Making lemonade out of lemon type of a day

The King's new hobby.....ice fishing...

Merry Christmas

I hate to repeat myself...but this poem says it
oh, so much better than I. I found it on a card
sent to me 3 years ago... it is the best I have
ever found. So here you are, the wise words of
George A. Gladden Sr

MY CHRISTMAS CARD LIST
I have a list of folks I know,
all written in a book,
And every year when Christmas comes,
I go and take a look.

That is when I realize these names are all a part,
not of the book they're written in,
but of my very heart.

For each name stands for someone
who has crossed my path sometime,
And in that meeting they've become
the rhythm in each rhyme.

While it may sound fantastic
for me to make this claim,
I really feel that I'm composed
of each remembered name.

And while you may not be aware
of any special link.
Just meeting you has changed my life
much more than you think.

For once I've met somebody,
the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word
or of a friendly face.

So, never think my Christmas cards
are just a mere routine
Of names upon a Christmas list,
forgotten in between.

For when I send a Christmas card
that is addressed to you,
It's because you're on the list
of folks I'm endeared to.

For I am but a total of the many folks I've met,
And you happen to be one of those
I prefer not to forget.

Whether I have known you
for many years or few,
In some way you have had a part
in shaping things I do.

And every year when Christmas comes
I realize a new,
The best gift life can offer
is meeting folks like you.

So may the spirit of Christmas
that forevermore endures,
Leave its richest blessing
in the hearts of you and yours.

My Christmas Card List
written by George A. Gladden, Sr.
and once again...
I wish you all.... my dear readers...
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS........

I am going to be having some computer
work done tomorrow or the next... so will
be back after Christmas....

THANK YOU NOTES?

When you are given a gift, do you write a thank you note?
Do you call instead? Or do you sit down and write out a
thank you note and mail it?
Or being we are more into internet, do you sent an email?
Or is just saying thank you, at the time the gift is given
to you, enough?

The Emily Post correctness is you write a note of thanks.
Not just a card, but to actually write a note of thanks and
how much you appreciate it. She would never go for the
email thank you note.

I know I was required, even as a small child, to write a note of thanks.
I also trained my children to write a note of thanks when it was a gift
sent to them. If they were hand given, then I let them off with just saying
thank you. Which they usually did on their own.

My own deal is... I just say thank you to the person as it is given.
If they mail one to me, then I either call, (because I think a phone call
is just as personal) or write a note.

If we are at a group gathering such as Christmas time, I say thank you,
as I open it and see it... and then before I leave the gathering, I go over
and tell the giver, thank you again.

So what is your procedure and what do you have your children do.
Do you write a note? Or is this a lost art?

One of those days...

with the overcast day, where all you see is rain and clouds... this is the best way to
spend the day...especially on a weekend.

Looking at a gift horse in the mouth...

Did you or do you get a gift for Christmas from
your employer?

I know some get bonuses..ranging from $25 to
maybe up to a thousand or so. Some of us....
got a turkey.

For 10 years we use to get a turkey.
We referred to it as a glove box turkey,
as they were so small. About 10 pounds
or less.

The last couple of years that I worked we
had a new owner, and we got a $25 gift
card for Wal-Mart. Which was listed on
our payroll statement as a gift and then
the taxes were deducted for it. Meaning
we got $22.

Most of us where ok with the turkey or the
gift card, until we found out that our boss
got $500 or more. Kind of damping the feeling,
when you know you literally busted your back
lifting, getting thrown up on, cussed out, and
kept the place going thru sickness as well as
health. But that is the way things go... so
I guess one shouldn't look a gift horse in the
mouth.

Voting for Obama...a year later...

Here we are a year later... and how do I feel about voting for Obama?

I know a lot of people will say I am naive, but I am still ok with voting
for Obama. Considering the choices given, I still glad I voted for him.

While there are somethings that I wish he handled better, and I am
not really happy with his choices of cabinet, still I am ok with it.

I think he brings class to the office. And yes, I think of John Kennedy
when I see the family pictures of him and his family.

Maybe I am not so upset as others is because I don't blame him for
a lot, that others do. I am also willing to wait and see what happens.

A lot of people are ready to criticize before he even finishes what he
has in mind. I also feel it takes a lot of time for things to change.
He was handed a big mess, like it or not, Bush people. A bigger
mess than either Obama or Biden even thought.

And probably I give him a pass because I understand the 101 of
government.... that being the President isn't really in charge of our
laws and rules... Congress is. Remember what I told you before.
ANY President who has brought an idea or bill to Congress, is
at their mercy. They can dump it on the floor right away. They
can table it, or they can run it thru and vote it out. So where does
he have control of it? Then Congress can come up with what ever
they please, run it thru if they get it out of committee, and send it
to the President. He can veto it....but ... Congress has another
shot at it... they get 2/3rds to override the veto... and it becomes
law anyway. Where does he have control over that?

President is a person who TRIES to do what he thinks is best,
CONGRESS decides if that is good or not. Other than that,
he is the one who is the head of the country for other countries to
meet with, as well as our Secretary of State.

So I don't get angry at the President, I get angry at CONGRESS.
And the worse of it all is .... as an Idahoian, I get upset with states,
such a California who send us the such horrible people, who have
been there long enough to make it miserable for us. That is where
limits would be good...as we can't vote the bums out.

So I still feel ok with my vote, and sometimes wonder about those
who lost, what they would have done that they think is better. And
being one of them is still in Congress, why didn't he come up with a
better idea for the health bill and etc.? After all, Obama said months
ago, he was open for suggestions.

So do I still have HOPE????? Yes.

Oh, the weather outside is delightful?

They say that pictures say a thousand words....

and in this case that is true... so here is outside,

and Misty burrowing in among the wash just out

of the dryer.....

The Written Word...

When I was in high school in the 1950's,
a girlfriend and I got caught passing notes.
Of which, my girlfriend being the one who
had the note at the time, was made to stand
up and read what was in the note....all of it.
Meaning my words as well as her own.

I don't recall what we were writing about, but
it wasn't good for it to be announced to all.
Nothing horrible by today's standards but not
good, never the less.
It was quite embarrassing for us teens ..

From that I learn... NEVER EVER, EVER, EVER
WRITE DOWN ANYTHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT
EVERYONE TO READ. Treat all notes, letters, and
etc. as if you are writing for a newspaper for all to read.
It has served me well.

So when I hear about how emails, text messages, even
voice messages are used against people....and then they
think it is private, I got to ask... WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

Of all things, email, text messages and voice messages
are pretty much open for any who can access it and many
do. One way or another. And if you are famous? Well, expect
those messages, either written or voiced, to be on national
news. Because there is 98% it will.

Again, the lesson of 50 years ago...
NEVER EVER,EVER, EVER, WRITE DOWN ANYTHING,
THAT YOU DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO READ.
It is a hard lesson, of which Tiger Woods and many others
have found out, but do they learn.. we will see.

Driving in the snow

98% OF AMERICANS SAY 'OH SHIT' BEFORE
GOING IN THE DITCH ON A SLIPPERY ROAD.

THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM IDAHO,

AND THEY SAY HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS!!!
-- Always try to be positive!!

latest email

HOW COLD IS IT?

How cold is it? Too damn cold...
We have had wake up temps ranging
from 0 to 5 and warming up to 12 to 17
during the day. As late as 11am we have
seen the single digit.

And then... then they add in the WIND CHILL FACTOR!
You can have 3 and with wind chill factor it can be
-20 depending on how windy it is... and we have had
from 5 to 47 mph winds. So you can see we are
fighting stinging faces, hands and etc.

I realize they add in the WIND CHILL FACTOR
for our protection.. but in my book there is the
cold, Idaho cold and DAMN IT IS FLAMING COLD.

I don't go out in DAMN IT IS FLAMING COLD.
For those of you die heart wind chill people, that
is anything below -10 in my book.