Darlene

Test results: Are you running for president? You clearly know a great deal about United States Culture. You got 11/14 correct. Excuse me while I pat myself on the back! (I have to get my exercise somehow, you know!) While I did well on that test, I didn't do as well on this one. I only got 8/12 correct. State Flags test ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother."

Twi- Get home??? What did I miss???

Mooooooooooooooooooooooooove over! It's time to let the cat out of the bag! My furbaby is a choc-lab/pointer mix, and she is beautiful!!! Pasadeena is almost 4 months old now, and due to be spayed pretty soon, but not until she is over this owie. Took her back to the vet today for a bandage change. The wound isn't totally closed yet, and she still has the stitches in, but the doc says it is healing nicely. Her first bandage was bright pink, the new one is lime green. The pink one looked better on her-the green clashes with her 3 shades of brown!!! If my dd ever finds the cord that came with her camera, I might be able to take and upload a pic. ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother."

Thank you everyone, and you're right, my wallet took a big beating (Donations gladly accepted!!! ) $90 emergency visit $45 anastesia -- overnight stay -- Nursing care -- stitches -- bandages -- medicine -- etc $341+ owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

....this is what she looks like! Well, almost! Her leg is all wrapped, but she didn't break a bone--she cut herself out in the yard somehow--probably trying to get back into the yard through the fence. That "little owie" cost BIG BUCKS though. Over $300 ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother." [This message has been edited by Midnightmom (edited January 01, 2003).] [This message has been edited by Midnightmom (edited January 01, 2003).]

BOOKENDS! Happy New Year from the west coast.

Oh boy!!!! 'Fanciful' ice sculptures to play with!!! Since they're "nestle(d) among the mints, nuts, and candies" they must be pretty small......Anybody wanna play Chess?????? It's gotta be a quick game, or the kings are liable to melt and then we'll have to call it a "draw"!!!!!! ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother."

The four calling birds are the 4 gospels , so say hi to Matthew, Mark, Luke ,and John. (Don't worry-they're not party poopers!

Found the original source of the story. http://waltonfeed.com/self/email/christ.html It's on the Walton Feed website. Click on Info Area on the main page, then e-mail we get. Select Heart Warmers, and then click on "A Christmas Story." Voila! (Or, just click on the link above to go directly there ) Actually, this story is ALL OVER the web! It took some doing, but I finally chased down the REAL origin. Here ya go: A Christmas Prayer by Anderson, Rian B. ISBN 1577349008 October 1, 2001 Published by Covenant Communications Paperback [This message has been edited by Midnightmom (edited December 25, 2002).] [This message has been edited by Midnightmom (edited December 25, 2002).]

You forgot the MOST important dish of this here feast, so I brought it! I hope everybody likes lasagna!!! Several years ago I went on a turkey strike-I refused to cook 2 full turkey dinners within a month of each other (especially since we still had leftovers from the first one when it was time to cook the second!), so, being Italian (at least 1/4!), I decided to start MY OWN tradition. The kids love it, and so do I. However, it took my dh a few years to "accept" the new tradition. He finally did. Oh, yes. Can't forget the garlic bread. NO! No, Dar! You're not supposed to wear the garlic around your neck!!!!!!!!!!! Stand back everyone. ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother."

"A Christmas Story" by Rian B. Anderson Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving. It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted so bad that year for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible. So after supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what. Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up the big sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high sideboards on. When we had exchanged the sideboards Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood---the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" "You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what? "Yeah," I said, "why?" "I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. "Shoes. They're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy." We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us. It shouldn't have been our concern. We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt. Could we come in for a bit?" Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp. "We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children---sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out. "We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said, then he turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring enough in to last for a while. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and, much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks and so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy filled my soul that I'd never known before. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people. I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord himself has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us." In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it. Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes. Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their pa, and I was glad that I still had mine. At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two older brothers and two older sisters were all married and had moved away. Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, "'May the Lord bless you,' I know for certain that He will." Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that. But on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. So, Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand." I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Just then the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children. For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life. ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother."

A hearty welcome back to those of you who have returned to post their condolances. Please stay around-after all- you ARE registered now! ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother."

I just checked in and am as shocked as the rest of you! I just penned a note to Peg and reminded her that MrsS is FAMILY! Time to stick together. ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother."

Finals and final projects are finally over! Now I have time to breathe ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother."

...Legal Version LOL! Author Unknown Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain improved piece of real property (hereinafter "the House") a general lack of stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to, a mouse. A variety of foot apparel, e.g., stocking, socks, etc., had been affixed by and around the chimney in said House in the hope and/or belief that St. Nick AKA/St. Nicholas AKA Santa Claus (hereinafter "Claus") would arrive at sometime thereafter. The minor residents, i.e., the children, of the aforementioned House, were located in their individual beds and were engaged in nocturnal hallucinations, i.e., dreams, wherein visions of confectionery treats, including, but not limited to, candies, nuts and/or sugar plums, did dance, cavort, and otherwise appear in said dreams. Whereupon the party of the first part (sometimes hereinafter referred to as "I"), being the joint-owner in fee simple of the House with the parts of the second part (hereinafter "Mamma"), and said Mamma had retired for a sustained period of sleep. (At such time, the parties were clad in various forms of headgear, e.g., kerchief and cap.) Suddenly, and without prior notice or warning, there did occur upon the unimproved real property adjacent and apparent to said House, i.e., the lawn, a certain disruption of unknown nature, cause, and/or circumstance. The party of the first part did immediately rush to a window in the House to investigate the cause of such disturbance. At that time, the party of the first part did observe, with some degree of wonder and/or disbelief, a miniature sleigh (hereinafter the "Vehicle") being pulled and/or drawn very rapidly through the air by approximately eight (8) reindeer. The driver of the Vehicle appeared to be and in fact was, the previously referenced Claus. Said Claus was providing specific direction, instruction and guidance to the approximately eight (8) reindeer and specifically identified the animal co-conspirators by name: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen (hereinafter the "Deer"). (Upon information and belief, it is further asserted that an additional co-conspirator named Rudolph may have been involved.) The party of the first part witnessed Claus, the Vehicle and the Deer intentionally and willfully trespass upon the roofs of several residences located adjacent to and in the vicinity of the House, and noted that the Vehicle was heavily laden with packages, toys, and other items of unknown origin or nature. Suddenly, without prior invitation or permission, either express or implied, the Vehicle arrived at the House, and Claus entered said House via the chimney. Said Claus was clad in a red fur suit, which was partially covered with residue from the chimney, and he carried a large sack containing a portion of the aforementioned packages, toys, and other unknown items. He was smoking what appeared to be tobacco in a small pipe in blatant violation of local ordinances and health regulations. Claus did not speak, but immediately began to fill the stocking of the minor children, which hung adjacent to the chimney, with toys and other small gifts. (Said items did not, however, constitute "gifts" to said minor pursuant to the applicable provisions of the US Tax Code.) Upon completion of such task, Claus touched the side of his nose and flew, rose, and/or ascended up the chimney of the House to the roof where the Vehicle and Deer waited and/or served as "lookouts." Claus immediately departed for an unknown destination. However, prior to the departure of the Vehicle, Deer, and Claus from said House, the party of the first part did hear Claus state and/or exclaim: "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!" Or words to that effect. ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother." [This message has been edited by Midnightmom (edited December 09, 2002).]

DebbieLee- did you boil them till they "popped" before you dehydrated them? I would like to make a "lower carb" version by using a sweetener other than table sugar. Any ideas? Ed-where did you go????

yep, ed, I would like to give it a go!

Ed-------------- Do you know how to make craisins??? [This message has been edited by Midnightmom (edited November 21, 2002).]

Cats are NOCTURNAL! ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother."

Don't know Becca. He died very suddenly and the doc figured it was either a stroke or a heart attack, but he didn't think there was a need for an autopsy because of his medical history. I guess we'll never know-I don't think ashes tell any tales. The lawyers will have to determine whether or not we can join the suit once they get the medical files and review them.

I was just wondering how extensive the coverage was-I got the impression that it was national news. Snowmom-most of the time the patients weren't given enough time for a second opionion-they were literally "scared" into the operation by being told they could drop dead at any moment. Others were of the age that believed that the doctor knows best-you don't question him. Still others fell into the "hypocondriac" syndrome-like my DDDH. He had a catherization by Dr. Moon about 3 years ago. I have joined the suit.

http://www.heartlaw.info/heartlaw/news400.asp ------------------ "Sooner or later everyone quotes their mother."

Here's a less risque, shorter version-it even has a midi that you can play. BTW-it gives the credit to George Leybourne, 1868. http://www.acronet.net/~robokopp/usa/flytrape.htm

Here's the full text of that song-I never knew it was so risque!!! Man on the Flying Trapeze Written By: Unknown Copyright Unknown Once I was happy, But now I'm forlorn, Like an old coat That is tattered and torn; Left in this wide world To weep and to mourn, Betrayed by a maid in her teens. Now this girl that I loved, She was handsome, And I tried all I knew Her to please, But I never could please her One quarter so well As the man on the flying trapeze. Oh, he floats through the air With the greatest of ease, This daring young man On the flying trapeze; His actions are graceful, All girls he does please, My love he has purloined away. He'd play with a miss Like a cat with a mouse, His eyes would undress Every girl in the house. Perhaps he is better Described as a louse, But the people they came just the same. Oh, he'd smile from his perch On the people below And one day he Smiled on my love. She blew him a kiss And she hollered, "Bravo!" As he hung by his nose up above. Oh, he floats through the air With the greatest of ease, This daring young man On the flying trapeze; His actions are graceful, All girls he does please, My love he has purloined away. Oh, I wept and I whimpered, I simpered for weeks, While she spent her time With the circus's freaks. The tears were like hailstones That rolled down my cheeks, Alas, and alack, and alacka! I went to this fellow, The blackguard, and said, "I'll see that you get Your desserts!" He put up his thumb to his nose With a sneer, He sneered once again, and said, "Nertz!" Oh, he floats through the air With the greatest of ease, This daring young man On the flying trapeze; His actions are graceful, All girls he does please, My love he has purloined away. One night to his tent He invited her in, He filled her with compliments, Kisses, and gin And started her out On the road to ruin, Since then l have known no repose. But e'en now l loved her, I said, "Take my name! I'll gladly forgive And forget;" She rustled her bustle Without any shame, Saying, "Well, maybe later, not yet." Oh, he floats through the air With the greatest of ease, This daring young man On the flying trapeze; His actions are graceful, All girls he does please, My love he has purloined away. One night as usual I went to her home, And found there Her father and mother alone, I asked for my love, And it soon was made known, To my horror, that she'd run away. Without any trousseau, She'd fled in the night With him with the Greatest of ease, From two stories high He'd lowered her down To the ground on his flying trapeze. Oh, he floats through the air With the greatest of ease, This daring young man On the flying trapeze; His actions are graceful, All girls he does please, My love he has purloined away. Some months after that I went into a hall, And to my surprise I found there on the wall, A bill in red letters Which did my heart gall, That she was appearing with him. Oh, he'd taught her gymnastics, And dressed her in tights, To help him to live At his ease, He'd made her take on A masculine name, And now she goes on the trapeze. Oh, she floats through the air With the greatest of ease, You'd think her a man On the flying trapeze, She does all the work While he takes his ease, And that's what's become of my love.