THE SPRING THAT CAME TO JANUARY

     There was only one word to describe yesterday's weather in my part of the world: BEAUTIFUL! I had to actually check the calendar to remind myself we were still in the dead of Winter. Seeing nearly three-fourths of the park's patrons in shorts would've fooled anyone, especially me.
     And, trust me: it did!
     But what a yesterday; such a beautiful day it was! The day of cloudless sky and gentle, lukewarm breezes possessing such tranquility. In fact, yesterday was so flawless that even the creatures of the woods came out to welcome, what I felt was, an early Spring. 
     Mr. Squirrel even dropped by to show off in front of the camera. Of course, that's what I wanted to believe, if not for the acorns and various nuts someone left him earlier in the day.
     Hmm...go figure!
     Nevertheless, I went home and basked in ambiance of the day by retiring to my front porch, sitting in my favorite chair, and sipping a tall glass of iced tea. Okay, it was instant iced tea, but still, iced tea is iced tea. 
     I sat among the stillness of the unexpected beauty and thought about the peculiar weather. Sure, my friends, weatherwise: snow's expected to hit us soon and the bitter cold air will chill us to the bone once again. But for that one rare and fleeting moment in time Spring came to January, and I gladly welcomed it with open arms.    
   
      

THE YEAR WAS 1955...

A friend of mine shared this interesting list with me. These are actual comments made in the year 1955, a little over fifty-five years ago:



“I’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it’s going to be impossible to buy a week’s groceries for $10.00.”



“Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won’t be long before $1,000.00 will only buy a used one.”


“Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter?”


“If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.”


“When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon. Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.”


“I’m afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying ‘damn’ in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either ‘hell’ or ‘damn’ in it.”


“I read the other day where some scientist thinks it’s possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.”


“I never thought I’d see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.”


“The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.”


“There is no sense going on short trips anymore for a weekend. It costs nearly $2.00 a night to stay in a hotel.”


“If they think I’ll pay 30 cents for a hair cut, forget it!”

IT'S FUNNY FOTO FRIDAY!

HAVE A FANTASTIC FRIDAY, EVERYONE!

LIVE LIKE YOU'RE DYING

     I was bound and determined...In fact, I SWORE to myself I'd never open this can of worms. However, when the can spills everywhere and you can't help but focus on it, then it's going to come out sooner or later. Keep in mind, what I'm about to say is not meant to offend anyone or start any arguements. This is purely from my point of view, and not intended for anyone to take to heart.

     So, here goes...

     By now, everyone's heard the rumor Doomsday's supposedly going to take place on December 21, 2012. But that's not the only date I've heard that's supposed to be the end of mankind and civilization. I've also heard May 21, 2011 and I've even heard Christmas Day, 2012. The list goes on and on.

     I'm not going to indulge my opinion in regards to when and how I think the world will end. That's unimportant. What is important is that people are taking these claims to heart and giving up on life. Some people have quit their jobs and left their families, while others have an underground living facility that will prevent them from any sudden Apocalypse. To be completely honest, to each his or her own, but that's ridiculous.

     If I believed my life would be over within a matter of months or a year, I'd spend the last year of my life living instead of hiding in some underground sanctuary or biting my nails, waiting nervously for death to come get me. If I'm going to go anyway, why not go out in style?

     If you're going to sell everything, why not take a cruise or go to the beach? Why not donate the money to some charity or spend each day with those you love? In fact, since none of us are even promised tomorrow, why not live each day with an attitude of gratitude?

    There's so many things to enjoy in the now: walks along the beach, feeling the warm sun on your face, watching the soft hues of an evening snowfall, and the list goes on and on. 

    Who knows? We may not be here come 2012, Christmas Day, the Fourth of July, or whenever. I don't know the answer to that one...BUT, dear friends, just remember: If you live like you're dying, then you're really living. If you're sitting around waiting for death to come get you, then you're good as dead.

    And I don't know about you, but I'd rather live in the now instead of dying out to the future and wondering what might've been.

    It's just a thought.

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("RAYS ON THE MEADOW" Photo by www.pdphoto.org, with the status rights to this photo as public domain. Per agreement for using this photograph, the credits can be found by clicking HERE.)     

EXACTLY TWO WEEKS AGO...

     Exactly two weeks ago today, several inches of snow settled heavy all over the Eastern United States. Grant it, I loved it when I didn't have anywhere to go, there's a good book in one hand and a hot cup of joe in the other, and the babies snuggling tight around our feet.
     Yes, the snow was beautiful--no doubt about it. But I'm somewhat glad it's passed and there two months left until the warmth of Springtime.
     I'll be thrilled when Spring has sprung. It'll be nice to pour a tall glass of iced tea, sit in my favorite lounging chair that calls my name everyday from the front porch, and hear the sound of katydids and birds ushering in a warmer season like a royal fanfare.
     Yes, it will be nice...
     ...BUT, if it wasn't for the times we didn't like, there'd never be anything to look forward to. There'd never be that excitement associated with the sight of fresh mulch and newly-grown flowers awaiting to majestically present themselves in flowerbeds and planting pots.
     So, until the warmer weather arrives, I'll make the best of this cold Winter and all it possesses. Dear friends, you'll find me buried beneath my Snuggie with a cup of warm joe in my favorite mug, popping in a good black and white horror flick, and overlooking things I cannot change. 
    And by doing so, I'll also be making wonderful, warm memories from a bitterly cold time of the year that will stay with me for the rest of my life. 
   

SOME ENCHANTED EVENING

       A wise man once said, "Good things take time to happen, but great things happen all at once."
     A few evenings ago, I ran out to my vehicle to get something. The skies were cloudy and mundane, yet there was something about the scenery that intrigued me. As I always do when a great thing develops without warning, I went to my desk and grabbed my camera. I'm not like most people. I believe everything has beauty in it, even crooked trees that have yet to possess colorful leaves in every hue imaginable.
     These pictures were taken, and I couldn't wait to see them. They were downloaded and my breath was taken away. Everything "the norm" would classify as ugly and disturbing at that moment in time suddenly became peaceful beauty and a mysteriously enchanting sight for sore eyes.

IT'S FUNNY FOTO FRIDAY!

WHY? WHY? WHY?

     My dear friend and former manager from "eons" ago, Karen, sends me the best emails. Karen's the one you want to recieve forwards from that are found the next morning in your email inbox.
     This was one I couldn't go another day without sharing with everyone. The email was entitled, "WHY? WHY? WHY?". The list asks some very... well... um... thought-provoking questions that, if nothing else, provide a good chuckle or two. ENJOY!

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Why do you have to 'put your two cents in', but it's only a 'penny for your thoughts'? Where's that extra penny going to?


Why does a round pizza come in a square box?


How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?


Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like every two hours?


Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?


Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?


Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.


Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?


If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?


If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?


Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs!


If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?


If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?


If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?


Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?


Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough money?


Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?


Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?


Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?


Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?


Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?


Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?


Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?


How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?


How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?


The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons are suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

MY SECRET OBSESSION

     Yep, I've got a confession to make. I'm a guy who happens to love candles. In fact, my love for candles is so great that I could live in a Yankee Candle factory.
     My love of candles started when I was a child. Aunt Jo, my mom's sister, decorated her house for Christmas one year. She waited until it got dark outside and invited the rest of us family members to her house, that was just below our home. The tour of her house started from the back. The closer we walked to the tree, the more candles there were. Knowing Jo, we knew whatever she had planned to show us was going to be nothing short of spectacular.
     And I can tell you, we weren't disappointed. 
     When we arrived in the room where the tree was, there was a cavalcade of silver candles shining everywhere. It was absolutely breath-taking. Then again, everything Jo did was extraordinary and unique; valuable lessons that have carried me for many years.     
     The truth is we all have good obsessions, whether it's candles, holidays,  various collections of interest, or whatever. It's good to know when life becomes too serious sometimes and every usual task becomes painfully daunting, these priceless outlets will always carry us to a better place in the world. 

A PERFECT MISTAKE



     Before I begin today's blog entry, I want to thank all of you for making my first FUNNY FOTO FRIDAY a success with your tremendous feedback. Check out next Friday for another hilarious entry.

     Now, on with today's entry...

     I was out-and-about one day last week taking pictures for my blog, and this photo was taken by accident. I was trying to get the flash to work just right on my camera and ended up taking this photo by mistake. At first, I thought about deleting it, but the more I stared at it the more I really liked it.

     It's kind of mysterious, isn't it? It's dark and unknown, the road seemingly leads nowhere, and the trees are barren. However, this image is nothing short of breathtaking and possesses a certain tranquil beauty that's hard to find. 

     Perhaps my error wasn't a mere fluke, dear friends. instead, we'll just say Mother Nature gave us one of her best displays of wonder and intrigue that can be summed up in two words: ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!

WELCOME TO FUNNY FOTO FRIDAYS!

     Okay. Yesterday's post was rather serious in nature, so today I thought I'd lighten things up a bit and introduce to you FUNNY FOTO FRIDAYS. This is an idea that's been secretly brewing in my brain for the past few weeks now and I thought I'd try it out.
     One of my favorite things to do is to go on the Internet and look up funny pictures and stories. After all, nothing relieves stress better than a good laugh, right? So, what better way to end a stressful work week or start a busy weekend than with a good chuckle or two.
      Every Friday, you'll find a picture, newspaper clip, or story that made me laugh a little or a whole lot. So, let me know what you think. They're simple and funny tidbits, like this one...



FROM JEKYLL TO HYDE TO JEKYLL AGAIN

     If you're a blogger, this has happened to you: you're blog is set a certain way--kind, collective, a personal sanctuary attempted to make a tranquil, nostalgic  place on the World Wide Web...that is, until the unthinkable happens that threatens the very livelihood the tranquility you have going on in your little corner of the virtual world.
     We were watching the news the other day and something really sat hard with me. It was about people, who were suppose to represent love and light, offering threats to show public displays of hate. I'm not going mention the group by name, but needless to say these people were less about love than quacking makes me a duck.
     Nevertheless...
     I was angry. In fact, let me take that back. I was IRATE! My mind raced with all the anger I had toward these people, and I actually made a bee-line toward the computer ready to blog about it. I knew all you guys and gals would understand my plight and know that even The Favorite Things Guy is allowed a rant every now and then.
     I was about to make my case known, then I stopped. I stopped because it was then I understood if I allow these people to get to me so bad that it changes something I enjoy and hold dear, then they've won and I'd sink to their level. If I allowed that to happen, then I'd be no better than they are. 
     I love my little world; a world where the biggest news makers of the day are the pink hues of a setting sun and the lavendar hues given off by the evening snow. It's a little world where The Glenn Miller Band reigns consistently at the top of my Billboard chart, carving Jack-O-Lanterns and admiring the Christmas tree from my favorite chair are exhilarating past times, and where being in the timeless, unforgettable presence of family and friends gives me world peace.
    Yes, dear friends, hate will go on, as will ignorance, pride and all those other things that have hurt our very existence time and time again. Yes, these things may change, but I'm glad to know they'll never change me. 

SLEIGH RIDE

      I just thought this was too awesome not to share.
      Yesterday, the ice, snow and slush saturated the roads (the same treacherous condition they've been in the past few days). I know, because when I tried to get home after running errands I was momentarily stuck at the bottom of a hill, preventing me from getting home.
      Of course, there's always some good after some bad.
      Since the roads were beyond passable, our neighbors who own a horse farm decided to hitch up the horse-drawn sleigh and go sleigh-riding. I told Susan and her family they look like a Currier and Ives Christmas card. What do you think? 

A "DOG-GONE" HAPPY ENDING

     This entry starts out sad but ends up with one furry creature living happily ever after. 

     People who adore their pets are often like people who have children. Every pet you see, you often think about your own little furry bundle of joy, especially when the situation is rather dire and needs immediate attention.

      The one thing I love doing is going to areas where the scenery is beautiful and drawing inspiration for future blog entries. I was walking around a local dam taking pictures and found this little guy. He had on a collar with no tag, and no obvious owner nearby. He was clinging to anyone who would walk by, including me.

     My first instinct was to stay close to him. I didn't want the pound to collect him and euthanize him within the week just because he was lost. Then, another instinct hit me. I piled him into my vehicle and drove him around the camping area. Low and behold, two people recognized him and the little guy gladly went to them.

     Who knows? Perhaps he was merrily wondering around, but I didn't care. I drove away feeling proud I did some good in a world that needs a little more evidence of good.   



     

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM FOR SNOW CREAM!

     With the recent bouts we've had with snow lately, it inspired me to write today's entry.
    As a child, I loved everything about snow: sledding, snowball fights, and, most importantly, school was always out! YAY! Now that I'm older, some of my favorite snow-related things have followed me into my adulthood (Of course, I doubt the other things really left me!).
     My Aunt Jo taught me something so wonderful and good associated with snow: snow cream. It's such a good treat and a very nice surprise the first time I tasted the creamy wonder courtesy of Mother Nature herself. I went online and found the perfect recipe. If you've never tried it, here's your chance.

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PAULA DEEN’S SNOW ICE CREAM

(As shown on the Food Network website. You can see it by clicking HERE.)

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Here’s what your gonna need…

8 cups [clean] snow, or shaved ice

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

Place snow or shaved ice into a large bowl. Pour condensed milk over and add vanilla. Mix to combine. Serve immediately in bowls.

ENJOY!!!

A PRICELESS MOMENT IN TIME

     Yesterday evening, East Tennessee became covered with an unexpected snow that blanketed everything in sight. Luckily, it was one of those dry snows good for making a snowman and perfect ammunition for good, old-fashioned snowball fighting.
     Then, as the sun rested behind the mountains, the lavender hues sat into play as the snow fell massive and beautiful. As I was taking pictures, I briefly stopped. An extraordinary feeling of serenity and peace surrounded me. It was like nothing else in the world mattered--not bills, not work, absolutely nothing but the indescribable feeling of a priceless moment in time. 

"OH NO YOU DIDN'T!"

     One of my resolutions for 2011 is "I’m going to find a reason to laugh once a day. It helps to balance everything out."
      I found this picture on the Internet a couple years ago when I Googled two words: FUNNY PICTURES. The reason I Googled that particular day is why a lot of people sometimes Google for no reason. They're just plain bored. For some reason this picture absolutely cracks me up. I know it's silly and possibly simple, but every time I see it I can't help but laugh.
      I suppose we can file today's blog entry under: "This ain't much, but I just had to share this with ya." Oh, well. I hope you got a chuckle out of it, and it brightened your day with laughter (or at least a smile =-)!).
     Have a terrific day! 

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

     The new year's settled in and everything appears dry and barren. Each year's beginning is always unquestionable, and our minds often entertain both fear and anticipation. However, I've begun looking at things differently.
     You might be asking yourself, "How does the above picture fall into the category of the best of things to come?" It's quite simple, really. Right now, the grass is dry and the air's too cold to play any outdoor sports. The trees lack leaves and are nothing but twigs and branches.
     BUT...Come springtime, all that will change. The trees will be lush and green; the fields will be full of ball players and kite fliers, and children's laughter will ring in the warm, sunny atmosphere. Generations of families will reunite once again, young loves will be rekindled with kisses under century-old oak trees, and granddads and their grandsons will sit along the lakeside with fishing poles and attempt to catch "the big one" and "the one that got away." Whether they catch anything or not, the irreplaceable time they'll spend together will be priceless.
    Yes, my dear friends, the best is yet to come. Just you wait and see!
    
    
    

HAPPY 2011!

"Another year its race has run,
And on this happy morn
We welcome with the rising sun,
The year that’s newly born;
And though it whispers that the day...
...Still it is welcome, and we say,
All hail, thou glad New Year!"

--"New Year Song" from The Printer’s Carnival and Other Poems

by James Kelly (1875)