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Showing posts from 2014

Roy Clark - Sally Was A Good Ole Girl

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Accept me or walk away

There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it.  You surround yourself with people who make you laugh.  Forget the bad, and focus on the good.  Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't.  Life is too short to be anything but happy.  Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living. There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout: This is me damn it!  I look the way I look, think the way I think, feel the way I feel, love the way I love!  I am a whole complex package.  Take me. . . or leave me. Accept me--or walk away!   Do not try to make me feel like less of a person,just because I don't fit your idea of who I should be and don't try to change me to fit your mold.   If I need to change, I alone will make that decision. When you are strong enough to love yourself 100%, good and bad--you will be amazed at the opportunities that life presents you.

Releasing the Past

Releasing the Past. Jeff Keller Posted: 24 Oct 2014 03:00 AM PDT Do you condemn yourself for things which you did--or failed to do--in the past?  Everyone does this at some point.  However, if you want to lead a successful and productive life, it is imperative that you release the past and not blame yourself for events which have already transpired and which cannot be changed. Ask yourself this question:  has "beating yourself up" about the past ever helped you or made you feel better?  If the answer is "no," I hope that you will make a commitment to stop this self-defeating behavior. The successful person takes this approach:  learn from past mistakes and make adjustments in future behavior.  The strategy of berating yourself for past conduct solves nothing and only serves to lower your self-esteem.  You create a vicious cycle where negative experiences and negative feelings are reinforced, which leads to more negative outcomes and more negative feelings.

9/11/01

So 13 years ago, the World Trade Centers fell due to a terrorist attack on the United States.  Everyone always talks about where they were when the whole thing went down, etc.  13 years ago, I was working at Steven Fabrics, in customer service. I was at my desk, working on a 4 page report of Vertical Blind back orders, calling dealers, telling them when to expect their order, etc.  I overheard in the office (I was working in a "cube farm") that a plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York.  1st thought that ran through my mind, was some dummy in a little Cessna or something did it.  I heard someone say it was a commerical airplane. Okay, I know that couldn't have been an accident, but I couldn't imagine why someone would intentionally do such a thing.  I knew my Dad would know what was going on, so I called Dad and he told me it was a terrorist attack on the US.  My coworkers all had by this time turned on the news to hear more and we he

Hurt

You never expect someone who loves you to hurt you, especially a family member, either intentionally or unintentionally, so when it does happen, the pain resulting is significant and unexpected, which seems like it makes it more intense. Sometimes, you can piece together why the other person acted out in the way that they did, but other times, you’re left wondering what went wrong, if it was something that you had done or not done, said or did not say. Regardless, the pain is very real. How do you react to this sort of pain?  Do you confront the person?  Wait for them to come to you? Do you pretend like nothing happened? Whichever action is taken it seems is the wrong action. Sometimes, if you are very lucky, you have someone who loves you and cares about you to lean on, and they can help you through the process. I am hurting as a direct result of lies and deception from someone who claimed to love me. I am also hurting for some transgression I

August Osbourne Update

Greetings and Salutations Land of Osbourne Readers!  Hope everyone is having a good summer and things are going great for you.  Thought I'd update you all on my thrilling life.   John bought me a huge bird cage for our 17th wedding anniversary this year, for my 2 Lady  Gouldians  and 2 Shaft Tail finches. 4 tiny little birdies in a 5' tall x 4' wide x 2' deep is a lot of room for those little guys, so I found a bird rescue organization in Circle Pines, and adopted 2 Society finches, and 2 Zebra Finches. I named them "George and  Weezy " and "Snow and Ice". I was a little worried about adding them to the cage and the birds fighting, but we're almost to week 3 and everyone is getting along great. I love their little chirps, (they sound like they're saying "beep beep beep") - they males sing a song to the females - sounds a little like a musical car alarm.  John loves them, and wants to adopt a few more. Could be dangerous

Gym Membership Dear Diary

Dear Diary,  For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.  Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.  I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.  My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.  ______________________________ __  MONDAY :  Started my day at  6:00 a.m.  Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!  Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful

love

"You love someone, you open yourself up to suffering; that’s the sad truth. Maybe they’ll break your heart; maybe you’ll break their heart and never be able to look at yourself in the same way. Those are the risks. You see two people and think they belong together, but nothing happens. The thought of losing so much control over personal happiness is unbearable. That’s the burden. Like wings, they have weight, we feel that weight on out backs, but they are a burden that lifts us. Burdens that allow us to fly." 

Music

Music is an interesting thing. It changes how you feel, reminds you of good things and bad.  For some, they can take music or leave it.  For others, they can't imagine a day without music in it, and that would be me.  I love most all types of music. The only type I really don't enjoy would be "death metal" or things in  that sort of category. All other music, I enjoy.  On certain television shows, tv commericals or movies, music plays an huge part.  Here is a list of songs I won't be able to listen to without thinking of something else:  (in no particular order, other than what pops into my mind first)  Carry on Wayward Son - Kansas - Truthfully, I never heard the song before watching the TV show Supernatural. Now, not only do I associate that song with Supernatural, I have gone as far as downloading it.  Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper - This was featured prominently on an episode of my favorite show Bones. If you're

Happy

Greetings and Salutations!  Not sure if you guys are aware, but I suffer from chronic depressive disorder, which means that I will be on medication to help keep me smiling and sane, likely for the rest of my life.  It has taken some time, (3 years to be specific) to figure out my magic combination of drug therapy, and I think I've FINALLY got it figured out. (well, not ME on my own, but with the help of my doc) Despite my recent diagnosis of Gastroparisis, and the side effects and what that all means, the Crohn's Disease and we can't forget my bad knee too (which I realize needs surgery again, but until I can't walk at all, I'm not doing it).  Anyway - the reason for my post is, recently I came to the realization that I am HAPPY.  Sure, there are some things in my life I wish were different, just like anyone else, but I am smiling more and am happy.  In closing, I'd like to say this:  Some of the best prayers that I've prayed to

April Update

So, I am sure that if you have read anything on my blog, you are aware I have severe Crohn's Disease (Crohn's Colitis to be specific), and that I have had it for years. (2001 I was diagnosed). I think I've dealt with it fairly well, all things considered. I am happy to say I've been in a fairly strong remission for several years now, and hope to continue to stay there. I've been on IV infusions every 6 weeks of Remicade.  Anyway...since around November of last year I've been having issues with nausea. I didn't mention it to my "team" of doctors, because I figured it would go away. Well, it didn't.  In late March, I finally let the doctors know about this nausea thing. They did an upper GI (they stick a tube with a camera on it down my throat), that came back okay, then they did this stomach emptying thing, where they feed me, x-ray my stomach, wait an hour, x-ray, wait another hour, x-ray, etc.  Found out I have "Gastroparisis&quo

"My Life"

  Got a call from an old friend We used to be real close Said he couldn't go on the American way Closed the shop, sold the house Bought a ticket to the West Coast Now he gives them a stand-up routine in L.A. I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life Go ahead with your own life and leave me alone I never said you had to offer me a second chance I never said I was a victim of circumstance I still belong, don't get me wrong And you can speak your mind But not on my time They will tell you you can't sleep alone In a strange place Then they'll tell you you can't sleep With somebody else Ah, but sooner or later you sleep In your own space Either way it's okay You wake up with yourself I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home I don't care what you say anym

Moist Double Chocolate Muffins

Moist Double Chocolate Muffins

Boston Terrier

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American Made Cars vs Foreign

So recently I was rear-ended, requiring me to relinquish my car to an auto body, and forcing me to drive a vehicle other than my own. If this event had happened in the summer or fall, it wouldn't have been a problem, all I would have had to do is drive the 1993 Camaro Z28. However since the Camaro has very large racing tires, it didn't seem like a good idea to pull it out of storage to drive in this awful Minnesota winter. I was authorized the use of a brand new Volkswagen Jetta. Under normal circumstances, I'd probably never have the chance to drive this type of car, because from the time I was a kid, it was impressed upon me the importance of buying an American made car, seeing as numerous family members, my Dad included, all held a job for Ford.  Naturally most of the family drove Fords, not only because they're good, reliable cars, but because employees get a pretty nice discount on new cars. Plus, since they work for Ford, most of them worked on cars too, so

You're Always There In My Heart

Spring is shining and its blowing, but you're always in my heart. life's wonderful, everything beautiful, 'cause you're always my other part. summer coming, sun keeps shining, 'cause You're always in my heart! Seasons come, seasons go But you're always there in my heart. Raindrops fall, breezes blow But you're always there in my heart. Photos fade, years have gone But you're always there in my heart. Time goes by, life goes on But you're always there in my heart. You're a part of me, as I am of you I can't leave you behind. You're a part of me, and whatever I do You're always on my mind. Through the years, joy and tears You're always there in my heart. Always near, ever dear You're always there in my heart. Always there in my heart!

The Stand, by Stephen King - big screen movie!

So, my favorite book of all time, which I re-read and listen to in audiobook format, is “The Stand” by Stephen King. I’m sure we’ve all seen the TV Miniseries that was done in the 90’s – which in my opinion wasn’t bad.  I think that Gary Sinise was the perfect Stu Redman.  Also, Adam Storke as Larry Underwood was spot on. For the last 2 years, rumors have been floating around about a big screen remake of this, for which I am a huge supporter and I can’t WAIT for more details. Currently I am listening to the audiobook of “The Stand”, and as I enjoy this, I am imagining in my mind which actors I’d like for characters. So, for fun, here is my dream cast – so far. What do you think? Randall Flagg – Tom Cruise (Don’t you think he’d make the ultimate “Dark Man”)? Nadine Cross – Jessica Alba Stu Redman – Josh Holloway Fran Goldsmith – Natalie Portman  Larry Underwood – Justin Timberlake Lucy Swan – Drew Barrymore  Glen Bateman – Anthony H

Rear Ended - AGAIN

On April 18th 1995, I was involved in a car accident. My Camaro was rear-ended and it was totaled. I was in physical therapy for 1 year after. Monday February 24th at exactly 4:40 pm, I was on the way to go pick up John from work. I was at the interesection of 18th Ave NE and Fillmore. I stopped at the 4 way stop (it is a residential type neighborhood), and had just started across the intersection, when B A M! I was hit from behind. I didn't see him coming at all. The other driver drove a foreign made pick up truck and had slid right through the intersection and slammed into me. He did try to swerve, so most of the damage is on the rear passenger side of my car. My bumper is broken on both sides, and cracked in the middle. It looks like its going to fall off. When the guy came to talk to me, he didn't want to give me his name, phone number or insurance info. He said all I needed was the licence plate number. Really? So....what I just look up the information on the int

26 Things Minnesotans Do That Seem Odd To Everyone Else

Some things Minnesotans do are actually mind-blowing-ly odd to people from other places. 1. We use snowballs to play fetch with our dogs. Sometimes they don’t know what to do with them. 2. At random during the winter, Minnesotans take a break from their day to just start their cars. Not to go anywhere, just to hear the glorious sound of an engine starting (and to make sure the engine will start at -40 degrees). We also leave our cars running sometimes when we go shopping. We rely on Minnesota nice maybe a bit too much. 3. We get so much snow on the top of our cars that those scrapers just don’t work. So we use push brooms. 4. What’s that you say? The temperature is over 32 degrees? Shorts and t-shirt weather. 5. In April, yes April, we sled down 2 story tall snow hills created by plowing snow off of parking ramps. 6. We eat hot dish. The rest of you call it casserole, but you’re wrong. 7. We consider sledding a date night activity. Nothing says romance quite like bundlin