THE GRATITUDE CAMPAIGN

This finally made it to me last night so I wanted to share it with everyone. Be sure and thank a soldier when you see one. Actions always speak louder than words. So pass it on! Watch the video link: http://www.youtube.com/gratitudecampaign

A NEW PHOTOBLOG

My friend Marie and I decided to start a photoblog site where we will post a random picture everyday at noon. We are calling the site TWOZEES at noon. You might wonder how we came up with that name? Well, let me explain it to you. She lives 2,572 miles from me. She lives in Friday Harbor, Washington and I live in Sugar Land, Texas. Her webpage is called Z QUILTS and mine is called ZEE ART. Soooo we got the name TWOZEES. Come and check us out each day!!! http://www.photoblog.com/TWOZEES/

MAYBE TOMORROW

It's not always easy to summon the muse - When asked, the brain can often refuse To make the effort required to think. You can take a horse to water But you can't make it drink.

BE GLAD YOUR NOSE IS ON YOUR FACE

Jack Prelutsky was born in Brooklyn, in 1940, and attended Hunter College in New York City. Although he claims to have hated poetry through most of his childhood, he rediscovered poetry later in life, and has devoted many years since to writing fresh, humorous poetry aimed specifically at kids. After stints as a truckdriver, photographer, folksinger, and more, he is now the author of more than thirty collections of original verse and anthologies of children's poetry. When I was teaching I would read his poetry to my classes almost everyday. It would always bring a smile to our faces. *************************************************************************************

Be Glad Your Nose is on Your Face
by Jack Prelutsky
Be glad your nose is on your face, not pasted on some other place, for if it were where it is not, you might dislike your nose a lot. Imagine if your precious nose were sandwiched in between your toes, that clearly would not be a treat, for you'd be forced to smell your feet. Your nose would be a source of dread were it attached atop your head, it soon would drive you to despair, forever tickled by your hair. Within your ear, your nose would be an absolute catastrophe, for when you were obliged to sneeze, your brain would rattle from the breeze. Your nose, instead, through thick and thin, remains between your eyes and chin, not pasted on some other place-- be glad your nose is on your face!

THE MAGIC IS IN THE HOLE

I visited this link this morning and had to share it. I love doughnuts as much as the next guy but this is a bit weird! I think I would go for the "DIRT" right now! Check it out by clicking the link below: http://voodoodoughnut.com/menu.html

HOW TO GROW A FRIEND

Friendships.

They are probably a source of both deep joy and deep heartache for many of you.

Women seem to have a bigger need for friendships than men do. And our friendships often run deeper. Men, I have noticed, like to "do things" with their friends. Women want to "know things" about each other. Sure we like to do things together too, like shopping! But we want to talk about things while we do it!

Intimacy = Into me see.

Intimacy is allowing others to see what is inside of us. Scary idea huh? Practicing intimacy with others is all about learning to be transparent. The only way that we are going to learn to be transparent ourselves is by learning to practice acceptance of others.

A TWELVE- STEP PROGRAM FOR MAKING FRIENDS

1. People Equal Friends. There is a certain chemistry with friends just as in a love relationship. Therefore, contact with other people is the first building block to grow a friend. Friends can't grow in a vacuum. Best friends take time.

2. Talking Is Essential Among Friends. Talking between friends requires reciprocity. In a mutually satisfying friendship, both friends talk and both friends listen. Friends talk appropriately to each other.

3. Friends Acknowledge Friends. Friends acknowledge each other when talking. Many conflicts in your personal relationships can be avoided if you will take the time to acknowledge other's feelings and points of view.

4. Friends Listen to Friends. Listening to friends in an important step in building a closer friendship. We often take listening for granted, never realizing what it means to really listen to a friend.

5. Friends Attend to Friends. Friends focus during conversations. Friends pay attention in conversations. It means that your ears, your eyes, your body and your feelings are all focused on that person at the time.

6. Friends Show Empathy With Friends. Empathy is identifying with your friend's feelings and seeing life through your friend's eyes. Confidences are freely given when they are received with empathy among friends.

7. Friends Touch Friends. Touching is a warm form of communication between friends. When you see best friends communicating, you will notice friends "listen with their eyes," stand close together, and touch comfortably.

8. Friends Praise Friends. Affirmation is a powerful tool for growing a friend. Genuine praise can affect your friends' lives. Be liberal with praise for all of your friends, including your casual ones.

9. Friends Are Loyal and Trustworthy. Trust and loyalty go hand-in-hand for friends. Friends can trust you with their secrets, both large and small, because good friends never break a confidence. Good friends are forever loyal!

10. Friends are Equal. Friends are on a seesaw. In a healthy relationship, friends are equals. Not 50/50 every time, of course, but with a true, lasting friendship it always evens out in the end.

11. Friends Reveal Their Feelings. We feel closest to our friends when we are suffering together, when we feel like our friend needs us, or when we feel a friend has shared something of great importance with us.

12. Friends Do Not Mind Read. The person who thinks, "If you really liked me, you could read my mind" can not have an adult friendship. No friend can read your mind. And you can not read your friend's mind.

JESUS' ETHNITICITY

EVEN GOD ENJOYS A GOOD LAUGH!

There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:

1. He called everyone brother

2. He liked Gospel

3. He didn't get a fair trial

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:

1. He went into His Father's business

2. He lived at home until he was 33

3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother

was sure He was God

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:

1. He talked with His hands

2. He had wine with His meals

3. He used olive oil

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian :

1. He never cut His hair

2. He walked around barefoot all the time

3. He started a new religion

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was an American Indian :

1. He was at peace with nature

2. He ate a lot of fish

3. He talked about the Great Spirit

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish:

1. He never got married.

2. He was always telling stories.

3. He loved green pastures.

But the most compelling evidence of all - 3 proofs that Jesus was a woman:

1. He fed a crowd at a

moment's notice when there was virtually no food

2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it

3. And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was still work to do

PICK YOUR NOSE

Doctor Backs Picking Your Nose And Eating It

Picking your nose and eating it is one of the best ways to stay healthy, according to a top Austrian doctor.

Innsbruck-based lung specialist Prof Dr Friedrich Bischinger said people who pick their noses with their fingers were healthy, happier and probably better in tune with their bodies.

He says society should adopt a new approach to nose-picking and encourage children to take it up.

Dr Bischinger said: "With the finger you can get to places you just can't reach with a handkerchief, keeping your nose far cleaner.

"And eating the dry remains of what you pull out is a great way of strengthening the body's immune system.

"Medically it makes great sense and is a perfectly natural thing to do. In terms of the immune system the nose is a filter in which a great deal of bacteria are collected, and when this mixture arrives in the intestines it works just like a medicine.

"Modern medicine is constantly trying to do the same thing through far more complicated methods, people who pick their nose and eat it get a natural boost to their immune system for free. "

He pointed out that children happily pick their noses, yet by the time they have become adults they have stopped under pressure from a society that has branded it disgusting and anti social.

He said: "I would recommend a new approach where children are encouraged to pick their nose. It is a completely natural response and medically a good idea as well."

And he pointed out that if anyone was really worried about what their neighbour was thinking, they could still enjoy picking their nose in private if they still wanted to get the benefits it offered.

A PAGE FROM MY BOOK

Enjoy a selection of quilts from the 2007 Journal Quilt Project which were displayed at the 2007 International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX. The Journal Quilt Project was originated by Karey Bresenhan as an ongoing, free-form exercise in creativity, specifically planned to encourage quilt artists to stretch and grow. Participation has grown to such proportions that the artists were requested to select their best quilt pages for exhibition. FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW TO SEE MY QUILT. IT IS ON PAGE 10.

http://www.quiltart.com/2007journals/index.html

ZOEY CAN'T SA NO-EY

Parents of fans of Nickelodeon’s “Zoey 101” are wondering what to tell their children now that the 16-year-old star, Jamie Lynn Spears, is pregnant. So far, the best they can come with is “Zoey can’t say no-ey and that makes her a ho-ey.”

Looks like “Zoey 101” needed Sex Ed 101.

Jamie Lynn Spears, little sister of troubled, paparazzi prey Britney and star of the popular Nickelodeon kid show “Zoey 101” told OK! Magazine this week she’s 12 weeks pregnant, sparking a tabloid firestorm that’s prompting parents and kids to talk about sex.

“If anything, this serves as a perfect opportunity to discuss topics like sex, love and relationships with your children.”’ said Bill Albert, communications director at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy in Washington, D.C.

VARSITY SOCCER

We are really looking forward to the 2008 soccer season since Avery is playing on the varsity team this year. This picture must have been taken after a practice since most of the girls have their hair up! Games will start in January. GO LADY RANGERS

SIT ON THIS

WOULD YOU SIT ON THIS?????? IT WOULD SCARE ME SILLY IF I LIFTED THE LID AND SAW IT! PUTS A WHOLE NEW SLANT ON "BITE ME".

GOD IS LIKE...

SOMEONE SENT THIS TO ME AND SO I THOUGHT I WOULD PASS IT ON. A 5TH GRADE TEACHER'S STUDENTS WROTE THESE. ********************************************************************************* God is like. BAYER ASPIRIN He works miracles. ******************************************************************************** God is like. a FORD He's got a better idea. ******************************************************************************** God is like. COKE He's the real thing. ******************************************************************************** God is like. HALLMARK CARDS He cares enough to send His very best. ******************************************************************************** God is like. TIDE He gets the stains out that others leave behind. ******************************************************************************** God is like. GENERAL ELECTRIC He brings good things to life. ******************************************************************************** God is like. SEARS He has everything. ******************************************************************************** God is like. ALKA-SELTZER Try Him, you'll like Him ******************************************************************************** God is like. SCOTCH TAPE You can't see Him, but you know He's there. ******************************************************************************** God is like. DELTA He's ready when you are. ******************************************************************************** God is like. ALLSTATE You're in good hands with Him. ******************************************************************************** God is like. VO-5 Hair Spray He holds through all kinds of weather. ******************************************************************************** God is like. DIAL SOAP Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did? ******************************************************************************** God is like. the U.S. POST OFFICE Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination. ******************************************************************************** God is like. Chevrolet. . . .the heart beat of America ******************************************************************************** God is like Maxwell House. . . Good to the very last drop ******************************************************************************** God is like. Bounty. . . . He is the quicker picker upper. . can handle the tough jobs. . .and He won't fall apart on you *************************************************************************************

GO FISH

Last night Avery and Keller were playing around with my camera and my Nikon 10.5mm fisheye lens. I love using it because it shows you a 180' perspective. It bends the world into a sphere! Here are some of the images they took plus some that were taken this morning in my back yard.

HERE KITTY KITTY

This is Caesar, our 14 year old kitty. He is the laziest cat I have ever owned. He only comes around you when he wants to be fed. Can you imagine having a relationship with someone and only speaking to them when you wanted breakfast, lunch or dinner? GEE... Now Zoey, she is our 4 year old dog. She is a Bichon Frise. She follows me EVERYWHERE even into the bathroom like a toddler!!! We go on walks, watch TV, run errands together and she sleeps with us every night. I know that some cats act more like dogs but not ours.

KNITTING IS THE NEW YOGA

Knitting is the new yoga. It is very relaxing to do something that doesn't take much thought. It is like meditation. It is therapy with a takeaway!! I usually keep myself busy from Thanksgiving to March knitting in my spare time. You might wonder how I have ANY time left over in the day when I am busy making mosaics, shopping, cooking for the family and celebrating the holidays????? But when I sit down to watch TV or during my Thursday classes at The Melton School listening to the Rabbis teach or waiting in a doctor's office, that is when I feel the urge to keep my hands busy. I don't think I can ever be totally still unless I am sleeping!!! Does anyone else feel like that? Here are a few of the knitted scarves I have made in the last few weeks. I guess some friends will be getting them as gifts. ***************************************************************************

YOU ARE WHAT YOU DRIVE

Cars are like clothing. They make you feel a certain way when you are in them and convey an image to the world. To many, they are an extension of who you are—whether it’s fashionable or not. Driving a big truck or beat-up old car could be the equivalent to wearing sweat pants and T-shirt, whereas driving a fancy luxury vehicle feels like you should be wearing a tux or evening gown. Of course, people buy cars with function in mind, but we all like to look good while doing our chores. I drive a 2007 FJ CRUISER. I love driving that small SUV around town. I sit up high and feel like I own the road. People are always staring because you still don't see many of them around. I really wanted a MINI COOPER but that is a very small car and we thought it would be too safe in such a large city as Houston. WHAT DO YOU DRIVE?

HANNUKAH IS OVER FOR ANOTHER YEAR

Hannukah came early this year and now it is over. I will keep the decorations up through the holidays since I love the festive look of everything. I made this quilt years ago when my friend was living across the street. We pushed and encouraged each other to finish it in time. Now I hang it every Hannukah and remember Cheryl, who moved away shortly after that. The flames on the menorah are added each night using velcro.

TAKE IT FURTHER CHALLENGE

My cyber friend Marie introduced me to this challenge that she signed up for. I decided to participate along with her. Having a challenge and a goal for each month of the year will help keep me focused on my work. It sounds like a lot of fun and I am looking forward to starting. If you want to join in here is the website for more information: http://sharonb.wordpress.com/

ROSH CHODESH TEVET

Our sisterhood got together last night for Rosh Chodesh Tevet and the 6th night of Hannukah. We learned about the daughters of Zelophehad. It was very inspiring to know that even way back then women were given a chance to inherit their father's estate when there were no sons!!! We had a craft activity, too. We made an decoupaged box using tissue paper and Mod Podge.

USELESS INFORMATION

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ENJOY READING SOME USELESS INFORMATION:

• A shrimp's heart is in its head.
• The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.
• Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.
• Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.
• In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere.
• A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
• 23% of all photocopier faults world-wide are caused by people sitting on them and photocopying their butts.
• Most lipstick contains fish scales.
• Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different.
• If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die. If you keep your eyes open by force, they can pop out.
• In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, no one reported a single case where an ostrich buried its head in the sand.
• It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.
• A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.
• Horses can't vomit.
• Butterflies taste with their feet.
• In 10 minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all of the world's nuclear weapons combined.
• On average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year.
• On average people fear spiders more than they do death.
• Ninety percent of New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants.
• Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.
• Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.
• Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.
• It's possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.
• Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
• It's physically impossible for you to lick your elbow.
• A snail can sleep for three years.
• No word in the English language rhymes with "MONTH."
• Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
• The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
• All polar bears are left handed.
• In ancient Egypt, priests plucked EVERY hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.
• An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
• TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
• "Go," is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
• If Barbie were life-size, her measurements would be 39-23-33. She would stand seven feet, two inches tall.
• A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
• The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.
• Americans on average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.
• Almost everyone who reads this email will try to lick their elbow.
• Don't forget to pass these weird facts on to everyone you know.
• They will get a kick out it...Have a great fun day!

CLEMENTS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN 5A FOOTBALL IN TEXAS!!! Tonight is the biggest game in Clement's history! They are still in the playoffs and are facing the Katy Tigers at Rice Stadium. Katy is 13-0 and we are also 13-0. Who will win tonight in the Division 2 State Football Quarterfinals? Players to watch: UCLA commit Aundre Dean looks to run Katy to a state title, but Clements LB Kyle Hoke may have something to say about that. Best matchup: Katy rushing attack vs Clements run defense. Katy will look to run behind the blocks of Rice committ Eric Ball and use the legs of Aundre Dean to advance in the Texas playoffs, so it will be up to Clements to slow down the four-star rusher. Since this is Avery's senior year it would be awesome if they could keep going to the very end!!! GO CLEMENTS and kick some butt tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

POTATO LATKES

Tonight is the third night of Hannukah. I made potato latkes the first night. You can't eat these too many nights since they are fried in oil. They aren't the most nutritious but they are VERY DELICIOUS!!! It is a tradition to eat foods fried in oil on Hannukah.

What is the secret to making great latkes? We found that the starchier the potato, the crisper the latke. As for varieties, we tested baking potatoes (the starchiest), Yukon Golds, and boiling potatoes (the least starchy) and liked the flavor of them all. You can easily double this recipe for a crowd.

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 45 min

Servings: Makes 12 to 16 latkes.

Ingredients

1 lb potatoes 1/2 cup finely chopped onion 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 to 3/4 cup olive oil

Accompaniments: sour cream and applesauce

Preparation

Preheat oven to 250°F.

Peel potatoes and coarsely grate by hand, transferring to a large bowl of cold water as grated. Soak potatoes 1 to 2 minutes after last batch is added to water, then drain well in a colander.

Spread grated potatoes and onion on a kitchen towel and roll up jelly-roll style. Twist towel tightly to wring out as much liquid as possible. Transfer potato mixture to a bowl and stir in egg and salt.

Heat 1/4 cup oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Working in batches of 4 latkes, spoon 2 tablespoons potato mixture per latke into skillet, spreading into 3-inch rounds with a fork. Reduce heat to moderate and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes. Turn latkes over and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes more. Transfer to paper towels to drain and season with salt. Add more oil to skillet as needed. Keep latkes warm on a wire rack set in a shallow baking pan in oven.

Cooks' notes:

• Latkes may be made up to 8 hours ahead. Reheat on a rack set over a baking sheet in a 350°F oven, about 5 minutes.

• Grating the potatoes, soaking them briefly in water, and then squeezing out the liquid (as we’ve done here) keeps the batter from turning brown too quickly.

THE HANNUKAH SONG

How many of you remember this song by Adam Sandler from Saturday Night Live? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoKG_4g5bNc&feature=related

HAPPY HANNUKAH

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights or Festival of Rededication, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th day of Kislev, which is December 5th. The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of lights on each of the festival's eight nights, one on the first night, two on the second night and so on. Tonight we light the first candle.

Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, and Feast of the Maccabees. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabee in 165 BC after the Temple had been profaned by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, king of Syria and overlord of Palestine.

WHERE IS THE REALITY?

I admit that I love the reality shows on TV. The ones that are on BRAVO are: Season 4 of Project Runway, Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, Real Housewives of Orange County, and Top Chef. VH 1 has reality shows like The Shot and America's Smartest Model. MTV has America's Next Top Model. NBC has Survivor and CBS does Big Brother. TLC has Miami Ink, LA Ink, and London Ink. I also watch Little People-Big World, What Not To Wear and Flipping Houses. BBC TV has Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and The "F" Word. I don't know why I am hooked on watching these shows when I obviously have other things I should be doing!

The first thing to keep in mind is that "Reality TV" is nothing new - one of the most popular examples of this sort of entertainment is also one of the oldest, "Candid Camera." Originally created by Allen Funt, it showcased hidden video of people in all manner of unusual and strange situations and was popular for many years.

The primary basis for many of these shows (but not all) seems to be to put people in painful, embarrassing, and humiliating situations for the rest of us to watch - and, presumably, laugh at and be entertained by.

One of the attractions of reality television is the supposed "reality" of it - unscripted and unplanned situations and reactions. One of the ethical problems of reality television is the fact that it isn't nearly as "real" as it pretends to be. At least in dramatic shows one can expect the audience to understand that what they see on the screen doesn't necessarily reflect the reality of the actors' lives; the same, however, cannot be said for heavily edited and contrived scenes on sees on reality shows. I would love to see what it is really like behind the scenes!!

THINKING LIKE A DOG

Thought of the Day Handle every situation like a dog. If you can't Eat it or Screw it.. Piss on it and Walk away.

THE FAMILY

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN AT OUR THANKSGIVING LUNCH. WE WERE INVITED OVER OUR UNCLE HERBERT AND AUNT CAROL'S HOME. WE WERE ALSO CELEBRATING HIS 85TH BIRTHDAY! THEY ARE THE COUPLE STANDING. IT WAS QUITE AN EVENT WITH A PIANO PLAYER AND A CATERED LUNCH! TOO BAD WE WEREN'T FEELING WELL THAT DAY. (remember our food poisoning issue?) AUNT CAROL'S DAUGHTER IS A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND SO SHE TOOK THIS PICTURE TO HELP THEM REMEMBER THIS MILESTONE.

AGING BABY BOOMERS

FOR ALL THE AGING BABY BOOMERS OUT THERE! WATCH THIS FUNNY VIDEO... http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/opinion/walthandelsman/blog/2007/11/animation_baby_boomers.html

DIRTY DUATHLON

My oldest son, Brent, participated in a duathlon in Austin this month. He enjoys doing all of these fun events. It certainly keeps him in great shape! Here are some pictures I wanted to share that he sent to me.