Your Bank Account

This is AWESOME ... something we should all remember.

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. 

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, 

he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, 

I provided a visual description of his tiny room, 

including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.

'Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.'

'Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. 

it's how I arrange my mind. 

I already decided to love it.'

'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice;

I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, 

or get out of bed and be thankful; for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, 

and as long as my eyes open, 

I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. 

Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!

Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. 

I am still depositing.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

Have a nice day, 

unless you already have other plans.

Identity Theft and the IRS

 This is directly from the IRS website --- see Uncle Sam does want to watch out for us (in a good way).  Since I've seen a number of emails sent to me by the banks and the IRS telling me to "click here and sign in" to keep things with my account or refund moving ....... I know this happens. 

Top 10 Things Every Taxpayer Should Know about Identity Theft

Taxpayers need to be careful to protect their personal information. Identity thieves use many methods to steal personal information and then they use the information to file a tax return and get a refund. Here are 10 things the IRS wants you to know about identity theft so you can avoid becoming the victim of an identity thief.

1. The IRS does not initiate contact with a taxpayer by e-mail.

2. If you receive a scam e-mail claiming to be from the IRS, forward it to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

3. Identity thieves get your personal information by many different means, including:

*       Stealing your wallet or purse
*       Posing as someone who needs information about you through a phone call or e-mail
*       Looking through your trash for personal information
*       Accessing information you provide to an unsecured Internet site.

4. If you discover a website that claims to be the IRS but does not begin with 'www.irs.gov', forward that link to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

5. To learn how to identify a secure website, visit the Federal Trade Commission at www.onguardonline.gov/tools/recognize-secure-site-using-ssl.aspx

6. If your Social Security number is stolen, another individual may use it to get a job. That person's employer may report income earned by them to the IRS using your Social Security number, thus making it appear that you did not report all of your income on your tax return.

7. Your identity may have been stolen if a letter from the IRS indicates more than one tax return was filed for you or the letter states you received wages from an employer you don't know. If you receive such a letter from the IRS, leading you to believe your identity has been stolen, respond immediately to the name, address or phone number on the IRS notice.

8. If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft, but you believe you may be at risk due to a lost wallet, questionable credit card activity, or credit report, you need to provide the IRS with proof of your identity. You should submit a copy of your valid government-issued identification - such as a Social Security card, driver's license, or passport - along with a copy of a police report and/or a completed Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit. As an option, you can also contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit, toll-free at 800-908-4490. You should also follow FTC guidance for reporting identity theft at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

9. Show your Social Security card to your employer when you start a job or to your financial institution for tax reporting purposes. Do not routinely carry your card or other documents that display your Social Security number.

10. For more information about identity theft - including information about how to report identity theft, phishing and related fraudulent activity - visit the IRS Identity Theft and Your Tax Records Page, which you can find by searching "Identity Theft" on the IRS.gov home page.

Thanks Elaine, for sending this link to all of us in the office ......... you always have a way to keep us informed

Try Purex Complete

Not sure if you have heard of this product or not - or if you have tried it or not - but Purex Complete is a great product for your laundry especially, if like me, you are always doing more than one thing at a time (Women always seem to be the multi-taskers of the household - why is that?)

I actually found this product LAST year when I was on vacation. I had picked up a box so that I wouldn't have to have all the laundry items on hand at the condo (I love my timeshare) since I'm only there for a week. And anything that is left over ..... easily fits in the car (or a suitcase) for the trip home.....oh and it smells really good in those places too!

To get your sample, click here Introduce_a_friend_to_Purex_Complete_3-in-1_Laundry_Sheets   They say it takes 6 - 8 weeks so hurry to get yourself into the process!! Oh and you can easily "introduce" your friends to it as well with the easy email link on this page as well.

Hurry!

The Fresh Diet

I am currently trying to win this WONDERFUL looking meal plan and although it will hurt my chances to win in the next "contest" (if of course I didn't win this last one - oh I wish - my fingers are crossed) you really should check these guys out.  Go check out their website, I'll wait for you to come back ..... just click 

The Fresh Diet

Ok now that you are back .... see I told you I would wait.  You need to do something else - 

Go on to Facebook (I just KNOW you have an account there too) and go to their page and click "like" - once they hit 3000 fans, they are going to open up another contest.  They have prizes that are for a week, a month or two of their meals ...... GOURMET meals delivered daily just to help you lose weight or maintain your current weight, if you are so lucky to be exactly where you want and need to be.  Some contests are for current "members/users" and some are just for prospective clients and then they have "open" contests for anyone - current/new/potential clients. 

Just since I am soooooo good to you, all you need to do is click  TheFreshDiet  and you will be on their page on Facebook too.  See I told you I was good to you.

What are you waiting for ---- just Do It!

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Jeopardy Question: 

On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was "How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns" 

All three contestants missed it! 
Do you know the answer?  
I didn't.

1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?

21 steps: It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute which is the highest honor given and military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why?

21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1

3. Why are his gloves wet?

His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle. 

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and, if not, why not?

He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.  This is a sign of protection of the unknowns against any danger.

5. How often are the guards changed?

The Tomb has been continuously guarded 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Tomb guards are changed every thirty minutes between 8 AM and 7 PM during the period from early spring to early autumn (April 1 through September 30), and every hour between 8 AM to 5 PM the rest of the year. At all other times (when the cemetery is closed), the guard is changed every two hours.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?

Each soldier must be in superb physical condition, possess an unblemished military record and be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall, with a proportionate weight and build.Each soldier must sign for 2 years of their life to guard the tomb, but often completes only half of this term.

Tomb guards may live either on-base (at nearby Fort Myer) or off-base in housing of their choosing.

Once the sentinel has completed his or her training, he or she is examined formally for proficiency in performing the duties and in knowledge of ANC. He or she must first pass a written examination of 100 questions about ANC and then be evaluated on proficiency in keeping watch at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

After their service, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of  the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin. 

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet.

There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.

There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. 
Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror. 

 A Tomb guard's behavior is not so stringently regulated that he is prohibited from speaking to anyone like in Old Guard with a monastery. Guards may do whatever they want during their off-duty hours. But since any soldier wishing to become a sentinel must undergo rigorous training, including several hours a day of marching, rifle drill and uniform preparation, and every tomb sentinel is expected to be completely versed in the history of both the tomb and of Arlington National Cemetery (including knowing how to find the graves of all the prominent person buried in the cemetery), they don't necessarily have a lot of free time to devote to recreational activities.

 Among the notables buried here are:

 

William Howard Taft and John F Kennedy, the only Presidents buried at Arlington, Joe Lewis {the boxer}, Medal of Honor winner Audie L. Murphy, the most decorated soldier of WWII and of Hollywood fame. 

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty..

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD 

AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON  THEM. 

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC, our US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members  assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They

respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!" Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

God Bless and keep them.  

We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service 

no matter where they serve.   

  

IN GOD WE TRUST

If you've never watched the guarding of the tomb, here's a sentinel's eye on why they do what they do, with glimpses of the "walk" 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d66vOoexcg&feature=channel

If you want to see more of these - check out youtube.com --- there are many on changing of the guard.  Just put in tomb of the unknown soldier and there will be many that are available to you.

Success

I really like this one - sometimes I think some of the most successful people have had this tattooed on the inside of their eyelids - so that they can see it every time they close their eyes (or roll them at some of the stupid things we do) so that they NEVER forget.

How far you go in life 

depends on your being

tender with the young, 

compassionate with the aged, 

sympathetic with the striving 

and tolerant of the weak 
and strong. 

Because someday in your life 

you will have been all of these.

George Washington Carver

losing it

I am beginning to think I am losing it - completely.


Before Jenn and I went to VA - quick trip only pictures of Reggie the cat - to visit my sister, the kids and my son, we went to Pub 199 (cheap steak, lobster, king crab legs) that has really great food.  Now we went on a week ago Thursday, and I swear I took my store "advantage" card tags off my key ring and put them in the drawer.  I know I didn't take it with us when we went to VA since most of the stores on there (including my gym membership card that expired and my library card) would never work down there, but for the life of me I can NOT find it.

Now  -  does that mean I don't have to do the grocery shopping since I can't find my "sale" cards?  How long do you think I could get away with that one?

Well I'm sure that isn't going to work - you see we have this thing about eating - we like to, maybe too much, but we do.  So I will need to go crazy looking for it before grocery day (tomorrow usually).  Oh and when I find it --- I'll let you know just how far off I was (or how far I've really lost my mind - which maybe I'll find with my "sale" cards).

Wish me luck.

Interested in front page news? Anywhere?

You may find this site interesting.  Someone emailed this to me (thanks Elaine) and I thought of all of you - see you are always on my mind (someplace)

Just put your mouse on a city anywhere in the world and the day's newspaper front page pops up... Double click and the page gets larger...Then you can either read the pdf version or click through to the paper itself in the upper right corner..
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/

Also, if you look at the European papers, the far left side of Germany will pop up as The Stars & Stripes (European edition, of course). AND, this site changes everyday with the publication of new editions of the paper. I think you'll enjoy this.. great rainy day read.

vacation

Love spending time with family while on vacation but I really forgot what it's like being with kids. ....at least not teenagers yet family.

So what are you doing for vacation this year? Anything good? Where do you WANT to go?

Quotes of the Day

I think the best pictures are often on the edges of any situation,
I don't find photographing the situation nearly as interesting
 as photographing the edges.

William Albert Allard

‎"Human beings,

by changing the inner attitudes of their minds,

can change the outer aspects of their lives."

William James

Most folks are about as happy

as they make up their minds to be

Abraham Lincoln

Making a difference

Never be afraid to do something new.
Remember,
amateurs built the ark;
professionals built the titanic.

Anonymous

To put the world right in order,
we must first put the nation in order;
to put the nation in order,
we must first put the family in order;
to put the family in order,
we must first cultivate our personal life;
we must first set our hearts right.

Confucius

We must not,
in trying to think about how we can make a big difference,
ignore the small daily differences we can make which,
over time,
add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.

Marian Wright Edelman

And my all time favorite .......

Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I...
I took the one less traveled,
and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Can you make the cut?

The ultimate measure of a person
is not where they stand
in moments of comfort and convenience,
but where the stand
in times of challenge and controversy.

Martin Luther King, Jr

Cancer

Thursday was World Cancer Day

A small request.. Just one line

Dear God, 

I pray for a cure for cancer. 

Amen 

 

In memory of anyone you know who has been struck down by cancer or is still living with it.

I was asked to keep this circulating, even if it's only to one more person.  

I chose to share it with each of you.

A Candle Loses Nothing 

by Lighting Another Candle..

Work or Play?

‎"You've achieved success in your field

when you don't know whether what you're doing

is work or play."

Warren Beatty

Smoothie mania Part II

Well this morning I made an awesome smoothie for breakfast, which you can read about smoothie-mania, if you missed it this morning. 

It ended up being very filling (much to my surprise) and I didn't feel like eating anything until almost 1:30.  Lunch was a sandwich made with leftover turkey meatloaf type burger.  Since I figured I better try something a little less "liquid".

Now for "dinner" I made another smoothie, cause I really am not very hungry.  I guess in the back of my mind, I'm thinking I should use these banana's so I don't end up with too many of them in the freezer.  I mean how many banana breads can you make?  Don't answer that.

Dinner Smoothie
1 small banana
8 frozen strawberries
1/2 cup FF yogurt
1 scoop AnyWhey Protein Powder
1/3 cup Coconut Water
1/2 tbsp Blue Agave Syrup
Squirt of Dark Chocolate syrup (Hershey's)
Lots and lots of ice

I'm thinking this will do me till tomorrow - unless I decide to have something later for dessert (I'm doubting that since its almost 7 already)

Nurse Jackie: A Beautiful Catastrophe

Have you seen the show Nurse Jackie?  I've seen clips a few times as we are flipping through the channels  and thought  "I should check this one out" because I really like Edie Falco.  But of course I still have that on my "to do list".

Today we have a Guest posting by Dave Genos, on this very show!

Edie Falco has proven that she's more than just "Mrs. Soprano" and in a big way! Season two of her hit series Nurse Jackie ended this June, but you can still check out episodes by flipping your Directtv over to Showtime almost any night.

It's been difficult for Sopranos actors to move away from the show, particularly since so many of them have been typecast as gangsters and mobsters after so many excellent seasons on HBO. The Sopranos cast should all take a long look at Falco for training on how to move on and move up!

Nurse Jackie takes us deep inside the life of an ER nurse who lives on the edge, but manages to barely keep everything together. It doesn't take long to feel like your watching two (or more) different shows as Jackie tries to string together a life at home with a loving husband and children, her addiction to pain killer medication and her multiple affairs with doctors and pharmacists at the hospital. It doesn't take long for her world to start fraying at the edges, and not to give too much away, but pretty soon her many worlds start to overlap and that's when the real fun begins!

Throughout it all Jackie manages to keep you on her side, despite the horrible things she does to her family, and make you root for her on occasion, but you'll probably find yourself wishing she'd just quit making her life so difficult. She's a genuinely nice person who's dug her own grave, the big question is whether she can pull herself back out again.

So, if you haven't already checked out Nurse Jackie on Showtime then get to that remote tonight and sit down to watch a beautiful catastrophe. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion and it's just as much fun.

Well now I have to move it further UP my to do list ..... Thanks  Dave.

WD-40 ..... who knew?

What is the main ingredient of WD-40 ?

Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40 is?

Don't lie and don't cheat.

WD-40. Who knew; I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup.
I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason). I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news. He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do.... probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.
Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off.

It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck.

I'm impressed! WD-40 who knew? 'Water Displacement #40'.

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company.
Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'water displacement' compound.. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.
The Convair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.
Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you...

When you read the 'shower door' part, try it. It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle!

Then try it on your stove top ... Viola! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.

1. Protects silver from tarnishing.
2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.
5.. Keeps flies off cows.
6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7. Removes lipstick stains.
8.. Loosens stubborn zippers.
9. Untangles jewelry chains.
10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16. Keeps scissors working smoothly..
17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
18. It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!
20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers...
22.. Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open..
24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans
28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31. Removes splattered grease on stove.
32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35. Removes all traces of duct tape.
36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37. Florida ’s favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'
38. The favorite use in the state of New York , WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
40. Use it for fire ant bites.. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41. WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, satur ate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!
43. If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.

P.S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL.
Who knew?

Smoothie Mania

My VitaMix got a work out again this morning for a great breakfast drink. I didn't use enough ice to make it a "smoothie" but it was cold and somewhat smoothie like.

I unfortunately forgot to take a picture - I guess I was just out of it this morning, sorry. This made a huge amount and took a while to drink - but it really really was tasty.

1 small banana
1/2 cup FF plain yogurt
1 scoop AnyWhey Protein Powder
2 tsp Hershey Dark Chocolate Cocoa
2 TBS Splenda
1 TBS Vanilla
1TBS FlaxSeed Meal
< 1/4 cup coconut water
ice


We will see how long this lasts and what I "need" for lunch today - but we started out the day on a good note :) since it appears that my weight loss battle is not in the "winning" ways.

On a "higher" note, I found a smoothie "cookbook" yesterday among my box of cookbooks that aren't on the shelf, that I will go through to see if I can find some more interesting meals to make. I remember getting this book years ago when my daughter just HAD to have a smoothie maker ...... I think its around here somewhere, but my VitaMix is SOOOOO much better than that was - because it does so much more and makes things so much smoother.

Quotes of the Day

The truly important things in life -
love, beauty, and one's own uniqueness
- are constantly being overlooked.

Pablo Casals

The unexamined life is not worth living

Socrates

The universe is change;
our life is what our thoughts make it.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Message of the Day

Life is short,
Break the rules,
Forgive quickly,

Kiss slowly,
Love truly,
Laugh uncontrollably,

And never regret anything
that made you smile.

A new Blog to check out .... regularly

One of my favorite magazines (ok so its a cookbook) has a blog now. Do you like Taste of Home? Do you get their "magazine" either by subscription or by picking it up at the store?

When you get a chance - ok so hurry click - love and homemade recipes to check out Taste of Home's blog. I'm really excited because I LOVE some of these many books they have put together. I must have 10 or 15 (or more).

And when I was checking them out --- I noticed on the sidebar quite a few bloggers that I have checked out in the past.

So now I have yet another blog to be checking out on a regular basis (Google Reader is getting to be quite large).

Special Moments Recognition

Have you, like me, been at a loss as to what to get for someone? You know, when you just want to recognize something that has happened in their lives with something special, but you just can't figure out what to do.

Well I have found a great place to find Gifts of Flowers or Gift Baskets that are nice, relatively inexpensive and different from what I've seen in my local stores. You need to check out Overstock.com for some really great ideas. I found a few things to send to my niece and nephew for the end of their great school year.

Now if you are looking for something a little more substantial for either yourself or maybe a teen who has accomplished something they didn't think they could, Overstock.com has some fantastic Electronics to chose from. You know teens and electronics. If this fits your desires, check out DVD Players or Televisions since these seem to go hand in hand (at least they do in my house).

If you have a budding photographer (yes Jenn I should have looked here for your cameras!) the selection of Digital Cameras is really pretty good. You could afford to pick up a camera to start your child on a great hobby or to expand their horizons. How many times did you wish you had a picture of something and didn't have a good camera available? Overstock.com has a fantastic selection.

Now I don't know about your school system, but I think every child is exposed to the computer in our schools before they are in the 3rd grade. Maybe even earlier. By the time my kids were in high school, some of their assignments for their Science class were on the computer, I bet its sooner now. They had to go to a website and answer questions at least 3 nights a week. If this is something you have been looking to get, check out Overstock.com's Laptops. You could get your son or daughter their own computer without breaking the bank!

Another thing I love about Overstock.com - if you select something to check out in detail, they also give you some "other suggestions" for things that others have also looked at that relate to your selection.

That's one of the great things about Overstock.com - you can afford to do things "just because". You can find all kinds of things there, you just have to let your fingers do that walking, so to speak. I have ordered a few things from Overstock and have been VERY happy with everything. Shipments have always been very quick, packaged well so that it arrived safely and was as it was described. And they don't kill you with shipping charges - $2.95 for shipping is great, no matter how much you buy.

Yes, Overstock.com is a wonderful place to find gifts for those special moments that you want to recognize and remember with that little something. Jump on over and see what you can find so that you too can be a superstar to someone today.

Real Jersey People.

I drink Corona from the bottle,
or Absolut straight up
I spend my weekends at the mall,
My summers down the shore,
And late nights in a diner, with a plate of cheese fries.

I know which exits are which,
and that there’s no decent beaches north of 100.
I spent prom weekend in Seaside,
and many a summer on LBI.
I know the mob isn’t just on the Sopranos.

I know better than to drive through Camden,
and that there are nice areas of Elizabeth.

I know what good pizza & good bagels taste like,
I eat Boardwalk fries, zeppoles, & CASE’s porkroll on a hard roll.

I love to feel the wind in my hair,
and the sand between my toes.
I know there’s no place on Earth quite like New Jersey.
And that no matter where life takes me,
this will always be home.

AND YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM JERSEY WHEN:

You’ve been seriously injured at Action Park .

You know that the only people who call it “Joisey”
are from New York (usually The Bronx) or Texas .

You don’t think of citrus when people mention “The Oranges.”
You know that it’s called “Great Adventure,”
not “Six Flags.”
You’ve ordered a hard roll with butter for breakfast.
You’ve known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven.
You’ve eaten at a diner, when you were stoned or drunk, at 3 am.
Whenever you park, there’s a Camaro within three spots of you.
You remember that the “Two Guys” were from Harrison .
You know that the state isn’t one big oil refinery.

You know what a “jug handle” is.
If you were born and raised in New Jersey,
it was either North Jersey,
Central Jersey or South Jersey .

You say the words “water,” “coffee,” “dog” and “whatever”, like this
“wadder”, “cawfee”, “dawg” and “wadever”.

You know that there are no “beaches” in New Jersey –
there’s “The Shore,”
and you know that the road to the shore is “The Parkway”
not “The Garden State Highway .”
You know that “Piney” isn’t referring to a tree.

Even your school cafeteria made good Italian subs,
and, you call it a”sub”
not a “submarine sandwich” or worse yet, a “hoagy” or a “hero.”

You remember the song from the Palisades Park commercials..
You know how to properly negotiate a Circle.

You know that “Acme” is an actual store,
not just a Warner Bros creation.

You know that this is the only “New...” state that doesn’t require “New” to identify it
(try ... Mexico , ..... York , ...Hampshire - doesn’t work, does it?)

You know how to translate this conversation:
”Jeet yet?” “No, Jew?”

You only go to New York City for day trips,
and you only call it “The City..”

You know that a “ White Castle “
is the name of BOTH a fast food chain
AND a fast food sandwich.

You consider a corned beef sandwich with lettuce and mayo a sacrilege.

You don’t think “What exit” (do you live near?) is very funny.
You know that the real first “strip shopping center” in the country is Route 22.
You know that people from 609 area code are “a little different.”

You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton -
that’s for out-of-staters.

You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls.
You can see the Manhattan skyline from some part of your town.
You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers.

Every year, you had at least one kid in your class named Tony.
You know where every “clip” shown in the Sopranos opening credits is.

You’ve eaten a Boardwalk cheesesteak with vinegar fries.
You have a favorite Atlantic City casino.
You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February.

And finally...

You’ve sure as hell never pumped your own gas.

Failure vs Success

I love this quote - I just wish I knew who actually came up with this idea, since it is so very true.

The two hardest things to handle
in life
are
failure and success.

Anonymous

How many times have we failed at something, and although we have learned something as well, we have a really difficult time accepting it?

How many times have we succeeded at something, and have a really difficult time accepting the praise and "atta boy/girl" that comes with that success?

Is there a pattern there? It's like that fine line between love and hate ..... failure and success.

Dinner anyone?

As hot as it has been this week, and still is today, I am at a loss as to what to make for dinner tonight.

I just received a box of DaVinci Pasta, tortellini, from a "contest" on their facebook page a few weeks ago. I have nothing defrosted (but I'm sure there is some stuff I can quickly defrost in the freezer) as well as cans of beans and such in my pantry room (ok its the basement).

I'm looking for suggestions - other than 1) calling for pizza or 2) reservations. Although I will admit both sound pretty good right now.

Forgive

I just love this one. One of the guys I went to high school with (yes 100 years ago) posted this on his facebook page. Thanks Craig

ALWAYS forgive your enemies;
Nothing annoys them so much!

Oscar Wilde

Is this not PERFECT ? I wonder if we could do this to our "enemies" across the waters - are ya listening Mr. Ahmadinejad? We forgive you

Home Safety During a Vacation

Today we have a Guest blog post from Taylor Ryans, who is going to talk about something near and dear to my heart - home safety!

Before leaving for a vacation, there are a few things that one needs to do to make sure that their home is protected from burglary, vandalism, or other crime. It doesn’t matter what quality of neighborhood one lives in, when not at home, everyone is vulnerable to the dangers of crime.

The first thing to do is to make sure that all doors and windows are locked and secure. Most people that are robbed tend to find that they forgot to lock their windows, which are just as easy to enter as doors.

The next thing to do is to make sure that neighbors know that you will be gone. That way, if they see anyone that looks like they are trying to enter your house, they know that it is a crime in progress and they can then call the police. Neighbors can be a great asset to knowing that your home is safe. If one does not have any neighbors, perhaps try and get someone to stop by the house several times while away, that way, one can be sure that the home is at least being monitored by someone.

Of course, the last thing to do is to make sure that one’s home security alarm is set before leaving. This is often the last and best line of defense against burglary and other crime.

Thanks for the insight Taylor!

Way too hot to eat

Hope this isn't too big ...... Well as hot as it has been here this week (and it doesn't look good for today either) the last thing I feel like doing is eating. Now that could be a really good thing if you look at it as "forced dieting". Yeah I know - STOP.

This morning I wanted something but other than coffee everything was just way too heavy and hot - even cereal! I stood in the kitchen looking at my VitaMix and thought oh what the heck.

Out came a small container of Greek yogart, a small frozen banana, 1 TBS of dark chocolate cocoa, some extra ice cubes and a little (tbsp or so) coconut water (45 calories in 8.5 oz, found this at Kings Supermarket a few days ago) to keep it "mixable" and tada .... low calorie (less than 200 calories I think), cold and tasty breakfast.

Now I am sure that if I was really hungry, this wouldn't be enough to last all morning - but right now it was cold and tasty and just fine for this soon to be another record breaking hot day!

I really am liking this VitaMix - best thing I bought in months. I'm thinking a fruit butter might be the next thing I make .....

Reveal YOUR beauty

"People are like stained-glass windows.

They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,

but when the darkness sets in,

their true beauty is revealed only

if there is a light from within."

— Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, author of "On Death and Dying"

Starbucks, parting is such sweet sorrow

MMMM so sorry Mr. Starbucks, you know my daughter just loves to visit you, but alas you can be a very expensive habit, even when you are just doors from where she works, but we must cut you out (or at least WAY WAY back). You know money doesn't grow on trees and lately doesn't stay in my pocket or even "show up" in my long lost pockets, so we must cut back somewhere.

But I will say that we will not be doing without our frozen coffee blends, thank goodness, right Jenn? If you remember I had picked up a VitaMix from Costco's after trying to decide if I really wanted to spend all that money, but it finally won out. If not, or if you need a refresher, you can read about it here.

Anyway, as I'm getting things done around here this afternoon, before the holiday weekend, I'm thinking how much I could go for a frappuccino. But I was being good, so into the kitchen I go to see if I could do something that would satisfy me. I see some leftover coffee from this morning (I know) and thought what the heck, and put 1 cup in the VitaMix along with some Coconut Creme Coffeemate and ice. Gave that baby a whirl and bam, my very own coffee smoothie / frappuccino (just really smooth) coffee for nothing more than what was in my kitchen.

Now I know Starbucks doesn't use Coffeemate, but they do use flavored syrups. I also know that I can get some pretty big bottles from netrition.com. I think that have something like 25 different flavors available (ok I didn't count) that are all sugar free because they use a liquid version of Splenda that truly has zero calories. I really like netrition.com they have all kinds of things and shipping is great - very very low no matter how much you buy - $4.95 flat to all 48 Continental States (sorry Hawaii and Alaska). I usually order the protein powder and fiber powder (since both bake really well) as well as the syrups and a few other things from time to time. You really should check out everything they have to offer. Anyway, now that my ramble is done...........

Once I get these back in my kitchen (yes it use to look like a barrister lived here) I will be making more of these on a regular basis and will have perfected my version I am sure. Coffee, DaVinci Syrup and FF milk or Soy milk and ice - perfect together.

I will say though, that after I made this by just throwing things into it - I am really psyched to try some of the ice cream recipes that I saw in the "cookbook" that was included. I could be hording ice to make these and the ice cream - sorry honey the ice tea may have to wait.

This is one of those "free" reviews - no compensation is being received for this review since nobody but you and I know that I even posted this let alone will see my review. But I want to tell you ---- this is just too good to miss!

Dare to Dream

"Without leaps of imagination,

or dreaming,

we lose the excitement of possibilities.

Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning."

— Gloria Steinem, American journalist and political activist