Three of God's Instruments

The new blog!!

2011-11-05T21:38:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone, I have gotten the blog up, and have posted a couple times. Still have not spent all the time putting everything I want on it, but I will get there. Enjoy!!
TheTalkingTimes.blogspot.com

News... a POST!!

2011-11-02T23:07:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone, sorry I have not posted in forever. I kind of forgot about this blog totally. :) I remembered it however, when i finally checked my email for the first time in months!! Just to let you know, I will not be continuing on this blog, but moving to a different one. As many of you know, I already have another blog called " God Only Knows " and will be doing my best to keep up on that one as well now. The new blog will soon be 'under construction' for a little while until i get everything the way i want it and a few things to post about. I hope this blog has been a blessing to you in spite of my forgetfulness. =] Talk to y'all soon!!

~MaryBeth~

Good song!!

2010-04-05T10:57:00.000-04:00

Very cool quotes by a very cool Guy!! :)

2010-02-10T09:38:00.000-05:00

"I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation."
Robert E. Lee

"I tremble for my country when I hear of confidence expressed in me. I know too well my weakness , that our only hope is in God. "
Robert E. Lee

"In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength. "
Robert E. Lee

“My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian.”
Robert E. Lee

“Our country demands all our strength, all our energies. To resist the powerful combination now forming against us will require every man at his place. If victorious, we have everything to hope for in the future. If defeated, nothing will be left for us to live for. My whole trust is in God, and I am ready for whatever He may ordain.”
Robert E. Lee

“At present, I am not concerned with results. God's will ought to be our aim, and I am quite contented that His designs should be accomplished and not mine.”
Robert E. Lee

Pix to laugh at :)

2010-01-28T13:22:00.010-05:00

I have been tagged... not really...

2009-12-06T18:27:00.002-05:00

I have sort of been tagged... i just took it off of Kitty's site, because i haven't posted in a long time. so here it goes.

1. Do you like to write?

YES!! I love writing... but mainly i love the way i can make things just the way i want it to turn out. :)

2. Favorite books?

Anything with words in it!!

3. Do you compose music/write songs?

I arrange songs... not very good at composing.

4. Do you like poetry?

Yes.

5. Love someone so much who made you cry?

Yeah.

6. Broken a bone?

YES!! It hurt.... a lot....

7.Been in a police car?

No.... but it would be cool to ride in the front... :)

8.Been on a boat?

Yup. Love it!! :)

9.Fallen asleep in school?

Quite a few times...

10. Did you sing today?

Yep. Do every day

11.KFC, Popeyes, or Church’s?

KFC!!

12.Chick-fil-a or What-a-burger?

Chick-fil-a definately!!

13.Starbucks of McCafe?

Starbucks!!

14.What’s your favorite time of year?

The time when i am with Friends

15.Do you ever talk to yourself?

Yes... No you do not want to hear what i say to myself.... it wouldn't make sense... Doesn't even make sense to me most times. :)

16.Do you have a favorite treat you like to buy on occasion?

Ice Cream

17. Do you believe the Bible is the literal Word of God and is infallible?

No doubt about it!!

18. What’s your favorite sport?

VOLLEYBALL!! :)

19. What color is your ipod?

Don't have one... but if i did, it would prefer black or blue.

20. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Everywhere!! I love traveling!!

21.If you could go to any fictional place, where would you go?

Happy Dale... :D :D :D

22.Do you love to write or do you just like writing? Or do you write at all?

I love writing... i wrote a story for someone once... i need to write the sequel... what do you think of that?? :)

23.What do you want to be when you’re a grown up?

Missionary

24.Favorite animal?

Horses

25. Favorite song?

I have too many to put to keyboard... :)

26.Do you like school?

Ehhh.. Depends on the subject

27.Are you a people person?

Not at all!!

28. Do you like to talk?

Depends on who

29.Favorite food?

Chinese

30.Hobbies?

Music.

31.’Favorite author?

Jane Austin, Janette Oke

32. Favorite weapon?

22 Pistol or rifle

33.Is this a fun tag or are you getting bored?

It certainly is entertaining... :)

34.Do you like Hannah Montana and all those girly people and movies like Highschool Musical?

Never in a million years...

35.What are you scared of?

Change

36. Favorite flower?

Rose

37.What is the expression on your face?

I don't really pay attention to my facial expression... so i couldn't tell you!! :)

38. Color of your eyes?

Blue-ish green. depends on what i am wearing on what color they look like.

Pictures by Anna

2009-09-12T19:06:00.007-04:00

Ok...A Post

2009-08-26T13:06:00.003-04:00

Dresses

2009-07-13T12:54:00.002-04:00

Hannah Templeton and I were doing Midevil dresses for fun, and we wore them to the Bear Lake Days Parade. It was fun!! :)

My Big Bro & Fam

2009-06-01T13:07:00.004-04:00

Sorry for not posting for a while... Every time i sat down to post, i couldn't find anything to post about, or i got called away. So here is a quick one.

L to R,
Lydia, Becky, Neomi, Seth, Mike, Anna, Levi
Aren't they so adorable?? :)

Messing around...

2009-05-09T19:07:00.005-04:00

so totally me.... :)

I found this website that let my doodle with my own pictures, and it was fun, so i decided to post them.

How Beautiful

2009-04-29T20:38:00.001-04:00

How beautiful, the hands that served the wine and the bread,
and the sons of the earth.

How beautiful, the feet that walked the long dusty roads, and
the hill to the cross.

How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful,
is the body of Christ.

How beautiful, the heart that bled, that took all my sin and
bore it instead.

How beautiful, the tender eyes that choose to forgive and
never despise.

How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, is the body of Christ.

And as He laid down His life. We offer this sacrifice,
that we will live, just as He died.

Willing to pay, to pay the price, willing to pay the price.

How beautiful, the radiant bride, who waits for her Groom with
His light in her eyes.

How beautiful, when humble hearts give the fruit of pure lives
so that others may live.

How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, is the body of Christ.

How beautiful, the feet that bring the sound of good news, and
the love of the King.

How beautiful, the hands that serve the wine and the bread,
and the sons of the earth.

How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, is the body of Christ.

There's no place like HOME!! :)

2009-03-30T18:03:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone!! As most of you know... I"M HOME!! :) And happy to be so too. Dad and I left Anderson, IN at 5:30 am and got home at 12:30 pm. I had a good time, but i am still glad to be home and in my own bed. But what i REALLY missed, was Mom's home cooking!! :) Michelle's cooking is good, but i love Mom's. I didn't get to see Loralee while i was down there though.. :(
I hope you all missed me while i was gone... :) Otherwise i would be sad if you didn't.

New New New News... :)

2009-03-21T11:29:00.002-04:00

Hey again. This has been an interesting few weeks.... :) Some of you already know that i am still in Indiana, and will be staying down here for a little bit. Dad has to come back down here to replace an entire cast iron pipe in order to stop the leaking from all the way down from the upstairs bathroom, to the basement. I don't know when i will be back... Maybe Thursday. It depends on how long it takes Dad to get the pipe replaced, and maybe a few other things done as well.

So far it has been good down here. Monday we got here at about 1:30ish, went to the Anderson County Library, and then ate some lunch at a little place called Rax. The Library was amazing!! It is 3 stories high, and about 4 times the size of the Traverse City Library. It is HUGE!! I didn't have time to go through it all though... :( We did go to the Children's section though. And even that is almost bigger than the Bear Lake Library in its self. The food was delicious!! I had a Baked Potato with Cheddar Cheese sauce, and Bacon on top. That was so good!! We did some work on the house, and then went to the apartment, and just crashed. Tuesday we did more work on the house, and was going to go to the Conference at the Hoover's Church, but we had too much work to do. :( We then went back to the apartment, and crashed. Wednesay we had more work, and then we went to Dale and Michelle's Church, then back to the apartment, and crashed. Thursday i found out that i was staying until Dad came back so i could help some more with the house. Friday was a day off!! :) We had been invited to go to the Cosby's house for dinner. Two of Johnathan's friends from College was there, and one of them (Brenden) made dinner for us. He made Korean Hawian Chicken and Fried rice. It was AWESOME!! Also, we had Salad (which Amanda made i think) and also Amanda's Incredible Apple Pie!! Ohhhh that was GOOD!! Rhonda was home for that, so i got to see her. :) She took Heather to the store to get some Ice Cream to go with the Pie. That was also good. And there is today. Michelle and Heather and I are going to the house, while Dale goes to a friends Wedding. I have got to get going, but i thought i should take the time to type this out and let you all know how i was doing and where i was. Miss you all!!

New New News... :)

2009-03-14T14:50:00.002-04:00

Hey y'all. Guess what??
We are going down to Indiana!! :) We leave early (yuck) Monday morning, and come back on Thursday.
I want to thank all of your prayers, because our Car is fixed, and it didn't cost anything!! Dad was calling around for a part to fix it, and a guy that we have had fix our car several times asked dad what it was doing, and he told him, and the guy said to do something with the fan...i think... ( I know nothing of cars... Can you tell?? :) But now it is fixed and Mom, Dad and I are going down to help Michelle and Dale move, and go to the Conference for a day. :) So please be praying for our safety, and that we can get Michelle and Dale all moved in quickly. Thanks!! :)

Some Day

2009-03-13T21:10:00.003-04:00

Some day when my last line is written

Some day when I’ve drawn my last breath

When my last words on earth have been spoken

And my lips are sealed in death:

Don’t look on my cold form in pity

Don’t think of me as one dead

It will just be the house I once lived in

My spirit by then will have fled

I’ll have finished my time here allotted

But I won’t be in darkness alone

I will have heard from heaven

The summons to come on home

And when my body is in the grave

Don’t think that I’ll be there

I won’t be dead, but living

In the place Jesus went to prepare

And after all is said and done

Know that my last earnest prayer

Was that my loved ones be ready

Some day to meet me there

New News...

2009-03-11T20:22:00.002-04:00

Hey All. Just wanted to let you know that we are not going down to Indiana.
Our car is leaking Power Steering Fluid fast, so we are going to have to get that fixed. And it isn't going to be fast fix either. We would take the truck down, but 3 people in a small truck for 7 hours.... that just doesn't mix. So if you will, be praying that our car would get fixed soon. Thanks everyone!!

Upcoming news...

2009-03-09T12:33:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone. Just thought i would update and tell you what is going on here. Friday (or MAYBE even Thursday) i will be going down to Indiana with Mom and Dad, to Dale and Michelle's and staying with them for a couple days. That is all i know at the moment. I Might be going to the Conference for a day or two... Still making plans, so i won't know too much for a little while. I would ask for you to pray for me and my Family for safe traveling, and to make the right decisions. Thank you all!!

Piano Medley

2009-03-03T10:34:00.000-05:00

"God Defined - is God Confined"

2009-03-02T13:30:00.001-05:00

Hey. Thought it was time for a new post. I got this in an email and thought 'yall might enjoy it.

Long before recovery, and even many years into it, I had a need to understand who and what God was. I was sure that if I was "good" and acted the way I thought God wanted me to act, then I could control Him, and ultimately I would get what I wanted. I didn't know it then, but what I was trying to do was impose my will on God and make it seem like it was His will.

As you can imagine, this never worked out. The harder I tried to control people, places and things, presuming God's will was in alignment with mine, the more uncontrollable my life became, and the more I began to resent others, myself and God. It took many years for me to truly surrender my will and my life to God, but once I did I discovered a faith that went beyond understanding.

Today my faith confirms that God's will is infinitely better for me and others than I could ever imagine. By constantly affirming, "Thy will, not mine be done," I enjoy the freedom that comes from surrendering to the power and love of God. Today God is no longer confined by my need to define Him, and as a result I get to be a witness to His miracles as they unfold around me.

My Big Sis'

2009-02-16T09:33:00.003-05:00

My dear Big Sis, you are the greatest there is,
And amazing in everyway.
I greatly admire and look up to you,
Each and every day.

You are always showing how much you care,
From your heart that is filled with love.
You are a beautiful Angel,
Sent from the heavens above.

I am the luckiest Sis in the world,
To have grown up next to you.
We played and laughed and had fun together,
A great bond that has always stayed true.

Big Sis you are always in my heart & thoughts,
And I am always sending you a hug and kiss.
You are my world and I love you so much,
Always and Forever...Your Lil' Sis.

Pics of me this summer...

2009-02-12T16:07:00.005-05:00

Hey all. I just thought i would post some pictures of me for a change... Anna Joy took these of me this summer, and i really like them.

One thing i have learned...

2009-02-04T19:06:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone. I wanted to share something that i think i have used a lot in my life... It is a very true saying.

"It is best to keep one's mouth shut, then to open it, and dig a hole and bury one's self with one's tongue."

That has gotten me out of a whole lot of trouble over the years...

Funny pic!!

2009-02-03T11:55:00.001-05:00

A new post, and a new Blog

2009-01-28T12:48:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone. I thought i would take a little time to post and tell you about the new Blog that Bethany, Lydia and I started. It is an Anti-Abortion blog. We would greatly appreciate it if you would spread it abroad to all who are thinking of aborting, or anyone who is an Anti-Abortionist so they can give a testimony of sorts to encourage Women to not abort. Thank you.

Announcing....:

2008-12-26T16:12:00.004-05:00

Naomi Hope Roberson!! :) My newest Niece.
Was born on the 26th of Dec. at 9:59 am
9 pounds,
21 inches long.
Has dark wavy hair, and is VERY cute!! :)

My Story

2008-12-21T19:53:00.002-05:00

Hey everybody!! Sorry, it has been a while since i have posted, but once again i have been quite busy.
Well, for the First time, i will be telling you my story of what has been going on in my life these past few months, and years. Here goes.

I got saved when i was seven years old on Feb. 3rd 1999, and Baptized in March or April. (i don't quite remember which month it was.) And i had no doubt at all that i was saved until these last few months. I was doubting, because i did not know if i knew what i was doing, because i was 7 years old. So on Nov. 9th of this year, i asked him to save me again if i wasn't already. But i was still in doubt of whether i knew WHY i was getting saved. I knew that i was saved, i just didn't know why i accepted Christ as my Savior. Pastor Townsends message today lifted a fog in front of my face. His message was on Pilate's decision on whether or not to crucify Christ, or to release Him. And he had us do the same things as the Jews, which was shout "Crucify Him" 3 times. That cut deep. Finally i realized that that is why i accepted Christ. It was really me shouting those words "Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" And i knew that i couldn't live with that knowing that i shouted those words and i didn't ask him to forgive me for that.

Well, that is my Story. I hope it was a blessing to someone.

Thanksgiving...

2008-12-01T19:30:00.002-05:00

Hey all!! Sorry it has been a while since i have posted, but this post will hopefully make up for that.
I had a wonderful thanksgiving. It started out on Sunday, when Michelle and Dale and Heather came up here and was staying at Marty and Rachel's. Monday they came over for dinner, and we had Beef and Pork roast, with Mashed potatoes and Gravy, and Beets, Green beans, and my not so favorite stuffing. It was all wonderful!! (except the stuffing) And the next day was Tuesday, which was also wonderful, because i got a day off. (YAY!! :)
Wednesday, we went down to Mike and Becky's (4 people squished in a truck), and later, Marty and Rachel, Michelle and Dale and Heather came and we had a lunch of 2 Turkeys, (one roasted, one fried in turkey fryer) more of my not so favorite stuffing, Rolls, green bean cassirole, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and Pies for desert. And there were little things too that were awesome. Crackers and Cream Cheese spread, and Beef roast on top, Pickle wraps, Peanut butter balls, (YUM!!) and Double stuffed mint oreos dipped in Chocolate.
After supper and Marty, Rachel, Michelle and Dale left, the Kids put on a puppet show for everyone. It was sooo cute!! They even made tickets for us. They put a sheet inbetween 2 chairs, (which kept sliding down... but i think it was more the fact that Seth wanted to see so he kept going up there and looking over it.) they had Chairs set up for us, and Blankets on the floor, so if we were cold, we could put the blankets on. Well, the show was over so we all went to bed (We stayed the night there). In the morning, the Girls decided that they were going to try and wake me up. (BAD IDEA!! NEVER WAKE ME UP!! :) They started messing around with my hair, touching my nose, trying to tickle my feet, etc. Anything that they could do to try and wake me up they did. So since they could not get me up, Dad decided he would help them. (ANOTHER BAD IDEA!!) He shook me awake, and i imediately fell asleep again. So he took me by the feet and dragged me off the couch. (WAY WORSE IDEA!!) :D So i fell asleep on the floor. lol. anyways... I finaly got up... (i am not telling you what time.) And we started re-aranging the house for Becky. We had to switch the Office with the Boy's room and vise versa. so there would be more room for Baby in Mike and Becky's room, we moved Becky's office to the old boy's room. During all of this, Michelle and Dale showed up to say goodbye as they were on their way back home. And when we finaly got that all done... (5:30) we had supper. And yes we did have lunch. Mom and i went shopping and took Becky and the Girls with us, and we had fun there. And then we dropped Becky, Anna, and Lydia off at their house, and we got the guys and went home. (once again, we had to squish 4 people in the truck...). And that is the end of Thanksgiving.

This week, Lydia and Anna get to stay with us for a while. And Saturday we are going to the Sleighbell parade in Manistee, and afterwards, we are going to the Truitt's house and play some games.
Well this concludes my post for today. I hope you enjoyed this post, and had a Wonderful thanksgiving. :)
Next is a Wedding, some Birthdays... AND... Christmas. :D

What do you think??

2008-11-08T18:59:00.002-05:00

Hey all!!
I haven't posted in a while, so i thought i would get to it.
I have a challenge/request for you...
I would like you to say a verse that you think most describes me.
Good luck!! :)

Thursday

2008-10-24T11:55:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone!! Sorry i haven't posted in a while... But now i am going to tell you a story!! :)

Yesterday was Thursday. (DUH!!)
I went with Anna to TC at about 1:30 and we went shopping, and we went to the Mall.
After that, we went to Goodwill, and after that we went to eat.... CHINESE FOOD!! :) (My favorite!!)
And then we went on to Church. Well, we were the first ones to get there!! And it was cold outside. So we got into the old Church Building and i turned the heat on. Well, the furnace never works for me, so it just blew out cold air.
We watched a Movie for Church, because Pastor wasn't here. It was VERY good!! It is called "Return of the Daughters". I am reading the book which has a different name "So Much More".
After that, Jaina came and wanted me to play the piano for her. I told her that i would as soon as people moved to the other building so that i didn't have so much of an audience. Then Bethany Millen came up to me and wanted my help with the Violin. So i helped her with that. And after i helped her, almost everybody was gone, so i called Jaina and played the Piano for her. And then Marty comes in and askes to talk to me. (ODD!! Marty never does that!!) So i get up and he starts walking away.( He always talkes to me where i am!!) So i tell him:
"Marty, you are being suspicious.... What do you want to talk to me about??"
Marty replys: "It's about Saturday"
Well that was normal at least. Saturday i wanted to have Mike and Becky and the Kids and Marty and Rachel over for dinner. So i follow him to the other building. And as soon as i walk in the door, everybody starts singing Happy Birthday to me. I was So Shocked!! I had never had a suprize Birthday Party before in my life!!
Anna and Hannah T had aranged the whole thing and made the cake. (Thank you Anna and Hannah!!) My Friends were there, except Bethany and Lydia, my Family, (Part of them) i was totaly blessed!! All of everyone was singing Happy Birthday to me, Except Ken Templeton.......He was singing his own version...
"Happy Birthday to you!! Happy Birthday to you!! Happy Birthday dear BUZZARD!! Happy Birthday to you!!"
Well, that is my Story. Hope you enjoyed it!!

"Go down, Death." By James Weldon Johnson

2008-10-18T17:45:00.001-04:00

Weep not, weep not,
She is not dead;
She's resting in the bosom of Jesus.
Heart-broken husband--weep no more;
Grief-stricken son--weep no more;
Left-lonesome daughter --weep no more;
She only just gone home.

Day before yesterday morning,
God was looking down from his great, high heaven,
Looking down on all his children,
And his eye fell on Sister Caroline,
Tossing on her bed of pain.
And God's big heart was touched with pity,
With the everlasting pity.

And God sat back on his throne,
And he commanded that tall, bright angel standing at his right hand:
Call me Death!
And that tall, bright angel cried in a voice
That broke like a clap of thunder:
Call Death!--Call Death!
And the echo sounded down the streets of heaven
Till it reached away back to that shadowy place,
Where Death waits with his pale, white horses.

And Death heard the summons,
And he leaped on his fastest horse,
Pale as a sheet in the moonlight.
Up the golden street Death galloped,
And the hooves of his horses struck fire from the gold,
But they didn't make no sound.
Up Death rode to the Great White Throne,
And waited for God's command.

And God said: Go down, Death, go down,
Go down to Savannah, Georgia,
Down in Yamacraw,
And find Sister Caroline.
She's borne the burden and heat of the day,
She's labored long in my vineyard,
And she's tired--
She's weary--
Go down, Death, and bring her to me.

And Death didn't say a word,
But he loosed the reins on his pale, white horse,
And he clamped the spurs to his bloodless sides,
And out and down he rode,
Through heaven's pearly gates,
Past suns and moons and stars;
on Death rode,
Leaving the lightning's flash behind;
Straight down he came.

While we were watching round her bed,
She turned her eyes and looked away,
She saw what we couldn't see;
She saw Old Death.  She saw Old Death
Coming like a falling star.
But Death didn't frighten Sister Caroline;
He looked to her like a welcome friend.
And she whispered to us: I'm going home,
And she smiled and closed her eyes.

And Death took her up like a baby,
And she lay in his icy arms,
But she didn't feel no chill.
And death began to ride again--
Up beyond the evening star,
Into the glittering light of glory,
On to the Great White Throne.
And there he laid Sister Caroline
On the loving breast of Jesus.

And Jesus took his own hand and wiped away her tears,
And he smoothed the furrows from her face,
And the angels sang a little song,
And Jesus rocked her in his arms,
And kept a-saying: Take your rest,
Take your rest.

Weep not--weep not,
She is not dead;
She's resting in the bosom of Jesus.

Just sayin' Hello

2008-10-02T12:13:00.002-04:00

Hiya People!! it is nice to get on and post.
Well, we made it to PA safely!!
We left at 6:40 am and went to the car rental place, and the car BARELY made it there.
It does not go in to 3rd gear now, and it is pushing second.
So we finally got to the car rental place and got a nice van, and we left Mesick at 9:30
We made it here safe Tuesday night at 7:30.
Last night we had Church, and Mrs. Marshall made WONDERFUL Apple Cobbler!!
And then after we got back to Rosie's, Kyle Hoover, Mom and I got out our Guitars and played songs till 10:30.
And this morning, Mom had to pretty much drag me out of bed... It was sooooo comfy!!! And soooooo soft!!! And soooooo Warm!!! (sort of)
It is in the 60's over here, and at night, it gets in the 40's.
Well, it is time to sign off now... we are getting ready to eat luch now.
Sorry, people who have been expecting me on.... But the computer that does not have Dial-up, is not at the house that we are staying at.... so i will be on randomly.
I Hope to see you all soon!!
Love you all!!

My Momma

2008-09-24T19:46:00.002-04:00

Questions....

2008-09-11T22:18:00.002-04:00

OK. First of all i would like to thank Rhonda for the Idea: "Thank you Rhonda!!" :)
Here goes.

1. What is my Full name??
2. How many Siblings do i have??
3. How old am I??
4. What color are my Eyes??
5. How many times have i Moved??
6. How many States have i lived in??
7. Which States besides Hawaii and Alaska, have i not been to??
8. What is my Favorite Movie??
9. How many Nieces and Nephews do i have??
10. What color are my Bedroom walls??
11. What year will i Graduate??
12. How tall am I??
13. What instruments do i Play??
14. What is my Favorite School Subject??
15. What is my Favorite thing to do to Pass the Time??

Ok, that is enough for now...
Lets see how you all do. :D
GOOD LUCK!!

September 11th 2001

2008-09-10T13:12:00.009-04:00

It has been 7 years today that a lot of Tragedies happened...

The Twin Towers were destroyed, and a lot of people died.

2,740 to be Exact.

But that doesn't mean that we have to forget about the one tragedy.
His life meant a lot to everyone he met. But now...
Jeremy Townsend is Rejoicing in the Arms of Jesus.

More of my Photography

2008-09-09T18:25:00.006-04:00

Swan Pond

2008-09-01T20:59:00.010-04:00

What do Y'all think of my Photography?? :)

My little Friend!! :)

2008-08-29T16:32:00.003-04:00

I went on a walk a few days ago, and i heard a noise, and i was just about to take a step, i heard it again. I looked, and there was my Little Friend under my foot!!.
For once in my life, i didn't put my foot down.... And boy was i glad that i didn't!! :)

How Great thou Art!!

2008-08-16T17:54:00.001-04:00

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Which one??

2008-08-13T19:27:00.005-04:00

I had found a program that Sketches you Photo, and i Tried it...

Before:

After:
Which one do you like better??

Posting...

2008-08-11T13:09:00.002-04:00

Hey all you readers of this Blog, Sorry i haven't been Posting at all lately...
I have been Busy and sometime Sick too.
I am posting this to tell you i will not be posting for a long time.
There is a lot of stuff going on in the next 2 or 3 weeks.
I will still be reading comments, so if you need me, Comment. :)
Bye!!

Funny!!

2008-07-28T10:05:00.002-04:00

I found this pic and thought it was too funny!!
I just HAD to post it.

Hmm.... Let's see if we can make a Record...

2008-07-21T11:03:00.002-04:00

I was looking in my past posts, and the sad thing is: the most posts i have gotten in my blog history is 27!! Isn't that Sad?? It's Horrible!! So i would like to see if i can get more. So Please Comment Away!! :D

Heaven

2008-07-01T13:15:00.002-04:00

How many of you just stop and think of what Heaven will be like??
If you do not, i encourage you to do so. Your mind cannot imagine what it will be like, but it is a nice reminder.
Imagine walking down the Streets of Gold...

Imagine what the Throne Room will look like...

What will your Friends and Family look like that are already there??...

It really makes you think doesn't it??

I've been Tagged!!

2008-06-25T12:26:00.002-04:00

Hey, I've been tagged by... Steph! This is my first time doing this, so bare with me!

Here is what I (and whoever else I tag) have to do:
Answer some questions
Link her to my blog
Tag six other people and
Comment on their blog to let them know.

Who is your favorite author and why?
Jerry B. Jenkins because he follows the Bible.

Who was your first favorite author and why?
Dr. Sues! :) Because he made me say funny words!

Who is your most recent addition to your favorite authors and why?
David (from the bible) because his Psalms are a blessing.

If someone were to ask you right now- which author would just pop into mind?
, Janette Oake, Tim LaHaye:) and Jerry B Jenkins

Alright now I tag:
Bethany (Meatball)
Bret (TT)
Caleb (Nut)
Rhonda
Amanda
Molly Moo (Posting for Derek:)

Perfect love drives out fear

2008-06-23T09:52:00.001-04:00

God of the rainbow
Faithful be-
Let love's light
Arc over me.

Streak with joy
The mind's dark sky.
Brightly part
My fears
And I.

God's most Precious Gift

2008-06-17T13:56:00.011-04:00

There's a miracle called friendship
It dwells in the Heart,
And you don't know how it happens

Or when it gets its start...
But the happiness it brings you
Always gives a special lift,

And you realize that friendship
Is God's most precious Gift.

Boxing Fan

2008-06-10T07:42:00.001-04:00

I got this in an Email and thought it was cute.

A Question for Y'all

2008-06-06T12:56:00.002-04:00

Hey People!
Someone asked me a few days ago about who my favorite singer is, but i couldn't answer.
There are LOTS of choices to chose from, but i can't chose so i will see how many people can answer it on my Blog.
So, Who is your Favorite singer of all time??

Jesus keep me near the Cross

2008-06-01T19:36:00.003-04:00

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

A Busy 2 weeks!

2008-05-24T10:01:00.002-04:00

Hey Everyone! It has been a busy 2 weeks for me as some of you know so please pardon my not posting.
On the 13th we went down to Indiana to see my sister and her family and stayed there till Saturday.
We went Shopping and went to a baseball game, and we went to the Cosby's for dinner one night.
We got back on Saturday afternoon at 5:30pm and unloaded the car and stuff like that.
Sunday was Church and i stayed after my parents had left to play VollyBall and was getting a ride with someone else.
And Monday i had to do laundry so i could get packed again so i could help out my (sick with morning sickness) sister-in-law, My brother and the Kiddos.
And Tuesday i left again.
And now i have just gotten back and hopefully i will be staying home for at least 2 weeks, as i am not feeling the greatest at the time...
And i need to get my Bearings as they used to be so i can think.
That is all for now.

Updating....

2008-05-13T10:15:00.002-04:00

Hey you readers of this Blog. I will not be able to update for a little while because i and going down to IND to see my sister Michelle. I might be able to post something while i am down there but i doubt it. I will be gone till Saturday night so i will Post to you all Later!! :)

Everyone who reads this Blog, answer these Questions Please.

2008-04-19T15:09:00.003-04:00

#1: Who is your Favorite Bible Character and Why??
-Isiah - Because God told him that the people would not listen to him, and he obeyed anyway.

#2: Who is your Christian Hero from American History??
-John Newton

#3: What is your Favorite Passage from the Bible??
-Ephesians 5

Which one is Better??

2008-04-15T19:18:00.003-04:00

Regular, or
Sepia, or
Black and White??
Which one??!!

How to become an Illegal Alien

2008-04-06T21:21:00.000-04:00

Dear Senator Sarbanes,

As a native Marylander and excellent customer of the Internal Revenue
Service, I am writing to ask for your assistance. I have contacted the Immigration and Naturalization Service in an effort to determine the process for becoming an illegal alien and they referred me to you.

My reasons for wishing to change my status from U.S. Citizen to illegal alien stem from the bill which was recently passed by the Senate and for which you voted. If my understanding of this bill's provisions is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the United States for five years, what I need to do to become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five years.

I know a good deal when I see one and I am anxious to get the process
started before everyone figures it out. Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have had to pay taxes every year so I'm excited about the prospect of avoiding two years of the last five years taxes in return for paying a $2,000 fine. Is there any way that I can apply to be illegal retroactively?

This would yield an excellent return for me and my family because we paid heavy taxes in 2004 and 2005 and I estimated a gross savings approximating $72,000. After the fine this would yield me a net savings of $70,000.

In addition, I would reap the other benefits of being an illegal alien such as free healthcare, avoidance of paying Social Security taxes, buying automobile insurance, serving on jury panels, etc.

If you would provide me with an outline of the process to become illegal (retroactively if possible) and copies of the necessary forms, I would be most appreciative. Thank you for your assistance.

Your Loyal Constituent,
Pete McGlaughlin

Traverse City North Stars!!!!!

2008-03-23T17:52:00.015-04:00

Friday Night the Templetons Invited me to join them for a Hockey Game.
We had a lot of fun!
Hannah and I with our Hats.
We switched hats for the picture.
We got A LOT of compliments on them "Nice Hats!"!
But we got a lot of "You must be totaly insane to be wearing those in Public!!" Looks!

Some of the Crew.
Mike and Nina went too. (Sam is in the Background)Before the Game started.
Coming out of the Locker.
And the Last guy to come out.One of The Ice Bandits being slamed into the wall! MUHAHAHA!!!

My Favorite Goalie!
He blocked 2 shots with just his stick being in mid air with the puck flying at the goal!

2 of the 3 Referees.
Zambooies!!!!End Game. TC Lost 1 to 4, But they still played a GREAT game!!

Afterwards one of the TC Coaches went up behind us and Said that we were the Loudest People there and that we get to skate with the Team After the game.
The Team paid for the rental of the skates so we got to skate on Center Ice with the TC North Stars!!
I got Autographs and One of the Team Players gave me a Book that they could get for free and for us it would have been 3 bucks.
Here are some Pix of Us Skating.

They aren't Very good cause the Flash was glaring off the Wall.Some Other people got to get on too but none were as loud as our Cheering for TC!

How is this possible??

2008-03-14T21:20:00.001-04:00

Is is Real or is it Fake??

If you were a Sports Car... What would you be??

2008-03-13T09:07:00.000-04:00

Take This To find out.
It is quick, but fun to do.
Please comment on what you are.

My Favorite Picture in the whole wide world!!

2008-03-07T18:25:00.000-05:00

The Liberty Bell

2008-03-06T13:41:00.000-05:00

Around the congress with closed door
Thousands of anxious people pour
To wait till all suspense be o'er.

And still above the bellman waits
The slow decision of the fates,
While fears depress and hope elates.

"Passed, it has passed," at length they cry,
Ten thousand glad mouths make reply,
And send the echoes to the sky.

"Ring! ring!" exclaims the watching boy;
The bell responds with notes of joy.
Freedom's proclaim its sweet employ.

Loud and more loud the proud notes swell,
The people's shouts responding well,
All o'er the land the glad news tell.

From sea to sea, from pole to pole,
The echoes of that bell shall roll,
Till freedom comes to every soul.

Freedom

2008-03-03T22:22:00.000-05:00

Freedom is not the Power to do what you Want,...
It is the Liberty to do what you Ought.

Pearly Gates

2008-02-27T13:21:00.000-05:00

A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the pearly gates. St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in."
"Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."
"That's wonderful," says St. Peter, "that's worth three points!"
"Three points?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service."
"Terrific!" says St. Peter, "that's certainly worth a point."
"One point? Golly. How about this: I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans."
"Fantasic, that's good for two more points," he says.
"TWO POINTS!!" the man cries, "At this rate the only way I get into heaven is by the grace of God!"
"Come on in!"

NOW THAT'S GOD

2008-02-14T14:57:00.000-05:00

It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through.
Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we
Didn’t see some rain soon...we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my
Six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort ... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches; thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for an hour: walking carefully to the woods, running back to the house.

Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen...as he was obviously doing important work and didn't need his Mommy checking up on him). He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked, being very careful not to spill the water he held in them ... maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands. I sneaked close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face, but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much higher purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site.

Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him...he didn't even move as Billy knelt down. And I saw a tiny fawn lying on the ground; obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hand. When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree.
I followed him back to the house to a spigot to which we had shut off the water. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle began to creep out. He knelt there, letting the drip, drip slowly fill up his makeshift "cup," as the sun beat down on his little back. And it came clear to me: The trouble he had gotten into for playing with the hose the week before. The lecture he had received about the importance of not wasting water. The reason he didn't ask me to help him. It took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands. When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him.

His little eyes just filled with tears. "I'm not wasting," was all he said. As he began his walk, I joined him...with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away. It was his job. I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save another life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, other drops...and more drops...and more suddenly joined them. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, himself, was weeping with pride.
Some will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence. Those miracles don't really exist. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can't argue with that... I'm not going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm...just like the actions of one little boy saved another.
I don't know if anyone will read this...but I had to send it out. To honor the memory of my beautiful Billy, who was taken from me much too soon... But not before showing me the true face of God, in a little, sunburned body.

Woman Accused of cutting parrot's leg off

2007-10-30T09:38:00.000-04:00

What is the point of cutting a leg off a parrot???!!!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071029/ap_on_fe_st/odd_maimed_parrot;_ylt=AmgGduXIQQcXwVteJ6uhlr8sQE4F

Strange Cats....

2007-10-26T14:46:00.000-04:00

Who would want a cat like THAT thing?!

Yummy!!!!!

Wich one do you like Best?

2007-10-11T14:55:00.001-04:00

OR.....

Derek Michael 81/2lb 19 3/4'' long

2007-10-06T11:13:00.000-04:00

My Favorate Picture

First day Home
What do you think? Is there someone sitting on the rocker or is that just Clothes?
Look at that head of hair!

Someone has a lot of time on their hands!!!

2007-09-25T10:28:00.000-04:00

What do you think?!!!

Funny signs!

2007-09-24T11:56:00.000-04:00

STRANGE hairdoos

2007-09-18T16:49:00.000-04:00

Static Baby!
I bet that would feel weird!
Talk about young Frankenstien.....
I'l get you my Pretty! and your little Frog too!
"The Baby who knew too much!"
No comment.

Little suzzie was playing with daddy's Razor while he was taking a nap... Shame Shame.....

Bible Sales

2007-09-14T16:03:00.000-04:00

A pastor concluded that his church was getting into very serious
financial troubles. While checking the church storeroom, he discovered
several cartons of new bibles that had never been opened and distributed.

So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers from the
congregation who would be willing to sell the bibles door-to-door for
$10 each to raise the desperately needed money for the church.

Jack, Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the task.

The minister knew that Jack and Paul earned their living as salesmen and
were likely capable of selling some bibles. But he had serious
doubts about Louie who was a local farmer, who had always kept to
himself because he was embarrassed by his speech impediment. Poor
Louis stuttered badly. But, NOT WANTING TO discourage Louis, the
minister decided to let him try anyway.

He sent the three of them away with the back seat of their cars stacked
with bibles. He asked them to meet with him and report the results of
their door-to-door selling efforts the following Sunday.

Anxious to find out how successful they were, the minister immediately
asked Jack, "Well, Jack, how did you make out selling our bibles last
week?"

Proudly handing the reverend an envelope, Jack replied, "Using my sales
prowess, I was able to sell 20 bibles, and here's the $200 I collected
on behalf of the church."

"Fine job, Jack!" The minister said, vigorously shaking his hand. "You
are indeed a fine salesman and the Church is indebted to you."

Turning to Paul, "And Paul, how many bibles did you sell for the Church
last week?"

Paul, smiling and sticking out his chest, confidently replied, "I am a
professional salesman. I sold 28 bibles on behalf of the church, and
here's $280 I collected."

The minister responded, "That's absolutely splendid, Paul. You are
truly a professional salesman and the church is indebted to you."

Apprehensively, the minister turned to Louie and said, "And Louie, did
you manage to sell any bibles last week?" Louie silently offered the
minister a large envelope.

The minister opened it and counted the contents. "What is this?"
the minister exclaimed. "Louie, there's $3200 in here! Are you
suggesting that you sold 320 bibles for the church, door to door, in
just one week?"

Louie just nodded. That's impossible!" both Jack and Paul said in
unison. "We are professional salesmen, yet you claim to have sold 10
times as many bibles as we could."

"Yes, this does seem unlikely," the minister! agreed. "I think you'd
better explain how you managed to accomplish this, Louie."

Louie shrugged. "I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don't kn-kn-know f-f-f-for
sh-sh-sh-sure," he stammered.

Impatiently, Peter interrupted. "For crying out loud, Louie, just tell
us what you said to them when they answered the door!"

"A-a-a-all I-I-I s-s-said wa-wa-was," Louis replied, "W-w-w-w-would
y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like t-t-to b-b-b-buy th-th-th-this b-b-b-b-bible
F-f-for t-t-ten b-b-b-bucks ---o-o-o-or--- wo-wo-would yo-you
j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-he re and
r-r-r-r-r-read it t-to y-y-you??"

LOL!

2007-09-11T13:03:00.000-04:00

I couldn't stop laughing through this!
There is no Video but there is sound.
LOL!
http://www.chumfm.com/MorningShow/bits/march24.swf

2007-09-06T23:22:00.000-04:00

In 1861, when they perceived their rights to be threatened, when those who would alter the nature of the government of their fathers were placed in charge, when threatened with change they could not accept, the mighty men of valor began to gather. A band of brothers, native to the Southern soil, they pledged themselves to a cause: the cause of defending family, fireside, and faith. Between the desolation of war and their homes they interposed their bodies and they chose me for their symbol.

I Am Their Flag.

Their mothers, wives, and sweethearts took scissors and thimbles, needles and thread, and from silk or cotton or calico whatever was the best they had even from the fabric of their wedding dresses, they cut my pieces and stitched my seams.

I Am Their Flag.

On courthouse lawns, in picnic groves, at train stations across the South the men mustered and the women placed me in their hands. "Fight hard, win if possible, come back if you can; but, above all, maintain your honor. Here is your symbol," they said.

I Am Their Flag.

They flocked to the training grounds and the drill fields. They felt the wrenching sadness of leaving home. They endured sickness, loneliness, boredom, bad food, and poor quarters. They looked to me for inspiration.

I Am Their Flag.

I was at Sumter when they began in jubilation. I was at Big Bethel when the infantry fired its first volley. I smelled the gun smoke along Bull Run in Virginia and at Belmont along the Mississippi. I was in the debacle at Fort Donelson; I led Jackson up the Valley. For Seven Days I flapped in the turgid air of the James River bottoms as McClellan ran from before Richmond. Sidney Johnston died for me at Shiloh as would thousands of others whose graves are marked "Sine Nomine," - without a name - unknown.

I Am Their Flag.

With ammunition gone they defended me along the railroad bed at Manassas by throwing rocks. I saw the fields run red with blood at Sharpsburg. Brave men carried me across Doctor's Creek at Perryville. I saw the blue bodies cover Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg and the Gray ones fall like leaves in the Round Forest at Stones River.

I Am Their Flag.

I was a shroud for the body of Stonewall after Chancellorsville. Men ate rats and mule meat to keep me flying over Vicksburg. I tramped across the wheat field with Kemper and Armistead and Garnett at Gettysburg. I know the thrill of victory, the misery of defeat, the bloody cost of both.

I Am Their Flag.

When Longstreet broke the line at Chickamauga, I was in the lead. I was the last off Lookout Mountain. Men died to rescue me at Missionary Ridge. I was singed by the wildfire that burned to death the wounded in the Wilderness. I was shot to tatters in the Bloody Angle at Spotsylvania. I was in it all from Dalton to Peachtree Creek, and no worse place did I ever see than Kennesaw and New Hope Church. They planted me over the trenches at Petersburg and there I stayed for many long months.

I Am Their Flag.

I was rolled in blood at Franklin; I was stiff with ice at Nashville. Many good men bade me farewell at Sayler's Creek. When the end came at Appomattox, when the last Johnny Reb left Durham Station, many of them carried fragments of my fabric hidden on their bodies.

I Am Their Flag.

In the hard years of so-called "Reconstruction," in the difficulty and despair of years that slowly passed, the veterans, their wives and sons and daughters, they loved me. They kept alive the tales of valor and the legends of bravery. They passed them on to the grandchildren and they to their children, and so they were passed to you.

I Am Their Flag.

I have shrouded the bodies of heroes, I have been laved with the blood of martyrs, I am enshrined in the hearts of millions, living and dead. Salute me with affection and reverence. Keep undying devotion in your hearts. I am history. I am heritage, not hate. I am the inspiration of valor from the past. Look Away, Dixie Land!

I Am Their Flag.

Aright who ever reads this can try to mess with my mind as much as they want, but it's not going to work. I like this poem, and if you don't I'm am sorry. But it's not your Blog, so go look at other peoples blogs if you like. :~] So like it or not here it is. I do not mean to make people mad at me really that does not seam Godly so I am sorry, let me know what you think.

Some of my Favorate Pics

2007-09-03T19:18:00.001-04:00

Thinking

2007-08-26T18:24:00.000-04:00

It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now and then -- to loosen up. Inevitably, though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker. I began to think alone -- "to relax," I told myself -- but I knew it wasn't true.

Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time. That was when things began to sour at home. One evening I had turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's.

I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself. I began to avoid friends at lunch time so I could read Thoreau and Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?"

One day the boss called me in. He said, "Listen, I like you, and it \hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job."

This gave me a lot to think about.

I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking ..." "I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!"

"But Honey, surely it's not that serious."

"It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver. "You think as much as college professors, and college professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking, we won't have any money!"

"That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently. She exploded in tears of rage and frustration, but I was in no mood to deal with the emotional drama.

"I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door. I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche. I roared into the parking lot with NPR on the radio and ran up to the big glass doors... They didn't open. The library was closed. To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that night.

As I sank to the ground, clawing at the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye. "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked. You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's Anonymous poster. Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never miss a TA meeting.

At each meeting we watch a non-educational video; last week it was "Porky's." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting. I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home.

Life just seemed ... easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking. I think the road to recovery is nearly complete for me. Today, I registered to vote Democrat.

Hannah F.....

2007-08-26T18:14:00.000-04:00

I don't care how much Jeremy hurts me!
FORDS ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!
HEHE!
He doesn't have this website so i can say that.......
lol

Amber

Pretty weird stuff!

2007-08-25T14:47:00.000-04:00

How would you like to enter this competition?
http://www.mosspink.com/veggies.html

2007-08-15T12:44:00.000-04:00

-----A NEW AESOP'S FABLE
Mr. Rabbit was walking down the road when he spotted a crow at the tip top of a very tall tree. He shouted, "Good morning, Mr. Crow."
Mr. Crow shouted back down, "Good morning, Mr. Rabbit."
Mr. Rabbit shouted up, "Whata ya doin' today?" and the answer shouted back down was, "Absolutely nothin' Mr. Rabbit! Absolutely nothin' and loving it."
Well, that sounded pretty good to Mr. Rabbit. So he shouted back up, "Do you think I could do that too?"

Mr. Crow shouted back down, "I don't see why not!"

Well, Mr. Rabbit lay down on the side of the road and began doing absolutely nothing.

In 30 minutes a fox came along and ate him.

The moral of the story: You can get away with doing absolutely nothing, but only if you're really high up.

----THE 10 LAWS OF LIFE
1. When ones hands are covered in oil, grease, or glue, your nose will start to itch. (Law of Itchiban)

2. Your insurance will cover everything but what has happened. (Incuranctions So Sorry Law)

3. When things seem easy to do, it's because you haven't followed all the instructions. (Destiny Awaits Law)

4. The cost is always higher than one budgets for, and it's exactly 3.14 times higher, hence the importance of pi. (Law of Pi Eyed)

5. The probability that one will spill food on one's clothes is directly proportional to its need to be clean. (Law of Campbell's Scoop)

6. Each and every body sitting on a commode will cause the doorbell to ring. (Law of O'golly Gee!)

7. Wind velocity will increase proportionally to the cost of ones hairdo. (The Hair-Wind Principal)

8. After discarding something not used for years, you will need it one week later. (Law of Irreversibility)

9. Arriving for an appointment will cause the receptionist to be absent, and if one arrives late, everyone else else arrived before you. (Law of De Lay)

10. Do not take life too serious, because in the end, you won't come out alive anyway. (Law of Absolute Certainly)

----In his Sunday sermon, the minister used "Forgive Your Enemies" as his subject. After the sermon, he asked how many were willing to forgive their enemies. About half held up their hands.
Not satisfied, he harangued the congregation for another twenty minutes and repeated his question. This received a response of eighty percent. Still unsatisfied, he lectured for fifteen more minutes and repeated his question. All responded except one elderly gentleman in the rear.
"Mr. Jones, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?"
"I don't have any."
"Mr. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?"
"One hundred and one."
"Mr. Jones, please come down in front and tell the congregation how a man can live to be one hundred and one and not have an enemy in the world."
The old man teetered down the aisle, slowly turned to face the congregation, smiled and said, "I outlived every one of them!"

Dumb Criminals

2007-08-10T13:04:00.000-04:00

PASADENA, Md. (AP) - Doctors often warn of the health risks of eating junk food, but it seems the treats can be a problem for burglars, too.

Four teenagers broke into a gas station early Wednesday and left a trail of candy bar wrappers along the road as they left, said Cpl. Mark Shawkey, a spokesman for the Anne Arundel County Police Department. A police dog located the teens a quarter-mile away.

"Never heard of a K-9 having that extra help in completing a track," Shawkey said.

Three boys and a girl, ages 15 and 16, were charged with burglary and theft. They were not named because of their ages.

Shawkey said the teens stole candy, chips and cigars from the BP station. Most of the junk food was found scattered around the road where they were apprehended.

Burglar Arrested After Sleeping in Car

2007-08-10T13:02:00.001-04:00

OSLO, Norway (AP) - The basic requirement of the stealthy night-time burglar is the ability to stay awake. A suspected Norwegian burglar failed the test and ended up in jail.

The alleged burglar - unsurprisingly with a long list of criminal convictions - was discovered early Thursday at the wheel of someone else's car following a hard night spent, according to police suspicions, robbing houses.

He was identified only as a 42-year-old man.

He is believed to have tried to steal a car to drive home with his ill-gotten gains but a passer-by called police reporting someone slumped behind the wheel, said Harald Aase, operations leader for western Norway's Haugeland and Sunnhordland Police District.

Aase said police turned up to check on the car and its slumbering driver in the town of Haugesund and found a sleepy but familiar figure in the front seat. Police have declined to name him.

"We have a man in custody who fell asleep in someone else's company car," Aase said by telephone, adding that the back seat was full of suspected stolen goods.

Aase said the lesson was clear. "You mustn't fall asleep on the job."

I am A......

2007-07-28T17:06:00.000-04:00

CONFEDERATE!!!!

I did my Reserch Lydia....

2007-07-28T16:53:00.000-04:00

1. We protest the tyranny of the 1954 "Black-Monday" edict, which forced minorities
into schools. We vow to take our schools back.

2. We protest the infamy of the 1962 Invasion of Mississippi, which forced bayonets
over ballots. We vow to take our democracy back.

3. We protest the usurpation of the 1964 "Civil-Rights" Bill, which forced minorities
into the workplace. We vow to take our workplaces back.

4. We protest the despotism of the 1965 "Voting-Rights" Act, which forced minorities
into offices. We vow to take our offices back.

5. We protest the brutality of the 1967 "Forced-Housing" Act, which forced minorities
into neighborhoods. We vow to take our neighborhoods back.

6. We protest the disgrace of the 1997 "Ole-Miss Rebel-Flag Ban," which forced the
"Black Caucus" over students. We vow to take the Chancellor's office back.

7. We protest the abomination of the 1999 "Jackson-City-Council Flag Banishment,"
which forced "New-African" over American colors. We vow to take our capital back.

8. We protest the intrustion by the 2000 "Nissan Ban-the-Flag Ultimatum," which
forced foreign occupation of our soil. We vow to take every inch of our turf back.

9. We salute the defiance of the 2001 "Save-the-Flag" uprising, which forced the
majority over the minorities. We vow to defend and advance our rights.

10. We honor the life of Governor Lester Maddox, in behalf of private property and freedom. We vow to restore the Confederate flag in the Georgia flag as a Maddox Memorial.

Background

2007-07-28T16:52:00.002-04:00

When the Berlin Wall fell, the Confederate flag was raised to symbolize defiance of tyranny. When Lithuania gained independence, the Confederate flag was flown to show defiance of despotism. And when Mississippi stands against attempts by Negroes, communists and Japanese to take over the state, the Confederate flag is there to signify defiance of oppression. Lenore Prather barred the Mississippi Supreme Court from receiving the Nationalists' amicus curiae brief in suport of the flag, but was promptly voted out of office. Ruth Ginsberg prevented the United States Supreme Court from accepting the Nationalists' petition for writ of certiorari, but the publicity generated by the litigation kept momentum behind the flag. Richard Barrett vowed, "I will stick in this ring until I knock the flag-haters out."

Huge crowds turned out to support the flag at public meetings, overwhelming Clinton Race-Board Member William Winter, who sought to replace the flag with a replica of the Red-Chinese flag. When the Nissan automobile company joined the Black Caucus in opposing the flag, Nationalists reminded that Negroes were defeated in the Reconstruction and the Japanese in World War II. Resentment, sparked by L. E. Matthews III, Joe McNamee, Tony Thomas and Greg Stewart, reached a fever-pitch, forcing the flag-issue onto the ballot. Seeing the "handwriting on the wall," at the last minute, even former Governor Bill Waller and Kirk Fordice weighed in on the side of the flag. Voters buried flag-opponents in an historic landslide.

The petition drive continues in order to keep the Yellow and Black Caucuses down, move Mississippi and America closer to majority-rule and thwart any efforts to hi-jack, compromise or sell out the victory. The Clarion-Ledger newspaper said that it feared that Mississippi would become a "magnet" for rightist social activists. Legislator Mike Chaney even demanded that flag-victors "cool it." But Eric Jamison of Mississippi, who attended pro-flag rallies, said that he welcomes new organization and offensives. "Flag-foes are telling us to 'move on,' but we are going to 'march on.'" Richard Barrett even hoisted the flag beside the Liberty Bell, as the vote was announced.

Time Line

2007-07-28T16:51:00.000-04:00

* 1787. The United States establishes citizenship for the American People from which Indians, slaves and foreigners are excluded.
* 1857. The United States Supreme Court, in the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford, rules that Negroes are an inferior race, not entitled to be part of the body politic.
* 1896. The United States Supreme Court, in the case of Plessey v Ferguson, rules that the American People cannot be forced, in public places, to associate with Negroes against their will.
* 1962. Minority James Meredith is forced into the University of Mississippi at bayonet point by President John F. Kennedy. The entire State of Mississippi rebels. Confederate and Mississippi flags are central to the protests against oppression by minorities, tyranny by government officials and intrusion by communist-instigated agitation. Clean-cut, all-American youth raise their fists -- and their flags -- in defiance. Governor Ross Barnett, in Mississippi's Finest Hour, waves his own Confederate flag at the Ole Miss football game. In one of the most dramatic events in Mississippi history, Barnett declares: "I love Mississippi. I love her customs. I love her people." Observers say that every white man in the state would have laid down his life at that very moment for freedom.
* 1977. Governor Ross Barnett appears, in his last, major public appearance, at the Mississippi War Memorial draped in Confederate and American flags, and voices his defiance of tyranny and minority rule. This time, he symbolically "passes the torch" to a young Vietnam War veteran, Richard Barrett, who stands beside him at the podium. Barrett has been organizing youth and speaking throughout the nation for a patriotic and nationalistic resurrection.
* 1987. Minorities invade Forsyth County, Georgia, demanding that land be confiscated and turned over to inner-city slum dwellers and that students be bussed into minority-controlled, downtown Atlanta. To the nation's surprise, thousands of young people, waving Confederate and American flags, led by Richard Barrett, march in opposition in the Majority Rights' Freedom Parade. Defiant, proud and wholesome-looking, they are in stark contrast to the mean, hateful and unkemp minorities whose demands they reject. The nation now has a choice between the majority and minorities. The Confederate flag becomes a symbol of protest, patriotism and victory. All of the minorities' demands are rejected. A warrant is sworn out to arrest Barrett for waving his flag, but the court dismisses the charges. The Nationalist Movement is born and wins in the Supreme Court when officials try to ban it.
* 1989. During the Phil Donahue Debate on the Confederate Flag in New York, Thomas Reed, the minority who was arrested for trying to tear down the Confederate flag atop the Alabama State Capitol, tells a nationwide television audience that Richard Barrett is "the best representation of the Confederate Battle Flag that I have ever seen in my life." Barrett vows that "you will see the victory of us flag-wavers over you flag-tearers."
* 1990. Jackson, Mississippi public schools try to ban students from displaying the Confederate flag in meetings at Forest Hill High School. Nationalists, led by student Joe McNamee and his father, sue the school on the grounds that their constitutional rights have been violated. They win a court order reestablishing the meetings and the flag in the public schools. Soon after, the NAACP sues the State of Mississippi to ban the Confederate flag from being part of the state flag. Chancellor Chet Dillard throws out the case.
* 1997. Lebanese Chancellor Robert Khayat, bowing to demands of the "Black Caucus," threatens to arrest Confederate-flag-wavers. Nationalists sue, launch petitions and hold the rousing Stick the Ban Rally on campus. Students hoist flags on staffs fashioned out of paper and on cardboard, by the thousands.
* 1998. Negroes sue to have the flag removed. Nationalists file an amicus curiae brief stating that the court has no jurisdiction to remove the flag. The court rules that it has no power to remove the flag. Judge Lenore Prather opposes both the flag and the Nationalists. She is overwhelmingly voted out at the following election.
* 1999. Nationalists succeed in having Negro Fred Banks tossed off the case in the Mississippi Supreme Court in which Negroes had, also, been seeking to have the Confederate flag removed from the state flag. The court, again, turns the Negroes down. Richard Geldreich, David Edwards, Arthur Baker and others who Khayat threatens with arrest for displaying the Confederate flag are hailed as heroes.
* 2000. William Winter of the Clinton Race-Board, named by Governor Ronnie Musgrove to a "Flag-Commission," vows to abolish the flag to appease the Black Caucus and prevent a vote on the issue. Richard Barrett re-posts the flag in Jackson City Hall, after Negro Councilman, Kenneth Stokes, pilfers it. Barrett delivers his I Am Offended speech on the same spot. Huge crowds turn out at public meetings to oppose Winter. Hinds County Circuit Judge Swan Yerger rules in favor of placing the issue on the ballot. Winter demands that the flag be replaced with a replica of the flag of Red China, but L. E. Matthews III and others display the flag in his face. Legislative leaders rebuff Winter. The Commission then caves in to demands for a popular vote.
* 2001. The Nissan automobile company demands that the Mississippi flag be taken down. Nationalists receive overwhelming support for their campaign exposing the Red-Flag as subversion by both the Yellow Caucus and Black Caucus. Charlie Capps and Japanese "businessmen," realizing that they are doomed, secure "permission" from Winter to change the replica of the Red-Chinese flag from red to blue, but the public remains outraged. Richard Barrett says that "dyeing Lenin's beard will not change the face of communism." He dubs the "revised" Winter flag the "Bluebeard" flag. Some call it the "pizza" flag. On April 17, 2001, the people vote for the Confederate flag, 2-1. Barrett proclaims the vote at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Banks resigns.
* 2003. Lester Maddox, Confederate-flag-supporter and staunch segregationist, dies, without ever recanting, having stated that he only wished that he had fought harder for segregation. Nationalists call for the restoration of the Confederate flag in the Georgia flag as a memorial to Maddox.
* 2006. The flag is re-posted, each year, symbolically, at Jackson City Hall. Negro Mayor Frank Melton threatens to block the ceremonies, but is backed down.
* 2007. Negroes demand that the flag be placed on the ballot, a second time, in Mississippi, so that they may defeat it, but they fall flat. Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr. expresses appreciation to Mississippi for keeping up the fight against the Voting Rights Act.

World War 1

2007-07-12T14:09:00.000-04:00

Who started the "Great War"?

1. Serbia

* on June 28, 1914, the 19-year old student Gavrilo Princip, an agent of the Serbian Black Hand secret society, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of AH.
* Serbia had emerged victorious from the Balkan Wars 1912-13 over Turkey and Bulgaria, but AH had annexed Bosnia, Herzogovina, Albania and opposed the "pan-slavism" that Serbia represented.

2. Austria-Hungary

* on July 28, the AH Dual Monarchy declared war on Serbia.
* empire of Franz Joseph (ruled 1848-1916) was the best example of the "persistence of the ancien regime" (Arno Mayer). Alan Palmer in Twilight of the Habsburgs (1995) argues that the emperor was not so bad, sought peace and stability, that Vienna with a population of 2m. was a cultural center of Europe. He weakened the empire starting in 1908 by granting universal suffrage and opening the political system to ethnic minorities.

3. Russia

* on July 29, Nicholas II was pressured by his military to mobilize prematurely to defend Serbia. Ger. decd war Aug. 1
* Emperor Nicholas II was struggling to keep power from the revolutionaries who had established the Duma parliament in 1905.
* Gen. Samsonov invades East Prussia Aug. 13 but is defeated by Hindenburg and Ludendorff at Tannenberg Aug. 26-30

4. Germany

* on Aug. 1, Germany reluctantly followed its alliance with AH by declaring war on Russia
* Kaiser Wilhelm II (ruled 1888-1918) had ousted Bismarck and sought to keep government in his control, opposing the rising Social Democratic Party, favoring instead the Prussian aristocracy, von Moltke's General Staff, Tirpitz's navy
* Schlieffen Plan begins Aug.10 with huge wheel-like movemnet through Belgium by 1.5 million men in 7 armies, capture Liege Aug. 15, Brussels Aug. 20.

5. France

* on Aug. 1, France followed its alliance with Russia and mobilized - Ger decd war on France Aug. 3.
* Foreign Minister Delcasse had sought an Anglo-French front against Germany but fell from power 1905 as over the German-Morocco crisis and the Dreyfus affair. Church-state separation took place 1905 and Clemenceau led a radical majority in the 1906 elections to create a new French nationalism. Poincare was elected President in 1913 and saw the end of the Third Republic as war began 1914.
* French offensive in Lorraine is fails in the Battle of the Frontiers Aug. 14-25, and Joffre retreats to the Marne, but Ger. right is weakened to strengthen Lorraine

6. Britain

* on Aug. 4, Brit. followed its Triple Entente with France and Russia (formed 1907 by Edward Grey) and declared war on Germany, and after Ger. decd war on Belgium.
* George V (ruled 1910-36) struggled to work with the Liberal majority of David Lloyd George but faced growing turmoil of labor strikes, opposition to Irish home rule.
* Gen John French defeated at Battle of Mons Aug. 23 and joins French in retreat to the Marne. Gen. Joffre is able to stop Ger. Sep. 5-12 in the "miracle of the Marne"

7. Japan

* on Aug. 23, Japan declared war on Ger. and occupied Shantung

Why U.S. entry?

1. Americans unneutral in "thought & deed" (Aug. 19 speech)

* hyphenates = relief committees, 1914 Czech lobby of Edward Benes, Thomas Masaryk
* pro-British = propaganda, blockade, no Declaration of London, loans
* "merchants of death" = Remington, DuPont, Hog Island
* Dacia case - Grey opp'd McAdoo plan to buy German ships

2. U-boat

* Sep. 5, 1914 - Brit cruiser Pathfinder first to be sunk by Ger. submarine - the U-boat fleet grows from 21 in 1914 to 127 in 1917, but only 1/3 at sea at any one time.
* Feb. 4, 1915 - Ger. proclaims "war Zone" around Brit. - also begin Zeppelin attacks on London by air.
* Feb. 10 - Wilson protest - declares Ger would be held to "strict accountability" but ambiguous on passenger ships. Protest also made to Brit - no use of U.S. flag allowed.
* Mar. 28 - Brit steamship Falaba sunk - 104 dead include 1 American, Leon Thrasher
* May 7 - Brit passenger liner Lusitania sunk by one torpedo from Ger. Capt. Walter Schwieger's U-20; 1198 dead, including 128 Americans.
* Lusitania notes: 1st U.S. note on May 13 demanded right to travel, disavowal, reparations - Ger. reply strong: claimed that the Brit. ship carried munitions, that sinking it was "just self-defense" - however, on June 6 Ger. issued order to U-boats to spare passengers; 2nd U.S. note on June 9 was strong, demanded "specific pledge" - WJB resigns; 3rd U.S. note on July 21 was an ultimatum: any more sinkings by Ger. subs would be "deliberately unfriendly"
"Standing Back of Him" from
the New York Tribune, Feb. 1917

Jeanette Rankin in U.S. Capitol
* Arabic Aug. 19 - 2 Amer killed - Bernsdorff pays indemnity and makes pledge (for 9 mos)

3. domestic frustration

* Mexican revolution worsens in 1915 - Pershing expedition begins March 1916
* intervention in Haiti July 1915 & Santo Domingo 1916
* spy expose Aug 15, 1915 - Franz von Rintelen arrested in Atlanta - over von Papen and Boy Ed - plotted with Huerta - Brit "Purchasing Comm" in NY - Wm Wiseman of Kuhn-Loeb - gave info to Col. House - Eman. Voska & Bohemian Alliance - worked for Brit SIS - McAdoo tapped tel of Ger & AH ministers - Brit Room 40 made decrypts - Ralph Van Deman is the "father of Am. military intelligence" due to his 1916 report that led to the reestablishment of MID
* Peace Movement - Am. Peace Society 1907 - Cosmopolitian Club at Univ of Wisconsin - Nicholas Murray Butler pres of Columbia - J.B. Moore's 8-volume Digest of International Law - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - Edwin Ginn World Peace Foundation - Henry Ford Peace ship to conference of Neutrals in Europe Dec. 1915 with Rosa Schwimmer - Jeanette Rankin was 1st woman elected to House of Representatives, represented pacifist Montana 1880-1973
* Preparedness campaign - both WW and HC Lodge claimed it was their idea - due to Lusitania, growing domestic pressures, esp Republican Party - Wilson speech Nov. 4, 1915 - expand Navy, Army - new volunteer reserve "Continental Army" - opp'd by 50 Dem in Congress, esp S & W, led by House Majority Leader Claude Kitchin - Wilson national speaking tour Jan and Feb 1916, but Congress deadlocked
* Feb. 8, 1916 - Ger to sink all armed merchant ships (Sussex Mr 24 mistake)
* March 7 - McLemore-Gore defeated - would have prohibited all passengers on belligerent ships
* March 9 - Columbus raid by Pancho Villa caused western states to support defense bills
* March 23 - House approves compromise bill - National Guard to be under feds (reversed 140 yrs of state militia) and volunteer summer training camps created (Plattsburg)
* paid by Revenue Act of 1916 - taxes on the rich and on munition makers, new fed estate tax

4. mediation

House and Wilson

* House-Grey memo of Feb. 22, 1916 during Col. House's 2nd trip to Europe - Wilson to summon peace conference if requested by Brit, Fr - if Ger refused, U.S. to war - but Grey refused to set date for conference, Wilson added "probably" - rejected Mr. 8
* McLemore-Gore is defeated that would have prohibited all passengers on belligerent ships - a Wilosn victory
* Sussex incident Mr. 24 - Wilson wanted to be decisive, to assure Brit, Fr that he was determined to get peace, and to allow Ger alternative to war - must follow cruiser rules or U.S. will "sever diplomatic relations" (Wilson's speech of April 19)
* Wilson opp'd to both Ger and Allies - both still seeking military victory in 1916 - Battle of Jutland May 31-June is a tactical victory of Ger. Admiral Reinhard Scheer whose 99 ships sank 117,025 tons of Brit Adm. John Jellicoe's 149 ships that sank only 61,180 tons. But the battle was a Brit. strategic victory keeping the Ger. navy bottled up, tightening the blockade, causing 750,000 Germans to starve to death, and leaving the U-boat as Germany's only alternative.
* May 27 speech - Wilson advocates U.S. join postwar League - goal of collective security w/ guarantees
* 1916 - Wilson wins Dem Party nomination because "he kept us out of war"- gets strong League plank in party platform, but is attacked as pro-British - Chas "Evasive" Hughes nominated by Repub Party seeking Ger-Amer votes, but Hughes said he would be tougher on Mexico, Ger
* Nov. election was close - Hughes (46%, 254, won east) vs Wilson (49%, 277, won south and west) - no mandate for peace or war but Wilson continued diplomacy to end the war.
* Dec. 18 note to Ger offering peace, but was refused - Wilson rejected by both Allies, Ger
* late 1916 - new young Emperor Karl of AH supported by Wilson - but press campaign of Alice Masaryk, d. of Thos, released 1916 from AH prison
* Jan 22, 1917, speech "Peace Without Victory" meant for Ger, but was rejected

5. unrestricted sub warfare Feb. 1, 1917

* decline of Bethman-Hollweg, rise of military - violated Sussex pledge
* Feb. 3 - U.S. breaks diplomatic relations - endorsed by Senate Feb. 7 - Wilson policy of patience replaced by decisive action
* Feb. 25 - Brit Laconia liner sunk - 3 Am. killed
* Feb. 26 - WW asks Congress to arm merchant ships - passed by House but not Senate - Wilson goes ahead March 12 by executive order

6. Zimmermann telegram Mar. 1

* pub'd by State Dept, based on decryption by British Room 40 in New York of Ger. Foreign Secy note to Eckhardt in Mexico of Jan 16
* Mar. 12 - sinking of unarmed U.S. ship Algonquin, then March 16 City of Memphis, Illinois, Vigilancia

7. Democracy

* April 2 - Wilson delivers war message to Congress
* April 4 - passed by Senate 82-6
* April 6 - passed by House 373-50 and signed by Wilson
* "the U.S. was going to war to establish a new world order, to establish the principles of democracy." (The Great War, Episode 6)

Killing the Cat

2007-07-11T11:50:00.000-04:00

Curiosity killed the cat

Meaning

Inquisitiveness can lead one into dangerous situations.

Origin

Everyone knows that, despite its supposed nine lives, curiosity killed the cat. Well, not quite. The 'killed the cat' proverb originated as 'care killed the cat'. By 'care' the coiner of the expression meant 'worry/sorrow' rather than our more usual contemporary 'look after/provide for' meaning.

That form of the expression is first recorded in the English playwright Ben Jonson's play Every Man in His Humour, 1598:

"Helter skelter, hang sorrow, care'll kill a Cat, up-tails all, and a Louse for the Hangman."

The play was one of the Tudor humours comedies, in which each major character is assigned a particular 'humour' or trait. The play is thought to have been performed in 1598 by The Lord Chamberlain's Men, a troupe of actors including William Shakespeare and William Kempe. Shakespeare was no slouch when it came to appropriating a memorable line and it crops up the following year in Much Ado About Nothing:

"What, courage man! what though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care."

The proverbial expression 'curiosity killed the cat', which is usually used when attempting to stop someone asking unwanted questions, is much more recent. The earlier form was still in use in 1898, when it was defined in Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable:

"Care killed the Cat. It is said that a cat has nine lives, but care would wear them all out."

Curiosity hasn't received a good press over the centuries. Saint Augustine wrote in Confessions, AD 397, that, in the eons before creating heaven and earth, God "fashioned hell for the inquisitive". John Clarke, in Paroemiologia, 1639 suggested that "He that pryeth into every cloud may be struck with a thunderbolt". In Don Juan, Lord Byron called curiosity "that low vice". That bad opinion, and the fact that cats are notoriously inquisitive, lead to the source of their demise being changed from 'care' to 'curiosity'.

The earliest known printed reference that uses the 'curiosity' form is O. Henry's Schools and Schools, 1909:

"Curiosity can do more things than kill a cat; and if emotions, well recognized as feminine, are inimical to feline life, then jealousy would soon leave the whole world catless."

The earliest version that I have found of the precise current form of the proverb in print is from The Portsmouth Daily Times, March 1915, in a piece headed The Height of Curiosity:

Mother - "Don't ask so many questions, child. Curiosity killed the cat."
Willie - "What did the cat want to know, Mom?"

The frequent rejounder to 'curiosity killed the cat' is 'satisfaction brought it back'. I've not been able to trace the source of this odd reply. The first citation of it that I've found in print is from an Iowan college magazine The Coe College Cosmos, in February 1933.

Love is a...

2007-07-07T23:13:00.000-04:00

Love is a serious mental disease.
--Plato

Love is a state in which a man sees things most decidedly as they are not.
--Friedrich Nietzsche

Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.
--Robert Frost

Love is an ocean of emotions entirely surrounded by expenses.
--Thomas Robert Dewar

Love is a great beautifier.
--Louisa May Alcott

Love is a cunning weaver of fantasies and fables.
--Sappho

Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination.
--Voltaire

Love is a chain of love as nature is a chain of life.
--Truman Capote

Love is a friendship caught on fire.
--Northern Exposure

Love is a conflict between reflexes and reflections.
--Mangnu Hirschfield

Love is a friendship set to music.
--E. Joseph Cossman

Love is all you need.
--Paul McCartney

Love is a better teacher than duty.
--Albert Einstein

Love is a tyrant sparing none.
--Pierre Corneille

Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other.
--Euripides

An Ode to Mothers

2007-07-07T23:09:00.000-04:00

Being a mother isn't simply
A matter of having children.
To think that is as absurd
As believing that having a piano
Makes one a musician. (1)

It is true that you may occasionally overhear a mother say
"Children must have their naps,
It's mother who knows best."
When what she really means by that
Is that she needs a rest. (2)

And yet of all the home remedies,
A good wife and mother is still the best. (3)
For a mother is the only person on earth
Who can divide her love among ten children
And each child still have all her love. (4)

Why, some people even say
It takes a hundred men to make an encampment,
But one woman to make a home, (5)
And still others affirm that
An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. (6)

And didn't Billy Sunday once say,
"Mothers... fill places so great
That there isn't an angel in heaven
Who wouldn't be glad to give a bushel of diamonds
To come down here and take their place." (7)

Most of all the beautiful things in life
Come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds.
Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows,
Brothers, and sisters, aunts and cousins,
But you've only one mother in the whole world. (8)

A woman of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting,
But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Her children arise and call her blessed. (9)

Fun in the water

2007-06-29T11:02:00.000-04:00

The time that i took this it was 11:37
Bethany was trying to either get Molly wet herself or get her into Lake Michigan. Poor Jeremy.... He was complaining that he got 3 drops of water on his pants!
Bethany was trying to not get splashed by me.
As you can see.... she didn't succeed.
She was exited when we got into the water.
As you can see for yourself...
That water was COLD!

So Far

2007-06-26T15:28:00.001-04:00

This was taken in Portland OR

A pretty weird piece of Driftwood.
Another gorgeous sunset made by God.

That is all for today.