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Wednesday, June 28, 2006
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Sunday, July 2, 2006
I'm Being just a bit mean
Watch out world here comes hubby. Somehow with his hunt & peck method he has raced headlong into opening a MySpace for himself! I just had to warn him that not everybody is a real "friend" no matter what Tom says!
Saturday, July 1, 2006
One Hundred Years
THE YEAR 1906
This will boggle your mind, I know it did mine!?
The year is 1906.?
One hundred years ago.?
What a difference a century makes!?
Here are some of the U.S. Statistics for the Year 1906 ( The good old days??):
************************************
The average life expectancy in the U.S. Was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
A three-minute call from Denver to New York City
cost eleven dollars.
There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles
of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more
heavily populated than California.
With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21st
most populous state in the Union.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour.
The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year .
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,?
a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at HOME .
Ninety percent of all U.S. doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which
were condemned in the press AND the government as "substandard."
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used
borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
entering into their country for any reason.
Five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars.
Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and
Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea
hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least
one full-time servant or domestic help.
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE ! U.S.A. !
Now I forwarded this from someone else without typing
it myself, and sent it to you and others all over the United States,
possibly the world, in a matter of seconds!
Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years
A friend sent this to me...my Grandma Sophie was born in 1889 and lived to be 103 years old. Just think of all that she did see come to light during her years here. It is rather amazing the progress that humanity has made in only one hundred years. Would that it all be for peace, love and the common welfare of all men.
Friday, June 30, 2006
4th of July
I watched an interesting TV show tonight, one that showed that we as a country have become totally polarized in our political viewpoints. It claimed that whole communities are coming together united in common ground by their beliefs.
From my point of view...that really sucks. Give me a good argument anytime! Come on, change my point of view. Whatever happened to the forceful sway of a svengali, a silver tongued devil who could convince a tea totaller of the error of their ways. Did it all die with slick Willie? Did the nation gorge itself on one scandal after another till there is no real political fervor left? Or are we still waiting for the next big cliff hanger to take place?
We have established politics as a way to get our viewpoints across in a civilized manner. Our congressmen, our senators should represent ALL THE PEOPLE in their districts...not just the money bags that voted them in.
Somehow, I feel our founding fathers & mothers too would not be too happy with us right now. They fought, they bled, they sacrificed much to give us a free nation..we belittle their memory with each scandal.
The future could be a wonderful place for our next generations - but we must secure the basics, human dignity, freedom, right to live in peace and everything else guaranteed by our hard won constitution.
God bless America...land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her....
Happy 4th of July
4th of July
I watched an interesting TV show tonight, one that showed that we as a country have become totally polarized in our political viewpoints. It claimed that whole communities are coming together united in common ground by their beliefs.
From my point of view...that really sucks. Give me a good argument anytime! Come on, change my point of view. Whatever happened to the forceful sway of a svengali, a silver tongued devil who could convince a tea totaller of the error of their ways. Did it all die with slick Willie? Did the nation gorge itself on one scandal after another till there is no real political fervor left? Or are we still waiting for the next big cliff hanger to take place?
We have established politics as a way to get our viewpoints across in a civilized manner. Our congressmen, our senators should represent ALL THE PEOPLE in their districts...not just the money bags that voted them in.
Somehow, I feel our founding fathers & mothers too would not be too happy with us right now. They fought, they bled, they sacrificed much to give us a free nation..we belittle their memory with each scandal.
The future could be a wonderful place for our next generations - but we must secure the basics, human dignity, freedom, right to live in peace and everything else guaranteed by our hard won constitution.
God bless America...land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her....
Happy 4th of July
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
A little Rainbow Story by Sandi
Madeline slowly closed her eyes, thinking she would just rest for a few minutes.
Sometimes the dream came totally unbidden. She would hardly have time to slip into that nether region, a place that we all escape to so willingly. The funny thing was she felt she could almost will herself to not have the dream. However, at the last moment of consciousness she could feel herself slipping right into it. It was useless to fight, she let herself slide.
The dream always started the same, she was young, in her prime. A feisty red haired beauty with a bit of a fiery temper. She was dressed in a pretty white cotton shift that showed her figure very well, she was carrying red tulips across her arms. Then, moving as if in dance, Madeline dropped the red tulips one by one to the ground.
Madeline found herself standing by a beautiful lake, surrounded by a dark verdant forest. She could hear the birds singing, and an owl hooting somewhere nearby. As she stood stock still a baby deer came out of the woods to drink at the lake. She did not want to move to break the enchantment of the moment, it seemed too precious to lose.
An enchanted white dove landed at her feet. Upon touching the ground it started to change shape, bending, flowing, growing into the shape of a twisted old man. He was dressed in white, long robes and he had a fully bearded face. It was remarkable that she did not feel frightened at all. In fact, she felt more at peace than at any time in her life. She wondered why and said so.
"Who are you? What are you doing in my dream?" Madeline asked.
The old man looked up at her and said, "Madeline, I am all things to all people but mostly I bring peace to those who need it".
Madeline felt a tear roll down her cheek, unbidden. These past few months she had held herself in check, not allowing herself to grieve for the sudden loss of her parents. The memory of the night they died in that terrible auto accident was still much too painful to think of.
"You can bring me peace? How? I lost my world." Madeline answered.
"No, my dear, they are here. Just open your mind and heart, they will enter your dreams and bring you peace. They knew you so well, that nature would be your refuge so that is where they seek you in your dream state." said the old sage.
She realized right then that this was what was missingfrom her life, the magic of nature. It could heal her, make her feel alive again. Her parents would always be with her, never out of memory, a forevermore feeling.
As Madeline started to thank the old man, his shape started to shift again into the lovely white bird, with that he flew off over the shining lake.
As she stared out over the lake a sparkling rainbow appeared across the length of the lake with one end stopping just at her feet. Looking down she saw a glistening crystal, which she happily picked up. Peering into the crystal Madeline could see a rainbow, trapped forever within the gleaming quartz.
Madeline awoke with a start, she had not meant to fall asleep by the lake, something had lulled her to sleep. She remembered her dream, this time completely. Somehow she felt refreshed, renewed for the first time in months. Something caught her eye's attention as she glanced farther down by the lake. Madeline started walking towards the water, zeroing in on the object that she sought.
"Oh, my word", she said as she reached down and picked up the shining object. She clutched it to her heart and started to cry. It was the rainbow crystal, the one from her dream. She knew, at that point, that the healing would begin.
Sometimes the dream came totally unbidden. She would hardly have time to slip into that nether region, a place that we all escape to so willingly. The funny thing was she felt she could almost will herself to not have the dream. However, at the last moment of consciousness she could feel herself slipping right into it. It was useless to fight, she let herself slide.
The dream always started the same, she was young, in her prime. A feisty red haired beauty with a bit of a fiery temper. She was dressed in a pretty white cotton shift that showed her figure very well, she was carrying red tulips across her arms. Then, moving as if in dance, Madeline dropped the red tulips one by one to the ground.
Madeline found herself standing by a beautiful lake, surrounded by a dark verdant forest. She could hear the birds singing, and an owl hooting somewhere nearby. As she stood stock still a baby deer came out of the woods to drink at the lake. She did not want to move to break the enchantment of the moment, it seemed too precious to lose.
An enchanted white dove landed at her feet. Upon touching the ground it started to change shape, bending, flowing, growing into the shape of a twisted old man. He was dressed in white, long robes and he had a fully bearded face. It was remarkable that she did not feel frightened at all. In fact, she felt more at peace than at any time in her life. She wondered why and said so.
"Who are you? What are you doing in my dream?" Madeline asked.
The old man looked up at her and said, "Madeline, I am all things to all people but mostly I bring peace to those who need it".
Madeline felt a tear roll down her cheek, unbidden. These past few months she had held herself in check, not allowing herself to grieve for the sudden loss of her parents. The memory of the night they died in that terrible auto accident was still much too painful to think of.
"You can bring me peace? How? I lost my world." Madeline answered.
"No, my dear, they are here. Just open your mind and heart, they will enter your dreams and bring you peace. They knew you so well, that nature would be your refuge so that is where they seek you in your dream state." said the old sage.
She realized right then that this was what was missingfrom her life, the magic of nature. It could heal her, make her feel alive again. Her parents would always be with her, never out of memory, a forevermore feeling.
As Madeline started to thank the old man, his shape started to shift again into the lovely white bird, with that he flew off over the shining lake.
As she stared out over the lake a sparkling rainbow appeared across the length of the lake with one end stopping just at her feet. Looking down she saw a glistening crystal, which she happily picked up. Peering into the crystal Madeline could see a rainbow, trapped forever within the gleaming quartz.
Madeline awoke with a start, she had not meant to fall asleep by the lake, something had lulled her to sleep. She remembered her dream, this time completely. Somehow she felt refreshed, renewed for the first time in months. Something caught her eye's attention as she glanced farther down by the lake. Madeline started walking towards the water, zeroing in on the object that she sought.
"Oh, my word", she said as she reached down and picked up the shining object. She clutched it to her heart and started to cry. It was the rainbow crystal, the one from her dream. She knew, at that point, that the healing would begin.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Poetry Can Make The World Go Round
Oh, little rainbow crystal of mine.
I visit you in the morning light,
loving the eternal vision shared.
Let me view within your depths
ages of wisdom buried there.
Holding you closely I can see
how much you shimmer and shine.
Formed eons ago, in a very deep
cave little knowing my fate you
would share.
Your rainbow glimmer shines on
trapped forever within eternities
cloister.
Sunlight plays lovingly against your
faucets, making your rainbow ever
so brighter.
You calm my mind, you make me see
just how beautiful the future could be.
Encased for all time within your crystal
home, shine like a beacon for all to see.
Oh, little rainbow crystal of mine
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Missing My Journal
Did you ever find yourself so wrapped up in something that it took the rest of your life away? That's the only explanation that I have for not writing in my journal for almost two months...I think that's the longest period of time that I have not written anything since I started this.
I threw myself into my book, actually got a few chapters written. Still have quite a bit to do on it and it involves historical research which is time consuming.
My sister and I have also been steadily increasing our business with making the pocketbooks, I've actually had someone put in an order for several for Christmas gifts. Because of the hot weather down here the flea market is kind of slow right now. We did a much better business during the cooler months, and the tourists were buying quite a bit. We have bags that are now in Canada, England, France and Germany...so I guess we went international on a small scale! When Barb and I create a bag and sell it, it's like letting a part of you go...because they are such a unique creation..at least we feel that way.
Then again, there is Hubby, he has decided to join the Geek world and actually learn the computer (Lord help me). You would think that he would want to sit at my computer and learn some basics, wouldn't you? Naw, not Hubby.....let's jump right in a get a brand new, state of the art, wireless laptop so I can drive Mama crazy and still sit on the couch!
Did I mention that he cannot type? Doesn't know any of the keys (at all believe me!). Well, we do not live in a "hot" zone so that meant I had to get a router and split my DSL signal for his to work. Sounds easy, right? WRONG!! I followed directions, wire for wire, plug to plug....and zap all the lights went on, I should be hooked up...yet I could not get my AOL or any internet connection at all. Made me crazy. Went on for hours, trying this, trying that...nothing worked. Finally got through to the Router's help line - turns out they had a built in firewall that decided to fight with everything I have for protection. Who knew?
They walked me through changing the settings and praise be....it works!
Hubby comes home from work and asks me why I looked so frazzled...I was tempted to throw the notebook at him and really had to exercise control.
We are now on about lesson five for him, his hunt & peck system seems to be working for him. Just don't even get into an IM situation with him - believe me there is not enough time left on earth for that.
Well, I missed everyone...I did try to check in on people when I got alerts. I'm glad I'm back......Sandi
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