Happy birthday to me,

Happy birthday to me,

Happy birthday to me-e-e-e-e,

Ha-a-a-a-appy birthday to me.

   Yay! A new year; a fresh start. A chance to be better and better...

This page was sent to me via email from a funny and sweet friend. These wishes are the best!!

* I checked out the other pages this site has to offer at the bottom of the New Year's wishes. I was pleasantly surprised with the "I am a Christian" poem. I thought at first, from the title alone, it may be a self-righteous sort of thing; but, it was nice instead.

On Wednesday, December 27th, I posted an article entitled, "Answer The Riddle". I realize it was a busy time for everyone then. I'm asking for responses people; ok, I know it's sad to ask for responses, I just love to hear from y'all...and, tomorrow is me 'ole birthday. I know I'm pathetic.

I'll wait a bit and then maybe, I will share the answer...

In an email I wrote last evening, I commented in some way, that it is time for me to have a more serene Christmas. I want to make some changes when the holidays come 'round again in 2007.

I used to attend an overeaters anonymous meeting quite regularly some years ago. We were a really close group. I first visited the group at the invite of a counselor I was seeing at the time. The funny thing is, we were not discussing weight issues during my sessions with her. She simply felt at that particular time in my life, the OA. meetings would benefit me. She never said why.

Lo and behold, on the first night I went, my counselor was there. See, I thought she was merely telling me of this meeting. I had no idea she was going to be there. Then I thought perhaps she was leading the meeting or something; I didn't know anything about OA., AA., NA. etc., that there is no #1 leader. As I sat listening, I came to realize my counselor was a member of the group, and not a leader, or coach, or whatever. Cool. I suppose she knew her own group well enough to know it would be a healthy place for me to establish trust with others. For various reasons in my life, I have had issues with trust. Who really hasn't though? Also, my counselor could see that I was obviously overweight; and, she knew I was not an alcoholic or drug addict. Sooo, OA. was the meeting for me; though several of us OAers visited AA. meetings. Several of us were adult children of alcoholics. It was good.

Sadly, our very close group split after about 5 years running. We all still talk about pulling the group back together everytime we run into one another. It was the best church (that wasn't a church in the way most think of church) I've ever attended in my life! All about life. All very real. No matter what, I will be bonded with those folks forever, and they with me. Our trust remains...

The Serenity Prayer has come to be part of my soul; and yet, I realize I don't allow it to rule when I need it the most. My new year's resolution is to take back the serenity prayer, and to read my For Today book, and to begin living it again.

I pray,

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can; and

the wisdom to know the difference. (familiar version)

 

Living one day at a time;                                                  

enjoying one moment at a time;

accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right, if I surrender to His will.

That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.  (longer version of the prayer)

Oh God, it must be an age thing! I re-read my previous article giving my update on my now favorite movie of the year, and saw I had mispelled the word magnificent when speaking of Matthew McConaughey. Said error has now been corrected.

I found it my obsessive compulsive duty to point this error out to you.

In my defense, I really do believe this to be an age thing; after all, my birthday is December 31st. It has to be I am nervous about becoming another year older. Yes. That's it. I'm sticking to that story... I really don't want to lose one of the best things I had going for me.

I can't begin to express the wonder of the movie, "We Are Marshall". The tribute to the football team of 1970, a story worthy of being told, as was mentioned by Bob Costas, is a wonder all its own; but, making the story into a major motion picture was an awsome thing for all who have had any affiliation with the town of Huntington, WV. and the campus that is Marshall University. Matthew McConaughey was magnificent and will be forever adored by me for his heart's interest in this film.

*When you link to the two Matthew's conversation of the movie, be patient; the commercials are short in between the question and answer session.

I suppose the familiarity of the campus scenes, and of downtown Huntington made the whole thing more alive for me. I was there. I walked that campus for 4 years; playing around the Memorial Fountain, working at the Campus Christian Center and Student Activity Center, walking the streets of Huntington. I am part of that place because my feet have trod there. My spirit danced there with so many others. That place will forever be a part of me.

Today, while watching the movie, my mind and heart tossed a thousand joys to one another. Hundreds of thoughts came flooding to memory. I am part of this history; this history of tragedy and eventual triumph. I am part of all the souls who lived in Huntington, who walked the corridors of each campus building of higher education, who ate and slept and showered in the dormitories of campus.

Me, those from years before me, those who have gone after me--We Are Marshall!!  I am honored to be a small part of this reality.

75 Marshall University football players, coaches and fans perished in a plane crash Nov. 14, 1970, on their way back from a game against East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. Warner Bros. is making a movie based on the 1970 Marshall plane crash titled “We Are Marshall.” The movie opens in theaters nationwide Friday, Dec.22.  Excerpt from the Herald-Dispatch.com

Going to the movie today. I want to see it all on the big screen.

I attended Marshall University from 1981-1984. I received a bachelor's degree in education there. Those were wonderful years for me; there I had a sense of freedom. Freedom from the should and should nots of family, from everything that pressured me in former years.

Every year I would join the other students on campus around the Memorial fountain, established for the football team and coaches, who lost their lives as a result of that plane crash, to honor their memory.

My alma matre is on the big screen now!

I am seen through many eyes.
Even the blind see me.
Through me, nothing is impossible.
Many stories come from within me.
Time can hold still, or move at the speed of light.
The unthinkable comes to life in me.
I am a wondrous world full of life, or even death.
Love can rule, and hate fades out of the picture.
Peace can be found throughout and no wars.
It is within me where only I can control; no one else can.
I am a place that no one can take from you.

What am I?

*Give this a try. Let me know in your reply. I'll post the answer by and by...

He has whined and cried all through Christmas. He's spent most of his time under our bed. Bentley has arthritis. He is in some kind of pain again. We went through this with him a while back and the vet. gave me steroids for him; we kept him confined and still for over a week, and he snapped out of it, all but a little wobble as he walked, in his hind legs.

I began weeping a few moments ago because he is weeping. I don't want to have him put to sleep; not yet, not now. Bentley is 10 years old. He has been a most delightful little fellow. Very smart and very beautiful. Big brown eyes that are full of knowing.

During his youthful days, he jumped up and down on those little legs foolishly; of course he wouldn't have known that it would hurt much later. Whenever anyone came by for a visit or whenever anything got him really excited, up and down he'd go on those little legs. I tried to control some of his jumping back then, but it was hard to do. Now he suffers.

Sam believes he may have pulled a muscle in his back somehow because he seems to be walking without much effort. It is that when he moves a certain way, he squeals in pain.

I feel so awful. I also feel guilty because I should have spent more time in training him not to jump and carry on so much. In my own defense though, I tried. Sam spoils every animal he touches and he has spoiled the two we have now--rotten! So, as bad as I feel about Bentley, I hold Sam responsible too, that we didn't do more for him in the way of training early on. This is my take on the thing, and I'm sticking to it.

Bentley's mom and dad were show dogs; he very well could have been. He had all the makings of a show dog. I'm pissed at myself for not insisting we go that route with him.

He's my baby and I love him. I want his pain to go away. I don't want to face having him put to sleep; not just now. Please God, help our Bentley boy to feel better.

I have had a couple tough days; lost a lot of sleep. I cook a great lot for Christmas. I love to cook. It is one of the great joys I find in being a homemaker; but, during the holidays, I do more than I can handle at times.

I have to go to work today because, well, that's just the way it is. Hotels do not close shop on the holidays. I am sleepy and tired, but on with my Christmas vest and off I go!

I have been feeling a little strange the past couple days concerning some issues. My gift to me today is to realize I am a really okay kinda' gal. I will love myself today.

We have to be true to ourselves; and, I believe in giving people a chance. I believe I try to see the good in folks, and I believe most of the people with whom I surround myself, can see what is good in me.

I enjoy my dignity. I am going to build on that with everyone from now on.

God bless you my blogging friends. Merry Christmas!!

You think you know me. You think you have me figured out; that I am predictable. Perhaps you think I'm ridiculous, or stupid, or something such as these. It is really okay with me if you think I'm someone you do not want to know. This attitude you take, does not cause me to suffer loss. You see, I do know me.

I know that not only am I willing to bitch and moan about suffering people in our world, but I am willing to go into the trenches with suffering people. You can point your finger everyday; but, unless you are willing to do something yourself, you are no better than the folks you bitch about.

I am not good. No, not at all. I am just willing to see. I live with an attitude of giving and thanksgiving, and I haven't much to give.

I know that I can speak in any way I see fit and it will be acceptable to those who do know me, to those who love me. I've a daughter, a husband, other family and friends who mean the world to me, and I mean the world to them. It truely is all good for me, even if you never know me.

You think you have me figured out. You judge me by mistakes I have made. Maybe you think I am scary. You simply don't know me, and I don't know all about you either. I only know you from your way of determining I don't belong in your life. I should somehow not even try to be kind to you because I do not fit with your purposes in life. I should not speak to you as though we are friends, because, in so many words, you have indicated I am nothing to you. Ok...

Here in my place, I am free. How are you feeling?