topoftheworld

Guess if others hadn't stirred the soup now and then, we wouldn't have a holiday to celebrate. Linda's point is well taken. The balance is getting harder and harder. Nor are we the first to struggle with the choices. Liberty or Death Happy Fourth, everyone!

Thanks, Sudo, for the selections. The second one made my southern heart go pitty pat. If you don't mind another anthem version-how about 1983 All Star game-Marvin Gaye? Here is a link to NPR's page. The link in red is the story behind the performance, the one in blue is the song itself. National Anthem 1983 All Star game Hope you enjoy it, and have a Happy and safe Fourth!!!

The master and still champion! Ok, you're up.

Hey, Cool-the men advice works for me! Scout-prayers for your dad. And no guilt-you had nothing to do with what happened to your folks. This stuff is not within our control: if it was, we would be God (and I know I'm not!) And the hot flashes-yes, they are a bear, but-they will fade. Here's some info which may help: Flash help Have a great day!

I dunno-maybe if they look like this and therefore have no value. Then again, even a bad shilling can redeem itself! This is a cute story. The Silver Shilling-Hans Christen Anderson

Cool, you are very Cool.

Dancing-I am not referring at all to anything specific that you or anyone else here have contributed. I feel better exploring links posted here than I do anywhere else. But because I am not totally computer savvy, this was simply a question I have had in general, and your post made me think of it. I did not mean to offend. While exploring one site, there may be a requirement to download something to take full advantage of the site. Or there may be a link to someone else's site. Or it could be just something fun someone throws in to look at. I am generally conservative about web-surfing, and yet I still will have to fight off threats. I know, that's what virus software is for, but there are times I may want to more fully explore certain links, but don't out of caution. So I just wondered if there is a listing somewhere, not of known virus or spyware, but of the sites that are known to delebrately cause the problem. Ok? :)

"BAD PENNY -- The phrase usually is heard in this country (U.S.) as 'A bad penny always turns up,' meaning that a no-good person can be counted upon to come back again and again. The expression was originally English and the unit of currency referred to was the shilling. Sir Walter Scott, in one of his early nineteenth-century novels, whereto: 'Bring back Darsie? Little doubt of that. The bad shilling is sure enough to come back again.'" From "Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins" by William and Mary Morris (HarperCollins, New York, 1977, 1988). ......Which is why I wanted to assure Coolchef that this did not apply.

I find myself in the fifty limbo as well. It was interesting-up until last year I was content moving through the day by day rigors of life-mainly just for daily preservation and a better paycheck. Having no family, that made me free to travel (for the job) and relocate whenever necessary. Always a pain, but I did it out of obligation to work committments and opportunities. In the process, however, (and for other reasons) I lost the ability to develop long-term relationships. Then, with the last change in position, I lost the drive. Yeah, the work was challenging, but it was not a good situation, and it only contributed to the general feeling of disatisfaction. So-I walked away. I got tired of woking my butt off to put $ in other people's pockets, and really got tired of the comprimises you have to make in the process (closing your eyes occasionally) for the "bigger picture". So, I do a little volunteer work here and there, but am not rushing to get back into the rat race. I know I'll have to, but I'm looking at the last 35 plus years of my work life and find that I just am in no hurry. I said to somebody that I would rather get into something that would put me on the side of the angels for a change, and that will be my goal. Make the first half of my life count for something as I head into the last half, you know?

Here's a silly question. Links like this are always appreciated, and can come in handy. How do you know that these sites offering free stuff aren't also a cover for bad folks who want to plant crud in your system? If all they are doing is using their stuff to get your email to sell to others for spam, ok-I can deal with that. Otherwise, I have to trust my virus protection to block spyware. Is there a clearhouse somewhere to check for these things before signing up?

You are anything BUT a bad penny! Enjoy the new 'puter, and glad to see ya!

Don't know if I'll see the new Superman, but I hope they figured out a way to give a nod to their movie/TV/comic predecessors. My favorite moment from the first Superman was Clark rushing to whirl into his Superman persona, only to be confronted by, not a full length phonebooth as in the old style, but the new half booth type. He stops, gives it that up and down puzzled look for a beat, and rushes to find some other private spot to do his thing. It's moments like that, where the audience can share in the joke, that make the movies fun.

That is so true, Kit. My heart aches for the friends I've lost. The TWI connections ended-flat-when I left. I have made feeble attempts to reconnect in the past twenty years, but there is always an unspoken "thing" hanging there. From innies-clipped responses and a clear signal of "don't call us, and we won't call you". From outies-well, until Greasespot, the few attempts made were in the early years after departing, and they were so hurt themselves (and/or left for different reasons than I) that the attempts just fizzled. Since that time, my "friends" revolved around connections at work or the various places I lived. Work changes, I move into a new position and a new city-start all over. I did make two friends (both work related) which crossed over into meeting their family and friends, but lost both of them within two years of each other-one to a heart attack and one to suicide. So, I've crawled into a little cocoon of self preservation, and only stick my head out occasionally. Doesn't exactly make me a social butterfly, but sends out a signal to others-work with her, but you can't really get to know her. Will it change? Maybe if I allow it to, but for now, I've kinda sent myself to my room. Talking to cyber friends here helps somewhat, but it also allows me to keep the cocoon intact.

My apologies. For some reason, CA's response, which was dated June 27th, didn't show up in my mailbox until last night. "Then it don't matter. I'll be all around in the dark. I'll be everywhere, wherever you can look. Wherever there's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever there's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there. I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad. I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry and they know supper's ready. And when the people are eatin' the stuff they raise and livin' in the houses they build, well, I'll be there, too."

Hey, Dooj-- Would you believe that I just saw your posts from Dec!?! They popped up when Jbarrax posted yesterday. Don't want you to think I was ignoring you-I wasn't! My family lived near Greenway Plaza inside the loop, on Timmons Lane, between Westheimer and Richmond Ave (I did a Google Earth to refresh my memory-what a kick!). My WOW sister Tracy and Tom had birthdays on the same day (or maybe a day apart). You might remember a party we threw, where we played a dirty trick on Tracy. We put Tom's birthday on the calender, and acted like we don't know about hers. We planned a birthday party for Tom at our apartment: ordered a cake for him and decorated the place with blue crepe paper and "Happy Birthday, Tom" signs. We put a lot of planning into making Tom's birthday special, which caused Tracy to develop a slow burn. In a rare move for her, she actually took it graciously and made no outward signs that she was hurt. The night of the party, Tom showed up (he thought for a meeting), and we surprised him. Sang to him, opened presents, brought out the cake, the whole shebang. Then we got someone to walk Tracy down to the store for something. After filling Tom in on what was going on, we tore down the blue crepe paper and hung up pink, cleared out Tom's cake and brought out the one we had hidden for Tracy, changed the signs to her name, and brought out her presents. When she walked back in, wala-her surprise birthday party! It worked great, and she was very blessed. There were a lot of other WOW's there: does any of this ring a bell?

Wafer, I agree! If I could afford it, I'd LOVE to find a place around Carmel or Monterrey. That's where I have my fondest memories, and the area is gorgeous. But, alas, fate (TWI style), work obligations, whatever-here I am-stuck in the desert. I would not want to live in the LA area again-it was fun back in the earlt 70's, but now it's just a mess. Been there often enough on business to know that. Even the freeway signs have turned brown. San Francisco-still quaint, but same crowding issues. No, give me a little plot of green near the ocean, and I'll consider that heaven. Guess my "believing" is not in alignment and harmony. My needs and wants aren't parallel. I don't have my-oh-somebody slap me!

Ditto for me. When I ran away from home, I wound up in California. Finished high school, found my first love, bought my first car, saw the sights up and down the coast, went to work, met some WOW's, took the class, and left two years later. Have been back occasionally on business trips, and it still has the same "feel" to it (if a big more smoggy). "California Dreaming"-a fav song-great memories. No regrets about that time of my young life.

Geez-I had a major flashback when I read that. Time for a drink.

WG-no, Jack never has a good day. He apparently also nevers eats or goes to the bathroom, either. What a guy! I got into 24 when it came out on DVD-now I can't wait for the next season to start. I'm just recently catching up on House-and yeah, while he is a smarmy human (and also very sad and lonely), I love a mystery story and enjoy seeing how they connect the dots. Anybody watch "The Closer" with Krya Sedwick? Caught up on the first season and am enjoying season two (Monday nights). Little lady with a big purse and a very Southern accent running a squad of detectives and trying to earn their respect while-what a combo!

Don't know how they get the chipmunks to sing, but it sure can get stuck in your head!

There was a movie???????

Happily single. The Way sizzled all my beau's: so here I am. Jonny-What a guy!!!!!

Belize Explained (sort of) Belize Thread

You are good! Better start practicing your posts! :)

You mean there is such a thing as "productive evil"?