Belle

or not! Any Seinfield fans out there? I'm heading out to the deep South for some great, deep belly laughs and great, home cookin'! I'm pretty darn proud of the picture I was able to get customized for my Daddy. I'll have to check with the artist (or his agent) to see if I can share it with y'all, but suffice it to say it was a tremendous relief, surprise and generous gift thanks to someone here. I have filled my 365 Jars and I really appreciate all the help coming up with quotes!! Who'd a thunk it'd be that hard to come up with that many (actually I made four jars and didn't want to duplicate quotes in the ones that are going to people who live close to each other in case they share ....like Mama and Daddy. :P ) I can almost hear the giggles over some of them and the "awww"s for the sweet ones and either laughs or misty eyes over the personal "I remember when...." / "Something I really admire about you...." notes. Paw's built a special place here and I'm really thankful for all y'all! There aren't enough words to explain how important this cafe and all the regulars are. Thank you all very much for frequenting this place. Happy Whichever Holiday You're Celebrating - and if you're not celebrating anything then I hope it's a perfect Festivus. :wub:

To the top and I'm happy to report that WaywardWayfer left TWI but then her husband left her. As painful as it was she is much better off for it and very thankful to be free from the abuse. B) MO, you and your comments while standing on your purple velvet and jewel encrusted soapbox helped more than you could ever know. :)

JK, don't know if you've seen this thread or not, but thought you might find it interesting. :)

Groucho, after listening to craiggers go on a rant about how the months and days of the week got their names I told my ex that I was afraid he was going to change all the names for the months & weeks and we'd have to have our own calendar. The further along we went in TWI, the more that didn't seem like such a far fetched idea for him to have tried to enforce. :mellow: I imagine that it would probably have come to pass by now if he hadn't been stopped cold.

I agree! Thanks WordWolf. :)

For a lurker. :) I've been out just over a year now and I'm STILL trying to leave mentally. Some days I think I'm doing pretty good at getting my life and thoughts in order and something happens that makes me feel like I've been set back light years in my recovery. Thankfully, I'm still in therapy and getting the professional help I need which wasn't allowed when I was involved with TWI. The hardest thing for me, I think, was to realize that I can take care of myself and that I can do a pretty darn good job at it. I had been in a relationship for eight years and between my ex and TWI I was pretty much convinced that not only was I incapable of making my own decisions correctly, but also that THEY knew better than I did what was right for my life. It makes it really hard for someone coming out of that to trust themselves and to trust that they really are the ones who know what's best for them. No I relish the idea that I stand or fall on my own. I'm solely responsible for the outcome of my life and not only do I get to make those decisions, I blame no one but myself if it doesn't turn out correctly - then I have no regrets either because I know I was doing the best I could with MY best interest at heart. TWI never had my best interest at heart and, I have painfully realized, neither did my ex. So now I have good and bad days, but the good days FAR out weigh the bad and the bad ones are still millions better than the good days in TWI ever were.

This one, too. :) For some questions that have been asked recently.

And again....

Tom Tuttle and Jonny Lingo, I don't know if I could be around the two of you together in real life and not wear a brace to protect my ribs from laughing too much! Act2, My grandmother used to say that! That's a great one for my mom's jar.

WOO HOO!! I have an AWESOME Picture to give Daddy! :wub: Thank you, my Greasepotted Elf!! :wub: Kit, I passed that Klutz link on to some co-workers and they said to tell you THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! :) (said in their very best Elvis voice) They found some cool stuff to order.

Right now? For Vixen to behave on the plane. :P Gee, Paw, I haven't really thought about it. I'm going to get to go home and to see my whole family and, to me, that's the best part. I'm more excited about that than anything else. I also think I did really good on my presents this year and can't wait for everyone to open the things I got them. I didn't spend a lot of money, but I did pay attention throughout the year and think I got them thoughtful, heart-felt gifts that they will really enjoy. I know Daddy is going to LOVE his picture and I figure they'll all think the 365-Jars are kinda kooky, but, I'm hoping throughout the year they'll come to appreciate them and look forward to pulling one out each day no knowing if it's gonna be a quote, trivia or personal memory. What are yours?

I LOVE the music! After BOWTWI sent it to me I HAD to find out who they are. Now I can't wait to get a CD or two or theirs. Between them and Mannheim Steamroller, I don't know who I like better! I can really get some cleaning done to that music! It kind of reminds me of the S&M Album of Metallica. Thanks so much for posting this LikeaEagle!

David is that all he got? What do you think? A little light sounding to me if it is. *shrug*

Chef, I'm sooooo glad you got that salmon! I was afraid he might accidentally send it to me since you were so hard to track down. ;) LOL! Just kidding! Here's a salute to our Jonny Lingo, his awesome salmon and generous heart! I'm sure he'll be bragging on your lobster this summer.

It was a really interesting show, I think. She interviewed a wide variety of people - leaders in the Evangelical Christian movement, the Jewis Community, the "typical" Christian Community, Muslims, Hindu, Buddhist, Athiest..... I got a different perspective and learned something new about each group that I had no clue about during this show. It was very tastefully done and, imo, not offensive to anyone. Each group was given a fair and balanced report and it wasn't done to prove or disprove any one group or belief - it was really just an expose on the many variations of heaven and who gets there. Laid it all out and left it to the viewer to decide, if they feel there needs to be a decision. :) I'll write more on it later. I do wish I had copied it, because I know I would gladly take the time to type up some quotes from it. I haven't gone to ABCs website, but I suspect it's possible to order a copy of the show or a transcript anyway. I may do that after Christmas.

Mark, I LOVE reading these historical records and accounts. I also really enjoy seeing all the different images and depctions through the year and the different cultures. Thanks for posting this.

LOL! Sorry, Hills! I may have killed your thread. :unsure:

That was really nice, Mark. Happy Celebrations, Mo!!

Wow! That's really cool, too! Thank you, Kit!

Littlehawk, I'm printing that out to eat when I get back home. I have a feeling something that light and healthy is gonna be a necessity after being around all that southern cooking this week! :P It sure does sound not only yummy and healthy, but purty looking, too! Never heard of icicle white radishes, but I'm gonna look for 'em! Never heard of soaking the cucumbers like that, either, but it does seem like it would definitely help the flavor! Thank you!!

You're an awesome dude! Wish I could deliver a cake like that to you!

JustLoafing, you don't think the goldfish are gonna be mad, do you?

Hey, LittleHawk! I left you a message under CoolChef's thread in Friend Finder. :P Since Moony is down closer to Okeechobee than I am, how's about I pick her up and then we come meet you and Cory to go get those conchs in the Caribbean so you can teach us a thing or two? I'd also love for you and Cory to come visit if y'all are driving and gonna be in the O-Town area! I'd also be happy to set a time to meet in Chat. I won't be in there much till after next wee, but if I know what time you'll be chatting, I can meet you there. :)

As we all know, when we hit retirement age we come face to face with the fact that it may be time to relocate. The big question is: where to? Here are some tips. You can live in Phoenix, Arizona where..... 1. You are willing to park 3 blocks away because you found shade. :-) 2. You can open and drive your car without touching the car door or the steering wheel. 3. You've experienced condensation on your butt from the hot water in the toilet bowl. 4. You would give anything to be able to splash cold water on your face. 5. You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top. 6. "Dress Code" is meaningless at high schools and universities. Picture lingerie ads. 7. You can drive for 4 hours in one direction and never leave town. 8. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food. 9. The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! 10. You know that "dry heat" is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door. You can Live in California where... 1. You make over $250,000 and you still can't afford to buy a house. 2 The high school quarterback calls a time-out to answer his cell phone. 3. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway. 4. You know how to eat an artichoke. 5. You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party. 6. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather than how many miles away it is. You can Live in New York City where... 1. You say "the city" and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan. 2. You have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. 3. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park, but can't find Wisconsin on a map. 4 You think Central Park is "nature," 5. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual. 6. You've worn out a car horn. 7. You think eye contact is an act of aggression. You can Live in Maine where... 1. You only have four spices: salt, pepper, ketchup, and Tabasco. 2. Halloween costumes fit over parkas. 3. You have more than one recipe for moose. 4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons. 5. The four seasons are: winter, still winter, almost winter, and construction. You can Live in the Deep South where... 1. You can rent a movie and buy bait in the same store. 2."y'all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural. 3. After five years you still hear, "You ain't from ' round here, are Ya?" 4. "He needed killin' " is a valid defense. 5. Everyone has 2 first names: Billy Bob, Jimmy Bob, Mary Sue, Betty Jean, MARY BETH, etc. You can live in Colorado where... 1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car. 2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home and he stops at the day care center. 3. A pass does not involve a football or dating. 4. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail. You can live in the Midwest where... 1. You've never met any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name. 2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor. 3. You have had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" on the same day. 4. You end sentences with a preposition: "Where's my coat at?" 5. When asked how your trip was to any exotic place, you say, "It was different!" AND You can live in Florida where... 1. You eat dinner at 3:15 in the afternoon. 2. All purchases include a coupon of some kind -- even houses and cars. 3. Everyone can recommend an excellent dermatologist. 4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state. 5. Cars in front of you are often driven by headless people.

No matter is right, excie! I'm so glad you came back, cause I wasn't around WayDale when you were. :wub: