You gotta love Maxine, especially at MY age....

I, MAXINE , being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means. Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of pinhead politicians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it, or lawyers / doctors interested in simply running up the bills.

If a reasonable amount (24HOURS) of time passes and I fail to ask for at least one of the following:

Chocolate
Glass of wine
ice cream
Margarita

Chocolate
Chicken fried steak
cream gravy
ice cream

Chocolate
Mexican food
ice cream
French fries
ice cream
Pizza

Chocolate
ice cream
cup of tea
Ice cream
KFC Chicken

Chocolate
Sex
ice cream

It should be presumed that I won't ever get better. When such a
determination is reached, I hereby instruct my appointed person and
attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes, let the "fat
lady sing". . and call it a day!

I'll see ya`all on the other side.

Energizer bunny here...

It's now almost 11pm, Sunday evening, and I have added more to milly scraps. I still have about fifteen pages to add, but if you would like to take a look at what I've done so far, go for it. You can access it HERE at millyscraps.com

~ jan

Things don't always go as planned

I've spun my wheels a lot today, working on milly scraps, not as far along as I wanted to be, but hopefully tomorrow.

Tomorrow, tomorrow,
It's only a day, away...

Women and Heart Attacks

My friend Mary sent me an article on Female Heart Attacks. READ IT - it could save your life. I put it on the GirlTalk site. Click here to access it...

I like it, I really like it....

For those of you who enter this page without going to my munchiebusiness.com entry page, go this is my new layout (thanks mo for inspiring me).

It's a goodie, I'm really happy with the way it turned out - that was my day yesterday. It takes a long time to build a page, but this one was so much fun.... I enjoyed working with all the kids childhood pictures. Ry, John, Lindsay and Tonia, they were all just precious little children....

You can view it up close and personal HERE!

What I'm doing on this cool autumn day...

Ahhhh, it's that time of year, fall is upon us and I'm trying new recipes. It's currently 56 degrees in Heavensville and it's soup weather..

I got a great cookbook at the library, it's called The Gourmet Slow Cooker and it has some really great recipes in it. Today I'm cooking a bean soup from Greece; great northern beans, chicken stock, carrots, onions, celery, garlic, oregano, tomatoes, baby spinach and I tucked in a lean smoked pork chop instead of a fatty ham hock to season it. The kitchen is smelling really good.

Also making hubby his healthy pumpkin pie - actually, remember that old recipe for impossible pumpkin pie from Bisquick - that's what I'm making, using the Heart Healthy Bisquick, substituting Splenda for the sugar - here's the recipe if you want to check it out - click here - I've made this before and it's really good.

I'm still working on the webcam, maybe I'll get it right one of these days. I'm SO technically challenged...

Oh yum.....

This is totally NOT healthy, but looks TOTALLY awesome. Nah, I'm not making it, but some of you might want to take a walk on the wild side and give it a try. It's Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce.

Check it out here, at Jan Can Cook!

A bit of a retraction....

Lindsay and Ryan are visiting, they pointed out last night that on my video blog I said the fall festival was second largest in the WORLD. Oops, I meant to say, USA. That's the trouble with that video blog, no editing, you screw up, you can't change it.

Anyhoo, they still don't believe it's second largest in US, but that's the way Heavensville bills it. I don't make this stuff up, I just report it.

We're going again today, but this ole' girl is NOT gonna stuff her face again. Nope, not gonna happen.......

Arughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I felt HORRIBLE yesterday, girlfriends, just HORRIBLE.... I didn't really eat THAT much, just a corn dog and chili and a couple of LC's breaded mushrooms and a few bites of peanut butter fudge, oh and half a piece of divinity, oh I forgot I had a caramel apple with nuts. *blush* guess I did overdo it... My tummy was upset ALL DAY, ALL EVENING and INTO THE NIGHT!!!! Did I go back today????? Duh, what kind of stupid do I look like I am, I STAYED HOME AND COOKED HEALTHY!!!!!! Well, except for that cake....

I've been a whirlwind in the kitchen this morning, made Weight Watcher Taco Soup, which is absolutely AMAZING, it's Peggy Jane's recipe, she has it in her fridge all the time, I'm posting it on Eating Right for you. Yep, I'm acually posting to another board....

Since family is coming in today and tomorrow, I made a big pot of soup and I have a loaf of homemade bread in the Zo, ready to bake. I also made Martha Stewart's Apple Spice Cake - click here for recipe - it's supposed to be one of her best, ever... We'll see. Have the caramel sauce in the fridge, and it's only 11 am. I'm finished, ready to shower and go out with hubby for a little R&R. NO, NOT TO THE FALL FESTIVAL!!!!! I've had it with all the junk, well maybe not completely, but eating all that crap is just not worth the rumbling tummy....

Okay, check out that soup by clicking here, it's "da bomb" even hubby liked it!

So funny....

Ang told me to go to UTube and watch Brad Paisley's latest music video, it's called Online - Here's the link - it's SOOOO funny, ladies. If you need a smile, give it a watch.....

Click here for the link...

I may have been wrong....

I'm always spouting off about how celebrities should just age naturally and not get plastic surgery. Well, I after seeing this picture, I may have just changed my mind.

Bridgette Bardot was as good as it got in the 50's, the ultimate pinup girl, beautiful body, gorgeous face. According to Wikipedia, she just turned 73. That isn't old, Peggy Jane is going to be 71 in December and she looks absolutely AMAZING, but this one, not so much so....

The newest Demi Moore/Ashton Kucher type romance...

I read yesterday that ET has a new boyfriend, but hadn't seen a picture of them.

Okay, so here they are, and I'll admit, since I'm sometimes too outspoken for my own good, that my eyes widened when I saw this picture. Good for her, though, I hope this guy is as wonderful as she thinks he is.

Just when we all thought she was on her deathbed, she shows up with a younger black man on her arm by her chair... Cmon' don't you dare gasp, you are all thinking the same thing, I just blurt out what I think while you are all more discreet...

I just don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this 47 year old, virile man. She was dating Rod Steger before he died, and he was a bloated, balding old fart. This guy is quite the hunk.

You have to admit, this woman has had quite the life. If she marries this man, it will be hubby #9. Just shows you are never too old to fall in love.

Kind of gives us all hope, doesn't it???

Here is the post if you want to read about it, click here!

GO REBA!!!!!

I told all of you this was a great album..... ~ jan

The country crooner’s new duets album, Reba Duets, is the number one album in America this week.

Reba’s new album sold more than 300,000 copies in the first week — more than double McEntire’s previous first-week sales high of 124,000 with It’s Your Call in 1992.

Congratulations Reba!

.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood....

I finally got it in gear and posted to Jan Can Cook., two really great recipes, you might want to check these out.

I was at the vet this morning bright and early with Mags, she has a bladder infection, and I've decided it's because Heavensville just put a fresh batch of chlorine in their water, and I think it's toohard on her sensitive little body. So I sent hubby to the store to buy bottled water for the M&M's to drink. He was mumbling under his breath, but he did it. The thing that man does for me and those dogs....

So, let's hope little Mags recovers quickly, she's on strawberry flavored antibiotic, which she LOVES! She doesn't act that sick, so I hope I caught it early enough and she will be back to her doggie antics in the next couple of days...

This is just the damndest thing...

Gotta keep up with the times, well actually I'm behind the times, but I'm trying, so I'll give this video blogging a whirl and see how it goes. Imagine the possibilities, dilly's, girlfriends, we can have just one big par-tee......

I've wanted to do this for quite a while now, but figured it would be complicated, since I'm so technically challenged. But of course Hooterville found this nifty little program, and after I upgraded to a new webcam (my old one didn't have a built in microphone) I'm up and running.

Poor LC, he is gonna be SO embarrassed.... Oh, old age is so much fun, you do whatever you want and to hell with the consequences......

And ya, I'm talking too fast, and I stumble over my words, but ya know what, girlfriends, the one thing I've learned is that life ain't perfect. I'm pretty much a what you see is what you get old girl these days....

Works for me...

Jan, doin' the happy dance.....

A little food for thought from The Beck Diet Solution on a rainy Tuesday....

How to motivate oneself

1. The first task that dieters do is to write a list of the 15 of 20 reasons why they want to lose weight and read that list every single day.
2. Plan in advance and self-monitor behavior
   A typical reason for diet failure is a strong preference for spontaneity. I ask people to prepare a plan and then I teach them the skills to stick to it.
3. Overcome sabotaging thoughts
   Dieters have hundreds and hundreds of thoughts that lead them to engage in unhelpful eating behavior. I have dieters read cards that remind them of key points, e.g., that it isn’t worth the few moments of pleasure they’ll get from eating something they hadn’t planned and that they’ll feel badly afterwards; that they can’t eat whatever they want, whenever they want, in whatever quantity they want, and still be thinner; that the scale is not supposed to go down every single day; that they deserve credit for each helpful eating behavior they engage in, to name just a few.
4. Tolerate hunger and craving
   Overweight people often confuse the two. You experience hunger when your stomach feels empty. Craving is an urge to eat, usually experienced in the mouth or throat, even if your stomach is full.

Regarding the last point, Dr Beck (in her clinic) teaches people how to handle hunger:

I ask dieters, once they get medical clearance, to skip lunch one day, not eating between breakfast and dinner. Just doing this exercise once proves to dieters that hunger is never an emergency, that it’s tolerable, that it doesn’t keep getting worse, but instead, comes and goes, and that they don’t need to “fix” their usually mild discomfort by eating.

Different kinds of cravings
Beck identifies the different kinds of cravings and suggests planning ahead of time: "dieters need to learn exactly what to say to themselves and what to do when they have cravings so they can wait until their next planned meal or snack".

• environmental (seeing or smelling food),
• biological (hormonal changes),
• social (being with others who are eating),
• mental (thinking about or imagining tempting food), or
• emotional (wanting to soothe yourself when you’re upset).

What I've been up to.....

Listening to.....

Reba's new DUETS ALBUM - SO good... I'm not really into country but I've always been a huge Reba fan, and there are some great tunes on here...

Rock on Reba!!!!!



Reading...

Family Secrets was written by one of my favorite authors who consistently puts out good reads, Barba Delinsky.


Dana Clarke has always longed for the stability of home and family— her own childhood was not an easy one. Now she has married a man she adores who is from a prominent New England family, and she is about to give birth to their first child. But what should be the happiest day of her life becomes the day her world falls apart. Her daughter is born beautiful and healthy, but no one can help noticing the African American traits in her appearance.

Dieting...

Focused on healthy eating for the first time in a few years. Really focused. Walking a mile several times a week, eating whole grains, beans, veggies, fruits, soy products, some fish, red meat never, chicken occasionally.

I've lost 25 lbs. since May. John was my motivation when he and Tonia visited Mother's Day. He had lost 20 lbs., looked amazing, and something just clicked for me. I thought if he could do it, then I could do it, also. It's working, I'm wearing clothes I haven't been able to get into for three years now. Going to lose another seven pounds and then reassess to see if I want to lose any more. I've done every fad diet out there, as many of you who are close to me know, but can honestly say that Weight Watchers is the definitive diet that you can live with long term. No more fad diets for me. I'm staying with what's tried and true.

Family Updates...

The family was here two weeks ago and we spent one of those picture perfect afternoons at Burdette Park playing horseshoes.

John and Ryan are both busy with their careers. Ryan (left) and Lindsay are in Lexington, Ky, buying a house. They've been vagabonds for several months now, and are ready to settle in.

John (right) and Tonia are living in Franklin, Tn. and loving it. Mom and Dad are just happy to have everyone in a three hour triangle and enjoy visiting both cities.





Tonia, pictured here with Oreo won't be working for the rest of the year. I think she is enjoying the idea of staying home and spending a lot of time with Oreo, who is a senior citizen now. "O" will be thirteen in November, no doubt visiting McDonald's for her yearly fix of a burger, fries and vanilla shake.






Lindsay is busy traveling with Ryan, and shops a lot for yours truly. I just tell her what I'm looking for, and she somehow finds it. She and Ry have been puppy hunting, they've decided on a pound puppy but so far the perfect little furball has eluded them.

Maybe soon.




LC with me and the M&M's. We're totally besotted with these little dogs in our old age, as you all know. Hubby recovered nicely from bypass surgery last year, and seems to have boundless energy. He's 62 now, still a few years away from retiring, and still going strong.

You all know what I do, as I talk about myself daily. No surprises here. I'm just enjoying life, good health, family, friends and my dogs. It's a good thing....

Sex and the City Shoot Spills Big (and Bigger) Spoilers

Unless — and I wouldn't put it past that crafty Michael Patrick King — they are merely staging some "scenes" to be spied/misreported by the paparazzi, the well-documented and -photographed Sex and the City: The Movie location shoot in New York City is letting slip a few plot details. For one, it has been reported that (Possi-spoiler alert) Big springs a mammoth sparkler on Carrie, perhaps setting up the rumored wedding. And on Thursday, paps snapped Chris Noth in a sidewalk scene with a full-term pregnancy-pad-sporting Kristin Davis, indicating that Charlotte and Harry finally got a bun cooking in the oven.

Okay, girlfriends, you might all be getting bored with this, but I'm totally fascinated. I should be posting this stuff in GirlTalk, but I haven't been posting to it, actually all of my boards are pretty silent except for this one. I'll get it together one of these days and start putting info in the right areas...

Oh, would I love to be in NYC right now, watching them shoot this movie.... ~ jan

Still adorable, after all these years. Oh I did love that show.....

Well, this was interesting...

Okay, gang, I did this, got a 44 on it - I did, for real I did. I only told all of you what I got cause it was a good score. *grin*

After you take the test, take a moment, post your score in the comments. ENQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!!

~ Jan

Dr. Phil's Test: Here you go. Try this!

Below is Dr . Phil's test. (Dr. Phil scored 55; he did this test on
Oprah - she got a 38.) Some folks pay a lot of money to find this
stuff out!

Read on, this is very interesting!

Don't be overly sensitive! The following is pretty accurate and it
only takes 2 minutes. Take this test for yourself and send it to
your friends.

The person who sent it placed their
score in the e-mail subject box.
Please do the same before forwarding to your friends (send it back to
the person who sent it to you.) Don't peek, but begin the test as you
scroll down and answer.

Answers are for who you are now --- not who you were in the past.
Have paper and a pen or pencil ready.

This is a real test given by the Human Relations Dept. at many of the
major corporations today.

It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and
prospective employees.

It's only 10 Simple questions , so get ready!
Keep track of your letter answers to teach question.

Make sure to change the subject of the
e-mail to read YOUR total
score. When you are finished, forward this to friends / family, and
also send it to the person who sent this to you. Make sure to put YOUR
score in the subject box.

Ready??

Begin.

1. When do you feel your best?

a) in the morning
b) during the afternoon &and early evening
c) late at night
2. You usually walk...

a) fairly fast, with long steps
b) fairly fast, with little steps
c) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
d) less fast, head down
e) very slowly
3.
When talking to people you. . .
a) stand with your arms folded
b) have your hands clasped
c) have one or both your hands on your hips
d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
e) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair
4. When relaxing, you sit with.

a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
b) your legs crossed
c) your legs stretched out or straight
d) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with...

a) big appreciated laugh
b) a laugh, but not a loud one
c) a quiet chuckle
d) a sheepish
smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering you .. .

a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
b) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
c) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed
7. You're working ve ry hard, concentrating hard, and you're
interrupted..

a) welcome the break
b) feel extremely irritated
c) vary between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most?

a) Red or orange
b) black
c) yellow or light blue
d) green
e) dark blue or purple
f)
white
g) brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before
going to sleep you are. .

a) stretched out on your back
b) stretched out face down on your stomach
c) on your side, slightly curled
d) with your head on one arm
e) with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are...

a) falling
b) fighting or struggling
c) searching for something or somebody
>d) flying or floating
e) you usually have dreamless sleep
f) your dreams are always pleasant

POINTS:

1.
(a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7 (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10. (a) 4 (b) 2 ( c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1
Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINTS : Others see you as someone they should " handle with
care." You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely
dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you,
but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved
with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS : Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile,
rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make
decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and
adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes
chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company
because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS : Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing,
practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the
center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go
to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and
understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them
out.

31 TO 40 POINTS : Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful &
practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest.
Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone
who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same
loyalty in re turn. Those who really get to know you realize it takes
a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes
you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They
see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady
plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something
impulsively or on the spur of the
moment, expecting you to examine
everything carefully from every angle and then , usually decide
against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful
nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive,
someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make
the decisions & who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or
anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that
you well know that you aren't.

The best part of waking up....

Is having somebody bring me coffee from Thortons..... LC does it a lot, Ryan and Lindsay are here today, Ryan came in a 7:30 with us both a steaming cuppa. Oh, pure bliss....

I totally spaced out wishing John a Happy Birthday on the 8th on the blog - then I spaced out blogging about Ryan's birthday yesterday. Sorry guys, I'm old now. Ah, but I called them both bright and early and sang to them - I always sing happy birthday to family and a few friends who don't mind my off key screeching...

John and Tonia were home last weekend and Mom did the big birthday dinner, it was a great weekend, we spent the afternoon at the park

We did Ry's birthday dinner last night, life is good. My guys are growing up, John was 35, and Ry was 32. How can that be??? Am I that old, now??

Just had to post....

The new Sex and the City movie is now in production and this is their first released picture.

Oh, I loved that show for years, and you can bet this old girly-girl will be front row center on opening day!!!!

Can't wait, it's coming, Spring of '08...

Planning Ahead...

Ya know, after I blogged last week about Daisy Joy, it got me to thinking. Since my ENTIRE family hates the idea of me being Nana Sugar when I have grandchildren someday, even though I just adore the sound of Nana Sugar, they are giving me wayyy too much grief about it, and there are lots of Mimi's, Gigi's, and Nana's around, not to mention the timeless Grandma *yawn* - so when the kids were here last weekend I asked them why I couldn't be called Daisy when I'm a Grandma. Oh, you should see the eyes roll on that one... But why not, think about it, it's my very favorite name, it's quirky, it's different, easy to pronounce, doesn't sound like an old fuddy-duddy name, yeah, I like the sound of it. They say Nana Sugar is totally redneck, but Daisy isn't.

Why can't I be Daisy???? It would definitely work for me....

Can't ya just see some little kid asking my grandchild why they call me Daisy???? It's a happy name, Daisy... I could draw a single stemmed Daisy next to my signature on their birthday cards, preferably a pale pink one with a butter yellow center, how distinctive would THAT be??? Thinking, always thinking.....

No closeups, not til I grow out....

My poor little Maggie Moo has the haircut from hell, girlfriends. I took her to the groomer, Auntie Chris, last week, told her EXPLICITLY how to cut her, to leave her topknot, not trim her bangs and to trim her like Trish's London, who she also grooms, and has a skirted tummy and feathers on her legs - and did she, NO, NO, NO, she did NOT, she just sheared her all off!!!! This woman has trimmed Mags a couple of times before and did a great job, I just don't know what happened this time, unless she was busy and her sister, who works for her, trimmed Maggie instead of Chris.

When I picked her up I was actually speechless, which is a stretch for me for sure. The boys and their spouses were here for the weekend, they all had instructions to not razz me too much about it, and they didn't. They were very "sensitive" to the "situation."

You can click on the picture and it will enlarge if you really want to see how she looks. Actually, she looks adorable because Mags is SO cute no way she would ever look bad, even if she was bald. Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm prejudiced! And the little pink knot is unfortunately NOT holding her hair in a topknot because there is no hair to hold, it's actually her tshirt tied in a knot because now that she has no hair, it's too big! It just looks like it's on her head in the picture.

So, Maggie is wearing clothes, to help camouflage her scrawny little body, and no doubt I'll be purchasing a "few" items for her this fall to try and keep her warm until her fur grows back...

I snapped this pix this afternoon, note the fleurs in the background. My buddy, V, brought me some fresh hydrangeas a few weeks ago to add to my diminishing basket, since my little imp is proned to grab a stem as she whizzes by the basket and play with it. If you look closely next to her right side, you will see one kind of drooping down. Yep, she "thought" she was going to snatch it out of the basket, but got stopped, instead she's guarding her chewie from the big bad Munchkin.

Ahhhhh, dogs, even with bad haircuts, are adorable. Poor Munchie ALWAYS has a bad haircut because I'm the one trimming her. And to think that it cost me $45 for them to absolutely wreck Maggie's hair. Ohhhhhh, such frustration!!!!!!! OMG, this was actually more traumatic than ME getting a bad haircut!!!!!

How much more of this insuferable pig are we going to be submitted to????

Just the thought of O.J. in the media spotlight once again, makes me want to gag. Another arrest, more headlines, more of non-stop relentless CNN, MSNBC, Fox News coverage. I'm going to be doing a lot of channel surfing to try my darndest to avoid this sociopath. Nuff said, not even worth my blogging space....

I wear a lot of different hats...

That's the great thing about the internet, you can be anybody you want to be. I'm seldom Jan, I'm often Milly or Nana Sugar Someday or The M&M's Mom, but mostly I'm Daisy Joy. I even have a gmail account - daisyjoysemail@gmail.com. I couldn't get just "daisyjoy" so apparently I'm not the only one...

And why Daisy Joy? Doesn't it have a happy sound to it, wouldn't I love, love, love to have a little granddaughter named Daisy, which I will never have because nobody likes the name but me. I was going to name my Maggie Moo, Daisy, but met with such family opposition that I had to give up on it. *sigh*

Okay, let me tell you about Daisy Joy. She was a real person. She was the sweetest old lady, who was a friend of my Mothers. I loved to visit her, she was in her 70's when I was a teenager, and she had a yard full of flowers, and she was interesting, and funny, and just the dearest soul.

I heard from her Granddaughter, Lana, just recently, it was a nice trip down memory lane. And so I've taken her identiy, online that is, I think she would smile to know that I am using her name.

Daisy Joy, she was quite the "dish", I wish I had a picture of her to share with all of you...

My girlfriend sent me these 21 words of wisdom, and that they are, girlfriends... we could ALL benefit from these...

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN! .. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone

This really frosts my cake...

Why can't fast food restaurants EVER introduce anything that is low calorie, EVER... Trisher was telling me last week how good the iced coffee's are at McDonald's. That sounded pretty good to me, so I went to DWLZ and looked up the points for these bad boys, bad boys for real. Mickey D's is using REAL sugared flavorings in these things, and they tally up to as much as 4.5 Weight Watcher points apiece.

I tried to get the Nutritional info from McDonalds, with no luck, but good old Hungry Girl had it - here's the breakdown, read it and weep -

The Iced Cream Coffee has 220 calories/11g fat for the 32 oz. and 160 calories/8g fat for the 24 oz., the Iced Hazelnut Cream Coffee has 200 calories/11g fat for the 32 oz. and 150 calories/8g fat for the 24 oz., and finally, the Iced Vanilla Cream Coffee has 220 calories/11g fat for the 32 oz. and 180 calories/8g fat for the 24 oz.

They could just have easily made these with Splenda and cut way down on the calories, but oh no, they have to give their already obese customers the full fat versions. so they can suck down even more calories....Just absolutely toasts my Rice Krispies.......

On a more positive note....

I tried out a Neutrogena At Home Microdebrasion System yesterday, don't even ask why, it's a really long story, but ya know what, it was really pretty great... Now there is nothing that is going to make this old skin look young again, but it did take away the dullness, the dryness, and left my skin soft and dewy. Would I recommend this??? You betcha I would, in a New Yawk minute...

You have this battery powered applicator with a foam tip and you just dip the foam into the sand like crystals, and dot your cheeks, forehead and chin, then you gently rub your face with it. It's pretty gritty, but you don't apply pressure, and it didn't irritate my skin at all.

You are supposed to do this for five evenings, then quit for a week for you skin to adjust. Adjust do what?? I don't quite get that part, but anyway, after that you just use it 3 evenings a week. Sounds pretty easy, doesn't it?

The reviews for this on Amazon were pretty good. Just don't expect it to make you look young again, just fresher....

It's a good thing, not a miracle worker but defnitely a good thing...

Oh my.....

Remember back to when we were in high school, and just the word "Senior" was SOOOO cool... Whatever were we thinking??? Now that I'm "ALMOST" a Senior Citizen, well, I am at the movies already, you are a Senior Citizen at 55 at the movies, it's not exciting at all. In fact, it's depressing. I don't even like that word, "Senior" - and "Senior Citizen," OMG, just the sound of it grates on my nerves... Are we doomed to "Senior Citizen" specials in the restaurants. Somehow "Early Bird" specials sounds so much better than "Senior Citizen" specials.

I'm even past the "55 and Alive" club age. Jeez Louise, I don't even know where I'm headed with this blog, or WHY, I'm just babbling, so just ignore me, in fact, ignore this whole post... And I was in such a good mood, too, until I started this silly nonsense...

I just don't believe this....

This old girl has seen a lot in her lifetime, but NEVER have I seen anything like Aretha Franklin's tata's, displayed like this at the VMA's. Whatever was this woman thinking? This is worse than obscene, it's totally nausating. And what's with the itty bitty spaghetti straps holding up these bad girls??? OMG, I hope there was a wire threaded thru that fabric. Can you imagine if a strap broke? Oh, this is so bad, I have never in my wildest dreams seen anything so BAD!!!! Is she in total denial that she's OLD and FAT and that her boobs look like the WATERMELONS FROM HELL????

This totally overshadows (no pun intended) Brit-Brit's horrid lip synching, awkward, out of step opening act. What's the world coming to????

It was truly HELLISH, it really was....

Do ya all know about SPANX? If you do, you are shaking your head, saying "oh dear, you poor thing" but if you're not familiar with Spanx, girlfriends, let me enlighten you. They are truly, TRULY, the most torteous item of fat girdling spandex that you will EVER try to put on your body. For real they are. They are high waisted, mid-thigh length panties that you somehow try to squeeze your body into in an attempt to look less lumpy. That's pretty much it in a nutshell.

I've been reading about SPANX for some time now, celebrities are crazy about them, my friend Barb swears by them, my daughter-in-law, Lindsay, loves them. I tried them on, well actually I just took them out of the package and shuddered at the size of them this spring while on a trip to Nashville. Tonia tried them on, and she was shrieking in the dressing room that there was no way she was going to wear them (smart daughter-in-law of mine) and I just totally said fuggedabout it...

Well time passes, desperation sets in and last week while I was in Lexington at Chico's, I plopped down the $35 for a pair of SPANX, in a size 1... Lindsay said that it was going to be fine, that after you put them on 2 or 3 times they stretch to fit you. Right, Dilly, sure they do....

So I'm back home, getting ready to go out for dinner in a new pair of jeans a size smaller than I've been wearing 'cause all my wacky dieting efforts are finally paying off, and I'm thinking that the Spanx might just be what I need because my new jeans are not exactly loose, so I take them out of the wrapper, having flashbacks from last spring , but determined that I was going to put the damned things on. Now let me explain that when you unfold them, they look like they might possibly fit on one thigh they are so narrow. Actually they look like they might possibly fit a preteen anorexic body. Lindsay told me to just be patient, to put them on slowly and that it would be fine.

Well, she might be able to pull them on her cute little body, but OMG, let me tell you it was positively HELL trying to get them on my middle aged, donut ravaged body. I pulled and I tugged and I yanked, and I only had them up to the middle of my thighs. By this time I was breaking out in a sweat, but I had to keep going, so I dusted myself with baby powder and up they went. Inch by inch, standing on one leg, then the other, pulling and yanking until FINALLY, FINALLY I get them to my waist.

Whew, I had to take a rest before I attempted to pull them all the way up under my boobs. I'm seriously perspiring by now, sitting under the ceiling fan with it on high in an attempt to cool off a bit before I finished packing myself into them. I called Linds on the phone to tell her that I at least had them to my waist, and she's assuring me that they will stretch out. All I can think is why didn't I get them in a size 2, why did I have to believe the stupid sizing charts anyway. What do they know...

So I'm sitting on the side of the bed, positively gasping for air, because my stomach is absolutely squeezed so badly that I can barely breathe, and by now all the fat has pushed itself up all the way up to my chin cause it had to go somewhere and I'm thinking there is no way in HELL that these things are going to be comfortable. I'm sitting there waiting for them to stretch like Lindsay said they would, and I have to leave the house in fifteen minutes.

So I yank on my jeans, yeah I guess I look a bit smoother, no actually I really look like a stuffed snausage packed in it's casing, and now I'm leaving in ten minutes. I CAN'T STAND IT, I CAN'T DO THIS, I'm thinking, what if I go out and they burst at the seams. Will all the fat just explode in my jeans???? So slowly, painfully, I pull them off, thank goodness it's easier going down than it was going up. I breathe a huge sigh of relief, the fat is gone from my chin now, settling back down into my middle aged midsection where it belongs. I throw the SPANX in a drawer, thinking maybe if I lose another 20 lbs. I MIGHT be able to wear them...

Silly old broad, whatever was I thinking anyway..... You don't believe me? Well, you just go out and buy yourself a pair and see how they work out for you.... I'm not kidding, these things are just seriously WRONG!!!!

My first day of school...

The year was 1955, Tennessee Ernie Ford had a hit record, Sixteen Tons, as did The Platters, You've Got the Magic Touch, and me, I was five years old, and ready for first grade.

Money was really hard to come by, and I remember my Great Aunt Annie and Uncle Rex coming to visit and buying me school shoes at Marlin's Department Store. They were little brown rounded toe t-straps with perforations in the top and I wore them with white socks with lacy tops. Egads, how do I remember THAT when I can't even remember what I had for dinner tonight??? Mother had made me a brown plaid dress, with a full short skirt, and I had sausage curls and ribbons in my hair, and of course I was beyond excited to be such a big girl and getting to go to first grade. There was no kindergarden in those days and our grade school, Booth Memorial, was being built and not finished yet, so for a few weeks, until we were able to move to the new building, school for me was in the Home Ec Building at the high school.

I still remember that day vividly, and most importantly, I remember that Donna Jones had her hair cut in a short bob, and the top of it was pulled to the side and anchored with a wide, white bow and she had this BIG lollipop, and she gave us all a lick. Oh, I thought she was just beautiful, and she had a RED lollipop, too.

Of course my Mother was mortified to think that I had licked that sucker, along with all the other first graders, but I was SO impressed. I'm sure I had butterflies, and in later years, I always tossed my cookies the first day of school, as did Ryan, and as still does Ang's Sam, but I can't remember that happening that day.

I didn't ride the bus, oh no, Mother wouldn't let me ride on that nasty old bus, she drove me to school. Overprotective??? Just a bit... a trait, I unfortunately inherited with my own children, and that even filters down to this day to the M&M's. Yeah, I won't let poor Maggie Moo play outside because I'm afraid a hawk will get her. And I'm always afraid the Munchkin will get heat stroke when she's outside, so I stand at the front door screeching like a banshee for them both to come back inside.

It was SUCH a big deal to be old enough to go to school, Daddy had already taught me to read, I knew my numbers, could write my name, but I was really bad at coloring, I had a devil of a time staying in the lines.

I also remember that room having lots of desks in it, and an upright piano and big fans to keep us cool. Hmmmm, must have been a hot fall in 1955... We had to carry our lunch, too, because there was no cafeteria in the high school. I would love to remember what Mother packed for me. We didn't eat a lot of peanut butter in those days, and knowing her, she probably got up and fried chicken for me since it was always my favorite thing.

Good memories, my early childhood. Life was so simple, then...

Why am I so tired?

Probably because we took a flying trip to Lexington for a couple of days to visit Ryan and Lindsay, shopped til we dropped, came home yesterday evening, showered and went to Deerhead for dinner. Then up early this morning, running errands, grocery shopping, yadayadayada - I'm too old for all this hubub, girlfriends...

And I might add we came home to mid 80 degree temps with low humidity. I actually took a ride on Milly this morning with my sweatshirt on. It was a wonderful thing...

Hubby is working, and my goal in life this weekend is to make authentic Cuban black beans, using a recipe from my friend Janet's no-good Cuban ex-husband, who she says made wonderful beans. And you all know how much I do adore any kind of the musical fruit...

We ate not Cuban but Cajun food in Lexington, and it was so good, and I'm thinking I should be able to make authentic ethnic food at home. I know what my problem is, I'm not brave enough with the spices. It's all about those darned spices, and sauces, especially hot sauces which I happen to adore. I had one Thursday night called, and appropriately so, "No Tears In Heaven." Wow, now that cleared the sinuses and had me gulping water. I would have loved to given some of this to Uncle Rich (my buddy V's hubby) as he also shares my love of all things so flaming hot that it must surely char our throats as we swallow it.

And that's it from Heavensville. Life is good, kids are fine, John and Tonia are home now from their vacation in Spain. V and Rich are visiting her family in Michigan. I just got pix from Barb, she's back from her Alaskan cruise. Ang is going away for a couple of days, Marti has had a "guy" visiting this past week, and now her cousin is coming. Jeez, everybody has wanderlust.

Me, I'm all about this low-cal pumpkin pie and stews and those darned beans this weekend.... I'll update you on how it's all working out.

In fact, check out the following recipe I found on a Cuban site online. It's not the recipe I'm using, but I'm intrigued by the fact that you cook the beans and discard the liquid you cooked them in. Check this out. Looks pretty good..

Good Cuban Black Beans and Rice, known on the island as Moros y Christianos, is actually two recipes cooked separately and combined into this hearty one dish meal as it is served. This recipe serves one helping to 3 to 4 persons. We often recommend preparation of a double recipe.

First, the Black Beans..... sorting, rinsing thoroughly, covering with fresh water, soaking overnight, draining, rinsing once again, covering with water again and cooking. Believe me, it is worth all of the effort.
Open a 1 pound package of dry black beans (2 cups)
Into a large pot, pour the beans. Look for and discard STONES and other non-bean things.
Under fresh running water, then rinse the beans thoroughly.
Drain the beans and cover the large pot with 6 to 8 cups of clean water.
Bring the pot of beans and water to a rolling boil, stirring frequently.
Reduce the heat and simmer the black beans in the large pot with the lid slightly open for 1½ hours until the beans are very tender.
Drain the cooked black beans (do not rinse again) and set aside, warm, in a covered bowl.
In the pot that you used to cook the beans, heat the olive oil.
Add the bacon, onion, garlic, celery and green pepper into the hot oil.
Cook, stirring constantly until onion is translucent.
Add chicken stock or broth until these ingredients are completely covered.
Add bay leaf, vinegar, tomato.
Bring this mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add in the drained beans.
Add in more chicken stock or broth until bean and seasoning mixture is covered.
Simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep covered.
Remove the bay leaf and discard it.

Part two. . . . . the Rice..... prepare your favorite white rice per the package instructions.

Finally. . . . . in large individual soup bowls, place a mound of the hot cooked white rice.
Ladle the piping hot black bean soup into the bowls over the rice.
Serve very hot with warm buttered Cuban bread and Tabasco sauce on the side as garnish.

I guess you all realize...

The pix in my header is of John and I when he was just three months old. I was twenty-two, and yes, that's my real hair color, and yep, it was really long when I took it out of those pigtails.

I look back at those pictures and think, was I ever really that young? Wasn't he the cutest little baby? Oh, what I wouldn't give to go back for just one day.... *sigh* I'm really nostalgic lately....

Just had to share....

This adorable little Yorkie's pix was on a Yorkie Talk Forum.

I just had to post this. Did you EVER see a cuter little dog than this? She's a tiny thing, people say she's about 4-5 months old.

Oh what a face. She reminds me a lot of Maggie.

Just makes my hormones go WILD!!!!!

Samo with a twist...

Hot, hot, hot, 98 right now, AND the air conditioner went on the fritz late yesterday. Talk about a bad mood....

The heat/ac man was coming to work on it this afternoon, I had to leave this morning, and I figured as soon as I left he would show up, so I put a note on the front door that said in part.

Air Conditioning Man, if you come while I'm gone, don't you DARE leave!!!! I'll be right back, house is unlocked, just go for it!!!!!

Well, he didn't come, of course, not til this afternoon, but it was a simple fix (supposedly) and it's now cooled down in here from 85 to 79. Whoeee, cold front.....

The M&M's just laid on the stone floor, no doubt wondering what was up. Poor babies, they were in their fur coats, no way for them to chill out, except for the ice water I kept replenishing for them.

I'm tellin' ya if this heat doesn't abate soon, I'm going to go stark raving mad, I'll probably be running naked in the street, and trust me, that's a site you don't want to see!!!!!!!!!!

I know EXACTLY how she feels....

Girlfriends, I think most of us can relate to this. And she still looks fantastic, in my opinion. And give her credit for not having succumbed duck lips and chinese eyes like so many actresses have.

~ Jan

In the new issue of Health magazine, SALLY FIELD admits she isn't thrilled with the way she looks.

"I think I look like dog poop," she says when asked about her secret to looking great at 60. "I'm not any different from a lot of American women who want to put a piece of black velvet over the mirror when they turn 50. The good news is that I'm healthy and I'm here."

In the issue hitting newsstands August 28, Sally talks about everything from suffering from osteoporosis to her workout regimen.

Another one of those peaceful things....

On my daily trek to Burdette Park to walk the track, I pass by The Monastery of St. Clare. An order of nuns live there, but it's very low key, you never see anyone out and about except for this one spry little nun.

I would judge her to be in her mid 60's, and she walks on the shoulder of the country road daily, accompanied by a gorgeous Yellow Lab. She is as trim as a girl, wearing her khaki shirtwaist and the required black headpiece, and she is just as brown as a biscuit. She always has the sweetest smile, and looks so happy and serene. It makes me feel good to just smile and wave at her as I pass by.

It's a wonderful thing, the countryside, even in this 90 degree weather. The Blue Heron on the lake was posing for me on one foot this morning, still as a statue, and the honkers and the quackers walked alongside for a bit.

The dry leaves are starting to fall on the track now, and they blow and rustle in the wind. It's an awesome thing, Mother Nature, even when she isn't cooperating the way we would like her to.

Well, would ya look at this

This little halter top from Sweeties has the same embroidery design as a pair of Ma's pillowcases. Now isn't that something... And they want $61 for this, ON SALE!!!!!

Well, I probably have those pillowcases in the attic, but my halter days are long gone, and somehow I can't see either one of my dilly's wearing this....

Too funny for words...

Long ago summers...

I was just talking to Hooterville the other day and she said her mom did this very same thing. I was telling her that when I was a little girl, as soon as Mother would get home from work in the summer, she would take off her shirt, and go around the house in her bra and skirt, trying to keep cool. Her Mom did the same thing, too.

So here I sit, in my bra and capris, home from the grocery in this once again stifling heat. Just what you wanted to know, right?

Today is LC's birthday, and I'm going to make him meatloaf, roasted potatoes and carrots, corn on the cob, bibb lettuce salad and a pineapple upside down cake. His very faves... He's working til 8, so it will be a late dinner.

Actually feels pretty good to come home and take off my shirt.

NO - NO - NO, I just can't do this, I can't turn into my Mother, not yet... I'm off to the shower and then into a tshirt..

Let me tell ya' I'm feeling MUCH better....

After I blogged about my park experience this morning, I showered, dressed, put on LOTS of eye makeup trying to make myself feel less ancient and went out to run errands.

I was in Office Depot looking at their Nano cases, and this 20 something clerk actually FLIRTED with me. OMG, THANK YOU JEBUS!!!!!!!!

He was pretty nerdy, and he was probably bored to tears in that store, but at least he didn't act like I was a GRANDMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmmmm, I wonder how I'm going to get people to yell "Hey Nana Sugar" instead of "Hey Granny" when the time comes and I actually AM a Grandma????? Maybe I'll get a bumper sticker, yeah a bumper sticker that says "Honk for Nana Sugar" - that should do it!!!!!!!!

Well I just blew a gasket this morning, as Ma used to say.....

Okay, I'm still in a mood. Don't believe me, just ask Marti? OMG, I ranted last night to her for half an hour. But this morning something else happened and I'm justfied in being upset, I really am...

Okay, I'm off to Burdette this morning to walk, even though it's trying to drizzle and as humid as the Amazon Rain Forest. And I'm in SUCH a good mood because sweet hubby took care of my little "problem." My little problem being my new MP3 player that I loved the idea of but HATED the unit. Why??? It sounded great, it was small, it was red, but it was just CRAP. The firmware was not user friendly and the LCD screen was grainy and so faint that you couldn't see which albums you were highlighting when you were outside. And every time I turned the darned thing on, this ugly little Alligator came up on the screen. It was a Sansa, from San Disk, apparently that is their logo, but it was just butt ugly. Just put me in a bad mood looking at that little varmit everytime I turned it on. It sounded really good, but what good was the sound when you couldn't even manuever the menu or see the screen...

So anyway, I was fuming about it yesterday and hubby said, "just take it back and get what you want, I've still got the packaging." So I jumped right on that, but couldn't find the darned receipt. Finally, I looked up my online bank statement, found that I had purchased it on July 16th, and Circuit City has a 30 day return policy, so I call them up and they tell me I don't need a receipt cause they can look it up in their computer.

So I took it back and now I have a snazzy green iPod Nano that I simply ADORE, and the menu is clear, easy to read and manuever, and there is NO alligator.... So what happened to put me in a bad mood when I'm on my way to walk with my new toy....

WELL, I'm pulling in the park, and there is this shortcut that's reallly the exit, but everybody cuts thru there cause it's faster and there is never any traffic. So I zip thru there like I normally do, and there is this 20 something year old sitting on a tractor getting ready to spray, probably for alligators, and he yells out "You're going the wrong way, GRANDMA." OMG, he called me GRANDMA. Well, why not, I'm old as dirt now, and i sit really low in my car, I probably did look just like his grandma, especially with no makeup on, well I did have on lip gloss...

OH, DID I SEE RED, I'm telling ya, I was livid. SO I SLAM ON MY BRAKES, GET OUT OF THE CAR AND STOMP OVER TO THIS NEANDATHAL, who in the meantime is now talking to one of the other workers. I started screeching at him, saying that even though I WAS going the wrong way that he was rude to me and that there was no excuse for him yelling at me. He looked right at me, and said "I'm so sorry, you're absolutely right, I shouldn't have done that, I didn't think you could hear me." Well, apparently he did have some kind of upbringing, because he at least apologized, so I just smiled and said, "Apology accepted, you have yourself a really nice day." Then I hotfooted it back to my car and drove over to the track.

Holy crap, girlfriends, am I turning into Maxine in my senior years???? Whatever is wrong with me??? I think I'm really getting too ballsy for my own good.. But he shoudn't have said that!!!!

Bet he thinks twice before he does it again. Nah, he and that other guy probably had a big laugh at my expense, but at least I felt better... And that iPod is S-WEET!!!!!!!

A little trivia....

Remember back...

It's Halloween, and you are eight. Remember how exciting that was? What was your favorite candy you hoped to get?

Mine wasn't candy, I always wanted popcorn balls. But both Hooterville and I ADORED Valomilks, still do, and I loved any candy bar with nuts in it. Zero, Hollywood, Mars Bar, Reese Cups of course, and I LOVED LOVED LOVED Almond Joy. Sometimes you feel like a nut...

When I was eight I probably either dressed as a bum or as a high heeled lady. We weren't exactly costume savvy in the 50's in Enfield...

Did we carve a pumpkin??? Of course, we always did. Simple zigzags around, standard toothy smile. Worked for me...

Halloween parties? Yep, I remember going to the basement of Enfield Christian Church, walking thru the dark on bedsprings, being slapped in the face with a wet mop and feeling eyeballs (wet grapes) and brains (who knows what they were). Ugh, probably don't want to know. I also remember bobbing for apples and how Margaret Hardesty stuck her whole head in the water. I couldn't imagine why she would get her hair wet like that in front of people. Yeah, I was girly even as a preteen... She did get an apple though, I still remember her head coming out of the water with that apple in her mouth. haaaaaa

I seriously think the heat has fried my brain......... 100 again tomorrow, can't wait. Cooldown today, 95. Whoeeeeeee...

What happens when it goes hot???

People get downright nasty, that's what. I'm no exception, I've been in a really pissy cranky mood all week in Heavensville's unrelenting heat.

So instead of blogging about my favorite things, or some such stupid nonsense, your normally Miss Merry Sunshine is going to blog about the things that really frost my cake!!!!

Here are Jan's major bitches...

Guys who are outside with their shirts off (construction workers excluded). There is NOTHING worse than seeing some blubbery old geezer prancing around his yard naked to his waist. Totally disgusting...

Screaming kids in a restaurant or worse, in the library. When mine were little we yanked their little butt's outside when they started acting up.

And speaking of kids, everybody knows that it just drives me wild when mother's are at a restaurant and don't put a bib on their baby. Very seldom do you see bibs anymore, and the kid is always just dropping food all over a pricey little outfit. This is just WRONG...

Nutritional information that is misleading. I get so mad when I pick up a muffin for instance, and it says 120 calories, BUT if you look closely it says per serving and there is 2 servings in that friggin' little muffin. Whoever heard of a lousy muffin being 2 servings??? Are they kidding, a muffin is a BITE for pete's sake... Grrrrrr

When people tell me how "good" I get "around". Jeez Louise, people, I have no feet, it's not the end of the world, I just get up and walk. Nobody tells a fat lady that they are amazed that she can "get around" with all that fat. Gimme a break....

Those awful lights in a dressing room. Now why do stores do that? Why do they have the most unflattering lights known to man woman??? Don't they know that soft pink lights sell more clothes. And what about those hot dressing rooms? Like it's 125 sweltering degrees and who wants to sweat in a dressing room. Kick down the thermostat and you might sell more clothes. DUH.....

When you go do the doctor or the dentist and they tell you that their "procedure" might be a little "uncomfortable." UNCOMFORTABLE, HELL. their stupid "procedures" leave you with mind boggling, blinding uncontrollable pain. Easy for them to say....

People who make nasty little comments because I kiss my dogs. My dogs are my family, of course I kiss them. I also blow on their little bellies, dance them around the kitchen, and sing to them. So I'm a crazy old lady. SO WHAT!!!!!! Like I'm going to be kissing the people that are making those comments... I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snotty little salesclerks in pricey boutiques. Cmon people, you're making what, oh maybe $10 an hour... I'm SO in awe of you!!! Get real....

Waiters with an attitude, usually men. HELLO, am I going to give you a good tip when you are being an absolute asshole?????? And how much does your little job pay an hour without those tips???? Jeez, it's not rocket science........................

Oh, and women that are maybe a size six dripping wet, asking you if you think they look fat. FAT, AT SIZE SIX... OH-PUHLEEZ........

Well now that I'm all stirred up, I could continue this all afternoon, but I won't. I'm going to go take a shower now and go out into this wonderful 95 degree weather.

But hey, feel free to post any comments about what really bugs YOU. This is a lot more fun than doing ten questions about my favorite movie, tv show, yadayadayada...

OMG....

It's 103 right now in Heavensville, dunno what heat index is. I was out and about, it was so hot I thought I was just gonna roast. I was pulling off clothes as I came in the door.

Check out our 15 day forecast. I don't believe this....

Weatherman said yesterday it was hottest day, I'm sure today topped it. Leapin' lizards it is just HORRID!!!! No walking for me, no way am I gonna walk in this heat...

We aren't the only ones aging...

V sent me this link to a slide show about how celebs are aging. It's great - check it out HERE!

Could this be our next First Lady?

They say Fred Thompson's wife is keeping a low profile. Ummmmm, okay...

Nonono, I'm not getting political on you, well I am a Hillary fan, but we won't go into that one, it's not her I like, but Bill. **SHOCK** Sorry gang, I just happen to think he's totally charismatic, despite his many decadent trysts...

Anyhoo, I won't make a habit of this, just had no idea of what his wife looked like 'til I oogled Googled her.

Am I the only one???

Who can't open ANYTHING??? I can't open my newest summer find, that yummy Fuze Slenderize drink. I twist and turn the cap, rap on it with a knife handle and will it open, NO!!!!! Jars are impossible, but Ryan and Lindsay bought me an electric jar opener, which works great, but unfortunately hubby keeps taking it off the counter in the garage and putting it on a shelf.

And ya know those little foil thingies on the tops of bottles to seal them. They never come off. NEVER!!!! I end up poking them with a knife and then they squirt crooked and soak me.

Sometimes my Diet Coke tabs fall into the can. And wine??? OMG, forget that. I always have the cork swimming in the wine and have to strain the damned stuff...

But I do wonder why hubby never has these problems. EVER!!! He patiently takes what I'm trying to open and smoothly executes it. *sigh*

I think my problems with this started as a child. I remember being at the Queen's Grill in Carmi, eating my favorite cheeseburger basket, and at that time ketchup came in those little oblong pods with foil on top. Well, somehow I managed to squirt ketchup on the headliner of Mother's car. They say everything is rooted in childhood, and I can definitely pinpoint the beginning of this affliction.

I don't even TRY and put the M&M's flea meds on them, I would pour the whole dose in the wrong spot. There is just no answer for my problem, either. Even when I slow down, I still can't make things operate like they should..

I had a fiasco with my mascara wand last week that I won't even blog about.

And so here I sit, with this stupid virus, feeling pretty much, as Ang likes to say, like "dog shit." I'm sleeping my days away, but it's so darned hot I wouldn't be doing anything outside anyway. I walked 2/3 of a mile this morning, and was so weak I had to quit. And we have another week of this 95 degree + heat forecasted for Heavensville Hellville...

I'm outta here, gonna do SOMETHING, maybe I'll drown my sorrows in watermelon. Then I'll be up all night going potty...

Jan here, signing out, pretty much in a suxy mood...

Those were the days...

Remember when you were a kid and played out in the heat. I can remember riding my bike, the sweat just pouring down my face. I was dusty and dirty, but I just kept on going.

I walked this morning at 8am. Thought I was going to just lay down and die right there on the track. O-M-G it was hot and it wasn't even mid-morning. I need to run errands, I'm putting it off. I just don't handle hot at all now that I'm on the wrong side of fifty-five...

I guess I've gotten soft in my old age. I'm sitting here with the AC cranked, the ceiling fan whirring and I'm complaining...

I just need to step back and count my blessings. It was a hard life in the country in the 50's. I don't think we even had a fan when I was a little girl. I can remember visiting my aunt and uncle, and I was just awestruck by the round ottoman style fan in their living room. I thought it was the greatest thing.

Mother cooked a lot in her electric skillet on hot summer days. Probably to try and keep the house cooler. We drank huge amounts of iced tea and ate a lot of Blue Bell Bologna ($.59 cents a pound from Marlin's Department Store.) Oh that bologna was wonderful... Full of garlic, wrapped in white paper and tied with a string, eaten on white gummy bread smeared with Miracle Whip and slices of fresh tomatoes and onions. What a feast that was... See, it was all about food, even then...

*sigh* Blue Bell Bologna is long gone now, I guess I could get some Oscar Mayer Fat Free Bologna and eat it on high fiber bread... Jeez Louise, what the hell am I thinking??? It wouldn't be the same at all.

Wonder what the dumpster thinks about this???

I just saw on television tonight that 58 year old Ivana Trump is engaged to a 35 year old hottie. Oh, I was laughing so hard. I bet old Donald Dumpster is having fits about this!!!!!

You go Ivana, I just love it when an old broad scores!!!! Even if her boytoy is bought and paid for....

Oh, I bet that old fool ex-husband with his horrid combover is having a conniption fit about now....

Serves him right for dumping her for that vaporhead Marla Maples back in the 90's...

Jan, doin' the happy dance.....

Those lazy days of summer...

I haven't been around much, it's hot, I've been watching movies and reading. Today I watched Miss Potter, a magical movie about Beatrix Potter, starring Rene Zellweger.

Yesterday, I read The Painted Veil, it was wonderful as well.

And so it goes. It was a busy weekend in Heavensville, the kids were all home, they rented a pontoon and we all spent Saturday afternoon cruising to Newburgh on the river. Went to The Log Inn for dinner Friday night, an old favorite revisited...

I'm pretty mellow, pretty boring, no funny stories, even the M&M's are in a docile mood, must be the heat...

I'm outta here, going to crack open yet another book and read. Maybe I'll even make myself a lemonade shakeup. Ahhhhh, now that's living!!!

You have to see this...

Click on this video of Art Linkletter. He's 95 years old today, and has been married to his wife for 72 years. The old guy doesn't look a day over 80!!!!! Simply amazing...

I was in a really a mood this morning...

Grumpy is the only way to describe my early morning. That dreaded scale didn't budge, and why do I get on it every day anyway??? LC was full of piss and vinegar , he's off for four days, and I was just being a grouch. I wasn't going to walk, I was just going to sit around and be in a bad mood, but at his urging, actually, I got off my duff and went to the track.

OMG, I'm charged now. Energized, feel good, plugged in my earphones, listened to some tunes, stretched out the muscles and I'm a new woman. There really is something to exercise and endorphines. Ang has been drilling it in my head for how long now??? And Linds, And T... Maybe it's finally kicking in and I'm starting to believe them.

So, if you find yourself being Oscar the Grouch, put on the walking shoes and see if YOUR mood improves....

I like to think that the M&M's would be this protective...

Zoey is a Chihuahua, but when a rattlesnake lunged at her owners' 1-year-old grandson, she was a real bulldog.

Booker West was splashing his hands in a birdbath in his grandparents' northern Colorado back yard when the snake slithered up to the toddler, rattled and struck. Five-pound Zoey jumped in the way and took the bites.

"She got in between Booker and the snake, and that's when I heard her yipe," said Monty Long, the boy's grandfather.

The dog required treatment and for a time it appeared she might not survive. Now she prances about.

"These little bitty dogs, they just don't really get credit," Booker's grandma Denise Long told the Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald.

This just isn't right....

I just read where Drew Carey will be taking over for Bob Barker on The Price is Right. DREW CAREY???? HOSTING THE PRICE IS RIGHT???? Egads, this is so wrong. What happened to George Hamilton, he was in the running? At least he was smooth. Drew Carey is a blubber boy. Well, I just won't be tuning in. Not that I tuned in anyway. But The Price is Right is an institution.

"Have your pet spayed or neutered," Bob said every day. What will Drew say? Meet you down at Burger King for a Whopper? Wrong, wrong, wrong....

It's a beautiful mornin', Ahhh,
I think I'll go outside a while,
An jus' smile.

It's 60 degrees this morning in Heavensville, no humidity, absolutely gawjus weather. I can see the early sun filtering down on my flowers on the patio. Oh, it's those simple things that get me every time.

Don't you just love early mornings when the world is still? Ry and Linds are home for the weekend, still snoozing, The M&M's had an early breakfast and are asleep in their beds beside me in the sunroom, hubby is off to a rummage sale, and I just "am."

Life will be hectic soon, everybody up for an early morning walk (we walked a mile and a half yesterday.) Who knows, maybe we'll do two miles this morning. My body is responding to all this exercise, my stride is more limber, my muscles loose.

It's perfect at Burdette Park in the mornings. The honkers and the quackers walk the track with the people. They are so gentle, they just amble across in front of you in no hurry to move along. The turtles hide on limbs in the water, hidden by the waterlilies, and the fish splash in the pond.

Mother Nature at her finest... It's a beautiful thing...

Now if I could just go to the Donut Bank for a warm glazed donut and a cuppa life WOULD be perfect. *sigh* Eating healthy sux sometimes...

Hubby and I had breakfast El Fresco

Doesn't that sound special? Doesn't it make you think of outdoor cafes, tables with umbrellas, and fleurs in abundance. Well, we could have done that on the patio but....

Our dining 'el fresco" this morning consisted of two fried egg sandwiches (actually egg white sandwich for me) consumed while tooling around on Milly.

Hey, it worked for us......

Little Monkey...

I haven't posted anything about the M&M's lately. In fact, I haven't posted at all lately and you all are probably getting pretty sick of looking at Queen Elizabeth.

Munchie doesn't have too many antics these days, mostly she just sits around and watches Maggie get in trouble...

Maggie is my little imp, she's like a naughty two year old. LC and I were both gone this morning, he at the foot Dr.'s, but thats a whole other blog, me walking at the track. TOOTS FOR JAN!!!! I WALKED TWO MILES THIS MORNING!!!

So anyway, I come home and Maggie has pulled mouthfuls of my dried hydrangeas from a basket I sit under a desk in the living room, and has them scattered EVERYWHERE. Of course, she has them all over her fur, and Munchie is sitting quietly, like "don't look at me, I didn't do ANYTHING."

I said, "Margaret MooLatte, what have you done???" And does she cower down, does she look remorseful??? Are you kidding, she flips her little butt up in the air, twists around and prances out of the room as if to say, "You aren't the boss of me!!!!" And what do I do, I laugh...

Oh, it was SO funny. I'm such a sucker, I just can't yell at her, when she is so darned cute.

Later, LC comes home and says, boy, I need to run the vacuum. *giggle*

And I talked to my buddy, V, this afternoon and told her that I hope she has hydrangeas this summer, it looks like I'm going to need a new supply, since she is the one who gave them to me in the first place.

And that's it from our house, this rainy Tuesday in Heavensville...