Spring Thinking or Thinking Spring

Spring is almost here… time for doing your income taxes, getting your lawn & garden ready, and time for fishing!!!

Taxes
Well, I finished working on my taxes the other day. I  always dread doing it, but it always a little easier than I thought it would be.

I use the Turbo Tax software for my taxes. I’ve used it for many years and I have always been happy with it. I started using Turbo Tax when it was a ChipSoft product… that was before it was acquired by Intuit. The product’s appearance and ease of use has changed a lot in the last 18 or so years. (Intuit and Chipsoft merged in 1993)

Lawn and Garden
I got my lawn mower all serviced and ready to go for the grass growing season. I also need to buy some fertilizer for the lawn and get it down. March is a good time for doing that… and March is almost here.

And don’t forget about gardens, flowers and/or vegetable. You’ve probably already got your ground plowed and you are ready to plant. Well, I will not have a garden this year, but I do plan to help my Dad with his World Renown Tomato Garden. On a warm day this spring I hope to be going to Knoxville, to plant tomatoes under the direct supervision and careful eye of Dad.

Fishing
Don’t forget about fishing! I’ve been through catalogs from Bass Pro, Cabela’s, and Jann’s Netcraft. And, I have already received a well thought out order from each of them.

I am now in the process of cleaning and organizing my tackle boxes. Next step is to put new fishing line on all my crappie fishing reels and  rig them up for fishing. I also have some new rod holders to put on my boat… and then there’s the job of cleaning the boat and getting it ready. It’s all a lot of work, but I enjoy every minute of it. I’m just thankful and am able to do what I can do.

Read about my Crappie Fishing System.

Are you getting ready for Spring? I hope so. It’s fun!

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Recently I heard this: “Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened.” Now that I’ve thought about that, I do believe that there is something to be thankful for in everything that happens.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.
~Peter Marshall

~~~
Joke of the Day

A woman gets onto a bus with her baby.

The bus driver says, "That's the ugliest baby that I've ever seen. Ugh!"

The woman goes toward the rear of the bus and sits down, fuming!!! She says to a man next to her, "The driver just insulted me!"

The man says, "There's no call for that. You go right up there and tell him off. Get his name so you can report him to the transit company. Go ahead, I'll hold your monkey for you."

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

Old Barns… they’re disappearing

I admire the barns that have been built and used in our good old USA. But it seems that barns may be a thing of the past. New barns are not being built like they were in days gone by. Today when a barn is needed, it usually cheaper to put up a metal building. It may serve the purpose, but it lacks the beauty of the old barns. I hope many of them are preserved for future generations. Check out this site:

Old Barns and People

And do you know what a “barn raising” is? Well, that how many of the old barns were built. Read about it here in Wikipedia. People worked together in those days, making America great!

Here’s a poem that I recently found that does a great job of describing the weathered old barn. The poet, Tamara Hillman, is commended for a poem that helps us recall the memories and majesty of the old barn.

The Weathered Old Barn

Beyond the fence, on a muddy road,
a barn stands stark amid fields—fresh mowed.

Worn and beaten by wind and rain,
never to be used for shelter again.

Fading red on old barn boards,
hoot owls nesting by the hoards.

Aging stanchions with rotting bins,
roof slightly bowing—caving in.

Doors cracked and broken—weather bent,
off the runners where they once went.

Decaying, alone—since the house is gone,
chimney stoic on an un-mown lawn.

The old barn stands, although it’s leaning,
but in it’s day it had such meaning—

The center of life each working day,
folks toiling, existing without much pay.

Families held it in high esteem,
believing the barn contained their dreams—

Dreams of the future for their generation,
a chance to live free in this great nation.

Raising some stock, and children too,
a farm where acres of grain once grew.

I can just imagine in that very barn,
men would gather to spin a yarn.

Applying oil to harness and saddle
readying them for the morning straddle.

Working at their daily chores—
storms often raging outside those doors.

Farm animals cozy in every stall,
smells of hay, and that’s not all.

Even manure was a common smell,
and frothy, white milk fresh in the pail.

Doves in the rafters—softly cooing,
barn cats stretching, licking, mewing.

Towering loft—storing loads of feed
in cold winter months to meet the need.

A place where children sought great fun,
swinging from ropes in summer sun.

Old weathered barn—standing lonely and sad,
recalling memories of the one we once had.

By Tamara Hillman ©2006

~~~

Check out the following web site where I found the above poem:

Country Whispers 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I am thinking that as an individual, peace is one of the most important things you can possess. If you have peace you can have rest, and you are content with your state of being. True peace cannot be achieved without a full surrender to God’s will.

~~~

Quote of the Day
Every path hath a puddle.
~George Herbert

~~~
Joke of the Day

After a laborious two-week criminal trial in a very high profile bank robbery case, the jury finally ended its 14 hours of deliberations and entered the courtroom to deliver its verdict to the judge. The judge turns to the jury foreman and asks, "Has the jury reached a verdict in this case?"

"Yes we have, your honor," the foreman responded.

"Would you please pass it to me,"

The judge declared, as he motioned for the bailiff to retrieve the verdict slip from the foreman and deliver it to him.

After the judge reads the verdict himself, he delivers the verdict slip back to his bailiff to be returned to the foreman and instructs the foreman, "Please read your verdict to the court."

"We find the defendant NOT GUILTY of all four counts of bank robbery," stated the foreman.

The family and friends of the defendant jump for joy at the sound of the "not guilty" verdict and hug each other as they shout expressions of divine gratitude. The defendant's attorney turns to his client and asks,

"So, what do you think about that?"

The defendant looks around the courtroom slowly with a bewildered look on his face and then turns to his defense attorney and says,

"I'm real confused here. Does this mean that I have to give all the money back?"

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

Heart Warming

A Boy and His Dog
This video is fun to watch. It’s about a boy and his dog. It lasts a tad over 3 minutes.

 

Life is Good. Be Thankful for it!

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Someone said, “ Pain and Suffering is inevitable but Misery is optional.” That is so true. And showing forth misery to others does not help anyone.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Nothing fails like success because we don't learn
from it.  We learn only from failure.
~Kenneth Boudling

~~~
Joke of the Day

A drill sergeant had just chewed out one of his cadets, and as he was walking away, he turned to the cadet and said, "I guess when I die you'll come and dance on my grave."

The cadet replied, "Not me, Sarge...no sir! I promised myself that when I got out of the Army I'd never stand in another line!"

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

Law of the Garbage Truck

Special Post
Check out the great comment I got today from Dawn who works with David J. Pollay, who is the originator of the Law of the Garbage Truck. This is great… check out David’s links below:

• Beware of the Garbage Truck (a nice flash video)
• David J. Pollay’s “The Law of the Garbage Truck”
• David J. Pollay’s Blog

As David Pollay says, “Enjoy every day. Do what you love. Make a difference.”

Law of the Garbage Truck

Law  Of The Garbage Truck?
When I got this Email about the garbage truck, I  said “What Now?”. But after reading it and thinking about it, I saw it contained a good message.  Here’s the email:

One  day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving  in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped  out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes,  skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!

The driver of the  other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My  taxi driver just smiled and waved  at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. 

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost  ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi  driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He  explained that  many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them  well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The  bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who  don't. Be kind to everyone.

Life is  ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take  it!

Make Life Better by Helping Others
Here’s a good video about North Platte, Nebraska. It tells about what a small town did to help encourage the troops during World War II.

The North Platte Canteen

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Is there something you desire to have more than anything else? If you received what you desire, tell me, what would be its’ value in 100 years?

Help us to desire things that have eternal value.

~~~

Quotes of the Day

Education is what remains after one has forgotten
what one has learned in school. 
~Albert Einstein

The whole purpose of education is
to turn mirrors into windows.
~Sydney J. Harris

~~~
Joke of the Day

Little Jimmy was in the garden filling in a hole when his neighbor peered over the fence.

Interested in what the cheeky-faced youngster was up to, he politely asked, "What'cha doing, Jimmy?"

"My goldfish died," replied the boy tearfully, without looking up. "I've just buried him."

The neighbor was concerned. "That's an awfully big hole for a goldfish, isn't it?"

Tim patted down the last heap of earth, then replied, "That's because he's inside your mean ol’ cat."

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

Our Beautiful America

Another great slide show from Old Blue Web Designs
Click on the picture below to see a nice slide show of our beautiful United States of America. Each picture is shown in an outline of The USA. You will also hear a beautiful version of America the Beautiful.

 
Five Hundred Today
Today represents my 500th post to this blog. I started on  August 15, 2007. I have been writing most every day except Sundays. It has been lots of fun, and I plan on continuing as long as possible.

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I think one of the worst things you can do is to take credit for what what another has done.

~~~

Quote of the Day
You cannot plough a field by
turning it over in your mind.
~Author Unknown

~~~
Joke of the Day

A man bought a donkey from a preacher. The preacher told the man that this donkey had been trained in a very unique way, (being the donkey of a preacher). The only way to make the donkey go, was to say, "Praise the Lord" The only way to make the donkey stop, was to say, "Amen!"

The man was pleased with his purchase and immediately got on the animal to try out the preacher's instructions. "Praise the Lord" shouted the man. The donkey began to trot. "Amen!" shouted the man. The donkey stopped immediately. "This is great!" said the man. With a "Praise the Lord," he rode off very proud of his new purchase.

The man traveled for a long time through some mountains. Soon he was heading toward a cliff. He could not remember the word to make the donkey stop. "Stop," said the man. "Halt!" he cried. The donkey just kept going. "Oh, no... Bible!....Church!...Please Stop!!" shouted the man. The donkey just began to trot faster. He was getting closer and closer to the cliff edge. Finally, in desperation, the man said a prayer. "Please, dear Lord. Please make this donkey stop before I go off the end of this mountain, In Jesus name, AMEN."

The donkey came to an abrupt stop just one step from the edge of the cliff.

The man was so thankful from being saved from a horrible death, then, with great relief, he said "Praise the Lord!”.

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

A Cowboy Poem with a Message

Better Keep in Touch

Jake, the rancher, went one day 
to fix a distant fence.
The wind was cold and gusty
and the clouds rolled gray and dense.

As he pounded the last staples in
and gathered tools to go,
The temperature had fallen,
the wind and snow began to blow.

When he finally reached his pickup,
he felt a heavy heart.
From the sound of that ignition,
he knew it wouldn't start.

So Jake did what most of us
would do if we had been there.
He humbly bowed his balding head
and sent aloft a prayer.

As he turned the key for the last time,
he softly cursed his luck.
They found him three days later,
frozen stiff in that old truck.

Now Jake had been around in life
and done his share of roaming.
But when he saw Heaven, he was shocked --
it looked just like Wyoming !

Of all the saints in Heaven,
his favorite was St. Peter.
(Now, this line ain't needed
but it helps with rhyme and meter)

So they set and talked a minute or two,
or maybe it was three.
Nobody was keeping' score --
in Heaven time is free.

"I've always heard," Jake said to Pete,
"that God will answer prayer,
But one time I asked for help,
well, he just plain wasn't there."

"Does God answer prayers of some,
and ignore the prayers of others?
That don't seem exactly square --
I know all men are brothers."

"Or does he randomly reply,
without good rhyme or reason?
Maybe, it's the time of day,
the weather or the season."

"Now I ain't trying to act smart,
it's just the way I feel.
And I was wondering', could you tell me --
what the heck's the deal?!"

Peter listened very patiently
and when Jake was done,
There were smiles of recognition,
and he said, "So, you're the one!!"

"That day your truck, it wouldn't start,
and you sent your prayer a flying,
You gave us all a real bad time,
with hundreds of us trying."

"A thousand angels rushed,
to check the status of your file,
But you know, Jake, we hadn't heard
from you in quite a long while."

"And though all prayers are answered,
and God ain't got no quota,
He didn't recognize your voice,
and started a truck in Minnesota ."

I don’t know the author of the above poem, but I appreciate getting it from my friends Faye and Charlie. A good reminder to all of us to keep in touch with the God of Heaven and Earth. Here’s another blogger writing about Cowboy Poetry.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Every day of your life you have some effect on other people. Let’s hope we have a smile, a kind word, a good deed, or a word of encouragement.

~~~

Quote of the Day
Man is inclined to exaggerate almost everything
- except his own mistakes.
~Author Unknown

~~~
Joke of the Day

They tell about a funny skydiving instructor. During class he would always take the time to answer any and all stupid first-timer questions.

One guy asked, "If our chute doesn't open, and the reserve doesn't open, how long do we have until we hit the ground?"

Our jump master looked at him and in perfect deadpan and answered, "The rest of your life."

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

Interesting Legend

A Cherokee Legend
The following is said to be a legend of the Cherokee Indians. It’s about the Cherokee Indian Youth’s Rite of Passage. I did some searching, but but not confirm the validity of the following. But in the event it is not true, you will learn a good lesson from the story…

Cherokee Indian Youth's Rite of Passage

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it.

He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his  blindfold.

It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

The Lesson: We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, The Creator is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, All we have to do is reach out to Him.

~~~

Read more about the Cherokee Indians and their legends from the following web sites:

• Legend of the Cherokee Indians
• Cherokee Legends
• Index of Cherokee Legends

 

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:

The doctor said, “Lose weight or make more friends!”

I asked, “Make more friends? What does that have to do with it?”

He replied, “Six pallbearers won’t be enough!”

~~~

Quote of the Day
It is wise not to seek a secret
and honest not to reveal it.
— Ben Franklin

~~~
Joke of the Day

We was out visiting Uncle Bobby in SW Virginia. There was a hog out there in a pen—with a wooden peg leg. And my brother said, "Uncle Bob, what in the world is that hog doin' with a wooden peg leg? Why has he got a peg leg?"

And the man said, "Sonny, that's the most wonderful hog in the world. My house was burning about a year ago, and that hog rescued the baby, got the baby out, saved its life. We love that hog, that hog's just like a member of our family. And a year before that, a little boy was drowning down at the baptizin' hole in the river, and that hog jumped in that river and grabbed him and rescued him. And that hog's like a member of my family. We love that hog!"

My brother said, "Yeah, but you still ain't told me why he's got a wooden peg leg."

And Uncle Bob said, "Sonny, you just don't eat a hog that wonderful but one ham at a time."

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

Common Sense

An Interesting Obituary
I can’t take credit for the following, but I think you will find it interesting, and, sadly, rather true.

Today, we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

• Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
• Why the early bird gets the worm;
• Life isn't always fair; and
• Maybe it was my fault
  (willing to accept responsibility).

Common Sense, lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion!

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust.  His wife, Discretion.  His daughter, Responsibility. His son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

• I Know My Rights
• I Want It Now
• Someone Else Is To Blame
• I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. 
 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
The human mind is an amazing thing. It begins working and controlling our body even before we are born and does all sorts of things throughout life... only to stop functioning the minute we get up to speak.

~~~

Quote of the Day
Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.
— Thomas A. Edison

~~~
Joke of the Day

All his life he dreamed about building his own house. However, when he was young he didn't have the money and for the rest of his working life, he couldn't spare the time. Now at 85 its a little late to start building.

Therefore, when he noticed a lot in the neighborhood being excavated for a house, he thought that he should take a closer look.

When he got to the lot there was a young man working all alone laying out the foundation. He asked him if he could watch?

The young man answered that he didn't mind, but its going to take some time, for he planned to do most of the work himself.

"That's all right, because I don't watch as fast as I used to."

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

Did You Know?

I had to Check for Myself
I had to go into the kitchen and check this out for myself. Did you ever look at the end of your aluminum foil box?

You know when you try to pull some foil out and the roll comes out of the box. Then you have to put the roll back in the box and start over. The roll always comes out at the wrong time.

Well, I would like to share this with you. I got this email that showed the end of the Reynolds Aluminum Foil Boxes. And written on the end it said, Press here to lock end. Right there on the ends of the box are tabs to lock the roll in place! How long has this little locking tab been there?  I had never seen it before. I asked Beverly if she knew about it, and she said no. How did they sneak this by us? Or better still, how did we get so dumb as to not read what it says on the package?

I then looked at a box of Saran wrap and it had one too! I can't count the number of times the Saran wrap roll has jumped out when I was trying to cover something up.

I hope I'm not the only person that didn't know about this. Did you know about this?

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I ran across this the other day. It reminded me of my working days before retirement:

The Six Phases of a Project:
1) Enthusiasm
2) Disillusionment
3) Panic
4) Search for the Guilty
5) Punishment of the Innocent
6) Reward of the Non-Participants

~~~

Quote of the Day
It's not whether you win or lose,
it's how you play the game.
— Grantland Rice

~~~
Joke of the Day

A fellow from Ohio was down in Tennessee and decided to go squirrel hunting. He roamed the woods all day and never had a thing to show for it.

As he was headed for his auto he saw this young boy with squirrels hanging all the way around his body under his belt. He asked the boy how he got all the squirrels.

The boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and showed the man some small steel balls. He told the man he used some of these small steel balls.

About that time a squirrel jumped from one tree to the next. The boy took a steel ball in his left hand and threw it and hit the squirrel right the head.

The man marveled at this and and complimented the boy on being so accurate, left handed and all.

The boy said oh I'm not left handed it's just my daddy says I tear them up to bad when I throw right handed.

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

New Seat Belt Law

Effective in ALL states
The National Highway Safety Council has done extensive testing on a newly designed seat belt. Initial results show that accidents can be reduced by as much as 45% when the belt is properly installed. Correct Installation is illustrated below.......

I know that you smiled a little. That smile was good for you. Now be safe today, and enjoy the wonderful gift of life.

A Good Tree
Here’s a good message about not bringing your work day problems home to your family. Click here: We all Need A Tree

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
As I get older, I’ve gotten to realize that there's a big difference between "good looking" and "looking good".

~~~

Quote of the Day
Beware of little expenses:
a small leak will sink a great ship.
— Ben Franklin

~~~
Joke of the Day

Three preachers sat discussing the best positions for prayer, while a telephone repairman worked nearby.

"Kneeling is definitely best," claimed one.

"No," another contended. "I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven."

"You're both wrong," the third insisted. "The most effective prayer position is lying prostate, face down on the floor."

The repairman could contain himself no longer. "Hey, fellas, " he interrupted, "the best prayin' I ever did was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole."

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

Hero Dog

Amazing Story
This video shows a dog who was hit by a vehicle on a busy highway, being rescued by another dog, who dragged him to safety. When you watch this, keep in mind that the injured dog lived.

This hero dog provides a good example for humans who sometimes won’t go out of their way to help a fellow human being.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
It’s easier to get older than to get wiser.

~~~

Quote of the Day
Always be a little kinder than necessary.
— James M. Barrie

~~~
Joke of the Day

It was snowing heavily and blowing to the point that visibility was almost zero when the little blonde got off work. She made her way to her car and wondered how she was going to make it home.

She sat in her car while it warmed up and thought about her situation. She finally remembered her daddy's advice that if she got caught in a blizzard she should wait for a snow plow to come by and follow it. That way she would not get stuck in a snow drift. This made her feel much better and sure enough in a little while a snow plow went by and she started to follow it. As she followed the snow plow she was feeling very smug as they continued and she was not having any problem with the blizzard conditions.

After an hour had passed, she was somewhat surprised when the snow plow stopped and the driver got out and came back to her car and signaled for her to roll down her window. The snow plow driver wanted to know if she was alright as she had been following him for a long time.

She said that she was fine and told him of her daddy's advice to follow a snow plow when caught in a blizzard.

The driver replied that it was ok with him and she could continue if she wanted, but he was done with the Wal-Mart parking lot and was going over to Sears next.

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

The Redskins

The Indian Springs Redskins
Here’s a team picture taken last week of Kara’s basketball team.

That’s Kara on the back row, the third player from the left.

 

This picture shows a sad faced Kara with two broken fingers in her left hand in a splint. And, Kara is left handed which makes it hard for her in many ways, not just just in missing playing basketball.

 

 

 

A Special Visit
We enjoyed a visit this weekend from Mandy and Alex, and from one of their friends, Lori, who is from Washington, DC. They met at our house on Friday, and we were the home base for their skiing excursions to Sugar Mountain, NC. We had a great time visiting with them and they enjoyed their time on the slopes. I did manage to get a this picture of them before they left: left to right, Alex, Mandy, and Lori.

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
An optimist is one who gets ready to leave when the speaker says: 'And in conclusion...'

~~~

Quote of the Day
Where large sums of money are concerned,
it is advisable to trust nobody.
— Agatha Christie

~~~
Joke of the Day

An older man and his friend were having a conversation one night, and the topic drifted to memory, or lack of it. The first man mentions to his friend:

"My wife and I have been having a hard time remembering very simple things lately, and a friend recommended that we see this memory specialist doctor."

"Oh, well how is it working out for you?" asked the friend. "Has it helped either one of your memory's?"

"Very much so!" replied the man. "The results are incredible!!"

"What's the name of this doctor?" asked his friend.

"Hmm, its a really long last name I know," he replied. "Well, help me out for a second. What's the name of the one kind of flower, with the thorns, and that grows on a bush?"

"A rose?" said his friend.

"Yes, Yes! A rose!" says the man. "Rose dear, what's the name of that memory doctor we've been seeing?"

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

Happy Valentine’s Day

Be Mine, Valentine
To all the girls in my life, I’m hoping you will be my valentine. And to my dear Beverly, I thank God for thee.

Read about the History of Valentine’s Day.

Be thankful if you have a Special Valentine in your life.

Lighthouses
I enjoy pictures of lighthouses, and I have also enjoyed the few visits I have made to lighthouses. They have served as a warning for many sailors through the years and have, no doubt, saved many lives.

When I think of lighthouses, it used to bring a peaceful feeling to my mind. That was before I viewed the following video showing what lighthouses have to endue during storms.

Now I have a new appreciation for lighthouses and those people who manned them during storms.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
A truly happy person is one who can
enjoy the scenery on a detour

~~~

Quote of the Day

Love is a symbol of eternity.  It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end. 
~Author Unknown

~~~
Joke of the Day

A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded:

" Rome ? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty. You're crazy to go to Rome . So, how are you getting there?"

"We're taking Continental, " was the reply. "We got a great rate!" "Continental? " exclaimed the hairdresser. " That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome ?" "We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's Tiber River called Teste."

"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks its gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly, and they're overpriced. So, whatcha' doing when you get there?" "We're going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope."

"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome .

"It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked, and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot.

And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job, and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."

"Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican , a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me.

Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me."

"Oh, really! What'd he say ?"

He said: "Where'd you get the awful Hairdo?"

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

Unusual Painted Trucks

Someone sent me the following pictures of semi rigs where the trailers have been painted to give very unusual effects.

On this first one, it looks like that bottle is coming out the side of the truck.
This one reminds you of a canvas tote bag.
It looks like all these Pepsi cases are hanging from the top of the truck.
This could be confusing for sure. It’s painted to look like the truck is coming from the other direction.
It looks like an aquarium with fish swimming around.
This one is painted like a bookshelf.

REMEMBER... THESE ARE ALL PAINTED ON THE OUTSIDES OF THE TRUCKS! You can click on the pictures for a larger view.

~~~

Be Careful today… It’s Friday the 13th!

Did you know that this year we will have three “Friday the 13th’s”… we’ll have another one in March and one in November.

~~~

The Amazing Amaryllis
It has been amazing to watch this flower grow over the past weeks. Now it is blooming, and it is beautiful. Here’s a few pictures I took yesterday.

There are 4 large blooms. This is the top view looking down on the plant.
This was taken from one side.
A picture of one of the blooms.
A closer view. And did you know that the plant grew just in water?… no soil or any kind, just tap water. Amazing!

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Everyone needs a goal… something to aim at. I think it best to have short term goals that will help you reach your long term goal.

~~~

Quote of the Day
No coffee can be good in the mouth that does not first send a sweet offering of odor to the nostrils. 
~Henry Ward Beecher

~~~
Joke of the Day

When Bill Clinton was president: He was arriving back to the White House from a trip to Arkansas with a pig under each arm. A secret serviceman greeted him.

"Nice pigs, sir!"

"Thank you. Though these are no ordinary pigs -- they're Arkansas Razorbacks! I got one for Hillary and one for Chelsea."

"Nice trade, sir!"

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below

What a Wonderful World

This video should be a help in starting off your day. Enjoy the words as Louis Armstrong sings, and watch a heart warming video of a fawn and kitten in the forest.

You might start off your day smiling and enjoying the privilege of life on earth.

 

A Big and Beautiful Bloom
Here’s a picture of one of the four blooms on the Amaryllis that Sylvia, Mandy and Alex gave us for Christmas. It has been growing steadily since the first of December, and has just recently began to show its full colors. (Click on the picture for a larger view)

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Do or say something kind today. Your words may be few, and your deed may be small, but the impact on another may be profound.

~~~

Quote of the Day

To get something done a committee should consist of no more than three people, two of whom are absent. 
~Robert Copeland

~~~
Joke of the Day

There where two snakes talking.

The 1st one said Sidney, are we the type of snakes who wrap ourselves around our prey and squeeze and crush until they’re dead? Or are we the type of snake who ambush our prey and bite them and they are poisoned?

Then the second Snake says Why do you ask?

The 1st one replies: I just bit my lip!

Add your thoughts & ideas to this blog by clicking on the "comments" below