§ a deer fellow...

hibiscus blossom against the iron deer statue, outdoors on patio





CONNECTING TO:



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MONDAY MORSELS

I was presented this past week with a blogging award. From Linda at "The Road Awaits"!! I loved it. Thanks so much. We are definitely sisters in such a way as age, thoughts, similar interests, and just all around love of life!!! Now, along with this award I am supposed to add a few 'unknown' facts about myself. I must say, as I blog I tend to blurt out just about all there is to know, so this may be a bit challenging. But, I'll try and give it 'a go'....

*I fear heights, but love flying in an airplane [both commercial and private]

*I fear water depths above my head, but love the ocean

*I love watermelon and cantaloupe, but detest honeydew

*I tend to do the opposite of what I'm told...always have, always will. i.e., "turn down the music"...I turn the volume up. That sorta rebellion.

*I hated history in school, but love reading it now; especially historical novels. Still, when I see a book that's non-fiction of a particular subject I like reading about, and I see the index in the back pages, I think "textbook"....ewww!!!

*My middle name is "shoes"!!! But, I'd prefer to be barefoot.

*I hate snakes! Any kind. (which brings me to a tale of yore...my middle older brother; while having a family camp out in the mountains, found a water snake, came up to me as I sat by the campfire, and put the snake down the back of my shirt!!! Hence, my hatred of snakes, but still love [and now miss] my brother!!)

That's about it, I'm sure I've posted most of the previous at one time or another, but that's "just the facts, ma'am".

Then, to sisters of the blog-hood....I pass this on:

Madi and Mom [The Diva and her Mom] at Down Home in North Carolina

Ann at Snap Edit Scrap

Kathy at Empty Nest but Full Heart

...and anyone who thinks like me, being sisters-in-arms, please feel free to grab it and let me know when you post your unknown facts about you!!!

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I posted some new bird photos over at "I'd Rather B Birdin" photo blog. I really have to admit that these photos this weekend, of the Black Bellied Whistling Duck, are pretty darned good. They're beautiful besides. Multi-colored from a rusty rufous brown, to yellow gold, black, red orange and blue tipped beak....and not to mention PINK feet!!! Take a look-see....HERE Along with a few images of the duck, I also added a Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, and a Cormorant.

§ OLD GLORY...a retiree's 'gift'

FRIDAY THE 13th... people!! Superstitious are you?

First off...I want to thank JEN for passing along the "Versatile Blogger Award" to me and my blog. I feel quite privileged.

RULES
1. Nominate 15 fellow bloggers with blogs you enjoy the most. [see below, next to the blog award]
2. Share seven random facts about yourself.
3. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
4. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your blog post.

I award this to: Linda, Lighthousegal, Madi & Mom, Ginny, Mari, DJan, Betsy, Denise, Ann, April, Kim, Chatty Crone, Marydon, Sherry, and Sharon. All for different reasons, all for being loyal to visit with me weekly -sometimes daily!!! Know I appreciate you. AND if your name is not here, and you wish to have it for your blog, by all means, help yourself. Just click on the award, it'll open and you can save it to your hard drive. If you don't 'do' awards, I understand. And several have been having difficulties grabbing the award. Here is how you can get it: In your browser, find options and disable javascript. THEN you should be able to right click on it and save it. Oh....and don't forget to re-enable your javascript again when done. A 2nd alternative way of saving it: click here



My random facts: - 1) I'm a morning person! 2) I don't miss TV at all! 3) My favorite bread is GARLIC 4) Mexican food; I crave most often 5) I miss the fragrance of lilacs in the Spring 6) I love teaching myself new template skills 7) I learned a new song yesterday, thanks to Lighthouse Gal ---and I LOVE the title/phrase which I plan on using in my life often!!!! Wanna know what it is? Well, you came here at the right time, 'cause I'm gonna tell you this...."MY GIVE-A-DAMN'S ALL BUSTED"!!

It only took me nearly 20 years to get this done like I had in mind!!! A day in October of 1992 [yes, 1992---long ago], Bud retired from the Federal Government. He actually did NOT go to his retirement ceremony because of all the politicking stuff that goes along with it. He was done...he didn't want to go back for any special 'treatment' or recognition. I can't blame him for that stance he took. His job was grueling...both physically and mentally. Some days his day began at 3 a.m. --and long hours. Lots of travel time -sometimes for 6 days out of the week!!! Bud decided to use his accumulated leave time...take that time with pay, use it up, and then.. get the heck out!! But, on the day of his 'official' retirement, as protocol has been for decades, when you retire from the government, the flag flying outside the Federal Building where you are 'headquarted' ...it becomes sole ownership of the retiree. It was given to Bud by one of his co-workers who brought it to our door that day; his official retirement day.

That's where I step in. For all the years and paper work that accumulated in the past; my genealogy researching, collecting facts, documents, photos and such - they were all stored in boxes, folders and filing cabinets. That's when I found it...

When I set myself down this past year; ready to get the families all in a genealogy, published book [link], as I posted about several times...I came across something that was stored for nearly two decades. The Retirement Flag!!

After getting the genealogy work completed, and the book now sits on my desk, I was determined to get the flag in a shadow box and get it out where we could see it daily.

Out of the plastic storage bag it came ...

...and into the shadow box it went.

As Larry the Cable Guy says "Git 'er done". 20 years this October, I got 'er done!! It only took me 20 minutes to get the job done. Go figure.

CONNECTING TO:

§ Snow? You've got to be kidding me!! -- a Ruby Tuesday too

IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY!! TIME FOR SOME LOVIN'!!!

My Valentine for you----

If you'd like to take my 'gift' feel free to do so...
Just click on the Valentine Card Graphic on the right
then, save to your hard drive.
Happy February, Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Click button to join
FOLLOW ME TUESDAY linked button on SIDEBAR!!







Look closely [enlarge it], in the background, at the Harbor Bridge [the 2nd tallest in Texas] You'll see the ship's "bridge" going UNDER the bridge, on the ship's channel at the city's Port of Entry. Actually, it's the ship's smoke stack you see, but I'd prefer to say its bridge, in front of the smoke stack, is just about under the automobile bridge. It looks like a target - bulls-eye. Title for post: "To bear in with the land" and headfast - headfast is: A rope employed to confine the head of a ship to a wharf to bear in with the land: loosely, to near port for docking.


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I most definitely consider Madi a FURiend of mine. And yesterday, on her blog, she had an award that she was passing on to us who are her blogging buddies. Along with the award there are rules of course. One is to give a link to take you to her blog. Which I'll do right now. Madi the Diva. Rule #2 is to post seven things about me that you don't know. Since Madi is the diva of all cats, I thought I'd share some facts of our two cats [Tahoe is a spayed female. Winston is a neutered male]:

Tahoe was adopted in Tucson.

Tahoe has a microchip in case she is lost

That was her name at the adoption center, we never changed it.

BUT!!! Tahoe comes running when we call "purrdy kitty"!!!

Winston was adopted here in Corpus Christi from the Humane Society

On his CFA registration card, he had the name YODA something or other...a big fancy schumcky name. We thought he looked like Winston Churchill...and the name stuck; Winston

Winston was on a TV commercial for the Humane Society

When Winston meows, he squeaks

Rule #3 is to share this award. If you'd like it for your blog...take it with you when you leave here, with my regards!! After all, anyone who visits with me is considered a friend.





And I'd like to thank Madi and her Mom for their generosity!!


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YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDIN' ME!!! NO WAY!!!!


I saw this on the online newspage from our local TV news station. I don't want to believe it, but I KNOW it's possible!! [we had about 2" of snow the first winter we lived here on Christmas Eve no less] And here, last week we had high temperatures of the mid 70s to lower 80s!!! Guess we'll be covering up our tender plants outdoors.....

§ We've been "Yanked" again....yippee

and
click on Sunday Stealing button to join


SUNDAY STEALING

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? Mac Davis's song "Oh lord it's hard to be humble". LOL

2. How much cash do you have on you? None. I rarely have ca$h.

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR? Snore. Is this going to be a bore [the meme questions]?

4. Favorite planet? Besides this one we're on? The one with the rings...ya, Saturn. I think I was born under Saturn's something or other....or some such nonsense.

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? Dunno...don't look at that. I really don't care. If it was an important call that I missed, they'll call back.

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone? Right now...Beethoven's 5th.

7. What shirt are you wearING? A white T-shirt with a USMC eagle globe and anchor that says: "yes, the Marines are part of the Navy, the MEN'S parts"

8. Do you label yourself? ya, and the label is with Scotch Tape, to hold it all together.

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing? Barefoot.

10. Bright or Dark Room? Dark...

11. Did you do anything to celebrate John Lennon's 70th yesterday? Are you kiddin' me? I'm not nor will I ever be a fan of the Beatles. [I do like the song, Imagine, tho....go figure]

12. What does your watch look like? I have several...the one I'm wearing now has three cameos on each side of the watch's face.

13. What were you doing at midnight last night? See #3...my first answer.

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? I have had that disabled entirely.

15. Where is your nearest 7-11? It's all "Stripes" here in Texas. No 7-11's that I've seen anywhere in the state.

16. What’s a word that you say a lot? Ha....I plead the 5th on this question.

17. Who told you he/she loved you last? My dear husband.

18. Last furry thing you touched? Kitties....but, that is NOT what I first thought of....again, the 5th I plead.

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days? Heart meds....in other words, LEGAL drugs.

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed? Film? What's that? I probably have film on the bathtub that needs attention...does that count?

21. Favorite age you have been so far? right here, right now.

22. Your worst enemy? Sitting here on my butt getting broad from answering Sunday's questions.

23. What is your current desktop picture (extra points if you post it.)? A bird photo I took.

24. What was the last thing you said to someone? Good Morning

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be? A Million...I could hire someone then, to do the flying FOR me.


* *END SUNDAY STEALING
if you wanna skip over the rest of my blogging for the day---

COMMENT HERE




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SUNDAY'S SUMMARY

I'm Texan by choice, and the Texas Rangers have been doing well in the division playoff games -except for yesterday's game...I think they deserved to lose the way they played. "My" Yankees won last night...now they advance ---who will be their opponent?!! The Rangers or the Rays? That will be known in time....For the Rays it's one and Rangers two wins.... I think I can almost guarantee that whomever wins the League Championship they'll be the stronger in the World Series than the National League. It's been that way all season...the AL played better. Just my opinion.

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Another week has flown by. The weather has turned almost perfect now! There is still a threat of possible hurricanes, but I feel 'safe' from harm until the new season of threats in 2011. While wading along the shore the other day, the water temperature has dropped considerably now, and the humidity has almost disappeared. Anyway, we drove from Corpus up to the little town of Calallen...you know, the home of the Wildcats? Oh, I guess you don't know...it's a high school team. And their football team seems to always get in the running for state champs. LOL Moving on....just a few miles northwest of Calallen there is a county park. Named after the land donater...Hazel Bazemore. And it is world known for the hawk migration. I think we went too early in the day to find any hawks...but we did find ---or should I change that wording, the mosquitoes found US. And you know what they say, "everything's bigger in Texas". Taking pictures, all of a sudden my new camera [which I'm still learning to use] flashes a message for me..."internal memory is full". Well now, I never had that happen to me until now! I was wondering just what the heck that meant. And if you've purchased anything new that is digital in any way recently, you don't get an 'in-depth' idiot guide unless you order one or go online to read it. I don't have ink in my printer, so I haven't yet printed out the 90 page user's guide. Back to internal memory...how the heck can I take more pictures? What did I do wrong? What does all this mean? The shutter release wouldn't work...I was missing all kinds of photo ops!! Dang. I was getting really p!ssed with myself and the camera and the company 'cause they are too cheap to add a full-sized guide for dummies even if we DID pay hundreds of dollars for their product!! So, the mosquitoes finally won out...we left to go walking around in the little town. We then took the interstate back home instead of the back country roads. Once home, I went into the office/library and sat down to check out my emails, etc. As I sat down, I noticed the camera's photo card was still in the chip's reader...hooked up to the USB cable!! #@!!! The chip was not put back into the camera before we left. Oh I made sure there were charged batteries in the camera beforehand, but forgot to reinstall the chip!! It took me hours to figure out how to copy the internal memory onto the card because of the fact there is nothing in the little pamphlet you get with the camera, and everything online to help is so vague. I was really feeling stupid. But I got it done. After all the stress, I ended up with only ONE bird photo, two other gnarly photos which I'll post about sometime. In the meantime, I added the bird photo on my photo blog. The bird is only found in coastal Texas...south to South America. So, you may have not seen this particular one before.

By the way, this park is super. It has boundaries of the Nueces River, water-fowl galore, a huge beautiful golf course for another boundary...and open land to the East....with a meandering one way drive throughout. And hawk watching platforms in some areas.

since I couldn't take photos myself...
panoramic view of park area from park brochure

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Yesterday, we drove over to Portland Texas and walked around through the Fall Festival. There wasn't much, I did find the cutest scarecrows in one of the craft booths...didn't buy one, but did snap a photo of it on my cellphone so I could 'copy' the idea and make one or two for myself at a later time. I'll share photos in a bit...haven't taken them off the phone yet...too busy watching ballgames. LOL





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I was awarded this sweet gift from Freda at Fredamans this past Tuesday, and I must say I'm very pleased!! Thank you so much for thinking of me!!! This is what makes a blogger feel 'loved' and appreciated. Now, I'm supposed to answer the question given to me: "Would you go back and change anything in your life"? I answer a definite no. I've asked myself this over and over, and I think that by learning as you live is most important...whether right or wrong in decision making.

§ busy as a 'bee'? No, not really, but busy!!!----

Click button to join

also...FOLLOW ME TUESDAY linked button on SIDEBAR!!





I sat outdoors on the patio for hours this past Sunday afternoon; the weather was just ideal for this time of year. The temperature was a balmy 75 degrees, a slight sea breeze, and clear blue skies!!! I had just finished cleaning out the zinnia flower boxes in the yard along the foundation of the house [two boxes]...and took a break while watching one lone female humming bird with her busy, busy, work---and I took pictures!!! Boy did I take pictures. Twelve I believe besides this one. And I added all the really 'good ones' on my photo blog yesterday morning!! In three parts. She was so full of vim and vinegar so to speak, at one time, even showing her backside to me...well, I never!!! The nerve! How rude. But oh so cute and fun. I just couldn't help myself; clicking away like I did---

If you'd like to view them all
CLICK HERE [part one]
CLICK HERE [part two]
CLICK HERE [part three]

each link will open in a new window




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Junneth surprised me with this wonderful award. Her friendship as a new blogger is so important to me, and I thank her for her kindness and thinking of me to pass it on. It's very much appreciated.

I'm now supposed to list 7 things about myself:
1. I love music
2. I love animals
3. I love the outdoors
4. I love to draw
5. I love literature
6. I love cars
7. I love to blog!!

§ ...the games people play

Click button to Join
Cheers to all of us thieves!

Sunday Stealing: The Just Because Meme

1. Make a list of 5 things you can see without getting up. Outside my window, the monitor, the cat, the desk, my toes.

2. How do you style your hair? How often do you cut it? Short, pageboy kinda...I have it cut once a month in the humidity...it grows fast...which I'll go have done sometime this coming week!!!

3. What are you wearing now? Purple jogging shorts and hot pink tank top.

4. What's your occupation? Do you like it? Retired. Love it. I even loved the job I had before I retired also.

5. When was the last time that you took a nap? Was there a special reason? The last time I took a LONG nap during the day was when I was sick with winter flu.

6. Who was the last person you hugged romantically? Bud [my dear husband], of course!

8. What was the last full meal that you ate? Homemade burritos with homemade flour tortillas with Spanish rice and tossed salad.

9. What was the last email that you received? From Erik this morning regarding some cruise tour packages he's contemplating.

10. What one website do you always visit when you go online? The ones I use the most are Google and Yahoo News. About equally.

11. What was the last significant thing you bought? Clothes. Hey, that's significant as it gets around here...other than groceries.

12. What musical artist did you not get at first, but then became a fan? PRINCE!!! I do love the man now!

13. What do you think about before you go to bed last night? Sunday Brunch...where we'd go. Exciting life I lead, huh? LOL

14. What was the last CD you bought? Rod Stewart's and Pavarotti at the same time.

15. What is your favorite weather, and why? What's the weather like today? A warm Spring day...with cloudless skies and mild temps...then, a Spring Rain...with dark, heavy clouds and thunder! And as for the weather today, it's way to early to tell actually...still dark, but trust me, it'll be HOT

16. If you could have a special artistic talent, what would it be? Concert pianist.

17. Did you watch the Idol 9 finale? If yes, what are your thoughts? Ewwwwwww....don't watch it...NEVER will!!!

18. What's something you'd like to say to someone right now? "Good Morning! How did you sleep?"

19. Any special plans for this (holiday in the States) weekend? Stay home and watch baseball, the highways are dangerous this time of year...more so than any given normal weekday that is.

20. Besides your current S/O, who was the last person that you loved romantically? I've written about him oftentimes KIA in Viet Nam...many many moons ago.


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So Saturday afternoon was blistering hot outdoors. A Whopping 97 degrees by mid afternoon. Too hot to be in that inferno, too crowded downtown and on the beach because of the holiday weekend...so we stayed home and quickly became bored. Bud read most of the morning while I worked on my blog and chatted online with Erik, our son. He's trying to figure out a vacation package overseas for himself...and sending me links of some of his choices. I, being a mom thinking of only herself, kept trying to get him interested in an African Safari. Didn't work. I think he knew I'd suggest that I go with him if he decided on that. roflmao

Well, being utterly disinterested in reading my book, I convinced Bud to play the best two out of three Trivial Pursuit games. It was neck and neck by the end of the 2nd game, and much later, I won the 3rd game. Ticked Bud off; he prides himself in the generalization of trivia.

But since then, I read that the actors, Dennis Hopper had died from a long battle of prostate cancer, and Gary Coleman died shortly after being admitted to the hospital suffering from a brain hemorrhage . Which got us talking. It turned to Oscars. From there it boiled down to who won the most Oscars. I said Edith Head. My goodness...I've watched all the televised Academy Award shows...and it seems that my memory came up with Edith Head and her Costume Design. She was bound to be the one. Right? I convinced Bud I was right!!! Wrong. It was none other than Walt Disney! Out of 59 nominations, the man won twenty-six; while Edith Head was nominated 34 times and only won eight. And, I was so sure of myself. Well...that redeemed my ranking with Bud tho. He now realizes that he perhaps can still regain his Trivia Crown again someday soon.



Do any of you, dear followers, get into these little ditties with your spouse, friends, children, co-workers? Then, have to do some Googling?


Here is the History Question of which I won the final match: What television network did the U S Troops, during the Gulf War, dub "Scud-a-vision"?

It was simple...CNN




POSTED: Sunday, May 30th, 2010
4:40 A.M.

§ ...my mission should I choose to accept this award is:

The wonderful and talented Gillian bestowed this cool award upon me and I love it! Along with it comes a challenge that I will accept. I have a choice between five....

Here are the options! (Be adventurous, it's not about embarrassment, just fun!)

1. Set up your camera on self timer (3 or 5 secs will be fine), hit the button and RUN in front of the camera view and try and get as far as you can before the shot is taken! Post it!! I'm sure your behind isn't as bad as you think!

2. In a conversation with someone work in the word "Woof" randomly, see how many times you can say it (With a straight face helps)... Post your score, and share their reaction!! example "Hey, woof you pass me the salt please?"... "I'll pick woof up in ten minutes, see you then!"

3. Before you go to hand something to someone, raise it to your nose for a second (As though you're sniffing it), and then hand it over casually as though nothing happened. The more mundane the object, the better the reaction you'll get! Such as a cd, money, phone..... Record the facial expression you receive in detail!! It's hilarious, trust me!

4. List 5 jokes that actually made you laugh out loud! REAL LOL's!!

5. Find a location, anywhere, room, backyard, bathroom, holding your camera spin around in a circle, press the shutter randomly, tell us all about what's in the picture (whatever it is!!!)! Doesn't matter if it's blurry, you'll clear things up! ;-)



I chose #5. Tho there really wasn't anything to clear up on this. As I stood in the middle of the room where my computer is, I clicked photos of the walls surrounding me....




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Today, I'm forgoing doing any meme work. The Sunday Stealing is so very redundant with questions, I didn't even check for the Unconscious Mutterings that I've done in the past. TOMORROW THO, I will begin with a special week's worth of blogging that I've worked on through photos. Come back in the 'morrow!!

§ Rest easy....dark chocolate IS HEALTHY!!

Click either button to Join


THURSDAY THIRTEEN

Over the last two decades, scientists, doctors and nutritionists have experimented with people - volunteering for nutritional chocolate! If only I had known. :::sigh::: People eating chocolate, my oh my. The best and most healthy of chocolates is DARK CHOCOLATE. With at least 70% cocoa.






FACTS:

1] The consumption of high-cacao-content chocolate [dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate] has been correlated with positive health benefits from flavonol antioxidants.

2] FLAVONOL is: Flavonoids (specifically flavanoids such as the catechins) are "the most common group of polyphenolic compounds in the human diet and are found ubiquitously in plants".[4] Flavonols, the original bioflavonoids such as quercetin, are also found ubiquitously, but in lesser quantities. Both sets of compounds have evidence of health-modulating effects in animals which eat them.

3] Chocolate is plant-derived, as are the fruits and vegetables recommended for a healthy heart. [stated here by Dr. Engler -PhD, RN]

4] The longest clinical trial to date to show improvement in blood vessel function from consuming flavonoid-rich dark chocolate daily over an extended period of time. [news release]

5] Consuming dark chocolate daily...Increases blood flow in the artery. Better blood flow is good for your heart.

6] Flavoniods keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels.

7] Flavoniods reduce the risk of blood clots.

8] Flavoniods slow down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries.

9] "Can't you get more and better flavoniods from other foods?" Surprisingly, the answer is "not really." Engler says that of dark chocolate.

10] THERE IS A CATCH TO THIS: Remember to EXERCISE daily if you begin a chocolate regiment in your diet intake. Chocolate IS loaded with calories.

11] The health benefits of dark chocolate may include lowering high blood pressure, German researchers report. [again, this is only beneficial with balanced diet and exercise]

12] Not all chocolate is heart healthy. White chocolate, which a Harvard researcher points out is "not really chocolate at all," and milk chocolate may expand the hips rather than help blood flow.

13] LDL (bad) cholesterol remained the same or slightly lower, and HDL (good) cholesterol increased.


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THURSDAY THUNKS

1. Have you ever performed the Heimlich Maneuver on someone or had it performed on you? Well, since you asked, it reminds me of a joke about two TEXANS:

Two Texans were having the Blue Plate Special at their favorite truck stop when they heard this awful choking sound. They turned around to see a lady, sitting a few bar stools down from them, turning blue from the Armadillo burger she ate too fast.

The first Texan said to the other, "Think we oughtta help?"
"Yep, reckon so", says the second.

The first Texan gets up, walks over to the lady and asks, "Can you breathe?"
She shakes her head, "no".

"Can you speak?" he then asks.
She shakes her head, "no", again.

With that, he helps her to her feet, lifts up her skirt, and starts to lick her on the butt.

She is so shocked, she coughs up the obstruction and begins to breathe again, with great relief.

The first Texan turns back to his friend and says with a smile, "Funny how that Hind Lick Maneuver works every time!"

2. Do you have a red room in your home? (Either painted red or red curtains etc.) Let's see....no, not since the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. [it cleaned up real nice]

3. Have you ever felt like banging your head against the wall? All the time. Haven't you ever heard of getting some sense knocked into your head? That's the only way I know how. Ask me if I bashed a few other heads against the wall!

4. Reports came out this week that Michael Jackson was gay. Are you shocked, don't believe it, don't care or felt he was all along? Who knows? Who cares? But I heard he always drove by elementary schools really slow...law abiding citizen that he was. [kidding]

5. What's the dumbest thing you have done after a breakup with a S/O? I've never had a breakup....and if you really care, I am proud of my standing in life. 42 years with one man in just 5 short days; our anniversary.

6. If Berleen and Bud are standing on the roof of a one story building and decide to throw water balloons at Kimber walking down below on the sidewalk, what color balloon hits her first? Black one...the next will be blue! Black and blue is quite logical don't you think? Afterall, we're supposed to be thunking.

7. What are the wildest, craziest pajamas you own? I don't wear 'em much --- too hot here. But, in Colorado I had some prison striped ones with feet in 'em. A real hoot 'cause I wore 'em ONLY when the kids would have sleepovers at our house, embarrassed them that their mom was fun to be around.

8. Have you ever ridden in a sidecar on a motorcycle? No...just the back seat behind the driver...the best bug shield going is the driver while you're on the back. Trust me.

9. Do/did you go party on Cinco De Mayo, and if so what color was the bartender's shirt? Let me answer this in Spanish to go with the mood of it all....No.

10. Why does a hat have a bill? You fail to mention what KIND of hat? A pimp's hat, a fisherman's hat, or the ladies with red hats...like the high society ladies in the club. Different hats for different strokes -billies.

11. If you were a WWE professional wrestler, what would your stage name be? Buxom Moolah, I checked!! --








link for ladies



link for gents














12. How many keys do you have on your keyring? Dunno f'sure....guessing about 7 or 8.

13. What is the oldest picture you currently have in your home? What year was it taken and who/what is the photo of? My grandmother's wedding portrait. 1896 I believe. Again, this ol' broad is too lazy to take it down off the wall...the date is written on the back. And if I was to photograph it to post here, it'd be the oldest AND newest.





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I received this lovely award from Anne yesterday. I always appreciate the blog friends that stop by to show appreciation of my blogging with recognizing me. Being that awards come from peers...it always brings so much pleasure. Thank you kindly, Anne, for thinking of me!!! You most definitely brought some sunshine into my life.









POSTED: Thursday, May 6th, 2010
12:30 A.M.

§ We interupt regular blogging for...a Commercial

Click button to join


...yes, a commercial. You read the title correctly!

If you haven't seen this one yet, it's a hoot! And believe it or not, yes.......Bud and I now, while driving around town here and there, are in search for the elusive VWs! Of course, Bud being Bud...he cheats. He's punching me [in fun] for Toyotas and Hummers and what have you----






So my fellow blog visitors, consider yourself punched!!!! Ever so lightly of course, don't wantcha fallin' off your chair.

RED ONE!!!








Our area of TEXAS experienced an earthquake over the past weekend. I wrote a little bit about earthquakes in the state, but if you'd prefer to skip over that and leave me some words of wisdom now,

COMMENT HERE



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Earthquakes!! I believe it was this past Friday that the area around Alice, Texas [30 miles from the northwestern outskirts of Corpus Christi, where I live] had a reported 4.0 earthquake. I guess it knocked pictures off peoples' walls in their homes, a lot of rapid movement reported on their homes' floors, etc. And, of course as it goes without saying, once word of the earthquake, others in our city then said they felt it too. I didn't...and I was outside when it happened. So perhaps a little shifting did occur around the city. Dunno. Now a lot of family members I have, at one time or another, have lived in the state. Our son has lived in Houston since he was discharged from the Corps. Golly...thinking of that, it's been twenty years since he graduated from High School. Whoa!! I'm ancient!! Anyway, he has told me that there is always a possibility of an earthquake. More so the farther north you go in Texas. Uh...huh. Right! And of course, now that there really WAS a quake, I had to do some research to see if I could find just where the tectonic plates were around here. I have experienced earthquakes before...in Colorado and California...and the ground continually shifts where I live now because of the ocean so close by. It's a natural phenomenon that you learn to live with being a resident. I found a detailed map online [here for legend of the map]...interesting. The image is quite heavy in pixel size, but it can be enlarged:



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LAST BUT NOT LEAST TODAY...I've been handed several awards over the past few days. Instead of posting them all here, I went ahead and added them to my 'trophy blog'. There is also a TAG with one of the awards, so I completed that with the posted rules...answering the ten questions given to me.

CLICK HERE [it will open in a new window]





POSTED: Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
12:05 A.M.

§ Shopping in the Tropical Zone....how I wish

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WATER FOUNTAIN & waterfall
cascading over 'steps'
IN
ONE OF THE CITY'S
MALLS
the skylights bring the outdoors in!































Below this section of my Wednesday blog are awards I've recently received. If you care to skip that and wish to leave me a few words...

COMMENT HERE



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I read some shocking news ...a long time sports celeb for Colorado, including CSU Rams, the Denver Broncos and most recently to date...the president of Colorado Rockies baseball team, was found dead in a Salt Lake City hotel room. He'd been with the Rockies since their inaugural season in 1993 when Bud and I had season tickets...sad.


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Melissa passed on a wonderful award to me yesterday!! I love it. And once again I always feel very proud to be mentioned and given accolades...blogging is so 'rewarding'!!!!

Melissa states: "The origins of this award can be found at Advance Booking -Hootin’ Anni’s -Just as her blog name implies, this woman is a hoot!"

I am honored.

The past month I've received a few awards and I've neglected to add them to my blog. I apologize for not recognizing my blogging peers who have been gracious enough to think of me when handing them out. I do so much appreciate being mentioned for my efforts to make visiting with me a pleasure. And I thank you all from the bottom of my heart....thanks!!!


From Ji






From Sh@kir@





More from Ji















POSTED: Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
12:43 A.M.

§ STOP!!! ---

---in the name of love!!!





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Below the JFK Causeway there is a Intercoastal Turnaround...to make a "U" turn to go BACK to the island. If you don't do the turn...this is what you'll come up on!!! Just to the right of this barricade is a Boat Ramp for Public Use...and a Bait and Fish Tackle Shop [Master Bait Shop...oh I couldn't resist] Good thing the closure is so well seen, huh? The water is deep, deep, deep....an abyss the farther out!! It wouldn't be ME who'd defy the law. No siree! Above the barricade is the four lane paved bridge [causeway] from Padre Island to Corpus or visa versa....







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I received this lovely gift of roses award from a blogging friend, Jingle!! I was so honored!!! I felt like a queen. You certainly made my day filled with beauty and loads of sunshine!!! Thank you, thank you Ji!! I love it.








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And these two lovelies, I received from Shakira! They're just the sweetest ever. I always appreciate the fact that my blogging peers and friends I've made over the years, blogging, think of me when they pass on accolades and the acts of kindness. It fills my heart with joy!! Thank you so much.






POSTED: Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
1:00 A.M.