Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone. I am making this one short. But promis that next week I will be doing one with pictures, and all. That I am still taking it slow with my healing and all. But have been back to the Doctors' once so far. But do have another appointment next week.

Still I did want to let you all know that you are in my thoughts and all. So here is 'Wishing All A Very Merry Christmas." Hope you got everything you wished & hoped for. Plus more! Oh yeah, I bet you ate alot too! :0)

Will be back next week. Till then have fun and enjoy the weekend.

Love and blessings to all,

Nana Net

Hey.....It's Me......Oh So Thankful

Hi Everyone.........

Yes, I have returned. Yet, still am a little weak, but getting stronger everyday! I first and foremost want to "THANK YOU ALL," for the prayers, well wishes, positive energy, and everything else you sent my way. I know without it the results may not have turned out as great! So THANK YOU ALL..........

As for how I am now.... Well it will take no less than 8 to 12 weeks for me to get back to feeling normal. Though not sure if I ever was! LOL But still the two Doctor visits this past week went great. That all of the "BOOP" disease is gone! YEAH!!!!!! And I do not have to take any type of steroids or prednizone medicines for now. My Doctors said that he will be seeing ALOT of me and me of him. This is to make sure that I stay healthy and do not get sick again. For which I am Thankful for. Seems I was blessed with some really terrific doctors and surgeons.

Am sure you all are wandering what exactly is "BOOP" disease. Well I have enclosed the link for you to check out. That it is a very bunch of big words and sort of hard to explain. All in all it is treatable! So here is the link to it. http://www.epler.com/BoopWhat
If you have any questions, just ask and I will do my best to answer them.

Just know that now I am back, I will try to Blog about what happened to me. Plus get caught up on my "Tastier Tuesdays" for you all. There is only one thing...... I do tire out easily, so some of the posts may be very short. Overall though I will get them done.

Till then I wish you all a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. Enjoy it to the fullest and try not to overdo it! LOL

Update on Me & My Lung

Wanted to let everyone know that I am still here in the hospital! That I am scheduled to have my "Open Lung Biopsy" tomorrow (10-27-2008). My surgeon has informed us of the pros and cons dealing with this surgery. So here is a hoping and praying that we are prepared for what may come!

But on a serious note....the Dr. did say the possibility exists that I may loose the upper lobe of my right lung. Or the diseased part of it. He really is not for sure how much untill he gets in there and has a look see. As to my reaction, all I can say is "There are others who have it worse than me!" "And that whatever happens is meant to be."

All I do know is that I am alright and still have a lot on my mind. And my mind on a lot! Plus would like to "Thank You All" for the many wonderful prayers, positive energy, and good thoughts that you are sending my way. As well as to my family also.

Take care and blessings to you all......... Nana Net

Here Is What Is Happening....

Hi all. First I am truly sorry for not being able to do "Tastier Tuesdays," this past week. Now will I be able to this week. See today is the first day I have been able to use a computer since the debut of my "Swiss Steak" recipe.

Plus I am n ot sure when I will be able to use one again for a very long period of time. The reason for this is that I am in the hospital.........This is my 8th day and there looks like no definite date as to when I will be going home either. What started out as so called "Flu-Bug symptoms" on Tuesday, October 14, 2008, turned into something much worse we discovered. That finally on that Friday, the 17th, my Doctor decided to send me to the ER, who then admitted me into the hospital. So here I am still today.

The only thing we know so far is that after being in "Isolation" for 7 days, I am no longer contagious, nor was I ever! That I do not have pneumona, nor the flu. Nor have I had for the last 24 hours anymore of the 102 -104 degree temperatures! The broncoscopy thingy the Dr. did came back negative. Although the other folks would have liked more tissue samples than what they got! Still I will take the good news anyday!

Now as to why I am still here. Well, seems that I still do have this mass in my right lung. And that yes it did go from being 3cm in size to 6cm in size in just 3 days. Though by all Medical Doctors who have seen me all agree it is not cancer. They do want to perform another procedure on me! And it is one that I am very familiar with. It is an "Open Lung Biopsy." That we will be talking to the Pulmonary Cardiologist about everything Friday sometime as to the when, whats and hows of it all.

Till then just know that I honestly did not abandon you all, nor my blog. I have just been out of touch with the world the last week is all. And once we get everything settled back down I will post those recipes. Plus it will be more than one at a time. At least till I catch them up! Just know that my energy is very low to nothing now . But it will be back soon..... So enjoy your weekend everyone. Plus take care and let someone somewhere know you love them!

Blessings,
Nana Net

Tastier Tuesdays' Recipe 1

Welcome All...

That starting today and every Tuesday you will find a new and different recipe! Now these will be ones that are either my own, my families, or ones that I have been given or come across throughout my lifetime. Now what kind will they be you ask? Well, you will have to check back on Tuesdays to find out! I will let you know though....expect anything and everything.

So let us get this started now with the first recipe!

Swiss Steak & Gravy

INGREDIENTS:

4 to 5 lbs - Eye of Round Steak
1 - Can Hunts Diced Tomatoes (14.5 oz)
1 - Large Sized Onion
Oil
3 to 4 cups - Flour
Meat Tenderizer
Garlic Salt
Seasoning Salt
Pepper
Water

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat your oven to 325°. Next you get a large sized bowl and put your Flour in it. Take your onion and chop it up and put it over to the side. Then take a very large frying pan/skillet and add enough oil to it to lightly brown the meat. Then cut the burner on to medium heat. Okay, take your Eye of Round Steak and rinse it off with water. Then sprinkle both sides of it with the Meat Tenderizer, Garlic Salt, Seasoning Salt, and Pepper.





Now we will take the Eye of Round Steak (one piece at a time) and lightly flour both sides by rolling it or patting it in the bowl of flour. Then putting it into the frying pan. Be sure to lightly brown both sides. Once this is done put them into the baking dish or your roasting pan. Now drain off 3/4 of your grease. The other 1/4 you will add 2 to 3 Tbsp. of flour to (for gravy) and stir untill all of the lumps of flour are gone. Now add about 1 1/2 cups of water. Making sure to keep stirring the whole time. Keep adding water as needed so that the gravy does not thicken! You should end up with a frying pan full of gravy by now!

Okay so we take this frying pan of gravy and pour it over our Eye of Round Steak. Being sure to leave at least a 1/4 to 1/2" space at the top of the dish. Here is when you will get the chopped onion and sprinkle it all over. Now open the can of Hunts Diced Tomatoes and spread them over the top of your dish. Once you get finished you can take a spoon and stir the tomatoes and onions in, if you like.

Bake at 325° for 2 to 3 hours. Though the time can vary. So be sure to check on it after 2 hours. The best way to know is that the gravy will start to thicken up! Plus I recommend using your own judgement!

As a side note this can be made using a crock pot or even a slow cooker! Just be sure to set the setting on low if you are not going to be home to check on it!

Well, there you have it... My first recipe! I do hope you like it and give it a try. It is one that my family truly does love to eat! And I never seem to have any leftovers from it. The only thing I must apologize for is the lack of more pictures. ;0( That I dropped my camera and am having it repaired.

I welcome any and all questions and hope my instructions do not confuse you. Plus I welcome all suggestions! Thanks so much for stopping by! Enjoy the day!

Nana Net

Tastier Tuesdays'

Okay everyone I have come up with an idea. Hopefully you all might like it. That by now most of you have read my profile and seen where I do "LOVE" to cook! Well needless to say it got me to thinking. Which in a nutshell means "Watch Out" here we go again. :0) But no not this time. Instead I want to propose to you the following.

That starting next Tuesday, October 14, 2008, I will start listing some of my recipes! These will be ones that I have either made up myself or have had handed down to me from family and friends throughout my lifetime. Now I choosen this day because it is the best time for me to do it on. Plus I figured everyone would be able to either use the recipe during the week or on the weekend!

Of course I will do my upmost best to include pictures to go along with it. As well as my own recommendations of what side dishes to use. Plus if the food can be cooked using the oven, crock pot, or stove-top! And other little tid-bits of info.Also, you would be able to go back and look at other "Tastier Tuesday" recipes you might have missed, cause they all would be under one link!

So please tell me if you would like for me to give this a whirl or not. I just know that "Cooking is great for the soul." And it surely does fill my heart with joy! Plus it truly makes for some great memories to come back into my mind again and again! And for me to make some new ones too!

Okay, I await your responses....

Blessings,

Nana Net

Fall Has Arrived

Fall weather just somehow renews my body. Maybe it is something in the air. I really do not know what it is. Just that I absolutely do love the Fall Season!

It is the time of year when everything starts to change. The leaves on the trees, the temperatures, and even the days seem to get shorter. That there are lots of Fairs, Festivals, Football games, and others things to do and see! For me it is time to get out your decorations for Halloween first. Then next would be the Thanksgiving ones. And after that …well we all know it would be my Christmas Decorations! Now mind you I wait till after each one is over with! Oh yes, how I do love decorating this time of the year. I just wish the stores, etc. would at least let me ENJOY each holiday before shoving the other one down my throat. You know wait before putting out the Christmas décor until at least the week before Thanksgiving and so on!

Still Fall is the time that I love sleeping with my windows wide opened at night. You know to let in that cool, crisp night air. Aww, how refreshing it is! Plus during the day we have such wonderful cool breezes blowing throughout our house. You should see our babies, Sadie Bella and Lucky. Lord they just love to stay outside all of the time now. That Lucky can be found on her backside with all four legs up in the air snoring away! And Sadie Bella not to far away looking at her like “Lord would you please hush!” :0)
These two surely do keep me laughing. Plus watching them chase each other in the yard is surely something to see. Oh my, how I love my babies!

Another thing that comes along during this time of year is cleaning! Yep, got to get them their cobwebs down. Believe me this is a chore that is not done in a day either. Nope, cause there are windows to be cleaned, siding and decks that needs to be pressured washed, on your hands and knees floor scrubbing, furniture moving and rearranging, and lots and lots of other cleaning! It is also when I go start moving my summer clothes to another closet in another room. Then take my fall and winter clothes and move them into my bedroom. Plus go through them all (summer, fall, and winter) and sort out the ones I no longer wear. Then take the ones I am keeping and wash them all. To which once done I either haul them down to the Goodwill store or donate them to a shelter or something. Do any of you do that?

Yes, Fall has arrived and I am so thankful that it has. Tell me is it your favorite time of the year too?

Come On Over

Let me tell you of a place that I now call home. I have lived here for going on almost 22 years. And really never realized the wonders that it held untill the last several years! All I can say is that I wished I had discovered all that it held sooner!

So where is it that I am talking about you ask? Oh my, it is North Carolina. That here is where I will begin my journey of letting you know what I have discovered so far!

In the "Western" part of the state, up close along the Tennessee/North Carolina state line is a town called Bryson City. Here you will find "The Great Smokey Mountains Railroad." It is one that will take you all on a 4 1/2 hour round trip to the Nantahala River Gorge. (http://www.gsmr.com/) Talk about a great ride! One that will allow you to experience first hand some of the most breath-taking views I have ever seen! You may purchase your tickets in advance (which I highly recommend) for either an open-air car or a closed car. For me it is the "Opened" one! Nothing like feeling mother-nature against your face and breathing it all in! Plus if you love to take pictures this is the way to go. Along on this ride I got to see some lovely mountainsides, barns, rivers, lakes, houseboats, and even an old steel bridge which we crossed over! And did I mention "Fontana Dam?" Yep, got to see it too. It is where the movie "The Fugitive" was filmed starring Harrison Ford! That this is one train ride that offers not only this kind of day trip, but several other kinds. Including ones just for the kids! Now as to when is the right time to go.... Personally for me it would be the Fall. Just because this is when the leaves are changing colors. Yet, the spring time is lovely too. You know when everything is blooming! But be careful if you have allergies!!!!

Now of course you have got to spend a few nights around here in order to enjoy everything that the "Western" part of North Carolina has to offer. Your choice of lodging can range from Hotels, Motels, Houses, Beds & Breakfasts, Inns, and Cabins that you can rent. You can find some really great deals by going to this website. It is http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/north-carolina. Believe me after looking at the places offered here you will be ready to just drop everything and head to these here mountains! And if you own a motorcycle, try your best to ride it here! The roads here were made for them!

Which leads me to some of thoses places that motorcyclists just love to ride! Not only are all of the roads in the "Western" part of North Carolina great for riding your motorcycle. But there are some areas that have specific type roads that seem to have been made with nothing but motorcyle riders in mind. These are for example "The Tail of the Dragon," "The Cherohala Skyway," and "The Blue Ridge Parkway." That the first two are ones my husband and I still have on our "To Do List", left to do! The "Tail of the Dragon" is only 11 miles long, yet has 318 curves in it! WOW, can you just imagine riding on this? And the "Cherohala" is great for its scenic views. Now of course it is 60 miles long and according to it's web-site very remote. As for the "Blue Ridge Parkway" it is one that we ride frequently. There are a lot of gorgeous places where you can stop and have a look see over the side! Or even a picnic lunch. Yet you may even want to go for a hike! I mean you can just ride and ride, but still stop and enjoy all that it has to offer. For more abou these places here are the links to them. http://www.tailofthedragon.com/index.html, http://www.cherohala.com/index.html, http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/.
Hopefully, I may meet you up there one day and we can enjoy a ride together!

As for places to eat, there are a lot of them. But I do love this resturant called "Granny's Kitchen." It is located in Cherokee, right down from Harrah's Casino. Talk about some delicious food at very reasonable prices! You can either order off of the menu or go for the Buffet! We went for the Buffet. There was Fried Chicken, cole slaw, green beans, squash, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, biscuits, okra, macaroni, potato and pasta salad, tomatoes, all the fixings for a fresh salad, roast beef, rice, baked beans, pinto beans, corn bread, and rolls. Plus the various deserts of Cherry and Peach Cobbler, Apple Pie, Banana Pudding, and Ice Cream! There is one desert that everyone must try though.. It is the "Peanut Butter Pie!" Talk about melt in your mouth scrumptious...... Plus there was "Sweet Tea" galore. And before I forget, there is even another location of "Granny's Kitchen in Waynesville, North Carolina! Its' food is just as tasty too!

Well I will stop for now. Thus this will continue with me describing the middle part of my state next. It is known as "The Piedmont Area!" That I just did not want to make this too long to read. Hopefully, you have enjoyed it so far. Please let me know. And if you have questions, I will do my best to answer them.

Thanks for stopping by and do return. Here is wishing you all a fun-filled and enjoyable weekend!

Nana Net

Life's A Beach

Okay folks, not sure what happened to this earlier. But I will repost it! That a few weeks ago I had been busy remodeling one of my bathrooms! Which the above video will show you the end results of how it turned out...

Now believe me this was no easy thing to do! See I am one when it comes to remodeling that I just have a little bitty problem. It is what you call "Picking out the right paint color or colors!" Yep, seems that little old me knows exactly what I want when I decide to do a project. That I even go on-line and play around on the various name brand web-sites to see how the colors will look and all. But then come time to go buy the one or ones that I have choosen...and... Let me just say my dear husband Mike wishes I would just stick to my guns!!! LOL

Well, at first all I was going to do was paint this here bathroom. Nothing else. Just a fresh coat of paint and that was it! Little did we know that our recent trip to the Outer Banks for some much needed relaxation was going to turn this into a total "REDO PROJECT" from top to bottom! Yep, at first it started out just some small simple things got my attention. Things I noticed at the house we were staying at while on vacation. Seems I truly loved the decor there! Well, as we ventured out and checked things out I begin to get some ideas for my own house! That is when Mike realized his wallet might be in trouble!

Now, he is into remodeling and does a lot of this on the side. Plus takes great pride in his work. But of course bless his heart, he never knew what was fixing to happen! That is untill I started filling up the shopping carts, etc. with items for my "Life's A Beach" theme bathroom! Then he knew what was going on. Of course he caved in and off to the races we went.

We found all kinds of neat little things. Plus some other items we are going to use for our other remodeling projects in the house. Though he would not admit to it, he does love shopping! More so when it comes to remodeling the house we live in. Anyway, we certainly did save quite alot of money. Guess because I am one who will hunt for the best bargains! Plus compare prices. Still though I can see my hubby's face everytime he pulled out his wallet to pay! The expression is what you would call "Priceless!" Lord how I love this man!

All in all once we got back home it took me about a week to finish it up. Blame this on me and my deal about paints! Ya know pick it out, get to the store to buy it and Wham! So many to choose from, you get totally lost in it all....(I really need to work on that something bad) Still I am happy with the finished project. It is another item off of my "To Do List" completed for this year.

Of course Mike says he will either build us or buy us a new bathroom cabinet. Plus get us a new door and trim. But those will come once we finish up the other doors and trim in the rest of the house! YEAH.. I can not wait to get started.

Well here is my own little piece of the beach. I hope you all like it as much as we do. Plus maybe it will not disappear off of my blog this time! :0(

ON NO----Tell Me I Did Not Do That...........

On Saturday it seems that the weather got the best of me. Or I should say I let my mood swings! That out and about I went with a friend of mine to lunch. And of course we decided why not go into a few stores afterwards. Ya know just to see what was "On Sale," and to pass the time away. So here we go a looking around amongst the crowds. Man there were alot of people in the stores today! I really do not blame them. Cause it was the first day we had seen the sun in like "FOREVER!" But I should have know that was not going to last long... Amongst the crowd my friend Pam did find her some bargains. As for me, no go. I just was not in the mood for it! Now mind you I do love to go shopping! But this afternoon was not my day for it.

So later on when we got back to my place my hubby was home. He decided we all needed to go out to eat! UGH--I just wanted to stay home for a change! But him and Pam kept after me to go. Saying things like, "Aw come on you can pick out the restaurant, anywhere your heart desires, whatever you want to do we will do, etc.!" Hmm, how could I resist? Well needless to say I gave in and out the door we took off. Now for me all I really wanted to eat was a salad. So off to 'Texas" we headed. By the time we arrived I changed my mind and got a Baked Potato and that was it! Of course Mike and Pam got the full course meals! LOL By the time they were finished with their meals, seems Mike wanted to do some shopping! YEP----that is correct-----Shopping again.......

Ok, here I am, full mood swing in motion inside Target! Slowly but surely walking along, pushing the buggy, talking to myself! Or I should say mumbling under my breath things that I will not repeat on here! Then all of a sudden here comes Mike looking all excited like a kid turned loose for the first time in a candy store! Seems he has found the "Christmas Decorations" inside the store! Lord help me!!!!!!!! See you have to know my Mike, to understand how he is about the holiday Christmas. More so about the decorations and all. :0) That he wants me to go check them out with him. Telling me all about his discovery of the new LED ones! So there I go, buggy and all to explore these new items! Little did I know when I finally made it over there how much my mood was going to change.

My oh my, talk about new and different items to look at this year for Christmas Decor! There it all was laid out in front of me! Disney, Charlie Brown, Nascar, Angels, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Dora-The Explorer, Blues Clues, Taz, Tweety Bird, and all other kinds of Themed ones! Plus you had your wreaths, ornaments, lights, gift boxes, garland, houses, and the LED"S! I must let you know though that 'Target" still had tons of more Christmas things to get out!!!!!! Anyway, here we were looking at all of this, aisle, after aisle, after aisle. The whole time Mike was saying, "Look at what this one does," or " Do you like this," and "Hey, listen to what this one says and does!" I bet you can just imagine by now where my little mind is a going! Yes sirree, you are right. It appears that I spotted something that I had to have. Right there on the bottom shelf. Like a bolt of lightning from out of a clear blue sky it hit me! WHAM!!!!!!!!! The most beautiful thing I had ever seen to go with my collection of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" items!

Now remind you I kept telling myself that I would not buy any of this Christmas stuff before Halloween was over. But this I just had to get. There was only one of them. Plus I just knew if I did not get it now, there would not be anymore of them before Christmas. Or at least that is what I convinced myself of! So down on my knees I went and scooped that baby right up. But before I got back up, low and behold there was another totally different LED one to go with it! Being who I am and all, and collecting my Rudolph items for Christmas......Let's just say it went in the buggy too! After that this voice said to me, "Oh No, you did not do that!" To which I replied, "Yep, I sure did!"

ATTN: Fellow Bloggers....... The Devil Meets Jesus

Oh my, what a way to start the day! A catchy little phrase don't you think? One that has been stuck in my mind every since yesterday! Why you might ask? Well because of mine and Mike's going out and about yesterday!

You see we went to go check out some supplies I needed for my remodeling of our Master Bedroom and Bathroom. Needless to say, it was quite an adventurous trip! That we were gone almost all day. Seems like (as I posted before) I just could not make up my mind about the various paint colors I wanted to use again. Yes, I started out with the one set of colors picked out. But once I got there.... well I started to see some other colors I liked. And off my mind went to racing about different color schemes! UGH!!!

Anyway, at first I did not notice things in the various stores we went to until we walked into Lowes. Then "BAM" it hit me. Like a ton of bricks falling onto my head! There right above me was "CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!" Yes your read it right.......CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!!! Right here almost at the end of September! Not even 2 days into Fall yet! Plus "Halloween" has not even arrived, nor "Thanksgiving!" I mean "What is up with that?" So I turned to Mike as I spotted the blowups, and said, "Look the Devil meets Jesus!" He looked at me dumbfounded and said "Huh?" Then I pointed upwards where he looked up and started laughing. Cause there it all was right across from the "Halloween Decor!"

Now, you know I just had to go and see if there was any other decor set up for Christmas. Which there was. It was all set up in the indoor Garden Center. Seems they were just getting most of it out. While looking around a sales associate said 'Hi" and asked "If we needed any assistance? " We said "No, thanks, "But asked was it not too soon for the Christmas stuff to be out?" She informed us that they were suppose to have had it out already "TWO WEEKS AGO!" Can you just imagine the look on my face when I heard that?

Well, to us we got a chuckle for the rest of the day. Cause every store we went into after that we started noticing they too had various "Christmas Decor" out. Or were in the process of putting it out! And were they side by side with the 'Halloween Decorations?" Yep, either that way or right down from it!

Just Thinking Out Loud

You know today is just one of them there days. The kind where all you do is get lost within yourself! Your thoughts are running rampant within your head and you realize that you are starting to "Think Out Loud!" Well that is what has been happening with me ever since late last night and all day today! Not sure if it has to do with the weather or what. But it appears that my friends seem to know when this is happening to me! Yep, cause my e-mail box is getting flooded with tons of e-mail! LOL

So I got these two e-mails that I wanted to share with everyone. It seems that these two really hit me hard when I read them. They set my mind to rocking and a rolling in every direction you can imagine.... That the first one brought tears a flowing that I have not cried in a very long time. It made me stop and realize just how true this is for so many people in our world today. Seems to me that we all should be able to learn a lesson from this one.

WHY ARE WE HERE?

When I drove up in my taxi cab at 2:30 a.m., the building was
dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
Under these circumstances, many taxi drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, and then drive away.

But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on
taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of
danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself..

So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a
minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged
across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's
stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil
pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon
suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the
furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no
knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box
filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she
said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'.

'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we
got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through
downtown?

''It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.

'Oh, I don't mind,'
she said.

'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.

I looked in the
rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she
continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and
shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next
two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had
once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she
and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone
dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular
building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.
Let's go now.

'We drove in silence to the address she had given me.It was a low
building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a
portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting
her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was
already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into
her purse.'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,'
she said.'Thank you.

'I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning
light. Behind me, a door shut.. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in
thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had
gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID,
~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

You won't get any big surprise in 10 days if you send this to ten people. But, you might help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate by sending it on.

Thank you, my friend...

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might
as well dance.

Well, what do you think ? Sure is something powerful I will say! That for me personally I try to do more for others than for myself. Or at least that is what everyone tells me that I do.. That life is a journey to be treasured. It is one that we should all enjoy to the fullest. To make sure that we are not in a rush or hurry. In other words "SLOW DOWN!" Srop and smell the roses, breath in that fresh air! Notice the small things as well as the big ones too... Like the fresh grass that has just been cut, or a field of hay that has just been mowed, seeing the sun rise or watching it set across the land at night! Or better yet how the scent of "Midnight Blooming Jasmine" smells at night! My how I love that smell! :0) Plus the others fragrances of honeysuckle, roses, and any and all kind of flowers blooming! Really I truly love it! And let us not forget the smells that delight our noses when we walk into someones house and can smell food cooking!!!!!! Oh my the memories that flow through my mind of family get togethers at my Moms & Dads.... Plus my sister Brendas! What fun we all have had! I guess what I am trying to say is "Take Time" to see, hear, feel, smell, and taste all of the wonderous things that life has to offer you. Make memories that will forever be in your heart as well as the hearts of others!

Though these thoughts are still running like crazy through my mind. I mean like the question asked above, "Why are we here?" Does anyone truly know the correct answer to it? For me there is no right or wrong answer. Just that we are here to help one another in some small or big way. Be it through a random act of kindness, generousity, love, to comfort each other, lending a hand, listening or whatever ! We are here not to let time pass us by. Rather to use our time as best we can! And to use it up to the fullest! One day at a time. No more and no less!

So now on t the other e-mail I recieved. It too was from another friend. He seems to know just when I need a helping hand to guide me along. Especially when I feel life is getting me down. So here is what he sent to me.

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Beers

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there IS no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.'

Please share this with someone you care about.. I JUST DID

In closing this out all I can say is that "Mama said that would be days like these!" And she sure was telling me the truth. That these two e-mails that my dearest of friends sent me, I will print and save in my book of memories that I have. It is one full of all kinds of things. I guess you could say it is something that I am leaving behind for my son to one day have. As well as my grandson and future grandkids to enjoy reading! Now you all go and have yourself a beautiful & fun filled, enjoyable day! Live your life to the fullest! And THANK YOU for stopping by to read this. Though it was awful long.....

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I'm Back......

Okay everyone I am going to try this again! That yes, I had a Blog before. But took it down due to personal reasons. Anyway, after giving it much thought and debate here I go again..... So hang on tight, this may get a little bit bumpy. LOL One thing is for sure.......I do have a lot going on in my brain 24 hours a day/7 days a week!

That the title of my blog is one that deals with life in general. Or I should say with "Checking Out Life" period. You will find me rambling on about a variety of subjects here. As well as telling you where you can find great deals on some freebies, coupons, ideas, recipes, and all kinds of fun and interesting things! Now Jeanne can tell ya about my home-made cooking from scratch recipes! Lord knows she loves to have me cook when I come home to visit. :0)

Another thing is that I may even blog about my family. Plus when I get mad too. All in all it is gonna be a mixture of everything and anything you can and cannot think of!

So there you have it. Hope to make some friends to while I am at this here blogging thing. Look forward to the comments too! Take care and enjoy the evening.