Thursday, January 21, 2010

How to Spot a Phony When Online Dating | eHow.com

How to Spot a Phony When Online Dating eHow.com


Not everyone on the online dating sites is sincere. They may not be looking for what you are looking for even if they state that they are. This post will give you tips on how to safely surf the internet dating sites for what you desire.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Being Overweight a Sign of the Times



Just sitting here this morning relaxing and reflecting.  I was just thinking about how every year I seem to make a New Year's resolution to lose weight, eat healthier and exercise more.  Well, the lose weight part I sorta have in hand and know what I need to do to accomplish that. 

The eating healthier part is another story.  Being from Louisiana and being a full-fledged Cajun Gal, I don't have to tell you about our diet.  We just love us some of that rice and gravy.  We just gotta have some of dem cracklins and boudin, sha. Not to mention we chase them down with an ice cold beer. So, how does one eat healthy in this culture?  I guess the best thing to do is lock yourself in your house because no matter where you go or who invites you to what, you are facing this type of food.  Wedding receptions around here are seldom missed.  If you get an invitation to any reception or party you will go knowing the great food that will be there for you to indulge in.  Oh yes, I am talking the whole nine-yards from boudin, cracklins, dirty rice, fried chicken, sticky wings and potato salad to homemade pies, cakes and candies.   Don't forget the booze which is there by the keg.  I know you are probably thinking, "well just because it is there, no one is forcing you to consume anything."  Well, I am here to tell you or dare you to just try that.  Like I said earlier, just lock me in the house and don't let me anywhere near any of it.  That is the only way I can eat healthy. 

 On another note, I was pondering on the exercise thing.  That too is no pleasure and they say "no pain, no gain".  I was reminising about bygone days.  Our ancestors were exercising on a regular basis and were not even aware of it.  I can remember women walking around toting one or even two babies on their hip.  Ever did work with a baby on your hip?  There were no walkers, bouncy things or play pens.  Women did their own house work.  Remember when there was one vehicle per family?  When my mom or grandma needed groceries they walked to the grocery store and then carried the groceries back home.  I walked to Church and to religious classes.  We walked in groups.  Another memory was the fact that your laundry was hung out on the line to dry.  Once dry, you went back out again and removed them and carried them inside.  The ringer type washing machine was a trip also.  How about those wash boards?  Now we have all these push buttons, some have housekeepers, and all the things needed to occupy the babies and keep them corraled.  It is no wonder we are over weight.  We are spoiled. 

Gosh, sometimes I think it would be nice to skip back a few decades to the way it was.  We live in a fast paced society and often miss out on all the special times with our family and miss making sweet memories.  Slow down, take time, make time and make those memories.  Take the stairs if you are able.  Park up the parking lot and walk to the department store.   Driving round and round to find a close parking spot just makes you dizzy and frustrated.  Once inside the store, stay as long as time will allow.  You are in a well lighted and temperature controlled facility, take that walk.  Walk the mall. 


Just recall the old days when people walked where they had to go or rode a bike.  People got together to help their neighbor "raise that barn", butcher a hog, collect their crops, or build a house.  All of this was natural exercise.  America is getting lazy and Americans are getting unhealthy.  Enough of my wandering mind.  I think I need to get off my butt and mop my kitchen.  The dryer just buzzed, no I don't have clotheslines,,,,guilty!  Maybe I can stand to fold my clothes instead of sitting. Yes, that'll work.  Maybe I will make several trips to put the clothes away instead of loading my arms or putting in a basket.  Yes, that'll work too. 

Monday, December 14, 2009

Where is Christmas

I have taken the beautiful song below and broken it down to share my views on the meaning of the song. A few years ago I had a major change in my life. The first Christmas after my change, this song made me cry. This song has since taken on a new meaning. It has taught me a valuable lesson. My intention in writing my interpretation would be to help someone to enjoy the wonderful season.




                              "Where Are You Christmas"

                                                                      by: Faith Hill



Where are you Christmas

Why can't I find you

Why have you gone away



(Christmas never goes away. Christmas is there in our hearts.)



Where is the laughter

You used to bring me

Why can't I hear music play



(The laughter is there within your heart. It is within the hearts of those you love. Find it! Music, oh the joy of beautiful music. Silenced ears and a hardened heart can not detect it. Open up, listen closely and it will resound in you.)



My world is changing

I'm rearranging

Does that mean Christmas changes too?



(Our life changes. Over the years it changes often. We adjust to these changes and continue. We lose sight of happiness at times and get wrapped up in our self pity. We have to find happiness, make our happiness. The same holds true for Christmas!!)



Where are you Christmas

Do you remember

The one you used to know



(Christmas is there, it remembers. It is us who forgets. Let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas. The Savior who came into our world to save us. The Savior who desires for us to be happy. We can find the spirit of Christmas through Him who loves us unconditionally.)



I'm not the same one

See what the time's done

Is that why you have let me go



(No, we are not the same. Each year before Christmas arrives we have experienced some major changes in our lives. Christmas did not let you go,,,you may have let it go. Snap out of a depressed state. Set aside your wordly problems for the short while Christmas is here. Find Christmas and the Joy it brings.)



Christmas is here

Everywhere, oh

Christmas is here

If you care, oh



(CARE!!)



If there is love in your heart and your mind

You will feel like Christmas all the time



(Christmas is a state of mind. Happiness is a state of mind. Both are a condition of the heart. If we find both and hold on tight, we can have the joy both afford all year round.)



I feel you Christmas

I know I've found you

You never fade away

The joy of Christmas

Stays here inside us



(Christmas truly never fades away, it just tends to hide from us if we let it. Don't let Christmas escape you this year or any year. Your loved ones are counting on you to share their joy.)



Fills each and every heart with love

Where are you Christmas

Fill your heart with love



(Care and Love are both powerful words. They go hand in hand. If you have love you care,,,,,,,,,if you care, you have love. Now is the time for us to be unselfish. Let go of being self centered. FIND CHRISTMAS

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Christmas Traditions








This Christmas is just a little different from others. My daughter and her two girls have moved in with me while their home is being built. The situation is a little challenging since my home is small, but we are doing just fine. Each Christmas, we always take time to decorate the "gumdrop tree". This year my grand daughter, Abbe, helped me. She thought this was totally cool. I had a tough time finding the red and green gum drop treats. After three stores and no success, I decided to check out the really large specialty store, Albertsons. They have always come through when there was a certain something I was in need of. There they were, Brach's yummy green and red gum drops. A Christmas tradition is important. Making memories is well worth the hunt for the needed ingredient.
This year, we let the children wrap the family gifts.  They were eager to learn and actually worked together well to get the job done. The grandchildren even enjoyed making and baking yummy Christmas cookies.  Again, they worked well together.  Licking fingers is just part of the deal.  When all cookies were done, it was a fight to see who got to lick the bowl.  Plenty left in bowl on purpose, of course and plenty to share.  More memories captured in pictures.  Please don't forget to pull out your camera this Christmas.  Capture all of those precious Christmas memories as they happen.
We had a surprise this year.  Got about two inches of snow on the 4th of December.  My grandchildren were so excited.  The snow fell in late evening and was not promised to be around long the next morning, so a snowman had to be built in the dark.  They completed the dirty 6 ft. wonder at 9:00 p.m.  We labeled him the "Mardi Gras Dude".  The children started with small balls of snow way back in the yard and rolled to the front yard to get the size snowball they needed.  In their excitement they realized they had four big balls of grassy snow, thus a 6 ft. guy.  They constructed ramps of different heights to roll the huge balls of snow up to create their masterpiece.  Our frosty lasted from Friday night through Sunday.  The site looked a little strange when there was no snow on the ground and the temperature outside was in the mid 50s.  The morning after the snowfall, we got dressed for our annual family trip to Christmas shop.  Oh, what a joy it was to go shopping with the white stuff covering everything.  Pine and spruce trees along the drive were glorious with the snow on the boughs.   You have to understand that this is something we don't see or experience much.  When we do, it is so exciting.  Enjoy the pics.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A Time, a Season for Reflection



The Holiday Season is here.  For most it is a joyous time.  For some it can mean a renewed feeling of lonliness and depression.  A melancholy feeling overwhelms many because they recall past Holidays with loved ones they have lost for one reason or another.  It is at this time that we should reflect on friendships and blessings.  Give thanks for what we have and push aside thoughts of what we don't have.  Today I received a sweet phone call from a friend with an invitation to join her family for the Thanksgiving Day meal and celebration.  Knowing that I am single, she thought that perhaps I was going to be alone.  This brought joy to my heart.  I thanked her for the thoughtful invitation once I informed her that one of my daughters had decided to hang back and be with mom instead of following the other siblings to their father's home. Two acts of unselfishness exemplifying the feeling of love and compassion in one's human heart.  My friends, tis the season for sharing.  Things shared with ones we love and care about come in many forms.  It can be simply stopping what you are doing to make a quick call to say you care.  You, too, may consider sharing your meal with someone who is alone.  Don't let the hustle and bustle of this busy materialistic world allow you to lose contact with friends, neighbors and loved ones.  Make that call, that donation, that visit.  Send that special greeting card disregarding the cost of postage.  Consider it a small gift with a large impact.  Thank God for the riches we possess in the form of love, compassion and generosity.  We can make a difference in someone's life.  We can perhaps save a life or repair a broken heart.  God Bless us all!