Giving up things for Lent

Usually I procrastinate about my personal chores, like put them off until I HAVE to do them. For example, having company? clear out the dust bunnies....clean the basement/closets/cabinets? nah, not today the weather is too nice, too cold, too rainy, too anything (for the last few months)...stuff like that. 

I thought the problem might have been spending too much time on Facebook or some other social media. I find I can fill the hours with all sorts of distractions - some I LOVE like knitting and my dogs, some I enjoy like certain TV shows and some that are just a distraction like You Tube.

I thought that maybe Facebook (or all of social media - Twitter, Google +, Pininterest) fell into one of categories. So, on Ash Wednesday I made this blatant declaration: I'm giving up Facebook for Lent.  I know it's only a few days, but I realize that I still haven't cleaned the basement or my closets. I have dusted but I do that every Saturday morning anyway.

So my conclusion is that FB is not the source of my procrastination - gee, what did I do before FB? My procrastination has been with me my entire life. I ONLY procrastinate on personal chores because I don't like doing them!!!! That's the truth. REALLY I should have said for Lent, I will give up procrastinating cleaning the basement. That would be a HUGE start.

Besides, everyone's life is on FB. How will I see my kid's and grandkid's latest pics, keep up with my family, hear the wonderful events in my friend's lives, get my daily dose of humor, words of encouragement, news, knitting updates and politics so quickly. Actually, reading all of this on FB is faster than making phone calls to all of my friends to see how things are going.......

So, back on Facebook when I have time.

"...And in the end... The love you take is equal to the love you make." ---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts

Happy Birthday Mom

October 16th - well, yes, I'm late but it's due to my surgery and my business trip. Sorry Mom - but I have a tribute to you on this 'would-be' 92nd birthday.

My Mom is Florence. My friends just loved her, I am forever in her debt.

Happy Birthday, Mom,
I wonder what you would think about how the world has changed in the last 16 years, since you've moved on to heaven.

We're experiencing economic tough times, the toughest I've ever seen in my lifetime. People are losing jobs, 1-in-3 houses in California are in foreclosure, prices are high and people are begging for a change. It's just that the change they are asking for sounds more like socialism than capitalism. Increase taxes on the richest and 'redistribute the wealth' to the poorest. And here I sit somewhere in the middle and I will have to help pay for some of this redistribution - in higher taxes.

The election for president is very heated, but I think you would support John McCain. McCain is part of that "tried and true" politician, the one that has experience, understands how to make a quick decision and has a plan that keeps us out of the socialism pathway. You would like his VP pick, Sarah Palin, too. She is from Alaska, just a "regular" person who has the desire to fight big-business and politics as usual - it's actually refreshing.

But you wouldn't like to see how the feminists and celebrities treat her. They smear her, make fun of her, scream about how much they hate her. It's HORRIBLE! You always taught me that it is about equal pay for equal work (which still doesn't happen) and not the actual politics of that person.

You know, this is the first time in our history that an african-american is running for president and it is exciting. It would be even better if he didn't want to end the culture in our company from what you would recognize to this NEW change - socialism. You know, like Robin Hood, steal from the rich and give to the poor. In theory, I'm sure it's fine, but in reality this is INSANE!

We have to elect John McCain - I am interested in keeping the America that we know and love and are willing to die for as I am sure you would be too.

P.S. You'd be happy to know that your great-grandson is a very charming young man. You would be totally proud! Your grandchildren are doing good, in fact, Tamara is moving to Spain, Jake is married with a baby on the way and living in Kansas City, and Beka is still figuring things out, but she pays her bills and takes care of business. In fact, you have taught me so many valuable lessons that prepared me for life. I hope I have prepared my kids as well as you prepared me.


Hey Mom - I love you and miss you! Sherry, Steve, Roland and I had dinner on your birthday and toasted you! We miss you so much! And I think of you all the time, even after 16 years!

"...And in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make."
---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts

Raise my taxes!!???!! Oh Please!!

This is too true to be funny.

The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.


A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of it's releases.

A.
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age.

D.
A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

E.
A billion dollars ago was only
8 hours and 20 minutes,
at the rate our government
is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain...

let's take a look at New Orleans ..

It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.

Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D) is presently asking Congress for 250 BILLION DOLLARS to rebuild New Orleans . Interesting number... what does it mean?

A.
Well... if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, and child) you each get $516,528.

B.
Or... if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.

C.
Or... if you are a family of four... your family gets $2,066,012.


Washington, D. C HELLO!

Are all your calculators broken??


Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago... and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt... We had the largest middle class in the world... and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened?

Can you spell 'politicians!'


What the heck happened????? Enough is ENOUGH!!

"...And in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make."
---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts

Another Day in Paradise

TGIF!!

That's a funny saying for these days, isn't it? TGIF! Why? Seems like most people are super busy over the weekend, cramming in housework, laundry, grocery shopping, movies, running around here and there. We are so good at being a Weekend Warrior. And to support the "Weekend Warriors" and all of the things they want to do, places to go, people to see, it requires people to work. So, for some people, Friday is not a big deal, maybe even it's a day of the week they dread because maybe they have to work doubles all weekend, or have to go to their second job or maybe their third!!

And with the minimum wage rates going up, I wonder if all the "Weekend Warriors" will continue to spend their money and support all the minimum wage workers jobs by paying higher prices for hamburgers, tacos, beer, car washes, amusements parks, and all other places that serve the public and will have to raise their prices in order to pay people more. Unless of course, you live in San Fran and work at Starkist or Chicken of the Sea - click on these words to ready story!

Happy Weekend!!