2017 September FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

                              2017 September FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

During July there was a warning, which turned out to be false, to not “friend” someone on FACEBOOK.  That started all sorts of references innuendoes.  Here are some I read:  “Do not accept a “friend’s request from Lizzie Borden; she’ll cut you into 40 pieces, and when she sees what she’s done, she’ll cut 41”; “Do not accept a ‘friend’s’ request from John Jacob Jingle Heimer Schmidt, his name will be your name, too”; Do not accept a ‘friend’s’ request from Hormel foods, it could be spam”; “Do not accept a ‘friend’s’ request from General Mills, he’s a cereal killer”; “Do not accept a friends’ request from Merriam Webster; they’re a logophile.”  I started thinking about some others.  Here they are:  Do not accept a friend’s request from Gary Larson; he’ll take you to the far side; Do not accept a friend’s request from Nock Knock: they don’t know who’s there; Do not accept a friend’s request from Mr. Folger; he’ll put you in hot water; Do not accept a friend’s request from Janus; he’s two-faced; Do not accept a friend’s request from Bozo; he just clowns around; Do not accept a friend’s request from Boris Yeltsin; he’s always rushin’.

While having a delightful conversation with my daughter, Della, we were enjoying some coffee.  I like strong coffee, but didn’t realize how strong I’d made it until she exclaimed, “Gods Mom, you could have given me a slice of coffee instead of a cup of it.”

When I was growing up, Mother would have bridge club at our house a lot during the summer when grade school was not in session.  The ladies, I use that term lightly due to some who were snooty, would have conversations among themselves when Mother would go to the kitchen to get the refreshments.   I overheard a conversation about unattractive children; one woman mentioned me.  I guess she was careful about saying words, so she spelled some of them.  “I have watched Trudy for a while.  You know, she’s not very p-r-e-t-t-y.  I hope her face changes when she gets older.”  Mother always taught me to respect my elders, so instead of saying anything snappy, I remarked, “I may not be p-r-e-t-t-y, but I am very s-m-a-r-t!!”  There was a profound quiet in the living room.

Tomorrow is never promised; today is now; yesterday is gone and the only thing you can do with it is learn from it.  Have you ever wondered why the rear view mirror is much smaller than the windshield?  Past should be left in past, otherwise it can destroy your future.  Live your life for what tomorrow has to offer, not for what yesterday has taken away.

#5 child was in a snit one morning. It was my fault she stayed up late; it was my fault she overslept; it was my fault she didn't have time to eat all her breakfast because she HAD to watch a cartoon, and it was time for her to go to work; it was my fault her hair was "wonky"; it was my fault her work shirt was wrinkled because SHE had not hung it up; it was my fault about everything that went wrong.  Then the piece de resistance, “It is YOUR fault the wind is blowing and messed up my hair!!”  Wow! I didn't think I was that important or powerful.

I have an acquaintance in the sea cargo business.  He sent me a picture of a very large aquatic mobile platform stacked with cargo ships moving across the sea to a port.  He asked me, “Do you know what this is?”  I, of course, told him I didn’t.  He said, “It’s a ship-shipping ship, shipping shipping ships.”  I was so glad it wasn’t a fertilizer ship.

 An "ultracrepidarian" is somebody who gives opinions on subjects they know nothing about.  YEESH, as a retired teacher I dealt with this term just about on a daily basis.  It came in the form of some administrators, some parents, and some students…..not in that order.

Kissing is healthier than shaking hands.  Well, that may be so unless you’re a “butt kisser”.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”   “The quote refers to how complicated life becomes when people start lying. It originally referred to a love triangle in the play “Marmion” by Sir Walter Scott. The quote is often used to talk about the complex destructive effect that lying tends to have on life. When people start lying, they have to remember all the details of the lie rather than their true memory in order to keep the lie going when others ask about it. The quote also refers to the fact that lying often has unforeseen consequences.”   (Reference on-line)  I have seen innocent people get emotionally hurt due to deception urged by another’s lack of respect and desire to be deceptive.  In essence, if you’re urged to be deceptive, if it doesn’t feel good/causes questioning, do not do it.  You will be better for not doing it.

THIS IS MY OPINION, so please do not make nasty remarks about it to me.  I know your remarks are YOUR opinion.  Too bad one or more of the parole board members didn't say to O.J. Simpson when he recently went before them, "I remember what you were; I have learned what you are. I vote no parole."

Years ago my Beloved was wrestling with a problem, and I wanted to help. As our conversation progressed, I could tell his sense of humor was waning. I asked him, "Which of these two things do you want me to do: 1. Offer some suggestions or 2. Keep quiet?" There was a deliberate silence and then with a twinkle in his eye, he quipped, "Honey, the first one is inevitable, and the second one is impossible."
Good memories from and of "the big fella".

I need to get in shape.  If I were killed now, my body’s outline would be a circle or a complete street painting.

Brenduhh dragged herself over for some strong coffee and cinnamon rolls.  “Trudy, sometimes I just can’t get to sleep any earlier than 1:00 a.m., and sometimes I get up in the morning around 4:45.  And, sometimes it is within 24 hours of breathing and being.  Would you call me a ‘night owl’ or an ‘early bird’?” she wearily asked me.   “I don’t think you’re either of those. Perhaps “exhausted pigeon” would be a good term,” I cooed.

There is a gambling casino on the river not far from my house.  It is called “Para-dice”.  Not too far from it on the same side is a restaurant called “The Burger Barge” which has terrific hamburgers and fried onion rings.  They advertise these two features as, “The best burgers and fried onion rings next to paradise.”  It always makes me smile.

I have a friend with whom I have lunch about once a month.  We usually go to nice restaurants where there is good food.  We both wanted a good tenderloin sandwich.  She texted me suggesting a certain bar which has delicious ones which she’s tried.  She warned me that I needed to be prepared for a scrounge atmosphere.  I told her, “O.K. I won’t shower that morning.”  She rallied with, “Then I’m not going. L”  (We banter like this, so I wasn’t offended.)  I told her, “Then I’ll have to eat alone and think of you as I sink my teeth into the loin of pork.  It will be a royal feast…..me and Sir Loin.”  She sent a grimacing face emoji.

“A prayer to be said when the world has gotten you down…..and you feel rotten….and you’re too dog-gone tired to pray….and you’re in a big hurry….and besides….you’re mad at everybody----------‘HELP’!!!”

Food for thought:  Have you ever noticed that “the whole experience” and “the Holy Spirit” sound very much alike?

I grew up in the South…Decatur, GA to be exact.  It’s a whole different language down there.  Here’s an example I said to some kids at my new school when we moved up to Philadelphia.  “My mama and daddy have 2 chilruns.  We were a-fixin’ to go to the market, but there were no buggies in the market.  I was asked to go fetch one from the round-up stall.  Do y’all hep your folks with the marketin’?  We went to check out at the front of the market when my little brother let out a wail like a bobcat caught in a trap.  Mama tried to shush him, but it didn’t happen; he was mighty mad about something.  When we got to the check out, the lady there said something to my mama.  Mama told her it was best she kept on ringing the packages.  Then she told her, ‘Bless your heart.’  The lady got real nice and such after that.  Mama told me later that ‘Bless your heart’ in Southern really means, ‘You pitiful fool’.  Mama was always a lady.”  The kids had me tell them this story again.  I guess they hadn’t listened hard enough the first time.

Peace and blessings to y’all…………Trudy

2017 August FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

                                                    2017 August FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

Brenduhh came over for some cold tea; it was a beastly hot day.  She wore as little as possible which would pass as legal.  She was hanging pictures in her house and kept missing the wooden boards behind the plaster leaving holes in it.  She didn't know what to do and asked me my suggestion.  I told her, "Go to the hardware store and ask for a stud finder.  This tool will help you a lot."  She thanked me and went on her merry way.  Later she returned with some perplexity.  "Trudy, I went into the hardware store and asked the 2 male assistants where I could locate some stud finders.  I don't know why they took so long answering me, smirked, sputtered in their reply, and tripped over themselves trying to walk down the aisle."  I asked her, "Did you go wearing what you have on now?"  She said she had.  I asked her if she got the stud finder tool.  She said she had, but one of the fellas asked her if she wanted him to come over to help her since she'd located a stud finder; she couldn't understand why he had asked that.   She, also, told me she’d told them, “I have a screw loose, too.”   I just rolled my eyes.

I had an opportunity to verbally annihilate someone who would have deserved every syllable I would have said to them, had I returned the verbal volley.  Instead, I chose to be totally silent with my response.  I quickly thought of how they could misquote me and accuse me of saying something threatening.  An opponent really can’t misquote a response of silence.  It really is a formidable weapon.  I shared this happening with a friend.  She jokingly said, “They did say something more offensive than that they hate to eat bacon, didn’t they?”  I told her, “Oh yes.  Bacon wasn’t even mentioned.  I did think of them in the original package, though.”

My Beloved was having difficulty getting up from his easy chair.   He had a few choice words as he struggled.  I said something he didn’t like and the “intense fellowship” was on.   When the mood cooled, I suggested we go shopping for one which is called “A Lifting Chair.”  He liked that idea and went with me.  We looked at many and finally found one which fit his 6’5”, 350 pound size.  He was very pleased.  The sales person mentioned it was electrical.  “Oh, so it’s an electric chair,” I commented and shot Beloved a look.  For some reason Beloved growled, “Wipe that smirk off your face, Tootsie.”  I couldn’t stop laughing. 

A single strand of spaghetti is called spaghetto.  I didn't know this, but then, again, who eats a single strand of spaghetti?   “Not I,” said the spaghetti slucker.

Shadow owes its birth to light. -John Gay, poet and dramatist (30 Jun 1685-1732)

Thanks to my dear friend, Melodie, for this morsel of fact…..”A “Buttload” is an actual measurement of volume - Equal to 126 gallons.”  I have seen examples of larger and smaller volumes of this.  I won’t say which category I fall into, though.

Have you ever missed someone so much you feel the missing envelops you, squeezes you so tightly that your eyes “run”?  That’s one of the dues one pays for caring and loving another.  “If you miss them, it means you were lucky; lucky enough to have had someone special in your life, someone worth missing.”

LITTLE TIDBITS:   Hypnagogia is the state in between being awake and asleep.  Many blood sucking insects with governmental affiliation are called “poly-tics”.

“Who you are is not as important as what you are.”

You know it is time to get back to the gym when...  1. You try to do a few pushups and discover that certain body parts refuse to leave the floor.  2. Your children look through your wedding album and want to know who mom's first husband was.  3. You get winded just saying the words "10 kilometer run".  4. You analyze your body honestly and decide what you should develop first is your sense of humor.  5. You step on a talking scale and it says, "Come back when you are alone".  6.  Your doctor doesn’t find it funny when he tells you you’re out of shape and you tell him, “Round is a shape.  I am round.”  6.  The staff at Ben and Jerry’s has named an ice cream after you.  7.  You go to Dairy Queen and they know your order before you give it. 

Have you ever just waved at someone you didn’t know just to wave at them?  I have because I know they’re going to spend the rest of the day trying to think how they know me.  ‘Makes me laugh every time.

I was looking in the phone book for a list of “podiatrists.”  The next specialty entry was “proctologists.”  How interesting the correlation of the placement of the two.

I saw a sign the other day.  It showed the sun shining brightly, a dog in a car and the windows were rolled up.  The sign said, “FRIENDS DON’T MAKE FRIENDS WAIT IN HOT CARS.”  I wish I’d had this sign a few summers ago when I saw a little dog locked in a car with the windows down only a crack.  It was parked in front of the library I was going to enter.  I asked the desk attendant if she knew who had a car with the license of  IMSTUPD.  She did not.  Around the stack of shelves came a woman who claimed the vehicle.  I told her it was very hot outside and her dog was clawing at the windows to get out.  She told me she’d only been in here a minute and I needed to mind my own business.  I told her our conversation had lasted more than a minute, and she was being cruel to her dog.  I let her know how quickly the interior of a vehicle can heat up in the hotter-than-Hades weather we were having.  She got all nasty with me, fool that she was.  Little did she know I had a friend on the police force who was on duty and parked 5 cars from mine.  I went out, went to them and told them about the cruelty to the animal.  When she came out, my friend was beside her car writing a ticket.  I asked my friend how much the ticket was for on that misdemeanor.  “Here in Illinois it can be from $75 to $2500 and a month to 1 year incarcerated.   The clincher is the judge she will have to talk with.  He is an animal lover, on the local board of directors of the animal shelter, and VERY opposed to leaving animals in cars on hot days.  The $75 will be the least of her worries.”  I smiled.

Brenduhh came over a bit irritated.  I asked her what the problem was.  “Well, Elma told me she didn’t think I was very smart.”  “Why would she say that to you?” I enquired.  “She asked me if I could spell Mississippi.  I asked her which one was she wanting----the river or the state.”   Sometimes biting your tongue is a good thing.

Another day she came over to play SCATTERGORIES, a game I just love to play.  I have a weekly “game day” with my friends, Dianna, Marva, and Kathy.  Kathy wasn’t able to be with us, so we invited Brenduhh.  We explained the game to her and she said she understood how to play it.  One of the categories for the 3^rd. game was “About the Bible”; the word(s) for the category had to start with “E”.  We said our answers; Marva….”Ecclesiastes”; Dianna…..”Exodus”; me……”Ephesians”; and Brenduhh……”Ruthie”.  Eyes rolled and Brenduhh was questioned, “Why did you put ‘Ruthie’ when the word or words had to begin with ‘E’?”  Brenduhh thought then said, “Well, Ruthie has an ‘E’ in it; so, why not?”  We tried to explain, but it was futile.  We moved on to game #4 with another 12 categories.

When you sweat, your brain shrinks. When you drink your brain grows.  So, if you’re called “a fathead”, there is an element of truth and this explains a lot.

I took a class on-line about how to read maps backwards; it was nothing but spam.

I have found a new word to love.  Here it is and broken down for you: Zenzizenzizenzizenzike or

zenzi * zenzi * zenzi *zenzik *e.  It means:  Square of Squares Squaredly Squared 

If a concern is too small to be turned into a prayer, it is too small to be a burden.

“When your day’s not been a bed of roses, remember who wore the thorns.”  Profound, very profound.

Smiles and blessings to you for another month.  Trudy J

July 2017 FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

                                                  July 2017 FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

My friend had to go to the doctor to discuss some issues she was having with her diet. I told her, "You might take me along to talk with him, too. You know I will tell him what you usually eat.” And with a twinkle in my eye I said, “Besides, you're afraid of me."  She glared at me and took her bag of M & Ms away which we were sharing. I guess she's not as afraid of me as I thought.

 800 different languages are spoken in New York City, making it the most linguistically diverse city on Earth.

My friend, Kelli, posted her dismay with her 4 boys:  “It’s not just toys they fight over.  Now they’re fighting over a stick.  Next, they’ll be arguing over who gets to breathe more air.  It’s gonna be a long summer break.”

Connor, age 6, helped her when she fell and hurt her knee due to some water on the floor.  “He wiped up the water, made me some hot chocolate, then, patted and kissed my knee.”  I remember those days of when I got a “boo-boo” from something.  There seems to be magical, profound healing power in a pat and kiss on the hurt area when it’s administered by a child.

On May 28 my daughter turned 21.  She came to me all excited saying, “Mom, I’m 21 today.  It feels so good to be 21!!”  I smiled, hugged her and wished her a happy birthday.  Then I said, “It seems like just yesterday you were 20.”

A friend of mine called and said, “My day has gone to sh**, already.”  I told her, “That particular matter improves the growth of plants and makes the flowers and fruit more abundant. So if your day has gone to "fertilizer" just think how much more fruit or flowers (or both) you're going to get. I'd prefer to say, "My day has gone to ice cream because there is always something good about ice cream.” You're welcome.

Think about this:  “And sometimes when you fall, you fly.”  Neil Gaiman.  It’s something to think about.

I was having difficulty pronouncing a word.  My friend, Marva, said with a twinkling eye, “I didn’t think you ever had trouble pronouncing any word.”   I looked at her and said, “Sometimes I do.  Would you like to hear all the ones I CAN pronounce?”  She declined.

There are 2 letters in our alphabet which do not look any different when you turn them upside down or flip them left or right upside down or right side up.  What are they??  The answer’s at the bottom of the column.

Remember when this symbol, #, meant “pound”, “number”, tic-tac-toe game? Now it means HASHTAG…whatever that is. I came across a list of internet acronyms, text message jargon, abbreviations, initialisms, cyberslang, leetspeak, SMS code, textese. HCB (Holy Cow Batman), it’s a whole different language out there. Not only are there letters and some symbols used, but there are numbers, too, which replace letters. A group of letters can replace an entire sentence.UR2G2B4G---You are too good to be forgotten. @TEOTD----At the end of the day. Bette Davis’ famous line can now be reduced to FYSBIGTBABR---“Fasten your seat belts; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.” As an English teacher who taught composition, I can only imagine what essays would look like if all these symbols, abbreviations, initials, etc. would be used. TTFN….Tah Tah For Now.

“The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character.”  Margaret Chase Smith  I’ve always believed, “What’s right is right; what’s wrong is wrong.”  I’ve not been very popular at times because of this belief, either.
I saw a funny post on Facebook.  It said, “Yes, Mrs. Smith, it IS my fault and I should lose my job because YOUR child has never read a book at home and plays video games until 3 a.m. on school nights….said NO teacher EVER!!”  My reply to that was, “Oh, I don't know about that. There were a few parents I made a wedgie of their unders with my words. One I even told them their child needed to transfer to another class because they couldn't handle my expectations......their future job would probably be folding napkins. This was academic English, too. The parent told me I should give their child the letter grade they deserve. I told the parent, ‘Our alphabet only has 26 letters.’”

 A situation in which every choice you can make will be bad is called a "zugzwang."  I think I’ve had that from time to time in my life.  What a nice way to say, “It’s all going to hell.”  Just one word took care of that!!

Brenduhh came over all excited.  “Trudy, I’ve found wonderful pool exercises using one of those Styrofoam pool noodles.  You only have to do them for 15 minutes a day.  You jog in place for a bit; then, jump side to side with your feet together; next, keeping your head/chin high, squat down real low then shoot up real high.  The next one is a flutter kick moving your legs as fast as you can; then go to the deep end and ride an imaginary bicycle, and last hold on to the side of the pool and pull your knees up to your chest and shoot them out.  When you’re all through, just float around slowly moving to cool down your muscles.  Great, huh?”  After listening to her and watching her try to demonstrate all the moves on dry land, I told her, “I think by the time I finish with all that, the water will have become a tidal wave, and I’ll be slapped around like a dopey, small whale.  The waves will beat the fat off me.”

My Beloved and I were teachers at the same high school.  Many times we had the same students.  Recently I had a call from a former student of ours.  He asked me, knowing my Beloved had passed away almost 6 years ago and how much I loved him, “I don’t know how you do it Mz. R.  You keep on, and I know how much you loved Mr. R and miss him.”  I replied, “I take one moment at a time.  Some days are not as easy as others, but his memory and our wonderful time together helps ease the emptiness.  Grief robs one of so much, and I won’t be robbed of what I still have of him….his memory and influence.  I was so blessed to have him as long as I did.  The time we had together was more than some have, but it was, also, not as much as others have had.  Only you can pull yourself out of the quagmire of grief, and each person has a different time frame.”  He was silent for a moment, and then said, “You always seem to find the silver lining in the darkest places.”  I wanted to tell him it was the light reflecting off the tears in my eyes, but I just said, “Thank you.”

I’ve hyphened my last name.  I like it that way because it gives honor to my Daddy’s name and my Beloved’s name, but there are some last names upon marriage which need to be thought carefully about when contemplating hyphening.  Here are a few:  Ho – D’Dohe; Moore – Bacon;  Hunt – Kapture;  Brock – O’leigh;  Letter – Ripp;  Beenzen – Franks;  Looney – Ward;  Walkin – Woods;  Love – Lee (I like this one, though.)

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry.  You’ll hang on; you’ll let go.  You’ll praise; you’ll damn.  You’ll scream; you’ll whisper.  You’ll stay; you’ll go.  You’ll sing; you’ll hum.  You’ll ache; you’ll be at peace.  It’s called LIFE.  It’s worth all this.

My cousin passed away in June; it was a shock.  Our parents were siblings, and he was the same age as me and our other cousin, Sharon.  I knew him as “Butch” (most of the family called him that), but others called him, “Charlie”, “Chuck”, or “Sarge”.  He told me he didn’t mind all the names because he could go to the archives of his memory and remember how and where he knew the people.  I think that’s a good indicator of the people who pass through your life and how you remember them when you don’t see them for a long time.  I have just 2 names I’m usually called----Trudy or Mrs. Ripka/Mz. R.  With over 5,000 students who have passed through my life during my teaching career, the archives of my memory can be very dusty for sure.

I was told to stop trying to change things I couldn't change. Well, I'm trying. I did change the date on my flip calendar. Whoot, whoot accomplishment made.

One can never pay in gratitude; one can only pay "in kind" somewhere else in life. -Anne Morrow Lindbergh, writer (22 Jun 1906-2001)

Until next month……smiles and blessings to you, Trudy.                                                                                      The capitals I and X

2017 June FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

                                                   2017 June FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

The last of April, central Illinois has so much rain there was a lot of flooding along the Illinois River and some of the creeks.  Personally, I was ready to start building an ark.  Brenduhh came over all excited that week end.  “Trudy, I’m going on vacation and it will be so much fun.”  I asked her where she was going.  “Well, I thought it would be a lot of fun to go surfing.”  I asked her when she was going to California or Florida to do that.  She gushed, “Oh you silly girl.  I don’t need to go that far to surf and ride the waves.  The Illinois River is really deep now and some of the creeks are running real fast.  Those are gonna be perfect places.”  I told her it was too cold and the waters were very muddy.  “You know all your blond hair will turn brown, don’t you?” I questioned.  She thought a bit and agreed she’d have brown hair and not light blond if she went.  Sometimes it doesn’t take much to change her mind; but then again, there’s not much there to change.

I was swimming recently and accidentally splashed a lady who was next to me.  She hollered, “You splashed me; I don’t want to get wet!”  She was standing shoulder deep in the pool.  My gosh, it was Brenduhh’s mom.

All through life this question pops up---we wonder who we are, what role we really play in certain situations or other’s lives.  I’ve applied this to “Should I buy this or that”, “Should I address the issue or let it go”, and “Is it (object) to be here or there?  I definitely apply it when I’m cleaning out closets and drawers.  Life is full of questions. Sometimes there are more questions than there are answers.  It, also, seems that just when I’ve found the answer, someone throws in another question!  Ever question if you did a good job raising your child(ren) only to see/hear them quote you to their own child(ren) that which they so vehemently objected to coming from you?  When my children were growing up, I was pretty strict with them.  Daddy and Mother had been strict with me, their wild child, but, they informed me, not to the degree I was with my children.  I told them I’d had two good teachers, and I turned out pretty good.  They didn’t question my strictness anymore.

If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.  Well, I see it’s time to get a good book and carry it with me as I drive.  No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple, or supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, either.  On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.  Our influence extends further than we know!  Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite, and nitro comes in jelly form.  LUNCH!!!!  “Stewardesses” is the longest word typed with only the left hand; “lollipop” with the quotes is the longest with your right hand.  “I” is the shortest with the right and “A” is the shortest with the left.  Some people have a lot of time on their hands, don’t they?  TIME is evenly divided between both hands.

Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, are best relieved by the letting of a little water. -Christopher Morley, writer (5 May 1890-1957) Which brings me to a saying I heard a long time ago:  “Tears are the safety valve of the heart,” and “It’s all right to cry; crying lets the sad out of you.”  All of this is so true.  Studies have been done about the chemical composition of tears brought on by various situations.  They are all different in composition.

I have accepted a position with a famous crayon company.   I am a consultant now.   I was so surprised when they called and told me my resume was exactly what they were looking for.   Some of the colors, although I loved them, were delicious, but I didn't eat a single one.   I made suggestions of:   "8 in a box is about as thrilling as dried lox;"   "If you must give delicious names to the colors, have them smell that way too, provide the caloric and fat content, and provide more than one serving in a box."   Macaroni and Cheese was my favorite with a close second of Mashed Potatoes.   Of course, double chocolate cake was so tempting.   I suggested ADULT crayons: "Jose Cuervo gold; Sex on the Beach ooh lala tan; Screwdriver yellow; Manhattan with 5 cherries bronze; Dom Perignon clear like diamonds; Rum and Coke liquid browned bronze."   I asked that rutabaga, Brussels sprouts, and other disgusting veggies have no place in the box---throw them out; don't even think of it. Puce (French for flea) sounds too much like another sickening word--P U * E, so hurl that color, too."   They were most accepting of my suggestions.   I'm now waiting for a paper I submitted.   It was difficult to outline and stay in the lines as excited as I was, but I did it.   I, also, suggested a warning sign be put on the box:   KEEP OUT OF REACH OF A HUNGRY DOG.   TECHNICOLOR POOP IS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM LIGHT COLORED CARPETING.   They liked that one, too.
P.S.   If you believe this position for me, I have a box of used, very-loved, made-into-missile-bullets, broken crayons for ya.   ‘Had to have some fun.

A long time ago I read a book titled A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME by Polly Adler.  Its subject was about a house of ill repute and the ones who “lived” there, their lives, and the lives of others who went to that house.  The title has stuck with me all these years.  I’ve lived in many houses and with each one I tried to make it a home.  The people, my family, are what made the building, a house, a home.  When you have those you love being together in a house, you have a home, and…..you have everything.

Written By: Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer.  "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

1.  Life isn't fair, but it's still good.  2.  When in doubt, just take the next small step.  3.  Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.  4.  Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will.  Stay in touch.   5.  Pay off your credit cards every month.  6.  You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.  7.  Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.  8. It's OK to get angry with God;  He can take it.  9.  Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.  10.  When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.  11.  Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.  12.  It's OK to let your children see you cry.  13.  Don't compare your life to others.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.  14.  If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.  15.  Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.  16.  Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.  17.  Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.  18.  Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.  19.  It's never too late to have a happy childhood.  But the second one is up to you and no one else.  20.  When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take “No” for an answer.  21.  Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie.  Don't save it for a special occasion.  Today is special.  22.  Over prepare, and then go with the flow.  23.  Be eccentric now.  Don't wait for old age to wear purple.  24.  The most important sex organ is the brain.  25.  No one is in charge of your happiness but you.  26.  Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'  27.  Always choose life.  28.  Forgive everyone everything.  29.  What other people think of you is none of your business.  30.  Time heals almost everything.  Give time time.  31.  However good or bad a situation is, it will change.  32.  Don't take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.  33.  Believe in miracles.  34.  God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.  35.  Don't audit life.  Show up and make the most of it now.  36.  Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.  37.  Your children get only one childhood.  38.  All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.  39.  Get outside every day.  Miracles are waiting everywhere.  40.  If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.  41.  Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.  42.  The best is yet to come.  43.  No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.  44.  Yield.  45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift." 

Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.

Have you ever thought how scary DO NOT TOUCH is in Braille?  Do fish ever get tire of swimming?  Why do cats jump and are scared of a moving leaf, but don't snarl and hiss when you go to get them off your favorite chair?  When buttermilk goes sour, how will you know?  What’s the difference between “Eggs over easy” and “Eggs over easily”?  Have you ever notice that hieroglyphics could be the original emojis? 

“When you repeat a mistake, it is not a mistake anymore:  it is a decision.”  Paulo Coelho   “Mistakes have been known to be called “experience”, IF you learned from them.”  Trudy Jean

See you in July.  Blessings and smiles to you.  Trudy

May 2017 FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

                                                  2017 May “FROM MY PERSPECTIVE”

I was raised to treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO.   I’m of the knowing that everyone has a job.  Throughout my career and life this observation rings very true:  Sometimes the most important job is the lowliest on some people's “totem pole”; but, it is the most important for the comfort and inner workings of all who work there. Those who aren't considered as important as the head honcho are actually more important.  When people think the bottom of the totem pole has the least important position, think again.  Without the bottom, how would all the others be supported.  Thus, the bottom of the totem pole is actually the most important.

Nature's laws affirm instead of prohibit. If you violate her laws, you are your own prosecuting attorney, judge, jury, and hangman. -Luther Burbank, horticulturist (7 Mar 1849-1926)

This is what I call “natural consequences” except for: when you sling mud at people….you always get a little bit on you (law of physics); make your words kind and sweet for tomorrow it’s them you may eat (nutrition 101); you can’t treat people awful and expect them to be glad to be with you (sociology and psychology)…..and all those other little ditties my parents told me as I was growing up.

“Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”  Damien C. Thanks for your wisdom.

Recently I saw a former student say they thought they were the “black sheep” of their family because most of their family did not associate with them.  I know this person well.  They are kind, generous, honest, good, and true.  I am proud of them and love them as though they were a child of mine.  Here is what I told them:  “I wouldn't consider you ‘black sheep’, I'd consider you colorful. However, with that said, black sheep wool is more highly prized and rare. It is stronger and uncommon----not the run-of-the-mill, common. It is not like all the others; it is unique. Now, perhaps you will be proud of thinking you are the ‘black sheep’ because it is a positive, not a negative. You are loved.”

Women have to deal with periods, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, menopause, hot-flashes, mood swings and all that.  Men have to deal with women.  I’d say that’s a tie.

CONNORISMS:  Connor was home with a fever.  My friend, his mother, asked him how he was feeling.  Here’s the typical “Connorism”, he looks at his arm and says "Yep, still sick".  I said "How do you know?"   He says,  "I still have hair on my arm. My fever is trying to burn it off".  ‘Pretty sure that's not how this works......  ANOTHER ONE: I was looking for the ice cream scoop.....couldn't find it. Connor runs upstairs and gets it...... I asked him why he had it.  He says "I didn't want any one to steal it."   There's an ice cream scoop thief out there,  people. Hide your scoops!  (Thanks, Kelli, for the sharing the smiles.)    

I saw this and felt compelled to share it with you.  If you are a parent, this just may be your creed:  “As your parent, I promise you that I will always be in one of 3 places….in front of you to cheer you on, behind you to have your back, or next to you so that you aren’t walking alone.” 
For those of you who have teens who are going to graduate from high school soon, I’m sure many conflicting thoughts and feelings are surfacing with you.  They did with me.  I kidded that I dealt with “teen terrorists in training”, that there would be welcoming peace through out the house where silence was a foreign (almost non-existent) word, and that the refrigerator would be full most of the time.   Well, those words/thoughts were to mask the sadness I knew would happen when they left “the nest” to go out on their own or to college.  I experienced separation anxiety and loneliness, just as you may do.  What helped me was knowing I’d done the best job I knew how to do in raising them and that God, in His infinite wisdom, knew these adolescents had made a profound impact on my life; thus, the reason He made them act like a baby when I didn’t treat them like an adult; I needed to appreciate the miniscule moments of silence when they were home because the vastness of the silence when they’d be gone would be deafening; and that, Kroger’s usually had what I needed---not what they wanted---when I shopped for food to put in the refrigerator and know it would still be there 2 hours after I placed it on the shelf.  Hopefully, all I’ve just said will help you through those moments you’re going to face, soon.

Stephen King said, “The thing under my bed waiting to grab my ankle isn’t real.  I know that, and I also know that if I’m careful to keep my foot under the covers, it will never be able to grab my ankle.”  I am aware of the “thing” under my bed, so no body part of mine goes off the edge of the mattress…..EVER!!  And, the pillow has to be turned so the flap is pointed to the outside of the mattress; there are pillow goblins in there, and I don’t want to see them.  I’m sure some of you can identify with this.

My second cousin has a teenaged daughter.  She said, “Aubrey, I think we should have ice cream for dinner.”  Aubrey said, “No, I need real food.”  My cousin wonders, “What have I done wrong?!?!”  I’m wondering if this child even has our blood running through her veins.    
Here is something to think about:  When your feet slip you can recover your balance; when your tongue slips you can not recover your words. 
“There is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to other animals as well as humans, it is all a sham.” Anna Sewell, writer (30 Mar 1820-1878)  I can think of a few groups and people who fall into this category.  I’m sure you can, too. 
  
ECDYSIS (ek-duh-sis) mean the shedding of an outer layer, molting.  EXODUS means a going out.  Birds have feathers.  So I’m thinking that when they periodically fall out they make an ecdysis exodus.

“We take our colors, chameleon-like, from each other.”  Nicolas de Chamfort, writer (6 Apr 1741-1794)  Have you ever notice you around certain people?  I have me.  There are and were certain people I wasn’t the same person I usually am when I am/was interacting and among them.  Some had me be sophisticated and being careful not to say “off-color” words as expressions.  Some had me be so laid back that a lounge chair looked tense.  Then there were the ones who made me feel I could show all facets of me, or someone else (through vocal imitations), and tell jokes of all sorts, and use innuendoes and puns.  I had no trouble being any of these “characters or people”, but I think the one I like the most was/is the one who brought/brings smiles and laughter to others.  Smiles and laughter from others is a healing power to me.


It is said, “You’re only as old as you feel.”  At this time, I feel I’m an exhumed mummy.

My friend’s little daughter, age 3, ate a peanut.  She was delighted at the flavor and told her mother, “Mommy, this has peanut butter in it!!”  I love comments made by innocent children.

No matter what I did to help my children.  No matter what I said.  No matter whether I breast fed or bottle fed them, gave them nourishing food, was available at most any time……they still turned into teenagers with too many opinions, wanting to eat junk food, drink unhealthy soda pop, found it sporting to argue at the littlest issue, and spend money they thought grew on trees.  Then I found it delightful to try to teach others’ teenagers!!!  Where did I go wrong???

And there is this:                                                           

CONNOR-ISM:  Connor: "Mom, you make my whole world better." Then he gets in my bed with shoes and back pack on for a cuddle.   My arms, my heart and my eyes were full and over flowing. My cup runneth over.  (Connor is the 6 year son of my friend and former student, Kelli.)

That’s it for this month.  Smiles and blessings to you for 31 days.

Trudy J

April 2017 FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

                                              2017 APRIL From My Perspective

I recently read this:  “If a woman says, ‘First of all,’ during an argument, run away and hide.  She has prepared research, data, quotes, and will destroy you.  She’s majored in history and is a history buff…..on YOUR history.”  I know….I’ve done it.

I put a picture of me on a social media website.  It was taken in 2009.  The dear friend with whom I had it taken mentioned she remember where we were when it was taken.  I haven’t seen her since then, but explained, “I haven't changed much from this picture.....just a little bit more sterling silver in the onyx-colored hair. You know I'm expensive, thus the referral to sterling silver. ”  Another friend made a comment to the picture about herself, “Ahhhh...I am not so expensive. My hair is getting the aluminum foil look! I feel like I may be turning into the Tin man's sister!”  That made me laugh out loud.

Our language is so interesting.  There is a name for just about everything and then if we can’t find one, one is taken from other languages and made into a word.  Here is OXYMORON.  It is derived from the 5^th century Latin oxymorus, which is derived from the Ancient Greek oksus which means:  “sharp, keen, pointed” and moros which means:  “dull, stupid, foolish.”  This, then, makes OXYMORON an oxymoron.  Mention this at a party and see what discussion arises…..or people will just look at you like deer eyes in headlights.

My Beloved, God rest his soul, had many soothing words to say to me when I seemed weary.  Here is an example:  I’d spent a lot of time shopping for groceries and other things we needed--- it took about 2 hours---and, I was tired.  I unloaded the van, which seemed like an eternity.  After putting them all away, I sat down in my chair to check the receipt.  Guy looked over and replied, “Oh, I see you brought a novel to read.”  The man was brave, folks.

“Ner-ism” time:  My friend told me that one night Ner came down stairs wrapped in a towel after a bath. "Daddy, stand up. I want you to see how hung I am."  Charles says, "WHAT?!" Ner holds his hand over his head, "You know, how hung I am. I grew" (I am dying laughing) Charles stands up and Ner stands next to him. "See?  I'm hung like you!" (He measures his height up against Charles’ body.)  Finally, I managed to stop laughing enough to say "How TALL you are, sweetie, not ‘how hung’.”

"A memory, which brings a smile, is an extra heart beat." Tjr

I saw a sign which said, “The 4 greatest words you will hear are:  ‘I love you, Mama.”  My thought was, “The 4 greatest replied words the child will hear are:  ‘I love you more.’ “

Our lives are like islands in the sea, or like trees in the forest. The maple and the pine may whisper to each other with their leaves ... But the trees also commingle their roots in the darkness underground, and the islands also hang together through the ocean's bottom. -William James, psychologist and philosopher (11 Jan 1842-1910)

This is a rather profound observation from William James.  Most of us think we are not related in any way to various people, but in actuality we are.  We can be different, but we are the same---we are humans with basic needs all humans share with another.  You might be scoffing, but give it some serious thought of what he said and his comparisons.  You’re welcome.  J

“Gossips are worse than thieves because they steal another person’s dignity, honest reputation and credibility, which are challenging to restore.  Remember, when your feet slip, you can always recover your balance; but, when your tongue slips, you cannot recover your words.”  Karen Salmansohn

When my daughter was eight years old, she was taking a bath one evening.  I heard a lot of splashing and cheers of glee coming from her.  Cautiously I entered the bathroom---one never knows what one will find with this kid and her exuberance---and asked her what she was doing.  With as much gusto as before she happily replied, “Oh Mom, I’m just surfing.”  The bathroom looked it, too.

It still stands....."TRIX are for kids."  So, I mix TRIX and KIX together and I'm a teenager!!!!

What used to be still comes around, I don't know how, but it does. I guess that's memories for you.....creeping in when you have to deal with now. It's mostly the good ones, but every now and then a bad one seeps on through. Lessons of the past are still teaching, still teaching you.

I got a "false call" today. Here is the dialog: I answered the call (815-410-3058). She said something about a magazine place. I told her I wasn't interested. She said, "Well, you signed up for it." I told her I didn't and knew nothing about it. She didn't keep me on the phone for long. Maybe it was me telling her I'd cast a spell on her giving her chronic diarrhea and all her relatives, too, while they were visiting her for a sit-down dinner. Who knows???!!!

I went to Burger King and ordered a hamburger with grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, caviar, and melted provolone cheese. They told me they didn't serve that. I told them, "The advertisement says, 'Have it your way' and that is my way." I'm suing tomorrow for false advertising. They told me they'd meet me in hell. I told them, "Have it your way."

Brenduhh came over ready to rant.  I let her get out of her system as she went on and on about what direction toilet paper should come off the roll.  After she stopped, I said, “Do you know what would be worst that the paper coming off the roll from the back or front?”  “No, what would be worse?” she queried.  “Not having any toilet paper,” I said “charminingly”.

A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, and he ends up losing respect for himself and for others. -Fyodor Dostoevsky, novelist (1821-1881)      Peace to each of you, smiles and blessings, too.  Trudy

2017 MARCH "From My Perspective"

2017 March FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

It's good to have money and the things that money can buy; but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven't lost the things that money can't buy. -George H. Lorimer, editor (6 Oct 1867-1937)

Have you ever noticed that when you figure out something which has been a puzzle to you, it is seldom you’ll forget it?  I pretty sure this has to do with….if we teach ourselves something we usually don’t forget the lesson because we have such an intimate and close relationship with the teacher.

I found out that if one weighs 200# on Earth, they only weigh 76# on Mars.  Wow, one is not overweight--- they’re just on the wrong planet!

My daughter seems to have a knack of inventing her own words.  What’s amazing is THEY MAKE SENSE.  We were talking one day and I asked her when she would be arriving at my house for supper.  She replied, “Well, I’m almost ready to walk out the door; so, it will be ‘soonly’.”  I asked her what that meant.  She replied, “Well, it’s between soon and quickly, but it’s neither.  It’s ‘SOONLY’.”  She’s writing her own dictionary.  I think she’ll call it NEW-WORDS-WHICH-MAKE-MORE-SENSE-THAN-THE-ORIGINAL-ONES DICTIONARY.

Have you ever noticed a good mother’s love is unconditional?  I have, but her temper is another subject.  I’ve told mine, “I'll love you until I die, then I'll come back and haunt you into behaving well and reminding what you should not do or say.”

I know it’s March, now, but I wanted to express how much I love October.  It is the only time the cobwebs in my house become the status of DECORATIONS.

Peace isn’t the absence of conflict as people think it is.  Peace is the acceptance of conflict and knowing there will be calm from time to time.

The veggie garden was upset about the row of nosy, Spanish peppers. In complete frustration the tomatoes hollered, "They ask too many personal questions. They won't leave us alone. They're always jalapeño business!!!"  The Spanish archer did not take their turn at shooting.  When they were asked why they didn’t, they replied, “No habanera.”  Mountains are not just funny, they are “hill areas”.

While listening to one of my favorite radio stations, Mix 106.9, a word definition was given and the listener, in order to win a prize, was to call-in and give the word.  Here is the word and other words (synonyms) and the definition which I found:    Apophasis  "to say no" is a rhetorical device wherein the speaker or writer brings up a subject by either denying it, or denying that it should be brought up Accordingly, it can be seen as a rhetorical relative of irony.   The device is also called paralipsis– also spelled paraleipsis or paralepsis – or occupatio and known also as praeteritio, preterition, antiphrasis ,or parasiopesis.  It can be employed to raise an ad hominem or otherwise controversial attack while disclaiming responsibility for it, as in, "I refuse to discuss the rumor that my opponent is a drunk." This can make it a favored tactic in politics.  Apophasis can be used passive-aggressively, as in, "I forgive you for your jealousy, so I won't even mention what a betrayal it was." Praeteritio was the word the station was wanting.   Thank you, Wikipedia.com.
While reading a dictionary which happens when I start to look for ONE word (yeesh), I found this word:  HOWDAH.  It is from the Hindi and Urdu language and means, a seat on the back of an elephant or camel.  It made me think, “Of course.  It’s the perfect word for that seat because once you’re up there, you’ll wonder, “How duh get down from here?”
Brenduhh came over all smiles and giggles.  “Hey, Trute.  What do you call some bad employees?”  I didn’t want to spoil her fun so I started guessing.  None of my answers were correct.  “O.K. I give up.  What’s the answer, Brenduhh?”  She was laughing so hard she could hardly get out, “A staff infection!”  She went for the snort, too.
Life is mostly froth and bubble, / Two things stand like stone, / Kindness in another's trouble, / Courage in your own. -Adam Lindsay Gordon, poet (19 Oct 1833-1870)
A friend of mine told me, “I keep finding more and more “nuts” within the branches of the family tree. Gosh, you don't know how happy I am that they live in another state, and you will never know they're my kin! Did I become saner because I moved away from them, and I am crazy I admit that?”  I told her, “Yes, to knowing your relief of moving, and No, to your being crazy to admit it. You're in good company, anyway. I keep a jar of almonds, walnuts, pecans, and filberts out all the time just to remind me of some of my friends and relatives.”
Some of you may remember a balladeer by the name of Tom T. Hall.  One of my favorite songs he sung is WATERMELON WINE.  I got to thinking about that song and wondered what the 3 things mentioned were referring to.  Someone posted them:  "Old dogs" are those with wisdom, "children" are those with idealism, "watermelon wine" is what helps you deal with the injustices of the world. I love Tom T. Hall.“   Yep, I’m thinking that person was correct.  Give the song a listen if you have the time.  Listen carefully to the lyrics.
I saw a sign the other day.  It was talking about how water solves just about all problems.  “Do you want to lose weight?  Drink water.  Do you want a clear face?  Drink water.  Are you tired of the people who try to make you feel badly?  Drown them.” 
Dr. Maya Angelou said, "Be a rainbow in somebody's cloud!"  Have you ever notice how all the colors of the rainbow have come together to make a beautiful appearance in the sky?  They all complement the other and without all of them, it wouldn’t be a rainbow.  
What did the paper on the bulletin board say while being held up by a push pin?  “OH NO!!  I’m under a tack.”

Steganography:  (ste-guh-NOG-ruh-fee)   MEANING:  noun: The practice of concealing a message within another nonsecret message.   ETYMOLOGY:  From Greek stego- (cover) + -graphy (writing). Ultimately from the Indo-European root (s)teg- (to cover), which also gave us thatch, toga, stegosaurus, detect, and protect. Earliest documented use: 1569.   Examples of steganography: Shrinking the secret text until it’s the size of a dot and then putting it in an unsuspected place, such as the dot on top of a letter “i” in some innocuous letter. EXAMPLES:  Shaving the head of a man, writing the secret message on his pate with unwashable ink, and then letting the hair grow back before dispatching him to the destination.  To take an example from modern digital techniques, one could put the text of a message in the blank spaces in an image file. (Word A Day)  This gives me ideas for mystery stories I might think about writing.

I have a friend who goes to a little diner which serves breakfast all day and the best BLT sandwiches.  She invited me to go with her.  The diner sits on the corner of Koch and Bacon Streets.  I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw where it was located.

Smiles, blessings, and chuckles for the month.  Trudy J