Identity Theft

I received a letter from a store I frequent when we make our out-of-state trips. They regretted to inform me that my debit card number COULD HAVE been stolen. This, of course, meant I had to get in touch with my bank to ask their opinion on what I should do. Well, even though this info was stolen about 6 months ago, my bank suggested, very vigorously, that I cancel the card I have and get a new one issued. Fine--works for me. EXCEPT: I am left without a debit card for 3-10 days until I get my new one! It has been YEARS since I carried a checkbook around with me--my mind just isn't there anymore. Such problems I have in my life! :)

Getting Old Fast?

Some people are REALLY playing this thing for all it's worth! Check this out: www.petitiononline.com/Tomkat

Funny Kids

Christina (9) and Catie (6) were playing with the rubber bands that had been cut out of Catie's hair. The following conversation took place:

Christina: "Let's play 'shoot the rubber bands at Catie'."
Catie: "Okay, YOU be Catie."

Right On!

"Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans."
---John Lennon

Gossip

In the New York Daily News, Ben Widdicombe's column has this to say:

"Some engaging tidbits



So here's what I'm hearing about that relationship.


A source VERY close to the deal is saying there's a contract.


It's worth $5 million.


It's for five years.


There will be no sex.


The deal was sealed June 7.


That's what I'm hearing."

Draw your own conclusions! :) (And decide on your own WHO he is talking about.) ;)

Should've Known

I guess it's true: If you are a celebrity in California, you can get away with ANYTHING. What a sad day. Here's the story.

And I Cry

He wasn't quite 5 years old and I was still a newlywed when we first met. I fell in love immediately--his white-blonde hair, big blue eyes, and impossibly low voice were too much to resist. He just stared at me for the longest time, trying to figure out if I was worthy of his attention. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he held out his hand to me and said, "You want some candy?" When I accepted a jaw breaker, we became fast friends.

He was the sweetest boy God ever put on this earth. He always called me "Auntie," even though there wasn't any blood between us. Every time he saw me, he held his arms out and gave me a hug. I felt joy when I was around him--his smile was genuine and his sense of humor was wonderful.

I was there through his school days. I saw him graduate and I was there the day of his wedding. After getting to know his wife, I realized she was worthy of his love. I gave them my blessings. I was with them for the births of their children and the start of their business. They were there for K. and myself when we had our problems with C.--they offered help with no sense of judging us, just with pure love. Through the years we have gone lengths of time without seeing each other, but it was always as if we never parted whenever we were together again. He was "my boy."

And, now, "my boy" is a cocaine addict. He started out snorting, moved on to smoking, and is now injecting. He is slowly killing himself and there is nothing that can be done. He has lost his wife and children. He has lost his business. He is about to lose his life. And I can't do a thing for him. He has been through rehab several times and each time he goes back to the cocaine. He has to want to be clean for himself, or it won't work. I pray for him constantly and hope God intervenes before it is too late.

And I cry.

A Poem

Poetry has never been "my thing." I did, however, do the "worship of Rod McKuen" thing when I was young--I think it was required at the time. :) I completely blame my high school English teacher for my lack of enthusiasm for poetry. He never allowed us to read poetry just for pure pleasure--everything had to be analyzed to death. While I CAN appreciate good poetry, I never seek it out. So, with that in mind, I offer my only serious attempt at writing a poem. (This is several years old.)



TO YOU


you

HURT me

with your words

BUT

you

KILL me

with your silence

And Chicken Little Said, "Legs Are Falling From the Sky!"

"A man's severed leg--with a white Adidas sneaker still attached--plummeted from the sky onto a garage roof and bounced into the backyard of a Long Island home yesterday morning..." For more of this story go here.

Hi all, I'm back! I will write more later today or tomorrow, but I wanted to give you something interesting to read, hence the link to the story. Unbelievable!