I know it makes me weird that the following story made me smile.
Non-Traditional Christmas Decorations In Oberlin, Ohio, artist Keith McGuckin is back at it doing what he does best -- pushing the artistic envelope. This time it's a rather unique Christmas display at the Oberlin Public Library which features a legless Santa Claus in a wheelchair being pushed down stairs by a crazed Christmas tree! Keith says his Santa has no legs because of an accident involving alcohol and some power lines. An accompanying narrative explains that the tree later goes off to a strip club with money from Santa's Salvation Army kettle. Keith's holiday creations have been raising eyebrows for years. His 2006 gingerbread Nazis drew so many complaints he was forced to remove them from a hardware store window. But library director Darren McDonough said the latest display is staying. He jokes that if a library doesn't have something that offends, it's not doing its job. (The Chronicle-Telegram)
I found myself wondering what other truly bazar holiday displays you could see in public or in your neighbors yard like....
What would it be like if someones nativity in their yard was done with those creepy lifesize Bratz dolls? Can you see the Bratz in the manger?
I also visualized the Heath Ledger Joker made up face on a giant inflatable santa inside one of those bubbles with the fan where the snow whirls wround in someones yard.
How about the the traditional santa and his sleigh of reindeer but they are all various taxedermied animals in santa hats.
This is a true story. One day, I was walking on the beach with my family and saw a man who was obviously having difficulty breathing and could barely stand up. I offered to help him, and at first he politely refused, but when I persisted and mentioned that I was a nurse who had cared for children with heart transplants he relented. I guess I'm kind of persistent that way. I did a quick assessment, saw that he was in congestive heart failure, and had over taxed himself walking on the beach. He wasn't in any imminent danger of having a heart attack, but needed to rest, get some fluids and peel off the layers of heavy clothing.
I gave him some water, got him to sit on a fence and stayed with him for about 30 minutes checking his heart, his pulse, his breathing. We talked for a long time as I got him to his car very slowly. We swapped stories and I managed to learn his health history.
He was worried that he had ruined my day and kept me from my family because of his declining health. I joked, "Well, it's my birthday, so nothing bad can happen today. Having to do CPR would really have been difficult for both of us, so I think we're both in the plus column."
We finally made it to his car, where his wife was anxiously waiting. I made sure he was ok, in no danger of having a heart attack, gave detailed instructions to his wife about when to go to the hospital, reassured them about the care they would get nearby, and made them promise they would call their own doctor. We waved goodbye.
His wife pressed a business card in to my hand before she hopped in beside him, and asked me to be in touch with them. I pocketed the business card and went to the beach to celebrate my birthday. I called his number 2 days later to check on him. He and his wife were grateful and asked me to dinner, which I declined. Yet he insisted, and we went to his home in the hills. Turns out, the man I helped was a self-made billionaire and one of the richest men in the world. He donated millions to libraries, colleges and hospitals. He knew presidents and world leaders. Going to the mansion, being served by a butler, yes a butler was a surreal experience right out of a movie script. It was jaw-dropping. You see, You never know.
He later told me that he asked me to come to his house because he had the feeling that I would have stopped to help anyone, no matter who they were or what their life story was. Which is true, because I've met people from all walks of life, it's the nurse's training, to stop and help.
I guess life is like a box of chocolates, you never know who or what you're going to encounter.
BUENOS DIAS MI GENTE, HOY ES VIERNES 5 DE DICIEMBRE, EXACTAMENTE LAS 9:42 AM EN LA CIUDAD DE DERBY, CT. AQUI ENTRANDO POR PRIMERA VEZ POR AKI, POR LOS CHATS DE UNIVISION. ESPERO PODER HACER MUCHAS LINDAS, SINCERAS AMISTADES. Y CONOCER LAS VARIAS CULTURAS Q DIA A DIA NAVEGAN POR ESTOS RUMBOS. UN POKITO DE MI, SOY NACIDA Y CRIADA EN SANTURCE, PUERTO RICO, ESPECIFICAMENTE DE LA "COLECTORA" O COMO LE DICEN AHORA "LA COLE" JAJAJA, A LOS 15 ANIOS, ME MUDE AL BRONX, NY CON MI MAMA, DE AHI EH ROCIRRIDO VARIOS ESTADOS, AHORA ESTOY EN EL ESTADO DE CONNECTICUT, VIVO CON MI NOVIO TRANKILITOS. BUSKO TRABAJO 911, SI ALGUIEN VIVE EN ESTA ARE Y SABE DE ALGO, PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE DEJENME SABER. MI NOVIO ES DE GUATEMALA, LO CONOCI POR MEDIO DEL INTERNET, ESTUVIMOS CHARLANDO POR LA COMPU POR 2 ANIOS, EL EN GUATE Y YO EN MASSACHUSSETS, HASTA Q SE DECIDIO Y VINO POR MI, Q ROMANTIKO NO. YA LLEVAMOS 2 ANIOS JUNTOS, AMANDONOS DIA CON DIA, Y LUCHANDO DIA CON DIA EN CONTRA DE LAS ADVERSIDADES DE LA VIDA. BUENO ESPERO NO HABERLOS ABURRIDO, CON UN POKITIN DE LA HISTORIA DE MI VIDA, SI LES CUENTO TODO, NO ACABARIA NUNKA. SE ME CUIDAN. SERA HASTA LA PROXIMA.
So here we are, on the eve of the Big 12 Championship game in KC and I'm wondering why Al hates coffee so much? You may have heard him before say " I hate coffee, I hate coffee's guts! " I'm enjoying a nice big cup right now...warm and refreshing. Coffee is big leagues! it wakes up you up and gives you the git-up-and-go you need. So why might Al not like it so much? Well he does keep strange hours, so I've heard. I don't think Al wakes up before noon unless he has to, and if that's the case half our day is gone before his head leaves the pillow. Which begs the question, what does Al do with his nights? Who knows? Maybe if he woke up with the rest of the folks on this side of the world he'd find a need for the sweet nectar provided by Juan Valdez. Maybe Mrs. Olsen needs to pour out Al's beer and put a little Foldgers in his mug. I say to Al, give coffee a fighting chance the next time your forced to wake up before noon and I think you'll find a sweet heaven of Columbian liquid dancing in your mouth. As for me...I'm going for a second cup.
No sé cómo explicar lo hermoso de la tarde cuando tú le das vida a las ondas del aire, cada vez que te veo a mi lado sin moverte y sin expresar ninguna palabra clásica que anteriormente ya se había pronunciado. Solo se verte con tus ideologías extensas que le dan significado a mi caminar.
No sé cómo explicar lo infinito del cielo cuando con tus manos tocas lo invisible para darle forma a los entes del atardecer; cada vez que despliegas tu mirada al bosque solo para hacer renacer los árboles fijos que trémulos sonríen a las pequeñas ardillas que corren buscando su comida.
No sé cómo explicar los colores de tu estilo cada vez que dibujas con tu sonrisa la aurora, cuando matizas los pliegues del ocaso frente a la montaña de la ciudad, cuando pintas el arco iris en la atmósfera y dejas una tranquila brisa en mi ser calmando los sinsabores de la nostalgia.
No sé cómo explicar que ahora estás aquí frente a mí saludándome como siempre, con el perfume que llevas puesto en tus mejillas y con tu cabello suelto al aire libre, explicar no puedo todo esto que sucede frente al panorama de mis circunstancias.
¡Maravilla! Solo tú haces la diferencia entre cada rosa que existe en el mundo, y sin poder proferir en el viento tu nombre porque tú estás ahora presente... No puedo creer que a pesar de todo estés frente a mis ojos...
Anyone else not really upset they didn't get a chance to watch the Raiders and Chargers last night?
Yeah, me either.
That strong-arming of cable companies to get NFL Network carried isn't exactly working for the most popular league in the land.
MLB was way ahead on the web (and its MLB app for the iPhone may be the device's killer app) and MLBtv is headed to most cable networks. Just something to think about it.
Anyway, is it me or are there more blowouts in the NFL this year?
In this season of ACC-Big Ten showdowns and all that, I'd love to see an NFC West-AFC West showdown. Take teh top two teams out of there and throw in the Bengals and Lions and you've got some faaaantastic football.
* I've seen Bengals.com Geoff Hobson write a couple of times about the possibility of the Bengals taking a running back high in the draft.
Does Mike Brown want Beanie Wells? That would be a huge mistake.
Listen Mike (not that you're into that kind of thing) but if your first two picks in the draft (maybe even three) don't top three bills, it's a failure. I won't criticize the first pick if it's Andre Smith -- and to a lesser degree Michael Oher, Eugene Monroe, Sen'Derrick Marks or Terrence Cody. Then in the second round, Jonathan Luigs, Alex Mack, Antoine Caldwell or Max Unger.
But a running back? Have they learned nothing about the way the NFL works? You build from the inside out. To take Beanie Wells or any other running back short of Jim Brown with a top 5 pick is silly.
* BetOnline.com has odds on which NFL coach will be fired next. If you bet on the favorite, you're going to lose your money. Here are the odds:
Marvin Lewis 7-to-2 Jack Del Rio 4-to-1 Rod Marinelli 4-to-1 Mike Singletary 5-to-1 Herm Edwards 7-to-1 Romeo Crennell 8-to-1 Wade Phillips 8-to-1 Norv Turner 12-to-1 Andy Reid 12-to-1 Gary Kubiak 15-to-1
Marvin ain't getting the ax. I might go with Marinelli. Singletary's a pretty good bet, too, except he's got a 4:15 game that day and the others may be canned before that.
I know a good writer is supposed to take whatever assignment s/he can grab, build on that, use it as a challenge to grow from, &c. I know a good writer can grab the ball and run with it and shouldn't be too proud to undertake a job.
Gods know I haven't had any assignments lately. I'm looking for work through various channels and am excited about some of the opportunities, but at the risk of sounding princessy, there is one job I will never accept.
Marketing. I see a lot of writing positions in the realm of marketing, and as much as I need the experience and would like the money, I can't bring myself to work in marketing. I see it as a force of evil. It uses increasingly manipulative messaging and semiotics to exploit an undereducated population while exploring how closely it can skirt technical legal offense.
I see these jobs that start to sound okay, like a blogger wanted for a company-wide intranet blog, but then they mention planning e-mail and mobile phone campaigns. I'm against spamming (however they want to call it) and I'm particularly defensive against marketing through text messaging. Marketing sees no boundary, no inviolate personal realm, no inappropriate breach. There is nowhere you can suggest that Marketing will say, "That's going too far." All they want to do is sell you stuff that you don't need and, once you've bought it, sell you more of it.
I don't want to use my powers for evil. It would be a personal failure for me to design an unsuccessful Yo-J or Sunny D campaign, but it would be a larger moral failure for me to write a successful one. I don't want a legacy in the form of unsolicited and invasive text messages on millions of cell phones, and I don't want all the anger generated from that directed at me.
He aprendido... que cuando estás enamorado, se nota...
He aprendido... que una persona diciéndome, "Me alegraste el día"... alegra mi día.
He aprendido... que siempre puedo orar por alguien, cuando no tengo otro modo de ayudarlo.
He aprendido... que no importa que tan serio requiera la vida que seas, todos necesitamos un amigo con el que podamos reir a carcajadas.
He aprendido... que algunas veces, todo lo que una persona necesita, es una mano que sostener y un corazón que entender.
He aprendido... que la vida es como una espiral. Mientras más se acerca al final, más rápido camina.
He aprendido... que el dinero no compra la clase.
He aprendido... que esas pequeñas cosas que pasan diariamente, son las que hacen la vida espectacular.
He aprendido... que debajo del duro escudo de las personas, hay alguien que quiere ser apreciado y amado.
He aprendido... que Dios no hizo todo en un solo día... que me hace pensar que yo puedo?
He aprendido... que ignorar lo hecho... no cambia los hechos.
He aprendido... que es el amor, no el tiempo... el que cura todas las heridas.
He aprendido... que cada persona a la que conoces, merece ser obsequiada con una sonrisa.
He aprendido... que nadie es perfecto... hasta que te enamoras de alguien.
He aprendido... que las oportunidades nunca se pierden, alguien más tomara aquella que tu dejaste pasar.
He aprendido... que uno debe decir palabras suaves y tiernas, porque más adelante puedes tener que tragártelas.
He aprendido... que una sonrisa, es la manera más barata de lucir mucho mejor...
He aprendido... que no puedo elegir cómo me siento, pero puedo elegir que hago con respecto a eso.
He aprendido... que todos quieren estar en la cima de la montaña, pero que toda la felicidad y experiencias agradables, suceden mientras se escala hacia ella.
He aprendido ... que estamos rodeados de muy buenas amistades, que hay que cultivarlas y nunca dejarlas morir!!!
Adviento. Tiempo de preparación a la venida del ¡Rey de Reyes, Señor de Señores!
La palabra Adviento significa: advenimiento, venida o llegada. Todas las lecturas bíblicas nos preparan para las Fiestas de Navidad. Pero, para una verdadera Navidad Cristiana, no una navidad superficial, basada en jolgorios, bebentinas, francachelas, desarreglos, en fin, toda clase de consumismo, hedonismo y materialismo que ya el mundo nos ha acostumbrado a vivir.
Aunque no se sabe con certeza la fecha del nacimiento del hijo de Dios...Esta debe de ser una Navidad en que se recuerde al verdadero motivo de esta gran fiesta: Jesús de Nazaret.
¡Es increíble, que el mundo celebre un cumpleaños sin pensar en el invitado principal! Ya hasta los adornos que se venden parecen para una fiesta pagana: duendes, gnomos, trineos, figuras de santa claus, árboles, etc.
Nosotros los cristianos debemos luchar cada vez más para que nuestras experiencias de fe permanezcan en nuestros hogares: Los padres cristianos somos los responsables de la educación en la fe de nuestros hijos. Porque si no: "Cuando venga el Hijo del hombre, ¿encontrará fe en la Tierra? (Lc 18,8)
Debemos enseñar a nuestros niños, el origen de esta gran celebración: La primera venida de Jesús al mundo como Redentor de los hombres, así como de Su segunda venida en la "no sabréis cuando vendrá, si al atardecer, o a medianoche, o al canto del gallo, o al amanecer; velad, no sea que venga inesperadamente y les encuentre dormidos. Lo que les digo a ustedes, lo digo a todos: ¡Velad!" (Mc 13, 33-37)
El Señor nos está pidiendo hoy también a nosotros que estemos alertas. No podemos seguir huyendo de nuestros principios, viviendo la "vida loca". Es hora de detenernos a pensar: ¿Hacía donde nos dirigimos? ¿Qué es lo que estamos persiguiendo? ¿A qué se debe tanta angustia? ¿Qué está pasando con la educación de nuestros hijos? ¿Qué está pasando con nuestras familias? ¿Dónde están las familias que se dicen ser cristianas? ¿Dónde está la disciplina en la crianza de los hijos? ¿Por qué han abandonado la guardia?
Adviento: Tiempo de Reflexión; Tiempo de Conversión. Vamos a aprovechar esta nueva oportunidad que nos brinda hoy el Señor para conocer Su Grandeza.
Vamos a pedir en este tiempo que las familias dejen su apatía y conformismo y se vuelvan mensajeros de la Buena Noticia del Evangelio para otras familias. Que se conviertan en agentes para la transformación de la sociedad. Es un trabajo arduo el de la familia, pero es el trabajo que más beneficio produce para a la felicidad de todos los miembros de esas mismas familias.
Vamos a aprovechar este tiempo para compartir como familia, con los más necesitados. Vamos a ser solidarios, con los más pobres del Señor; vamos a ser más austeros, y sacrificar lujos, las fiestas, los trajes y vivir junto a los que no tienen en este tiempo a veces ni lo más necesario. Jesús eligió la pobreza. Dejemos tanto consumismo y tanto materialismo y vivamos este Adviento como preparación a Su Venida Gloriosa. El, que sigue viniendo cada día a nuestra vida, y no somos capaces de verlo ni encontrarnos con El. Vamos a hacer partícipes de esto a nuestros hijos. Amén!
Earlier today, I promised a reader that I would try to be more optimistic in the New Year. I'm glad I said in the New Year, because it's beyond my limited capabilities to put a positive spin on the latest jobless numbers from the US. Half a million jobs were shed last month, about 50 per cent more than economists were expecting, according to the New York Times.
Not only has the UK been following the US into this recession, but the pattern of job losses - if we can call it that - seems similiar. In both countries, companies in every sector of the economy are laying off staff.
Further big job losses are coming in the UK, with the associated company defaults, mortgage arrears and continuing slump in demand. That is why I think the housing market still has further to fall, which is how I upset this morning's reader in the first place.
The US economy has now been in recession for 12 months, and things are still getting worse rather than better.
So here is my best shot at optimism for now: there is still a reasonable chance that both the US and the UK will only suffer a severe recession, rather than a depression.
It's pink, it's cute...it's perfect for takin' pics of friends when she goes out for cocktails or when her chihuahuas are looking especially adorable that day :-) And then she can throw them on her Pig Pen page! It's perfect!
Load this up with songs & your girl can hit Bayshore Blvd for a run or the gym for some weight training. It's a must-have when you workout. Plus it has that fun touch-screen. Endless hours of entertainment!
I get an "A" for effort (or is it "E"?? I can never remember that saying. Ha) when it comes to cooking...but who doesn't love a little appliance that also serves as an accessory for your kitchen! Ta-da!
OK...I'm gonna interject here. You don't have to get EXACTLY this, but lotions/shower gels/bubble baths are always good for a girl to have. You don't think we wake up naturally smelling like candy, do you? :-) Well, some of us do (ahem).
Candles are the best! They make our homes smell yummy & look good doing it. Just make sure you do a smell-check. No one likes a stinky candle. That's torture.
I WANT THIS!!!!!!!!! Curly hair & Florida weather = good luck getting (and keeping!) it straight. This thing is a beast, it doesn't mess around. Loves it.
Now we can all smell like Carrie Bradshaw! Score! Not that any of us really knows what that is...but I bet it smells good :-) Sarah Jessica Parker concocted this perfume that's a blend of Rosewood, Lavender, Mandarin, Apple Martini and Bergamot.
Super-duper fun! Small enough to keep it in your Louis Vuitton...then you can instantly upload, edit & post all your fav video creations on You Tube (& your Pig Penn page, heyyyyyooo)!
Or...just get a massive card & stuff it full of cash. I'm a fan.
ARTICLE: Who last checked has not paid child support since it was ordered, claims he had a heart attack, then why was he at the Play Off's in Detroit if he is so sick? Anyway tell him he is $72,742 (01/2008) back owed in child support and the state has a warrant for his arrest.Thank you.
(HE IS ACTUALLY WORTH MILLIONS BUT THEY ARE PAYING YOU ALL TO COVER ALL THAT UP, HIDING ASSESTS MAYBE...)
http://www.pininet.com/pcnNetwork.htmlYou find her you can find my deadbeat baby daddy, what a story. My son is suffering while her oldest grandson (if she likes it or not, he "IS" her oldest heir,Morgan's first son...) Yes!Like I said subpoena her to find him if no one knows where he is: 4377 East 67th street, Chicago, Illinois.She owns several condos in the building including one that he uses as a spare condo.
SAOKIDS Ask: Why is this important to us: Because this is where his money is hidden...1. He is earning unreported income2. He can afford to pay his back support, has current support in which he pays on regularly with Robin Kent.3. Not properly reporting income and assets, he is the sole heir of everything she owns hello!4. This man has asset in excess of multi millions of dollars.Chief Executive Officer, Founder, and Chairman of Proctor & Gardner Advertising, (division of Proctor Communications Network*** Where he was employed when served *** 06-2001) Barbara Gardner Proctor has a versatile profile demonstrating successful performance with Blue Chip clients and Boards of Directors. She has garnered numerous Industry, Civic and international recognitions.
Born in Ashville, North Carolina, Proctor achieved two degrees from Talladega College, Alabama. In 1970, Proctor founded Proctor and Gardner Advertising, Inc. In 1982, she restructured and expanded marketing services under a parent entity, Proctor Communications Network, offering production, event management and public relations services. She has successfully specialized in marketing target and niche concepts for a variety of client products and services. Among the roster of clients currently served by her agency are Kraft Foods, Color Code (BET Direct), National Black MBA Association and Blacklight Fellowship.
President Ronald Reagan, in his 1984 State of the Union address, saluted Proctor's spirit of enterprise, calling her one of "the heroes of the eighties". United Airlines Magazine called her "one of the most courageous people in the ad business, who is constantly tackling new challenges". Her innovative marketing and creative concepts have merited inclusion in more than two dozen academic, college and sales/motivation texts including Contemporary Advertising, Bueres & Arens; Advertising, Wright, Winter & Zeigler; and SuperSellers, Gerhard Gschwandtner & Laura B. Gschwandtner.
Proctor is featured in the Smithsonian Institution's "Black Women Achievements Against the Odds" Hall of Fame, and the series' poster-calendar traveling exhibition.
She is profiled in the Blue Book of London, Random House's Business Today, the International Who's Who in Community Services, the National Who's Who in Finance & Industry, As well as anthologies on self-made American executives including Millionaires by Lois Rich McCoy, and Women in Business by Laura French and Diana Stewart.
Proctor has served on the Board of Directors of Illinois Bell Telephone Company, Northwestern Hospital, Mid-City National Bank, Council of Chicago Better Business Bureaus, Louisville Courier-Journal, United Way, and the Economic Club.
In the mid-80's, Proctor Co-Chaired the State of Illinois Gannon-Proctor Commission, a Status of Women report appointment from the Governor. Proctor is also a governing council member of the Illinois State Bar Association's Institute for Public Affairs. She served as committee Member of USIA. Her contributions to the American Marketplace and quality of life have received countless awards, citations and distinguished honors.
So you mean to tell me that we cannot find this man why? Oh because his mother is on the Board of Director's for the Bar, that is all you had to say, she can hire all the attorney's she wants she manages them, no wonder...
So that is why he can evade taxes, no pay court order child support, be directly in contempt of an court order and NOT go to jail, forge and fraudulently present paperwork to support a non existing illness to put off his paying...
Oh OK!
I am so nice B, I even sent Barbara a copy of this email so she cannot lie and say she did not get served.
I know that she is rich, but when this is all over, I am worth more than she, what will she do then? I mean at this point it is not even about the money, it's about the fact that I am in a position of power just like you.
you were admired by President Regan, and I by him and his wife and kids... Now I am admired the same by the Bush's... and many others...
and 
are out next week.
