CHATTY CRONE

Are we kind hearted?

2009-11-08T08:00:00.009-05:00

Your Kindness Quotient
by Max Lucado

"How kind are you? What is your kindness quotient? When was the last time you did something kind for someone in your family--e.g., got a blanket, cleaned off the table, prepared the coffee--without being asked?

Kind hearts are quietly kind. They let the car cut into traffic and the young mom with three kids move up in the checkout line. They pick up the neighbor's trash can that rolled into the street.

Kindness at home. Kindness in public. Kindness at church and kindness with your enemies.
Pretty well covers the gamut, don't you think? Almost.

Someone else needs your kindness. You. Us. Me. We need to be a little kinder to ourselves."

From A Love Worth Giving - Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2002) Max Lucado

My grandson attends Choi Kwang Do and tested for his green belt senior yesterday - I sat next to a man who turned out to be an owner of another facility nearby. Do you know they have a boy - taking a martial arts class - in a wheelchair? He was testing yesterday too! He has been paralyzed from the waist down since birth. They modified the program so he can use his arms. Now did they have to do that? Is it official martial arts? What does it matter? It was a random act of kindness.

Isn't that one of the kindest things you've ever heart - made my heart warm all over. Can you think of a special act of kindness that made your heart warm all over?

Happy Birthday Margaret Mitchell - from Wikipedia -

"Mitchell lived as a modest Atlanta newspaperwoman until a visit from Macmillan editor Harold Latham, who visited Atlanta in 1935. Latham was scouring the South for promising writers, and Mitchell agreed to escort him around Atlanta at the request of her friend, Lois Cole, who worked for Latham. Latham was enchanted with Mitchell, and asked her if she had ever written a book. Mitchell demurred. "Well, if you ever do write a book, please show it to me first!" Latham implored. Later that day, a friend of Mitchell, having heard this conversation, laughed. "Imagine, anyone as silly as Peggy writing a book!" she said. Mitchell stewed over this comment, went home, and found most of the old, crumbling envelopes containing her disjointed manuscript. She arrived at The Georgian Terrace Hotel, just as Latham prepared to depart Atlanta. "Here," she said, "take this before I change my mind!"

Latham bought an extra suitcase to accommodate the giant manuscript. When Mitchell arrived home, she was horrified over her impetuous act, and sent a telegram to Latham: "Have changed my mind. Send manuscript back." But Latham had read enough of the manuscript to realize it would be a blockbuster. He wrote to her of his thoughts about its potential success. MacMillan soon sent her a check in advance to encourage her to complete the novel — she had not composed a first chapter. She completed her work in March 1936.

Gone With the Wind was published on June 30, 1936. The book was dramatized by David O. Selznick, and released three years later. The premiere of the film was held in Atlanta on December 15, 1939.

Gone with the Wind was such an overnight success that its publisher George Platt Brett, President of Macmillan Publishing, gave all its employees an 18% bonus in 1936.

She was run over by a taxi on her beloved Peactree Street."

Love,
Chatty

Inspirational Saturday

2009-11-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.”
—Thomas Carlye

40 Inspirational Speeches in two minutes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wRkzCW5qI&feature=player_embedded

"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained." ~ Marie Curie

Happy Birthday to Marie Curie - an inspirational woman who had persistence and perseverance:

"Only a couple of months later, (after her husband) - Curie died. Her death on July 4, 1934, at the Sancellemoz Sanatorium in Passy, in Haute-Savoie, eastern France, was from aplastic anemia, almost certainly contracted from exposure to radiation. The damaging effects of ionizing radiation were then not yet known, and much of her work had been carried out in a shed without any safety measures. She had carried test tubes containing radioactive isotopes in her pocket and stored them in her desk drawer, remarking on the pretty blue-green light that the substances gave off in the dark.

Her laboratory is preserved at the Musée Curie.

Due to their levels of radioactivity, her papers from the 1890s (and even her cookbook) are considered too dangerous to handle. They are kept in lead-lined boxes; those who wish to consult them must wear protective clothing." Wikipedia

You really need to look up Madam Curie in the Wikipedia. Chatty is at a loss for words - believe it or not). This woman went through just about every adversity imaginable and yet nothing, nothing stopped her. (See her quote above). Parents, poverty, leaving her home, not being accepted because she was a woman, and more - yet she persevered and persevered to be one of the greatest scientists and contributor to 'helping' people in the world.

I'm learning so much by doing this - it amazes me.

Love, Chatty

Fun Friday

2009-11-06T08:00:00.012-05:00

GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN

Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa: half discovered, half wild, fertile and naturally beautiful.

Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe: well developed and open to trade, especially for someone of real value.

Between 31 and 35, a woman is like Spain: very hot, relaxed, and convinced of her own beauty.

Between 36 and 40, a woman is like Greece: gently aging but still a warm and desirable place to visit.

Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain: with a glorious and all conquering past.

Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Israel: has been through war, doesn't make the same mistakes twice, and takes care of business.

Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Canada: self-preserving, but open to meeting new people.

After 70, she becomes Tibet: wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages, an adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge.

GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN

Between 1 and 90, a man is like Iran, ruled by nuts.

THE END.

One night, she confided in him that she was pregnant. Not wanting to ruin his reputation or his marriage, He paid her a large sum of money if she would go to Italy to secretly have the child. If she stayed in Italy to raise the child, he would also provide child support until the child turned 18.

She agreed, but asked how he would know when the baby was born. To keep it discrete, he told her to simply mail him a post card, and write 'Spaghetti' on the back. He would then arrange for the child support payments to begin.

One day, about 9 months later, he came home to his confused wife. 'Honey!,' she said, 'you received a very strange post card today..'

'Oh, just give it to me and I'll explain it later,' he said. The wife obeyed and watched as her husband read the card, turned white, and fainted.

On the card was written:

Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti.

Three with meatballs, two without.

Send extra sauce.

Subject: life

The first day, God created the dog and said:

'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past.

For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'

The dog said:

'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?'

So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said:

'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty -year life span.'

The monkey said:

'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'

And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said:

'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.'

The cow said:

'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said:

"Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life . For this, I'll give you twenty years.'

But man said:

'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?'

'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family.
For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren.
And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.

Happy Birthday to the Flying Nun - Sally Field:

Another fantastic actress - do you remember Steel Magnolias? I remember a couple lines in there I will never forget. The strength a woman has . . .

M'Lynn: I find it amusing. Men are supposed to be made out of steel or something. I just sat there. I just held Shelby's hand. There was no noise, no tremble, just peace. Oh god. I realize as a woman how lucky I am. I was there when that wonderful creature drifted into my life and I was there when she drifted out. It was the most precious moment of my life.

Love,
Chatty

Cullowhee American Trilogy

2009-11-06T07:58:00.001-05:00

Gone With The WInd

2009-11-05T08:00:00.005-05:00

I like this quote and thought I'd share it:
"Security is not the meaning of my life. Great opportunities are worth the risk."

I am going through my own personal trials these days - no one is immune to them - it's a matter of when you will go through your personal trials. I ask myself daily - is security worth more than opportunities or are opportunities worth more than security? Is that even a real question? And do you have to give up one for the other - sometimes when you get to the middle of life you just feel like you need to do something different - security isn't all that it is cracked up to be - because there is no security in life - not really - so are opportunities worth the risk or not?

What do you think?

Happy Birthday to Vivian Leigh - man she had a complicated love life and acting career and bad health - but she was fabulous as Scarlett O'Hara - wasn't she? !!!!

Wikipedia:

"The Olivier's (Vivian and Laurence her second husband) returned to England, and Leigh toured through North Africa in 1943, performing for troops before falling ill with a persistent cough and fevers. In 1944 she was diagnosed as having tuberculosis in her left lung, but after spending several weeks in hospital, she appeared to be cured.

In spring she was filming Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) when she discovered she was pregnant, but suffered a miscarriage. She fell into a deep depression which reached its nadir when she turned on Olivier, verbally and physically attacking him until she fell to the floor sobbing. This was the first of many major breakdowns related to bipolar disorder.

Olivier came to recognise the symptoms of an impending episode – several days of hyperactivity followed by a period of depression and an explosive breakdown, after which Leigh would have no memory of the event, but would be acutely embarrassed and remorseful. "

She suffered from bipolar disorder for years. (I never knew that). She died young with tuberculous. She married three times and both of her ex's loved her all her life - even after their divorces - took part in caring for her. She must have been a lovable person in spite of her disorder.

"In May 1967, she was rehearsing to appear with Michael Redgrave in Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance when she became ill with a recurrent bout of the tuberculosis from which she had been suffering for more than twenty years but, after resting for several weeks, had seemed to be recovering.

On the night of 7 July, Merivale left her as usual, to perform in a play, and returned home around midnight to find her asleep. About thirty minutes later (by now 8 July), he returned to the bedroom and discovered her body on the floor. She had been attempting to walk to the bathroom, and as her lungs filled with liquid, she had collapsed. "

And Scarlett was so strong . . . sometimes it is all an act.
Love,
Chatty

Friends

2009-11-04T08:00:00.006-05:00

The Healing Power of Friendships

Social connections can help you stay healthier and happier throughout life.
By Linda Melone

"Maintaining friendships, new and old, is an essential part of emotional wellness, but it's also important for your continued physical health as you age, experts say. When friends fade from your life, live at a greater distance, or die, you are more likely to experience loneliness and depression in later years. And with isolation also comes a greater risk for serious health issues, such as high blood pressure and death from a stroke or heart disease, according to a study done by researchers at the University of Chicago. They also found that links between loneliness and rates of cancer run parallel, as do increases in inflammation and decreases in antibody production." (Inflammation is the new thing to be looking for in health these days).

Remember the song - Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the others gold.

Friends on the blog count too! I am grateful for my blogger friends.

Happy birthday to:
Ruth Handler
Barbie Doll Inventer

Perhaps one of the most famous toys in American history, the Barbie doll is a staple in the toy chests of little girls everywhere. Along with co-founding the renowned toy company Mattel, woman inventor Ruth Handler also designed the doll that would become an American cultural icon.

While watching her daughter play with paper dolls, Ruth Handler noticed that she and her friends used the dolls to act out the future rather than the present. So, she set out to invent a grown-up, three-dimensional doll that girls could use to act out their dreams. This, of course, included the presence of breasts (and what many would later call "unrealistic body proportions"). The female inventor named her new Barbie doll invention after the nickname of her daughter Barbara. Later on, a male counterpart doll would be named after her son: Ken.

After premiering at the Toy Fair in 1959, Barbie became an instant sensation. The success of the doll propelled Mattel to become a publicly owned company that soon made Fortune's list of the 500 largest U.S. industrial companies. Handler served as the company's president for several of its most successful years. Along with being an inventor and businesswoman, Ruth Handler is also a breast cancer survivor – an experience she used to start another company, Nearly Me, which manufactured realistic-looking breast prostheses.

To this day, the Barbie doll invention remains one of Mattel's best-selling products.

http://www.women-inventors.com/Ruth-Handler.asp

Love,
Chatty

Barbie and Ken are friends too (lol).

2009-11-03T08:00:00.003-05:00

Thought of the Day: Smile at both the good and the not-so-good inside you. Embrace both.- Barbara Ann Kipfer

Okay question for you:

We know our good points and we should know our bad points. Right? We are appreciative of our good ones. We pride ourselves as having made the good qualities all by ourselves. But what about our bad qualities - the lessor qualities we have - where do we get them.

We blame others for them don't we? We picked it up somewhere, it was taught to us, someone made us behave that way. . .

Did you ever think that maybe we chose to make the bad qualities we have - ourself? Maybe we don't even know we did it. Why would we do that?

Example:

What if you criticized yourself a lot? You could say you were criticized as a child or you lived with criticism - but do you think that maybe you learned to criticize yourself for a reason?

And if so - what would be the reason? Some one told me that recently and I have been thinking about that and if it's true. It's hard to believe you would do something negative to yourself.

What do we get out of being bad sometimes to our self? And can we smile and embrace both the good and the not-so-good inside us?

Happy Birthday Daniel Boone - the good and the not- so -good side . . .

In Boone's youth, his family became a source of controversy in the local Quaker community. In 1742, Boone's parents were compelled to publicly apologize after their eldest child Sarah married John Wilcoxson, a "worldling" (non-Quaker), while she was visibly pregnant.

When Boone's oldest brother Israel also married a "worldling" in 1747, Squire Boone stood by his son and was therefore expelled from the Quakers, although his wife continued to attend monthly meetings with her children.

Perhaps as a result of this controversy, in 1750 Squire sold his land and moved the family to North Carolina. Daniel Boone did not attend church again, although he considered himself a Christian and had all of his children baptized.

Because he spent so much time hunting in his youth, Boone received little formal education. According to one family tradition, a schoolteacher once expressed concern over Boone's education, but Boone's father was unconcerned, saying "let the girls do the spelling and Dan will do the shooting…."

Love,
Chatty

THE ESSENCE OF CHUTZPAH

2009-11-02T07:58:00.015-05:00

Trick or Treat in Georgia - It was a dark and rainy night - when all through the subdivision . . .

there were tiny Bakugan's and Leopard Princesses - looking so tired and wet . . .

They even had big teenagers out with them too . . .

With Chatty's array of unusual umbrella's . . .

Getting full bags of goodies this particular night . . .

Even though it was almost pitch black and scary and my what a fright . . .

They forged on - up hills and down hills . . .

To end the night!

Chutzpah is a Yiddish word meaning gall, brazen nerve, effrontery, kohones, sheer guts plus arrogance. It's Yiddish and, as Leo Rosten writes, "No other word, and no other language," can do it justice. This example is better than 1,000 words . . .

THE ESSENCE OF CHUTZPAH

A little old lady sold pretzels on a street corner for 25 cents each. Every day a young man would leave his office building at lunch time, and as he passed the pretzel stand, he would leave her a quarter, but never take a pretzel.

And this went on for more then 3 years. The two of them never spoke. One day, as the young man passed the old lady's stand and left his quarter as usual, the pretzel lady spoke to him.

"Sir, thank you for your business. You are a good customer, but I have to tell you that the pretzel price has gone up to 35 cents."

Now why would I take the time to post this? Good question. One - it's from my friend Richard, Jewish - they have such wonderful words with wonderful meanings we just don't have in the English language.

I guess secondly we need to recognize we all need a little CHUTZPAH to make it through life.

And if you don't have a little Chutapah, life might be a little harder and less satisfying. Some people have it and some people will never get it - do you?

Love,
Chatty

A quick one - Happy Birthday to Stephanie Powers who starred in "Hart To Hart" with Robert Wagner - did you ever watch that show years ago? I loved that show! (I told you I was a dreamer and romantic - they had a great life and a great marriage - didn't they? - Television)

Sensory Processing Disorder

2009-11-01T08:00:00.012-05:00

"What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers." – Matina Horner (At least in the special education realm - answers are hard to come by.)

Happy Birthday to Jenny McCarthy -

I know she has done a lot of, well 'different' things in her life, but she is active for autism. Sensory is a part of that and well, sensory is one of my causes. Everyone with autism has some sensory issues, but not every with sensory issues is autistic. Sensory can stand alone.

That's the 'cause' I'm working for - sensory standing alone as it's own unique diagnosis. The Sensory Processing Disorder Center is run by Dr. Lucy Miller who I have met, talked with, and trained with- she is AWESOME! I've been in class with Carol Kranowitz author of The Out Of Sync Child.

These two women are trying to get sensory processing disorder as it's own individual DSM diagnosis. Probably doesn't mean much to you - but to some it means a lot. A lot more services in school for one.

Anyway, in May 2007, McCarthy announced that her son was diagnosed with autism in 2005.

McCarthy served as a spokesperson for Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) from June 2007 until October 2008. She participated in fundraisers, online chats, and other activities for the non-profit organization to help families affected by autism spectrum disorders. Her first fundraiser for TACA, Ante Up for Autism, was held on October 20, 2007, in Irvine, California.

McCarthy's book on the subject, Louder than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism was published September 17, 2007. She has stated both in her book and during her appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show that her husband was unable to deal with their son's autism, which led to their divorce. (Wikipedia)

Personally I don't think you can cure autism or it wasn't real autism to begin with - but you can sure make a child with autism's life much better - especially with early intervention.

Autism, special needs, dyslexia and SPD - causes that Chatty believes in.

Love,
Chatty

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T08:00:00.009-04:00

Check out Chatty and her family wishing you a Happy Halloween! See the us dancing to the tune of the Monster Mash:

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/ocx8fqHh9hS2aRFF

Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a while they got to know each other so well, they decided to get married.

One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other the groom broom.

The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely.

After the wedding, at the wedding dinner, the bride-broom leaned over and said to the groom-broom, 'I think I am going to have a little whisk broom!'

'IMPOSSIBLE !' said the groom broom.

Are you ready for this?

'WE HAVEN'T EVEN SWEPT TOGETHER!'

http://home.att.net/~hideaway_fun/_halloween/_purple/purple.htm
Purple People Eater Song

http://home.att.net/~hideaway_fun/_halloween/_mrs/happy.htm
Monster Mash Song

Didn't we say that dogs hate Halloween? (Except one).

You know you are too old to Trick or Treat when:

10. You get winded from knocking on the door.

9. You have to have another kid chew the candy for you.

8. You ask for high fiber candy only.

7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over.

6. People say: 'Great Boris Karloff Mask,' And you're not wearing a mask.

5. When the door opens you yell, 'Trick or...' And can't remember the rest.

4. By the end of the night, you have a bag full of restraining orders.

3. You have to carefully choose a costume that won't dislodge your hairpiece.

2. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker.

And the number one reason Seniors should not go Trick Or Treating...

1. You keep having to go home to pee.

No matter, have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN anyway.

Love,
Chatty

Juliett Low - How do you say girl scouts? Happy Birthday

When she was about 25 years old, Juliette suffered an ear infection that was treated with silver nitrate. This treatment damaged her ear, causing her to lose a great deal of her hearing in that ear.

At the age of 26, she married William Mackay Low,the son of a wealthy cotton merchant in Savannah and England. His mother was a native of Savannah, Georgia. Their wedding took place on December 21, 1886, which happened to be her parents' 29th wedding anniversary. A grain of rice thrown at the wedding became lodged in Juliette's good ear. When it was removed, her ear drum was punctured and became infected, causing her to become completely deaf in that ear. Her hearing was limited for the rest of her life.

Her marriage to Mr. Low proved to be childless.

As early as 1901, due to her husband's drinking and philandering Juliette intended to get a divorce. However, her husband died from stroke in 1905 before the divorce proceedings could be finalized. When his will was read Juliette discovered that her husband had left his money to his mistress. She was left with a small widow's pension.

Now here is a woman - who suffered adversity - and made it to the other side.

Fun Friday - Take a laugh break . . .

2009-10-30T08:00:00.023-04:00

Dogs probably hate Halloween.

Cat and Dog - Home Security - Cute video showing a cat and dog with their home made home security plan . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClV7meQXQWI&feature=email

You know, there are some things that you just never think of..........like, Mt. Rushmore from the Canadian Side . . .

Housework was a woman's job, but one evening, Janice arrived home from work to find the children bathed, one load of laundry in the washer and another in the dryer Dinner was on the stove, and the table set. She was astonished!

It turns out that Charles had read an article that said, 'Wives who work full-time and had to do their own housework were too tired to have sex'.

The night went very well. The next day, Janice told her Red Hat friends all about it. 'We had a great dinner. Charles even cleaned up the kitchen. He helped the kids do their homework, folded all the laundry and put it away. I really enjoyed the evening.'

'But what about afterward?' asked her friends.

'Oh, that......... Charles was too tired.'

With all the new technology regarding fertility recently, a 65-year-old friend of mine was able to give birth. When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, I went to visit.

'May I see the new baby?' I asked.

'Not yet,' She said 'I'll make coffee and we can visit for a while first.'

Thirty minutes had passed, and I asked, 'May I see the new baby now?'

'No, not yet,' She said.

After another few minutes had elapsed,

I asked again, 'May I see the baby now?'

'No, not yet,' replied my friend.

Growing very impatient, I asked, 'Well, when can I see the baby?

'WHEN HE CRIES!' she told me.

'WHEN HE CRIES?' I demanded. 'Why do I have to wait until he CRIES?'

'BECAUSE I FORGOT WHERE I PUT HIM, O. K.?

The Potato Sisters from 1944 - does anyone remember them? Man are they agile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mVpGmoES3w&feature=player_embedded

Love,
Chatty
A pug lover too.

Happy Birthday Martha Jefferson -
Martha was in frail health for much of her marriage. She is believed to have suffered from diabetes, the cause of her childbearing problems.

Throughout their 10-year marriage, they appeared to have been wholly devoted to each other. According to those who attended her in her final days, Jefferson promised his wife that he would never remarry. Jefferson was inconsolable in his loss. It was said that he collapsed just before she died. After the funeral, he refused to leave his room for three weeks. Then he spent endless hours riding horseback alone around Monticello. Not until mid-October did he begin to resume a normal life.

Didn't I hear he had children with his mistress???

Get R Done

2009-10-30T08:00:00.022-04:00

Get R Done Friday
Be sure and check out Expressly Corgi's Blog for her 'Get R Done Friday's' - she has a list of gals who have worked during the week to Get R Done! Check them out and leave them a comment. See what everyone is up to.

Andy and his daddy - with pumpkin number 1 for our house.

We needed another pumpkin for Andy to carve and bring to karate for a contest - so when we went to the pumpkin patch he picked the biggest pumpkin there. (Daddy wasn't thrilled, but he came through). See how big it was?

Chatty and Andy discussing (lol) sitting on the pumpkin.

The final pumpkin to bring to the contest today!

No, I didn't carve the pumpkin for Andy's contest, we gave it to his dad to carve and he really did a great job!

Pumpkins number 1 and 2.

You see sometimes in life Get R Done means knowing how to get some help to Get R Done! :)

Love,
Chatty

Fanny Brice

2009-10-29T08:00:00.004-04:00

"Seven Ways Your Body Gets Better With Age

Think you've got nothing to look forward to as you get older? Think again! Aging might actually improve your health in a number of unexpected ways! By Jan Sheehan

Here are seven real benefits you can look forward to as you grow older.

Decreased Tooth Sensitivity
If you've always had painfully sensitive teeth, they'll become less so as you age.

Milder Allergies
Older bodies produce less of the allergic antibody IgE," says allergist Michael Welch, M.D., (Severe sensitivities to tree nuts and peanuts may not go away).

Fewer Colds and Other Viruses
You're less likely to get sick with colds and other minor viral infections after midlife. The reason: Each time your body is exposed to a virus, it develops antibodies that make you immune to that virus in the future. This means that more you age, the more likely it is that you'll be immune to many.

Low-Maintenance Skin
Say goodbye to problems with oily skin. Thinking about going under the knife? Cosmetic surgery scars can be hidden more easily when you're older because mature skin is less likely to spring back and show a separation than young, elastic skin. And you can shave less often and can stop using deodorant. "Due to hormonal changes in the later years, the growth of facial and body hair slows, and sweat glands disappear," Kunin adds.

A Fitter Brain
Some memory functions, such as vocabulary and long-term memory, continually sharpen if you stay mentally active. "Memory can be trained just like muscles," says Gary Small, M.D., author of "The Memory Bible".

A Youthful Heart
Surprisingly, the heart hardly ages at all and actually can strengthen — as long as you keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in check. "Although there is some narrowing of arteries with aging, the pumping ability of the heart stays strong throughout life in healthy people," says Nieca Goldberg, M.D. Genes do play a part in the way your heart ages, but the healthier your lifestyle, the more likely your heart will stay strong well into your 80s and 90s. "Exercise, diet, and not smoking are more important than genetics in maintaining the health of the heart after age 60," says Goldberg.

Heightened Sexuality
A shift in the hormonal balance beginning in the early 50s can increase a woman's libido and her ability to have orgasms, says Jessica Fields, Ph.D., a research associate at the Center for Research on Gender and Sexuality in San Francisco. Many women also report an increase in the frequency and intensity of orgasms as they grow older. In fact, some research suggests that the frequency of orgasms increases for women in each decade, up until the octogenarian years (age 80 – 89). But men have reason to celebrate, too. After age 60, the ligaments that attach the penis to the body begin to relax. Assuming a man stays slim, this makes the flaccid penis look longer with each 60-plus decade.

(This section created and produced exclusively by the editorial staff of EverydayHealth.com. © 2009 EverydayHealth.com; all rights reserved.)"

Well this is good news and bad news for me. Bad news I don't have these seven signs of better aging (yet) - therefore I must still be young - good news! (This is my attempt at a joke -I just thought y'all might like some good news about aging since most of the news about aging is depressing.

Happy Birthday Fanny Brice - I remember Funny Girl with Barbara Streisand - do you?

Funny Girl and Funny Lady are examples of how plays and films take great liberties with the lives of historical figures and/or events. The Streisand film makes no mention of Brice's first husband at all.

It also suggests that Arnstein turned to crime because his pride wouldn't allow him to live off Fanny, and that he was wanted by the police for selling phony bonds. In reality, however, Arnstein shamelessly sponged off Brice even before their marriage and was eventually named as a member of a gang that stole $5 million of Wall Street securities.

Instead of turning himself in, as in the movie, Arnstein went into hiding. When he finally surrendered, he did not plead guilty as he did in the movie, but fought the charges for four years, taking a toll on his wife's finances.

It is thought that Ray Stark, the producer of the play and both movies and Brice's son-in-law, changed Arnstein's story in order to avoid a lawsuit, as Arnstein was still alive at the time.
(wikipedia)

Who would have known?
Chatty

Jonas Salk

2009-10-28T08:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday to Jonas Salk - inventor of the polio vaccine. And speaking of love this week - what about the love of a mother (an a father).

Jonas's mother was also (so was his father - couldn't finish high school in Russia and immigrated to the US)mostly uneducated and likewise had emigrated to the U.S. where she would use her time raising their three sons. According to Jonas, "She wanted to be sure that we all were going to advance in the world. Therefore we were encouraged in our studies and overly protected." She was best remembered for "pushing her three sons relentlessly to excel," writes Oshinsky.

He became a physician. His brother Herman became a veterinarian and Lee became a clinical psychologist.

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” —Margaret Cousins

I like that quote - do you think in loving or liking someone there has to be an appreciation?

“Our Similarities bring us to a common ground; Our Differences allow us to be fascinated by each other.” —Tom Robbins And what about differences and similarities where love and like are concerned?

Love,
chatty

Something for hump day - Greatest Day In Baseball - Love of country?

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=6f9ea4f6f892b20a28da&utm_source=newsletter1016&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos

Would you rather be liked or loved?

2009-10-27T08:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday Teddy - whose light went out of his life when his wife died - ah - how romantic.

"Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground."– Theodore Roosevelt

Now one other fact I got when I went to Alaska was this - if I am correct. Roosevelt re-named Mount Denali (the Alaskans call it) and said that the mountain was a big as McKinley (something like that) and the name stuck to the mountain out there as Mount McKinley. Now the map makers and every one call it that - however the Alaskans want things fixed and named Mt. Denali. Something like that. Roosevelt was McKinley's successor.

Okay since we're speaking of love today (yes - we were - lol) - I always have to check in once in awhile on that topic.

"Love For a Lifetime...

I add my breath to your breath
that our days be long on the Earth
that the days of our people may be long,
that we shall be as one person,
that we may finish our road together."

I do always think about love. There are so many types - I remember studying in my Disciple Class:
There are four kinds of love: agape, philia, storge, and eros.

Agape -- unconditional love, God for mankind

Philia -- Philiadepia, the city of brotherly love, or love that exists between close friends.

Storge -- Love that grows between family members.

Eros -- sexual, exotic love'

Now here is the definition of the word like:
Definitions of like on the Web:

wish: prefer or wish to do something; Would you like to come along to the movies?"

find enjoyable or agreeable; "She likes to read Russian novels"

resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination; "suits of like design";

be fond of; "I like my nephews"

equal in amount or value; "like amounts"; "equivalent amounts"; "the same amount"; "gave one six blows and the other a like number";

feel about or towards; consider, evaluate, or regard; "How did you like the President's speech last night?"

a similar kind; "we don't want the likes of you around here"

alike(p): having the same or similar characteristics; "friends are generally alike in background and taste"

want to have; "I'd like a beer now!"

a kind of person; "We'll not see his like again"; "I can't tolerate people of his ilk"

comparable: conforming in every respect; "boxes with corresponding dimensions";

So the question or thought of the day - would you rather be liked or loved? And do you have to be open to either? "When one teaches, two learn". ~ Robert Half

Chatty

Fall Festivals, Trunk or Treat, and Chili Cook Off

2009-10-26T07:51:00.013-04:00

October is a wonderful month. It's fall, it's full of colors, it's busy. it's Halloween, and it's fun.

This weekend was another busy one. So will next weekend then I think things will die down. Here we are heading to my grandson's Fall Festival at school. This is what we made the baskets for. Don't know how much ours went for yet but I hope they did good. Notice that we do have the seasons here in Georgia - they are just milder. It was about 6o degrees and the 'fall' has begun.

Again our fall and this was new this year at the fair - the bungee jump.

Andy and his best friend trying to get two bites of the donuts before they would 'win' them.

His Mohawk (and NO he doesn't have a real one - his hand is just long for Halloween so he could do this). And now it is green!

My guy climbing the rock wall in his school. He is so big - I remember when he first started and how little he was - didn't even know what a rock wall was!

Here is Trunk or Treat at our church. A lot of people decorate the back of their cars and park in the parking lot and give out candy for the kids.

Kind of nice for our church family. That is for the kids and for the adults they have a chili cook off!

Now here is a good birthday - Keith Urban. You gotta love this guy - or I do anyway. Yes he's had his troubles and I hope he stays clean. But I feel there is something so deep in in soul going on that we are not aware of and I think he is one of the best guitar players ever (lol).

Keith Lionel Urban was born in Whangarei, New Zealand, which makes him a New Zealander but later moved with his parents to Caboolture, Queensland, Australia. By age seven, Urban was already thinking about getting into the music business. He began learning the techniques at age six and began winning young singing contests by age eight (Practice makes perfect).

And did you know that in 1992, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he found work as a guitarist for Brooks & Dunn and can be seen backing Alan Jackson in his music video for "Mercury Blues". (He never gave up).

Love,
Chatty

Sundays View

2009-10-25T08:00:00.005-04:00

There are chemists who spend their whole lives trying to find out whats in a lump of sugar. I want to know one thing. What is color? - Pablo Picasso

(I want to know if any of you can feel the 'energy of color' - I mean different colors make you feel different ways don't they?). Speaking of colors - God is the best painter of all:

Click here: RAINBOWS OF FALL...A HAPPY FALL TO ALL...

The Mentor

Just as some people refuse to see their faults, so there are those who insist on digging too deep, persecuting themselves over every fault and making unreasonable demands upon their lives. Eventually they collapse from exhaustion, or worse, kick back with resentment.This is why no person should go it alone. Everyone needs a mentor, someone who can look objectively and say, “This is were you are right now. This is what you can expect from yourself right now.”

Happy Birthday Picasso - (who gave Chicago many of his pieces and they are displayed downtown - and while colorful I must admit I never could quite understand - lol - now I know why!)

After the liberation of Paris in 1944, Picasso began to keep company with a young art student, Françoise Gilot. The two eventually became lovers, and had two children together, Claude and Paloma. Unique among Picasso’s women, Gilot left Picasso in 1953, allegedly because of abusive treatment and infidelities. This was a severe blow to Picasso.

He went through a difficult period after Gilot’s departure, coming to terms with his advancing age and his perception that, now in his 70s, he was no longer attractive, but rather grotesque to young women.

Picasso was not long in finding another lover, Jacqueline Roque. She worked at the Madoura Pottery in Vallauris on the French Riviera, where Picasso made and painted ceramics. The two remained together for the rest of Picasso’s life, marrying in 1961. Their marriage was also the means of one last act of revenge against Gilot. Gilot had been seeking a legal means to legitimize her children with Picasso, Claude and Paloma. With Picasso’s encouragement, she had arranged to divorce her then husband, Luc Simon, and marry Picasso to secure her children’s rights. Picasso then secretly married Roque after Gilot had filed for divorce in order to exact his revenge for her leaving him.

What do you think of that?

Love, Chatty

Amy Dawn has her wings today.

2009-10-24T09:19:00.002-04:00

I know she will be terribly missed and it is so hard for her loved ones left here. I know where she is and that she's not hurting anymore. I'm so sorry for the family. Chatty

Meditations for Saturday

2009-10-24T08:00:00.004-04:00

This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor...Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. - Rumi

Here's another good one to think about today and it is so true:

Mickey Mantle, observed this late in his life: If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself!

Well, October is a busy month for Chatty and family off to the Fall Festival at my grandson's school- maybe I'll bid on my own baskets (lol) - hope they will make lots of money. Then this afternoon is Trunk or Treat at our church. People decorate the trunks of their cars and all park in the parking lot and give out candy. For the adults there is a chili cook off.

Happy Birthday - Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr.- The Big Bopper -

With the success of "Chantilly Lace", Richardson took time off from KTRM radio and joined Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Dion and the Belmonts for a "Winter Dance Party" tour. Richardson, Holly, Valens, and the pilot were killed when their small plane crashed soon after taking off from Clear Lake, Iowa on February 3, 1959. Don McLean referred to it as "The Day the Music Died".

You never know the difference a day makes. Oh to remember that . . .

Love,
Chatty

Fun Friday

2009-10-23T08:00:00.012-04:00

This is the funniest video - please watch - it's not scary, but it is funny - a good way to start fun Friday.

http://terrisfp.com/hallo1/ghost1.swf

A doctor in Duluth wanted to get off work and go hunting, so he approached his assistant. 'Ole, I am goin' huntin' tomorrow and don't want to close the clinic.

I want you to take care of the clinic and take care of all my patients.'

'Yes, sir!' answers Ole.

The doctor goes hunting and returns the following day and asks: 'So, Ole, how was your day?'

Ole told him that he took care of three patients. 'The first one had a headache so I gave him TYLENOL.'

'Bravo, Mate, and the second one?' asks the doctor.

'The second one had stomach burning and I gave him MAALOX, sir,' says Ole.

Bravo, bravo! You're good at this and what about the third one?' asks the doctor.

'Sir, I was sitting here and suddenly the door opens and a woman enters.
Like a flame, she undresses herself, taking off everything including her bra and her panties and lies down on the table and shouts: HELP ME - I haven't seen a man in over two years!!

'Tunderin' Lard Yeezus, Ole, what did you do?' asks the doctor.

'I put drops in her eyes.'

And you thought I was sending a dirty joke!!!! (Courtesy of Expressly Corgi).

Draw a pig and take a personality test - (Courtesy of Expressly Corgi).

http://homosrus.com/drawpig.html

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH

Don't tell me your age; you'd probably lie anyway-but the Hershey Man will know!

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH This is pretty neat.

DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute. Work this out as you read.Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out! This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1759 ..
If you haven't, add 1758.

6.. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number

The first digit of this was your original number
(i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).

The next two numbers are YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2009) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k9BFpydKjU&feature=email
Bath Time WIth Cosmos - The Corgi Dog - adorable!

Eight Words with two Meanings

1. THINGY (thing-ee) n.
Female....... Any part under a car's hood.
Male..... The strap fastener on a woman's bra.

2. VULNERABLE (vul-ne-ra-bel) adj.
Female.... Fully opening up one's self emotionally to an other.
Male..... Playing football without a cup.

3.. COMMUNICATION (ko-myoo-ni-kay-shon) n .
Female... The open sharing of thoughts and feelings with one's partner.
Male ... Leaving a note before taking off on a fishing trip with the boys.

4. COMMITMENT (ko- mit-ment) n.
Female..... A desire to get married and raise a family.
Male...... Trying not to hit on other women while out with this one.

5. ENTERTAINMENT (en-ter-tayn-ment) n.
Female . . . A good movie, concert, play or book.
Male...... Anything that can be done while drinking beer.

6. FLATULENCE (flach-u-lens) n.
Female.... An embarrassing byproduct of indigestion.
Male...... A source of entertainment, self-expression, male bonding.

7 MAKING LOVE (may-king luv) n.
Female...... The greatest _expression of intimacy a couple can achieve.
Male. Call it whatever you want, just as long as we do it.

8. REMOTE CONTROL (ri-moht kon-trohl) n.
Female.... A device for changing from one TV channel to another.
Male ... A device for scanning through all 375 channels every 5 minutes.
AND;
He said . I don't know why you wear a bra; you've got nothing to put in it.
She said . . . You wear pants don't you?

He said . . . Shall we try swapping positions tonight?
She said, That's a good idea - you stand by the ironing board while I sit on the sofa and fart!

He said ... What have you been doing with all the grocery money I gave you?
She said ....Turn sideways and look in the mirror!

He said . . . How many men does it take to change a roll of toilet paper?
She said . We don't know; it has never happened.

He said . . . Why are married women heavier than single women?

She said . . . Single women come home, see what's in the fridge and go to bed. Married women come home, see what's in bed and go to the fridge.

Love,
Chatty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
Randolph Frederick "Randy" Pausch (October 23, 1960 – July 25, 2008) was an American professor of computer science and human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pausch learned that he had a terminal case of pancreatic cancer in September 2006. He gave an upbeat lecture entitled "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" on September 18, 2007 at Carnegie Mellon, which became a popular YouTube video and led to other media appearances. He then co-authored a book called The Last Lecture on the same theme, which became a New York Times best-seller. Pausch died of complications from pancreatic cancer on July 25, 2008. Wikipedia

Get R Done

2009-10-22T20:00:00.001-04:00

Please check out ExpresslyCorgi for her weekly Get R Done Blog. Check out what she got done and visit what others "Got Done' this week.

Okay, my dirty 26 year old carpet - another Get R Done project - but we are at the point of needing a new carpet . . . no my carpet isn't orange it's beige - but my camera makes it look that way. The point here is that it is empty of stuff (lol).

I started to gathering things to make baskets for the PTA at my grandson's school to be bid on for the silent auction. I asked for parent help and then I ran all over town asking for donations. 3:13 Hair Salon and Boutique gave me 3 $50 gift certificates! Curves gave me one for $138!

Okay rounded up my daughter and my friend Lynne after the book fair and we made 5 baskets.

My house looked like a blur with 150 books and all the basket items and wrapping paper - but we had so much fun.

Here is the final project -

Took them into school this week and they said Mrs. Boney's 3rd grade class rocks - okay I do get a little competitive at times . . . but I love doing it.

So that project is done and the bidding is this Saturday. I may bid on one or two of my own baskets.

Love,
Chatty

Role models

2009-10-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

Well yesterday afternoon they finally started working on our road - when they left it yesterday it wasn't near done and it felt like a roller coaster - I can't imagine what they are doing! Still beautiful this time of year in Georgia.

Picked my grandson up from school which I do every day - today was early release - two hours early so the teachers could take a class. We went to Waffle House for lunch and sat at the counter. Looked at a Lego book - he picked his top three choices. We picked out 6 songs for a dollar on the juke box and just had fun. Went home and played Legos for awhile until time to go to the next thing.

Later on we went to church - we're called the Pumpkin Church as our church was first in our area to sell pumpkins - 29+ years ago. It is a tradition for us.

This year is the first year he really cared about 'his' pumpkin. He talked my daughter and I into the biggest one there - $18. He was sad at first when mom said no.

This is the churches second truck load of pumpkins!

He's seeing whose taller. . .

Traditions are important things or at least good memories to have to look back on some day.

Role Models - a very powerful video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWUtywfwsMw&feature=email

Another important issue for this month - Abuse Awareness - did you see Oprah last week - she had McKenzie Phillips on it - this girl got such a bad wrap for years - you can tell in her face the pain she has gone through. What a role model for abused women - and how it has helped many women 'come out' and talk about their abuse. Finally . . .

Check this out:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32991091/ns/today-today_books/

Happy birthday Annette Funicello - I loved you on the Mickey Mouse Show and talking about role models - I think you were such a great one -

Funicello announced in 1992 that she suffers from multiple sclerosis. She had kept her condition a secret for many years, but felt it necessary to go public to combat rumors that her impaired carriage was the result of alcoholism. That same year, she was inducted as a Disney Legend. In 1993, she opened the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders at the California Community Foundation.

Who is your favorite role model? I like Jimmy Stewart for one.

Love,
Chatty

Don't drink and Fly!

2009-10-21T08:00:00.003-04:00

Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him. - Aldous Huxley

MORAL FOR TODAY
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began
to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried
horribly. Then, to every one's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what
he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and
happily trotted off!

*****

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less.

NOW .......
Enough of that ....

The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:
When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

The human race has one effective weapon--and that is laughter. Mark Twain
Chatty

Oh yeah - Happy Birthday Judge Judy -

In February 1993 Sheindlin's outspoken reputation made her the subject of a Los Angeles Times article, profiling her as a woman determined to make the court system work for the common good. She was subsequently featured in a segment on CBS's 60 Minutes, bringing her national recognition. This led to her first book, Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining, published in 1996. She retired as a criminal court judge that same year, after hearing over 20,000 cases. After her retirement, Sheindlin continued to receive increasing amounts of public attention. (Wikipedia).

Don't you love the name of that book and knowing her I know just what she means - no bologna!

Rainer Maria Rilke

2009-10-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

Be patient toward all that is unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.- Rainer Maria Rilke

This is a problem for me. I'm always trying to resolve the problems in my life. I must admit to you that I don't 'like' unsettled things. It makes me feel like I'm in limbo land. That's a signal to me that I need to work on that issue with myself.

I love this quote - what it says to me is - embrace (accept) all this is not resolved (in my life) - be patient (breathe) - live in the now anyway (even if I want things to change) - love the questions (when will I'll get to where I want to go) and the uncertainty (of how I will get there) - the answers will come when the time is ready.

What do you think? Rainer was a woman - with an interesting background - can't wait to get to her birthday. Sometimes the questions drives me nuts! Should I do this or should I do that!

Happy Birthday to Dr. Joyce Brothers (famous psychologist)

An interesting fact:

Brothers gained fame in late 1955 by winning The $64,000 Question game show, on which she appeared as an expert in the subject area of boxing. Originally, she had not planned to have boxing as her topic, but the sponsors suggested it, and she agreed. A voracious reader, she studied every reference book about boxing that she could find; she would later tell reporters that it was thanks to her good memory that she assimilated so much material and answered even the most difficult questions. In 1959, allegations that the quiz shows were rigged began to surface and stirred controversy. Despite these claims, Brothers insisted that she had never cheated, nor had she ever been given any answers to questions in advance. Subsequent investigations verified her assertions that she had won honestly. Her success on "The $64,000 Question" earned Brothers a chance to be the color commentator for CBS during the boxing match between Carmen Basilio and Sugar Ray Robinson. She was said to be the first woman to ever be a boxing commentator.

Love,

Chatty

Halloween is coming!

2009-10-19T08:57:00.009-04:00

HALLOWEEN IS COMING!
http://www.travelingrainvilles.typepad.com/

Check out their website - it's awesome - the picture comes from there.

This weekend we went to a book fair at Jim Miller Park in Marietta. It was day 3 and I thought all the books would be gone. They were still putting books out!

It was $10 for a box of hardbacks, $5 for paperback. I just mixed my box. It could be any size box - some people had huge boxes. They told me to raise the the box top and tape it and I could fill that too.

I got 150 books and Videos - for the family and my daughter's class at school. It was awesome.

Next year we are thinking about going Friday to see what it was like - I bet it was a mad house!

Now to figure out where all these go! My house already looks like it exploded before the books - but we'll find a place somewhere.

I bought about 50 for myself - so I'll be a busy girl. I even found a book on the history of Alaska.

TY PENNINGTON - HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Ty Pennington was born on October 19, 1964 as Gary Tygert Burton, the second son of child psychologist Yvonne Burton. Yvonne separated from Ty's father when he and his older brother Wynn were very young, and spent several years as a single parent before she eventually remarried. Her new husband adopted both boys, giving them both the Pennington name.

Pennington grew up in Atlanta, primarily in his hometown of Marietta, Georgia. He was considered an unruly child and had difficulty performing throughout school. "I would strip down naked, and hold on the blinds in my classroom as a child and swear along with that if I didn't get my way. I was just a very bad kid overall, I don't know how my mother raised me!" he said in an interview for E! network. He was hyperactive and later diagnosed with ADHD when he was seventeen by his mother, a graduate student in psychology, and his pediatrician, who didn't condone the use of Ritalin. To treat Pennington's ADHD, his mother didn't medicate him with Ritalin, but rather implemented a system called a "Token economy" to end his daily trips to the Principal's office and his disruptive behavior in class. The Token economy was used all through his school career, with varying degrees of success and failure. It wasn't until he was 19 years old that Pennington was treated with medication. He is now a spokesperson for the organization ADHD Experts on Call, and manages his condition with Vyvanse. His mother became a psychologist and focuses on the treatment of ADHD and depression, teaching other parents how to raise ADHD kids with or without medication.

Love,
Chatty