At 2:30 this morning I awoke from a troubling dream. Not exactly of nightmare quality, more a glimpse into the inner workings of a 58 year old mind. That is, if dreams are a glimpse into the subconscious. It was so vivid in detail still. I thought it a good topic for a post, rolled over and went back to sleep. It never occured to me that something that detailed would no longer be available to me when sunrise came.

My ladies have returned to their regular aide and schedule leaving me with no place I must be. In many ways a relief as I have so much to do for Hubby's business. On the other hand I will miss these ladies with their little quirks and kindnesses. I probably will also miss the income as we've another month or more of winter left. I don't worry much about that, we always survive. Which, as I remember, was what the dream was about. It is also the only thing I remember of that particular dream. Survival, not of the heroic man against nature variety. Just the day to day rolling over the little bumps that living brings. The sun is out. I have sufficient unto my needs, what more should I ask for?

During the preparation of our financial statements for the tax preparer, it became apparent to me that once the business expenses are deducted, Hubby and I live at poverty level. I'm not exactly sure what that means in the overall scheme of things. I do know I can't buy a boat, or a Cadillac. I definitely can't take a trip to Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahama or Kokomo. I grant, any or all of those things would be nice, but not really necessary.

I don't know, maybe it's because I was a child of the 60's that I am not interested in the trappings of material wealth. I look around me at my friends. They have nice houses, newer vehicles, RV's, snowmobiles and a couple of them have boats. They take trips, they dine out regularly, they attend social events all the time. They also are in debt up to their eyebrows. Ahhhh, the American Dream. Plastic money, so easy to use, and nary a thought as to how to pay it back. Most of them never will pay it back because of high interest rates and late payment fees. Most of their arguments are concerning finances, and who is spending too much money on things. I know because I'm a good listener.

Ginger's husband just got a big pay raise so they went shopping for the home of their dreams. They wanted a lakefront property here that is on the market. Asking price is $275,000. It's a nice home. A very nice home. Their annual income would be high enough to afford this dream home except their loan was denied by the bank. It seems that with all the other toys they own, which are not paid for, they are living beyond their means. They don't have a down payment. What planet do they live on that it never occured to them that a home of this caliber would be available without one? They thought they would be able to use the equity the have in their existing house as a down payment. It never occured to them that the drop in value in the housing market would affect the value of their home which would also affect the value of their equity.

If they were to list their house on todays market, they wouldn't be able to sell it for what they are paying for it. Their credit card debt is astronomical. At least it is to me. They think nothing of it. Just a minor set back in the overall scheme of their lives. I wonder what will happen to them when they retire? Since they are just a couple of years younger than I am, I do hope they have a good retirement pension. I suppose they could always sell their toys?

On the other hand we have Hubby and myself. We live in an entirely different manner. Money that could be spent on toys is set aside so that our living expenses can be met during his winter shut down. This year it's a little tighter because of our move and the earlier onset of snow. We have enough to pay the bills on time. We can heat our home comfortably, eat well, and enjoy each others company without wondering if the bills are going to get paid. He doesn't enjoy the enforced idleness and can be somewhat difficult at times because of it, but that's just one of those little bumps we can roll over without worrying about it. Ginger said to me yesterday that she feels sorry for me because I'm so poor. Oddly, although I would never say so, I feel sorry for her because she's so far in debt. I suppose it's a matter of perspective. While Ginger is off at work, I believe I'll go enjoy my day. Did I tell you the sun was out?

I have observed many different types of marriage proposals. They've taken place at sporting events, television programs and with the use of airborne banners. I've never before heard of including ones cat in the proposal until I found this series of pictures.







If the marriage doesn't work out I wonder who gets the cat?

The Parties Just Begun



Step Up



My granddaughter likes them, and I have to admit that they are fun. So, I'm starting my second childhood with a couple of selections from them.

In the past, many of us used to participate in something we called the Friday Five. It was a concept by PolarB. of The Inner Sanctum. Every Friday we would find five things to tell about ourselves so that our other blogging buddies could get to know a little about us. Those of us that participated might find five opinions about things that happened that week, five things that were favorites of ours or in one case I did five jobs I wouldn't like to have to do. Sometimes I liked doing them and sometimes I didn't. It was a neat way to do a post without having to flesh out one idea with enough words or graphics to create a four or five paragraph blog post, which is a plus. The negative was trying to find five ideas to do an entire post with.

As Blogstream became larger with more participants we seemed to get away from that and on to different things. The desire to post daily got lost in many of us as our lives got busier. Streamers that we were in the habit of reading regularly have left, some of us have replaced the Friday Five with questions to be answered by those that wish to participate, either on their blogs or in QuestionStream. Blogging is all about change, and that is what keeps it fresh and interesting, however, this week I feel the desire to do a Friday Five. Some of these are things I learned this week and some of them have occured to me because of questions I read.

5. When I came online yesterday my AOL news page had an article about e-Cards and something called Botnet. Apparently originators of worms and viruses have figured out how to use e-Cards to infect our computers. The article said that if you get an e-Card from someone you don't know, don't open it. If you get one from someone you do know and it contains a clickable link for you to download your card, don't click the link. I'd also apply those warnings to forwarded emails. If they contain a link to some other place, I'd be very careful about clicking on it.



4. Dolly Parton has cancelled personal appearances because of back problems. She admits that the problems she's having are a direct result of the size of her breasts. She is not considering a breast reduction. There has to be something seriously wrong with me because I simply do not understand what part of having the so called "eighth wonders of the world", is worth the amount of pain she's having. I saw in QuestionStream a question about the viewpoints of those that practice the nudist lifestyle. I did some research and found that none of them view the naked human body in any sexual manner, it's not allowed. I am finding myself asking whether or not desexualizing the human body would contribute to a better self image? Instead of being concerned about not being perfectly attractive on the outside, would we concentrate more on being beautiful on the inside? We actually could look the way we are supposed to look without all that nip/tuck stuff, and we'd feel good about ourselves. There's a thought.



3. Why is it that we care so much about the trials and tribulations of screwed up celebrities? If we paid as much attention to our neighbors and families as we do to the latest train wreck that Britney has caused would we create a better world? I look at the number of people buying and reading the tabloid magazines sold at supermarket checkout counters everywhere and wonder if they pay any attention to real world issues that actually play a role in their daily lives.



2. Religion seems to be a constant topic of disagreement no matter where you go, online or real life. I ask myself continually when faced with someone who has to talk about their belief incessantly, whether they actually do believe what they're saying. As Christians we're supposed to spread the word of Jesus, but what kind of message are we sending when we quote scripture and say that it has changed our life and then in the next sentence act as if we need affirmation and attention from the person we're talking to? Isn't true belief affirmation enough? True belief is quiet and peaceful and of comfort to the believer. Action speaks so much louder than words.



1. This week has been an awakening of sorts for me. I've seen a sheriff dump a quadriplegic onto the floor, I've heard 911 tapes from a disabled woman who set her bed on fire and couldn't get a 911 operator to actually dispatch the fire department until it was too late. Turned out that there were 10 operators doing nothing while this woman was left on hold, she died, and I don't imagine it was peacefully. It's time for change, and not just in our president. We need to take back our neighborhoods and become less of a consumer and more of a citizen of these United States.

Betty Boop and Frank (Ole Blue Eyes) Sinatra. Definitely the best way to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day.