Feline Friday -- Serena

I'm going to show you something that most people, including my family, don't ever get to see...

This is Serena, and she makes herself scarce when anyone is around. Somehow she seems to know when it's a weekend and the family will be in. She hides in my closet on top of some storage boxes behind my clothes. She has been with me almost 4 years now, and you would think she would be used to the kids and family, but she's not. I take pictures of her to prove to everyone that she really does exist. Honest, she's not a figment of my imagination!

These pictures were taken last weekend after everyone had left. The last car no sooner clears the gate, and out she comes. She just tolerates the dog, doesn't let Kelly get too close. I guess she is afraid of doggy cooties :o) I'm going to post a link over at Steven's (sometime)photoblog for his Feline-Friday post.

Brrrrr

It was quite chilly here this morning which is not good for this Auntie's old bones. It was 34ºF this morning at 7am. What you can't see clearly in this picture is the house behind mine. Their back yard is covered with a coating of frost, and a low lying cloud/fog is draping them in coldness and their roof is almost white (which is not good as it's a brown roof). Brrrrrr!

Well, Christmas is now officially over, and I stand on the edge of a new year. I wonder what changes 2006 will bring. I've never been one to make resolutions, so I won't start this year, but there are some hopes and dreams buried deep inside which hope to see the light of day. This year literally flew by, and I can only imagine that next year will also. Why is it, the older I get the faster time moves. Maybe it's just that I'm moving slower?

And what's up with this? Did you hear about them adding time this year? As quoted from an article in Linux Electrons.
::Washington, DC – On December 31, 2005 a “leap second” will be added to the world’s clocks at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This corresponds to 6:59:59 pm Eastern Standard Time, when the extra second will be inserted at the U.S. Naval Observatory. This marks the 23rd leap second to be added to UTC, a uniform time-scale kept by atomic clocks around the world. ::

Now, I'm a little confused here. Does adding a second make time longer/slower, or does it make it shorter/faster? Can't we just leave well enough alone? I think I need to go get another sweet roll and cup of coffee and mull all this over some more. I will get back to you in a few seconds... by that time it will be February '06.

Greetings!

Here's the latest picture of Santa and one of his elf's now that the gift giving is done!

With all the hoopla about the political correctness of the season: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyful Winter Solstice, Happy Newton's Birthday, Fabulous Festivus, or whatever other celebration you cherish...

What ever you do to celebrate this time of year, please accept the very best wishes for the season -- from me,
Auntie Lyn

The Saturday 6 with Patrick

Here we go. Patrick's Saturday 6

1. Which of the following generally costs you more: a normal trip to your barber/hairstylist, your usual lunch at your favorite restaurant, the most recent amount you paid to fill up your gas tank, or your biggest single contribution to a single charity in 2005?

Boy is that a tough one. The meals remain reasonable, the haircuts are getting to be so high, and the gasoline... let's not even go there trying to fill my gas hog. But, thank God, the charity contribution exceeded them all. :0)


2. What drink -- alcoholic or not -- do you drink entirely too much of?

Water? but then again, they say you can't drink enough water right?


3. Did you receive a Christmas card from anyone you didn't send one to? Did you send them a belated card in return?

This year this hasn't happened, but last year I missed two people entirely that sent a card out to me. I didn't bother to send out a card, but did give them a Christmas call on the phone.


4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What is most important in your life?

Health is most important in your life. Having a high focus on health indicates that you are very health-conscious and you realize that if you don't have your health, you have nothing. You are devoted to living healthy. Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

5. Before taking the quiz, which of its categories (career, love, money, health, family or fun) would you have said would be your answer?

Family


6. Do you believe in soulmates? Do you think that there are at least one out there for every person, that there is a single "true" soulmate for every person, or that there aren't soulmates for everyone?

Yes, I do believe that there are "soul-mates" out there for each of us. In my opinion a soulmate is a person who helps to complete us, who helps us to grow. A soulmate brings out those qualities which lay dormant in us for one reason or another and helps us to become more than we thought we were capable of. I was so blessed to marry my best friend and soulmate. We each completed the other, like two halves that found their niche. Bob fitted into my jagged edges and softened them, and I rounded him out. We fit perfectly together. Do I believe that there is another "soulmate" out there for me, that I don't know. But if there is, I will welcome that person into my life. Oh, do I think that a soulmate is necessarily a lover/spouse type person, no. I believe a soulmate is a friend. It's just an added bonus when that person is the object of your love. Here's a link to our story in case you want to check it out. My other half...

Christmas

Auntie Lyn's Pathetic Excuse for a Christmas Tree

It's not much, but it's up. Still having difficulties getting myself into the groove of Christmas, but gifts have been bought, at least I think I got everyone on my list. (BTW, the gifts under the tree are not what I bought, but what my aunt brought for the family. I haven't even thought about wrapping anything yet.) Christmas will be at my sisters this year with the nephews and nieces doing the planning and cooking the meal. I have offered my services to help with what ever is needed, but only have been instructed to bring plates, napkins and bowls. From what I hear we are going non traditional this year (Italian and something else). My mom is having a conniption fit about it. I promised her that if she just eats whatever they serve, that next weekend I will cook her a traditional Christmas dinner. I think I have her convinced.

A Christmas Haiku:
Shining from above,
the star, a beacon of hope...
the Christ Child of Love.

and a Christmas rhyme:
I tend to fight and push away,
the trappings of the season;
but down inside, within my heart
I know that Christ is the reason.

Ten Things...

I've been tagged by Patrick from Patrick's Place to add my input in this meme that is making it's way around blogland. Here are the instructions as I read them, "List ten things that make you happy (in no particular order) and tag five others to do the same."

Well here goes:

1. When the little ones crawl up into my lap on Saturday night's while we adults are playing cards, and they plead with "Aunie In" to please come play with them.
   
2. A toasted Italian BMT on fresh Italian Parmesan bread, even tho it's not on my diet.
   
3. The peace of mind that comes from having paid my mortgage off early and not worrying about having to write that check the first of the month. (Which brings me to the next one.)
   
4. Cutting back on my work schedule and not worrying that I wont have enough to make ends meet that month. Being able to say no to work when I want time to myself.
   
5. When the air turns cool and dry and I can open the windows and turn off the air conditioning.
   
6. Waking up early in the morning and realizing that I don't have to go anywhere that day, and I can roll over and go back to sleep.
   
7. Playing with family photos on the computer and sharing them.
   
8. Kelly (my golden) greeting me every time I come thru the door as if she hadn't seen me for 100 years or more even tho it's only been 15 minutes.
   
9. A fresh hot Krispy Kreme donut.
   
10. Dreaming about Bob and waking up feeling like he is still right beside me.
    

Now for those I tag:

1. Alex (College Life)
   
2. Jackie (Not Wierd, I'm Eccentric)
   
3. Margo (MagogoSMusing)
   
4. Virginia (Animal Spirits)
   
5. Gabreael (Gabreael's Body, Mind & Spirit)
   

Lineage...

lineage

2 entries found for lineage.
To select an entry, click on it.

lineage[1,noun] lineage[2]

Main Entry: ¹lin·e·age
Pronunciation: 'li-nE-ij also 'li-nij
Function: noun
1 a : descent in a line from a common progenitor b : DERIVATION
2 : a group of individuals tracing descent from a common ancestor; especially : such a group of persons whose common ancestor is regarded as its founder

Lineage, that is what makes us what we are. Whatever our ancestors were, we are the sum of them. So, I'm convinced something really odd must have taken place several generations ago in my family. I think some ole hunter must have gotten lonely and decided to take up with some bear in the woods, and somehow we got BEAR in our bloodline. How else can I explain that I totally relate to the above picture. It all makes perfect sense now, and kinda ticks me off that I can't find some big old stinky cave to crawl into and wait for winter to pass me by.

Eeek!! I only have 16 more shopping days!

My little stepping stones.
My great nieces and nephews 11/24/05.


This picture was taken this past Thanksgiving. There is Avery (8), Garrett (6), CJ (6), Brooke (3.5), Megan (3.75) and Bryce (9mos). [I added Bryce's picture with my photoshop.] My oldest great niece Amanda is missing, she will be 15 this January. Amanda lives with her mom, and we haven't seen her now in 4.5 years. Her mom punishes her ex (my nephew) by putting him and his family down to Amanda, returning our letters, gifts and cards, and telling her that we don't love her. I just wait for the day she trys to contact one of us. Her gifts are all here, all the cards and the letters that were returned. Proof that she was never forgotten by any of us, that no matter what her mom has said to her, she has always mattered to each of us.

I haven't done any of my holiday shopping for these kids, and I really need to get busy. (You know, it's a pain in the neck when working interferes with those things you want to do.) This weekend, Avery and Brooke's mom will meet my mom, sister and myself and help us as far as sizes and what the girls like. Next Friday, we will meet with Garrett and Bryce's mom for suggestions for them, then that next Saturday, CJ and Megan's mom will meet with us. Too bad we make all this so complicated.

I can't believe that Christmas is just around the corner, and I am so far behind, I don't really feel like doing much of anything. I haven't got my cards made, let alone sent out. No tree or decorations up yet. Only 2 presents for Bob's aunt bought so far. Seems like this might be a good year to crawl into a hole and wait it out, but that is just not an option. Well, I need to pull myself out of this funk and get busy. This weekend will be a good start I think ... or at least I hope.

what ornament are you?

What Christmas ornament are you?
Take this quiz and find out for yourself.

Here'e my reusults:

You are the Christmas Angel.


What Christmas Ornament are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Relocated J-Land Bloggers

Taking a moment to post the first edition of the known relocated J-land journalers. Take a moment to look at the list, and if you have moved and don't see your name, you can email me Auntie Lyn or you could contact Ayn who put the list together for us. At the bottom of the list is a link to download a rich text file you can open with windows. It includes all the html to post this list as it in your blog, or into your sidebar.









J-BLOGGERS first edition: December 4, 2005

• Alex
  
• AlbGlinka
  
• Alh
  
• Amy (Diva)
  
• Amy (Central)
  
• Andrea
  
• Angel (Pixie Dust)
  
• Angel (Pleasures)
  
• Angelia (Secrets)
  
• Angelia (Dark Moons)
  
• Anna
  
• Ari
  
• Antonette
  
• Armandt
  
• Astaryth
  
• Ayn
  
• Barbara
  
• Becky
  
• Bedazzzled
  
• Beth
  
• Boiseladie
  
• Bon and Mal
  
• Bookncoffee
  
• Bosox
  
• Bram
  
• Brandy
  
• Brenden
  
• Candace (Searching)
  
• Candace (Kicking)
  
• Carly
  
• Cat
  
• Chance
  
• Charles
  
• Cheryl
  
• Chris
  
• Christina
  
• Chuck
  
• Colleen
  
• Courtenay
  
• Chris
  
• Cole
  
• Coy
  
• Cynthia
  
• Dalene
  
• Darla
  
• Dawn Allynn
  
• Deb
  
• Debbie
  
• Deslily
  
• Diva
  
• Donna
  
• Emily
  
• Felicia
  
• Flava
  
• Floralilia Freely
  
• Floralilia Wisdom
  
• Gabreael
  
• Gail
  
• Gannet Girl
  
• Gator
  
• Gem
  
• Gigi
  
• Heather
  
• Holly
  
• Jacki
  
• Jaime
  
• Jamilyn
  
• Jeff
  
• Jean Marie
  
• Jen
  
• Jenn
  
• Jennifer
  
• Jessie
• Jim
  
• Jimmy
  
• Jlandvoices
  
• Jody
  
• Judi
  
• Judith
  
• Karen
  
• Kari
  
• Kat
  
• Katherine
  
• Kathleen
  
• Kell
  
• Kelly
  
• Kris
  
• Kristal
  
• Laura
  
• Levi
  
• Lily
  
• Lisa (Heart)
  
• Lisa (Truth)
  
• Lori
  
• Loretta
  
• Louie
  
• Lynda
  
• Mara
  
• Marissa
  
• Margo
  
• Mary (Contrary)
  
• Mary (Hunybea)
  
• Mary (Midnight)
  
• Mary (Woods)
  
• Maryanne
  
• Michael (All Things)
  
• Michael (Dream)
  
• Mortimer
  
• Mrs. L.
  
• Nelle
  
• Nikki
  
• Omz
  
• Pam
  
• Patrick
  
• Paul
  
• Peachy
  
• Penny
  
• Promise
  
• Rebecca Anne
  
• Red
  
• Remo
  
• Rob
  
• Robbie
  
• Robin
  
• Sarah
  
• Shaz
  
• Shelli
  
• Shelly
  
• Sie
  
• Silk
  
• Smukke
  
• Swt Dlphn
  
• Sylvia
  
• Stacy-Lynn
  
• Steven
  
• Suellen
  
• Suzy
  
• Tawnya
  
• Thebludragoness
  
• Theresa
  
• Tianka
  
• Tom
  
• Trish
  
• Vicki
  
• Vince
  
• Virginia
  
• Vivian
  
• Wil
  
• JBloggersPleaseCopyFreely

Mentos Cannon

John Scalzi, from By the Way over at AOL Journals, was stating he is going to try out the Mentos Fountain tomorrow when Athena is not home. Well John, last Saturday the 26th, my nephew Steve and his wife brought the experiment to a birthday party we were having for 2 of my great nephews. They came equipped with six 2 liter bottles of diet Coke and 6 packages of Mentos.
Here is a picture of Steve loading up the cannon.





























And then here is a picture of the end results. Needless to say, with an 8 year old, two 6 year olds, two 3½ year olds, a 9 month old and an Auntie that still likes to get into the thick of things, a sticky, icky time was had by all.

Better late than never... Patrick's Saturday 6 Answers:




1. Is it a "Christmas Tree" or a "Holiday Tree?"
It's definitely a Christmas Tree for me. I don't care if I'm politically correct or not, it is what it is. When I was a child, up until I was led astray by my wise old sister (6 years older than me), Santa Claus brought our Christmas Tree to the house. I would go to bed leaving a glass of milk with home made cookies that mom had made the day before, and when I got up in the morning, the tree would be there filled with my presents from Santa. Of course the empty milk glass and plate with a half eaten cookie would be on the coffee table where I had left it. Then when I was around 6 or 7 my sister told me that Santa didn't bring our tree, mom and daddy did. So, from then on, we would go out about the week before Christmas and find the perfect tree, hitting all the lots around town and usually winding back up at the first lot we went to. When we got home, daddy would cut the bottom off the stump and put it in a tub of water. Then on Christmas eve, daddy would bring in the tree, set it up and he and mom would put on the star, the lights, and the garland, then it was up to my sister and me to put on the decorations. We both had a special decoration we had gotten as babies, and that would be the first one we placed on the tree. My decoration was a blue pine cone that my mom's best friend gave me for my first Christmas. *see above* I still have that decoration, it's broke up where the filial goes into it, and I have to be very careful with it, but it is always the first one I hang, and there were a few years it was the only one I hung up.



2. When you purchase a DVD, what of the following are you most interested in watching first: the movie itself, the director's commentary, the deleted scenes, the bloopers or the behind-the-scenes documentary, and why?
I watch the movie first, then I watch the out takes and bloopers, then the deleted scenes. There have only been a few movies I watched where I was even interested in watching the commentaries. The last one I can remember watching was "Miss Congeniality" and the commentary was with Sandra Bullock and co-screen writer Marc Lawrence. I stumbled upon that one by mistake, and it was funnier than the movie in places.


3. What would you most like to accomplish before the year is over?
Can't really think of anything I would like to accomplish, maybe getting this blog more in line with how I would like it to look. I would like to get a new computer and get it all set up before the first of the year. I have a printer I bought 5 months ago, but I wont take it out of the box and install it on this antique. I want to run it on a new computer. By the time I get it done the warranty will be run out and the software obsolete.


4. Take this quiz: After you enter your birthday, you'll be given a lot of facts about your age and astrology: How old are you in dog years?
Your age is the equivalent of a dog that is 7.93111545988258 years old. (You old hound dog, you!)


5. From the same quiz, what does it say your "Life Path Number" is, and do you agree with its description?
Your life path number is 6. Yes, it pretty much describes me to a T, even down to the negative traits.


6. Do you have a piece of jewelry with your birthstone in it? If so, how often do you wear it?
My birthstone is listed as an Alexandrite. No I don't own any piece of jewlery with that stone in it, but the alternative birthstones are pearl, moonstone and opal. I do have a pair of pearl earrings that I wear. I tend to wear the same jewlery every day for years. The most that I change are the pearl earrings for gold balls maybe once every 6-8 months or so.

talking heads

Well, today I asked journalseditor Joe for my Christmas present and he gave it to me. All I wanted was one of the executive heads to speak with the journalers, just give us an email address or phone number. We would make sure that they would hear what we had to say.

My wish was granted... This is directly copied out of Joe's journal "Magic Smoke"

Folks,

Joe has told you that the senior executives here at AOL have been listening to your opinions and comments about the addition of ads on AOL Journals. I'm stopping by Magic Smoke to let you know he's been straight with you on that point.

I'm not here to report that we're changing our strategy on the ads. The ads are staying for the foreseeable future. Advertising is an important part of how we make money, and we're not ashamed of that.

I'll admit we'd all love a “do-over” when it comes to how this was communicated. On that score, the best we can do now is to work harder at making sure big changes don't occur again without proper communication.

We've learned a lot in the last two weeks... so thank you for your comments here and in email. We've heard loud and clear that you are passionate about what you write about in your blogs. Some of you are convinced that the addition of ads destroys that experience. I am less certain of that. I can't reconcile it with the fact that we have wonderful, passionate communities thriving in ad-supported pages in message boards, Groups, Chat, Hometown, Email, AIM... really across the entire network both inside the paid service and out.

Just like you, we don't all see eye-to-eye on this internally. That's understandable. Since AOL Journals had no ads for so long, I can understand why some believed that they never would. Some of you have moved on because of this and that's understandable too. We're sorry this change has affected the way you feel about us. We thank you for the contribution you made while you were here. We will miss your words. We will miss your passion. If you've moved on to another blog provider, we hope you'll maintain the relationships you've made here. You'll always be welcome in J-Land no matter where you choose to blog.

We've also learned how important the J-Land community is to the majority of you who have elected to stay. You are important to this community and to us, and we appreciate the understanding and support that you've shown. A special thanks to all the folks who have thrown a virtual hug around Joe here at Magic Smoke and in email. Thank you for putting this bump in the road in your rearview mirror. We're excited about moving on as well.

I've asked the team to double down and speed up the delivery of some new features you've requested. They are eager to get to it. Some of my favorites that are coming before the end of the year:

Buddy List Rostering: instantly set your Buddy List as the "roster" for your private Journal - changes to your Buddy List will update the roster automatically.
Blog This: a new feature that allows easy creation of new journals and blog entries that link back to other posts.
Partner Ping: makes it easier for 3rd party indexers such as Feedster, Technorati, BlogPulse, PubSub, Google and others to receive updates to your Journals. This will make your blog easier to find.

Early in 2006, we're working on mobile blogging, online presence, skinning, shared journals and other features that you've mentioned in the past. We would love to hear from you about which of these features you think you'd use the most and why.

Thanks,

Bill Schreiner, VP AOL Community Programming.
Email me at: CommProgramming@aol.com, or leave your comments here.

Boy am I glad I was a good girl this year and got my wish of a talking Head.

Good ole Bill talks about how AOL wishes they could have a "do-over" but only about how the addition of the ads took place. Come on Bill, I'm an adult, there are no do-overs in this world. I am the only one responsible for my actions, no one else. This played out the way AOL wanted it to play out. Now, be an adult and accept responsibility for your actions. The manner in which the ad's showed up is only one part of the problem... If AOL had addressed the issue 2 weeks ago with the paying members of J-land, things could have been made better, easier to swallow, but to wait 2½ weeks and then continue with the same rhetoric, doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Face it, AOL sucks bog water! AOL doesn't care about their subscribers. They don't care about their own integrity. They don't care about public opinion. The almighty dollar rules their heart and minds. Bill said it himself, ::Advertising is an important part of how we make money, and we're not ashamed of that.:: So we have advertisements in our blogs, in our email, on our home pages, in our IM's, in the chat rooms, and message boards, everywhere where there is 1 bit of space, AOL has slipped in an advertisement spamming its paid members, all the while touting to the public that AOL is hard on spammers. What a joke! Tomorrow is officially the end of my connection with AOL. They can slide down that slippery slope all they want to now, but at least I wont be in the sled with them.
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Patrick's Saturday 6

Sweet Dreams

1. Have you ever had a dream that you felt was a message from some "higher power?" Do you think it's possible to receive such messages through dreams?

I have had some pretty wild and vivid dreams since Bob died. Do I think that they were from some higher power? I'm not sure. I think they were what I call, "wishful dreaming". I can remember one in particular that happened near the 5th anniversary of Bob's death, in which I was chasing him all over a small town, with hills and valleys and there were huge traffic jams. He was in a small yellow convertible and when I would just get up to him, he would vanish around a corner. I remember how frustrated I was getting as I had chased him all day. I finally caught up with him on a ferry, and after I got in the car, he reached over and held my hand without looking at me. Then he said, "as much as I love you, I have to go". Prior to that dream, I was beating myself up that I wasn't further along in my grief journey than I was. I kept telling myself that I was holding on to him too much, and couldn't let him go. So, was this dream from a "higher power" or guilt? Who's to say.

2. How much does a person's musical preference tell you about them?

I don't think musical preference tells you anything about a person. Most people would be shocked by the music I listen to, never thinking that I would be a fan. I do think that if a person likes music or not tells you something about them. To me a person that listens and enjoys music is someone who can think for themselves, with imagination.

3. What time did you get up Friday morning? Were you part of the shopping madness?

Friday morning I was up at 5:30am. No shopping for me, it was work as usual.

4. Take this quiz: What religion do you fit in with?

Your ideals mostly resemble those of the Taoist faith. Spirituality is the most important thing in your life. You strive to live by all of your ideals, and live a very intellectually focused life.

80% spiritual.
20% reason-oriented.

5. Is the answer you received the religion you feel you really do fit in with?

Yes. Although I am not sure about the Taoist faith, I may just have to look into that more.

6. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #77 from Globetrotter2: Do you have any special nicknames for your significant other when you're annoyed or irritated with them? If so, give us a few of them (NO PROFANITY, please).

Although I have no significant other at this time, I had a few choice names for Bob when he was alive. DipSh-t, Sh-t for brains are a few of the nicer ones.

Cutting Ties

Cutting Ties...

it's a hard concept for me to accept...
a hard task for me to accomplish.

I called the 800-827-3338 phone number for AOL help, and when you say the words "cancel my membership" you are directed rather quickly to a human voice. I spoke with Jimmy, who was very polite, and wanted to know if there was any way he could help me reconsider? And no, he was not aware that the journal part of AOL had included flashing ad's on our private paid for monthly journals. Could I please describe how I felt that could be enough to cancel my subscription to AOL. When I ran through my rant on AOL and it's lack of customer *SERVICE* Jimmy said that he was sorry I felt that way, but he could take care of the cancellation immediately. My AOL is officially ending on 12/3. I then called my cable company and was immediately connected to road runner for the same amount of money. I had been using Outlook Express for mail with my AOL for the past month or so, and prior to that used AOL Communicator for 2 years. I normally use Firefox for my browser as I like it better anyway. I can create an AIM account for myself, and stay in contact with my AOL buddies that way. I joined PLAXO last week in anticipation of notifying my buddies of address changes, so I think I have my bases covered for now.

Now to the sad part... I have been a member since August 1997 (I found out today the exact time). I have put up with their incompetence with support, their promises of changes, and their assurances of good things happening, and stayed because it was easier to stay than leave, or so I thought. They have neglected to address issues that I have raised with them, and always point the finger away from themselves. It's never them, never their problems, never their issues. I am no longer their problem or concern.
Just one more that left AOL,
Auntie Lyn


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Blessings for Thanksgiving

Wow, where did the year go? It is amazing that it is already Thanksgiving, which as we all know, means Christmas is just around the corner. And all those shopping days that I think are available, aren't!

Kelly knows that something good is going on today. The house just smells toooo gooood. I am heading out to my sisters with the turkey and dressing about 1:30, and mom and daddy are bringing pie, Bob's Aunt Anna and Norm are bringing vegetables, DiAnna is making ham and potatoes, and Molly and Bruce (my oldest nephew and wife) are bringing appetizer and some vegs. My nephew Steve and his family will be there for dinner after all, their plans with her family got changed, and my niece Dee and her family will join us for dessert later in the evening after going to her in-laws to eat. I will get some pictures of before and after and post them on here later. For now... gota get busy and out of here.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Over at Saving Sanity's new home, Cat has published a list of those of us who have migrated from AOL to seek higher ground. There are 62 new addresses on that list so far. If you don't see your new home, or someone elses that you are aware of, please let her know. This could become something pretty impressive to pass along to the AOL god's. Plus, it is a pretty good way of keeping track of the migration.


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Because of You

What child growing up in the '50's and '60's did not at times awaken from sleep to the sounds of their parents fighting and yelling? In my case my daddy was threatening to leave and mommy would be telling him to go ahead, that we'd all be better off without him. Or sometimes I would come in from playing that evening and the arguing would still going on from that morning. When the arguing was over, mommy would tell me that it was just a threat, that daddy's and mom's say things that they don't really mean. I swore to myself that it would not happen in my family when I had one. I knew that I never wanted to feel that fear again... of going to school and not knowing if daddy would come home from work that night.

When Bob and I got married, his parents were more or less like mine as far as the arguing, but in his case, they would quit speaking to each other for weeks at a time. The first thing he told me as we got to know each other was that he never wanted to get so mad that we couldn't talk. I made him a promise that night that I would never do that to him. A few months into our marriage, things were tight money wise, and Bob had just been laid off his job. Tension was high, and an argument began. His words as he stormed out of the kitchen were ::"I'm getting the hell out of here!":: Everything stopped for that moment, and I told him of my fears when I was a child, of never knowing if my daddy would leave or not, of all the threats. He promised me that day, that he would never threaten anything he was not ready to finish. And he never did again.

I love my parents dearly, and even though I wouldn't have bet on it, they are still together after 62 years of marriage. The arguments have more or less stopped, instead they pick on each other. But every once in a while, my daddy has said, "I going to get the hell out of there and leave your mother." The last time he said it was a few years ago, and I finally told him how I felt as a child and how frightened I was. Then I told him, I don't ever want to hear it again! And I haven't. Now when they pick on each other, he just looks at me and winks.
All this was brought about by this song by Kelly Clarkson -- Because of You.

Because Of You
By Kelly Clarkson
CodesAndLyrics.com

Continuing the Saturday 6 tradition

Over at Patrick's Weekender, our friend Patrick (formerly of AOL J-land community) is continuing the Saturday Six tradition! It has been ages since I played any journal games, but I am eager to get back into things. Thanks Patrick for keeping J-land connected with each other. Here's my answers:

1. What was the last movie you watched at a theater completely alone? Would you have enjoyed it more or less if you had gone with someone to see it?
Never. I don't recall ever going to a movie theater alone. Matter of fact, it's been so long since I went to a theater, I'm not sure I would even know how to act.

2. What was the last non-sexual thing you did around the house completely naked?
Cleaned the bathroom.

3. How well do you know your neighbors? Would you like to know them better or not know them?
Living in a country setting, the neighbors aren't too awfully close, but I know that they're there. The neighbors to my left, just recently moved in, and I believe they are turning the place into a commune of some sort. Not just family, but many friends staying, lots of partying, and very secretive. They have cut down just about every tree since they moved there. My neighbor to the right, I know pretty well. That is until she lost her husband about 9 months ago. Her children did not think she should be there alone, and her son moved her grandson (age 23) and his girlfriend and their dogs into the home with her. Now it appears that it has turned to Redneck haven. Several super large 4 wheel drive trucks in various levels of disrepair dotting the yard, loud music until all hours of the night, squealing tires as they leave the driveway, and a beware of the dog slash owner (with a picture of a large gun pointed at you) sign on the chained gate. Poor Opal, I don't know how she is making it.

And for my second part of my answer... NO! I do not want to get to know them any better!

4. Take this quiz: How much of a conspiracy nut are you?
38% You are a little bit of a conspiracy nut. You know about the big conspiracies - but it doesn't take up too much of your time. You have accepted that people lie, and get away with everything - so you don't dwell on the loch ness monster too often.

5. Of the following "conspiracies" mentioned in that quiz, which single one would you most like the "truth" about and why?
I don't trust big pharmaceutical companies. Working in the medical profession for so many years has made me very suspicious of drugs, drug companies, and our physician's total reliance on them and what the drug companies are telling them.

6. If you had to create a slogan that defined your life, what would it be?
::LIFE:: It's what lies in the middle that counts! ::DEATH::

One more thought...

I am so very sorry that AOL just doesn't seem to get it.

It's not only the advertisements. It's not even the dysfunction. For me it's that after all these years (1996) I just don't matter any longer. My loyalty to a company who has had their share of problems, who have placated me with assurances of improved and better, have fallen so short of their promises. Like many other large corporations in this world, their answer seems to be, "like it or leave it, no skin off our nose". They are telling me that I am only a small pebble that makes up their mountain, but what they don't seem to understand is that it takes many of us pebbles to make that mountain.

They are proving to me that I don't matter. They are telling me that all of us who pay AOL for service, don't really matter. They own the space, and they apparently feel that it is their right to decorate it how ever they want to, and as a renter, I have to put up with it or leave.

For many years, I leased a vehicle. Thank God that Ford Motor Corporation did not adopt AOL's point of view, or I would have been driving a banner that flashed, "Ford -- Built for the Road Ahead" or some other crap. As it is, I do not leave the dealer advertisement on my vehicle when I purchase one. I request that the dealers name/plate be removed, and if it leaves any hole where it has been riveted on, I will not accept the car and will go to another dealer.

By not responding to my emails, or my comments, or my calls, AOL is saying to me... "Go ahead and complain Auntie Lyn, you don't matter! Leave if you don't like it! You will not be missed! There are 10 more Auntie Lyn's out there to take your place." I know where I'm not wanted or needed, so... So long guys!

Hope you choke on your precious ads, and the disrespect you have treated the whole J-land community with sits like a knot in your gut.
This Auntie is out of here!

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11/19/05 One more thought

Saturday, November 19, 2005

One more thought

I am so very sorry that AOL just doesn't seem to get it.

It's not only the advertisements. It's not even the dysfunction. For me it's that after all these years (1996) I just don't matter any longer. My loyalty to a company who has had their share of problems, who have placated me with assurances of improved and better, have fallen so short of their promises. Like many other large corporations in this world, their answer seems to be, "like it or leave it, no skin off our nose". They are telling me that I am only a small pebble that makes up their mountain, but what they don't seem to understand is that it takes many of us pebbles to make that mountain.

They are proving to me that I don't matter. They are telling me that all of us who pay AOL for service, don't really matter. They own the space, and they apparently feel that it is their right to decorate it how ever they want to, and as a renter, I have to put up with it or leave.

For many years, I leased a vehicle. Thank God that Ford Motor Corporation did not adopt AOL's point of view, or I would have been driving a banner that flashed, "Ford -- Built for the Road Ahead" or some other crap. As it is, I do not leave the dealer advertisement on my vehicle when I purchase one. I request that the dealers name/plate be removed, and if it leaves any hole where it has been riveted on, I will not accept the car and will go to another dealer.

By not responding to my emails, or my comments, or my calls, AOL is saying to me... "Go ahead and complain Auntie Lyn, you don't matter! Leave if you don't like it! You will not be missed! There are 10 more Auntie Lyn's out there to take your place." I know where I'm not wanted or needed, so... So long guys!

Hope you choke on your precious ads, and the disrespect you have treated the whole J-land community with sits like a knot in your gut.
This Auntie is out of here!

I am posting this to my new home...
lynda's lullaby 2


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lab2401 at 10:33:00 AM EST Link to this entry

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Lyn, wonderfully written!
Hugs,
V
Comment from deabvt - 11/20/05 11:49 AM

AOL may own the space (or more specifically, the software and the servers that make the space available to you at a premium price) but they do not own your thoughts, your ideas, your words--and that is what makes the space valuable and saleable to advertisers. I question whether it is even legal for AOL to sell those things (because that's what they are doing) without your agreement. Since they are not paying you for them, I don't see how they can be their property to sell.
Comment from elleme2 - 11/19/05 4:13 PM


It couldn't have been said better, Auntie Lyn.

For many of us, it's not the ads alone that is the problem; it's the long string of straws they've hurled at us, and it just so happens that the ads happen to be -- literally -- the last one.

Patrick
http://patricks-place.blogspot.com/
Comment from pattboy92 - 11/19/05 4:10 PM

Well said.

Peace, Virginia
Comment from ecori - 11/19/05 11:10 AM

Work Rant

WORK::
Work has been trying at best. I can remember when I thought that getting home care onto computers would be the answer to all our problems ... but now I'm having other thoughts since it finally happened. Why is it that just because we are on the computers and they discovered that they can get more detailed information, that now all of a sudden it's necessary to have every little nit picking bit?!? And God forbid if you don't have every piece in place with every i dotted and every t crossed almost as soon as the visit is completed!

When you are seeing a patient at home, and there is a nurse, a home health aid, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, and a speech therapist, and you all make a visit on the same day, why please tell me why, do each of us have to take vitals???? And now that we are all paperless, lets get a few extra forms in just in case we may need them later. How many places do you need to write down that the patient performed this and that exercise for this many times and this many reps with this tolerance to activity. The main note is not enough, no... add an outcome note, and an intervention note to include the same information. Lets get it in there at least 3 different places! You never know when someone is going to ask for something else. They can't even make up their minds what they want from 1 week to the next. It's enough to make this Auntie cry!

Enough of work! It's Friday night, and I am battling a cold. First time I have tried Cold-Eeze, and AirBorne and I believe I feel better tonight than I did earlier today. Hopefully it will cut down on the number of days of feeling yucky.

Just heard on the news that tropical storm Gamma is headed for south Florida! Lets hope it stays a TS and doesn't turn into another hurricane, and that it hits some cooler air and falls apart. I think there have been more than enough hurricanes the past 2 years!

Well, enough for tonight, time to call it a day. Wish that AOL would finally get their act together and give us what we pay for. Oh well, guess I better get used to all this.

Nite all, Auntie Lyn

11/16/05 Coporate Greed

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Corporate Greed

Wouldn't you know, I get the urge and AOL shows their ass!
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lab2401 at 12:11:00 AM EST Link to this entry

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AMEN!
Comment from sherm197 - 11/16/05 11:23 AM

11/16/05 Coporate Greed

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Corporate Greed

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lab2401 at 12:00:00 AM EST Link to this entry

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Moving Day

Today is moving day from AO-Hel-L. I would imagine there is all sorts of rumblings in the woodwork today. I finally make a effort to update my journal over there and they throw a monkey wrench into the picture. What the hell is up with the advertisements on the top of the journals?? As if we don't already pay enough for our service with them, then they are lusting for more from the advertisers! Looking better and better to leave AOL for good come the end of the year. Just too many hassles with too few benefits to stay. Well, I will organize my thoughts and attempt to journal competently later. Thanks AOL! just give me time to get my stuff together and I will be gone.

11/15/05 How to go about it

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

How to go about it

Feeling the need to begin this journal again. I continue to read some of my favorites, but have not had the inclination to write in so many, many months. For some reason, I feel a push today.

Life has been quiet since my last post. I have slowly adjusted to not running to be at the nursing home 3 or 4 days a week now. I miss Sadie, but would not wish her back for all the tea in China. I am slowly getting her stuff sorted, and will send her personal stuff to her niece. It has taken me a while to get the task done.

"All the tea in China"... I wonder how that little saying got started? It reminds me of the many sayings and rhymes I have picked up from my grandmother and my mother. Things like these - "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride."; and "Everyone to their own taste, said the old lady as she kissed the cow."; and "Everyone is crazy except Thee and Me, and sometimes I have my doubts about Thee!". I have some really wild rhymes and ditty's from my mother-in-law, but most of those are pretty rank. She was never known to hold back, when a thought hit her brain, her mouth opened and out it popped. Things like the poem below would just roll out of her.
"O my gosh almighty!
A mouse crawled up my nighty!
He bit my tit, and made me shit,
No wonder I'm so flighty!"

I think I am going to make a point of writing them all down when I think of them. There is one that rhymes with pink pink, and every time I hear the word pink it pops into my head. Bob was good at song parody. There are a few songs that when the music starts, his words come into my head and not the real words of the song. "Out in the west Texas town of El Paso, ..." Better not go there.

Well, enough garbage for now.


Cute little porcupine babies only a mother could love...



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