You are grown and responsible gentleman/woman when :

1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can not smoke any of them.
2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.
3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge.
4. 6:00 AM is when you get up, not when you go to bed.
5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator.
6. You watch the Weather Channel.
7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of hook up and break up.
8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14.
9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as dressed up.
10. You are the one calling the police because those %&@# kids next door will not turn down the stereo.
11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.
12. You do not know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.
13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up.
14. You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonald’s leftovers.
15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.
16. You take naps.
17. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one.
18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 AM would severely upset, rather than settle, your stomach.
19. You go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid, not condoms and pregnancy tests.
20. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer pretty good shit.
21. You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.
22. I just can not drink the way I used to, replaces I am never going to drink that much again.
23. 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.
24. You drink at home to save money before going to a bar.
25. When you find out your friend is pregnant you congratulate them instead of asking, Oh shit, what the hell happened?

What do you think? Is that you ?

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This past Saturday was the city wide garage sale. While there were many people out there, I came across three furry shoppers all dressed up in their Halloween best. Wonder if they found a dog toy for a dime?

No words are necessary!

P.S. 6 Nov 08 gas is down to $1.87.

This is my favorite time of the year. I love the cloudy skies, cooler weather, the fall flowers and even tho I hate to rake leaves, that comes with the season. When my friend across the street puts her witch on the telephone pole, I know Halloween is not far away. The kids who pass by on their way to school get so excited when the witch goes up. My friend has been doing it for several years and now it is a tradition of sorts. The town is also having a scare crow contest this year and you can see several no matter where you go. There are lots of really creative people. This coming weekend is the Fall town wide garage sale and I can hardly wait. I always remember Halloweens in the past when my kids were in junior high. Every year my son and his best friend would take over his friends garage and build a haunted house for the neighborhood kids. My son calls that "The Great Cardboard Box Adventure". They were so dedicated and the kids loved it. Fall brings memories of the time I went to upstate New York, the Catskills, with my friend around Halloween. What a beautiful place. The trees were at the height of their fall colors and the weather was just perfect. My friend didn't fly, so we went by bus. Don't ever go from Oklahoma to New York and back again on a bus! My seat was so sore from sitting so long I thought I could never sit again. If anyone likes to rake leaves, drop by and I will give you a rake.

A friend sent this to me and I didn't know all of this. I hope you find this important enough to send it to others or tell them about it.

Thought you might be interested in this forgotten bit of information........ It was 1987! At a lecture the other day they were playing an old news video of Lt.Col. Oliver North testifying at the Iran-Contra hearings during the Reagan Administration. There was Ollie in front of God and country getting the third degree, but what he said was stunning! He was being drilled by a
senator; 'Did you not recently spend close to $60,000 for a home security system?' Ollie replied, 'Yes, I did, Sir.' The senator continued, trying to get a laugh out of the audience, 'Isn't that just a little excessive?' 'No, sir,' continued Ollie. 'No? And why not?' the senator asked 'Because the lives of my family and I were threatened, sir' 'Threatened? By whom?' the senator questioned. 'By a terrorist, sir' Ollie answered. 'Terrorist? What terrorist could possibly scare you that much?' 'His name is Osama bin Laden, sir' Ollie replied. At this point the senator tried to repeat the name, but couldn't pronounce it, which most people back then probably couldn't. A couple of people laughed at the attempt. Then the senator continued. Why are you so afraid of this man?' the senator asked. 'Because, sir, he is the most evil person alive that I know of', Ollie answered.
'And what do you recommend we do about him?' asked the senator. 'Well, sir, if it was up to me, I would recommend that an assassin team be formed to eliminate him and his men from the face of the earth.' The senator disagreed with this approach, and that was all that was shown of the clip. By the way, that senator was Al Gore! Also: Terrorist pilot Mohammad Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The Israelis captured, tried and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called 'political prisoners.' However, the Israelis would not release any with blood on their hands, The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, 'insisted' that all prisoners be released. Thus Mohammad Atta was freed and eventually thanked us by flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center . This was reported by many of the American TV networks at the time that the terrorists were first identified.

It was censored in the US from all later reports.

This is my opinion and I am mad as "Heck"! As each day goes by I find it hard to understand how so many people can be so unkind and biased. I have not read it, but have heard about the article in the NY Times blasting Cindy McCain. I refuse to read it but why write an attack article about a lady who has done so much good work for so many? Also, like so many other people who get blasted, why are none of the Democrats getting their fair share? I never see or hear about the NY Times doing some similar article about Obama's wife. I also cannot understand how four of the ladies (I use the term loosely) on The View can be so tacky in the things they say about Bush, McCain and Palin. I really feel sorry for Elisabeth Hasselbeck, as daily, she has to defend her political views all alone. Joy Behar, especially, is really a foul mouth. I don't understand why they have her on that show other than the fact that she is also a Democrat. I can't wait for Wednesday when they have Bill O'Reilly as a guest on their show. He is one person that doesn't take any mouth from anyone. That should really be something to see. P.S. Tues Morn: I DO NOT think the rich should have to pay for this bail out - that is not fair to change the rules when they strike Pelosi and Frank!!! We would all like to be rich and I don't think we should penalize anyone who has worked hard and become what we consider "rich". I am sure if the public had known congress was going to want the rich to pay for the bailout, it never would have been passed. Also here are those people we bailed out, going on trips to spas and country estates, using the money we gave them, to pay for it. It just keeps happening and no one seems to want them to pay it back or stop it. Just because "they had it planned before they went under", is no reason to go ahead with it. The American public has to look closely at all the proposals that each candidate is making before you go vote. Always remember the saying "be careful what you wish for!"

Well we're off on another trip. Yesterday we went after my granddaughter for Fall break. After picking her up and eating, my daughter, two granddaughters, one grandson and her friend plus her son, wanted to do some shopping. I am not a shopper, besides not being able to walk for a long time so I took my book and decided to sit in the car. I got tired of reading and decided to do some "people watching". Have you ever people watched? It can be very entertaining. I decided to make some notes while I was out front of a huge new Target store. The first thing that caught my eye was a lady in a denim jumper but with gold lame' shoes. It was amusing how many people came out and stood there while they realized they had no idea where they had parked. I counted four of those people. Then there was the man and woman on the huge Harley. They cruised past my car and went up and down several isles. I guess they didn't find the parking space they wanted so they just parked right on the sidewalk by the front door of the store. I sure didn't see anyone attempt to make them move it. There was a lady taking a huge box in a basket back "into" the store. I assumed the product in the box had a problem. One couple stopped to completely check their receipt before going to their car. I've discovered myself this can be a good idea. I found it interesting that senior couples came out holding hands or arm in arm, while about half of the younger couples didn't even walk next to each other while the other half did but weren't touching each other. I thought it was very sweet that some people still like to hold hands and even helped each other while walking to the car. Old fashioned manners are still alive. One teen age boy insisted on riding his skateboard up and down the sidewalk, seemingly ignoring the people who had to dodge him while coming and going from the store. There were three young men who almost fell. Each one had one foot that slipped off the curb but they caught themselves. Three..that was definitely unusual. I can't forget to mention that while I watched, for about 20 minutes, six people were on the phone as they came out of the store. Well here comes the rest of the group and perhaps we can go home now. There are so many packages, there is almost no room left for people. How do they find so many things to buy?

Are you, as a parent, doing your kids a favor giving them a cell phone? I watch my teenage granddaughter and it seems her cell phone is attached to her hand. She has become addicted to texting as have her friends. When I pick her up at school, the minute she closes the door, she starts texting. She texts at the dinner table, until her mother makes her put the phone up. She has been known to text in school but the teachers have put a screeching halt to that as it was a problem among a lot of the students. One of my granddaughters friends said they even text in the movie. I don't know why they go if they aren't going to watch the film. I heard on tv the other day, some teens who admitted they text while they are driving. Talking on the cell phone is dangerous enough but texting is just plain suicide to the teen and anyone else they hit with their car. Everywhere they go they have a cell phone in their hand. Even adults are addicted to the cell phone. I don't understand what is so important that a person has to talk on the phone while walking in the parking lot to the store, while shopping for groceries, while driving. I get so mad when I am behind someone who makes us miss the green light because they are on the cell phone and not paying attention. I am afraid I am a "honker" and I never hesitate to honk when they don't move when the light changes!! So if you get honked at while talking on your cell phone, you might as well know it's me.


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Granny's Quick and Easy Homemade Stew

Preparation and cooking time approximately 35 minutes

1 package stew meat
4 or 5 medium size white skinned potatoes
2 cans diced tomatoes w/ garlic and onions
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can sliced carrots
1 can french cut green beans
(You can add more or other vegetables if preferred.)
1/2 cup Barley
Italian or favorite Seasoning
Salt and Pepper

Sprinkle stew meat w/meat tenderizer
Place meat in pressure cooker w/enough water to cover meat
Cook for about 17 - 20 minutes. Leave water in with meat.
Wash potatoes and dice, leaving skin on
Cook potatoes until soft
Drain off half of the water from potatoes
Add potatoes and water into pressure cooker with meat
Add tomatoes,
Drain off liquid from vegetables, then add to with Barley to meat and potatoes.
Sprinkle in some Italian seasoning.
Cook on medium heat with lid off for about 15 minutes
Add salt and pepper to taste

I usually eat on this for several days. The barley and potatoes will often absorb the liquid. so when I reheat a bowl full I add a little water and perhaps a half teaspoon of butter. This makes a huge amount of soup and you can freeze some.

It's raining, gasoline is $2.44 a gallon, Halloween is just around the corner and all the Fall flowers are in full bloom. I have been glued to Fox News to see what is going on in the candidate fight for President and Vice President. Fox is the only news station that is showing fair and balanced news on the candidates. All the other major news networks are so biased towards Obama that I can hardly believe it. Even shows like The View need to change their name to The Democratic View and Oprah should be the Democratic Oprah Show. I am so disappointed in the news programs that won't be fair and unbiased. The way some reporters have treated Gov. Palin is disgraceful. It is laughable how she has scared the Democrats to death. I guess they thought McCain would pick someone who they could ignore, who wouldn't make a ripple let alone a wave.

I fear that the US will be sorry if they elect a Democratic President with a Democratic Congress. People need to take a good hard look at what the Democratic Congress has done for the last two years that they have had the majority --- NOTHING. I also can't believe how so much is taken out of context and spouted as the latest thing the candidate said. I guess they think the public is stupid. They are taking advantage of the fact that there are a lot of the public that don't use a computer so they can't check out what is true and what is not.

I definitely don't think my son, who works himself to death should have to pay more taxes than someone who doesn't work as hard. I think what some are suggesting, "the fair tax" is a good idea. The FairTax Act (HR 25, S 1025) is nonpartisan legislation. It abolishes all federal personal and corporate income taxes, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment taxes and replaces them with one simple, visible, federal retail sales tax administered primarily by existing state sales tax authorities.

The FairTax taxes us only on what we choose to spend on new goods or services, not on what we earn. The FairTax is a fair, efficient, transparent, and intelligent solution to the frustration and inequity of our current tax system.

I really think those in office today just don't have a clue how to straighten out all our problems. Just be sure and go out on 4 November and vote.

Borrowed from Living on the Other Side of the Hill:

With the word billion being used at least 100 times a day, I thought this was very thought provoking:

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 .... Are all your calculators broken??

Looking for the truth in all this political talk?

Fact Check, Annenberg Political Fact Check
Holding Politicians Accountable

The Fact Checker at WashingtonPost.com

PolitiFact.com from the St Petersburg Times
Sorting out the truth in politics.

Graphic from FreeClipArtPics.com

I heard about this website and checked it out. If you ever want things to do with your grandchildren this is the site. They have wonderful things that you can do and they have activities for all ages of grandchildren. This is definitely a site to add to your favorites.

Grandparents.com, it is great to be grand. 101 Things to do with your grandkids.
Following are the different categories and activities covered:

Activities: city guides, coloring and activity pages, everyday activities, movie reviews, sing alongs, with infants.

Travel: cruises & resorts, outdoor adventures, road trips, theme park vacations, tours and explorations, travel tips, travel/deals, grandest adventures.

Toys & gifts: activity sets, books & educational, clothes & shoes, deals, gear & gadgets, music & Movies, sports equipment, toys and games.

Food: kids cooking, heirloom kitchen, Professional kitchen, recipes.

Expert Advice: ask the therapist, education, family matters, healthy lifestyles, legal, long distance grandparenting, new grandparents, you & your grandchildren.

Columns, featured articles, todays problems and blogs and discussion groups. You can get a free weekly newsletter. Choose the age of your grandchild for articles that relate to you and that child.

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I want to start a section on Commercial Comments. Lets see what people think about some of the commercials on television today. If you have a favorite just add it to the comments section.

Don't you just love the hundreds of medicine commercials on television today? Especially when they tell you about the pill and then they say "if you experience any of the following, see your physician immediately":

a stroke, a heart attack, kidney failure, fever, a sore throat, dizziness, blurry vision, a headache,
nausea, diarrhea, constipation, gas, upset stomach, joint pain, swelling, rash, itching, trouble breathing, paralysis, listlessness, chest pain, irregular or rapid heartbeat, fainting, seizures, thirst, decrease in hearing, cramps, loss of appetite, weight gain, severe nervousness, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, you start limping, difficulty sleeping, impulsive behavior, depression, dry mouth, drowsiness, chills, indigestion, your erection lasts for more than 4 hours, or if you died.

Then 10 minutes later you get a commercial by some ambulance chasing lawyer that wants to sue the manufacturer if you had any of these symptoms

Makes you want to run out and get some, huh??

I thought you might enjoy this:

Count all the ones that you remember not the ones you were told about - Ratings at the bottom.

1. Blackjack chewing gum
2. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water
3. Candy cigarettes
4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
5. Coffee shops or diners with tableside juke boxes
6. Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
7. Party lines
8. Newsreels before the movie
9. P.F. Flyers
10. Butch wax
11. Telephone numbers with a word prefix (OLive-6933)
12. Peashooters
13. Howdy Doody
14. 45 RPM records
15. S&H Green Stamps
16. Hi-f i's
17. Metal ice trays with lever
18. Mimeograph paper
19. Blue flashbulb
20. Packards
21. Roller skate keys
22. Cork popguns
23. Drive-ins
24. Studebakers
25. Wash tub wringers

If you remembered 0-5 = You're still young
If you remembered 6-10 = You are getting older
If you remembered 11-15 = Don't tell your age,
If you remembered 16-25 = You're older than dirt!