The Joy of Six...

Olive's First Interview....

  

(Click on video for full screen.) 

  

BlogHer Baby

 

Well, I may not be in San Diego at the BlogHer '11 Conference this weekend...but guess who is?

 
Yep, Olive made it to BlogHer...and she seems none the worse for the wear....just hanging out with Mom.  Of course this is the only picture I have at the moment...and that was thanks to Denise; my sweet friend and amazing boss at BlogHer.  She managed to track down Jory and Olive and snap a pic amidst all the chaos that happens at a BlogHer Conference.  I wonder what ran through Olive's little head with all the faces and voices coming at her from everywhere.  It's quite an amazing event....at least she had Dad, Grandma and Grandpa M and Mom nearby.

Hmmm, maybe she'll agree to blog another post about her adventure....stay tuned.                            ~ Olive's Grandma  xo

Feeling the Blogging Love….Big Time

BlogHer ’10

was held earlier this month in New York City….and it was once again…a huge success. (Here's a pic of Elisa, Jory and Lisa welcoming the crowd at the breakfast on the first day...click on pic to enlarge.)  In case there are some of you out there who are not familiar with BlogHer and how it came to be, here are some facts:

BlogHer reaches more than 20 million women each month (Nielsen Site Census, March 2010). It is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online.  Founded in February 2005 by Elisa Camahort Page, Jory Des Jardins and Lisa Stone, BlogHer’s mission is to create opportunities for women who blog to pursue exposure, education, community and economic empowerment. Today BlogHer creates opportunities for members via a community hub (www.blogher.com ), annual conferences and a publishing network of more than 2,500 qualified, contextually targeted blog affiliates.  BlogHer provides the highest quality content on a range of topics, with all blogs continually edited to meet strict editorial standards, including content quality, category relevance and blog frequency.  BlogHer enjoys a strategic partnership with iVillage, part of Women@NBCU. BlogHer’s investors are Venrock, GE/NBC Universal's Peacock Equity Fund, and Azure Capital Partners.

So…now you know a little about the company that takes up every breathing moment of my daughter’s life….and a fair amount of mine.

I didn’t make it to BlogHer this year, but Jory certainly did….all 7 ½  pregnant months of her; and she came through it all just beautifully.  There was some concern whether she should even attend her conference this year; but I knew…and she knew...there was NO WAY on this earth she was going to miss it.  Besides, she had things to do and people to talk to.  And she had one very alert husband watching her every move.  Now how can you quibble with that?  Believe me, I was concerned that she wouldn’t get enough rest; but when the BlogHer Conference time comes around every year….she’s always ready.  She and her co-founders, Lisa and Elisa, and their whole BlogHer team are truly amazing.  This conference gets bigger and better every year….and this year was no exception.

   
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over 2400 attendees came together on the 6^th and 7^th for two days of informative and amazing sessions and panels, discussions, and beautiful bonding and networking experiences.  If you love blogging, connecting, and hearing and speaking with hundreds of people who feel the same way you do…this is the conference for you. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A record 100 sponsored brands were represented at this year’s BlogHer, including Fortune 500 companies such as PepsiCo, Proctor and Gamble, Hillshire Farm/ Jimmy Dean and Walmart.

When Jory called me from her hotel room at the end of the second day, she was under strict instructions from her husband, Jesse, to sit and relax and put her feet up.  As he was packing them up to leave very early the next morning, Jory filled me in on all of the events of the past two days.  I was so happy for her and her partners…and for the whole wonderful BlogHer team that everything had gone so well.  I think I could actually hear a sigh of relief and contentment in Jory’s voice.

I don’t suspect that once this sweet baby girl arrives in about five weeks or so that Jory’s life will be any less hectic.  Only she’ll have a little one to dote on and expend much of her energy towards...and that's a wonderful thing.  This baby has already been on hundreds of business calls, meetings and speaking engagements with her…and now she’s been to a BlogHer conference.  I think Jory’s secretly grooming her…and this would be no surprise.    ~Joy

Observations on Growing Older

~Your kids are becoming you...and you don't like them...but your grandchildren are perfect!

~Going out is good. Coming home is better!

~When people say you look "Great"...they add "for your age!"

~When you needed the discount you paid full price. Now you get discounts on everything...movies, hotels, flights.

~You forget names...but it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!!

~The 5 pounds you wanted to lose is now 15 and you have a better chance of losing your keys than the 15 pounds.

~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything... especially golf.

~Your husband is counting on you to remember things you don't remember.

~The things you cared to do, you don't care to do, but you care that you don't care to do them anymore.

~Your husband sleeps better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring then he does in bed. It's called his "pre-sleep."

~Remember when your mother said "Wear clean underwear in case you GET in an accident"? Now you bring clean underwear in case you HAVE an accident!

~You used to say, "I hope my kids GET married...Now, "I hope they STAY married!"

~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch.

~When GOOGLE, iPod, email, modem...were unheard of and a mouse was something that made you climb on a table.

~You use more 4 letter words ..."what?"..."when?" ???

~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.

~Your husband has a night out with the guys but he's home by 9:00 P.M ...next week it will be 8:30 P.M.

~You read 100 pages into a book before you realize you've read it.

~Notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless?"

~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

~Everybody whispers.

~Now that your husband has retired...you'd give anything if he'd find a job!

~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet....2 of which you will never wear.

~~~~But old is good in some things: old songs, old movies…

And best of all OLD FRIENDS!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Computer Comedy (Click on pictures to enlarge)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love and hugs....  

 
  

Mid-week Musings...

 

Helllooo?....Geesh!

 

Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with that expensive double-pane energy efficient kind, and today, I got a call from the contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago and I still hadn't paid for them.

 

Helllooo,............just because I'm blonde doesn't mean that I am automatically stupid.

So, I told him just what his fast talking sales guy had told me last year, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves!

 

Helllooooo? It's been a year! I told him. There was only silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just hung up. He never called back. I bet he felt like an idiot.

 

A TRIP TO COSTCO 

Yesterday I was at my local COSTCO buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Biscuit, and was in the checkout line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

What did she think I had, an elephant? So since I'm retired and have little to do; on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again.  I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time; but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter's ass and a car hit us both.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard. Costco won't let me shop there anymore... Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.

 

 

Biology Class - final exam

Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam. The last question was, 'Name seven advantages of Mother's Milk,' worth 70 points or none at all. One student, in particular, was hard put to think of seven advantages.  He wrote:

1.) It is perfect formula for the child.

2.) It provides immunity against several diseases.

3.) It is always the right temperature.

4.) It is inexpensive.

5.) It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa.

6.) It is always available as needed.

And then, the student was stuck.  Finally, in desperation, just before the bell indicating the end of the test rang, he wrote...

7.) It comes in 2 cute containers.

He got an A.

And finally......My good blogging buddy, Darlene at Darlene’s Hodgepodge sent me these cartoons a while back…sharing the laughs….thanks Darlene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh these computers and the high-tech mania of the 21st century....sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it; but I most definitely don't think I can keep up with it.  Sometimes I think my brain will fry trying to figure it all out.  One thing I know...it's pushing us to places we never knew we could go....whether we want to go or not.  I can't imagine a day without my computer; but I think they're out to kill us....or at least every decent brain cell we have left....bite by bite.  Don't you?     ~Joy xo

 

Virally Invaded

My computer caught a virus.

It came out of the air.

Before I knew what happened,

There were pop-ups everywhere.

 

There were windows on my desktop,

And down on my taskbar.

As soon as I would close them out.

In seconds there were more.

 

They warned me that the virus

Could harm my hard drive files;

And to buy the anti-virus software NOW…

To take care of these spies.

 

All the while more messages

Were popping everywhere.

The more I clicked…the more they came.

‘Til I was pulling out my hair.

 

I ran my Norton Safety Scan.

It said it caught a spy;

And contained and fixed the culprit.

No further action applied.

 

My daughter now was over

To help delete this ‘freak’.

She had no better luck.

We called a true pro geek.

 

Oh to be a computer brain,

A techie wiz….a God;

I would kick that virus in the ass,

Without help from the Geek Squad.

 

            ~ Joy

 

Pieces of Me

  

 

Yep, I got my first major virus.  It invaded my computer so badly that I had to take my machine to the Geek Squad at Best Buy.  Jenna and I didn’t know where else to take it after we couldn’t delete it, and I purchased my computer from there…so it made sense.  There’s a set fee to have it looked at, which is bad enough, but I really didn’t have a choice.  At that point I was afraid my files on my hard drive were jeopardized, and that’s all I would have needed.  They plugged things in at the store, and didn’t seem to think things went that far, but they were going to do a whole diagnostic check of everything and let me know.

 

I was without my computer for basically ONE day….the rest of that day and part of the next.  I WAS LOST!!!  I couldn’t believe how different it felt to be without that piece of my daily routine.  It told me a lot about myself….YIKES!  That evening I filled the gaps with a couple of movies….that was good, and besides I love movies.  I actually went to bed at a more reasonable time….also good.  I cleaned a couple of small things out by my desk; but I didn’t really do any things around the house that I could have done….hmmm, another lost opportunity.  My mind was on my friggin’ computer.  I kept wondering if I was going to be able to hook everything up correctly once I got it home.  Geesh, not too anal am I?

 

Well, long story short….turns out I had 24 viruses on my computer.  Twenty-three of them were easily taken care of.  I suppose we all have little ones on there that we just work around that don’t cause us any real problems.  Maybe they slow our computers down a little, but we just live with them most of the time.  The last one, however….and probably the one I took it in for…..kept re-installing itself and was giving even the Geek Squad a run for their money.  But they managed to get to the bottom of the problem, and cleaned it all out.  When they called and said my computer was ready…I couldn’t get there fast enough.  They even took it out to the car for me….nice guys.

 

Everything seems to be fine.  All my programs are in tact.  I thought with everything cleaned off that my computer would be really fast now, but it really isn’t any different that I can tell.  In fact, when I open my blog, it seems to take a while for everything to even show up.  I have no idea why that is….me being such a techie person.  I was just so grateful that none of my files were damaged and that nothing was lost. 

 

Whatever I happened to link to or open that initially gave me that nasty virus…..I’ll never know; but you can be sure I’m going to be VERY careful from now on.  I’m surprised it didn’t happen to me sooner.  These viruses are flying around everywhere.  It doesn’t take much to catch one and infiltrate it into your system.   You could so easily click on something….harmlessly, and before you know it….BOOM, you’ve taken a virus into your computer.  The Geek Squad guy working on my computer said that over half of their business is from people getting viruses.   So be careful out there my blogging buddies…..

 

Hugs, Joy 

It’s my Blogiversary….I’m 4 Years Old!

When I think back to the year 2005, in one sense I am amazed that I decided to start a blog at all.  On the other hand, it probably was one of the most important personal decisions I made…and actually felt compelled to do for myself…in a year that was to change my life.

 

I had been familiar with blogs in the Fall of 2004 and had become a faithful reader and commenter of them because of my daughter, Jory; who had...and still has her own personal blog,  Pause.  I was hooked.  I had a full-time job for Discovery Education; a branch of The Discovery Channel.  Our company had been bought by Discovery and we were in the process of down-sizing.  It seemed like someone was being let go everyday.  I was recuperating from elbow surgery to boot.  It was a sad and unpredictable time.  I saw friend after friend leave our working community…rather unceremoniously.  Who was next?  When I went home the blogging world became a haven for me.

 

In early 2005, it was MY turn.  Almost in relief, I lost my job at the end of March along with others.  This family that I had come to love with all my heart was crumbling around me.  Nothing was the same.  It broke my heart.  They had a surprise party for me.  I cried like a baby.  There were so many good people there.  There is NOONE left there now.  NOONE.

 

I never really did find a job outside of my home again.  Also in early 2005 this thing called BlogHer happened to three wonderful ladies….Elisa Camahort-Page, Lisa Stone, and Jory Des Jardins…my daughter.  What this Women’s Network and Conference has grown into in those four years is truly incredible.  I just wrote about it on my blog….here.  So now I work for them…in a very small capacity as a Community Manager for their site.  It’s very busy. It takes up a lot of my time, and I can’t seem to post as much on my personal blog because of it; but that’s really up to me and how I can ration my time.

 

As 2005 progressed, so apparently was something amiss with my husband’s health.  Although I believe Joel knew for a long time that something was very wrong, he chose not to address it until it was basically too late.  I’m not sure if it was due to depression and not wanting to deal with being sick or that he just put himself in a state of denial.  I knew something was wrong long before I finally convinced him to see a doctor.  He never went to doctors…NEVER.  He had been losing weight….but then it went beyond that point.  Then his appetite was gone.  He was going to work during all of this, and he was telling us he felt fine.  I knew differently.

 

When I started my blog in August of 2005 Joel had lost weight, but was still eating and going to work.  I guess he thought he had everyone fooled….even himself.   Jory and her husband, Jesse, helped set my blog up for me with my layout and header.  We did a good portion of it over the phone.  I was very excited about blogging and reading everyone’s blogs.  My days were consumed by it.  I felt the warmth of the community….I loved the connection.  It felt so good to write, and so good to read what others had to say.  But I had this dark cloud hanging over my shoulder every day.  Joel was in jeopardy, and I knew things were going to unravel quickly.

 

When I finally convinced Joel to see a doctor at the end of October, he would find what I had already feared...stage 4 stomach cancer.  From diagnosis to death….Joel died in three weeks…and I blogged through it all.  Not just of Joel's death, but about many things going on.  Blogging kept me sane at a time when sanity could have been lost.  It kept me going.  The give and take between my blogging friends was invaluable. Each and every one of you know exactly what I'm talking about. 

 

  

Starting my blog was one of the best decisions I have ever made....even when I did it.  Oh, and Joel loved reading my posts…for the short time he and my blog were here together. 

 

So Happy Blogiversary to me….heading toward #5.  Thank all of my blogging buddies for being so wonderful.  I still miss Joycelyn and Winston...always will.  You all are a pure joy in my life.  Blessings to all of you...... Love, Joy       

Happy Valentine's Day

INSTALLING LOVE

Tech Support: Yes, how can I help you?

Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install LOVE.  Can you guide me though the process?

Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?

Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?

Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?

Customer:  Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install LOVE while they are running?

Tech Support: What programs are running?

Customer:  Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge, and Resentment running right now.

Tech Support:  No problem, LOVE will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent LOVE from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?

Customer:  I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.

Customer:  Okay, done!  LOVE has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.

Customer:  Oops!  I have an error message already. It says, "Error - Program not run on external components." What should I do?

Tech Support:  Don't worry. It means that the LOVE program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.

Customer:  So, what should I do?

Tech Support:  Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.

Customer:  Okay, done.

Tech Support:  Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer:   Got it.  Hey!  My heart is filling up with new files.  Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart.  Is this normal?

Tech Support:  Sometimes.  For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time.  So LOVE is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. LOVE is Freeware.  Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.

  HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!  Love, Joy

Hey, I got this e-mail....

Maybe we get a little TOO much info.....huh?

 

Thank You Friends….

         I just want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails over the past year.   I am totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery.

I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel or have them put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel.

I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the adult movie channels.

                          
I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking ones nose (although cell phone usage may be taking the number one spot).
             
Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.

                                 
I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.

I MUST SEND MY SPECIAL THANKS to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing. 

ALSO, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

                                                                           
I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's Novena has granted my every wish.

                                                             
I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.

                                                
I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

THANKS TO YOU I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

BECAUSE OF YOUR CONCERN, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

                                        
I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr.Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put 'Under God' on their cans.

                   
I no longer use Saran Wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.      

                                                         

AND THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face... disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or Fed Ex since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan.

 

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.

THANKS TO YOU I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

                                          
AND THANKS TO YOUR GREAT ADVICE I can't ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

I can no longer drive my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies!

                                 
I can't do any gardening because I'm afraid I'll get bitten by the brown recluse and my hand will fall off.

                                                                        
If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 p.m.tomorrow afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump.  I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician.  
                                                            
Oh, by the way.....   

A German scientist from Argentina, after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.

Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.   

In Appreciation....sending out a little love...

My blogging buddy, Virginia, at Small Reflections has generously sent some more awards my way over the past couple of months.  It's just now that I'm getting around to posting about them and sending them on to people in my blogroll...Geesh, I'm so lame lately.  I don't mean to be, honestly. (Now if I can just get them to fit properly in my side bar...Ugh!)

Virginia will celebrate her first anniversary in the Blogosphere in a couple of weeks, but you'd never know it.  She's an old pro already.  She passed me up months ago.  She's truly amazing with what she has learned in just one year and what she has done with her site.  Please go and check it out when you get a chance.  This lady has more energy when it comes to blogging than ten of us put together.  She's spunky, thoughtful, helpful, funny and is the reason I have most of my awards on my side bar.  So thank you sweet Virginia for this new batch of wonderful awards....

The I LOVE YOUR BLOG AWARD is suppose to come with some rules, but Virginia didn't really clarify them.  She herself said that she didn't really follow them originally, and you know what?.....I can understand why.  This award is a hard one to pick just a select few from my blogroll because I LOVE THEM ALL...or they wouldn't be there in the first place. I love them all for so many different reasons...what I experience from them, what I experience from the writer, the creativity of the writing....they all are so different.  So, I'm taking the wimpy way out....and I'm doing what Virginia originally did....I'm sharing this award with everyone on my blogroll.  Okay, so I'm a wimp!  But I'm a lovable wimp. 

(By the way, I understand if some of you are not inclined to put awards on your site.....that's totally up to you individually.)

The INSPIRATION AWARD falls right into the same category....for the very same reasons.  I am constantly inspired when I make my visits to your sites.  We have so many talented bloggers out there that make pure poetry of the written word.  They have made me laugh and cry with their heartwarming stories.  They have educated me with wit and friendship....and I am greatful in the process. I feel blessed to have made such strong friendships in this blogging community....you are an inspiration.  This award goes to each and every one of you. 

The KREATIV BLOGGER AWARD follows suit; and I'd like to present it to all my blogging friends who are creative.  Writing, poetry, painting, photography, needlework, cooking, designing....you name it.  If you are creative....this award is for you.

The MILLION DOLLAR FRIEND AWARD does apparently come with 'rules.'  Thanks Virginia. I guess I'll follow them like a good blogger.

1.  Only five people allowed.

2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog.

3. One has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.

4. You must link back to whoever gave you the award.

With these rules in mind...I bestow this Million Dollar Friend Award

(from Virginia)  on the following friends:

Junie at Junie's Place

Merle at Merle's Third Try

Suzann at Journey To A New Life

Janeywan at Life in Westcliffe

Bear at Bear Naked

I have one other award, but it wasn't give to me by Virginia....now how did THAT happen!!!!  I got it from one of the sweetest ladies I've ever known...even if only in cyberspace....Merle at Merle's Third Try.  Thank you so much for thinking of me sweet Merle.  I appreciate it very much.

This award is given for Friendship and Loving Generosity.  The rules are to pass it on to 8 blogging friends who have brought me laughter, joy and friendship through blogging.  OH DEAR....and Merle can't be one of my eight.  I don't know if I can choose only 8, but I'll give it a try....

 

Buffy at Arrrgh

Ronni at Time Goes By

Janeywan at Life in Westcliffe

Suzann at Journey To A New Life

Junie at Junie's Place

Kay at Kay's Thinking Cap

Jen at Semantically Driven

Maria at Silver Fox Whispers

Thanks again everyone.  If anyone can figure out the code on Merle's award, let me know.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  Love, Joy