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
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
04.14.2009
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.
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~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!
_________________________________
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/
---------------------------------------
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
----------------------------------
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 ..."
___________________________
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.
_______________________________
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
_________________________________
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.
_________________________________
A USDA-created My Pyramid just for children ages 2 to 5 at http://www.MyPyramid.gov/preschoolers
________________________________
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
------------------------------------------
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!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
_____________________________
Celebrity fans! You can find out the age of your favorite celebrity here:
http://www.agedir.com/
-----------------------------------------
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!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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/
----------------------------------------------------------
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!
_________________________________
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/
---------------------------------------
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
Monday, April 6, 2009
04.07.2009
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
----------------------------------------------
Also in April;
April 12 is Easter.
April 22 is Earth Day.
April 24 is Arbor Day in the USA.
_____________________
To learn how Earth Day began in 1970, click on the following link
http://earthday.envirolink.org/history.html
------------------------------------
And for information about Arbor Day, click on this link;
http://www.arborday.org/arborday/index.cfm
------------------------------------
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just for fun!
http://www.mrpicassohead.com/create.html?skin=original
________________________
Beautiful pictures of roads...
http://geniusbeauty.com/beautiful-places/amazing-roads-photos/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
_______________________
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.
______________________________
Unusual town names for Connecticut:
Giants Neck
Mianus
Moodus
Moosup
___________________________
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.
____________________________
Fifteen downloads to pep up your older pc:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.docommand=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9129351
__________________________
~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?”
________________________
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.
___________________________
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...
______________________________
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.
_____________________
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.
_______________________
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
_____________________________
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.
____________________________
Fifteen downloads to pep up your older pc:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.docommand=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9129351
__________________________
~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?”
________________________
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.
___________________________
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...
______________________________
Monday, March 23, 2009
03.24.2009
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.
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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/
___________________________
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!
----------------------------------------------
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
________________
=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.
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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?”
_________________________________
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
________________________
Unusual town names for Colorado:
*Climax
*Dinosaur
*Hygiene
*Last Chance
*No Name
*Parachute
*Security
*Tincup
*Yellow Jacket
__________________________
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.
__________________________
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.
-----------------------
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/
----------------------------------
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/
-------------------------------------------
For an "ultimate guide to shelf life" of food and drink, click on
http://www.stilltasty.com/
___________________________
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!
----------------------------------------------
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
________________
=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.
_____________________________
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.
_____________________________
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!
____________________________
*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.
_____________________________
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.
____________________________
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.
____________________________
A social network for people who love books...http://www.shelfari.com/
____________________________
Keep track of all the information about your things (from electronics to antiques) in one place.http://www.mythings.com/
____________________________
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?
___________________________
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.
___________________________
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?”
_________________________________
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
________________________
Unusual town names for Colorado:
*Climax
*Dinosaur
*Hygiene
*Last Chance
*No Name
*Parachute
*Security
*Tincup
*Yellow Jacket
__________________________
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.
__________________________
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.
Monday, March 16, 2009
03.17.2009
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
__________________________
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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!
__________________________
The entire NIV version of the Bible online
http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=31
__________________________
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
-----------------------------------------
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
______________________________________
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
---------------------------------------
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
_____________________________
Here is a nice site to help someone--or you--quit smoking.http://wediditstory.com/
____________________________
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.
______________________________
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.
____________________________
Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels, nutritional information and analysis
http://www.nutritiondata.com/
____________________________
This Procter & Gamble site was sent to use by Sharon. It has free samples and coupons. http://tinyurl.com/comp2l
__________________________
~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.
__________________________
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/
__________________________
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.
__________________________
Go here to help donate Campbell's tomato seeds and to request a packet of your own.http://www.helpgrowyoursoup.com/
__________________________
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
___________________________
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.
_________________________________
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.
_______________________________
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.
_____________________________
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?
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
__________________________
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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!
__________________________
The entire NIV version of the Bible online
http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=31
__________________________
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
-----------------------------------------
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
______________________________________
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
---------------------------------------
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
_____________________________
Here is a nice site to help someone--or you--quit smoking.http://wediditstory.com/
____________________________
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.
______________________________
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.
____________________________
Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels, nutritional information and analysis
http://www.nutritiondata.com/
____________________________
This Procter & Gamble site was sent to use by Sharon. It has free samples and coupons. http://tinyurl.com/comp2l
__________________________
~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.
__________________________
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/
__________________________
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.
__________________________
Go here to help donate Campbell's tomato seeds and to request a packet of your own.http://www.helpgrowyoursoup.com/
__________________________
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
___________________________
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.
_________________________________
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.
_______________________________
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.
_____________________________
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?
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