George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids?

If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. "How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. "How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16!

And then the greatest day of your life . . you become 21! Even the words sound like a ceremony . . . YOU BECOME = 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling.

What's wrong? What's changed? You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40.

Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone. But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday! You get into your 80s and every day! is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there.

Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92." Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!" May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them".
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Here's one I think you will like:
http://www.softlab.ece.ntua.gr/~sivann/pub/swf/may02-smilepop-soapbox4.swf

Wild Ocean Caught Whole Salmon Fillet

Do you like eating Salmon? I enjoy a good Salmon steak when I can get it at a good price. Well for the last several years, I have been buying wild ocean Salmon at Wal-Mart. Last year it came in packages with one 5 ounce serving and it cost $0.99. I would buy enough to put in my freezer for several dinners. The salmon was good and you can’t beat the price with a stick. HEB, Krogers, Randals and other grocery stores were much higher. The only problem is that they only have it one time a year.

I went into Wal-Mart last week and found it was salmon time again. This year it comes in a larger (1.75lb. – 793 g.) package for around $ 5.75. It is the whole fish fillet, cut into 4 serving sizes. It is boneless with the skin on one side. The fish contains 603 mg of Omega-3 fatty acids per serving. It is all natural, no artificial color added, no preservatives added and ready to cook. It is caught in the Pacific Ocean, off the Island of Hokkaido, north of Japan, then hand trimmed in China.

The name on the package says “Aqua Star” and they are based in Seattle. Their website address is www.aquastar.com On the back of the package are instructions for baking, grilling, pan fry/ skillet, broiling and microwaving. Also on the back of the package it gives instructions for different defrosting methods, to include: quick defrost, overnight, and microwave.

I know I sound like an advertisement for Salmon, but the fish is good for maintaining a good healthy heart. The more I read about the health benefits of Salmon, the more I want to eat it. I do know that eating wild salmon has more benefits than eating farm raised salmon. I have never been much of a fish fan, but I am learning about it now. Go check out your Wal-Mart and see if they have it there. I like baking mine with a little squeezed lemon and butter on top. Follow the package instructions and don’t overbake.

I’ve been under the weather with a little cold or allergies. If I don’t make it around to your web page in the next few days you will know why. Talk to ya later.

What is a Billion?

Here's something thought provoking - A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but the next time you hear a politician use the word "billion" in an off-hand way think about this....

a.. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

b.. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

c.. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

d.. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

e.. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a look at New Orleans - It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division ............

Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans.

Interesting number, what does it mean?

Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, child), you each get $516, 528.

Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans, your home must have been worth $1,329,787 Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.

Washington, D.C. !!!...........................Are all your calculators broken????

Thanks Richard Sutton for the information.

Note from Lucy: In my opinion they have already spent more money than they need to on New Orleans. The American public opened it's heart and donated millions. Where did that go? The government has already promised billions to the city. How much more do they need? Why would anyone rebuild a city below sea level? People can move to higher ground and make the old area a park. I don't mean to sound heartless, it's just common sense. All forms of government have botched the job already done. There are still trailers sitting around waiting for people to live in them and the storm was seven months ago. How long do they have to wait? Don't get me started!

Whatever happened to the Golden Rule….

Do you remember as children your parents teaching you about the “Golden Rule?” Do you even know what it is? “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It’s very simple, Treat other people the way that you want to be treated. You may ask what made me think about this at this very moment. Well, last night someone took a key and made a big scratch on my daughters car. It goes all the way from the front fender to the tail light. It has been parked on the street ever since she has lived in our house and no one has messed with it other than an occasional “egging”. Why would someone be so thoughtless as to treat another person’s property this way? Were they never taught the Golden Rule?

A police officer came by this morning and made a report. I asked him what kind of person does this kind of thing. He asked if she had an ex-boyfriend that might have wanted revenge. We said no, that she travels and doesn’t have any ex-boyfriends in Houston. He said it could have been teenager’s out for a little “fun”. Again, I ask myself, didn’t these people have parents that taught them the difference between right and wrong. This is just outright wrong, there is no two ways about it. I just wonder how this person would feel if it had been their car that had been damaged by someone out for fun or revenge? I’ll bet they would have pitched a fit!

Let’s just remember the Golden Rule and live by it in our lives. Enough said!

Through a Rapist's Eyes

(No Joke) This is important information for females of ALL ages. Guys - please forward to the female members of your family and all your female friends and associates.When this was sent to me, I was told to forward it to my lady friends. I forwarded it to most everyone in my address book. My men friends have female friends and this information is too important to miss someone. Please pass it along.

A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:
1) The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.

2) The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women who's clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing.

3) They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.

4) Men are most likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5:00a.m. and 8:30a.m.

5) The number one place women are abducted from/ attacked is grocery store parking lots. Number two is office parking lots/garages. Number three is public restrooms.

6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.

7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.

8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.

9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands.Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you're not worth it.

10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk: "I can't believe it is so cold out here", "we're in for a bad winter." Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.

11) If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP or STAY BACK ! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes,) yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.

13) If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR in the upper inner thigh VERY VERY HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches.Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it hurts.

14) After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble, and he's out of there.

15) When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.

16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts!!! You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

Note from Lucy: Several years ago I bought pepper spray, on Ebay, for the females in our family. I gave it at Christmas as one of the gifts I was giving. I wonder now, how many of them really keep the pepper spray in their purse? I think I will make sure to forward the email I got this from to them so that they can see just how important it is to carry pepper spray in your purse. I hope you take this message to heart and learn this valuable information to keep safe.

Life is about Choices.....

Attitude
John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood.

I choose to be in a good mood." Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested. "Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life." I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. He continued, "..the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity'."

Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead." He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34.

Thanks Steve Sanders for emailing this to us and reminding us that we all have choices to make.

Two Horses

Thanks Judy for sending me this story.

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. but if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite
amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.

If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see. Good friends are like this. You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.

Happy St. Patrick's Day......

A friend of mine emailed me this cut story.

An Irishman's been at a pub all night drinking. The bartender finally says that the bar is closed. So he stands up to leave and falls flat on his face. He figures he'll crawl outside and get some fresh air and maybe that will sober him up. Once outside he stands up and falls flat on his face. So he crawls home and at the door stands up and falls flat on his face. He crawls through the door and up the stairs. When he reaches his bed he tries one more time to stand up. This time he falls right into bed and is sound asleep. He awakens the next morning to his wife standing over him shouting at him."So, you've been out drinking again!!""How did you know?" he asks."The pub called, you left your wheelchair there again."

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A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor's office and said that her body hurt wherever she touched it."Impossible!" says the doctor. "Show me." The redhead took her finger, pushed on her left breast and screamed, then she pushed her elbow and screamed in even more. She pushed her knee and screamed; likewise she pushed her ankle and screamed. Everywhere she touched made her scream. The doctor said, "You're not really a redhead, are you? "Well, no" she said, "I'm actually a blonde." "I thought so," the doctor said. "Your finger is broken."

Take this little quiz and see “ What sports car are you?” I was a Mazda RX7…..Hummmmm
http://www.tomorrowland.us/sportscar/

Have a great day everyone!

It's the Law.....

Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to pee.

Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Law of probability: The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Law of the Telephone: When you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.

Law of the Alibi: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.

Variation Law: If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now. (works every time)

Bath Theorem: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

Law of Close Encounters: The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

Law of the Result: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

Law of Biomechanics: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

Theater Rule: At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.

Law of Coffee: As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

Murphy's Law of Lockers: If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

Law of Dirty Rugs/Carpets: The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich of landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.

Law of Location: No matter where you go, there you are.Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

Brown's Law: If the shoe fits, it's ugly.Oliver's Law: A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Wilson's Law: As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

My friend, Judy Eckerle, sent me this in email form and I like it and thought you would too.

Two Poems Today….

I have been cleaning out a cabinet under my bookcase and I found these two poems that I especially liked and I thought I would share them with you.

The first on is from “The Three Best Things, “ by Henry Van Dyke.

Let me do my work from day to day
In field or forest, at the desk or loom,
In roaring market place or tranquil room,
Let me but find it in my heart to say,
When vagrant wishes beckon me astray,
“This is my work; my blessing, not my doom;
Of all who live I am the one by whom
This work can best be done in the right way.”

Then shall I see it not too great, nor small,
To suit my spirit and to prove my power;
Then shall I cheerful greet the labouring hours,
And cheerful turn, when the long shadows fall
At eventide, to play and love and rest,
Because I know for me my work is best.

This next one didn’t have a title but it is by Blaine Yorgason

God,
Before he sent His children to earth
Gave each of them
A very
Carefully selected package
Of Problems.

These,
He promised, smiling,
Are yours alone. No one
Else may have the blessings
These problems will bring you.

And only you
Have the special talents and abilities
That will be needed
To make these problems
Your servents.

Now go down to your birth
And to your forgetfulness. Know that
I love you beyond measure.
These problems that I give you
Are a symbol of that love.

The monument you make of your life
With the help of your problems
Will be a symbol of your
Love for me.
Your Father.

I have now tucked these poems away again to read when I need to.

Who packed your parachute?

Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience!

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb.

"I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today.

"Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor." Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has some one who provides what they need to make it through the day. He also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory -- he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your parachutes.!

I received this thru an email from a friend of my husbands father. Thanks, Uncle Jim.

Facts about the US Constitution…

Our Houston Chronicle has “The Mini Page” that comes out once a week to help educate children. I love reading this because things are usually laid out very simply. This weeks story was on the US Constitution. Some of the facts I learned were:

The Convention Delegates:
During the Constitutional Convention from May 25th to Sept. 17, 1787
1) 55 men attended at some time or other. Some went every day the convention was in session. Others came and went as they wished. Delegates from New Hampshire did not arrive until July 23rd.
2) Four did not agree with what the convention was doing and left.
3) 38 delegates signed the Constitution. They signed in order, from North to South.
4) Many of the delegates were old friends. The average age was 44. Ben Franklin was the oldest at 81. The youngest was Jonathan Dayton, 26 of New Jersey.
5) Delegate John Dickinson of Delaware asked a fellow delegate to sign for him.
6) The Constitution has 40 signatures. One of them is the secretary of the convention, William Jackson. He had been an officer in the Revolutionary War, and later served as President Washington’s private secretary.
7) Almost all of the delegates had taken part in the government of the country or of their states. They knew firsthand about lawmaking.
8) They were all well-educated for men of their time. Twenty-seven of them had graduated from college. All were readers of books, especially history books.
9) Most (34) were lawyers. They were also planters, educators, ministers, doctors, merchants and soldiers. More than half had served in the Revolutionary war.

Signers of the Constitution:
Our Constitutions birthday is Sept. 17th. It was on that day in 1787 that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the document that they had worked on for nearly four months.
1) Franklin’s Speech: Ben Franklin was 81 years old. He did not have the strength to stand and make a speech at this meeting. He asked another delegate to read one he had written. Franklin said that he did not agree with everything in the Constitution. However, he doubted that another convention would write a better one. He urged all delegates to sign and support it.
2) Not everyone signed: Some delegates would not or could not support the Constitution. Three of the delegates at the final meeting refused to sign it. George Mason of Virginia did not sign because it did not have a bill of rights. Edmond Randolph, also of Virginia, thought that it gave the president too much power. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts thought it gave the central government too much power.
3) After it was signed: After the Constitution was signed, it became part of the Six-page report that the convention sent to the Congress, which was meeting in New York. Congress received the package containing the Constitution, a resolution, and a letter from George Washington on Sept. 20, 1787. In less than a week, considered it and sent it to the states for ratification, or approval. It was ratified by nine of the thirteen states by July 1788.

As a matter of note:
George Washington was the most important man at the convention. He was such a great leader that his participation influenced others to take part. He did not take part in the debates during the sessions. However, he often consulted with members in committees and in private. He was unanimously chosen as the president of the convention.

James Madison is known as the father of our Constitution. He spoke out and worked very hard for a strong national government. The notes he kept are the best record of what went on.

The signer’s signatures are on the fourth, and last, page of the Constitution.

Now, If I were to give you a quiz, could you remember these facts?

Seeds of Greatness by Denis Waitley

(These quotes were taken from Denis Waitley's Excerpts from The Seeds of Greatness Treasury booklet)

Seeds of Family Leadership: Empowering Others The world needs role models, instead of critics.

Others know when you have their best interests at heart.

You are truly successful when you can extend a strong hand to someone who is reaching out or just trying to hang on.

Come through for others, and they will come through for you.

People who seek attention, need all the help they can get.

You know you’re a success when people tell you, "I like me best when I'm with you.

"If we succeed without sacrifice, it's because someone sacrificed for us.

Real power comes by empowering others!

Promises should not be given lightly unless you want them lightly received.

If I help you win, then I win too!

Weird Stories

After her 11-year-old son was suspended for twice bringing a loaded handgun to school, Linnea C. Holdren, 43, said the matter was pretty much beyond her control. "I can't lock up his guns," she told police. "They belong to him, and he has a right to use them whenever he wants to use them." (The boy was expelled in January, and Holdren, who is a teacher at her son's Shickshinny, Pa., elementary school, has been charged with felony endangerment.) [San Jose Mercury News-AP, 12-18-05; WYOU-TV (Scranton), 1-18-06] (Lucy's note: Who in Heavens name would allow an 11 year old child to own his own hand guns? Is she crazy?)

Least Competent Criminals
Not Cut Out for a Life of Crime:
(1) Three men who police say stole a car in San Jose, Calif., in October and drove it to Chico, Calif., were arrested in Chico when police caught them trying to break into that same car because they had locked the keys inside (or thought they had, since Chico Officer Jose Lara said he found the keys in one of the men's pockets, after all).
(2) Adam Ruiz, 29, was arrested in Buffalo, N.Y., in January after he showed up at work as a trainee at the same Burger King he had allegedly robbed the week before (strengthening the conclusion that crime certainly does not pay if it pays less well than burger-flipping.) [Chico Enterprise-Record, 11-4-05] [The Buffalo News, 1-13-06]

Note from Lucy: Found this recipe for Instant Eggs Florentine in the Womens World magazine March 14th issue. Can't wait to try it.

Instant Eggs Florentine: Whip these up in minutes, freeze, then just pop in the microwave for 90 seconds when you're ready to eat!

10 oz. frozen, chopped spinach, thawed, drained
1 egg white + 4 eggs
Salt, pepper
1/2 cup reduced-fat cheese
2 slices cooked turkey bacon, crumbled

Mix spinach leaves with egg white, salt and pepper. Coat a muffin tin with cooking spray; press spinach mixture up the sides of six cups. Combine remaining eggs, cheese and bacon; pour evenly over spinach. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

Another recipe that sounds really good to me (I plan to try it tonight) is Roasted Tomatoes.
I got this recipe from the Parade magazine dated Feb. 26, 2006

Roasted Tomatoes:

(Fresh bread crumbs are a key in this dish.)
1 large slice peasant bread (3/4 inch thick), lightly toasted
1 large clove of garlic, chopped
4 TBL. chopped parsley
8 tomatoes, halved crosswise, seeded, pulp removed and reserved.
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 TBL. extra-virgin olive oil

Chop the bread, garlic, parsley and tomato pulp. Mix with thyme, salt, pepper and oil; spoon into tomato halves. Bake in a 350 degree F. oven for 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Serves 8. Per serving: 110 calories, 10 g. carbohydrate, 2 g. protein, 7 g. fat, no cholesterol.

One more recipe from the same magazine:
Green Bean, Walnut & Blue Cheese Salad

1 1/2 pounds tender green beans, stem ends snapped
1 TBL. Dijon-style mustard
2 TBL red-wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 TBL extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup walnut halves
8 ounces Danish blue or Roquefort cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
2 TBS chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

1) Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook until just tender, about 4 minutes. Drain, run under cold water to refresh, then drain again. Pat dry with paper towels.
2) Meanwhile, in a large bowl, prepare the vinaigrette: Whisk together the mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and continue whisking until slightly thickened.
3) Before serving, add the green beans and the walnuts; toss with the vinaigrette. Adjust seasonings if necessary. Transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with the blue cheese and parsley.

Serves 8. Per serving: 210 calories, 7 g carbohydrate, 8 g protein, 17 g fat, 20 mg cholesterol.

Preparing for Hurricane Season

It’s been a while since my girl scout days, but I had some flash backs this past weekend. Living on the Gulf coast, we have to be prepared for the hurricane season. Our church is adamant that we be ready for whatever may happen. Last Saturday I went to a Preparedness “fair” put on by one of our groups. It was so much fun and I learned a lot. We had a class on Houston gardening that was great. I’ve lived here all my life and I ‘m still learning how to garden here.

The second class was on cooking with alternative fuels. Pat Vilbaum, who is a girl scout trainer, taught us how to cook with foil pouches. We learned how to fold the aluminum foil pouches so that they wouldn’t leak and then we put food in them. We had chicken, mushrooms, celery, carrots, onions, rice, water and seasoning. We sealed the tops shut and went outside to learn how to start a fire using a #10 can, charcoal, and some home made fire starters. You start the charcoal and let them heat till they are white, spread them on top of a piece of foil and put the food pouches on top of them. They cook for about 30 to 35 minutes and are ready to eat. This was our lunch later in the day.

The next class was on cooking with a dutch oven. I really learned a lot with this class. The dessert for our meal was cooked in the dutch ovens. The man that taught this class made peach, apple and cherry “dump” cake. It was so easy, he put two cans of the fruit on the bottom, added 1 yellow cake mix, put one stick of grated margarine/butter on top of that and then sprinkled it with brown sugar and cinnamon. It was the best part of the meal. The lesson here is that you can cook anything in a dutch oven. Your cooking source is charcoal, which is cheap and easy to use. I have a dutch oven somewhere in the garage, I’ll have to dig it out and practice with it.

The next class was on the food for your 72 hour emergency kit. Darlene Ferguson had food there that doesn’t need water or cooking. For $15.00, I put together a kit that would feed me for three days. It also included 3 one litter bottles of water. I have a list of the foods so that I can make up more kits on my own. Actually it is just an idea of what you can do for your family. Each family is different and has different food challenges.

The next class was on making a small first aid kit for your 72 hour kit. We used pot holders and plastic bags. I made the kit but I think I will put together a more useful kit for our family. All in all I had a terrific time. Our foil pouch dinners were good and the dessert was great. I learned a lot of things that I need to be doing to get better prepared for emergencies such as a hurricane or flood.

We all need to be prepared for emergencies in our own areas of the country. A 72 hour kit is an emergency pack that is filled with items that a person/family will need to keep functioning during an emergency. You can not depend on the government to come in a help you right away. It is said that it takes three days for help to come, so you need to be prepared to take care of yourself until there get there. I actually don’t want to have to depend on the government for anything related to that. If you would like more information on making you own 72 hour kit you can go to: http://www.tsarp.org/family/index.html Look on the right side of the page in the blue and you will see the items that are suggested for a 72 hour kit. I do have knowledge about the kits, so if you have a question, just email me….Have a good day.

Things I bet you didn't know...

The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for Blood plasma.

No piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven (7) times.

Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty (50) years of age or older.

The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.

The King of Hearts is the only king WITHOUT A MUSTACHE

American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one (1) olive from each salad served in first-class.

Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

Most dust particles in your house are made from DEAD SKIN!

The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.
So did the first "Marlboro Man."

Walt Disney was afraid OF MICE!

PEARLS MELT IN VINEGAR!

The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.

It is possible to lead a cow upstairs...but, not downstairs.

A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.

Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least six (6) feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush. (My tooth brush isn't anywhere near the toilet.)

Turtles can breathe through their butts. (I always wanted to know that...NOT)

A friend of mine emailed this to me and I thought it was interesting enough to share.

Note from Lucy: For those of you who believe in God and country, take a look at this short video. http://www.interviewwithgod.com/patriotic/highband.htm

Is an IRA the way to go?

My daughter is looking for a better way to save for her future. She asked me about IRA’s and I sent her a couple of web sites that I thought she might be interested in looking into. Right now she is in a position where she can save some money and she has been putting it into a savings account. She knows that she will not make much money leaving it in a savings account so she has been investigating IRA’s. Here are some of the websites that you might give you some answers. Day by day 2-day, here you go.

I want to start an IRA account but I don't know anything about it. I am 29 years old and have no kind of savings for retirement. I don't know if I should get into money market accounts, CD's or and IRA. Any suggestions? Gwynne http://stretcher.com/stories/00/000508b.html
http://stretcher.com/stories/00/000508t.cfm

Starting an IRA
Consumers with hefty retirement accounts at their bank might soon sleep better knowing that more of their deposits will be insured should the bank fail. A new federal law will raise, to $250,000 per person, the insurance coverage provided for retirement accounts by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. http://www.bankrate.com/dls/news/bank/20060220a1.asp

Investing mom's retirement nest egg My father died recently and I am helping my retired mother with her finances in retirement. She currently draws a teacher retirement of $24,000 per year, and after debts and other related expenses due to the death, she will have about $450,000 to live on for the rest of her life. Her monthly living expenses are currently about $1,500. She is 54. http://www.bankrate.com/dls/news/DrDon/20060227a1.asp

Investing for retirement when you're young I'm a 26-year-old college graduate with student loans and the uncertainty of how to prepare for retirement. At my current job and potential career, I will never be able to have the opportunity for a 401(k), so my question is how I go about saving for retirement as well the immediate future i.e. house, car etc. http://www.bankrate.com/dls/news/DrDon/20060303a1.asp?prodtype=grn

Savvy consumers are always on the lookout for ways to save money. But it isn't easy to find the time to stay up to date on the best ways to cut your spending, hang on to more of your income or to follow interest rates. Let Bankrate do the research for you -- for free. http://www.bankratemail.com/index.shtml

I had a question on asset allocation. My present age is around 30, I maxed out my retirement investing through 401(k)s and Roth IRAs. The remainder of my savings is invested in a taxable mutual fund account. Given my age, almost all retirement funds are in equities since these funds can bear the risk of stock-market volatility over 30 years. http://www.bankrate.com/dls/news/DrDon/20051128a1.asp

Roth IRA Contributions: Confused about whether you can contribute to a Roth IRA? The IRS suggests checking these simple rules: http://stretcher.com/stories/04/04mar01c.cfm

Note from Lucy: I should be back to the world of the living by tomorrow morning. I take the tax information to the "man" tomorrow afternoon. I have probably had only about four hours of sleep each night since Monday. I am looking forward to a full night sleep tomorrow night.