Some Kinda Wonderful

For Scrap Friendzy

The letter C

Okay, anyone that knows me, knows I'm a coffee addict.  I love me some coffee.  I make my own at home (of course) and I even have my own frap machine at home.  However, I'm having problems getting the coffee strong enough.  (any suggestions will be appreciated).  I guess this habit has come from my Mom... coffee was her love also.  Never failed that when I got up in the mornings, my Mom would be drinking coffee.  The only difference... she drinks hers BLACK!  I have some creamer in mine.  (Hazelnut to be exact) I used to drink mine black, but over the years, people just keep coming up with more and more goodies to add to your coffee.  Can't seem to help myself.  Anyway, the smell of coffee is almost as wonderful as the coffee it's self.  I will never forget when my Mom decided to try and go caffeine free...she started drinking something called, Post-em...I think.  But it was instant and it was horrible.  I told her, it would never work because I missed the smell WAY to much.  I hadn't started drinking coffee at that time, but I knew I wanted to!  Then...I had my first cup.  HOLY COW... it was HORRIBLE!  bitter black brew!!!  What was I thinking, and how could something that smelled so good taste so HORRIBLE?!?!  Well, my Mom told me, if you're going to drink it, drink it black...then anything you do to it after that will only make it better.  Well, I did drink it black for YEARS!  Then I met a lady who added Creamora to hers and I tried it one time and that was it...   

On another note, another thing I love that's a C is this blog site...you HAVE to check it out.  Confessions of a Pioneer Woman.  http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/  You'll love it if you love to read blogs!

Kinda makes you think!

Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....

"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President.  In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so  unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.

Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and
Provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents.  Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here..

I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no  plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval  rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.

They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of  Americans?  Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way"...Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage.  Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Jay Leno
2007

Ode to Pumpkins!

TAGGED!!

I've been TAGGED by Nicole (http://nicolemartel.blogspot.com/)

1. Link to the person (or in my case person(s) that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself (on your blog, we all want to know them).

3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 Random Facts About Me:

1. I miss having a horse! I love horses and I miss going out to ride!
2. I am so ANAL about my "stuff"  Don't bend my paper, Don't touch this, don't wrinkel that.
3. I make a million lists a day.  Then I can't find them.  LOL
4. I spend WAY to much on "stuff" (which is why I'm on a budget now)
5. My hubby cooks better than I do.
6. I used to sew all my clothes
7. I am a TOTAL blog reader.  I love to look into other peoples lives.

I am Tagging

1. NicoleD (http://nicholew.typepad.com/colorful_me/)
2. Aleida (http://www.ricanlaw.typepad.com/)
3. Amy (http://amygaskins.blogspot.com/)
4. Ronda (http://ronda-no-h.blogspot.com/)
5. Ashly (http://ashnbill.blogspot.com/)
6. Julia (http://www.postitnotes-julia.blogspot.com/)
7. Michelle (http://craziness-x-3.blogspot.com/)

Samantha's BEAUTIFUL Sr. Pictures.

                

B!!

Second letter....

Beautiful

Okay, LET ME EXPLAIN!  I'm not saying, OH...I'm just so BEAUTIFUL!!  I'm saying that, well, that the inside and the outside have finally met.  If you're anywhere near my age (46) you'll understand.  For YEARS I thought of myself as just down right unattractive.  Why? I have no clue.  Things people said, that I took to heart.  Tell me why it's so much easier to think of yourself in a negative way instead of a positive way?  But over the years, I've finally figured out, I'm okay.  INSIDE AND OUTSIDE!  It's taken 46 years people!  That's a long time!  But I finally can look in the mirror and say, I'm okay.  Sometimes, I actually say, I'm cute.  Or I look good.  Am I happy with every little detail? No...but you know what?  God gave me what I have and I have learned to live with it.  I actually think my eyes are a pretty color.  I have a darling nose...at least that's what I'm told.  My mouth isn't my favorite, but...hey, and my teeth are good.  What more could I want?  Perfection? Nope, don't think that's for me... Even if I were, I still think that I would have felt the same way.

What I really think is important is the INSIDE.  I know myself now.  I know that I'm not perfect... and who is?  I know my true feelings, I know I LOVE my family and friends, I KNOW they love me.  I know that GOD is there for me and that I can depend on him.  I KNOW that life goes on, that tomorrow, that sun is going to rise and the day will go forth.  So no matter what happens today, in this moment...LIVE IT...LOVE IT and go on.  maybe that's why I love to scrap.  The pictures capture a second for an eternity.  Photo's let you relive that time over and over again.  It shows the world, I WAS HERE.  It tells the future how you loved, and learned and played. 

So yeah, I am beautiful.  Inside and out.   

Little things about me told with the ABC's

I've decide to get my mind to think more creative...I'm going to be telling little things about myself using the ABC's.  After all, this is my journaling blog.  (oh joy for those of you that check in)  So, here we go.

Autumn!

Anyone that knows me, knows I love autumn.  I love the change in the air, the crispness that seems to be there.  The pumpkins, the colors, the start of the new school year.  I love the kids getting excited for halloween.  I LOVE HALLOWEEN!  I love the leaves changing color, the long rides in the country to find great pictures.  I love the scary movies and the hot chocolate/cider/coffee.  I love that I can wear sweaters and sweatshirts, however, I'm not happy about giving up my flip flops and Capri's!!  I love that I can sit out on my porch and enjoy the sun, not try and escape from it.  I love that I can sleep with my windows open.  I love the fog that creeps in during the night and fills the gaps and hallows of the mountains.  I love the HUGE sunflower heads that continue to feed the birds for months after they've died.  The squirrels running around looking for nuts and things to hide for winter and the birds start going south.  The trees start giving way so I can see the fields behind my house lined with rolls and rolls of hay that will also disappear.  The sky is bluer, the stars are brighter.  The road side stands are full of wonderful harvests and the pumpkins are ready for carving.  (and every spring I swear I'm going to plant my own pumpkins)  High School Football has started and baseball is in the playoffs.  I love going to fall carnivals and eating corn dogs and Carmel apples.  And the apple pies and apple dumplings are to die for.  I love that I can start using my oven more and my crock pot.  Nothing like a good chili or soup for dinner with a yummy cornbread with it.  OH YEAH.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.  Autumn is my time of the year.

Check out my Slide Show!

A few of my favorite things

I love my home. I love to walk

in the door in the evenings or

when I’ve been out and see all

of the little things that make me

happy. Rob and I have worked

long and hard to make our home                        

what it is. We ripped up old

linoleum and carpet, painted,

ripped out cabinets, cut out

walls, laid new carpet and hard

wood floors. We’ve tiled, done

plumbing, now we’re finishing

off the basement. It’s hard

work, but it all pays of in the

end. But it’s also about the

little things in our home. It’s

the pictures, the knick-knacks

the decor, the little things that

make a house a home. I have to

say that fall is my favorite sea-

son to decorate.  But I love my

dishes, my pot rack. My latte

machine is a favorite, my red

chairs in the living room are so

comfortable and look so great.

I love my front porch and black

wagon. I love my mirror in the

dinning room. I love the back

porch when the sun shines

through. I love the LOVE that

is in our home.  That’s what’s

really important. God is in our

home. Family and friends are

always welcome. Love is always

in our home and hearts for those

who visit.  The door is always

open.