WITH LAUGHTER!

THIS IS JUST TOO, TOO FUNNY!

THE “KING” READING LEE CHILD’S “TRIPWIRE”

Ever since I could understand the written word, I have wanted to be a writer.  I am a consummate reader; I devour words and I spit them back out on my computer!  So why is my dream of being a famous writer still a dream?  Well, I’ll tell you folks, it’s all due to PUNCTUATION!

I hate rules, rules are made to be broken (notice I said rules; not laws, just in case you get the wrong idea!)  And writing requires following the basic and not-so-basic rules of Punctuation!  Ask any writing instructor or editor!  Well, I say, to hell with that.  Isn’t the content of the story what matters?  Did they even read the story, or did they stop at the first incorrect usage of a semi-colon?  Why should it matter if I choose to throw in an unneeded comma here and there?  Does it change the story?

Now I was taught how to follow the rules of punctuation…I just chose to ignore them.  So, as a result, my English papers always contained those dreaded red ink messages from my teacher; my writing instructors did the same.  Even my father, may he rest in peace, would send my letters back to me, CORRECTED!  True fact!

My hero was my Nana, who only had a fourth grade education.  She would send a two page letter, without a single piece of punctuation!  Sure, it took longer to decipher the letter, but I considered it a challenge and loved her independence from the rules of punctuation.

As a consequence, I will never be a famous writer.  But, you know what?  I can live with that.  I will continue writing my little heart out and the rules of punctuation be damned. So, if reading my posts, you notice a misplaced colon or a missing quote mark, please understand and do not send my post back corrected!  

If you think 2012 passed by in a flash, then you’ll like this!

Well, it’s 5 A.M. on New Years Eve, and I am sitting here thinking about the past year: it’s ups, it’s downs, it’s challenges, and it’s changes.

My life changed completely in May; Danny almost lost his life to liver failure.  A lifetime of heavy drinking had finally taken it’s toll.  He survived and his doctor’s said that if he wanted to live, he must never drink again.  Now, I’ll be honest, we were both big drinkers; this was hard news for both of us.  But, Danny and I have been together for over twelve years, and I was not ready to lose him. So, we gave up drinking.  No big deal…except that we were both heavy drinkers.  But, I’m happy to say, neither of us have touched a drop since May and we feel better and are closer than ever.

My biggest challenge this year was being sole caregiver to Danny during his recovery.  I feared that I would not be able to live up to the responsibilities required to nurse him back from the brink of death. It was perhaps the hardest thing I have ever had to do.  But, Danny is recovering, so I guess I lived up to the challenge and my fears were for nothing!  It has gotten easier every day to meet his needs and I can now look back at the dark days as a learning experience.  

I was down a lot this year, and the hardest part was not being able to show it.  I had to keep up a strong, optimistic front on a daily basis; and that was very difficult, when I lived in fear of losing my best friend.  Tears had to be shed in the bathroom, when Danny was sleeping.  I had not yet found Xanga, so I had no outlet for my feelings and I just kept them bottled up.  

But this year has brought many rewards.  Danny smiles now, and actually makes plans for the future.  We laugh, we cuddle and we talk honestly to each other about our feelings.  Our love has grown beyond anything I could have imagined. So, it was all worth it.  

I have learned a lot about myself this year and am proud of what I’ve accomplished.  I look forward to spending not only the new year, but many years, after that with the man I love. So, bring on 2013!  I’m ready! 

A few months ago, Danny got a call from his troubled son.  His son was complaining that he would have no place to sleep that night, so he was going to sleep behind a dumpster.  When Danny asked him where his paycheck was that we knew he had received from his new job…he said, “I had to get a Smartphone.”  So, between spending his paycheck on food and a place to stay or sleeping behind a dumpster, he chose the dumpster.

When Danny questioned his decision, he said, “Dad, I’ve got to have a phone!”  Wow..priorities!

Just before Christmas, our local news station reported on the great turnout at the Food Bank for a holiday meal.  They showed a young man, carrying a two year old, picking up his free groceries…WITH A SMARTPHONE glued to his ear!  Danny went ballistic.

Here in Florida, if you are on any kind of assistance, you can get a free phone with free minutes.  This enables you to search for work or call for help in emergencies.  It is a simple phone, no bells and whistles, but it gets the job done.  Not good enough for some people, I guess.  Much better to spend what little money you have on an expensive phone, instead of using that money for food and shelter.  

People need to stop making bad choices and focus on the needs of their family, not their selfish wants.

Or is it just me?  DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE LIKE THIS?

Wishing all my Xanga friends and family a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

With love,

M.E. and family

Frosty has asked me to give you a quick update on the progress of our protest march on Washington, D.C.  I am very happy to report that many snowman have signed up and are getting ready to slide across the land to carry our message about global warming.  Snowmen and snow women have been burning up the phones in order to register for this important event.

Some fear the trek to D.C. will be slow going, since snowmen don’t have feet!  So, some are looking for quicker means of transportation.

And others are finding a more “Magical” way to travel!

 If you have a snowman in your yard and he/she wishes to join our march, please sign them up for this very important event before it’s too late.  We are leaving on January 2, 2013, as it will take our western states participants longer to roll into D.C. than our brothers and sisters on the Eastern seaboard.  

MORE UPDATES TO FOLLOW!

My little angel, Elizabeth, is the one in the white dress, far right.  My granddaughter has been very busy this holiday season, singing in many different venues.  Can’t tell I’m a proud grandma, can you?

And, no, that is not me wiping my nose and mouthing the words while the kids sang…I believe that’s the music teacher!

Well, I do, sometimes.

I can’t count the number of times I have had to pull my foot out of my mouth!  I have never meant to say anything insulting to someone, and I have never meant to be cruel or uncaring with my words, but sometimes, the words just spew out and, SNAP, I’ve hurt someone’s feelings.

I don’t know who this hurts more, the object of my inappropriate humor or me, for the lingering guilt I suffer.  I have improved with age, but every once in a while my mouth seems to have a mind of it’s own and attacks when I least expect it.

Now, before I make a global apology, I do want to state that most times the stuff I say is pretty damn funny!  But, I have had to learn to soften the blow by an immediate hug after dropping a bomb on the poor unsuspecting person (or quickly leave the room, so my SO, Danny, can explain that sometimes, I go off my meds and can’t be held responsible for my actions.)

Luckily, almost all the people I know can take a joke and get right back at me…which I happen to love!  Very few are shocked or angered…at least I haven’t gotten punched out yet!  But, there’s always a first time!

So, if posting a comment to you, I happen to hit a nerve, feel free to hit right back.  I can take it!

FOR THOSE OF US WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF “CRAZY” IN US.

OK, consider yourself challenged.  Pick one of the above and try it out.  My personal favorites are number 2, 3 and 7.  Return with your stories of how it worked out for you, ESPECIALLY if you choose number 9. Add pictures or videos to support your claim that you took the challenge if you wish.  

Now, just because I am challenging you does not mean I am responsible for Bail money should things go wrong during your performance of the task.  I have to run to McDonald’s now so I can perform Number 4.  Wish me luck! 

@Traintrack, this is right up your alley!    OK, ready, set, go!