THE COSTUME LADY. . . .Random Rants and Dressing Up

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS. . .

2008-12-24T10:24:00.000-05:00

With thanks to Mr. Jack Swift, of the Mountain City, Tennessee "Tomahawk" newspaper, I would like to share this amazing understanding of Christmas. . .

Another year is almost gone and as I write this column Christmas is just a few days away. As I thought about what I would write about this week, I decided to just reflect on Christmas and what it means to me. This one will be my 70th Christmas and as I look back at Christmases past I remember the great times that we had as a family when I was young. I couldn’t wait till that day arrived. Perhaps I didn’t thoroughly understand the real meaning of Christmas then, but I knew that it was a time of giving as well as receiving.
Christmas was about the only time I received any toys but they were always welcome. Clothes and such were much less important in my young mind. Of all the toys I received, one stands out. It was a metal dump truck and since there was a dirt bank near our house, I put it to plenty of use.

While I enjoyed receiving gifts, even as a youngster I also enjoyed giving. I always tried to save enough money to give a gift to my mother and father and brother. As I grew older, I gradually became aware of the much deeper meaning of the Christmas season. Being raised to attend church, I had many opportunities to hear the minister preach about the birth of Christ and the Christian’s hope because of it.

While Christ’s birth came up in sermons periodically during the year, it was at Christmas that it was really emphasized. I was called upon to take part in a few Christmas plays at church over the years and I remember playing the old shoe cobbler one year. I believe his name was Nicholas. Anyway according to the play the old cobbler was told in a vision that Jesus Christ would pay him a visit before the night was past. If I remember right, as the play continued, three visitors who were in need interrupted him at different times and each time he would fulfill that need. Whether it was to give warmth by the roaring fire in his fireplace or to provide food, he gave of what he had. He was disappointed because at the end of the day Christ hadn’t visited his shop, or so he thought.

As the play ended, Nicholas found that each time he had been kind and considerate to each of his needy visitors, he had been ministering to Jesus. Jesus had been to his humble cobbler’s shop in the form of the three needy people. Of course it was only a Christmas play, but it pointed out that being kind and considerate to others is a prerequisite to knowing Jesus.

So, Christmas is not only a time of receiving but also of giving. Christians believe that the gift of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, is the greatest gift of all.

Since becoming an adult, I have developed a much broader understanding of what the birth of Christ means to me. There is a song with a phrase that goes something like this: “Without Him I would be nothing.” I challenge my readers to see beyond the commercialism that has enveloped the Christmas season, and concentrate on the real meaning of Christmas.

Christmas was a joyous time of the year when I was young. It is no less a joyous time in my senior years. My wife and I enjoy receiving Christmas cards from our friends as well as the smiles and greetings we get as we travel about Johnson County. We also enjoy sending Christmas cards and giving gifts at Christmas time. We thank you for reading my column and may each of you have a glorious and joyful Christmas

Sage advice worth pondering. . .

2008-06-06T11:31:00.001-04:00

"Stop the mindless wishing that things would be different. Rather than wasting time and emotional energy in explaining why we don't have what we want, we can start to pursue other ways to get it." Author: Greg Anderson

*** A 'hat tip' and an 'amen' to my sister, Judy, for this inspiration. ***

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS. . . .

2008-05-29T21:58:00.002-04:00

A new baby is on the way in our family. What a supreme joy and a reason for celebration! Any moment now, this precious little girl will expand our family and enlarge our hearts!!! What a wonderful reason to be happy.

Your prayers for her health and for Valerie, Heath, and Duncan are appreciated and welcomed!

Love you all, as always.

There's no place. . . .

2008-05-11T13:49:00.001-04:00

Going it alone. . . .

2008-05-05T16:32:00.001-04:00

It is the last hour of my last day of my last 'home sweet home'. Thought I would be more frightened than I am, but feel oddly at ease and prepared for the adventure that lies ahead. Feel very grateful, too, and want to extend my thanks to a few special people, while I still have access to the means. . . .

To Linda, for taking me in and giving me two more months of hope. I will always remember that, with deepest gratitude. To Lorraine, for becoming a cherished friend and soul mate. You inspire me. To Gloria, Angie, Eileen, Rob, Jackie, and all the others who have populated my world directly and indirectly, giving me things to think about and reasons to feel hopeful.

To Shirley, Marty, Denise, Jason, Allen, Kenny, Dak, Scott, and many others who have extended prayers and a helping hand.

To Heath and Duncan for being the two wonderful men in my life. I love you dearly and am proud of both of you for all you are and all you will become.

To Valerie and Dawn. . . .for giving my life meaning, and love, and immeasurable pride, and a reason to go on. You are my world.

I will be in touch again, but will keep you in my prayers until. . . .

2008-05-05T11:35:00.001-04:00

Yet again. . . . .

2008-05-01T14:03:00.003-04:00

Remember, every ending is a beginning . . .
"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world,
the master calls a butterfly."
~ Richard Bach

Good advice. . . . . .

2008-04-25T13:57:00.001-04:00

Slip Don't Fall

One of the most important things to know on your journey to success is that you will occasionally slip up. It's how you respond to these slip ups that will determine if and when you achieve your goals.

Even the most disciplined, motivated people in the world have days when they don't take action and don't follow through. The difference between those who succeed and those who fail is that successful people slip but they don't fall.

Let me explain…

Here's a graph that shows how successful people progress towards achieving a goal:

As you can see from this graph, successful people DO slip up, but they always recover quickly. Compare this with the graph of people who fail:

Instead of recovering after a slip up, an unsuccessful person allows a slip to become a Fall.

When you slip up, you always have two options:

Option 1: You can start thinking negative thoughts and criticizing yourself by saying things like, "I don't have any will power" or "I'm just hopeless - I never follow through".

This is the approach of those who fail. Self criticism leads them into a downward spiral that inevitably ends in failure.

Option 2: You can accept that you slipped up and simply say:

"OK, I slipped, but I will not fall!"

When you take this approach, you quickly overcome your slip up and get back on track towards achieving your goals.

So today, I'd like to encourage you to change your approach to dealing with slip ups. Instead of criticizing yourself, just accept the situation and make the decision that even when you slip, you will get back on track quickly and will not allow a slip to become a fall.

2008-04-25T00:53:00.001-04:00

A mother's love is instinctual, unconditional, and forever.
- unknown

According to Doyle. . . . . .

2008-04-21T04:16:00.003-04:00

"Don't be afraid to go out on a limb, 'cause that's where the fruit is."-- Doyle Brunson

Not an Endorsement, but I'm Just Sayin'. . . . .

2008-04-12T13:28:00.005-04:00

Perhaps the best campaign statement I've heard yet, from any of the candidates:

"People don't need a president who looks down on them," she said. "They need a president who stands up for them." Hillary Clinton, 04-11-08

Heart tug and lessons to learn. . . .

2008-04-09T12:33:00.001-04:00

What choice would you make?

What would you do? You make the choice. Don’t look for a punch line, there isn’t one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fund raising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: ‘When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?’

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. ‘I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.’

Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, ‘Do you think they’ll let me play?’ Shay’s father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay’s father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could pla y. The boy looked around for guidance and said, ‘We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.’

Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father’s joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again.. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat.Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, ‘Shay, run to first! Run to first!’ Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, ‘Run to second, run to second!’ Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball … the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head.. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, ‘Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay’

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, ‘Run to third! Shay, run to third!’

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, ‘Shay, run home! Run home!’ Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

‘That day’, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, ‘the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world’.

Shay didn’t make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.

If you’re thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you’re probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren’t the ‘appropriate’ ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the ‘natural order of things’ So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it’s least fortunate amongst them.

You now have two choices:
1. Forget this post
2. Forward this post

May your day, be a Shay Day.

Sublime to Ridiculous. . . . .

2008-04-08T16:34:00.007-04:00

Noticed a 'twitter' comment on my nephew's blog (wabisabi), and thought I'd check out the article he was commenting on. It appeared in today's Chicago Sun Times. How anyone can conclude that the Sun Times is 'using' the story to create or promote further racial overtones in the current election cycle is beyond me. It appears that the Obama campaign may have over reacted and caused this to rise to the level of a newsworthy item. We are truly going from the sublime to the ridiculous and it hurts my soul to see it happening, because good people are being damaged, innocent remarks are being given ugly prominence, and we are losing sight of the big picture of where this country needs to go for our collective future.

As a white woman who was raised in completely integrated schools, etc. during the 50's and 60's, perhaps I see the charge of 'racism' a little differently. Sometimes, a 'monkey' is just a 'monkey' and has nothing to do with the color of one's skin. In fact, I called my own youngest daughter a monkey for years, 'cause she used to love to climb on people, places, and things. Was that racist -- subconscious, perhaps -- or merely a humorous reference to an animal's characteristics? If we say that someone is trying to 'ape' the gestures of another person, is that racist? I am getting soooo confused. And worried. And I feel sorry for the lady who is now in this nasty spotlight.

Perhaps the situation could have been handled better. . .particularly in light of Sen. Obama's recent eloquence on the issue of race and it's impact on our society. Perhaps his campaign officials could have contacted both parties to the dispute and arranged for the Senator to speak with them (by phone or in person, with or without press, etc.) to heal the wound, correct any misunderstanding, and unite these neighbors. By asking that she resign, Sen. Obama has -- whether intentionally or not -- painted this woman as a racist. What an unfortunate mantle for her to be burdened with, if her remark was indeed harmless. What an unfortunate missed opportunity for the Senator to have acted upon the beliefs he so recently spoke about.

What a world. We should do better.

BY ABDON M. PALLASCH Political Reporter/apallasch@suntimes.com

Moving to nip in the bud some potential bad press, White House hopeful Barack Obama's campaign persuaded a delegate to step down after she was ticketed for calling her neighbor's African-American children "monkeys."

Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski, a Carpentersville village trustee, was elected as an Obama delegate to the Democratic National Convention. She sports an Obama sign in her front yard.

On Saturday, two neighbor children were playing in the tree next-door to her house.

Ramirez-Sliwinski "came outside and told the children to quit playing in the tree like monkeys. The tree was not on Ramirez-Sliwinski's property," Carpentersville Police Commander Michael Kilbourne said.

Ramirez-Sliwinski admitted she used the word "monkeys," but said she did not intend racism. She said she was only trying to protect them from falling out of the tree.

"Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski said she saw the kids playing in the tree and didn't want them falling out of the tree and getting hurt. She said she calls her own grandchildren 'monkeys,' " Kilbourne said. The mother of one of the children did not see it that way, noting she and Ramirez-Sliwinski have clashed before.

"She felt it was racist because of the fact the children were African-American," Kilbourne said.

Told of the incident Monday by the Sun-Times, Obama's campaign called Ramirez-Sliwinski and persuaded her to step aside as a delegate because the campaign felt her remarks were "divisive and unacceptable."

"Given the incident, she is stepping down as a delegate and will be replaced," said campaign spokesman Ben Labolt.

Ramirez-Sliwinski did not return messages seeking comment Monday. She told the Daily Herald she meant no racism with her comment but that "after this incident, I will not run again" for trustee.

The only Hispanic on the board, Ramirez-Sliwinski has been a strong voice for Carpentersville's 40 percent Hispanic population. She and Village President Bill Sarto opposed an English-only proposition and an ordinance to crack down on illegal immigrants.

Opposition leader Judy Sigwalt said, "We are elected officials. We are in a position where people look to us for leadership and professionalism. We have to be diplomatic at all times."

"Frankly, I don't see a law that was broken here," Sarto said. "I think this entire thing has been blown out of proportion. She's a good neighor. She went over to caution the children to be careful not to fall out of a tree.

She has never indicated to me any prejudice whatsoever. We have a trustee who has been convicted on four counts of domestic battery and refuses to resign from the board. He beat his wife with a baseball bat. This seems far less egregious to me."

Ramirez-Sliwinski's $75 ticket was for "disorderly conduct," which Kilbourne defined as, "when a person does something that alarms or disturbs another.

A Message for the Donutbuzz Crowd. . . . .

2008-04-07T14:59:00.002-04:00

THOUGHTS ON THE BATTLE OF VANILLA vs. PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM. . . . . . .

A complaint was received by the Pontiac Division of General Motors:

"This is the second time I have written you, and I don't blame you for not answering me, because I kind of sounded crazy, but it is a fact that we have a tradition in our family of ice cream for dessert after dinner each night. But the kind of ice cream varies so, every night, after we've eaten, the whole family votes on which kind of ice cream we should have and I drive down to the store to get it. It's also a fact that I recently purchased a new Pontiac and since then my trips to the store have created a problem.

You see, every time I buy vanilla ice cream, when I start back from the store my car won't start. If I get any other kind of ice cream, the car starts just fine. I want you to know I'm serious about this question, no matter how silly it sounds: 'What is there about a Pontiac that makes it not start when I get vanilla ice cream, and easy to start whenever I get any other kind?'"

The Pontiac President was understandably skeptical about the letter, but sent an engineer to check it out anyway. The latter was surprised to be greeted by a successful, obviously well educated man in a fine neighborhood. He had arranged to meet the man just after dinner time, so the two hopped into the car and drove to the ice cream store. It was vanilla ice cream that night and, sure enough, after they came back to the car, it wouldn't start.

The engineer returned for three more nights. The first night, the man got peanut butter chocolate ice cream. The car started. The second night, he got strawberry. The car started. The third night he ordered vanilla ice cream. The car failed to start.

Now the engineer, being a logical man, refused to believe that this man's car was allergic to vanilla ice cream. He arranged, therefore, to continue his visits for as long as it took to solve the problem. And toward this end he began to take notes: he jotted down all sorts of data, time of day, type of gas used, time to drive back and forth, etc. In a short time, he had a clue: the man took less time to buy vanilla ice cream than any other flavor. Why? The answer was in the layout of the store.

Vanilla ice cream, being the most popular flavor, was in a separate case at the front of the store for quick pickup. All the other flavors were kept in the back of the store at a different counter where it took considerably longer to find the flavor and get checked out.
Now the question for the engineer was why the car wouldn't start when it took less time. Once time became the problem -- not the vanilla ice cream -- the engineer quickly came up with the answer: vapor lock. It was happening every night, but the extra time taken to get the other flavors allowed the engine to cool down sufficiently to start. When the man got vanilla ice cream, the engine was still too hot for the vapor lock to dissipate.

Moral of the story: even insane looking problems are sometimes real.
(A better moral: peanut butter chocolate ice cream cures vapor lock!)

Happy April Fool's Day. . . . . .

2008-04-01T14:46:00.002-04:00

What the hic is going on?. . . . . .

2008-03-31T04:18:00.008-04:00

Just for everyone's information, the folklore 'fixes' detailed herein do NOT work!!

Good. . .hiccup. . .night all!

Good night, sweet Duncan. . . . .

2008-03-30T02:54:00.004-04:00

It's late at night and I can't sleep, so I keep myself happy by thinking of you, my precious little grandson! I hope that you are all snuggled down in your bed with Mr. Teddy Bear in your arms, having happy dreams about your Mommy, Daddy, and that special little sister who's on her way to join your family!!

If I were there, I would sing you a chorus of "Ten Dirty Little Fingers" and kiss your forehead.

I love you, Duncan!

Fear and Wondering at the Crack of Dawn. . . .

2008-03-29T09:43:00.005-04:00

Don't be afraid that your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin.

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken -- probably more than once -- and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.

So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt, because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Enough Already!!!

2008-03-24T15:08:00.005-04:00

If the Democratic candidates don't put a stop to the infighting, it'll be a smooth ride to the white house for McCain! These schoolyard antics are hurting everyone!

Obama backer sorry for 'blue dress' comment

The war of words between surrogates for the Democratic presidential hopefuls descends further into the muck.

The campaigns sniped at each other over the weekend after retired Air Force General Merrill A. McPeak, an adviser to Barack Obama, accused former President Bill Clinton of McCarthyism for, in McPeak's view, questioning Obama's patriotism. Hillary Clinton's campaign said her husband's remarks to veterans in North Carolina had been misconstrued.

Today, another Obama supporter, former Iowa Democratic Party chairman Gordon Fischer, complained that Bill Clinton was hurting the Democratic Party and leaving "a stain on his legacy much worse, much deeper, than the one on Monica's blue dress." That, of course, is a blunt reference to the former president's affair with intern Monica Lewinsky that led to impeachment hearings.

Fischer has already apologized for that comment, which he posted on his own blog, Iowa True Blue. Calling it "stupid" and "tasteless and gratuitous," Fischer said, "It was unnecessary and wrong."

But the Clinton camp is not letting bygones be bygones, calling it the most personal attack yet in the increasingly bitter nomination fight.

The Icky Eye Revisited. . . . .

2008-03-24T02:45:00.005-04:00

Just a quick update on the mysterious icky eye problem. . . .

The lump (engorged gland) continues to grow larger in diameter, but softer in texture, so this is apparently a good sign. . . .or so I am told. The antibiotic clouds my vision even worse than the swelling and watering, but that's to be expected.

Hopefully, I'll be able to wear my glasses again soon and get back to a more 'normal' routine. Until then, I'll keep peering at life through the squint of my one good eye and hope for the best!!!!

Here's looking at you, kid!!

Happy Easter One and All. . . . .

2008-03-22T22:15:00.003-04:00

Chocolate Rabbit

I got a chocolate rabbit
For an Easter treat,
A great big chocolate rabbit
Good enough to eat.

So I ate his ears on Sunday,
His nose I finished Monday.
Tuesday I nibbled on his feet.
I ate his tail on Wednesday
Thursday I kept on,
By Friday he was going,
Saturday he was gone.

Oh, I loved my chocolate rabbit
From the moment that he came,
And if I get another one,
I'll love him just the same

My Reaction to A MySpace Declaration . . . .

2008-03-22T11:56:00.003-04:00

The Grass is Getting Greener! . . . . .

2008-03-18T11:47:00.015-04:00

Spring is just about here! Thank goodness for longer days and milder temperatures and the new bloom of life all around us!!!

Click on the link below. You will get a black page. Click your mouse anywhere (& everywhere) on the page & see what happens! Better yet, click & drag your mouse over the black page... Enjoy!!

http://www.procreo.jp/labo/flower_garden.swf

Good News Through My One Good Eye. . . . .

2008-03-18T00:24:00.004-04:00

It's been a l-o-n-g day, but a productive one. Though I am still fighting the infection in my left eye, which seems to have also invaded my sinus cavity (ugh!), I was able to read a happy e-mail, telling me that I've had one of my stories accepted by Reader's Digest!! Hooray! Evidently, it won't be published until sometime in the fall, but I will post the issue information as soon as I know. (It's not a whole lot of money, but enough to make a dent in some needs, and it certainly gives me confidence to keep on keepin' on!)

Other good news: Dancing With The Stars returned to tv tonight. Didn't get to see the whole show, but I'm excited that it's back. Love watching the progress everyone makes and it's just a good, entertaining way to spend an hour or so! Was pleasantly surprised to see how well the men did tonight.

Hopefully, more good news will start flowing. . . . .and I'll be able to see it coming!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all. . . . .

2008-03-16T21:53:00.003-04:00