Good Fortune

As I amble towards another New Year I am thinking once again of what I wish for. I gave up with resolutions, it's all a dilusion as I don't have the will power to pass by a Taco joint without stopping in. So, everything I think I might want, once I think about it, can be interpreted so many ways.

Take Good Fortune.

One would automatically jump to Money when you say fortune. Money, in excess can cause problems, and to little can cause even more problems. I wish we had money, lots of it too.....but as with Christmas this year, not sharing it in the form of presents with other family members caused resentment, even being called cheap. So much for teaching my kids empathy and giving of ones self being enough to bring happiness. The rotten part is that it was just one person that had to spoil it for our kids. It made them feel bad when they overheard a phone conversation. Might I add it wasn't my husband saying words, the other person speaks so loud that you can hear everything they are saying.

I digress yet again, but make my point too. The Good Fortune that I am wishing for is the Good Fortune of comfort. Peace of Mind, Peace of Soul and Peace of Knowledge that all will work out in the end. I guess that's what we all wish for deep down, well, most of us. The symbol attached to this post is very eye catching, but as much as I want to believe in amulets, it's just as useful as believing that there are faeries in the woods, or some larger power making all the decisions for you. It's all about free will, and what you put out to the universe and the living things in it coming back to either bite you in the ass or delivering a wad of cash.

Maybe Boy Scouts have the right idea.

Do a good Turn Daily.

Christmas with the family

Turkey.

Yup, it's grilled turkey. Greg, Jeff's brother is a whiz in the kitchen. That's one thing that I wish Jeff was better at.

Greg cooked this turkey in near zero temps outside Christmas Day. Greg also did a brisket with his famous barbeque sauce. It was truly amazing dinner. I wish I would have taken pictures of the set up for 15 people for dinner. Good china, good stemware, even better food. I was so tired, I was thankful that Catherine and Daniel were able to help a little. As usual, my sister in law Stacey had everything in order, a check list even to make sure everything was on the table.

With our tummies full, we headed downstairs to our little area Stacey and Greg always have set up for us when we come. There were 12 people sleeping overnight. Catherine and Daniel grabbed the bunkbeds first. They are old camping ones, and the kids love them!

As we were tearing everything down the next a.m. we realized how much work they put into setting these up. There was at least a dozen blankets, liners and various other padded things to make it more comfortable. The kids and I LOVE Stacey's bedding.

1) it's old, worn in just the right places, soft and comfortable. It's so much like home, actually it's nicer than home.

2) her bedding always smells like it came off the line.

3) it just makes you want to snuggle in and never get up.

4) each blanket Catherine and I pulled off and folded up, we reminisced the stories of each one. Some were Stacey's sleeping bags when she was a teen, some were old throws from the Noble House. It was alot of fun remembering.

The car dog

Barney loves car rides. He's rather good at them. He sits in the seat just like the kids do. On the way back from Greg and Stacey's home in Aitkin, MN he was sooo excited to go on a car ride. He did curl up and take a nap with Steve on the first bench seat. The kids put the seat belt across his tummy and he remained there for the better part of the trip.

He's rather adorable. when he got home he checked out his backyard, peed on the normal 3 spots pretended to chase something, then came in to snoop for a bone. He's so gentle and very patient, but as soon as you mention 'car ride' he's ever so happy. I wish we didn't own Cold Stone. We would have rented a motor home and taken a trip to Florida with this little guy.

Little girl is growning up

Catherine was sitting to me on the couch last night and I looked over. She may be 13 but she looks more like a 17.

When we went to drop off the toys for tots this Private who was collecting toys was hitting on her. She just blew it off, he was doing some major flirting all I could think of was "Hey dude, when you say you want to know which Cold Stone she works at, keep in mind that it's a 13 year old your coming to see." but I didn't and when we left I asked her if she noticed if that guy was acting "funny" . She said yes, but thought he was being nice.

When I guy asks you when you work next, he's looking to see you again.

She just smiled and said "ew, he was old"

That's my girl.

Meat

I was intrigued by the direction Burger King is taking with their "caught you looking" advertising.

I must admit, I wouldn't mind a sniff, and I can see people actually buying the cologne. Even cologne that smells like meat. I almost want to purchase a whopper and sniff it. I can't recall what meat smells like, I am too busy eating it to notice the smell.

The picture really caught my eye. It's great. If you can't find humor in it, please go get your funny bone checked. The expression on the BK head is priceless and can be interpreted in many ways, even the 'come hither' look.

In times where people are looking at doing all they can to get you in their doors to spend money, BK takes the position of not taking ones self too seriously.

The older chicks like me remember Joe Namath in panty hose and the scandal of Burt Renyolds butt naked with a stetson covering up the "naughty parts". This ranks right up there.... very memorable.

Baby, it's cold outside

Yup, it's cold.

After 72 hours in the sub zero we might make it above 10 today. I shouldn't complain, but I will.

I am cold. I am tired. Even though in 5 days the days will get longer, I can't wait. I want spring NOW!

This picture is from our front doors last January when we had a week of sub zero temps. The store heaters couldn't keep the ice off the front doors.

I think I will send a card to my dad asking him "What were you thinking staying in Minneapolis?"

Even worse that this cold is listening to people massacre holiday songs. People who have no business singing in the first place and those "artists" who should stay in the genre. Take for instance the last slaughter of a song I heard this a.m. Dolly Pardon and Rod Stewart singing "Baby, it's cold outside"

It made me want to rip my ears off my head.

It's bad enough Road Stewart went off and recorded oldies, now he wants to be sexy and old. Dolly will never age, plastic surgery takes care of this. At some point the corners of her mouth will reach her ears and her waist will eventually disappear, but that's Dolly. She cute and bubbly. Rod, well I recently saw him in spandex. It reminded me of putting tights on a chicken.

There's a visual for you.

Some things are better left original.

December 27th

December 27.

The last new moon of 2008. Go circle it on the calendar right now. It's the most powerful day of the year. Each new moon I write down 10 goals I wish to accomplish for the month. This is the symbol for good fortune in the Chinese culture. Good fortune can mean, as everyone thinks, Money, but as everyone knows it's whatever you value the most, health, stability or peace the good old Money is what keeps everyone in balance. The source of all disruptions, anger, pain and grief.

I am choosing Peace.

My list this month:

1. Peace in my family and my larger family, the world.

2. Comfort for those who need it most, and for those who don't know that is what they need most.

3. Love for those without it and find that it comes from the simplest places.

4. Health for those who are looking for a cure for mind, body or spirit.

5. Joy for those who lack the ability to open their eyes and see it is there already.

6. Healing for those who have been wounded by those who they trust.

7. The financial means to stay afloat another day.

8. Empathy for those who don't understand, may they not just act, but feel.

9. Patience for family, friends and that everything positive you send out into the world, it will come back 10 fold.

10. The wisdom to see things for what they really are and not react to what seems most obvious. Blessings sometimes are hiding in some really "stinky" packages. Looking past the obvious to find the gem, no matter how small.

Most people choose to lose weight, something that if you can't control the rest of your life, you can't control anyway. Living in moderation and choosing to conciously make decisions, with hope and conviction should be the real goal. Thinking of how your decisions impact others is my focus this month.