Another Happy Thanksgiving Wish to All!

A Worthwhile Source

Special Occasions

Source

My Aunt Vada is one of the most precious people in the world.  She has always been my ‘crazy’ aunt—the one who goes places, tells stories well, listens to me, and communicates with others.  Aunt Vada sends me the funniest stories, some of them not repeatable to anyone other than my close family.  

I think this story would be fine.

  

                                              The Good Napkins

My mother taught me to read when I was about four years old, thrilling all who heard me. One day, I was in the bathroom and noticed one of the cabinet doors was ajar.  I read the box in the cabinet. 

I then asked my mother why she was keeping ‘napkins’ in the bathroom.  “Don’t they belong in the kitchen?” 

Not wanting to burden me with unnecessary facts, she told me that those were for ‘special occasions’.

Time passes, memories remain…it’s Christmas Day, and my folks were leaving to pick up my uncle and his wife for dinner.  Mom had assignments for all of us while they were gone.  Mine was to set the table.

When they returned, my uncle came in first, and immediately burst into laughter.  Next came his wife who gasped, then began giggling.  Next came my father, who roared with laughter.  

Then came Mom, who almost died of embarrassment when she saw each place setting on the table with a ‘special occasion’ Kotex napkin at each plate, with the fork carefully arranged on top.  I had even tucked the little tail in so they didn’t hang off the edge!!

My mom asked me whyI used these and, of course, my response sent the other adults into further fits of laughter.  “But, Mom, you said they were for special occasions!!”

Aunt Vada’s friend added, “life is too short for drama and petty things…so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly, forgive quickly, and for heaven’s sake, use the good napkins whenever you can.”


Happy Thanksgiving to all! Eat well and eat wisely.

Won't see you all until December 12, will be posting past (historic!) posts until after New Year.  So much to enjoy, so much to give praise to God! Christ Jesus is born! Salvation is ours!

Best of Radio

We're back, taking calls to answer the question of "Regrets?  Looking back on my life..."  First caller on line one.
  

Radio Personality: So, let's hear it, big fella.  What can you say looking back on your life?

Anonymous:  I'll state it clear...I've lived a life that's...uh...full.  I've traveled down each and every highway...

Radio Personality:  So, you're a traveling man, who lives in cheap motels? Away from the family, huh.  Any regrets?

Anonymous: Regrets?  I've had a few, but then, too few to mention…

Radio Personality: Oh, one of those.  Love 'em and leave 'em? 

Anonymous: I did what I had to do...saw through without exemption...

Radio Personality:  Let me guess:  you planned each careful step, right? Had to, I imagine.

Anonymous:…More, much more than this, I did it my way….

Radio Personality: O-kay, but were there times?  Didn't you ever think you bit off more than you could chew?  You know, the balancing act?

Anonymous: But, through it all…I ate it up and spit it out…faced it all and stood ta…

Radio personality:  I see.  A life of love, laugh, and tears, right?  Yours or your family?  Ever think about 'em?  I mean, didn't you ever think about losing them?

Anonymous:  I’ve had my share of losing, but…now I find it all so amusing!  To think I did all that and…

Radio Personality: AMUSING? But, you’re not shy, are you?  Not humble at all! I bet you shout...

Anonymous: Oh, no, oh, no, not me!  I did it my way!

Radio Personality: Well, then, what IS a man?  What has he got?  If not his family, what is important?

Anonymous: Yes!  If not himself, then he has naught!  To say the things he truly feels…

Radio Personality: NAUGHT? Sure, but these are not the words of one ...?

Anonymous:  ...who kneels!  The record shows…Yes!  I took the blows!

Radio Personality: Well, I'd love to land some blows on you, you narcissistic bastard.  You got a record, a felony record?  

Anonymous:  And did it my way!  Yes, it was my way…

Radio Personality:  Right, buddy.  Whatever you say.  Next caller, line 2?...

Best of Radio, Pt. 2

no such number

Radio Host:  Okay, you’re on live.  How can Dr. Love help you?

Male voice:  Okay…I wrote this girl a letter…I gave it to the postman and he put it in his sack…

Dr. Love:  So he put the letter in his sack, and…?

Male voice:  (sobs) Bright and early next morning, he brought the letter back…

Dr. Love:  So, the letter was returned?

Male voice:  …she wrote upon it:  Return to sender...address unknown…(sniffles) no such number...no such zone...(quiet sobs)

Dr. Love:  Did you had a quarrel?  A lover’s spat?

Male voice:  We had a quarrel...(unknown background noise)...yes, a lover's spat... I wrote “I’m sorry!” But my letter keeps coming back…(indistinct nose blowing).

Dr. Love:  So, the letter was returned....What did you do next?

Male Voice:  So then I dropped it in the mailbox, sent it special D (delivery)…

Dr. Love:  And the next morning…?

Male voice: It came right back to me…RETURN TO SENDER…address unknown...no such person ...no such zone...

Dr. Love:  Same thing?  Address unknown?

  

Male voice:  ...and, ‘No such person…No such zone’! (soft crying)

Dr. Love:  What the heck?  What’ll you do next?

Male voice:  This time, I’m gonna take it myself!

Dr. Love:  And put it right in her hand?  Isn’t that stalking?  I mean, really?

Male voice:  …if it comes back the very next day, then I’ll understand the writing on it…(mysterious harmony background...ooooo...)

Dr. Love:  I think that is best.  Take a hint.  Move on, buddy.  Move on! Let that girl escape your sad obsession...and get some help...

Next Caller, line 2...something about "Your Cheatin' Heart" you're saying?...

1962

"Best of Radio"...I wrote "Quintessential Radio" for April Bloghop 2013.  Combining Q-R, two notable singers, icons of their time, are featured.  You know them, and now you get to see how vulnerable they were, as the lyrics convey. Gotta love Ol' Blue Eyes and Elvis the Pelvis.

A Vessel of Kindness

vessel in the making

Great Aunt Evangeline always visited on my birthday, as regular as calendar and clock. Auntie E was full of so many things, most of them really irritating.  Adages? She had them. Shameless bragging? Overload there. A hoard of wisdom?  Good there, too.

Auntie E was a bland plain woman, with legs like stems. So utterly huge to the point of bursting, her size dominated any room. A successful business woman, she owned her own brokerage, always possessing great insight on sales and trends. And, believe it or not, that lady had a great golf swing. 

Yet, for all the things I hated about her, I loved her for them. In so many ways, Auntie E was a vessel of kindness to all she knew. While I possessed just a vestige of humanity, Auntie E loved and was loved, cared and was cared for, gave and then was given. 

I was none of those things. Still am. Yet, I will continue trying.

source

On-Hold, please

But I hate reggae!

Apparently creating and then selling “on-hold music” is a big business with many restrictions, legalities, restrictions, and other red-tape issues.

Most are simply awful, looping and looping, interspersed with a voice admitting they are very sorry about the wait, which will be ___minutes, that questions will be handled in the order received…then the music starts again.

So far, the best on-hold music is on CVS pharmacy.  Lots of questions on line have been asked about the composer, with no answer given. Some have speculated that is a portion of “The Golden Dragon”

The "Forum" is in the Synth Zone, a bar "for casual discussion". Forum participants are researching, trying to find the source of CVS on-hold legendary music. They are each clearly experts, part of this forum.

What is also interesting is the relationship these people have with each other.  Bantering, insulting, non-segue—I felt like I was in a bar listening to them and laughing.

Finally one of the administers of the site (Maybe Nigel?) hits gold, locates this on-line music hold for CVS.

And here it is: Golden Dragon

What is totally amazing is that this conversation spans four years.  

Ah ha! They found it! I felt elated at the end of the search. And totally exhausted. 

Tell me what you think. 

CVS

WedWords: Fairy Hell

Fairy Lane

Being a fairy is no easy job, I tell you.  I know; I have been one for years, and hated every moment.

Oh, sure. Some fairies paint flowers, some water lovely green plants. Their primary job is to care for the planet, keeping it healthy and green. Those fairies’ skin shimmer with a fluorescent glow, their clothing is cross-stitched with spider webs, and their boots are soft butterfly cocoons.

My job? My job?  I am in charge of slugs and carnivorous bugs.  In fact, I am President of Chapter 207 Union of Scavenger Bugs. One assassin bug attacked me, put me in fairy hospital for a week.  Best week of my miserable life, the only best week.

If there were even one thing about my job that I loved, that would be wonderful.  But as it stands now, I live in fairy mud hell.

The above italicized underlined words above have been provided by Carolyn at Worlds and Words in the weekly Wednesday Words. This Challenge was created by Delores years ago to challenge bloggers to leap out of their genre, using a group of unrelated words to create a poem, prose, whatever. 

These are fun and I always love playing with them.  Post your take in their comment section or at your own site!

God and God Alone

Steve Green

Nothing more can be added.

Prayer for Our Country

Passion for Freedom

God our Father,
Giver of life,
We trust the United States of America
to Your Loving Care.

You are the Rock on which this nation
was founded.
You alone are the true source
of our cherished right to life,
Liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Reclaim this land for Your Glory,
and dwell among Your people.

Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts
Of our nation's leaders.

Open their minds to the great worth of 
Human life,
And the responsibilities that 
accompany human freedom.
Remind Your people that true happiness
Is rooted
in seeking and doing Your will.

Grant us the courage to reject 
the "culture of death."
Lead us in to a new millennium 
of life.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer for our Nation  Since this was copied from a site, the words are highlighted in white.  And my computer choose to highlight my own words.  It also, it seems, has free will.

God has given so much and He has taken away.  He is in charge.  We are not.

We are responsible for our choices.  When an opportunity to help or influence a needy person, that is through our own will.  When there is a time to help and we ignore that time, that is through our own will.

Free will, that is a gift from God.  We may implement that gift or we may abuse that gift: our choice.

Think of that as these days and years following this election.  Complain or don't complain.  Support newly elected leaders or don't, your choice.

Pop the cork...balloons drop..confetti in the air...

Yup.  The insanity is over. OR has it merely begun?

Benedict Cumberbatch (sigh) and James Corden

Maybe there is also another performance yet to come?  More to come? 

One Day More

It is Monday, November 7th, 2016. Tomorrow is Tuesday. Election coverage will be non-stop, intense, dissecting, and I will not watch it at all. After all the blood-letting, the televised advertisements will come to a blessed end.  

This is James Corden's Karaoke in "his" Uber car service. There are several other karaoke episodes, all entertaining in their own way.  

This time Corden's car holds major talent:

Lin-Manuel Miranda (writer/director/music/actor of the Broadway Award winning musical Hamilton), James Corden; back seat Jane Krakowski, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Audra McDonald.

One day more...

Let There Be Light

\

Source

Towers as dust rises

Pillars of creation

Eaten by brilliant light

Divided and torn

Infants emerge

Fire explodes

Streams of gas

Towering peaks

Arrows sail

God's Heaven

Thus magnificent photo from the Hubble Telescope has been provided by  Carolyn at Words and Worlds. Please visit her site and find some excellent words and thoughts theres.

Music is Eternal

In the music world, what is super popular comes and goes.  Do you remember any peculiar one-hit wonder?  Do you remember a group that came out strong, with a string of weak hits, and then disappeared?

Music has those in weak lines of music, and music has the eternal, immortal music that reverberates with every generation.

Beethoven’s 5^th? Handel’s Messiah?

How about Les Miserable?

The above is "Bring him home" from a concert presentation. Not everyone has seen this performance, sung by Colm Wilkinson, the original Jean ValJean. The four tenors below have also held the role of Jean ValJean.   

Will this join the legendary music of the past?  I sure hope so. How can it not?

 I hope you can access this site: 17 Tenors from around the world