"Knights" in Shining Armor

Thank you to all those "Knights" in shining armor out there! You do wonderful work and have a very special place in this community!

If you haven't heard about them...here's the info. It's a group called Knights of Columbus. Members of this awesome group assist disabled and needy families in acquiring medical equipment and supplies. And all at no cost to the families! This truly is the "pay it forward" idea at work. Much of the equipment is donated to the Knights and then is loaned out to families as needed...for as long as needed. All they ask in return for the supplies and equipment is for the family to return the equipment when they are finished using it, so that it might be re-donated to someone else in need.

So, if you have any medical equipment needs, contact your local Knights of Columbus chapter. Or if you have medical equipment or supplies that you or your loved one no longer need or use, then feel free to go ahead and donate it to the Knights and keep the good karma going!

Christmas Countdown

I can't believe there is less than a week until Christmas!!! There is still so much to get done...treats to bake, gifts to buy, wrap & deliver! I just hope the weather cooperates for just a few more days so I can get everything done.

Here's to finishing up last minute tasks!

Good News

This is the second day in a row that I have gotten good news. Since things typically happen in multiples of three...I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings! Yay for Happy Holidays!

Lyrical

Music is a way of life for many of us. We use it as a soundtrack for our lives, background noise for studying, meditation, relaxation, dancing, during celebrations and ceremonies, and just for fun. With so many different varieties of music out there...how can one choose just one category or type to enjoy?!

Given the fact that it's Christmas time...the usual Holiday music has been playing around the house. I love the classics...Carol of The Bells, Silent Night, Joy To The World, We Three Kings, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Then there are the obligatory Christmas movie soundtrack songs...Rudolph, Frosty The Snowman, Holly Jolly Christmas. Anyway, this list could go on FOREVER! Most of these songs bring back some great Holiday memories!

Have you ever taken the time to really listen to the lyrics of a favorite song? Many times lyrics speak to us on several different levels. It is not often that one gets to sit down and ask their favorite musician what exactly they were writing about when they jotted down that favorite tune about love, hate, anger, or laughter. So, we often create a meaning for ourselves. A song's lyrics may speak to you about your current life situation, your past, your feelings, your future, hopes, dreams, or fears. Whatever meaning a song & it's lyrics have for you, keep singing along & enjoy the music.

Here are some random lyrics that caught my attention:

• "I'm doing the best I ever did, I'm doing the best that I can, I'm doing the best I ever did, Now go away!" ~ Godsmack "Whatever"
  
  
• "Who are you-and what do you do, that makes you think you are above me, but have you walked in my shoes, the pedestal, you put yourself on, well since I'm breaking it down now, it's gonna collapse and be gone" ~ Fergie "Pedestal"
  
  
• "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run." ~ Kenny Rogers "The Gambler"

• "Who are you to wave your finger? Ya' must have been out your head..." "Soapbox, house of cards, and glass, so don't go tossin' your stones around." ~ Tool "The Pot"

• "Seems like nowadays, ain't nothin' meant to last. One day you've got it all, and then it disappears so fast." ~ Jonny Lang "A Quitter Never Wins"

• "We're kissing without kissing...got it down to a fine art. Love's supposed to keep you young and frisky...we grew up and wide apart." ~ Imogen Heap "Loose Ends"

• "Can't talk to a psycho like a normal human being." ~ Poe "Trigger Happy Jack"

Well, those are some lyrics I like. Feel free to share your favorites!

Have a musical day!

Santa Rampage!

My sister convinced me to join her at the Santa Rampage this year. What?! You don't know what Santa Rampage is?! Bores out there might look at it as just another Holiday pub crawl...but it's oh so much more! Just imagine...Holiday cheer, smiles, laughter, and everywhere you look...SANTA! (or a Bumble, elf, snowflake, or oddly enough...a menorah!)

Among all the costumes, a few caught my eye...or just made me laugh hysterically! Like my favorite DJ Bumble...
The star was classic! And thanks for letting me check out the DJ equipment...even though it was only your second time on stage and you didn't have VINYL. You did great...and kept the place ROCKIN'!

Another noted fan favorite was the Granny in Guess jeans...your dance moves were amazing! Hahahahahaha!
I'm sure there will be more pictures arriving soon, but for now enjoy these. I'm sure this will be a new family tradition...at least for my sis and me! We had a blast...even though she lost the batteries out of her camera when it decided to rock out on the dance floor.
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

Christmas Baking Day

We had a Christmas Baking Day this weekend...wow....that's all I can say. Cramming 3 bossy women into a tiny kitchen with boiling liquids, sticky mixes, and gooey messes...not the greatest idea ever. But we sure had fun! Although we didn't make everything on all of our lists, we did get plenty of treats made.

I suppose it didn't help that we were doubling or tripling each recipe so that we had enough for each of us to take home. I ended up with 3 pans of caramel that still needs to be cut & wrapped! Some of the bon bons still need to be dipped since they weren't quite set up & we ran out of dipping chocolate.

Completed Projects: dipped pretzels, bon-bons, caramels, divinity, and peanut blossom cookies. Yum!

Casualties: 1 small burn to my right arm, 1 plastic measuring spoon eaten by the garbage disposal, a few cookies consumed by the hungry chefs, and some bon bon filling sneakily eaten by 1 particular chef (you know who you are!)

Thank you to the eager dogs who gave us so much entertainment & distraction during the long, intense baking. And thanks to the rat who so generously donated to our comedic interludes! All in all it turned out to be a pretty productive day!

Depression

With the gloomy days of winter approaching, I thought I would share some serious information today. Many people suffer from depression, chronic or situational...some experience SAD (seasonal affective disorder). So for those of you out there who experience depression or have a loved one dealing with depression...this information is dedicated to you.

Signs & Symptoms:

• constant feelings of sadness, irritability or tension
• decreased interest or pleasure in usual activities or hobbies
• loss of energy, feeling tired despite lack of activity
• a change in appetite, with significant weight loss or gain
• a change in sleeping patterns, such as difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much
• restlessness or feeling slowed down
• decreased ability to make decisions or concentrate
• feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or guilt
• thought of suicide or death
  

If you, or a loved one are experiencing any/ or several of these symptoms it would be wise to contact a healthcare professional.

If you, or a loved one are in an immediate serious crisis: please contact your healthcare professional or go to your local hospital/emergency room - or ask a friend or family member to help you do these things.

You can also call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to talk to a trained counselor 24/7.

Please remember mental health illnesses can be just as debilitating as any other medical condition and may require medication, treatment, rehabilitation services and ongoing supportive therapy.

Hopefully this information was helpful. If nothing else, it gave you something to read for a few minutes during your day.

Stay safe & ask for help when needed!