SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDER

Comments from Whats in a Name

2012-02-13T03:22:00.000-08:00

I love your latest blog. I was named after a song my mother must have loved..."I'll take you home again, Kathleen"

I've often wondered whatever happened to the names Susan, Patricia, Debra that were so popular when we were growing up. Thank God tho that some traditions do pass away and we weren't named Bertha or Gertrude. My husband's oldest granddaughter just had a baby girl and she named her Taviana. Good grief! I named my daughter Jennifer Lyn...my great grandmother was Jenny. I didn't want just a plain Jenny so went with Jennifer. My grandmother was still pleased when I explained I was naming my daughter after her mother but just the more formal version and we would call her Jenny.

By all means tell your sons why you named them what you did.

Hugs
K

Thanks K, I thank you for leaving your feedback and hope I will hear from others on their opinion of their name.

WHATS IN A NAME?

2012-02-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

What's in a name? Not long ago - I finally realized that I love my name, Dolores Rose. Not so long ago - I realized that my mother named me after her, Rose Dolores. She put her middle name as my first and her first name as my middle.

While growing up in the fifties I remember asking my mom why she named me Dolores. I told her so many times how I hated that name. Kids, what did I know? I know now that I have a beautiful old fashion name.
I wish I realized that while my mother was still here on earth, so I could tell her that, but, duh, sometimes it takes a while, in my case - years.

Today I would tell her how much I love my name and what an honor to be named after her. What's in a name? If your lucky enough to be named after someone that's family or someone you love - then it's heritage being passed on.

In grade school there was one other girl named Dolores. I remember the two of us always trying to think up a "tough "(cool would be the name today) nickname we could use. She liked being called Dee Dee and I like the singular "Dee" . It caught on with all of our school chums and has stuck with me ever since, I don't know about Dee Dee, I haven't seen her in years.

The funny thing about this is that my mom and dad spelled my name Dolores and I am called Dee, my neighbor is called Dolly and her name is spelled Delores! Today my close family calls me Dolores, my friends and some relatives call me Dee. I like being called Dolores Rose, as in one name, but I do love my nickname Dee, it's so quick and easy to write.

The one thing I do not like about my name is the meaning. I mean, why would they come up with that, tell me? " The seven sorrows of Dolores", hate it. But I have also read other meanings for the name Dolores and I do like them.

On my dad's side of the family, they named their children after their parents, sisters and brothers. Even today, those children have named their children after their grandparents, uncles or aunts. I now realize how wonderful that is. It didn't happen that way on my mother's side. I love my grandmothers name "Adeline" and my one aunt's name "Angeline". No one has carried on those names or the uncles names. Funny how two Italian families can be so different in traditions.

I can't say to much because I didn't name my children after family, I did name our first son after his dad and his middle name after my dad . Then our second son, I just loved the name, same with our third and fourth. Would I change it if I had to do it all over again? I don't know, if they would still turn out as wonderful as they are, then maybe, Their middle names all have meanings tho, after a dear friend, a favorite uncle, after two grandfathers, so there is meaning but I'm not sure if they are aware of that or not.

With six granddaughters and one grandson, I was the lucky one to have my name chosen as a middle name for one of my twin granddaughters, I don't know if it would still have been chosen if there were no twins, according to my one son I got the impression that it would not of been, And our little grandson's first and middle name was named after the mom's side because he has our last name, Though my son did want the first name as an Italian name and it just so happened to be the name of a great uncle on the other side. My oldest granddaughters's middle name is after my mom and that is quite a honor. I am honored also that my name was chosen, because for the rest of my granddaughters life she will know she was named after me and hopefully that will make her remember me.

I can understand why people name their children after family, what I can't understand is why people name their children Apple, Dakota and so forth - I guess they have their reasons and hopefully they have a good family middle name.

I would love to know who you were named after, so please leave a comment and let me know.

Thank you for visiting my blog, come back again.

THIS IS THE DAWNING OF ACQUARIUS

2012-02-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful Monday, the sun is shining brightly on this February morn. I love February, don't you? I do because I am February's daughter, my grandmother was born in February, my parents were married and my third son and youngest granddaughter were also born this month.
And of course it's Valentine's Day - a loving month and the birthstone is awesome - so is the sign "Aquarius -(the water buffalo)." This is The Dawning of Aquarius " was a great song back in the seventies and also a musical. Tom & Nancy bought us tickets for the play that was so enjoyable.
I could not get the song out of my head for days.

A lot of you know that I share my birth date with my mother-in-law. She turned 92 but acts like 52. We have always shared our days together but sometimes we have had individual days. For instance when she turned 90 we celebrated her birthday, the same when I turned 60. Not to many people share the same birthdays. so it's sort of unique. One good thing no one can forget the other's birthday! We usually share the same cake also which is fine by both of us. This year though there were two cakes, that's a lot of cake! Most of it went, thank goodness for little ones.

So here I am at 69, no turning back the pages of time, I will keep going forward as long as God will let me and feel blessed in doing so.
Some people will think, boy is she old, but I realize that I am blessed to be 69. My goal is to live long enough to see at least one of my grandchildren married. As my dad would always say "God willing and the creek don't rise" I will.
I was 33 when my dad turned 66. It did not seem so young to me at that time. But I realized as the years past just how young that age is. My dad passed at the young age of 66.
He had just turned 66 on March 19 and passed away on April 11th. No time to enjoy his age or the start of his retirement. My sons missed out on sharing their life with him, he would of loved that and he missed out of sharing his life with them. My mom was a young widow at age 55 and never remarried.

As you follow me on my blog - if you do follow you will see there is no rhyme or reason to what I write about. Some write about gardening, clothes so on and so forth, but me - well I write a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Sometimes I know what I want to write about but sometimes I sit here and have no clue but then it just comes and I start typing.

Thanks for visitng me today, come back again.

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MY CARD

2012-02-03T06:07:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

If you look closely at my card and you will see that the lettering is not perfect. The lines are not straight.The letters are sort of jumbled. I think it's a fun looking card but also tells a lot about my writing.

My writing is not perfect, the grammar, the commas and periods leave a lot to be desired.

A lot of people might think - what the heck - she can't write worth a hill of beans

. Her sentences are to long, her comma's are in the wrong place and no semi-colons -(they scare me :-) and so on and so forth.

I by no means am a perfectionist, but I do love to write about everything, nothing and nonsense.

I'm not expecting to be published unless I publish my own work, but I don't mind sharing my writing. Sometimes I even have interesting things to write about and sometimes it's all nonsense but one thing it is - it's writing.

The card also helps me to write - after all it says I am a writer and a blogger, so I have to live up to that. Check me out once in awhile, you might be surprised or you might say "I shaved my legs for this?" (country song)

http://forgetfuld.blogspot.com

Hello Mr. Sunshine

2012-02-02T17:49:00.000-08:00

The last couple of days have been full of sunshine and warmth for this part of Pennsylvania. The cherry blossoms are starting to bloom , the little green shoots of daffodils are peeking out of the ground. Buds are on a lot of plants that shouldn't be. And did you notice the birds chirping? Very unusual and way to soon for all of this to take place.
If the groundhog is right and we get 6 more weeks of winter it better stay like this or else we won't have beautiful flowers to look at. I am worried that our summer will be extremely hot - hotter than ever. Scary thought.

I am preparing to write my life story. It's not like I have exciting things to write about, but it will be a way to keep my memory alive for my grandchildren and their children. They will know a little about my life.

Children today probably do not know what a manual typewriter looks like. Can't even imagine having carbon paper to make duplicate copies. Or how about when the wrong key is hit and then you have to backspace to correct it or even use the dreaded white out to white out the mistake, wait for it to dry before typing over it. Yikes, the thought makes me so thankful for computers today!
I bet they would not comprehend how we left the house with out a cell phone because they did not exist back in those days. I got my first cell phone back in 1995. It wasn't even mine but my son's. I don't know how I came about ending up as mine. In 1995 they were big and awkward and you could only use them in the car. You had to use the car battery through the cigarette lighter for it to have power. What would they think if they could only make phone calls from a pay phone. Kids today probably don't know about those little booths that we went into to make a phone call. I remember when it cost a dime to make a call, I have no idea what it might cost today. I know they have an outside phone at Sheet's. I have seen men using it
That's the only reason I know that they have it outside. I remember being a teenager and the fad was for as many kids as possible to cram into the phone booth. Oh, that was so fun to see all these crazy guys in the booth with someone on top of some one's back or maybe sitting on some one's shoulders. They had many awkward positions.

And "back" then we were not driven to school nor did we have a bus to drive us. We walked back and forth 4 times. Once to get there, then walk home for lunch (no cafeteria), walk back to school and at the end of the day walk home. Not to many heavy kids back than with all of that walking. We did not have electronic games, all of our games were played outside, read inside, played cards went sled riding, skating or weekly dances. That does not include Brownies or Girl Scouts.

And in between all of that I can tell them about my dog Skippy. He was all white and followed me to school everyday. I loved that dog so much. One day when I came home my parents were sitting at the table and I asked where my dog Skippy was and they said they had to have him put to sleep because he was sick. They did not even let me say goodbye or hug him - every time I think of that my heart hurts -

Yes I have a lot to write about but I have to get all my P's and Q's in order before I start.

Yes, I may not be the perfect writer, but I am a writer and I also blog. I really enjoy doing it - I just do not have the time to do it as much as I want to.

WHO AM I?

2012-01-27T13:14:00.000-08:00

   Who Am I?   No, it's not what your thinking - this is not a quiz or a funny question. but it is a question I have asked myself over the years and finally I think I am finding out slow but sure.

I never had trouble making friends but I still use to be a person pleaser, no matter how much I did not want to do something, I would do it.. I always acted nice towards a person whether I liked them or not. I praised even when I didn't want to. I never argued back with anyone, I would just get quite and not talk, and I would agree with a person even though I disagreed. I would agree so they would like me.

I was not assertive, plus I had no confidence in myself.-none, nada - I always thought everyone's ideas were better then mine or I would think they were right in what they said or right in whatever decision they made and I was wrong. ALWAYS. I never gave myself any credit and I was very hard on myself.   I had no confidence in me.

One thing I knew and still do - is that I was good with hair, I was a very good hairdresser and had a great ~~clientele~~ .I also could make home made bread and desserts, No one could take those accomplishments away from me. It felt good to make something from scratch and see it take form, it felt good to do people's hair and make it shiny and bright with a good style, perm or cut. I also could do Counted Cross Stitch and am proud of my work.

I am a writer, but I have very little confidence in my writing. At one time a couple of years ago a person said something to me about my writing and I stopped for quite a while. I was told it was "horrible" and they did not say it in a nice way, I think that would make anyone quit trying .
It took a good year for me to slowly start to write again. It's a passion with me, but I still don't have confidence in my work. I think twice before showing it to anyone, but being in a writers group helps me to accept criticism because they are trying to help me become better.

One problem I do have is that  I never had trouble speaking my mind. To this day I have to watch how I say things and even when I watch, I still say things wrong. This has caused a lot of problems for me. I realized that just because I didn't think I said anything harsh or blunt the other person thought that I did. I'm still working on that, it's a every day thing - sometimes I win and sometimes I lose - - -. I don't hear my self, maybe if I did I would know how other people hear me.

Today I still find myself trying to please people, but stop when I realize what I am doing - I sometimes still feel insecure in things I do - but I have as they say "Come A Long Way Baby"

I fought a hard battle a few years ago, the hardest battle I have ever faced and got through it. It helped strengthen me in more ways then I could ever say. but God willing I will never have to face that again.
Today, I am an assertive person, I will tell the person when I disagree with something and explain why. I now have confidence in me. I know I'm good at certain things. I'm not afraid to try new things, years ago I would panic and not even try, today I try and it usually turns out good but sometimes it doesn't. But that's OK - I don't fall apart at the seams .

As far as people, yesterday I let two people out of my life completely. And I can honestly say I feel good about it. I don't need to be around people who are negative - I want positive people around - people who laugh and have fun.
Life is to short to accept anything else.

So, yes I like me, I like who I am, I don't like how I look, the hernia makes me a misfit, but it does not bother me when people stare anymore. I like the feeling of confidence I have. I say how I feel or why I disagree with something. Finally I am my own person.

A new name and a new logo!

2012-01-26T14:00:00.000-08:00

A new name and a new logo!

MOVEMENT **** AGELESS

2012-01-24T17:54:00.000-08:00

MOVEMENT - not being still, to go forward - AGELESS- not getting old

I use to think that age was just a number, I have always been able to do what ever I've wanted, I never thought about my age, I felt ageless and I took for granted the fact that I could walk effortless .

I found out that it's true when they say illness takes a toll on a body. After a life threatning illness, treatments that lasted 5 months. my heart decided to act up and do races , that had to be treated with a minor operation, then the baby parts went bad and all had to be removed. Thats when I realized that illness really does take a toll on the body. I was like a wet noodle for quite awhile.
I am realizing something that I once knew but forgot - A person has to take care of their body, they have to excercise to make them strong and able to withstand unexpected illness or damaged to their body. I was basically in good shape when all the illnesses started and it still has taken a toll on my body - big time. It's just not what you eat but it's what you do. You have to MOVE
The scars have healed, some reminders show, but the body has never bounced back to what it once was. No longer can I move the way I use to or even walk normally.
Always been thin and exercising has always been a part of my life, I went to the gym, have had personal trainers,
joined curves and then it all stopped in 2006 - - -I just started back to taking care of my body physically in October of 2011 and it feels good
I find that since I started to exercise I am feeling strength in my arms and legs. Have a little more energy and feel good in my head that I do it 3x's a weeks and am sticking to it.. It does not matter that I have to be there at 7 in the am, even though my energy is low at that time once I am there and see everyone else moving, I have no problem starting.

Today the first thing I do when I hit the mall is to park in Penny's parking lot close to the door, then when I walk in I grab one of their carts that will be my BFF until I leave and am at my jeep. I know Penny's have the carts there so their customers have a place to put their purchases, but I wonder if secretly they had it in the back of their minds that it would help people like me to get around? Whatever - I'm thankful that they are there. I take it all over, even into stores that are kind of small - I get it to fit somehow.

I have a goal to be able to walk into a store without looking for the cart to get me around, I am working towards being able to walk though Macy's with out a cart and not walking like a snail -then I will work on my next goal of being able to go up and down stairs like the majority of people instead of taking one at a time and holding on to the railing

I am thankful that I am turning 69 even though I now realize that I am not ageless and movement is limited.
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VENDETTA

2012-01-20T20:34:00.000-08:00

     VENDETTA A private quarrel between families or persons.

     In many cases the nationality that make up the melting pot of America do not keep quarrels among themselves.
Why is that? Because the human being has to vent, to get it off their chest so to speak. If they keep it to themselves it could fester inside of them or cause them stress. I'm speaking women here, not all women but enough.

Men, now as far as I know, well, they don't have that problem, at least none of the ones that I know. I think if they did - they would say what they have to say and then its forgotten and they go on without holding a grudge. Unless they coveted their neighbors wife or goods or even worse took a life.

My husband and I have and still do try to stress to our children that their siblings will always be there for them. To stay close and do things together. We are blessed that they do and they are close. One of the things that draws them together is their love for music. They have a band called "The Family Tradition Band". They are quite good actually. They sing country, oldies, rock and we even have our own "Elvis" If you ever get the chance come and hear them play.
It started about 9 years ago and they still play together. Our one son is involved, just not musically inclined even though he can sing certain songs and play certain instruments. I think once we are gone this will be a sure thing that will keep them together. I would love for the cousins to know each other and be friends since there are only 7 of them on the Clark side, all girls except for one little guy. Our boys did not have any blood cousins because we were the oldest of our brothers by 5 or 8 years, quite an age gap. But we had Tom & Nancy - we were as close as any one can be, they have 3 boys all around the ages of ours. We spent holidays together, weekends together- - they were our family even though not by blood. We continued that relationship to this day only now without our beloved Tom. Sometimes you find a rare treasure in people and are blessed to have them in your lives and that's how it was and is with them.

We don't want to have  "Vendetta's" in our family. When you live through family feuds and see the  sadness each one causes the other -and when you live through their passing without ever resolving their differences -your heart breaks because it's finished and can never be undone. You think what was that all about? Something someone said and the other person took it the wrong way, or some stupid thing not even worth me trying to think of to write it down. All you know is that you never want your loved ones to ever go through that kind of hurt. You don't want them to be on the outside looking in ever. Life is way to short for over-reacting or mis-understandings. It not only involves the two who are upset with each other over some stupid thing, but also their families. I don't ever want that to happen with our sons and their families. If one or the other gets upset about something, I hope they will always to be able to talk to one another and clear the air, then forget and forgive so they can still have each other in their lives.

Friends may come and go, but family sticks together. They have had excellent role models from their dad's side. I swear Ron's side - they are all saints - each one of them - such love they show each other is amazing. I just don't mean Ron's immediate family, but the aunts, uncles and cousins. They rise to every occasion. They look out for each other in every way. I am blessed to be part of such a loving family. I learned a lot.

Now, in my Italian family, it was different, Not with my parents, but their siblings, both sides had problems that lasted for years without anyone trying to make it right. My mothers side was over money - money - the root of all evil - truer words were never spoken. Because of money brothers and sisters never talked up until the day they passed on. The other side pride - I missed out on many activities because of pride. Pride gets you no where, money - if you don't have your health what good is it? If it breaks up a family what good is it. Now those people are gone and just those unpleasant memories remain of later life. We still have the fun good memories of better days when ever everyone would gather to break bread. There were plenty of those days for memories.

I have not gone unscathed either, I tried to right it but to no avail. I have no misgivings or ill will towards them, If they want to carry a Vendetta so be it, I know I tried to make it right.After going through a life threatening disease I have no time for pettiness in my life. Life is to precious. but it is sad for others to take sides without even knowing both sides. They have to live with that and no one else, it probably does not even bother them.

And finally - After wasted years of heartache my brother and I are rebuilding our relationship and it is wonderful inside my heart because of that.

So now my question to myself is - will I publish this or not? I don't have much of a following that it would matter. And I write for myself mainly, but keep a copy of everything for my children so they can pass it on to their children. This is just one of many that I have written, and the only one that is not all peaches and cream, but then life is not all peaches and cream - - - -maybe they will learn from our mistakes.

FAMILY FEUDS

2012-01-19T07:49:00.000-08:00

Family feuds, do they still exist? I would think that in this modern world we live in that we have moved past the feuds of yesterday. How sad to find out that they still exist in one way or another.
There's the mother and daughter who don't speak to each other, how can that be is so beyond me. I know of a wonderful woman and her sister who loved each other very much. Because of words that were spoken either in haste or with out thinking years ago, they never mended their relationship. How very sad that the one sister has now passed without ever being hugged or a part of her sister's life since the misunderstanding. Or the mother of a adult child who forbade her child to speak to their aunt? It seems the mother and sister had a misunderstanding and because of that incident the child was not permitted to invite the aunt to the wedding. Or the hurt that was caused because of the actions of an aunt and her sisters children - it was resolved in a loving manner, the aunts children were never aware of that, the mother neglected to mention it to her children and so the children cut the sisters children out of their lives.

I know - it's hard to believe - I still find it hard to believe it as I type this, but there is more to put down! Yep even more true stories and this one is the brother and sister who actually fought over a card game and never came to forgive each other, they not only lost each other but their families never got together for family holidays or events. Now it is to late as they both have passed on, A big chunk of happiness was lost between two families but hopefully in heaven they are hugging one another. In some families it is taking place with cousins! Wouldn't they know better after seeing what had taken place with their parents and their siblings?
These cousins had not been together in years and just recently got together through another cousins perseverance in finding them. All of it I think could of been avoided if the person who felt vindictive would asked what was going on instead of over reacting. Of course this is just my observation by being on the outside looking in. Who knows, it made me feel bad for the cousin who was misunderstood as everyone turned against them. A persons reputation ruined because of a over reaction is sad for both I think.

It sounds like a soap opera doesn't it? Like the Hatfield's and McCoys. I could expand on all of these" true stories" and make it into a best seller. If I did write the book, I would write it in a way that would show how all of these unfortunate happenings could have been resolved. It is so easy to see how relationships could be mended when being on the outside looking in.

A misunderstanding that should have never taken place can ruin more then one persons life, it ruins the persons family. When a person is hurt, not only is that person hurt but so is the family. So hopefully by reading my blog it will make you think before you react. Hopefully you will want to spend more time with your family and find time to do so instead of always being busy. One day you might not be busy but the family might not be there. Family is a gift - look at all the broken families today - who are the ones hurting the most? the children - by far. Take the time out of your busy life for them.Introduce them to their relatives, their cousins. You make time for your friends, so make time for your family, your blood line - talk about the history of your grandparents and great grandparents. Make them proud of who they are and happy that they are part of such a wonderful loving family.

So in the scheme of life, as you walk down the road of life- ask - is this all worth it?, Is this what relatives will be talking about to their children, or their children's children. What about the happy times that took place before?
The children down the road of relatives will hear all of these stories with out hearing the other side - because no matter what -there are always 2 sides. Wouldn't you agree?

I am looking forward to see how high my graph goes up with this post.

PICTURES ON MY BLOG

2012-01-17T19:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog - thanks for stopping by. I had a lot of visitors this past week. The graph was way up that it surprised me, it has never been that high on the scale. It made me happy until I realized the reason everyone was stopping by.

At one time or another a person misconstrues what is said or written, even myself. If that person interprets it the wrong way they can become angry or hurt and could retaliate in a way that ruins a good name of a good person..

It took quite awhile for me to set up my blog, mainly because I was unsure of how to go about it. In fact I'm still learning.
I did it by myself and read a couple of books ,plus I check out the blogs of other people. I know how to go about writing the blog, but what I don't know is how to make the background eye catching. So it is by trial and error that it looks the way it does. A few months ago In May I was veyr happy to post a picture of myself and a cousin. If you asked me how I did it believe me I couldn't tell you. It was a fluke - because since then I have tried many times to post other pictures and even to remove the one that is posted now to no avail.

If any one can let me know how to remove or add pictures to a blog I would really appreciate it. I have updated pictures to post and little sayings I would like to add.

I hope everyone is enjoying this crazy mixed up weather we are having, the only thing I like about it is that the older people are able to get out and about. I do so miss a beautiful snowfall - - -don't you?

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2012-01-13T00:11:00.001-08:00

256447

ITS JANUARY OR IS IT?

2012-01-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

It's over for another year. All the hype, the planning, the baking, decorating - its done.
As my daughter-in-law said "the 3 Kings have left and moved forward". So that's what we have to do, even though our decorations were cheerful and brightened up my day, they are now carefully packed away for another year. It would be so nice if I had a room where it would stay decorated for Christmas every day. I would keep the door closed so I would not tire of looking at it and I would open it whenever I like. It was a wonderful time to spend with family and of course our grandchildren made it so special with their laughter and excitement. Both Christmas and New Years were with family, wouldn't want it any other way as these are the special times we will bring to mind through out the year.

The cookies are gone, can't even find a crumb thank goodness, along with the nut roll and apricot roll. - A great breakfast in my opinion is a cup of fresh coffee with a piece of nut roll. The nut and apricot rolls are my downfall, no will power whats so ever. This year I can even see extra rolls on my body - so sad, but so good, especially when you only get to taste it one time a year.

I found out that even with exercising 3 times a week, I can't lose weight unless I watch what I put in my mouth. So I try to keep all the good stuff out of the house. No chips, no chocolate (sad) and so on but at work it is a different matter. There is always chocolate around and usually something yummy to eat - if I don't see it I am fine but if I see it -nothing but trouble. I have to get off this fixation I have with Pepsi, I am craving it big time.

It's a strange winter we are having this year. One week we have balmy, almost spring like days, then a few days of winter temperatures with just a dusting of snow - in this area. Now they are saying we might actually get inches of snow! I am highly doubtful of that forecast, but it excites me anyhow hoping they are right. I love to see the snow as it lays on the drab looking landscape making all look pristine as it first falls. Of course with the cars and the snow scrappers it doesn't stay that way for long, Unless your fortunate enough to have ground with woods behind you. It's great to hear the kids exciting screams when ever they play in the snow and watching their dogs running around crazy trying catch their flying snowball in their mouth.

As I grow older and my knees play havoc with my legs, I find I am not a confident walker, I am extra careful in the snow. I can understand why older people then myself don't care much to see snow fall if they have to walk or drive in it.

Did you receive a Kindle or Nook for Christmas? How about an i-Pod or i-Phone? I have all 3 and love the idea of being able to take a book where ever I go by means of sliding it in my purse with almost no weight to it.
There is nothing like holding a real, honest to goodness book in your hands - but to have the option of taking it in another form is priceless. If you don't have one of the above you truly are missing out. Magazines, newspapers along with books are all at your fingertips. You can use your library card to borrow a book on your Kindle or Nook - just download "OVERDRIVE MEDIA" and your set. It is all free! Try it - you will love it.

I'm playing Words with Friends with friends and duh and the letters to make words with or my vocabulary is very limited which I doubt - I won't give up - I find it a challenge. If you would like to play a game - I'm here

Check out Sunny Carney's Blog on Face-book or Google her name - you will be introduced to a remarkable woman fighting to make people aware of a rare type of cancer and read about her fight.

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hear that they will make a Bald Barbie, how great is that? The little ones fighting this terrible cancer can now relate with a doll just for them, Hopefully it will make other children and their parents aware of the lives being affected by this terrible monster.

FRIENDS -RELATIVES?

2012-01-11T18:11:00.001-08:00

YOU CAN PICK YOUR FRIENDS BUT YOU CAN’T PICK YOUR RELATIVES

Many times I’ve heard people say this and I wondered why. At my age I am only now finding out. Maybe, no, not maybe, IT WOULD HAVE bothered me big time – this rudeness -but after a few times of rudeness directed at me - I now just consider the source and let it roll off of my back.

Someone very dear to me, who I have known all my life said to me, why do you bother to go to all the trouble of doing this? You’re not going to hear from them for another year. I said oh, no, you’re wrong. This will get everyone together and bring us close. All we have now are our cousins to carry on memories of our heritage. But, of course I have been proven wrong. - There always has to be one or two, who can put a fly in water.

Then I was asked – why are you the one that always make the phone calls or send e-mails? Why don’t you wait and see if they call or e-mail you? I said, I don’t know, If I want to talk to someone I just call or e-mail them. I know now that I am a fool – just because I always think someone is as happy to talk to me, as I am to talk to them does not make it so. And sometimes they are darn right rude!

Life is too short to be sarcastic to a person. Life is too short to exclude a person from a gathering because of a hang up. Life is too short to be around people who try to make their opinion of you – your own.

So you stay away from those people – and feel a hell of a lot better.

LET'S HAVE A LITTLE CHRISTMAS

2011-12-02T20:52:00.001-08:00

It's official - the Christmas season is upon our household! I think this is the first year our tree is up so early and we have our number 2 son, Brian to thank for that. Thanks, Brian - you did a great job. Our lights are out, another first for being early. Our wreaths are also up so, our house is now deemed decorated and ready for Santa! We do not have one ornament on our tree, just lights, more lights and red bows - tastefully simple.

Its so nice to come down the stairs in the morning seeing our tree in our living room - I'm loving it!

That's about all that is done tho - I am at a loss as to what to get our grand kids - they all want electronics, even our youngest I'm not sure what to buy, and I'm even at a loss for our kids.
last year I had a lot of luck on line, but not so much this year. I've added to my gift giving also - 4 more are added on to my list - all for a good cause.

I'm always afraid I will disappoint someone with their gift. Then when you think you found the "gift" - on Christmas you findt out that - nada - nope you didn't find the right gift. So out come the receipts or the gift vouchers and they have to go back to get what they want. There should be a law that no one is allowed to return anything unless it is the wrong size .

I truly miss my parents, more so during the holidays then at any other time. It was always festive at my parents home. All the wonderful smells that hit you when you opened the door and hearing Christmas music playing.

To this day, I know no one else who could come close to having all the friends like my parents did. The phone rang constantly and people were always coming over for coffee or baking with my mom.
My dad was president of No. 1 Fire hall for years and my mom had that magnetic personality that drew people to her.
Now a days people don't just drop in for coffee, at least not on my street. In the summer we are lucky if we saw two people outside! When we lived on Pittsburgh Street and Grant Street, people did come for coffee or were always outside stopping in to talk, This street we live on now is an old street and people pretty much keep to themselves. It was very hard to get use to when we moved here, no traffic sounds, lack of people. It was very lonely for me. But, just like with everything else that happens in life, I adjusted and got use to the quiet of people and traffic. We were only the 9th or 10 house built on our street. We had loads of blackberry bushes and apples. Slowly more houses were being built but the people stayed inside. Now the street is filled. I love my backyard because our property ends where the woods start - nice and peaceful. My boys were little and when they started school I met a lot of nice people and joining the PTA helped a lot. You know, I don't think it is called the
PTA any longer. I'm not sure on that --I will have to ask.

My mom and dad always made the pizzales together. Just the two of the two of them with Christmas music playing. Their love was strong and my dad put my mom on a pedestal till the day he passed.
Gosh, how I would truly love to have Christmas one more time with my parents. Sometimes that feeling is so very strong, like I just want it to happen, right now.
I wonder if anyone else ever feels that urgent need?

I do reading about blogging and they say you should not talk about yourself. You should talk about something interesting to draw the people to your site. I could do that - I could talk about how I love to make home made bread or the time Brian made 1 pie and used 5 lbs of flour and yet the pie was delicious. I could go on and on but again it is about my family and my self. That's OK by me if no one is drawn to my blog or they don't find it interesting. I write for myself. I wish my sons and their family would read it tho, so they could find out about their parents lives. But they are sons, and not one of them comment on it to say if they read it or not and I am not about to ask, I just assume they don't. I'm not their number one person, they idolize their dad, they are always calling him about this or that. They have a lot in common with him, hunting, music, computers - so much more. My oldest son calls and ask about recipes or he calls to tell me about a memory he has about my parents. Both Brian and Ron always play polka's because every time we visited my parents on Sunday, polka's were always playing. Doug and Jeff were much younger and dont remember much about that.

I will continue this at another time . . . . . . . . . . . . .maybe, or just start another titile blog

In the meantime I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season - Merry Christmas to all in case I don't post till after wards.
Also I have a very special prayer request - please pray for the lady who is having a health problem. so it is nothing serious

rockportdee@yahoo.com

Let us remember the true meaning of Christmas Happy Birthday Dear Jesus
www.facebook.com

Oh Theres No Place Like Home for the Holidays

2011-11-18T19:52:00.001-08:00

Here we are, the week before Thanksgiving, and Christmas tunes are playing on the radio continually, they won't stop till Christmas Day. We will be so sick of this beautiful music because of repetition over and over again.
Not only that, but there were at least 6 trees decorated and all through the lobby of the hospital when I was there on Thursday.
And driving home this evening one house has their tree up and lit, they had their curtains open and the tree was lit in its glory.

Whats wrong with everyone? Why is everyone so determined to by- pass a wonderful holiday?
Thanksgiving. A day to thank God for all of our blessings, to spend the day with our families- together, instead of hurrying through dinner because of the great sales being held. Trust me, they will have more great sales..For people leaving the gathering early so they can go home and get ready to shop is ridiculous. Stay with the family, play games or watch a special program, share the day with your loved ones AND
boycott the stores now - before it gets out of hand and Thanksgiving will be known as a great shopping day instead of being known for what it is THANKSGIVING.

Everyone is so into material things, that they forget the real meaning of the holidays. ALL the holidays, not just this one. Step back and look at what the world is turning into - really - look around, take a good look and realize that you do not want to be a part of the material things, of rushing out to get a good deal, to stand in line with all the others for the same deal. Be thankful for your love ones around you and enjoy them -

Mom, whats Thanksgiving?

2011-11-09T17:21:00.000-08:00

In the years to come, when some of us no longer walk the face of the earth, will the Thanksgiving Day holiday still be celebrated? You know the one - where family and friends gather together like the Settlers and Indians did to gave thanks of gratitude to God.

A day for being thankful for all of God's blessings. Yes, we are thankful every day, but this is a special day of thanks. A day spent breaking bread with our family and friends, followed by the guys watching football, the boys playing football outside (weather permitting). The women, if not with the men watching football, then together talking about everything & anything, while the young girls play with each other or everyones playing family games. Some families spend Thanksgiving going to the theater together or skiing. We spend the day with music. Our family (except for me) can sing and play instruments together making them popular among friends and family. They are known as The
Family Tradition Band. Some of you may have heard them play at functions.

What we are NOT doing is going shopping for Christmas specials, ordering on line or doing anything not related to Thanksgiving. Media and retail have been advertising for weeks, actually when the Halloween decorations went out, so did the Christmas ones! Crazy, eh? but so true. I walked into a store and saw the Halloween and Christmas decorations side by side. It first made me mad and then I felt sad, still do for that matter. They are trying to by pass Thanksgiving, because it is not a big money maker for them, so they are pushing Christmas shopping.

Who of you remember when we kept holy the Sabbath day? All the stores were closed, it was a day of worship and rest for everyone. Everyone stayed in their "Sunday" clothes and spent the day with family or exended family. But slowly the stores, one here, one there started to open up on Sundays and pretty soon every store was open and no one treated Sunday as a day or worship or rest.

Thats what will happen with Thanksgiving unless we do something to stop it. Stop this insanity by NOT letting them win, not shopping for Christmas until AFTER Thanksgiving. Or else someday, when some of us no longer walk the face of the earth, there will be a little child looking at a beat up, dog eared Thanksgiving book asking their mom and dad - what's is this about? Whats Thanksgiving?

Think about it `~`~HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE`~`~`

OBSERVATION OF LIFE

2011-11-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

LIGHT UP NIGHT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 downtown Pittsburgh - and it is not a joke!!

Rushing through the holidays of life is not something I want to do, I want to enjoy Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas - I like to give each holiday its due.
When I worked full time, Halloween came and went, along with Thanksgiving and Christmas. I was not able to enjoy any of it the way the it should of been enjoyed. Working 8 hrs, coming home and taking care of the house, cooking, plus washing etc., did not leave much time for extra work that come with the holidays. There is the hustle and bustle, the fun kind, and then there is the" I hate this because I don't have the time and still do everything else that needs done". Having to go back to work the next day took away from all the happiness of the holiday I just celebrated. A lot of people are fortunate to schedule their vacations around the holidays but not many.
My dad use to take the week between Christmas and New Years off and during that time we would visit relatives, have relatives and friends over. It was always such a fun time.
Everyone thought it was awful when the stores would decorate for Christmas the week before Thanksgiving, BUT NOW, the stores are in full Christmas decorations by the early part of October.
So, how can I enjoy and celebrate the holidays before Christmas, whenever Christmas decorations are all I see when I go into a store now? They have the Halloween decorations up with the Christmas decorations. Thanksgiving, I hardly see any Thanksgiving decorations out except in the grocery store.
I feel bad for the kids today, I was able to enjoy the Happy Day kind of life. Today - Mayberry would be hard to find anywhere.

LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT

2011-10-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

With heavy heart I went to Lower Burrell because I wanted to buy a shirt to honor Officer Derek. When I pulled in I was surprised at the amount of cars parked and people walking in and out. It was 9:45 am! As I walked up the ramp I saw all the flowers lined up to the entrance door for Officer Derek Kotecki to honor him, or to show their sorrow.

The people were very nice and it wasn't a place full of doom, no, it was a place with smiles and thank yous for caring enough to come in. The shirts were doing a brisk business, I was lucky that they had my size and they had the wrist bands there so I bought one of them along with the shirt. I felt much better leaving then I did walking in. I felt good because I helped and because the people smiled and were so thankful.

They have a web site set up so people can see pictures of the family and to let people post what they are feeling. I'm sure it not only gives comfort to the family but to the ones that visit his face book page.

Most of you know that my youngest son is a policeman. I am not a happy camper about his choice of career, but I don't have a say so of how he wants to live his life. I just pray a lot.
I grew up with a scanner in our house because my dad was very involved in the fire hall and was president for so many years, when my brother was old enough he became involved also. That scanner use to make me a nervous wreck and I was only a teenager. It let you know everything that was happening in and around my home town. When someone needed an ambulance, if someone got hurt fighting a fire - so often my heart would beat so hard because of the scanner. So, I do not want a scanner in our home today. This was especially true when my sons were teenagers and driving. If they were late meeting their curfew I would go spastic. Call me whatever, but know I would always be jumping in my skin whenever the dang thing would go off. Even though none of sons live in my hometown now, I still don't want to hear it.
It might seem to seem to you that I am a weakling or a coward by not having a scanner, so be it. I just know I live a lot calmer life.

Wonder how many of you who read this have a scanner? and what is your opinion?

SMILE PRETTY

2011-10-08T14:31:00.001-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me to look at people who have such beautiful teeth. So white, so even =, such pretty smiles. Do they realize how lucky they are?
Growing up in the 1950's, braces were hardly ever mentioned, you went to the dentist if you had a toothache, but not for monthly maintenance. At least not where I grew up. As I got older I was more aware of my smile and started to take better ...care of my teeth, but no way can they even come close to looking like the bright fresh smiles that people have today.
It makes me feel good to know we were able to put all 4 of our sons in braces so they could have nice teeth. It makes me feel bad that we had bad experience with our two older sons. The orthodontist said they each had to have teeth pulled so the braces would pull the teeth back in place . So trusting in him we did that and to this day both of my 2 sons have gaps that never filled in. They cant be seen from smiling because they were pulled in the back. My younger two did not have any teeth pulled.
They had their braces on forever and a day - and now they have to frequently go to the dentist because of the damage the braces did to their teeth. Of course I get picked on because of that (lol). But when they smile I think what beautiful smiles they have.
We mothers, we try to do the best we can for our children but sometimes we screw up without intentionally doing so. Moral of this is ~~~ take care of your teeth and those of your family by checking into the background of the dentist you choose.See More

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WORK FRIENDS

2011-10-06T16:35:00.001-07:00

Your friends

Dee Clark

Working next to people everyday or part of the time, you tend to think of them as part of your life, After all you see them everyday, share lunch, talk about your families, and sometimes spend more time with them then your own family.
You come to look forward to seeing them or sharing your news with them. Then one day, it's over - they either have left for another job or you have left for another... job. A person you have spent years with at work you no longer will see everyday or share lunch with. But that's ok, because you think that even though you will no longer be working together, you will still remain good friends.
How so no true! You get invovled in the new job, your busy trying to fit in, The phone rings and it is your previous co-worker, You want to talk to them, you really do, but there is so much pressure put on you in learning the ropes of your new job that you have to say no. Therefore you have to refuse and say that they will get together soon. But as the days go by, and then the weeks you know that you still have a friend but not the close friend you thought you had when working with them.
The only ones that make out by not losing touch with the person is their immediate family. They will continue to see or talk to them everyday. The closeness still stays but the people you work with walk in and out of your life without looking back ~

REMEMBERING YESTERDAY

2011-10-06T04:35:00.000-07:00

WQED has always been a favorite channel for us to watch. They broadcast so many interesting programs, from cooking shows, opera, history,and Doo Wop music. Oh they do have more programs than what I mentioned but I stopped at " DOO WOP" - because that is the program I love to watch the most.
I will gladly listen to them do their fundraising to raise money. ,Why, without our support, we would not be able to hear and see the "DOO WOP" concerts in our home, The music takes us back to when we were younger. The time when as teenagers we lived a carefree life, listening to the best music to this day -"DOO WOP." Dancing to music on Friday night dances or Sundays at The White Elephant
I remember teenagers acting crazy, and I was one of them, screaming and clapping when Bo Diddly would perform as a guest singer, or The Del Vikings, At our high school prom we had "The Altiers" live! I can still to this day remember that night. At the weekend dances . I stood dancing on chairs along with every one else, Singing loud right with them, while they sang their great songs we were memorized. Watching the concerts on WQED wonderful memories come flooding back. Closing my eyes I can picture what I looked like back then, I can still see "Butch Barnes" who I danced with all night at every dance. We danced so well with one another that we won a couple of dance contests. Yes, we sort of liked each other, how could we not if we danced together two times a week for so many times, I can't count.
Today the voices of the music groups sound the same, but the faces have grown older, or have changed altogether. The audience who danced to these groups or saw them perform when younger, well, we are are all grown up, with children the same age as we were back then or older. - We look older, we are older, but when listening to these great songs, we become the teenagers we were long ago. We see ourselves as we were then. Carefree, fun-loving kids ~ ~ ~

FRAZZLED

2011-10-06T04:32:00.001-07:00

Did you ever notice how some things happen at the most inopportune time? . I don't mind if I misplace my keys on a day that I don't an appointment.. But to have an appointment, misplace keys, then to find the gas gague on empty sort of frazzeles a person, at least it does me!
. Every minute counts when I have an appointment., I have to count travel time, find a parking space and walk to the building. One thing I truly hate it to be late for anything. I try my very best to be on time. I would think the other person would be ready to see me at my appointed timealso, but alas it does not always happen that way if it is a doctor's appointment. I usually have to wait.
S0 all that time I spent rushing to make sure I would be on time is for naught. I find myself waiting fifteen minutes to a half hour, sometimes more. That's a lot of time wasted out of my life. I always try to have a book with me, now that I have a Kindle it is so much easier to carry. It fits nicely in my purse and not heavy at all. I order my books on line from our local library so they still get credit for books taken out. I decided that if I have to have down time waiting for someone running late I mise well make the best out of it and lose myself in the story I'm reading.;)

2011-09-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

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The 1995 RED JEEP

Posted by deebella7@gmail.com on September 1, 2011 at 8:10 PM

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The 1995 red Jeep was bought from my ex boss. I fell in love with it instantly and wish we were buying it for me instead of my husband. But he had the longer drive to work and on roads that were like goat paths.
So I was appointed the 1994 maroon Dodge Caravan, Another vehicle bought off my ex-boss. He didn't even sale cars, he was co-owner of a business where I worked for ages. But he had cars that he did not need and he kept all of his cars in good condition. I only had to drive to Sharpsburg, while Ron drove to Latrobe. Quite a difference in miles and gas.
As the weeks past by, I heard how expensive it was for him to drive the jeep to work. more so than the van. The jeep had a staight 6 engine and the van had a V6. Which meant the van had a smaller engine and was easy on gas. So, to my delight Ron decided he wanted to take the van AND the jeep became mine!
I never cared much about the car I drove as long as it looked decent, and started up I was happy. But with my Jeep, I do care about it, I can actually understamd why a guy would call his ride a she and shine it up for hours and treat it as it were made of gold, my jeep I decided was a guy and I love him passionately. His name is "Red". What else eh? I feel safe in it, I have confidence driving, I feet I can depend on it. I was and still am proud of it.
It is still dependable,, but it is becoming creaky and old with age, the back doors don't open, well, ok, one will, if you fool around with the door handle for awhile, The front passenger window will go down, but won't go back up, so we just leave it up. They are power windows. The passenger side mirror just falls off whenever it feels like it. Sometimes it scares the begees out of me because of the clunking noise it makes hitting the side of the door when it falls off. Thank goodness it has a cable attached so the mirror falls off but is still attached to the Jeep.
But when I have to drive it in the snow, it more than makes up for all it's imperfections. Living on top of a high hill the weather is a little more brutal then living in town. My Jeep has never let me down - it can come up the hill with out sliding a bit, goes right up our slanted driveway without a hitch. I can park it way close to the garage door so I don't have to face the elements. Sometimes it is finicky, it won't start up sometimes. You have to play around with the stick handle, we think it has an elelctrical problem. Oh yeah, I lost the back wiper and am having a hard time finding one to put back on, But all in all it takes care of me and I won't give it up.
Thanks for stopping by, leave a comment if you like.

OVERWHELMED

2011-09-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

http://theviewfromclarksummit.wordpress.com
deebella7@GMail.com
Hopefully this link will take you to my new blog. If you can't please let me know, Thanks.

In the meantime I have decided that one blog is enough and I will try to copy and paste what I wrote on my new blog and put it on this loyal blog.

Ten years ago - it doesn't seem possible. When I close my eyes I can still see those awful pictures in my mind. The one that sticks with me the most is that of a young guy who couldn't decide to jump out the high window or not. He kept looking over his shoulder and then out the window. I did not see what he ended up doing but he was doomed either way. And I still remember the white hair priest that the fire hall members had for their mascot. He prayed for all of them but then suffered a heart attack and died.

What memories do you have of that day? Where were you and did you have a hard time getting home?

We are honoring all the hundreds of people that went and offered their help in what ever way they could. I hope there are a lot of people that show up for all the events that are planned.
God Bless America and keep her safe.