Fun Website

My picks for fun and interesting web sites:

Are you an intern, reporter or editor? Test you knowledge of current events here:
http://www.newseum.org/newsmania/

It is just not right

There is something very wrong with Bruce Springsteen turning 60 and being on the cover of AARP magazine!

Different kind of Ceremony

Right now, Jim, Jeff and I driving on I-5 on the way to San Jose to Laura’s Convocation – have I mentioned how much I love my little netbook with seven hors of battery time.

This has been a wonderful summer of milestones for our family.
Jeff graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering but he chose not to “walk” (participate in graduation ceremonies). We respected his decision, but I have to admit for parents it is wonderful to witness the transition into the next phase of their lives.

There is a different language with Laura’s graduation. We were provided an envelope with a memo re: “Convocation” Tickets to San Jose State University Health and Science Department: presents Master in Public Health Class of 2009. The class will be sequestered from family at first, then right before they ‘walk’ the parents join the graduands to walk them across the stage while they are conferred their degree and ”hooded.”

Did I say how proud I am of both of them? Gosh, I think we will take them on an Alaska cruise in a week to celebrate.

Picking myself back up - again

It shocks me when words or actions hurt so much I get knock on my butt. Years of working on trying to recoup my (pre-stroke)cognitive skills seemed to have been washed away - in one week. I just get so tired of having to fight everyday.

A couple of days of rest and I am ready to continue the daily battle. I refuse to give others the power to define who I am or my self worth. Time to dust myself off and start climbing back up.

Saddness

Wipedia defines saddness as:

Sadness is an emotion characterized by feelings of disadvantage, loss, and helplessness. When sad, people often become quiet, less energetic, and withdrawn.

Sad is the opposite of happy. its similar to the emotions of sorrow,grief,misery,and melancholy. The philosopher Baruch Spinoza defined sadness as the transfer of a person from a large perfection to a smaller one.

I keep getting smaller.

Juliia and Juie

It has been a long time since we have seen a movie we both enjoyed as much as Julia and Julie.

Meryl Streep is so incredible - she brought Ms. Child to life. We laughed out loud many times. It was the first time in decades where I have been in a movie theater when the audience actually applauded at the end.

Two days later, we are still talking about lines in the movie.

Post CVA brain hiccups

Fear of the unknown is not the same as an unknown fear. One can rationalize the former. The later just makes you feel vulnerable.

It's not just your family...

Many families seemed to have taken advantage of those shopping mall photo store coupons - ah, I mean opportunities. Some families did the annual Christmas card portraits.

If they seemed awkward to you, you're not alone. Now you can share in other families' discomfort by logging onto another selection of PCMag.com 100 best websites for 2009.

Yes, Awkward family Photos makes you happy your mom did not have more imagination.

I'm so sorry - Not!

Why do people have such a hard time apologizing? Apparently, saying "I'm sorry" is difficult for so many that PCMAG.com felt compelled to name Apology Center as one of its top 100 websites of 2009.

On this site you can confess your wrongdoing. While the person that deserves the apology is unaware, the poster will get anonymous votes tallied to determine if they are forgiven or not.

Some of the confessions are funny, some sad. At least PCMAG put it in the “FUN” category so as not to be taken too seriously.

Weird things on eBay

Blame it on insomnia and boredom but I fell in love with this vintage Bingo Blower on eBay. I know, it doesn't make any sense, but I guess love is like that.

Many, years ago (1983?) I started a weekly fundraising bingo for Helpline. The profits from those weekly games probably saved the 24 hour crisis line as our total budget was very small and a portion was being eliminated.

It was a small group of regulars that met upstairs at the old Saloon Club on south highway 273. This was before many non-profits had bingo and way before the big jackpots at Win River made our $10.00 and $25.00 payouts seem minuscule. I am not sure when they stopped the Helpline Bingo (maybe someone can tell me). I left Helpline to return to college for my master's degree.

I am trying to start a bingo in our clubhouse for the residents of our retirement community. That was my justification for bidding and winning the vintage bingo blower. It works, the board is just fine (after I cleaned it up). The motor is a 'little' noisy, but Jeff is going to come down and take a look at it and replace the cord. Jim sanded the rust off the cage and I spray painted it. With a package of shinny new bingo balls, I am ready to play!

Repeat after me

I have to keep repeating: "It takes a variety of people to challenge us, encourage us, promote us, and most of all, help us achieve a broader dimenson." __lenn Van Ekeren