5 Minutes to Happy . . .

And my last list . . .

Yet another list from Woman's Day - June 16, 2009

Try one of these to boost your spirit:

1. Start a blog. ♥ (Check)

2. Make up a ridiculous story - if someone is fueling your sour mood, create a goofy character based on that person. ---

3. Put yourself in the movies. Think of your favorite scene and put yourself in it. ---

4. Soak up the sun. Vitamin D3 is important for good health. ♥ I have been reading this everywhere!!!!!!!!!

5. Touch your toes - it opens your hips. ♥ I didn't know that, but I do it at Curves all the time.

6. Take it all in. All the little things. ♥

7. Turn on the tunes. ♥

8. Show off your moves. Dance. ---

9. Put photos on the fridge. ♥

10. Get plant happy.

11. Create a new code. Change your password to a positive code.

12. Break out of the box. So something new. ♥

13. Mark your calender. Put an event in it you look forward to.

14. Be generous. ♥

15. Turn negative into positive. (I do try).

16. Send out good vibes. (I do try).

17. Lend a hand. ♥

18. Think of the good stuff. ♥

OR

Don't do any of the things listed above and you might be unhappy in five minutes (lol). Again, I go back to my mantra.

It's always about choice. Mine too!

Chatty

“You can do anything you think you can. This knowledge is literally the gift of the gods, for through it you can solve every human problem. It should make of you an incurable optimist. It is the open door.” —Robert Collier (1885-1950); motivational author

And the reverse is true:
If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
- Catherine Aird

Fun Friday

"Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different."– Katherine Mansfield

WHITE LIE CAKE

Have you ever told a white lie? You are going to love this, especially all of those who bake for church events.

Alice Grayson was to bake a cake for the Baptist Church Ladies' Group in Tuscaloosa , but forgot to do it until the last minute. She remembered the morning of the bake sale; and, after rummaging through cabinets, found an angel food cake mix and quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, and helping her son pack for Scout camp.

When Alice took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat and the cake was horribly disfigured. She thought, 'Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake.'
This cake was important to Alice because she did so want to fit in at her new church and in her new community of friends. So, being inventive, she looked around the house for something to build up the center of the cake. Alice found it in the bathroom - a roll of toilet paper. She plunked it in and covered it with icing. Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it looked perfect.

Before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter Amanda and gave her some money and specific instructions to be at the bake sale the moment it opened at 9:30 and to buy the cake and bring it home.

When Amanda arrived at the sale, she found the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold. She grabbed her cell phone and called her mom.

Alice was horrified - she was beside herself. Everyone would know! What would they think? She would be ostracized, talked about, and ridiculed! All night, Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people pointing fingers at her and talking about her behind her back.

The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake and would attend the fancy luncheon/bridal shower at the home of a fellow church member and try to have a good time.

Alice did not want to attend because the hostess was a snob who more than once had looked down her nose at Alice because she was a single parent and not from the founding families of Tuscaloosa . But, having already RSVP'd, she couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home.

The meal was elegant, the company was definitely upper crust old South and, to Alice 's horror, the cake in question was presented for dessert! Alice felt the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake!

She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, the Mayor's wife said, 'What a beautiful cake!'

Alice still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (who was a prominent church member) say, 'Thank you, I baked it myself.'


Dear Wife,

I'm writing you this letter to tell you that I'm leaving you forever. I've been a good man to you for 7 years and I have nothing to show for it. These last 2 weeks have been hell. Your boss called to tell me that you quit your job today and that was the last straw. Last week, you came home and didn't even notice I had a new haircut, had cooked your favorite meal and even wore a brand new pair of silk boxers. You ate in 2 minutes, and went straight to sleep after watching all of your soaps. You don't tell me you love me anymore, you don't want sex or anything that connects us as husband and wife. Either you're cheating on me or you don't love me any longer, whatever the case, I'm gone.

Your EX-Husband..

P.S. Don't try to find me. Your SISTER and I are moving away to West Virginia
together! Have a great life!

Dear Ex-Husband,

Nothing has made my day more than receiving your letter. It's true you and I have been married for 7 years, although a good man is a far cry from what you've been. I watch my soaps so much because they drown out your constant whining and griping. Too bad that doesn't work. I DID notice when you got a hair cut last week, but the first thing that came to mind was 'You look just like a girl!' Since my mother raised me not to say anything if you can't say something nice, I didn't comment. And when you cooked my favorite meal, you must have gotten me confused with MY SISTER, because I stopped eating pork 7 years ago. About those new silk boxers: I turned away from you because the $49.99 price tag was still on them, and I prayed it was a coincidence that my SISTER had just borrowed $50 from me that morning. After all of this, I still loved you and felt we could work it out. So when I hit the lotto for $ 35 million, I quit my job and bought us 2 tickets to Jamaica. But when I got home you were gone. Everything happens for a reason, I guess. I hope you have the fulfilling life you always wanted. My lawyer said that the letter you wrote ensures you won't get a dime from me. So take care.

Signed, Your Ex-Wife, Rich As Hell & Free!

PS. I don't know if I ever told you this, but my SISTER Carla was born Carl. I hope that's not a problem.



The following was developed as a mental age assessment by the School of Psychiatry at Harvard University . Take your time and see if you can read each line aloud without a mistake.

The average person over 40 years of age cannot do it!

1. This is this cat.
2. This is is cat.
3. This is how cat.
4. This is you cat.
5. This is keep cat.
6. This is an cat.
7. This is old cat.
8. This is fart cat.
9. This is busy cat.
10. This is for cat.
11. This is forty cat.
12. This is seconds cat.

Now go back and read the third word in each line from the top down and I betcha' you cannot resist passing it on.


What is the difference between Bird Flu and Swine Flu?

For bird flu you need tweetment, and for swine flu you need oinkment. GOT IT???

What does your name mean?

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

My name is Sandra:

You Are Seductive and Ruthless

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong.
You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know.
You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.
You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.
People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.
You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.
At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

Well, some things are right on and I hope some things aren't! What does your name mean?

You wake up in the morning, and your purse is magically filled with twenty-four hours of unmanufactured tissue of the universe of your life! It is yours. It is the most precious of possessions. No one can take it from you. And no one receives either more or less than you receive. - Dr. Thomas Arnold Bennett

Love y'all,

chatty

Fishin In Homer . . .

To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to. - Kahlil Gibran

Okay - this story is about my fishin' trip. The song below this blog is a great song for vacations. It'll get you in the mood.

And the video below that is perfect for Alaska! Really cute. How bears are dealing with global warming.

I went on the boat called the Jack Pot - complete with a little dog who as soon as the engine started ran to his bed and stayed the whole time. My captain was Captain Jack.

Now these pins look kind of little but I would say they were 6 to 8 inches long. Each person could only catch two Halibut. No one could help you. We stayed until everyone got two. I was number 21 - the last number. They used these pins to pin the two fish together after we caught them.

Here is Chatty fishin'. Halibut feed near the bottom. Therefore you had two pound weights on the pole plus bate. About every 5 to 10 minutes you have to reel up the line to check if there is still bate on it. It was work. Real work. You get a new respect for fishermen. Notice the silly hat someone talked me into buying? And it was cold - two jackets. I bought a new jacket there - that I love.

The fish to the right - the last two - mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is one of the first mates filleting my fish. After they removed the fillets and the 'cheek' they threw the carcass out to the back of the boat and the birds were there to get it.

And this is where the fish we caught was brought. You could flash freeze it and send it home if you wanted to.

And that was the end of my fishing trip. It was wonderful!

And as Vincent Van Gogh once said, "The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reasons for remaining ashore".

Gee, what a good lesson for me - us.

Love y'all,
Chatty

Transfiguration Of Our Lord Church . . . on the way to Homer.

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church - an old Russian Orthodox church over looking one of the first Russian settlements - I saw it on my way to Homer. Notice the three pieces of wood on the crosses. The top straight one is for Jesus's arms. The second straight one was for Jesus's legs. The third is slanted. One side going up towards Heaven (taking the man on the other cross who was going to go Heaven with Jesus) and the other one going downwards towards Hell (where the other man on the cross was alleged to go). Interesting huh?

Someone had bear stature on the grave site.

I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy.

-C.S. Lewis

Okay here is a list of the men and women - veterans - who lost their life in war.

To God, our journey is as important as our destinations. - Beth Moore

I received this from a friend yesterday just when I needed it - maybe someone out there needs it today so I'll pass it on -

"Why should I be discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
I sing because I'm happy;
I sing because I'm free.
For His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me."

We're never alone even when we think we are. Just a thought as we continue on our journey of life. Let's go singing because we're free and He loves us no matter what.
Love,
chatty

A Story to think about this weekend as you go about your business . . .

For today's meditation, we turn to contemporary writer Gregg Krech, author of "Life is a Matter of Attention." Gregg wisely tells us...

Your experience of life is not based on your life, but on what you pay attention to.

Moose Pass, Alaska - on the way to Homer

Benny Benson was a student when Alaska was made a state 50 years ago - they had a contest for the students to design a flag - Benny Benson won - the stars are in the shape of the Big Dipper.

Okay this is a cabin I saw on my way to Homer. Isn't it cool? Burrell wood knots right in the wood.

Well only two cities left to visit next week . . .

This is a poem written by a teenager with cancer.
(Maybe that is true or maybe not - but does that matter - just try to get the message.)

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?

When you ask how are you?

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die xause you never had time to call and say,'Hi'

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It is like an unopened gift.... thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over.

So while you're out and about today - slow down - enjoy what you are doing - try to be nice to others. Try to give a smile away - you can't do it -f or you'll always get one back. True.

Love,
Chatty

Seward, Alaska - where my heart fell in love . . .

Okay, these are going to be pictures of Seward, Alaska. I think everyone picks a different place in Alaska that they fall in love with. My son liked Homer - I loved Seward. It was a place I think I could be home at. Part of my heart is still there and probably always will be. I had tried gelato earlier, but this is where I fell in love with this particular variant of ice cream.

The start of the Iditarod used to be here - now there isn't enough snow at the time it starts to start it there so they moved it a bit farther north.

If I were rich - this Cabin On The Cliff would be mine! It had everything you wanted or needed in the cabin. A huge deck as big or bigger than the cabin - a hot tub, rocker, grill, table and chairs outside. A kitchen, fireplace, bathroom, the shower had a rain forest spout and you got totally soaked, television, and the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. In fact I had the best sleep there than I have had in 20+ years. Felt safe and at home . . .

A restaurant there - isn't that a cool name?

I went on an 8 hour cruise - saw a ton of marine animals - we went to see the glacier up close.

Now glaciers cover mountains and when they retreat they crush the mountain - literally - into tiny pebbles and silt (like sand) - here these smaller rocks stand - alone - they didn't get crushed - how did they withstand the crushing and nothing else? What made them withstand . . .

The actual glacier coming into view - with bits of ice that had come off - they look little but they are big and what is under the water even bigger. I felt like I was on the Titanic.

Going to Harding Ice Field - this is where the glacier was in 1917. This is me.

Now I walked the one on the left and my son walked the one on the right - the 8 mile hike. Mine was about 2 miles each way. It was the only part of the trip where I thought I might die - just kidding- but it was hard.

No moose to be seen yet, but their droppings were everywhere.

Dirt on my bluejeans - proof of my climb.

Glacier meeting rock - just like it is the most normal thing in the world to see.

Alaska has 5 active volcano's.

Enthusiasm is a volcano on whose top never grows the grass of hesitation. - Kahlil Gibran

If you stopped - and sat down - didn't rush - didn't talk - just listened quietly - you could hear the creaks and groans of this volcano. Much like slowing down in life . . .

“Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another which both attracts and heals.” —J. Isham

“Listening is such a simple act. It requires us to be present, and that takes practice, but we don't have to do anything else. We don't have to advise, or coach, or sound wise. We just have to be willing to sit there and listen.” —Margaret J. Wheatley; writer, consultant

Bear with me here - I'm almost done with my trip - my drive to Homer, Homer, and Alyeska Resort and sadly it will be over.

I'm already reading books on women who have made a difference . . . so stay tuned.

God is in Alaska

A soldier's Christian view from Iraq - quite worthy of watching:
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=058479dce76f339e5ba3&utm_source=newsletter0727&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos
AIN'T

He was just a little boy,
On a week's first day.
Wandering home from Bible school,
And dawdling on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass;
He even found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milkweed pod, And blew out all the 'filler.'

A bird's nest in a tree overhead,
So wisely placed up so high.
Was just another wonder,
That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zig zag course,
And hailed him from the lawn;
Asked him where he'd been that day
And what was going on.

'I've been to Bible School ,'
He said and turned a piece of sod.
He picked up a wiggly worm replying,
'I've learned a lot about God.'

'M'm very fine way,' the neighbor said,
'for a boy to spend his time.'
'If you'll tell me where God is,
I'll give you a brand new dime.'

Quick as a flash the answer came!
Nor were his accents faint.
'I'll give you a dollar, Mister,
If you can tell me where God ain't.'

Peace for this Sunday.

Chatty

Something to think about Saturdays.

See, this dog - he's just sitting there and relaxing and letting the world go by. Nothing is going to bother him today . . . he's cute isn't he?

"The first sight of maturity is the discovery that the volume knob also turns to the left. " (- Chicago Tribune) That means turn the volume off! Turn your engines off! Be still. Be quiet. Listen - like the movie August Rush talked about - that there is music all around us if we only listen for it.

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

As you know I've been thinking a lot about Alaska (lol). I don't know if it's really Alaska that I fell in love with - if it was that I allowed myself to be my real self out there - if it was the idea of having some freedom and peace - if it was the pioneering spirit I saw out there - or if it was just the people I met along the way. Something moved me - guess it was all of the above.

A friend wrote me - "Sometimes a person finds the place they need to be, and they move there. It's a physical place, sometimes, and others times, it's a mental place. Life passes quickly -- it's a quick trip through -- no returns -- too short to mess around in a place just existing, or existing for others, while there's a place where the person can be WHOLE instead of have a HOLE in their heart!!! [Now to take my own advice...!!!] " ~ ODP.

I wish for everyone today that they are in the place they need to be. So that you can be whole instead of having a hole in your heart.

Keep breathing :)

Chatty

Fun Friday

This is the Grand Denali Lodge - the office, the restaurant (where I had the bread pudding), and a souvenir shop. To get here you had to take a bus - and the bus had to go back and forth across winding curvy roads - that was the only way to get there and then back down to the activities. Even the bus drivers were young adventurous people - one young girl worked there in the summer and lived in (I think) Alyeska during the winter - to ski - she was a professional skier. She loved it there too.

Now let's have some more fun!

The state of our educational system - only read if you want to laugh out loud so hard you almost die!

http://www.viddler.com/explore/mercola/videos/182/



TEST: How is your knowledge of cars? THIS IS NOT EASY!

CLICK HERE



Making a baby... This is hilarious!

There is not one dirty word in it, and it is funny!--
So any dirty minded old men OR women just hit delete because you will not enjoy it.

The Smiths were unable to conceive children and decided to use a surrogate father to start their family. On the day the proxy father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife goodbye and said, 'Well, I'm off now. The man should be here soon.'

Half an hour later, just by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer happened to ring the doorbell, hoping to make a sale. 'Good morning, Ma'am', he said, 'I've come to...'

'Oh, no need to explain,' Mrs. Smith cut in, embarrassed, 'I've been expecting you.'

'Have you really?' said the photographer. 'Well, that's good. Did you know babies are my specialty?'

'Well that's what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a seat !.

After a moment she asked, blushing, 'Well, where do we start?'

'Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the couch, and perhaps a couple on the bed.. And sometimes the living room floor is fun. You can really spread out there.'

'Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn't work out for Harry and me!'

'Well, Ma'am, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven angles, I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results..'

'My, that's a lot!', gasped Mrs. Smith.

'Ma'am, in my line of work a man has to take his time. I'd love to be In and out in five minutes, but I'm sure you'd be disappointed with that.'

'Don't I know it,' said Mrs. Smith quietly.

The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his baby pictures. 'This was done on the top of a bus,' he said.

'Oh, my God!' Mrs. Smith exclaimed, grasping at her throat.

'And these twins turned out exceptionally well - when you consider their mother was so difficult to work with.'

'She was difficult?' asked Mrs. Smith.

'Yes, I'm afraid so. I finally had to take her to the park to get the job done right. People were crowding around four and five deep to get a good look'

'Four and five deep?' said Mrs. Smith, her eyes wide with amazement.

'Yes', the photographer replied. 'And for more than three hours, too. The mother was constantly squealing and yelling - I could hardly concentrate, and when darkness approached I had to rush my shots. Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had to pack it all in.'

Mrs. Smith leaned forward. 'Do you mean they actually chewed on your, uh...equipment?'

'It's true, Ma'am, yes.. Well, if you're ready, I'll set-up my tripod and we can get to work right away.'

'Tripod?'

'Oh yes, Ma'am. I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It's much too big to be held in the hand very long.'

Mrs. Smith fainted.



Officer Krispy Kreme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp-ClzU7rwo&feature=email



You have to be old enough to appreciate this.
If you don't understand it,it's because you are too young.I hate to admit it, but I got it.




Love,
Chatty