The Pen May be Mightier Than the Sword..

...But the tongue is mightier than they all.

Don't you just wish you had shut up? But, no, you said it and now you feel awful. Not just awkward and sorry - but truly awful, like something inside just wants to go crawl in a hole and pull lots of dirt in on top.

You know you need to apologize and you know you will but when and how. In your mind all sorts of scenarios play themselves out like a reel of 'bloopers'. In them you are a hero - you said what needed to be said; or you are the worst sort of excuse for a piece of skin because you know your words cut deep and there's no way you can fix it; or you found just the right words and the rift is healed and everything is ok again. You roll through excuses that will make it sound like what you said wasn't so bad or the other person misunderstood what you were trying to do but in the end the credits come up on the screen and you see that you were at fault - you and only you. There were no other actors.

If you are like me - and most of you are because 'like attracts like', you are in anguish because you did it again - you promised yourself after the last painful episode that you would follow the old admonition of listening more than speaking because you have two ears and only one mouth.

If you are like me [and you are] you, too, are committing to and striving to be the best person you can be every day. You are also desirous of living up to the potential your Father in Heaven sees in you [and realizing that your way is of no help because look where it got you - again] you find yourself on your knees in humiliation before Him begging Him to take this task away from you. You know that's not His way and you know you need to do this hard thing so, instead, you ask Him to give you understanding into why you did what you did. He gives you a mirror and, after you look everywhere but into it, you look and you see. At first you see a person who is flawed - who has been weighed in the balance and found lacking but as you continue to look you see a person who is a work in progress loved beyond measure. This person is one who needs to and can step up to the plate and do the right thing because she/he sees that this experience is for her/his benefit - that he/ she is evolving into a better person - but only by being honest and accepting responsibility for his/her actions will the face in the mirror reflect a true change.

So you pray for courage to do what needs to be done, love for the person wronged and the words to say to fix things as best as you can. Then you get off your knees, wipe away your tears and make the phone call, set up the meeting or send the email - whichever is the best way to do this - apologizing [with no excuse or caveat] and asking for forgiveness. In person it is harder to do but can be done and is the best way. Phone or email will work but won't be complete until you meet the person again and see the forgiveness in their eyes and feel it in their hug. [Do you really want to wait that long in purgatory?]

When all is said and done, you feel an incredible burden has been lifted and you feel an even stronger determination never to let this happen again. You vow, with the growing realizing that in order to master your tongue you must first master your thoughts. You smile and know 'you can do this...you can do this.'

Well Put...

I heard this quote the other day - not sure who is the originator- "I've given up all hope of a better past."

It's about letting go. It's about accepting. It's about moving forward.

Another quote I heard - again, not sure who is the originator - "The best way to predict your future is to create it."

It's about taking charge. It's about being positive. It's about action.

One last quote. This one from Jack Layton to his son as they were about to embark on a biking journey that would take them through nearly impassable areas. "You can wait forever for perfect conditions, or you can make the best of what you've got now..."

It's about going for it. It's about trusting that the way will be provided. It's about recognizing opportunity to do something that takes you beyond your normal limits.

These quotes are how I try to live. They are my thoughts and feelings expressed by someone else. I'm not alone. I am in great company ;)

My new greenhouse...

When you open your mind to a possibility; to an idea; to a desire; doors begin to open and pathways begin to be seen.

It's like when my husband and I want to go to the Temple to worship. Unless we put the date on the calendar, it doesn't happen or it really is difficult to do. But if the date is on the calendar - things work together and it happens!

So ... I want a greenhouse... of a certain design and of a certain size. Guess what??? In a couple of weeks I should be standing inside it!!!! Let me tell you about it.

It started with an idea - a dream, a desire to make the idea happen...somehow... and for free!!!

I started by talking about it with my husband and with everyone else I talked with. I vocalized my desire - I put it out there. I drew pictures of what I wanted it to look like and what size I wanted it to be. My husband and I looked at each part of our property to see where the best place would be to put it and what dimensions it could be given the limited space and limited sun exposure we have.

Then a couple of weeks ago my husband and I went for a walk and saw the greenhouse in my drawing on a friend's property!! My husband called the friend and asked if he had any plans for their greenhouse. Before we knew it, the friend offered it to us...for free!!!

It has the ventilation I want, the size and shape, too!!! Next step - how to get it here and exactly where to put it.

Again...a door opened. We were outside pulling the lawnmower from the shed and - bang!- the perfect place to put it came to me - right beside the shed! It would have southern exposure and there is a water cource right there!!! One problem - the greenhouse would extend onto a neighbor's property....

I was pondering how to get hold of this neighbor [he's away for months at a time and not home now] and decided to ask the landlady if she had a contact number for this fellow.

Ok... so this is how it works... I'm taking a break and debating mowing our lawn - rain is coming, but I feel tired and then... I look out of my craft room window and see a neighbor lady mowing this away fellow's lawn. I decide to get out there and do our lawn while I have the opportunity in between days/weeks of rainy periods. I get out the mower, smile and wave at her and then...I go ask her if she has a number for this fellow. She doesn't but the landlady probably does and this nice neighbor lady tells me the landlady is just down the street.

I tell the landlady that I want this fellow's number, she asks why and when I tell her, she says she'll come have a look. She comes over and when I explain where I want to put the greenhouse and that I want to get permission from my neighbor to do it. She takes a look and tells me to go ahead and put it where I want it - she'll chat with the neighbor and it'll be fine.

Wow!!!! Now I just need to get it here. I need get someone with a forklift to do it, so...I talk with the ladies in the staff room at the school on a break and talk about what I need. They give me some ideas of which businesses have forklifts in town. Well, wouldn't you know it, the fellow giving us the greenhouse works at a place with at least one forklift!!! And...it just so happens that my husband is going to visit this fellow in a couple of days...

I'll let you know how it gets here and when and then I'll post a picture of me in my greenhouse at my place....;)

Oh yeah!!!! Just open your mind and let the power flow through you. Don't stop it - let it flow.

Does this describe you???

I have trouble spelling and often have to go through little rhymes to help me out.

for instance the rule about 'i' before 'e'. When I am spelling 'friend', instead of reciting that little rule, I use word association - of a sort...and come up with 'fried' and 'end'.

It actually describes some of my friends... they're so busy both their ends are fried!!!!

Will Smith - A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

...the treadmill, bricks, 'The Alchemist', listen and get motivated.

It's Easter and He lives!

I can't get it out of my head...

I can't get the song out of my head and when I do it's just as quickly replaced with another. Show tunes - from The Sound of Music, or My Fair Lady or Singin' in the Rain or Holiday Inn or ????

I wake in the night to turn over and there one is...still. I go back to sleep and it becomes part of my dream - there I am waltzing down the yellow brick road brushing straw off my sleeve.

Doing the dishes I find myself humming, "I Could Have Danced All Night' while not dancing at all. Sometimes I just have to let it out and have many times picked up the cat, swung him around my livingroom cum dance floor and belted out, "You Were Meant For Me." Being a ragdoll, he loves it. In fact when we're done spinning, he saunters away happily while I have to sit on the arm of the couch until the room stops spinning.

The other day I was humming, "Wouldn't it be Loverly", and found myself in the storeroom rummaging around for, '...lots of choc'lit for me to eat..."
thereby proving the old adage about how powerful music can be!

I find myself searching Kijiji for tap shoes while "Singing in the Rain" runs through my brain. I wonder if the diningroom wall would take the weight of me running up it as Donald O'Conner does in "Make,'em Laugh" and if it didn't hold up, what on earth would I tell Bernard caused the mess???

I seriously need help. I can't seem to sleep at night. It seems much more fun to stay up doing things so I can greet the dawn with "Good morning, good morning, it's great to stay up late, good morning, good morning to you!" while balancing with one foot on the cushions of the couch and one foot on the backpiece just 'this' far away from having the nerve to tip it on it's back in a magnificent dance move.

Yikes... someone help me before I wreck the place - but only if you can sing your way to "The Street where [I] Live!"

Strength in the Face of Adversity

The Japanese people are one of the strongest when it comes to determination and perserverance. Though I can't believe how much my heart aches for them in this time of horrendous calamity, I have faith that their resilience will lead them to recovery.

I know all things are in the Lord's hands and that this disaster did not take Him by surprise. ' ... and not one of them shall fall on the ground...' but that He knows it. Matthew 10:29

Nevertheless, we are His hands, feet, eyes, ears and hearts and so we must do all we can to help. Prayer is a good place to start. Then we will receive direction on how best to help. Until Japan can tell us what they need we can't do a lot - but we can prepare. Everyone needs food, warmth, clothing and housing to begin with. I will donate through my church. Please help any way you can. Every little bit turns into a collective big bit.

Brrr...

I - Do - Not - Like - To - Be - Cold !
I - Do - Not - Like - It - Sam - I - Am !
I - Do - Not - Like - Cold - Eggs - And - Ham !!!!!

It is not just cold out there - it is stinking cold. It is crazy cold. It is freeeeeezing cold.

There - that feels better - warmer,no ... but better.

Malcolm Gladwell on 'Spaghetti'...

I really enjoy Malcolm Gladwell - an amazing thinker, and engaging speaker and, hopefully, a prolific author.

Go to YouTube and type in - Malcolm Gladwell - What we can learn from spaghetti. It will be the neatest 18 or so minutes in your day.

I hope it will give you enough of a glimpse into this guy that you'll want to watch more and buy his books.

Why is it...?

A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don't need it.

What you talkin' 'bout Willis...?

This one doesn't make sense to me - any explanations?


"If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong."

Talk to me...

Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.


Tell me your good news... ;)

So you think you're smart...?

Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish.

Want exercise your brain - go to www.spotthedifference.com - let's see if you can get reach the 'black' level with all Gold speeds!!! ... then let me know, k? I'm working on it.

Is it TRUE?????????

We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

Where am I ... and who are you...?

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

Salad anyone...?

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Off to have some salad... ;)

What do a bus, a train and a desk have in common...?

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station...

A Para ... what???

A Paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect, sometimes producing an anticlimax. For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists.

I'll be posting a different one every day, so check back often.

Here's the first one - "To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."