Will Never Forget!

It's me again from beneath the covers. I'm starting to feel like myself again,and with only one more to treatment to go at the end of September, I'm starting to believe that these wonderful feelings will only get stronger and stronger.

Like many people, I have been listening to the 911 coverage this morning and remembering that beautiful September day.  Not a cloud in the sky as I remember, a promise of a beautiful day.

My husband was working from home that morning and my son Kevin was there too.    I turned the news on and saw the first plane hit the tower.  Nobody knew at that time what was happening.  I had muted the sound, and I couldn't get my eyes off the screen!

My family and I watched in complete disbelief as a second plane hit the tower straight on, no doubt, no accident!   Well you all know the rest, and like when Kennedy was assassinated,
we will never forget where we were and what we were doing on Sept 11.2001.

A friend from high school sent me this video yesterday and I wanted to share with,... who else,... YOU! OK , I cried,... but such a beautiful tribute!

Another beautiful fall morning awaits me and I can't wait to enjoy every breath of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ut4ntJmA-g

Bye for now.  Have a great week ahead.

A few observation!

My computer and internet has been down most of last week, because of moving furniture and not knowing what plugs went in what holes!
Am playing catch up this week and can't wait to read what you've been up to.

In the meantime, I thought that I would share these wise observations with you.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT I HAVE LEARNED SO FAR.


1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.

2) Wrinkles don't hurt.

3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts

4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground..

5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.

6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the

toy.

 

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional..

2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.

4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician

7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

Update...not leaving on a jet plane after all?

Congress is still stammering about should they or shouldn't they, but I think the Corporate jet purchase for the use of Congress just might be scrapped, or at the very least modified.

I found this explanation on Politico this morning

"After an uproar over a proposed purchase of new executive jets for use by senior government officials, including members of Congress, the top Defense appropriator in the House has offered to eliminate funding for the planes – but only if the Pentagon, which operates the jets, agrees.

Hmmmm, I smell a little blame game here.

“If the Department of Defense does not want these aircraft, they will be eliminated from the bill,” Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), the chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee said Monday evening.

Sure let the Pentagon take the heat, they're not running for re-election.

And in his statement, Murtha basically put the blame on the Pentagon, whose spokesman has been quoted saying that the House Appropriations Committee added four executive jets beyond the Pentagon’s original request. The Defense Department originally requested $220 million for four jets – a total bumped to $550 million and eight jets by the committee.

Pentagon wanted 4 jets ....but the Congress wanted 8.
That's sounds like a 100% addition, an early Christmas gift maybe?

Murtha also needled the Pentagon a bit, saying that “85 percent” of the use of these aircraft comes from the executive branch, and not Congress.

Maybe instead, we should pay down our debt a little!

Murtha’s move may end what has been an embarrassing uproar for House appropriators, who approved the Defense spending bill with no objection about the congressional jets. There is already a movement in the Senate to kill the funding for the aircraft.

What do you think, is Congress listening to us after all.
Do the 2010 elections have anything to do with their new found listening skills.
Who cares what it was, it's good!

Flying the not so friendly skies!

Now I'm frustrated....I keep waiting for the American government to act responsibly with our tax dollars and be more transparent with how they spend our money.
I guess my wait is still not over.

Just before Congress went on their summer break, the House approved $200 million to buy three Gulf Stream jets to fly top government officials and members of Congress around.

I realize that most of us have flown in private jets before (LOL), but just in case you prefer to fly commercial, below is a picture of a plush G5 Gulf stream jet.


I’m trying to remember, maybe you can help me, wasn't it just last year when Congress publicly chastised the auto industry and their CEO'S for traveling to Washington by private jet to attend hearings about possible bailouts for their companies.
I watched some of these hearings and I privately applauded Congress when this happened! When you're coming for a handout, it's best not to arrive in a Limo. Just tacky in my book!

Apparently Congress is not averse to private air travel, because at the end of July, the House approved nearly $200 million for the Air Force to buy three elite Gulf stream jets for top government officials and Members of Congress to use.
The Air force requested one scaled down G5 to add to it's fleet,
but the House Appropriations Committee added to the 2010 Defense appropriations bill another $132 million for two more airplanes and specified that they be assigned to the D.C.-area that carry Members of Congress, military brass and top government officials.

While searching the Government websites for more information, I found that
Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, said if Congress wants to buy new jets for the comfort of top government officials, “I think that all needs to be justified on the merits. ... Certainly, lawmakers can fly — and many do fly — coach and business class.” While there may be reasons for flying on top-notch private jets, “it shouldn't’t just be squeezed into the bill.”
Ellis said the airplanes are also part of a larger trend for the Appropriations Committee to simply decide that big-ticket items are program increases, not earmarks, so they require less public disclosure.

Amazing...and here I thought we the people would get more transparency, not business as usual.

Fame...I wanna live forever...!

I read a review of a new book that's out in the stores on Aug 4Th.
The title... IF IGNORANCE IS BLISS, WHY AREN'T THERE MORE HAPPY PEOPLE.
The book is a collection of "smart quotes for dumb times"
Sounded very intriguing to me, being a self confessed quotation whore,.. and what I read didn't disappoint!
There is a section in this book where some of the rich and famous comment on their fame.

Like Tony Curtis...
"It's like having Alzheimer's disease. You don't know anybody, but they all know you"

Cary Grant was quoted as saying...
"Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant"

Bob Dylan was a little more forthcoming...and frank.
"Just because you like my stuff doesn't mean I owe you anything!"

I used to think that it would be wonderful to be a talented singer and be able to entertain people from all over the world. All the frills and adoration that go with it sounded great to me.
My Grandfather had a beautiful tenor voice, and his vocal coach wanted him to tour Europe and then tour the US. I remember him singing to me when I was very young and being mesmerized by his voice. The tour never happened, he had a wife and five children to support and success is never a sure thing.

After reading this review, I couldn't help but think of Michael Jackson and wonder if he would have even traded his fame for a life of anonymity? Or was fame as addictive to him as any other drug of choice. I guess we'll never know for sure. He was a man of many special talents, but a tormented soul for sure!

Being famous is still a priority in our culture for some. The success of reality TV, and shows like American Idol are examples of this, and the number of new shows continue to rise every season.

Maybe French painter Edgar Degas said it best.
"It's wonderful to be famous as long as you remain unknown"

What I've learned so far!

I have been in a small funk these past few days, maybe it's the weather(rainy), maybe it's lack of sleep... or maybe it's just the ebb and flow of my life these days.
I sometimes feel that I should be doing more, that I should live bigger, larger. I feel guilty for not doing something new and fun every minute, "Carpe diem" my friends say.
While surfing the net today, I found these quotes by Maya Angelou. Then a funny thing happened, I realized that I was having fun, I am living my life and I am communicating and sharing ideas.
It may not be everybody's idea of fun, but I'm Ok with that.
I'm happy now,I'll worry about tomorrow,...tomorrow!

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."
"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

"I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life."'

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance." '

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Maya Angelou

Ciao Bella

Well it seems that my declaration that spring had sprung was a bit premature. I should have known better, I am not a rookie with Illinois weather, I have lived in the Midwest for many years and yet I went and assumed that spring had finally sprung.


My husband Jim and I drove up to Chicago this past weekend to attend the much anticipated wedding of my good friend Dianne's oldest daughter, Emily,to a young Italian man named Simone. The couple met when Emily was studying in Italy for a year. After several years,and many late long distance calls later, Simome asked Emily's dad for her hand in marriage. (so traditional)

Simone and Emily

The weatherman had predicted snow of up to six inches... but we assumed (there is that word again) that they were wrong. We drove up to Chicago on Saturday morning and arrived at the hotel at about 12pm. Perfect weather, perfect timing. I was able to change my clothes and catch a breath before the 3:30 ceremony. After the ceremony we went back to the hotel for a little while and then on to the reception.

The picture below is a photo of Dianne and myself...... (My husband Jim is off to the side keeping time with the DJ.)

Everything was so perfect and there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

Jim and I had such a great time visiting with old friends and meeting new ones. About twenty of the husbands family were able to attend the wedding and we so enjoyed meeting them and trying out our Italian. ( a very short conversation but every word was followed with a hug and a kiss..love that!)

Jim was helping me with my nose above, just as my sister-in-law took this picture. Thank goodness he fixed it for me. Whew!

After such a wonderful day and evening, imagine my surprise when we woke the next morning to this beautiful sight. Yes, I said beautiful!!!!!!

So I am reminded again, that happiness comes from within (another duh, I know) ...and no matter what the weather is or what other frustrations might enter my life, if I feed my soul on a regular basis with love and laughter, I will be able to handle any hurdle that might cross my path.

Ciao Bella!!!

Is Punxsutawney Phil against me...?

I was really thinking that spring was on the way. I didn't have anything concrete to go on. The temperatures have remained cold...the snow is still on the ground and I am still hibernating inside because there is too much ice in parking lots for me not to slip and slide.

I have always had to plan ahead my trips outside. Even when I was upright and walking on my own steam. I planned on how long it would take me to get to my destination,...sometimes just getting to and in my car would take me an extra 15 minute, checking my scooter in case I would need it, making sure that it was charged and in the car, how many steps is it to the door, is the concrete crumbled and cracked, is there gravel, are my legs strong today or do I have to wear very light weight shoes, coat ...a small purse. (I love big purses and beautiful shoes..I admit it)

So early this morning, I learned that Phil saw his shadow and that there will be six long weeks of winter left! TISK !

But on the brighter, lighter side of life, the sun is out, the temperatures are supposed to rise and I have all of you to keep me entertained while hibernating...and an even bigger bonus for me this day is ... I'm feeling good !!!!!...

I realize more then ever that nobody can ever promise you a tomorrow.

So today is a fine day, a great day, a glorious day

...and God bless you Phil!!!!!!

So here's to Great Days ahead for us all!