tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2896059709632250202024-03-13T05:19:55.497-04:00Sally's RambleSally's Ramblesallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.comBlogger302125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-75602834634169134492015-07-25T23:55:00.000-04:002015-07-25T23:55:25.441-04:00Me Missing MeMe Missing me.<br />
How can I not write here? I am thinking all the time of wording for everything that happens in my life, getting it ready for you to read and share. But instead, I post quick little burps of info on Facebook, thinking that will keep me and you up to date, but you know, that is just a flash, as quick as a spring shower. Sun shining, quick rain, then steam coming from the pavement, indicative that something happened, but nothing consequential.<br />
So, what has been moving me through my life? I love my life, I am blessed in so may ways. And still, I convince myself that nothing I do is the way other people would do it, or how they expect I should do it. Perceptions completely made up by me of course. No critics in my life....except me. At my age, I can not even say I need to work on that and be truthful, it is what it is!<br />
Tomorrow my SD (sweet daughter) marries, a really nice guy this time! I know, I know without her first marriage, we would not have our heart filled by our SGS (Sweet GrandSon), they were just so ill suited for each other, I was her role model for that! My soon to be SSIL ( have you caught onto my acronyms?) Is so laid back, just what she responds well to, and he really cares about our SGS. Knowing that she has him in her life really is mind deep breathing for me.<br />
So tomorrow will all be about a family celebration including many facets, then and now relatives and getting along because we want to, not talking though barred teeth and false eyes. We have all made It work.<br />
I know SH is proud to be part of the aisle walking routine, and I am proud of me that I did not demand to be included in that rite of symbolism. Do all Mothers think this way or just possessive ones like me?<br />
No need to answer.<br />
SS will be wearing suspenders for the first time tomorrow, and since he is so tactile, I know he will be gripping them like a seasoned farmer would, and that is fine with me.<br />
And me? Blue nail polish to match my dress, but forgoing my new blue glasses so I am not thought of as a character looking for attention.<br />
Mom's rosary is hung on the tree we planted after she died, this was her method of pleading for good weather. This is also the first family wedding that she will not be attending, and it hurts my heart. Her SS passed away July 1st. The end of that generation and a women I loved so dearly. She was everything my needy soul craved, calm, book loving and a steady rock to cling to. She was cared for by a daughter who put forth so much devotion that I was in awe.<br />
And today we found out that my SSIL lost her Mom, I am sure this has been devastating for her. She is a very faith filled woman, this will give her strength, not to take away the pain, but to cope with it.<br />
My keyboard itch has been calmed for tonight, this truly was a ramble.<br />
Thanks for indulging me. SF.<br />
<br />sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-83788997891223111252014-11-11T03:05:00.002-05:002014-11-11T03:05:57.966-05:00A Trip Navigated by CALGON....So Listen, Raise your hands sweet friends if you know what the phrase "Calgon, take me away!" means. Yep, just as I thought, this would be an age related answer. For those not aware of this powerful request it begs for a trip to somewhere better. Lets all plan our trip! Me first, my idea after all.<br />
Calgon, you promoter of dreams, passage booker for trips of fancy, I am ready, take me to.........<br />
A nice haircut with perfect highlights-no need to explain for 10 minutes what I don't want. And then hey, as long as I am there a mani-pedi with a little twinkley star painted on my left big toe for my husband to see. And clothes shopping-NO, NO, I don't want to go clothes shopping, please, know your customer here! Just fill my closets and drawers with a few things I want to wear and if they fit-BONUS! Speaking of clothes, we can put a man on the Moon for cripes sake, why can't we invent a machine that you would feed a piece of clothing in like we feed in a dollar bill at the automatic car wash and in a nanosecond, out it would come clean and FOLDED! And no trying our patience like feeding in a perfectly good piece of currency and have it swoosh back out like "How dare you try to pawn off this wrinkled pre folded piece of paper" !<br />
Hey, Calgon, how about a trip thru childhood, but a do-over with a few tweaks, nothing big, same Mom, but everyday would be like she was on a day off from work, baking, laughing and planning to cook for company-without rollers in her hair would be a nice touch. And a DAD this time would be great. Someone who chooses to be a Dad and knows what to do to protect and defend.<br />
Here is a challenge Calgon trip planner, as each child is born, they should be washed with a light that protects them from disease, injury and spectrums. This would also take away the need for bullies I am thinking-makes sense to me. Every child needs grandparents right? Well, they should ALL love and accept each grandchild and fill the child with a sense of being cherished while sitting in a rocking chair that grandpa made for them and wrapped in a blanket that grandma made. Who couldn't be their best in this kind of base station? I am not asking for much right? Brothers and sisters for all would be great-I would recommend mine for the models! Kids would still need to work hard at school and home, behave in church to avoid the pinch under the arm, and be a kind person to all, but coming from a place of love and security would certainly give them a pattern to follow. And speaking of education-these student loans would be cut in half each year that they work and get a good job review. Of course that means that there would need to be actual JOBS, but Calgon, I know you can do it! Can I just add close to home and hearth for these incredible jobs?<br />
And my next stop on my Calgon Caravan would be driving along some water, someplace. Blue skies, tons of clouds of all different types, those I love there with me, some great music playing, no one passing gas, and maybe with a stop at a SEE's Candy Store-just to keep the driver's strength up. A trip to the OLD Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the one that was not plundered could just make the day.<br />
And membership in a service organization fills a soul, so how about if that was part of the trip of life? Cool concept right? One you can do with your kids, yeah, thats the plan.<br />
Before being dumped by the side of the rode by you Calgon because I asked too much, just hear me out ok?<br />
I know not all of this is possible, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck as the saying goes. But dreams are just as elusive as the continued warm water in the Calgon bath, and just as important. Thanks for listening, you all know that God is Calgon right?<br />
<br />sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-77481219804603721482013-12-23T02:40:00.002-05:002013-12-23T02:40:29.454-05:00Book reading preferences.I remember when the ebook readers first came out. I said "not for me, I love holding a book, I will never read books that way." Then...I bought my first high end cell phone. I immediately purchased a book of short stories by John Steinbeck, (one of my go-to authors) and downloaded to my little cell phone. I have been reading his works since Kensington High School, "The Pearl" was the first story of his that I read, and only because it was assigned reading. That is all it took, over the years, I started collecting all of his books. I found some very rare ones when I went with SweetHusband to out of the way book stores all over WNY. He is a book collector indeed. Then I began to think how selfish I was to hoard these works of his, so after collecting them for 10 years, I donated them to our local library book sale. I hope someone who loved JS as much as I did found them. Then last year, I purchased a KINDLE FIRE, not for the book reading capabilities, but it was just too neat not to buy! Email, facebook, great web browsing and yes, Kindle is known for it's user friendly book app. At first, I purchased low cost books on Amazon, and then I got brave and went onto the county library ebook site. I was able to use their tutorial to set everything up, and it worked! Free books, how can that not be a good thing eh? Granted, sometimes I need to be put on a hold list, but hey, free is free. And if I download a book that does not read as well as I thought, just press "return and delete", no trips to the library needed. Those last few words are scary, what if so many people who used the library for taking out books turn to ereaders like I did? Will they all close? Will children miss out on the wonderful experience I had of going to the Roosevelt Library and taking out books? New literary worlds, just waiting to share their landscapes to me. Who can forget reading My Antonia, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn or all those stories recommended by the librarian-she knew my reading patterns and always had suggestions for me. One non-library reading that I loved was "The Golden Book of Knowledge." SMom bought those from Loblaws where she worked, I would read them cover to cover-each week was a different book, filled with colorful illustrations explaining everything from A-Z that you did not know you needed to learn about. When my SChildren were small, they were being sold again at Bells Supermarkets,I bought them, slightly different from the ones we had as a child, but still fascinating. Reading to the kids, I seemed to enjoy them even more than my SC. I still have them, and shared with SGrandSon, he was slightly interested-just to be polite. I also love to read Cookbooks, especially old ones. The instructions they used are so interesting, you would think that a recipe is a recipe, but the cooking terms, types of food and way of describing the recipe all seem to be in a foreign tongue sometimes. And how our eating habits have changed over the years: butter, big chunks of red meat were the stars and no such thing as "add one package of instant pudding", or "melt in microwave!" A SCousin just bought me "Come Home to Supper" by Christy Jordan. She is a strong religious woman who has her family right up there in the important list-talks about making time for her kids and husband, and treating each day as a gift to do what you want. And, by the way, she offers some great recipes-I have followed her online for a few years and her recipes always turn out. And, I send the link to her recipes to myself on email, then cook while reading the recipe on my Kindle-how insane is that? I always worry that my Kindle screen will end up with the same stains and splatters that my cookbook pages have on our favorite recipes :) If I couldn't read, I would not be able to cook, cereal for three meals a day for us would be the norm. So bottom line, never judge new finagled inventions, you might be using one when you least expect. Thanks for reading, here is your reward, click here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8prY-yHYoE" target="_blank">Julia Child</a>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-73586271211848367002013-11-26T18:53:00.001-05:002013-11-26T18:53:35.127-05:00NonTurkey CasseroleNonTurkey Casserole <br />
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If you are interested in a break from TURKEY this week and next, here is a recipe that I just concocted. But wait, it was so good according to the guys that let’s say I CREATED the recipe. There, that sounds divine. <br />
I had some Smithfield Rosemary and Olive Oil pork tenderloin left over-we usually do not have red meat in the house except for the rare Sahlen’s Hot Dogs, but I have been advised again to increase my red meat consumption, gross. So, I am blindly agreeing with the doctors and calling it red meat and also the spin doctors for the Pork Industry and referring to it as “The other white meat.” A piece of meat like this will give us three meals! <br />
Leftover number one was the following casserole. And since I only used about 4 ozs of meat for the entire dish, I added to the protein with Feta cheese. <br />
Here goes: <br />
-2 cups cooked rice-I only had white rice because I used up all the brown rice on that recipe for stuffed pepper soup that I made for the recent Soup Tasting Fundraiser-seemed to go over well-let me know if you want that recipe <br />
-1 LARGE TBSP. Crushed garlic-added to rice while it is cooking <br />
-One bag BIRDS EYE frozen mixed veggies-cooked. Tim reminded me that he used to like the “carrot squares and peas” that I gave them when they were kids. At that time-I used canned-and it was only slimey carrots and peas-these BIRDS Eye veggies are really good: peas, carrots, corn and green beans (Matka just popped into my head to remind me that she liked to cook elbow macaroni and add these mixed veggies to it for a meal-thanks Mom) <br />
-4oz. Cubed cooked tenderloin pork (cooked chicken or that “T” meat of course could be used) <br />
-2 TBSP. Olive Oil <br />
-2 TBSP. Lemon Juice <br />
-1 cup Chicken Broth-if you think you need more-splash it in-you do not want this to be dry when you take it out of the oven <br />
-1 cup Feta cheese-crumbled (I only had plain, but I am thinking that one of those flavored kind with Mediterranean spices would be good-omit the additional basil-but maybe not the one with the sun-dried tomatoes though-but you decide-hey, you the boss!) <br />
-1 tsp. Basil-dried -or any other not too overpowering seasoning -the lemon juice and olive oil keep the flavors light for this dish <br />
-1 tsp. Black pepper Stir all together very well in an ovensafe pretty dish, cover with foil and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes Did you know you can buy a box of Reynolds “Wrappers”-box of 25 pre-cut foil sheets for $1.00 at Dollar Tree? Perfect size. I know, if you count the amount you get against a regular box of Reynolds foil-it is not a bargain-but if you count that you always need a piece of foil now and this one allows you to just pull it out the box-snappy-well, that is a savings in my book! <br />
Stir before serving, and remember, if you change just one ingredient-you can lay claim to it being YOUR recipe-my new rule! <br />
Reviews: Three out of three thumbs up, and plenty left for another meal. My kind of cooking. <br />
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sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-26822855803111443332013-11-14T15:02:00.001-05:002013-11-14T15:02:42.756-05:00Nightmirth on Williston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nightmare we have all of heard right? We have a dream that is so real and so upsetting that we awake with a startle and remain upset even if we know it was not "real" What do you call it if you have a dream where you are having a fun, mirth filled time that you awaken laughing and can not stop? Well, now we have a word "Nightmirth" and if you live on Williston Road instead of "Elm Street", it is called "Nightmirth on Williston!" And the reason for this new word description? I had a Nightmirth on Williston to beat all others last night! Rare is it for me to sleep soundly through the night, and this year has been a particularly health changeling one-and continues regardless of the steroids and antibiotics poured into me. But, it is what it is, this too shall pass, and whatever feel-good phrases I can talk myself into. I will survive! Hey, that is a good one, song perhaps.............. </div>
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So about this Nightmirth, I dreamt that our Kiwanis Club was doing a live segment on how to make bread-we did a run through, I was to handover a portion of the ingredients from the refrigerator when asked-live on camera. Someone was up front, nervously but efficiently giving the directions and completing the steps for the bread making. Well, just before my cue, I dropped some butter on the floor, slipped and cleaned it up-all off to the side, then I was asked for an EGG (should have know this item would be the precursor to calamity), I dropped the egg and then fell-standing right on screen view. It was one of those slapstick falls-feet up in the air, arms flying for purchase, all to no avail. I got up, plucked another egg out of the safety of the egg tray and proceeded to make my way to the front-but I was laughing so uncontrollably that I could not stop and off it went-laughing enough to destroy the sanctity of the segment being broadcast, falling down laughing, getting louder and louder-then I woke up laughing in the same manner-trying to stuff the noise into my pillow-the sound must have sounded alarming because my SweetHusband also woke up and was worried that I was crying, I could not explain for a time, finally he realized that I was laughing and could not understand why I was out of control with happiness. He was assured that I was ok, and he went back to sleep-and so did I-still laughing into my next sleeping adventure. As soon as I woke up this morning-I started laughing again-silently so as not to put SH into another fright. When he woke up he asked "Do you know what happened last night?" and I starting laughing again-what a wonderful feeling to laugh at the beginning of the day! I am even smiling while I type this. With the health problems causing me to change routines for the next month or so, it is nice to have a rush of positive energy, after all "Laughter is the Best Medicine!"</div>
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sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-69958624966661340182013-08-19T19:58:00.001-04:002013-08-19T19:58:42.140-04:00Seeing the beauty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is goldenrod-a beautiful, bright plant. But to some of us, it is the enemy. It makes me sneeze, cough and feel anything but golden. <br />
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In life there are many things that look beautiful, but the trick is to see them for what they are. And there are things that don't seem so great, but they also have beauty.<br />
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Free time comes to mind. Who would have not wanted a "get up and go do stuff" lifestyle? When I was at my busiest, I sometimes wonder how I had time to work. I have a "way too much unstructured time period" since my knee replacement surgery in June. Due to complications, my exact plan fell to pieces. I did this, that and the other thing to make sure all my bases were covered for care of myself, my Sweet Husband and Sweet Son while I was temporarily in the hospital and home recovering. However, the unexpected happened, I went back into the hospital for another 8 days, then a few weeks later, back in for an overnight stay. <br />
I had assumed that I would need to rely on others for a six week period until I could drive, but this level of care that was required was over the top. My Sweet Daughter was chief chauffeur, shopper, person to lean on, not only for me, but for every possible need my family would have, SH and SS were amazing seeing to me at home. Sweet Sister#1 rescued me in many ways, Sweet Brother#1 was there for me and Sweet Cousin Susan was my medical advocate, and others were there for us-in a myriad of ways. Family members, friends and strangers did the best: they prayed for me. Obviously that worked, here I am rambling.<br />
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So, the free time thing..... Well I have had a need <em>not </em> to do my everyday schedule, or the next day I am a mess! It was a hard lesson, but now the unstructured time has become a necessity.<br />
I have been advised to go slowly, to eat red meat (HA HA HA, do Sahlen's hot dogs count? That is the only red meat we have.) <br />
<br />
I will and we will do fine. I am driving, etc. <br />
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Live is progressing. <br />
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And free time is meant to be used, It is a beautiful thing.<br />
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Because you took the time to read this, here is your reward:<br />
<br />
Click here:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izJyz64Tvdc" target="_blank">Josh singing for you.</a>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-8571422017606496352013-05-02T13:14:00.000-04:002013-05-02T13:14:09.460-04:00Lace-Curtain IrishI have written many times here about my Italian Heritage, especially when reminiscing about SGrandma Viviani.. She and my SMom set the flavor scale at Italian in our house, with a smidge of Polish here and there borrowed from their neighbors where they lived in Pennsylvania.<br />
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My other genetic pieces are a touch of French from my SM's paternal Mother and Irish. Other than my Irish last name, that is as far as it went for me. No influence from that side of the family to ingrain the Gaelic traditions into my soul.<br />
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However..................... I do like me some white lace curtains in my Kitchen. There is no better feeling for me to be washing, ironing and replacing these beauties. I know, ironing is not something I try to do as most of you know, but this is different. As I spray the starch on and glide that very lightweight appliance over the cloth, it is such a pure activity. I think about how difficult it was in years past for me and others, I recently replaced my 43 year-old-made-of- lead- ironing-board-which was covered with at least 10 ironing board covers giving it a nice cushion when you were dragging that oh-so-heavy old-iron over the surfaces. This new one is lightweight, one layer of cover and the newer iron is also very easy to lift and move. I sometimes think I will not have the same end product-a crisp ironed-in crease where the folds go, but you know what? It is what it is, I can see a crease and my bruised hands no longer wish to go for the knife edge effect of the past.<br />
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I am through and through a Lace-Curtain Irish when it comes to my Kitchen! A Lace-Curtain Irish<br />
refers to Irish immigrants who, though living in shanties would hold the head and attitudes high because they would hang nice lace curtains in these hovels-looking respectable from the outside.<br />
There is also a phrase Shanty Irish, this gives those who are are labeled that the reputation of living in squalor. Yikes, no in between? You are either clean or dirty when it comes to judging your housekeeping skills from the old days.<br />
I think I would like to make a new category "Lace-curtain to a degree". That is what I am, no all lace curtains, not squalor, just making my way through the important cleaning and looking up fondly at my blindingly white lace Kitchen curtains when I am feeling overwhelmed with the everyday cleaning chores.<br />
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At 3am last night-don't ask! I was assured that all who were thought to be lost in the throes of deep sleep were, so I decided to wash my kitchen and bathroom curtains. I know, not normal, but who saw me write normal anywhere on my application? I brought them all up from the dryer when they were slightly damp, laid them flat on the back of the couch, smoothing out any threatening wrinkles and knew I could not bring out the ironing board-which squeaks like heck when opening, and drag out the three step ladder needed for replacing the curtain rods. I so wanted to finish the job last might and wake up to the bright curtains-but, that would have been pushing my luck of not awakening anyone. So I washed windows and finished the curtains this morning and now I am a happy "Lace-curtain to a degree" lady. Life is good eh?<br />
sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-9229865891818329562013-04-09T14:50:00.001-04:002013-04-09T14:50:22.733-04:00Too late to say helloI was reading a blog this morning and the question was "Is there anyone you did not have a chance to say goodbye to?"<br />
Of course, it would be Mom.... I think people in a coma can hear, I am convinced of it,so I said all I wanted and needed to say with her in those final hours, but I would so wish I could look into those blue eyes that she allowed me to share and have her acknowledge that I am sending her on her way with love.<br />
I think of her daily and say hello all the time, to her pictures, at the cemetery, when she drops a feather in my path. Thank God I will never have to say goodbye to her again.<br />
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Then of course I would have listed my father, but the tragedy is, we never said hello. Oh of course, I did see him, I have counted up visits as under 10 in my lifetime of 20.5 years that I was alive while he walked the earth. Imagine that, less than a dozen visits from your father. Occasionally the visits lasted a few days while he was "on the wagon" and looking for a place, and my kind-hearted Mom allowed him to stay, and another time, just before my oldest sister's marriage, he stayed with us so that he could "give her away". How generous of Mom to let him have that ritual when he did so little to earn the right.<br />
I always wished that I would have had a father, no a DAD. You know the kind, who cared about you, cherished you and protected you. Unfortunately, I had the kind that I needed protection from.........<br />
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Enough angst from him, he has been dead for 44 years, You can't say goodbye if you never received hello.<br />
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I <br />
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am <br />
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let <br />
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and <br />
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pain <br />
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<br />
me <br />
<br />
in <br />
<br />
so <br />
<br />
many <br />
<br />
ways."<br />
<br />
I <br />
<br />
am <br />
<br />
putting<br />
<br />
<strong>s p a c e</strong><br />
<br />
between <br />
<br />
his<br />
<br />
memory<br />
<br />
and <br />
<br />
my<br />
<br />
heart.<br />
<br />
sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-30325897611959721392013-02-17T13:21:00.000-05:002013-02-17T13:21:24.034-05:00Chili and the Classics<span style="font-size: large;">I love to cook Chili, the aroma as it simmers all day is second only to the smell of the onions and meat sauteing. I can not remember ever having Chili as a child. Maybe we did, but I don't remember eating it at my house or someone else's home, or even at a restaurant, but really, most families of my era very rarely went out to eat a meal. Ice cream, yes!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have made Chili the same way for many years since the early '70's, and then about 15 years ago, I started fussing with it more. Heck, I spelled it wrong until a few years ago-who knew it didn't have an "e" at the end? Apparently, everyone but me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I used to just grab a bunch of cheap hamburger-high fat, one small onion, brown and add tomato products, red kidney beans and packaged seasonings, simmer and done. One time, my SSon's father cut up some potatoes, added them to the pot, and we called it "Willy's Chili", not too bad actually.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I use a small amount of ground turkey or chicken, my favorite meat to use is Chicken Italian Sausage, just push the meat out of the casing for browning-never buy the already cooked version-barf.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I add a teaspoon of cumin to the browned meat, onions, peppers-a variety of colors-and any other seasonings, like red pepper, chili powder or sometimes I use McCormicks Chili seasonings with my cumin. I let the dry seasonings mix with the hot pot contents to release their flavor-I am sure I saw that on the Food Network!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then I add some minced garlic-a big tablespoon, I do not saute' because if you burn that garlic it messes up the flavor of the entire Chili.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Next is a very good quality of canned diced tomatoes, two seasoned chopped tomatoes, veggies like zucchini and water. Now, here is my latest change: I drain and rinse my beans-black, red and white. I just read that the liquid that they are packed in holds all the gas-making properties. Who knew? </span><span style="font-size: large;">I use more and a variety of beans than in past years because they are a healthier protein.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Cover and let simmer for an hour, then uncover to thicken, stirring occasionally, for as long as want.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is mandatory to listen to classical music while making Chili, I just made that up because I am listening to a wonderful CD "TENORS in the Grand Tradition", featuring di Stefano, Corelli, Pavoritti, Bjorling (my SStep-father and my SHusband always discussed the proper way to pronounce this singer's name), Tagliavini, Gedda, Bergonzi, Tucker, Alva and a favorite to pronounce with a "V": Wunderlich.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I love listening to classical music, and am so blessed to have a SH who also enjoys this music. When my first marriage ended, the first thing I did was to buy classical music cds at Bell's Supermarket-they had a different one each week, and the price was really affordable. I have really branched up and out in my collection of classical cds since then, filling two shelves on our music case, but at times I still play one of those life-savers that I first bought. It was not that I was not allowed to play classical in my first marriage, it just caused such complaining that I took the path of least resistance. Who needed that stress........</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When my SSF was in his final years, classical music gave him great comfort, so I made cassette copies of our collections, arias only since he said he did not like classical music pieces. I brought them and a player to his assisted living room, and asked the staff to play them for him when my SMom was not there. The music seemed to calm him greatly. He had Alzheimer's Disease, so his recent memory was not available to him, but he remembered his love of Arias. I hope someone does that for me if needed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Those who know me, know that I have a very diverse taste in music, classical is just one, but it is the one that dive bombs to my soul.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And for putting up with this long post:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-xfaWF4mwY" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Giuseppe DiStefano Puccini, La Fanciulla del West.</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">and this one too:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C3V44gE0OE" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Fritz Wunderlich Lehar Das land des Lachens</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope you have ways to give yourself calm and enjoy what you like.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">xxoo</span><br />
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sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-91193236139812335842012-12-24T14:57:00.002-05:002012-12-24T14:57:26.058-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It seems that I am holding my heart in my hands these days.<br />
There has been sadness in my family, my SCousin lost her husband of over 25 years. She is heart broken with her emotions so close to the surface. How can she get through this? She will, she is a very strong and determined woman, but it will take more time than can be imagined I am sure. I am always thinking of her.<br />
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Then, our country is all in mourning over the tragedy that took the lives of twenty small innocent children and their dedicated-protective teachers. How is this possible that a person had these weapons to do this horrible crime? How is it possible? His mother could see into the future that he was capable of killing her, taking her weapons and then committing such a crime?<br />
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Our hearts are all stressed by this loss of innocence for the fellow surviving classmates, what can they be thinking now, and the parents, oh, all the parents, those whose children were taken from them and those who are washed with gratitude for the safety of their babies. How do your find strength to get through this?<br />
<br />Today, we heard that a town, not far from where a great deal of my family lives had another heinous crime committed, four firefighters were shot while trying to control multiple house fires, two were murdered, two in critical condition, savage coward who killed them is dead also. <br />
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Maybe we need to stop giving these murderers what they want. We need to stop putting their names and pictures all over, they want their 15 minutes, and they will go for it at such a high cost to others. I don't care what they look like, what their name is, where they lived, nothing. I know all I need to know about them, they are savages who do not deserve to be studied at length. And if they are not dead at the scene of the crime, give them a name like Killer 1. for their trial. No pictures, please media of all types, stop giving them what they crave, it is too big a price that our world is paying.<br />
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Peace, Peace, Peace.<br />
sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-79461406821200056412012-11-08T18:23:00.001-05:002012-11-08T18:23:58.051-05:00Living 101...........<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUldMnUL5V-HdAz_53vepe7mN5hrsE4JPuE7NhM7500cxXzznkxfYtNSZK_D9Ir9Va7Xkd30L-rR2oCOc04fBg_tbWZUvzvMfhVH1UcPkmsuefA3Xz8A3OK-GjgcpaX2kBXNsjf1l0rve0/s1600/_facebook_1444937329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUldMnUL5V-HdAz_53vepe7mN5hrsE4JPuE7NhM7500cxXzznkxfYtNSZK_D9Ir9Va7Xkd30L-rR2oCOc04fBg_tbWZUvzvMfhVH1UcPkmsuefA3Xz8A3OK-GjgcpaX2kBXNsjf1l0rve0/s320/_facebook_1444937329.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hi all, I read this wonderful except from a blog today-I can't imagine anyone not finding something to enhance their life. My SNiece posted it on facebook from a blog that she reads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy and love.................................</span><br />
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<a href="http://rachelmariemartin.blogspot.com/2012/11/8-reasons-to-embrace-living-intentional.html?m=1"><span style="font-size: large;">Words of wisdom and grace</span></a>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-65241486900043333652012-10-21T11:54:00.000-04:002012-10-21T11:54:00.014-04:00Borrowed and fractured recipe.I follow a blog written by a serene, thoughtful, intelligent woman. Whenever I need a calm voice, I can read a few of her posts and things seem different. Today, she posted a recipe for Pumpkin Soup! I decided to stop reading and make it. Since I do not have cream in the fridge usually, I needed to add a cream element, so I added a can of cream of celery soup, and then added a cup of vegetable broth. The other change I made was to add some chopped up spinach/arugula at the last moment and to use a tad to top the bowl. My apologies to the originator of the recipe-I am sure her version is so wonderful, but I had to make do with what I had.<br />
Click here for her blog and the recipe, please read down a few posts to get a sense of her calmness and wisdom:<br />
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<a href="http://myjourneytomindfulness.blogspot.com/">my journey to mindfulness</a><br />
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I hope you enjoy the soup, in whatever way you cook the recipe.<br />
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I hope you have a calm element in your life-be it a person, place or thing. Sometimes just driving and seeing how things look at different times of the day are so fulfilling. I was driving at 7:30 with SSon this morning, going past the same place that I took this picture the other evening</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKIxBoFoNv03RtiG8lnnb_ccCeQTRR4TJmJvgjZXhoyx-peikAkaDp8nvtoNyaqMCIu9Csl8l9HaC4AYYInMrAgAHpDUQgYf5IO7X3mkT09f3Bjc9-1CFZatXAUqm87AKxnASVtutnsUm/s1600/2012-10-16_17-20-09_250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKIxBoFoNv03RtiG8lnnb_ccCeQTRR4TJmJvgjZXhoyx-peikAkaDp8nvtoNyaqMCIu9Csl8l9HaC4AYYInMrAgAHpDUQgYf5IO7X3mkT09f3Bjc9-1CFZatXAUqm87AKxnASVtutnsUm/s320/2012-10-16_17-20-09_250.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This morning, there was a light mist floating in the dips in the ground, a small effect, but so pretty. I told SS that it was a piece of a cloud, come down to kiss the earth. He was not so awake, and not so caring about kissing clouds. He was on his way to meet his father, have breakfast and go to cheer on the Buffalo Bills. He would not be having a calm day, but it is the type of day he loves-so maybe the good vibes he gets from his day will be just as strong as if he read this wonderful blog that I referred you to.</div>
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And here is a nice piece to listen to while you eat your soup:</div>
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Sir <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqQRdiS7wmI&feature=fvwrel">James Galway playing just for you!</a></div>
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sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-38395269813000508822012-10-09T15:50:00.001-04:002012-10-09T15:51:10.640-04:00Hello there, still here.<span style="font-size: large;">It seems impossible that I have not posted to my blog in so long. Well, I have written many posts, but only in my head at 2-5am. Instead of sleeping, I am thinking all kinds of things at that time of day-planning my life and everyone else's !</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have not been without time challenges, but maybe my daytime hours for electronic usage are being taken up by WWF (Words With Friends), Facebook, emailing and texting. How much electronic time does a girl have anyway eh? You would think if I am not taking time for blogging that I would have a perfectly organized home which is also spotless, and that every area of my life is fine tuned-HA! Whose blog are you reading my friend?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, so much for explanations, aka excuses. On with a post!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The sunflowers at the top of the page were grown in a field not far from our house. I love the hope I see in sunflower fields, that so much beauty presents in wave after wave for the viewer with a simple planting. I have found out that a field of sunflowers can not be planted in the same area two years in a row-the soil gets poisoned by a fungus which prevents another crop the following year. So, crop rotations is a must.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes when I think about this fact, I wonder how many times I poison my own life by insisting on the same approach to every problem. When faced with a situation, I immediately think, what can I do to fix/change/improve/prevent this. And sometimes I am successful, a problem./event was meant to be fixed. But sometimes things can not be avoided/prevented.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In my personal life, one of my goals is to keep all situations regarding SSon positive. I try to make sure we always have an assortment of batteries in good supply to start with. What you say! How is that important? Well, if you are a very structured, no grey area person like SS, you might need to change your headphone batteries or remote control batteries at any time of the day or night-and if there are no replacements, this is stressful, very stressful. He counts on things to be there and after 41 years of being his Mom, I know the consequences of not being prepared. He can not be talked out of the anxiety that this type of situation </span><span style="font-size: large;">produces. This is not a fault of his or a character defect. This is the way that God made him, and if you were blessed enough to be given him as your son, you need to take good care of him. He is not less because he can not face problems, he is just gloriously different. He has so many wonderful qualities, and is so sympathetic to the need of others, so it all evens out right?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There are many other areas that this same preparedness is needed. This weekend, he caught me though. When he comes home from workshop, he checks the caller ID to see who called. Knowing that, his SStep-Mom calls me on my cell when there is an emergency regarding SS's Dad. I then evaluate the news and whitewash as needed, giving SS guarded info. He caught on that I was telling him info regarding his Dad even though there was no record of an incoming phone call. One smart cookie this guy! He asked why I did that, how I knew about his Dad, so the cell phone ploy was explained. I said I had to evaluate the information and decide what would be best for him to know at that point. He asked why.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hmm, I said sometimes the information could be very worrisome. And he said, "Oh, I see, you want to protect me because you love me." As I have said many times before, w</span><span style="font-size: large;">hat a blessing he is. He did not criticize me for not telling him everything, he just needed it explained. And he repeated this statement many times to me over the next few days-as if to really cement it in his mind I think. Some of you not knowing SS might think this is coddling him, and all I can say is, you do not know him. Not everyone is able to process bad or worrisome news the same way. My way to stop poisoning the ground now is to re-evaluate every aspect of what I say to him, hoping that I don't over correct my approach to SS. I thought I had it worked out, doing the same thing every time, but obviously I did not. Just when you think you have things worked out eh?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So listen,</span> <span style="font-size: large;">other ground poisoning is always happening by me, and recently I have had to evaluate other areas. In an attempt to always be able to produce a piece of paper that backs up some fact, I have saved everything. Filing systems that previously accommodated this practice are so overburdened that finding anything has now becoming difficult, so I have reevaluated and now am purging files. This is scary stuff for me, but jeez, who needs all this. </span><span style="font-size: large;">This practice of unburdening myself of these items is difficult and sometimes seems overwhelming, but once begun, moves along easier. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And an important change I have made in the past year is to pray harder and more often. I would always pray, but not with the conviction that I now know is needed. I have seen miracles happen this past year with prayer. I have also seen outcomes that are God ordained. In the past, I prayed for someone to get better, than if they didn't, I thought my prayers were not answered. I now pray for those in the intention to have the strength needed to get through a situation, or to bring peace to an inevitable outcome. That way, I am not poisoning the field by wrongly demanding things my way. Maybe just a little more strength is what a caretaker needs to get through a day, and maybe my prayer is just enough to help. Why not? What is to be lost? I think praying this way is not lowering my expectations, it is being more realistic that sometimes the outcome is not what I choose, but rather, "it is what it is", and my prayers just might be helpful to accept the outcome. This is a major leap of faith for me, and for someone who is a person who needs to control situations, this policy of turning over thoughts, and just being in the moment of things during prayer is a giant leap of faith. After all, if you can't dictate the outcome, you are grateful for any outcome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I need to tell you about a very inspiring situation. This past week, my dear SCousin lost her SHusband after a very difficult 18 + month struggle with serious health issues. She is probably the strongest woman I know right now-she did not try to pretend that the situation was not serious, she used her faith to cope with it as it happened. She supported him and gave it her all with her magnificent way of organizing the medical aspects, and she gave him a funeral that celebrated his life. She was able to do this because she had Faith. Faith that she was doing exactly what he and her family needed, never despairing that this was happening, never saying "Why me, why us?", just going on, surgery after surgery, appointment after appointment, supporting the needs of her SHusband, SSons and her SMom. And when it came to it's unfortunate conclusion, she was able to say, I am at Peace with my choices. <strong> That</strong> is not poisoning the field by giving up and giving in, by being surprised by changes in the situation, <strong>that </strong>is doing what is needed at the time that it was needed. And you can't do that if you have preplanned how a situation will be. She would have done anything to sit on the beach together when they were in their nineties, but instead, she enjoyed their time on the beach this year. With much admiration, I give you their song: "Longer Than" by Dan Fogelberg</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrDcZA08_Ek">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrDcZA08_Ek</a>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-14257175516899830672012-07-30T14:58:00.000-04:002012-07-30T14:58:19.459-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HkzJmBLAnLy222p4VQDkw_GVo4UR0kVUq1wsG5H8u4YDJG_oY6HGhWujv-0ffevDHMh1cDGG1P9jJi65plPgNEUDlN3NntNnc8keWBJauYk-6MjfNQ-dbG6W_wO6zAu-ARmmiJYeaQH3/s1600/217860_498097496870846_1970019987_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HkzJmBLAnLy222p4VQDkw_GVo4UR0kVUq1wsG5H8u4YDJG_oY6HGhWujv-0ffevDHMh1cDGG1P9jJi65plPgNEUDlN3NntNnc8keWBJauYk-6MjfNQ-dbG6W_wO6zAu-ARmmiJYeaQH3/s400/217860_498097496870846_1970019987_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This is a photograph that I call: SBrother#2's backyard! He has worked very hard, and is blessed enough to live on the waterfront. We are all "water people". We love being around water, it seems to complete us and calm us. Some people might say this is nonsense, but not us, seeing the waves, the colors that are reflected by the sky and the surrondings, all add up to a perfect setting for the sibs. And speaking of the sibs, here are 4 of the 5, the same day that the above picture was captured:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLpIh6OzatUwP84mZ5h3XiL8UaxOCVHST5ijwBkxiGV1w2XUyYYEVOdFegLcuztY-L5CADRFfT_582Xrcm3jix4505fb8nr52gX6B700xtV8ZZIyClzlBDgQLV2bYEM7OSQq1o7s5qiyF/s1600/582167_498126433534619_1710949630_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLpIh6OzatUwP84mZ5h3XiL8UaxOCVHST5ijwBkxiGV1w2XUyYYEVOdFegLcuztY-L5CADRFfT_582Xrcm3jix4505fb8nr52gX6B700xtV8ZZIyClzlBDgQLV2bYEM7OSQq1o7s5qiyF/s400/582167_498126433534619_1710949630_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
We just so appreciate time spent together, never as often as we would like. Also attending were our significant others, and that word significant is so mild compared to the contribution that they have each made to our family. We would not be the same without all of their love, humor and support.<br />
In the photograph, SSister#1 is on left, SBrother#1, SBrother#2, then me. We lined up, red hair, grey, red, grey. How clever we are! That little wee glow of light in the bottom center of the photograph is the birthday cake for SB#1. SSister#2 is out of state, or she would be have been smack in the middle of this picture, another red head! In the old days, we had three red heads, one curly black hair, and one mousy brown, that was most often highlighted to bring some color to my face. SMatka was born blonde, turned mousy brown, and then spent the next six decades with various shades of red hair. After about eighty years old, she went to that champagne color that looks so nice on women of a certain age. But, really, the back of her hair was still mostly brown.<br />
My SGrandma Viviani had mostly grey hair as long as I can remember, and she wore it in a long braid, that she twirled around her head during the day, with the braid hanging down at bedtime. One time, for SS#1s wedding, my SMatka had it cut and permed-oh baby, that was not well received by SGV. I can not describe how the fire came out of her eyes when she was displeased-we called it the "Mal Occhio", evil eye. I must confess, I had this ability to a certain degree. I have tempered my use of this over the years, or maybe trying to be less judgemental as I age to perfection, I tend to not need it as much?<br />
So, my, hairy essay is complete, except, wait, I have a SFriend who having completed chemotherapy, now has a spankin' new crop of hair, it is grey, wavy and adorable, you know one of those hairstyles that you might pay a mint to try to get at the beauticians? A silver lining as it were.<br />
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In celebration of the topic of hair:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBIfWt3uiZ8">Hair song from HAIR musical.</a><br />
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<br />sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-21468879020553960162012-06-23T00:30:00.000-04:002012-06-23T00:30:51.429-04:00Hubie, The World's Strongest Man!THE WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN<br />
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When most people hear this phrase, they might automatically think of a younger Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Sylvester Stallone, or even if they are of a certain age (read: me), they might think of Charles Atlas. But not me, I think of Hubert (Hubie) Kutter, my Sweet Husband, or as I refer to him on my blog “SH”. <br />
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He displays an admirable amount of strength everyday. He was born on Easter Sunday, and lived a happy life until he was exposed to polio at the age of 20 months in 1943. He spent the next six months in Buffalo Children’s Hospital, a quick, dramatic shift from a loving home surrounded by his parents and older protective sister to a large room with no familiar faces and everyone wearing white and poking at him. <br />
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His family would visit whenever possible, but having the responsibility of running a cheese factory did not allow for daily visits. Often on the way home from visiting her cherished son, his Mother would stop at Our Lady Help of Christians Church to say special prayers for her sweet baby.<br />
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Once he was allowed to return home, he started the “Sister Kenney treatment” of leg strengthening and stretching at an out-patient clinic held in a building adjacent to the Roycroft Inn, in East Aurora. Nurse Dorothy Shaw tried to bring back the muscles with difficult -to-do<br />
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muscle-limbering exercises, and standing on a boot jack which was a slanted board intended to stretch the Achilles area of his heel. <br />
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Then, all treatments were completed-all that could be done was, and he went on with his life, never having braces or using a cane or other piece of adaptive equipment. He just pushed through his permanent deficits, never complaining, never asking for excuse from any activity. He played first base for baseball games, using his great reach and a firmly planted foot to make the plays. He went to school, using the steps like everyone else. He went to the University of Buffalo, forgoing his desire to become a Pharmacist, knowing of the standing involved. He graduated with degrees in math and science and soon began his career as a computer programmer at Calspan Corporation. This was a “sit down” job, which made his caring Mother happy. There was no sign of deficit as the years of his life of collecting geological specimens (I call them all generic rocks) and pharmacy bottles and books and the detritus of estate sales continued.<br />
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He was always just pushing through, doing anything that he wanted, never stopping to think before he carried or lifted or moved anything or walked the aisles of the Clarence Flea Market weekly. One of his stops there was always for a few pies and cinnamon rolls from a friendly vendor, just enough to get him through the week, paying homage to his sweet tooth.<br />
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When he turned fifty years old, he had more than just the usual “getting old” fatigue. He had a gradual weakness, including in areas that were not initially thought to be harmed by the savagery of Polio. This weakness now was affecting his life and choices. He was pushed to see specialists by me, even though he thought “it” was nothing. He even had a mis-diagnosis that was similar to Polio, but not the same. Similar sometimes is an expensive word, in this case he was urged to “use it or lose it”, exercise on stationary bikes and at home were the suggestions of a kind-hearted specialist. The use of a cane began, with much resistance, then a cane with a seat folded away, a “quad” cane was next used for stability, all were heart-breaking to the man who always just used his internal strength to push through. As additional specialists were involved, the accurate diagnosis was ascertained: “Post-Polio Syndrome”. What was this? Why now after so many years? How can it be reversed? The progression was like a speeding train, as the symptoms appeared to be charging forward. All muscles are now used up, those that were permanently harmed by polio, those that weren’t, and those that were slightly affected. Some specialists theorize that Polio actually harms all the muscles, but only some show permanent damage. It would appear that SH can attest to that theory. Exercise was now known to be harmful to the life a muscle still has left. But, one other thing was never affected by this disease that caused the death and paralysis of many, the strength that beamed out from SH’s spirit. He never complains if he can no longer do what he used to be able to, he never asks anyone to do anything for him and he never allows the “poor me” mind-set to take root in his being. <br />
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He has lived in the same house his entire life, and as the occupant has changed, it has also, it now has the adornment of grab-bars and ramps.<br />
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SH is now in a motorized wheelchair, and his comment after using it for a day was “this is great, I feel like I have a new set of young, strong legs!”. <br />
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There has been a learning-curve with the chair, it has lift bars protruding from it to allow me to place it in our car, and as he glides around the house, these bars sometimes leave little <br />
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calling- card gouges on the door frames, in the same places where his tricycle left marks when he was but a small child learning how to get around-and a loving Mother allowed him to scoot around, smiling at him as he flew through the doorways. <br />
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He will have more changes in his future, but now he knows there are devices available to help him, not to fight so hard to avoid them, but use them to meet his life-goals. His medical team has given him the wind under his sails, keeping him afloat with their knowledge and caring.<br />
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It shows strength to do what is needed, rather than to cover your head with a pillow waiting for challenges to decide how they will treat you.<br />
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I wonder if there is a way to get his picture on a “Wheaties” Box-for he surely is the World’s Strongest Man!<br />
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Additional information: Hubie continues to work as the Marilla Town Historian, a position he has held for the past 17 years, and now the use of email provides him with the ability to answer questions about Marilla history or genealogy thru emails. He is currently co-authoring a pictorial book about the town of Marilla starting with the 1850's. He has been a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Marilla, and is still active in the club as his health permits. He is an amateur geologist, he daily reads and examines specimens which he has purchased on the Internet. His main job description however is to provide a perch on his chest for the family cat when Hubie takes his naps.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iTwKaiKdAuJWmAz2XWCdeWLoKIlz4vZ2lIZHIA2pQTJ8cQfbrn1uGTQLiQVdzDs2y1ijls9XuSgCqf-L0mr9UVSucXtP8kWI6loqn0093PGc7yLfP-1ut0_G_EiCqJXk8V2f0nVl6Mmq/s1600/2011-10-27_13-00-11_551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iTwKaiKdAuJWmAz2XWCdeWLoKIlz4vZ2lIZHIA2pQTJ8cQfbrn1uGTQLiQVdzDs2y1ijls9XuSgCqf-L0mr9UVSucXtP8kWI6loqn0093PGc7yLfP-1ut0_G_EiCqJXk8V2f0nVl6Mmq/s320/2011-10-27_13-00-11_551.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-62844019813361885782012-05-19T10:41:00.000-04:002012-05-19T10:41:01.620-04:00"Grief is not a medical condition."Today there was an editorial in the Buffalo news by Froma Harrop. I have never read any of her pieces, but the title grabbed me by the eyeballs, pulling me there. It discussed the fact that GRIEF is something that Psychiatrists were going to put into a category of mental conditions treatable with medications, etc., and calling it an adjustment DISORDER. The author makes it perfectly clear that it is not a disorder, but a necessary passage that only gets worse by medicating and trying to cover up the feelings with the latest drugs.<br />
WOW, truer words were never spoken. In my opinion: Grief can not be ignored, putting a strong face out there, and pretending that you are not torn into pieces inside. Grief is an accumulation of minutia that together are overwhelming at times, and there is no strong face large enough to hide this state of the heart.<br />
One needs to be allowed to express grief, and the way that we do it is the way WE do it. No Doc should be able to say, take this pill, you will be fine in 3.4 weeks. <br />
However long it takes and in whatever way we personally need to grieve, that is what it is. <br />
I found this article to be so freeing, and so important to look at how other cultures, times, worked through grief. I used to think the wearing of black for the grieved was just an outward badge of "poor me", but now I see it was a tool that some used to come to grips with reality. <br />
Here is the piece, she did a much better job than I of pulling the info together, but my piece of advice, do what you gotta do, and don't feel like you need to meet other's expectations of how to grieve. <br />
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And the reason for this post: Happy Mother's Day Mom. XXOO</div>
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Click here for love:</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPvAQxZsgpQ">Pavarotti singing Ave Maria</a></div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-72510799351145298092012-04-30T01:01:00.000-04:002012-04-30T01:01:36.838-04:00Hey, what the heck??Clearly, I have not been faithful enough to this blog. Not having signed on too much lately, I must have totally missed the "changes are coming" announcements. I was reading another blogger tonight and she was having lots to say about the changes, and I thought I would go see what was happenin'. Well, Silly me, this thing is like starting new, no welcome picture for me, no just click on this and that would happen. Heck, I don't even know if this mess that I am typing will be visible by anyone but me, and truly, even if I will ever be able to see it again. What displays most prominently are the new blog posts of those blogs that I follow-jumping right out on my screen. But, the ability to do a regular post-not so easy to accomplish. I wish I was like this:<br />
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This is SGrandson and SCat, just hanging, no trying to teach an old dog new tricks. Bleh, I am just now thinking that the facebook timeline is not too bad, and I can work around a challenge, and then this? Hey, what am I whining about? So many others have it so hard-why they don't even have a droid! Buck up woman. </div>
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Deep breath, into new mindset.................ohm........ohm....... (what does that chanting ohm mean? "Oh! Holy mackerel?")</div>
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Now, I hope you have had many good days recently SReaders. I have had a plethora of choices about my days, but mostly I am sad to say that the list of those we pray for has unfortunately gotten much longer. Is it because as I get older, so do my family and friends, hence the possibility of them getting ill gets higher? I just can't imagine what it must be like in Third World Countries where the health care system is little or none, and families need to watch others get sick with no hope of them getting better. What about those families in Africa that have seen an entire generation of sons and daughters succumb to AIDS? How can they manage to keep going? Is it because they have never had better health care, so they have not seen successful recoveries? Maybe, or maybe they go on because what choice is there? Others go on, so they shall too. I envy their strength. And I pray for the illness and suffering of those whom I have never met, and those who have no one to pray for them. I have become such a proponent of prayer in the last few years. Before I prayed because I hoped that it would do some good, now I pray because I know it does some good. And one thing that I have discovered, I can not pray for such specific things. I now pray for strength of those who are ill to tolerate treatments, to give the medical caretakers compassion and wisdom, and for those who are the caretakers to be able to have the strength to carry on. Tonight, I will pray for you SReader, just because.</div>
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</div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-6184278552905971822012-03-24T14:26:00.000-04:002012-03-24T14:26:15.200-04:00Back in the Saddle Again<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuX28N2ckk0">BACK IN THE SADDLE by Gene Autry</a><br />
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Click above and you can see what I am singing in my head, here is the first verse:<br />
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I'm back in the saddle again<br />
Out where a friend is a friend<br />
Where the longhorn cattle feed<br />
On the lowly gypsum weed<br />
Back in the saddle again<br />
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Thanks for checking in, and the picture on my header is my looking-forward all-year-to seeing-it-bloom Magnolia Tree. We have had early, high, record breaking temps here, buds are budding, grass is greening, but they say we might get a bit of seasonal weather soon, so these Magnolia buds might not make it to open fully, I am enjoying them now, can not plan on tomorrow right?<br />
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(Just a reminder, when I put the letter"S" in front of a noun, it means SWEET is added to their title. EX: SH means SweetHusband)<br />
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You might be wondering why I was not blogging, when you know how much I like to do this stuff! Well, here it is: blah, blah, herniated disc, blah blah, facada kidney stone, blah, blah, are you kidding me, another stone???? blah, blah, now this is way too much, a third stone?, blah, blah, helping SHusband and a SFriend to write a book on deadline, blah, blah, Kiwanis activities and makeup work to do for same, see above which put me so far behind, raking leaves, cleaning flower beds, blah, blah, wind knocked out of me due to a SFriend's major health problems-it seemed so trivial to blog about nothing at the time.<br />
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Is is possible to miss people that I have never met? Is it possible to think that maybe they missed my musings? Is it possible to forget how much I received back from you and how much I enjoyed sharing? Yes to all "for my part" as my SGrandma Julia Viviani used to say.<br />
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Speaking of SGV, I had lunch with SSister#1, SCousin and her Mom, SAunt yesterday. We celebrated SC's brithday, and also since we call ourselves "Julia's Girls", we celebrated SGV's March birthday also. SA, who is the keeper of all knowledge on the family due to her incredible memory, sat there and talked about the times of her youth, and because SGV told her so many details of the time before SA's birth and when she was a little girl, we really got to hear some lovely details of the days of Wine and Roses. A formal parlor with glass french doors, used only when company was invited in, a Victrola playing Caruso records, people dancing, cookies and wine being served. Can you visualize it? I can, seems incredible that those were the times that my SMom grew up in. SA also described the necessary chores that my SGV was required to do, including animal cleaning and dressing for meals, sausage making, pasta and bread making, and always serving whatever men needed to be fed or cleaned up after in this Italian home. These magical dancing times were not so much fun for SGV. <br />
Did you ever want to go back in time? Something that I have always thought about, seeing what certain areas in town looked like when all the buildings were new and spending time with loved ones and asking them all the things that I wonder about now. I have no doubt that my time would include SGV, and then I could also visit with SMom. What a blessing that would be-her absence at the lunch table yesterday was so heavy for me-how could we talk about the past and not have her laugh and say..................sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-40985377578407763472012-01-01T18:34:00.000-05:002012-01-01T18:34:42.921-05:00A big fat lie for the New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVq62vc66gg/TwDd7QPuhDI/AAAAAAAAB58/29oM6HJv1gs/s1600/2011-12-28_13-05-18_789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVq62vc66gg/TwDd7QPuhDI/AAAAAAAAB58/29oM6HJv1gs/s400/2011-12-28_13-05-18_789.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>Can you see the writing on this decoration? It says "Let it Snow". This picture is a big fat lie for the New Year of 2012. Yes, it is cute, but no, not one person in this humble abode want snow! Not a flake, not a Lake Effect Snow, notta nothing. This guy, SSon has to do the snow blowing and shoveling and throwing ice melter thingys. SHusband and I have to drive in the stuff, and as the wonderful saying goes "been there, done that".<br />
But, I am not totally heartless, it would be okay if it snowed at all the ski resorts, outdoor festivals, and where ever little tykes like to play in the snow-but please, respect my boundaries, snow on the streets, driveways or roofs is not permissible. Thank you for your participation in advance.<br />
I have the most wonderful family. I was ordered to do nothing for a week because of an aggravation to my back. "Nothing" can be interpreted many ways, so in order that their message was clear it had these words following the word NO: standing, stairs, carrying, bending, stretching, pulling, pushing, lifting. Then to top it off, they gave me Prednisone, which of course reeves you up, so it makes you want to do all those things that they said no to. Conundrum or what? Well, I tried doing just a bit, bending over to pick a book to read-yikes, were they right! Now I am a good patient because I want this to be better.<br />
My SFriend brought me soup and she did not even know I had messed up my back! Talk about ESP. SDaughter drove me to the doctor appointment, then did errands.<br />
The next day she brought in reinforcements, her SFIANCE (I love saying that), my SGrandson, groceries to cook a bizillion meals, and they even did the dishes that they used, took out the garbage, got the mail, more errands in town that I thought for sure I would be able to do, and gave us so much kindness. SS was driven by SD to the hospital to visit their father, he is still struggling with his health. <br />
SHusband has been doing ALL THE DISHES since Tuesday when this thing reared it's ugly head non-stop. And he even made our bed. What a keeper!<br />
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Now, here is our first time together SReaders for our blessing of another year, 2012. I am not in step with those who think that calendars from a extinct culture is telling us that all is over in 2012. It will be over when it happens, and we can not live for today fully if we have one eye trained on the calendar.<br />
Remember:<br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So listen, Today I planted our Amaryllis. I am not telling you what color she will be, but we have named her "Marilla". We live in the town of Marilla, it almost, kinda, maybe rhymes with Amaryllis, so SH immediately blurted it out, and when something is perfect, you just don't mess with it.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here she is in front with her neighbors, they all welcomed her warmly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqpdEeVHPY0/TwDi3OUgdxI/AAAAAAAAB6U/JQ47UZ-v0Rc/s1600/2012-01-01_16-46-13_912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqpdEeVHPY0/TwDi3OUgdxI/AAAAAAAAB6U/JQ47UZ-v0Rc/s320/2012-01-01_16-46-13_912.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My only concern is that she had already started to grow when I took her out of the box. We shall see if this matters.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3BBQuKIsMc/TwDjT4cRZqI/AAAAAAAAB6o/I6TWmk6f5HY/s1600/2012-01-01_16-46-27_47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3BBQuKIsMc/TwDjT4cRZqI/AAAAAAAAB6o/I6TWmk6f5HY/s320/2012-01-01_16-46-27_47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">OK, next topic is the most important one. Many dear friends and family members are really facing difficult medical conditions right now, I ask you to please take the time to read this, it was sent by a SFriend, and it struck me as being important writing.</div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and email buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubt, release a renewed confidence through </span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Your grace, In Jesus precious name. Amen. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="color: black;">Thank you for your kindness in reading my blog.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is your reward, click here:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKHaIjCW3uo&feature=related">Angel Standing By, Jewel singing</a></div></div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-47030864890899450452011-12-24T18:42:00.000-05:002011-12-24T18:42:55.676-05:00Prayer answered<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A prayer answered for me, and here it is:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifsQ1a38pAo/TvZfLErscOI/AAAAAAAAB5k/jFJgEYKAFvY/s1600/2011-12-17_21-06-09_97.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifsQ1a38pAo/TvZfLErscOI/AAAAAAAAB5k/jFJgEYKAFvY/s400/2011-12-17_21-06-09_97.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Yes, my precious daughter is engaged to a Mother's Dream! They came over and she burst in the door saying "John asked me to marry him!" and showed me the ring. Tears all around-mostly me I must admit. Hugs, kisses for and from everyone. We talked and smiled and were and are so happy. Then we had a toast,with the good Crystal! SSon shook his hand and said congratulations. SHusband actually had a sip of wine to commemorate such a wonderful event.</div>Many phone calls were made, first to her father and step-mother, then to her Godmother-my SSister#1.<br />
She is a different person since knowing him, he supports her and brings out the best in her. He is very kind to our SGrandson, and gives him stability and care and most importantly guidance.<br />
And I know she is good for him, they are a match!<br />
During the week, I bought them some nice glasses for an engagement present, now they can toast more important times in their lives together.<br />
SGS thinks he is going on the honeymoon! I set him straight, and hoped that he would be here with me that week win-win!<br />
And, here is the clincher: As they were driving over, they both saw a shooting star! <br />
We immediately knew who sent that, so the Missing Matka tears were unleashed. Matka knew John and really loved him and was happy for Meg then, imagine now! She had to send that message right?<br />
<br />
And from a website devoted to sky sightings:<br />
<br />
"J. Natti (not verified) on Sat, 17/12/2011 - 21:55 <br />
<br />
Meteor? <br />
Standing looking into the east - south east (114*). Standing approximately 20 ft away from a 15foot house. At about 35-40* off the horizon (over the house) appeared a reddish green (maybe fire) extremely large shooting star looking ?. It traveled faster than anything I have ever seen before in my life. It traveled in a straight line. It crossed the better part of the sky (from approximately 40* in the east to 35* in the west) in a matter of 3.5-4 seconds. I am assuming it was a meteor, but not sure as I have never seen anything like this in my life. My location is in western Kentucky, town of Madisonville, USA. The sighting was at 12:45 am cst. on December 17th 2011."<br />
<br />
So there, Matka sent it that day-no doubt.<br />
<br />
And here is their song, click here:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6DHMIxUHLw&feature=related">Blood, Sweat and Tears, "You make me so very Happy"</a>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-19063563257643639312011-12-10T12:44:00.000-05:002011-12-10T12:44:36.825-05:00Letting go is really receiving.Letting go is really receiving a gift to you.<br />
This morning, in our Buffalo News morning paper, a columnist that I always read, Lisa Earle McLeod posted this essay (If you double click on it, the entire article will appear):<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWssciEKIMFa7A94Q6k7d4j9-xnmGJ8msqVPmXBA52z-sHrkg6QsfsEb7KMGrRc1JMaOuqf3Lik71pYT3y-m0491YjPEvd94K6fF5B3ilFVBJ8KmetDBB4t2HpgMzgc6gIHMTvzn-87j3/s1600/img004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWssciEKIMFa7A94Q6k7d4j9-xnmGJ8msqVPmXBA52z-sHrkg6QsfsEb7KMGrRc1JMaOuqf3Lik71pYT3y-m0491YjPEvd94K6fF5B3ilFVBJ8KmetDBB4t2HpgMzgc6gIHMTvzn-87j3/s640/img004.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">(If you click on it, the entire article will appear)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I always find her writings helpful as I try to look for ways to grow. Today's commentary was a humdinger for me. Having just celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, let me show you how this philosophy worked for me:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I started making soup a few years ago, pumpkin or squash, I was pretty happy with the way it tasted and others agreed with me (being polite or actually liking it-who knows, but their grace showed through with their positive comments about the soup).</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Then last year, SSon-in-law suggested that he could bring the soup-he is a wonderful natural cook, so I knew it would taste fantastic, but that soup was my 'new thing". I thought about it and realized that it would be more important for him to bring the soup than for me to make it, so I agreed that he would make the soup. IT WAS SUBLIME! And guess what? It took a long time to make, and I no longer had to work that in the schedule of my tasks to do. Letting go is receiving! This year and for all future years, he is the soup guy.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, I like to say that I make a mean stuffing/dressing for Thanksgiving, I use a bizillion types of bread, use some techniques that SMatka taught me, and every year I would throw in a different new ingredient-Jimmy Dean sausage in the full fat hey days, sliced water chestnuts in my vegetarian days, dried cranberries when they first came out, you name, it had a turn in my stuffing (escept of course for those dark things in that nasty bag that comes inside a turkey if you buy a whole turkey-they are three words DIS-GUS-TING.) Then, one year, many years ago, SDaughter raved about her SStepmother's stuffing, so knowing that it is better to give in to let someone else make their speciality, she was then crowned the Queen of Stuffing, and no Thanksgiving would be the same without her tasty offering. Another time consuming job that I would not need to do, win-win, Letting go is really receiving. And it is good, very good.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, we are very fortunate that my SSister#1 and her SHusband are able to attend our Thanksgiving Dinner, sometimes family lives too far apart to manage this. One of SS#1's many specialities is a squash-apple casserole-no marshmallows, just lots of flavor and love put into this dish. I immediately knew that when she started attending that this was the only squash we could have. She loves to make it and I love to have her make it.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is her recipe:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">BAKED SQUASH AND APPLE CASSEROLE<br />
1 small butternut squash (2 pounds or less)</div>2 apples (cored, peeled and sliced)<br />
1/2 cup brown sugar<br />
1/4 cup cold butter or margarine<br />
1 tablespoon flour<br />
1 teaspoon salt<br />
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon<br />
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg<br />
1. Pare, seed, and cut squash into small slices.<br />
2. Place squash and apple slices in sprayed oblong baking dish (7x11 inches).<br />
3. Blend rest of ingredients with fork, fingers or pastry cutter until crumbly.<br />
4. Distribute over squash and apple. Prepare to here until ready to bake.<br />
5. Cover and bake. temperature: 350 degrees time: 45 to 50 minutes<br />
yield: 6 to 8 servings double this for company!<br />
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My point, if I could make it is this, the advice that Ms. McLeod makes is so what! So what if you have more than one person who can make something great, it is all about making someone feel included, accepted into the family or group. Just a little give-it-up from one person allows others to feel a part of the group. No one likes to be on the outside as others shine, there is enough shine to go around, so the next time someone new to a group offers a suggestion, never say, no thanks, our way is better-even though your choice of words may be different, the message will come out the same way-and it will hurt to the quick, no matter how much you smile when you say it.<br />
I have said "you" a lot, but really I am absolutely including myself in this advice, we always need a reminder on how to avoid hurting someone when it is something that can be avoided. So, letting go is really receiving, try it, you and someone you love will like it.<br />
And because you hung in there and read this long post, here is your reward:<br />
click here:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydfH7iuLR0I&feature=related">All you need is love.</a><br />
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</div>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-72504211109779804352011-12-04T13:17:00.000-05:002011-12-04T13:17:47.418-05:00A pinch in time...When we five sibs were young, we attended church with SMatka (Sweet Matka) and sometimes SGrandma Viviani. And sometimes we were restless, distracting, noisy and embarrassing. I don't know if this technique was needed for SSister#1 or SBrother#1, they seemed better able to behave than the other three of us.<br />
So SMatka used a time-honored technique-she pinched us under our upper arm. It was quick, painful, and got the job done. You never saw better behaved, quiet children-EVER! One of those pinches or the evil-eye look that said a pinch was next did the trick. Something so painful was to be avoided at all cost.<br />
The other day, when I went to "check the flowers", which is my euphemism for going to the cemetery, I discovered that pulling up to that grave site is also a "pinch". It has the same effect every time, a quick onset of pain, generated by SMatka. I don't stay long, I check to see that the wind has not picked up the flowers and tossed them onto a neighbor's territory, or if the weather is not good, I actually stay in the car. I make sure the music is turned off because too many times, what is playing makes it worse.<br />
If anyone is in the car with me, the visit is even shorter. <br />
<br />
To paraphrase: "Better to have loved and lost, than to never have been pinched at all."<br />
<br />
Hope you enjoy this song, click here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK5VulNn3so&feature=related">The Prayer</a>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-57303500984024953232011-11-29T09:49:00.000-05:002011-11-29T09:49:41.283-05:00Listening is so rewarding.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5OkRUd0WawINqQu7eSbAkXxV5oxdvea_21ekhu9kwMEZuR8ngQPFRt_x45ZXbuiuoL6JucqKJnj-PPBy9-VKyHRtHFI_OzVGTUjsCoZXnlVRe0dgQC7pqBb0FpEtTrHkAyPj5tdFv4LJ/s1600/IMG_0293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5OkRUd0WawINqQu7eSbAkXxV5oxdvea_21ekhu9kwMEZuR8ngQPFRt_x45ZXbuiuoL6JucqKJnj-PPBy9-VKyHRtHFI_OzVGTUjsCoZXnlVRe0dgQC7pqBb0FpEtTrHkAyPj5tdFv4LJ/s640/IMG_0293.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This Lady is listening intently to her companion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Tonight I received a telephone call from a fairly new friend-we have known each other about 8 years. She is 93, and as they say "sharp as a tack!". She volunteered to do an ongoing service project of sewing comfort dolls for children that are donated to hospitals, ambulance services, etc. And we have delighted in each other's company-I hope just as much for her as for me. We have visited in each other's homes, talked on the phone, and I always have her on my card list. Tonight when she called to thank me for the Thanksgiving card (isn't that a sweet thing to do?), we started talking about homes that she has lived in during her time in this town. At one point when she was a young Mother, now remember, she is 93, so this would be at least 65 years ago, well, the economy was even more difficult for workers than it is now. She moved from place to place with her husband and 4 kids, renting very small places, and making it work.<br />
At one point, they were able to buy a small parcel of land, and her husband put up a basement and upper shell of the house. Unfortunately, that is the extent of what he was able to build. For the next 4 years-the entire family lived in the basement. Even though she and her husband were working hard, times were difficult. Her son had a serious accident, in leg traction for an extended period. No one had health insurance then, so the medical bills were all paid by the patient/family. They became so in debt, they had to sell there house the year after the upstairs was finished-and the selling price was $6,500. That house is still standing, and being used as a parsonage for one of the town churches. <br />
The little family then moved to the back apartment of another home, where they rented a very small space. Another move led them to rent a "magnificent in size" home, where she didn't even mind that she had almost no furniture- it was such a joy to be able to move around in the house, for her children to have room to run. And this dream home? It rented for $75. a month. <br />
My SFriend told all of this without an ounce of bitterness or sadness, just stating what she and so many others went though in their lifetime. I think she spends 99% of her time serving and doing for others, because as she said to me on the telephone call she first made to me after reading a newspaper article that I placed asking for volunteers to make these dolls "I told the Lord that when my husband died in 1983, I was so heartbroken and he would need to keep me busy helping others so I wouldn't be so sad".<br />
My life is enriched daily by listening to others. Sometimes, I am the world's worst at listening, other times, I am more focused. I once heard it said that in order to learn you need to first be quiet and listen-now I know how true that is.<br />
Thanks for listening SFriends.sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-68883545476658392052011-11-25T21:54:00.000-05:002011-11-25T21:54:26.932-05:00Quietly we go today.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6e5b8gg0TbudSJpDN3p3BUuHaMpKAVx7fJEsoKJZmV0wSdJLS814MK6qLHO7THJsHW28yJnr_0h5EslyzIr0rPv4bCWcb45GoLcsIiB5euHnUzIIEY3Rf37Z1bhVcSIgRS5sQG8WaGOTW/s1600/2011-06-16_08-59-13_915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6e5b8gg0TbudSJpDN3p3BUuHaMpKAVx7fJEsoKJZmV0wSdJLS814MK6qLHO7THJsHW28yJnr_0h5EslyzIr0rPv4bCWcb45GoLcsIiB5euHnUzIIEY3Rf37Z1bhVcSIgRS5sQG8WaGOTW/s400/2011-06-16_08-59-13_915.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Quietly we go today, just like our SCat Boo-Boo Marie looks in this photo. Up to today, I have been busy, but not on my blog as you may have gleaned! And I coulda' if I wanted to, but my brain has been in a different mode recently. <br />
We are busy with some important medical appointments for SHusband that for now take up a lot of time for learning and doing, but will all settle down in a week or so. His health is good, just needed some "how to's" for making life easier for him.<br />
We had a lovely day yesterday on Thanksgiving-family here, they all did and brought so much. And put this in SH's babybook-he did not finish his dessert! He was very anxious to have dessert immediately after that humongous feast, but his hard drive was miswired, and he just could not complete his appointed task! I am thinking too hard now, just spit out the words eh?<br />
I never used to end a sentence-statement with eh? until a SFriend wrote that way-I thought it really made sense to add that, and so I stole it from her. I was very close to her, but she moved away, and felt it was a burden to her friends to have them continue their relationship with her, long-distance phone charges, stamps, etc. After going 'round and 'round, with her about how we really wanted to keep our friendship going, it was not a problem, etc., one day she sent us a card which stated that she knew we would respect her wishes and stop all correspondence with her. It was heart-breaking for me-she did not make friends easily-she was afraid of being hurt I think, but we were really close. When she asked this of other friends, I felt badly that she was narrowing her exposure to other people, then it happened to us, and I wonder if she knew how much it hurt me? Maybe she valued our friendship less than I did, I will never know.<br />
So, back to my post.<br />
My SFamily washed and dried the Thanksgiving dishes for me yesterday, I always argue, plead and request that I do my own dishes, they are my guests, and I like to rehash the day, but they always persist. I decided that this year, I was not going to have any conflicts, so I said sure, and away they went, and then the cleaning up and dividing, packing-period of serving a large meal began, and they did that too! I have to tell you around 5pm last night, after they left, it was my aching old body that reminded me that thanks to all of them, I had minimal work to do. Thank you all dear ones.<br />
And now I am back-flipping to the day before Thanksgiving, SSon did not have to work, this is his slow time of year, so he was my SOUS-CHEF EXTRAORDINAIRE! He peeled every potato and apple, lifted this, cut that, dried this rack of dishes, helped set the table, did the final vacuum, and washed the umpteenth load of kitchen towels-how did we go through so many? SH even got in the act and washed a load of dishes. Why, you might ask did I need all these dishes washed? Well, I cook mostly everything the day before-and I think it tastes just as good. The potatoes I cook and mash the day before, then the next day, bring them to room temp for 30 minutes then heat in the crock pot for a few hours on high, stirring every half hour-this is the time that I put in butter-that way, when the butter melts, your potatoes are heated! I do add warm milk and cream cheese when I mash them to make them smooth, baby smooth.<br />
I cook only Turkey breasts, slice them, and this year, I saved the skin over the breasts and covered the cut meat with the skin to keep them moist, seemed like it worked great while they were heating up with a little chicken broth in the bottom of the dish.<br />
Enough, you have heard all about how to cook for this great holiday from everyone on the internet. Let me talk instead of people.<br />
I have the best family, and enjoy spending time with them-that is a blessing.<br />
Today, we had a mini-meal with SH's SSister. She is a kind, dear woman, grateful to all for anything. We shared a meal, visited and then played a game of dominoes-it was so good to see her laugh. This is her "first-of-without" year, first everything without her beloved Husband who died in June. She is a marvel, never wanting to pass her grief on to anyone. <br />
As this mellow day went on, I drove SS on an errand, then went to the cemetery to replace Matka's flowers with the Winter variety. I added some more to perk up the display because they really got pounded in the weather last year. I never thought that this activity would become important to me, but it seems like my time as one of many who was involved with meeting my Matka's needs, I think it is hard for me not to still be doing that. Did I describe that correctly for you? The weather was 57 degrees while I was doing this little project, and I remember last year a few days after I did this, we got a horrible snowstorm-dumping a lot of snow everywhere. We will see if this is the deciding factor of when winter really begins eh?<br />
Salads for supper, with a spoon of dressing/stuffing, talk about defeating the effort of eating healthy!<br />
And wait, one more trip back to the future for this post, we slept until 9am today! I had the alarm set for 7:30, I looked at it hard and decided, just a few more minutes.........<br />
then when SS got up for his breakfast, we woke up. Geez Louise, that is like sleeping through the day. I had PLANS! But, they were all accomplished anyway. SH and I had a protein shake for breakfast-could not chew one thing more today. I made 8 dozen cookies-none for us to eat this morning. Is there a better smell to fill a house with?<br />
A wonderful service-minded woman in the area has a "Prayers and Cookies" project for active-duty soldiers. She sends them cookies, toiletries, books, and cards monthly. Today, was my day to bake for the first time for her project, and I hope to continue to do it periodically. SS was so good about the fact that these were not for us, they were for those in the war zone. Hersheys Chocolate Chips has a great recipe on the back of their package that adds PEANUT BUTTER to a basic chocolate chip recipe, I did not taste them, but they looked really good. Chocolate and peanut butter-what a concept!<br />
So, back to the present. I just finished writing "tier-one" of my Christmas cards-family, then this weekend, I will work on the rest. I am so structured that I need to do them in order, no willy-nilly random card writing for me my friend. My handwriting starts south, it does not have far to travel before it is illegible, so my card writing must be done in batches. When computers first came out, well, became part of my life, I printed my envelopes with the computer. Unfortunately, the printer I was using then, would flip the way it printed the envelope according to the size that you choose for the envelope. And since not all my cards are alike, I did not have correctly printed envelopes-I felt really bad, and thought people were judging me by the way their envelope was printed-pathetic. I just stopped doing them on the computer after that year, and really, I get so many return address labels in the mail-who needs to waste ink and time doing envelopes on the computer anyhow?<br />
Tomorrow, we will see our SGrandson again for a few hours while we deliver all the cookies, etc that others have made for this project. Even a few hours is important-the older they get, the less your time together is. A known mathematical equation exists out there somewhere for this occurrance. Lookitup I say.<br />
Well, goodnight SREADERS, I hope your week went well, and your life is happy-and if not, I hope you can figure out how to change it-you deserve a wonderful life.<br />
<br />
Keeping with my slow and easy day, here is a "Wonderful Life" song for you. (I had originally chosen the ending of the Movie "A Wonderful Life", but at the end of the you- tube video, someone inserted a man burping-totally not in my vibe for today).<br />
Click here:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FE_dxZi9pE">Wonderful Life</a>sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289605970963225020.post-59233816006175214952011-11-11T08:48:00.002-05:002011-11-11T11:39:35.265-05:00Veterans's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpRwjG5Q5vTU76qc7hMuzHz5IowfUE_-zxq_itDRmMILzqUG1Vg3wYTshEde52l-fbzGbOpCrpzPsG1mOEoWe1X9DRN5K12Eztbq0AcjZyqX8qWNgFHq2PhMDuuYPfDPgJUVYEztPCgOP/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpRwjG5Q5vTU76qc7hMuzHz5IowfUE_-zxq_itDRmMILzqUG1Vg3wYTshEde52l-fbzGbOpCrpzPsG1mOEoWe1X9DRN5K12Eztbq0AcjZyqX8qWNgFHq2PhMDuuYPfDPgJUVYEztPCgOP/s400/IMG_0174.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>My header picture today is a group of our local Veterans that were honored at our recent Kiwanis dinner. I know personally more than half of these men, and I admire them all. The articles below are ones that I put into the local papers this week. I hope they convey my respect for these brave people. I have added personal notes after each article.<br />
#1<br />
KIWANIS CLUB OF MARILLA<br />
<br />
November 4, 2011<br />
Please Publish:<br />
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The Kiwanis Club of Marilla held their salute to Veterans this week at their meeting, with many activities comprising the program. First, all were treated to a very elegant meal by the staff of the Whistle Stop, with patriotic linen colors. Centerpieces were donated by Leona O’Brien, and made by Country CrossRoads Florist and Gifts.<br />
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Every year the club honors it’s own Kiwanians who are Veterans with a special program, and in addition to that, this year, the members of the Marilla Veterans Club were invited guests, newly retired Army Lt. Col. Timothy Zack was a featured guest, and the speaker was someone who is known as a Hero in the area, Distinguished Marine Mark O’Brien, lifelong Marilla resident.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A description of what Kiwanis International is and the club’s activities were listed for those attending by the club President, Paul Wagener. In recognition of their service to their country and the community, The Kiwanis Club made a donation to the Marilla Veterans Club to help with their needs, and this donation was accepted by Commander David Kryzen. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg032v82e1n_kN0zbmw9cacVqUttax97PxVV-O8I2icHMwIPGCkeDb93l9PaD0yb-s_StVCC6N6yryTVRvmqF-SJuw_aOwXVvoNKuPJ3_X4FHhm6_9DVsaAN2OaLAPb6CNThWZ0_KBd-vP7/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg032v82e1n_kN0zbmw9cacVqUttax97PxVV-O8I2icHMwIPGCkeDb93l9PaD0yb-s_StVCC6N6yryTVRvmqF-SJuw_aOwXVvoNKuPJ3_X4FHhm6_9DVsaAN2OaLAPb6CNThWZ0_KBd-vP7/s320/IMG_0159.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then retired Army Officer Maurice Janeczko gave a presentation of the many achievements and awards which Lt. Col. Zack has received in his 22+years in the military, and on behalf of the Kiwanis Club, a certificate of Recognition was presented to him. He was honored to have received this recognition from his friends and fellow Kiwanians.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaQGgst-qEuA2sPzyOrnxs7uhgTUIXEfPRsAlO0KnT8wTwQHJEZ9vNkxEKjPvRIeL3OZDv22YEgvRjWyIamzCzuz9pjUqZnWyEbQ9cGd3czuI6HnjZF2Jn3coFNoEoL7rxFFv36zRyCbc/s1600/IMG_0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaQGgst-qEuA2sPzyOrnxs7uhgTUIXEfPRsAlO0KnT8wTwQHJEZ9vNkxEKjPvRIeL3OZDv22YEgvRjWyIamzCzuz9pjUqZnWyEbQ9cGd3czuI6HnjZF2Jn3coFNoEoL7rxFFv36zRyCbc/s320/IMG_0162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Mark O’Brien, Distinguished Marine was introduced to speak by his Grandmother, Kiwanian Leona O’Brien. Mark discussed his reason for entering the military, his training, tours of duty including two in Iraq, his life-threatening injuries, his brave recovery and his current life and goals. <br />
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As Mark was telling his story, the almost 30 fellow Veterans in the room were very quite and attentive, possibly thinking about their own tours of duty and hardships which they were exposed to.<br />
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To establish the proper ending for the program, Kiwanian Diana Janeczko read a moving essay about Remembering the Veterans. All were in agreement with her instructions to “Never Forget”.<br />
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The Kiwanis Club of Marilla has always been a strong supporter of Veterans, and was proud to have been honored by the presence of so many brave soldiers.<br />
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As I sat in this room that held more Veterans than we have ever had at our dinner, I was also thinking about our Veteran Kiwanis members that were not there, some are having health or family health problems, some have passed on, and then there were my family members in my thoughts. My two brothers are Veterans-both served in Vietnam, and I remember there were no parades for these brave Vietnam Veterans, they were doing what their country asked of them, but somehow, they were perceived to be the bad guys, not the administration who chose their path. And my step-fathers, and my father, and my uncles, an aunt,nephew, great-nephew, some cousins, the list goes on and is mirrored in your life also SReader. It is wonderful to acknowledge what these brave people did, fighting because we asked them to, but sad that honoring them does not even come close to what we owe them. Thank you all, God Bless You.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15mcd917yDZMmBY3vIHpr8FykLxhoSoCdZYiNmjkOmxGz5PgjtwKcYyvCjoD3ddnU3_xlrGmNkVy_yMcebI0fTb44jIMW79YgWPYTWpkFSiNq_7FhRBsE8FU3WyEdMUW7waiyTN50pF2U/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15mcd917yDZMmBY3vIHpr8FykLxhoSoCdZYiNmjkOmxGz5PgjtwKcYyvCjoD3ddnU3_xlrGmNkVy_yMcebI0fTb44jIMW79YgWPYTWpkFSiNq_7FhRBsE8FU3WyEdMUW7waiyTN50pF2U/s320/Copy+of+IMG_0145.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mark O'Brien and sitting to the right of him, his wife and parents.</div>KIWANIS CLUB OF MARILLA<br />
<br />
November 4, 2011<br />
Article #2, Please publish:<br />
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Recently, the Kiwanis Club of Marilla was honored to have Distinguished Marine Mark O’Brien, who grew up and currently resides in Marilla as a speaker.<br />
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Mark was introduced to speak by his Grandmother, Kiwanian Leona O’Brien, who gave her opinion as to his background in recovery from illness or injury: when he was a child and needed to spend time with her instead of going to school if he was ill, he would have a rapid recovery as soon as the school bus went by!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7oQ2rFsP54O4mD7VlJ17h006DHd2IDNL4pY9XP9DuNKkcp_q1zf8qMErDy6CcANKMVAByikcnjP3Atu3rsG08G-R8jo1J8HuFwnTPDNNS4h0dEf1Thwgf3aXNasvbMXI9i7syax0naFP/s1600/IMG_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7oQ2rFsP54O4mD7VlJ17h006DHd2IDNL4pY9XP9DuNKkcp_q1zf8qMErDy6CcANKMVAByikcnjP3Atu3rsG08G-R8jo1J8HuFwnTPDNNS4h0dEf1Thwgf3aXNasvbMXI9i7syax0naFP/s320/IMG_0166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Mark said his reason for entering the service was the same as many who enter the military-he wished to defend his country. In his case this happened when he was 18 and the tragedy of the Attack on the World Trade Center Towers occurred. He knew he must get involved. He had extensive Marine training, fought in many battles during his two tours of duty in Iraq, and was injured severely during one of many fierce battles. After the injury, he saw that his vest which contained hand grenades was on fire, and when he realized that he had extensive injuries to his right arm, he knew that he needed to put the flames out with his left hand. He then realized that his right leg was also severely injured, and almost completely severed. He thought that he would not survive as a medic tried desperately to stop the bleeding from his leg injury, and actually stated that they should let him bleed out. Eventually, the bleeding was brought under control, saving his life. He was airlifted, and treated en route to a hospital, and when he awoke, his parents, Gale and Dave O’Brien were beside him. Due to medical tubes in his throat, his communication with them was in writing, and he wrote that “He had no regrets, God was shielding me.”<br />
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His recovery proceeded, and he knew that without the support of his family that he would not have made it, family support is something that not all wounded soldiers have.<br />
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He received 11 months of therapy including physical, occupational and prosthetic training and he was ready to come home as soon as all the release papers were signed. This process did not happen, and Mark became anxious, sharing this frustration with his grandmother during one of her frequent telephone calls to him. The next day, the release papers were signed, and he was on his way home. The saying “Never underestimate the power of a Grandmother” proved to be true.<br />
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During his time in the service, and especially during his recovery, he corresponded with a friend from home, Michelle Pierce. Her dependable support made a real difference to him, they fell in love, and today are married with two young sons. Because of his injuries,losing both his right arm and leg, he had to give up his dream of becoming a police officer as his father and brother both are. He is employed currently by the Erie County Sheriff’s Department as a dispatcher, and is happy to look ahead to a good life.<br />
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Mark is extremely active physically now, including riding a bike, and he recently taught himself to try archery after making his own modifications to the bow. He is planning on attending the Wounded Warrior Paralympics in 2012 in Colorado, and the Kiwanis Club of Marilla was proud to give him a donation to help fund this effort with money raised partially at the Marilla Ag Day event. In addition to Kiwanis, The Rademacher VFW Post, represented by Veteran and Kiwanian Stu Rowland also gave a donation to Mark, and then a donation from himself and his wife Margot. Sandra and Paul Grunsweig, owners of the Marilla Country Store gave Mark a donation too. They sold candy at Ag Day to raise money for Mark.<br />
Mark O’Brien will forever be a symbol of bravery to all those who heard him speak that night.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2w_maBQy5FVqo-TBI2MArpnUzHD5BObaif3SOxDRkS0wtXNhSxVRKmE7OpEg7FeEHyh_gvhUGRBGsItY78TP6At3R1d99n0iwLzlMeyllcqV0MgvO4P7yMljRAIOL6uqL2Kgj6THKoqdl/s1600/IMG_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2w_maBQy5FVqo-TBI2MArpnUzHD5BObaif3SOxDRkS0wtXNhSxVRKmE7OpEg7FeEHyh_gvhUGRBGsItY78TP6At3R1d99n0iwLzlMeyllcqV0MgvO4P7yMljRAIOL6uqL2Kgj6THKoqdl/s320/IMG_0179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Picture (l-r): Paul & Sandra Grunsweig, Paul Wagener, Mark O’Brien, Stu and Margot Rowland<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHEDlbvGTEFCjRxLIgfwqlVI6CvWjuVGdmSybMvE_Foz8beP9ETawLP2JJGDysacz_CUZW-OMP9fR7HZebv6lmieimkf9rVqIwi1c5VrOwFCQUFjG1q5hCmqHhlby5vrm-cPkOupF35H8/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHEDlbvGTEFCjRxLIgfwqlVI6CvWjuVGdmSybMvE_Foz8beP9ETawLP2JJGDysacz_CUZW-OMP9fR7HZebv6lmieimkf9rVqIwi1c5VrOwFCQUFjG1q5hCmqHhlby5vrm-cPkOupF35H8/s320/IMG_0169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the right, making a ppresentation to Mark is Stu, who is one of our Kiwanians, and a Distinguished Veteran. Stu has been kind enough to share his story of service to our country during World War II, he was reluctant to share his memories with the club a few years back, and only did so out of respect for our club. His journey in the service was filled with just what they try to depict in the movies, but he bravely served though it all. I imagined what these two men had in their lives that were so similar, and if you look at the strength of the handshake that Stu is giving Mark, that tells it all. Stu is very important to me, and his wife Margot is one of my best friends, they are equal, strong partners, she supported him during his days of active duty, and her love brought him home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a mother and a wife, and I grandmother, I struggled to hear Mark speak of his injuries. I know this is not the first time they heard all the details, which I did not include in the article, but I can't imagine what it must have been like to live through this trauma with him. And I know his story of injury and recovery is repeated daily across this country. May God continue to give the families strength to handle whatever the outcome is for their beloved family members.</div>*****************<br />
article #3<br />
KIWANIS CLUB OF MARILLA<br />
<br />
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November 6, 2011<br />
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Please publish:<br />
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At the recent program to honor Veterans offered by the Kiwanis Club of Marilla, Dee Zeigel, Promoter of a Veterans Support Group in Wales announced that the Veterans Day Observance for the Town of Wales will be November 11, 2011 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park 12345 Big Tree Road, Wales Center.<br />
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Dee also gave those attending information about the group called “Operation Prayers and Cookies” . The program started as a result of a conversation she had with an active duty soldier who asked for prayers, and a few cookies too. She and a dedicated group of bakers started this program, and could use some help to take care of the growing needs for this form of troop support. She emphasized that no matter what your politics are, we should all support the soldiers. <br />
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She stated that “now,with the holidays rapidly approaching, it is a time for thinking of those who will not be with their families and friends. We need individuals and/or groups to make holiday cookies. Our small core of dedicated volunteers has stood by us for many months (and years) and we need to replenish and give our bakers a much needed break. <br />
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Prayers & Cookies also sends Christmas cards from our residents. If you would please take a moment to sign a card or two to be sent along in the December 5th package, I know it would be greatly appreciated. <br />
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If you know of any local resident serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, we would be happy to add them to our list. This is only a small token of appreciation to remind them of “home”, but one we feel will make them know we remember them and care. On the 5th of every month cookies are sent, not only to our own Wales military, but enough to share with their Company, some of whom receive no packages or mail from home. If you are unable to provide baked goods, but would still like to support our troops, donations of baby wipes, phone cards, snack foods, hard candy, gum, sports magazines, paperback books, writing paper and pens, plain white socks, etc. may be made. If you would like to take part in this effort, please call and bring your homemade cookies, any variety and/or personal items to: Dee Zeigel – Coordinator 4498 Woodchuck Road,Wales Center, 652-6776God Bless You and God Bless Our Troops!” For those who don’t bake, but would like to help, the group also collects donations of baby wipes, phone cards, snack foods, hard candy, gum, sports magazines, paperback books, writing paper and pens, plain white socks, etc, may by made.<br />
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Dee tries to get everything for each month mailed by the 5th. December especially needs to get out asap after I receive cookies...regular holiday mailings can also slow down the military packages. She packs cookies in layers in plastic tubs, however, they can be delivered in any box or container to her as she divides them up equally amongst all.<br />
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Picture: Mark O'Brien and Dee Zeigel, Operation Prayers and Cookies<br />
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I pretty much have only baked cookies because I needed to, when the kids were growing up, with SGrandson when he was younger with all the cute slice and bake holiday designs. I used to bake a lot of cookies for Christmas, and freeze them, but I soon found out that SSon as a young boy did not mind eating frozen cookies.<br />
I will be baking for this cause, and not just for Christmas. And each cookie will be infused with a prayer as I bake them. A cookie, who would think it would be so important.........................<br />
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Thank you SReaders for reading, I hope you have a chance to salute our Veterans.sallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569209168235674221noreply@blogger.com1