BTW...I Did Not Fall Off My Broom... Carrie!!!

There was a vicious rumor that I fell off my broom stick on the way home from this party...I did not! I can ride a broom stick with the best of them!!

I think some may have been a little jealous that they were not included in the party of the season!! I am just saying...

This is Brenda of Party Planning Mom who planned this great Witches Tea...for more pictures and great party ideas...check out her blog!

This is Brenda's grandmother,

me, Henry and my daughter Rachel.

It was a great Party!

All of us witches!!!

My Halloween Give-away winner was picked moments ago by The Hubby who drew jill jill bo bill out of the hat!! I am excited because I think she said she loved quoting that movie! Email me with your address Jill ...Congratulations!

friday foto... "Witches Tea"

You have been Boo-ed!!!

For More friday foto visit Candid Carrie! Okay...I look really scary in these pictures because I have scary make-up on!!! The kind that makes you look like a 50 year old woman!!!

Brenda at Queen of Good Intentions and Party Planning Mom had a fantastic party! All of us witches met for Tea at her haunt and we stayed for a spell...

She had great Halloween decorations and the most creative ideas for party planning...

First the awesome invitations arrived and then there was great food when we got there!!! I wish you all a Happy Halloween and don't forget to enter my Halloween give-away as this is the last day!

Superior Scribbler Award...Yea Write!!

Karla at Zander & Me gave me this fabulous award!! Thank you Karla and please know you are one of my favorite reads every morning!!

1. Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
3. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
4. Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit This Post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
5. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog

Here are my five choices!

AVT Coach at The Abundant Life
I love the way she shares the abundant life with us!

Brenda at Queen of Good Intentions who is smart and creative and helps me when I don't know what I am doing!

Lolo at The Simple Life who writes the most sincere and thoughtful posts.

Rhonda at A Day in Rhonda's Life...she has the most interesting pictures and her take on life is so upbeat...even if she thinks it isn't!!

Diane at Diane's Addled Ramblings is a brilliant writer who I admire and one day I will buy her a cup of hot tea!

and finally My daughter Rachel at Shop College Couture who has started her own blog...she is a real writer while I... only pretend!!!

I am heading out to a party for Witches...I said Witches...

I will be visiting The Queen of Good Intentions or maybe it's The Witch of Good Intentions today! Pictures for tomorrow...

Monday...PM...Post Meltdown

Monday was a long day for me...the first part was jury duty...which if you haven't read about and you would like to...here you go!
As we were leaving the court room, I looked around and saw the families involved in this case and it hit me hard that this had been a terrible day for them as well. I know on both sides of the aisle there was just pain...expressed in their faces and in their posture. I asked God to be with them all.
I left the court house tired, sad and freezing. My hubby had dropped me off that morning because we had a convention to go to at 6:30 that evening...so it made sense for him to pick me up on his way there. I sat outside waiting for him and thought about where we were going...I had been excited to be asked to be a part of this organization but I was so tired and downtrodden...I really didn't even want to go. I knew the meaning of bone tired and it wasn't the good kind where you feel productive...I felt like my time had been wasted and I hate that feeling.

The convention we were going to that evening was about justice and the irony of what I had or hadn't done was not lost on me. The organization called HOPE was celebrating it's 20 year anniversary...the evening celebration was called "Two Decades For Justice" HOPE is an acronym for Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality. As I sat at outside trying to get warm...I thought about how my day had gone and I really felt anything but hopeful! To be honest...I was feeling sorry for myself. I had so much work to do and I hadn't accomplished anything and to be very honest I hadn't been in control of myself or my day and that made me cranky...then the poor Hubby pulled up. He was all chipper and I was all Godzilla! I finally said just take me somewhere where I can have coffee and to sit down! He drove to a bar...I kid you not...Yeah..he is a great listener...sometimes...just not then! Finally, after much pouting on my part...we ended up at McDonalds and I was able to share my day...okay... VENT my day!
After, I had let out all my steam...we went to this amazing convention.


It started with a wonderful Full Gospel choir singing these great spirituals that had moved me to tears! This organization is Diverse Congregations working together for fairness, Dignity and Justice and it is Catholic and Protestant Christians and Jews and Muslims. Their mission is to promote justice, fairness and the dignity of people, by engaging and training hundreds of people to responsibly and successfully act together to hold officials accountable to improve the systems affecting the quality of life in our communities. They do that by identifying common community problems, researching solutions, and then by publicly engaging officials for commitments to implement those solutions.
Last year, this organization got the local transit authority to add a later bus route so people could work the late shift...where as before they did not have a way home from work. This not only helps those individuals but the community at large because more of their people can be gainfully employed.
Our church is still deciding if we want to officially join this organization...I have already decided... but as guests for the evening we got to watch their caucusing and voting procedures. The areas of concern for this year was Attainable Housing, Drugs and Crime, Education and Youth and Transportation.They usually choose one area to focus in on and we watched as each church delegation voted based on individual membership totals. It looked like a United Nation convention...we are all so different and yet united in wanting to do something good for our community!
This year they chose Education and Youth...it was close... but this will be the focus of this amazing organization. I HOPE to be a part of it!! It was a great way to end my day.

"What is owed in justice should never be given in charity." Pope Paul VI

"And act justly. Truly God loves those who are just." Quran, 49:9

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God"
Micah 6:8

It's gonna be cold... it's gonna be gray... and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life.

I was not picked for a trial...well, I was picked at about 3:00pm in the afternoon. Our group of about 30 was sequestered in a small room where we waited and waited for two hours. I thought if I ever see this judge I will discuss the definition of torture with him. I do think serving on a jury if asked is a civic duty and very important...but the way it is carried out needs to be changed!
The court needs to be a little more sensitive to people... especially those who haven't committed a crime!
In our county when you receive a jury summons, you are instructed that you will sit in the jury pool until your name is called or in my case...until 3:00pm. We are told to arrive at 8:00 am. I tried reading but the chairs were hard and it was incredible cold...I had dressed warmly because I do know me well but I forgot to wear my fur-lined boots so my feet were freezing.
It was a long day...especially since there was a young man of about 30 who also had an answer for everything...I mean everything. Whatever topic was brought up...his answer was "Well, in the military we would have shot them!" "Or I prefer, military justice!" On and on it went...I prayed to Jesus...I just don't want to be here anymore and not around this guy...So of course at 3:00pm when his name was called and he was lining up...I smiled...right up until my name was called!
I lined up beside this guy and said silently "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?"

I spent two more hours with this guy..in a room... much smaller than the first...waiting ...waiting... waiting. I found out a lot about this young man during this time...He was afraid he was going to lose his job and when I said I was sorry...he brushed it off with a shrug and said I will find another... but I could tell he didn't believe that! We were told once that in 10 minutes we would be entering the court room and given our instructions on what order to line up...One hour later the bailiff came back in! One very strange woman who I can't imagine would fit on any jury of any one's peers began to lose it...I mean lose it! She did threaten the bailiff and God love him he was patient...she said she was walking out at 5:00pm! He said I understand your frustration but the judge will site you with contempt of court!

We were all in that tiny room for two hours and I began to think this was some sort of reality TV show or purgatory...Finally... right at 5:00 pm...we were called into the court room and told by the judge that what we had done today was important but we wouldn't be needed!
Who knows maybe the angry young man is right..."Maybe we do need military justice!" Or maybe just God's Justice!
Part two of Monday...for tomorrow!

"He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8

I Am Not Here Right Now...At The Sound of The Tone...

please leave a message!

I have Jury Duty today and I always get excited and feel all civic minded when I get these Jury Summons. I have been picked at least a half a dozen times and I know others who have never been asked. I am lucky...I guess.
I have my Halloween give-away still open and Bloggy Book Club here...but I wish you a Happy Monday!

Most of all though....I wish my first born child a very Happy 29th Birthday. Thank you angel for making me so happy and being your Mom has just been the best! Thanks for never pointing out that I didn't know what I was doing...you have made us look good and we appreciate that!
May your day be as special as you are...Love you, Mom

Bloggy Book Club

The Shack written by William P Young was the choice for October's Bloggy Book Club. On October 22, 2008 Abunga.com did an online chat with the author here that I found interesting. William Paul Young has a blog you may want to read as well.

The book cover states...
Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to the shack for a weekend.
Against his better judgement he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.
In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone to read this book!"

I do feel this way...that I want everyone to read this book. I enjoyed this book! I do think the story line while tragic was simple in it's telling and others may discount The Shack because of that. But for me, because of my comfort in reading the bible and listening to Parables as a Christian..I immediately saw a story within a story. According to the author in the online interview this is true...but not real. It is fiction but true...like a parable.
The author wrote this story as a way of expressing his faith to his family of about 15 members but mostly for his children.
The themes of forgiveness, God's love, The Trinity, and God's judgment are all explored...This book for me, more so than any I have read in a long time is meant to be discussed.
I want/need comments...

Do you think you have to be Christian to enjoy or understand this book?
Do you like or dislike how the Trinity is portrayed in the book?
Does the book portray a realistic viewpoint of Mack's struggle with forgiveness?
How do you view heaven in comparison with the author's book portrayal?
Have you had a period of Great Sadness?

The most meaningful part of this book for me was the portrayal of the Trinity...I have felt God's presence differently at times in my life and because of that...I was not uncomfortable with the personification of The Trinity. How did you feel about that?
I recommend this book.

Get out and Vote!!!

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

friday foto fifth folder fifth picture

Playing the game that is going around bloggy world...go to fifth folder...fifth picture and post!
However, that one was a video of Carter driving me in his truck and I have already posted it so I went with fifth folder, sixth picture...
Here is the cutest boy in America's ...about three years ago!

Visit our loved Candid Carrie for more friday foto

The give-away winner here!

Truly Inspiring...Now Get Out There and Sell Those Credit Cards!

I keep waiting for the laughs that never come!!

Game Face...

Okay...
Here's what I am thinkin'
I love The Bonnie Hunt's show and she is giving this give-away to Vegas but I keep missing who the featured guest is...I am assuming someone says it or it flashes on the screen but this here...deaf, dumb and blind kid keeps missing it! So...I enter and guess who the featured guest is!!!
Pretty clear...I am not going to Vegas!

I am having a give-away here and here! The one here is on Friday ...so hurry up!
I watched the movie Secret Life Of Bees...Sunday with the Hubby! I loved the book...the movie surprisingly was not as good to me....just my opinion.

My grand kids are having their first sleep over with me Friday night!!!! I am so excited and busy planning a bunch of activities that will exhaust The hubby and myself and will hopefully amuse the cutest girl and boy in America!

Rays lost last night...I would say that is just sad! But...I think the boys face show it...
We are coming back!
That's determination on their faces...in case you were wondering why my grandson looks so scary! And Old...he is only three doesn't he look like we are sending him off to the marines!

Oh Mama...Thank you!!!

Mamahut
at Mamahut's House gave me this awesome award!

I have to list six things that make me happy!
1. My Hubby knows how to make me happy...now whether he chooses to... is another matter!
2. Coffee
3. My grand children always make me happy!
4. Reading
5. Blogging
6.Traveling

I have to tell my favorites...Mama already chose two of my very favorites Rhonda and Zander's Mom so I won't choose them again but I do love them!
I like Brenda at Queen of Good Intentions and
Carrie and Candid Carrie and
Jennifer at The Fun House and
Carey at A Women's Prerogative and
Diane at Diane's Addled Ramblings and
Jill at jill jill bo jill

Oh No She didn't?

Yesterday, I read a couple of blogs that touched me in different ways...one a good hard shove and the other like a warm embrace...I guess it all depends on how you like it! I know lot's of people who liked to be shocked or they need to be provocative to be noticed or whatever! I don't mind controversial...it's the hurtful ones I find uncomfortable reading. I find "mean spirited"...not funny, clever or interesting.

About fifteen years ago, while working in banking I found myself needing a different schedule because my "Motherly bee-hind" needed to be at a bus stop with my 12 year old daughter who's bus stop was on a busy street and she was the only occupant of said bus stop! My supervisor wouldn't accommodate my needs because the single, childless woman of the branch would think I was getting preferential treatment....So I transferred to a different branch where they were just thankful to have a good employee! An employee who couldn't open up the branch but who could work until closing! This was the Siberia branch of the banking world...overworked and underpaid as it wasn't a big commission branch, like the kind I just left, this was more of a service branch.
The branch manager was a nice lady but not very effective as a manager so everyone just ran all over her and each other! The office morale was awful! There was one girl...who just was mean spirited and everyone just stayed out of her way including me. She was a Big girl, who was sarcastic and who seemed to enjoy hurting others!
One fateful Friday late evening...another young girl, who was small and quiet came up short a lot of money...I didn't work behind the teller line but my heart went out to her so I started helping her look for this 2000 and something dollar mistake. Her direct supervisor who was kind but also not very good at managing people told the rest of her staff that because of the sizable outage...all the tellers would be audited before they could leave! The big girl was having a cow...and it was painful for all of us to listen to! She complained loudly while we all dutifully counted cash and reviewed paperwork! She was hungry, she was tired and finally she had had enough...she walked over to the small girl and said that this was all her fault and she was just S.T.U.P.I.D....
I said..."Knock it off you witch" only I pronounced it with the BAH sound! There was the sound of silence...I got every one's attention as I hadn't said much until then! Big girl...got mad and stepped forward ...I stepped forward...I was ready to turn the other cheek...her cheek round and round! Oh God...Chick fight in a bank...news at 11:00 pm...How did I get here?
It was then that both not very effective managers ordered both of us to the office! I am wondering how a good girl like me ended up in trouble...while I see real fear in Big girl's eyes...that was perplexing!

The office manager was a nice women who happened to be Christian but as I said she hadn't been very effective as a manager.
She asked Big girl what happened and she told her side of the story...when she got to the part where I said witch only not witch...I was feeling ashamed because I could hear the hurt in the girl's voice...I realized she was only about four years older than my oldest son.
The manager dutifully chastised her for making the small girl feel bad and then she looked at me!
She spoke softly... and broke my heart "Ronda, you know our words should edify our God!" I was moved beyond anything else she could have said to me...
I turned to this girl and put my hand on her arm...which shocked her and with tears in my eyes...I said "I am so sorry I said that!" and I was sorry...I hadn't made this better for the small girl...I had made it worse for everyone!
I would like to say this girl became nicer...she did a little and I would love to say I don't swear anymore...I don't... much! But... I have never forgotten the time in that managers' office and what she reminded me. The political season is upon us and so we can all choose to be nasty or not...

Books, Coffee and Blogging...Who Could Ask for Anything More?

For those of you who asked for a Bloggy Book Club button my very talented daughter created this one...I like it! I love books, coffee and blogging! They are all in this button!
***Note...Hubby was not happy that I did not say he should be in the button...that goes without saying that not everything I need is in this button*** (back to regular programming)

My daughter was a marketing coordinator for a company out of St. Pete, Florida and she had lot's of opportunities for travel and one of those times...she even took her mother to Dublin, Ireland.
My daughter left that position to teach middle school English and she loved it...I say loved it because due to decreased enrollment numbers she lost her teaching position. She was really sad...but she has come to work with us in our business! It is a joy having her with us. So, now my office has company in it and it is great having her with us! My daughter, Rachel Marie created my Bloggy Book Club Button...I hope you like it! I am still having two Give-aways...here and here!

Rays Going To the World Series

Tampa Bay Rays playing for the World Series...and my son who also shaved his head with a Ray-hawk!!
My baby had beautiful hair!






My son shaved his son and my grandson's head to give him a hair style that is quite popular in Tampa right now...
It's called the Ray-Hawk...to celebrate Tampa Bay Rays going to the World Series!!!!
Don't forget to enter the Give-away here and here!

The Sunday Salon

I have finished The Shack by William P Young for Bloggy Book Club and I will be blogging about that on October 26th...I enjoyed this book!

I am more than half way through Gilead by Marilynne Robinson and so far just consider it a pleasure to be lost in it's pages!
I feel, with these two books read back to back like I might be on a some spiritual journey of some kind...they really have impacted me in a positive way! I would recommend either one.

I am having a Giveaway for Halloween here and Travel with Ronda is having a Giveaway here!

That's Franken...Steen

Simple...Simple
Give-away!!! Just say Hi and I will enter your name in a drawing for.... a DVD of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein.
Drawing on October 31th...announcing on November 1, 2008
Comment with Hi...you are wonderful! You get one entry...
if you post about a Read-a-thon Bethany at B&B exlibres is doing for Living Water International or sponsor her...I will put a total of ten entries for you! YOU are wonderful! Thanks! Let me know in this comment ...what you are doing! Good Luck!
My Hubby and I got two of these DVD's from The Bonnie Hunt Show...
so we wanted to share!

For another Give-away visit Travel with Ronda or Ronda's Rants on the Run as Carrie calls it!

Speaking of Carrie ...my friday foto is the next post!!!

friday foto fierce as a lion

I am not as brave as my grandson...but I am getting braver!
My Hubby loves to take my picture and I am always telling him "No!"
It has been over 30 years of me saying "No!" That's a lot of No's. I have never felt comfortable about how I look. I am also uncomfortable with people watching me while I pose for pictures! Ugh!
But...I not only posed with people watching for this picture ... but I am posting it with friday foto fiesta finish!!! I am in Culver City, California!
I have come a long way baby!!
For more Friday Fotos visit Candid Carrie.

Also, I haven't traveled anywhere lately but I am featuring some bloggers on Travel with Ronda who have traveled and one who lives in a place that looks like paradise! Travel with Ronda!Or Ronda's Rants on the Run! **Giveaway!**

He ain't afraid of "No Ghosts!"

***My Daughter made me change my title as...I quoted the movie line wrong!!!***

My Grandson is fearless...well almost fearless and he is only three! I have admired this quality about him for awhile now. He is inquisitive, energetic and fearless...the trifecta of terror for Mommas... luckily his Mommy is fearless, too.
Recently, he asked that we spend an evening together, he, his sister, Gigi and Papa. So...I said " What would you like to do?" His answer was "I want to go to McDonald's!" No surprise there...not only does it have food he likes, but a built in play area and a lady who works there that loves him! He has the hook- up on toys...she gives him little bags filled with Happy Meal toys...every time she sees him! ( I have some serious competition from that little lady) My grandson then surprised me with..."I want to go to Walgreen's!" "Walgreen's?" I say..."Okay" I said.
The little grandson said after Walgreen's he wanted to go to my house to feed the dogs, cats and fish! He likes to feed our two dogs and two cats and then we go outside and sit by the lake and throw hunks of bread to the cat-fish!
I loved his choice for our evening but the Walgreen's was a bit surprising!

So...after we finished up a wonderful time at our favorite restaurant McDonald's , topped off our supper with a fine desert of after dinner coffee(me) and ice cream and hot apple pie (them...okay and me) the Grandson announced "Let's go to Walgreen's!" My Hubby and I just smiled and said "Okay!" We were happy to take him there just perplexed by his choice.

We get to Walgreen's and my Grandson's face gets a little serious...I am really confused..."I thought this is where you wanted to come ?" I ask.
"I do" he answers solemnly.
He walks slowly looking down aisles as he goes...pausing until he reaches what he is looking for...
we stop and my Grandson looks down the long aisle and then up at me...
"We don't have to go down there..." I start to say and He says..."Let's go Gigi" and we don't run away which would indicate this child has some of my DNA...no we start the long walk down the Halloween Aisle!
Picture a Halloween aisle in Walgreen's with all those battery operated freaky, scary little beings!
My grandson goes up to a Cobra and puts his hand out and pulls it away at least five times. I say "Sweetie, lets go to the toy aisle" which the grand daughter even at 16 months understands and frankly would rather do!
The grandson wouldn't leave...he was determined to push every button of every scary little being he could find on that aisle! I couldn't watch...I left with the Grand daughter so at least both of them would not keep their Mother up all night with nightmares!
My Hubby said that the Grandson touched each one...starting with the cobra who as you push the button... strikes at your hand and ending with this witch who when you push her button she pulls her head from the top of her body until she appears headless! My Hubby said at each one...he would recite the mantra...
"It's only pretend...It's only pretend...It's only pretend!"
He walked the whole aisle, trying each thing twice or more and when he felt like he conquered it...
"He announced..."Okay, let's go feed the dogs!"
I am in awe of this little boy and I wish I was as able to face my fears as bravely as he does!
Mariah at Insane Mama is having a give-away at Halloween...Check it out!!

You Did For Me...

I committed to Blogging today about poverty...and then I realized I don't know much about poverty firsthand! I have never went to bed hungry except by choice and then I am sure I got up in the middle of the night and made myself a sandwich! I have never listened to my children cry from hunger...they may have cried because they did not like what I made them for dinner but never from hunger! I have never slept outside in the elements because I have always had the means to provide a roof over my head or parents that did that for me! I don't even camp because I don't enjoy it! I have a nice hot shower every morning and fresh clean clothes to wear! These are my blessings that I take for granted...

I wanted to look up statistics to show you how many homeless there are in Florida but do we really understand numbers? I don't think so...What I do know... I can't not look at the homeless in Florida anymore. They are everywhere. I guess some came because of the promise or hope of work that never materialized! We see them whether we want to or not . You know that moment... we all have that moment... when we either look away or make eye contact. If we look away...we don't have to feel anything...whether it be judgment, pity or apathy.

I see them now in huge numbers of people in groups on street corners...regulars, who have formed families or who are families! These are people who are mentally ill, alcoholics or drug addicts or people who are "down on their luck!" What a nice phrase for something so dreadful! I can't look away anymore!

They are almost always dirty as it is difficult for them to find a place that will let them shower.
Our community chamber and a group of churches have done something about this need...they formed I am Hope Cafe and there we serve a daily meal at no charge and we are hoping to arrange for showers. Hubby and I have the privilege of serving meals to these people. Some are ill, or have taken drugs, or have been drinking or they are people who have lost everything! Some want to be right where they are, some who hate where they are or others who don't know how they got where they are! Children are fed. Babies are fed. All are fed.

I don't pretend that we will fix this problem...just that I won't look away and they will be fed.

The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Matthew 25:40

Has your community been affected by poverty? How have they addressed it?
Visit Blog Action Day Poverty and join the conversation.

The Cool Girls!

Okay... I have to be honest here...I don't know what I am doing...I am trying to hang with those cool girls...you know... those girls!
Well, I don't know if my clothes are right, if my hair is right and God don't even get me started on my makeup...I think I might need more mascara! Too much?
A lot, of them are younger and prettier, shoot...most of them are! What will we talk about...will they even want to talk to me? What have they heard about me? There might have been some talk...always some talk...gabbing really.
Oh...
what will I say?
Well, let's see..I am supposed to hang this here... and I guess I'll stand here or maybe there...
Now...I have noticed lot's of these girls supporting each other with comments and kind words, just being "the cool girls" so I am trying to join in and not stick out! Check out the The Secret is in The Sauce and look at the featured blogger...Don't forget to leave some comment love! Me too, Me Too!
Here are five of the "cool girls" I was telling you about...
You know, I don't even know if I look good in leopard!
Elizabeth at Thoughts from an Evil Overlord
Carrie at Candid Carrie
Mamahut at where else... her house
Jennifer at The Fun House
A Day in Rhonda's Life which sometimes seems like the movie Groundhog's day! (Kidding...cool girl)

Please Let Kate Win!!!

Okay...I am a little concerned about my daughter-in-law and son wanting to win this contest....Look what Carter did to his sister!!!

We unbelievably did not win last week's contest but we have submitted this drawing "'er picture" of Kate after her brother finished making a work of art out of her! He did this while his poor Mama had a call from nature...when you have to go ...you go...She could hear them giggling and she kept asking Carter "Is Katie okay?" Carter kept saying "She's fine! Mama."

Katie washed up fine...They were washable makers! Please vote for Kate as the Messiest Kid!

Bloggy Book Club

Okay...Some have requested a button for Bloggy Book Club...I will make one for November but if you want to put up one for October..."Just save as" on you desk top and link this blinkie back to me! http://rondasrants.blogspot.com/

Again ...here's the info...

The Shack by William P Young. Read it and Blog about it October 26, 2008! Candid Carrie is bringing the cheese ball!

The Shack

I just finished The Shack buy William P. Young.
This is the choice for the October Bloggy Book Club and I did enjoy this book...it is true... I had lots and lots of crying while I read! Good crying though...
I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks of this book! I also enjoyed reading the author's blog page...Please pick the book up and read it...but more importantly give the book away...so someone else will be blessed by it!
Blog October 26, 2008 about The Shack

THIS MEANS WAR!!!!

Okay...apparently there is a little hard feeling over the fact that Carrie of Candid Carrie lost my Give-away twice!!! ( You heard me you loser!) First, she lost the contest ...Most Memorable Vacation to Karla at Zander & Me and then she lost the Bonnie Hunt Give-away to Mariah at Insane Mama...So, a few snide comments here and there by Carrie and I think, okay... I will take the high road..y'know... be the bigger person kind of thing!

So... she then takes it up a notch....I am left off Friday Foto Finish Fiesta...uh-huh!!!! Can I get a witness? I watch all day as others are listed and NO RONDA...all day!!!

I think..."It's cause of these stupid contests!"
"No...it's because I am a Democrat!"
"It's 'cause I have bad breath !"
"I have BO...Oh, my God!"
I email her and offer a free puppy ...she loves dogs...that will do it!
She declines..."No puppies...I don't want them!"
OMG...I think..."Carrie doesn't want a puppy! This is serious"
I go to bed depressed... knowing I have fallen from Carrie's Grace!
I wake up this morning...hoping that all is forgiven...but No...I am still not on THE LIST!
No Ronda's Rants anywhere...I have been banished, forgotten, discarded...
Then I hear my Hubby laughing hysterically (like a girl!!!...like a little girlie man!!)
He never laughs at what I say...I hear crickets after I speak...besides I haven't opened my mouth this morning!
Finally...I say " What in God's Green earth are you laughing at?"
He tries to compose himself.... finally he says... out of breath...
"That Candid Carrie!!"
AGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Maybe , I can buy her a new car!

***BTW...He was laughing at A Engineers Guide to Cats at the bottom of Carrie's blog!

friday foto... Please Vote!

Most of my family attended a rally!! My Hubby took this picture of my daughter and I!
I am thankful to live in a country that has free elections and freedom of speech!
Please vote! I am not asking you to vote for a particular candidate...just make sure you vote! Please do not allow only a small portion of our country decide our future!


We can have differences of opinion without being disparaging!

Visit Candid Carrie for more friday fotos

WHAT????

It's just the Hubby and I... and two dogs and two cats left at home. Sometimes, I wonder what a person hiding in the closet would think of us...
Okay, I don't think of this often... because that would just be paranoid but... sometimes I do wonder!

We are aging and starting to show visible signs of aging. Well, I can't actually see the signs... because nine times out of ten...I can't find my glasses! My memory is gone... What was I talking about? Oh..yeah!
My Hubby's hearing is nearly gone...I used to think it was selective hearing until that time in the car...
We were on a romantic drive, just the two of us...when something caught my eye out the window...I can't even remember what it was... ( remember...my memory is gone!) So...I looked at my sweetie and said "Wow, what do you think that was about?" My Hubby looked at me strangely, paused and shrugged his shoulders and then stuck his tongue out!
"Why on earth did you do that?" I said.
He replied "Didn't you say...Stick you tongue out?"
"No! Why would I say that?"
"I don't know...Why did you?"
"I didn't!"
That story had slipped from my mind until a couple of days ago...

The Hubby was in the kitchen reading the paper...silently cursing me for blogging...I am sure, when I was trying to leave a comment for Rhonda about Niagara...it looked like it was spelled wrong...so I yell across the house to the kitchen...
"How do you spell Niagara?"
He answers back "Why do you want to spell Viagra?"
"I don't" I yell..."I want to spell Niagara"
"I...heard...what ...you... said... Why...do...you...want ...to ...spell...Viagra? He said slowly!
"I... don't!" I yell back just as slowly!
He stomps down the hallway..."Why...do...you...want...to... spell ...Viagra?
" I don't" I say..."I want to spell Niagara!"
"Oh...N-i-a-g-r-a"
So...he told me wrong... and that's why I misspelled Niagara on Rhonda's blog!

It Doesn't Cost Anything to be Kind ...

Visit 5 Minutes for Mom for more Wordless Wednesdays

Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers today!
Everyone I come in contact with lately seems nervous and scared and grouchy! And I don't just mean my family...This is a scary time for many of us and the financial situation for everyone may seem dismal. It is one bad news report after another! But...we will all be fine! I just thought it is important to remind all of you...to stop and be thankful for your blessings! If you can be generous today ...make the choice to be generous! I don't mean just financially...
I mean be kind to each other.
Be patient with each other.
Smile and take a moment to see the goodness in each other!
Be thankful!
Let's try to pay-it-forward in the real world today and blog about it!
I know I am going to try to be generous and remember I have so much to be thankful for...that little girl above is one of them!
For Wordful Wednesdays visit 7 Clown Circus

I Don't Ask For Fame or Fortune...

I just ask that my Grand Daughter wins this contest....please vote for her and tell all your friends!!!

Please go here and VOTE for our Kate Marie

Thank You For Being My Friend....

Scary Mommy has an awesome giveaway...
Good Morning coffee! Which should be called Good Morning Friend because that is how I feel about my morning coffee! I would love to win this and I am sure you would too! So head over and see Scary Mommy! Speaking of Friends...


Dawn at Dawn's Place gave me this really nice award and I want to pass it along to people who are as nice as Dawn!

We need friends for many reasons,
all throughout the season.
We need friends to comfort us
when we are sad,
and to have fun with us
when we are glad.
We need friends to give us good advice,

We need someone we can count on,

and treat us nice.
We need friends to remember us
once we have passed
sharing memories that will always last.

So here is my five choices and the reason's why I chose them...

Brenda at Queen of Good Intentions because she is a good Mommy who is creative but in an way that doesn't beat the budget...she knows how to make these amazing things out of inexpensive, everyday items. I really admire that!
Gina at Lattes & Lipsticks because she remembers that your spouse can be your greatest friend if you let them be! I admire that!

Carrie at Candid Carrie because she is funny...like no one else can be and because she throws amazing parties every Friday and invites all of us...and NEVER asks us to clean up after ourselves! I just love that!

Jennifer at the Fun House because she loves her family and creates a fearless daily celebration of living life to the fullest and she invites us to follow along! I admire her fearlessness!

Elizabeth at Thoughts from an evil overlord...I still think this is the most oddly named blog...
but I love that she always teaches me something new...I am always informed after visiting her. I love learning new things!
Speaking of Elizabeth she is having an awesome giveaway to celebrate a very important birthday!!
Wish her a Happy Birthday and enter her contest...also please consider registering as a bone marrow donor. She has the information on her blog...I told you...she is always teaching!

Six Years Ago Today...

My oldest son was smart enough to marry the most wonderful girl and they have become a couple who is celebrating 6 years of marriage today!
They have given us the most amazing grand kids anyone could ever hope to have...we are so blessed by them and their family!
Happy Anniversary Rob and Rachel! We love you so much, Mom and Dad. (mostly Mom 'cause it's my blog)