Kindergarten is frightening.

Mrs. Shaw barks.

Love Mrs. O’Conner

Drawings reveal aptitude.

Intelligence surfaces early.

Leaders carry others.

Big girls cry.

I hate lines.

Love keeps warm.

Safety in bedroom.

Isaac protects me.

Singing is healing.

Singing makes special.

Funerals are scary.

People are morbid.

Death seems eerie.

Babies get love.

Talent gets love.

Racism is ugly.

People are jealous.

Intelligence scares people.

Never dummy down.

Live life fully

SAT’s are easy.

I enjoy tests.

Schooling brings joy

People open families.

Share your culture.

Spread joy around.

College presents itself.

Larger minds create.

Who are these?

Attractive attracts attention.

Warm days excite.

Study criminology love.

Enjoy creative mind.

See beauty everywhere

Black is beautiful

Dr. King Assassinated

Riots rage streets

People killed Third

National Guard deployed

City under siege

Fire Molotov arrests

Hurting people bleed

Joe dead cold

Hands raised shot

Nothing ever done.

In New York after a show one night, a friend invited me to accompany him to a club where Bette Midler was performing. She was *fabulous*! Bette was in her element - running about with her high camp banter, blowing kisses to all and just being Bette. It was heaven. After her show, I decided to get up and walk around a bit.

I had just come from work and was all dressed up and in full make-up. I was excited because it was my first Bette Midler live show. I rounded a corner and saw a man in a towel... JUST a towel! As I rounded the next corner I saw that this man was not alone. 

Suddenly I realized that I was the only one with CLOTHES ON!!! My friend had taken me to the infamous Continental Baths...the gay men's BATH HOUSE!!! - ROTFLOL

I saw more fannies that night than Carter had liver pills. I made a hasty retreat...and nearly beat the stew out of my friend on my way out, LOL.

So many are sick, hurting or going through a challenging time. I believe in the power of prayer and healing. I have compiled some music that will bless and encourage you. It is Christian music. However, All are welcome. If you believe otherwise you are also welcome.

Understanding that we may have differing beliefs, I set the music up to play on that page so that those who *want* to hear it can do so (whenever you like), while those who may not, can still visit my page without the music.

When you click on the "About Me" tab the player will start the music automatically.

Note: If you switch pages, the player will stop. If you would like the music to continue to play while you visit other pages, leave my "ABOUT ME" page open. Open a new browser window and surf away. The player will automatically stop when it gets to the last song. If you start the playlist at any other song other than the first one, the music player will play until all songs are played.

To those who need a special touch from Our Father, BE ENCOURAGED, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!

Hugz,

NV

 I just watched The Bucket List starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. I was left with this thought resonating within me...

Find your joy!

How many of us lived the first half of our lives for others - You made choices to please your parents...

You didn't really fulfill your true dream in life because you thought it too impossible or too frivolous or too SOMETHING?

Are your children grown? Did you give them everything that you never had or, did you at least try to?

Did you not stray too far from home because you wanted to be nearby in case you were needed?

Were you really just too afraid to take a chance on yourself and your dreams?

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you into the best years of your life.

We are grown now. We don't need anyone's permission to live our best lives, except our own.

I believe that God gave us permission to be all that we could be when he sent us here. We have everything that we need to take the leap and to live.

For too long, I have stopped myself. I want my life back, don't you?

What if that excuse that you've been hiding behind was no longer an issue?

Guess what? It really isn't. Just as soon as you decide that it isn't. God has already given you permission. Now, permit YOURSELF.

What is it that you would REALLY like to do?

DO IT. Just. DO IT.

Right now. Write it down. Committ to do at least ONE THING toward the realization of it.

I absolutely want my life back. I stand in faith with you to retrieve YOURS.

Godspeed my friend.

Hugz,

NV

  Ever notice how People hurt People? They want power over your existence so, they hurt you...or TRY to.

While you may not be impervious to their attempts to cause you pain, you CAN and MUST use your power to IGNORE. That is your personal delete button. Cease to give that person power in your life by reducing their importance. YOU are who matters most, not some non-caring imbecile who inflates their importance. They will wither like the grass. Put them in the proper perspective. And remember - Wherever you go, there you are. So, take good care of you.

Let that person cease to exist in your world. I have even gone so far as to have a "funeral" for persons that had no place in my life.

My florist LOVES ME. When my ex and I parted ways, I had a "letting go" ceremony. I went to my florist and ordered 3 Black Balloons. When I told him what they were for, he said what a MARVELOUS idea! Then he asked what I'd like to say on the card? I said, "Ba-by... You DON'T want to know!!! " - We both belly laughed about that. He then festooned the black balloons with mylar streamers and decorative weights.

I then drove to the California Coast and had my ceremony. I said my good-byes, had my closure and RELEASED! I released the balloons and told them to carry as much of my pain along with them as they travelled through the air - up and up, and up and out of sight!

But wouldn't you know that the B-word with seven letters, got a last lick off of me? The wind was blowing off of the ocean in MY DIRECTION. So, as I tried to hold the balloons to "say my piece" the wind was causing them to beat the crap out of me, ROTFLOL

Ah, but I got the last laugh. I LET GO!!!

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3819E44917F58D29

He Didn’t Know That I Was Coming

I found my great-great grandpa yesterday. He didn’t know that I was coming. He was fighting in the Civil War, and he didn’t know that I was coming.

He was a Sergeant in that winter’s cold. The casualties were high. General Sherman was fast approaching while canons’ hail filled the dark night skies. Men were dying, and little children too. And he didn’t know that I was coming.

He fought gallantly for Blue and Grey. His mother owned ten slaves whom she wanted to stay. But he fell in love with a beautiful lady he met so dark and fair. She had never been a slave to anyone. He married her and moved away from there.

For his great love he lost his rank. His family knew him not. He left Virginia with his brand new wife and moved to the south to cast his lot.

Ten sons had they who owned and farmed and spread across the land. He taught them all to read and write and he made them proficient in math. He would not allow them to be cheated, though it was a given in that terrible day of wrath. No, they were merchants, farmers and butcher men who owned the store in the town they lived in.

Alas, when I found him he was no more though he could never be dead. He came alive to me on pages of ages and stories both told and read. I saw him in my grandpa’s eyes, such love for us alone. My Papa loved us all so much that it made up for love we had not known.

 So, I forgive great-great grandpa’s Blue and Grey and all that useless running. Because he honored my great-great grandma even though he didn’t know that *I* was coming.

Note: This is my true story of my great-great grandpa whom I just discovered fought in the Civil War.  I found some family letters online where relatives wrote back and forth describing the war.  My great-great grandpa and two gg-uncles fought in the Civil War. Genealogy is a hobby of mine that has become a passion. I never dreamed that there would be so many surprises in store. In fact, in this vein of my family, there were no slaves at all. This part of my family comes from Wales.

I was just thinking. Gasoline here is $4.14 per gallon.  A loaf of bread is $4 dollars. A head of lettuce is $1.00. When I buried my Mom in 2004, the burial plot was $8200!!! Not the casket, nor the funeral nor flower... just the GROUND! It dawned upon me, I can’t AFFORD TO DIE, LOL. - I have a *great* idea, though. When I know I’m about to kick the bucket, I can take out a looooooooong term loan for the end of life celebration, tell them that I’m going "out of town" and that I’ll get to them when I get back. No? Dang. It was just starting to sound good to me, LOL. - Ah yes Karma. We don’t want to mess up *that* close to the pearly gates!

But seriously. I have "The Secret", I’ve asked "The Question"  "I’m doing my darndest to "Live My Best Life", or at least live the only life I seem to be having! I’m so blasted driven about my PURPOSE that I’m getting on my *own* nerves. And let’s face it, why would we need "A New Earth" when we’ve screwed this one up so badly? You think the man upstairs will trust us AGAIN???

I thought that I would spend my life searching for the "meaning of life" and actually I am in hot pursuit of THE MEANS. Where are the 1950’s when you really *need* them? They were ahead of their time. We need them NOW.

I remember Dinah Shore singing the theme song to our local Chevrolet Dealer. Now I think they sell Pontiacs, Cadillacs and GMC’S! The whole world is off kilter. Have you stopped by your local takeout chicken place lately? The chickens are miniscule! I’ve seen bigger parts on Cornished Hens!!! But the prices are HIGHER, people. You’ve got a dwarfed chicken who wouldn’t be SEEN in good company parading around as if it’s sliced bread. Which brings me back to my opening... Bread $4.00 - Mayo $4.15; Pickles $4.00; Tomatoes $3.99; Luncheon Meat $4.99 = Sandwich $20.00 approx. WHAT’S UP WITH THAT???

Okay. I'll admit it. I have more aches and pains than I thought I'd have at this age. I have to really concentrate now on being more careful as I drive and my back goes out more than I do, LOL

Here is an email that I received today. It highlights how I am feeling these days. Enjoy!

NV