Bittersweet Facebook bios

I've been on Facebook for quite a long time, but used it infrequently - mostly to see the pictures posted by a few friends.

But recently, I've run into a large group of folks I knew about 20 years ago.

It's fascinating to get these little snapshots of their lives. Most have been the predictable "went to college, got married, had kids."

Then there are a few that were stories of great sadness and victory.

One fellow who was always a thinker has some books he's written.

Another who had the best sense of humor of anyone I've ever met has become a doctor. (Can you imagine how much more at ease you'd be with a doc who didn't take himself, or life, too seriously?) In the midst of rejoicing at seeing him have that success, I noticed that he's gone through a divorce, and some custody strangeness with his kids. So, you get 20 years of history, condensed into one 10 minute Facebook reunion. And you wonder ... do I send condolences, congratulations, what?

A lot, apparently, can get squeezed into 20 years. I, on the other hand, am still wearing some of the same clothes, and reading the same books. Some of us just don't DO change.

Letter from a Grand-dad

A very cute email forward. :)


Guess you heard that 68% of the youth vote went to Obama. My 20 yr old granddaughter called this morning to tell me she was one of them. I replied with this e-mail:

My Dear Susan,

The election of Obama comes down to this. Your grandmother and I, your mother, and other productive, wage-earning tax payers will have their taxes increased and that means less income left over. Less income means we will have to cut back on basic purchases, gifts and handouts. That includes firing the Hispanic lady who cleans our house twice a month. She just lost her job. We can't afford her anymore.

What is the economic effect of Obama's election on you personally? Over the years, your grandmother and I have given you thousands of dollars in food, housing, cash, clothing, gifts, etc. By your vote, you have chosen another family over ours for help.

So in the future, if you need assistance with your rent, money for gas, tires for your car, someone to bring you lunch, etc. ... Call 202-456-1111.
That's the telephone number for the Office of the President of the United States . I'm sure Mr. Obama will be happy to send a check from his personal or business accounts, as we have, or leave cash in an envelope taped to his front door for you, as we have.

It's like this. Those who vote for the President of the United States should consider what the impact of an election will be on the nation as a whole and not just be concerned with what they can get for themselves (welfare, stimulus checks, etc.). What Obama voters don't seem to realize is that the government's money comes from taxes collected from tax paying families. Raising taxes on productive people means they will have less money to spend on their families.

Congratulations on your choice. For future reference, you might attempt to add up all you've received from us, your mom, Mike's parents and others and compare it to what you expect to get over the next four years from Mr. Obama.

To congratulate Mr. Obama and to make sure you're on the list for handouts, write to:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington , DC 20500

Love you Susan, but call the number listed above when you need help.

Take Care!

Love,
Granddad

Dad's foundry burning

My father found this video last night that was taken when his foundry burned in 1991.

I had absolutely no idea the size of the fire. And the place was a 100-year-old building, located in an old area of Reading, with other buildings right on top of it - it's a miracle that nobody was killed, and the fire dept. was able to contain it before it spread.

I admit it ... I watch Survivor

My sister-in-law and I occasionally watch it "together." (meaning, we text message each other during the show.

It always takes a while to learn who's who, and their personalities. But for the initial few episodes, I'm always just hoping for people to get voted out who have brought inadequate swimwear. I live ALONE and I'm embarrassed.

Clothes ladies ... clothes are good.

They know they're going to play a game that's athletic, and long-lasting. Maybe a swimsuit that actually is ... you know ... designed to stay ON when you breathe?

And there is always complaining about being cold at night.

Again ... clothes ... maybe bring clothes containing actual fabric?

Instead of strategically-placed rubber bands?

critters at work

Today I shopped at a local trophy shop to pick up some name tags we had ordered for work.

I love going to this place.

"Why?" you may ask, "do you like visiting a store that's so obviously selling merchandise that doesn't interest you?"

It's because they have a dog. There's a sweet little poodle that greets me at the door whenever I go there.

There's something so warm about a business that has a pet. (Those with allergies would probably disagree.)

Bookstores so often have a resident cat. It changes it from a commercial enterprise to a giant cozy reading room when you see that fuzzy fellow looking down at you from the top of a shelf.

One of my few memories from when I was really little was going to my dad's foundry in the evening when nothing was happening, and there was a big German Shepherd dog wandering around. (Dad just sent an email and said his name was "Lance")

When I was a kid, my brother and I always wanted to go to one certain hardware store, because they had a Macaw. His name was Rascal, and he was a fun bird.

Then there was the time in high school when I actually worked at a pet store. The two favorites there were a green parrot and a white cockatoo that were chained to an open perch in the middle of the store. They were great fun, and SO smart. They learned to open the ages, and, if you weren't careful, would let the small birds out at night when nobody was watching.

Critters ... I'm in favor of critters. (at least the ones that don't have long, naked tails ... mice, gerbils, snakes ... nothing like that!) Fellow came in one day with his pet rat. No thanks. That's not a pet. That's vermin.

if I get attacked by a plate of Mongolian beef, I'm ready to defend myself

I've recently discovered a site for people trying to grow their hair long. It has some wonderful tips & tricks. (I'm now sleeping with my hair in braids laced with coconut oil ... and whether it protects it or not, I don't know ... but it smells WONDERFUL).

On this site is a section with all kinds of instructions for different ways of putting up your hair. The one I tried today weaves it around a pair of chopsticks. I love the way it looks, but I keep picturing myself pulling them out and tackling a plate of fried rice. :)

Kristen asked for a picture -- here's the best I could do with my cell phone camera over my head. :) It's not as smooth as it could be, because I did it with dry hair.

Define "Impertinent"

No ... really. I mean it. Think about it, and tuck the definition away in your mind behind your right ear.

Did you do it?

No?

I'm waiting ...


No. Don't look it up ... I want the definition from inside your own head.


Waiting ....


OK.


The word really has two definitions:

1. synonymous with impudent or cheeky (this is how I defined it.)

or

2. synonymous with irrelevant

The interesting thing is, if you ask a group of people what the word means, almost everyone will come up with one or the other, and will vehemently defend their position.

It almost always breaks down thusly:

Math/Science types will insist on definition #2. (irrelevant)

Literature types will insist on definition #1. (impudent)

And so far, NOBODY has said that it has two meanings.

So ... next time you're sitting around a table, and the seven-minute-conversation-lull hits, take a little survey, and feel free to let me know the results!

a sweet surprise

A group of kids and teens from church just brought me a rose, some cards and cookies for valentines' day. If that wasn't just such a neat surprise.

I'd just been griping about valentine's day being the depressing highlight of a depressing month ... and those sweet faces show up to brighten my day. It was a treat!

I want to vote for someone in four years ...

I've been thinking about the bleakness of the quality of politicians for whom we have opportunity to vote.

Other than Sarah Palin, there hasn't been anyone I'd vote FOR in this last election, other than Fred Thompson, who got out too early in the primaries. By the time it got to the election, it was "which is the least objectionable."

It seems that everyone is trying to be so moderate, that they aren't standing for anything. I want a fire-breathing, small-government, tax-cutting, pork-deleting, non-compromising dragon. I do not want a moderate.

Conservatives are becoming so moderate, that the liberals are turning us into another European country. (To those who only know what they see on the evening news ... this is NOT a good thing.)

I just wonder, if a third party sprang up NOW, and committed themselves to being conservatives ... real conservatives ... if in the next 4 years, they could give both the republicans and democrats a run for their money.

I'm almost tempted by the libertarians, if it weren't for the goofy drug-legalization aspect. (And don't they have some kind of thing going on where they don't want laws barring sex with minors? Not sure about this one ...)

The libertarians don't seem to take into account that mankind is basically evil. We NEED laws regulating behavior, or else we will have Lord of the Flies, lived out in front of us.

But we DON'T need socialism.

So how do you find someone to vote for, and a party to join, that understands, and is willing to stand on, that broad platform that lies between socialism and anarchy? It exists. Lots of folks in the past stood on it, but it's deserted now.

If someone steps up, and occupies that space, I think (I hope!) a great many Americans would be delighted to follow him or her in four years.

love it!

Questions that puzzle secretaries ...

When told that the person they are calling has left for the day ...

"Did he go home? Can I find him there?"

Gee ... he neglected to tell me his plans for the evening. Imagine!

When told that someone is not available to the phone.

When can I call back and reach them?

OK ... if you're not willing to leave a message and have him call you back when it's convenient, then you, sir, are a phone salesman or another form of annoying caller, and nobody will want to talk to you, no matter WHEN you call.

Distribution of your surname in the U.S.

Isn't this cool?

Distribution of the surname Jeffery

Where does your name come from?

I am sick to death of moderation

I was reading about the new RNC chair, and how he is a "moderate" ... how the Republican party desperately needs "moderates."

Can't anyone out there see that moderation is the LAST thing we need?

Good grief people ... stand for SOMETHING.

Thanks for listening ... I'm not feeling any better ... but at least I vented a bit.