this towel up on my head.

    I used to be a man,
    but every time I cough,
    thanks to Uncle Sam,
    my nuts keep falling off.

    My bombing days are done.
    I need to find some work.
    Perhaps it would be much safer
    as a convenient store night clerk.

    Oooh, jingle bombs, jingle bombs
    I think I got screwed.
    Don’t laugh at me because I’m dead
    or I’ll kill you…

    [a deep guttural voice now] I KILL-L-L YOUOUOU!

It’s just amazing to actually know that Jeff is doing this…in fact, just a couple of times, I glanced over to see Jeff and his throat moving in rhythm…it boggles the mind how a ventriloquist works his voice like that through tight lips. Amazing. I know, I know…I KNOW that I actually think that Achmed is real!!

After Achmed’s hilarity, out comes Peanut!! Peanut is another favorite. He’s just so hyper, with his ‘act’…you find yourself becoming over zealous yourself. And of course Guitar Man comes out during the skit…more laughs and aching sides. I just didn’t want it to come to an end. I knew the show was getting ready to close, and I remained rivited to my seat….Jeff closed the act. The stage was cleared. Standing ovations and cheers and whistles! “Good Night Corpus Christi!!!” Only to have Jeff come back to more cheers and applause. He boughs, gives his thanks, and then, brings out ………

….Bubba J! After the roaring crowd settles down in their seats, the show continued for a few minutes with Jeff saying he’d do this: Which was the familiar routine with Bubba. And as it commenced, those of us who have watched the Dunham show over and over could give Bubba’s answers from our memory…it was a hoot. And let me tellya, the show began about five minutes after 8 in the evening, and it wasn’t over until after eleven!!! We live just a few miles from the downtown area, about 10 minutes at the slowest time [I can drive home from downtown on a GOOD day with no traffic in 5!]….we didn’t get home until about ten minutes after midnight! The show, tho long, I could have stayed and watched more. It was just marvelous. Funny, laughter, —-the best in comedy!

In Political News:

In Texas, one of many states here in the USA, registered citizens can vote for President and local candidates along with bonds and propositions for the county, early! Here in this state, early voting began October 20th. Bud and I decided that we’d get our voting done and avoid the crowds on November 4th. Ummmmmm, I don’t think so!!! We arrived close to the poll’s opening time, and there was a line already! The two of us ended up, in line, over an hour…it took us about 2 hours Tuesday to get through the line, get recorded on the books/county computer…and vote. But…afterward, we were happy to have it finished!!

Weather update

At last, hurricane season is coming to a close for us here on the Texas coast. The Gulf waters are quite a lot cooler now, much less chance of any storms coming in…at least BIG destructive storms. Altho hurricane season doesn’t officially end until November 30th, as long as the waters stay cool and begin to get a lot colder as the nighttime temps continue to drop lower and lower, so does the chance of storms coming in from the Caribbean.

It’s been the most beautiful few days around here. Cool nights, crisp Autumn mornings, then the sun rises—but, the inferno has subsided! Long gone are the days of 100+ degrees in temps. Highs are now in the low 80s to mid 80s. Nearly perfect for me and Bud. It was such a wonderful day yesterday that we grabbed our books, hopped in the car and drove over the JFK causeway to the island and went to the beach to just laze the day away! [a sloppy lookin' ol' lady dressed in her misshapened tank top...but hey, what'dya expect being on the beach and all? ---a princess? roflmao!] I sat and soaked up the rays, listening to the surf and gulls as I read my book…Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Yep, folks, I’m STILL reading this book. It’s taken me all summer, trust me. I’m on page 800 and something, and yet over three hundred pages remain unread! I’m determined to finish this book! It’s VERY good.

Of course, in time, the beach calls me…I always have the urge to walk along the shore and look for shells, and watch the water fowl. This photo is quite a distance from where we parked the car. Bud stayed and read his book [he's reading something on the famed Jack the Ripper saga], while I strolled…I came upon one lone ‘adult’ sea gull and a brood of babies! I didn’t want to disturb them, the photo is a long shot! They were all soaking up the warm sun too! So cute, and sooooo fat! I gave them wide berth and detoured clear around them so they wouldn’t have to fly off with their mistrust of a human.

As I continued making footprints in the sand, I kept my eye out for ‘the perfect’ shell. Granted this area of beach, called Luby Park, always has a lot of remnants of sand dollars. I am always hoping to find a ‘whole’ one without any breakage. They’re so fragile, and break easily. Then, again, there is foot traffic AND vehicles traversing the beach here…so, you’re lucky to find any unbroken ones. Yesterday was a great day when we arrived. Low tide! Lots of shells. And about a mile out from where we parked, there was one. A very tiny one…but it was whole! Unbroken. Yay, me. They’re good luck you know. [the sand dollar here that I found is only about the size of a U.S. quarter] I treated it like a precious stone as I continued walking. And it did make it home in the afternoon…all completely whole!

Back to the car after about an hour walking and combing the beach. I dropped all my goodies that I found. I also picked up a nice-sized piece of driftwood. And more shells. The wood was heavy and soaked with water…but once it dries out, of course I have my mind in high gear, figuring out what ‘art’ project I can come up with to make use of it. This photo is of a heron just a few feet from our beach chair. I love the sparkling water beyond the bird.

Ahhhhhhhh, it was a perfect day. A lazy, wonderful, relaxing day.

- – -

Note: Since this is such a LONG Thursday issue today, I’ll forgo the Halloween treat hand outs and double it tomorrow.

{ October 16, 2008 @ 3:00 am } · { Achmed, HALLOWEEN, Home, HUMOR, Thursday, Treats }
{ Leave a Comment }

Edition 79

Friday night!!! At long last. I’ve been waiting since June when we got the tickets….I get to ‘meet’ a favorite. And, I can hardly remain calm. It seems an eternity this past summer, patiently I continued my days in anticipation of October 17th! Altho, Jeff Dunham is cute and all…it’s the infamous characters that are part of his show that make your belly sore and your sides ache from laughing so hard and so long. Why, of course…afterall, it IS the show!

My Thursday 13 is about Jeff Dunham and his co-horts- -

1] Jeff Dunham was born in 1960 in Dallas Texas. Graduate of Communications from Baylor University
2] He and his wife, Paige, have three children [Bree, Ashlyn, and Kenna] from wikipedia
3] Oftentimes his menagerie of characters are called “suitcase posse”
4] His first experience [a self taught ventriloquist] was in 3rd grade, an oral book report of Hansel and Gretel using a plastic “Mortimer Snerd” puppet.
5] Literally having the audience on the floor with laughter, his first Hollywood stint landed him on the couch next to Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show
6] Voted the #1 Standup Comedian by the American Comedy Awards, and comedian of the year by TNN Music Awards.
7] The YouTube clip of Achmed is the 2nd most favorite of over 200 million videos! [the clip is linked -listen to him while reading my 13. :o )]

8] Walter – The grumpy old man [who also has his name on the Presidential ballot here] During Dunham’s skit, Walter is usually in a suitcase off to the side while making rude, cantankerous remarks. But, he finally comes out of the case, only to make y’all laughing hysterically.

9] There is “Peanut”, who supposedly hails from an uncharted island in Micronesia. A one shoe wonder! I first saw Peanut in Dunham’s Spark of Insanity Comedy Central hit show.

10] There is José Jalapeno on a Stick. He proclaims to have avoided destiny to be eaten by meeting Jeff after an ‘accident’ in his homeland, Mexico, which left him permanently on a ‘steek’!

11] Bubba J. loves beer and NASCAR. The “J.” is short for his last name, Junior. Bubba is married, and is assumed to have at least one child. Outlandish as his characteristically redneck attitude is, another oddity is that the dummy can move just his left eye from center to left.

12] Sweet Daddy D. is a man clad in pimp-like clothing who claims to be Jeff’s manager “You´re not white, you´re like neon white”. “Sweeeeeeeeet Daddy D”, a playa in management position (PIMP). And “Melvin” – Melvin has only two real powers (flight and X-ray vision, although he can’t see through silicone), he claims he’d be more of a superhero if it weren’t for his large nose and small stature. He alternately claims his arch nemesis is Pinocchio, and his wife, but only at certain times of the month when she “turns evil.” Jeff asks him if he has any weakness. “Cupcakes . . . and Pornography.” Melvin continues, “but not at the same time. I need a free hand!”

13] Lastly, my favorite. Achmed the Dead Terrorist.
Achmed is a wisecracking skeleton with a beard and a white turban (an early version of Achmed stated that it was not a turban, but underwear, because ‘when someone says it’s time to kill yourself, it scares the sh!t out of you!’). He is used by Dunham to perform comedy based on the contemporary issue of terrorism. He is known for yelling, “Silence! I kill you!” [which in Europe the ringtone Achmed The Dead Terrorist’s catchphrase “Silence! I KILL YOU!” is an instant hit] to people in the audience who laugh at his customs.

He insists on pronouncing the “ch” in his name with a hocker. When asked how his name is spelled, he replies “A… c… phlegm…” and is interrupted by the audience’s laughter. He responds with his usual cry of “Silence! I kill you!” Jeff originally got the idea for Achmed from his good lifelong friend, Connor Mayne. Jeff made Achmed out of Connor Mayne’s skeleton Halloween decoration.Achmed’s normal routine involves him realizing that he is dead. Achmed may seem like he is Muslim, but he has refuted this claim. When asked, he replies “Look at my ass; it says ‘Made in China’”. Afraid of Walter, with whom he shares a suitcase, he claims that “Saddam’s mustard gas is nothing compared to a Walter fart.”

~…end Thursday Thirteen
[comment HERE if you'd like to skip the Halloween Treats]

And finally, the Halloween Treats:

It’s a different week, and the treat again will be different. This week, it’s a bit on the ‘more Autumn’ kinda treat. With a little “Halloween flair” but more to do with Fall. I’m handing them out for commentors to my blog who leave ME treats this month with their kind words. Don’t be dismayed, I plan on handing them out daily. Only take them if your name appears for the day—

So, check back often, you’re name may show up here!
To begin my traditional fun, as I love Halloween, today the trick ‘r’ treaters are:

Susan
Jen
After Hours Mom
Jean

And the treat this week will be:

When your name appears above, if you’d like to save this, click on it to enlarge…you’ll then be able to grab the treat and run! Happy October, Happy Halloween.

{ October 9, 2008 @ 2:53 am } · { BOOKS, HALLOWEEN, Home, Sleepy Hollow, Thursday, Treats }
{ Leave a Comment }


[ps...last week for Thursday 13 I had some 'free' Halloween Thursday 13 post headers for anyone that wanted them -HERE]

Edition 78

This week will be 13 facts from a favorite book not only for the season, but anytime – any place. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and the author’s history -Number 12 being a favorite passage of mine from the book.

If you visited this past Tuesday you viewed an ‘old shoppe’ type wooden sign I made for Halloween decor in my home. [If you missed it, it's HERE and the link should open in a new window] Of all books, and not only for Halloween, this is one of my favorite short stories…..

1] The short story was written by Washington Irving, as we all know. But, in 1820 his work of “Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle” was published under the name of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. [being Washington Irving]

2] The publication under Crayon was called “The Sketch Book” and it was a ‘serial’ [meaning it came out in a 'series' through the year 1819-1820] of some 30+ essays.

3] Geoffrey Crayon was one of the first pseudonyms used by Irving

4] Irving was offered, and he turned down, a position of Secretary of Navy [his brother, William, was Congressman of New York].

5] The original date of publication of the short story, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, was March 15th, 1820

6] Icabod Crane [the school master], according to Irving, was based on a real life character – Jesse Merwin from Kinderhook New York.

7] There was a ‘real life’ person named Icabod Crane…a colonel in the Army during the war of 1812.

8] The Headless Horseman was supposedly a Hessian Soldier, where during the American Revolutionary War, he was beheaded at the battle of Chatterton Hill, from a rocketing cannonball.

9] The horseman is fabled to be buried here:


    The Old Dutch Church

10] Irving lived in the area, and died. He is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Which by the way, at Irving’s request upon his death be changed in name from Tarrytown Cemetery to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.


    Washington Irving’s Resting Place

11] The character of Katrina [the love interest of Brom Bones and Icabod Crane] is thought to have been based upon Eleanor Van Tassel Brush, in which case her name is derived from that of Eleanor’s aunt Catriena Ecker Van Tessel.

12] …”yet, daylight put an end to all these evils; he would have passed a pleasant life of it, in despite of the Devil and all his works, if his path had not been crossed by a being that causes more perplexity to mortal man than ghosts, goblins, and the whole race of witches put together, and that was–a woman.” [Icabod]

13] Images from my copy of “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” with a great children’s illustrator: Russ Flint


BONUS: There is also another story [among many] that deals with the “Headless Horseman”. Written by an Irishman, Mayne Reid. It takes place in South Texas!!! Link

~…end Thursday 13
[comment link here for those that wish to skip the Halloween Treat below]

And finally, the Halloween Treats:

All righty then, for today’s trick or treaters, I’ve started using this new ‘treat’ for the week. I’m handing them out for commentors to my blog who leave ME treats this month with their kind words. Don’t be dismayed, I plan on handing them out daily. Only take them if your name appears for the day—

So, check back often, you’re name may show up here!
To begin my traditional fun, as I love Halloween, today the trick ‘r’ treaters are:

Philos
Kat
Angie
Sarah
CorgiDogMama

And the treat this week will be:

When your name appears above, if you’d like to save this, click on it to enlarge…you’ll then be able to grab the treat and run! Happy October, Happy Halloween.

{ October 2, 2008 @ 3:00 am } · { HALLOWEEN, Thursday, Treats }
{ Leave a Comment }


Edition 77

Thirteen things I love about October -

1] Of course, Halloween
2] Cooler weather
3] Autumn Leaves
4] The odor of fireplace usage in the air
5] The crisp, clear, deep blue skies for daytime
6] The October Moon
7] Apples in Season & Pumpkins
8] Decorating the house
9] The sun moving southward [no, wait, it's the earth tilting]
10] Everyone around me seems happier ’cause the heat is subsiding
11] Baseball Playoff games
12] World Series
13] Being able to park the car without fear of overheating inside from the summer sun.

…and a bonus. If you’d like to use these Halloween Thursday 13 graphics, they’re yours!! Just click on them to enlarge them then, save to your computer! My treat…






Last year, I started a tradition of handing out “treats” and not tricks for my commentors. I will again do the same. If you leave comments for me for anytime during the week, I will choose three to five of those that leave a sweet treat for me in the comments! [the sweet treat being kind words!] But to be fair to all the others, just don’t grab this for yourself…it’s not something for everyone…you have to be picked as you come knocking on my door blog comment link…and actually LEAVE a comment. I then will pick the recipients. And don’t feel cheated, I am going to hand them out daily up until Halloween!!! You have all month to be chosen.

So, check back often, you’re name may show up here!
To begin my traditional fun, as I love Halloween, today’s recipients will be:

Lisa
Kathy
Jersey
Patsy

AND!—here is your treat:

[just click on the treat and then it'll open in a new window...grab it there and save it if you'd like to.]

{ September 25, 2008 @ 3:01 am } · { BIRDS, Home, Hurricane, P J, Photography, Politics, Ship, Thursday, YARD }
{ Leave a Comment }

NOTE: My friend P J? Who lives near Galveston Island…the one that evacuated from Ike to return —and the Prayer Circle I started here, remember? Well she has added some photos of what they found when they returned to their home last week. Go and say hi to her….Tell her Anni sent you! She’d appreciate it, I’m sure!!!!!!

LIFE after IKE
[this link should open in a new window]


Edition 76

Just cleaning out my drawers ummmm, err, photo file. So, thought instead of just deletin’ ‘em, I’d make a Thursday Thirteen from them for this week, then to file 13 they go [hmmmmm, coinky-dink don't you think? File 13 being 'trashing' them ---and Thursday THIRTEEN?]……

It’s a conglomeration of stuff! All with mouseover captions.










…~End Thursday Thirteen
[click HERE for comment link if you want to skip my Constitutional Thoughts below]

I saw this on the Yah** News headlines today –• Laura Bush: “Palin lacks foreign policy experience”.

- – -

Also, I read another blog yesterday [I will not link the blog since it's not my intent to debate the issue - but I will say it was a blog of one of my commentors yesterday] about McCain-Palin and Obama-Biden tickets. The two aforementioned [McCain and Palin] –American. Then, below that, and photos of Obama and Biden, there was “Kenyan”…Obama is NOT Kenyan. He was born in Hawaii…two years AFTER it became the 50th state! Now this got me to thinking that somewhere I had read that McCain, to some, is NOT ‘natural born American’ either. Which got me up to doing more research on the Constitution’s Presidential Qualifications. Of course, no where in the Constitution does it actually specify what ‘natural born’ means. And there have been a few amendments made since 1868. Perhaps there are qualms on both men! Being that Obama’s father was not American, but yet McCain’s birth certificate states Panama Canal Zone. But see, to me, that he has TWO American parents, and being no doubt a Navy base, would at least entitle John to be declared American by birth. Obama, born in Hawaii, with one parent as an American…would also be American by birth…but neither ‘natural born’ as in Continental USA. —Your guess is as good as mine. This is confusing. But, back to the blog that I visited, Obama is definitely NOT Kenyan, nor is he Muslim. After I read this, and another at Snopes, I think I became MORE confused than before I did a search. I always considered “Natural Born Citizen” to be a birth within the 50 USA states.

- – -

From Wikipedia:

    “The constitutional wording has left doubts about whether those born on foreign soil are on an equal footing with those whose birth occurred inside the country’s borders, and whether they have the same rights.”[2] Though every president and vice president to date (as of 2008) has either been a citizen at the adoption of the Constitution, or else born in a U.S. state or Washington D.C.,[3] a number of presidential candidates have been born elsewhere.[4]

    Barry Goldwater, who ran as the Republican party nominee in 1964, was born in Arizona while it was still a U.S. territory. Although Arizona was not a state, it was a fully organized and incorporated territory of the United States.[5]

    George Romney, who ran for the Republican party nomination in 1968, was born in Mexico to U.S. parents. Romney’s grandfather emigrated to Mexico in 1886 with his three wives and children after Utah outlawed polygamy. Romney’s parents retained their U.S. citizenship and returned to the United States in 1912. Romney was 32 years old when he arrived in Michigan.

    Al Gore served as Vice President (which has the same constitutional qualifications as President), and was the Democratic party nominee for President in 2000, whilst having nonetheless been born in the District of Columbia.

    John McCain, who ran for the Republican party nomination in 2000 and is the Republican nominee in 2008, was born at the Coco Solo U.S. military base in the Panama Canal Zone to U.S. parents. Although the Panama Canal Zone was not considered to be part of the United States,[6] federal law states: “Any person born in the Canal Zone on or after February 26, 1904, and whether before or after the effective date of this chapter, whose father or mother or both at the time of the birth of such person was or is a citizen of the United States, is declared to be a citizen of the United States.”[7] The law that conferred this status took effect on August 4, 1937, one year after John McCain was born — albeit with retroactive effect, resulting in McCain being declared a U.S. citizen.[8] However, the question as to whether or not he is a citizen from birth cannot be answered by this law because (1) it took effect after his birth and (2) it does not state that the person’s citizenship was acquired at birth, only that they are a citizen by means of the law’s establishment (and, hence, at the time the law takes effect). Indeed, the law in 1936 stated that all persons born to two US citizen parents outside the “limits and jurisdictions of the United States” are citizens at birth. The status of Mr. McCain’s citizenship at birth nonetheless remains questiond by some.[9

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