POSITIVE VIEW OF LIFE - After birthdays

As all of you know, there have been several birthdays going on these past few weeks and in the weeks to come. It started me to thinking about all the things that were positive in my life as it pertains to "another" birthday. I will share a few of these things with you:

I am happy and blessed to have another year as I am not through being a "thorn" in my cubs' flesh yet. I figure that is the least I can do.

If there is a little too much dust in the house, instead of saying something tacky, the cubs say,"you know its hard to see all the dust when your eyes begin to age".

If I put on a little (okay maybe a lot) weight instead of saying, "Boy is she letting herself go, they say, "you know, for her age, she looks pretty good.

The days that I am just plain out of sorts instead of taking it personal, they say, "poor thing, her arthritis must be acting up".

The cashiers no longer have to be reminded that I am a senior citizen, they just automatically give the discount.

Even the IRS gives extra deductions.

Another plus is it doesn't matter if I get off the track, its kind of nice not to have to outrun the train.

So as I count my many blessings, I will gracefully welcome my upcoming special day with a thankful heart.

Rain, Rain don't go away

We are receiving some very much needed rain. It rained most of the day yesterday in a slow soaking manner that does so much good.

Hope all had a cheerful weekend. The Alien and I took off Friday and just goofed around. We drove to a nearby town and ate at the Crackerbarrel, my most favorite place. Then on to Lowes where we checked out every aisle. Deliver me from the malls, just take me to a home improvement store and its like Xmas.

The little great cubette was in true form yesterday at Church. She had to sit in Grammy's lap during Church. She was so good and quiet "until" she put her finger close to my mouth and I just barely touched it with my teeth and in this very clear distinct voice she said, "Grammy don't bite me". Needless to say, Grammy just cracked up. We didn't cause much of a disturbance, hee hee

So far, this appears to be a fairly routine week. I hope to get back on track with my neck adjustments, Casper goes to the beauty shop, Alien's big play day at work is over, Cub's games are finished so MAYBE - what is that old saying, "the best laid plans of mice and men".

Have a happy and peaceful week.

Update

Short note to update you on Ztuffy. He is much improved and has gone home. Still has some recuperation ahead but is on the way.

Back and Forth; Up and Down; Around and Around

This pretty much describes our activities these days. We are experiencing sadness as my older sibling's husband has lost both of his sisters in the past week. The last funeral is tomorrow. She was just 72 while the other was a little older, 82. These two troopers are handling it in their usual heroic manner. They are simply amazing people.

We are missing our Gerbeans and Mrs. Gerbeans. I never realized just how much comfort it was in knowing they were close. I imagine that is one thing that makes them appreciate being out on the open road, lol.

Well Ztuffy is having some difficult days right now. It seems he is in the VA hospital detoxing and is very ill this time. He has been very incoherent and they have had him on a heart monitor. I had my airline tickets to go up today and his significant other convinced me that he was probably going home today. Needless to say, I was more than a little frustrated when in talking with his head nurse today I hear that he is too ill to even consider being discharged. The situation with the miscommunication with this significant other is getting to be a problem. I am not sure what is going on. We plan to drive up this weekend if he is still in the hospital. I have called him several times but he doesn't usually make any sense. I asked the nurse if he was medicated and she said, "no it is just that he is very sick and is inconherent most of the time". Just remember him in your prayers.

Our cub is finishing up her softball season this week. They have been playing several games a week and were in a tournament last weekend. We enjoy the games. We take our folding chairs and sit in the shade and cheer for the home team and visit the concession stand, lol.

My Alien's big day at work is tomorrow. He is in charge of the big employee appreciation day again this year. His theme is the old west and he has mock building fronts depicting Dodge City, has some gun fighters that will stage a gun fight around lunch time. He remembered to tell the police that it wouldn't be real so they wouldn't come and shoot I know it will be very successful. They have thousands of dollars in prizes, free food and entertainment for the employees and he has coordinated all of it.

I have to get back on track with my neck adjustments. Hope I have not lost all the progress I had made.

Casper is doing fine and has a beauty appt on Monday. He has decided that his favorite place on our bed to sleep is on my feet or up against my back.

Well on to bed for me. See you

!!!!!!BIRTHDAYS!!!!!!

Birthdays, who needs them? Stupid question huh? Isn't it strange how the cycle works. When we are young, birthdays mean lots of toys, cake, ice cream and parties. As we reach the teenage years, it means being able to drive, acne, and scores of other things. By the time my age is reached it means "Hey, I get discounts " as a senior citizen. Unfortunately, we also get the aches and pains that go along with that discount.

As is my usual nosy nature, I did some reading on just how all this hoopla got started and will share a little with you. So sit back, get you a cup of coffee and come along.

Traditions from Around the World:

How Birthdays Came About

Thousands of years ago birthdays were considered a time when the bad spirits as opposed to the good spirits were able to harm you as this day changed a person's life. It was believed that the only way to keep the bad spirits at bay was to have your friends and family around you so that their good wishes and present giving would keep them at bay.

Also noisemakers are thought to be used at parties as a way of scaring away the evil spirits.

The custom of lighting candles originated with people believing that the gods lived in the sky and by lighting candles and torches they were sending a signal or prayer to the gods so they they could be answered. When you blow out the candles and make a wish this is another way of sending a signal and a message.

The birthday Bible story that we know best is about the birth of the Christ in Bethlehem. For nearly 2,000 years since that day, the Christian world has honored this birth. The day we all celebrate, is of course, Christmas.

There are other biblical references to birthday party's. King Pharaoh celebrated his birthday by making a feast for his court followers. That was over 4,000 years ago. The story of King Herod tells that on his birthday he made a supper for his lords, high captains and other special friends in Galilee.

Since I am aware that the mind can't absorb more than the booty can endure, I will finish this rhetoric next year at birthday time.

"Sad Life"

Did you ever read the life of Robert Frost? He seemed to be a restless one with lots of relocating and changing of employment. There was obviously mental illness in his maternal family as well as Frost himself experiencing hearing voices, etc. He went on to bear children who also had emotional issues with one son committing suicide. I wonder if any of these influences were responsible for some of his poetry. It is interesting to me to see other people's lives and how the routine act of living and being affect what they do with their future. I am sharing one of his poems with you:

RELUCTANCE

by: Robert Frost

Out through the fields and the woods

And over the walls I have wended;

I have climbed the hills of view

And looked at the world, and descended;

I have come by the highway home,

And lo, it is ended.

The leaves are all dead on the ground, Save those that the oak is keeping

To ravel them one by one

And let them go scraping and creeping

Out over the crusted snow, When others are sleeping.

And the dead leaves lie huddled and still,

No longer blown hither and thither;

The last lone aster is gone;

The flowers of the witch-hazel wither;

The heart is still aching to seek,

but the feet question 'Whither?' Ah, when to the heart of man

Was it ever less than a treason

To go with the drift of things,

To yield with a grace to reason,

And bow and accept the end Of a love or a season?

"ANTIQUATED LAWS?"

One thing I find very interesting is all the antiquated laws that are still on the books. Often I wonder why there isn't somebody that periodically goes through and recommends an update of our laws.

For instance, in Oklahoma, did you know that it is against the law to wrestle a bear, duel, trip a horse, eavesdrop with intention to do harm, use obscene language in front of women ,and children under the age of 10, purchase a dead body (now that one is really wild) and too many others to list.

We Okies are not alone though as lots of other states have similar outdated laws. In Washington, it is against the law for a salesperson to X-ray a foot and another one is if a motorist enters town with criminal intentions, they must call the police chief as they enter town.

North Caroline allows lawsuits if one spouse is lured away from another person. It is called allienation of affection.

Wyoming does not allow you to shoot a fish. Now that bothers me, sometimes that might be the only way to get one if they won't bite my hook.

It might be interesting just to know about the different states and what they allow or don't allow. I should say enforce or don't enforce.

Hey at least I am not on the Pluto bandwagon today, hehe

So I Lied

Pluto remains a planet for Myanmar's leading astrologers and Aylaoftheclan. Who would have thought we would be so involved in Pluto?

The Associated PressMONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2006-->Published: September 4, 2006

YANGON, Myanmar Myanmar's leading astrologers say they still consider Pluto a planet, despite what scientists elsewhere in the world have decided, a newsweekly said Monday.
"Pluto has been traditionally defined as a planet in astrology, and it will retain that status," U Tiun Lin, president of the Myanmar Astrologers Association was quoted as saying in the Myanmar Times.
Scientists at the International Astronomical Union met in Prague last week and voted to strip Pluto of its status as a planet, saying that a planet must orbit the sun and be large enough to assume a nearly round shape. The decision downsized the solar system to eight planets from the traditional nine.

"Those scientists can decide what they like, but we will continue to recognize Pluto's important role in the solar system and we will continue to consider it in our calculations as we always have," U Tun Lin said. "It is far from Earth and has a very wide orbit, which means it is too weak to influence predictions for individuals but does have the power to influence long-term predictions about bigger events."

Astrology is widely followed in Myanmar, as it is in many Asian countries, and people regularly consult astrologers.

The news report quoted other well-known astrologers saying they too will continue to call Pluto a planet.

"Pluto plays an important role in predicting the future of nations, so it has a powerful status. We can't erase the traditional ways, just as we can't change the essence of religious teachings whenever we like," said Than Htay, vice president of the Myanmar Astrology Research Bureau.

Myanmar astrologers classify planets according to their color, size, number of rings, orbit period and axial tilt to determine how they influence the future of individuals or institutions, the Myanmar Times said.

YANGON, Myanmar Myanmar's leading astrologers say they still consider Pluto a planet, despite what scientists elsewhere in the world have decided, a newsweekly said Monday.

"Pluto has been traditionally defined as a planet in astrology, and it will retain that status," U Tiun Lin, president of the Myanmar Astrologers Association was quoted as saying in the Myanmar Times.

Scientists at the International Astronomical Union met in Prague last week and voted to strip Pluto of its status as a planet, saying that a planet must orbit the sun and be large enough to assume a nearly round shape. The decision downsized the solar system to eight planets from the traditional nine.

"Those scientists can decide what they like, but we will continue to recognize Pluto's important role in the solar system and we will continue to consider it in our calculations as we always have," U Tun Lin said. "It is far from Earth and has a very wide orbit, which means it is too weak to influence predictions for individuals but does have the power to influence long-term predictions about bigger events."

Frivolous Ramblings

Nothing intellectual going on here today just lots and lots of the ordinary stuff. I have an adjustment on my neck this morning in Holdenville (43 miles away). Good news on that front. When I started these adjustments (four adjustments ago) my neck was 90% out of alignment. Last visit it was only 50% out so we are definitely making progress.

The cub's ballgame was rained out this week. If the game had been at Latta we would have gladly welcomed the rain; however, it was in Tupelo and as usual the rain missed us. Papa bear took the cub to the batting cage last weekend and also spent considerable time playing catch in the back yard.

Speaking of the cub, it is amazing what losing TV for a spell when a bad grade is brought home in science can do. Suddenly, this grade shot up to a B. Poor cub, Mama bear has Edline on the computer and she can access the grades on a daily basis if need be.

Hope all have plans or plans to have no plans for this upcoming holiday. We plan to put a partition around Papa bears work (junk) area in the play room thus eliminating the need for the curtains and allowing us a more defined area.

I was amused at my older sibling's frustration yesterday. She told me that she complained to her doctor (she was there for a routine ck up) about getting tired so much. When I asked her if she told him that she worked cattle all day, helped with great grandkids, plus being 69 years old that might contribute to this, she seemed shocked. That shouldn't matter.

Well guess what! I started my Xmas shopping this week. Don't know why though since we are making such drastic cuts in our expenditures this year. Bottom line is I just like to think about that special time. I am already thinking of good things to cook. Did you know its only 115 days til Xmas?

See you later - Casper sends his regards.