Many have asked what does that heart picture look like … so here it is. My mothers 9 grandchildren sending her love on her 80th birthday.
In birth order:
Joseph, Natalie and husband Shaun, Laura, Jessica, Philip, Michael, Emma, Hope and James.
Oh … and then there are the grandpups too!
Enjoy!
My cousin Leigh sent me an email today from her friend Nita. It is so easy to buy American if we just …THINK. Here is what she wrote:
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In case you’re not already doing this.
A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn’t slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind… Good idea . . . one light bulb at a time . . . .
I was in Lowes the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments. They were all made in China. The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA. Start looking.
In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else – even his or her job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track. Let’s get behind her!
My grandson likes Hershey’s candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more. My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico now. I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything.
This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60 W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, “Everyday Value”. I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats – they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in – get ready for this – the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio.
So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here.
So on to another aisle – Bounce Dryer Sheets . . . yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!
My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA – the job you save may be your own or your neighbors.
If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies
(We should have awakened a decade ago . . . )
Let’s get with the program . . . help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the U . S . A .
Sounds like a good idea to me.
Let’s pay homage to the hardest working woman in the world … MOM …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxTSNwQUtVM
It has been a busy few days. The body found in Sherman was positively identified as Cynthia. For her husband Allen, family and friends the news was bittersweet. The knowledge that she has been found instead of wondering for days, weeks or years will help us all to move thru our grief.
Cynthia and Allen had a home in both Dallas and Austin. Cynthia loved Dallas and she equally loved Austin and the Hill County. And, since each of their homes had its unique set of friends, co-workers and family, there will be two memorial services for Cynthia. Arrangements for the Austin memorial service are pending. The service in the Dallas area will be on Wednesday.
She was loved dearly. This one moment does not define her life. Those whose lives have been touched by Cynthia know this and will always be blessed to have had her in their lives.
Many of you may know that my dear friend is missing. She disappeared without a trace in Dallas 8 days ago, Monday April 6th. The Dallas Police have no new leads at this time. It is like she has vanished into thin air.
CYNTHIA THRAILKILL RAY
Age 54 Silver Gray Hair Blue Eyes 5’5” 110#
Car: 2001 Honda Accord SUV
Personalized TEXAS Tags “IXIA”
If you have any information about Cynthia Ray, contact the Austin Police or Missing Persons Detective C’Mon Wingo at 214-671-4248 or call the Dallas police Special Investigations Unit at 214-671-3661.
Since Cynthia is a dual resident of Austin and Dallas the local stations have taken an interest in her story. On Tuesday night, KEYE TV in Austin ran this human interest story with Allen and good friend Jack Gilmore and on Wednesday night, KXAN TV produced a story with additional information from her sister Kay.
Do you know what the Lipstick Index is? During the last recession and an upheaval in economic times women would wear red lipstick. Who knows why … maybe the bright color would cheer them up.
However, the tidbit that I find interesting is that when you are STRESSED you should eat DESSERTS. Why? Because Stressed spelled backwards is … drum roll please … DESSERTS … !!!
Forget the lipstick … what is your favorite dessert?
I have mine picked out … More on my latest discovery another day ;-)
Just leave it up to Google to come up with something like this! I tried it and it works!
Here’s a number worth putting in your cell phone, or your home phone speed dial: 1-800-goog411. This is an awesome service from Google, and it’s free — great when you are on the road.
Don’t waste your money on information calls and don’t waste your time manually dialing the number. I am driving along in my car and I need to call the golf course and I don’t know the number. I hit the speed dial for information that I have programmed.
The voice at the other end says, “City & State.”
I say, “Garland, Texas.”
He says, ”Business, Name or Type of Service.”
I say, Firewheel Golf Course.”
He says, ”Connecting” and Firewheel answers the phone.
How great is that? This is nationwide and it is absolutely FREE!
Click on the link below and watch the short clip for a quick demonstration.
My in-laws came and spent the night with us at the lake this week because Tyler and his family came to visit before Savannah was off her maternity leave. We celebrated Tyler’s 30th birthday (Feb 16) and Austin’s 2 month birthday. Victoria and her family spent the night too. So we had our first full house since the remodel.
Martha was was sharing a tip that makes sense to me. When your hair has static in it, take a dryer sheet and rub it over your hair and the static is gone! I think I will put one in my travel bag of tricks so that I have one on hand. I will also try that with pants that get static cling when I don’t have an can of hairspray. I use a pump spray now.
Let me know if you have done this and what your results have been.
and … Happy Birthday Daddy … 75 years young today!
Violinist (Joshua Bell) in the Metro
From The Effective Club
A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by and a middle-aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.
A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.
A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3-year-old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats averaged $100.
Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, on one of the finest instruments in the world – how many other things are we missing?
After serious & cautious consideration . . .
Your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2009!
It was a very hard decision to make. So try not to screw it up!!!
My Wish for You in 2009
May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires, and may happiness slap you across the face, and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had, forget your home address!
In simple words . . .
May 2009 be the best year of your life!!!
It is up to you to attract what you want … ACTION is the secret!
Dream it! Believe it! Do it!
