Wednesday, February 29, 2012

We're EXPECTING!

Russ, Manda and I are eagerly anticipating the arrival of our newest family member on Friday, March 16.
I know, this may be a total surprise ~ after all you probably had no idea that we were expecting.

Neither did we.

How did we not know we are expecting?  Am I dense? Clueless? Are we crazy?  Russ is (almost) 55; I am (almost) 45 and our daughter is 19. It was just this week that we discovered that we will be adding to our family.

We could not be more thrilled and can barely contain our excitement and joy.

Do we even have a clue as to how are lives will change having a baby in the house? The sleepless nights? The worry that we are nurturing, properly caring for and properly loving this new part of our hearts?

Well, we are not crazy. I am not usually too dense and I try not to be clueless.

In our defense, we "knew" in our hearts that we were expecting. We may not have expected it to be this soon. But this is the right time, and by March 16, we will be ready. And we know our new baby is a girl. Her name is Carly.


   (photo courtesy of Rhonda K. Smith of Pine Forest Kennels)


Isn't she jus the CUTEST!!!!   Carly is a Beagle!  We love beagles and have been missing being a beagle family since our Sweet Kodi Girl passed away 3 years ago at nearly 17 years of age.

Finding a beagle pup is NOT easy; and finding a HEALTHY, HAPPY beagle pup raised by a RESPECTIBLE, HONEST, CARING wonderful breeder is even harder. But we are thrilled to say that we found Pine Forest Kennels  

Rhonda K. Smith is the amazing breeder who sees her beagles as family 1st and breeds them to share the love of beagles with others. Yes, she is a breeder. But she is NOT a puppy mill.

Carly will be 8 weeks old and ready to come to California on Friday, March 16.  She'll arrive on a Delta flight and we just can not wait to snuggle her and love her in person. We already adore her!

Once we get her home I 'll get lots more pictures and share them with you.

Welcome, Carly!!! We love you!




Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Cookie Monster


Poor Cookie Monster - Everyone wants to delete the cookies.

Can you image how the poor Cookie Monster must feel? He must feel horrible; like his whole world is crashing around him and there is just nothing to look forward to.

I wonder how many times our words are misunderstood and how mant times we accidentally bruise someone's heart and emotions?

Sometimes it is not what we say; but how we say it. And other times it is because we didn't think before we spoke. Contrary to the children's rhyme: words CAN and do hurt.

I have a friend who is currently battling depression and despair that stems from her childhood and her marriage to the wrong person. She can't get past the bruised feelings and damaged emotions. I pray for her daily but ~ I worry that she'll never rise above the pain and suffering. Her self confidence is her choice and she can choose to rise above the words that have shaken her foundation. She just does not believe she can.

We all need to remember that kind words and a gentle voice can bolster a person's self confidence.

Can we all make a vow to take just a second and pause before we open our mouths? We may not mean the hurtful words that are spoken but once they have been spoken it is hard to take them back.

May your day be filled with laughter and happiness; your heart beat with joy and may you know that you are loved and respected for the person that you are. God created you; you are perfect.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Senior Banking ..... PRICELESS!!!!!!


This was forwarded to me from my mom who is a savvy senior in and of her own right. I could not help but share it.


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Shown below, is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by an 86 year old woman.

The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times.

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Dear Sir:



I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month.



By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it..



I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years.



You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.



My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally answer your telephone calls and letters, --- when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.



From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person.



My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.



Be aware that it is an OFFENSE under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope.



Please find attached an Application Contact which I require your chosen employee to complete.



I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative.



Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof.



In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me.



I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service.



As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.



Let me level the playing field even further.



When you call me, press buttons as follows:



IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALING, PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH



#1. To make an appointment to see me



#2. To query a missing payment.



#3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.



#4 To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.



#5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.



#6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home.



#7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required.



Password will be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorized Contact mentioned earlier.



#8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through



#9. To make a general complaint or inquiry.



The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.



#10. This is a second reminder to press* for English.



While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.



Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.



May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year?



Your Humble Client



And remember: Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to piss us off.