Another Auld Lang Syne......

New Year's Eve! WooHoo! Ring in the New Year!

Hmmmm.... I WISH I could get excited about it. There's something about the beginning of a new year. Wipe the slate clean. Do over. Reset button. Time for people to diet or exercise more or quit smoking or quit cussing or do SOMETHING better for themselves.

And yet it starts on New Year's Eve, with most people going out and drinking too much, and staying up too late and then the next day, they are too tired or too hungover to start whatever it was that they were going to do.

Why did I always have such high expectations for New Year's eve? I think I've only had one year where it was fun, and I was in my early twenties at a party for the Longhorns before UT played in the Cottonbowl that year. So really, it was sort of coincidence that it was New Year's eve, because the hotel party was for all of the college kids (and young alumni) in for the big game.

Other than that, I've been to other hotel parties that were boring, and lots of in-home parties, which were also boring. I mean, in reality, it's "Rookie Night." You know, when all of the people come out of the woodwork and get brain-damaging drunk, and then try to drive home.

It's not even a good night to go out to eat, because all of the older folks want to do SOMETHING so they don't feel old, so almost everyone and their dog goes out to eat, and you have to wait a long time for a table.

This year we're in a drought, so fireworks are banned in most counties around here, so I do feel for the manufacturers, as they won't have a good year.

No, I think I'm just going to stay home this year and watch the ball drop in New York City, which is where the epicenter of New Year's festivities is on the entire planet. (Granted, I'm not invited to any parties, so I don't really have a choice. But then when you're single, you're either on some lame date or you're home. So... this is my life.)

Now where are those New Year's Resolutions I made? I need to add things to look forward to, to the list....

The beginning of anarchy...

The whole world has gone crazy... and it just continues to deteriorate...

Today the news came out that the sanitation bosses (that's union) in New York City told their workers to slow the blizzard cleanup because they were mad at the recent budget cuts and demotions... These thugs could not rise to the occasion to help out their fellow New Yorkers OR DO THEIR JOB because it was all about them... I find it DISGUSTING. A 22 year old mother delivered her baby, that was in distress, and consequently died after 9 hours. Another older lady died when emergency vehicles could not reach her for hours either, since the roads were not passable.

"Shamed sanitation workers admitted to the go-slow and said ploughs were kept higher than road surfaces and whole streets were skipped to compound the problems. They were told to make the mayor pay for the layoffs, the reductions in rank for the supervisors, and shrinking the rolls of the rank-and-file."

I personally find this unconscionable!

What happened to picketing in the street on a nice day? Why endanger the safety of MILLIONS? I say they should ALL be fired - every single one of them. There are TONS of unemployed people who would love a city job - let's get them. I had been so proud of the NYC policemen and firemen after 911, but these people? They're monsters... and an embarressment to our entire nation.

God help us...

A Sign of the Times

The Israeli foundation that administers the Western Wall in Israel has launched an iPhone app called "iKotel" that streams live from the site around the clock (except on the Jewish sabbath and holidays, when transmissions are forbidden by Jewish law.)

The app allows users to send emails to be placed in the crevices of the old wall, a Jewish custom. It also includes a compass that allows users to pray in the direction of Jerusalem, another Jewish practice.

Michal Ophir of The Western Wall Heritage Foundation says the app "brings the Western Wall to every Jew in the world because it is the heart of the Jewish people." The wall is a remnant of the biblical Jewish Temple complex and is Judaism's holiest prayer site in the world.

Since Jesus Christ was a Jew, and I am His child, I am adopted in His family. (Too, my great-grandfather was Jewish, so I do have bloodline.) Just thought this was too cool, so wanted to share.

Mazel Tov!

"DISNEY-land - the happiest place on earth?"

Congratulations to the Lovato family! Your daughter has officially joined the ranks of Disney stars gone bad; the Disney Hall of Shame. Yes, when you signed them up at a young age with stars in YOUR eyes, as the parents, and threw them to the dogs, this is what happens. At such a young age, they become a piece of meat and a cash cow for thousands or more. They are children in an adult showbiz world, forfeiting any kind of childhood, and we know what that did to Michael Jackson...

I just want to know.... was it worth it??

"Just Do It"

Well, here we are in the holidays... Christmas is over, so we're looking ahead to the new year...

2011... Gosh, that sounds so futuristic when you're my age...

It's a new year, a reset button. Time to make improvements. Last year I didn't make any resolutions for the first time in my life. I don't know why. Just didn't want to...

But this year, it's nice to have goals and having a way to measure your success. So, here goes. Here are my 2011 New Year's resolutions:

1. Read the entire Bible in a year. (I've tried this before and failed, so will try again.)

2. Get down to a better weight and stay there. (Notice the word 'diet' is not in there, since diets do not work. It has to be a lifestyle change, or it all comes back anyway. I quit eating all sugar a few weeks ago, and have lost 3 lbs. just doing that and nothing else.)

3. Exercise (Obviously this goes with #2 but this is more for healthy reasons than weight loss.)

4. Start visualizing what I really want. Then making it happen. There are so many books that say this is possible. I believe it is with prayer, which is part of belief. When you can visualize it, you are believing it.

5. I've got to leave Texas on vacation. Wherever. It has GOT to be out of this state. Going to the Texas beach is not going to count...

6. To do what I love. Life is too short not to. Why stay in an abusive situation. I don't deserve that. No one does.

7. To be bold. I believe there are things that God wants me to be doing. And with Him, I will.

8. To be more giving. I want to, but am so limited by time. I've got to have better time management so I can make it happen.

9. To laugh more. Laughter IS the best medicine. Truly it is. So I've got to stop stressing, stop fearing, and stop being negative. God is in control. I've got to stop worrying.

10. To be a better writer. I write a lot, but I'm not spending enough time because I can do better.

I guess these aren't just for 2011, but for the rest of my life. But we have to measure in increments, right?

As Nike says, "Just Do It."

"A wide screen just makes a bad film twice as bad. " - Samuel Goldwyn

Why are there no good movies coming out this holiday season?? Usually there is at least one that looks really good to me, but this year? Not a one... Ugh! That used to be our Christmas night tradition when I was in high school, to go see some great movie that opened that day. But this year? Yuck. The only thing that even comes close is "True Grit," but even with that one, who could beat John Wayne? Once you've seen the best in a movie, what's the need for a remake? Other movies showing around here? Narnia, Tron, Yogi Bear 3D and Little Fockers.

Give me a break...

Merry Christmas 2010!

Well, it's Christmas night and the magic is over. The wonderful Christmas magic lasts from Christmas Eve about 4 pm to Christmas day about 4 pm. Have you ever noticed that? During that 24 hour period, there's a special magic - this supernatural wonderfulness that is in the air, and everyone is nice and happy and all is well with the world. Well, at least at our house anyway.

And today was no exception. We had a great time getting together and opening presents and eating and watching "Christmas Story" and "Scrooged" and later the Home and Garden network, so we could all critique the homes we'll never have. And then? Well, we all start picking up the mess and one by one we start filtering out, and another Christmas is in the books.

And so I say, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Mary did you know - Reba McEntire

"Just another day in paradise..."

Well, the president went on vacation (again) today to Hawaii.... I want to go to Hawaii... I've ALWAYS wanted to go to Hawaii. As a matter of fact, when I imagine what I want heaven to look like, it's Hawaii. Even the name sounds cool....

I'm a beach girl. (Well, I'm still a girl in my mind any way.) When I was growing up, my parents had a vacation house on the Texas beach, and we went every weekend from Easter to Labor Day. It was my home away from home. I love the ocean - it soothes me and it is healing to my soul. I even love the sand, although I do prefer the big coarse sand since the Texas beach has teeny weeny grains that get everywhere, and it never comes out. Ever. And I love palm trees. All kinds of palm trees. They are definitely my favorite tree, because it's a happy 'tree.' It's a vacation tree. It's a good-time tree.

But no, I'll stay right here in Texas because my boss makes us work non-stop. We're not even getting off on Christmas eve, even though Christmas is on a weekend this year, so you would THINK that we would get off at least ONE day. We have to work all holidays if they are Mondays, so in case you're counting, that's Memorial Day, Labor Day, and sometimes the 4th of July. We have to work the day after Thanksgiving. We get one week off a year. Five business days. So for 3 years, I've had 2 weeks off... total. And I feel sorry for my youngest daughter that lives with me, because I have to work non-stop.

So forgive me if I'm dreaming of a Hawaiian holiday.

Mele Kilikimaka!

Bing Crosby - Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Christmas Song)

Silent Night - Mannheim Steamroller (Official Music Video - 1984)

Enya - 'Silent Night' (Oíche Chiúin)

Celtic Woman-Silent Night

BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS!?!?!?!

Where is George Bailey when you need him?

In order to understand the title of this piece, you need to have watched Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life," which has now become a Christmas classic. In it you see George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, be able to see the scenario if he was never born. It represents the "power of one" to me, which sometimes is all we really have.

We do have some exceptional conservatives on the "front lines" fighting the war against evil every day. And I'm sure it's not only exhausting, but dangerous in these days we live in. Because there are a lot of wacko's out there. People like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Laura Ingraham, and Ann Coulter. Those folks who have made it their life's calling to not be politically correct and tell it like it really is.

But there are not NEAR enough. Yes, the Tea Party started out of frustration of the government not representing we the people, but only the special interests. It's going to take a whole lot more. We've gone to sleep. We don't want to hear it. We want the insanity to stop. We want to celebrate Christmas. We want to go back to the pre-Obama days. We want to go back to the pre-recession days. And yet we have the most wicked people governing in my lifetime, and quite possibly ever in the United States.

We have a lame-duck group of legislators who, even though were defeated in the last election, keep sticking the middle finger to America and are continuing to pass the absolute most at the 11th hour until they no longer have carte blanche. AND WE ARE LETTING THEM. We are lazy and tired and spoiled. We are standing on the sidelines and we have given up. The debt is not creeping my fellow Americans. It's careening off a cliff. And the Chinese are buying our debt and we are letting these wicked, nasty, power-hungry, selfish dogs in our government sell us down the river.

The past two years, most Americans have stuck their heads in the sand. For whatever reason, they are not seeing that the America we grew up in is vanishing. Our freedoms are fading away, or should I say blowing away at gale force speed. Drastic measures will have to be taken but no one wants to do them. They will be forced upon us if we don't elect to do them, because ultimately you have to "pay the piper."

Maybe it's because the school systems are so dumbed down, that the young are too stupid to see. And maybe the Baby Boomers did not instill the values needed to their children. And maybe we've been such a rich nation that we're spoiled. And maybe since we haven't had a war on our soil in over 100 years, we don't understand freedom. And maybe in our effort to be tolerant, we became too tolerant of evil, and didn't stand up to it. And maybe the dominant mainstream media is winning their war of propaganda.

Why have we elected such evil people who's actions show they do not love America? Why did we not demand to see a birth certificate? Why did we allow a stimulus bill of a TRILLION to pass without being read? Why are we allowing our children to worship pop culture? Why did we allow abortion to be passed and to murder innocent children? Why did we allow prayer to be taken out of schools? Why have we not stood up to the movie industry and said no more trash? Why do we not stand up to the new incivility?

Well, I can tell you that this is how Germany became before Hitler took over. They became silent.

Take a personal stand. Each and every one of you. It starts with one.

Just do it.

All the Kings horses and all the kings men....

I'm trying really hard to stay positive for Christmas, but I feel like a fish swimming upstream.

I'm trying really hard to look at the glass half full but this time of year somehow makes us focus on what's not right, and there's a lot that's not right with me...

More great Christmas cards

Kreepy Kardashian Kristmas Kard

Where are you Christmas

What I really want for Christmas

1. For my children not to struggle so hard

2. For my tachocardia to be healed

3. For my bowels to be healed

4. For my sinuses to be healed

5. To get the discipline to get healthier

6. To make enough money so that I don't have to worry

7. To take a real vacation and go somewhere exciting

8. That my unemployed family members will get jobs

9. To have time to develop more friendships

10. To be prettier

Oh, and peace on earth....

Favorite Christmas movies

Yes, I've been watching corny Hallmark made-for-television Christmas movies with B actors, and loving every minute of it. But then there are also the classics I love to watch every year:

1. "It's a Wonderful Life" - actually it's my all-time favorite movie, not just Christmas. It definitely shows the 'power of one' which is my mission. I've often thought that America these days is more like Potterville, and that we need more George Baileys to get us back to Bedford Falls.

2. "A Christmas Story" - I LOVE this! Who can't relate in some way to this retro look back?And so many great lines like, "You'll shoot your eye out!" We, of course, had to give my son when he was younger, a Red Ryder BB gun as the last gift one year. It's tradition! I even bought the leg lamp (since I too, am in sales) however Alex says it makes my living room look like a 'brothel.'

3. "Scrooged" - a modern take on Dickens "Christmas Carol." When this movie came out, I remember thinking how irreverent, and now in 2010, it has actually become this way in our every day life. Everyone needs to have the 3 ghosts come visit them, past, present and future, to show them the past (for perspective), the present for what they are doing wrong right now, and where it will get them in the future if they keep doing what they're doing.

4. "Miracle on 34th Street" - truly shows the magic of Christmas and that dreams do come true if you only believe. If you don't come away believing in Santa, you believe the earth is flat!

5. "White Christmas" - This one's great for the classic Bing Crosby songs - very feel good.

6. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" - makes me laugh every time. We've all known a Mr. Griswold and his house of lights!

7. "Home Alone" - the first one. Get this just for the music, but also to get the feel of America pre-Obama before this depression/recession hit - back in the 'Good Old Days'...

8. "Polar Express" - Magical.

Ok, what are you waiting for?! There's only 10 more days til Christmas to watch them!

Black Tie White Christmas Flash Mob

The Best Christmas cards...

I got the top Christmas card last week, and thought it was so hilarious! Her son is such a little man! And then I remembered that in Austin they have a funny Christmas card contest at the Statesman (or used to?) so now it's popular among some circles to do a funny Christmas card photo.

Here are a few I found to get you in the Christmas spirit! Enjoy!

Bad Christmas sweaters

Ok, I'll admit it. Up until last year, I would break out the Christmas sweaters as Christmas day got closer. And yes, embarressing as it is, I admit that there are some Christmases where I've been photographed in the same sweater - eeeeekk!! But this year and last, there has been a lot of press as to how nerdy these are, so of course, I will no longer wear them. My son in Austin has been invited to a bad Christmas sweater party, and called his dad to see if he still had some. So!

I went surfing for a few pix to make you smile.

Hope you're enjoying the Christmas season!

"Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus..."

Growing up as the middle child, I was always trying to be older like my sister. I'd follow her around and try to do what she did. So when I was 5 years old, someone at kindergarten told me the whole Santa thing was a lie. At that age, I didn't believe it, so I decided to run it by my mother. I approached her like this, "I found out the truth about Santa, Mom" and instead of telling me there is indeed a Santa, she said, "Ok, well just keep it from your younger brother." Well, I burst into tears, and ran away. It was innocense stolen! I felt robbed! All of the people I knew still believed for many more years. The magic was gone! It felt like an alternate universe, watching it all. It was like watching a puppet show from the side with the hands. It was ruined! The magic of Christmas for a child is so wonderful. And there are lots of adults who go to a lot of trouble for kids they don't even know, so that the magic will continue.

I have gone through stages as an adult, where I thought Santa Claus might steal Jesus' thunder. But I finally figured out, that really young children don't understand salvation yet, so I would tell my children that Santa was Jesus' helper in getting gifts to all the kids. You can see him and he is friendly and loves children. Children can sense that everyone is nicer at Christmastime, and the magic is supernatural. God still needs His children to be His arms and legs and mouth, since He's a Spirit. And so Santa is indeed one of His helpers.

This world needs good news - they need The Good News. They need to see goodness and kindness. Children need to see, now more than ever, that there are things to look forward to, and there is still magic, thanks to all of us who still believe....

Frisco Christmas Lights - Wizards in Winter

There's an A.P.B. out for Barbie

Yes, that's right, an 'All Points Bulletin' out for Barbie... the doll that is. Evidently the FBI has issued a warning on the new Barbie doll that has a built in video camera. Seems that they fear predators will use the new doll for child pornography.

Doesn't that just sum it all up?!? Here we are at Christmas time, and Barbie Video Girl has been nominated for a 2011 Toy of the Year Award. And now we have to worry that some sicko will use it to steal the innocense of a child... I've heard in some third world countries, pedophiles always get the death penalty each time they commit this crime, and consequently there aren't many people doing these types of things.

Hmmm... seems like a good idea to me.

I got a new car today!!!!

Well... new to me. It's actually a 2008 but it only has 15,000 miles on it, so to me, that actually counts as new. It's in perfect condition. I mean, it's BETTER than new. These people must have only driven to the grocery store and kept it in a garage - it doesn't have a SPECK on the windshield. (It won't take long for it to though, since I drive 30,000 miles a year.) That's right. I calculated that since I've owned my little red Toyota truck, "Big Red," since September of 2008. She's been good to me, lo these 233k plus miles. And she's not going to truck heaven; not yet. No, I'm going to pay liability so DD can drive her in high school (which is perfect, since her high school's nickname is 'Big Red.') I don't think I could part with her yet anyway. We've been through too much together. I got her right after mom and dad passed away, and started crying when I test drove her by myself. I just knew it was right, and somehow felt my dad's presence saying to get her. So I did... And NOTHING has ever broken down. Ever. All I've ever gotten was brake jobs, since I stop and start all day long in sales. So, Big Red will live in the driveway, and get taken out a little bit, until she carriages my youngest in a few short years.

I've been thinking about this next car for about a year now. Watching cars go down the road. Wondering what I should get. Last time was easy. I knew exactly what I wanted. And although I live in Texas, and haul lots of antiques, and move a lot, I still didn't want to look manly in a truck. But oh well, I got tired of borrowing other people's trucks.

With this decision I kept wavering between large enough to look cool in a SUV or small enough to get great gas mileage in all my driving. There are lots of crossovers, so there are actually lots of choices. And I have had so much luck (blessing) with Honda's and Toyota's, that I was pretty partial to them. But in the end, Toyota's aren't as good as they used to be, and Honda's are higher than everything else. I came close to buying the Honda CRV this past weekend, but those guys wouldn't come off the sticker price $1.00, on either the 2011 or the 2007! Give me a break! Too, I call on car dealers, and had already lost one advertiser when I changed my mind on a Subaru he had. (sigh) I decided to pray that God would bring "the one" past me, and He did! On Monday, when getting ad copy at my biggest advertiser's dealership, they had a VW that had just been traded in. Seems the family has 3 young kids, and this 2 door just wouldn't do. It's got a real zippy engine and gets great gas mileage. I love it!! They gave me a great deal, or as my dad used to say, "If you think you got a good deal, then you did." It's got to last a long time, so here's hoping and praying.

Oh, and her name? Doo-dah. (Zippity Doo dah)

"She's just a dumb 'ole girl..."

Years ago I worked with a girl at a Texas metro newspaper who was raised in Atlanta. GG was on my advertising sales team of six and was an aggressive salesperson. She had just married a guy from Atlanta, who left his wife for her and it was a bad relationship. She was crazy about him, but he wasn't too crazy about her. He was in finance, but in a sleazy way. On Valentine's Day, she was so excited because he had asked her to a romantic lunch, just the two of them. She dressed up special that day, and I remember thinking that she must have been excited because they hadn't been married that long?

When she got back from lunch she was as white as a ghost and in shock. They had had lunch, and when it was over, he said, "Oh, I moved out this morning and I am leaving you." She got to their home, and he had taken everything, including all of her things too. He left her nothing. They had a joint bank account, and he had taken it all out. And he had forwarded all the mail. This, of course, was illegal, but he was a con man. Her family had made a lot of money, yet were still sort of redneck. PP had marked her as an easy target. Well it took GG many months to recover some of her things, and money, after she had to get her mother to help her hire an attorney.

I remember GG telling me she had two younger brothers that were lazy and fixed cars. And she got braces when I knew her (in her twenties.) She said her father paid for braces for her brothers, but told her she was "just a dumb old girl." And her father paid for college for her brothers, but told her he wouldn't pay for her college because she was "just a dumb old girl." Well about this time our boss was pretty tired of hearing all of her stories. She had given us a big sales incentive for a special section we were selling, and GG was ambitious, so she won. Except my boss refused to pay what she had promised. She then decided to fire GG for getting upset about this. Well, GG hired an attorney, sued the newspaper for both not paying her what they had said (we had it in writing) and for firing her on grounds of being late, when the male coworkers were later than her every day. GG won both lawsuits. And she won enough to put herself through law school, and is a successful attorney in Atlanta.

Guess she's not a "dumb old girl" now....

Saving Mother Nature??

Media mogel Ted Turner is at a conference in Cancun saying that he purports a global one-child policy to save the planet... He said he thinks Obama made a huge mistake pushing healthcare over climate control legislation.

I'm reminded of a story about Ted Turner back in his CNN days. It was the beginning of lent, and some Catholic employees went to church at noon and returned to work with ash in their foreheads. He said religion is for losers and made them take it off. He had a pastor father, but turned his back on God a long time ago, and now, like others, makes climate control HIS religion.

Well, some day Ted will die and meet his Maker. And if he doesn't change, he'll probably shake his finger in God's face and say, "I don't believe in you!" And God will say, "EVERY knee shall bow, and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord....

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

"A friend is one who walks in when everyone else walks out."

Have you ever been 'de-friended' on Facebook? I have, and it's not a good feeling...It was my son's girlfriend, and when she broke up with him, she immediately nixed me. It hurt me too... Not only did it blind-side my son, but made me sad too, since she had been talking about wedding rings just the week before...I know that sinking feeling when you realize you haven't seen this person's posts for awhile, and you look to see if you are still their 'friend' and you realize you are not. It takes you back to elementary school on the playground when people are picking teams, and you're not one of the first picks. Ugh.

Which leads me to Facebook etiquette. This kind of behavior reminds us of junior high, and not many of us want to take a mental walk back to that time in our lives. I personally think Facebook will peak, and then wain as people will grow tired of it all. I'm kind of getting to that point with it right now. It was a fun toy at first, talking with everyone instantly. But the new is wearing off like the smell of a new car, and I am not a Facebook junkie like I was in the beginning. Maybe Facebook will go the way of the CB radio...

10-4 Good Buddy....

Happy 29th Birthday Britney.....

Yes, it's Britney Spear's 29th birthday... and here are photos posted from today with her boyfriend, who some media are saying, has been beating her. According to Jason Alexander, her childhood friend that she married for a few days in Vegas, she told him this.

Regardless, how sad to see what the American dream has brought her... She doesnt' seem to have recovered from the descent she made a few years ago. I think we'll find out some day that she has been given medicine to keep her normal-looking, but she's far from that. She must have destroyed a lot of her brain cells... and with her father's continued conservatorship, they are keeping the cash cow alive for the family. She can't really do anything else... her parents never stressed much of an education, and she appears dumber than rocks. And she also seems fragile like Marilyn Monroe used to... like she can't stand on her own two feet, but needs someone to run her life. I've heard she resents her father being this person, but at least she's not like she was a few years ago -- as a parent, that was brutal to watch. I thought about writing her myself and offering her to come and live with me, but there were some that finally stepped in -- Mel Gibson, as I recall, asked her to stay at his place in the Dominican Republic. But she's never really recovered and it's sad.

There is hope -- for Britney and for anyone who is sick -- God still heals, you just have to seek Him...