Two Friends Newsletter

07.07.2009

2009-07-07T00:27:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone. It cannot possibly be July already. It's been non-stop here since the last issue. I haven't time to give much attention to the newsletter, but thankfully Phyllis has done a great job as usual, so her positives will make up for my negatives. :) Take care all...Toni
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~Tips from Cheryl~

Cheap Way to Make Room Smell Nice
Don't throw out perfume card samples from magazines or samples from stores. Instead put the card samples (or pour a tad of perfume onto a cotton ball, paper towel or tissue) and place into the bottom of a wastebasket.

Recycle Leftover Wrapping Paper
If pretty wrapping paper is in good shape, you can reuse it to wrap other gifts or use it to line dresser drawers and shelves. Every time you open a closet or cupboard, you will be reminded of a party or happy event.

Bed Freshener
If you have a guest room, before guests arrive or just to keep the bed fresh when unused, tuck several fabric softener sheets under the bottom sheet to keep it smelling nice.

To Prevent Greasy Stains on Plastic Containers
Line plastic containers with plastic wrap before you put in food. This will stop greasy or tomato-based products from staining the plastic. Wash in hot soapy water and use baking soda or salt to scrub off tough stains.

Cleaning Feather Dusters
Put a feather duster into a strong plastic bag and pour in a cup or two of cornstarch to clean it. Close bag tightly and shake hard (outside) for about half a minute. Take out duster and shake until all cornstarch is gone.
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...and finishing up the U.S. state preambles that Regina sent us...

--South Dakota 1889, We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties .
--Tennessee 1796, Art. XI...III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...
--Texas 1845, We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.
--Utah 1896, Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
--Vermont 1777, Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man .
--Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other
--Washington 1889, We the People of the State of Washington, g rateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution
--West Virginia 1872, Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God .
--Wisconsin 1848, We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility...
--Wyoming 1890, We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution....
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Easily fill a pastry or ziptop bag with frosting by standing the bag upright in a tall glass, then folding about 1/3 of the bag over the edge of the glass. Totally mess-free frosting filling!
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Stop, You’re Killing Me! is a resource for lovers of mystery, crime, thriller, spy, and suspense books. We list over 2,800 authors, with chronological lists of their books (over 32,000 titles), both series (3,200+) and non-series.
http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/
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...some fun and interesting facts that Marie wanted to share...

--Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only; Ladies Forbidden" and thus, the word GOLF entered into the English lauguage.

--The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

--Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S. Treasury.

--Coco-Cola was originally green.

--The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $16,400

--The first novel ever written on a typewriter was Tom Sawyer.

--The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.

--111,111,111 X 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

--If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

--Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, John Hancock and Charles Thomsom. Most of the rest signed on August 2; but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.
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Toy Story

There's no way Pipi Quinlan has a sandbox big enough to play with the toy she bought on the internet without her parents' permission. In May, the 3-year-old New Zealand girl woke early and oplayed on her parent's computer while they slept. Once on the internet, Pipi somehow navigated to the auction website, TradeMe.com. From there Pipi found auctions for industrial earthmoving excavators that look like those she played with in her Legos set. Finding one she liked, she managed to place a bid and purchased the full-size Kobelco digger for $15,000. Her parents managed to cancel the transaction.
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Kim sent this joke to me and I wanted to share:

What is the difference between Bird Flu and Swine Flu?

For Bird Flu you need tweetment and for Swine Flue you need oinkment.
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A source of clutter to watch out for is freebies. Stop automatically taking free pens, sponges, tote bags, etc. Just because it's free doesn't mean you need it. A good rule of thumb: If you wouldn't pay for it, leave it behind.
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When you use an online search engine for drug information, Wikipedia is often the first link to pop up. But relying on this encyclopedia, which allows anyone to edit entries can be risky. Here's a much better choice.
http://medlineplus.gov/
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Use BareSite.com to view websites and rss feeds faster and cheaper with your mobile device.
http://www.baresite.com/index.php?cc=yes
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~Marie's Laughter~

Four best friends met at the hospital since their wives were giving births to their babies. The nurse comes up to the first man and says, "Congratulations, you got twins." The man said "How strange, I'm the manager of Minnesota Twins." After awhile the nurse comes up to the second man and says, "Congratulations, you got triplets." Man was like "Hmmm, strange I worked as a director for the "3 musketeers." Finally, the nurse comes up to the third man and says "Congratulations, you got twins x2." Man is happy and says, "Ironic, I work for the hotel "4 Seasons." All three of them are happy until they see their last buddy jumping all over the place, questioning God and banging his head on the wall. They asked him what's wrong and he answered, "What's wrong? I work for 7up"!

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Hope everyone had a safe 4th of July. We didn't go see fireworks but we could hear them and even get a glimpse of them from our front porch.
Well, I have a lot to share with you in this issue, so let's get to it! ~Phyllis
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Here is the other half of my list of noteable things that have happened in July:

July 16
The first parking meters were installed in Oklahoma City, OK, in 1935.
The first atomic bomb was detonated in New Mexico in 1945.

July 17
Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1821.
Disneyland opened in Anaheim CA in 1955.

July 18
Elias Howe invented the sewing machine in 1847.

July 19
Opollo 11 orbited the moon in 1969.

July 20
Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon in 1969.

July 21
Earnest Hemingway was born in Illinois in 1899.

July 22
America the Beautiful was written in 1893.

July 23
The ice cream cone was invented in 1904.

July 24
Tennessee was re-admitted to the union in 1866.

July 25
The CIA was created in 1947.

July 26
Benjamin Franklin became the first Postmaster General in 1775.

July 27
Bugs Bunny was introduced in 1940.

July 28
Jacqueline Kennedy was born in 1929.

July 29
Vincent Van Gogh died in 1890.

July 30
The first color motion pictures were shown in 1928.

July 31
President Andrew Johnson died in 1875.
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Make your own paper out of junk mail...here's a site to show you how!

http://thenewnew.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-to-make-paper-from-junk-mail-temp.html
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EASY ECLAIR CAKE
A 'no bake' treat!

Makes 14 servings, about 400 calories a serving - definitely not "diet friendly"!

2 packages instant vanilla pudding mix (3.5 oz boxes)
1 eight ounce container Cool Whip, thawed
3 cups milk
1 package (16 oz) graham crackers
1 container (16 oz) chocolate frosting

In a medium bowl, thoroughly blend pudding mix, Cool Whip and milk.

Arrange a single layer of graham cracker squares in the bottom of a 13x9 baking pan. Evenly spread half of the pudding/CoolWhip/milk mixture over the crackers. Top with another layer of graham crackers. Then spread the remaining half of the pudding mixture over the crackers.

Top with a final layer of graham crackers.

Carefully spread the chocolate frosting over the graham crackers, right up to the edge of the pan.

Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
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To find local festivals, fairs and special events, check out

http://www.festivals.com/
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Energy saving tip:
Put a lid on the pot everytime you boil water. If every American household did this just once, we'd save up to $2,212,175!
(Source; http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/energy/lid.html )
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If you're going on vacation, check out this site to find out what restaurants are most popular with the locals:
http://www.wherethelocalseat.com/
This site will give you a map to each restaurant, price range, menu and feedback from people who have eaten there.
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Memory Lane

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a big fan of all things retro! And one of the things that interests me is the history of Route 66, also known as "The Mother Road."

In 1923 a businessman named Cyrus Avery began talks to create a standardized highway system of paved roads. In 1926, construction began on Route 66, going from Chicago to Los Angeles, California. The road was completed in 1938.

Route 66's path mostly followed the original trails forged by pioneers in the early 1800's.
Route 66 was very popular and spawned a rise in roadside diners, motels, roadside attractions, and gas stations. Many small towns along the Route blossomed due to the increase of traffic and money being spent by travelers along the road.

In 1956, Congress enacted legislation and funding for the U.S. Interstate road system. From then on, as new interstates were being built, traffic was slowly diverted from Route 66 and onto new highways. Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1985.

There are many "Route 66 enthusiasts" out there, who still enjoy travelling along it.. And there is still lots to see along the Route, although many of the roadside diners and motels have closed due to lack of business.

Here is a website with 10 great stops along the Mother Road.

http://listverse.com/2009/02/07/another-10-stops-on-route-66/

And for more sights along the road, go to
http://listverse.com/2008/11/27/10-notable-stops-on-the-historic-route-66/
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Cool Pick...for kids!
If your kids like to read, then this site is for them;
http://kidsblogs.nationalgeographic.com/dogeared/
Dogeared is a site where kids can read book reviews and recommedations from other kids, and share their own opinions too. Its like an online book club just for kids!
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A cool site for fans of The Simpsons:
http://adn.blam..be/springfield/
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Planning to buy a new TV, refrigerator or other product? If so, take a moment to get some product reviews at
http://wize.com/
They claim to "read millions of product reviews across the web to bring the right products to you."
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Friendship openly persuades our minds
To do the right thing
And secretly convinces our hearts
To become the right person.
-Sri Chinmoy
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If you're a fan of The Biggest Loser and want to be a big "Loser" yourself, check out trainer Bob's site! It features an online journal, weight tracker, calorie calculator and more.
http://www.mytrainerbob.com/
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Healthy Living

Did you know that both the National Institute of Health and the American Heart Association recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of activity a day? But we can't always find the time (or energy) to workout. Here's some good news though! According to a study at the University of Pennsylvania, overweight women who did three 10 minute workouts a day actually added up more exercise minutes than women who aimed for one 30 minute exercise session a day.
So if you've got 10 minutes, here are some suggested exercises...but always remember to check with your doctor first before embarking on any type of exercise program!

*Take a brisk 10 minute walk. If you can do this 3 times a day, you'll get the recommended 30 minutes of activity.
*Exercise during commercial breaks while watching TV. Most hour long programs have about 6 commercial breaks during them, with the breaks lasting approximately 3 minutes each. This means you can get 18 minutes worth of exercise during an hour long television show!
*Keep a pair of dumbbells at the ready. That way, while you're waiting for dinner to boil on the stove, you can pick up the weights and do a few strength training moves.

If you know of some other great mini-workouts, send them to me at twofriendsnewsletter@gmail.com and I'll post them in a future issue of the newsletter.
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Mini health tip; try to eat 2 servings of fruit or vegetables at each meal. One piece of fruit or half a cup of vegetables equals one serving.
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Let's go green!
Of course, the "ultra" brands of toilet paper are nice and soft, but they're not very eco-friendly. They're made of virgin fiber that has been bleached with chlorine. Instead, look for brands made with 100% recycled fiber, with at least 80% post consumer content. Go to this site to check out the best 'earth friendly' brands.

http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/gtissue.asp
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Are bugs, well, bugging you? Here's how to make your own insect repellent!

Add 20 drops each of the following essential oils; peppermint, eucalyptus and citronella, to 1/3 cup distilled water to make a spray. Pour it into a spray bottle and be sure to shake well before each use. Not only will you smell good and have moisturized skin, but you have created a natural bug repellent! Its not as affective as store bought brands containing DEET, but its less toxic. Be sure to re-apply frequently for the best benefit.
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Thanks to Nancy K for sending this in:

Mary had a little Lamb,
His fleece was white as snow,
and everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school each day
T'wasn't even in the rule,
It made the children laugh and play
To have the Lamb at school.

And then the rules all changed one day
illegal it became,
To bring the Lamb of God to school
Or even speak His name!

Every day got worse and worse
and days turned into years,
Instead of hearing children laugh
We heard gunshots and tears.

What must we do to stop the crime
That's in our schools today?
Let the Lamb come back to school
And teach our kids to pray!

06.23.2009

2009-06-23T00:58:00.003-04:00

Greetings! I am flattered that you are sitting at your computer reading this when it's so warm and pretty outside! I'm happy to announce this issue we have a new columnist. My bff Terrie is going to be doing a column with things for and about kids called Mommy Moments. She has two daughters, Alyssa, 9 and Hailey, almost 8, so she has lots of mommy experience. Hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time... ~Toni

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(I have decided to start listing birthdays and anniversaries, so if you have one you want included just send it to me by the Friday before the issue date it needs to go in.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES TO:

my mom on June 23
Alyssa on June 23
Brittany on June 23
Lib on July 1
Sue on July 2
Marianne on July 3
Toni (yes, me...I'm not too shy to toot my own horn...lol) on July 3
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~Mommy Moments~

Here is an easy pizza recipe that I fix for my girls quite often.
I use soft tortilla shells, pizza sauce, whatever topping you like, bake it just until the cheese is melted and the edges are lightly browned. You can also do this in the microwave, but of course, my girls prefer it baked.

Here is a site that has all sorts of fun food ideas for kids. Enjoy!
http://www.easy-kid-recipes.com/index.html

Here are a few sites that have fun kids games.
http://www.funbrain.com/
http://www.candystand.com/

Here you can check to see if you can take your kids to bowl for FREE :)
http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/
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New Mexico

--Santa Fe is the highest capital city in the United States at 7,000 feet above sea level.

--Each October Albuquerque hosts the world's largest international hot air balloon fiestal.

--The Rio Grande is New Mexico's longest river and runs the entire length of New Mexico.

--The world's first Atomic Bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945 on the White Sands Testing Range near Alamogordo. North of the impact point a small placard marks the area known as Trinity Site. The bomb was designed and manufactured in Los Alamos.

--White Sands National Monument http://tinyurl.com/knm8d4 is a desert, not of sand, but of gleaming white gypsum crystals.

--New Mexico is one of the four corner states. Bordering at the same point with Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

--More than 25,000 Anasazi sites have been identified in New Mexico by archeologists. The Anasazi, an amazing civilization who were the ancestors of the Pueblo, where around for 1300 years. Their great classical period lasted from 1100-1300 AD.

--1/4 of New Mexico is forested, and the state has 7 National Forests including the Nation's largest, the 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest which includes the Gila Wilderness.

--In 1950 the little cub that was to become the National Fire Safety symbol Smokey the Bear was found trapped in a tree when his home in Lincoln National Forest was destroyed by fire. In 1963, in Smokey's honor, the New Mexican legislature chose the black bear to be the official state animal.

--The Navajo, the Nation's largest Native American Group, have a reservation that covers 14 million Acres.

--At Lake Valley, miners discovered silver in veins so pure that the metal could be sawn off in blocks, instead of having to be dug out by traditional methods.

--To test the latest rockets White Sands Missile Range was created on the same land where the first atom bomb had been exploded.

--After WWII Los Alamos and Albuquerque had many new laboratories. Hundreds of highly educated Scientists and Engineers moved in the state. New Mexico soon had a higher percentage of people with Ph.D.s than any other state.

--Two important aspects of New Mexico's economy are scientific research such as the nuclear energy research carried out at Sandia National Laboratories and mining of natural resources such as oil, natural gas, uranium, potash, copper, coal, zinc, gold and silver.

--Since New Mexico's climate is so dry 3/4 of the roads are left unpaved. The roads don't wash away.

--During the height of the so-called lawless era of the late 1800' when Lew Wallace served as territorial Governor, he wrote the popular historical novel Ben-Hur. First published in 1880, it was made into a movie in 1959 starring Charleton Heston.

--Cimarron was once known as the "Cowboy capital of the world". Some of the old west's most famous names, such as Kit Carson and "Buffalo Bill" Cody lived there. A quote from the Las Vegas Gazette illustrates how lawless Cimarron was. "Everything is quiet in Cimarron. Nobody has been killed in 3 days."

--Roswell the states 4th largest city was founded in 1869 when a professional gambler established a lone store on the cattle trail.

--Moon Rocks can be found at the International Space hall of fame that is located in Alamogordo.

--Tens of thousands of bats live in the Carlsbad Caverns. The largest chamber of Carlsbad Caverns is more than 10 football fields long and about 22 stories high.

--Taos Pueblo is located 2 miles north of the city of Taos. It is one of the oldest continuously occupied communities in the United States. People still live in some of its 900 year old buildings.

--New Mexico's capital city Santa Fe is the ending point of the 800 mile Santa Fe Trail.

--The City of Truth or Consequences was once called Hot Springs. In 1950 the town changed its name to the title of a popular radio quiz program.

--New Mexico was named by 16th century Spanish explorers who hoped to find gold and wealth equal to Mexico's Aztec treasures.

--Native Americans have been living in New Mexico for some twenty thousand years. The Pueblo, Apache, Comanche, Navajo, and Ute peoples were in the New Mexico region when Spanish settlers arrived in the 1600s.
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This is a pretty interesting site. Gives decorating ideas from things found at the dollar store.
http://www.dollarstorestyle.com/
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~What I've been reading~

If you like to read true crime books, you will want to check out Columbine by Dave Cullen. I feel like the author interjects his opinions from time to time on certain subjects. Other than that, the author shows you the true and entire story you didn't hear in the media. Cautions: there is bad language and lots of details that aren't for the faint of heart.
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Save Lukewarm Water for Plants

While waiting for hot water from your sink to get hot, place a milk jug under the faucet to collect water. Use this water to water plants, pets, etc. You'll be surprised with how much water you've collected.
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~Tips from Cheryl~

No More Sticky Rice
To prevent rice from sticking to the pot when it's cooking, spray the bottom with and sides with nonstick vegetable spray before you add water or rice.

Reusing Aluminum Foil and Plastic Bags
After you've used it, clean with a damp sponge and wipe from the center to the edge (this will flatten it). Let dry. Clean zipper bags with lots of soap and hot water, rinse well and dry before reusing

Sugar Shaker
Pour granulated sugar into a salt shaker or recycled Parmesan cheese shaker. It will be so handy when you want to sprinkle sugar on pie crust tops, cereal or homemade donuts. You will have good control of how much you add.

Freeze Extra Tomato Sauce
If a recipe calls for just 2 or 3 ounces of tomato sauce or canned tomatoes, save what's left. Pour into ice cube trays, cover and freeze. You will have individual cubes on hand to pop into future dishes.
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~Marie's Laughter~

Mrs. Sullivan and her little daughter Patty were outside the church watching all the comings and goings of a wedding. After the photographs had been taken, everyone had driven off to the reception, and all the excitement was over. Patty asked her mother, “Why did the bride change her mind, Mommy?

“How do you mean, change her mind?” asked Mrs. Sullivan.

"Well", said the child, “she went into the church with one man and came out with another!”
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Head over to http://www.nophonetrees.com or http://www.get2human.com where you can type in the name of a company you're about to call, and instantly find out which special series of numbers will connect you without having to go through the voicemail menu.
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~More tips from Carol~

--In a pan, where you've overcooked your food, is not going to be an easy clean up unless you have some ammonia. Simply pour in a capful of ammonia and then fill your pan with a little bit of water. Bring it to the stove and let it boil. Once it boils just push it all around, and look how easy it comes off.

--Something you should always have handy in your laundry room is a simple bar of soap. It works great to take out make-up stains. Simply wet the soap. Once the water reaches the shirt with that soap on it, the cleaning power will be released and it'll be "clean as new".

--Cleaning the microwave: No one likes those food particles that accumulate on the door and inside. So, take a couple cups of water and put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Now, what happens is that the water starts to boil and it starts to steam. All the steam inside the microwave loosens up those food particles. Wait until this is done and watch how easy it is to clean up.

--Cut a lemon in half and just rub it on your cutting board. It'll help disinfect and sanitize it. And for tough stains on plastic or light colored surfaces, simply cut your lemon in half, squeeze on some of that lemon juice and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Rinse with water and its good as new.

--Scuff marks on the floor, crayon marks on the floor and even on the walls: Simply take a sponge, dampen it a little bit, and dip it in some baking soda. Rub away; no more scuff marks and crayon marks to worry about.

--Dusting tip: Use a little fabric softener and mix in a bowl with some warm water. Because it helps keep things static free, it is great for dusting off glass tabletops, TV monitors, even your stereo equipment. (Note from Toni: if you use this on electronics I'd be really careful and not get the cleaning cloth very wet)

--You know when you're moving your furniture around and you find those indentations? Here's a good way to get rid of them. Take a little chip of ice before you go to bed and just put the little chips in the indentation marks. Let it soak through overnight. In the morning, after its dry, the bristles start to come back up. Use a fork to fluff. Indentations marks be gone.

--When you spill cooking oil on your kitchen floor. Here's how to clean it up: First clean up any glass if it's a glass container. You want to cover the oil with a thick layer of flour and let it sit for a few minutes because the flour will absorb the oil. Then, just sweep up the flour-oil mixture into a dust pan. And, for those really thick oil spots, you might have to use a paper towel actually to "scrunch" it into the dust pan. Then throw it all away. Then just use some glass cleaner to get any of the remaining oil off the floor and there you have it. Fresh and Clean! Probably cleaner than it was before you dropped that oil.
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At http://digital-photography-school.com/ you'll find tips such as: You can give the impression of a thinner tummy by rotating your upper body slightly at the waist. And make thighs look narrower by crossing one leg in front of the other. One last tip, ask the person photographing you to hold the camera slightly above eye level and point it down if you have a double chin.
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more state Preambles from Regina:

--Massachusetts 1780, We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction ..

--Michigan 1908, We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom establish this Constitution.

--Minnesota, 1857, We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:

--Mississippi 1890, We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.

--Missouri 1845, We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness . Establish this Constitution....

--Montana 1889, We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ...

--Nebraska 1875, We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this Constitution..

--Nevada 1864, We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...

--New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God
according to the dictates of his own conscience.

--New Jersey 1844, We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

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Such a cool idea! This is a free webside that lets you quickly track every gift you've given and received, complete with a search box, so you can take 5 seconds to make sure you're not giving the same gift you did last year. You can also get free email reminders.
http://www.giftelephant.com/
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Here is a recipe that Lib sent in for us:

VEGGIE BURGERS

2 CUPS DICED ONIONS
2 CUPS DICED MUSHROOMS
2 GREEN PEPPERS DICED
2 CANS CHICK PEAS OR PINTOS MASHED
1 SMALL CAN TOMATO PASTE
1 CUP MOZARELLA CHEESE GRATED.
2 CUP CARROTS, SHREDDED
2 EGGS
1 or more TEASPOONS EACH OF CUMIN, CAYEENE,DILL, GARLIC POWDER
3 TEASPOONS DIJON MUSTARD
2 CUPS BREAD CRUMBS

Chop and sauté onions, mushrooms & peppers. Combine all ingredientsand make patties. Grease pan and bake at 350º for 20 minutes. Flip. Bake 10 more minutes. Great done on the barbeque or fried. Good with barbeque sauce. Freezes well.

(Add the spices to the veggies as you fry them - gives better distribution.
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You know you've had that carton of eggs in your fridge for weeks (or maybe months). Are the eggs still safe to eat? How about the jars of capers or marmalade that you bought for that recipe and haven't used yet? http://www.stilltasty.com is a website devoted to answering the question: Save it or toss it? It provides shelf life info for thousands of foods, answers questions, and provides info on topics related to food safety.
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More real celebrity names:

Billy Idol -- William Board
Marty Ingels -- Martin Ingerman
Burl Ives -- Burle Icle Ivanhoe
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Firefly Watch is recruiting volunteers to devote just 10 minutes each week to monitor firefly numbers in their back yard. Details and instructions are available at https://www.mos.org/fireflywatch/
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The unusual town names list is mighty short this week...

Papa, Hawaii
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Did you know? Though Hawaiians use the word "aloha" for both "hello" and "goodbye", the literal traslation is "love".
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello everyone from Phyllis!

June is almost done, and we'll be celebrating the 4th of July soon. Typically on the 4th of July, we go see fireworks or cook out on the grill.
The 4th of July is the anniversary of the day when the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence, in 1776. Independence Day was made an official holiday in 1783. In 1941, Congress declared it a federal holiday.
Here is a list of the ten best places in America to go watch fireworks:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8379793/
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July 1
The first adhesive postage stamp was offered for sale in 1847.
The United States Post Office started using 4 digit zip codes in 1963.

July 2
Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in 1937.

July 3
Congress created the United States Veterans Administration in 1930.
Singer Jim Morrisson of the Doors died at the age of 27 in 1971.

July 4
Thomas Jefferson died in 1826.

July 5
The first bikini was debuted in Paris in 1946.

July 6
Louis Pasteur successfully tested an anti-rabies vaccine in 1885.

July 7
Readers Digest was founded in 1922.

July 8
Florentz Ziegfeld introduced his "follies" in 1907.

July 9
Louisiana and South Carolina were re-admitted to the Union in 1868.

July 10
Wyoming was the 44th state to enter the Union in 1890.

July 11
President John Quincy Adams was born in 1767.

July 12
Congress authorized the Medal of Honor in 1862.

July 13
Alabama was re-admitted to the Union in 1868.

July 14
Billy the Kid was shot by Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881.
President Gerald Ford was born in 1913.

July 15
Georgia was re-admitted to the Union in 1870.
Billy the Kid died at the age of 21 in 1881.
The Boeing Company began in Seattle Washington in 1916.
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The ruby is the birthstone for July.
The water lily is the flower of the month.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's a great use for all that junk mail you get...make paper beads with your kids!

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Paper-Beads
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Memory Lane
Do you remember drive in movie theaters? The first drive in movie theater was opened in 1933 in Camden, NJ. Drive in movie theaters peaked in popularity in the 50's and 60's with over 4,000 theaters in the U.S. But in the 80's with the cost of land rising and the popularity of VCR's, many drive ins started to close, until there were less than 750 left by the mid 90's.
For some reason, the decline of drive in movie theaters has stopped. Here are a couple of cool websites to tell you more about the history of drive in theaters, and to tell you if there are still any open in your area.

http://www.driveinmovie.com/mainmenu.htm

http://www.driveintheater.com/
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Alternative drive in theaters:

http://mobmov.org/
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Smiling is contagious, you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around a corner, and someone saw my grin,
When he smiled I realized I'd passed it onto him.

I thought about that smile, then realized its worth,
A single smile, just like mine, could travel round the Earth.
So if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected -
Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Save money when dining out with your kids-
http://www.frugalliving.tv/free-stuff/kids-eat-free.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Legacy Locker
This site isn't free, but its worth checking out.
http://legacylocker.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spring and summer can bring unpredictable weather. From severe thunderstorms, flash floods, hurricanes and tornadoes, the weather can be dangerous. Here are some tips to get you through weather emergencies;

BUILD A PREPAREDNESS KIT:
Include at least one flashlight for each family member.
Also include a battery operated lantern for lighting bigger areas.
Include a battery operated radio.
Don't forget to include extra batteries in all sizes.
Remember to add specialty batteries for things like hearing aids, glucose monitors, etc.
When you 'spring forward' each year, take the time to check the batteries in your preparedness kit. (This is also a good time to check the batteries in your homes smoke alarms.)
Be sure to put your kit in a place that is easily accessable.

DEVELOP A PLAN:
Locate the safest places in your house to go to in the event of a disaster. But remember that some times your safest place might not be at home, but somewhere else in your community.
Determine escape routes from your home, and places to meet.

PROTECT YOUR HOME:
There are 4 critical areas to reinforce and protect; roof, shutters, doors and garage doors.
Make trees more wind resistant by removing damaged limgs that could post a threat to your property during a storm.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO HAVE FOR AN EMERGENCY:
Water; FEMA says each person should have a supply of one gallon of water per day for 3 days.
Food; enough to last 3 to 7 days.
Non-electric can opener; so you can open your food when the power is out.
Paper plates and plastic utensils.
Blankets and pillows.
First aid kit, including your prescriptions.
Pet care items.

For more safety tips, visit
http://www.energizer.com/preparedness/Default.aspx
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A website for gardeners, with fun things for kids each month:
http://gardeningtips.org/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Awe inspiring views of earth from space:
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/20-amazing-images-of-earth-as-seen-from-space/12526
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Easy Meatball Casserole

18 oz package of frozen meatballs, thawed
16 oz package frozen peppers and onion mix, thawed
2 cups chunky pasta sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine meatballs, peppers and onions mix and pasta sauce in a 2 quart glass casserole, and mix well to combine.
Top with cheeses.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until casserole is bubbling and cheese has melted.

Makes 6 servings.
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To find out when your favorite singers or bands will be touring your area, go to:

http://www.songkick.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just for fun:

http://lsdex.ru/interactive-psychedelic/interactive-kaleidoscope/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's a site where you can enter various sweepstakes:

http://www.prizey.net/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cool Pick for kids:
This weeks Cool Pick website is

http://funschool.kaboose.com/index.html
This site is just chock full of activities for kids, ranging in ages from preschool to middle school! From games to downloadable coloring pages, there is sure to be something that your child will like. So the next time your son or daughter complains of being bored, send them to FunSchool!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For weather buffs, here's a site that will show you the lightning strikes within the U.S. within the last hour.

http://www.strikestarus.com/

06.09.2009

2009-06-09T00:15:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone! I know by the calendar summer hasn't arrived yet, but as far as I'm concerned, it's summer now! I'm lovin it! So let me share what I have so we can all get back outside and soak in some rays! ~Toni
==========================================================

West Virginia Day celebrates West Virginia’s admission to the United States of America on June 20, 1863. Although observed unofficially since 1863, the anniversary of statehood became an official state holiday in 1927. If June 20 falls on a Sunday, West Virginia Day is observed on Monday June 21.

West Virginia's early history from 1609 until 1863 is largely shared with Virginia, of which it was a part until Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861. The delegates of the 40 western counties opposed secession and formed their own government, which was granted statehood in 1863 as West Virginia.

Celebrations in honor of the holiday include games, barbecues, concerts, art festivals, historic displays, exhibitions, guided tours, and reenactments of Civil War battles. Most state offices, schools, and libraries are closed for the holiday.
*******************************************

~Marie's Laughter~

There's this little guy sitting inside a bar, just looking at his drink. He stays like that for half-an-hour.Then, this big trouble-making truck driver steps next to him, takes the drink from the guy, and just drinks it all down.The poor man starts crying. The truck driver says: "Come on man, I was just joking. Here, I'll buy you another drink. I just can't see a man crying." "No, it's not that. Today day is the worst of my life. First, I overslept and was late to an important meeting. My boss, outrageous, fired me. When I left the building to my car, I found out it was stolen. The police, they said they could do nothing. I got a cab to return home, and after I paid the cab driver and the cab had gone, I found that I left my whole wallet in the cab. I got home only to find my wife was in bed with the gardener. I left home and came to this bar. And when I was thinking about putting an end to my life, you show up and drink my poison ..."
*******************************************

Being on dial up I have not actually checked this site out, so I'm hoping it's helpful and fun. You can watch DIY and instructional videos here for a wide array of topics. http://www.5min.com/
*****************************************

~Tips from Cheryl~

Lawn Mower Safety Getting ready for summer lawn care? Be aware of the following: Do not disconnect safety controls; they are there to protect you. And don't add fuel to the mower when it's running or if the engine is still hot. Always be mindful of the fact that gas and gas fumes are extremely flammable.

Pretty Way to Serve Melon Don't just slice honeydew or cantaloupe or watermelon as you normally do. Instead scoop out with a melon baller or ice cream scoop and make an attractive pile of melon balls.

Computer Keyboard Dirty Crumbs and dust in your keyboard? To remove, unplug and turn keyboard upside down over a trashcan and gently shake out all the crud that's stuck in and around the keys. Then wipe off keys with a lightly damp microfiber cloth (don't over-wet because you don't want liquid dripping into the keys).

Keep Cheap Paper Plates Handy They can be used in so many ways: as a dustpan, cutting board, throwaway spoon rest. In the microwave, they can serve as a spill-catcher or put over top of food to avoid splatters.

=Cheryl says this tip is not a favorite of hers, but she's sharing just in case this would be something you would like...=

Have a Bit of Jam or Jelly Left? When you're reached the end of the jar and there's just small amount of jam or jelly remaining, don't throw it out. Instead make a fruity shake. Add milk, shake well and pour into glass.
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Head here and you can set up a text number and description for anything you're selling--free of charge. Just post the text message number on your For Sale sign and those interested can dial to instantly get detailed info about what you're selling, including price, description, photos, and contact info. http://www.forsalebytxt.com/
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In our continuing series of the Preambles of the 50 states:

-Hawaii 1959, We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution.
-Idaho 1889, We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.
-Illinois 1870, We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
-Indiana 1851, We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.
-Iowa 1857, We, the People of the St ate of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.
-Kansas 1859, We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
-Kentucky 1891, We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties...
-Louisiana 1921, We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.
-Maine 1820, We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity ... And imploring His aid and direction...
-Maryland 1776, We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...
*******************************************

Looking for financial help? Whether you're thinking of starting a small business, going back to school or putting your child in daycare, you may qualify for a loan, scholarship or grant from the government. Just log on to http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal and fill out a short questionnaire, then you'll be pointed to all the federal and state programs that can help you reach your goal.
********************************************

Carol sent us these tips:
Removing ink from clothing: Sometimes this happens to us. You're writing something and your pen drops and you get a stain on your favorite shirt. Well, simply use hairspray. Spray it on and really saturate the area. Then blot it with either a paper towel or a cloth. Don't rub it. Just press really hard. Rubbing will only spread the stain. But just by pressing hard, see how the ink is already starting to get removed. Then just throw it in the wash and wash as you normally would.

Removing ink from the walls: Well, what you can do for that is also use a handy bottle of hairspray. Spray it on and wipe it right off. And what if one's fingers "do the walking" on your phone with a pen. Or a permanent marker. Look what happens when you use rubbing alcohol. Rub it around with a paper towel or cloth and it comes right off.

Baking soda can be used for so many things around the house. One thing I love to use it on is extra greasy pots and pans. For a really tough job, simply put a tablespoon of baking soda in with your regular dishwashing soap, And then go ahead and "scrub away". You'll notice how fast it cuts the grease. The next time you have a nasty bug bite, simply wet the bite a little bit, dab on some baking soda (rub it around, making a paste) and it will help relieve the itching.

You usually find baby oil in, well, a baby's room. But, you know, you can use it all throughout your house--including the garage! The next time you're painting and you get paint all over your arm, simply use some baby oil and it'll come right off. It's a lot better than using your fingernails or some abrasive to "scrape" it off. Plus, it makes your skin feel smooth and it smells a lot better than turpentine. You can also use baby oil to remove tree sap from your hands if you're out in the yard working on your trees or even when you bring in your Christmas tree. Put on some baby oil and rub it around, And, ah, that "stickiness" is totally gone. Wash off your hands and you're "good to go". Baby oil also works well as an insect repellant and it smells a lot less much less harsh. Finally, if you get gum stuck in hair, put a little baby oil around the area and it'll come right out.
*************************************

Sign up here to get e-mail alerts any time a warning is issued for any medication you take.
https://www.consumermedsafety.org/medsafetyalert.asp
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This week we're learning about New Jersey:
--New Jersey has the highest population density in the U.S. An average 1,030 people per sq. mi., which is 13 times the national average.
--In November of 1914, the New York Tribune, cooperating with Mr. Bertram Chapman Mayo (founder of Beachwood) issued an "Extra" announcing: "Subscribe to the New York Tribune and secure a lot at Beautiful Beachwood. Act at once, secure your lot in this Summer Paradise now!" This was the greatest premium offered by a newspaper - nothing equal to it was ever attempted in the United States.
--In order to meet the increasing demand for his wire rope John Roebling opened a factory in Trenton, New Jersey in 1848. John Roebling, along with his two sons, Washington and Ferdinand, built a suspension bridge across the gorge of the Niagara River. They then built the Brooklyn Bridge plus many other suspension bridges in the United States.
--North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world with seven major shopping malls in a 25 sq. mile radius.
--Passaic river was the site to the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.
--New Jersey is a leading industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation.
--The light bulb, phonograph (record player), motion picture projector were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park laboratory.
--Atlantic City is where the street names came from for the game Monopoly.
--Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world.
--New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries. --New Jersey has the tallest water tower in the world.
--The first tin-foil phonograph developed by Thomas Edison was crude, but it proved his point-- that sound could be recorded and played back. Thomas Edison had phonograph demonstrations and became world-renowned as the "Wizard of Menlo Park" for this invention.
--The first baseball game was played in Hoboken.
--The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick, in 1869. Rutgers College played Princeton. Rutgers won.
--The first Drive-In Movie theatre was opened in Camden.
--New Jersey has 108 toxic waste dumps. Which is the most in any one state in the nation.
--New Jersey has a spoon museum featuring over 5,400 spoons from every state and almost every country.
--Origin of name: From the Channel Isle of Jersey.
--In 1977, New Jersey voters approved legislation allowing legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City.
--Modern paleontology, the science of studying dinosaur fossils, began in 1858 with the discovery of the first nearly complete skeleton of a dinosaur in Haddonfield, New Jersey.
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Heading to the beach this summer? Check the water safety here to keep from getting sick.
http://iaspub.epa.gov/waters10/beacon_national_page.main
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New stamp release June 11

Anna Julia Cooper (Black Heritage)
As the 32nd inductee into the Black Heritage series, the Postal Service honors Anna Julia Cooper (c.1858-1964), an educator, scholar, feminist and activist who gave voice to the African-American community during the 19th and 20th centuries — from the end of slavery to the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. The stamp features a portrait of Cooper created by Kadir Nelson, who based his painting on an undated photograph. Nelson worked under the direction of art director Ethel Kessler.
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Heading for the beach? You know you'll have sticky sand all over you, but what to do? Bring along some baby powder and sprinkle on sandy feet and legs just before heading home. Sand will brush off like magic.
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Make cut flowers last longer by putting them in 1 quart of lukewarm water with 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon bleach and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. This mixture balances the water's pH and kills bacteria.
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John and I used to use a lot of paper napkins. I knew using cloth napkins would save money, but all the napkins I'd see seemed rather pricey to me which seemed to defeat the whole purpose. And then it dawned on me to buy some plain white men's handkerchiefs. I got a pack of 13 for less than $4. And best of all, they're white so I can toss them in with other whites that I'm using bleach in and keep them nice and sanitary.
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Carol sent me a story about a place called the Shoe House located near York PA. You can see picture of this cool structure at http://www.jarrettsville.org/family/shoehouse.htm Also you can read about "Colonel" Mahlon N. Haines, known as the Shoe Wizard of York, who had the Shoe House built. Thanks for sending this to me Carol! I really enjoyed the pictures and the history behind it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello everyone! I hope the month of June has gotten off to a great start for you! I'm really enjoying the weather...it still hasn't gotten TOO hot here yet! Well, I have lots of websites, a recipe and other things to share with you so lets get right to it. ~Phyllis
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Coming in June...
The start of the Atlantic Hurricane season was June 1st
http://www.floridasmart.com/sciencenature/weather/hurricanes.htm

June 14 is Flag Day

Fathers Day is June 21st, which is also the first day of Summer.
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For a trip down Memory Lane, take a look at
http://www.wishbookweb.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's a site to help you save a little money!
http://www.groceryshrink.com/index.html
The Grocery Shrink is a site where you can sign up for a free weekly newsletter full of money saving tips, recipes and more. When you sign up, you'll get an email with recipes to make your own cleaning products. Not only do these cleaning products save you money, they're also eco friendly!
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A funny site that shows you out dated books still on some public library shelves:

http://awfullibrarybooks.wordpress.com/
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Toothpaste...its not just for brushing your teeth with! Here are a few more uses for toothpaste that you might not have thought of:

1. It cleans the white rubber part of your tennis shoes. Paste (not gel) works best. Just get an old toothbrush, apply some toothpaste and scrub the rubber part of the shoe. Then use a damp cloth to get the toothpaste off and your sneakers will look almost as good as new.

2. Is your iron gunked up? Non-gel toothpaste contains a very mild abrasive. Apply it to a cool iron and scrub with a washcloth, then use another cloth with a bit of water to rinse it off.

3. And if that diamond ring don't shine....use toothpaste! Use an old toothbrush and a little bit of toothpaste to make the ring sparkle again. Clean off the residue with a damp cloth.

4. Ewww...smelly baby bottle? Toothpaste can deodorize it. Just put a bit on the baby bottle brush, and scrub. Be sure to rinse well to get all toothpaste residue out.

5. Hang posters on the wall. Just put a little dab on each corner of the poster and a little dab here and there in between. Your poster will stick to the wall, and when you want to remove it there won't be any nail holes.

6. Speaking of nail holes...toothpaste can take care of those too! Just put a little toothpaste in the hole and let it dry. Then you can paint right over it.

Got any other uses for toothpaste to share? Send them to me and I'll put them in the next issue of the newsletter.
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Online white noise generator:
http://simplynoise.com/
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COOL PICK
.
This weeks Cool Pick website is

http://www.geocaching.com/
Geocaching (pronounced "geo-cashing") is "a high tech treasure hunting game." It is played all around the world by people with GPS devices. After you sign up and register for a free membership, you can search for hidden geocaches and then talk about it online with other treasure hunters, or even place your own geocache to be found. Geocaching is a great way to spend time together as a family, so check out the website to find all the information you'll need to get started.
_________________________________________
If you're planning a trip by bus, find the lowest rate at:

http://busjunction.com/
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Fun for kids
National Geographic has a website with lots of fun & educational things for kids such as the Wildlife Film Maker! Kids can make their own wildlife mini-film to share with their friends.
http://animals.nationalgeographic..com/animals/article/filmmaker.html
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Crockpot Sweet Potato Chili

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 can (14.5 oz) tomatoes
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp chipotle chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice (if you don't have orange juice in the house, you can use another 1/2 cup water instead.)

Peel and cut up the sweet potato and put it in the crockpot.
Add onion, red pepper, tomatoes, garlic and seasonings. Pour in orange juice and water.
Cover and cook on low for about 6 to 8 hours.
Makes 4 servings.
ENJOY!
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Lots to read at

http://www.allyoucanread.com/
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If you're a fan of old radio shows, this site is for you:
http://www.radiolovers.com/
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I'm sure this has happened to almost everyone...you go to a movie and halfway through, you need to visit the restroom! But you don't want to miss anything. Here's a website to tell you when is the best time in the movie to make that quick bathroom trip!

http://runpee.com/#app=3e1a&e1bd-RunPeeID=0.0.0&b35-selectedIndex=0
So the next time you plan a trip to the movies, check out "Runpee" first just in case!
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Amusement Park Safety Tips

This is the time of year when most people go to amusement parks, so I thought I would include some safety tips in this issue of the newsletter.

1. Dress your kids in colorful, distinctive clothing. This will make it easier for you to not only keep track of them, but also make it easier to describe them should they get lost.
2. Designate a place to meet if you get separated. Pick something that can be seen from any point of the amusement park, such as a ferris wheel. Also, as soon as you enter the park, point out the park employees to your child and have them make note of what they are wearing. That way, if your child gets lost, he or she will know who to go to for help.
3. Don't forget the sun screen! And be sure to drink plenty of water so you don't get dehydrated.
4. Stay away from restricted areas. They are restricted for good reason! In August 2008, a man was hit by a roller coaster and killed after he went into a restricted area to get his hat which had blown off while he was riding the coaster. (Source; http://www.rideaccidents.com/
5. Pay attention to the warnings posted at each ride. These warnings are there to protect you. Usually they say the ride is not recommended for people under or over a certain height, or with certain conditions such as heart problems.
6. Sit properly in the seat of each ride. Keep your hands and legs inside the ride. Don't crowd people who are getting off the ride. If you are on a roller coaster with no floor, let your legs dangle. Don't kick them out in front of you or to the side.
7. If you see something wrong, like a broken restraint, alert a park employee right away.
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If you are losing weight and want to calculate your weight loss percentage, just go to

http://www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/calculate-weight-loss-percentage.html
and fill in your starting weight and your current weight.
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Just for fun!
http://www.dialsongs.com/

05.26.2009

2009-05-26T00:45:00.003-04:00

Hello one and all. I hope I'll get this sent out on time, but am having internet connection troubles. Our latest thing here is that when it rains my phone line is getting wet and that messes up my connection since I'm still on dial up. Now the phone company tells me that the problem area can only be found when I'm actually having the problem...but anytime I call them when I'm having the problem they tell me they can't get anyone sent out then. You gotta love Verizon customer service. Well luckily I have better things to talk about than my phone service. :)

For the benefit of our new subscribers, at the bottom you'll find a website where I have archived all the old newsletter issues. Also if you have anything at all you want to share (tips, recipes, book reviews, new products reviews, etc.), send it to me or Phyllis and we'll get it in the next issue. Until next time...~Toni

----------------------------------------------

~Tips from Cheryl~

Shining Stainless Steel Sinks Try this shortcut: Pour several drops of mineral or baby oil onto a sponge or paper towel and then wipe down the sink. Spots will disappear and the sink will shine.

Jazz Up Plain Yogurt You can make it more interesting (and save money) by adding tasty items from your refrigerator or the pantry: fruit cocktail or fresh fruit, crunch cereal, jam or jelly or even chocolate chips.

Difference Between Sanitizers and Disinfectants? Sanitizers must reduce microorganisms on a surface by 99.9 percent. Disinfectants must kill all the organisms listed on the label; this includes viruses, bacteria and fungi (but not hair spores).
____________________________________

Houseplants are more than just decorative. If you get the right plant, it will do double duty, improving the air quality in your home by absorbing dangerous toxins. Best bets: philodendrons, green spider plants, palms, ferns, English ivy and dracaenas.
___________________________________

Prevent freezer burn by pressing plastic wrap onto the surface of your ice cream before putting the lid back on. This protects against frost.
___________________________________

New Stamp Issue

Bob Hope (1903-2003) returns to a “stamping ovation” May 29 on the USS Midway in San Diego when the Postal Service issues a stamp in his likeness on what would have been his 106th birthday. Kazuhiko Sano of Mill Valley, CA, worked under the direction of art director Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, to create the stamp image that is based on a photograph of Hope.

Hope devoted his life to making people laugh. He is most known for his unwavering commitment — from World War II through Operation Desert Storm — to supporting morale by entertaining military personnel serving overseas. He had a top rated television show on NBC, and also found success on the live stage, in radio shows and in motion pictures. He became one of the most honored and beloved performers of the 20th century.

Although Hope never officially served in the U.S. Armed Forces, he dedicated a significant part of his life to entertaining America’s men and women in uniform, starting in 1941 and continuing through the Persian Gulf War five decades later. After giving hundreds of performances overseas, he earned the nickname “G.I. Bob” and in 1997 became the first person recognized by the U.S. Congress as an “honorary veteran of the United States Armed Forces.”

Hope’s thousands of honors also included the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among his many friends were several U.S. presidents, with whom he often played golf for charity. Bob Hope died at his home in Toluca Lake, CA, on July 27, 2003, two months after his 100th birthday.
_________________________________________

~Marie's Laughter~

Leroy and L'Quiesha go to a revival and listen to the preacher. After awhile the preacher asks anyone with needs to be prayed over to come forward to the front at the altar. Leroy gets in line, and when it's his turn, the preacher asks: 'Leroy, what do you want me to pray about for you.'Leroy replies: 'Preacher, I need you to pray for my hearing.' The preacher puts one finger in Leroy's ear, and he places the other hand on top of Leroy's head and prays and prays and prays, he prays a blue streak for Leroy. After a few minutes, the preacher removes his hands, stands back and asks, 'Leroy , how is your hearing now?' Leroy says, 'I don't know, Reverend, it ain't till next Wednesday!
_____________________________________

~from Sharon~

Ronald McDonald Houses also take old cell phones, and soda cans, and if you can pull the tabs off of them and bag them seperately it saves the volunteers a lot of time. It's a great way to help and out support families that stay at their homes around the nation. They also take the little soaps and shampoos you get at hotels, so save those and drop them by any RMH... When my son, Austin had his accident, I stayed there for 4 months and those items were so appreciated. After we left I started donating the items listed above and even had our apartment complex save soda tabs. The kids were given treats for every 100 they brought in and then we put their names in a drawing when we were going to deliver the tabs for prizes.
____________________________________

~from Mary Lou~

A six year old goes to the hospital with her grandmother to visit her Grandpa. When they get to the hospital, she runs ahead of her Grandma and bursts into her Grandpa's room...
"Grandpa, Grandpa," she says excitedly, "As soon as Grandma comes into the room, make a noise like a frog!"
"What?" said her Grandpa.
"Make a noise like a frog, because Granda said that as soon as you croak, we're all going to Disneyland!!"
____________________________________

~from Carol~

I have yet another way used cell phones are helpful to others. When my daughter and I were in a shelter, all the residents were given a cell phone. I had been told that the 911 feature work on all cell phones, regardless of having a calling plan etc. Therefore when anyone who has been in a domestic violence situation will have a phone to be able to get help 24/7.

If anyone has an old cell phone, take it to the cell phone provider and tell them you wish for it to go to the women's shelter. They will service the phone and get to the local shelter. If you have chargers for the phone, be sure to donate those also. The worst thing that a victim needs is a cell phone that dies when they need it most.
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Use the freezer...If you don’t have enough food to fill your deep freezer, start saving your milk jugs right now. As they empty, rinse them out, fill them up with water (up to about an inch below the top, then cap them and stick them in the freezer).

Why do this, you might ask? It’s simple. Once the new items have been cooled down to the temperature of the freezer, they will help maintain the cold temperature of your freezer. In short, your freezer will run less often, and it won’t lose nearly as much cold when you open the door.

Even more important, during a power outage, a full freezer will warm up much slower than a partially full one. The items you stored in there will act as cold sinks, keeping all of the frozen food colder for longer than if the freezer was empty.

Even better, those frozen gallon jugs make for great ice packs for coolers. Just pull one out, split it open, and use it for ice when you need it. Also, you can grab a jug to take along on an outing as it makes an excellent source of drinking water.
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Regina sent me an email containing the Preamble for all of our United States. It's really interesting and also rather long, so I'm going to break it up into several issues:

Alabama 1901, We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution...

Alaska 1956, We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land....

Arizona 1911, We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

Arkansas 1874, We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...

California 1879, We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...

Colorado 1876, We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe....

Connecticut 1818, The People of Connecticut , acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy...

Delaware 1897, Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences...

Florida 1885, We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...

Georgia 1777, We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.....
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This site will help you try to figure out who is calling when your Caller ID comes up "Unavailable", "Private Name", etc. For example today I had a call from a number I didn't recognize and they left a message saying "I need to speak to Toni (last name) please". I did a reverse search on the number and all I came up with was it was a land line call from Denver CO. I went to this site and entered the number and reaped the benefits of other people's experience when they answered calls from this number. It still doesn't stop the annoying calls, but it does allow us to know that it is a telemarketer so we don't worry when we don't answer.http://whocalled.us/
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All the best Amazon deals in one place... http://www.junglecrazy.com/
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~New Hampshire~

--Of the thirteen original colonies, New Hampshire was the first to declare its independence from Mother England; a full six months before the Declaration of Independence was signed.
--The highest wind speed recorded at ground level is at Mt. Washington, on April 12, 1934. The winds were three times as fast as those in most hurricanes. http://www.mountwashington.org/about/visitor/recordwind.php
--New Hampshire is the only state that ever played host at the formal conclusion of a foreign war. In 1905, Portsmouth was the scene of the treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War.
--The first potato planted in the United States was at Londonderry Common Field in 1719.
--Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr., the first American to travel in space is from East Derry, New Hampshire.
--Daniel Webster was a politician and statesman, born at Franklin in 1782. He was known in his day as a mighty orator, a reputation preserved in the Stephen Vincent Benet story The Devil and Daniel Webster, in which he beats the original lawyer, Lucifer, in a contract case over a man’s soul.
--New Hampshire’s State House is the oldest state capitol in which a legislature still meets in its original chambers.
--Alexandria was the birthplace of Luther C. Ladd, the first enlisted soldier to lose his life in the Civil War.
--The very first motorized ascent of the Mount Washington auto road was by Feelan O. Stanley, of Stanley Steamer fame, in 1899.
--The first free public library in the United States was established at Peterborough in 1833.
--The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord is a state-of-the art planetarium dedicated to the memory of New Hampshire teacher Christa McAuliffe, who died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
--As leaders in the revolutionary cause, New Hampshire delegates received the honor of being the first to vote for the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
--Sarah Josepha Hale author and journalist who wrote the poem "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in 1830 is from Newport, New Hampshire.
--The Blue Ghost of Wolfeboro is the U.S. Mail Boat for Lake Winnipesaukee. It makes a daily 60-mile loop delivering mail to 30 stops at camps and islands around the lake.
--The USS Albacore was a prototype submarine built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and commissioned in 1953. At the time she was the fastest submarine ever designed.
--The granite profile "Old Man of the Mountain" is one of the most famous natural landmarks in the state. The Old Man’s head measures 40 feet from chin to forehead and is made up of five ledges. Nature carved this profile thousands of years ago. The natural sculpture is 1,200 feet above Echo Lake. http://mutha.com/oldmanmountain.jpg
--It takes approximately 40 gallons of sap to make approximately 1 gallon of maple syrup.
--Captain John Smith named New Hampshire after the town of Hampshire, England.
--New Hampshire has a changeable climate, with wide variations in daily and seasonal temperatures. The variations are affected by proximity to the ocean, mountains, lakes or rivers. The state enjoys all four seasons. Summers are short and cool; winters are long and cold; fall is glorious with foliage. The weather station on Mount Washington has recorded some of the coldest temperatures and strongest winds in the continental United States.
--New Castle is the smallest town in New Hampshire. It covers .8 square miles, or 512 acres. The town is composed of one large island and several smaller islands, and serves as a scenic residential and recreational community.
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What Toni is reading...

A Nest of Sparrows by Deborah Raney

Reserved contractor Wade Sullivan never expected to fall in love with Starr Parnell or to love her three small kids as if they were his own. But that's exactly what happened. As their wedding draws near, however, tragedy strikes--and Wade must put aside his own grief in order to help Starr's children cope.

As Wade focuses his efforts on caring for the children, he discovers that their tender, young lives give tremendous meaning to his own broken one. Then Starr's abusive ex-husband shows up to claim the offspring who barely remember him--and Wade prepares for the fight of his life.

A powerful novel of loss and discovery, courage and grace, A Nest of Sparrows masterfully illustrates one man's struggle to know when to fight, when to let go and when to simply wait.
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Here's a site that will direct you how to send expired coupons to be used by military families at overseas bases.http://www.ocpnet.org/
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Check out your ceiling fan and make sure it's not inadvertently heating up your home. The blades are at an angle: During summer, they should rotate counterclockwise, blowing air down to cool you. In winter, they should go clockwise, circulating hot air in the room.
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Search the USA for free attractions and things to do.
http://www.free-attractions.com/
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here we are at the end of May. I hope it was a great month for everyone! Now June is almost upon us. ~Phyllis

Flag Day is observed on June 14. Flag Day commemorates the day when the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the USA's official flag. Back then it had only 13 stars, along with the 13 stripes it still has today. There are seven red stripes and 6 red stripes, which represent the original 13 colonies. Flag Day is not an official holiday but it is a legal holiday in Pennsylvania.

Finland and Sweden also have a Flag Day. Finland celebrates theirs on June 24 and Sweden celebrates it on June 6.
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June Bug is the name for several large beetles seen in the USA during the months of May and June.. They feed on the young leaves of trees and plants. They bury their eggs in the ground. The young larvae then bury themselves into the soil in the fall and remain there for two years before coming out in May or June as adult beetles.
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June's birthstone is the pearl. The flower is rose.
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HEALTHY LIVING
When trying to lose weight, many people eat more salad..which is good but can also be bad! If you're not careful, your salad could have more calories than a Big Mac! Here are some tips for a healthy, nutritious and low calorie salad.

1. Avoid "white" foods which are usually made with sour cream or mayonaise and can be fattening. Foods to avoid or to eat sparingly include pasta salad, potato salad and chicken salad.. Remember, just because it has the word "salad" in it or is on the salad bar doesn't mean its low cal. (A taco salad from Taco Bell has 420 calories, and thats without the shell! If you do eat the shell, you'll have 850 calories and 48 grams of fat.)
2.Remember that the darker the lettuce, the more nutrients it has. Lighter colored lettuce such as iceburg lettuce doesn't have as many nutrients and is made mostly of water.
3. Add plenty of vegetables to your salad but avoid veggies that are in oil or cream sauces.
4. Go easy on the crunchy toppings such as bacon bits, croutons, chinese noodles, sunflower seeds, banana chips, etc. Just one or two teaspoons of these can add up to 100 calories to your salad.
5. You'll want protein for your salad, but remember that one ounce of shredded cheese can have up to 150 calories and 9 grams of fat. Instead of getting your protein from cheese, why not add egg whites or turkey?
6. Be careful about the salad dressing. Two tablespoons can have as much as 150 calories. Try a vinegarette, or if you must have ranch or honey mustard, keep it on the side and dip your fork in it for each bite.
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Take a trip down Memory Lane! How many of these cereals do you remember?
http://www.yesbutnobutyes.com/archives/2009/04/ten_cereals_you_1.html
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Did you know?...
The rainforest is being destroyed at a rate of one and a half acres every second!
(Source; http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm )
One way you can help to have new trees planted is to use the Ecocho search engine. Ecocho is totally free, and for every 1000 searches that are made on the site, five trees will be planted. The search results come directly from Yahoo.
http://www.ecocho.com.au/

Another site to help get trees planted is
http://jogogreen.com/
Jogogreen is similar to Free Rice in that you play a game to do a good deed! At Jogogreen, simply answer 10 questions correctly and they will plant one tree in a deforested area of Africa.
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If you're looking to save paper and ink with your next printing job, check out
http://www.printwhatyoulike.com/
Follow the instructions to cut down on ads and other junk on the pages you wish to print. Print only the parts you want!
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Forgotten Chicken
This is an easy crock pot dinner recipe;

6 lbs boneless , skinless chicken breasts
2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
2 small cans mushroom pieces and stems, drained
6 carrots, cut into bite sized pieces

Place half of the carrots on the bottom of your crock pot. Then add chicken, soup, mushrooms and remaining carrots. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook on LOW for 8 to ten hours. Serve over rice.
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Just for fun!

http://www.stretchyourface.com/
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Here's a website for "teens and tweens"...
http://www.piperspicks.tv/
Piper is a "kid entertainment reporter" , and she talks about movies, teen celebrities, TV shows and even theme parks. There's a message board, too.
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Tips for spotting counterfeit money;

http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-spot-counterfeit-money
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If you're going on a vacation this year and are on a budget, why not go on a factory tour? Its a free way to spend an hour or two. To find a factory tour anywhere in America, click on;
http://factorytoursusa.com/
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COOL PICK

This weeks Cool Pick website is all about eating healthy. Eat Better America is a site full of recipes, articles about diet and nutrition, fitness tips and a community message board where you can connect and talk to other people who care about being healthy. Check it out at;
http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/
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Sneaky, sneaky....
If you want to tell someone something on their phone but you don't want to text them or actually talk to them, how about "slydialing" them? At slydial you can find out how to call someone and go directly to their voice mail!
http://www.slydial.com/
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If your life was a movie, what part would you be in now? Find out at
http://www.amberdigital.com/where/
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Creative fun for kids, using salt! (Some parental supervision required.)
http://home.howstuffworks.com/uses-for-salt-childrens-activities-ga.htm
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New uses for things you already have!

1. If you have a jar lid that won't budge, wrap a rubber band around the lid. It will give you a better grip and make it easier to open the jar.
2. When using a roll of tape, wrap the end around the toothpick. That way, the next time you need to use the tape it will be easier to find the end.
3. Here's a tip I learned from my Grandma...when sewing on a button, put a toothpick between the fabric and the button. It will give you just enough space so that you don't sew the button on too close the to fabric, which makes it harder to fasten.
4. If you drop an egg on the floor and it breaks, just pour salt over it. It makes it easer to wipe up.
5. Use the sticky part of a post it note to clean your computer's keyboard. Just run the sticky part between the keys to pick up crumbs and lint.

If you have any new uses for things around the house, send them to me and I'll use them in a future issue of the newsletter.

05.12.2009

2009-05-12T01:12:00.002-04:00

Hello once again. Here it is practically mid-May, and we are still having April showers. This has to be one of the wettest springs I can remember. I was beginning to worry about veggie and flower seeds we planted, but one lone day of sunshine had all their little heads popping through the earth. It is so good to be tending to living things instead of shoveling snow!! :)

We have new subscribers once again this week--welcome aboard. There is a link at the bottom to the website where I have past issues archived if you'd want to check out past issues.

Until next time... ~Toni
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Good news: Marie's surgery went well and she's recovering nicely!!

~Marie's Laughter~

A new nurse at a hospital was perplexed by Dr. Smith’s behavior. Off and on throughout her shift Dr. Smith would run up and down the hallway, yelling, “Tetanus, measles, flu”! Very curious, the nurse asked the head nurse, “Why does Dr. Smith keep doing that?” “Oh, just ignore him,” the head nurse said. ”He thinks he calls all the shots around here.”
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It's time to give up your old pasta and try something new...

As delicious as traditional semolina pasta is, it doesn't pack the fiber punch of whole wheat or multigrain varieties, which provide 5 to 7 grams of fiber per serving (2 ounces, uncooked), compared with regular pasta's 2 grams. Either can make a great substitute--it just depends on what you're preparing: The nutty flavor of whole wheat pasta pairs nicely with garlicky greens and simple tomato- or vegetable-based sauces, while the milder taste of multigrain pasta marries well with tomato-based meat and fish sauces.

When shopping, look for "whole grain" or "whole wheat" on the packaging and the Whole Grain Council's stamp on the label (tomato and spinach pastas don't count as whole grain). The ingredients should include whole wheat, oats, and/or flax seed. Store these pastas as you would the regular kind--in a dry place at a cool room temperature. But note that their extra bran can cause them to go rancid faster than semolina pastas, so shop where there's a high product turnover and use within six months of purchase.
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Nevada

--Nevada takes its name from a Spanish word meaning snow-clad.
--The Reno Ice Pavilion is a 16,000-square-foot rink once dismantled and moved to Reno from Atlantic City, New Jersey.
--Bugsy Siegel named his Las Vegas casino "The Flamingo" for the long legs of his showgirl sweetheart, Virginia Hill.
--In 1931 the Pair-O-Dice Club was the first casino to open on Highway 91, the future Las Vegas Strip.
--In Death Valley, the Kangaroo Rat can live its entire life without drinking a drop of liquid.
--In Tonopah the young Jack Dempsey was once the bartender and the bouncer at the still popular Mispah Hotel and Casino. Famous lawman and folk hero Wyatt Earp once kept the peace in the town.
--Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park is constructed around the fossilized remains of ancient, mysterious reptiles within a well-preserved turn-of-the-century Nevada mining camp.
--Austin's oldest church, St. Augustine, requires the establishment's bells in the tower to be rung by pulling a rope located in the men's restroom.
--Most of the state is desert but the Sierra Nevada mountain range near Reno and the Ruby Mountains near Elko has snow for half the year.
--Locals use terms like The Sagebrush State, The Silver State, and The Battle Born State as nicknames for Nevada.
--Nevada is the seventh largest state with 110,540 square miles, 85% of them federally owned including the secret Area 51 near the little town of Rachel.
--Nevada has more mountain ranges than any other state, with its highest point at the 13,145 foot top of Boundary Peak near the west-central border.
--Grammatically, the proper term for the mountains is the Sierra Nevada not the Sierras. Robert Conrad almost called one of his television series High Sierra Rangers but changed it to High Mountain Rangers.
--Wayne Newton owns a home in the Las Vegas area, and it was a real location for the film "Vegas Vacation."
--Nevada is the largest gold-producing state in the nation. It is second in the world behind South Africa.
--Hoover Dam, the largest single public works project in the history of the United States, contains 3.25 million cubic yards of concrete, which is enough to pave a two-lane highway from San Francisco to New York. The dam face was used in an amazing stunt for Roland Emerich's "Universal Soldier" and has been seen in such films as "Viva Las Vegas" and "Fools Rush In."
--The state's Highway 50, known as the Loneliest Highway in America, received its name from "Life" magazine in 1986. There are few road stops in the 287 mile stretch between Ely and Fernley.
--Frank Sinatra once owned the Cal-Neva at Lake Tahoe's Crystal Bay. It is possible to stand in both Nevada and California inside Cal-Neva's building.
--The only Nevada lake with an outlet to the sea is man made Lake Mead.
--Camels were used as pack animals in Nevada as late as 1870.
--Construction worker hard hat's were first invented specifically for workers on the Hoover Dam in 1933.
--Las Vegas has more hotel rooms than any other place on earth.
--Las Vegas has the majority of the largest hotels in the world.
--The longest morse code telegram ever sent was the Nevada state constitution. Sent from Carson City to Washington D.C. in 1864. The transmission must have taken several hours.
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Be cool, but not too cool...

Keeping your fridge and freezer colder than necessary can boost your energy consumption, and your bills. Your fridge should be set between 37F and 40F; the freezer temperature bewteen 0 and 5F.
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~Cheryl's Tips~

Wooden Drawers Stuck? You can get them to glide again by simply rubbing the contact surfaces with a candle stub or bar of soap. Insert and test to see if they slide out more easily.

Soft Cookies Have Become Crispy? Put a slice of fresh bread on top of an aluminum foil sheet in the cookie jar. The bread will dry out and the cookies will become a tad softer.

Removing Bundt Cake From Pan To prevent the cake from sticking to the pan, lightly grease and then sprinkle sugar, instead of flour, over the pan. The cake should slide right out.
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Unusual town names in Georgia:

~Between
~Chickasawhatchee
~Enigma
~Hopeulikit
~Jinks
~Santa Claus
~Snapfinger
~Talking Rock
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Yet another place to recycle cell phones...Phones for Soldiers, a nonprofit (started in 2004 by two kids, now 16 and 18) that accepts all models (even really old ones!) and resells them to a recycling company. Proceeds buy calling cards for U.S. soldiers abroad to call their families--27 million minutes have been provided so far. Mail your phone to Cell Phones for Soldiers, 2555 Bishop Circle West, Dexter MI 48130-9916. Print a receipt and free postage label at http://www.CellPhonesForSoldiers.com
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Want to degrease pepperoni slices before using on pizza? Place slices on paper towel-lined plates, top with a double layer of paper towels and microwave for 30 seconds on high. Carefully remove the hot plate and press down on the paper towel to sop up grease. Place slices onto pizza, then bake according to recipe.
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Need help to balance your checkbook and manage your money? Try http://www.clearcheckbook.com where you can view reports, set budgets, create reminders and more. Cost: Free for the standard version; $4 per month for Premium.
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More real celebrity names:

~Buddy Hackett -- Leonard Hacker
~Monty Hall -- Monte Halparin
~Jean Harlow -- Harlean Carpentier
~Gary Hart -- Gary Warren Hartpence
~Susan Hayward -- Edithe Marrener
~Rita Hayworth -- Margarita Cansino
~Hulk Hogan -- Terry Jean Bollette
~William Holden -- William Franklin Beedle, Jr.
~Billie Holiday -- Eleanora Fagan
~Buddy Holly -- Charles Hardin Holley
~Bob Hope -- Leslie Townes Hope
~Harry Houdini -- Ehrich Weiss
~Rock Hudson -- Roy Scherer
~Engelbert Humperdinck -- Arnold Gerry Dorsey
~Tab Hunter -- Arthur Andrew Gelien
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Are you ever confused by all the different types of sugars in foods? Here's a breakdown:

brown sugar...White sugar with molasses added
corn syrup...Made from corn starch
dextrose...A naturally occurring form of glucose in fruits and veggies (your body also produces it)
fructose...Found in fruits, vegetables and their juices; used in crystaline form as a sweetener
high-fructose corn syrup...Highly processed form of sugar made from corn starch and fructose
honey...A natural sweetener; contains fructose and glucose
molasses...Dark syrup made by boiling down sugary from sugar cane
sucrose...Cane sugar (plain white sugar)
turbinado...Made by spinning sugar cane extract in a centrifuge or turbine to create large brown crystals
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Go here http://www.win-malt-o-meal.com/ to enter for a chance to win a year's worth of coupons for free Malt-O-Meal cereal. That's 52 coupons and each is worth $5.50. Enter before July 31.
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Find Mr. Jelly Belly as he travels the world gathering all the real ingredients used in Jelly Belly jelly beans and you could win the $10,000 grand prize or one of thousands of great prizes instantly. Visit http://www.wheresmrjellybelly.com to begin your adventure.
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The number one rule for keeping clothes in good condition is follow the directions on the label. For a full printable chart to keep posted in your laundry room, go to http://www.carelabels.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello everyone! I hope you all are enjoying the month of May so far. This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love sitting outside in the shade with a good book, or hanging laundry out to dry on the line. It won't be long until the heat of summer is here, so get out and enjoy the nice mild weather while you can! ~Phyllis

When April steps aside for May,
Like diamonds all the raindrops glisten;
Fresh violets open every day;
To some new bird each hour we listen.
-Lucy Larcom
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A bit depressing but here's a website to tell you which famous people you have outlived;
http://dead.atyourage.com/
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Time Capsule
A time capsule is a container for storing items for future discovery. Sometimes they are created for special events, such as a worlds fair or as a cornerstone for a building. The term "time caspule" has been around since the late 1930's. Here are a few tips for making your own time capsule!
1. First decide who you want to open the time capsule, and when. You could decide to open it yourself at some future date, or leave it for your kids or gandkids.
2. Decide where your time capsule will be stored. Usually they are buried but this is not always the best choice. If you bury it, not only could it become damaged by moisture, but you could also forget exactly where you buried it.
3. Choose a container for your time capsule. Think about how long your time capsule will be hidden, and how many items you want to put into it. If you store it indoors, a shoebox or plastic container will be good enough to do the job. But if you plan to bury it, you need to find a better container that will be waterproof.
4. Decide what items you want to include in your time capsule. To do this, think about who the time capsule will be opened by, and when. You don't have to choose valuable or expensive items for this. Choose things that represent you, or the date on which you create your time capsule. Some things to consider adding;
Labels from foods or items you like. If possible, use the price tags too.
Current newspapers or magazines
Pictures
A note written by you, describing what your world is like right now, including clothing styles, popular song titles, current books, the cost of everyday items such as milk and bread, and anything else you think might be interesting.

Finally, seal the time capsule well and store it (or bury it) to be opened sometime in the future.
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Tulsa Time Capsule
In 1957 in Tulsa, OK, a time capsule was buried at the county courthouse, with plans to open it in 2007 to celebrate Oklahoma's state centennial. The time capsule was a very large concrete vault in which was buried a brand new Plymouth car, along with some unleaded gasoline, motor oil, the contents of a woman's handbag and a case of beer!
A contest was held when the car was buried; people had a chance to guess what the population of Tulsa would be in 2007 when the vault was scheduled to be opened. The person who had the closest guess would win the contents of the vault. If that person was deceased, the prize would go to their heirs.
Here is a video of the car being put into the vault;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK2SLl1dY7k

Sadly, when the car was removed from the time capsule in 2007, it was ruined because the vault had leaked. The car was completely rusted and the upholstery had rotted. Here is a picture of the car as it looked when it was removed from the vault;

http://telstarlogistics.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/16/plymouthtime02.jpg
Supposedly there are plans to restore the car but the only website I could find about that has not been updated recently.

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Just for fun!
http://www.faceinhole.com/us/
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Looking for something to do with the kids or grandkids this summer?
http://www.wildlifeviewingareas.com/
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Moon Phase Images;

http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/time/moon-phase-images?searchterm=moon+phase+images
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Ben & Jerry's is having a contest where you can create your own ice cream flavor! If your flavor is the grand prize winner, it will be featured in stores! There are other prizes too. Hurry, contest ends on May 26!
http://www.benjerry.com/activism/inside-the-pint/do-the-world-a-flavor/
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Does your bra fit correctly? Most women don't know what size bra they should be wearing! Here are some signs of an incorrrectly fitting bra;

1. Your breasts touch together, giving you a "uni-breast".
2. Your bra rides up in the back. (The back strap of your bra should be level with the cups.)
3. Your bra leaves indentations on your shoulders.
4. Breasts spill over the top or sides of your bra.
5. Your bra causes chafing.
6. You are always tugging at your bra.

So if your bra is an incorrect fit, find out how to measure for the right size at

http://www.herroom.com/bra-fitting-advice,901,30.html
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To find the lowest gas prices near you, visit
http://www.gaspricewatch.com/new/default_V3.asp
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Something for the kids!
To learn abut the insects in your yard, visit www.whatsthatbug.com
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COOL PICK
This issues cool pick website is http://www.empowher.com/
EmpowHer is a great website dedicated to women's health issues. There is a wealth of information to be found there, including message boards where you can discuss health topics with other women like yourself. There is also a library of health videos, up to date news reports about health issues concerning women, and links to free or low cost seminars, screenings, immunizations, support groups and more. There is a lot to see at this site, so check it out!
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A lot of us are feeling the need to pinch pennies now! But sometimes we still like to go out to eat. Here's a site to help you save a little money when going out to eat with the kids;
http://www.kidsmealdeals.com/
This site will help you find kids meal deals at a restaurant near you!
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Here's an eye opening site to show you how much sugar there really is in your favorite foods and beverages;
http://www.sugarstacks.com/

04.28.2009

2009-04-28T00:37:00.004-04:00

Hello! We have some new subscribers so I want to welcome them. For anyone that is new, Phyllis and I have changed the publication of the newsletter from once a week to once every two weeks. This is mostly because it's nice weather now and there's always more work to be done in the spring and summer, so more work means less time to give to the newsletter.

Also for the benefit of our new subscribers I wanted to mention that if you ever have anything you want to share in the newsletter, send it to me or Phyllis and we'll publish it. Things to share could be: tips, recipes, book recommendations, new products you've tried, ideas to save money, etc...

Last issue I was complaining that spring had better get on the ball...well it bounced right in and then out, and here came summer--well, summer temperatures anyway. We've been hitting 90 for most of the week. I'm warm enough now, so let's turn off that hot air machine! ha

Don't tell her I told you, but today Phyllis will be celebrating her birthday. If you want to wish her a happy day, remember her address is the Gmail one.

Until we meet again...~Toni
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Last month when I threw my back out and couldn't do the newsletter, I had trouble getting ahold of Phyllis to have her email you all to let you know what was going on. It couldn't be helped because Phyllis was out and about and I kept missing her. But I know that when you're used to me sending the newsletter and then you don't receive it, you get worried that something has happened. What to do?! My friend Cathy K came to the rescue and offered to create a mailing list of all you subscribers, and to be the backup person to send out a notice next time something like that happens. Yay for Cathy K and many thanks!! I don't want to enclose her email address here because I know some of you forward the newsletter (we're glad you do--the more readers the better!) and I also post it on the blog, so I don't want her address being sent all around on the internet. I told Cathy that I would just tell you that you could be looking for "Two Friends Newsletter" in the subject line and that was how you'd know it was from her and not spam. Hopefully illness won't prevent me and Phyllis from sending out again for a long time, but it's good to have a backup plan just in case. :)
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Since we've changed our schedule, I am going to be able to use more of Cheryl's tips per issue because I have a good amount saved back. And as always I would like to thank her for working to keeping me supplied. :)

~Tips from Cheryl~

Road Tar on Your Car? To remove it, spritz the spots with an oil-based prewash spray. Allow it to set for several minutes. Rub gently with a plastic scrubber, rinse and then buff with a soft cloth.

Empty Glass Jars or Bottles Still Smelly? If they still have an odor after washing, make a solution of half vinegar and water. Soak them in it overnight and rinse well. Wash lids in hot soapy water and always store with lids off.

Have Leftover Cake? Don't throw it out. Make a new dessert. Tear the cake into pieces and layer with softened ice cream and then freeze. When you need a dessert, slice and drizzle a bit of chocolate syrup over it.

Soda Gone Flat? Don't throw it out because the fizz is gone. Instead, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. Pop into your new soda to chill, so the cubes won't dilute it.

When Using Night Light Bulbs If you buy 4-watt bulbs with a clear finish instead of 7-watt ones, they will be just about as bright, and best of all, will use almost half the energy. Every little bit of conserving will help save on your electric bill.
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Start using your kitchen shears. Cut green onions, chives and all kinds of herbs with them. Cut chicken breasts into strips and cut thin cuts of beef into cubes for stew. Next time you cut anything with a knife think, "Can I cut this faster with my shears?" and then try it. They're great for cutting up small bites of food for children (think pizza, fish sticks) By the way, my kitchen shears is really just a cheap pair of scissors that works just as good.
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New postage stamp releases (many thanks to Cathy F for getting me the release dates I couldn't find):

Love: King and Queen of Hearts

On May 8, the Postal Service pays clever tribute to what is said by many to be world’s favorite “game” with the issuance of the King and Queen of Hearts, the latest stamps in the Love series. The two stamp designs, one of the King and one of the Queen, are based on images from 18th-century French playing cards. Stamp artist Jeanne Greco of New York City created the art on her computer.

Greco and art director Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, settled on a design flowing through the stamp perforations to make a continuous pattern. The Postal Service began issuing its popular Love stamps in 1973. Over the years these stamps have featured a wide variety of designs, including heart motifs, colorful flowers, and the word “LOVE” itself.

Wedding Cake

Coming out on May 1, and sure to add a touch of beauty and romance to wedding correspondence, the 2009 Wedding Cake stamp will be issued at the two-ounce mailing rate to accommodate the heavier weight of an invitation, as well as other mailings such as oversize cards or small gifts that require extra postage.

The stamp, designed by Ethel Kessler, features a photograph of a wedding cake taken by Renée Comet of Washington, DC. The photograph depicts a three-tier wedding cake topped with white flowers, their green stems and leaves a delightful contrast to the cake’s creamy white frosting.

Wedding Rings

A new one-ounce stamp featuring wedding rings is intended for use on the RSVP envelope often enclosed with a wedding invitation. The stamp features a photograph of two gold wedding rings resting on a small white pillow; a slender ribbon of white silk unites them. The photograph also was taken by Renée Comet.

The Simpsons

On May 7 the US Postal Service will recognize The Simpsons, the longest-running prime time comedy in American television history. Marking their 20th anniversary as a regularly scheduled half-hour show, this celebrated series remains a groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchise, recognizable throughout the world. Cartoonist Matt Groening created the infamous Simpson family: Home, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson--all now identifiable by their silhouettes alone. For this project the Postal Service was pleased to use original artwork created by Groening.
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You work hard for your money, so make your dollar work hard for you. Join the Stretch Your Dollar Community Challenge and starting May 4 you'll get a four-week action plan to save big on home, food, family and more. http://challenges.ivillage.com/stretch-your-dollar-community-challenge
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Oversalted soup: For clear soups, add some uncooked pasta or a raw, peeled potato to the pot. The starch will absorb much of the salt. Discard the pasta or potato after 15 to 20 minutes.

Stale rolls: Wet your fingers and flick some water on them, then microwave in a microwave-safe cooking bag for no more than five seconds, or wrap in foil and heat in a 250-degree oven for ten minutes.
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Have books you'd like to sell? Check out http://www.cash4books.net/ Just type in the book's ISBN number and see if you can get cash. Complete the transaction online, print out a prepaid mailing label, pack up those books and send them in. In just a few days you'll either receive a check in the mail or a deposit to your PayPal account.
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~Marie's Laughter~

Little Peter was taking his new puppy for a walk when a policeman stopped him.“Has your dog got a license?” The policeman asked. “Oh, no,” answered Peter.“He’s not old enough to drive.”

Please take note: Marie will be having a surgical proceedure on May 4 at 10:30 a.m. She will need to stay in the hospital overnight. I would like to request prayer for her.
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Nebraska...

--Nebraska was once called "The Great American Desert".
--In 1927, Edwin E. Perkins of Hastings invented the powered soft drink Kool-Aid.
--J. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day in Nebraska City in 1872.
--Nebraska is the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich.
--Nebraska has the U.S.'s largest aquifer (underground lake/water supply), the Ogalala aquifer.
--Nebraska has more miles of river than any other state.
--Nebraska is the only state in the union with a unicameral (one house) legislature.
--Nebraska was the first state to complete its segment of the nations mainline interstate system, a 455 mile stretch of four lane highway.
--Nebraska's Chimney Rock was the most often mentioned landmark in journal entries by travelers on the Oregon Trail.
--The 911 system of emergency communications, now used nationwide, was developed and first used in Lincoln, Nebraska.
--Marlon Brando's mother gave Henry Fonda acting lessons at the Omaha Community Playhouse.
--Lincoln County is the origin of the world's largest "Wolly Mammoth" elephant fossil.
--Weeping Water is the nations largest limestone deposit and producer.
--In Blue Hill, Nebraska, no female wearing a 'hat that would scare a timid person' can be seen eating onions in public.
--The world's first college course about radio personality Rush Limbaugh is taught at Bellevue University in Nebraska.
--Origin of Nebraska's Name: From an Oto Indian word meaning flat water.
--The largest porch swing in the world is located in Hebron, Nebraska and it can sit 25 adults.
--Chevyland USA near Elm Creek, Nebraska is the only museum dedicated to a single line of cars.
--Cozad, Nebraska is located on the 100th Meridian where the humid east meets the arid west. --Buffalo Bill Cody held his first rodeo in North Platte, Nebraska July 4, 1882.
--Father Edward Flanagan founded Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska in 1917.
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Unusual town names in Florida:

Christmas
Frostproof
Jupiter
Howey-in-the-Hills
Kissimmee
Okahumpka
Red Head
Sopchoppy
Two Egg
Weeki Wachee
Weewahitchka
Yeehaw Junction
Yellow Water
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I thought you might like to check out the story of how Mother's Day came into existence.
http://www.wvgenweb.org/taylor/mothersday/founder.htm
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More celebrity real names:

John Garfield -- Julius Garfinkle
Beverly Garland -- Beverly Lucy Fessenden
Judy Garland -- Frances Gumm
James Garner -- James Scott Baumgarner
Crystal Gayle -- Brenda Webb
Bobbie Gentry -- Roberta Streeter
Boy George -- George Alan O'Dowd
Whoopi Goldberg -- Caryn Johnson
Elliott Gould -- Elliott Goldstein
Cary Grant -- Archibald Alexander Leach
Peter Graves -- Peter Aurness
Rocky Graziano -- Rocco Barbella
Robert Guillaume -- Robert Peter Williams
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Catalog Choice is a free service that lets you choose which catalogs you no longer wish to receive.http://www.catalogchoice.org/
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If you have ununsed mobile phones lying around, recycle them through the Keep America Beautiful: Wipe out Wireless Waste program. Go to http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=index , click on the "Wipe Out Wireless Waste" tab and download a postage paid mailing label. Then put your phone in an nevelope or box, affix the lable and drop the package in the mail. Be sure to shut off phone service and erase all personal Information first.
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Toni's tip for easier grocery shopping

I'm guessing most of you like to grocery shop about as good as I do. I know for myself I am always trying to think of ways to get organized to make that chore as easy and quick as possible. Over the years I've tried a little of this and a bit of that and I have finally happened upon the best system I've had so far. And I thought I'd share it with you. I know it won't be exactly what's right for you, but maybe you could adapt something in my system to make your grocery shopping a bit easier.

I had John write down all the aisle numbers and then an item or two from each aisle so we could remember what all is stocked there. When we came home I copied the info down all nice onto a sheet that I'll use each week. I have a rough draft grocery shopping list on the fridge for us to add onto all week. When it's time to go shopping I take the rough draft and get out my "aisle list". I go down the rough draft adding the aisle number to each item. Then I go down and first copy all the aisle one items, then aisle two, etc. to make my final shopping list. That way my entire list is in the order the store is laid out. This keeps the shopping moving, and less time to wander around looking means less impulse buying.

And let's not forget coupons! I looked and looked for a coupon organizer that suited me and came up empty. Eventually I bought a kids pencil pouch--the kind that zips. Inside I used index cards as dividers. And the system I used for dividing was the same as for the shopping list. One divider for the items on each aisle. That way my shopping list and coupons are all in order of how the store is laid out. Neat, huh?

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Hello everyone from Phyllis! May is almost here...it seemed like April just flew by! Here are a few things to know about the month of May.

Mothers Day is the second Sunday in May. It was first celebrated in 1908, and it was recognized officially by Congress in 1914.
The Kentucky Derby is on the first Saturday in May in Louisville Kentucky at Churchill Downs.
May 5 is Cinco De Mayo which is a national holiday in Mexico.

The birthstone for May is emerald, and the flower is Lily of the Valley.

May 1, 1931...Empire State Building opens.
May 3, 1765...The first medical school in America opened in Philadelphia.
May 10, 1869...The first transcontinental railway is finished in Promontory, Utah.
May 24, 1607...The first permanant English settlement is established.
May 24, 1883...The Brooklyn Bridge opens for traffic.
May 27, 1937...The Golden Gate Bridge opens.
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The trees are coming into leaf
Like something almost being said
The recent buds relax and spread
Their greenness is kind of grief.

Is it that that are born again
And we grow old? No, they die too
Their yearly trick is looking new
It is written down in rings of grain.

Yet still the unresting castles thresh
In fullgrown thickness every May
Last year is dead, they seem to say
Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.

The Trees by Philip Larkin
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Test your knowledge of healthy dining!
http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/game/?cm_mmc=Yahoo_Blog-_-ETNT-_-Worst_Drive_Thru_Foods-_-ETNT_The_Game
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If you like getting mail order catalogs and would like to get more, or if you're looking for a specific type of catalog, check out
http://www.catalogs.com/
This page will also takes you to links where you can find out how to have your name removed from mailing lists if you'd like to receive LESS catalogs, too!
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Take a hike!

To find a list of hiking trails across America and near you, go to
http://localhikes.com/
and not only will you find state by state listings of hiking trails, but you will also get a quick description of each trail and the length of the hike.
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COOL PICK

This issues cool pick website is especially for kids! School will be letting out soon, so here's a site to help beat boredom. It has lots of fun activities, and its educational too!
http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/
The site is full of games, experiments and fun! Its billed as "by kids, for kids." Your kids can send in poems and short stories, take a survey, share a recipe, do a scientific experiment and lots more. There is also a free "Zoomnooz" online newsletter that they can sign up for. There's so much going on at this site, so be sure to add it to your favorites for when the kids are home this summer!
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To view some beautiful time lapse photos of flowers blooming, go to
http://www.urlesque.com/2009/01/27/time-lapse-tuesday-flowers-and-plants/
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Quick & Easy Zucchini Pie

1 cup chopped zucchini
1 large tomato, chopped (one cup)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup reduced fat Bisquick
1 cup fat free milk
1/2 cup Eggbeaters
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400. Spray Pam into a 9 inch pie pan.

Layer zucchini, tomato, onion and cheese into pie pan.

Stir remaining ingredients together until blended. Pour into pie pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the pie comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

This recipe makes six servings at around just 100 calories each.
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I haven't had a chance to check this out yet, but it looks like Barnes & Nobles is offering 9 free download audio book short stories.
http://www.dealhack.com/archives/2009/04/free_downloads_9_audio_book_sh.html
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Spring cleaning time is here! Hopefully you all have gotten yours started. If you're short on time though, and company is coming, here are a few tips to fake clean your house.

1. Reserve one side of your sofa cushions for guests only. When company is coming, flip the sofa cushions over to the nice side, and then flip it back over later for your family.
2. A quick way to remove pet hair from upholstery is to put on your rubber gloves, wet the fingertips and glide your hand across the fabric. Most of the pet hair should stick to the glove.
3. To cover up lingering cooking smells, boil orange peels, cloves, nutmeg or cinnamon in a saucepan on the stove.
4. Light candles. Everything looks cleaner by candlelight!
5. Hang fresh guest towels in the bathroom.

If you have any good tips for fake cleaning your house, send them to me at twofriendsnewsletter@gmail.com
and I'll put them in a future issue.
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To find out if your favorite TV show is a re-run this week, go to
http://reruncheck.com/
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I never have formal, fancy meals at my home, but if you're planning one and are worried about setting the table correctly, here's a site to help you out.

http://www.wholesale-table-linens.com/setup-tableware.html
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Click to give...its easy and its free at

http://www.greatergood.com/

At Greater Good, you can support causes you care about with a simple click.
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HEALTHY LIVING

We all want to be healthy, but it can be hard to make a complete lifestyle change all at once. Instead of trying to do everything at the same time, how about making just a few small changes each week? Here are some small changes that you can make this week that will payoff for you later.
1. If you can't give up fast food, you CAN resolve to stop supersizing. Fast food is loaded with calories, so do you really want that extra large order of fries?
2. Never eat mindlessly. Pay attention to what you're eating. Take your time when eating so that you can enjoy your food, and give your brain time to signal that you're full.
3. Don't skip breakfast! Believe it or not, skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight. If you eat a nourishing breakfast, it will help you to consume less calories duriing the day.
4. Ideally, your plate should be half vegetables or fruits for lunch and dinner.
These are simple, easy tips that you can implement right now, even if you're not ready to make a big change.
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Just for fun!
http://www..fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippet.asp

04.14.2009

2009-04-13T21:20:00.006-04:00

Hi there! Spring is dragging its feet this week, but John and I are fighting back! We bought a Boston fern for the porch, he just bought a new grill and we've hung the American flag. So Spring had better get with the program because I want to plant some flowers. :) Speaking of Spring, when I started this newsletter it was autumn and during the cold months I basically have all the time in the world. At the time I figured that when good weather and outside chores came around I would have to cut down to every two weeks. So Phyllis and I have discussed it and think that every other week will work better for us for the time being. I imagine you are busier during this time of the year too and probably won't be sitting in front of the computer as much either. ~Toni
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Patriots' Day

Patriots' Day, another tribute to the American Revolution, belongs to Maine and Massachusetts alone. The holiday commemorates the famous battles of Lexington and Concord.

It was on April 19, 1775, that Massachusetts minutemen, taking the cue from Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott, took a stand against 700 British troops marching to Concord to raid a colonial weapons stockpile. As the militia was retreating, someone fired a weapon. This "shot heard 'round the world" marked the beginning of the American Revolution.

Patriots' Day is observed annually on the third Monday in April, with many companies allowing employees to take the day off. In addition to community celebrations, the holiday is marked by the running of the Boston Marathon.
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On April 21, 1836, General Sam Houston led Texan troops in a surprise attack that sealed the future state's independence from Mexico. The location? The mouth of the San Jacinto River, near the present-day city of Houston. At least 600 of Mexican general Santa Anna's men were killed and more than 700 were taken prisoner in the 18-minute Battle of San Jacinto. Among Houston's 800 men, only nine lost their lives.

Texas pride abounds every April 21 as the state celebrates its independence from Mexico. The battle site is now adorned with a monument that, in true Texas style, was once the tallest stone monument in the world.
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~Tips from Cheryl~

Save Squeeze-Style Containers

Reuse mustard, ketchup and other plastic squeeze bottles after they're empty. Wash and repurpose for other food products. If you buy in bulk, pour into these handy bottles.

Make Your Own TV Dinners?

If you've purchased frozen TV dinners, save the trays after eating. Reuse them to create homemade dinners. Fill each compartment with a veggie, starch and main course, freeze, and when ready to eat, heat in the oven until hot.

Different Topping for Pancakes or Waffles

Tired of using syrup? Try this: Heat chunky applesauce with a teaspoon or two of cinnamon and spoon it over waffles or pancakes. It's a healthy addition and a change too.

Towels Stiff After Washing?

This may be caused by overstuffing the washer or by a detergent buildup. To prevent, put in fewer towels, use less detergent and hotter water. Get rid of detergent buildup by washing towels in hot water with baking soda or borax and adding several cups of vinegar to the rinse water.
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Montana

--The Montana Yogo Sapphire is the only North American gem to be included in the Crown Jewels of England.

--In 1888 Helena had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the world.

--46 out of Montana's 56 counties are considered "frontier counties" with an average population of 6 or fewer people per square mile.

--At Egg Mountain near Choteau dinosaur eggs have been discovered supporting the theory some dinosaurs were more like mammals and birds than like reptiles.

--Montana is the only state with a triple divide allowing water to flow into the Pacific, Atlantic, and Hudson Bay. This phenomenon occurs at Triple Divide Peak in Glacier National Park.

--Flathead Lake in northwest Montana contains over 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. It is considered the largest natural freshwater lake in the west.

--Yellowstone National Park in southern Montana and northern Wyoming was the first national park in the nation.

--Montana has the largest grizzly bear population in the lower 48 states.

--The first luge run in North America was built at Lolo Hot Springs on Lolo Pass in 1965.

--The highest point in the state is Granite Peak at 12,799 feet.

--The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman gained fame through the work of its chief paleontologist, Jack Horner. Horner was the prototype for the character Dr. Alan Grant in the best selling novel/movie, "Jurassic Park."

--Montana's rivers and streams provide water for three oceans and three of the North American continent's major river basins.

--Just south of Billings, Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and his troops made their last stand. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument features the Plains Indians and United States military involved in the historic battle.

--In Montana the elk, deer and antelope populations outnumber the humans.

--Glacier National Park has 250 lakes within its boundaries.

--Competing with the D River in Lincoln City, Oregon for the title of the world's shortest river, the Roe River flows near Great Falls. Both rivers lengths vary from 58 feet to 200 feet. The source for this small river is Giant Springs, the largest freshwater spring in the United States.
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~Marie's Laughter~

There's this little guy sitting inside a bar, just looking at his drink. He stays like that for half-an-hour. Then, this big trouble-making truck driver steps next to him, takes the drink from the guy, and just drinks it all down. The poor man starts crying. The truck driver says: "Come on man, I was just joking. Here, I'll buy you another drink. I just can't see a man crying." "No, it's not that. Today day is the worst of my life. First, I overslept and was late to an important meeting. My boss, outrageous, fired me. When I left the building to my car, I found out it was stolen. The police, they said they could do nothing. I got a cab to return home, and after I paid the cab driver and the cab had gone, I found that I left my whole wallet in the cab. I got home only to find my wife was in a compromising position with the gardener. I left home and came to this bar. And when I was thinking about putting an end to my life, you show up and drink my poison ..."
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Is black your favorite color? Here's what it means around the world:

--The ancient Egyptians and Romans used black for mourning, as do most Europeans and Americans today.

--The “Blackshirts” were the security troops in Hitler's German army, also known as the S.S.

--Black often stands for secrecy.

--Black humor is morbid or unhealthy and gloomy humor.

--A “blackhearted” person is evil.

--If a business is “in the black,” it is making money.

--A “blacklist” is a list of persons or organizations to be boycotted or punished.

--Black is associated with sophistication and elegance. A “black tie” event is formal.

--A black belt in karate identifies an expert.

--A black flag in a car race is the signal for a driver to go to the pits.

--A blackguard is a scoundrel.

--The ancient Egyptians believed that black cats had divine powers.

--Black lung is a coal miner's disease caused by the frequent inhaling of coal dust.

--Blackmail is getting things by threat.

--Black market is illegal trade in goods or money.

--A black sheep is an outcast.

--“Blackwash” (as opposed to “whitewash”) is to uncover or bring out in the light.

--A blackout is a period of darkness from the loss of electricity, for protection against nighttime air raids, or, in the theater, to separate scenes in a play.

--When you “black out,” you temporarily lose consciousness.
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Unusual town names for Deleware:

Blue Ball
Cocked Hat
Hourglass
Little Heaven
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For overdone pasta, put in ice water or run under cold water for a few minutes to stop the cooking process and contract the starch. Then reheat in tomato sauce--the acid will perk it up further.
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Create your own social network at http://www.ning.com/
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Do you have a pile of old VHS tapes that you never use now? Here are some ideas to keep them out of landfills:

~VHS movies that are in good shape might be taken by your local library. I have dontated movies to mine within the last year. I would call first to check though, so in case they no longer take them you can save a trip.

~If you belong to a local Freecycle group, offer them there.

~You can mail them (using the cheaper USPS media mail rate) to Alternative Community Training. This is a nonprofit Missouri company that provides jobs to people with disabilities. Workers erase the tapes, reselling the ones that in good shape and recycling the plastic parts of the rest. Mail to: ACT, 2200 Burlington, Columbia MO 65202.
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Celebrity real names...

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. -- Douglas Elton Ulman, Jr.
Morgan Fairchild -- Patsy Ann McClenny
Donna Fargo -- Yvonne Vaughan
Jamie Farr -- Jameel Farah
Sharon Farrell -- Gretchen Helgeson
Freddie Fender -- Baldemar G. Huerta
Sally Field -- Sally Mahoney
W.C. Fields -- William Claude Dukenfield
Rhonda Fleming -- Marilyn Louis
Gerald R. Ford -- Leslie Lynch King, Jr.
Glenn Ford -- Gwyilyn Ford
John Forsythe -- John Lincoln Freund
Jodie Foster -- Alicia Christian Foster
Redd Foxx -- John Elroy Sanford
Connie Francis -- Concetta Maria Franconero
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If you're needing car repair, check out http://www.driverside.com to find out the price of the replacement parts for your exact model. Print out the page and bring it to your mechanic to avoid being overcharged.
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A USDA-created My Pyramid just for children ages 2 to 5 at http://www.MyPyramid.gov/preschoolers
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Don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets on your cleaning rags or microfiber cloths; it reduces their ability to attract and hold dust and absorb liquids.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~Phyllis~

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a happy, blessed Easter! My favorite Easter candy is Peeps, which are low fat and have approximately 35 calories each. Here's how Peeps are made:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/peeps/sns-peep-factory-pg,0,792513.photogallery
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Here's a fun site especially for crafters:
http://www.allcrafts.net/
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FIVE NON-TOXIC CLEANERS:

1. Hot sauce...brightens up copper! Just rub it on dull copper, rinse with water and polish with a soft rag.

2. Olive oil...it brightens up wood! Apply a thin coat to rehydrate dried out wood, as long as the wood was originally treated with an oil finish. Be sure to buff the wood after applying the olive oil.

3. White wine...it removes red wine stains! To remove red wine stains, just apply white wine and blot with a clean rag to absborb.

4. Vinegar...great for cleaning brushes! Boil a cup of vinegar and let hardened bristles sit in it overnight.

5. Corn meal...good for soaking up grease! Cover a fresh stain with cornmeal, let it sit for a few hours and it should sweep right up!
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Have you ever been to a "pick your own" farm? Here's a site to help you find these farms in your state;
http://pickyourown.org/index.htm#states
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Celebrity fans! You can find out the age of your favorite celebrity here:
http://www.agedir.com/
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Easy Five Can Casserole;

1 can (6 ounces) chicken chunks, drained
1 can (5 ounces) evaporated milk
1 can (10.75 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can (10.75 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 can (5 ounces) chow mein noodles

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Stir all the ingredients well into a mixing bowl. Pour into casserole dish. Bake until hot and bubbly, about half an hour. Serve with a salad and crusty bread. A very easy, fast dinner!
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Spring is a great time for shopping at yard sales! Here is a site to help you find yard sales in your area.
http://www.yardsaletreasuremap.com/
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Not only is Spring a good time for going to yard sales, its also a good time to have one of your own. Not only will you clear out some clutter, but you can make a little money too if your sale is a success. Here are a few tips for having a great yard sale..

Before putting an item up for sale, first ask yourself "Have I worn it, used it, displayed it, cooked with it or read it in the past year?" If the answer is no, then this is an item you probably won't miss if you sell it to someone else.
Consider having a neighbor or friend hold a yard sale with you. A multi family yard sale usually does better business than just a single family sale. Plus, it makes it more fun to have someone right there with you on sale day.
If you can, try visiting a few yard sales in the weeks before you have your own sale. That way you'll get a general idea of how much you can ask for your items.
It might be worth it for you to advertise your sale in the local newspaper. Also, make plenty of signs. To call attention to your sale, use bright colored posterboard and black markers. Make the wording BIG so that people driving past can see it. (Don't forget to take the signs down after the sale, though.)
Make sure all the items you are selling look clean. Dirty looking items will discourage buyers. Take the time to make things look fresh.
Price each item and make it easy for customers to know what you want for each item so they won't have to ask you...but be prepared for a little haggling.
If you are selling appliances or electronics, make sure you have an outlet available so buyers can test the product to make sure it works.

Once the yard sale starts, don't just sit in a lawn chair and ignore your customers. Talk to people, but don't be too pushy. If you want, you can have a cooler of sodas for sale too.

After the sale, box up everything that didn't sell. Look online for a list of charities that offer free pickup of your items. And enjoy the proceeds from your sale!
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7 Classic TV shows and what they were almost called

1. Roseanne was almost called "Life and Stuff." Roseanne herself chose that name but producers changed it to cash in on her rising popularity at the time.
2. Fraggle Rock was almost called Woozle World.
3. Married...With Children was originally meant to be called "Not The Cosby Show."
4. The Outer Limits was first called "Please Stand By". Here's a clip of the original opening sequence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru2Et4mzDrU
5. That Seventies Show was originally called "Teenage Wasteland", and then "The Kids Are Alright" before it finally aired.
6. Diff'rent Strokes was first called "45 Minutes From Harlem".
7. Happy Days was called "The New Family in Town" when it was first written, but the television network passed on it. It was then re-written as an episode of "Love American Style" and called "Love and the Happy Days". That episode did so well that the network agreed to take the show after all, with the new name.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's a site to help you find the date of upcoming religious and civil holidays around the world.
http://www.when-is.com/
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If you missed your favorite show, don't worry! Go to Television Without Pity to get recaps and more!
http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php

04.07.2009

2009-04-06T15:13:00.004-04:00

April is almost here! It's my favorite month of the year, probably because my birthday is in April. April's birthstone is the diamond and the flower of the month is the daisy or sweet pea. ~Phyllis

April first is April Fool's Day, and it is observed throughout the western world. Here are some sayings about fools...

It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and leave no doubt.
-Mark Twain

Looking foolish does the spirit good.
-John Updike

A fool must now and then be right by chance.
-Cowper

Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed.
-Mark Twain
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Also in April;
April 12 is Easter.
April 22 is Earth Day.
April 24 is Arbor Day in the USA.
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To learn how Earth Day began in 1970, click on the following link
http://earthday.envirolink.org/history.html
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And for information about Arbor Day, click on this link;
http://www.arborday.org/arborday/index.cfm
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Remember these?
http://theimaginaryworld.com/cbarch.html
A fun archive of cereal boxes past and present. You might see some of your old favorites there.
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Do it yourself tips to save a little cash!
1. Keep your closets and cabinet doors closed. This will cut down on the square footage that you are heating in the summer or cooling in the winter. You could save up to $50 a year.
2. Turn down the thermostat on your water heater. Usually they are set at 140 degrees so you have a shorter wait for hot water. But if you turn it down to 120, you could save up to $30 a year on your electric bill, not to mention that your risk of scalding will be decreased.
3. Replace the filter on your central air conditioner once a month. This will keep the air flowing freely and reduce the strain on the blower motor. You could save up to $40 a year.
4. Use your microwave instead of the range whenever possible; it consumes half the power.

If you have any other tips for saving money, send them to me at Twofriendsnewsletter@gmail.com and I'll include them in a future issue.
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COOL PICK
This weeks Cool Pick website is
http://penzu.com/features
At Penzu, you can keep an online journal. Its totally free and private. Plus, since its online, you can write a journal entry wherever you are, as long as you have access to a computer! If you're wondering what you could write about in your journal, how about your personal goals? Or use your journal to work through any problems you are going through...or just as a creative outlet!
There are many benefits to keeping a journal, such as the ones listed at http://www.mymotivator.com/journal_top10.htm
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Just for fun!

http://www.mrpicassohead.com/create.html?skin=original
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Beautiful pictures of roads...
http://geniusbeauty.com/beautiful-places/amazing-roads-photos/
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To find out how many servings of fruits and vegetables you need, go to
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/
Here you will also find out about the benefits of eating healthy, you will also find recipes and more.

**************
Hello, good to be back. Thanks to everyone that sent get well messages. It was a huge encouragement to me. I am feeling a good deal better, but still not 100%. Our weather yesterday was lovely so John got me set up on a sturdy lawn chair so I could enjoy the sunshine. I'm sure it was good for my body (making all that Vitamin D) and I know it was good for my mood. Sometimes the weather can be three steps forward and one step back however, and so I guess that's how we now find ourselves under a winter weather advisory; the weather guy is predicting some accumulation in the mountains and that is us. My grandma would have called this our Easter storm. Okay, I'd better get down to business as I have strict instructions from John to not spend all day sitting at the computer. Oh, I also I wanted to say that Phyllis did her half of the newsletter last week so that's why she was talking about it almost being April.
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~Tips from Cheryl~

Have A Bit of Salad Dressing Leftover? Don't throw it out. You can stretch it out by adding several teaspoons of vinegar and shaking well. Add 1/2 cup of sour cream and mix well. You have a tasty "new" dressing.

Understanding Product-Dating Terms Here's what they mean: Expiration Date: Last date the item should be eaten or used. Freshness Date: Manufacturer's stamp that tells how long freshness is guaranteed. Sell or Pull Date: Last day the item should be sold in a store. It should be removed from shelf after that date.

When Hand-Washing Dishes To prevent grease from sticking to pots, pans and dishes while cleaning in the sink, add about 1/2 cup of vinegar to the wash water. It will do the job.
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We all know walking is good for us, but sometimes it's hard to get started. Try walking with your computer. Beginning April 8, you'll be able to create a personalized walking plan on the American Heart Association's Start! site ( http://mystartonline.org/ ). You take a ten-question quiz; the site selects one of seven walking plans matched to your fitness level, goals and lifestyle. You can even plug in your zip code to find a walking buddy and beginner-friendly local route maps.
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Missouri

--The 'Show Me State' expression may have began in 1899 when Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver stated, "I'm from Missouri and you've got to show me."
--The first successful parachute jump to be made from a moving airplane was made by Captain Berry at St. Louis, in 1912.
--The most destructive tornado on record occurred in Annapolis. In 3 hours, it tore through the town on March 18, 1925 leaving a 980-foot wide trail of demolished buildings, uprooted trees, and overturned cars. It left 823 people dead and almost 3,000 injured.
--At the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, Richard Blechyden, served tea with ice and invented iced tea.
--Also, at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, the ice cream cone was invented. An ice cream vendor ran out of cups and asked a waffle vendor to help by rolling up waffles to hold ice cream.
--Stockton, Missouri was home to Two Friends Newsletter founder Toni Groves from the time she was 6 months old till age 3.
--Missouri ties with Tennessee as the most neighborly state in the union, bordered by 8 states.
--Warsaw holds the state record for the low temperature of -40 degrees on February 13, 1905. --Warsaw holds the state record for the high temperature recorded, 118 degrees on July 14, 1954.
--Kansas City has more miles of boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any city except Rome.
--Kansas City has more miles of freeway per capita than any metro area with more than 1 million residents.
--Jefferson National Expansion Memorial consists of the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis' Old Courthouse. During a nationwide competition in 1947-48, architect Eero Saarinen's inspired design for a 630-foot stainless steel arch was chosen as a perfect monument to the spirit of the western pioneers. Construction of the Arch began in 1963 and was completed on October 28, 1965. The Arch has foundations sunken 60 feet into the ground, and is built to withstand earthquakes and high winds. It sways up to one inch in a 20 mph wind, and is built to sway up to 18 inches.
--In 1889, Aunt Jemima pancake flour, invented at St. Joseph, Missouri, was the first self-rising flour for pancakes and the first ready-mix food ever to be introduced commercially.
--The tallest man in documented medical history was Robert Pershing Wadlow from St. Louis. He was 8 feet, 11.1 inches tall.
--The most powerful earthquake to strike the United States occurred in 1811, centered in New Madrid, Missouri. The quake shook more than one million square miles, and was felt as far as 1,000 miles away.
--President Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, May 8, 1884.
--Missouri was named after a tribe called Missouri Indians; meaning "town of the large canoes" --Jefferson City, Missouri, the state's capital, was named for Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States.
--In 1812 Missouri was organized as a territory and later admitted the 24th state of the Union on August 10, 1821.
--In 1865 Missouri became the first slave state to free its slaves.
--Laura Elizabeth Ingalls, writer of Little House on the Prairie grew up in Missouri.
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New product review...Vaseline Clinical Therapy One day in March 2008 I was hanging out with my friend and her two daughters. The youngest was 7 at the time and, well you know how honest kids can be. She and I were holding hands and she was looking at the back of my hand and said so sweet and innocently that my hand looked like a leather football. lol Since then I have tried numerous lotions and I never got rid of that scaly look. I ordered a free sample of Vaseline Clinical Therapy and when it arrived I immediately put some on the back of my hands and I am so excited to say that within two days the backs of my hands are smooth and very hydrated looking. I can't wait to see Hailey again to see what she thinks. :)
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Cheryl sent this to me and I hope you'll be UP for it...

Lovers of the English language might enjoy this. It is yet another example of why people learning English have trouble with the language. Learning the nuances of English makes it a difficult language. There is a two-letter word in English that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is UP. It is listed in the dictionary as being used as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or[v]

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has a real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP . When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!
And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
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I keep vitamins, pain relievers, etc. in a large plastic basket in a cabinet to keep the pills away from the moisture of the bathroom. To keep from having to search through bottles to get what I'm looking for, I use a Sharpie marker and write on the lid what is in the bottle. That way I can see at a glance what I'm looking for. While I'm at it I also write on the lid the dosage. Keeps me from having to read the mouse-print label each time to check how many to take.
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New stamp issue...

Richard Wright

On April 9, former Chicago Post Office employee and renowned author Richard Wright (1908-1960) becomes the 25th inductee into its Literary Arts series. The dedication ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. in the lobby of the Chicago Post Office, 433 W. Harrison St.

Best remembered for his controversial 1940 novel, Native Son, and his 1945 autobiography, Black Boy, Wright drew on a wide range of literary traditions, including protest writing and detective fiction, to craft unflinching portrayals of racism in American society.

The stamp artwork by Kadir Nelson of San Diego, CA, features a portrait of Richard Wright in front of snow-swept tenements on the South Side of Chicago, a scene that recalls the setting of Native Son. Nelson’s portrait of Wright was based on a circa 1945 photograph. Nelson worked under the direction of art director Carl T. Herrman of Carlsbad, CA.
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Unusual town names for Connecticut:

Giants Neck
Mianus
Moodus
Moosup
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Is white your favorite color? Here's what it means around the world:
--A white flag is the universal symbol for truce.
--White means mourning in China and Japan.
--Angels are usually depicted wearing white robes.
--The ancient Greeks wore white to bed to ensure pleasant dreams.
--The Egyptian pharaohs wore white crowns.
--The ancient Persians believed all gods wore white.
--A “white elephant” is a rare, pale elephant considered sacred to the people of India, Thailand, Burma, and Sri Lanka; in this country, it is either a possession that costs more than it is worth to keep or an item that the owner doesn't want but can't get rid of.
--It's considered good luck to be married in a white garment.
--White heat is a state of intense enthusiasm, anger, devotion, or passion.
--To whitewash is to gloss over defects or make something seem presentable that isn't.
--A “white knight” is a rescuer.
--A white list contains favored items (as opposed to a blacklist).
--A “whiteout” occurs when there is zero visibility during a blizzard.
--A “white sale” is a sale of sheets, towels, and other bed and bath items.
--A “whited sepulcher” is a person who is evil inside but appears good on the outside, a hypocrite.
--“White lightning” is slang for moonshine, a homebrewed alcohol.
--A white room is a clean room as well as a temperature-controlled, dust-free room for precision instruments.
--White water is the foamy, frothy water in rapids and waterfalls.
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Cheryl reminds us to visit http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/ It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' (pink window in the middle). This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.
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Find out a getaway that you can reach with one tank of gas or less.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/TankOfGas
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This is a really cool site sent to us by Cheryl:

If you are an avid reader of newspapers (live or on the internet), as am I, you will enjoy this -

Just put your mouse on a city anywhere in the world and the newspaper headlines pop up... Double click and the page gets larger...

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/

Also, if you look at the European papers, the far left side of Germany will pop up as The Stars & Stripes (European edition, of course).

AND, this site changes everyday with the publication of new editions of the newspapers.
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Fifteen downloads to pep up your older pc:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.docommand=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9129351
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~Marie's laughter~

A woman burst out of the examining room screaming after her young physician tells her she is pregnant. The director of the clinic stopped her and asked what the problem was. After she tells him what happened, the doctors had her sit down and relax in another room and he marched down the hallway where the woman’s physician was and demanded, “What is wrong with you? Mrs. Miller is 60 years old, has six grown children and nine grandchildren, and you told her she was pregnant?” The young physician continued to write his notes and without looking up at his superior, asked, “Does she still have the hiccups?”
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John Cadbury

A young Quaker named John Cadbury opened a grocery in Birmingham, England, in 1824. In 1831, he began selling bitter drinking chocolate and cocoa. In those days, sweet chocolate confections were unknown.

In 1847, Cadbury was joined by his brother Benjamin to form a business called Cadbury Brothers of Birmingham. About this time the pair started making some of the first "eating chocolate" in England.

Sweet chocolate quickly became a luxury of the rich. In 1853, the Cadburys received a royal warrant to make chocolates for Queen Victoria. Benjamin left the company in 1860 and a year later John Cadbury retired, leaving his sons Richard and George in charge of the business.

Over the years chocolate went from being the treat of the rich to a common snack. In 1993, the United Kingdom ranked fifth in the world in chocolate consumption. The British eat an average of 16.09 pounds of chocolate per person each year, and Cadbury dominates that market' The company introduced its famous Cadbury Creme Egg in 1971 and entered the U.S. market in 1978.
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Real celebrity names:

Sheena Easton -- Sheena Shirley Orr
Buddy Ebsen -- Christian Rudolph Ebsen, Jr.
Barbara Eden -- Barbara Huffman
Blake Edwards -- William Blake McEdwards
Vince Edwards -- Vicent Edward Zoino
Duke Ellington -- Edward Kennedy Ellington
Gloria Estefan -- Gloria Maria Fajardo
Dale Evans -- Frances Octavia Smith
Chad Everett -- Raymond Lee Cramton
Don Everly -- Isaac Donald Everly
_____________________________

...breaking news...April 9...Happy Birthday John...love you bunches...
______________________________

03.24.2009

2009-03-23T22:48:00.004-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope you're all enjoying Spring so far. Its still chilly here in Maryland, but this morning I noticed the forsythia blooming. Spring is my favorite time of year...its great to shake off the winter!
-----------------------
Just for fun! Get a celebrity couple name (like Brangelina or Tomkat) at this site;
http://www.namemasher.com/default.aspx

==========================

Healthy Living

You take care of your family....but do you remember to take care of yourself? If you don't, you could be putting yourself at risk for heart disease, which is the number one killer of women. If you make some small changes to your diet, you can make a big impact on your health. By making healthy eating a lifetime habit, you will get a powerful tool that will help control your weight, reduce cholesterol and lower your blood pressure, which are all risk factors for stroke or heart attack.

Stop eating so much fried and processed foods. Instead, eat more fruit, vegetables, low fat dairy prodcuts, lean meat and fish.
Be aware of the fat in the food you eat. Avoid trans fasts. Instead, aim for foods that are low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.
When grocery shopping, look for the American Heart Associations heart check mark to find foods that have been verified to be low in saturated fat and cholesterol. For more information, and to create your own "heart healthy" shopping list that you can print out, visit

http://www.heartcheckmark.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2115

In addition to these healthy eating tips, give yourself the gift of health this year for your birthday, and make an appointment for a checkup to talk to your doctor about how you can reduce your risk for heart disease.
Start moving! Walk briskly for half an hour five days a week. If you don't have 30 minutes, you can break it up into 3 ten minute walks...but of course, always check with your doctor before beginning any type of exercise program.
-----------------------------------------

If your car needs repair and you're wondering how much it should cost, go to RepairPal to get a general estimate. Just fill in what kind of car you have, they type of repair needed, and your zip code. RepairPal will give you an estimate of what it will probably cost in your area.
http://repairpal.com/
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Just for fun! Create a virtual kaleidoscope!

http://www.zefrank.com/byokal/kal2.html

--------------------------------

COOL PICK
If you're looking for an online community of friends but feel that you're too "grown up" for MySpace of Facebook, then "Not Over The Hill" might be the place for you! At Not Over The Hill you can create your own page, post to forums, share pictures, play games, write blogs and more. Its specifically designed for people over the age of 40, and its completely free! Check it out...
http://notoverthehill.com/
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For an "ultimate guide to shelf life" of food and drink, click on

http://www.stilltasty.com/
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Goodbye and Hello
by Barbara Anthony

Goodbye, ice skates,
Goodbye, sled,
Goodbye, winter,
Spring's ahead!

Goodbye, leggings,
Goodbye, snow,
Goodbye, winter,
Spring, hello!

Hello, crocus,
Hello, kite,
Goodbye, winter,
Spring's in sight!

Hello, jumprope,
Hello, swing,
Goodbye, winter!
Hello Spring!
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Post Secret is a website where people post their secrets on a post card anonymously. Some of the entries are sad, some are funny...and some are disturbing. Check it out, but be warned, sometimes there is slightly risque content.
http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello friends! I have to keep reminding myself it's still March because it's feeling very mid-Aprilish around here. We had crocus blooming last week. This is a flower that suddenly popped up in our yard three years ago and I had no idea what it was. This year I thought to email a picture to Lib and she told me what it was--thanks Lib! The trees are budding and I think the forsythia will be out very soon and I'm loving every minute of it. On a completely different note, I like to watch old Let's Make a Deal shows on GSN. Today one of the prizes was 1,000 gallons of gasoline and the value of the prize was $350. Can you imagine?!! Take care and have a great week. ~Toni
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=Tips from Cheryl=

Cleaning Silk Flowers and Foliage Most are made of nylon or polyester and come with plastic stems, so they can be washed in cold water with several drops of mild detergent. Carefully swish the flowers around to remove dust, rinse and let air dry. Blowing flowers with hair dryer on cool setting a couple times a month should help keep dust to a minimum.

Cleaning Diamond Jewelry For a quick clean, dip each piece of diamond jewelry into just a bit of rubbing alcohol. Use a soft clean toothbrush to carefully remove any debris, rinse and buff dry. Your diamonds should sparkle nicely.
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Is yellow your favorite color? Here's what it means around the world:

~In Egypt and Burma, yellow signifies mourning.
~In tenth-century France, the doors of traitors and criminals were painted yellow.
~Hindus in India wear yellow to celebrate the festival of spring.
~If someone is said to have a “yellow streak,” that person is considered a coward.
~In Japan during the War of Dynasty in 1357, each warrior wore a yellow chrysanthemum as a pledge of courage.
~A yellow ribbon is a sign of support for soldiers at the front.
~Yellow is a symbol of jealousy and deceit.
~In the Middle Ages, actors portraying the dead in a play wore yellow.
~To holistic healers, yellow is the color of peace.
~Yellow has good visibility and is often used as a color of warning. It is also a symbol for quarantine, an area marked off because of danger.
~“Yellow journalism” refers to irresponsible and alarmist reporting.
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Put foil under your ironing board cover to help insulate it. The foil will help heat the underside of the item you are pressing.
_____________________________

Wise words from Phyllis T. : If you must have dessert, choose something that you can share with the person you're eating with. That way, you only get half the calories!
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*In 1963 the University of Mississippi Medical Center accomplished the world's first human lung transplant and, on January 23, 1964, Dr. James D. Hardy performed the world's first heart transplant surgery.
*Borden's Condensed Milk was first canned in Liberty.
*In 1902 while on a hunting expedition in Sharkey County, President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt refused to shoot a captured bear. This act resulted in the creation of the world-famous teddy bear.
*Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, on January 8, 1935.
*In 1884 the concept of selling shoes in boxes in pairs (right foot and left foot) occurred in Vicksburg at Phil Gilbert's Shoe Parlor on Washington Street.
*The first female rural mail carrier in the United States was Mrs. Mamie Thomas. She delivered mail by buggy to the area southeast of Vicksburg in 1914.
*The first nuclear submarine built in the south was produced in Mississippi.
*The rarest of North American cranes lives in Mississippi in the grassy savannas of Jackson County. The Mississippi Sandhill Crane stands about 44 inches tall and has an eight-foot wingspan.
*Blazon-Flexible Flyer, Inc. in West Point is proclaimed to make the very best snow sled in the United States, which became an American tradition. It is called The Flexible Flyer.
*Friendship Cemetery in Columbus has been called Where Flowers Healed a Nation. It was April 25, 1866, and the Civil War had been over for a year when the ladies of Columbus decided to decorate both Confederate and Union soldiers' graves with beautiful bouquets and garlands of flowers. As a direct result of this kind gesture, Americans celebrate what has come to be called Memorial Day each year, an annual observance of recognition of war dead.
*The largest Bible-binding plant in the nation is Norris Bookbinding Company in Greenwood.
*In 1834 Captain Isaac Ross, whose plantation was in Lorman, freed his slaves and arranged for them to be sent to Africa, where they founded the country of Liberia. Recently, representatives of Liberia visited Lorman and placed a stone at the Captain's gravesite in honor of his kindness.
*The first football player on a Wheaties box was Walter Payton of Columbia.
*Greenwood is the home of Cotton Row, which is the second largest cotton exchange in the nation and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
*The oldest game in America is stickball. The Choctaw Indians of Mississippi played the game. Demonstrations can be seen every July at the Choctaw Indian Fair in Philadelphia.
*The Vicksburg National Cemetery is the second largest national cemetery in the country. Arlington National Cemetery is the largest.
*D'Lo was featured in "Life Magazine" for sending proportionally more men to serve in World War II than any other town of its size. 38 percent of the men who lived in D'Lo served.
*Mississippi suffered the largest percentage of people who died in the Civil War of any Confederate State. 78,000 Mississippians entered the Confederate military. By the end of the war 59,000 were either dead or wounded.
*Pine Sol was invented in 1929 by Jackson native Harry A. Cole, Sr.
*The world's largest pecan nursery is in Lumberton.
*Root beer was invented in Biloxi in 1898 by Edward Adolf Barq, Sr.
*The Mississippi River is the largest in the United States and is the nation's chief waterway. Its nickname is Old Man River.
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Gas guzzler
Short of being on the receiving end of a fat government bailout, there was no way Juan Zamora could pay the bill. Zamora of Washington state says he pulled into a Richland, Wash., Conoco station and used his PayPal debit card to pay for $26 worth of gas for his Camaro. But when he arrived home, he had a message on his answering machine from PayPal asking him to verify a gas purchase of $81,400,836,908. Yes, over $81 billion. To add to his frustration, PayPal pegged him with a $90 overdraft fee, and he had to explain the error to two separate corporate representatives before convincing anyone that his Camaro doesn't hold $81 billion worth of gasoline. Representatives for PayPal, who have refunded Zamora the overdraft fee, explained that his customer number may have been switched with the cost per gallon.
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Writers Read http://www.whatarewritersreading.blogspot.com/ helps broaden your book search in two ways: The website introduces writers with whom you might not be familiar and asks them what they are reading. Their answers provide clues to their worldviews, which may help you decide whether to follow their leads or not.

Flashlight Worthy http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/ recommends "books so good, they'll keep you up past your bedtime." It has lists of favorite reading club books and favorite locked room mysteries, favorite books of the "famous & accomplished," and various children's books lists. You might not agree with all the suggestions, but they provide good starting points. The website allows readers to suggest books that should be added to various lists and to provide lists of their own.
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A social network for people who love books...http://www.shelfari.com/
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Keep track of all the information about your things (from electronics to antiques) in one place.http://www.mythings.com/
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Being familiar with your grocer's aisles can help you to not make impulse buys. Every store has an aisle or two that has no temptations for you (pet food, paper goods, baby supplies, cosmetics, and so forth). Make that aisle your passageway to the departments you need at the back of the store. Why tempt yourself by walking down the candy aisle?
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How to get the best life out of your bulbs: Turn off incandescents if you're leaving the room for more than five seconds; CFLs if you'll be gone for at least 15 minutes.
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E. Irvin and Clarence Scott

The year was 1879. E. Irvin and Clarence Scott arrived in Philadelphia from Saratoga County, New York, and together they opened a company that produced a product that was only spoken of in whispers. Imagine the scene: a small East Coast dry goods store ... a polite gentleman walks in ... he eyes the shelf with a certain product ... walks around a bit, picks up a box of soap, just for appearances, and finally grabs a product in a plain brown wrapper. The product? Toilet paper.

The Scott brothers' company was one of the early producers of the product. In earlier times, people used corn cobs or old newspapers in their privies. Since they were selling an unmentionable product, the Scott Paper Company saw no need to shout about it. Instead, they sold the toilet paper to merchants who would sell it either with no brand label or with a label of their own. It took a pair of eyes from another generation to change this view.

It was Irvin's son Arthur Hoyt Scott who urged the older Scotts to advertise their products. They began labeling their toilet paper "Waldorf Tissue," which was advertised as "soft as old linen." By 1907, the ScotTissue company was well known. In that year, a shipment of long tubes of tissue, which were cut down to size at the factory, was deemed defective. It was too tough, not at all like tissue. The company was stuck with a railroad car full of paper it couldn't sell. Again, Arthur had an idea. Why not cut the paper into towel-sized sheets and sell it as "paper towels."

The product was offered to the public as SaniTowels. At first, they mostly were sold for use in public buildings, but as the price dropped, people were able to buy them to use in their homes. In 1931, the company changed the name of the product from SaniTowels to ScotTowels.
________________________________

~Marie's Laughter~

A woman burst out of the examining room screaming after her young physician tells her she is pregnant. The director of the clinic stopped her and asked what the problem was. After she tells him what happened, the doctors had her sit down and relax in another room and he marched down the hallway where the woman’s physician was and demanded, “What is wrong with you? Mrs. Miller is 60 years old, has six grown children and nine grandchildren, and you told her she was pregnant?” The young physician continued to write his notes and without looking up at his superior, asked, “Does she still have the hiccups?”
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Vic Damone -- Vito Farinola
Rodney Dangerfield -- Jacob Cohen
Charlie Daniels -- Charles Edward Daniel
Ted Danson -- Edward Bridge Danson III
Tony Danza -- Anthony Iadanza
Bobby Darin -- Walden Robert Cassotto
Doris Day -- Doris Kappelhof
Dizzy Dean -- Jan Hanna Dean
Jimmy Dean -- Seth Ward
Sandra Dee -- Alexandra Zuck
John Denver -- Henry John Deutschendorf
Bo Derek -- Mary Cathleen Collins
John Derek -- Derek Harris
Angie Dickinson -- Angeline Brown
Bo Diddley -- Elias Bates
Phyllis Diller -- Phyllis Driver
Jean Dixon -- Jeane Pinckert
Troy Donahue -- Merle Johnson, Jr.
Kirk Douglas -- Issur Danielovitch Demsky
Mike Douglas -- Michael Delaney Dowd, Jr.
Patty Duke -- Anna Marie Duke
Bob Dylan -- Robert Zimmerman
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Unusual town names for Colorado:

*Climax
*Dinosaur
*Hygiene
*Last Chance
*No Name
*Parachute
*Security
*Tincup
*Yellow Jacket
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If you're ordering something from a website and want to avoid future spam, or if there's someone you'd really like to be honest with but only if you can remain anonymous, then register for a temporary e-mail account at http://www.guerrillamail.com/ It's free, and you'll be able to use the address to receive messages for 15 minutes and send them for 60 minutes. After that--poof!--you never existed.
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Did you know when you type a phrase into a search engine you're broadcasting your interests and personal information? Some search companies gather, store and sell analyses of such data strings. That's why you whould never search your full name and Social Security number or your name and password. Also:

Don't sign up for email with your favorite search engine. This makes it easier to link you and your interests.

Use a variety of engines and computers for searching. This makes it more difficult to profile you.

Find out if your ISP uses a static IP address system, and if it does, periodically request a new IP address (essentially your computer's address).

Use software that masks your computer's address, like http://www.anonymizer.com and http://www.anonymouse.org.

03.17.2009

2009-03-16T23:57:00.002-04:00

Happy Saint Patricks Day!
Here we are, halfway through the month of March. March got its name from Mars, the Roman god of war.
There are no national holidays in March, but there are some state and religious celebrations, including;
Nebraska celebrated their admission to the Union on March 1st.
On March 2, Texas celebrated the anniversary of its independance from Mexico.
And of course, there is Saint Patrick's Day on March 17.
The Jewish fesitval of Purim usually happens in March.

The year's at the Spring,
And the day's at the morn;...
God's in His heaven,
All's right with the world!
-Robert Browning
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Everything you always wanted to know about shoelaces, but were afraid to ask!
http://fieggen.com/shoelace/
At Ian's Shoelace Site, you can find lots of fun, quirky and unique ways to tie and lace up your shoes! You'll also get all kinds of information about shoelaces here, some of it useful and some of it just for fun.
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We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
-George Bernard Shaw

If you're still in touch with the kid in you, check out
http://www.thecolor.com/
and have some creative fun!
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The entire NIV version of the Bible online
http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=31
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Coca-Cola was introduced in 1886 on March 29.
The Eiffel Tower was officially opened on March 31, 1889.

March is National Women's History Month. It began in 1978 as Women's History Week. In 1987, Congress expanded it to a month.
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/womenshistorymonth/a/whm_history.htm

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Here are some uses for vinegar;

1. Kill grass on sidewalks and driveways...just pour it full strength on unwanted grass.

2. Lengthen the life of flowers in a vase. Add 2 tbsp vinegar and 1 tsp sugar for every quart of water.(4 cups of water make a quart.)

3. Relieve the itching of a mosquito or insect bite by using a cotton ball to dab vinegar straight from the bottle.

4. To prevent lint from clinging to your clothes, add one cup of vinegar to your wash load.

5. You can remove perspiration stains from your clothes by applying one part vinegar to four parts water, then rinse.

6. Use vinegar to freshen vegetables. Soak wilted vegetables in two cups of water with one tbsp of vinegar.

7. Just in time for Easter! Add 2 tbsp of vinegar to water before boiling. It will help keep the eggs from cracking.

If you have any other good uses for vinegar, send them to me to be used in a future newsletter! Twofriendsnewsletter@gmail.com

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May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow
and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

---------------------------------------------

COOL PICK

Psst! Got five minutes? Then go to http://www.5min.com/ and you'll find a huge library of five minute instructional videos for just about everything you need help with! There are over 20 categories (and 140 sub categories) for almost any type of instructional video you need. The site has fashion tips, cooking demonstrations and recipes, travel tips, game instructions, home repairs and more. There is LOTS of information here, all in five minute (or less) video clips. So the next time you need some "how to" advice, log onto 5min.com and find the help you need.
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HEALTHY LIVING

If you're trying to lose weight or just eat a healthier diet, then you know that eating at restaurants can be a challenge. It pays to do your homework BEFORE heading to the restaurant. Nowadays, most restaurants post their nutritional information online, so a quick visit to their website will take the guesswork out of deciding what to order. Another help is http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/ a great website that will give you the nutritional information for restaurants in your area, "from fast food to fine dining."
Of course, there are some common sense tips to help you choose the lower calorie option when dining out. Look for menu items that are baked, grilled, broiled or steamed, and avoid ordering anything fried. Order your salad with the dressing on the side. This gives you control over how much dressing you have. Remember, a typical serving of salad dressing is two tablespoons. (If you get a salad at a fast food restaurant, be aware that most salad dressing packets actually contain enough for TWO servings. Always read the label!) If you must have dessert, choose something that you can share with the person you're eating with. That way, you only get half the calories!

And one final tip...only eat half of your entree. Have the other half boxed up and take it home to enjoy the next day. Most restaurant portions are huge, and so is the calorie count.
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Just for fun....ten creative ice cube trays! (The one that looks like false teeth is gross and funny at the same time!)
http://www.oddee.com/item_96599.aspx
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Here's a great site for crossword puzzle fans;
http://www.onlinecrosswords.net/

************
Top o' the morning to ya. Hope everyone has had a good week. I had a good one, but golly did it ever pass quickly. For me when it's snowy and cold and gets dark before 6, the time passes so slowly. Then as soon as it starts to warm up and we change to daylight saving time, everything speeds up. I know time really doesn't slow down and speed up depending on the season, but it feels that way. So let's not let one moment of spring slip by, just in case. ~Toni
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Here is a nice site to help someone--or you--quit smoking.http://wediditstory.com/
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Justice delayed
With wait times like this, Indians with legal claims might just go vigilante. In a recent report from the top judge of the Delhi High Court, the chief justice says the court's docket is so backlogged, some cases may take up to 466 years to clear if the judges keep their present pace. Despite spending an average of 4 minutes, 55 seconds on each case presently, the Delhi High Court still has tens of thousands of cases in the hopper including more than 600 that are at least 20 years old. The Delhi court is indicative of a terminally backlogged national judicial system that the UN claims has over 20 million cases pending. One reason for the backlog? A shortage of judges. While the United States has roughly one judge for every 9,100 citizens, India has one judge for every 91,000 citizens.
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Minnesota

--Minnesotan baseball commentator Halsey Hal was the first to say 'Holy Cow' during a baseball broadcast.
--The Mall of America in Bloomington is the size of 78 football fields --- 9.5 million square feet.
--Minnesota Inventions: Masking and Scotch tape, Wheaties cereal, Bisquick, HMOs, the bundt pan, Aveda beauty products, and Green Giant vegetables.
--Minneapolis’ famed skyway system connecting 52 blocks (nearly five miles) of downtown makes it possible to live, eat, work and shop without going outside.
--Minnesota has 90,000 miles of shoreline, more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.
--Rochester is home of the world famous Mayo Clinic. The clinic is a major teaching and working facility. It is known world wide for its doctor's expertise and the newest methods of treatments. --Private Milburn Henke of Hutchinson was the first enlisted man to land with the first American Expeditionary Force in Europe in WWII on January 26, 1942.
--The first Children's department in a Library is said to be that of the Minneapolis Public Library, which separated children's books from the rest of the collection in Dec. 1889.
--The first Automatic Pop-up toaster was marketed in June 1926 by McGraw Electric Co. in Minneapolis under the name Toastmaster. The retail price was $13.50.
--The first Aerial Ferry was put into Operation on April 9, 1905, over the ship canal between Duluth to Minnesota Point. It had room enough to accommodate 6 automobiles. Round trip took 10 min.
--Tonka Trucks were developed and are continued to be manufactured in Minnetonka.
--Hormel Company of Austin marketed the first canned ham in 1926. Hormel introduced Spam in 1937.
--Introduced in August 1963, The Control Data 6600, designed by Control Data Corp. of Chippewa Falls, was the first Super Computer. It was used by the military to simulate nuclear explosions and break Soviet codes. These computers also were used to model complex phenomena such as hurricanes and galaxies.
--Candy maker Frank C. Mars of Minnesota introduced the Milky Way candy bar in 1923. Mars marketed the Snickers bar in 1930 and introduced the 5 cent Three Musketeers bar in 1937. The original 3 Musketeers bar contained 3 bars in one wrapper. Each with different flavor nougat.
--A Jehovah's Witness was the first patient to receive a transfusion of artificial blood in 1979 at the University of Minnesota Hospital. He had refused a transfusion of real blood because of his religious beliefs.
--Minnesota has one recreational boat per every six people, more than any other state.
--Author Laura Ingalls Wilder lived on Plum Creek near Walnut Grove.
--Akeley is birthplace and home of world's largest Paul Bunyan Statue. The kneeling Paul Bunyan is 20 feet tall. He might be the claimed 33 feet tall, if he were standing. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/97/228822746_2200779dee.jpg?v=0
--Hibbing is the birthplace of the American bus industry. It sprang from the business acumen of Carl Wickman and Andrew "Bus Andy" Anderson - who opened the first bus line (with one bus) between the towns of Hibbing and Alice in 1914. The bus line grew to become Greyhound Lines, Inc.
--The first official hit in the Metrodome in Minneapolis was made by Pete Rose playing for the Cincinnati Reds in a preseason game.
--Alexander Anderson of Red Wing discovered the processes to puff wheat and rice giving us the indispensable rice cakes.
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Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels, nutritional information and analysis
http://www.nutritiondata.com/
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This Procter & Gamble site was sent to use by Sharon. It has free samples and coupons. http://tinyurl.com/comp2l
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~Tips from Cheryl~

Making a Soothing Bath
For a skin friendly milk bath, pour a package of powdered nonfat dry milk into warm water. For an herbal bath, mix about 1/4 cup of your favorite herbs like mint, lavender, rosemary, etc. Put into a cloth or nylon net bag and toss into the tub. Soak for a while and relax.

Save Money: Make Your Own Prewash Spray
Mix equal amounts of dishwashing (not dishwasher) liquid, ammonia and water. Pour into a clean spray bottle and label clearly — Prewash Spray. After applying to clothing, wash right away; don't let set for more than 20 minutes.
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StimulusWatch.org and ShovelWatch.org are two of the websites recently launched to ensure that transparency occurs when the Treasury starts doling the dollars. The sites plan to act as virtual accountability groups, and both plead for the help of a nationwide network of readers. StimulusWatch.org already has posted the U.S. Conference of Mayors project wish list released in anticipation of stimulus bucks. On the site viewers can vote on the merits of each project. Currently voted most critical: $4.3 million for a nursing home in Tennessee. Least critical: nearly $100,000 for doorbells in Laurel, Miss.

http://www.stimuluswatch.org/
http://www.shovelwatch.org/
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Wash the washing machine and dishwasher. Lime and other mineral deposits clog the drainage systems in these large appliances. Run cycles through each machine without clothes or dishes. In the washing machine, run a full cycle using hot water, and add a gallon of white vinegar at the beginning; in the dishwasher, set a bowl containing three quarts of vinegar on the bottom rack, and run a cycle with the hottest water possible.
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Go here to help donate Campbell's tomato seeds and to request a packet of your own.http://www.helpgrowyoursoup.com/
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Another (very lengthy) installment of unusual town names; this week California:

*5 Brooks
*Badger
*Badwater
*Bagdad
*Bee Rock
*Bivalve
*Blunt
*Booneville
*Bumblebee
*Bummerville
*Cabbage Patch
*Chiquita
*Clapper Gap
*Confidence
*Cool
*Cow Creek
*Dairyville
*Dixieland
*Doghouse Junction
*Dogtown
*Dunmovin
*Fair Play
*Fallen Leaf
*False Klamath
*Forks of Salmon
*Fruitland
*Frying Pan
*Gas Point
*Globe
*Grand
*Hallelujah Junction
*Harmony
*Hellhole Palms
*Hells Kitchen
*Honda
*Honeydew
*Hooker
*Idlewild
*Java
*Jupiter
*Keg
*King Salmon
*Klondike
*Last Chance
*Little Penny
*Mad River
*Mormon Bar
*Mystic
*Orange
*Peanut
*Plaster City
*Rancho Cucamonga
*Roads End
*Rough and Ready
*Scarface
*Secret Town
*Siberia
*Skidoo
*Sky High
*Skytop
*Soapweed
*Soda Springs
*Squabbletown
*Stovepipe
*Sucker Flat
*Surprise
*Tarzana
*Teakettle Junction
*Timbuctoo
*Toadtown
*Truths Home
*Volcano
*Weed
*Weedpatch
*Wimp
*You Bet
*Yreka Zzyzx
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Is purple your favorite color? Here's what it means around the world:

--The Egyptian queen Cleopatra loved purple. To obtain one ounce of Tyrian purple dye, she had her servants soak 20,000 Purpura snails for 10 days.
--In Thailand, purple is worn by a widow mourning her husband's death.
--A “purple heart” is a U.S. military decoration for soldiers wounded or killed in battle.
--Purple is a royal color.
--Purple robes are an emblem of authority and rank.
--“Purple speech” is profane talk.
--“Purple prose” is writing that is full of exaggerated literary effects and ornamentation.
--Leonardo da Vinci believed that the power of meditation increases 10 times when done in a purple light, as in the purple light of stained glass.
--Purple in a child's room is said to help develop the imagination according to color theory.
--Richard Wagner composed his operas in a room with shades of violet, his color of inspiration.
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To let the cat out of the bag is to reveal a secret. But where does the phrase come from? What is the cat doing in the bag and what has this to do with secrets?

The phrase is a reference to an old scam in which a cat would be surreptitiously substituted for a suckling pig that had just been purchased at market. The cat would be placed in the bag in the hopes that the customer would not look into it until they were some distance away.

The phrase dates to at least 1760, although the scam itself is much older, dating to the 16th century at least. From London Magazine of 1760: We could have wished that the author...had not let the cat out of the bag.

Also related is the phrase to buy a pig in a poke, which is a reference to the same scam (a poke is a bag or sack). And there is a similar phrase in French, vider le sac, literally meaning to empty the sack and used to mean to tell the whole story or finish the tale.

It’s commonly asserted that let the cat out of the bag refers to the cat o’ nine-tails used on board ships as form of punishment. The whip would be kept in a special bag to protect it from the sea air and to let the cat out of the bag was to confess a crime worthy of flogging. A neat tale, except there is absolutely no evidence to connect the phrase with a nautical origin.
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Trade your old movies for someone else's at http://www.swapadvd.com/index.php This site has an excellent search engine, printable shipping labels and a queue that tells you about when to expect the DVD. Trades aren't made one-for-one, meaning you don't need to find a Batman owner who likes mermaids. After posting a list of 10 DVDs, you earn a credit that allows you to request a movie. As you send yo ur DVDs to other traders you earn more credits. The only cost to you is the postage to ship your DVD, about $2.
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When the golden sun is sinking,
and your mind from care is free,
And of others you are thinking,
will you sometimes think of me?

03.10.2009

2009-03-09T18:20:00.005-04:00

Hello everyone! Welcome to another issue of the newsletter. I hope everyone is enjoying the month of March so far. Well, I have lots to talk about so lets get right down to business! ~Phyllis

Here's a website to show you how to pick the best fruits when shopping, which will save you money
http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/07/04/04/how-to-choose-the-best-fruit-in-the-produce-section-a-guide-for-15-common-fruits.htm
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We've all had times when we needed to glue something and for one reason or another it just didn't stick! Perhaps the problem was that we didn't use the right glue for the job. Next time you need to glue something together, log on to this site to find out which glue to use;
http://www.thistothat.com/
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Last year one of my Cool Picks was for Hungry Girl. If you've checked the site out, then you know she has all kinds of tips for "guilt free eating", along with a daily newsletter. Recently her newsletter had tips for things to NEVER feed your dog. I thought I'd repeat her advice here in case you didn't subscribe to her newsletter.

1. Never give your dogs grapes or raisins...they contain a toxin that can cause kidney damage.

2. Don't let your dog eat yeast or bread dough, because it can expand in their digestive system and cause damage.

3. Chewing gum or ANYTHING with Xylitol in it can be fatal to your pet. (Not only did I get this particular advice from Hungry Girl, my dog's vet recently told me the same thing.)

4. Macadamia nuts can upset your dogs digestive and nervous systems.

5. Don't allow your dog to eat chocolate or anything with chocolate in it, because it contains theobromine and caffeine, which affect the heart and nervous system, and can be toxic.

6. Never give your dog food with onions or onion powder in it. They contain sulfoxides and and disulfides which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. (The same warning goes for garlic and garlic powder.)
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While we're on the subject of pets, let me share this site with you...
http://www.vethelpdirect.com/
Vet Help Direct is a site run by veterinarians. It has interactive questions to help you decide if your pet needs to go to the vet. But remember...no website can diagnose your dog's condition as well as an actual vet visit.
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HEALTHY LIVING

Usually I like to write about diet, exercise and fitness. But this week I'd like to about your skin...specifically about moles and dry skin.

Most of us have dry skin at least part of the time, especially in winter! There are some simple suggestions that could help. First, use mild, unscented soaps and body washes. Avoid HOT baths, because hot water actually pulls the moisture from your skin, leaving it dry, flakey and itchy. Apply a good moisturizing lotion to keep your skin smooth and soft. The best time to apply it is right after your shower, while your skin is still slightly damp. Fragrance free lotions are the best.

Moles are growths on your skin, and they are usually tan or brown. They can appear anywhere on your body, alone or in groups. When should you be concerned about a mole? Just remember ABCDE, which stands for
A...assymetry. Healthy moles should be symmetrical. If you draw an imaginary line down the center of your mole, both sides should look similar.
B....border. The border of the mole should be be smooth and distinctive, not jagged or rough.
C...color. If you have a mole that is more than one color, or a mole that changes color, it should be checked by a dermatologist.
D...diameter. The diameter of a mole should be no bigger than a pencil eraser.
E...elevation. If you have a mole that is raised or has an uneven surface, you should have it checked by a dermatologist.

Always check with your doctor if you have any concerns with dry skin or moles.
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Some pictures of lightning;
http://digital-photography-school.com/15-spectacular-lightning-images
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Learn more about recycling and find recycling centers near you at
http://earth911.com/
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FRIENDSHIP QUOTES:

A true friend is someone who thinks you are a good egg, even though he knows you are slightly cracked.
-Bernard Meltzer

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
-Walter Winchell

A friend is a present you give yourself.
-Robert Louis Stephenson

A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success.
-Doug Larson

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COOL PICK

Instead of sharing a cool pick this week, I wanted to remind everyone that this column is open to you if you have an interesting, funny, fun or cool website to share. Just write about what you like about the site, and send it in to be printed in a future newsletter. You can write a little bit about it or a lot! Send it to me at Twofriendsnewsletter@gmail.com
Toni and I welcome and appreciate your input!

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Hello everyone. For the time being here in West Virginia it is feeling very spring-like...but this is March and anything can (and probably will) happen. My Outlook Express mail server is down and has been for several days. I compile the newsletter through Outlook and so this week I'm having to do it a different way that I'm not used to so my part may not be as long as usual. Hopefully my ISP guy can get something done by next week. Well, let me see what I have to share this week... ~Toni
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~Tips from Cheryl~

Organizing Your Credit Cards

Make photocopies of all of your credit cards and store them in a secure place. Also keep your credit cards and a list of the billing addresses, phone numbers or website addresses in one place for calling and bill paying.

Easy Salad Mixing

After you've torn up the greens, and chopped the vegetables and other ingredients, put them in a large zipper-type plastic bag. Pour in the dressing, seal, and shake. Empty into a serving bowl and you'll have no mess to clean up!
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Judging junk. Ask yourself these questions to decide if it's clutter or not:

Does it work? So much of the clutter in our homes is made up of broken things we plan to fix and clothes that might someday fit.

Do I really need it? Determine the impact of this item disappearing from your life.

Do I enjoy it? If this item brings beauty and joy to your life, it is not clutter. Sentimental belongings and things that bring true beauty to our lives should be treated with great care and respect -- not packed away in the attic to be forgotten.

Am I using it now? If it doesn't fall into the 20 percent of things you use on a regular basis, it is suspect.

Will I use it in the next year? If you are not certain you will use it soon, it's clutter!
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Free stuff just for having a birthday? Maybe getting older has an upside, especially when free bowling, dinners, golf, movies, skiing and spa treatments are involved! The list is growing everyday!http://www.freebirthdaytreats.com/
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Michigan
*Michigan is first in the United States production of peat and magnesium compounds and second in gypsum and iron ore.
*Michigan ranks first in state boat registrations.
*The Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit manufactured the first air-conditioned car in 1939.
*The city of Novi was named from its designation as Stagecoach Stop # 6 or No.VI.
*The Mackinac Bridge is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. Connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, it spans 5 miles over the Straits of Mackinac, which is where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. The Mighty Mac took 3 years to complete and was opened to traffic in 1957.
*The Kellogg Company has made Battle Creek the Cereal Capital of the World. The Kellogg brothers accidentally discovered the process for producing flaked cereal products and sparked the beginning of the dry cereal industry.
*Michigan is the only place in the world with a floating post office. The J.W. Westcott II is the only boat in the world that delivers mail to ships while they are still underway. They have been operating for 125 years.
*Indian River is the home of the largest crucifix in the world. It is called the Cross in the Woods. http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles20365.jpg
*Michigan has more shoreline than any other state except Alaska.
*Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes and more than 36,000 miles of streams.
*Michigan has 116 lighthouses and navigational lights.
*Standing anywhere in the state a person is within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes.
*Michigan was the first state to provide in its Constitution for the establishment of public libraries.
*Michigan was the first state to guarantee every child the right to tax-paid high school education.
*Four flags have flown over Michigan - French, English, Spanish and United States.
*Some of the longest bulk freight carriers in the world operate on the Great Lakes. Ore carriers 1,000 feet long sail Michigan's inland seas.
*The Upper Michigan Copper Country is the largest commercial deposit of native copper in the world.
*The 19 chandeliers in the Capitol in Lansing are one of a kind and designed especially for the building by Tiffany's of New York. Weighing between 800-900 pounds apiece they are composed of copper, iron and pewter.
*The nation's first regularly scheduled air passage service began operation between Grand Rapids and Detroit in 1926.
*In 1879 Detroit telephone customers were first in the nation to be assigned phone numbers to facilitate handling calls.
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Here is some excellent ideas for couponing from Sharon:

Want to start couponing?
A Thrifty Mom and the Krazy Coupon Lady offer advice for those just getting started:

~Start small. Start saving and organizing coupons.. Check out http://athriftymom.com/ or http://krazycouponlady.blogspot.com/ for daily updates on special deals, where to find the best coupons and more. Then decide if it's worth your time and money.
~Don't think you're going to get everything for free or half-off the first time you use coupons.
~Stockpile your staples. If a store is having a great deal on nonperishable items such as pasta or cereal, and you have coupons for the same items, buy as many as you can. That way, you won't have to buy cereal again until it goes back on sale.
~Check expiration dates. Don't buy more than your family will realistically use before it goes bad.
~Know your coupon etiquette. Share, play nice and don't wipe out the whole store. Just buy what you think your family will need. Then go back later in the week, and if there's more, buy more.
~"Stack" your coupons. Yes, you can use in-store coupons and manufacturer's coupons for the same item.
~You also can use coupons for additional savings on buy-one-get-one-free promotions.
~No, you're not ripping off the store. Retailers get paid for the items by the manufacturers who issue the coupons.
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Stamp news

You've probably heard that postage is going up soon. The date is May 11. I just wanted to remind you about the rate increase and to suggest that now is a good time to start stocking up on Forever stamps.
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Here's another installment of unusual town names

Arkansas

Bald Knob
Beaver
Biggers
Blue Eye
Experiment
Fannie
Fifty-Six
Flippin
Gassville
Greasy Corner
Grubbs
Hasty
Hooker
Magazine
Moscow
Nuckles
Okay
Pocahontas
Possum
Grape
Romance
Smackover
Strawberry
Toad Suck
Turkey
Scratch
Umpire
Weiner
Yellville
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Frank Winfield Woolworth was born in 1852 on his grandfather's farm, 40 miles from the Canadian border in New York State.

When he turned 19, Woolworth was so anxious to jumpstart his sales career that he offered to work for free at Augsbury-Moore, a dry goods firm.

After two and a half years, Woolworth had increased his salary from zero to $6 a week. He left the company for a dry goods firm that offered an incredible $10 a week, but his employers were not impressed with his performance and cut his salary to $8 a week.

In 1877, his old employer at Augsbury-Moore, who had been impressed with Woolworth's work, offered to match the $10 a week, and he returned. After two more years with the company, Woolworth convinced his boss to lend him the money to open his own "Great 5-Cent Store" in Utica. It flopped.

Woolworth tried again, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This time, it was a success. He later added 10-cent items, creating the first "Five and Dime." Many imitators were to follow.

A generation grew up buying sodas from lunch counters in "dime stores," a term that is rapidly disappearing as 10-cent items become more and more scarce.

In its heyday, Woolworth had more than 2,100 variety stores throughout the world, but as the 20th century drew to a close, large discount stores such as Wal-Mart replaced the Five and Dime. Woolworth announced it would close its American dime stores.
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Did you know...
There are 18 different animal shapes in the Animal Crackers cookie zoo.
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Everyone knows that hoodwink means to deceive or to fool someone, but the meaning is not apparent from the word’s roots. The hood makes sense enough, but what about wink?

Hoodwink is a bit redundant. Both roots mean to blind. The hood is a reference to a covering of the head, and while wink today usually means to close one eye, it originally meant to close both. The verb, in a literal sense of to cover the eyes, to blindfold, dates to 1562. From An Apology of Private Mass from that year: Will you enforce women to hoodwink themselves in the church?

The sense of to fool or deceive dates to 1610 and John Healey’s translation of Augustine’s City of God: Let not the faithlesse therefore hood-winck them-selves in the knowledge of nature.
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Is blue your favorite color? Here's what the color means around the world:

~In ancient Rome, public servants wore blue. Today, police and other public servants wear blue.
~In Iran, blue is the color of mourning.
~Blue was used as protection against witches, who supposedly dislike the color.
~If you are “true blue,” you are loyal and faithful.
~Blue stands for love, which is why a bride carries or wears something blue on her wedding day.
~A room painted blue is said to be relaxing.
~“Feeling blue” is feeling sad. “Blue devils” are feelings of depression.
~Something “out of the blue” is from an unknown source at an unexpected time.
~A bluebook is a list of socially prominent people.
~The first prize gets a blue ribbon.
~A blue blood is a person of noble descent. This is probably from the blue veins of the fair-complexioned aristocrats who first used this term.
~“Into the blue” means into the unknown.
~A “bluenose” is a strict, puritanical person.
~A “bluestocking” used to be a scholarly or highly knowledgeable woman.
~The pharaohs of ancient Egypt wore blue for protection against evil.
~The “blues” is a style of music derived from southern African-American secular songs. It influenced the development of rock, R&B, and country music.
~“Blue laws” are used to enforce moral standards.
~A blue ribbon panel is a group of especially qualified people.
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From Cheryl:

"When I was a girl of fourteen, my Mother was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the woman around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much she had learned in seven years."
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New product:

Want to try a yummy new peanut butter? Try Smart Balance Natural Peanut Butter. It has no hydrogenated oil, no trans fatty acids and no refined sugar. It is gluten free, lactose free and vegan. It also contains 1000 mg of Omega-3s per serving. And best of all it doesn't need to be refrigerated so it spreads great.
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146 reasons why sugar is ruining your health http://rheumatic.org/sugar.htm
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Ballpoint-Ink Stain

THEN: Hairspray
NOW: Rubbing alcohol

Ink formulations, fabrics, and hairspray ingredients have changed today. To get rid of the ballpoint ink from clothing you launder, place the garment on a towel stain-side down. Lightly dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol and gently dab (do not rub) the stain.
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Celebrity real names

Nicolas Cage.....Nicolas Coppola
Michael Caine.....Maurice Micklewhite
Dyan Cannon.....Samile Diane Friesen
Kate Capshaw.....Kathleen Sue Nail
Diahann Carroll.....Carol Diahann Johnson
Ray Charles.....Ray Charles Robinson
Charo.....Maria Rosaria Pilar Martinex Moline Baeza
Chevy Chase.....Cornelius Crane Chase
Chubby Checker.....Ernest Evans
Cher.....Cherilyn Sarkisian LePierre
Eric Clapton.....Eric Clap
Patsey Cline.....Virginia Patterson Hensley
Perry Como.....Pierino Como
Bert Convy.....Bernard Whalen Patrick Convy
Alice Cooper.....Vincent Damon Furnier
Howard Cosell.....Howard William Cohen
Joan Crawford.....Lucille Le Sueur
Bing Crosby.....Harry Lillis Crosby
Tom Cruise.....Thomas Cruise Mapother IV
Tony Curtis.....Bernard Schwartz
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"The March wind roars
Like a lion in the sky,
And makes us shiver
As he passes by.

When winds are soft,
And the days are warm and clear,
Just like a gentle lamb,
Then spring is here."
- Author Unknown

03.03.2009

2009-03-03T01:05:00.003-05:00

March definately came in like a lion here in Maryland! We got our biggest snowstorm of the season on Sunday night...over 6 inches! I think I'll just stay inside and enjoy a nice hot cup of sugar free hot chocolate! (Although maybe I should go outside and shovel some snow. It burns a lot of calories!)
Hope things are warm and cozy where you are!
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FYIEarth Hour is on Saturday, March 2009 at 8:30 PM. To find out more, go tohttp://www.earthhour.org/
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Tips for reducing your energy usage

Most of us know at least a couple of tips for saving energy around the house in wintertime, such as turning down the thermostat or switching from incandescent bulbs. Here are a few other tips you may not have though of:

1. Close your curtains and shades at night to minimize heat loss and to cut down on the cold coming in through the windows. During the day, open your curtains to let the sunshine in to warm your home naturally.

2. Look for drafts in unfinished basements and crawl spaces. Since spider webs tend to accumulate in drafty spots, you can use them as indicators of areas that might need more insulation.

3. Wash your laundry in cold water. Did you know that heating water accounts for nearly 90% of the energy use for washing machines? Most washing machines and detergents nowadays are very effective in cold water. Also, make sure you only use your clothes washer (and dish washer too!) when you have a full load.

4. Plant trees in front of south facing windows. This will allow solar heat to penetrate the windows in winter when the tree has lost its leaves...but also provide shade in the summer, which will reduce air conditioning costs.

5. Unplug your cell phone charger and electronics when you're not using them. Even when they are turned off, if you leave them plugged in they will still draw "vampire" power.6. Reset your water heater to 120 degrees.
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COOL PICK

I'm a big fan of nostalgia. I love reminiscing about my 'glory days'. If your glory days were in the 70's then here is a site you might enjoy.
http://www.stuckinthe70s.com/index.html
From music to movies to fashion, this site has just about everything you remember from a simpler time. Browse through old Tiger Beat and 16 magazines to look back at your teen idols, like the Bay City Rollers or David Cassidy. Check out the fads and fashions of the decade. They even have recipes! So if you have fond memories of the 70's, take a trip back in time with Stuck In the 70's!

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Hey dog lovers! Check out these pictures of seven VERY LARGE dogs!

http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/Seven-of-the-Worlds-Largest-Dogs.559347
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Healthy Living

Sometimes when you start on a weight loss or exercise regime, you are very motivated. You're eating right, working out, and feeling good. But then...something happens to your motivation. It just disappears on you, and you find yourself struggling to stick to your healthy eating and exercise plan. This is what I'm going through now. After losing 25 lbs since November, I'm finding that my motivation is slipping. Instead of focusing on how much weight I've lost, I'm too busy thinking ahead to all the weight I still need to lose, and how much work I still have ahead of me. I need to remind myself of WHY I want to lose this weight, and get my motivation back. If you've ever been in the same boat, here are some tips to help you re-gain your motivation, or "mojo" as I call it.

1. Stick to only one goal. Its too hard to stay motivated when you've got too much going on. Pick one goal and follow it through. If you have other goals, you can always get back to them later.

2. Look for inspiration. For me, this means looking towards people who have accomplished what I want to accomplish. I read blogs on SparkPeople...the success stories there inspire me to keep going.

3. Realize that its normal for motivation to come and go. Don't just throw in the towel and give up. Keep doing the best you can NOW, and eventually you will re-gain your motivation.

4. Ask for help. If you are blessed with family members who are encouraging and supportive, let them know that you need help to get you motivated again. Or join an online diet support community to find others like yourself, and you can motivate each other.

5. Think about the benefits, not the hard work. Instead of thinking about how hard it is to exercise, think of how good you'll feel afterwards, and how it will make you healthier (& slimmer) in the long run.

If your motivation is missing, I hope these tips help you to find it again!

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Here's a fun site for kids...they can create their own comic strip!

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/

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Ooey Gooey Chocolate Cherry Muffins

This is a healthy, low calorie recipe from Hungry Girl! The recipe makes 12 muffins, with only 131 calories each! (And only 0.5 g fat!)

INGREDIENTS:

1 Box No Pudge Original Fat Free Brownie Mix
1 cup Fiber One cereal (original, the kind that looks like little twigs) crushed
2/3 cup light cherry pie filling
1/4 cup light vanilla soy milk

Preheat oven to 400.
In a bowl, mix all ingredients together. Place batter evenly into a 12 cup muffin pan sprayed with non stick spray (or lined with baking cups, which is what I do.) Bake for 20 minutes. Enjoy!
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I don't go out to eat very often, but when I do, I first check out

http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/
Whether its a fast food or a sit down restaurant, healthydiningfinder helps me plan my meal in advance so I know how many calories I'm getting.
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To check out your 'carbon footprint', go to this site and fill in the blanks on a few easy questions.
http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/

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We didn't get as much snow as Phyllis did (only about an inch) but still I'm considering March coming in like a lion because of the extreme cold and high winds. All I can say is this has been an unusually long winter and I was happy to flip the calendar page from February to March. I got some wonderfully red and sweet strawberries at the store today so things are at least tasting like spring...hopefully soon it will start to feel like spring. ~Toni
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This coming Sunday is the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. Yay! It is one of my favorite days of the entire year!! Here you can read everything you could possibly ever want to know about Daylight Saving Time--it's history and why we use it plus lots more.
http://www.energy.ca.gov/daylightsaving.html
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John Jacob Bausch

John Jacob Bausch was born in 1830 in Switzerland, one of seven children. When Bausch was only six years old, his mother died.

Bausch's first job was assisting in his older brother's spectacle-making business.
In 1848, the younger Bausch got word of an opening at an optical shop in Berne, so he left on foot for the city. When he arrived, he got the job at a starting salary of 36 cents a day. After only a year however, Bausch decided to try his luck in America.

He traveled to Buffalo, New York, where he worked as a cook's assistant, then moved to Rochester, where he found work as a wood-turner. There he suffered an accident. His hand got caught in the machinery, and he was forced to leave the trade.

Once he had recovered from the accident he tried selling his brother's optical supplies. The business seemed promising, and he convinced a friend to join him in business making eyeglasses. That friend's name was Henry Lomb.
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~Cheryl's Tips~

Cleaning Washing Machine Interior If you notice a residue buildup, left from detergents or hard-water minerals, you can remove them by filling the washer with hot water and pouring in a gallon of cheap white or apple cider vinegar. Run it through one complete cycle and it should be gone. Do this only periodically, so you don't damage the interior surface.

Pasta Boiling Over or Sticking to Pot? End these messy problems simply by greasing or spraying the sides with cooking spray before you put the water in to boil. And of course always monitor the pasta as it's cooking!
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Massachusetts

~Boston built the first subway system in the United States in 1897.
~In Holyoke, William G. Morgan, created a new game called "Mintonette" in 1895. After a demonstration given at the YMCA in nearby Springfield, the name "Mintonette" was replaced with the now familiar name "Volleyball."
~There is a house in Rockport built entirely of newspaper.
~The Fig Newton was named after Newton, Massachusetts.
~The visible portion of Plymouth Rock is a lumpy fragment of glacial moraine about the size of a coffee table, with the date 1620 cut into its surface. After being broken, dragged about the town of Plymouth by ox teams used to inspire Revolution-aries, and reverently gouged and scraped by 19th-century souvenir hunters, it is now at rest near the head of Plymouth Harbor.
~The first U.S.Postal zip code in Massachusetts is 01001 at Agawam.
~Harvard was the first college established in North America. Harvard was founded in 1636. Because of Harvard's size there is no universal mailing address that will work for every office at the University.
~The Boston University Bridge on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston is the only place in the world where a boat can sail under a train driving under a car driving under an airplane.
~The Children's Museum in Boston displays a giant milk bottle on the museum's wharf. If it were real it would hold 50,000 gallons of milk and 8,620 gallons of cream.
~Princeton was named after the Reverend Thomas Prince, Pastor of the Old South Church in Boston, and one of the first proprietors of the town. Princeton was incorporated in 1759.
~In 1908, Miss Caroline O. Emmerton purchased The House of the Seven Gables - built in 1668 - restored it to its present state and, in 1910, opened the site to the touring public. The seven-gabled house inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne to write his famous novel of the same name.
~The Boston Tea Party reenactment takes place in Boston Harbor every December 16th.
~Balance Rock in Lanesborough is named in honor of a 25' x 15' x 10 boulder that balances upon a small stone below it. http://tinyurl.com/acjg72
~The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in Plymouth in 1621.
~The first nuclear-powered surface vessel, USS Long Beach CG (N) 9, was launched at Quincy in 1961.
~The USS Constitution 'Old Ironsides', the oldest fully commissioned vessel in the US Navy is permanently berthed at Charlestown Navy Yard. Since 1897 the ship has been overhauled several times in Dry Dock 1.
~The official state dessert of Massachusetts is Boston cream pie.
~Milford is known the world over for its unique pink granite, discovered in the 1870's and quarried for many years to grace the exteriors of museums, government buildings, monuments and railroad stations.
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Phyllis and I don't get together with our newsletter ideas beforehand. She does her half and I do mine and then I put them together. So I guess it's a case of "great minds thinking alike" when we each have a site to share that deals with dogs.
Welcome to Funny Dog Site. We update funny dog pictures on a daily basis. Cute Puppies, Funny Dogs. Hilarious pictures every day!
http://www.funnydogsite.com/
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I am always searching for foods that are free of hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils. My latest discovery is Vinta crackers. Yummy!
http://www.darefoods.com/usa-en/products/crackers/vinta/index.shtml
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From Cheryl:

Interestingly, koi, when put in a fish bowl, will only grow up to three inches. When this same fish is placed in a large tank, it will grow to about nine inches long. In a pond, koi can reach lengths of eighteen inches. Amazingly, when placed in a lake, koi can grow to three feet long. The metaphor is obvious. You are limited by how you see the world.
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Online Multimedia Educational Games for Kids in Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary Grades http://www.iknowthat.com/com
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Is green your favorite color? Here's what the color means around the world:

~Only one national flag is a solid color: the green flag of Libya.
~Ancient Egyptians colored the floors of their temples green.
~In ancient Greece, green symbolized victory.
~In the highlands of Scotland, people wore green as a mark of honor.
~Green is the national color of Ireland.
~A “greenback” is slang for a U.S. dollar bill.
~Green means “go.” When “all systems are green,” it means everything is in order.
~The green room of a concert hall or theater is where performers relax before going onstage.
~The “green-eyed monster” is jealousy.
~A greenhorn is a newcomer or unsophisticated person.
~Green is youthful.
~Being “green around the gills” is looking pale and sickly.
~“Green with envy” means full of envy or jealousy.
~A person with a “green thumb” is good at making plants grow.
~A green, or common, is a town park.
~Green is a healing color, the color of nature.
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Savings ideas on everything from banking fees to groceries. This is a very comprehensive list and not all will be applicable to you, but you're sure to find and idea or two. http://kiplinger.com/features/archives/2009/02/print-all-ideas-save-fifty-dollars-day.html
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Miscellaneous trivia
There are 119 grooves on the edge of a quarter.
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Hand Crafted Fun Multi Colored Crayons! Each Crayon is a Work of Art - No Two Are Alike!Made From the National Crayon Recycle Program. http://www.crazycrayons.com/
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FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) - Authorities arrested a man who claimed he was justified in stealing candy at a truck stop because he had served in the military. Police said an officer confronted a 31-year-old man at the truck stop early Monday morning. The officer reported finding several packages of candy and nuts, two black T-shirts and a 20 oz. bottle of beer in his pockets.
He said he had paid for all the items, but a clerk denied ringing up any purchases for him.
A report stated that while in the patrol vehicle, the man screamed out the window that he had served in the military over in Iraq and could steal all the M&M'S he wanted.
His veteran status could not be immediately verified.
The man was charged with retail theft and was being held on $5,000 bail.
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Make your next broom your last... Some ideas to make your brooms last longer and do a better job.
1. Always use a holder to keep the broom stored off the floor or store with the broom side up. (Resting on the floor the fibers will flatten and reduce the effectiveness of the broom).
2. Comb out the fibers regularly to remove debris.
3. Brooms can be cleaned with mild detergent and water; this is a good job for your spouse if they forget your birthday.
4. Always sweep gently in order to let the bristles do the work.
5. Push broom blocks have two handle holes (one on each side). Change the sides often so that fibers wear evenly.
6. The correct length for a broom handle is from the floor to the bridge of your nose. Remember to sweep in an upright position to prevent back fatigue. (Note from Toni: I am short and my broom handle only comes to my chin, so I can't figure this one out...)
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Did you know?

CFL bulbs work best in rooms where they'll be left on for at least 15 minutes. Frequent on-and-off (say, in a closet or pantry) can shorten bulb life, so the replacement cost can outweigh energy savings.
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Celebrity real names

Lauren Bacall..........Betty Jaon Perske
Pat Benatar..........Patricia Andrejewski
Tony Bennett..........Anthony Dominick Benedetto
Jack Benny..........Benjamin Kubelsky
Milton Berle..........Mendel Berlinger
Robert Blake..........Michael James Vijencio Gubitosi
Jon Bon Jovi..........John Francis Bongiovi
Bono..........Paul Hewson
Sonny Bono..........Salvatore Bono
Pat Boone..........Charles Eugene Boone
David Bowie..........David Jones
Charles Bronson..........Charles Buchinsky
George Burns..........Nathan Birnbaum
Richard Burton..........Richard Jenkins
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R.I.P. Paul Harvey http://www.abcrn.com/harvey/
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"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold; when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." ~ Charles Dickens

02.24.2009

2009-02-24T00:06:00.002-05:00

Healthy Living

Here's a tip...season your food to help you lose weight! Researchers from the Endocrine Society assembled a group of overweight volunteers. They asked the volunteers to sprinkle an assortment of flavoring crystals ranging from savory to sweet onto neutral tasting food before eating it. Half of the participants were given crystals that were unflavored.

After a period of 6 months, the results were in...after checking each volunteers weight and BMI, it was reavealed that the ones who used the flavored crystals lost an average of almost 31 pounds! The group with the unflavored cyrstals averaged a drop of only 2 pounds.

What does this mean? Researchers have theorized that having flavorful food enhances our senses of smell and taste, helps us to eat a little less, to savor our meals (and eat them more slowly) and ultimately helps control our weight.

So season up! Just remember to go easy on the sodium!
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Did you know?...
If you wear a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day, you've walked approximately 5 miles!
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Just because your shower curtain gets "showered" every day doesn't mean its clean and germ free. It can get slimy, and slime is a perfect place to breed bacteria, like methylobacteria, which can contribute to respiratory problems. So wash your vinyl shower curtain regularly in your washing machine with a bleach alternative detergent.
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Dental care for Fido and Fluffy
Yes, your pet needs dental care, not only from your vet but at home too. Here are three steps recommended by the American Veterinary Dental Society.
1. Take your pet to the vet for a dental exam. Do it now if you suspect a problem, otherwise you can wait for your pets annual checkup.
2. Start a dental care regimen at home. One of the most convenient and effective ways to fight oral disease is to feed your pet specially formulated foods proven effective in combating plaque buildup. The "Seal of Acceptance" from the Veterinary Oral Health Council will appear on products that meet defined standards for plaque control in dogs and cats. (You can get more info on the VOHC at their website.... www.vohc.org )
3. Schedule regular veterinary checkups. This is important in helping your vet monitor the progress of your pets dental health routine.
For more information, visit www.petdental.com
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COOL PICK
Grocery prices are going up all the time, and you definately want to get your money's worth. Convenience foods are, well....convenient! But they don't come cheap. And its frustrating to try a new convenience food only to find its just not that good.. So before you shell out your money on a frozen meal or other convenience food that you've never tried before, why not go to
http://heateatreview.com/
There you will find reviews of pretty much any frozen meal or convenience food out there. Find out what others think of it, and see how many stars they give it, from 5 to zero. Happy dining!
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One thing that really annoys me is automated phone systems. Why can't I just talk to a real person? If you feel the same way, then check out "GetHuman", a database to help you actually talk to a live person!

http://gethuman.com/
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I haven't thoroughly checked this site out, but for those of you into genealogy, this might be one that you'll like;
http://www.geni.com/
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EASY CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI CASSEROLE

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 box frozen broccoli, broken apart
1 can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup
3 Tbsp fat free mayonaise
1 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350.

Boil chicken breasts until done; drain. When cool enough to handle, cut into one inch pieces.
In a square casserole dish, mix mayonaise and soup. Add broccoli and chicken; mix well.
Sprinkle with cheese.

Bake uncovered until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.

This casserole makes 4 servings, with only 275 calories per serving.

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Hi everybody! John and I spent today shoveling out from 8 inches of wet, heavy snow. I'm starting to get some real "shoveling muscles". lol I wish I had more to talk about but things have been pretty quiet around here. ~Toni
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Casimir Pulaski Day

On the first Monday in March, kids in Illinois get a day off from school in honor of a man who never set foot in the American Midwest.

Casimir Pulaski (1748?-1779) was a Polish native who became a war hero in two countries. In Poland, he was a leader in the effort to defend his nation against Russian forces in the 1760s and 1770s. When the defense ultimately failed to prevent the partition of Poland, Pulaski fled his country. He was eventually recruited by Benjamin Franklin to help fight against the British for American independence.

Pulaski's achievements during the American Revolution, as chief of cavalry and while heading an independent legion, are recognized in Illinois each year on the first Monday of March. Illinois is home to just under one tenth of the Polish-American population.
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~Tips from Cheryl~

Buying Nonstick Pans? Because they can scratch, they need extra care. When cooking, don't use metal utensils; instead a wood or plastic one will be better to save the surface. Never use abrasive cleaners, instead clean in hot soapy water and scrub with a nylon scrubber. The pans will last longer.

Pet Hair on Clothing, Furniture, Rugs? Remove it in a snap by wiping over the hairy areas with a damp sponge or tape wound around your hand (sticky side out). To get hair off furniture quickly, rub the areas with a clean sneaker with a ribbed sole.
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Americans will have more time to prepare for the the transition from analog to digital TV after Congress passed legislation delaying the Feb. 17 switch until June 12. Despite an extensive government advertising campaign, the Nielsen Company estimated last month that 6.5 million households were unprepared for the change--partly because the government ran out of $40 coupons intended to defray the cost of converter boxes. The President has pushed for more financing to continue the coupon program, including up to $650 million pending in the stimulus package.
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~Marie's Laughter~

A couple goes for a meal at a Chinese restaurant and order Chicken Surprise. The waiter brings the meal, served in a lidded, cast iron pot. Just as the wife is about to serve herself, the lid of the pot rises slightly and she briefly sees two beady little eyes looking around befoer the lid slams back down. "Good grief, did you see that?" she asks her husband. He didn't, so she asks him to look in the pot. He reaches for it and again the lid rises, and he sees two little eyes looking around before the lid slams down. Rather perturbed, he calls the waiter over, explains what is happening and demands an explanation. "Please sir", says the waiter, "what you order?" The husband replies, "Chicken Surprise".
"Ah! So sorry", says the waiter, "I bring you Peeking Duck!"
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Maryland

~The United States Naval Academy was founded on October 10, 1845 at Annapolis.
~In 1830 the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company built the first railroad station in Baltimore.
~Fort Meade near Laurel became a base because a train engineer delivering soldiers to Meade knew only one Meade, the one in Maryland. He was not aware of Fort Meade, Florida. The confusion happened so often a second base was built in Maryland in an attempt to avoid the confusion.
~Other Major League Ball player besides "The Babe" born in Maryland include Cal Ripken, Jr., Billy Ripken, Lefty Grove, Frank (Home Run) Baker, Harold Baines, Al Kaline, Denny Neagle, and Jimmie Foxx.
~America's national anthem was written by Francis Scott Key a Maryland lawyer. It is believed Key wrote the anthem on September 14, 1814 while watching the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor.
~Since May 30th, 1949 the United States flag has flown continuously over the monument marking the site of Francis Scott Key's birthplace. The flag flies at Terra Rubra Farm, Carroll County, Keymar, Maryland as mandated by a Joint Resolution of Congress.
~The National Aquarium is located in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
~Located in the Chesapeake Bay, Smith Island is Maryland's only inhabited off-shore island.
~The highest point in Maryland is 3,360 feet above sea level on Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. The absolute lowest point in Maryland is a depression, often called Bloody Point Hole, 174 feet below sea level. The area is located approximately 1 mile west-southwest of the southern tip of Kent Island in Queen Anne's County.
~On June 24,1784, in Baltimore, 13-year old Edward Warren went airborne in the first successful manned balloon launch in the United States.
~Samuel F.B. Morse reportedly received the first telegraph message in Bladensburg, in 1844, before his famous "What Hath God Wrought" message between Baltimore and Washington. His telegraph wire had been strung along the railroad right of way. Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University, lived in Bladensburg and is said to have invented the telegraph pole.
~The Concord Point Lighthouse in Havre de Grace is the oldest continuously operated lighthouse in the State of Maryland.
~Mount Airy is unique because two counties, Carroll and Frederick, divide it.
~On the morning of August 10, 1813 residents of Saint Michaels having been forewarned of a British attack hoisted lanterns to the masts of ships and in the tops of the trees. The height of light caused cannons to overshoot the town. This first known blackout was effective and only one house was struck and is now known as the "Cannonball House." The town has been known as the town that fooled the British since this historic event.
~Maryland gave up some of it's land to form Washington D.C.
~Sixteen of the 23 Maryland counties border on tidal water. The combined length of tidal shoreline, including islands, is 4,431 miles.
~Clara Barton National Historic Site commemorates the life of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. The house in Glen Echo served as her home and headquarters for the American Red Cross and a warehouse for disaster relief supplies.
~Annapolis was known as the Athens of America during the seventeenth century and once served as the capital of the United States.
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Do we need a new Internet?http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/weekinreview/15markoff.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
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Unusual town names in Arizona

Bagdad
Boneyard
Bootlegger
Crossing
Bumble Bee
Carefree
Chloride
Floss
Goobertown
Goodyear
Many Farms
Nothing
Show Low
Strong
Surprise
Three Forks
Tuba City
Two Guns
Why
Winkleman
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For the sake of the cleanup, workers could only be thankful it wasn't a tanker truck that crashed. And sorry that they didn't bring marshmallows. An 18-wheeler carrying nearly 24 tons of cocoa powder crashed just outside of Elkview WV, spilling its contents onto the I-79 roadway and forcing a closure on the interstate's southbound lanes for 14 hours. The truck's driver escaped the crash with only minor injuries, but his payload of 47,000 pounds of cocoa was ruined, intermittently catching fire on the interstate as blowtorch-wielding rescue workers attempted to peel back the truck's roof.
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Is red your favorite color? Here's what the color means around the world:

~For the ancient Romans, a red flag was a signal for battle.
~Because of its visibility, stop signs, stoplights, brake lights, and fire equipment are all painted red.
~The ancient Egyptians considered themselves a red race and painted their bodies with red dye for emphasis.
~In Russia, red means beautiful. The Bolsheviks used a red flag as their symbol when they overthrew the tsar in 1917. That is how red became the color of communism.
~In India, red is the symbol for a soldier.
~In South Africa, red is the color of mourning.
~It's considered good luck to tie a red bow on a new car.
~In China, red is the color of good luck and is used as a holiday and wedding color. Chinese babies are given their names at a red-egg ceremony.
~Superstitious people think red frightens the devil.
~A “red-letter day” is one of special importance and good fortune.
~In Greece, eggs are dyed red for good luck at Easter time.
~To “paint the town red” is to celebrate.
~Red is the color most commonly found in national flags.
~In the English War of the Roses, red was the color of the House of Lancaster, which defeated the House of York, symbolized by the color white.
~The “Redshirts” were the soldiers of the Italian leader Garibaldi, who unified modern Italy in the nineteenth century.
~To “see red” is to be angry.
~A “red herring” is a distraction, something that takes attention away from the real issue.
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One cent book sale

This is NOT buy a book at regular price, get the second for a penny. This is a real sale, where the books are really only one cent each. Sale runs three day only, from Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 24 - 26. Limit two one cent books per customer. Shipping is extra, but cheap. Book list only visible on sale dates.
http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default.asp?N=0&rid=dworsky
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Rain, sleet, snow: These are merely nuisances for Rockport, Mass. postal workers. Turkeys, on the other hand, are proving to be another story. The U.S. Postal Service was forced to stop delivery service to some homes on a local Rockport route when a flock of turkeys began aggressively pecking at one mail carrier. Rockport Post Office Delivery Manager Tim Russell said the flock of about 10 has been attacking postal workers and their trucks for about five months. In mid January, "people had to intervene so (the mail carrier) could get back to his truck," Russell told the Gloucester Daily Times. "He was trying to wave a bag full of mail at the turkeys as he ran when some folks pulled over to shoo the turkeys away." An official with the state Environmental Police has advised the post office to arm its postal workers with umbrellas to fend off the territorial turkeys, saying the large agressive males will interpret an opened umbrella as an even larger, even more agressive turkey.
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Miscellaneous trivia
Scarlett O' Hara, Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind lead character, was originally given the name Pansy.
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Find Your Cheapest Cellular Service Plan
http://cellphones.about.com/library/bl_pt_q1.htm?q=UPT-TAKEAGAIN
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Celebrity real names

Eddie Albert..........Edward Albert Heimberger
Jason Alexander..........Jay Scott Greenspan
Woody Allen..........Allen Konigsberg
Don Ameche..........Dominic Felix Amici
Julie Andrews..........Julia Elizabeth Wells
Beatrice Arthur..........Bernice Frankel
Fred Astaire..........Frederick Austerlitz
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02.17.2009

2009-02-16T19:57:00.004-05:00

Hello! I hope you all had a very romantic Valentines Day! ~Phyllis

Got a pair of old glasses that you don't want or need anymore, but they are still in good, useable shape? Donate them to

http://www.neweyesfortheneedy.org/
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COOL PICK

Wondering what to do with your old, nearly obsolete electronics? You can't just toss them in the trash, since the toxic metals used to make them will end up contaminating groundwater! Instead, why not trade them in for a gift card from Best Buy? Go to
https://www.bestbuytradein.com/bb/
There you will be able to get an estimate for the value of your item. If you are happy with the estimate, then complete the transaction, pack up the item, print out a pre-paid shipping label and send it in. In return you will be sent a Best Buy store gift card for the agreed upon amount, usually within 2 weeks.
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To help out schools in your area, check out;
http://www.donorschoose.org/about/about.html?zone=112
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If you've ever gone on a diet, you probably know what a plateau is! Its very frustrating to be exercising and eating right, and yet the scale is no longer moving DOWN. Instead of giving up, why not try some of these tips for beating the plateau?

1. First make sure you're not eating too much. This is where keeping a food journal really comes in handy! If you are being honest and writing down everything you eat (including little "tastes" here and there) then you'll be able to see if you are really eating within your calorie range, or if you are going overboard..

2. Don't underestimate the importance of drinking water. Hydration promotes muscle building, which boosts your metabolism.

3. Change your workout. If you're doing the same type of exercise every day, then your body will become used to it and you'll stop losing weight as quickly. If you're at a plateau, try doing a different exercise for a couple of weeks, and the scale should start moving again.

These three tips will usually do the trick for beating a plateau. Remember to check with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.
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Are your kids (or grandkids) into creative writing? They might enjoy Tikatok! Tikatok is 'where kids channel their imagination into stories.' They can create their own books....cool! A very fun site for kids up to age 14.

http://www.tikatok.com/
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Here's a site for kids of all ages (that means you too!)
http://www.cardtricksite.com/
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Kitchen sponges are perfect...for spreading germs, that is! Because it is porous, a sponge is great for bacterial growth, especially if you use it to wipe up juices from raw meat. You can spread salmonella or e. coli!
Here's how to keep your sponge clean and germ free. After wiping up your spill, wash the sponge with soap and HOT water. You should also regularly put it in the dishwasher to disinfect it. If you don't have a dishwasher, you can sanitize your sponge by getting it damp and microwaving it on high for a minute or two. Be careful when removing it from the microwave because it will be very hot.
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Here's a tasty, low calorie recipe that your entire family will like.

Low Fat Cheeseburger Pie

Ingredients;

1 lbs extra lean ground turkey
1 cup nonfat cottage cheese
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, chopped
3/4 cup Kraft 2% shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup water
3/4 cup Heartsmart Bisquick mix
4 slices of tomato

Preheat oven to 350.
Brown turkey, onion and garlic in pan.
While meat mixture is browning, mix Bisquick and water to form dough. You may or may not need to add a little more water as you mix. Use a rolling pin to roll dough flat and put in a pie tin. (You may have extra dough.)
Mix worcestershire sauce into meat mixture.
In a bowl, mix cottage cheese and egg.
Pour meat mixture over the Bisquick crust in the pie pan.
Pour cottage cheese and egg mixture over the meat.
Top with shredded cheddar cheese, then place tomato slices on top.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

YEILD: 8 servings at around 165 calories each, with 4.5 grams of fat per serving.

****************
Hello everyone. Thought I'd lay this out differently this time and see how it looked. Last week our temperatures got up to 70 two days in a row which was a welcome treat for February. Warm weather in February is seldom free though and this time we paid with a wind storm. We didn't have any damage locally for which I am thankful. We lost power for one day, which was mild compared to things I saw on the news that had happened in other places. Gas prices are going back up here; last time I was out it was $2.05.
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I had some positive feedback last week with the unusual town names, so I'll try to include a different state each week.

Unusual town names in Alaska

Chicken
Deadhorse
Eek
Lefthand Bay
Nightmute
Unalaska
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More great tips from Cheryl

Furndents? If there are dents in your carpet where furniture has been placed and you've moved it, get your steam iron out. Hold it an inch or two above the carpet (do not let it touch the carpet) over the dent and press the steam button several times. Allow the steam to hit the carpet dent. Then fluff up fibers with your fingers.

How to Store Bananas If bananas need a fast ripening, put them into a plastic or paper bag. When they've reached ripeness, place them into the refrigerator. Although the skins will darken, the fruit will be okay for about a week or so.
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Maine

~Eastport is the most eastern city in the United States. The city is considered the first place in the United States to receive the rays of the morning sun.
~In Wilton there's a cannery that imports and cans only dandelion greens.
~Approximately 40 millions pounds (nearly 90 percent) of the nation's lobster supply is caught off the coast of Maine.
~Maine produces 99% of all the blueberries in the country making it the single largest producer of blueberries in the United States.
~Acadia National Park is the second most visited national park in the United States.
~West Quoddy Head is the most easterly point in the United States.
~Mount Katahdin is the state's highest point at 5,268 feet above sea level.
~90% of the country's toothpick supply is produced in Maine.
~The skating scene in the movie "The Preacher's Wife" was filmed in Deering Oaks Park in Portland.
~With a total area of 33,215 square miles the state covers nearly as many square miles as the other five New England states combined.
~The coastline boasts so many deep harbors it is thought all the navies in the world could anchor in them.
~Numerous lighthouses dot the Main coast including Fort Point Lighthouse at Fort Point State Park in Stockton Springs and Grindle Point Lighthouse on Isleboro.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was considered the most influential poet of his day. The writer was born in Portland, on February 2, 1807. His most popular works include "The Courtship of Miles Standish", "Evangeline" and "Hiawatha".
~Maine contains 542,629 acres of state and national parks.
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Miscellaneous trivia
The Caesar salad is not named after Julius Caesar. It is named for its creator, Caesar Cardini, who first prepared the salad in his Caesar's Palace Restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico.
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~Marie's Laughter~

One day the first grade teacher was reading the story of Chicken Little to her class. She came to the part of the story where Chicken Little tried to warn the farmer. She read, ".... and so Chicken Little went up to the farmer and said, "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!" The teacher paused then asked the class, "And what do you think that farmer said?"One little girl raised her hand and said, "I think he said: 'Holy Mackerel! A talking chicken!'"
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$2 off coupon
http://www.bizstainfighter.com/
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Cleaning Vinyl Floors

Vinyl floors generally only require warm water when cleaning. We don't use a detergent on vinyl floors because it always leaves a sticky residue and does not rinse clean. We use a 50/50 water and vinegar solution which is residue free and deodorizes at the same time.

If you find your vinyl floor requires a deeper cleaning, you can try using ivory dish liquid. This detergent rinses clean and leaves no sticky build up. It is inexpensive and works very well.

Damp mop your floors on a regular basis, using 1gallon of water and a mild pH neutral cleaner.

Wet the floors with your cleaning solution and wait a few minutes to allow the detergent to soften and loosed the grime, then wipe dry with a soft dry cloth.

If you work on harder and more stubborn girt or grime you can scrub your floor with the white nylon-backed sponge.

To mop your vinyl floors we use just warm water or water and vinegar at a 50/50 ratio. Do not allow water to sit for long periods at it may damage or loosen the glue around the edges.
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HubbleSite--out of the ordinary...out of this world! http://hubblesite.org/
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Digging shallow Unlike some taxpayers, one Queens, NY property owner probably won't need to reach too far into his pocket to foot this bill. Victor Serby, who owns property in Queens but lives in Woodmere, NY received a bill from New York City's finance department in the amount of 23 cents. City officials say the tiny charge was one of 10,000 bills the city mistakenly sent out trying to collect amounts less than $5. According to city records, the finance department will book a minus -62 percent return on investment considering the 60-cent capital cost of postage, paper and processing per bill mailed. And, though the Long Island patent attorney paid his back taxes all at once, the city's installment plan could have allowed him to mail in a 12-cent payment in January and the remaining 11 cents in April.
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Word of the Day
pogonip
Pronunciation: /PO-gan-ip/
n : a dense winter fog containing frozen particle that is formed in deep mountain valleys of the western U.S.
"As the hikers descended from the mountain peak into a frigid pogonip , a frozen mist blotted out the trail and made breathing painful."
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New stamps:

The public is welcome to attend the Feb. 21 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Board Meeting in New York City, when the Postal Service immortalizes the courage, commitment and achievements of 12 civil rights leaders. The dedication ceremony will take place at 10:15 a.m. in the New York Hilton Hotel and Towers’ Trianon Ballroom, 2nd Floor, 2335 Ave. of the Americas.

Art director Ethel Kessler and stamp designer Greg Berger, both of Bethesda, MD, chose to approach this project through photographic montage. Pairing two pioneers in each stamp was a way of intensifying the montage effect.

Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954) Throughout her long life as a writer, activist, and lecturer, she was a powerful advocate for racial justice and women’s rights in America and abroad.

Mary White Ovington (1865-1951) This journalist and social worker believed passionately in racial equality and was a founder of the NAACP.

J. R. Clifford (1848-1933) He was the first black attorney licensed in West Virginia; in two landmark cases before his state’s Supreme Court, he attacked racial discrimination in education.

Joel Elias Spingarn (1875-1939) Because coverage of blacks in the media tended to be negative, he endowed the prestigious Spingarn Medal, awarded annually since 1915, to highlight black achievement.

Oswald Garrison Villard (1872-1949) He was one of the founders of the NAACP and wrote the “Call” leading to its formation.

Daisy Gatson Bates (1914-1999) She mentored nine black students who enrolled at all-white Central High School in Little Rock, AR, in 1957. The students used her home as an organizational hub.

Charles Hamilton Houston (1895-1950) This lawyer and educator was a main architect of the civil rights movement. He believed in using laws to better the lives of underprivileged citizens.

Walter White (1893-1955) Blue eyes and a fair complexion enabled this leader of the NAACP to make daring undercover investigations.

Medgar Evers (1925-1963) He served with distinction as an official of the NAACP in Mississippi until his assassination in 1963.

Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977) She was a Mississippi sharecropper who fought for black voting rights and spoke for many when she said, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

Ella Baker (1903-1986) Her lifetime of activism made her a skillful organizer. She encouraged women and young people to assume positions of leadership in the civil rights movement.

Ruby Hurley (1909-1980) As a courageous and capable official with the NAACP, she did difficult, dangerous work in the South.
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100 ideas to save money...http://tinyurl.com/yw5lqm
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The grass is not greener on the other side; the grass is greener where you water it.

02.10.2009

2009-02-09T23:19:00.002-05:00

Hello. We are currently out of our deep freeze here in West Virginia! We have had snow on the ground for weeks and now it is finally gone. Like I posted on my MySpace page, "under all the white, it's green!" ha I think by the weekend it's back to winter weather, but this break has been wonderful for as long as it lasts. It was warm enough that John and I were able to wash the car and truck today. I love playing with the water hose, so I had a super time. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone ~Toni
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~~Phyllis~~

Hi everyone! I didn't do my part of the newsletter last week because I was on vacation in central Florida with my two grown sons. We had a great time and the weather was perfect...sunny and in the high 70's! It was nice to have a taste of warm weather, although it made it hard to come back to cold Maryland!
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Here are links to two of the places I went to when I was in Florida. We didn't go to DisneyWorld...we prefer the "old school" type of tourist attractions such as GatorLand and Silver Springs. GatorLand was established in 1949 and is still going strong today. They have shows, (including a gator wrestling show), a nature walk and lots more. They even serve alligator ribs at the food stands for anyone brave enough to try them!

http://www.gatorland.com/

Silver Springs is home to the famous "glass bottom boats" and the beautiful, clear spring waters that pump out over 500 MILLION gallons of water a day...enough to supply New York City! They also have animal shows, a jeep safari ride and beautiful gardens full of tropical birds.

http://www.silversprings.com/

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February is black history month. Since I went to Silver Springs last week, that got me thinking about Paradise Park. Segregation was a way of life in the South in the 1940's, and Paradise Park was an example of how one of Florida's biggest tourist attractions handled it.
Paradise Park opened in 1949 right next to Silver Springs. It was billed as "Silver Springs for Colored People." There were glass bottom boats there, along with animal shows. Fortunately, Silver Springs became integrated and Paradise Park closed in 1956.

To read about Paradise Park and to see an old brochure for it, click here

http://www.lostparks.com/paradisepark.html

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HEALTHY LIVING

The way to lose weight is summed up in four words; eat less, move more. Sure it SOUNDS easy, but losing weight is hard work. Here are five tips to help you lose weight once you are mentally ready to begin the effort.

1. Drink plenty of water!
64 ounces a day is recommended. Every organ and tissue in your body needs water for good health. Drinking more water not only helps you feel better, it also helps break down fats after exercise.

2. Eat protein.
Protein is more filling that carbs and fats. It also helps keep your metabolism revved up. Meat is the obvious source for protein, but if you're a vegetarian (like me) you can also get protein from eggs, peanut butter, beans, lentils, tofu and cheese.

3. Pay attention to your portions and eat slowly.
Take about 20 minutes to eat so that your body has time to alert your brain that you are full.
If you don't like to take the time to weigh and measure your food, try this; divide your plate mentally into 4 quarters. One quarter should be filled with starches, one quarter should be filled with protein, and the other half should be fruits and/or vegetables.

4.Eat more fiber.
Fiber is a great way to keep yourself full. You can get fiber from fruits and vegetables, or from high fiber cereal.

5. Be sure to exercise.
To lose weight, you need to burn off more calories than you are taking in. One pound equals 3500 calories. Don't use exercise as an excuse to "reward" yourself with food. Just because you work out doesn't mean you can eat more and still lose weight.

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Here's an entertaining website for the youngsters

http://www.totlol.com/

Powered by YouTube, Totlol is a video website designed especially for kids.
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Meeting up with some friends? Go to

http://www.happymedian.com/home.jsf
and you can find a place to meet halfway!
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COOL PICK

This weeks cool pick is

http://www.getridofthings.com/

This site does just what it says...it tells you how to get rid of things! What kinds of things? Pretty much everything, from Spyware on your computer, to odors in your home, to age spots! The info on the site is written by "poor college students" and has plenty of humor and sarcasm mixed in with the advice. It is meant to be useful and entertaining. So if you need to get rid of something, take a tour of the site.
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Another way to get rid of things is to Freecycle them! Freecycle is a great way to find free things or to give away things that you no longer want/need, but are still useable. Its a green concept because it helps keep things out of landfills.
To find a Freecycle group near you, go to
http://www.freecycle.org/
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Here is an easy, healthy, low calorie recipe

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN

1 medium onion, chopped
one 16 oz can of black beans
one 16 oz can of kidney beans
one 16 oz can of corn, drained
one 8 oz can tomato sauce
two 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes with chiles
one 1.25 oz packet of taco seasoning
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Mix everything together in slow cooker except for chicken breasts. After everything is well mixed, lay chicken on top and cover. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. In the last 30 minutes of cooking, remove chicken breasts and shred them. Place shredded chicken back into slow cooker and stir in.

This makes 14 servings (serving size is 3/4 cup) at only 120 calories per serving! Even if you eat two servings, you'll only have 240 calories.
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~~Toni~~

Print a one day FREE pass to Sam's Club http://www.mysavings.com/free-samples/Sams-Club/8171/
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More tips from Cheryl

Want Family Members to Eat More Salad?
For dinner, create a salad bar. Put out several kinds of greens, bowls of veggies like carrots, celery, chopped mushrooms, bowls of beans like kidney and garbanzo, and bowls of sliced chicken or beef, etc. Let each family member create his or her own dinner salad. Provide a couple of dressing options and also serve with crusty bread.

Refreshing Pillows
Pillows smelling a bit stale? Pop them into the dryer with a fabric softener sheet. Let them tumble on the air cycle for about 15 to 20 minutes. This will fluff them up and they will have a fresh aroma.

Need A Quick Meat Marinade?
Use bottled Italian dressing or an oil and vinegar salad dressing. These will tenderize meat (and chicken), give flavor and are much quicker than taking the time to make your own.
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Louisiana

~The Battle of New Orleans, which made Andrew Jackson a national hero, was fought two weeks after the War of 1812 had ended and more than a month before the news of the war's end had reached Louisiana.

~Louisiana has the tallest state capitol building in the United States; the building is 450 feet tall with 34 floors.

~Louisiana is the only state in the union that does not have counties. Its political subdivisions are called parishes.

~Louisiana is the only state with a large population of Cajuns, descendants of the Acadians who were driven out of Canada in the 1700s because they wouldn't pledge allegiance to the King of England.

~In Louisiana, biting someone with your natural teeth is considered a simple assault, but biting someone with your false teeth is considered an aggravated assault.

~The Saint Charles streetcar line in New Orleans and the San Francisco, California cable cars are the nation's only mobile national monuments

~In 1803 the United States paid France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory. 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River. The lands acquired stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. Thirteen states were carved from the Louisiana Territory. The Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the size of the United States.

~Louisiana's first territorial governor, William C.C. Claiborne had great admiration for the awkward bird that inhabited the Gulf Coast region. The pelican, rather than let its young starve, would tear at its own flesh to feed them. The Governor's great respect for the Pelican led him to first use the Pelican symbol on official documents.

~French speaking Acadians in the mid-1700s settled the Lafayette Parish region of south Louisiana. The Acadians were joined by another group of settlers called Creoles, descendants of African, West Indian, and European pioneers. At the time of the migration, Louisiana was under Spanish rule and authorities welcomed the new settlers.

~The City of Ponchatoula is the oldest incorporated city in Tangipahoa Parish. Ponchatoula derives its name from the Choctaw Indian language meaning "hair to hang" because of the abundance of Spanish moss on the trees surrounding the area.
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Sue saw this site advertised on TV. I've checked it out and it has lots and lots of great use ideas as well as info on how bleach affects the environment. http://www.cloroxbleachuses.com/
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Did you know...

In 1898, John Breck, a fireman with the Chicopee, Massachusetts, Fire Department, became the youngest fire chief in America.
Personally, however, Breck was troubled. He was only 21 years old and was already losing his hair.

In those days, there was no Rogaine, no Hair Club for Men, not even even much shampoo. Most Americans washed their hair with the same bar of soap they used on their bodies.
Breck was unwilling to accept his hair loss, so he began taking chemistry classes at Amherst College in his spare time, determined to find a cure.
He earned a doctorate, and opened a scalp treatment center where he used his own liquid shampoo.

Breck never did discover the cure for hereditary baldness, but he did introduce modern shampoo to the American public.
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Just a random fact...

Because the orange roughy grows slowly — the average fish is between 30 and 50 years old — the New Zealand government has imposed fishing restrictions. Consequently, the fish is not as abundant in stores as during the 1980's.
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John and I tried Orville Redenbacher Natural Buttery Garlic popcorn. I could barely taste the garlic and really I think that was only because I was looking for it. It was a good butter flavor, but if you're wanting a real punch of garlic, you will be disappointed.
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Here you can find an exhaustive list of abbreviations and codes for text messaging or IMing. http://www.jimhern.com/html/text_message_decoder.html
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~Marie's Laughter~

There were two buddies, one with a Doberman Pinscher and the other with a Chihuahua. The guy with the Doberman Pinscher says to his friend, "Let's go over to that restaurant and get something to eat." The guy with the Chihuahua says, "We can't go in there. We've got dogs with us."The buddy with the Doberman Pinscher says, "Just follow my lead."They walk over to the restaurant, the guy with the Doberman Pinscher puts on a pair of dark glasses and he starts to walk in. The bouncer at the door says, "Sorry, mac, no pets allowed. "The man with the Doberman Pinscher says, "You don't understand. This is my seeing-eye-dog. "The bouncer says, "A Doberman Pinscher?" He answers, "Yes, they're using them now; they're very good and protect me from robbers, too. "The man at the door says, "Come on in. "The buddy with the Chihuahua figures, "What the heck," so he puts on a pair of dark glasses and starts to walk in. Once again the bouncer says, "Sorry, pal, no pets allowed."The guy with the Chihuahua says, "You don't understand. This is my seeing-eye dog. "The bouncer at the door says, "A Chihuahua?" The man with the Chihuahua says, "A Chihuahua?????? They gave me a Chihuahua?!"
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Just for fun, some unusual town names in Alabama

Aimwell
Bobo
Burnt
Corn
Eclectic
Intercourse
Muck City
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Now for a look at the lighter side of Abraham Lincoln, who made many humorous quotes and jokes in his lifetime:

~It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.
~When I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees.
~If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?
~Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
~Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
~Whatever you are, be a good one.
~He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas better than any man I ever met.
~When you have got an elephant by the hind leg, and he is trying to run away, its best to let him run.
~You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.
~Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.
~If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.
~Labour is prior to, and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labour, and could never have existed if labour had not first existed. Labour is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.
~No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens.
~The man who murdered his parents, then pleaded for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan.
~Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.
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Ingredients

3/4 lb red potatoes
6 unpeeled large garlic cloves, flattened
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut potatoes into 1-1/4" wide wedges. Combine potatoes, garlic, oil, and rosemary in 8-inch square baking dish. Season generously with salt and pepper. Roast until potatoes are tender and crusty, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Discard garlic; serve potatoes hot.
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Chocolate Fluted KISSES Cups

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups HERSHEY'S Mini Chips
Semi-Sweet Chocolate or 1
HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Bar (6 oz.), broken into pieces

24 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates

PEANUT BUTTER FILLING (recipe follows)

Instructions:

1. Line small muffin cups (1-3/4 inches in diameter) with small paper bake cups.

2. Place small chocolate chips in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1 minute; stir. If necessary, microwave at MEDIUM an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, just until chips are melted when stirred. With small brush, coat inside of paper cups with melted chocolate.

3. Refrigerate 20 minutes; coat any thin spots. Refrigerate until firm, preferably overnight. Gently peel paper from chocolate cups.

4. Prepare PEANUT BUTTER FILLING; spoon into chocolate cups. Cover; refrigerate before serving. Remove wrappers from chocolate pieces. Before serving, top each cup with chocolate piece. About 24 servings. PEANUT BUTTER FILLING 1 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter 1 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, softened Beat peanut butter, powdered sugar and butter in small bowl until smooth. About 1-1/3 cups filling.
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I hope you will indulge me, since hubby is one of our readers......Happy Valentines Day, John. Thanks for keeping my heart safe another year.

02.03.2009

2009-02-02T21:53:00.003-05:00

Hello and happy February. West Virginia's French Creek Freddie did not see his shadow Monday morning. I know this is supposed to mean an early spring. However, since the reason he didn't see his shadow was because the sun was covered by thick snow clouds, I have my doubts about his prediction. Freddie's famous cousin, Punxsutawney Phil, did see his shadow and I think Phil has been at this longer than Freddie, so...
~Toni
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I thought it was strange that it worked out this week for our state to be Kentucky since they were hit so terribly hard by last week's ice storm. Sure do hope that power will be restored to everyone there, and other areas that were hit, very soon so that things can get back to normal.

~Mammoth Cave is the world's longest cave and was first promoted in 1816, making it the second oldest tourist attraction in the United States. Niagara Falls, New York is first.

~Kentucky is the state where both Abraham Lincoln, President of the Union, and Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, were born. They were born less than one hundred miles and one year apart.

~Cumberland is the only waterfall in the world to regularly display a moonbow. It is located just southwest of Corbin. http://d21c.com/moonbud/moonbow.jpg

~Christian County is wet while Bourbon County is dry. Barren County has the most fertile land in the state. (I love this one!)

~The song "Happy Birthday to You" was the creation of two Louisville sisters in 1893.

~Bluegrass is not really blue--its green--but in the spring bluegrass produces bluish purple buds that when seen in large fields give a blue cast to the grass. Today Kentucky is known as the Bluegrass State.

~The public saw an electric light for the first time in Louisville. Thomas Edison introduced his incandescent light bulb to crowds at the Southern Exposition in 1883.

~The radio was invented by a Kentuckian named Nathan B. Stubblefield of Murray in 1892. It was three years before Marconi made his claim to the invention.

~In the War of 1812 more than half of all Americans killed in action were Kentuckians.

~Middlesboro is the only city in the United States built within a meteor crater.

~The world's largest free-swinging bell known as the World Peace Bell is on permanent display in Newport.

~More than $6 billion worth of gold is held in the underground vaults of Fort Knox. This is the largest amount of gold stored anywhere in the world.

~The Lost River Cave and Valley Bowling Green includes a cave with the shortest and deepest underground river in the world. It contains the largest cave opening east of the Mississippi.

~Frederick Vinson who was born in Louisa is the only Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court known to be born in jail.

~Pike County the world's largest producer of coal is famous for the Hatfield-McCoy feud, an Appalachian vendetta that lasted from the Civil War to the 1890s.
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Tips from Cheryl:

Jewelry Turning Your Skin Green? To stop it, paint clear fingernail polish on the part that touches your skin, such as the inside of a bracelet, ring or watch band. You also can have a jeweler coat it.

If a Casserole Gets Runny You can thicken it quickly by adding shredded or grated cheese, instant dry potatoes, crushed potato or tortilla chips to the casserole. The chips would add flavor to a Mexican casserole, while the potatoes would be good in an Italian casserole.
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New stamp issue

The 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s (1809-1865) birth will be recognized on four commemorative stamps Feb. 9, in Springfield, IL. The 10 a.m. dedication ceremony takes place at the Old State Capitol Historic Site, Representative Hall, #1 Old State Capitol Plaza, in Springfield.

The stamp art was created by Mark Summers, who is noted for his scratchboard technique, a style distinguished by a dense network of lines etched with exquisite precision. Each stamp features a different aspect of Lincoln’s life. Summers worked under the art direction of Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ.

Rail-Splitter The stamp showing Lincoln as a rail-splitter includes the earliest-known photograph of Lincoln, dated 1846, by N. H. Shepherd, and depicts Lincoln as a youth splitting a log for a rail fence on what was then the American frontier. When he was a candidate for president in 1860, the Republican Party used the image of Lincoln as a “rail-splitter” to enhance his appeal to the workingman.

Lawyer The stamp featuring Lincoln as a lawyer includes a photograph of Lincoln, dated May 7, 1858, by Abraham Byers, and shows Lincoln in a courtroom in Illinois, the state where he was a practicing attorney for nearly 25 years.

Politician The stamp of Lincoln as a politician includes a Feb. 27, 1860, photograph of Lincoln by Mathew Brady, and shows Lincoln debating Stephen A. Douglas during their 1858 campaign for a U.S. Senate seat from Illinois.

President The stamp featuring Lincoln as president, includes a Nov. 8, 1863, photograph of Lincoln by Alexander Gardner, and depicts Lincoln conferring with generals Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman toward the end of the Civil War. The depiction is based on “The Peacemakers” (1868), a painting by George P. A. Healy.
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I wanted to do something since we celebrate the anniversary of his birth next week, so here are some quick and interesting facts about Abraham Lincoln:

~He was born on February 12th 1809, and died April 15th 1865 at the age of fifty six.
~His home state is Illinois.
~His party was Republican and he was president for four years from 1861-1865, when he was assassinated.
~His wife was called Mary Todd Lincoln, who was brought up into a very wealthy family.
~Mary’s parents disagreed with her marrying Abraham because he had a poor background.
Abraham had four children, Robert Todd Lincoln, Edward Lincoln, Willie Lincoln, Tad Lincoln. Only Robert Todd Lincoln survived into adulthood.
~Abraham was an unaffiliated Christian as he never officially acquired church membership.
~He created a national banking system with the National Banking Act in 1863, resulting in a standardized currency.
~He was the first president to be assassinated.
~He had deep depression, even though he would frequently tell stories and jokes to friends and family.
~He was the tallest U.S president at 6ft 4 inches.
~He patented a system to alter buoyancy of steamboats in 1849.
~His birth mother died from milk sickness.
~His father remarried a widow, and Abraham was very close to his step mother.
~He ran a store in New Salem.
~Even though he was strong, a talented wrestler, and proficient with an axe, Lincoln disliked killing and harming animals, even for food.
~Lincoln proposed to Mary just one year after meeting her in Springfield 1839.
~He was the first president to have a beard.
~Lincoln, one week before his death, had a dream of someone crying in the White House, when he found the room; he looked in and asked who had passed away. The man in the room said the President. When he looked in the coffin it was his own face he saw.
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A completely new way of choosing which books to read...http://www.whichbook.net/
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Did you know...

Chester Greenwood was born in Farmington, Maine in 1858. A grammar school dropout, he invented earmuffs at the age of 15 (1873). While testing a new pair of ice skates, he grew frustrated at trying to protect his ears from the bitter cold. After wrapping his head in a scarf, which was too bulky and itchy, he made two ear-shaped loops from wire and asked his grandmother to sew fur on them. He patented an improved model with a steel band which held them in place and with Greenwood's Champion Ear Protectors, he established Greenwood's Ear Protector Factory. He made a fortune supplying Ear Protectors to U.S. soldiers during World War I. He went on to patent more many other inventions. In 1977, Maine's legislature declared December 21 "Chester Greenwood Day" to honor a native son and his contribution to cold weather protection.

Farmington Maine is now the Earmuff Capital of the World. There is a parade that celebrates Chester's birthday the first Saturday in December, with local police cruisers in the parade decorated as giant earmuffs.

Another of Chester's inventions was the steel-tooth rake - U.S. patent #2066036, issued on December 29, 1936. Chester Greenwood accumulated over 100 patents in his lifetime.
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Your kids should file a tax return. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) doesn't care how old they are. If they earn more than $5,450 in a given year (in wages and/or interest income), they have to file--even if you claim them as dependents. And if they make less than that, they should still file because they'll get back all the money their employer withheld. Help them fill out the paperwork. It's a great learning experience that may earn them some extra cash.
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Young love

The average age of a first marriage for German men is 32. For German women it's 29. But don't tell that to 6-year-old Mika and 7-year-old Anna-Lena of Hanover. The two sweethearts reportedly decided to elope to Africa early on New Year's Day and brought along Anna-Lena's 5-year-old sister as a witness. With their belongings packed and their parents asleep, the three children walked to a local tram stop, took a tram to the central train station, and waited for a train to the airport. Security guards at the station spotted them and heard their story, convinced them they wouldn't get far without money, and contacted their parents. But all is not lost for Mika and Anna-Lena, police spokesman Holger Jureczko told the AFP news service: "They can still put their plan into action at a later date."
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This site has the coolest stuff if you're looking for gifts for kids, teens or people like me that enjoy science stuff. I thought this terrarium was especially cool and a good deal. Lots and lots of other things besides the terrarium of course.

http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3082567
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Soon it will be Valentine's Day, which makes me think of candy, and wow here is a fantastic candy site that even has old time favorites! Check it out.

http://www.economycandy.com/
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Sue shares this joke with us:

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home. He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed: Dear Lord,I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home. I want her to know what I go through, so please allow her body to switch with mine for a day Amen.

God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish. The next morning,sure enough, the man awoke as a woman. He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids, set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast packed their lunches, drove them to school, came home and picked up the dry cleaning, took it to the cleaners and stopped at the bank to make a deposit, went grocery shopping, then drove home to put away the groceries, paid the bills and balance the check book. He cleaned the cat's litter box and bathed the dog. Then it was already 1pm and he hurried to make the beds, do the laundry, vacuum, dust,and sweep and mop the kitchen floor. Ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home. Set out cookies and milk and got the kids organized to do their homework, then set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing.

At 4:30 he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the pork chops and snapped fresh beans for supper. After supper he cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher, folded laundry, bathed the kids, and put them to bed. At 9 P. M. he was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love which he managed to get through without complaint.

The next morning he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said, "Lord, I don't know what I was thinking. I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day. Please, oh please, let us trade back." The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied, "My son, I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were.You'll just have to wait nine months, though. You got pregnant last night."
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Last week's riddle Take a five-letter sign on certain doors, remove its first letter, and you'll have a word meaning sign. Remove the new word's first letter and it's a sign on nearby doors. Can you guess all three words? Answer: women, omen, men
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Here are two well-respected websites where you can find medical information:

http://www.medlineplus.gov/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/
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If you've never tried Breathe Right Nasal Strips and have wondered do they work and are they worth the price, allow me to tell you that I love these things! I have a lot of nighttime congestion and these are just the perfect thing for that. John informs me that when I don't wear one at night I snore, although I can't imagine that is true. However there is no doubt that HE snores and I have tried for years to get him to use the strips. Finally he tried one and it was the most restful night of sleep I've had in years.

You can read more about them, and get coupons too, at their website.

http://www.breatheright.com/
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Travel, history, Old West, Route 66, ghost towns, treasure tales and more...
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/
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From Cheryl:

The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved'--the pig was 'committed'.

01.27.2009

2009-01-26T22:45:00.002-05:00

Hello! Last week we had two days get up into the 50s and now I have a bad case of spring fever. Today John and I were talking about outside projects as if we were going to be able to get started right away. Later we heard that we're under a winter storm watch till Wednesday and are expected to get a good deal of snow and possibly even accumulating ice. I have a feeling spring fever will quickly turn to cabin fever. I'd like to take this time to remind you again that we sometimes have power outages here due to adverse weather, so if a Tuesday comes and you don't receive the newsletter and it's not posted on the web site either, then you'll know it was not sent out and I'll get it to you when I can. Take care! ~Toni
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=Phyllis=

Healthy Living

This week I'd like to share some strategies to get you moving so you can burn calories!

1. If you walk for exercise, you probably take along an Ipod or CD player to listen to music. Another option? Try a book on CD! You can get them at your local library. If you pick a good audio book, you just might walk a little longer so you can hear more of the story!
2. If you work in an office, try using the ladies room on a different floor, and use the stairs to get there.
3. Is it too cold or wet to go for a walk? You can workout at home with a workout DVD. These are available at your local library too.
4. Don't use the drive through windows at banks or restaurants. Park your car and walk inside. Every little bit of walking you do adds up.
These are just a few ways to burn some extra calories. If you have some calorie burners to share, please send them to me and I'll print them in a future issue of the newsletter.
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A great site to check out:
(Its a life expectancy calculator)

http://www.livingto100.com/
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Do something good:

http://booksforsoldiers.com/
-------------------------------------------

There is a miracle called Friendship
that dwells within the heart
and you don't know how it happens
or when it even starts.

But the happiness it brings you
always gives a special lift
and you realize that friendship
is God's most precious gift.
-Anonymous
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Cool Pick

http://www.blippr.com/

Blippr is a site where you can discuss and rate movies, books, games and music. You can also read the reviews of other users, and since each review is limited to 160 words or characters, its short and sweet! So the next time you want to rent a new DVD or buy a new book, log on to Blippr to see what others think of it first.
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Easy smoothie recipe for two:

You will need;
one banana and 5 strawberries
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
1 tbsp peanut butter (or almond butter)
1/2 cup ice

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend, blend, blend until smooth. Pour into two glasses and share with hubby or a friend!
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Here's a recipe for homemade Play Dough:

1 cup very warm (but not hot) water
1/2 cup salt
1 tbsp cream of tartar
1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
food coloring
2 to 4 cups of flour

Put warm water in a large bowl.
Add salt; stir about one minute. Don't worry about totally dissolving the salt.
Add food color. (Optional; you can also add peppermint or orange extract, etc., to make it smell good too)
Add cream of tartar and oil. Stir.
Gradually start adding flour, mixing as you go.
Knead dough until smooth. Don't worry about exact measurements when adding the flour...you will know its finished when the dough holds together smoothly and isn't sticky.
Store in a sealed Ziploc bag. It will keep for a few months.
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Here is a useful site:

http://www.mizpee.com/web/index.html

Use your cell phone to find the closest bathroom near you when you're out and about. It even gives cleanliness ratings!
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Have a great week everyone! I will not be doing the newsletter next week because I'm vacationing in Florida. Hope its sunny where you are!

____________________________________

=Toni=

Tips from Cheryl:

Clothes with Static Cling
If your slip or skirt has a bit of static cling, you can get rid of it simply by rubbing a bit of hand lotion on your hands and then wipe them lightly over the slip or on your legs.

Make a Homemade Ice Pack
Make a mixture of 1 part rubbing alcohol with 2 parts water. Pour into a zipper plastic bag (double bag and label clearly) and freeze. Apply to all the minor emergencies and boo-boos that happen! It can be refrozen after each use.
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Riddle from last week:

What do you throw out when you want to use it, but take in when you don't want to use it? An anchor
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Do you know the #1 song the day you were born? Go to http://www.joshhosler.biz and look up the number one song for your birth date.
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I ordered this pen palling directory last year and it was great. Dawn puts a lot of work into it for sure. It was very neat and attractively put together and it was very fun and informative. ~Toni

PPC’s 2009 Pen Palling Directory - A book about the great hobby of pen palling. Have questions on slams, crams, decos, exchanges? This book has the answers. We also include articles from fellow pen pals about their friendships, tips on letter writing, how to be a good pen pal & more. Tons of listings for pen pals, birthday twins, e-mail your pal & looking for love. $5.00 each (published once a year).

Checks/money orders payable to:

Dawn Thomas
PO Box 945
Farmington , MI 48332

ppcdawn@yahoo.com
http://www.myspace.com/penpalconnection
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Here is a site that gives information about over-the-counter drugs.
http://www.otcsafety.org/
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Kansas

~Dodge City is the windiest city in the United States.
~At one time it was against the law to serve ice cream on cherry pie in Kansas.
~Kansas inventors include Almon Stowger of El Dorado who invented the dial telephone in 1889; William Purvis and Charles Wilson of Goodland who invented the helicopter in 1909; and Omar Knedlik of Coffeyville who invented the first frozen carbonated drink machine in 1961.
~The Arkansas River may be the only river whose pronunciation changes as it crosses state lines. In Kansas, it is called the Arkansas (ahr-KAN-zuhs). On both sides of Kansas (Colorado and Oklahoma), it is called the Arkansaw.
~Hutchinson is nicknamed the Salt City because it was built above some of the richest salt deposits in the world. Salt is still actively mined, processed and shipped from Hutchinson.
~There are 27 Walnut Creeks in the state.
~Fire Station No. 4 in Lawrence, originally a stone barn constructed in 1858, was a station site on the Underground Railroad.
~The Hugoton Gas Field is the largest natural gas field in the United States. It underlies all or parts of 10 southwestern Kansas counties as well as parts of Oklahoma and Texas. The gas field underlies almost 8,500 square miles, an area nearly 5 times as large as the state of Rhode Island.
~The Geodetic Center of North America is about 40 miles south of Lebanon at Meade's Ranch. It is the beginning point of reference for land surveying in North America. When a surveyor checks a property line, he or she is checking the position of property in relation to Meade's Ranch in northwest Kansas.
~The graham cracker was named after the Reverend Sylvester Graham (1794-1851). He was a Presbyterian minister who strongly believed in eating whole wheat flour products.
~The rocks at Rock City are huge sandstone concretions. In an area about the size of two football fields, 200 rocks, some as large as houses, dot the landscape. There is no other place in the world where there are so many concretions of such giant size. http://www.naturalkansas.org/images/rock_city.jpg
~George Washington Carver, the famous botanical scientist who discovered more than 300 products made from the peanut, graduated from high school in Minneapolis in 1885.
~The First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson was built in 1874 during the time of the grasshopper plagues. The grasshoppers came during the construction of the churches foundation but the pastor continued with the work. As a result, thousands of grasshoppers are mixed into the mortar of the original building's foundation.
~A hailstone weighing more than one and a half pounds once fell on Coffeyville.
~The world famous fast-food chain of Pizza Hut restaurants opened its first store in Wichita. (Way to go, Wichita!!)
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I recently ran across these two sites that offer free magazines. I have not had a chance to check the sites out really, but thought they looked interesting, so I wanted to share them with you. http://www.all-freemagazines.com/ http://www.allmags4free.com/
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This may be something you've already thought of, but I wanted to mention it in case you've not. I keep a phone book in the trunk of my car. I can't tell you how many times we've used it since I thought to put it in there. Personally our phone company sends us two books per year. If you only get one, most likely a second copy could be requested from the phone company. Or your local post office might have extras.
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Avoid a tax refund. You may feel giddy knowing you'll get a check from the IRS this spring, but you shouldn't. Getting money back means you're essentially lending money, interest free, to the government for the year. Better to have that cash in your account than lend it to Uncle Sam. So if you've been getting big refunds or have had a big life change (a marriage, a baby, a divorce, a radical increase or decrease in income), adjust the withholding allowances on your W-4 form. You can do that for your 2009 taxes now at irs.gov. Use the withholding calculator to determine the correct figure for you. Then print a new W-4, fill it out, and give it to your payroll department.

Avoid "rapid refund" programs. Sure, they sound great. After all, what can be better than getting your money fast? A tax-prep chain might try to get you to agree to one of these "instant" or "anticipation" options. Don't take the bait. This is not your refund. It's a loan—and a very high-interest loan at that. The average for 2008 was 123 percent. If you file electronically, even if it's through a tax chain, the IRS will deposit your refund directly into your bank account within a week or two.
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In June of 1974, the first U.P.C. scanner was installed at a Marsh's supermarket in Troy, Ohio. The first product to have a bar code included was a packet of Wrigley's Gum.
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Riddle: Take a five-letter sign on certain doors, remove its first letter, and you'll have a word meaning sign. Remove the new word's first letter and it's a sign on nearby doors. Can you guess all three words? Answer next week.
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I have a friend in California that told me about a soda pop cake. All you do is take a cake mix and add a 12-ounce can of soda pop, mix (it will foam up) and bake. After she told me this I googled it and came up with lots of recipes that included the cake mix, pop but other things too. So I emailed her and she said her son was allergic to eggs and that all she used was the cake mix and pop. So I gave it a try and John and I love it! So far we've used a white cake mix with Fanta Orange. Some other combos we plan to try: strawberry cake mix and Strawberry Fanta, lemon cake mix and 7-Up, chocolate cake mix and cream soda... Debbie said their favorite is chocolate cake mix with diet Dr. Pepper. You can use diet or regular pop. A few things to remember with this recipe is because of the lack of fat, it will stick badly, so line your cake pan with either Pam then parchment or wax paper and then Pam on top or line it with Reynold's Release. Also it will not take as long to bake as the box says. Set your timer for about half the time and then check it; most likely it will be done. If you try this and come up with a great flavor combo, let me know so I can try it too.
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"The shortest day has passed, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to in January and February,at least we notice that the days are getting longer. Minute by minute they lengthen out. It takes some weeks before we become aware of the change. It is imperceptible even as the growth of a child, as you watch it day by day, until the moment comes when with a start of delighted surprise we realize that we can stay out of doors in a twilight lasting for another quarter of a precious hour." ~Vita Sackville-West

01.20.2009

2009-01-19T23:12:00.003-05:00

Hello from the land of snow and cold. Saturday night we were at 11 below zero, which is the coldest we've had in almost 2 years. Now it's warming up a bit and here comes the snow. Had about 6 inches this morning. I sure am giving the snow shovel a workout! I heard from Phyllis and she has the flu and didn't feel like working on the newsletter this week. Last week I neglected to mention that Marie is in the process of moving so that's why we didn't have a joke from her. ~Toni
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Iowa

Ripley's Believe It or Not has dubbed Burlington's Snake Alley the most crooked street in the world.

The state's smallest city park is situated in the middle of the road in Hiteman.

Spirit Lake is the largest glacier-made lake in the state.

West Okoboji is the deepest natural lake in the state. Its depth is 136 feet.

The state's lowest elevation point (at 480 feet) is in Lee County.

Wright County has the highest percentage of grade-A topsoil in the nation.

Quaker Oats, in Cedar Rapids, is the largest cereal company in the world.

Clarion is the only county seat in the exact center of the county.

Herbert Hoover, a West Branch native, was the 31st president of the United States and the first one born west of the Mississippi.

Born Marion Robert Morrison in Winterset, John Wayne was the son of a pharmacist and grew up to become one of Hollywood's most popular movie stars.

Campers and motor homes are manufactured in Winnebago County. They're called Winnebago's.

Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are 100% formed by water.

The National Balloon Museum in Indianola chronicles more than 200 years of ballooning history.
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Last week I had a comment on the blog from Paula. What a nice surprise! She had some additional information on Indiana that I found interesting, so I wanted to include it here:

Good morning. A Google Alert brought me to your blog. Would you mind a little more Indiana info? The town of Santa Claus is also home to the world's first theme park -- Holiday World http://holidayworld.com . And Lincoln lived four miles away in what is now Lincoln City from the ages of 7 to 21. There's a huge amphitheatre with a new play (called "Lincoln") opening in June, in honor of our 16th president's bicentennial. http://www.lincolnamphitheatre.com Great place to take the family!
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From Cheryl:

Getting Rid of Tablecloth Creases

Don't get out the iron. Instead, put the tablecloth in the clothes dryer with a damp towel and turn on the warm/low heat setting. Leave in for several minutes and remove immediately. When storing, place the tablecloth on a hanger.

Storing Potatoes

Put them in a dry dark place that's cool (40 to 50 degrees). Never keep them in the refrigerator because it will alter the texture and taste after a length of time.
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From Cathy:

If you do online shopping then this is something important to know.
http://www.snopes.com:80/computer/internet/https.asp
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Isaac Merrit Singer

Isaac Merrit Singer ran away from his Owego, New York, home in 1825, when he was only 12 years old. He joined a band of traveling players and remained an actor until he was 24. Then he decided to "get a real job." He worked at a machine shop, but continued as an actor part time.

In 1850, Singer headed to Boston with a device he had created to carve wood-block type. It never caught on. But while he was in Boston, Singer became interested in another device-the sewing machine. Such machines were rare, and those that did exist were large and unreliable. He borrowed $40 from a friend and started working on his own version of the machine.

In 1851, Singer received a patent for the device. It attracted the attention not only of tailors, but also of Elias Howe, often credited as the inventor of the sewing machine. Howe had patented his machine in 1846. He sued Singer, but they soon settled. Under their agreement, Singer and Howe pooled their patents and each received five dollars from every sewing machine sold. Singer was not sentimental about his machine. "I don't care a damn for the invention. The dimes are what I'm after," he once said. Singer's business partner, a man named Edward Clark, was responsible for another innovation--the installment payment plan. This payment option made sewing machines affordable for the first time in many homes.

In 1863, Isaac Singer was surrounded by scandal. The public learned that he had fathered 24 children by at least 5 different women. Clark was so shocked by the revelation that he ended his partnership with Singer. Isaac Singer had too much money to be worried. He moved to England, where the scandal did not reach him. He lived there until his death in 1875. The scandal had little effect on sewing machine sales, however. Mahatma Gandhi is said to have called the Singer sewing machine "one of the few useful things ever invented." Adm. Richard Byrd found them so useful that he carted six of them all the way to the Antarctic.

At its peak, Singer was producing 3 million sewing machines a year. In the mid-1970's, however, the number of people in America who sewed, or even repaired, their own clothes dropped sharply. The modern Singer company stopped selling sewing machines in 1986. Today it sells aerospace electronics.
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Marie sent these coffee filter uses to me before she moved:

Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

Protect China Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.

Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.

Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, french fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.
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Don't want your jeans to fade? Turning them inside out before washing preserves their color. As for new jeans, wash them with older pairs so color bleeding from the new ones will be absorbed by the old, making them look newer.
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You can check your town's water quality by calling the EPA drinking water hotline at 800-426-4791.
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Not sure how old your spices are? Go to http://www.spicecheckchallenge.com, enter the code on the bottom of your McCormick jar and find out whether to toss or keep it.
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This is the web site of a West Virginia man that carves birds. I thought his work was amazing. Maybe there are some bird-lovers among our readers that would enjoy seeing his work. http://www.woodtofeathers.com/
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Make...How To...DIY
http://www.instructables.com/
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A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~Phyllis Diller
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Word origin grandfather clause

A grandfather clause is an exception to a rule that allows someone who previously had the right to do something to continue doing it even though the law forbids it to others. For example, when I turned nineteen, the state of New Jersey allowed me to drink alcohol. Later than year, they raised the drinking age to twenty-one, but since I was already of legal drinking age, I was grandfathered at that young age and could continue to legally consume alcoholic beverages. But why grandfather?

The term comes from discriminatory practices of certain Southern states against blacks. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some Southern states had laws requiring payment of a poll tax or taking of a literacy test before one could vote. The poor and illiterate were denied the right to vote. This would have been a race-neutral measure except for clauses in the state constitutions that exempted someone from poll taxes or literacy tests if their grandfather had had the right to vote. This meant that virtually all whites, whose grandfathers could vote before the imposition of these laws, were allowed to vote, while most blacks were denied the right to vote. Over the years, the term has lost the racial stigma and no longer connotes racial bias.
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Here's a riddle for you. Answer next week.

What do you throw out when you want to use it, but take in when you don't want to use it?

01.13.2009

2009-01-12T17:34:00.004-05:00

Hello everyone. I hope you've had a good week. I'm not feeling very chatty today--I think winter is getting to me. So I'll just get straight to the newsletter stuff. Take care everyone and stay warm.
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Now for Phyllis...

Hi everyone! Hope you are all having a great 2009 so far!

Feel like taking a trip down memory lane?
http://theimaginaryworld.com/page4.html

HEALTHY LIVING

"If hunger is not the problem, then food is not the solution." -Unknown

Food does more than just fill us up when we're hungry...it also satisifies feelings, and when you use food to satisfy your emotions when you're not hungry, then it is "emotional eating."

A few newsletters ago I posted a quiz on how to tell the difference between real hunger and emotional hunger. So now I'd like to offer you some tips on how to control emotional eating.

1. Make a list of things that you can do instead of eating when you are tempted to eat when you're not really hungry. Don't use food for comfort. Instead, go for a walk, read a book, call a friend, exercise, knit...anything that you enjoy that doesn't involve eating. Try to distract yourself from food.

2. Don't keep unhealthy foods in the house. If its not there, you can't eat it, and you probably won't want to drive to the store to get it. Keep healthy snacks in the house; fruit, unbuttered popcorn, low calorie dip and veggies.

3. Make sure you're getting enough calories every day. If you're on a diet and you cut out TOO many calories, you're just setting yourself up for a binge.

4. Exercise regularly and get enough sleep. Its easier to keep your emotions in check and your moods under control when your body is fit and well rested.

5. Keep a journal and write down what you are feeling when you are tempted to reach for food when you're not hungry. Recognizing your triggers will help you resist them.

I hope these tips will help. I use them, and I'm proud to report that I've lost another 9 lbs and 7 inches.
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A very pretty website
http://www.jz-rose.com/
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I read this in a magazine a few weeks ago and thought I'd share it. Did you know that you should get rid of your cosmetics after a certain date due to the bacteria they collect?

Foundation, powder eye shadow, lipstick and nail polish...toss after one year.
Blush or bronzer....toss after two years.
Mascara....toss after three months.

And remember that its important to clean your makeup brushes. Here's how;

Run the bristles of your makeup brushes under warm (not hot) water.
Apply a very small amount of gentle shampoo to the bristles and work into a light lather.
Rinse bristles thoroughly under warm running water. You'll probably notice that the water coming from your makeup brush is tinted with the colors of your old makeup as it rinses off.
Continue rinsing until water is clear.
Allow to air dry.
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Cool Pick

This weeks cool pick website is

http://www.answers.com/

Answers.com is an "online dictionary, encyclopedia and much more." They claim to be a "one stop shop with instant information on over 4 million topics"! Its more than a search engine...its a free reference library and research assitant available with a click of the mouse. Instead of using a search engine, which will give you a list of links, Answers.com gives you all the information in one convenient place. They also give you "Today in History", birthdays of famous people, and more. So if there is something you need to know, get your answers at Answers.com.
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Here is a site that I hope none of you will ever have the need to use;

http://www.idtheftcenter.org/
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Workout music playlists
http://www.inthegym.net/
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Did you know that a full plate of broccoli has the same calories as a small spoonful of peanut butter? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average adult needs 2000 to 2500 calories a day to maintain their weight.
Here's a great visual website

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-200-calories-look-like.htm
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A friend is like a flower
A rose, to be exact
Or maybe like a brand new gate
That never comes unlatched.
A friend is like an owl
Both beautiful and wise.
Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost
Whose spirit never dies.
A friend is like a heart that goes
Strong until the end.
Where would we be in this world
If we didn't have a friend?
-Emma Guest
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Now for Toni...

I have gotten behind on new stamp issues for 2009, so here are two that have already been released and then two that will be released this week.

Alaska Statehood

With the issuance of this stamp in 2009, the U.S. Postal Service commemorates the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood.

The stamp features a photograph by Jeff Schultz of a dogsledder taken in 2000 near Rainy Pass in the Alaska Range. Text on the stamp reads “1959 ALASKA.”

Scheduled issue date: Jan. 3 in Anchorage, AK.

Lunar New Year: Year of the Ox

In 2009 the U.S. Postal Service will issue the second of 12 stamps in its Celebrating Lunar New Year series, which began in 2008 with the Year of the Rat. The Year of the Ox begins on Jan. 26, 2009, and ends on Feb. 13, 2010.

Scheduled issue date: Jan. 8 in New York, NY.

Oregon Statehood

With the issuance of this stamp in 2009, the U.S. Postal Service commemorates the sesquicentennial of Oregon’s statehood. Oregon was officially welcomed as the 33rd state in the Union on February 14, 1859.

Artist Gregory Manchess, a resident of Beaverton, OR, was inspired by his own experiences along the Pacific coast to create the painting for the stamp. The result is an evocative piece that incorporates several elements of the coastline — trees, rocks, cliffs, and pounding surf — but does not illustrate a specific place. “I wanted to make it an icon, an impression, of what the shoreline feels like when you look at the stamp,” says the artist.

Scheduled issue date: Jan. 14 in Portland, OR.

Edgar Allan Poe

In 2009, the U.S. Postal Service commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, one of America’s most extraordinary poets and fiction writers. For more than a century and a half, Poe and his works have been praised by admirers around the world, including English poet laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who dubbed Poe “the literary glory of America.” British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle called him “the supreme original short story writer of all time.”

Scheduled issue date: Jan. 16 in Richmond, VA.
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Indiana

The first long-distance auto race in the U. S. was held May 30, 1911, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The winner averaged 75 miles an hour and won a 1st place prize of $14,000. Today the average speed is over 167 miles an hour and the prize is more than $1.2 million. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the site of the greatest spectacle in sports, the Indianapolis 500. The Indianapolis 500 is held every Memorial Day weekend in the Hoosier capital city. The race is 200 laps or 500 miles long.

Abraham Lincoln moved to Indiana when he was 7 years old. He lived most of his boyhood life in Spencer County with his parents Thomas and Nancy.

Marcella Gruelle of Indianapolis created the Raggedy Ann doll in 1914.

Santa Claus, Indiana receives over one half million letters and requests at Christmas time.

Crawfordsville is the home of the only known working rotary jail in the United States. The jail with its rotating cellblock was built in 1882 and served as the Montgomery County jail until 1972. It is now a museum.

Historic Parke County has 32 covered bridges and is the Covered Bridge Capital of the world.

True to its motto, "Cross Roads of America" Indiana has more miles of Interstate Highway per square mile than any other state. The Indiana state Motto, can be traced back to the early 1800s. In the early years river traffic, especially along the Ohio, was a major means of transportation. The National Road, a major westward route, and the north-south Michigan Road crossed in Indianapolis. Today more major highways intersect in Indiana than in any other state.

Deep below the earth in Southern Indiana is a sea of limestone that is one of the richest deposits of top-quality limestone found anywhere on earth. New York City's Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center as well as the Pentagon, the U.S. Treasury, a dozen other government buildings in Washington D.C. as well as 14 state capitols around the nation are built from this sturdy, beautiful Indiana limestone.

Indiana means, "Land of the Indians".

In Fort Wayne, Syvanus F. Bower designed the world's first practical gasoline pump.

Indianapolis grocer Gilbert Van Camp discovered his customers enjoyed an old family recipe for pork and beans in tomato sauce. He opened up a canning company and Van Camp's Pork and Beans became an American staple.

Muncie's Ball State University was built mostly from funds contributed by the founders of the Ball Corporation, a company than made glass canning jars.

Indiana University's greatest swimmer was Mark Spitz, who won 7 gold medals in the 1972 Olympic games.

In 1934 Chicago Gangster John Dillinger escaped the Lake Country Jail in Crown Point by using a "pistol" he had carved from a wooden block.

The farming community of Fountain City in Wayne County was known as the "Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad." In the years before the civil war, Levi and Katie Coffin were famous agents on the Underground Railroad. They estimated that they provided overnight lodging for more than 2,000 runaway slaves who were making their way north to Canada and freedom.
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From Cheryl:

Having Trouble Threading Needles?

Try this: Put a tiny dab of clean nail polish on the tip of the thread. Let it dry and the tip will be easier to thread through the eye of the needle.

Useful Bridal Shower Gift

If you want to give something different at a bridal shower, why not put together a life saving kit for the couple's new home? In a large bucket, include a fire extinguisher, smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. Not glamorous, but life saving.
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Upper and lower case letters are named “upper” and “lower” because in the time when all original print had to be set in individual letters, the upper case letters were stored in the case on top of the case that stored the lower case letters.
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People often overestimate what will happen in the next two years and underestimate what will happen in ten.
~Bill Gates, The Road Ahead
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If you happen to have any old recipes that call for a Number 2 or Number 303 can of something, this site has a chart to help you determine current can measurements.http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/ciq-can-sizes.shtml
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Fried potatoes were first introduced in the United States by Thomas Jefferson in the late 18th century. Jefferson had come across them while he was in Paris. The actual French fry is an American invention but received its name based on the origin country of fried potatoes.

During the early 19th century, fried potatoes steadily gained in popularity. They became a common menu item at restaurants across the country. In 1853, a diner at Moon's Lake House in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., ordered the fried potatoes with his meal. The diner, rumored to have been Cornelius Vanderbilt, sent the potatoes back to the kitchen with a complaint that they were not crispy enough. The chef at the restaurant, George Crum, apparently was furious with the criticism. So he sliced the potatoes paper-thin, salted them heavily and refried them. Ironically, instead of ruining the meal for the diner, Crum's creation was a hit with the patron.

The owner of Moon's Lake House, realizing that the chips were delicious, made them a menu item. Eventually, Crum opened his own restaurant that featured the thin, fried potatoes. He called them Saratoga Chips. As word of the chips got out, other restaurants began to serve them. It wasn't long before potato chips were a staple at restaurants across the country.

William Tappendon of Cleveland, Ohio, is credited with taking the potato chip out of the restaurant and into the grocery store. In 1895, he began selling potato chips to local grocers and turned his barn into the world's first potato chip factory. During the early 1900s, several companies built large factories for the mass production of potato chips. And the 1920s saw the birth of three companies that define the potato chip industry:

Earl Wise, Sr. had too many potatoes at his Wise Delicatessen Company, which was founded in Berwick, Pa., in 1921. He decided to make potato chips out of the extras and sell them in brown paper bags through the delicatessen as Wise Potato Chips.

Herman Lay began selling potato chips in the south, and in 1932, he founded Lay's in Nashville, Tenn., as a distributor for a chip factory in Atlanta, Ga. In 1938, Lay purchased the chip factory and started selling Lay's Brand Potato Chips.

In 1921, Bill and Salie Utz founded Utz Quality Foods in Hanover, Pa. Utz marketed and sold chips made by his wife Salie, called Hanover Home Brand Potato Chips.
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James Bond, known to his friends as Jim, was a Philadelphia ornithologist and the author of a book called Birds of the West India.

While the bird-watching book may not have been a bestseller, it did catch the attention of an Englishman named Ian Fleming. At the time, Fleming was living in Jamaica and writing a book of his own. It was the story of an as yet unnamed British secret agent who had the code name 007.

One day, as Fleming was sitting at breakfast looking through his favorite non-fiction tide, he found the perfect name for his hero: Bond, James Bond. Interestingly, the name Bond was not chosen because it was strong, exotic, or even memorable. As Fleming later wrote, "It struck me that this name, brief, unromantic and yet very masculine, was just what I needed." Jim Bond didn't know about his fictional namesake until the early 1960s when he read an interview in which Fleming explained the origin of his character's name.

In 1961, Bond's wife, Mary, wrote to Fleming and half jokingly threatened to sue him for defamation of character. Fleming replied, "I most confess that your husband has every reason to sue me.... In return, I can only offer your James Bond unlimited use of the name Ian Fleming for any purpose he may think fit."
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Here are a few recipes that are sure to add some citrus sunshine to your winter days.

Creamsicle Cupcakes

1 1/2 sticks (3⁄4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 1⁄2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 large eggs
2 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
1⁄2 cup orange juice
2 tsp grated orange zest

Creamsicle Frosting
1 1⁄2 cups heavy (whipping) cream
1⁄2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 Tbsp grated orange zest
Liquid orange food color (optional)
Garnish: thin strips orange zest

1. Heat oven to 350*F. Line 24 regular-size (2 1⁄2-in.-diameter) muffin cups with paper or foil liners.

2. Beat butter, sugar, baking powder, vanilla, orange juice and zest in a large bowl with mixer on high 3 minutes or until fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each. On low speed, beat in flour in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions, just until blended, scraping sides of bowl as needed. Spoon evenly in muffin cups.

3. Bake 22 to 25 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in center of cupcakes comes out clean and tops are golden. Cool in pans on a wire rack 5 minutes before removing from pans to rack to cool completely.

4. Frosting: Beat ingredients in medium bowl on medium-high speed until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. Tint with food color; beat just until blended. Frost and garnish cupcakes.
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Lemon Love Notes

BATTER:
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter or margarine, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 large egg
1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (3 1⁄2 ounces) sweetened flaked coconut
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon peel

GLAZE:
2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1⁄4 cup fresh lemon juice
1⁄3 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1. Heat oven to 350*F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan

2. Batter: Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg until blended. With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until blended. Stir in coconut and lemon peel

3. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until just until edges start to pull away from sides of pan. Do not overbake. Cool on a wire rack 20 minutes. Glaze bars while still warm.

4. Glaze: Stir confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle over warm cookies, then spread evenly with a small flexible spatula. Sprinkle with coconut. Cool thoroughly before cutting in bars.
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Fun! Free Tetris
http://www.freetetris.org/
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Arkansas mother Michelle Duggar gave birth December 18 to her 18th child, Jordyn-Grace Makiya. The Duggar Family stars in the TLC reality show 17 Kids and Counting.
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Officials with the American Museaum of Natural History last month discovered a $15,000 diamond lodged in a vacuum cleaner bag. The gem belonged to Catherine Hart, who lost the stone when it became dislodged from her ring during a "Night at the Museum" overnight event earlier in December. On a hunch, museum officials had the cleaning crew check four dusty vacuum bags used to clean up after the event.
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From Sharon:

Take Me Back to the 50s
http://thefiftiesandsixties.com/TakeMeBackToTheFifties.htm
What We Drove in the 50s & 60s
http://thefiftiesandsixties.com/CarsWeDrove.htm
Growing Up in the 50s
http://thefiftiesandsixties.com/growingupinthefifties.htm
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Sharon's offering prompted me to share this site that I like that reminds me of my growing-up years:
http://www.escape-to-the-seventies.com/

01.06.2009

2009-01-05T20:12:00.004-05:00

Hello one and all...welcome to the first issue of 2009. I'm having a hard time remembering the holidays are over because I'm still buying Christmas stuff. On clearance. 75% off! I love prices going down. Well, let's see what we have for this week... ~Toni
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Now for Phyllis...

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a happy and healthy New Years day! May 2009 be a year full of blessings for us all.

Want to send an e-card to someone from more than one person? Go to
http://www.groupcard.com/landing/
You can send a card from the whole group!
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Check it out! Ever wonder what your favorite websites looked like back when they were first created? Find out here
http://www.archive.org/web/web.php
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COOL PICK
http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/
LoveFoodHateWaste is a British website that I recently found. The purpose of the site is to help cut down on food waste. You can use the site when planning a meal to ensure that you only use enough food for your meal, without any leftovers that could possibly just be thrown out. Not only does this help reduce food waste, it can also help you save money! Another benefit is that the site also has recipes where you can use up any leftovers you happen to have. Just click on "recipes" and check on the food(s) you have leftover to get recipes where you can incorporate them. They also offer tips on how to keep your food fresh, which of course will also help reduce waste.
According to LoveFoodHateWaste, the average household throws away about a third of the food they buy! They also claim that if we stopped wasting that food, the CO2 impact (carbon dioxide) would be equal to taking 1 out of 5 cars off the road.
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Oh, to be lying on a beach somewhere,
With sand in my toes
And the wind in my hair.

And only the sound of the seagulls on high
On a beach somewhere
Under a sunny blue sky.

The gentle caress of the waves on the shore
And you close beside me
Could I ask for more?

A soft, sandy beach that goes on forever
You, me and a beach
So happy together.

Somewhere by Linda Harnett
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If you would like reviews on "healthy" or "diet" food, go to
http://www.iateapie.net/
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Healthy Living

Just a short column this week, since I'm getting over the flu and still not feeling very well.
Here is an online quiz to see how much you know about fat loss.
http://exercise.about.com/library/Quiz/blbodyfatquiz.htm
How did you do? I got 10 out of 11 correct.
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Friends are kind to each other's hopes. They cherish each other's dreams.
--Emerson

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Now for Toni...

This week our state is Illinois:

The world's first Skyscraper was built in Chicago, 1885.

The Sears Tower, Chicago is the tallest building on the North American continent.

Metropolis the home of Superman really exists in Southern Illinois.

Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery. 1865

On December 2, 1942, Enrico Fermi and a small band of scientists and engineers demonstrated that a simple construction of graphite bricks and uranium lumps could produce controlled heat. The space chosen for the first nuclear fission reactor was a squash court under the football stadium at the University of Chicago.

Des Plaines is home to the first McDonald's.

Dixon is the boyhood home of President Ronald Reagan.

Chicago is home to the Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station, the only buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire.

Before Abraham Lincoln was elected president he served in the Illinois legislature and practiced law in Springfield. Abraham Lincoln is buried just outside Springfield at Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site.

Ronald Wilson Regan from Tampico became the 40th president of the United States in 1980.

The highest point in Illinois is Charles Mound at 1235 feet above sea level.

The ice cream "sundae" was named in Evanston. The piety of the town resented the dissipating influences of the soda fountain on Sunday and the good town fathers, yielding to this churchly influence, passed an ordinance prohibiting the retailing of ice cream sodas on Sunday. Ingenious confectioners and drug store operators obeying the law, served ice cream with the syrup of your choice without the soda. Objections then was made to christening a dish after the Sabbath. So the spelling of "sunday" was changed. It became an established dish and an established word and finally the "sundae".

In 1905, president of the Chicago Cubs filed charges against a fan in the bleachers for catching a fly ball and keeping it.

Chicago's Mercantile Exchange building was built entirely without an internal steel skeleton, as most skyscrapers; it depends on its thick walls to keep itself up.

The trains that pass through Chicago's underground freight tunnels daily would extend over ten miles total in length.

In Mount Pulaski, Illinois, it is illegal for boys (and only boys) to hurl snowballs at trees. Girls are allowed to do that however.

Illinois is known for its wide variety of weather. Major winter storms, deadly tornadoes and spectacular heat and cold waves.

The first animal purchased for the Lincoln Park Zoo was a bear cub, bought for $10 on June 1st, 1874.

New York Sun editor Charles Dana, tired of hearing Chicagoans boast of the world's Columbian Exposition, dubbed Chicago the "Windy City."

The Chicago Public Library is the world's largest public library with a collection of more than 2 million books.

The Chicago Post Office at 433 West Van Buren is the only postal facility in the world you can drive a car through.

The Chicago River is dyed green on Saint Patrick's Day.

The world's largest cookie and cracker factory, where Nabisco made 16 billion Oreo cookies in 1995, is located in Chicago.
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A rule of thumb for extension cords is that the extension cord should be as thick as the cord you plug into it.

And speaking of extension cords, have you ever needed an extension cord for a small appliance but didn't want all that extra cord visable on your counter? Would you believe there is a 6 inch extension cord? I ran across it at Radio Shack's website.
http://tinyurl.com/74hzyy
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Very serious advice from Cheryl:

Storing Antifreeze Keep antifreeze in sealed containers away from your pets. Cats and dogs adore the sweet taste of it and will lick it up off the garage floor.

Did you know that just 2 ounces might be enough to kill a pet? So also wipe up any spills ASAP and dispose of the paper towels carefully.
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I'm not sure if these are true or not, but I did think they were funny, so in the interst of a good laugh...

Accident insurance claim forms ask for a brief statement about how the accident happened. The combination of the finger pointing instinct and the small spaces provided on the forms can lead to some curiously phrased explanations:

"The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intention."

"I thought my window was down; but found it was up when I put my hand through it."

"No one was to blame for the accident, but it never would have happened if the other driver had been alert."

"The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth."

"I was on the way to the doctor with rear end trouble when my universal joint gave way causing me to have an accident."

"I told the police that I was not injured, but on removing my hat, I found that I had a fractured skull."

"As I approached the intersection, a stop sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident."

"The telephone pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end."
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Advertisers are estimated to have spent more than $1.2 billion in 2008 trying to reach social networking users, whose time on networking sites like Facebook and MySpace has increased 93 percent in the last two years. Not every advertiser is legit: Spammers in 2008 managed to trick countless teens and tweens to click a link for a video from their Facebook inbox that infects the user's PC with a spambot virus known and Koobface. It can infect a user's computer and turn it into a spamming slave, sending out email spam messages at the direction of a malicious proxy.
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January 8 would have been the 73rd birthday of Elvis. There are over 500 active Official Elvis Presley Fan Clubs still throughout the world today. They are represented in 44 of the 50 United States and 45 different countries worldwide. I found a couple of nice quotes about Elvis and wanted to share them.

"...it's like he came along and whispered some dream in everybody's ear, and somehow we all dreamed it."
~Bruce Springsteen

"It is rare when an artist's talent can touch an entire generation of people. It's even rarer when that same influence affects several generations. Elvis made an imprint on the world of pop music unequaled by any other single performer."
~Dick Clark
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Last issue I posed the question: In your opinion, what has been the most significant world event that has taken place during your lifetime?

1. I would say in my life time, it would be the city towers in NYC getting bombed by terrorists and getting a black president

2. The biggest world event I think in my lifetime would have to be the twin towers falling. I will never forget that day.

3. For me, it was Ronald Reagan getting elected President. Ronald Reagan was a man who fought for what he believed in, and he changed the world more than probably any American in the twentieth century.

I received only 2 answers to the question (I was the 3rd). I don't think there's much interest in this feature, so I will skip it for awhile. I might try it again at a later date though.
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~Marie's Laughter~

A cat died and went to Heaven. God met her at the gates and said, 'You have been a good cat all these years. Anything you want is yours for the asking.'

The cat thought for a minute and then said, 'All my life I lived on a farm and slept on hard wooden floors. I would like a real fluffy pillow to sleep on.'

God said, 'Say no more.' Instantly the cat had a huge fluffy pillow.

A few days later, six mice were killed in an accident and they all went to Heaven together. God met the mice at the gates with the same offer that He made to the cat.

The mice said, 'Well, we have had to run all of our lives: from cats, dogs, and even people with brooms! If we could just have some little roller skates, we would not have to run again.'

God answered, 'It is done.' All the mice had beautiful little roller skates.

About a week later, God decided to check on the cat. He found her sound asleep on her fluffy pillow. God gently awakened the cat and asked, 'Is everything okay? How have you been doing? Are you happy?'

The cat replied, 'Oh, it is WONDERFUL. I have never been so happy in my life. The pillow is so fluffy, and those little Meals on Wheels you have been sending over are delicious!'
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John and I have tried Truvia sweetener and we really like it! Prior to this we'd been using NuStevia that we bought from GNC. We liked NuStevia except for the fact that it had a licorice-like aftertaste. So I saw the commercial for Truvia and we gave it a try. To us it is sweeter, has no aftertaste and it's cheaper per pack than the NuStevia from GNC.http://www.truvia.com/
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A little mindless fun anyone?http://www.danzen.com/snowflake/snowflake.html
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The expression Katy, bar the door means to watch out or serves as a warning of impending disaster. It dates to at least 1902 when it appears in Hugh McHugh’s (George V. Hobart’s) It’s Up to You: It was “Katie, bar the door” with her.

But who was Katy (or Katie) and why was she locking the door?

We don’t know for certain, but the expression is probably a reference to an incident in Scottish history. On 20 February 1437, King James I of Scotland was assassinated while staying at the Dominican chapterhouse in Perth and the Katy in question was one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting who tried to save him.

Her full name was Catherine Douglas, popularly known as Kate Barlass. A band of murderers, led by nobleman Robert Graeme, had entered the chapterhouse in search of the king. The king’s chamberlain, Robert Stuart, was in on the plot and had removed the locks and bolts securing the door of king’s chamber. In an attempt to prevent the murderers from entering the room, Catherine used her arm in place of a bolt. The murderers broke the door, and her arm, and succeeded in killing the king. Her descendants to this day bear a broken arm on their family crest and keep the name Barlass.
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Here is a site I've not really checked out completely yet, but at first glance it looks like it would really be helpful, so I wanted to go ahead and share it with you.http://www.thedailyplate.com/
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The average lead pencil will draw a line 35 miles long or write approximately 50,000 English words. More than 2 billion pencils are manufactured each year in the United States. If these were laid end to end they would circle the world nine times.
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Big changes in our lives are more or less a second chance. ~Harrison Ford

12.30.2008

2008-12-28T20:44:00.008-05:00

Welcome to the last issue of 2008. I trust everyone had a glorious Christmas with friends and family. As we enter into 2009, my hope is that you can put away the old year with fond memories and look ahead to happy new tomorrows. ~Toni
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Now for Phyllis...

I hope everyone had a very merry and blessed Christmas!

There's a product I tried recently and have quickly become addicted to! Its called "Better N' Peanut Butter." So far as I can tell, its not available at most regular grocery stores such as Food Lion, but it is available at some health food stores and at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.
Better N' Peanut Butter is low in sodium, and has 85% less fat and 40% less calories than most regular peanut butter brands. As for taste, I think its pretty good! No, it doesn't taste exactly like peanut butter, but it definately has a peanutty taste and spreads just like peanut butter. I have it on toast for breakfast, or in a BNPB and jelly sandwich for lunch. It satisfies my peanut butter craving but without all the fat and calories.
Here is their website
http://www.betternpeanutbutter.com/index.html
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Find out what your name means...

http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/
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Healthy Living

This week I'd like to talk about the importance of drinking water. Do you know that most people should drink at least 2 quarts of water a day? Wonder why? Well, for one thing, thats roughly how much water your body loses normally through perspiration, waste removal and other bodily functions. (Just breathing uses water! Your lungs exhale water vapor as you breathe.) And if you exercise enough to break a sweat, you definately need to make sure you're getting enough water. Staying properly hydrated will help you avoid fatigue, nausea and even heat stroke. In addition, water helps keep your energy up, weight down, muscles strong and joints supple!
Water helps regulate your body temperature.
Water makes up 83% of the blood in your body.
Water composes 75% of your brain.
Water moistens oxygen for breathing.
Water accounts for 22% of your bones and 90% of your lungs.
Your body is approximately 60% water.
One thing to remember in addition is that if you drink more water than your body needs without getting the other proper nutrients, your body will actually start to deplete itself of those nutrients.
And in the interest of being eco friendly, I'd like to suggest that you get a Brita water pitcher or a filter that attaches to your faucet. That way you won't be adding all those plastic bottles to the landfills.
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Here's a site just for fun...especially if you're a cat lover!

stuffonmycat.com
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New uses for fabric softener sheets
1. Freshen stinky shoes...just put a fabric softener sheet in each shoe and leave overnight.
2. Remove static...just rub a fabric softener sheet over your hair or clothing.
3. Pick up pet hair...rub a fabric softener sheet over the spot where Fido was!
4. Keep your lingerie drawer smelling nice...just leave a sheet in your drawer.
5. Clean stuck on gunk from a pan...put a fabric softener sheet in the bottom of the pan and fill with water. Leave it overnight and it will be much easier to clean in the morning. (Great for when you've run out of Dawn Power Dissolver!)
6. Tangle free thread when sewing...run your needle through a dryer sheet before you start to sew.

Got any other uses for dryer sheets? Send them in!
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The grey sea creeps half-visible, half hushed,
And grasps with its innumerable hands
These silent walls.
I see beyond a rough glimmering infinity
I feel the wash
And hear the sibilation of the waves
That whisper to each other as they push
To shoreward side by side --
long lines and dim
Of movement flecked with quivering spots of foam
The quiet welter of a shifting world.
The Sea At Night
by Sri Aurobindo

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COOL PICK

Ever wonder if you are a fashion "do"...or a "don't"? Then check out http://donts.glamour.com/galleries
Here you will find all sorts of pictures of women...most of them are fashion don'ts! There is a message board where you can read the comments of others, or leave your own remarks and ratings. Sometimes the comments are mean, so be warned! But its kind of fun to look through the pictures...you might get some good fashion inspiration, too! And you're certain to be surprised by some of the DON'Ts...you won't believe they actually left the house looking like that.

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Have you ever looked for a clip on YouTube only to find its been removed? You might be able to find it here
http://youtomb.mit.edu/
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Typing fun!

http://play.typeracer.com/

A great site for practicing your typing speed and "racing" against others!
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A useful site
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Get the email addresses and homepages of your Congressmen.

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Do you make new years resolutions? Here are a few helpful hints to help you KEEP the resolutions that you make.
1. Don't set the bar too high, or you're most likely doomed from the start. Instead of making a huge resolution (I will lose 40 lbs by April and buy a new wardrobe) pick a goal that is a bit easier to attain, such as "I want to lose ten lbs." After you lose the ten lbs, if you want to lose more, just renew your goal. You don't have to wait until new years to make resolutions.
2. Don't make too many resolutions at once. Why frustrate yourself? Instead, pick one thing (or at the most, two) that you REALLY want to do, and put your focus and energy on that.
3. Tell people about your resolutions. That way you'll have support, and someone to prod you along if you are having difficulty. Just remember there is no shame in asking for help if you're having trouble meeting your goal.
4. Reward yourself. Promise yourself something for keeping your resolution. (Pedicure, anyone?)
5. Wait until Spring to make resolutions. Who says you have to make resolutions just because its new year? Why not make your resolution on May first? The change in season will coincide with whatever change you are looking to make within yourself.

Here's to a happy and healthy 2009 to us all!

And to countdown to 2009, here's a counter for you.http://www.timeanddate.com/counters/multicountdowna.html

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Now for Toni...

I just finished a fabulous book titled Dogwood by Chris Fabry. I was so anxious to finish this book that I ended up missing the first half of WVU versus UNC in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Missing any WVU game is a big deal to me, but missing a bowl game is serious business! The author has a blog if you'd like to check it out http://chrisfabry.blogspot.com/ In reading the blog I found out that this book is number 1 in a series of 3, so if you like it as much as I did I'm sure you'll be glad to know there is more to come.

In the small town of Dogwood, West Virginia, Karin has buried her shattered dreams by settling for a faithful husband whose emotional distance from her deep passions and conflicts leaves her isolated. Loaded with guilt, she tries to raise three small children and "do life" the best she can. Will returns to Dogwood intent on pursuing the only woman he has ever loved--only to find there is far more standing in his way than lost years in prison. The secrets of Will and Karin's past begin to emerge through Danny Boyd, a young boy who wishes he hadn't survived the tragedy that knit those two together as well as tore them apart. The trigger that will lay their pain bare and force them to face it rather than flee is the unlikely figure of Ruthie Bowles, a withered, wiry old woman who leads Karin so deep into her anger against God that it forces unexpected consequences.
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Just in case you were wondering, WVU beat UNC 31-30.
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Here are the poll results from 2 issues ago. I had 12 to respond, plus Handyman John and myself makes 14...

1. In what state or country do you live? England 1, Oregon 1, West Virginia 3, Maryland 2, Pennsylvania 2, Minnesota 1, Florida 1, Massachuttes 1, California 1, Michigan 1

2. Are you younger or older than 45? 2 younger and 12 older

3. Do you work outside the home? 5 does, 8 does not and 1 does volunteer work

4. What is your number one favorite thing to do in your spare time? reading 3, scrapbooking 1, talking on the phone 1, being on the computer 3, writing letters 2, riding motorcycles 1, going on road trips 1, fishing 1, knitting 1

5. What is your 2009 New Year's Resolution? don't make resolutions 5, pay car off 1, lose weight 5, improve diabetic diet 1, try to get more organized 1, handle finances better 1

6. How many children do you have? sons 3, daughters 5, didn't specify 14, no children 3 (for a total of 22 children)

7. I'm taking you out to lunch; where do you want to eat? Mexican 1, Italian 1, BBQ 1, steak house 1, seafood 1, Pizza Hut 3, Subway 1, Applebee's 1, The 99 1, Vejar's Mexican Restaurant 1, Apple Tree 1, Bob Evans 1, Famous Daves 1

8. After lunch let's go shopping; what's your favorite store? the mall 2, flea market 1, craft/gift/card store 1, Marks & Spencers 1, Fashion Bug 1, Wal-Mart 4, Macy's 1, Dollar Tree 1, Peddler's Village 1, Kohl's 1

9. Would you rather watch a movie at the theater or at home on DVD? at home 10, at the theater 4

10. The best place you've ever been on vacation? USA 1, Vegas 1, Hawaii 2, Toronto Canada 1, Florida 1, Maine 1, the Carolinas 2, Oregon coast 1, Grand Canyon 1, Novia Scotia 1, camping/fishing trip 1, Prince Edward Island 1
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I am happy to report that our gas is down to $1.59 a gallon.
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Perched at 9,500 feet on Trinity Mountain is the highest fire lookout in the Boise National Forest.

In Idaho law forbids a citizen to give another citizen a box of candy that weighs more than 50 pounds. (Note from Toni: And that is why I don't live in Idaho--LOL)

The Lewis & Clark Highway (United State Highway 12) is the shortest route from the midwest to the Pacific Coast and the longest highway within a national forest in the nation.

The elevation of Cambridge is 2,650 feet above sea level with the surrounding mountains reaching elevations around 8000 feet and plummeting to around 1500 feet in Hells Canyon.
Bruneau Dunes State Park contains North America's tallest single structured sand dune. It stands 470 feet high.

Bruneau Canyon Overlook offers a view into a 1,200 foot-deep, 800-foot-wide river canyon.
Hell's Canyon is the deepest gorge in America.

Shoshone Falls, The Niagara of the West, spills over a 212-foot drop near Twin Falls.
At 5897 feet elevation, Mackay calls itself the Top of Idaho because it is the nearest city to Mt. Borah, the highest mountain in Idaho.

Soda Springs boasts the largest man-made geyser in the world.

Rigby is known as the birthplace of television since it is Philo T. Farnsworth's hometown. Farnsworth pioneered television technology.

President Theodore Roosevelt established the Caribou National Forest in 1907. The area now covers more than 1 million acres in southeast Idaho.

In 1924 local McCall resident and Olympic ski champion, Cory Engen, started the celebration known as the Winter Carnival to help curb the boredom of the long McCall winters.

Sawtooth Mountain/Sawtooth National Recreational Area was named for its jagged profile.
Seven Devils' Peaks, one of the highest mountain ranges in Idaho, Includes Heaven's Gate Lookout, where sightseers can look into four states.
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Cheryl shares this:

"10 Cool Gadgets You Can't Get Here--Yet"
A high-definition TV you can carry in your pocket. A remote you talk to. A dongle for bringing HDTV broadcasts to your laptop while you're on the go. Sound great? Too bad, because you'll have to cross an ocean to get them.
View the slide show
"Google's Top 17 Easter Eggs, Gags, and Hoaxes"
Google makes your life easier with great search, but did you also know it's loaded with pranks, goofs, and put-ons? We show you the best of the bunch.
View the slide show
"Top 10 Google Flubs, Flops, and Failures"
Not everything Google touches turns to gold. These are some of Google's biggest nonstarter Web services, software programs, and business moves.
View the slide show
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~Marie's Laughter~

The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers. He dialed the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whispered, "Hello?" Feeling put out at the inconvenience of having to talk to a youngster the boss asked, "Is your Daddy home?" "Yes," whispered the small voice." May I talk with him?" the man asked. To the surprise of the boss, the small voice whispered, "No." Wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, "Is your Mommy there?" "Yes", came the answer." May I talk with her?" Again the small voice whispered, "No". Knowing that it was not likely that a young child would be left home alone, the boss decided he would just leave a message with the person who should be there watching over the child. "Is there anyone there besides you?" the boss asked the child. "Yes" whispered the child, "A policeman." Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee's home, the boss asked, "May I speak with the policeman?" "No, he's busy," whispered the child. "Busy doing what?" asked the boss. Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the fireman," came the whispered answer. Growing concerned and even worried as he heard what sounded like a helicopter through the ear piece on the phone the boss asked, "What is that noise?" "A hello-copper," answered the whispering voice. "What is going on there?" asked the boss, now alarmed. In an awed whispering voice the child answered, "The search team just landed the hello-copper." Alarmed, concerned and more than just a little frustrated, the boss asked, "Why are they there?" Still whispering, the young voice replied along with a muffled giggle, "They're looking for me."
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Web addresses are annoyingly long and unwieldy — especially when you're displaying search results from just about any website. If you want to cut a seemingly infinite URL down to size, head to TinyURL, plug in the long version, and voilà! Out pops a unique shortcut to use in its place. The abbreviated addresses that TinyURL generates are fewer than 20 characters long and never expire. We're not quite sure how TinyURL works its magic, but why question a good thing? We can't live without this ultra-handy tool; you'll get hooked too. (Also check out the equally helpful SnipURL and QurlyQ.)
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Ideas for those left over Christmas candy canes; crush them up and use for:

~ice cream sprinkles
~cake/cupcake sprinkles
~frosted cookie sprinkles
~on top of whipped cream in your hot cocoa
~roll marshmallows in them and eat them whole or toast them in the microwave or drop them in hot cocoa
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Buy on-sale Red and Green items for Valentines and St. Patrick's Day

Hit the after-Christmas sales for RED stuff; red napkins, paper plates, cups, table linens, bathroom towels; solid red anything that you'll get for 50-90% off after Christmas can be used in February for Valentine's Day. Same goes for GREEN stuff and St. Patrick's Day. Also, look for winter items included in the after-Christmas sales that you'll be able to use for the next three months.
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Getting organized for a new year to me starts with a wall calendar and my beloved sticky notes. For remembering birthdays or anniversaries, write the person's name and their special date on a small sticky note. Now, decide how early you want to mail out the card and count backwards from the birthday/anniversary and put the sticky note there. For early-in-the-month occasions, you will probably be backing up into the previous month. When you get the card mailed, remove the sticky note. This will let you see at a glance what cards you need to fix up and which have been mailed already.
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Check out the new Times Square New Year's Eve ball...
http://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye_ball.html
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Looking for a Better Bargain?
Get Notified When an Item's Price Drops.

Pick an item, and they'll check its price daily for you -- then send you an email alert -- when the item you want to buy drops to the price you set.
http://www.dealalerter.com/
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"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
~ Dr. Seuss
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What is a shebang? And how did it come to mean an entirety of something? A shebang, or chebang, is a hut or dwelling. Its of unknown origin and dates to at least December 1862 when Walt Whitman used it in his Journal: Their shebang enclosures of bushes.

The word also enjoyed a period where it was also used to refer to a vehicle. From Mark Twain’s Innocents At Home of 1872: You’re welcome to ride here as long as you please, but this shebang’s chartered.

Figurative use to mean a business or thing of concern dates to 1869. Again from Twain in a letter to his publisher from that year: I like the book, I like you and your style and your business vim, and believe the chebang will be a success.

The earliest citation in the OED for the phrase the whole shebang is from a 1924 letter by poet Harold Hart Crane: I am growing more and more sick of factions, gossip, jealousies, recriminations, excoriations and the whole literary shee-bang.
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This year, for the first time, the Tournament of Roses organization will be giving out a Viewer's Choice Trophy. This award will be given to the float that gets the most votes in the KTLA.COM online poll. Be sure to go here on January 1 and vote for your favorite!
http://www.ktla.com/roseparade
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Send in your answers...

I don't have a poll this week, but I have a question that might get some interesting responses.

In your opinion, what has been the most significant world event that has taken place during your lifetime?

I need your answers by noon, January 4.

12.23.2008

2008-12-22T22:22:00.006-05:00

Hello friends. I imagine everyone is busy, busy, busy with Christmas being just a few days away. I know large areas of the country have had some terrible winter storms, so I hope wherever you are, you are warm and safe. It was bitterly cold here yesterday and today. The thermometer was on 5* here this morning and with the wind chill it felt well below zero. No worries though as it's supposed to warm up into the 50s this week. You gotta love the roller coaster weather of West Virginia! :) ~Toni
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Now for Phyllis...

Last minute gift ideas;
Wow, hard to believe that Christmas is nearly here! Hope you've gotten all your shopping done...but here are some gift ideas in case you remember someone at the last minute.

1. Gas Station...This is a good place to get a gift for that car enthusiast you forgot about! You can put together a car emergency kit very easily. Just buy a bucket and then fill it with things like a can of "fix a flat", road flares, jumper cables, air fresheners,fuzzy dice for the rearview mirror or a leather steering wheel cover. Buy a shammy cloth and tie it to the handle of the bucket to make it look more "gifty".
2. Drug Store...Buy a pretty gift bag and fill it with scented soaps, lotions, sample sizes of different shampoos, ponytail holders, etc. Or you can buy a bucket and call it a "Party Survival kit." Fill it with carpet cleaner, stain stick pen, dishwasher detergent and a feather duster to make it look festive.
3. Grocery store...This is a really great place to find last minute gifts for a food lover! You could purchase a re-usable shopping tote and fill it with gourmet pasta, sauce, a collandar and some bread sticks or biscotti.

MORE TIPS:
Try to create a theme with color. One unifying color will tie everything together and show that you put thought into the item. It might sound strange, but if you give practical items, you know they will be used instead of just being put away on a shelf or "re-gifted" to someone else.
Add extra touches like pine cones, fresh cut flowers or a bag of potpourri to make it look like you put more thought into the gift than you really did.

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I'd like to share my one of my favorite Christmas stories with you this week. I first read this in high school and I've loved it ever since.
http://www.online-literature.com/o_henry/1014/

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Finding Her Here by Jayne Relaford Brown

I am becoming the woman I've wanted,
grey at the temples, soft body, delighted,
Cracked up by life with a laugh thats known bitter,
but past it, got better,
Knows she's a survivor --
that whatever comes, she can outlast it.
I am becoming a deep weathered basket.

I am becoming the woman I've longed for,
the motherly lover with arms strong and tender,
the growing up daughter who blushes surprises.
I am becoming full moons and sunrises.

I find her becoming, this woman I've wanted,
who knows she'll encompass,
who knows she's sufficient,
knows where she's going and travels with passion.

Who remembers she's precious,
but knows she's not scarce--
who knows she is plenty, plenty to share.

If you have a favorite poem to share, please send it to http://us.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Twofriendsnewsletter@gmail.com
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COOL PICK

This weeks cool pick is a great site for people looking for candy and food that they can't find at grocery stores anymore.
http://www.hometownfavorites.com/
Hometown Favorites specializes in "the hard to find" items you're missing! They started in the late 90's and are proud to say that they have over 2,000 old time favorite foods and candies. Its a fun site to browse because it reminds you of foods you have forgotten. They even have a "Boy They Were Good, But..." section where they list all the foods that are no longer available, even from Hometown Favorites. In addition to food, they also have health and beauty products such as shaving mug soap and such. If you are a retro fan like me, take a tour of Hometown Favorites.
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Merry Christmas!
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=ER13610552

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Here is a useful tool when going out to eat at restaurants. Sometimes its hard to choose the healthiest thing on the menu. This menu decoder is a big hellp!

http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/menu-decoder/?cm_mmc=ETNTNL-_-2008_12_15-_-MainBlk-_-NA-_-05

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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Healthy Living

This week I'd like to share with you my top 5 weight loss gadgets!
1. Food scale. Very important for weighing your food to make sure you have the proper serving size. Studies have shown that most people underestimate their portion sizes when just "eyeballing" it. Get a food scale and be sure that you're only eating one serving.
2. Measuring cups and spoons. These are important for the same reasons as having a food scale. A regular kitchen teaspon or tablespoon will not give you an accurate measure, since they do vary in sizes.
3. Food journal. A study conducted by The American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people who kept a food journal lost nearly twice as much weight as people who didn't.
You can keep a paper journal, or perhaps you'd like to try an online one at a site such as fitday.com
4. Pedometer. Some studies show that if you wear a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day, you can lose up to 5lbs a year without even changing your diet. No, thats not a lot of weight, but wearing a pedometer can help inspire you to walk more, which will have other health benefits besides weight loss, such as improving your blood pressure.
5. Smaller plate. Eating from a smaller plate tricks your eyes into thinking you are eating a larger portion than you really are.
http://www.wisebread.com/optical-illusions-that-make-you-fatter-and-your-wallet-lighter

Merry Christmas, everyone! Don't forget to check with your doctor prior to starting any weight loss or exercise plan!
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Winner! My friend Chicky is the winner of the spot the typo contest! Good eye, Chicky!

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This one was sent in by Nancy. Thanks!

http://home.att.net/~sheryl2/FLASH/SEASON/ScriptureTreeChristmas.html

==================================

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

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Now for Toni...

If you live in a cold climate have you noticed how the local stores always seem to have a huge abundance of hats, scarves and mittens/gloves? Starting the day after Christmas these items can be bought for very low prices. If there is a homeless shelter or some type of mission in your area, you could check with them and see if these would be needed items and then head for those after-Christmas sales!
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Cheryl sent me this article and I found it very interesting...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98275947&sc=nl&cc=es-20081221
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The state of Hawaii consists of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii.

Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.

Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee. More than one-third of the world's commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii.

From east to west Hawaii is the widest state in the United States.

The Hawaiian Islands are the projecting tops of the biggest mountain range in the world.

Honolulu's zenith star, (the star that rises directly above it) is Arcturus. The Hawaiians called it Hokule'a. (Hoe koo lay uh.)

Hawaii was the 50th state admitted to the union on August 20th, 1959.

Hawaii has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time.) There is no daylight savings time.) The time runs two hours behind Pacific Standard Time and five hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

The wind blows east to west in Hawaii. The highest recorded temperature is 96' F (Honolulu Airport), but temperatures over 92' F generally occur only once or twice a year. The lowest temperature (under 3000 feet altitude) is 56' F. Temperatures under 60' F may occur but rarely more than once a year. Average daytime temp. (July) is 82' F. Average daytime temperature in January is 72' F.

There are no racial or ethnic majorities in Hawaii. Everyone is a minority. Caucasians (Haoles) constitute about 34%; Japanese-American about 32%; Filipino-American about 16% and Chinese-American about 5%. It is very difficult to determine racial identification as most of the population has some mixture of ethnicities.

ISLAND OF NIIHAU
A privately owned island, with livestock raising as its principal industry. There is highly limited access by general public through helicopter landings at uninhabited sites. Legend says Niihau was the original home of the goddess Pele. The island has a population of 230, and is 69 square miles.

ISLAND OF KAUAI
The fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands. The Waialua River is one of five navigable river in Hawaii. It drains off Waialeale Mountain, which averages 488 inches of rain per year and is considered the wettest spot on earth.

ISLAND OF OAHU
Honolulu is the largest city in the world -- at least it has the longest borders. According to the state constitution any island (or islet) not named as belonging to a county belongs to Honolulu. This makes all islands within the Hawaiian Archipelago, that stretch to Midway Island (1,500 miles northwest of Hawaii) part of Honolulu. Honolulu is about 1,500 miles long or more distance than halfway across the 48 contiguous states.

Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States.

The world's largest wind generator is on the island of Oahu. The windmill has two blades 400 feet long on the top of a tower twenty stories high.

The island of Oahu draws more visitors than any other to Hawaii. One-third of the state's best surfing beaches are on Oahu.

ISLAND OF MAUI
Haleakala Crater (Ha-lay-ah-ja-lah), is the world's largest dormant volcano.

ISLAND OF MOLOKAI
Molokai is known as the most Hawaiian Isle.

Molokai's east end is a tropical rain forest and part of the island receives 240 inches of rainfall a year.

Kalaaupapa was once a leper colony administered by Father Damien.

The island contains the world's highest sea cliffs, Hawaii's longest waterfall, and the largest white sand beach in the state.

ISLAND OF LANAI
The island of Lanai is considered Hawaii's most secluded.

The island was once the home of the world's largest pineapple plantations.

ISLAND OF KAHOOLAWE
Once used as a target by the U.S. Navy and Air Force the services are cleaning up unexploded shells. No one is allowed to go ashore without permission. The island consists of an uninhabited area of 45 square miles.

THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII
The Big Island is Hawaii's largest at 4,038 square miles. It is twice the size of all other Hawaiian Islands combined.

The largest contiguous ranch, in the United States, is in Hawaii. The Parker Ranch near Kamuela has about 480,000 acres of land.

Kilauea volcano is the world's most active.

Ka Lae is the southernmost point in the United States. It is located at 18:54:49 N 155:41:00 W. There is a constant 27 knots per hour wind blowing east to west, 24 hours per day and 365 days per year.

Two of the tallest mountains in the Pacific - Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa - dominate the center of the island.

Most of the world's macadamia nuts are grown on the island.

Kilauea Iki is the world's most active and largest volcano.

Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world (measured from its base at the ocean floor).

The island houses the world's biggest telescope and more scientific observatories in one place than anywhere else in the world.

The island is the worldwide leader in harvesting macadamia nuts and orchids.
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Smart sprinkles...let the feasts begin The spices used in pumpkin pie, gingerbread, and other holiday treats contain powerful deisease-fighting antioxidants. Ground cinnamon tops the list, followed by cloves, with giner also packing a healthy punch. Cinnamon and cloves even outscore better-known antioxidants like blueberries and pomegranate juice. Quick ways to get a healthy dose:
~Sprinkle a pinch of ground cloves over a baked sweet potato
~Shake cinnamon into cocoa
~Season sauteed carots with ground ginger (about 1/2 teaspoon per pound of the veggie)
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~Marie's Laughter~

A Blonde is watching the news with her husband when the newscaster says:"Two Brazilian men die in a skydiving accident”.

The blonde starts crying uncontrollably to her husband, sobbing "That's horrible!! Confused, he says, "Yes dear, it is sad, but they were skydiving, and there is always that risk involved."
After a few minutes, the blonde, still sobbing, says, "How many is a Brazilian?"
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Did you buy a poinsettia or receive one as a gift? Here's how to care for it.

Caring for Poinsettias

The length of time your poinsettia will give you pleasure in your home is dependent on (1) the maturity of the plant, (2) when you buy it, and (3) how you treat the plant. With care, poinsettias should retain their beauty for weeks and some varieties will stay attractive for months.

~After you have made your poinsettia selection, make sure it is wrapped properly because exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes can damage the bracts and leaves.

~Unwrap your poinsettia carefully and place in indirect light. Six hours of light daily is ideal. Keep the plant from touching cold windows.

~Keep poinsettias away from warm or cold drafts from radiators, air registers or open doors and windows.

~Ideally poinsettias require daytime temperatures of 60 to 70°F and night time temperatures around 55°F. High temperatures will shorten the plant’s life. Move the plant to a cooler room at night, if possible.

~Check the soil daily. Be sure to punch holes in foil so water can drain into a saucer. Water when soil is dry. Allow water to drain into the saucer and discard excess water. Wilted plants will tend to drop bracts sooner.

~Fertilize the poinsettia if you keep it past the holiday season. Apply a houseplant fertilizer once a month. Do not fertilize when it is in bloom.
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Terrie sent these to me:

Here are some Christmas related facts that will arouse your interest :

In the Ukraine, if you find a spider web in the house on Christmas morning, it is believed to be a harbinger of good luck! There once lived a woman so poor, says a Ukrainian folk tale, that she could not afford Christmas decorations for her family.. One Christmas morning, she awoke to find that spiders had trimmed her childrenʼs tree with their webs. When the morning sun shone on them, the webs turned to silver and gold. An artificial spider and web are often included in the decorations on Ukrainian Christmas trees.

At Christmas, it is traditional to exchange kisses beneath the mistletoe tree. In ancient Scandinavia, mistletoe was associated with peace and friendship. That may account for the custom of "kissing beneath the mistletoe".

'Klaxon' is a name that does not belong to one of Santaʼs reindeer. A klaxon is actually a powerful electric horn. Its name comes from a German word meaning "shriek".

In many households, part of the fun of eating Christmas pudding is finding a trinket that predicts your fortune for the coming year. For instance, finding a coin means you will become wealthy. A ring means you will get married; while a button predicts bachelorhood. The idea of hiding something in the pudding comes from the tradition in the Middle Ages of hiding a bean in a cake that was served on Twelfth Night. Whoever found the bean became "king" for the rest of the night.

Frumenty was a spiced porridge, enjoyed by both rich and poor. It was a forerunner of modern Christmas puddings. It is linked in legend to the Celtic god Dagda, who stirred a porridge made up of all the good things of the earth.

The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace), the poinsettia is known as the "Flower of the Holy Night".

Louis Prang, a Bavarian-born lithographer who came to the USA from Germany in the 19th century, popularized the sending of printed Christmas cards. He invented a way of reproducing color oil paintings, the "chromolithograph technique", and created a card with the message "Merry Christmas" as a way of showing it off.The "Urn of Fate" is part of the Christmas celebrations in many Italian households.

The Urn of Fate is brought out on Christmas Eve. It holds a wrapped present for everyone. The mother tries her luck first, then the others in turn. If you get a present with your name on it, you keep it; otherwise, you put it back and try again.
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These came to me from Cheryl. She and I worried the first one might be a little too late in the season, but then I decided that the holidays aren't the only time we use extension cords, so:

When you use extra cords for holiday lights and decorations, don't run any extension cords under rugs. They can get frayed, worn or chewed by pets, which can cause them to short out. This could start a fire.

Have Coupons You Aren't Using?

Donate them to charities, senior citizen or community centers or food banks. Some communities have coupon exchanges. Contact your church or library for more information.
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When I was in elementary school I lived about 10 miles from the little town of Cyclone, West Virginia; I'm about 100 miles away now. Anyway I saw this in the local paper and thought it was very interesting and hoped you would too. ~Toni

CYCLONE — After nearly 4,000 miles — from a small school deep in the mountains of rural West Virginia to the northwest coast of England — a diminutive white balloon floated across the Atlantic Ocean to be found by Katrina McGregor during a routine beach clean-up.
The 3,720-mile transatlantic journey began as a gesture of sentiment for sixth grader Whitney Osborne, a way to honor her aunt, Linda Ritchie, who had recently passed away as the result of a car accident. Osborne released the white balloon, a note honoring her aunt tucked inside, during a Veterans Day balloon lift Nov. 10 at Road Branch Elementary and Middle School. Students released 252 red, white and blue balloons, complete with area veterans offering a 21-gun salute.
McGregor, 53, found the still-inflated balloon 14 days later while cleaning up at Heversham Moss in the Kent Estuary. She had to pop the balloon to get to the message inside.
McGregor, who lives in Storth, recently wrote to the students and staff of the school indicating she and her mother had completed additional beach clean-ups but have yet to find more balloons.
Lizzie Anderson, a reporter with The Westmorland Gazette in England, was the first to contact Road Branch principal Rebecca Cooke.
“I first thought she meant New England,” Cooke said.
However, as the conversation continued, Cooke said it became apparent from Anderson’s accent it wasn’t anywhere in the United States. Anderson indicated they knew the balloon was from America because “honor” had been spelled without a “u,” Cooke explained.
“I had a mental map in my head ... I can’t believe it got out of the mountains,” Cooke said. Osborne, likewise, still can’t believe the balloon floated across the Atlantic Ocean. “Daddy told me, but I really didn’t believe him. He’s always kidding around with me,” the sixth grader recalled of her father, Eugene Osborne.
One of the teachers from the school mentioned it to Osborne at church, then the reality of just how far the balloon had traveled began to register.
“I figured it would get stuck in the trees,” Osborne said. “I wouldn’t have dreamed it could have gotten out of these mountains,” added Geneva Osborne, Whitney’s mom.
“Even if it had gotten out of the mountains into another state, maybe Virginia — that would have been something,” Cooke emphasized.
“We live in a rural area on the coast, but Ireland is between you and us, and plenty of mountains,” McGregor wrote in her letter to the school.
“I am very honoured to have found it and have kept the press cuttings ...” McGregor said, using England’s spelling of “honoured,” with the “u.”
“I would dearly love to come over and meet you all, but it costs a fortune for the flight (a few thousand and return), so I live in hope that sometime I may have chance to come over,” she said in her letter.
Cooke was impressed McGregor wrote an actual letter rather than sending an e-mail and emphasized the entire school would have the opportunity to write to her.
Osborne would also like the chance to visit England and meet McGregor.
“Maybe someday I will,” she said.
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Pepsi has a new logo. Developed at the cost of more than $1 million, the "more dynamic and more alive" soft-drink logo will likely cost hundreds of millions of dollars to implement worldwide.

Layaway. A mainstay of the Great Depression, paying for a purchase over time (and delaying the instant gratification a credit card permits) is popular again. According to the Wall Street Journal, Kmart, TJ Maxx, and other retailers are reporting a rise in layaway since the credit crunch.
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I tried Dawn Plus Hand Renewal (Aloe Vera Scent). It's okay, but I prefer original Dawn still the best. This new didn't bubble as good as I like and I didn't see the condition of my hands improve. Bottom line, I'll be buying original Dawn next time.

Have you tried any new products? Write a review and send it to me and I'll put it in a future issue.
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Photo editing made fun

Picnik makes your photos fabulous with easy to use yet powerful editing tools. Tweak to your heart’s content, then get creative with oodles of effects, fonts, shapes, and frames. It's fast, easy, and fun.

http://www.picnik.com/
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Hope you like this word origin...

The origin of the phrase mind your Ps and Qs, meaning to be careful of one’s behavior, is not known. Explanations for the phrase abound. Some are plausible, some are not. Let’s start with what we know.

The phrase dates to at least 1779 when it appears in Hannah Cowley’s Who’s The Dupe?:

You must mind your P’s and Q’s with him, I can tell you.

There are other forms that are older, such as this from Samuel Rowlands’ 1612 The Knave of Harts:

Bring in a quart of Maligo, right true: And looke, you Rogue, that it be Pee and Kew.

And there is this from Thomas Dekker’s 1602 Satiro-Mastix:

Now thou art in thy pee and cue.

The pee here is a reference to pea cloth, a course woolen cloth common in men’s clothing of the day. The cue is mysterious.

One plausible explanation is that it comes from the difficulty children have learning to write. The letters P and Q can be easily confused when first learning to write. William Combe writes in his 1820 The Second Tour of Doctor Syntax in Search of Consolation:

And I full five-and-twenty year Have always been school-master here; And almost all you know and see, Have learn’d their Ps and Qs from me.

While this explanation appears some decades after the phrase’s appearance, it is perhaps the most plausible explanation. A variant on this explanation is that it is not children who are confused, but rather apprentice printers. Since type is the mirror image of the printed letter, it is easy to confuse the letters P and Q when examining blocks of type. While the printer variant is plausible, there is no evidence to confirm it.

Another plausible explanation is that it is a reference to “prime quality.” P and Q is used to mean prime quality in the dialect of Shropshire and Herefordshire. So to mind one’s Ps and Qs is to assure that something is the very best. The 1612 Rowlands’ quote could be interpreted in this fashion, although the use of P and Q or pee and kew to mean prime quality is not attested until the 19th century. It seems more likely that this is a retroactive interpretation of the phrase rather than the origin.

Then there are the less plausible explanations. One of which is, of course, that the phrase is nautical in origin.

The explanation is the the P stands for a sailor’s pea jacket and the Q is for queue, or pigtail. Sailors would often wear their hair in a queue and after many weeks at sea without washing it would become greasy and could stain a sailor’s pea jacket. The pee in Dekker’s 1602 quote above is a reference to pea cloth, but it is not in a nautical context and while today pea cloth is associated with sailors, in the 16th and 17th centuries it was not, being widely used in all walks of life. Furthermore, queue, meaning pigtail, does not appear until the mid-18th century, well after the early versions of the phrase had appeared. So this nautical explanation is all wet.

Another commonly suggested, but implausible, explanation is that it is a variation on mind your pleases and thank yous, a plea for gentility and manners. There is no evidence to support this, nor does the please and thank you phrase appear anywhere except in explanations of the Ps and Qs origin.

Finally, perhaps the best known implausible explanation is that the phrase is a reference to pints and quarts. According to the explanation, taverns would keep customers’ tabs on chalkboards, tallying up the numbers of pints and quarts of drink each patron consumed. To mind one’s Ps and Qs was either a plea to the barkeep to be careful to mark the right column or to the patron not to drink too much. The explanation appears in Harper’s Monthly Magazine in January 1852:

Who ever knew, until comparatively late years, what was the origin of the cautionary saying, “Mind your P’s and Q’s?” A modern antiquarian, however, has put the world right in relation to that saying: In ale-houses, in the olden time, when chalk “scores” were marked upon the wall, or behind the door of the tap-room, it was customary to put the initials “P” and “Q” at the head of every man’s account, to show the number of “pints” and” quarts” for which he was in arrears; and we may presume many a friendly rustic to have tapped his neighbor on the shoulder, when he was indulging too freely in his potations, and to have exclaimed, as he pointed to the chalk-score, “Mind your P’s and Q’s, man! mind your P’s and Q’s!”

As we can see, this explanation only dates to the mid-19th century and it fails to account for the form learn one’s Ps and Qs, which as we have seen existed prior to this explanation appearing. We can safely dispense with this explanation.
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In for a penny
A penny not paid could land Eileen Wilbur in legal trouble. The city of South Attlesboro, Mass., billed the 74-year-old Wilbur for one cent she owes on her utility bill. The letter also threatened Wilbur, who is blind, with a $48 tax lien if she doesn't pay up. A city spokesman said the collector's office automatically printed bills for all residents who owed money. A penny for Wilbur's troughts? "They wasted taxpayer money on the letter," she said, noting the 42-cent postage on the notice.
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"A lot of disappointed people have been left standing on the street corner waiting for the bus marked 'Perfection'." ~Donald Kennedy