HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May 2012 bring you blessings of health, happiness, and plenty.

Are You Ready?

It's almost 2012.  Seems like only a year ago or maybe a century ago that it was December 30, 2000 and we were waiting for the year 2001.  We were yearning to fully embrace the 21st century.

We're well into the new century now and it hasn't disappointed on one front.  Cellphones, computer tablets, cars that park themselves, motion controlled video games - just a few examples of the modern toys that are now commonplace and taken for granted, but were unheard of in 1912.  That were science fiction in 1962, just over halfway through the 20th century. 

Feared diseases that were incurable in 1912?   Many are now completely curable, most are preventable, some have been eradicated.  Organ, skin, toes, hands, and even face transplants are almost ordinary occurrences.  Plastic surgery can lift you up and do you over so even your own mother wouldn't recognize you.

Can you imagine what will be in 2062?

On another front, what was then is still now.  Wars, conflicts, riots.  What happened to the promise of peace?  Why does it seem like governments are still stuck in the past?

And still another side of progress.  The rules for morality aren't as clear as they used to be.  It's confusing to people of my generation.  We can't understand how attitudes changed that much in one lifetime.  We're happy that there is more tolerance now, but sometimes we think it goes too far.  Some actions should still be intolerable.

And what about how the economy has changed?  Don't get me started!  It seems worse now, but that leaves room for improvement.

When I typed "Are you ready", I was planning to discuss new year resolutions.  I don't know how I got off topic after the first sentence.   I haven't really said much here.  Each of these topics are too broad to cover in one blog post, but it will give you something profound to discuss by the office water cooler or coffee pot on Tuesday morning.  In 2012.

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas!  Which would mean that you didn't have time to read this on Christmas day.

I set off my first smoke alarm of the day about an hour ago.  I was just browning the pork roast before I threw it in the crock pot.  Nothing was on fire or smoking.  Hope I didn't wake anybody up, but since it's Christmas morning they should have been up anyway?  Right?

I have breakfast baking in the oven and it's taking forever to get done.  Dinner won't be till later this afternoon instead of at noon so I'm having a breakfast casserole.  On ordinary days I eat lunch at 11 so by the time the roast and everything is done, I'll be starving. 

We're not having a white Christmas this year which is OK with me.  I don't like the idea of everybody driving all over the place in the snow.  Especially when they're full of eggnog, if you know what I mean.

I've got Christmas carols playing while I work and write this morning.  I realized this year that I have an odd assortment of holiday CD's.  Something for everyone, from jazz to classics to country to what-in-the-world-is-that.   Kind of like Christmas dinner with the family.

Christmas 2011

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Cooking for Christmas

I'm changing my Christmas menu hourly. 

I was going to have apple pie and pumpkin pie, but the recipe made two pumpkin pies so I decided to have applesauce instead of apple pie.  Yesterday, I changed the slaw to sauteed cabbage and crossed off the green beans, but I may reverse that later today.   I wanted mashed potatoes and oyster stuffing but they don't really go with the main course, Cranberry Pork Roast, so they're out now. 

I was going to have Raspberry Lemonade but I was too tired to carry it home from the store.

One of the reasons I decided to have applesauce instead of pie was because I bought 8 pounds of Fuji apples on sale this week.  I thought to myself when I saw them, "Fuji apples make good apple pie."  but when I Googled, several sites said they were too mushy for apple pie.  However, I just stirred the applesauce which has cooked twice as long as the recipe said and the apple slices are still holding their shape very well.  I had to use a potato masher to break them up.  It's a good thing I'm partial to chunky applesauce.  I still have half the apples left and since I was right I may make an Apple Slab Pie after all.  Because I'm partial to apple pie too.

Speaking of Googling, did you see Google today?  Push the right buttons and you'll see a light display while Jingle Bells play.

Christmas Music

We got a little silly at work last week discussing Christmas music when I mentioned that I hadn't heard "Walking 'round in Women's Underwear" this year.  It wasn't a complaint, just a comment.  I think the only reason I even thought of it was because I'd heard "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" that morning on the drive to work.

Much to their credit, nobody else at work had even heard of the underwear song before.

Here's  a catchy little wintertime ditty you may not have heard before, but you can share it with your co-workers, children, or even your grandma without blushing: "I Wanna Be a Snowman, but I'm Just a Flake" by Caspar Babypants.  And guess what?  You can download the whole song for nothing!

It's about time

This post is about time again.  I woke up this morning and realized that Christmas is next Sunday.  Having written that, I checked the calendar to make sure because it's hard to believe this month is almost over.

I'm counting down the months till spring and I can almost mark this month off the list.  I know that Spring doesn't really come in March, but it's the hint of spring, the any-day-now-it's-coming feeling that helps me make it through the rest of winter.

I know that some of you love winter.  You like the snow, and the crisp air, and ice skating and all that stuff.  I know. 

I like a little snow, a little bite in the air, the thrill of doing a couple of 360's on the sidewalk when one's careless foot hits that one patch of ice.  I think the sun is brighter in the winter.  When it shines. 

And it's shining right now.  It was supposed to rain today but I don't think the sun will allow that.  An early Christmas present to me!

I was thinking

I can't remember about what, but it was pretty interesting.  And it's not even Tuesday.

A New Policy

I have a new policy.  When I access a web site and get an immediate pop-up of any kind I close the page and move on.  You know what if mean.  They usually say things like:

• Thanks for visiting. Want to take a survey?
• Thanks for visiting. Want to rent some movies?
• We're a great site. Want to sign up for some great annoying email?
• LOOK AT ME! I can make annoying pop-up boxes!

Erma Bombeck Writing Competition

The Erma Bombeck Writing Competition begins January 3, 2012 and ends at 7:30 AM, EST, February 14, 2012, so don't procrastinate. 

Here are some facts about the competition:

• The competition is held every two years.
• It is open to almost everyone in the world.
• It is sponsored by the Washington Centerville Public Library and the University of Dayton (Ohio).
• There are four categories: Humor (Global and Local) and Human Interest (Global and Local)
• There is a $500 prize for the winner in each category.
• There's a $15 entry fee.
• In 2010 there were only 651 entries.

For official information on eligibility, rules, and entering, check out the competition page at the Washington Centerville Public Library website.

Here are 5 facts about Ohio native Erma Bombeck:

• She was funny.
• As an American humorist, Erma Bombeck wrote nationally syndicated newspaper columns, magazine articles, and 15 books about suburban home life.
• She was a TV personality, contributing regularly to ABC's Good Morning America as well as being a popular guest on many talk shows.
• She was criticized by conservatives for her vocal support of the Equal Rights Amendment for Women.
• She was married and had 3 children, 1 girl and 2 boys.

Here are 10 quotes attributed to Erma Bombeck:

• There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.
• The only reason I would take up jogging is so I could hear heavy breathing again.
• Seize the moment. Think of all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart.
• A child needs your love more when he deserves it least.
• There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.
• It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.
• Housework can kill you if done right.
• When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out.
• Marriage has no guarantees. If that's what you're looking for, go live with a car battery.
• When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'

Passion

As I write this I'm listening to a PhotoShelter webinar Focus on Your Passion  with Tim Mantoani and Allen Murabayashi.  It's about passion and photography, but Mr. Mantoani made one point I want to share with you.  You can work for money or you can make money by following your passion.

Some people would say this is stupid advice.   Their advice is to get a stable job with a decent salary.

Here's some advice from somebody who wishes she'd paid attention years ago: If you spend all your time dreaming, you'll never know if you can be successful following your dream.

As I see it you've got three choices:

1. Keep your job and endure it.  A bad job can kill you. Literally, it will suck the life and soul right out of your body.  But if you're not willing to change, stop your whining and just do it.  And, for heaven's sake, do it well.
2. Keep your day job. Be sensible.  Some people can dive head first into change, but others are more cautious. If security is important to you, keep your day job while you do research, get training, practice, try some part-time work in your future field. and save your money.  Don't wait for an opportunity to move into your chosen field, make the opportunity.  And don't wait forever - Ms. Ever may not make it. 
3. Go for it!  If you don't mind living on the edge (or in your car) just do it. 

Do or do not, there is no try.... Yoda

 Watch the video if you get the chance, even if you're not into photography.