The New Ride.............by Diane Ogden

The Happy News for today is I found a new ride. I will no longer have the oldest car in the garage.  Nor will I be the only one without a payment anymore. But I am happier. 
          

 Be Safe, Be Well, Be Happy, and get rich so you can find your new ride!    Laters

Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin.........by Diane Ogden

Pumpin' Gas by Ben......

This is Ben! Isn't he just precious? I was driving to Sauk City to deliver something and then onto Prairie Du Sac when I passed this shabby gas station and noticed the sign said, NO ETHANOL.....well I like no ethanol because my car runs better and goes farther for my $. The book that came with my car tells me not to use ethanol, but where does one find gas with no ethanol anymore...well there it was....looking like something right out of the Ozark Mountains....not Shabby Chic, just shabby. I made a U- Turn and pulled on up to the pump and before I could get my door open Ben came strolling out. I said, "What?" Then I said, "Oh my Godliness, are you going to pump my gas?" He grinned and I started squealing all about how many years it had been since any one pumped my gas. I asked him if everyone got as excited as I did. He told me only the "out a towners!" LOL... Then I said, "Wait, how much extra?" He said, "Nothin." I said I liked something for nothing. Then I got the camera out and told him I had to have pictures of this after he headed to wash my windshield. What a blow that was. I decided I would fill up there once a month on my little journey to that city of 3,234 people and where many come from all over to watch the Eagles by the river. Midway Sinclair Station, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin if your ever in the area. I am still enjoying the treat I experienced today with Ben and my car. Oh this is Ben taking my debit card inside to slide it, bring it back to me to sign! I had gone inside to pay when another man in there told me Ben would take care of that! I ran on back to my car, got in, shut the door, and enjoyed the moment.

 

Make it point to visit Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin and this wonderful friendly Midway Oil Co. Sinclair (omg check out the sign with the dinasour!!)  And while your at it watch for the Eagles along the Wisconsin River.  
Be Safe, Be Well, Be Happy, and get rich so you dont grumble about these nutzo gas prices lately.  Laters 

Buster............................by Diane Ogden

 

See, this is Buster! He has been sitting in my apt. for ten + years waiting for his best bud Chris (my son) to come get him. You see, Chris rec'd Buster as a Christmas gift when he was in High School. Okay move on 12 or so years later.    So finally Chris come home with a traveling partner Babbette. BUT...their car was overloaded with "stuff," so Buster had to stay.  I told Chris he needed to take Buster with them to Yellowstone. They had already traveled from L.A. to Sedona, to Texas, to Wisconsin, then New York, then back to Wisconsin, and now with Buster in tow, to Yellowstone. Personally I pushed for Buster! I felt Buster would give the many humans that viewed him a jolt for joy! Can you imagine seeing the amazing dog friend atop a car crossing country. Reminds me of the movie VACATION..when they put the dead Grandma on top the car (see below) and kept going. I laughed at that movie until I cried..and here we were again. BUT, no room for extra Buster/Grandma weight on the car.

 

Well shitski anyway. What a hoot this would a been huh? Buster trucking with the kids cross country, giving so many such joy! O well, Buster is now back in my spare bathroom sitting there alone again for God knows how many more years. I can't put Buster on top my car... I can't....wouldn't be the same!  Buster can wait, he's the best at waiting... he sat in Chris's room since the mid 90's...I better put a caretaker for him in my will for sure... I will!  Few years have passted and Buster now sits in my l.r.  I got bored last week and decided he needed some adornment.  Check out his new necklace!!  Ivory baby! Isn't he a proud boy. Or girl, actually not sure as he is not anatomically anything.  Humm, never really checked that in all these years.  The face just looked like a Buster.  In the wintertime I put him at my porch door.  Imagine any stranger that might try to 'break in" finding the face of Buster.  Works for me. 

So until next time, or until I find a funny, or some good news,  Be Happy, Be Safe, Be Well, and get rich cause its easier.. (I forgot to buy a lotto ticket, dang)  Laters

Garden Of Life..............by Diane Ogden

Life is like a garden of flowers.

Some of the flowers flourish and some die away. There are many reasons, but mostly it is just life. Life is a gift that many people misuse and many take for granted. Either way it is a gift. The rivers that feed the gardens run smooth sometimes and the valleys are fresh with knowledge and warmth from the wisdom of the sun. Then there are times when the rivers swell and the banks overflow and the valleys fill with dredge and shadows and darkness. Pain evolves forever from these times. But the sun always shines again. The wisdom comes through and the knowledge is everlasting. So which do you take? The darkness or the light? The pain or the warmth of the sun? One is of the higher power we call God and the other is not. The God I learned of overcame the darkness every time. One way or the other he overcame. Have you been in the valleys and have you been in the storms? The pain is difficult, yet goodness can smother it with the warmth of the sun. Hear these words within the walls of your flesh. The sun shall not set another day that you don't hear this wisdom. Let it shine through you and then shine onto others like the glow of a million stars, whether it be at a grocery store or a mall or even a gas station, on the phone, or in your home. See through the valleys of storms and rise above them. Show others how to rise above them so not to be caught in them. Remember it is not about what is in your head, it is not about what is in your body, it is not about what has happened to you in the past or present with money or security. It is about your spirit and how you flourish for yourself and others in the garden of life.

Okay, I will try to find something less serious tomorrow. Maybe even funny....who knows. Until then, be safe, be well, be happy and get rich cause its easier

The Little Red Shoes Under Glass...........by Diane Ogden

There have been times in my life when the spirit moves me to make a left turn "out of the blue," which I listen to most of the time.  And each time spirit takes me to an unusual set of circumstances I would have otherwise missed.   And so, this story is one of those left turns my brain wasn't too busy to listen to.
It was rush hour, well not like Los Angeles rush hour, but none the less it was our little rush hour.  I told myself to relax in it, the rush hour that is.   And that is when I heard the still small voice shout, TURN LEFT!  The voice was so from outer space that I did exactly that.  I turned left, that being the opposite direction as home, but I still did it. And there it was not far down the street. My favorite store.  A store I have been known to frequent on occasion and while frequenting take photos of all the things I want.  Then I go home and put the favorites on my dream board.  And this day I was led directly to it.    I walked around the store gazing for a LONG time at the big and small unique items that seemed to take me to new places, making me feel like I am in a wonderful dream, same as some movies do to our senses, they take us away....

I finally purchased something I have been searching for over a year. A glass stand with a glass cover. Picture a miniature cake dish on a pedestal with a cover. The purchase is for the little baby shoes Daniel made Danielle in "memory" of her baby. The spirit moved me to speak....at the counter....to two women who were so busy they didn't notice I was there for some time. When she, the owner, turned to me, I told her I found the perfect little "keeper" I had been looking for. The owner knew I had been searching for this piece for some time. I calmly said, "This is to display a pair of baby shoes for a baby that has passed on. The teenage Mother lost her baby before it was born and we as mother's know we, "never  forget." You could have heard a pin drop! I said, "Her Father is in prison unable to comfort her as he would like and need to, so he made her a pair of memory shoes out of red and silver candy wrappers." The two women were so touched it had to be God speaking from my spirit. Then the owner said, "Why don't you put a sprig of Christmas green in with the shoes and some snow flakes to give it life and keep its memory alive and for each season change something in or around it like in Autumn a colored leaf and in Spring a flower....and so on." I said, "That was a wonderful idea."

Then I told them someone on the Internet caught the photo of the artistic baby shoes made of paper candy wrappers I had posted and asked permission to use them in a magazine. These women were in total awe of my true story. Then they rang me up and as I left to walk away...I turned, looked back, and said, "The Young girl is my Granddaughter and the man is her Father,  my son." There was a spiritual moment in time that seemed like dreaming forever.....then.....

The one lady said, "Thank You for sharing."   And the shoes live on.  I wish the child had. 

So until next time.....  Be happy, Be Safe, and Be Well.....  And be WISE. Being Rich doesn't help with this one.

Captive Range......................by Diane Ogden

 

Have you ever noticed the various and many business's that have camera's installed. Banks where we keep our green paper that may end up worth little or nothing...yet no camera's at the Nursing Homes where our precious ones find themselves in their last days. Camera's in empty parking lots in case anyone is robbed... yet no camera's to view the living being robbed of their dignity and their will to live on. Camera's in office buildings to insure employee safety...yet none in nurse homes to ensure (discarded) humans safety. Am I being too harsh? Not a chance! I watch it every day when I visit Berdie. Some of the aides are very kind and a camera would show that kindness. Some are short tempered, impatient, loud, pointing of fingers at needy patients, self orientated and so on. Would it not be fun to have them all exchange places for even an hour. Let them sit on the toilet for 45 minutes because the aides are busy. I would like to see someone say: All the aides into wheel chairs! NOW! No you may not have more juice! Sorry your confused, sit there! Stay on that hard cold toilet until I get back! No I cant help you, I said No, I have to be somewhere else! And so on..in short loud curt voices....
If you take them, the aides and nurses that is, cookies and treats and kiss their naughty donkey's (ass's) maybe your auntie will get better care. But a camera would solve it all! And this is one of the Top Nurse Homes in our State. Its like I felt God told me a long time ago during a prayer time and while I was walking on a side walk avoiding stepping on ants. He said, "That is all you mean to the devil (and some people), in fact not even that much. He will step on you just to watch you suffer and make you think he is bigger than he is...so stay on the "right path" best you can and pray at all times for you and yours protection. You are the key to your own door."

p.s. This post is from two years ago.  My God Mother Berdus Knickmeier passed away alone in a tiny room at a nursing home the size of a walk in closet. (her $ ran out) Her bathroom door was a curtain and she had to have a roommate.  She helped people all her life and that is how her's ended. I call those places "dying Mills."    

Happy Mother's Day to me....................by Diane Ogden

From Son #4: Christopher.  (The writing came to me framed. )

Though I have not told you enough, I am telling you now.  Through my eyes, this is the story of my love and appreciation thanking you for all you do and have done for me.  Your sacrifices to make me a better person and athlete have never gone unrecognized.  My remembrances of you: 

"I looked out the front window and saw you, alone, shopping bag cradles in your arms. In one hour, I will run out of the house to go to my game, and you will watch my departure as you always do, out the same front window.  But not before you hand warmed a plate for me, as I never left the house hungry.  Yet I always left the house hungry.  Hungry for the chance to compete another day. Hungry to be better than my opponent.  Hungry to win this game  It is because you watch me out that window, because you pray for me as I walk down the street, because your sideline seats are never empty, and because I know there is no real strength in this world save for that which is instilled or inspired by you. Were you not here, I would not be complete.  It is in these moments when I see you, Mother: When there is a home in this world I know, where the image of your beautiful smile in that window is once again etched in side ma memory that I will never forget.  When I look in your eyes, I see that you understand the spirit inside me that needs to compete.  So late at night when I lie awake in bed, realizing your unconditional love for me as I hear your footsteps walking away from my bedroom door, I know I am not the sole host to a fighting heart.  We fight together to survive, you and I, mother and child.  You are the cornerstone holding this family together."

Give me the ball!  This game is For My Mother.

This next card came to me from behind Prison Walls. It is handmade.  Drugs and Alchol can do terrible things to a Son.  But he is a wonderful person these days:   Daniel, Son #1

I haven't heard from the other two sons or daughter yet.  But hey, tomorrow is Mother's Day. I have time.

 

Son #3, Cody, doesn't send cards anymore...he calls.  The last one he sent will last forever!

I tried to scan it but the ink didn't show up so I will type it.

 

Mom - You know me, nothing fancy, nothing flowery. Just the pure and simple truth.

I love you with every cell in my body.  You have made an amazing man out of a crazy little boy rolling around on the kitchen floor with his pants down....wait....I still do that. So nevermind that part about rolling around with my pants down.  I wish I was there more but we all have our paths and we must stick to them if we really want to help the ones we love.  Soon there will be a check in here (card) for $1,000,000.00 big ones.  :)  Keep going Mom and stick to your guns 'cause you made it this far.  Love you and see you soon, Cody Ogden

 

 

 And this is Son #2:  Chad at the Kentucky Derby last weekend.  Chad used to send me a beautiful card every year until he had three children, two being a set of twins..... a big house, a big job, went back to college full time!!  So I feel very lucky to get the phone call!

 

The last born was a girl!  Lindsay (with her daughter Karli)

 

 

 

                                                  LATERS......and Happy Mother's Day

Pop Cans...................by Diane Ogden

This reminds me of my blog post where the guy stacked pallets this high holding them all on with one strap.  And I was behind that one too!  I did have a thought that somehow the back door would break and all those cans would be on top of the Buick. As I had the same fear or worse behind the pallot king.  The entire several miles I followed this fellow only one can came flying out and bounced around on the road. 

I tried to pass so I could get a photo  of how humongous this trus was but realized how dangerous that would be trying to get beside him to get  a photo of the whole real deal so I held back from that deep desire.  This is not a truck by the way.  It is a very large screened in trailer the size of a motor home with a pick up truck pulling it.  Seriously.  I just wonder how many cans were in that trailer and where it was going and how much $ the fellow was going to make AND who picked up all those cans.   Isn't that the "sighting of the day?"  I was like a kid in a candy store when I spotted this one.  I said to myself,  "OMG a blog post for me friends."

What I have to say is:  Stay safe in case you follow the kind of trucks I do!    Laters
p.s. It used to be "South of the Border fellows that drove these crazy carriers, but now it seems to be Americans."  Things are s-l-o-w-l-y turning backwards.  I read once that the devil works ever so slowly so that we don't notice the change until it's too late.  Nite.

Treasure Jar....................by Diane Ogden

I saw this at a clients home today.

  I stood there turning the jar around and around trying to find more hidden treasures buried within its glass walls.  It appeared to contain items from around 1949-1950s.
One half of an old set of dice.  Don't you just wonder where that came from?  Did they sit on a bar for years doing dice games. (obviously I don't know the names of those games)  Did they belong to a teeneagers old Monopoly game?  Were they stolen from a gambling table in Vegas or maybe Europe! An old matchbox car, marbles, an old wooden NOT PLASTIC empty spool that used to hold thread.  Poker Chips, a wooden airplane, and much more.  In fact as I was walking around the kitchen I noticed three little critters sitting on the window sill.  Those critters, A cow, a pig, and a red chicken brought back some serious memories.  Back in the early early 50's my brother and I would take his huge farm set out to our back yard.  We would put the farm on one side of our river, dug out dirt with aluminum foil in the base to hold our river water.  On the other side of the aluminum river we had a war happening.  All of his little plastic army men hiding behind branches we plucked off bushes along with army tanks and the like.  Not sure why. Guess because its all we had.

 Army men laying on the ground with guns pointed at the cows and chickens and such.  That jar certainly did hold a treasure of memories for me today.
And notice the price!  $8.50 wow.  That is a jar that should just sit on a shelf for viewing for another sixty years.
Well, until I run into something interesting, funny, or happy,  Be well, Be safe, Be happy and get rich like me so you can buy jars full of treasures to do nothing special with but to look at. 

Fridgidare Dishwasher..........by Diane Ogden

It came to my attention I was eating the tiny
particles of garbage dried on my plates and glasses after they were supposed to be cleaned in my dishwasher. So I did what Google said as I always do. One would think Google was kin to me..... Google said to wash the empty dishwasher with bleach and or other such toxic chemicals so I did. Glasses still had dried grunge on them. Had to soak them for two days in the sink to loosen the rock hardened particles. At this point I took the bottom filter, and three other pieces out of the carriage area. I laid them out so I would remember how they went back in and of course during the whole transaction I forgot. I thought I got it back together but maybe    notsomuch.  Finally I called maintenance.  I didn't want to call them because I didn't want them to find Bob Ogden.  If they found Bob Ogden or he heard them come in he might start meowing loudly thinking it was his mama me!  He does that when he hears me come home.  I think he must be one of my reincarnated dogs or relatives maybe.  Bob seems to have supernatural talents like me.  And I really didn't want maintenance to see all my signs everywhere saying, "I HAVE ONE MILLION DOLLARS THANK YOU."  Okay back to my point. Maintenance came.....  left a note saying I needed parts as the dishwasher  is old.  I was fairly offended thinking he was making reference to me!  Sure I am old and sure I could use some new parts but come on that isn't nice.  I let it go.  Next day he came back without warning and left the old sprayer arm on the counter so I could see the damage. 

Dang thing was burned! That looked dangerous to myself and my little farmette. There were times I could smell burning plastic which I know causes cancer so I would check to see if anything fell into the bottom of the dishwasher. Nope never found anything yet still smelled it. Notsogood.  Oh, lest I forget the maintenance guy told me not to put knifes in the utensil holder as it probably stopped the arm from moving.  Really?  No.... The sprayer arm was broken and laid directly on the heating element. I am not a dummie. Probably protecting the complex from a possible law suit. But it all ended well....   The dishwasher is repaired and the glasses are clean. No inferred notes were left behind saying anything or anyone needed new parts and I never got sick from eating clean garbage grunge.  And ALSWELL as my license plate says.   So until tomorrow, be safe, be well, be happy, and get rich like me cause its easier.  You could buy a condo with a Bosch Dishwasher!   Laters

Karate to the Buick...............by Diane Ogden

As you all know I have the oldest car in the underground parking where I live.  But I also may be the only one without a payment.  And I like-a no payment-a.  The old girl is a bit of rust on her.  Her

front end has a cracked bushing both of which I wholeheartedly can relate to.  Her fuel pump is giving way they tell me.  Again I understand.  Her dash lights are not only dimming, but finally gone.  Cant tell if I have gas or no gas.  Cant go by the trip set cause that light is out too.   The old term "lights out" has new meaning for me.  As you know I ran out of gas in rush hour traffic only to get a lecture from a young pup who probably has a car payment and working dash lights.  What's my point?   I will tell you.  The other day it was raining a considerable amount.  I rolled my passenger side widow (ha, I may be the Buick's widow soon) WINDOW I meant to type, to tell the young man to put my groceries in the back seat.  It was at that time, "it," the window, refused to go back up. Oh yes, in the rain all the way home to its underground stall and then some time longer.  I came up to my apartment feeling in a "what am I going to do" mode. Fuel pump, Bushing, dash lights, I forgot the hubcap that flew off, and Clicker I accidentally threw in the trash bin, body work and so on. I stopped thinking and I walked back down to her stall and I opened my drivers door where the controls are for that window. Note I had tried everything else and none of the controls for that window would work. I knew a new power motor would cost an east $200 +.  Then I got mad.  I leaned the old body back, raised the old leg and karate chopped the door handle holding those power window controls!!  Yes I did!!  As I kicked it the window went back up on its own.  Must have been stuck and I unstuck it.  Good for me. I guess I still have a little punch left in me too.

I remember the old days when our TV's wouldn't work.  All we had to do most of the time was hit it!
Back then we had tubes inside the TV's so hitting it would put a tube or two back to place.  I am just glad the window is up.  I have a piece of duct tape (omg) on the one control so I don't accidentally put it down again....  I know I know its time to get new wheels.  I hate car payments.... 

So until the next time:  Be safe, be well, be happy, and get rich so you can pay cash for a better car.
I cant complain, the old Buick has taken good care of me for several years.  Amen

(I WISH THAT WAS MY BUICK!)

Old People Kissing......................by Diane Ogden

Old People Kissing!

Why do old people (over 50-55) look like they kiss WRONG? I am serious. I have been watching the same soap opera for something like thirty years.... they cut the main couple out, fired them! Then brought them back a couple plus years later and omg..... I have tried to be quiet about this. I haven't even checked the blogs or the twitter and truthfully I don't need to. All I have to do is watch the soap and say to self.....eewww. Do not publicly try to have passionate sexual scenes when you are over 50. 'Cause you look WRONG is all it is. Maybe not wrong, but not enticing sex thoughts for the viewers. When I watch it think....oh oh you writers messed up. The old folks forgot how to act or the wrinkles got in the way, I truly dunno what it is, just truly know it is fact. If the viewers hang on you might figure it out and please do not do those scenes anymore, okay? P L E A S E....
Those actors are now the Mame's and papa's of daytime TV. And no one wants to see Mame having sex scenes. They rather see her in pearl earrings giving ad-vice to the tweens and teens and such. Eewww on the petting on screen while the candles burn away. Mr. DeMill I am ready for my head shot, not my thin lip lock.....omg
Laters     Be well!

The 10-10-10 Rule..................by Diane Ogden

10-10-10 rule

 I heard on the 10-10-10 rule on 107.3 FM radio where John Tesh is the late afternoon announcer. He gives grand little tid bits of info to all us listeners. He always was the all American boy next door apple pie guy. Anyway...John Tesh says....whenever making any sort of decision it is best to use the 10-10-10 rule. I was ready for the rule when then the station took a commercial break and luckily I was still around after it considering I was driving. John says when making any decision think about what the consequences will be in 10 minutes, in 10 months, and in 10 years. Then he gave this brilliant but average example. If your child calls you at work crying and carrying on because he/she needs you to be home for a special homework project they forgot to tell you about, or the need for a special dinner, or their boyfriend broke up with them......you must think how you will feel and how it will affect your life in 10 minutes if you leave work. How your child will feel or how your decision will affect your life and theirs in 10 months if you leave work and do what they wish, and considering that your boss may disagree is a concern also. Then how this will affect you in 10 years? Could leaving work early to amend the emotions of a child cause you any regrets? In 10 minutes will the child be over it? Probably not. Will the child forget all about this one evening in 10 months? Probably. And in ten years could you have lost that promotion and all that goes with it, and the child has absolutely no recollection of the issue. Such as a large raise in salary that could change your life and allow that child that called with the tantrum a college education! Just an example of how making decisions on emotions can affect/ruin a life or two. Me, I am old enough to know that I wish I had known about the 10-10-10-Rule. I didn't and it did affect my life and my children's. Not that I ever left work early for a child throwing a simple tantrum, or did I?   I do have 10-10-10- regrets as we all do I am sure but have made the best of it due to lack of choice. The key is from now on I shall use the 10-10-10 rule for sure. A good rule indeed. Almost as good as the Golden Rule...so, put the 10-10-10-Rule and the Golden Rule in a jar and shake them up and you have good decisions without a doubt. But do realize this. If the child needs you to be at a special athletic dinner or important live celebration in his or her honor and you chose work over them.....whole different bag of potatoes! Like John T says, 10-10-10 again and again.

atlantachristianweb.com/celeb_features/tesh.asp

From:  http://growingyoungereachday.wordpress.com 
GUIDE TO HIRING WOMEN    
I dont usually copy and paste other peoples blogs but this one is worth every effort and quite the read.
Enjoy!

New post on I choose how I will spend the rest of my life

6943 by judithhb A friend copied this and passed it on to me as he thought I might get a laugh from reading it. I hope you will too. This purports to be from the July 1943 issue of Mass Transportation Magazine written for male supervisors during the Second World War. "Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees There's no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage. Here are eleven helpful tips on the subject from western properties: 1. If you can get them, pick young married women. They have these advantages, according to the reports of western companies: they usually have more of a sense of responsibility than do their unmarried sisters; they're less likely to be flirtatious; as a rule, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it — maybe a sick husband or one who's in the army; they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently. 2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Most transportation companies have found that older women who have never contacted the public, have a hard time adapting themselves, are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy. 3. While there are exceptions, of course, to this rule, general experience indicates that "husky" girls — those who are just a little on the heavy side — are likely to be more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters. 4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination — one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit but also reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job. Transit companies that follow this practice report a surprising number of women turned down for nervous disorders. 5. In breaking in women who haven't previously done outside work, stress at the outset the importance of time — the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up. 6. Give the female employe in garage or office a definite day-long schedule of duties so that she'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves. 7. Whenever possible, let the inside employe change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be nervous and they're happier with change. 8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. Companies that are already using large numbers of women stress the fact that you have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and consequently is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day. 9. Be tactful in issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way that men do. Never ridicule a woman — it breaks her spirit and cuts her efficiency. 10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this. 11. Get enough size variety in operator uniforms that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too strongly as a means of keeping women happy, according to western properties." Was this really published in 1943? We have seen many such items and I have fallen for some and have even blogged about them only to find out later that these claims were in fact not true. While we know that in the 1940s women in the workplace were almost universally under valued and patronised we still find it hard to believe that such an item could be published in a recognised trade magazine So I Googled our trusty friend snopes.com and found out that this was indeed written by L H Sanders and did appear in the 1943 edition of the magazine that was widely circulated at the time. Now look at the eleven hints - which is your favourite? I can imagine the uproar that would ensue if any company considered hint 4. And I do like hint 8 as I feel much more confidant if I can keep my hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash my hands several times a day. Discussion at the Hospice last week, from whence came this photocopy, centred around the various hints and hint 3 the "Husky girls" came out as top choice among the staff. Click here to read more about women at work during the 1940s.

Antique Red Toolbox..................by Diane Ogden

So this is an antique small red toolbox.  And it is mine.  Great love and thoughtfulness was put into this little red metal box. 

You see I have lived alone for fourteen years.  I owned my own home, had several children and foster children living with me.  I did everything a man would have to do. Well most everything.   I was always borrowing a tool of some sort from my Dad,  Joe Junbluth.  Many children now and in past decades never had a Dad. My own Father's Father wasn't around much.  Many slither away like the standard snake in the grass after conception.   Back to my point.... 

 

One day my Dad, an old farmer, brought me that little read toolbox he took the time to fill just for me.  He couldn't give me a trust fund, or a new car, or a large red shiny tool chest with ten drawers.  But he gave me what he could.  His time.  He would run errands for me when I had no time to do them.  He would go to the kids school plays when no other family member did.  He would say please and thank you when he was never raised to do so.  He had an eighth grade education but studied on his own to learn to read and write better. He used to ask me how to spell things.  And he always put an e at the end of words.  Back to my point.  Or is this my point?  I guess as we grow, yes GROW (evolve)....we remember the small important things.  The little antique red tool box he put together especially for me twenty years ago plus.  I still have it you know?  It contains screwdrivers, pliers, crescent wrench, speckling putty knife, speckling compound, screws, nails, rubber hammer, hard hammer, those funny screwers, oh yeah, Allen wrenches!  Electrical tape, wire, tape measure, that balance wall thingy, and on and on.  Nothing fancy. The old down to earth tool box.  In his heart he wanted me to have a good man to take care of me when he was gone.  But that didn't happen in his lifetime, so he did what he could to help me have what I needed.  A little red toolbox filled with love. And all the errands he had time for.  He didn't know how to hug so well. He didn't know how to say I Love You so well. But he did it his way. You know, Like Frank. And today I remembered one of the best ways he showed it.  That beat up red tool box from his workshop.

  He must be hangin close cause I have been very spiritual the past couple days.

I'll try to find something more funny and less serious tomorrow.....

Until then.....be safe, be happy, be well, and get rich because its easier is all.  Even if I was rich I wouldn't give up the Tool Box my Dad Joe made just for me, so my life could be a lil bit easier.

 

Wake up!.................... by Diane Ogden

You have heard it said over and over that you and I should

Be thankful,  write down our grateful lists, think positive, talk positive, be nice to everyone and so on and on and on.  Sometimes we ignore it all and go about our business.  In fact most times life is so busy we just keep moving.   No time for yoga, or simple sitting in a comfy chair and meditating, or getting ready on Sunday morning for a run to any church to give thanks.  I dislike preaching to others.  Rather I tend to mother everyone so here I go again. 

 

I woke up with several particular unpleasant thoughts.  No I did not eat garlic before retiring.  I did not say expiring.  But that is what I saw.  I saw in my minds eye why I should be doing all the aforementioned things.  Being thankful, making gratitude lists, talking  positive, being kind and so on.

 

1- Somewhere someone is drowning

2- Somewhere some one's family home is burning to the ground

3- Somewhere a child is being kidnapped and harmed

4- Somewhere someone is on a breathing respirator

5- Somewhere a boat full of people is sinking

6- Somewhere there is a deadly avalanche

7- Somewhere a person is getting beat to death

8-Somewhere a dog is being misused

9-Somewhere a child is being beat up

10- Somewhere an earthquake swallowing people 

11- Somewhere a car accident - all expired

12- Somewhere some one's Grandma is taking her last breath

and she wasn't finished living yet

13- Somewhere a soldier lay bleeding from loss of limb

14- Somewhere someone is receiving chemotherapy

16- Somewhere someone is in a ambulance

17- Somewhere someone is lost in a dense forest no way out

18- Somewhere someone is going into surgery not knowing they wont come out

19- Somewhere some one's house is being robbed

20- Somewhere a child found a gun and shoots it

22- Somewhere someone is being raped

23- Somewhere someone just got shot several times

24- Somewhere the family pet of many yearss is dying

25- Somewhere the family car engine blew and there is no money for another one

26- Somewhere people sleep outside as they are homeless

27- Somewhere someone is hungry

28-  Somewhere horrible things are happening!

 

But not to you and I.  I am thankful.  So BE HAPPY, BE WELL, BE SAFE, AND BE THANKFUL.

Laters (I hope)

 

 

photo from www.shine.yahoo.com

 

Shabby Chic Dream...............by Diane Ogden

Not so interesting to most.....but to me, yes.  Something I have wanted for many years and seems to be quite hard to find....   A Shabby Chic SlipCover that I am not equipped to make. 

Other then that I was at a clients today and noticed a jar on her counter that said,  "Treasure Jar."  I noticed inside were artifacts from the 40's and 50's.  Tiny objects such as spool of thread, clothes pin, far animals like my borhter and I used to play with in teh early 50's.  And much more sweet memorabilia.

Besides the sweet memorabilia....I have another dream.  May we call my blog a sort of "Dream Board."  Because it is.  This small retreat is where I would like to write and meditate.  I have dreamed of having a small "dollhouse" such as this one for many decades.  I used to make them for my sons and daughters although never so elegant as this one I want for myself.