VERY INTERESTING MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is Arizona we have what many called "America's toughest sheriff" Joe Arpaio.   He is a colorful and controversial character who has instituted severe policies at Phoenix's Maricopa County Jail since taking office in 1993.

  Sheriff Joe created the tent city jail, has jail meals down to 40 cents a serving and charges the inmates for them. He stopped smoking and porno magazines in the jails.  Took away their weights.  Cut off all but "G" movies.  He started chain gangs so the inmates could do free work on county and city projects. Then he started chain gangs for women so he wouldn't get sued for discrimination.

 He then took away cable TV until he found out there was a federal order that required cable TV  for jails.  So he hooked up the cable again only let in the Disney channel and the weather channel.

When asked why the weather channel he replied, so that they will know how hot it's gonna be while they are working on my chain gangs. He cut off coffee since it has zero nutritional value.  When the inmates complained, he told them, "This isn't the Ritz Carlton.  If you don't like it, don't come back." He brought Newt Gingrich's lecture series videotape that he pipes into the jails.  When asked by a reporter if he had any lecture series by a Democrat, he replied that a democratic lecture series might explain why a lot of the inmates were in his jails in the first place. He also has a "Vacancy" sign up so that people know he will always have room to book arrestees.

Joe has all inmates  wearing pink undershorts and sox, he feels there will be less theft with the pink.  Last summer when he received complaints of heat from the inmates, he told them: "It's 120 degrees in Iraq and our soldiers are living in tents too, and they have to wear full battle gear, but they didn't commit any crimes, so shut your damned mouths!"

What do you think? 

Here is a link to Sherrif Joe's site.       http://www.mcso.org/

THANKSGIVING

We had a very nice  Thanksgiving dinner with a few close friends, 272 to be exact.  Not what you might call intimate dinner group, but non the less a friendly group.  

 We are each others extended family for the winter.  We came from all over the country and Canada, to enjoy the sunny weather of Arizona for a few months.   We make jokes about the snow areas, especially our own, and say "better them than us."  What a group we are.  We walk, ride bikes, play cards, dance, go to shows.  Volunteer, and thank God for our blessings.  We just plain enjoy each other.    

Christmas is another story.  It seems to be much harder to be away from your family on Christmas.   I personal dread it.  Every time I hear "I'll Be Home For Christmas" the tears start flowing, but with a little help from my friends I'll get through it.

Thank you for the world so sweet,

Thank you for the food we eat.

Thank you for the birds that sing,

Thank you God for everything.

           

'TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING, BUT I COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS, I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED - THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION
SO I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.   I GOBBLED UPTURKEYAND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.

I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL -- PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOURTURKEYBE PLUMP,
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP,
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS And YOUR PIES TAKE A PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS  

 We wish you all a Happy, memory filled Thanksgiving Day                                    

Cancer took my friend today

    Cancer took my friend today   Her name was June.  We worked together a number of years before her retirement.  She was one of those people who wore a mask to hide her sorrows.  June was a single mother who struggled with finances all her life, but was always ready for a laugh, share a joke or dance to her favorite Frank Sinatra  music , New York, New York.

When we went home this past summer June was in a rehab with a broken hip.  Within two weeks she was home and taking care  of herself.  

 I was able to call her weekly but had I not  known she was ill, I never would have suspected it.  She was always upbeat and more interested on where we were and what we were doing.  I will miss our chats.  Tomorrow would have been her  birthday.

 Rest in peace my friend.  I will never forget you.

   
I Did Not Die

Do not stand at my grave and forever weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry.
I am not there. I did not die.

Melinda Sue Pacho

I'm a collector of sorts!

I am a collector of things and I bet you are all too.  Now that we are on the road I have given up things but collect sites on the internet. We all have our favorite sites other than journals, that we visit regulary.  I think it will be  interest to share ours with each other.  Here is a small sampleing of my.

  SMARTEE Refdesk: reference, facts, news, free and family friendly    Library Subject Index    GovSpot.com: US government, state government, Congress, government jobs & more.    Grassroots Lobbying  

 COMPUTER / WEB    Mr. Ed's E-Mail Bracket Stripper v3.0     The Computer Lady - Tips & Troubleshooting For Computer Problems.      Vmyths.com- Truth About Computer Virus Myths & Hoaxes  

MEDICAL   The New England Journal of Medicine:   Research & Review Articles on Diseases & Clinical Practice   Food and Drug Administration Home Page

  ODDS & ENDS The Why Files
  Top Secret Recipes on the Web 

  FORUMS   Open Roads Forum   Fabulous Forums   That Home Site! Forums  

Thought For The Day

 People who drink light "beer" don't really like beer, they just like to pee a lot.    Have a happy day.

Buttons

  I found my buttons!!!!!

I'm Sorry Again For This Mess

I know I'm not a computer genius, but I try to keep it a little better than the last few entries.   GUESS WHAT?   My " Edit Jounal" button is missing.   Now where could they have gone OR maybe somone took them!  Hummmmm.   If anyone has a suggestion or have seen my buttons, return them immediately.

Trees

Here is Arizona there isn't a lot of greenery about.  When you pass a building that has grass it stands out.  Lots of palm trees and saguaro cactus, but no willows, pine trees, oak, or maple. When we went home last summer  the amount of trees sometime seemed overwhelding to us.  We have become used to the wide open spaces of the west.  

 Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918  

      Trees

 I THINK that I shall never see  

A poem lovely as a tree.    

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest  

Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

 A tree that looks at God all day,          

 And lifts her leafy arms to pray; 

 A tree that may in summer wear

  A nest of robins in her hair;     

 Upon whose bosom snow has lain;  

Who intimately lives with rain.      

 Poems are made by fools like me,  

But only God can make a tree.

The Polar Express

 Today we went with friends Mary and Chuck to the 3-D Imax theater to see " The Polar Express". 

For those of you who have seen an Imax movie, then you know that it is an experience and today's movie was not disappointing.   Based on Chris Van Allsburg's best selling chalderns classic about a boy doubting if Santa Claus was real.  

 On  Christmas Eve, a boy boards a train called the Polar Express that is bound for the North Pole.  When the train reaches the  Pole, Santa chooses one of the children on board to receive the first gift of Christmas.  He chooses the boy, who asks for a bell from the raindeer's harness.  On the trip home, the boy loses the bell.  However, he gets it back wrapped up in a gift under the tree.  He and his sister can hear the beautiful sound the bell makes, but his parents cannot.

Tom Hanks plays  the conductor, the boy, the boys father, a hobo, and  Santa.  

At times it is almost impossible to take your eyes off the screen when the train goes on a wild ride through plunging  rails, or the children trying to retrieve a lost ticket on the trains roof.  Some of the heights made me dizzy and I found myself looking away momentarily.   There are lessons for the kids to  learn  here about leadership, trust, humility and ?  

Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

 My friend Carol called me today from Massachusetts.  She said that she had been thinking about me today as she was shoveling five inches of snow.  She didn't say what kind of thought she had about me, but I can just guess by the remarks she was making.  She would not let me tell her about the warm sun shining  day we were having.  Some people are just so self centered!

I was reading the Old Farmers Almanac today on line.  It is packed with all sorts of helpful information.  It had the expected weather forecast for the country, astrology, gardening, crafts, recipes and a forum.

Weather Folklore from the Farmers Almanac

If the geese on St. Martin's Day (November 11) stand on ice, they will walk in mud at Christmas.

If the first snow sticks to the trees, it foretells a bountiful harvest.

If sheep feed facing downhill, watch for a snowstorm.

If on All Saints Day the beech acorn is dry we will stick behind the stove in winter, but if it is wet and not light the winter will not be dry, but wet.

Thunder in November indicates a fertile year to come.

If there be ice in November that will bear a duck, there will be nothing thereafter but sleet and muck.

As November 21st, so the winter.

When the winter is early, it will not be late.

Lengthened winter and tardy spring are both good for hay and grain, but bad for corn and garden.

December changeable and mild, the whole winter will remain a child.

A warm Christmas, a cold Easter.

A green Christmas, a white Easter.

December cold, with snow, brings rye everywhere.

The Old Farmer's Almanac - Home Page

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Today is the day that our country has set aside to remember the men and women who have served in peace and war, to those who are still serving today, and to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Today's Family First site looks at one that all veterans may be interested in.

The site is the Department of Veterans Affairs, the official site of this government agency. Here is a great place for any veteran of any service to find information about their rights and benefits that are theirs. There is information here about disabled, homeless, minority, and women veterans, as well as vocational rehabilitation and employment services. This department has recently been elevated to Cabinet level status, recognizing the sacrifices Americans have made for their country.

Take some time today to remember relatives and friends who have served and are still serving. It is through their efforts that this truly is the land of the free and the home of the brave.

http://www.va.gov/

Veterans Day

 

 

       Gif from "Kevs Gifs Galore" 

                                
                            America still soars,

                            proud, strong and free.

                            Thanks to those who

                            unselfishly served her.  

Thank you Veterans,
for all you have given this country.  

 http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=MQ11392375                                        

Thought of the Day

Thought of the Day Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac.      

 

Here's a cute 20 question game.      

Click here: 20Q.net   You think of an object and the A.I. will try to figure-out what you are thinking by asking simple questions. The object you think of should be something that most people would know about, but, never a specific person, place or thing. "A cat" is a good object, but "Pepper," my cat, would be a bad choice. You may answer Unknown to any question, especially if you do not understand the question or do not know the answer.  

 

Here is our calendar if you want to see what we are up to.

ADLessor's Calendar     Sorry, I guess this doesn't show mine.   DAH

Returning Friends

Mesa Arizona has each winter a sizable winter population increase and we are happy to be among them.  Sitting out in the evening, we can see  a parade of planes coming into  the Phoenix airport.  They are coming in from all over the country. When we first wintered here five years ago we didn't know  anyone.  Now that has changed.  We stay in a resort with 1100 other residents, 55 or older. These strangers now have become close friends.  Most of us come and go (Nov.-Apr), and like separated lovers, we rejoice at seeing each other again.  All around the park we are greeted with hugs and hearing "Glad to see you back."  It's a warm welcome.   And before we know it, were back to our old habits like Sunday night it's cribbage, Monday, it's whist, Tues. is pot luck, Wed is the country store, Thursday is our happy hour with the neighbors, Fri is bingo, and finally the weekend.  On Sat mornings we volunteer with the breakfast crew.  You would be surprised how quickly you can feed that many people!  The clubs have started up, the pools are ready, and the dances have began.   When we are here we keep close attention to our calendar as it is absolutely filled up.   We are up for the winter dance and will rest in the spring.

Thought for the day

There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra than on
Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2030, there should be a large
elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no
recollection of what to do with them.

MEXICO'S DAYS OF THE DEAD - DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

Art by Patrick Murillo

Today, Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and in certain parts of the United States and Central America.  It is not a morbid occasion, but rather a festive time.  In rural Mexico, people visit the cemetery where their ones are buried. They decorate gravesites with marigold flowers and candles. They bring toys for dead children and bottles of tequila to adults. They sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their loved ones.   In the United States and in Mexico's larger cities, families build altars in their homes, dedicating them to the dead. They surround these altars with flowers, food and pictures of the deceased. They light candles and place them next to the altar  

Traditionally, the flowers used are marigolds, and the incense used on the altar is copal, the resin from a particular tree. Like moles and chile-laced dishes prepared for some of the ancestors, the flowers are quite aromatic and the copal has a distinctive smell.

The aromas are used or consumed by the spirits, which, like the scents, can't be seen. The foods are eaten (or given away) by the living later, after their essence has been consumed.