My wife and I always get an early jump on Valentines Day because we where married on February 10 over 35 years ago and it has been the best 35 years in my life. at least I can say I have been married more years than not. Marriage is a time for change for both the man and woman, not just one or the other. The most important thing you learn is the word no. There are so many ways it can be said to what "no" really means.

But for now I will just be happy that there is still someone to tell me "NO"

Dee

I will be out of touch for a little while I have had quite a lot of things going on. For those who don't know me I started a project about a year ago ( Used Medical Aids Foundation ) I just got several truck loads of wheelchairs walkers scooters from a county hospital and have 2 truck loads from another hospital to get. I go threw the items and fix them up as close to new as I can then I post them in other groups that I belong to. There is no money involved no donation required only the need. I have several letters from people in my area that need something so I am trying to get as many ready as i can. I am getting help from the Boy Scouts in my area because I'm still not up to par yet but I can turn a wrench. so if I don't respond to the wonderful stories, poems, jokes, or pictures its because this santa is really busy right now.

Dennis

The Present

By Dee 

Christmas is a wonderful time of year walking along the store fronts lingering at the bakery shop with the fresh smell of goodies. Watching people go in and out of shops, with arm loads of packages. Hearing a bell ring at in front of a toy shop is reminding us, that there are others that need help.

 As you drive home you stop at a park where the kids are going as fast as they can down the hill on their sleds. There are no barriers between kids, no black, white, red, or yellow they just want to have fun. A little girl falls down and a woman picks her up and brushes the snow off and then gives her a hug.

Then Rose wakes up and realized it was a dream, remembers this last summer her husband and three kids, 2 girls and 1 boy won’t be sharing Christmas together anymore. Coming down out of the canyon her husband lost control of the car and went over the side. All Rose has now are pictures of times past that they shared together.

Rose goes out to get her mail the wind is bitterly cold and it looks like snow will soon come. As she gets to her front door a neighbor waves to her and says Marry Christmas. She waves back but says nothing. Looking at the mail that came that day reminds her of her lost family once again. She looks up into the mirror of the bathroom and sees a tear running down her cheek.

Why am I doing this still, it’s been 5 months and I need to get on with my life she says to herself. But a small voice says to her, “Mommy I love you”.

Her heart is aching and she can here herself saying I love you to. Then the tears start to flow and the tissue box is empty, so she uses the paper on the roll to dry her eyes.

Just then the phone rings and the man on the phone say’s “I am trying to raise money for those children that won’t have a Christmas”. Rose cuts him off by hanging up the phone.

As she goes to the bedroom and lies down on the bed to cry her eyes out like she has done so many in the last 5 months. She is saying to herself I’m not strong, I can’t take it anymore I don’t want to live. Again she hears another voice say “watch what I can do mommy”.

By the December 23^rd Rose is loosing her will to live and is trying to think of the best way to end the pain and suffering. But nighttime has come and she takes a pill to help her sleep.

In the morning she goes to the drugstore to pick up her medicine for depression and for sleeping. As she drives home she sees some girls in front of a store selling cookies. Again she hears a voice that says “Mmmmmm mommy they taste so good can I have another one”.

At home she says to her self NO! NO MORE! And then she sees the medicine that she just bought and says that’s how I will do it. When I go to bed tonight I will take all my meds and never wake up.

That night was the 24^th of December the worse night of the year to her remembering how the kids would try and sneak in to the living room to see what Santa had brought. Her eyes are red and her mind is filled with the missing images of Christmas in her home. She sits down to watch some TV but is started feeling sleepy so she lay down on the couch and closed her eyes.

The headline in the morning announces, “ANOTHER TRAGATY HAS HIT A HOME IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS”.

Rose could hear something then she heard it again but she had a hard time understanding what it was she heard. It came again but this time she heard mommy?

Rose opened her eyes and there in front of her was a little girl and beside her was another little girl with a little boy beside her. And standing behind them was a man holding out his hand. As she touches it, all of her thoughts comes to her. It’s her family she hugs them and kisses them. And starts to cry and says, how can this be. It’s another dream you are not real I have to wake up.

Her one little girl says, no mommy it’s not a dream we are here with you.

Headlines on the local news, “ANOTHER TRAGATY HAS HIT A HOME IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS”. A local woman dies in her sleep it seems that she had a faulty water heater and the pilot light went out but the gas didn’t stop.

Rose looked at her husband and said you mean I didn’t take all those pills like I was planning?

Her husband said no I was watching over you this whole time and it hurt me so to see you in such pain. I went to plead to help you and was told that I didn’t need to you where coming tonight to be with us forever.

Just then she heard singing it was the most beautiful song she had ever heard. And then there was a bright light, brighter than any she had ever seen before.

CHRISTMAS

Now that Thanksgiving and Black Friday are over with and you have plenty of leftovers what else could you need.

Christmas is just a few weeks away and if you where smart you would have all your Christmas shopping all done.

My self I have a hard time sleeping because so many people have fallen on hard times. There is a family down the street that is just at the end of their rope and its 300 feet to the bottom.

Every year my wife and I look for just a family. To no fault of their own he has lost his job the first of the month and his wife is expecting their 4^th child. He is working part time just to put food on the table. His wife does a lot of craft things and has helped in cub scouts and as a room mother for her oldest child who is in 2^nd grade. But this year she has not been able to do much because the doctor told her that she should have waited another year to have another child. She has to be on bed rest till the middle of Feb.

My wife and I choose to do sub for Santa to a family just like this and we have gotten a few things for the family. I received a e-mail from someone that I helped this summer with a wheelchair. In the e-mail it said we know that you will not take money for your foundation. And we also know that your wife has been working to pay bills and help taking care of her mother. Tomorrow a truck will come to with presents for a family that you feel needs some help with Christmas. Along with an envelope with a check for $1,000.00 the payee will be blank. Plus there will be a special card that will have $200.00 on it for gas.

I couldn’t believe it I know this family could use it and more but the biggest thing was that there was a job for either the father or mother working as a janitor at a place that is really good to the employs.

They had also heard that I had been in an accident and wasn’t able to do my part this year.

I have to tell you that I have put on a Santa suit almost 30 years and I have helped deliver sub for Santa to families from other people. But this year I feel that for one night I really am Santa and its like magic far stronger than even superman. They have three little girls and they are the cutest always with a smile. And I know that when the time comes there will be the wonderment in their eyes anticipating what’s in the boxes. I just wish I could be there when they open their presents but I’m afraid that I may have some plumbing problems that I couldn’t control.

I remember one Christmas when my girls where little and they had cut backs at my job several had been laid off and the rest that still had a job our hours went from 40 to 32. I had told my wife that it was going to take everything I got on my check just to pay the bills. But then someone told me about a place where I could do some piece work making rubber valves for pipe lines. I worked real hard for 5 weeks in my spare time and was able to get enough to have a little Christmas. But the week before Christmas one of our girls got real sick and was put in the hospital for a couple of days.

Back then we had to pay a co-pay which took everything we had for Christmas. It was the 23 of Dec. and all of a sudden we heard some noise outside and there where friends and neighbors with boxes of things.

I have always thought of myself as someone who doesn’t need help. I didn’t want to feel like a charity case but I always knew how I felt when I was able to help someone in trouble. My wife told me its time you let someone else feel good by helping you.

So if you think you see something in the night sky on the 24^th don’t be surprised if you see me in a sleigh.

Ho, HO, HOO Marry Christmas

Dee

The Fishing Pond

It never ceases to amazes me what kids do in their spare time. I was watching my grand kids one day this summer and saw them stuck to the TV tube. It didn’t matter what anyone did, the kids wouldn’t leave.

In the other room they where at the computer it was like a magnet so strong that it would pull others to it.

I decided to try something it wasn’t big and I told my wife what I was going to do. The dish where done the living room was clean. No one thought to bring an I pod with them to grandma’s and grandpa’s house.

Just then we lost power the TV was off, the computer was off. The kids where looking, and checking the plugs but everything was in order.

It was 11:00 in the morning so it was warm out side but there weren’t any kids outside.

Well the first thing the kids did was to tell me to fix the problem so they could go back to what they where doing. I know they wanted me to do my magic and fix it.

I just told them that my magic wouldn’t work this time I needed to get something at the store to help me.

The kids looked like they where lost couldn’t think for themselves. I went into my garage to look around and asked the kids to come and help. Up in the rafters I had made some storage places for like camping gear and things like that. I told the kids that what I needed was way in back of all the stuff. So I went up the ladder and started handing things down to the kids. First a tire came down and then a couple of sleeping bags and a tackle box and then some fishes polls.

Then one of the grand kids said “I’ve been fishing before” as though it was a big thing. So I asked would you like to go again. Of course he said yes but he said we went far, far away and it took them all day to get there.

I smiled at him and said well I know one that is closer and will only take about an hour to get to. Then the rest popped up and said can we come. Sure I said I have to check with grandma first.

My wife had made sandwiches and put them in a box along with some other things. But she said I’m coming along as well or you can make your own sandwiches.

So off we went. I had turned the radio off and they didn’t even notice. Grandma asked do any of you know a song we all can sing. So we sang songs the whole way. When se got there some wanted to fish others wanted to go for a hike.

We caught several fish and I showed the kids how to clean them.

We spent about 5 hours there and not one of them complained and on the way back I taught them some songs from when I was a kid.

When we got back home and their parents came that’s all they could talk about. The showed the parents the fish and other things they had found and the songs they learned.

As they where about to leave I asked would you like to do it again some time.

Their answer was yes “tomorrow”

After the accident the kids thought that was the end of the trips. But grandma told them she had plans for going on a trip before Christmas.

We shall see how it turns out.

Dee

Dead Ahead

Jerry and Ben where the best of friend, but Jerry came from a bad home life.

It seemed that his parents where always fighting with his two older sisters. They both had been married had a couple kids each, and after their divorces they moved back home. With one sister it was kind of crowded but with two sisters, there was no room to move around without bumping into one of them.

Both of his sisters wanted Jerry’s room and tried several times to move into his room with out telling anyone. But Jerry would tell them that this was his room and move them out. He got tired of this and finally put a lock on his door to keep them from trying.

The reason they wanted his room is because he had worked hard on weekends and days during the summers to get a room he wanted. He had bought several nice things like his own phone line, computer and a nice stereo system.

Jerry was the kind of a person that kept money in his room, but kept it hidden.  Sometimes after he would cash his check he would bring it home, and divide it up to different piles for things he wanted. With the rest of the money he would put in his bank account for safe keeping.

One time when he moved one sister out of his room, he found that $500.00 was missing out a bank he kept the money in. He didn’t know which one of his sisters took it so he went through their purses and found it in one of their wallets. His sister clamed, that it was hers, from her ex husband for child support.

But Jerry had found a couple of bills that had marks on it that he had put there for indemnification just in case. On a couple of the bills he had put his name on it.

When Jerry’s mom asked his sister about it she just said I don’t know how it got there, but insisted the money was hers. Jerry’s mom tried to call his sister’s ex husband to find out if he really did but couldn’t get a hold of him. So his mom said I will keep the money till we get a hold of your ex.

Jerry really didn’t like being at home because when a fight would start he would get mixed up in them. That made him so angry that he would go up to his room and turn the stereo on and put the head sets on. Someone would beat on his door and he would know when they did, so finally he would just leave the house. Some times it would be all night or at least 1 AM before he came back.

Jerry use to go to Ben’s place, but then when he started getting phone calls from his family there, Jerry stopped going to Ben’s house.

Then one day Jerry called Ben and said he was down at the police station, and he didn’t know what to do, but he didn’t want to call his parents. So Ben talked to his dad and they went down to the station to see what they could do to help.

Jerry’s story was that he was on his way over to Ben’s place when two guys came out of a alley way to jump him and get what ever they could from him. Both guys where armed one with a knife and the other with a gun.

Jerry and Ben had taken marshal arts together for several years, and Jerry moved fast and disarmed the guy with the gun first.

The one with the knife was about behind Jerry and was ready to stick him in the back. But Jerry moved to the side, and the guy with the knife stuck the guy that had the gun instead. When the guy with the knife realized what he had done he took off running and left his buddy there with a knife stuck in him.

Jerry bent down and tried to administer first aid. After he did all he could he went to a pay phone and 911 to get help. When the paramedics got there they said that the guy was in bad shape but they would do what they could.

With no other witnesses the police had no choice but to bring Jerry down to the station.

*

At first they weren’t going to let Ben and his dad see or talk to Jerry unless a parent or a lawyer was present. But Ben r ecognized one of the officers and asked if he remembered him. The officer said that he did and then asked what he was doing at the police station?

Ben said that his friend was being held at the station and they where trying to see what they could do for him.

Both Ben and Jerry had gone on a lot on ride-a-longs with officers for a project they where doing at school. The officer asked why his parents didn’t come in.

Ben told the officer about the problems Jerry was having with his family and if his mom and dad weren’t there at the house then neither of his two sisters would lift a finger to help. The officer said let me see what I can do.

Twenty minutes later the officer came back, and said we can let him go with you but your dad has to be responsible for him.

Ben’s dad said that he would and 10 minutes later they where walking out into the parking lot.

When they got into the car Ben’s dad said, Jerry you will have to come and stay with us tonight, because they told me that you have to see a judge tomorrow. But if you don’t show up they will arrest me and then I will be in a lot of trouble.

Jerry said, he would stay with them because he didn’t want to cause any more problems.

Back at Ben’s house Jerry told them what had happened in detail and that the only thing he did wrong was to walk down that street.

Ben’s dad said we will do what ever we can but you know that it’s the judge that says what happens. If you can prove your story to the judge I’m sure he will let you go.

The next day at the court house they where waiting in the hallway to see the judge in his chambers. In the hallway there they saw wanted posters on a lot of people. To pass the time Ben and Jerry started looking through them, then Jerry stopped and said there’s one of the two guys he had, had a run in with. Looking through more posters Jerry found the other guy as well. I don’t think any of the officers know that those guys are wanted.

Soon they where ushered in to a room where there a man behind a desk and writing something on a piece of paper.

When the man looked up at Jerry it gave him the feeling that he was guilty, before hearing what he had to say.

Ben’s dad put a hand on Jerry’s shoulder and said, relax just answer the questions he asks and nothing else.

They sat there waiting for the judge to do something and finally he said. How where you able to disable two older guys that you say tried to rob you?

Jerry said I have taken marshal arts with my friend here, pointing to Ben and I was defending my self.

What happened to the other guy asked the judge?

Jerry said, I’ll tell you the whole story if you want me to, and then if you have any questions I will answer them to.

The judge said I think that would be a good idea and then we will go from there.

When Jerry had finished telling the judge, then he then said while we where waiting for you out in the hallway we were looking at the wanted posters  and both of those men that tried to jump me where on posters. I don’t didn’t know it and I don’t think the officers knew that the guy that got stabbed was wanted either.

The judge said hang on we will see about this and then picked up the phone and made a call. As the judge was talking on the phone everyone in the room knew what was being said on both sides.

The judge finally said, in a loud voice. Slap that guy in cuffs and have an officer there, till we get him into jail. I want to make sure that guy, doesn’t walk away.

When the judge had finished he said to Jerry, Ben, and his dad, I’m sure all of you herd what was being said and if what you say is true, then you should be rewarded and not be in front of me.

Twenty minutes later the judge received a call to confirm that what Jerry said was true. The guy had been placed under guard and moved to a room where he was locked in.

Jerry asked, what about the other guy has he been caught?

But Jerry didn’t need an answer because he knew that the police had searched for him and had no luck. So the guy would hide in a hole like he had done many times before.

But what Jerry didn’t know was that the guy who got away had picked up the gun as he was running away. And was planning a revenge on Jerry for the trouble he caused.

The guy wouldn’t take any chances on meeting Jerry again without help. This time he would have a couple of other guys with him, to make sure this kid was going down.

Back and Ben’s house Jerry asked Ben, will you go with me to my house. So that I can pick up some things because, I have to get away. I feel like I’m under a lot of pressure and I need to just get away to clear my head for a few days.

Ben said of course I’ll go with you and maybe we can go camping or something like that. Ben had a motorcycle and for a long time he wanted a chance to go somewhere. Without his mom and dad telling him do this, or don’t do that.

Ben finally went to his dad and mom and said, Jerry says he’s under a lot of stress and needs to get a way for a few days. He asked me to go with him and I think I should.

Both his mom and dad looked at each other and then back at Ben. Then his dad said let your mother and I talk about it for a while, and then we will let you know.

After 45 minutes, Ben’s mom went up to his room and said, its  alright with us as long as you don’t plan to take your motorcycle.

Ben said, but mom you need to let me do this, Jerry needs me to do it for him.

His mom said, that’s not going to happen so if you want to go somewhere we will take you and pick you up.

Ben said, he doesn’t want to be around a lot of people. Jerry wants to go camping. So if I can’t take my motorcycle then I guess we will have to hike where ever we go. I just hope we don’t run into any problems like if one of us breaks our leg or an arm.

That night after dinner they where sitting at the table. Ben’s dad said I understand that you would really like to use your motorcycle?

Ben said well mom said no.

His dad then said, I had to remind your mother that when I was your age I had a horse. That’s how I got around and if it wasn’t for my horse I don’t know how I would have been able to work out my problems. But I do want you to know that we expect you to call us every third night and that you wont be gone any longer than a week.

Jerry and Ben agreed to this and ran up stairs to start planning their trip.

I will post computer alearts along when I get them. I get all kinds of alerts but only pass on the ones that I think shoule be passed on.

Dee

From: jellison@ficor.com
To: dennishoard@aol.com, clhoard1936@yahoo.com
Sent: 9/4/2008 6:41:52 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time
Subj: FW:

JUST AN FYI!

BIG VIRUS COMING !!! PLEASE READ & FORWARD !!!
http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp
 
Hi All, I checked with Norton Anti-Virus, and they are gearing up for this virus!
I checked Snopes (URL above:), and it is for real!! Get this E-mail message sent around to your contacts ASAP.  PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS!
You should be alert during the next few days. Do not open any
message with an attachment entitled ’POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK,’ regardless
of who sent it to you. It is a virus which opens A POSTCARD IMAGE, which
’burns’ the whole hard disc C of your computer. This virus will be received
from someone who has your e-mail address in his/her contact list. This is
the reason why you need to send this e-mail to all your contacts It is
better to receive this message 25 times than to receive the virus and open it.
 
If you receive a mail called’ POSTCARD,’ even though sent to you by  a friend, do not open it! Shut down your computer immediately.
This is the worst virus announced by CNN. It has been classified by
Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever. This virus was discovered by McAfee yesterday, and there is no repair yet for this kind of virus. This
virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where the vital
information is kept.
 COPY THIS E-MAIL, AND SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS. REMEMBER: IF YOU SEND IT TO THEM, YOU WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US.

0A Snopes lists all the names it could come in.