Moves Like Jagger-Saturday 9

1. Who makes the best moves in your life?
My Grandsons move me to laughter and love every time I see them.

2. Tell us about a time where you had to be selfish with your time, and felt guilty about it (whether it was time taken from your children or a significant other.

This is about the boys as well. While they are infants, I have a hard time spending more that a few days at a time, with them, because they just wear me out.  I really feel guilty about this one.  I just have a hard time getting up and down, or walking the baby when he is fussy. This fortunately or unfortunately is a very short time.  Лука at 3 is now willing to let me sit in a chair next to him as we play. He so enjoys that I get down to his level to play cars or trains, that I will play when he asks and I can suffer all night for it.

3. Do you feel that you can create more sex appeal or that it's just a given?

I forget. What exactly is sex appeal?

4. Do your religious beliefs really influence your behavior?

My lack of religious beliefs can impact my conversation, if I am with someone who really have strong beliefs.  I won't agree or disagree or discuss them.  I also find if someone finds this out, they always want to change my mind. I can get riled up when fundamentalists want to bring their beliefs to all of our lives.

5. Do you feel there are some things in a significant other that you can't change because of their sex?
ABSOLUTELY! You can't enter a relationship, thinking you can change anything.

 6. Do you see a younger less secure person when you gaze in the mirror?
No! My rose colored glasses and magic mirror broke.

7. If you have ever been pregnant, or have been with a woman who was, how did effect your sex life?
Once you have children, it is never really the same. It changes but not necessarily for the worst.

8. What would you like to work on to become a better person?
 Pour yourself some coffee. Where do I start?

9. When did you think that you understood the sacrifices that people in the military make on behalf of their country?
In 1965, when someone I knew was killed in Vietnam.

Charlotte's Letter

June 30, 1842

Lemmington, England

Dear Brother,

I have delight in telling you of the birth of our son over last fortnight.  I have recovered well from my confinement and Edward is happy in his boy.  Aunt Jane has been with me since I was brought to bed and announced the child looks just as you did as an infant. We have named him John Edward, after yourself and his father. We look forward to your visit in July, little John looks forward to meeting his favorite Uncle.

Aunt Jane will remain here with us in the parsonage, only to return to Newburn at summer’s end.  Edward and I hope we can persuade her to make her home with us as I worry that her cottage may prove too much a burden in her old age. When you visit, you must urge her to remain with us.

While you continue with us this summer, we hope you can become acquainted with our neighbor Mr. Carbury. He is a fine and amiable neighbor and tradesman in our village. He has recently asked Edward if he might have knowledge, of a person, able to assist him in his carting trade.  Edward was happy to be able to give him your name and knowledge of your clerking and accounting proficiency. Edward trusts, you could be useful to Mr. Carbury and this could be very advantageous to your future prospects.

I wish also, you to become acquainted with the Misses Carbury, his younger sister and his daughter of about the same age. They are gentle young ladies of agreeable disposition whose presence enhances the parsonage on many evenings. I have made them aware of your pleasant countenance, and good manners. Your connection Edward and the parsonage can only recommend you to them and the neighborhood.

I have every reason to be thankful for the Providence that brought Edward and our child to me. The distance I am from my closest relations often makes me uneasy and melancholy. My happiness would be complete if you and Aunt Jane would consider removing to our neighborhood. 

I Am Affectionately

Your Sister,

Charlotte

Our prompt this week Inspired by Angela’s return to longhand, and the more personal, less-distracted feelings she derives from putting pen to paper, your prompt is this:A stand-alone scene, fiction or memoir, in 500 words or less, involving a handwritten letter.

I have written  before about Charlotte Here and Here

Dreaming

wallpapercom.blogspot.com

Dreams are wisps of memory and time

They come unexpectedly and I wonder why

I can’t remember more.

I hear echoes of life past,  

I see shadows of reverie and sorrow

I reach out and touch nothing

Embracing everything as real

I fly, I fall, I shriek, I laugh

I promise I will recall when I wake

But dreams are wisps and I wonder why

I can’t remember more.

This week I thought I would try poetry again so I chose prompt #5

                                       Write a post or poem inspired by the word: dreams.

What A Wonderful World With David Attenborough

Seeing the Light-Saturday 9

1. Has something ever made you "see the light"?

Yes, I am only young at heart, my old bones tell me I'm not young in years. I can't do the same things, that I use to be able to do.

2. Do you believe you have any control over your luck?

I really don't believe in luck, so yes I have control over it.  Aren't I lucky?

3. What is something you have had difficulty rising above?
My feelings about a certain cousin of mine, I can't forgive him for a number of things he as done in his life.

4. Would you want to be rich?

Sure, I can handle it!  Oh, alright, I'm rich with what counts, love, happiness, blah, blah blah.  I'd like to be filthy rich too!

5. Tell us about a current or old song that helps you "face the world."

Oh, you can't always get what you want-But if you try sometimes-you just might find-You get what you need.

6. Has any dream of yours come true?

Yes, sweet healthy grandchildren, who love their grandma.

7. What would you change if you became "the king or queen" of your country?

I'd abdicate in favor of a true democracy, but first I would get rid of reality TV*.

8. How do you feel about LGBT rights? (If you need to look up LGBT, then you probably need to learn more.)

Absolutely, we are all human beings with the same rights and privileges regardless, of what the far right fundamentalists say.

 

 

9. Have you ever been disappointed in yourself?
Frequently, but I try not to dwell on it, I am only human and will be disappointed a lot.

*clarification....really ooky.... reality TV. The Housewives, the Kardashians, the Pawnbrokers,  the bachellors and bachellorets etc.

Vintage MG Club-Writer's Workshop

I chose Prompt #1 for this weeks Posting. 

Recycle a favorite post from July of any year that you have been blogging.

This was dated July 30, 2007 about a visit to Will Rogers State Park in Southern California.

We finally went to an outing with the Vintage MG club we belong to, since Mr Bankerchick has finally restored his MGTF to the point he is happy to show. We drove as a group to the Will Rogers State Park. Mr B's MG is the red one at the end of the row. We had a lot of fun meeting the others in the club, mostly folks about our age and interests. I really look forward to the other monthly activities, Mr B will go to the meetings, One is set up for Long Beach in August, a rally, and a mini GoF (Gathering of Faithful) up in Big Bear in September. I look forward to getting to know the folks better. I already feel like I have made some friends.

The park was beautiful up in the Pacific Palisades, near Santa Monica. You can tour the family home, the stables where he kept his horses for his passion, Polo of all things for a boy from Oklahoma!

In the early 1930s, Will Rogers was the most popular and highest paid actor in Hollywood. From his start in vaudeville theater with a trick roping act, he rose to world-wide fame as a columnist, philosopher, radio personality, and movie star. In the late 1920s, Will built the home and ranch where he and his wife, Betty, reared their three children, Will, Jr., Mary and Jim.

Some of his quotes are are timeless..........

1) Never miss a good chance to shut up.

2) If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

3) There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to touch an electric fence.

4) If you’re riding’ ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it’s still there.

5) Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier’n puttin’ it back.

6) There are two theories to arguing with women….neither work.

He was an admirable man, He made millions if you were counting in today's money, but he live very simply in this rambling house. He and Betty gave away their money to charity and to folks in need during the depression. When Will died in 1935 in a aircrash in Alaska, he had no savings as he wasn't expecting to die, he had contracts for movies, radios, his newspaper columns etc. So Betty and the kids sold some of the 300 plus acres surrounding the ranch, and kept 186 where the house was, then left it to the state of California, providing they kept the Polo Grounds.

On weekends you can visit the park and hike and picnic and tour the house and barn areas. And see polo matches. It was actually quite fun and exciting. The Beverly Hills team played the Santa Monica team. BH won.

Mr B took his new camera and got some great shots!

The day was wonderful, and I am looking forward to many outings in the MGTF with the breeze blowing thru my Hair.

Don't talk to Strangers-Saturday 9

1. Has talking to a stranger ever caused you a problem?

Not that I know of....Occasionally I will strike up a conversation that I find it hard to get out of....because it's...um...boring. In Missouri I talk to strangers all the time.  It just happens!  Then there is the internet.

2. Have you ever gloated or wanted to brag over success?

I like to brag about my kids and grandkids

3. What do enjoy most about your life?

Retirement is....the best. Being mortgage free...rules.

4. Do you ever over-think a situation in your life?

I use to overthink everything and only get confused.  Now I make lists and check things off.

5. Tell us about your best friend.

Mr BC and I have been married since 1967.  He is my very best friend.  Then there are the dogs....BFF.  I like to think my kids are my friends.  We have best friends who live close to us since we moved to MO.

6. How important is intelligence when picking (or having picked) a mate to you?

I was impressed by Mr BC's desire to go to college, he was the only one from his generation to want to go and he did it.  I have always been impressed by how much he knows.

7. What's the closest situation that you've had to dealing with an enemy?

I combat my weight all the time.

8. What was the circumstance that led to your most recent utterance of aha!?

I have aha moments all the time but I would surely say, aha, if I could just remember one. All during this move, I kept saying "I am so tired" when I couldn't remember things, but I have to admit.....I'm old and forget....AHA !

9. Have you ever tried getting even?

No I just get mad!

Ancient of Days

I picked #4 from MamaKat's writing prompts and it was particularly fun as I don't feel comfortable writing poetry.
Fill in the blanks of this template and create your own I Am poem. (ps this is a fun activity for bored kids as well. :)

Ancient of Days

I am ancient and yet still young
I wonder why I can't do the things I use to do
I hear a clock ticking in my head, the sand running out of the glass
I want to live forever
I am ancient and yet still young

 I pretend that my bones don't hurt
I feel that I am a girl still
I touch the sands of time
I worry that I will miss grandchildrens future
I cry that moments are lost
I am ancient and yet still young

 I understand that change is inevitable
I say you can't turn back the hands of time
I dream of the young girl at play
I try to remain always optimistic
I hope I live forever
I am ancient and yet still young

Wordless Wednesday=Shhhhhh

It gets me thru the night-Saturday 9

1. What helps you get through the night?

I dunno, Sleep?

2. Do you ALWAYS keep an open mind?

I try, I have always been able to keep an open mind on all 3 juries I have served on in my life.  I will listen before I make any decision. 

3. Who is the wisest person you know?

I think I am the wisest person I know. I am not sure everyone I know would agree with me, but I think I make good decisions most of the time. However,  
wisdom doesn't necessarily mean you are smart.

4. Who is the strongest person you know?

Almost all of the folks I know are not physically strong, but I know a few souls who have other strengths.

5. How would we tell by your behavior if you are having a bad day?

My brow would be furrowed and I would become passive aggressive or sarcastic. I would be talking to myself. I would seldom be confrontational I would be quiet instead.

6. Does your ego sometimes get in your way?

Yes, I really hate to admit I am wrong (my dad was the same way).  I have tried to get better at it by forcing myself to apologize and say I am wrong.  See #5.

7. Do you believe in Zen? If yes, can it be mastered?

I don't know a lot about it but I am sure it can be mastered, even if your aren't a Vulcan.

8. Do you believe you could teach someone, like your child, to be competitive?

I don't personally believe I could teach someone to be competitive.  See #6.

9. Do you believe home is not a place but rather a state of mind?

Yes, I am home now here in MO, but I am also home when I am in Santa Barbara with my grandsons. The house we just sold is not my home, but San Gabriel is the home I grew up in. It is definitely a state of mind.

Little Boy Lost

I am participating in Mama Kat's Writers Workshop and I have chosen the prompt.....Share a story about a stray you took in or an animal you once rescued.
I originally posted about Howard in February of 2009......

The newest member of our family is Howard... on the right....Mr. Bankerchick rescued him from traffic on Howard St....a few days after we got back from SB after a week with Лука,. We notified the Humane Society and made posters in the neighborhood. He was matted and starving. We think he's a forclosure dog, just left when owners leave the home. We have lots of them in San Bernardino County. We decided to keep him after we received no inquiries on him. He is a doll, housebroken, friendly, likes to cuddle and now, Gwennie's best friend. The Gwenster was jealous at first but they are now good buddies. We are taking him to the Vet next week for shots and then getting him licensed.  That was Spring, 2009.......

Well we took him to the vet and got a dog licence for him.  He was such a welcome new member of our family.  DD2 gave him a bath one afternoon in April and took off his collar.  I guess that maybe he was a runner, because he escaped from the front patio, Gwennie would have been to big to get out the gate but Howard was mostly fluff so he must have wiggled out.  DD2 scoured the neighborhood looking for him, we backtracked with the Humane Society, looking this time for a lost dog.  We were heartbroken. When we didn't find him after several weeks, we decided all was lost.  I would love to say at this time he came wandering back into our lives, but that was not to be.

We realized with Howard in our lives, that we needed to be a 2 dog family, so we decided to rescue from the Humane Society. We blocked access to the front patio to doggies and went in search of a new dog.  One Saturday, we found TOTEM  and our family was complete. Totem, so glad to find a forever home, has been a dutiful puppy never leaving our side. Even though he sometimes has run out the front door, he comes back when called.  Can't say the same of Gwennie, so we have both of them microchipped.

The pups have really enriched our lives and keep us active. We have decided to help the Humane Society here in Joplin by fostering dogs awaiting a forever home. I am sure I will have many stories to tell as we embark on that experience.

Those Enlightened Traitors

Today is a good day for me to think about what I believe and what those Enlightened Traitors of the time might have been thinking about, when they signed the document, we are celebrating today. The concept of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, was expressed in the Declaration of Independence. It was also stated.....That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

 

When those good, enlightened men, set about creating the Constitution, the checks and balances of government was one of those great ideas.  The Liberal left and the Conservative right have been checking but not necessarily, balancing each other for a some time now to no great good.  It's time for those of us who sometimes move to the right, sometimes to left , Moderate Independents to really speak out. We are NOT wishy-washy, we are tired of politicians and activists telling us what is right and wrong, what we should believe or not believe. Extremists of any type are never going to be convinced to compromise, but when we marginalize America into red/blue, black/white, rich/poor or true faith/false god. no good can be achieved.

If Americans can't find common ground and enlightenment now as those Enlightened Men found over two centuries ago....Well I dunno....... Fireworks?

This is an update from something I posted here in 2007. Different things were going on then but it was really more of the same.  Times are definitely poorer for the US now and still nothing is getting done.