The Blaph's On Us!

“Winter Begins Again”
Acrylic on canvas
Artist:  Dale McGlothlin

Winter too will end “again” . . . just imagine what Spring will bring!

Madonna and A-Rod (if they had a child together can you imagine what the name would be?) need to move to their own island and start a commune.   If I see her top hat one more time, I’ll scream.  She brings the meaning of “cougar” to a whole new level.  Yuck!  Do we really care where either spent Thanksgiving?  And if we don’t, why does the AOL?

Black Friday Madness — Sadly a tragedy occurs every year.  This year it was in a WalMart.  A man was killed while doing his job, all because of some frenzied shoppers.  What were people thinking???

On the chilly, rainy Sunday following Thanksgiving, I just wanted to curl up on the sofa - cheer the Redskins (they LOST, but did find solace that the Tennessee Titans won ENORMOUSLY on Turkey Day – gotta love the adorable Jeff Fisher, too) - do the Washington Post Magazine crossword puzzle – and think about the wonderful Christmas activities that are becoming traditions and am fortunate to share with my daughters and grandchildren. We do the Mt. Vernon Christmas Tour, take an overnight visit to Colonial Willamsburg, see Ford’s Theater production of “A Christmas Carol” and enjoy the truly festive “Raul Malo Annual Christmas Party” at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia – whose show puts me, Elizabeth and Elena in the BEST mood.  My Sunday thoughts were soothing and sublime, reminded me of the old commercial by General Foods International Coffees - “Celebrate the moments of your life”.  Each thought came one at a time and each one was positive and constructive.

Monday’s here – much to do so that I can enjoy these wonderful plans – knowing that the important things are done and everything is in good order. I strive for a day of constructive, positive thoughts with actions to match – and peace of mind.

Happy Monday!

Linda

ALWAYS MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Many years ago, a large American shoe manufacturer sent two sales reps out to different parts of the Australian outback to see if they could drum up some business among the aborigines. Some time later, the company received telegrams from both agents. The first one said, “No business here…natives don’t wear shoes.” The second one said, “Great opportunity here…natives don’t wear shoes!”

Day of rest.

Dino pancakes. My four-year-old is on concurrent pancake and dinosaur kicks. When you put them together, you wind up with T Rex, triceratops, and—get ready for this one—coelophysis-shaped pancakes. (That Williams-Sonoma box of dinosaur cookie cutters finally came in handy…) My favorite part is hearing him shout, “Happy Pancake Day!” bright and early Saturday morning when I agree to make the dino pancakes…again.  — Keaghan

Eve is now into a magnetic puzzle of the map of the U.S..  She is doing very well and is learning the best way possible; by mommy doing “theatrical associations” to each state of course.  She is also in charge of handing me “my states” and inevitably gives me the most boring, “blah” states!  Ugh!  And for those, my “associations” are less than admirable sorry to say.  So when she hands me states like say . . . uh . . .well . . . I won’t be specific, I just say, “blah, blah state!  we don’t like that one.”  And sure enough next time we play, she just hands it to me and says, “blah, blah, we don’t like it”.  Niiiiice!!!  — elena

What makes this Friday particularly fabulous for me? Missing all the doors-open-at-5-a.m.-Black-Friday shopping crush and relaxing (at least theoretically) with my mom and sisters at a spa in the Berkshires instead.  — Keaghan

No make-up, sweats, cold turkey with salt, pepper, mayo, stuffing, and a slice of cranberry on Wonder Bread!!!  And I’ll repeat this several times, in between cold pumkin pie slices!  Ah . . . life doesn’t get any better!  — elena

Black Friday!  My kids want to “get in on the deals”! I’d rather stay home and relax!  We compromise.  I get up when I’m ready (not 4:00am!) and then we shop for a while, come home, and eat delicious leftovers!  — Mary

ELLIE’s RUN

On a day carved specifically for “thanksgiving” and “blessings”, I feel it’s totally appropriate and meaningful to share Ellie’s story - one that was passed along to me from a friend who always knows how to provide a little (in this case a lot) of inspiration just when you need it (thank you Kim!).

There’s a girl named Ellie.  Ellie runs.  Ellie dreams big.  Ellie takes action.  I know Ellie’s going to make history - she already has.   Ellie has made a difference in the lives of many families in Africa.  Ellie has also made a difference in the lives of many whom she’s never met nor has any idea about.  Ellie is an inspiration; she’s my new inspiration!  Ellie gives us hope!  Ellie makes me want to be a better person and I believe there is no greater gift you can give another.  Thank you Ellie.

Ellie started Ellie’s Run for Africa in 2003 when she was 10 years old.  Ellie’s Run for Africa raises awareness of and funding for Africans who struggle to meet basic needs such as health care, food, water, shelter, clothing and education. The video below tells the story of how Ellie’s dream began and her website shows how big it has become.  This past year’s race raised $58,000.00 – pretty big for one little girl’s dream.

We look forward to Ellie allowing us to do a laugh-friendly interview with her for our newsletter.  It’ll be one worth reading for sure!  As Ellie’s 2009 Run for Africa draws nearer, we want to do everything possible to support her.  We’ll keep you posted along the way!

I hope and pray Ellie, that my sweet Eve listens for her “call” like you and takes action. I hope she seeks good role models like you and makes mommy proud like your parents are indeed of you.  And to your parents, what an awesome job they’ve done and what rays of hope they are.  Children are indeed a reflection of their parents and this is such a responsibility when we truly grasp and understand this.

It is because of spirits like yours Ellie that I’m even able to write this entry or sit at my sister’s table this day because without spirits like yours, I (we) would know no such freedoms to do so.  For this I’m incredibly thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kindness,

elena

You have not lived a perfect day, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
- Ruth Smeltzer

The test of thankfulness is not what you have to be thankful for, but whether anyone else has reason to be thankful that you are here.
- Author Unknown

Make it a rule… never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say, “I have made one human being at least a little wiser, a little happier or a little better this day.”
- Charles Kingsley (1819-1875)

TWENTY NINE LINES TO MAKE YOU SMILE

1.   My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn’t.
2.   I don’t suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
3.   Some people are alive only because it’s illegal to kill them.
4.   I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
5.   Don’t take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.
6.   You’re just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
7.   Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
8.   Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
9.   I’m not a complete idiot — Some parts are just missing.
10. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
11. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine.
12. God must love stupid people; He made so many.
13. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
14. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
15. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
16. Being ‘over the hill’ is much better than being under it!
17. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.
18. Procrastinate Now!
19. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?
20. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
21. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.
22. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!
23. They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.
24. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.
25. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.
26. Ham and eggs…A day’s work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.
27. The trouble with life is there’s no background music.
28. The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.
29. I smile because I don’t know what the heck is going on.

This is lengthy, but it is worth it.  Talk about motivating!! If you ever feel like you can’t; watch this and you WILL!

Stay hungry. Stay Foolish.

Steve Job’s Commencement Address at Stanford University 2005