Road Crossing Chickens?

     Afternoon Mr. Bloggie :-)  Yeh, yeh. I suspect you think that I have no life today, if I am adding this entry, but you are wrong.  A childhood pal sent this to me and it was just too good to deleat.  (sending her a wave) I do wonder though, if the person who thought this up, did so on company time?

Why did the chicken cross the road?

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on "THIS" side of the road before it goes after the problem on the "OTHER SIDE" of the road.  What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his "CURRENT" problems before adding "NEW" problems.

 OPRAH: Well I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

GEORGE W BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

ANDERSON COOPER/CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it!  It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am for it now, and will remain against it.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad?

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain. Alone.

JERRY FALWELL: Because the chicken was gay!Can't you people see the plain truth in front of your face? The chicken was going to the "other side." That's why they call it the "other side. Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media whitewashes with seemingly harmless phrases like "the other side." That chicken should not be free to cross the road. It's as plain and simple as that!

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road.  Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

 BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together in peace.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road

BILL GATES: I have just released EChicken 2006, which will not only Cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet explorer is an integral part of EChicken. The Platform is much more stable and will never cra...#@&&^( C \..... reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

 BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken!

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

 

My take on this is that I won't believe the chicken crossed the road until I personally see him do it again (LOL).

Oh My Aching Back

  I have been putting off an errand to pick up a package for days because I know that my back will hurt. I can't put it off any longer so have taken a couple of Tylenol already; this usually helps with the pain. I really do dread taking pills.  Oh deep sigh! 

 

Just where do you find vegetable seeds??  The only place I can think of is a hardware store in Elizabeth. I used to buy flower seeds there when I was in school. I know the place is still open, cuz I see it when going to the Mall. I am determined to try my hand at window box gardening this Spring.

 

I saw a cute thought for the day ;-) If you have to have a chip on your shoulder, it may as well be chocolate.

Pleasant Weekend

 A friend and I saw Inside Man Saturday. I learned this morning that it was the opening weekend; I also learned that it was a grossed high $$$'s. I can't remember when I have been to a crowded movie :-) When I go there are usually fewer than 15 people, LOL. Good movie.

Saturday morning when I left my building, I saw forsythia blooming. Yah! I wish it would last longer. I think one of the most beautiful "Spring has arrived" sites is the tall forsythia branches swaying as you travel along the parkway. Well, I'll just enjoy it while it is here. So...speaking of Spring, I am thinking of growing a couple of veggies in a window box. The action word here is thinking. On paper it looks exciting, but we shall see.   

I spent last night reading a couple of freebie magazines I recieved in the mail. One had the greatest advertisement by AT&T. Not sure that the copy will make you remember or care about AT&T though ;-)  You see a sharp 20/30's something woman standing with her big beautiful shaggy dog. The pinkish heart bubble says "The World According to Toni--Before I get serious with a guy I like to make him watch Hollywood movies from the '50s and '60s. In those flicks, men were sauve and knew how to treat a woman like a lady. So this is my test: If he falls asleep, I dump him. If he shows some interest, he might get a second date. If he wants to watch it again, well then that's my man!"   As someone who loves old movies, I totally get this (smiling).    

I am listening to the news as I type. There is so much death. It is scary and sad.  There is a lot of talk about the illegal immigration situation.  I think a man in South?? Carolina said what is in the back of a lot of minds. "Well, these people are doing the jobs, that a lot of (he hesitates) uhh, black people won't do anymore."  I suspect that quote won't be used a lot. God bless him, I don't think he is so much a bigot, as he is an honest man who has the courage to say what he thinks. And to my mind, saying what is true. The illegal immigrant situation is like a bad open secret. It iseven used in situation comedies, Will and Grace is one, andwas the premise of the very funny movie Green Card. The truth is they make a lot of lives much easier. I will keep my eyes and ears on these talks. It seems like an impossible situation to correct. But one that must be dealt with. 

Oh yuk. I just checked. I only have oatmeal to eat for breakfast. If I don't like oatmeal, why do I buy it? Because you are supposed to have oatmeal in your house. It is written in the "Mother's Words of Wisdom" guide. LOL 

 

Recycling in a Different Way

  Checking forums and and emails this morning and came across info on an organization called Free Cycle in one of my forums. After reading the posts I learned that this organization is not new and is country-wide. The parent group Free Cycle URL is  www.freecycle.org its premise is simple. Less waste, less trash, give to someone who has a need. These are me words, not theirs. There is an Essex County chapter http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleNJ/ it has more than 2700 members and over 725 offerings and "I need" messages were posted on theirYahoo Groups message board this month. You do not have to be a member to view. I went to the parent URL and found Essex County. I am just amazed. You never know what's out there. I saw some very affluent towns listed. This gives new meaning to the ultimate childhood taunt, "Garbage picker!".

It is so easy for me to get waylaid (LOL) I am going back to the kitchen now. I came in to find the rubber gloves I received from my nail people for Christmas, saw my laptop and...

 

Friday Thoughts

       A couple of nights ago I had sort of a nightmare. It was probably more towards morning, and it was not a full blown nightmare. Not sure what it was, but I am sure that it happened because I fell asleep with television still on. I try not to do that. When I awoke there was a fire and brimstone person speaking, actually shouting, as so many of them do. He was talking about what God did not like, punishment for not doing the right thing, etc. Much like my dream; so I am not sure if I was dreaming or heard the person talking as I was awakening. Anyway very disturbing and frightening.  

 

This will be one of those run around days. I have to pick up vendor items from my biz mail. I am hopeful that there is not a lot of mail as well. I have fortified myself with a cup of pea soup. Yes Bloggie, I know that it is not 7:30a yet, but I am southern child and come from hard working folks. Pea soup does it for me. My goodness, I seem to be having a hard time picking my feet up this morning. I have tripped twice already. I can't have that kind of thing happening today :-( too busy.

 

When I woke up this morning, none of my news people were on. Too early. No news on Channel 13 either. However I did catch the tail end of a documentary about the group, Weather Underground and the Weathermen in the early 70's. PBS Independent Lens documentary  http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/weatherunderground/today.html I am sure that I have seen it before, but still found it fascinating. Most of the Weatherman were educated and very bright. After these people came out of hiding, turned themselves in, etc. I find it ironic that many have become professors or such in colleges and universities. I remember Mark Rudd best because he and his family lived in the Orange area. The NJ Jewish News interview with Rudd (2003) shows that the Rudds lived in Maplewood, not West Orange as I had thought. http://www.markrudd.com/Homepage/NJNews.htm  Brian Flanagan former Weather Underground member owns a bar in New York. Wonder which one. 

 

People change? Perhaps not their thinking, but maybe their direction. Former Black Panther Bobby Seale has written a cook book and you get  free BBQ recipes from his site  http://www.bobbyseale.com/freereci.htm  Lots of  rhetorick on the primary page, not sure if it's heartfelt. But the recipes look good. Also, you can see former Panther, distinguished actor Danny Glover in the newly released Disney movie The Shaggy Dog.  

 

Incidentally, the some of the amazing background music for the Weather Underground program was from disc cuts of master poet of/for the 70's disenfranchised, Gil Scot-Heron http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/music/muze/index.p l?site=music&action=biography&artist_id=26876  While re-reading this entry, it came to me that the 1970's were about choices and which road traveled. Hence, the above graphic. The 70's were an amazing time in all ways. Would'nt have

missed that time for the world.  I love this picture of Scot-heron

A Day in the Life

    Okay, in my previous entry I said red hatters, not mad hatters. I received the same type e-mail from several friends, that's why I love you guys. Everyone is on the same bizarre wave length. LOL.

Yesterday, I took some time to try (again) to use my $50 Macy's freebie card. Still could not find anything. I figured, it's Spring, I'll find some nice things. Nothing!! I did see a pair of shoes that I loved. It is very difficult for me to find shoes these days. I really hate and will not where the needle point shoes. The pair that I did see were great, really high heels, no point, great style. But, no size 7. (whine)  The up side is that I bought some raisins. I always forget how much I really like this fruit. I still can't figure out why they are so caloric, they are just dried grapes.

I was searching for a book of a series I am reading. The library did not have it, so I had placed it in my Amazon basket. I just found a brand new copy in my book give-away pile. I can't even remember ordering it. This is the second or third time I have put new books in the GAP and forgotten them.  

I have a meeting tonight and have already started wondering if I feel unwell. (cough, cough). Of course, I won't pretend that I am ill, too afraid the "sick fairies" will stop by my house. Still, I get so few really free whole days that I am tempted. I love what I am doing, but my days are often broken into pieces of an hour here, three hours there. Maybe I will play hooky and read my book.

Happy Spring :-)

  

Today is the first day of Spring. The weather is nippy today and right now there is no sun to speak of, but...showers, flowers and soon daylight savings time. Yah! 

I had a good weekend. Our Red Hatters had a tea  on Saturday :-) Very nice. I think we will do it again. 

Some Things Do Not Amuse

  I have to go to the post office again today. Have decided that I really do need a postage scale. While checking Amazon for item I came across this. I am not amused. I am hopeful that the gun just below the toy post office is just a terrible mistake.

Royal RC40 40-Pound Rate Calculating Shipping Scale by Royal Camera & Photo: See all 3 items Buy new:  $129.99 $79.99   Used & new from $73.99   Usually ships in 1-2 business days Playmobil Post Office by Playmobil USA Inc Imaginarium: See all items Buy new:  $49.99   Usually ships in 24 hours AirSoft Gun by Safety Technology Sports & Outdoors: See all 2 items Buy new:  $29.95

Happy St. Patrick's Day

     This entry can't get any better. I found a woman of color holding a shamrock and a poem by Irish poet William Butler Yeats about Minna the cat. Sometimes it's just that easy. :-) Happy St. Patty's Day Col., love you.

The Cat and The Moon

The cat went here and there

And the moon spun round like a top,

And the nearest kin of the moon,

The creeping cat, looked up.

Black Minnaloushe stared at the moon,

For, wander and wail as he would,

The pure cold light in the sky

Troubled his animal blood.

Minnaloushe runs in the grass

Lifting his delicate feet.

Do you dance, Minnaloushe, do you dance?

When two close kindred meet,

What better than call a dance?

Maybe the moon may learn,

Tired of that courtly fashion,

A new dance turn.

Minnaloushe creeps through the grass

From moonlit place to place,

The sacred moon overhead

Has taken a new phase.

Does Minnaloushe know that his pupils

Will pass from change to change,

And that from round to crescent,

From crescent to round they range?

Minnaloushe creeps through the grass

Alone, important and wise,

And lifts to the changing moon

His changing eyes.

                                                                                                        

William Butler Yeats 1865 to 1939

                                                     

A Busy Week

   I accomplished a lot yesterday, good thing too because  am really dragging around today. For some reason I just can't get seem to get started - I felt the same one day last week. Once more, I have been told that I am accepting more assignments than are comfortable for me. I don't feel like it's too much, I actually feel as if I am behind in something, but don't know what it is. I do know that I have to get out today for more paper, all of the typing I have done won't mean anything if I don't get it printed by tomorrow. I can't believe that I have just a handful left. Thank goodness my old letter folder still works. It only folds 3 letters at a time, but that's beter than one at a time by hand. Checked out the new folders, they are so expensive. MMmm. Promises and deadlines.

I have commitments or the rest of the week, including Saturday. Only one meeting next week. I definitely plan to leave it that way.  My life is not all rushed these day, I had such a good time this past Sunday with my friend and her grandchildren. It's hard to believe that we have been friends for almost 40 years. Yowza!  

Musings

   This week I saw on the news that a couple had micro chips placed under their skin so they can share everything. I saw him open her car door just by touching the key area.  I know that I talk about one of my fav. authors a lot. But Nora Roberts J.D. Robb did it again. Her 2004 novel "Divided in Death" tells how a secret agent husband plants a micro chip in his wife so he can eavesdrop on her conversation as she works on a top secret formula.  So what do you think? This may not be so far fetched, huh? Pretty sure that I would not want a foreign metal object surgically placed under my skin when a key works so well.

I was really sad to hear that photography and movie director Gordon Parks had died. I have two of his books. I am sure that I have mentioned that he was a guest speaker at the Newark Black Film Festival and thanks to a really gutsy woman sitting next to me and egging me on, both books were signed by Mr. Parks. There are some people you know you would love meet but never expect to. I got lucky. The paper jacket on "Gordon Parks: whispers of intimate things" (1971) is in such poor condition. I don't believe that it is from carelessness, just cheap paper. I don't think I can save it. I received this book one year after it was published. It is a treasure and holds good memories. Maybe I will see if I can find a first print copy with a good jacket. Now if I could just meet and talk to Paul Newman, he seems like an interesting man. He is like Rocky from "As Time Goes By" on PBS.  Old but still has a joy for life :-)

This weekend I will be seeing a friend I have not seen in years. What a nice way to end my week.

I know that I am doing a terrible thing by passing on a forum post, but I can't resist this, I am still chuckling. I do hope I will be forgiven. It is concerning Don Knotts (Barney) passing "personally barney drove me nuts!!!!!! my olest dh used to love watching all his shows, but my youngest is 3yrs old & she don't care for barney, thank god......lol!!!!! but sorry barney died. "     

OK, What is Wrong With US in the U.S. of A :-(

   As usual, I had television on this am and left it on the channel. I am sitting here reading my emails and hear. "O.K. you have to eat these maggots and worms." That Fear Factor has to be the worst program ever, but maybe I am wrong because not only does it have a wide audience, it has participants who are willing to do these outrageous things for money. Of course, I changed the channel immediately, I will finish this 1/2 hour listening to Mel Brooks :-) doing a voice over for a cartoon show. So much better for those of us having late breakfast.  That's it. My rant is over.

My First Biz Swap :-)

   Well I did my first business swap. No money exchanged, just a cyber handshake. All in all a good and satisfactory way to conduct business. I completed my end early yesterday by sending items from my TNC Gifts & Collectibles biz to swapper (swapee??). I uploaded and saved my TNC-G&C logo a couple of days ago.. I am sure that I will try this again

Family and Friends

    Yesterday was really a good day.  It reminded once again how important family and friends are. Also to remember that some friends are family :-) 

Happy Birthday Ms. Van

   Today is my birthday. I've reached the age where it is nice just to have one candle in the middle of the cake just to note the occassion. (laughing)  As always, I have made my one really big" thing to do this year" promise to myself. And as always I never say it out loud to anyone. I can't remember when I started doing this but it seems to work for me. Last year may have been the most life changing yet. Even though I knew that I wanted to and needed to retire from UMD it was hard to write "the letter" and actually deliver it. I know my 2006 goal but have to start concentrating on doing it ;-0

Was out for a short time yesterday, the weather was not as bitter as I expected it to be.  I think I it colder a few weeks ago. This morning the snow looks flatter and icier. I soon know how the air feels because this will be a long day for me.  It's only 9:30a and I have talked to so many people. I am amazed. I continue to feel so very blessed. I even had two birthday serenades (really, really big grin) this morning.

Change of Plans

     Snow is expected today.  I had to cancel a couple of things including dinner with a friend. The heaviest snow is expected at 4p today, the same time our dinner would have started. I am so disappointed.

I am fortunate that I went to the library yesterday. I will spend this time going through books and browsing online. Gotta remove papers and stuff from my "office" area too, it turns into stacks so quickly. I hopped over to my seniors house to do her bills, etc. yesterday. I just cannot believe how much "gimme some money" mail she receives. I am hoping that the 10 remove my name returns will help cut the mail back. One of the begging letters implored her to send money to them so they could stop border crossers from getting into the US. What would they do, beat folks back with all of the sucker checks they receive? At this point she still believes that someone is sending her $6k. (really big deep sigh)