§ Step right up...find him & he's yours!!

Okay, if you were raising your children in the early 1970s like I was, you may have heard, or even purchased the book, WHERE'S WALDO? I guess they're still being published and it's my understanding that now they've been banned in some countries?!!!! Well, there were absolutely NO lewd scenes in the one book our kids had!! I know for a fact, 'cause we used to read the book and search for Waldo 3 - 4 times a week until Erik and Irene had it memorized by page. I don't know what happened to the book in all these years, but sometimes I wish we still had it...as I love hidden objects in pictures!!

Anyway, this IS supposed to be a 'wordless' Wednesday post, but it just didn't turn out that way. Again.

Picture this...Bud and I are at Lakeview Park on the outskirts of the town headed toward the beach roads, and we stopped at the lake. We always walk around the lake in hunt for some bird that may have stopped over for a day or two on its way to somewhere better. This lake houses ducks, pigeons, grackles, sparrows, geese and cormorants year 'round, but there are some other species that seldom hit the water...this day it was me 'chasing' a bird around the pond. Each time I'd get close by, it'd fly off to the opposite side on the other bank. I got him finally. He thought he was hidden from me. Not so!!!

But...can you find the little booger? Look closely....

If you need help finding him, click here


CONNECTING TO:

Outdoor Wednesday
Watery Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday

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HODGEPODGE
Questions and challenges from our Hodgepodge hostess this week are:


1. What rule of life should never be broken? Always be true to yourself!!

2. What's your favorite family recipe? Can I say food? LOL --- I had to think long and hard on this question. And, finally, I think I have the answer. Potato Salad. As a kid, I watched my mom make this and of course we all loved it. [a family of five kids, spouses, and several grandkids ---that's a LOT of potatoes]. When I married, my father in law complimented me on this dish, and it made my mother in law jealous!! She, in a turn about way, tried to get the recipe as my FIL NEVER complimented on food served before. In fact, Bud, sitting at the table next to him and me was speechless for the fact he said good things about my potato salad. I'll just say here that I add crisp bacon AND chopped black olives ---among a few other secret ingredients. It IS yummy.

3. Is the media manipulative? No thinking here...My answer is YES. And the sad part about it all in these days and times, the media is BIASED. And it shouldn't be. Oh and another thing...people are so gullible they BELIEVE all the nonsense of the media...from the news to those insipid 'reality' shows!!

4. Hubs and I saw Skyfall last weekend...are you a fan of the Bond films? If so, who's your favorite Bond? I'm not a 'FAN'atic about the Bond movies, but I've seen 'em all except for Skyfall which will be purchased on a DVD I'm sure after its run in the theaters. I never cared for Sean Connery...nor any of the other 'dorky' Bonds...except for Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. If I had to choose between those two, it'd be Craig. He doesn't have the dark tall and handsome 'looks'...but he has CLASS. By the way, the LEAST favorite is/was Roger Moore. Ewwww.

5. What is one thing you hope people never say about you? I could care less what other people say or think of me...see #1 answer.

6. What's a nearby tourist attraction you'd like to see, but haven't gotten around to visiting? A lighthouse in Brownsville Texas. The times we've been that far south along the coast, we've never had enough time to stop. Or I should say, we have never MADE the time. Hopefully this time next year I will have seen it.

7. Where's your favorite tree? Say what? A tree...and a favorite at that? My favorite tree in my youth was at my grandmother's farm...in .... ready? Nebraska!!! I had a tree house there. My grandmother would give me crackers and a bottle of milk...and I'd walk along the pasture to reach the tree that was on the banks of a creek [crick to those living in that state]. But the house is no longer there...and the land is no longer in my family....so, I don't know if the tree is there any longer. But, oh the memories!!! By the way, I dubbed my tree house Picnic Mount. Now, if you're asking just a favorite KIND of tree, it'd probably be the Blue Spruce...in the Colorado Mountains, or the Bald Cypress in the Louisiana swamps.

8. Insert your own random thought here. I can't believe that next week is Thanksgiving, can you?

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Wednesday Hodgepodge

§ Silent Beauty...

CONNECTING TO:

                    Wild Bird Wednesday
                    Wordless Wednesday
                    Outdoor Wednesday
                    Watery Wednesday

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HODGEPODGE

Joyce has these questions for us....

1. So, do you like beer? I like it....not supposed to drink it and mix it with my heart meds...but do drink it occasionally. I LIKE mine COLD and ICY!! And it must be Coors [afterall, growing up near the Coors Brewery...I hafta like that brand, right?]

2. What's your least favorite repetitive task? Can I say all the above? Anything repetitive gets to become a least favorite, very quickly. But if I must choose one...it'd be sweeping the kitchen floor. Or maybe it would be laundry...no, perhaps, vacuuming? What about cooking? I know a simple answer to this, and it'd be singular and actually be 'all of the above'----------housework!!!!

3. When was the last time you rode a bus? Where was it headed? I can't recall ever being on a commercial bus...so it'd either have to be a school bus [long ago] or a shuttle bus from a hotel to an airport.

4. What song from your childhood or from your own children's childhood could make a parent's nerves stand on end? I'm thinking that maybe you mean a children's song? Or just from their growing up years? If it's the latter...I can pin point it down to ONE song [and I still despise it!!] ---Shake, shake shake your bootie!!! KC & the Sunshine band!! Gawd awful.

5. The US Presidential election cycle is drawing to a close (can I get an AMEN??), and the third and final debate was held last night...what was the last thing you 'debated about'? I'm glad I did not have to watch them...Altho, I found myself checking out the 'details and clips' online the day after. And these days, a debate, for the two of us, is very trivial...like what we had for dinner last Saturday night...or if we actually saw this program or another....you get the drift...mundane lifestyle here!!

6. Can a person make too much money? How much is too much? Depends...if the money is accumulated in all honest to goodness work...then no...the more money they make, the more power to them. But if it's making the money through fraudulent means....lock 'em up and throw away the key. How much is too much? Can't answer that 'cause I will never know.

7. Pop-soda-coke-something else...what's it called where you live? That's funny. Let me explain. When at the grocery store recently, I never take out the 12 packs of the boxed items and lay them on the conveyor belt at the check out. I just tell the cashier how many boxes I have. Well, the other day I told the cashier I had two 12 packs of pop. She looked at me and she said "You're not from around here are you?" I smiled and said "Soda". It's called soda here in the south. In Colorado...it is "pop". You can teach an old dog new tricks, but I'm not a dog...it'll always be pop.

8. Insert your own random thought here. The October issue of HEB's [local TEXAS grocery store] has some great ideas in the October issue of their monthly magazine...from pumpkin brownies, to pumpkin chili --- along with some great Halloween party snacks [both children's and adults]. For instance - Halloween Candy bark [chocolate]. See sidebar link and then view the magazine, page by page ---you need flash enabled.

Seldom do we have trees that change color....most in the area are evergreen ... OR they drop the leaves in a cold snap before they get a chance to lose the green, only for a few weeks, then back to new leaves in late winter, early spring. But about 1 out of 10,000 -guesstimation- trees in the area will actually turn autumn colors! I found one [LOL] as we were at a Nature Reserve walking the trail recently. TA DA--

My 4th week of Halloween Treats - is general this time 'round...More Autumn than Halloween. [click and save] The previous weeks' tricks or treats can be found on my blog's sidebar!!

CONNECTING TO:

Wednesday Hodgepodge

§ Birds & words? [mouseover captioned]---

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HODGEPODGE
Joyce has these questions for us to answer this week:

1. Noah Webster was born this week back in 1758....besides the online version, do you own a dictionary? Do you ever use the hardback copy or is your hunt for a definition strictly online these days? We do have a hard copy of a dictionary....only used when we are playing the board game for spelling not for definition, Scrabble.

2. Should public schools ban Halloween celebrations? What about other holiday celebrations currently under fire? Oh my goodness...for decades schools have celebrated Halloween!!! I survived, while my kids survived celebrating holidays...why not now? This world is getting odder by the day!!

3. What's your favorite 'dog' movie? I loved the book....AND the movie..."The Incredible Journey" -The story of three pets, a cat and two dogs, who lose their owners when they are all on vacation. Can they find their way home?. Also, both book AND movie...Cujo [Stephen King story...that explains the serious creepy, scary stuff I like so much at times]

4. When were you last somewhere you'd describe as 'too quiet'? Nowhere. I LOVE quiet. I especially like to go outdoors early - just before sunrise as the sky is lightening....and enjoy the peace and quiet of the day.

5. Are you a neat cook or a messy cook? In other words do you clean as you go or make a big mess and then deal with it later? These days, I'm most always a neat cook --with just two of us, a meal is simple 99% of the time; very simple. Except for Thanksgiving....I think I dirty every dish in the house for that meal. And Bud is the one that cleans up after my cooking. That's HIS duty. If I cook, he cleans....if he BBQs outdoors, I clean up.

6. Did you hear about Felix Baumgartner, the skydiver who broke the sound barrier via parachute? Was your first thought COOL! or was your first thought CRAZY! Are you adventurous? I'm not much of an adventurous one, but I do take risks now and then. My biggest adventure is my life with Bud. There is always something going on...never bored...but it's not a physical adventure comparing to skydiving, etc. As for Felix...more power to him. I can't say 'cool' or 'crazy' ---it was HIS choice.

7. What's not a word but should be? Are you serious?----a word that isn't a word but should be? Oh boy...let's think on that a bit.  How 'bout DROW....opposite of 'word'...nope can't use that one ----I used google just now and drow IS a word [pronounced with ow as in 'now']...meaning a race of elves.  Well, at least I learned a new word all thanks to our fearless leader who asked the question in the first place.  All in all...in other words....can't think of any and can't wait to read other bloggers' answers on this #7. Wait?!!!---is co-inkydink a word?!! I love using that by the way...or is it just a coinkydink to think of it right now.

8. Insert your own random thought here. I'm terribly busy this week with an 'in home' project. Will update you on Sunday for my Sunday's Summary. In the meantime....check out and grab week 3 halloween treat - the newest 'treat' for Halloween I'm handing out---



[click and save if you'd like]






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§ ...Quack, quack, quack!!! [mouseover captions]

CONNECTING TO:

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HODGEPODGE

Joyce has these questions for us this week:

1. In what ways do you indulge yourself? Since retiring and the kids leaving home, it's pretty much doing what I want, when I want. That's my indulgence.

2. Have you ever taken a cooking class? Any interest? What type of class would you most like to try? No, never taken any classes; no desire. Tho, if I were to sign up out of necessity, I'm sure it would have to be for an ethnic/cultural class like, perhaps, Chinese cooking. I know I've cooked from 'Oriental' recipes that I've conjured up for myself after tasting something extraordinary at a restaurant, but I'm sure not only the recipes by my style of cooking; it is too Americanized.

3. What does it mean to be a good citizen? Simple... Living a life within the laws of the land. We are given rights as a citizen when we're born...no matter WHICH country we live in...and respecting those rights, adhering to those should be priority. A good citizen is just that....obeying the laws of the country/state/county/city/neighborhood makes an ideal citizen.

4. 'Tis the season of the political advert...do these ads influence your vote? Yay!!!! Once again, with no cable connection any longer for our TV, we are not inundated with politics. For that, I am soooooooo thankful. If I were to have this connection on politics, I would not be influenced in a positive outlook. From the past, those political ads were so negative and lies for the most part, I would 'shut them out' and always do my own research. The outcome from that has been erroneous for my vote many times from president down to city council. But, I still feel good [whether I become displeased with the incumbent], that I voiced my opinion and voted...wrong or right.

5. What's something you see today that makes you wish you were a kid again? The toys today. And the massive children's books that are printed. Especially the 'delicious' books for kids these days. I find myself, when I go to a book store, oftentimes I peruse the wonderful books for ages from pre-schoolers to teen books!!! I never EVER had that when I was a young'un!!!

6. What's your least favorite cliche? Lately, this cliché is very often used around here.... ' This country "HAS GONE TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET" ' - which makes me cringe 'cause as we arrogant Americans don't want to admit...we need to straighten up and fly right. But, here is a question for y'all who are reading my response. What is your take on this one? --- A stitch in time saves nine and comparing it to this one: "Gitter-done!!!" Which of the two just previously mentioned would be YOUR least favorite? I personally like the stitch in time reference as opposed to the over-used, modern version made popular by Comedy Central's "Cable Guy". I've been known to say "Gitter Done" often, very often in fact...but it's definitely my least favorite I think.

7. What percentage of your Christmas shopping has been completed? How does that make you feel? 0% This year, I have no overseas packages to send off...Any questions?

8. Insert your own random thought here. Last week's Halloween 'treat' is now moved to my sidebar if you'd care to pick it up to fill your 'treat bag' for the season. Just click on it and it should open up so you can save it to your hard drive. And as tradition holds true, the 2nd week's treat is here....

...again, just click on it to have it open and save if you'd like!!!

By the way, if you're viewing this blog post through a smart phone, I don't think the mouseover works, so the two birds in section above is, respectively, a Northern Shoveler and what I think is a Cinnamon Teal Duck. [not sure on the 2nd bird]

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§ Halloween Bird on Bay's Shore - Low Tide [mouseover caption]

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HODGEPODGE

Joyce's hodgepodge questions for this week are as follows, along with my answers...

1. It's a brand new month...share one thing you're looking forward to in October. AS YOU ALL KNOW....HALLOWEEN!!!

2. Is chivalry dead? Explain. That is a medieval term for the Middle Ages!!! Chivalry in itself, at least I think, is still around but with a whole 'nother concept for our society. We have no knights, ladies in waiting, etc. etc. today, but as for chivalry...I think it's all about your own upbringing...wanting to do the right thing!! From the boldness and undying devotion and loyalty of hundreds of years ago, chivalry today is — a choice. The choice to do the right things, for the right reasons, at the right times. Things have changed, I see, just from my generation to my kids' generation and my grandkids' generation....all part of our society and perhaps faulted by our ways and thoughts of equality in men and women. Women's Liberation comes to mind...we want to be equal to men, yet we like having a pampering spouse. Isn't that double standards? Personally, I think chivalry is quite dormant...not necessarily 'dead'....depends on where you are living...and it could even boil down to your own neighborhood and family style.

3. On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts comic strip made its debut. Which character is your favorite? Which character is most like you? I'm one of the oddities that really think Peanuts is overrated. When Peanuts is televised and not published in papers, the music in the program is bad enough to curdle my blood!! I could never associate myself with the 'poor me' attitude of Charlie Brown or Shroeder - their blazé chattering and gloomy outlook 90% of the time. Now I would probably have to say that Snoopy is the best...I like his Piloting and Ace Bombing Adventures with his red cape and flight goggles; his 'it was a dark and stormy night' adventures. As for which one is most like me....LUCY...I was born with crabby genes too.

4. What's something you're competitive about? Nuttin' Honey!! At my age, I don't compete, games, board games, card games, etc. They're just games!!! Yet, considering which of the two of us [Bud and myself] has more aches and pains to talk about could turn 'competitive'. LOL

5. October is National Popcorn Popping Month...are you a fan? How do you like your popcorn? Gotta love me some popcorn!!! Heavily Buttered Too...with a side dish of Junior Mints!!!

6. When did you first realize the world is small? I know I've said it's a small world many-a-time, but in all reality, I don't think the world is small...it's huge and so much to see that I'll need a dozen or more lifetimes.

7. In terms of architecture, what's the most beautiful building you've seen up close and in person? I love historical buildings! Whether they be in ruins or still 'whole'...My utmost favorite architecture is Southern....as in Plantations. The style, the pristine beauty of the white columns, the sometimes red brick, the wrap-around verandas, the balconies. Anything plantation. Oh and speaking of 'ruins'....I love all the California and Texas Missions and ones I've seen in Southern Arizona also!!! But the one building that literally made me fall to my knees was the very first time I saw and then set foot in was America's National Cathedral in Washington D.C. I was in awe of the size, the height of the towering spires, the striking color against the blue sky--and then, going inside - the rich beauty of the wood, the altar, the stained glass windows!! There is nothing in the United States that can surpass this building if you want my opinion. It's the epitome of 'PILLARS OF THE EARTH'

[photo not mine - image courtesy of Google Images]

8. Insert your own random thought here.  I'm lovin' the weather here the last few days.  It's been perfect.  60 night time temps and high 70s low to mid 80s!!!  The skies are clear...the moon is bright...a splendorous first October week of 2012!!!

§ ...shore action [mouseover captions]

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HODGEPODGE
Joyce, our fearless leader of Hodgepodge, has these questions for us....
* * * is a bit political in terms of my 2 minute spiel. #5


1. The Wednesday Hodgepodge this week falls on John Chapman's birth date. He's more famously known as Johnny Appleseed...what's your favorite variety of apple? Jonathon apples!! Crisp, tart, and juicy!!! Not only great for baking, but excellent for salads, raw!!

2. When did you last say 'ick'? I honestly hafta say, I never use the term 'ick'. My term for disgusting is "yuck" [and yes using the term spelling with 'ck' is the proper way...yuk, as I've seen so very often, is only a variant of yuck!]

3. Do you think there's a generation gap? Explain. Of course there is a generation gap....but we older ones are slowly coming around, but fear we'll not ever catch up. Especially when it comes to electronic/computerized gadgets. I still am in awe of the younger ones being able to do things with these gadgets and understanding it much more quickly. AND as always when we're young we think we'll live forever...but the older generation knows better!!!

4. What's on your computer screen saver? Do you leave it alone or change it often? Right now, I have a photo I took recently of a starling [bird] morphing into its winter plumage ----



----and, yes, I change it often, and may I add that I have my preferences to show NO shortcuts, allowing me to see the entire image without those annoying icons, unless I want 'em then I click to 'view' the desktop icons!!


* * *5. If you had the attention of the entire world for two minutes, what would you say? Wow, what a question!! It'd probably be something like "Let's make this place a better place to live!!" In other words, "Get RID of the debris"...be it actually picking up street trash and getting them into a proper receptacle, or it could be a bit political trash, yet, something that would focus of the betterment of the land/people/governments. I just read online news the other day that a baby [newborn] girl was found abandoned on a certain road, by Polish Soldiers, in Afghanistan! They took her to their infirmary and she has been 'adopted' by the soliders' army for now! By political trash then, I am thinking of the way certain governments think...such as killing baby girls because a certain government wants nothing but boy children to survive....the idea and thoughts are sickening - trash, politics and trash are becoming synonymous any more!!!

6. Four fashion trends to try this fall are-brocade/jacquard (fancy printed fabrics), peplum, lace, and printed pants...which of these four would you be most likely to wear? Probably printed pants....at least Capri pants that have print -- like Hawai'ian prints!! I am most comfortable in Capri pants year 'round!!

7. What can make your bad day better? Actually it would depend on the time of day it turns 'bad'. I've had mornings that are horrendous, and usually just breathe deep, count to 10 and move on with whatever the day brings. If it happens to turn nasty by mid-day I would probably go consume some kind of 'comfort food' that I normally wouldn't eat. If by chance the day was good up until early evening hours, probably just grab a good book, sit down and begin to read 'til bedtime. Like Scarlet says "Afterall, tomorrow is another day."

8. Insert your own random thought here. Golly, October is less than a week in comin' 'round already!!! It is one of my favorite months in the year....Halloween. The fragrance of pumpkin spice candles burning, the webbing, the witches - skulls - spiders and bats!! I can't wait to get started on decorating the house. I usually like to have it done the first of the month to stay up all month. Then, in just a short time --- my 2nd most favorite time of year [both, Halloween and Christmas I like equally - in terms of decorating] - December is when my Santas come out of hiding!!! And no, even with just the two of us...I still decorate. It's MY traditional thing.






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baby photo borrowed from online news article...no infringement intended

§ A 'wordless' 'watery' Fishy Tale....

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HODGEPODGE

Here are Joyce's questions for us this week, and my answers...

1. What's the best and worst thing thing about growing older? Best: wisdom and freedom to do what I choose without a time clock.... Worst: Aches and pains showing up where I would've never dreamed of when younger.

2. Autumn arrives this week in the Northern Hemisphere...what one thing do you love most about the fall season? Leaves rustling along the sidewalks, the smell of fireplace smoke in the air, cooler days and nights, COLORS...which boils down to ONE thing...the CHANGE of SEASONS.

3. Speaking of fall...pumpkin seems to be flavoring everything these days-are you a fan? What's your favorite pumpkin flavored food or beverage? I'm definitely a 'fan' of this:   it's not a 'food item'...but it's flavored by scent, and that would be the pumpkin spice candles!!! My favorite food:  it's the traditional pumpkin pie!!!!!

4. Since we're on the subject of fall...what's the worst fall you've ever taken? Well, long ago, I took a FALL down a side of a mountain....luckily I only broke two fingers. Had to have my wedding rings CUT off because of the intense swelling. Then, I also think that when I FALL in love [with pets mostly but a couple of humans I can think of right now] and have to say goodbye to those that left me behind when they pass on before me....it's a 'fall' I never got over.

5. If you could own a prop from any film what would you choose? Funny you should ask this...just a couple of weeks ago, I was thinking what I'd like to own from the movie set of Gone With the Wind. I think I've narrowed it down to one item and that would be the red dress that Rhett forced Scarlet to wear to Ashley's birthday dinner!!

[image courtesy of Google Images - no infringement intended]

6. What's the most interesting word you've read or learned in the past week? Actually, it's TWO words that come to mind that I USED this week...We were discussing Hitler's Mein Kempf which I'm reading, and I told Bud that his [Hitler's not Bud's] actions are quite similar to what any psychiatrist would label him and that would be "Cognitive Dissonance"....I learned the use of those words tho, years ago, when I worked with a co-op of psychiatric offices and doctors ---which could loosely translate to: tension which comes from holding two conflicting thoughts in the mind at the same time --the man was a total weirdo. Mein Kempf is an autobiography, written by Hitler [Mein Kempf meaning My Battle]....So many times throughout the book, I've read where he says one ideal/idea in one paragraph and then the following paragraph he's contradicting what he previously wrote!! I have found myself so many times, going "Huh?" And then, having to go back and re-read....hence, two interesting words...Cognitive Dissonance [Bud was thrilled with my reference...NOT....let's just say HE had to go look up the meaning; not knowing what I was referring to in my thoughts on this man of evil and historical recognition]. LOL I do know from reading this, I am MORE interested in the people that followed him...what gave them their fascination and awe of this man?!!!!!

7. When was the last time you locked yourself out of your house, car, or office? Was it a big deal? The scenario wasn't a 'lock-out' per sé .... the door from the garage to the kitchen....the latch jammed [it wasn't locked], and the knob would not turn one way or the other...had to jimmy the lock, broke the latch in the process...had to wedge the door closed and drive to Home Depot to buy a whole new mechanism and replace!!! To answer the 2nd part of the question: Was it a big deal? No...my motto these days is "100 years from now, it'll make no difference".

8. Insert your own random thought here. The countdown for NCIS Season #10 is coming to a close....six more days 'til the new season begins!!! From the Cliffhanger of an episode last Spring ---Tuesday night, the first part of a two-parter [from what I understand] will finally be aired on CBS!! Just a couple of days ago, Bud was telling me a few 'spoilers' on McGee [one of the investigators]...and then, I had to go a'searchin' for more....CAN'T wait. The anticipation here in the house of Hootin' Anni's is rampant!!! SPOILERS ONE and spoiler two...

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§ morning hues...

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HODGEPODGE

1. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? The NFL is back in action along with all the college teams. Are you a fan? Who do you root for? If you're not a fan what do you do while the rest of America watches Saturday, Sunday, Monday night, and now Thursday night games? I can live without football. I don't mind the game itself, it's only 1 hour long [when it's televised it somehow turns into 3 hours or more!! See where I'm going with this? One play that lasts a few seconds, and BAM!! 5 minutes or more of commercials!!] Me? I would much rather watch or attend a baseball game. No cable, no football....HEAVEN!!! What I can't figure out is the country's priorities...most don't know who their Congressman is by name, but yet they can talk about Tebow and know just who he is and what he does!! It boggles my mind. I do follow the Texans and the Broncos.  But really...with THIS NEWS ITEM on the New NFL uniforms that are nearly "see through"...who wants to look at this kinda crap?!!! By the way, now that you brought up the subject of football -- the players, from high school [who by the way usually need tutors because the majority can't even speak proper English or comprehend a book ---I remember one College Student of UofA in Tucson was to be suspended because of the lack of a passing grade ---oh no!!! "No way, he was a star Wildcat *Basketball* guard...can't flunk him...he's gonna make the team a winning team...just forget about flunking him....give him a passing grade so he can play ball"]. And it goes as far up to pro football....so many are seemingly downright ignorant ---yet, I suppose I could, on the other hand, stand corrected 'cause they're laughing at me all the way to the bank!!! I don't like Tiger W either, but at least he can converse intelligently; without every other word being "uhhhhh". Sorry, we were talking about FOOTBALL, right? I just needed to get my emotions out in the open. Let's see, you asked "Are you ready for some football"....Don't like Hank Williams Jr. either...LOL...well, to answer the question, NO! I'll pass on watching football games on TV. I'd much rather be outdoors with gardening, walking, on the beach, watching a movie...anything but football; thank you kindly. And yes, I do have the NFL scoreboard on my sidebar to keep track of Texans wins and losses along with the Denver Broncos. But, I don't need to watch any of the game anymore.

photo courtesy of news
no infringement intended
THIS MAY JUST GIVE US A WHOLE NEW MEANING TO FANTASY FOOTBALL ! !

2. What's something I'll always find in your closet? Oh, I really want to answer this with one word....skeletons?!!! But I'm sure that is not what you meant when you asked the question.

3. Share one of your earliest memories. Learning about Santa Claus. I was dumb enough to blurt out one Christmas morning that the tag around the doll, telling everyone it's for Anni....she was beautiful under the tree. Anyway I yelled in my excitement that the tag was written by my sister...it was in her handwriting!! If it weren't for my stupidity, I'd still be getting some good stuff from the Jolly Ol' Elf!!!

4. What circus act best describes your week so far?" Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls...children of all ages, I am your hostess with the mostest-----I am your Ring Master Mistress, but before today's performance I'd like to add a bit of trivia for you all"...

Initially, exotic animals were used simply as a display, and it wasn't until later that the first equestrian acts were introduced, followed by big cat and elephant acts. The first wild animal trainer in American circus history is thought to be Isaac A. Van Amburgh, who entered a cage with several big cats in 1833.

Yep, Ring Mistress, or perhaps a circus sideshow act ---the bearded lady. Which pays more?

5. What's a food you disliked as a child but you love now? Broccoli, hands down.

6. Describe your summer in three words. Hot and dry.

7. Where were you on September 11, 2001? Will you do anything special to mark the day this year? Believe it or not, I was on the computer 'conversing' online with a group of which I was a member....the other members were 'talking' about the attack on the Twin Towers. I immediately turned the TV on, and it stayed on for days!! And to answer the 2nd part of the question, no I do nothing special to commemorate the memory.  Thing is tho, I continue to think of the children who lost their father or mother in this terrorist act --or a spouse [any family member]....it's THE THING to do....REMEMBER and not forget those who lost their lives with such a senseless, cruel act. But when you think about it, those that committed the terrorism think nothing of it at all...a life taken is a part of their lives over there in the 3rd World Countries...it's a downright shame they think this way.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Two days in a row this week the high temperature has NOT reached 90!!! Close, at 85 and 86...but still!!!

CONNECTING TO:

thermometer clipart found here