Tuesday, November 29, 2011

November Ends

It is obvious that I have been absent from my blog for a couple of weeks. Between illness, houseguests, and holidays I seem to have gotten quite sidetracked for which I apologize to those of you who take your valuable time to read my blog. As we head into the rest of the holiday season I will make every effort to be more consistent in blog posts. Thanks for your patience and for being loyal readers. I truly appreciate all of you!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

HOUZZ and PINTEREST Are Great Resources

Today I was reading one of my favorite blogs Brunch At Saks by Annemarie, and she said she was over at HOUZZ so I decided to go to www.houzz.com and check it out. Previously I viewed her pinboards at PINTEREST at www.pinterest.com and found them inspiring. If you have not visited either of these sites, I urge you to do so. You will find great ideas, wonderful photos of everything from A to Z, and ways to collect the ideas you like and keep them in one location for future use. Whether your interest is in fashion, home decor, kitchens, nurseries, colors, art, etc. you will find these two sites incredibly helpful and fun to use. My problem is I already stay up way too late spending too much time online; now with two more tempting and useful sites I may never get any sleep. If you visit the sites I would love to know what your thoughts about them are...........so comments are welcome!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Losing Things - Like Moral Compasses

The Penn State scandal has just made me ill. Our justice system says that we are innocent until proven guilty, but from the media coverage it would seem the only true innocence was that of the alleged victims. Even though I am not a sports fan (in the true sense of the word), I have always known who Coach Paterno is and his stellar reputation. To see his career end in such a tawdry, ignoble way is a disappointment to so many. I don't know what to think about the grad student who witnessed one of the alleged episodes of molestation. I keep asking myself WHY did he not intervene to rescue the child who was being molested? Why, indeed! While I can accept that witnessing something like that would be completely shocking and unsettling, I cannot imagine that any decent person would not try to intervene immediately to rescue a child. And then I feel certain a decent person would contact the local police at once to be sure that no other child would fall prey to such abuse. When all is said and done, this news is one more indication that the moral compass of our society has been lost.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Andy Rooney

Having watched Andy Rooney's last appearance on Sixty Minutes I was saddened today to read of his passing. He was someone who made me laugh with his grumpiness, someone who made me think with his writing, and someone who spoke out with candor and conviction. Rest in peace, Mr. Rooney; and thank you for all of your contributions to our world.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Andy Williams and Moon River

Today I read that Andy Williams has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. That is sad news, and I pray that the treatment plan he is undertaking will be successful. I remember watching his Christmas TV shows, and his recording of Moon River will always be one of my all-time favorites because it has special significance in my life. He is from a different era, and his theater in Branson, MO has continued to provide musical memories for thousands of visitors. Good luck, Andy Williams!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Celebrating Holidays During Tough Times

Halloween is now over, and immediately our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannakuh, Quanza or the New Year. During tough economic times being faced all over the world, how will celebrations be handled? Please share your suggestions and ideas for how you plan to enjoy the holidays and acknowledge the occasions without having the financial means to do what you may have done in previous years. I know that many of you have great ideas, creative suggestions, and positive attitudes that dictate making the best of everything despite the circumstances. If you share your thoughts in the comment section below I will be glad to publish them so they are available for everyone to read. Thanks for participating! Who knows? Your ideas may help another family celebrate in ways they would not have thought of, thereby making the holidays more enjoyable for them.