UP n atom

Many Thanks to Ruthless for sending this to me...or was that at me?

 You think English is easy???   Read on

 1) The bandage was wound around the wound. 

 2) The farm was used to  produce produce . 
 
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
 
4 ) We must polish the Polish Furniture. 
    

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
 
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
 

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was        time to present the present . 
 
8) A bass was painted on the head of  the bass drum...
 

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
 
10) I did not object to the object. 
 
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid. 
 
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row 
 
13) They were too close to the Door to close it.

 
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
 
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
 
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong  to wind the sail. 
 
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
 
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. 
 

20) How can I  intimate this to my most intimate friend? 
  Let's face it - English is a crazy language.. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France . Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. 
  

We take English for  granted. But if  we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.  And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese?  One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? 
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If avegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
 

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what 
language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? 
 
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on. 

English was invented by people, Not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. 
 
PS. - 
 Why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick' ?
 

You lovers of the nglish Language might enjoy this. 

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP.' 
 
It's easy to understand  UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ? At a meeting, why does a. topic comeUP ? Why
 do we speak UP and why are the  Officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary  to write UP a report? 
 
We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP aroom, polish UP the silver; we warm UP theleftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lockUP the house and some guys 
fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UPtrouble, line UP for tickets, 
work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special... 
 
And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP 
because it is stopped UP.  We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. 
 
We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be  knowledgeable about the proper uses of  UP, look the word 
UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP 
almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP toabout thirty definitions.  If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will It will take UP a lot
of your time, but if you don't give UP, you maywind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP.  When the sun comes  out we say it is clearing UP..  When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP. When it doesn't rain for awhile, things
dry UP.
 
One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP,
for now my time isUP, so........it is time to shut UP! 
 
Oh
 one more thing: What is the first thing  you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night?
 
U-P  

Later y'all

God Bless

Salvation part deux

So how ya' doing this fine morning?  That's ok, me neither.   

Oh, and why aren't you in church?   Me, I'm waiting for my ride.

Wrote about Salvation yesterday and want to touch on that again.  The why on that is because it makes all the difference in my life and I want to share the joy with everyone.

So there.

I have a mental box that I have labeled "DNAARN"  translated in to human it reads, Don't Need An Answer Right Now....The thinking/reasoning/questioning part of my mind is always asking things that quite frankly can't be answered in this life.   So when something comes up that perplexes me, I set it in that box and know that the answer will be given when I'm ready and able to understand it.

So many things about Heaven are (probably) myth conjured up out of thin air,  you know floatting around on clouds with harps and such.....the book of Revelation tells what Heaven will be like, and it t'ain't nuttin like that for sure.  I (being an inquireing mind) want to know what it will be like....or so I thought, I'm at place with myself now that allows me to set that line of questioning aside.  

You see, when you have been Saved or as the Bible calls it "Sanctified" you are really "Born Again" .  When I accepted Jesus fully into my life about 6 years ago, I was very litteraly an infant in my understanding of living as a child of God.   Now at a born again age of 6 I'm still just a toddler, but when you compare a toddler or a 1st grader with a new born, you see vast differences.   When I was born again, I walked around with a big silly grin (ok, I've always done that), and people in the church said that I was in the honeymoon period of salvation.....still am and that is great.  When God sanctified me, I thought ...ok that's it....  but being a willing student (for a change) and also an eager one, I kept trying to catch up on what a life-time of sin had deprived me of.   The more willing I became to learn and grow, the more that God showed me.  This is a never ending cycle that just gets more and more awsome.  As my Pastor said, "There are verses in the Bible he's read 100's of times, and each time he reads one, God reveals more of its meaning to him."   This is so true on many levels, the more I try to please God and to live in a manner that will show my Christianity to the world, the happier I become and the happiness is a God given gift that builds from deep within your soul.

There are so many out there that try to find their happiness and feel good moments through the pleasure of this world.   Thourgh the flesh, drugs, alcohol, intellectual pursuits, power, money, fame....have you noticed how quickly in those areas that too much becomes not enough?   You are in a never ending downward spiral  of trying to get just a little bit more than the last time!   Because the the last time, was good but not perfect.....or maybe the last time just didn't satisfy you, or left you empty.

Try my drug.......Salvation....... every day brings a greater and more fulfilling joy than the day before.  The neat part about it is the fact that it's FREE....it's there for the asking!  Something that is so valuable that all the money on earth can't buy it.  So joyfull that all the stimulants on earth can't begin to touch the high.   It's yours for the  asking.   Just ask, sit back in your chair, close your eyes and think of the wasteland that your life as become.   Even a wasteland with all the trappings of a mansion,  fancy cars and clothes, and vacations around the world....hey, it's still a wasteland.  Why, because you arn't happy, there is something missing.   If you haven't been born again of the Spirit, then I will guarantee that if you admit it or not, there is a hole in your life....

Friends, Step right up,......you, yes you......come on over, step inside step inside for the show that never ends....See the mysteries of the ages, right here before your very eyes... 

You've seen it on tv, you've heard about from your friends... yes, the answer to lifes problems folks...right here, right now.... 

This is your chance, you can have it all.....

For you, yes you, just you....why you?  Because you're you and we love you.....that's why......COST? What's it cost?  you ask....well let me tell you....I could charge you anything I want and it would still be cheap.  My competion down the street will scoff at this offer and even give you incentives to buy their plan....but let me tell you right now folks  READ THE FINE PRINT on his offer, cause there is always a catch!  So, we're back to the cost are we......well since ...ok, let me put it this way.....I'll give you the eternal happiness, and a new body that doesn't hurt or age.....hey, since you're obviously a person of fine breeding and distinction I'll even throw in a manion on a street paved with gold.  And as a special incentive, for the rest of your life on earth, a deep seated happiness coupled with the fellowship of  good decent people that like to be around you and share with you.....and the best part is......

Now.....get out your check book...get out your wallet... got your credit cards handy.....ok, now tear them up...yep...don't want anything for this special offer!  That's right all free.... oh there are couple of caviats....we would like it if you give up the drugs and swearing and carnal pleasures....but you wanna know something?   Once you've signed up... that's it, you're in.....all you have to do is believe.... no signature on the dotted line.....no pact in blood.....no arm twisting.  The rest, the commandments......(I love this part)  you won't want to do those things anymore!!   Sure it's a process getting to that stage, but it's not as bad as you'd think....

The evil one still will assult you......but that's ok, you've got pretty good back up now.

Sheesh......I'm going to be honest now....I don't know if any of this made sense at all....just going to hit the button and send it on the way......let me know and I talk atcha later

God Bless

On Salvation

Random thoughts upon what should be the focus of every single person's life.

Random thoughts that are being typed by a totally imperfect Christian that  is not in any way a theologian.

One of the things about salvation that astounds me the most is the sheer awsome simplicity of it all.   As Paul states in I Chronicles (I am not going to quote, I am paraphrasing and putting what I believe out there for you all); God does not want us to "think" our way to him.  He wants us to discover and find true belief by faith.   Salvation is not something of the mind.  

The whole thing is so simple that it will elude you if you try to "reason" it out.   How simple you ask, well it's like this I answer... Step 1 - Admit that Jesus the Christ suffered and died for your sins.   Step  2 - Ask God to also forgive you for your sins.  Step 3 - Hmmm well actually at this point.. there is no step three because you are saved.

If you've been really sincere, and only you and God will know that for a fact, and if you truely believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and his suffering and death were to purify you so that you will have everlasting liife.  If you can admit to yourself that you are a mere human being that is steeped in sin and wickedness, then you should know also that when Jesus was up on that cross, HE was paying the price for your sins.  Not you, no me, not your uncle  Fudd....HE paid the price.  HE paid that price willingly so that if you choose, you can spend eternity with God and Jesus and all the others that have come to accept Jesus as their savior.   

We are all alike in many more ways than we want to admit.   Meet Duane (me), Sinner 1st class with clusters, name a sin, I've been there and done that.  I know for a fact that while probably the most despicable person that ever lived, I'm really close.....but you know what?   God loves me anyway!   I don't pretend to understand why or how.   I can't begin to really understand, but I don't worry about it.

I do what little I can to live as Christlike as possible.  Knowing full well  that I am constantly doing, saying, thinking  the wrong thing that will offend God.   And because  I ask, and ask sincerly....often.... HE forgives me for being imperfect.

I was/am a drunk, a drug addict, a fornicator, an adulterer, I would get paid for hurting people,  I lied, cheated, stole, I honestly don't know how many times I've been in jail, I was/am a lousy father, a worse husband, pretty much the dregs of humanity......God spent a lot of time trying to get my attention, finally it sank in.....and since accepting salvation and deciding to live like a Christian should live....I am blessed with an inner glow and peace of mind that is so wonderful that it threatens to make me burst with joy and true gratitude.   Until you've taken that step, you can't know the real wonder of Gods love.

One step, the smallest-largest-longest step you will ever take....and if you are sincere, and you can admit to yourself that you need to take this step, well..... all I can say....take that step and (as the song says) I'll meet you at the Eastern Gate (of Heaven).

Since I could go on talking for hours about the joys and rewards of salvation, I'm not going to -grin- I'm going to let you think of what you need to think about.

God Bless

Impromptu Hymn

Are you ready for the trumpets call?

For that glorius day is  comming soon, 

when this world will fade away, upon that clarion call.

The time is short my friend,

and judgement is near.

When it comes to the end,

will your soul be in the clear?

On that glorious morn,

when Gabriel blows the horn,

will you rise to meet your God,

or wish that you'd never been born?

To rise with the Saints, will be such a joy.

It's all quite simple, let me put it like this.

Tell Jesus you believe,

and Gods bliss you'll receive.

His requirement are few, but they are absolute.

Admit that you are a sinner, and lost in the worlds strife

Ask him to enter your heart and your life.

His love will enfold you and make you secure,

in a world where all else is impure.

So  the trumpet will sound with a note so devine,

When that happens, just put your hand in mine.

We will rise together, our Savior to greet

and lay our souls down at God's hallowed feet.

So this question I ask because I don't want you to fall,

Have you given Christ your all?

And Now...More PUNishment

  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. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
 
  19 . The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
 
  20 . A backward poet writes inverse.
 
  21 . In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
 
  22 . When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
 
  23 . Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!

A Short Walk

Hello again, this is a short thing I wrote a few years ago.... lemme know what you think....ohkay?

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A Short Walk

 The first thing that you have to understand is that I absolutely hate walking point. What's more, I should be the last chosen to walk point. At six-foot three and 225 pounds of muscle without any co-ordination, I am not ideal for this position. Add in the fact that I am as near-sighted as a brick-wall, and you should get the idea. Besides, I'm a short-timer, 43 days and a wake-up then this child is Arizona bound.  

 That's the trouble with brand new officers. Gotta show their authority. Sheeit.  

 So I find myself taking another step. Right foot up, left foot planted. Oh-oh a rock. Step on it? No! Charley would think that's the place for the mine. OK, think, right of the rock, or left of the rock? Maybe, maybe over the rock. Think dumb-ass, think. Where would the sumbitch put the mine? OK, lets go for right. No, no, left!  

 A bug with wings decides that my neck is it's lunch. Right foot in the air, and poised. Hope the sweat running down my neck drowns the little sumbitch. Ok, it bit me on the right, soooo....step....left side of the rock. Lower the foot, ever so gently upon the leaves to the left. Giving thanks for the sign that made this decision easier.

 I'm still alive! Oh shit, gotta move the left foot!

 A thousand shades of green and brown surround me. The colors are alternately brilliant and subdued as the sunlight filters thru the trees overhead. Insects buzz, a bird call's in the distance. My eyes move in all directions. trying to see thru the sweat that covers my glasses.

 Somehow, with the paranoid part of my brain making the decision, my left foot finds a safe landing place. The 'very' paranoid part of my brain has charge of the eyes today.

 My breathing is so loud that I figure every VC within two klicks knows that I am here.  

 A loud "psstt" I pause gratefully, and listen to the muffled footsteps coming up behind me.

 Cedric grins at me. His teeth are a brilliant white in the gloom of the Ho Bo woods. His black skin is covered with the sweat and dirt of a three day patrol. His eyes that sparkle with the humor of one who knows what is really going on look back at me.

 "Candy-assed LT. says we need a rest." I sink to a crouch and grin back at him. "Sheeit, we only been out 'bout an hour." We carefully sink to the ground for a moment and each of us instantly lights up. Ok, sure, it's stupid, but what the hell.  

 Like I said, I'm a big guy. Cedric is a freakin mountain, standing two inches taller and carrying 50 more pounds. We've been close since we got here. I keep telling him I'm an old pro compared to him. After all, I got to Cu Chi three days before him. We've shared a lot in the last ten and a half months. He carried me back to 'Doc' when I got the shrapnel in my leg the time we were ambushed just out of Trang Bang. I returned the favor when an AK47 round went thru his upper arm two months later. Standing side by side we had been thru 15 fire-fights and a lot of shit. I'm a damn cowboy redneck from the mountains of Arizona, he's a 'croppers son from outside of Dothan, Alabama. We are always on each others ass for the stupid way's we had been brought up. He calls me a damned ignorant cracker bigot. I tell him that that's ok, least I'm not some dumb negro cotton picker. We love each other like brothers. We are not white or black, we are Wolfhounds! Yeah sure, we may be with Bravo company 2nd btn, 27th Infantry. The Wolfhounds. Actually we are a couple of scared kids, that just wanna go home and cruise the main drag, listen to rock n roll, and find some sweet young thing to make out with.

 A movement to our rear. Chickowski is motioning us to move out.

 A groan from each of us as we stand and begin again. I take the right, Cedric the left and we begin our dance of death with the floor of the jungle.

 It must be about 4 in the afternoon. We should have stopped an hour ago, to start setting up our nights hardpoint. Mind is numb from the constant struggle to figure out where to walk. Body is exhausted. The trail has widened out and Chicowski relay's that we are to stop here. Finally.

 Cedric and I pick a spot behind a termite mound on the right of the trail and listen to the rest moving up.

 Most of the platoon is in the wide spot and milling around and beginning to set up the position. One of the FNG's, (what the hell is his name?) is walking towards our mound when he kind of stops in mid-stride and looks at the hole that is spurting blood in great gouts from his right arm.

 All hell breaks loose. AK's, rpg's, and machine-gun fire rip around us. Cedric and I had been half dozing with fatigue, he swings around and starts spraying to the left of us with his 16. I'm doing the same to the right.

 Screaming and shouting and pops and roars fill the air. The zip-zip of near misses, sing an evil song as they go by.  

 Crenshaw is down, about twenty feet to my right. "Medic" Was that me that shouted that? "Medic" It was that time.

 A sudden deafness. A roiling of dirt and debris. 

 I.....I...How come I'm on my face? 

 I look up, Cedric is staring into my face with eyes that will never see this world again.

 So odd, I can't seem......my arms....they are so heavy.

 Forever, that's how long it takes me to lift my hand. Forever, that's the time needed to reach that hand to Cedrics.

 Forever, that is what we have now.

Morning Musing

G'day y'all....been awhile but am (of course) thinking about you always....or maybe not.  Who knows.

Beauty full day here in the aridzone.  Finally getting out of the upper 90s and are supposed to be around 90 for a high each day this week.   Good news for old fahts like me.

Just got off the fone with a nice lady from United Animal Friends.  I foster orphan kitties for them and am doing the voiceovers for them on a local television special they are doing.  So a nice talk about it.

Sorry bout that....a brief pause while I talked with Ruthless on the phone.

Watched the Mad Max trilogy this week....had seen parts of the 1st and 2nd before and now have watched the entire thing.  The first is ok and it's a hoot watching Mel Gibson cause he looks like he is only about 16 years old..... The second edition Road Warrior is very good and probably the best overall of the series.   Beyond Thunderdome is the 3rd and final, it's very good in places and enjoyable but, for some reason that I can't explain just not quite as good as Road Warrior.

The Cards look pretty good against Jacksonville on Sunday, but up next are the Colts.  This will be a real test to see just how good a team we are.

ASU Sun Devils have been quite impressive against lesser caliber opponents and now face their big challenge, the Georgia Bulldogs in Georgia!   Should be a heck of a game, and then on to Pac 10 play.

Well, Mr mind is starting to drift away for a little while and I must needs get some things done before it's time for a nap..... So A River Dechie Mon A Moor also A Low Hah.

God Bless

Just a quick note because I care....see...look into my eyes (all four of them), now honestly, have you ever seen such sincerity before?

Quickly moving on;  just want to share something with you it's a link to Ann Coulter's web site.  I know, I know.... if you are a liberal or anything of that  particular ilk....Ann Coulter is a four letter word.  However trust me, for the last month she has been running a weekly column on the Health Care Reform Bill. 

Wether or not you agree with her (personally I don't see how you can not agree with her).  It is very informative.

So here is the link   AnnColter.com and there is an archive so you can start at the begining  of the series

And Now, the rest of the story

Ahhh, things look much better on Saturday morning...somewhat later (about 11 hours) after my last note.  A good nights sleep, waking up to a kitten sitting on the pillow next to my head, thunder all around the area and a cool breeze......da good life.....course the thunder don't mean it's raining.   All around Cordes , but none here on my plot.

Did a little surfing around the web before signing on to write this, and not much happening in the world.   Ok, lots happening in the world, but nothing that jumped out at me.  Which is a good thing......something jumping out at me, causes what I call my Bill Cosby reaction.  "first you say it, then you do it."   College football, PAC-10 style starts tonight, with ASU facing Idaho State.   Not really a must see game, but at least it's college football.

Looking forward to Sunday, for those liberals in the crowd..that's tomorrow.   Church and the first Sunday of the month pot luck......free food, see there is a GOD and he is generous, even to Southern Baptists.

On a political note, what little reading of the pundits and headlines that I do anymore, I've noticed a few little things.  The beltway bandits (known as congress)(and I refuse to capitalize their job positions) are in denial and shock about the fact that us commoners are so rude and disgusting  in the town hall meetings about health care!   The left has started a full fledged assult on Sarah Palin, which shows me that  they are terrified of her actually running for President!  Typical on their part.  I have never seen so many people talking bad about and resenting the government before....and, if I remember correctly, I lived through the 60's.  It's just about reached the scary stage.  Everywhere you go people are saying rude things and I won't say advocating violence, but I will say expecting it.   Sad really, but expected when you thing of how arrogant the idiots like Obama, Biden,  Pelosi, Reid, Boxer, Franken, Daschell, Rangel, Sharpton and their ilk are.  I guess you know it's bad when they can almost make one nostalgic for the Clinton years!

But enough about the End Of Times.  Speaking of that, have many friends who believe we are in them now......I'm on the fence about how close the Trumpet is, but am sure ready to hear it.

Will recommend the Max Lucado book "A Cast Of Characters" to all (and sundry).   Was the subject of a just ended Bible study.   I had never read one of his many books before and was just blown away by his style and God given gift of explaining the Gospel.   Change start of this paragraph to HIGHLY recommend.

Anyhow, is almost noonish here and as the bard once said  "I have a rumbly in my tumbly."   So you are on your own until I get bored again.

God Bless

Humbugs

Hello, and good evening...it's not quite morning here so will save the good mornings for another time.

Feeling down and blue....or maybe just depressed, repressed, unpressed and dispossed......simply put....yucky.  Think I'll talk about it cause doubt that anyone except my sister and Ruth ever read this (thanks guys-you two can ignore my late night whines).

Just getting lonely....go through these bouts every so often, and will snap out of it in a few years...er, a day or so.  I hope.  Am homebound and with MS in an Arizona summer...that means I don't leave my yard more than 5 or 6 times a month....sometimes will spend 4 to 6 days not going any further than my carport.  Gets to you after awhile.  Don't get me wrong, I've got tons of people calling on the phone to check up on me (I think they just want to make sure I'm home and not on the way to visit them!).   Willie and Elaine are always willing to take me to Church or the store, but you know how it is to constantly ask for rides somewhere, even when the ride is given without any problem you just feel like you're intruding on someone.  Especially now that I havn't driven for 3  (!) years. 

My neighbor friends Marti and Robert are moving across town and they are about the last people left on this end of the block.  I have a vacant lot then an empty rental to my west  on this side of the street, two vacant lots then an empty home on the east side of mine.  A burned out trailer behind me, next to a vacant lot.  Marti & Robert lived katty corner to my north.  A vacant lot directly across the street and next to that is a trailer that is the "getaway" home of some people from Washington State and they haven't been there in almost a year.   Sigh.

Getting right down to it, is the fact that I'm just going through one of those times in a single persons life when they miss having someone to be with.   Not that I want to share my life actually, but it does get lonely.   Just realized that I have gone to bed alone every night since 1995!  Sigh, sniffle.  Miss having someone to cuddle with.   The really funny thing about that is the fact that I've NEVER had someone to cuddle with!   My ex spent 25 years telling me no to cuddlin, then Sam (a female Sam in case you are interested) would cuddle only very occaisionaly maybe 1  time in 5.  And we were only together for a short while anyhow.   Got any tears yet....?

I think all of that explains why my cats are so important to me.   Espescially the foster kittens that NEED their cuddles and love.   Also explains why it  hurts so much to give them up for adoption.

My sister and I talked a little bit about relationships this evening, and I think we have (shock) slightly different attitudes at the present time.  The thought of dateing is abhorant to her....she said she out much rather go straight to marriage rather than go through the whole "ritual" of dateing again.   Me, I can't date, for a couple of obvious reasons;  no money, no car, no single females, oh...and no front toofuss' either.....add to that the fact that when I'm talking to females I will (and this is a given fact) always do the worst thing at the most in-oportune time....hey, it's a knack, what can I say.

Isi (the sister)(long story) does have the luxury of having her son and grandkids close to hand.  She's got her grand daughters with her this weekend.

Havn't heard from my girls in forever, and can understand that......never was much of a father and they sure have busy lives anyhow.   As an aside to that, I am so very proud of both of them....Claire manages a warehouse/distribution center and Jenny manages a huge produce department for aa major grocery outlet.  They have both come so far, from the horrible childhoods they had.

Still got the sniffles?   That's ok, me also, actually by just typing all of this out am feeling a little better.

Probably didn't help that  I watched "The Sixth Sense" tonight, good flick and Bruce Willis is good actor.   Also just adore Toni Collette, so that didn't hurt. However it is a tear jerker and that didn't help my mood I suppose.   Should have watched something uplifting slapstick.....maybe, oh Titanic, or Old Yeller.....just kidding.

Anyhow, I've got the whining out of my system to a certain extent and like I said, I feel confident that nobody but Kris and maybe Ruth will read this.....

So don't bug me about K & R.... And if anyone including either of you do actually read this piece of drivel... by all means, leave a comment so I'll know that somebody pays attention and won't bother with this self pity writing anymore..... insert grin here.

God Bless

Goals not Gaols

Good Morrow fine people or persons or whatevers.

You know when you get older you start thinking more often about those things that you wish you had done or places you wanted to go and just never made it. 

I definately fall into the getting older sections so been thinking of things that if given the chance to do I would leap at...and won't even mention Sophia Loren from here on out.

First would be go to sea....been wanting to do that since I read my first Hornblower book in the late 1950s.   Don't know if I would spend the time throwing up or fall overboard or what....but oh my wouldn' t that be something to see the ocean in all of its moods and watch the sun rise/set.   I'm not talking about a humungous cruis ship but  a sailing ship or a freighter.   Wouldn't have to be large or comfortable, just be going somewhere....oh and comming back would be a nice option also.

The next few things are also in the realm of conquering fears, since I am afraid of heights!

Parachute, skydive whatever..... it's the one that would scare me the most but it has a definate appeal.

Go in a small, single engine airplane to sightsee over Arizona.  The thought of airliners terrifies me, but would love to see the sights from about 2 to 5 thousand feet and at a slow speed.

Go backseat in a jet fighter!   Yes, I know that the pilots would do things that would cause me to lose lunches I havn't even eaten yet, but to feel the performance and thrills that an aircraft of that kind would provide....wow.

Would love to spend a week with the Arizona Cardinals during the regular season, just to see what they go through and to be able to walk on the sidelines during a game.   Funny, I've been a  Cards fan since we were both in St Louis in 1977 and 78, but never been able to go to a game of theirs.  Growing up in the Bay Area went to quite a few 49er games "back in the day".   Have been to a few training camps of the Cards and that is always eye opening to say the least.

Drive a stock car....but maybe not that fast!   Have driven cars at over 150 mph and cycles (motor not bi))  over 100 but to sit in a NASCAR type car and take a few laps would be incredible.

Visit Scotland.   Only a quarter of my heritage is Scots, but I think it's the Alpha quarter!   To show you how serious a pull this is...I don't drink anymore and would still put going to Scotland as one of my priorites.

Go on a horseback ride from the Mexican border all the way up to Canada and if possible without going on paved roads.  I don't like camping and am a terrible rider, but the idea of seeing the country as our intrepid ancestors did is intriguing.

Kind of on the same idea would be a trip from the start of the Mississippi River to the Gulf on a small boat.  Maybe even a barge tug would be cool....crossed the Mississippi many times and driven beside and sat on the bank a few times and it is so incredibly majestic that it pulls on you, just to see what's around the bend.

Well my desk top has come down with an attack of kitten so in lieu of a longer list I will say

TTFN and May God Bless You.