Thursday, July 16, 2009

I wish I didn't have to....

I wish I didn’t have to….work every day. I wish that I could afford to live a comfortable live without having a steady job that I had to go to each day. I would love to be able to do some volunteer work at my church or maybe a nursing home. In order to do as much of this as I would like to do I would have to be un-employed. I do hope to retire by the time I am 62 and be in a position that will allow me to do this. I see women at my church, which is directly across the street from my home, showing up almost daily to help with the fishes and loaves ministry. Most of them don’t work outside the home or are retired and I envy them. I stay so busy between working a full time job, a small part time job, going to school and being hands- on grandma that extra time is something I have little of. Therefore, I am making this a definite plan for myself to do when I retire.

I wish there were no more....

I wish there were no more….child abuse. I watch a lot of late night TV shows since I work evenings and one of the shows is Nancy Grace. Almost every show she has deals with some type of child abduction or abuse that just sickens you. In my wildest dreams, I can’t imagine why anyone would ever want to hurt an innocent child. The only thing worse would be to harm elderly people that can’t defend themselves. Children are a blessing and should be treasured and yet so many are treated like animals and sometimes worse. I think to myself how long was this poor child being abused. How sad it is to think about what goes through their minds while it’s all happening. If the abuser was a parent that is, suppose to love and take care of you, I can’t comprehend what these children must think.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Would you like to be famous? Why or why not? What would you like to be famous for?

Would you like to be famous? Why or why not? What would you like to be famous for? I think becoming famous would be a great thing if it were for something worthwhile. Being a great entertainer or actor would be fun and I am sure exciting. You would be able to meet other celebrities and rub elbows with the rich and famous all of this sounds like a dream come true. I know with all of that prestige you would be welcomed anywhere you went and do a lot of traveling. Even though that sounds like a great way to be famous, I would really rather be famous for helping people. Like Sister Theresa or Billy Graham. These are both great humanitarians known for their love of people and for making life better for those in need. This would have to be a more rewarding way to live your life and at the same time, you would still travel and meet famous people. The rich and famous would be friends that could help you help others. Most famous celebrities are willing to help with money and time when it is for a good cause.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Families are important because...

Families are important because... they are what make most people happy. I come from a large family counting my parents there were eight of us in all. Now that we have all grown up my parents have sixteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. I am a mother of two and grandmother of six beautiful little ones that make me happy every day. On my worst day, all I have to do is think about the hugs and smiles of my grandchildren and I can find a reason to smile and be happy. I have always been a very family oriented person and always look forward to doing things with my loved ones. I have quite a few friends that were either an only child or come from small families that don’t see each other very often. Most of them tell me that they wish they had a sibling or two and they envy families that have close relationships. The memories that we make growing up in a large family are wonderful to reminisce about when we get together. Even my children and grandchildren like to hear the stories we tell on each other now that we are all grown and can’t get in trouble.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Should people be prohibited from smoking in certain places?

Should people be prohibited from smoking in certain places? I was a smoker for sixteen years and considered myself a heavy smoker. I smoked between a pack and a half and two packs each day. I never had a cigarette that I didn’t enjoy, but I finally quit and that’s been twenty years ago. I am not one of those ex-smokers that complain about the people that smoke, but I firmly believe that smoking should be prohibited in certain places. I feel that any place where people are in spaces where they will be exposed to second hand smoke should be off limits to smokers. I do feel that every establishment should have a space outside to accommodate people that smoke. Smoking is an addiction and it is a very hard addiction to break. I have heard non-smokers complain about smokers that have designated smoking areas outside. I do feel that complaining about smoking outside is a little selfish on the part of the non-smoker. Smoking is a very hard habit to break and most smokers are not happy that they have this addiction and would like nothing more than to quit.

Friday, July 3, 2009

What effects does watching violence have on people?

What effects does watching violence have on people? I think that would really depend of the person watching it. If the person is a mature adult and the violence is in a movie for example I feel is would just be for entertainment. When I watch a movie, like the one I saw today, (The Taking of Pelham 123), this was a very violent movie with a lot of shooting and killing, but I did not leave the movie feeling the need to be violent. I have six grandchildren from ages 4 months to nine years and I use their age as a gauge when I decide what movies are OK for them. Some of the movies that are for children have violence especially the super-hero movies. I have taken some of my grandchildren to see these movies and they know they are just movies. I have not seen any signs that the violence has affected them in any way. If we are talking about real life violence like when a young child is a witness to an abusive parent I feel differently. I do believe that young children are affected in many ways by this type of violence.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

What would you do to entertain your family without spending any money?

What would you do to entertain your family without spending any money? I would make it a stay home and bond night. We would start with a nice home cooked meal that everyone likes. I would use items we already had in the freezer and cupboards so it would not cost anything extra. Then after dinner, we could take out the old photo albums and tell stories about what was happening in the pictures. My children always like hearing about things I did with my siblings back in the day. If that weren’t enough then we would take out some games to play. My family really likes monopoly and that takes a long time to play. Another game we like is scrabble and we can do that until all hours. You can do many family fun activities at home without spending a dime. The best part of the entire evening is that you spend it as a family and make memories that are even more fun.

Monday, June 29, 2009

What would I invent to make life better?

What would I invent to make life better? I think would invent a time machine. I can think of many uses for such a machine some good and some not so good in a way. How many times has there been a situation where I thought if I could just go back, I would do that differently. A time when I made the wrong choice, maybe one that hurt someone and I wished so much that, I could take it back and un-do the hurt. The one that might not be such a good one would be a chance to go back one more time and tell a loved one that you have lost how very much you love them and will miss them. Probably not so good because then you would never want to move on and have to say goodbye. It would be amazing to go back in history and witness events that changed the world. To see your family from many past generations and really get to know where you came from. We could change things that affect our world today in negatives ways by not making the mistakes that got us to this point. It sounds like a great machine and since this is, my blog and I can make my own little fantasy come to life that is what I would like to invent.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

If you could break the Guiness Book of Records, it would be for?

If you could break the Guiness Book of Records, it would be for? I think to break the record for being the smartest person in the world, if there is such a record, would be awesome. To be so smart would open up doors that would be endless. Not only would there be wealth enough that you would never have a financial worry for yourself or your family, but so much other wealth that cannot be measured in dollars. As the smartest person in the world, I could help find the cure for diseases that takes lives every day. Help to solve the world’s financial crisis and possibly help end world hunger. Find the solution to the energy crisis and stop global warming. If I were the smartest person in the world, I would have the opportunity to travel to all the four corners of the world and meet the world leader and the other geniuses that would help me solve these problems. It would be a fulfilling and amazing life for my family and me.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

If you could participate in an Olympic event, which one would you chose and why?

If you could participate in an Olympic event, which one would you chose and why? I have always loved gymnastics. When the summer Olympics are on that is my favorite sport to watch. Gymnastics is such a beautiful and artistic sport. You have to be in good physical condition and have a lot of upper body strength. I would want to be a gymnast and be in tiptop shape, for the first time in my life. Since this is my dream, I can have that for once. I would want to be the best at the floor routine, because I have always wanted to do a cartwheel and was never able to. The floor routine is so full of energy and at the same time graceful. My second strength as a gymnast would be on the parallel bars swinging away. It always looks like so much fun as long as you use plenty off powder and don’t slip off. I would of course win the gold medal since I will be the best gymnast in the U.S.A.

If you owned a store, what would you do to discourage people from stealing from you?

If you owned a store, what would you do to discourage people from stealing from you? I have worked as an auditor for a long time, and see many new and inventive ways for employees to steal. One of the things that make it so easy is not having the right systems in place that help you detect theft. When your employees know that it’s easy to be caught, they are less likely to steal. There are always those few people that don’t really care, and still do it and usually end up fired. I would have security cameras located all around my place of business. The departments that carry the higher priced items will be monitored closely and inventoried frequently. I would also post signs in the business that state that this store is monitored for theft. The more people feel that they are being watched; the less likely they are to steal. There will always be some theft, but with a few precautionary measures in place, it can be less than average. With more profit in my pocket.

Friday, June 19, 2009

What do you think courage means?

What do you think courage means? I think courage means many things depending on the situation. One of them is taking the chance to sacrifice your life for the sake of others. Today our young men and women join the military on their own, not drafted. They do this knowing the turmoil we have in our world today, and that their chances of being right in the middle of it are great. These courageous young people want to make a difference and know that it will take many people to do it. Sacrificing time with their families and with everyday life, so that we can all be free and safe here in the United States. As we see on the news daily, so many of our service members are being killed in roadside bombs and terrorist attacks, yet that does not stop them from enlisting. This is courage putting your life in harm’s way for the sake of our country and all who live in it.

What TV or movie star would I like to invite to my birthday party?

What TV or movie star would I like to invite to my birthday party? I think I would like to invite Morgan Freeman. I have always enjoyed his movies and his voice is captivating. He seems likes he would be a lot of fun and very interesting to talk with. Everyone in my immediate family loves him and I know they would get a blast out of having him there. I will go to a movie just because he is in it, and I don’t think I have ever seen one of his movies that I didn’t like. Everything I have read, even in the tabloids, has always interested me and leads me to believe even more that he is a genuinely good sole. For a birthday gift, I will have him tell us all a story as only he can do. I know without a doubt it would be the best birthday party ever.

Monday, June 15, 2009

What makes me laugh?

What makes me laugh? I would have to say Bill Cosby makes me laugh. The best part is that he can make you laugh and he can do it without using one dirty word. Bill Cosby has to be one of the funniest comedians in the world today. I would actually compare him to Red Skelton and he is probably the greatest of them all. They can make anyone laugh with some of the funniest stories and jokes you will ever hear. These jokes are so clean you wouldn’t have to be embarrassed for your great grandmother to hear them and she would laugh along with you. Both of these comedians can bring me to tears without using words, all they have to do is make a funny face and have you rolling on the floor. In fact, one of the main segments in the Red Skelton show was pantomime. Never was one word spoken the entire skit was facial expression and body gestures and you could literally wet your pants. That is what makes me laugh and Red Skelton was my Dad’s favorite so I know it was funny.

Friday, June 12, 2009

What would you do if you were the teacher and everyone forgot his homework?

What would you do if you were the teacher and everyone forgot his homework? This is a tough question to answer. The first thing I would do is start asking everyone what was his or her excuse. I am sure I would hear some unbelievable tales some probably true and most of them probably fabricated. Then I would have to take each case and make the determination of whether that was a good enough reason to come to class without your homework. I have a feeling there wouldn’t be many students with a good enough reason, unless maybe we were in the middle of a hurricane and had lost power for a couple of days. Possibly if there had been a snowstorm that kept everyone at home under the covers to keep from freezing. I believe my final decision would be that since everyone was in the same boat I would have to give them all an extra day to make it up and take off 10 points for being late. Of course if this happened again they would all get a big zero.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

If I could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

If I could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Of course, there is no place like home as “Dorothy” would say, but since this is imaginary, I can pick another place. I would love to live in Europe preferably England. I would love to be able to travel and see many different places and most of the countries in Europe are close enough to do just that. It would be amazing to take long weekend trips and stay in Bed and Breakfasts. There is so much history all over Europe that the learning would be endless. As children, we were taught about places like Buckingham Palace, The Vatican, The Eifel Tower and so many other historic landmarks that, the thought of living there is very exciting. Therefore, I have decided that Europe is the place for me. I will be having tea with the Queen before long.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

What is something that really makes me angry?

What is something that really makes me angry? I would have to say it’s a know it all. I’m sure we have all known a few of those in our time. The person that no matter where you have been they have already been there. Someone that no matter what you are talking about they can find their way into your conversation and tell you a little something about what you are saying. It’s always funny, or not, that whatever the subject is a know it all will have something to say. I find this behavior very rude and it really makes me angry. I have a roommate with this exact behavior issue. I entertain friends on occasion, and every time my best friend is in my home, it’s a guarantee that my roommate will show this side. Sometimes I have to step in to calm the situation. I have brought this bad behavior to my roommate’s attention many times, and it doesn’t seem to help. I guess the old saying that bad habits are hard to break is true.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

What would I do differently if I could go back to High School?

What would I do differently if I could go back to High School? If I had a chance to do it all over again things would be different this time around. I would be more active in many different types of school activities. I would definitely try out for the girl’s basketball team since I am close to six feet tall I believe I would have done well. Getting over shyness at a younger age would have helped me to be more assertive, but that took a while to happen. I know I would join some organizations that work to help the needy and less fortunate. I would join the band and learn to play instruments like the clarinet that sounds so beautiful. Studying and making better grades would be at the very top of the things I would do different this time around. I would work very hard to get a scholarship and go to college directly after graduation. This time I would go to nursing school, which was in my original plans, and be the best nurse I could be.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

What was my best birthday gift of all?

What is the best birthday gift I ever had? This was the year of my greatest birthday present and it didn’t cost a dime. My daughter came back home after being gone for three years and with her came my two week old grandson Gavin. What a joy it is to have her back home. My daughter is married to a young man in the Navy and stationed in Charleston, South Carolina for the past three years. It was hard on all of us having her gone but coming home makes everything right. What could make a better gift than being blessed with a new little grandson and having them move here on my Birthday? This was the perfect gift. I couldn’t have received one any better and I will be enjoying this one for many years to come.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

What am I afraid of?

What am I afraid of? Well I have a couple of things that really scare me. One of them is heights. I have had a fear of heights since I was a very small child. Any time I am driving in my car up a mountain I have a fear of falling off the side. I know that isn’t going to happen because I am not that close to the edge but it’s a fear anyway. I went to skyline drive a few years ago and just getting out of the car and standing on solid ground made me dizzy because of the elevation. My other big fear is being in a tight spot like a closet or an MRI machine. I feel like I can’t breathe and I start to hyperventilate. It’s really a scary feeling and something that I can’t control. When I went for my first MRI, the nurse had to pull me out as quickly as she got me in. I starting kicking and screaming like a two year old that lost their sucker. At fifty, it wasn’t a pretty sight to see. Thank goodness for the open MRI machine.

Friday, May 29, 2009

What it is like in college when you are over 30?
I first started in college when I was in my earlier thirties and took a break, then started again at fifty. I have to say that my grades are much better than any grades I achieved in high school. Motivation plays a large role in my desire to do well and attain my associate’s degree in accounting. In high school, it was a lot harder to stay focused on your studies, with so many changes happening in your live when you are a teenager. Most adults that are going to college are also working full time jobs and some are still taking care of young children. Many adults want to get their degree so they can get a better paying job and give more to their families. Going to college as an older adult helps to keep your mind sharp and keeps you well informed about current affairs. You are never too old to learn something new.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

What would happen if children ruled the world?

It is hard to say what it would be like if children ruled the world. Like adults, so many different personality types and maturity levels would have to be taken into consideration. Some children mature faster than others an example would be an only child. Another example would be the oldest child in a large family that had to help take care of younger siblings. If these children were in charge, there would probably be many rules to follow. On the other hand if the younger siblings made the rules there probably wouldn’t be any, just one big party. I definitely feel that today’s children have a lot more challenges ahead of them than we did and considering the state of our economy today, they really couldn’t make it any worse.

Monday, May 25, 2009

What do you think makes a great friend?

I feel that a great friend is someone that is always there for you through thick or thin. Someone that you can tell all your troubles to and that will listen with a sympathetic ear. I am fortunate enough to have a friend like that. My oldest and closest friend has been in my life since we were in the seventh grade and that has been forty years. We have never gone more than a week without either seeing or talking to each other. A true friend can be honest with you and let you know what they think. Even if they don't always agree with you, they still love you when all is said and done. It is truly a blessing to find a person in your life that you can call a great friend.