bowtwi

The B-I-B-L-E! Yes, THAT'S the book for ME! I stand upon the Word of God! The B-I-B-L-E. BIBLE!!! (with hand motions) and Zacheus was a wee little man. A wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see. And as the Savior passed that way He looked up in the tree And He said, Zacheus, you come down for I’m goin’ to your house today. For I’m goin’ to your house today!

There was a Corps grad that was said to have murdered his entire family in the late 70s or early 80s that went in prison in WI. The limb coordinator and Corps grads in the area visited him often. There wasn't much ever said except that he was Corps so they went to visit him. If I recall correctly, his first name is Mike.

Cocktails

Just got a call from Suda and Rascal. The Sudo Family is on spring break. They visited Huntsville, AL, touring the space museum and assorted other attractions. I believe the Rascal' Family went too. Sudo and Suda's son spent the night at the rascal ranch last night. They called from the bonfire out back. They've spent time at the ever popular rascal creek, visited, enjoyed the kids, eaten pizza that Rascal's eldest prepared for them, and relaxed. Suda said it's been a most peaceful couple days! There were fireworks going off while we were on the phone. Sudo and Guest Spouse are enjoying their families, hanging out like Weenies at a Roast. The ladies said it felt a lot like a Roast, on a smaller scale. It's a Bahama Mama night. The Sudo Family is heading to Chattanooga for the next 2 days - what a great trip they're taking! How wonderful for GSers to get together!

Lori - I got this in an email from a friend yesterday. I got such a kick out of it I had to share it here. T-Bone - you're a hoot! I'm glad y'all seem to enjoy it as much as I do!

Alabama Hell, Yes, We Have Electricity. Alaska 11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong! Arizona Yes, But It's A Dry Heat. Arkansas Literacy Ain't Everythang. California By 30, Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda. Colorado If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother. Connecticut Like Massachusetts , only smaller. Delaware We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water. Florida Ask Us About Our Grand kids And Our Voting Skills. Georgia We Put The Fun In Fundamentalist Extremism. Hawaii Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru (Death To Mainland Scum, Leave Your Money) Idaho More Than Just Potatoes. Well, Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure Are Real Good Illinois Please, Don't Pronounce the "S" Indiana 2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free Iowa We Do Amazing Things With Corn Kansas First Of The Rectangle States Kentucky Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names Louisiana We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign. Maine We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster Maryland If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It Massachusetts Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's And Our Senators Are More Corrupt Michigan First Line Of Defense From The Canadians Minnesota 10,000 Lakes... And 10 Zillion Mosquitoes Mississippi Come visit And Feel Better About Your Own State Missouri Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work Montana Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber, Right-wing Crazies, and Honest Elections Nebraska Ask About Our State Motto Contest Nevada Hookers and Poker! New Hampshire Go Away And Leave Us Alone New Jersey You Want A ##$%##! Motto? I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right here! New Mexico Lizards Make Excellent Pets New York You Have The Right To Remain Silent, You Have The Right To An Attorney And No Right To Self Defense! North Carolina Tobacco Is A Vegetable North Dakota We Really Are One Of The 50 States! Ohio At Least We're Not Michigan Oklahoma Like The Play, But No Singing Oregon Spotted Owl... It's What's For Dinner Pennsylvania Cook With Coal Rhode Island We're Not REALLY An Island South Carolina Remember The Civil War? Well, We Didn't Actually Surrender, Yet! South Dakota Closer Than North Dakota Tennessee Home of the Al Gore Invention Museum Texas Se Hable Ingles Utah Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus Vermont Too liberal for the Kennedys Virginia Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix? Washington Our Governor can out-fraud your Governor! West Virginia One Big Happy Family... Really! Wisconsin Come Cut the Cheese! Wyoming Where Men are Men and the Sheep are Scared. Home of Brokeback Mountain The District of Columbia The Work-Free Drug Place

Is it mine? Good one! An elderly Polish man lay dying in his bed. While suffering the agonies of impending death, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite pierogi with fried onions wafting up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed.Gripping the railing with both hands, he crawled downstairs. Downstairs, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen, where if not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven, for there, spread out upon waxed paper on the kitchen table were hundreds of his favorite pierogi. Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of love from his wife of sixty years, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man? He threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in a crumpled posture. His parched lips parted, the wondrous taste of the pierogi was already in his mouth. With a trembling hand he reached up to the edge of the table, when suddenly he was smacked with a wooden spoon by his wife. "Back off!" she said. "Those are for the funeral."

Al, Bill & Hillary Al, Bill & Hillary go to Heaven God addresses Al first. "Al, what do you believe in?" Al replies, "Well, I believe I won that election, but that it was your will that I did not serve. And I've come to understand that now." God thinks for a second and says, "Okay, very good. Come and sit at my left." God then addresses Bill. "Bill, what do you believe in?" Bill replies, "I believe in forgiveness. I've sinned, but I've never held a grudge against my fellow man and I hope no grudges are held against me." God thinks for a second and says, "You are forgiven, my son. Come and sit at my right." God then addresses Hillary. "Hillary, what do you believe in?" Hillary replies, "I believe you're in my chair."

Greek2me and QT - Thanks for the suggestions. I've asked them to buy the two books you and your fella suggested, QT, and I've submitted the list you gave Greek2me as well. This is great stuff. This right here is one of the greatest things about the GSC, in my opinion. We're really good at helping one another out, networking. I love to bring a challenge here and hear others' experiences and share resources. Thanks so much!

I'm a Betty Crocker girl all the way! My mom gave me my first cookbook (Betty Crocker) when I was 15. She wrote a beautiful dedication in the front and I loaned it to an adult who never gave it back. I've replaced the cookbook, but I'll never have that dedication back. I also have quite a collection of cookbooks, but use a couple mostly. My Rival Crockpot cookbook - I had enjoyed the little paper cookbook/pamphlet that came with the crockpot so much that I bought their book. That was over 25 years ago and I still use it. I have another favorite cookbook, a compilation of firemen and their wives' recipes from when my brother was a firefighter, late 80's or very early 90's. It was a gift from him. I have 3 shelves full of assorted other cookbooks. I like them too much to get rid of them, but some I don't look at for years.

Great fun! Yep, I wish I could just stay at tiddly too! LOL Thanks for all the comments - I appreciate them.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'd already found a few things by stumbling around the past week or two, like that if you hold down the ALT key while typing 0163 in MS Word that you get the symbol for the British pound. (£) I hadn't thought of using the keyboard UK style - thanks for that suggestion! Vegan, those sites may be just what I'm looking for. I've had a blast in them so far! Americans say "Keep your chin up." Brits say "Keep your pecker up." Americans say "drunk". Brits say "....ed." Americans say "chocolate chips". Brits say "polka dots." I can't wait to learn more!

I need to find a good book to help Americans understand British English asap. I'm working with legal documents from a law firm in England. I need to be able to understand what they mean when they say things differently than we do here in order to edit them effectively and to teach others to do the same and quickly. One example is that they say 'zed' for the letter z. I'm looking for a book, but a dvd course or a good website could be just as helpful. I've googled it so far, and have collected some websites with a bit of help here and there, but I'm hoping to find something more substantial. I want to go beyond British/American dictionaries if possible. Anyone here know what I'm looking for?

Happy Birthday, Sami! Twenty-five years old! Very nicely done.

I really believed it all. Except for the Way's stand on abortion. That never sat right with me, but I was a good little waybot and put that on the back burner... I really believed it all.

That's wonderful news, Eagle. Congrats!

Come Rain or Come Shine is a favorite of mine.

Apple Computer reported today that it has developed computer chips that can store and play music inside women's breasts. The iBoob is considered to be a major breakthrough because women are always complaining about men staring at their breasts and not listening to them.

I couldn't imagine how she would have gotten out of bed each day since her son died without the baby. I thanked God she had that daughter. I pray this wasn't a suicide. Whichever, it's so very, very sad. Rest in peace, Anna. My prayers are with her daughter. Dot - Yes, I would imagine Anna's money goes with the baby daughter. Reminds me of the Onassis heir. This is just so sad.

CW said: I knew a family in exactly the situations described (actually, several, but I know first-hand the situation in this one family...not just rumors around the 'hood). They got turned in...by me. This family is now 'camping' in their home. I couldn't believe that's all that was done! It turned out that the husband (he works a full time job and is the only income in the household) had for many years refused to pay bills for 'luxuries' such as utilities, clothes, medicines and foods needed to meet medically required dietary needs. Because of the husband's income, the wife could not get any assistance whatsoever. Her health declined to the point of near death, but she had brought herself around...with no help whatsoever...to where she could walk without aid and had lost over 100 lbs. But that just angered the husband. When the wife ended up in the hospital twice in one month, she finally asked for help. Although she had applied for Social Security three times, she had not followed through with the required paperwork and was therefore denied. The most recent denial was 2 months ago. The last time she was in the hospital, she was assigned a case worker. Since then she has been moving more and more towards independence...which includes the $650/mo she may get from Social Security. (Social Security Disability benefits are based solely upon the person's earned income throughout their lifetime. SSI benefits are based upon the current income of the home. If she stays in her husband's home, she will not be eligible for SSI. Even if she lives alone, SSI would supplement SSD only up to $850/mo. She's going to be in the lap of luxury.) In the meantime, because she was not being physically abused and because of her health issues, she was not accepted at battered woman's shelters. She got desperate enough to stay in homeless shelters, but her health deteriorated quickly...to the point that she can no longer walk more than a few feet (because of damage done to knees, hips and feet while walking the streets during her time in homeless shelters...it is a requirement for adults without children to leave shelters between 7am and 5pm), she is still healing from diabetic sores that covered her body (her average blood sugar levels were 400-600+ during her time in homeless shelters due to absolute lack of access to any food besides donuts and coffee during the day and pasta heavy meals at night, stress (which always has raised her blood sugar levels at least 100 points), exposure and lack of ability to keep herself clean during the day), and she is now facing kidney failure. I knew the possibility that my turning in this family would send this woman over the edge health-wise...but she needed intervention. That was my thinking, anyways. At least now she's on the radar screen, so to speak. Maybe it was a good thing, maybe it was pointless. Only time will tell. I do know that if she wasn't 'truly' disabled before, she is now...by all accounts...including professionals...so maybe sending her over the edge health-wise was the best thing for her." I have some questions - I'm confused. So you’re saying you turned these people in for what? And after you turned them in was there an investigation and they were declared ineligible for any assistance? Are you saying that or that there was no investigation, that they people just had to stop using their neighbor’s electricity so now have no electricity at all? You said you couldn’t believe that’s all that was done. What was the that which was done? I’m trying to follow along here. You’re saying you thought you would help cause an intervention for this woman and now today she’s facing kidney failure as a result of your phone call? If she had a home why did she have to spend evenings in a shelter and days not in the shelter? If she’s got that severe diabetes, why in the world would she eat donuts and coffee during the day and pasta heavy meals at night? I’m really lost at the part about it exposure and lack of ability to keep herself clean during the day – why wouldn’t an adult be able to keep themselves clean during the day? And how would maybe sending her over the edge health-wise be the best thing for her? So what part about this was good and how do you feel now about your plan and the way it ended up? If you had it to do over again would you turn them in? Since she had already brought herself back from near death with no help whatsoever, has she recovered yet from this latest assault – or is she still facing kidney failure?

French toast can be done so many ways you can serve it a couple times a week and nobody seems to complain. I like it with fresh strawberries when in season, or with any kind of jam (and butter), most syrups. Some even sprinkle powdered sugar over it after they butter it. Of course, French toast goes great with sausage or bacon, eggs of any kind - can be a supper or a breakfast meal. I always made cheddar cheese quesadillas too - altho I love grilled cheese cooked properly and taught both my kids to make them just so, I usually fix a quesadilla when I'm thinking fast food at home. Grilled cheese (or quesadilla) and tomato soup is something I've seen eaten in almost every home I've seen eating done in. I also make a cold tuna pasta salad with chunks of cheese (not grated) and leave diced raw onions on the side for those who prefer it that way. I put large chunks of celery in there too, large so pickier eaters can easily remove them from what they're going to eat. My rule has always been that if the kid tries something I put in front of them, honestly tries one bite and then decides they don't like it, then AS LONG as they don't complain about it, I don't make them eat it. I've never had to make a kid eat something they decided they don't like, but it's come close with the princess a time or two. She's more complainy than most kids I've fed. I have found that kids have that built in desire to survive that won't really allow them to starve to death, even if they threaten to.

Ok, let's take the first question of the first post on this thread. Mo said "Okay so we've talked about the illegal alien who gets public assistance Now what about the US citizens who milk the system The alcoholic and/or druggie who refuses treatment and refuse to quit" I'd like to discuss the US citizens who milk the system. What would you do if your neighbor, your adult child, your friend, anyone you know, told you that they were getting electricity to their home by hooking into their neighbor's? Would it be different if it were electricity they were "pirating" or cable tv? What about people who actually are able to work, but deliberately present themselves as disabled in order to collect monthly support from the government instead of put in 40 hours a week to earn their living? Does it make you mad or does it make no difference to you whatsoever? Somewhere in the middle?

Mo said:" Okay so we've talked about the illegal alien who gets public assistance Now what about the US citizens who milk the system The alcoholic and/or druggie who refuses treatment and refuse to quit Are we obligated as a society to help this individual indefinitely?? Can we mandate sobriety as the price for aid? What about the disabled person who hides funds or exaggerates their disability to avoid having to work? When they are caught can we deny them funding even though they are disabled? What about the welfare mom who when we cut her off we cut off her children. Is not getting a job grounds for removal of the children? What bout the person who refuses to work?? Can we allow them to be homeless and starve ?? Just exactly how much to we owe citizens of this country who lie, cheat, and othewise milk the system? When do we say to the addict--yours is an illness of choice--You can choose to stop? Just how tough do we have a right to be?" I couldn't get the quote feature to work, so I did it this way. I wonder these same things. What about the person that's decided they're disabled and that "we" owe them their living? While they say they're waiting for the Social Security people to make a decision whether they're eligible for assistance or not, they hook up an extension cord to their next door neighbor's house and supply their house with electricity, albeit not enough to run a normal American household in 2007, but they can either run their coffee maker or their computer, they can cook on their electric stove, but not while the space heater is going. They don't have to be to work at any specific time, as long as they time their needs around their favorite tv shows, they're not feeling any strain. So they continue to ignore the bills they've got which are in the thousands of dollars and use their neighbor's electricity. Not only is that dangerous, but my God, is that not stealing? I know a family here in town that was renting one of the church's parsonages. They had a gas bill of almost $2,000, so they never got gas turned on and heated up water on the stove to do dishes and take baths - this was just 2 years ago! When the church board found out the Gas Company removed the meter, the board put the gas account in the church's name and these people STILL didn't have to pay the bill to get to use gas. I understand if a family or even a single person has an honest need, and I understand that that need may exceed 6 months, but it would seem to me that there's a matter of integrity that's never considered. I don't know how many months you'd have to ignore that gas bill to get it up near $2,000 - seems to me it'd take a pretty long time. Hell, I get threatened with disconnection if mine exceeds the second month mark. My last bill was $165 (over 2 months) and I got a phone call reminding me that payment was due or I'd be disconnected in a couple weeks. I think our system goes for the blanket approach when a more individual approach might be something to look into. There is a big difference between people who can't help themselves or have children to care for too, asking for help for a temporary term and the people who won't even try to work and take care of themselves, but expect the rest of us to pay their way. I know examples of both and I tell you, I never mind helping out my fellow man when they have a genuine need. I refuse to contribute to someone who's as much a legal adult as I am, is equally as able to work as I am, yet refuses to work, but expends as much time and energy on getting around the system as I do on earning my living, and then forces me to pay their way through manipulation of the system. People who really need help aren't always able to get what they honestly need because of these others who've taken all there was when they really didn't have an honest need for help - they've simply figured out how to outsmart the system.

My son's fiance wears an Invisalign retainer - she wore regular braces for 2 years. I asked her what she'd say to you. She said they're wonderful and she wished she had used the Invisalign braces too. She said that if she had it to do over again, she'd definitely choose the Invisalign braces. She said they're the single most impressive use of plastic she's seen in her lifetime. I've seen her with the retainer in and unless you really look for it, you don't see it. She estimated they'll cost about $7500 for both uppers and lowers. My 10-year-old's metal braces cost $5100 - and they're gold plated (gold plated? They're gold, not silver, but I forget the term right now)!