12.30.2008

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

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

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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

12.16.2008

Hello everyone. Welcome to my back-up plan for Two Friends Newsletter. If you miss an issue in your inbox, you can come here to read it. Also I have archived all the past issues, so those are here if you want or need to check out an older newsletter. I hope you'll like the site and it will be of some use to you. Well, let's get to it... ~Toni
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Now for Phyllis...

Last week I gave you uses for your newspaper. This week I'm going to tell you some uses for coffee filters.

1. Makes a great strainer if you have a broken cork in your bottle of wine. Just hold a coffee filter over the bottle and pour it into a pitcher or carafe. The broken cork pieces will stay in the bottle.
2. Also makes a great popcorn bowl! Everyone can have their own little bowl for popcorn...just toss in the trash when you're done!
3. Keep dirt from draining out of your flower plants. When re-potting your plants, place a coffee filter in the bottom to prevent the dirt from coming out of the drainage hole.
4. Prevent scratches on your good china. Put a coffee filter between each plate and bowl.
5. In the summer, a coffee filter can help keep your kids (or gandkids) hands from getting sticky when eating Popsicles. Just slide the wooden stick of the Popsicle through a coffee filter to catch drips.

Know of any other uses for coffee filters? Send them in and we'll print them in a future issue.
http://us.mc1110.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Twofriendsnewsletter@gmail.com
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COOL PICK

Has your favorite TV show "Jumped the shark?" Find out at
http://www.jumptheshark.com/index.jspa
This is a great website for TV fans! "Jump the shark" is a catchphrase meaning that your show has hit its peak and its probably all downhill from there. The site got its name from the Happy Days episode where The Fonz literally jumped a shark while on water skis...still wearing his leather jacket!
At Jump the Shark you can check out the message boards for the shows you currently like, or ones that are just memories. Post your opinions...has a show Jumped the Shark or not...and why? Read the posts of others to find out what they think too. If you like to watch TV, then Jump the Shark just might be a site that you'll enjoy.

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There is still time to make some really cool Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers. How about making a batch of chocolate spoons? All you need are ten spoons. You can get some mismatched ones at thrift shops, or even use STURDY plastic ones. (The smaller, cheaper ones aren't good for this.)
You'll also need
1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate
some crushed candycanes, coconut, or sprinkles
wax paper
plastic wrap
ribbon

Melt the chocolate in your microwave for about two minutes but be sure to stir every 30 seconds or so. Spread out a sheet of wax paper. Dip the clean,dry spoons into the chocolate one at a time, and then place on the wax paper. Let the spoons cool a bit, then give them another dip into the chocolate. Repeat this process a few more times until each spoon is a little thick. While they're still warm from the last dip, add the extras (crushed candy cane, etc.) Place spoons in the refrigerator to set. Once firm and completely cooled, wrap them in plastic wrap and tie with a ribbon. To make it even more "Christmasy" use red or green plastic wrap.
On average, these spoons only have 50 calories each so its a nearly guilt free indulgence! Enjoy!
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Last issue I shared a poem that I liked with you. Here's another one of my favorites. If you have a favorite poem you'd like to share, please send it to me at http://us.mc1110.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Twofriendsnewsletter@gmail.com

SEA FEVER by John Masefield

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide,
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied,
And all I ask is a windy day with white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume and the sea gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife,
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
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FYI;
Here's a great tip for people who are color blind or have vision problems. Ever been to a website or message board where you can't read the text because of the color? If you click on Ctrl and A, the text will be highlighted in white, making it much easier to read. To go back to color, simply click your mouse inside the text.
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Kill two birds with one stone! When you buy Brillo or SOS pads, cut them in half with scissors. Not only will you have smaller pads that actually last longer without rusting, but you'll also be sharpening your scissors!
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Healthy Living

Pssst...got half an hour? You can burn a lot of calories in that time! So many people think that the word "exercise" means you have to get out and jog, hit the gym or do aerobics for an hour. But did you know that simple at home activities can burn lots of calories too?

The ESTIMATED calorie burns for the following activities depend on your weight, how fit you already are, and on the intensity with which each activity is performed with. Also, these estimates are for an average 150 lb woman.

1.If you walk briskly, you can burn up to 150 calories in a half an hour.
2. If you do your housework at a lively pace, you can burn up to 120 calories in a half hour.
3. If you have a green thumb, good for you! Gardening can burn up to 162 calories in half an hour!
4. If golfing on weekends is your thing, you can burn around 190 calories an hour...if you walk and carry your own clubs.
5. If you have a stationary bike, why not put it in front of the television and watch your favorite sitcom? In half an hour you can possibly burn 190 calories.
6. Need a nap? Go ahead and take one! You'll only burn around 22 calories per half hour...but at least you won't be eating!

When I started this column, I said I'd tell you how well I've been doing on my diet. After a SLOW start, I have finally gotten back on track and taken my own advice...and have lost 4.2 inches and 9 lbs. I have a long way to go...but slow and steady wins the race!

And please remember to check with you doctor before you go on any diet or exercise program.

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Here's a site just ffor fun!

http://www.dumbwarnings.com/

You're sure to get a chuckle out of at least a few of these!
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Have you lost or misplaced instruction sheets to toys or appliances? Go to

http://www.instructionsheets.com/
They might have the instructions you're looking for.
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One more fun site, just for cat lovers...
http://www.lolcats.com/
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I'm sure you've all seen the commercials for Aqua Globes, so I thought I'd tell you what I think of them. I got mine last summer at Walgreens.
Aqua Globes claim to automatically water your plants for 2 weeks.My experience with them is that they do live up to that claim...but it can be a pain to re-fill them when they run dry. The tube where the water goes in is very narrow, making it a slow process to fill them up. Still, I'd say this is a product worth having if you have a lot of plants.

We would love to hear YOUR opinions on products too, good or bad. So send them in!
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Something useful...a serving conversion calculator
http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/nutrition_serving_calculator.asp
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ANNOUNCING...a weekly contest!
Each week we'll have a "spot the typographical errors" contest! No prize, other than a mention in the newsletter, but if you spot a typo (or two, or more) in the newsletter, please email me and tell me about it at http://us.mc1110.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Twofriendsnewsletter@gmail.com
Each week we'll leave in at least one typo for you to find.
Whoever spots the typo(s) and emails me first will be mentioned as WINNER OF THE WEEK in the following issue of the newsletter.

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Now for Toni...

Deep undercover

German police in Bochum used a mail-order catalog to help solve the case of a serial burglar in the North Rhine-Westphalia town. Police suspected the burglar who had been nabbing laptops around town had a hideout and stash in a local forest. So officers purchased a pair of tree costumes for about $130 each out of a catalog and waited for delivery. Once the costumes arrived, two cops donned the outfits and made way for the area of the forest identified by a tipster. The two officers reportedly waited for eight hours--looking either like a small Christmas tree while standing or a heap of moss while seated--before the burglar returned to his lair. After a brief struggle in their costumes, police arrested a 39-year-old Romanian man who allegedly traveled to Germany to commit the burglaries.
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Daffy Duck needs some help with his parachute. Bet you can't play just one game. http://www.bassfiles.net/parachute.swf
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This week it's Georgia...

The late John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his future wife stopped in Kingsland on the way to their marriage on Cumberland Island.

Georgia was named for King George II of England.

Stone Mountain near Atlanta is one of the largest single masses of exposed granite in the world.
Georgia is the nations number one producer of the three Ps--peanuts, pecans, and peaches.

Known as the sweetest onion in the world, the Vidalia onion can only be grown in the fields around Vidalia and Glennville

Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.

Georgia is often called the Empire State of the South and is also known as the Peach State and Cracker State.

In 1828 Auraria, near the city of Dahlongea, was the site of the first Gold Rush in America.
Coca-Cola was invented in May 1886 by Dr. John S. Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. The name "Coca-Cola" was suggested by Dr. Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson. He penned the name Coca-Cola in the flowing script that is famous today. Coca-Cola was first sold at a soda fountain in Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta by Willis Venable.

Providence Canyon State Park, near Lumpkin, is known as the Little Grand Canyon of Georgia.

Marshall Forest in Rome is the only natural forest within a city limits in the United States.

The popular theme park - Six Flags Over Georgia, was actually named for six flags that flew over Georgia. England, Spain, Liberty, Georgia, Confederate States of America, and the United States.

The locomotive engine popularly known as The General is housed in the Big Shanty Museum in Kennesaw. It was stolen in the Andrews Railroad Raid in 1862 and later depicted in The Great Locomotive Chase, a popular movie.

The name of the famous south Georgia swamp, the Okefenokee, is derived from an Indian word meaning the trembling earth.

Brasstown Bald Mountain is the highest point in Georgia. It has an elevation of 4,784 feet.
Plains is the home of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President.

The figures of Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis, and Robert E. Lee make up the world's largest sculpture. It is located on the face of Stone Mountain. Additionally Robert E. Lee's horse, Traveler, is also carved at the same place.

Savannah was the landing site for General James Edward Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia.
Wesleyan College in Macon was the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women.

Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon is the largest archeological development east of the Mississippi River.
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Here's a good pancake recipe that was my Grandma Brown's. It can be doubled easily. I mix mine with a whisk because I hate getting the mixer out. I use 1/2 cup white flour and 1/2 cup wheat.

2 eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 cup milk
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~Marie's Laughter~

The Old Man and the Sea

A seaman meets a pirate in a bar, and they take turns to tell their adventures on the seas. The seaman notes that the pirate has a peg leg, hook, and an eye patch. Curious, the seaman asks "So, how did you end up with the peg-leg?" The pirate replies "I was swept overboard into a school of sharks. Just as my men were pulling me out, a shark bit my leg off". "Wow!" said the seaman. "What about the hook"? "Well...", replied the pirate, "We were boarding an enemy ship and were battling the other sailors with swords. One of the enemy cut my hand clean off." "Incredible!" remarked the seaman. "How did you get the eye patch"? "A seagull dropping fell into my eye", replied the pirate. "You lost your eye to a seagull dropping?" the sailor asked. "Well..." said the pirate, "That was my first day with the hook."
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Jeanne has a newsletter and she has asked me to post the information about it here. So I gladly submit:

Handicapped Friends Pen Pal Club Newsletter is strictly a snail mail newsletter only. We are a confidential, registered non-profit club geared for the disabled & anyone else interested in writing to them. We publish a quarterly newsletter, with members summaries, articles, etc. A sample issue is $3.00 & a LSASE (with $.59 postage on it). Cost of membership is: $16 for 6 months or $28 for 1 year. Because you're a member of Two Friends Newsletter, you qualify for a sample for only $2.00 & a LSASE (with $.59 postage on it). We hope you'll want to join us & make many new friends thru our club. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

HANDICAPPED FRIENDS PEN PAL CLUB
C/O JEANNE POWERS, DIRECTOR
P.O. BOX 623 DEPT. TFN
COTTAGE GROVE, OR 97424-0027

E-MAIL: CGHCFRIENDS@AOL.COM
WEBSITE: http://www.freewebs.com/cghcfriends/index.htm
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Decorate a gingerbread cookie...
http://www.theoworlds.com/christmas/
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Texas Sheet Cake
2 sticks butter
4 Tbs. cocoa 1 cup water 2 cups flour
2 cups sugar1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
3/4 of 8 oz. cream cheese; softened
1 tsp. baking soda

Combine butter, cocoa and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add to flour, sugar and salt. Mix in eggs, cream cheese and soda. Pour into greased 9.5 X 13 pan and bake for 25-30 minutes at 350*. Remove from oven and frost immediately(you need to have the frosting ready as soon as the cake comes out).

Texas Sheet Cake Frosting
1 stick butter 4 Tbs. cocoa
6 Tbs. milk
remaining 1/4 of cream cheese
1 lb confectioners sugarvanilla

Combine butter, cocoa and milk in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add sugar, vanilla and cream cheese. Mix well and pour on cake. Allow to completely cool before cutting.
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This is a longer-than-usual word origin, but I thought it was a good read...

OK is the most successful of all Americanisms. It has invaded hundreds of other languages and been adopted by them as a word. Despite the term’s success, however, for years no one was really sure where the word came from. The origin of OK became the Holy Grail of etymology. Finally, in 1963 the Galahad of our story, Dr. Allen Walker Read of Columbia University uncovered the origin.

Read solved the mystery in a series of articles in American Speech in 1963-64. The term began as a facetious misspelling for all correct (oll korrect) in Boston newspapers in the spring of 1839. OK was the result of two editorial fads common in newspapers of the era.

One of these fads was the use playful abbreviations. Beginning in 1838, Boston papers began using a variety of abbreviations. These include:

O.F.M. = Our First Men
G.T.D.H.D = Give The Devil His Due
N.G. = No Go
S.P. = Small Potatoes

The second fad was to adopt the voice of an uneducated bumpkin, representing this by deliberately misspelling words. Frequently these two fads were combined and the following misspelled abbreviations appeared in papers in 1838:

O.W. = Oll Wright (all right)
K.G. = Know Go (no go)
K.Y. = Know Yuse (no use)
K.K.N. = Kommit Know Nuisance (commit no nuisance)

It was in this tradition that the first recorded use of OK appeared on 23 March 1839 by the Boston Morning Post:

He of the Journal...would have the “contribution box,” et ceteras, o.k.—all correct—and cause the corks to fly, like sparks, upward.

Three days later, on 26 March, the paper used the term again:

Had the pleasure of taking these “interesting strangers” by the hand, and wishing them a speedy passage to the Commercial Emporium, They were o.k.

And the following month, on 10 April, it published:

It is hardly necessary to say to those who know Mr. Hughes, that his establishment will be found to be “A. No. One"—that is, O.K.—all correct.

By July of that year, the term spread south to New York, and quickly gained wide acceptance after appearing in the Evening Tattler on 27 July:

These “wise men from the East”...are right...to play at bowls with us as long as we are willing to set ourselves up, like skittles, to be knocked down for their amusement and emolument. OK! all correct!

In following months, the term spread to newspapers in other cities. October saw its appearance in New Orleans and in November 1839 it hit the Philadelphia papers.

It is commonly thought that the origin of OK is rooted in the 1840 presidential election. In that year New York Democrats formed an organization called the OK Club to promote the election of Martin Van Buren to the presidency. The name of the club stood for Old Kinderhook, a nickname of Van Buren’s who was from Kinderhook, New York. Since the term was in use prior to the formation of the OK Club, it seems likely that the name of the club was due at least in part to the phrase, not vice versa. So it seems that the activities of the OK Club contributed to the popularity of OK, allowing it to survive when the other such abbreviations faded away, but it is not the source of the term.

There have been numerous incorrect suggestions as to the origin over the years. Some of the more popular suggestions as to the origin are as follows. These can all be dismissed because of lack of evidence or because OK predates the events that supposedly led to creation:

It stands for oll korrect, a misspelling of all correct, but attributed to Andrew Jackson. This one comes close to the mark, but still misses it. There is a record of the 1790 sale of a slave that was notorized by Jackson and the clerk recorded the sale as what appears to be, “O.K.” But this is simply a case of bad penmanship on the part of the clerk and it really is “O.R.,” for “order recorded,” a common abbreviation in ledgers of the era.

It comes from any one of a number of languages, most often the Choctaw word okeh. This explanation often involves Andrew Jackson again, but this time adopting it from the Indian language not because he was orthographically-challenged. A later president, Woodrow Wilson, favored this explanation, but he was wrong. As far as this explanation goes, it was not suggested until 1885 and no evidence exists that this, or any foreign word, is in fact the origin. Other languages suggested include:

From the Greek olla kalla, meaning all right or satisfactory
From the Scots och, aye
From the Finnish oikea
From Ewe, a West African language
It is an abbreviation for Oberst Kommandant, or Colonel-in-Command, used by Von Steuben or Schliessen during the Revolutionary War. No record of either man, or anyone until 1839, using OK exists.
It comes from the French Aux Cayes, a port in Haiti famed for its rum.
It stood for Orrin Kendall crackers supplied to the Union Army during the Civil War. Unfortunately for Orrin’s immortality, OK was in use twenty years before the Civil War.
It stood for Obadiah Kelly, a railroad shipping clerk akin to Kilroy who initialed bills of lading.

And,

That it was an 1860s telegraph term for Open Key.
The variant A-OK first appeared during NASA’s Mercury program of the 1960s. It may be a combination of A-One with OK. Tom Wolfe in The Right Stuff, however, claims that it was originally used by Shorty Powers, the “Voice of Mercury Control,” in radio transmissions because the A sound cut through static better than the O.

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Consumer reviews for healthy eating, organic food and green products.

http://www.zeer.com/
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Here are three sites that will help you with online searches:

http://www.pipl.com/ Submit a name, city and state for a free Web search that claims to look in places other basic search engines don't. Good for finding online profiles and Web pages.

http://www.wink.com/ Enter a name for a one-stop search of sites like Facebook, Linkedin and MySpace for that person's profile. Or start your own page to make it easier for others to find you. Good for searching for people in other social newworks.

http://www.zabasearch.com/ Search for people by name to locate street addresses listed in public records. Good for finding general contact information.
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I would like to get to know more about our group. I thought it would be fun to pose a few questions and then put the answers in a future issue. What I plan to do is, let's say that to the question "In what state do you live?" I will compile the answers I receive and I'll post it like "We have 3 people from Florida, 2 from Kansas, 1 from Kentucky" for example. This way we can find out about us as a group, yet keep our privacy.

Also remember if you ever want to send in a bio about yourself, feel free. But this way we can at least get a general feel for each other now.

I know that this is really a busy time of the year for everyone so I'm giving you two weeks to respond. I will post the answers in the 12.30 issue and I would like your responses by 12.28. It would help me out so much if you'd put POLL in the subject line. =)

1. In what state or country do you live?
2. Are you younger or older than 45?
3. Do you work outside the home?
4. What is your number one favorite thing to do in your spare time?
5. What is your 2009 New Year's Resolution?
6. How many children do you have?
7. I'm taking you out to lunch; where do you want to eat?
8. After lunch let's go shopping; what's your favorite store?
9. Would you rather watch a movie at the theater or at home on DVD?
10. The best place you've ever been on vacation?
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Q: If you're afraid of Santa Claus,what condition do you have?

A: Claustrophobia
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12.09.2008

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to all our new subscribers! I want to thank Rosie for spreading the word about Two Friends Newsletter. At least half of our subscribers are also a member of Rosie's Prayer Pals. For those of you that are not members of Rosie's Prayer Pals, and would like to be a member of an excellent prayer chain, then this one is for you. Rosie prints prayer requests, blessings reports, member birthdays, anniversaries, short stories, "angel thoughts", yummy recipes and other things. Here's where to join OTHOLLO@aol.com . We have a lot to share this week, so let's get to it. Keep warm everyone! ~Toni
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Now for Phyllis...

HEALTHY LIVING by PHYLLIS

Hi everyone! This week I'd like to talk about cravings vs. hunger. Have you ever thought you were hungry, but when you went into the kitchen to get something to eat, nothing looked good? Well, most likely you were not really hungry after all!
Cravings and hunger are two different things, with different signs. If you can learn to recognize the difference, you can possibly stop giving in when those cravings strike.
If you are really hungry, you will feel physical symptoms such as; hunger pangs, growling stomach or even a headache. On the other hand, if you are just craving something, the physical symptoms won't be there...and its even possible that what you are feeling is "emotional hunger."
Another sign that you have true hunger is that pretty much any food will satisfy your hunger, as opposed to a craving when you only want a certain type of food.
If you are truly hungry, the symptoms won't go away until you eat, but if you're just having a craving, then it is possible to distract yourself and let the craving pass.Sounds easy enough! And here's a link to an online quiz to help you determine if you're really hungry, or if you're just having a craving.
http://www.upmc.com/Services/WeightManagementServices/OurPrograms/WeightManagementCenter/lifestyle-change/Pages/cravings-hunger-quiz.aspx

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Here's a fun link!
http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/selectMonth.htm

At this site you can find out what song was number one on the charts the year you were born...or any year you're curious about.

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COOL PICKS by Phyllis

Here I am again with another website that I think is worth sharing. This week its


http://www.43things.com/

At 43Things, its all about making goals and listing them. I'm a firm believer in writing things down, whether it be a food journal, a personal journal or a list of goals. Taking the time to write it down just seems to make it more important. So I go to 43Things and post my goals, along with a brief personal entry about why I want to attain this goal and what I plan to do to reach it. Not only can you post your own goals, but you can read the goals of others and perhaps even find inspiration. You can "cheer" someone on, or post a message for them.
You don't need to post 43 goals....you can post as many or as few as you like. Some of my personal goals are to exercise more often and to stop taking a certain loved one for granted. What are your goals? Try posting them on 43Things and perhaps it will inspire you to achieve them.

Please remember that Toni and I welcome YOUR cool picks, so feel free to share them. Your input is always important to us.

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Here's a poem that I like;

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody too?
Then there's a pair of us -- don't tell!
They'd banish us you know.

How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog.
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!

-Emily Dickinson

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Here's way to 'burn your boredom'!
http://www.bored.com/

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Again this week I'd like to share a bonus cool pick with you. Its a site that is new to me called SparkPeople. Check them out at
http://www.sparkpeople.com/
SparkPeople is a great site for people wanting to lose weight, maintain their weight, or just live a healthy lifestyle. There are message boards, health and fitness articles, recipes, tips and more! You can create your own SparkPage and get SparkBuddies to share motivation and encouragement with. Its totally free, too! I've been to many websites about diet and exercise, but SparkPeople is my new favorite. Whenever I'm tempted to go off my diet, I log onto SparkPeople and it helps me stay on track. If you join and would like to add me as your SparkBuddy, email me (Phyllis) at
http://us.mc1110.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=twofriendsnewsletter@gmail.com and let me know...I'll tell you my Spark name!

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Check this out!
http://www.missingmoney.com/
Maybe you have some money coming to you that you didn't know about! I checked this site a few years ago and found out that my late Grandma had money due to her heirs from an insurance policy.

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Do you still use plastic grocery store bags? Why not purchase re-useable ones? You can get them for about a dollar...and most grocery store chains will give you five cents back each time you use it, so eventually it'll pay for itself! Another good reason to stop using plastic bags is because of their negative impact on the environment. Here is a website to show you what happens to plastic bags that are thrown away.

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016/
This is a slide show. To view it, use the scroll bar inside the page.
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Here are some uses for your daily newspaper...after you finish reading it, of course!
1. Deodorize food containers. Stuff a balled up piece of newspaper into a lunchbox and seal it overnight.
2. Ripen tomatoes. Wrap them individually and leave them at room temperature.
3. Pack breakables. Wrap them with newspaper, then crumple newspaper into the empty sections of your packing box to prevent things from shifting around.
4. Clean mirrors and windows. Spray on your window cleaner and use crumpled newspaper instead of paper towels for a lint free shine.
5. Wrap gifts. The Sunday comic section is great for wrapping childrens presents for birthdays.

If you know of any other uses for newspaper, don't keep it to yourself! Email me and tell me your uses for newspaper, and I'll put it in a future issue.
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Make your own Christmas gift...aromatherapy bath salts! Easy to make and inexpensive too!

You will need;
6 cups Epsom salts
2 cups table salt
4 cups baking soda
Large jars with lids
Essential oils such as peppermint or lavendar

Mix salts and baking soda in a large bowl, then add essential oils until you get the strength of scent you want. Mix well with a big spoon, then place salts into the jars. You can print out your own custom labels for a fancy touch. Makes a great gift...and don't forget to keep one for yourself, too!
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Now for Toni...


Cathy K sent this to me and I wanted to list it first because it's such a good and easy thing to do...

If you go to this web site, http://www.letssaythanks.com/ you can pick out a thank you card drawn by a school age kid and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.
How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE and it only takes a second.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them.

This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. Please take the time to do it, and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. We can never say thank you enough.

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Cheryl sent this and what a neat and easy idea to help make a pretty holiday table..

Easy Way to Make Butter Pats

Use an egg slicer to cut a cold stick of butter or margarine into even slices. They will be the same size and look attractive on plates. You also will have built-in portion and calorie control.

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This week's state is Florida...

The name Punta Gorda, which means, "fat point" when translated from Spanish. The moniker was given to the city because a broad part of the land in Punta Gorda juts into Charlotte Harbor.

The harbor itself is somewhat unique, as it is the point where the Peace River meets the ocean.
Orlando attracts more visitors than any other amusement park destination in the United States.

Cape Canaveral is America's launch pad for space flights.

Florida is not the southernmost state in the United States. Hawaii is farther south.

A museum in Sanibel owns 2 million shells and claims to be the world's only museum devoted solely to mollusks.

The United States city with the highest rate of lightning strikes per capita is Clearwater.

Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators where the drink was first developed.

Young aviator Tony Jannus made history on January 1, 1914 when he flew the world's first scheduled passenger service airline flight from St. Petersburg's downtown yacht basin to Tampa.
Dr. John Gorrie of Apalachicola invented mechanical refrigeration in 1851.

Miami Beach pharmacist Benjamin Green invented the first suntan cream in 1944. He accomplished this development by cooking cocoa butter in a granite coffee pot on his wife's stove.

Key West has the highest average temperature in the United States.

The Saint John's River is one of the few rivers that flows north instead of south.

The largest lake in Florida is Lake Okeechobee.

May 20, 1970 Florida lawmakers passed and sent to the Governor a bill adopting the moonstone as the official state gem. Ironically, the moonstone is not found naturally in Florida...nor was it found on the moon.

Miami installed the first bank automated teller machine especially for rollerbladers.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a cable-stayed concrete bridge. Opened in 1987 the bridge coasts through the clouds at 190 feet above water. Its bright yellow support cables spread from the two center pillars. The structure gives drivers unobstructed view of the water during the 4.1 mile trip over Tampa Bay.

DeFuniak Springs is home to one of the two naturally round lakes in the world.

Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America because the city has 185 miles of local waterways.

Marathon is home to Crane Point Hammock, a 63.5 acre land tract that is one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in the Keys.. The area contains evidence of pre-

Colombian and prehistoric Bahamian artifacts, and once was the site of an entire Indian village.

The first graded road built in Florida was Old Kings Road in 1763. It was named for King George of England.

When first completed in 1989 the Dame Point Bridge became the longest cable-stayed span in the United States, the longest concrete span of its type in the Western Hemisphere, and the third longest cable-stayed bridge in the world.

Venice is known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World. Collecting prehistoric sharks teeth has been a favorite pastime of visitors and residents of the Venice area for years

Florida is the only state that has 2 rivers both with the same name. There is a Withlacoochee in north central Florida (Madison County) and a Withlacoochee in central Florida. They have nothing in common except the name.
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~Marie's Laughter~

Time to get up

Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son. "Wake up, son. It's time to go to school!" "But why, Mom? I don't want to go." "Give me two reasons why you don't want to go." "Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!" "Oh, that's no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get ready." "Give me two reasons why I should go to school." "Well, for one, you're 52 years old. And for another, you're the Principal!"

In addition to the joke this week, Marie has a Cool Pick to share:
I visited here today and thought that you would enjoy it too http://wandascountryhome.com/christmas/candycane/

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One of the most enchanting parts of the holiday season is driving down the streets and feeling like you're in a winter wonderland as you glimpse house after house decked out in bright lights, evergreen boughs and more. This year, we want people all over the country to see your hard work and creativity, which is why we're creating a virtual neighborhood block where you can show off your decorating skills--and get inspired by others' creations. Between December 1, 2008 and January 5, 2009, upload snapshots of your most impressive Christmas decorations here. Ten lucky finalists will be featured on the website--plus earn ultimate bragging rights for the year ahead.
http://www.womansday.com/Content/Family-Lifestyle/Holidays/Christmas-Decorations-Photo-Contest
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Everyone loves a good snowball fight. Just be sure not to hit Santa!http://www.elfmovie.com/swf/snowball_fight/

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From Sharon:
I use http://www.fitday.com/ and it calculates a lot more options than most weight loss sites. It also figures how many calories you burn each day with tasks from housework to walking and more. And you can add your own foods to it and it figures the caloric intake .. check it out..

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I've been keeping you up on local gas prices; today John reported to me that it is $1.89.

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Foam Peanuts
Some are now made from vegetable starch. To test, toss one under water--if it disintegrates, you've got nontoxic, biodegradable peanuts. As for the nonrecyclable plastic kind, call The Peanut Hotline (800-828-2214) for a list of businesses that accept them.

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Shop safely online
1. Be sure the site is secure. Shop only from your home computer, not one at work or that others might use, such as in a library or cyber cafe. URLs should start with https: That s means it's secure--and you should see a padlock symbol somewhere in the browser frame.
2. Never use your debit card online. A thief can potentially hack into your bank account and clear it out. Debit cards don't have the same fraud protection that credit cards do. If you want to shop auction sites or less recognized sites, be sure you can make the purchase using PayPal or a similar go-between that offers some level of buyer protection.
3. Shop trusted sites. The online version of a bricks-and-mortar retailer is usually safe. A site that misspells words, especially in its URL, is likely bogus.
4. Trust your instincts. If something seems too cheap, it probably is.

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Warning: Fun and yummy holiday recipe treats ahead. =)


Foolproof Chocolate Fudge

18 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips *

1 (14 oz) can Eagle ® Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

dash salt

½ to 1 cup chopped nuts

1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

In heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chips with Eagle Brand. Remove from heat; stir in remaining ingredients. Spread evenly into wax paper-lined 8- or 9-inch square pan. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge onto cutting board; peel off paper and cut into squares. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

*Milk chocolate chips may be substituted (and are preferred by me and John)
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This is a favorite Christmas treat recipe of ours.

Milk Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup peanut butter
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, softened
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
One 11.5 oz. (2 cups) package chocolate chips, divided

Preheat oven to 350*. In large mixer bowl, combine peanut butter and butter; beat until smooth. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla extract; beat until creamy. Blend in flour and salt. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips. Spread into 13 X 9-inch baking pan. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until edges begin to brown.

Remove from oven; sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips. Let stand 5 minutes until morsels become shiny and soft. Spread chocolate evenly over top. Cool completely. Cut into 1 1/2 bars. Makes 48 bars.

Be sure to watch these when baking and take them out before they get too done because if over-baked they'll be hard and dry. With my oven what I've found is to bake them 25 minutes at 350* and then turn the oven off for the final 5 minutes.

Also I add a topping that I make with peanut butter, confectioners sugar and milk. There's no recipe for this, I just keep adding and mixing till it tastes good. It just needs to be the right consistancy to spread correctly. I try to go for the constistancy of honey. One pan needs about 1 cup of this topping and I can't even seem to make less than about 4 cups so I put it out in small containers and freeze it and then next time I want to bake a pan, the topping is ready as soon as it thaws. So what you do is after the chocolate chips have melted and you've spread those, spoon on the topping and then swirl it around getting the melted chocolate into the topping till it starts looking kinda marbled. The reason you want to get the chocolate mixed into the topping is that the chocolate part will harden and it makes the topping stay on better. And it looks pretty all swirled together. Hope you'll enjoy these as much as we do.

Oh, for easy clean-up I line the pan with Reynold's Release foil. I use Reynold's Release to line pans pretty much anytime I'm baking.

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Here is a recipe for a very low-fat hot chocolate mix. It is really rich and creamy. In addition to just being good to have for yourself I thought it would be part of a nice Christmas basket theme. You could fill a pretty Mason jar or festive tin with the mix and then add one or more of the following: some cute mugs, a bag of marshmallows, a can of whipped cream, a box of muffin mix, etc. Be sure to add a card or label to let the person know the hot chocolate mix to water ratio.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

1/2 cup cocoa
3/4 cup sugar
3 cups powdered milk
dash of salt

It says to sift all ingredients together, but that really made a huge dusty mess in my kitchen, so I just mix all ingredients together and then store in a cool, dry place.

When ready to use, add 2 tablespoons mix to each 4 ounces of boiling water.

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Kris Kringle is the German words for "Christ's Child"
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The first Animal Crackers were not made for eating...they were made as Christmas tree decorations!
"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
William Arthur Ward

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Away In A Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus, Laid down His sweet head,

The stars in the sky Looked down where He lay,

The little Lord Jesus Asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, The poor Baby wakes

But little Lord Jesus,No crying he makes

I love Thee Lord Jesus, Look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle, Till morning is night
Be near me, Lord JesusI ask Thee to stay,

Close by me foreverAnd love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear childrenIn Thy tender care

And take us to heavenTo live with Thee there.