Will Rogers' Wisdom

Will Rogers, who died in a plane crash with Wylie Post in 1935, was probably the greatest political sage this country has ever known. Enjoy the following:
1. Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.
2. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
3. There are 2 theories to arguing with a woman...neither works.
4. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
5. Always drink upstream from the herd.
6. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
7. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket.
8. There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.
9. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
10. If you're riding' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.
11. Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back.
12. After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
ABOUT GROWING OLDER...
First ~ Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it. Second ~ The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for. Third ~ Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved. Fourth ~ When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra. Fifth ~ You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks. Sixth ~ I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top. Seventh ~ One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young. Eighth ~ One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been. Ninth ~ Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable. Tenth ~ Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today it's called golf. And finally ~ If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.

Hope you enjoyed and are having a good weekend!

A Tuesday night misc. post

Hello! I hope you all had a nice weekend. Very uneventful here!

Disclosure: this post will be random things, no real rhyme or reason.

First, Welcome to the White House President & Mrs. Obama. I don't usually get real involved with politics but "big" events like this require a mention. May you have a successful 4 years...I don't envy you! I will say, however, that I have enjoyed watching those 2 little girls be little girls - they seem awestruck by celebrities but can be calm and collected in front of a huge crowd. (photo from Yahoo)

Second, I added a tenth of a mile to my distance on the treadmill. I've been doing 32 minutes for the past week and last night, I broke the mile and a half mark. One small step, I know, but it felt good to me.

Third, if you like guitar music - you have to check out Brad Paisley's PLAY CD. It is FANTASTIC! He is an amazing guitar player and the songs are easy to listen to. He is joined by B.B. King, Andy Griffith, Keith Urban and others on a few of them. It is a rockabilly music style - just so you are warned. (cover picture from cduniverse.com)

Fourth - it appears as though the Cubs have entered a game of chess. They traded Felix Pie (no real loss there) to Baltimore for Olsen (pitcher - never heard of him) and a minor leaguer. Why you ask???? Because San Diego has shown interest in Olsen, and since the Cubs want Peavy - they know have another piece to play with. Sigh.... If we end up with Peavy - he better be GOLDEN!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously!

Fifth, I did some knitting practice stitches over the weekend. I found one I really like and it's turning out nicely. (I'll post a picture when I get it done) Now I have to decide what I want to make with it.

I hope you're having a great week and things go well!

Another book review

Squeeze Play

by Kate Angell

If you like humorous romances - you should check out this book. I snickered and smiled my way through most of this book. The baseball references are lots of fun - Ms. Angell knows her baseball! Her characters are lovable and pretty believable (remember, we're talking about a romance novel here). The story was predictable but fun to read, none the less. (cover art from amazon.com)

When did I sign up for this????

Do you ever wonder that? I don't usually - but today was a strange day for me (especially for a Friday)....

I have a co-worker who jumps on my last nerve. Today was a "silent treatment" day. I have no idea what I did but decided that I would just smile and realized it was better that way than when she has her "other" days....

Then, I walked to my desk this afternoon, where one of the guys was talking to a client and Mrs. Client asked if I had a piece of candy and I told her to help herself to the candy jar. Mrs. C said "No, in your mouth. Do you have one?" Me: "No I don't." Mrs C: "You must just have chubby cheeks." I know my jaw dropped for a second, then my hands balled into fists at which time I just sat down in my chair and pretended to do something on my computer. If I had opened my mouth, it would not have been pretty. When they left, the VP apologized and I just said "You didn't make her say it." She will have a long road to travel with me for that....

On a good note - we almost made it out of negative temps today. It sounds like maybe tomorrow - but snow. It's been a brutally cold week and I am ready for some warm and melting snow!!!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Two days....

I've been on the treadmill 2 days this week. It's amazingly sad how out of shape I am....ugh! I did it Sunday and last nights. I went 1 1/2 miles in about 32 minutes. I'd like to start trimming some time off that. My hope is to get on the 'mill every other day for a couple of weeks and then up it another day a week and build from there.

Other than that - winter is back with a vengance! The snow is getting deeper - the winds have been bitter and today isn't going to be nice at all.... The cold - I don't even know how to describe that! The high for tomorrow is supposed to be -3F. Yes, that is a minus sign in front of the three.... I'm thinking palm trees, sun and 75 - maybe it will work!

I hope you're having a good week!

Observations from the library

While I was working the desk on Sunday afternoon, I watched a high school aged couple off & on during the couple of hours they were there. They sat quietly at one of the study tables, working on their homework/studying. Every once in a while, one of them would quietly touch the others hand and give them a little smile. It wasn't a "wink wink nudge nudge" kind of smile, it was an encouraging/I love you kind of smile. It was nice. When they left, he helped her with her coat and held the doors for her and held her elbow since the walk and steps were a little slippery. It's nice to see that chivalry isn't dead and I hope our son will be the same way.

After watching this couple, I realized I have learned a few things in the 2+ years that I have worked at our library.

1. The library attracts MANY different kinds of people! The scholary and the eager to learn; the avid reader; the beginning reader; the movie watcher; the music listener; the rich and the not so rich. The one who wants to read the paper in quiet for 30 minutes; the one who wants to check their e-mail. The student who wants to do their homework surrounded with resource materials. The one who wants to enjoy some quiet, a cup of coffee and a good book.
2. I get the privilege of working in 3 different departments - adult services, youth services and tech serve. I enjoy each of them for different reasons. I can carry on conversations about books and life with many adult patrons; I love helping kids find what they are looking for because most of the time they are eager to have it; I enjoy the "solitude" of my night of repairing, cleaning and processing the library materials.
3. Nothing makes my husband smile more often than seeing one of our patrons when we are out somewhere other than the library and being referred to as "the lady from the library'.
4. I love the excitement on a patron's face when they find the item(s) they were looking for or when they discover a "treasure" from their childhood. It always makes me smile!

So please, patronize your local library - there's lots to see there. : )

Sorry!

I've not been real attentive to my blog this week - it's been pretty uneventful.
Work is crazy busy right now. It snowed about 6 inches from Friday night through last night. I had a scrap night on Friday night and actually got some scrapping done and had a great time with the ladies who were here!

I finished a book this weekend.....

If You Could See Me Now
by Cecelia Ahern





This book was a bit puzzling to me at first and took 4 or 5 chapters to mentally sort out what was going on. Once I did, I enjoyed it. It makes me want or wonder if I have an imaginary friend following me around. Ms. Ahern is a great storyteller and enjoyable to read! I hope you'll pick it up and enjoy it too. (cover photo from Amazon.com)

I see Fergie (pop singer) & Josh Duhamel (actor) finally got married this weekend. DH & I were just talking about celebrity couples the other night (thanks to an on-line article) and I asked if they had gotten married yet - well, I guess they have now.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll try to check in a couple of times this week!

Is this thing on?

Ahem....

Dear Chicago Cubs Management,
What are you doing? Have you lost your minds?
1. DeRosa! Why are you trading him for minor leaguers???? REALLY?! DeRosa - you know, the guy who played a HUGE part in getting us to the post season last year?
2. Milton Bradley! What the hell are you doing? Do you realize the problems this will probably bring on?
3. Marquis....sigh. Ok, so he was hot or cold all season but he won 11 games!!!!

All I can say is this - these better pan out for the good.....
Signed,
Disgruntled (at the moment) Cubs fan

Country Road

Country Road - edited
Originally uploaded by scrapperjen1

This was taken in very northern Illinois - a little touch up done to it.
TFL!

Book review

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters

By Lesley Blume

I read this book for the juvenile book group I lead at the library. I was hesitant of it because of some of the reviews I had read on goodreads.com. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! It has cute lovable characters, a wonderful story and fantastic stories within the story.

It's a quick, juvenile read but I recommend it!

A little purple

A little purple
Originally uploaded by scrapperjen1

I created this this morning while I was cruising flickr...just a little fun to start the new year!

2009!

WOW - how did that happen?!

I hope you all have a wonderful new year - may you & yours be healthy and want for little. :D



I haven't made any "official" resolutions - but am hoping to get in shape, get organized and actually do some scrapping this year. (tee hee!)



HAPPY 2009!!!!!!!!

And now for a moment of randomness (you know how I love those) - a little color....


I took this in a store window when we were in Vegas in November.

Aaaand, it's almost over

The "big day" is done! We have one more family get together today - we'll be late, as usual. Tomorrow, we are meeting with some friends to exchange gifts and see the Globetrotters. Then, Christmas will officially be over.

We had a VERY nice Christmas! We are trying to make room for the new toys and stuff....always the challenge. The rooms will be cleaned over the next month and donations made!

The weather at the beginning of the week was bitter, snowy and all around wintery! Today, rain, fog and mid 50s....craziness!!!!!

I hope you are enjoying your holiday season!
Happy New Year!

Christmas funnies

You can click on each one to see it bigger too....

But not for me....

Snow day for everyone else in our house - I'll be leaving for work shortly... :( Guess in a way, I'm glad the foot of snow missed us that they were predicting last night but a day at home with nowhere to go didn't sound bad either.

For those of you with a snow day today - enjoy! :D

"MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!"

(said in my best Jimmy Stewart voice)

It was on last night and I got my husband to watch most of it with me. Sorry, I know it's kind of corny but I love it!!!!!!

And of course, what Christmas movie viewing is complete without:
"This here is a quality item, Clark!"

"I want a Red Ryder an official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time"

Merry Christmas and enjoy the movies!

Catch up time

Among the requests and posts on other blogs are "is your house decorated"? I will use that term loosely. The trees are up and decorated, stockings are hung and the mantel is covered with snowmen. We do not have outside lights (much to DD's disappointment!) but she'll get over it.
Our upstairs tree (snowman theme):
Our mantel:
Our downstairs tree (Hallmark, homemade, misc ornaments):
Yesterday was DD's holiday program at daycare. It was lots of fun and the kids were VERY into it!!!!! I realized as I was taking pictures, it will be her last program at the center. I can't believe she's off to kindergarten next fall....

Here she is with her antlers during the program:

It's fortunately been a pretty uneventful week!

The Survivor finale is on tomorrow night - it should be interesting! I'm rooting for Bob...

I hope you had a good week and enjoy your weekend!

Thursday

Hello! Just wanted to shout that I'm still alive. I've battled the flu and won this week and am just starting to feel human again.

I know I promised pictures last weekend, but OBVIOUSLY THAT didn't happen....still on my "to do" list - I promise!

Hope you're having a good week. Don't forget about my cyber crop starting tomorrow at my other blog.... http://challengeu2.blogspot.com/2008/12/cyber-crop.html

TGIF!

Geez! I had to work 5 days this week. What's up with that????

Well we got a little more snow Wednesday and yesterday. Hopefully we'll be done for the winter now....

Been a pretty uneventful week and looks to be a pretty uneventful weekend. Sorry nothing real great to report.

2 Peas Friday Challenge - How did you meet you closest friend? I can answer that 2 ways....
I met my DH at our friends' wedding - best man/maid of honor....the rest, they say, is history.


Next weekend - I am having a "cyber crop" on my other blog: http://challengeu2.blogspot.com/2008/12/cyber-crop.html So I hope all you scrapbookers will check it out and hopefully be inspired.

Enjoy your weekend - and I am REALLY hoping to get some pictures posted this weekend!

Tuesday again

Hi!!!! Hope your Thanksgiving was nice and you had a great weekend! May this week be a good one for you.

The trees are up, decorated and lit. (Pictures to come) DD can't understand why we don't have outside lights. :) Call us the neighborhood Scrooges, if you want - they are a lot of work...

Saturday night, we went to Famous Dave's for dinner after I got done with work. It was SO yummy! We ate like crazy too - shame on us... :D

We got about 5" of snow Sunday and yesterday. Due to the fact that there is a salt shortage, there wasn't a lot of salt on the roads yesterday, thus making it very interesting driving. Not that our county is notorious for having great roads in the winter anyway...BUT! So winter has arrived! The temps have taken a nose dive!

I will try to get some of my weekend scrapping/card making posted this week. Yes, I actually did some!

The Cubs have "officially" parted ways with Kerry Wood and Bob Howry. I can't say as I'm real destroyed over this fact. I just hope they are wise in finding their "replacements".

We are debating what our family Christmas outing will be this year. We are kind of tired of Navy Pier, so we are searching to see what is available in the area. I am still on the hunt of DH's gift - he once again bought himself what I was going to get him - but have come up with some ideas. So, hopefully I can get that taken care of in the next couple of weeks.

Hope all is well and that you have a great week - thanks for stopping by!