And His Song Is My Song

My Song
by Rabindranath Tagore

This song of mine will wind its music around you,
my child, like the fond arms of love.

The song of mine will touch your forehead
like a kiss of blessing.

When you are alone it will sit by your side and
whisper in your ear, when you are in the crowd
it will fence you about with aloofness.

My song will be like a pair of wings to your dreams,
it will transport your heart to the verge of the unknown.

It will be like the faithful star overhead
when dark night is over your road.

My song will sit in the pupils of your eyes,
and will carry your sight into the heart of things.

And when my voice is silenced in death,
my song will speak in your living heart.

The Power of a Dream

There is a documentary film out that is playing in select theaters around the country that has a powerful message. I haven’t seen it as yet, but the reviews and discussions about it are moving. Bob Herbert is one of those who has seen it and wrote about it in his Op-Ed column with the NYT today. The name of the film is “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”. It is the story of a woman and her family had endured the agony of civil war in Liberia who speaks of a dream she had in 2003 in which someone urged her to organize the women of her church to pray for peace. “A crazy dream,” she said.

It must have seemed like little more than wishful thinking and surely not much to fight back the forces of Charles Taylor, who was tyrannical president at the time and the brutally predatory rebels who were trying to oust him from power. Herbert says that the violence was excruciating. People were dying the tens of thousands, rape was commonplace, and children were starving. There were scenes showing even small children whose limbs had been amputated.

According to Herbert, for him it was about much more than the tragic and the ultimately uplifting events in Liberia. It was about the power of ordinary people to intervene in their own fate. Perhaps we could all learn a lesson from this movie. Not that our current problems could in any way be compared to what the people of Liberia suffered, but it does show what people with a common goal can achieve.

The film captures the almost unimaginable horror that war imposes on noncombatants; the looks of terror on the faces of people fleeing gunfire in the streets; children crouching and flinching, almost paralyzed with fear by the sound of nearby explosions; homes engulfed in flames.

It’s the kind of environment that breeds feelings of helplessness. But Leymah Gbowee, the woman who had the crazy dream, would have none of that. And she should most definitely be a lesson to all of us.

Ms. Gbowee not only rallied the women at her Lutheran church to pray for peace, but organized them into a full-blown, all-women peace initiative that spread to other Christian churches and then to women of the Muslim faith.

They wanted the madness stopped. They wanted an end to the maiming and the killing, especially the destruction of a generation of children. They wanted to eradicate the plague of rape. They wanted all the things that noncombatants crave whenever the warrior crowd – whether in the U.S., the Middle East, Asia –wherever – decides it’s time once again to break out the bombs and guns and let the mindless killing begin.

When the Liberian Christians reached out to “their Muslim sisters,” there was some fear on both sides that such an alliance could result in a dilution of faith. But the chaos and the killing had reached such extremes that the religious concerns were set aside in the interest of raising a powerful collective voice.

They had sit-ins, stand-ins; they moved out of the churches and mosques to demonstrate, to protest, to enlist all who would listen in the cause of peace. Working with practically no resources save their extraordinary will and intense desire to end the conflict, the women’s initial efforts evolved into a movement, the Liberian Mass Action for Peace.

Their headquarters was an open-air fish market in the capital, Monrovia. Thousands of women showed up daily, praying, waving signs, singing, dancing, chanting and agitation for peace. And nothing could stop their rallies at the market, not the fierce heat of the sun, not drenching rainstorms, nor the publicly expressed anger of Mr. Taylor, who was embarrassed by the protests. Oh, I bet he was pissed – my words this time, not Mr. Herberts!

But it worked! A tentative peace was established, Mr. Taylor went into exile in Nigeria. The women continued their activism. Three years ago, on Jan. 16,2006, in an absolutely thrilling triumph for the mothers and wives and sisters and aunts and grandmothers who had worked so courageously for peace, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was sworn in as the president of Liberia – the first woman ever elected president of a country in Africa. Hey, sound familiar? Remember what we have just done? Okay, maybe we should take notice and make sure Obama has the support he needs so that he’s not forced into actions that already have people complaining about being disappointed in him. For God’s sake, for our sake, give him time and the support that he needs instead of the already steady flow of friggin’ criticism!

Liberia is hardly the world’s most stable society. But “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” reminds us of the incredible power available to the most ordinary of people if they are willing to act with courage and unwavering commitment. And let me underline in red, no bad mouthing a president in office for less than a month who is trying desperately to bring people together from both sides to bring about the change that we need. Not to mention our own Democrats who are behaving about as badly as I’ve ever seen! When does the nitpicking stop? When do people and politicians, for maybe once in their life, try to do what’s best for the country instead of squabbling? I have lots of questions, but not so much for Obama as for the rest of us.

To read the whole article without my big mouth, check out Herbert’s column for today.

A Message from the Universe

I found this on Inspiration Peak website and it pretty much says what I would say to you all!
Saturday 's Message
from the Universe
Good morning fellow adventurer!

This is to remind ALL my loyal subjects... that you are NOT my loyal subjects, and that I'm bloody tired of all the sacrifices, appeasements, and groveling.

I, The Universe... the Sun, the Moon and the Stars... the Alpha and the Omega... and all the rest, have created a PARADISE in time and space so that I, THROUGH YOU, might experience its INFINITE SPLENDORS, drink from its EVERY CUP, and LIVE, LOVE and be MERRY, in ways IMPOSSIBLE without you.

Your desires, are MY desires for you. What you want, and WHEN you want it, these were my ideas too. Your dreams, are MY DREAMS. YOU are the END ALL and BE ALL of time and space, the only reason, for this Garden of Eden... you can do no wrong, there are NO MISTAKES, and it's ALL GOOD.

Follow your heart, delight in your preferences, approve OF YOURSELF. Stake your claim, DEMAND IT, and hold out your hands. Banish your doubts, get off of your knees, and live as you please... because, dearest... YOU CAN, and THIS... is ALL I ever wanted.

With unspeakable love,

The Universe

An Award!

I received my fifth award today and felt very honored and humbled. I received this award from Peggy of Musings of Meggie.

This award acknowledges the values that every Blogger displays in their effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values with each message they write. Awards like this have been created with the intention of promoting community among Bloggers. It's away to show appreciation and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web"

I am to pass this on to fifteen other bloggers for their contribution to our wonderful blogging world, and to let them know that they have been chosen. And like Peggy, it is hard to pick fifteen as there have been so many that have made such a difference in my life, that have made me laugh and celebrate and cry over the moving things they have said/written. So, now comes the hard part -- to choose just fifteen of the many who have contributed so much to my life over the past six months. To make it more difficult, many that I would put on the list have already received this award from Peggy. But here goes.
1. Linda
2. Rob
3. Joy
4. Mari
5. CitizenK
6. Clariz
7. Deborah
8. Bobbie
9. Milesperhour
10. sweetmango
11. June
12. mom/caryn
13. Kate
14. Happily Retired Gal
15. Judy

Finding the Joy

/\Namaste
During these days it seems to be harder and harder to find and to feel the joy that we all want to have in our lives. But what is life without joy? I can gripe and complain with the best regarding politics in this country today; I worry about the economy and how it is going to affect my kids -- me. Just today my son, David, in Texas wrote me that the layoffs have begun at Fossil where he works as a graphic artist. His job is not in danger -- yet. This is what he wrote me, "There were layoffs this morning. It affected three people in our department. One is a young woman from Israel who only has 21 days to find another job in the design field before she will be forced to return home. Kind of a heavy day around here." I hurt for that young woman. But we do have it within us to feel and experience joy, it just requires that we be able to look past the troubled world we live in. Look up, look around you! I found this poem and thought that it said all pretty well.

"Joy," by Rabindranath Tagore
And Joy is Everywhere
It is in the Earth's green covering of grass;
In the blue serenity of the Sky;
In the reckless exuberance of Spring;
In the severe abstinence of gray Winter;
In the Living flesh that animates our bodily frame;
In the perfect poise of the Human figure, noble and upright;
In Living;
In the exercise of all our powers;
In the acquisition of Knowledge;
in fighting evils...
Joy is there Everywhere.

New E-Mail Virus

I thought you would want to know about this e-mail virus.
Even the most advanced programs from Norton or McAfee cannot take care of this one.
It appears to affect those who were born prior to 1960.

1. Causes you to send the same e-mail twice.
Done that!
2. Causes you to send a blank e-mail!
That too!
3. Causes you to send e-mail to the wrong person.
Yep!
4. Causes you to send it back to the person who sent it to you.
Who me?
5. Causes you to forget to attach the attachment.
Well, fooey!
6. Causes you to hit ' SEND ' before you've finished.
Oh no - not again!
7. Causes you to hit ' DELETE ' instead of ' SEND. '
And I just hate that!
8. Causes you to hit ' SEND ' when you should DELETE. '
Oh Crap!!! !
IT IS CALLED THE C-NILE VIRUS ! !

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Are Politicians in General Thinking These Days??

I posted this briefly earlier, then took it off thinking that everyone is as sick of politics as I am, but that turning away from the things we don't want to think about, don't want to deal with is one of the reasons we're in the mess that we are today. So, I re-posted it. We can't afford to keeping looking away from things we don't want to think about and saying, 'there's nothing I can do anyway'. I will continue to post beautiful things because they are what give us the courage to do what we can about the ugly things not only in our own country but in the world today.

In the daily email yesterday morning that I get from MSNBC's Political Director, Chuck Todd, he seemed to be asking the same question. Unfortunately, the Democrats are acting as childish as the Republicans. This in turn leads me to want to ask, isn't our country's future more important that this petty, small-minded view that seems to be running rampant in Washington right now?

Despite Obama traveling to Capitol Hill to meet with them in private, despite including one of their former members (Ray LaHood) in his cabinet, and despite inviting their leaders over for cocktails last night at the White House, not a single House Republican voted for the stimulus package, which cleared the House yesterday by a 244-188 vote. Predicting that GOP outcome before the vote, the Washington Post notes, House Republican Leader John Boehner put his finger and thumb together to signal the big, fat "O" -- zero. House GOP leaders seemed to go out of their way to make sure reporters knew the message they were sending was directed at Speaker Pelosi, not the president. (As one snarkily noted to First Read, the president met with House Republicans on the stimulus bill more times than Pelosi did). But how closely does the American public follow congressional politics? Won't this look like they are snubbing a president who just days ago reached out to them? Republicans are taking a risk by looking so defiant, especially if this package ends up working. The last thing the GOP needs is another "O" -- obstructionist" -- being tagged to them.

Another Obama Olive Branch: That said, in his statement last night, Obama said that he wants "to strengthen" the stimulus plan before it gets to his desk. It was an interesting word choice and yet another olive branch to House Republicans. (And get this -- Obama didn't include the words "Democrat" or "Democratic" in his statement.) There are a number of Democrats scratching their heads at the House GOP goose egg; we even learned that LaHood was calling his fellow House Republican asking for them to support the legislation. After all, the president has a 70% job approval rating and the package itself has the support of a majority of Americans, who in general appear to believe they want government to do something -- rather than nothing -- when it comes to the economy. Interestingly, the president may have his own issues to deal with in his own party. The more defiant Democrats are thinking, "I told you so," when it comes his GOP outreach efforts. In addition, we've been hearing chatter from congressional Democrats that they'd like the president to act as concerned about winning their support as he acts when it comes to the Republicans. Meanwhile, a coalition of liberal groups is launching a new ad campaign that urges moderate Republican senators to support the economic stimulus.

Status Quo You Can Believe In? Just askin', but what kind of message would the GOP be sending after its 2008 losses by keeping Mitch McConnell as Senate leader, keeping John Boehner as House leader, and keeping Mike Duncan as RNC chair? If that all happens, it's an odd message to send to the party and American voters. Not much change.

Icebergs in the Antartic

Icebergs in the Antarctic area sometimes have stripes, formed by
layers of snow that react to different conditions

Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet
fills up with meltwater and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form.

When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can
freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a
green stripe. Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment, picked up
when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the sea.







... Isn't this amazing??
Nature is amazing!
The water froze the instant the wave broke through the ice. That's what it is like in Antarctica where it is the coldest weather in decades. Water freezes the instant
it comes in contact with the air. The temperature of the water is already some degrees below freezing. Just look at how the wave froze in mid-air!!!

Having the Internet means that we get to see something that we never imagined!

Sky Watch Friday

I still cannot find Mr. Linky on my Sky Watch site, but Klaus (bless him) has signed me in again! Hope you enjoy! Click on the icon and join us and show your skies!
 
 
 
 

Me This Morning!

Ah, but I am on the mend! Thanks to you all for empathizing with the WUSS I was yesterday! Of course, we all have bad days and they can be very enlightening. Mine was I know.

One of 'Those' Days

 

I don't have many down days any more, but for some reason this was one of them and I have no idea what brought it on. There was some frustration trying to figure out how to be able to sign on to Mr. Linky for Sky Watch and My World -- haven't mastered that one yet in spite of tons of help from Rob of Inukshuk Adventure -- what a gem of a friend he's been! But those kinds of frustrations come and go all the time, so what else was there that got to me and is still hanging over my shoulder. I don't know, but I surely do hope it goes away or I manage to shoo it away! I don't have the time or patience for down days any more. We even had a little sunshine today! I should be jumping up and down and giggling.

But since I haven't been jumping up and down and giggling, I decided to look for something uplifting to help me out of the dark place. First of all I found a beautiful sky -- which always helps and then I found some wise words and I decided to share them both with you because that always makes me happy.

Once you realize that the road is the goal and that you are always on the road, not to reach a goal, but to enjoy its beauty and its wisdom, life ceases to be a task and becomes natural and simple, in itself an ecstasy.

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

So, I share some more of the beauty of the world with you this night.

Could You Repeat the Question???

Now that Vancouver has won the chance to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, these are some questions people from all over the world are asking. Believe it or not these questions about Canada were posted on an International Tourism Website. Obviously the answers are a joke; but the questions were really asked!

Q:I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow(England)
A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.

Q:Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? ( USA )
A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.

Q:I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto -can I follow the Railroad tracks? ( Sweden )
A: Sure, it's only Four thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q:Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada ? ( Sweden )
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Canada ? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto , Vancouver , Edmonton and Halifax ? ( England )
A: What, did your last slave die?

Q:Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada ? ( USA )
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe .. Ca-na-da is that big country to your North...oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary . Come naked.

Q:Which direction is North in Canada ? ( USA )
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada ?( England )
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do .

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? ( USA )
A: Aus-t ri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary , straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Do you have perfume in Canada ? ( Germany )
A: No, WE don't stink.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Where can I sell it in Canada ?( USA )
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? ( Italy )
A: Yes, gay nightclubs ..

Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada ? ( USA )
A: Only at Thanksgiving.

Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round?( Germany )
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gathers. Milk is illegal.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada , but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. ( USA )
A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? ( USA )
A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.

Mmmmmm Does make you wonder about some of us, doesn't it????

Creative Puns for Educated Minds

The happy Lama/Llama!

1. The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian .

3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.

5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.

6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

7. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

9. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

11. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

12. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

13. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'

14. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

15. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'

16. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse
said, 'No change yet.'

17. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

18. It's not that the man did not know how to juggle, he just didn't have the balls to do it.
19. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

20. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

21. A backward poet writes inverse.

22. In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
23. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

24. Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!

A Secretary of the Arts

Bobbie of Almost There, posted this last night, I'm just passing it on as I believe we all need to be able to focus more on the beauty of art, music, literature during these very depressing times and it is past time that we did this.

PETITION SEEKING SIGNATURES FOR A REQUEST TO PRESIDENT OBAMA
TO APPOINT A SECRETARY OF THE ARTS.
Quincy Jones, famed musician, has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts.  While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts--now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.

Thank You!

Please feel free to copy and paste to your blog.

Beautiful Words and Lovely Skies 2

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

Marcel Proust

/\ Namaste

I ran across the line by Proust earlier this evening and then I happened to find a collection of poems by my very dear and well loved friend, Maithri, whom many of you know as well. He has brought so much joy into my life through his blog and his writings and I wanted to share this one with you.

Pick Up Your Pen
Maithri Goonetilleke

When the darkness falls
And you're just barely clinging
to a single,
rapidly unraveling thread
on life's frayed garment.

Pick up your pen
And in the broadest,
boldest strokes
you can manage

Write the name of love
across the sky

Challenging Murals

This is a ceiling mural in a smoker's lounge! That ought to do it! Ready to quit?








Imagine that you're at a party...10th floor of a high-rise
and then you have to go to the bathroom. You open the door...
Now, remember it's just a painted floor, but it kinda takes your breath away, doesn't it? I wonder if I wouldn't look around for a second bathroom.

G.O.P. – Brain Dead???

Don’t they have a clue that it is their policies that have sent this country hurtling down the road to ruin? Are they so removed from reality that in their delusionary state they honestly believe we need more tax cuts for the rich? It’s still all about them and they are totally blind to the fact these are the things that got us into this deplorable mess that we’re in today.

Bob Herbert, Op-Ed columnist for the NYT had another great column today. He writes about the fact that the GOP’s latest campaign is aimed at undermining President Obama’s effort to cope with the national economic emergency by attacking the spending in his stimulus package and repeating ad nauseam the Republican mantra for ever more tax cuts.

John Boehner, Ohio Republican and House minority leader speaking on Meet the Press said to “put him down in the ‘no’ column.” According to him “given the concerns Republicans have over the size of this package and all the spending in the package, we don’t think it’s going to work.”

But, if anything, the stimulus package isn’t large enough. Not with more businesses closing, the huge number of jobs being cut. But then Republicans may be just be deaf, dumb and blind if they can’t see that there is, not just an emergency – it’s a huge emergency. But then wasn’t it Phil Gramm, McCain’s economic guru that said it was all in our heads, that all of this was just a “mental recession.” Yeah, tell that to the tens of thousands who have lost their jobs, their homes and are wondering how they’re going to feed their families, to the young people who can no longer afford to go to college. Our country is hemorrhaging jobs and Americans are heading to the poorhouse by the millions. The stock markets and the value of family homes have collapsed and there is a virtual across-the-board agreement that the country is caught u in the worst economic disaster since at least World War II.
And the Republicans answer to the turmoil?
Why, tax cuts, of course!

I couldn’t agree more when Herbert says that the Republicans need to go into rehab!

So, when the GOP talks, absolutely NO ONE should listen. This is the party that preached fiscal discipline and then cut taxes in time of war. This is the party that still wants to put the torch to Social Security and Medicare. This is a party that, given a choice between Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, would choose Ronald Reagan in a heartbeat.

So, why is ANYONE still listening?

Snowing Again??

When the hell is spring coming??

The Big Question for Young Couples Today

Should we get a dog?














Or should we start a family?

That's My World -- Chief Seattle

Thanks to Klaus for signing me into My World! And thanks for the visits and comments!

A number of people over the last couple of years have asked me how Seattle got it’s name and since it’s a interesting little piece of history, I thought I would share it on My World today.

Chief Seattle or Stealth, also spelled Seathle, Seathl or See-ahth, was a leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish Native American tribes in what is now the state of Washington. A prominent figure among his people, he pursued a path of accommodation to white settlers, forming a personal relationship with David Swinson “Doc” Maynard and Seattle was named for him. In later years, Sealth claimed to have seen the ships of the Vancouver Expedition as they explored Puget Sound. The Vancouver Expedition (1791-1795) was a five-year voyage of exploration and diplomacy, commanded by Captain George Vancouver. The expedition circumnavigated the globe, touched five continents and changed the course of history for several nations. The expedition at various times included between two and four vessels, and up to 153 men, all but six of whom returned home safely.

Sealth earned his reputation at a young age as a leader and a warrior, ambushing and defeating groups of enemy raiders coming up the Green River from the Cascade foothills and attacking tribes living on the Olympic Peninsula. Like many of his contemporaries, he owned slaves captured during his raids. He was tall and broad for a Puget Sound native at nearly six feet. Hudson’s Bay Company traders gave him the nickname Le Gros (The Big One). He was also known as an orator; and when he addressed an audience, his voice was said to have carried 3/4ths of a mile.

He took wives from the village of Tola’ltu just southeast of Duwamish Head on Elliott Bay (now a part of West Seattle). His first wife died after bearing a daughter. He had three sons and four daughters with his second wife. The most famous of his children was his first, Kikisoblu or Princess Angeline. Sealth was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church and given the baptismal name, Noah, probably in 1848 near Olympia, Washington.

For all his skill, Sealth was gradually losing ground to the more powerful Patkanim of the Snohomish when white settlers started showing up in force. When his people were driven from their traditional clamming grounds. Sealth met Maynard in Olympia; they formed a friendly relationship useful to both. Persuading the settlers at Duwamps to rename the town Seattle, Maynard established their support for Sealth’s people and negotiated relatively peaceful relations among the tribes.

Sealth frequented the town named after him, and had his photograph taken by E. M. Sammis in 1865. He died June 7, 1866, on the Suquamish reservation at Port Madison, Washington.

Chief Seattle’s gravesite on the Port Madison Indian Reservation in Suquamish, Washington

Closeup of Chief Seattle’s tombstone in Suquamish, Washington








This statue of Chief Seattle was erected in 1908, Tilikum Place, in Seattle. The statue is on the National Register of Historic Places.

One for the Gals

Needless to say it's far too late for this old girl, but thought I should pass it on anyway since it came from a lovely, young friend of mine.

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my shape to keep.
Please no wrinkles, Please no bags
And please lift my butt before it sags.
Please no age spots, Please no gray
And as for my belly, Please take it away.
Please keep me healthy, Please keep me young,
And thank you Dear Lord, For all that you've done.

Five tips for a woman....
1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.
2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.
3. It is important to find a man you can count on and doesn't lie to You.
4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.
5. It is important that these four men don't know each other.

Foot Note:
One saggy boob said to the other saggy boob:
'If we don't get some support soon, people will think we're nuts.'

Pilot's Conversations

Can you tell that the weather turned icy, slick and cold? I've spent the day at the computer and all of you get the results. But here are some more real life funnies or not???

Tower: "Delta 351, you have traffic at 10 o'clock, 6 miles!"
Delta 351: "Give us another hint! We have digital watches!"

"TWA 2341, for noise abatement turn right 45 Degrees."
"Centre, we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?"
"Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?"

From an unknown aircraft waiting in a very long takeoff queue: "I'm f...ing bored!"
Ground Traffic Control: "Last aircraft transmitting, identify yourself immediately!"
Unknown aircraft: "I said I was f...ing bored, not f...ing stupid!"

Control tower to a 747: "United 329 heavy, your traffic is a Fokker, one o'clock, three miles, Eastbound."
United 239: "Approach, I've always wanted to say this... I've got the little Fokker in sight."

A DC-10 had come in a little hot and thus had an exceedingly long roll out after touching down. San Jose Tower noted: "American 751, make a hard right turn at the end of the runway, if you are able. If you are not able, take the Guadalupe exit off Highway 101, make a right at the lights and return to the airport."

Allegedly, a Pan Am 727 flight waiting for start clearance in Munich overheard the following:
Lufthansa (in German): "Ground, what is our start clearance time?"
Ground (in English): "If you want an answer you must speak in English."
Lufthansa (in English): "I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany. Why must I speak English?"
Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): "Because you lost the bloody war."

Allegedly, while taxiing at London's Gatwick Airport, the crew of a US Air flight departing for Ft. Lauderdale made a wrong turn and came nose to nose with a United 727. An irate female ground controller lashed out at the US Air crew, screaming: "US Air 2771, where the hell are you going?! I told you to turn right onto Charlie taxiway! You turned right on Delta! Stop right there. I know it's difficult for you to tell the difference between C and D, but get it right!" Continuing her rage to the embarrassed crew, she was now shouting hysterically: "God! Now you've screwed everything up! It'll take forever to sort this out! You stay right there and don't move till I tell you to! You can expect progressive taxi instructions in about half an hour and I want you to go exactly where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you! You got that, US Air 2771?" US Air 2771: "Yes, ma'am," the humbled crew responded. Naturally, the ground control communications frequency fell terribly silent after the verbal bashing of US Air 2771. Nobody wanted to chance engaging the irate ground controller in her current state of mind. Tension in every cockpit out around Gatwick was definitely running high. Just then an unknown pilot broke the silence and keyed his microphone, asking: "Wasn't I married to you once?"

All 44 Presidents

THIS IS PRETTY NEAT, WATCH AS ALL 44 PRESIDENTS MORPH INTO EACH OTHER beginning with George Washington all the way to Barack Obama, each President morphs into the following one. Someone did a lot of work on this. Nice job! Set to Ravel's "Bolero" - put your volume up. Good for the children to see.

New Lyrics for Old Songs for Old Boomers

Some of the artists of the 60's are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate aging baby boomers.
They include:
Bobby Darin ---
Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.
Herman's Hermits ---
Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker .
Ringo Starr ---
I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.
The Bee Gees -- -
How Can You Mend a Broken Hip.
Roberta Flack---
The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.
Johnny Nash ---
I Can't See Clearly Now.
Paul Simon---
Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver
The Commodores ---
Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.
Marvin Gaye ---
Heard It Through the Grape Nuts.
Procol Harem---
A Whiter Shade of Hair.
Leo Sayer ---
You Make Me Feel Like Napping.
The Temptations ---
Papa's Got a Kidney Stone.
Abba---
Denture Queen.
Tony Orlando ---
Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.
Helen Reddy ---
I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore.
Leslie Gore---
It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want To.
And Last but NOT least:
Willie Nelson ---
On the Commode Again

Shadow Shot Sunday

I haven't been able to sign up with Mr. Linky on Shadow Shot for some time now but when the sun finally came out last week I was running around trying to get photos of everything,including shadows like these of a chair in our breakfast area along with a plant, happily soaking up the sun.
 
And then there's me and the pidgeons.
 

An Explanation

As you know, I frequently end the blogging day with some beautiful photos, words, thoughts and I also frequently end the post with the word "namaste". I was asked yesterday by gappa why I did that since it is an Indian greeting with folded hands. I did know that, however, in several meditation classes that I have taken, along with my Tai Chi classes, that is how our instructors both began and ended our session. It somehow always invoked a sense of peace for me which was my reason for using it, but I will make a point of using it in the correct place from now on.