Two Things Today: Ducks and Goldfish..by Diane Ogden

I have a friend that told me I should "wake up like a duck." Recently I was hearing allot of negative news from the people around me and it was upsetting. I had passed that fact onto my friend while trying not to pass on the negs. That's when she told me I needed to "wake up like a duck." That means...to either grab onto a ducks tail and float off or better yet to act like a duck and go with the flow....and if the water (negs) gets too rough the ducks get out and go to another safe haven. Not to another unsafe area duh. So today I woke up like a Duck and I flowed all day. Well until Client # 11 where I received some disturbing as well as "funny" news. On occasion my clients have goldfish which we all know do not live very long. (Some do) And the clients children take the loss of such a little orange pet very deeply. This Goldfish was almost a year old and became ill and seemed to take a couple days to pass on. This really bothered the husband. Now picture this in an 8 x 10 glossy! A 6 foot 3 inch handsome tanned musician from Chili is very concerned this fish does not continue to suffer. The sweet wife says, "Honey, flush her!" He was appalled at the idea of flushing and stated so by saying, "No, she wont die down there, she will keep suffering in the dark all alone." The sweet wife says, "Honey, flush her, really." He stands there in deep thought. He says, "Maybe I should stab her with the squewer." (spelling?) The sweet wife herself is now appalled and laughing and says, "No!" Me, I am thinking to myself, Good God use a hammer or your foot, not the squewer! Well she didn't get flushed, or stabbed, or stepped on , or hammered, she just finally died a natural death. When they told the little boy in the family, whose goldfish it was, he didn't seem so upset at all. I would suggest they not get anymore fish because the tall, dark, and handsome Father cant handle it. I am laughing. They asked me if I wanted the little blue goldfish tank. I said, "NO WAY, my kids are grown and I have been there done that way many times, no more thank you." Anyway I couldn't flush or stab either. In fact the last fish, Fritz, got a ride to the pet store because he was ramming his head on the side of the tank....jeez, that was awful. And it made me late for my daughters soccer game. So don't let me make fun of anyone else! The pet store man saved Fritz's life and all ended well. We went to visit Fritz at the pet store on occasion...and that's the way to have a gold fish....with visitation rights.

If it Has a Face and a Mother, Don't Eat it by Diane Ogden

Oh Lord! I heard that on the radio or TV the other day. One more reason I shouldn't listen to either anymore because ever since I heard it I am having trouble eating meat. I was preparing to eat some roast over the weekend....standing in my lovely kitchen slicing it gently preparing myself for the tender, juicy, aromatic taste, when suddenly as the fork is on its journey toward my "pie hole," as the teens call it. ( and God I hope I am referring to the proper hole indeed) Back to point, fork is on its ascension when mouth goes into mute and mind goes into gear and you know darn well what it thought. Yup. "If it has a face and a Mother, I wont eat it!" All I could see was this cow with that beautiful eye that sees the same things I see. And those little baby calves in those little pens where they stay until they become veal..."baby meat." I was peed off, frustrated, sad and out ten dollars. My little dog has enjoyed the cow who had a face and a Mother, ALL WEEK...while I ate eggs and toast and carrots. All of which have no Mother. Well, chicken's do but they don't nurse so I let that one go. I plan to eat shrimp, other fish, and peanut butter, and maybe organic chicken. Black beans, green beans, gonzo beans, pork, oops, no pork n beans, yellow beans, pinto beans, great northern beans, and oh yes, a bottle of Gas X and or Beano!

Hallmark Movies All Day, (don't do it) by Diane Ogden

Today was an "innie" day. Raining, working online, changing sheets, washing clothes....and making a roast with carrots and potatoes and ruining it with Catsup as my Grandaddy used to say I did. And he was wrong. Adding pickles for those damn muscle spasms at night. Back to my point...Hallmark. Great cards, great movies, Micheal Landon types, Angels, God, perfect lives where the glitches work out slick. So all day, one after another I watch Hallmark, the perfect movies. I swore I wouldn't do that again ever. I cry at Hallmark movies. So that would mean I cried all day..what a duh? yes duh.. My choice huh? I knew that Hallmark movies made me cry and one a week was sufficient for release of toxins tears, but ALL DAY, come on....

Was I into self destruct or what? No, actually they are good, clean, movies and we all need that. But maybe not all day OK? Never again as I said before. Until the next rainy day I suppose. Those Hallmark movies also bring out the best in me...And I was able to work on the latest book .....Cody, the eldest son Lifepart I! By the way I especially like the Westerns...remember from past blog posts my Granddaddy is an honorary Indian Chief from Texas and taught me to shoot!

Swine Flu and Polio not Funny..by Diane Ogden

Happy News this is not. Me, I got the Swine flu vaccine in 1972 and it about killed me so I made what I consider a good decision to never again get a flu shot. Yet am I hoping there may be a tad of it left in my body for protection?? Yup! Back to Swine flu shot....I shall leave out the goorey details of me laying on the floor alone barely able to breath and so on... Therefore, if I should die before I wake from any sort of flu....well it beats what my Auntie Berdie is living through in the dying mill called a Nursing Home... I don't get the flu anyway. I decided a long time ago, like in the 1970's that I don't like throwing up so I don't throw up EVER. Really, not ever. Oh sometimes I think I might feel like it so I grab a TUM and all is well. Not that I am making light of this swine thing...after all the Bible speaks of plagues, and they do control population. Don't you wonder why one person dies and another doesn't. Do you think it is the way we think? Or talk? Or is it the Numbers and energies we carry or that we might not think positive enough ? Or is it luck? Or the moon and stars placement? Or that we didn't wash our hands enough? Could it be that darn simple. S H U T U P! Like I loved my cousin but he died from drinking too much.....and I loved my dog but he died from cancer....and I loved my friend, but she died from 'Something." Maybe it is that simple. We have a time to be borne and a time to die. I love the story of the dragonfly.....who lives under the water in depths of much darkness. The little dragonflies one by one detach from water reeds and rise to the surface and disappear into our world. The ones left behind 'wonder' where their friends and relatives went. Did they go to their demise? Did they just fade away from all? What questions they left behind for their other dragon people flies. Just like us huh? Look at what the dragon fly gets when he detaches from the underwater reed?....He finds a bright light and green beauty and new foods and an amazing life outside his previous life of darkness under. I suspect that is what we will get also. Be it the swine bugger or cancer or a car wreck or an explosion or whatever!! I truly suspect there is more light coming for us. But, hey, get some of those masks at the drug store just in case. God gave you sense right? Right! So do it then because I am going to... I choose not going out to the brighter light from any pigs cause. eeewww. I will do my best to choose how I go to that great light..... thank you . Life is about choices after all isn't it? I almost forgot to tell you that I lived during the Polio era... as many did. I was about five or six (and I am decades past that) and we couldn't go to ANY public swimming pools or the lake or the outdoor theatre nor could we drink off any public water fountains. It was Polio and it was highly contagious and deadly. As the Swine flu is also. Protect yourselves and your children. Wash hands, stay home as much as possible...pray.

http://www.pixalo.com/community/photos-fun/singapore-dragon-fly-21613.html

Whoa, This is a Deep Choppy Post..by Diane Ogden

(EVOLVE: to produce by natural evolutionary processes c: develop, work out intransitive verb)
This is sort of like the deep hole one digs for the Post. Cement is placed at the bottom to hold the post upright. No not this blog post silly....you! How do we stay upright? I would "venture" to say, not guess, it is how "personally evolved" we are. My son uses the word evolved allot lately and I am starting to see why. I could stand fairly still and I would still receive the stories I have heard and watched lately that have confirmed what evolved means (to me.) Stuck in cement? A foundation of cement? No cement? Let me give you an example. Do recall my x-husband died recently. I felt sorrow for him because he had what I and many would phrase, "A bad life." He did many unacceptable things throughout his life and never learned on his own to stop. He was institutionalized in a nursing home where he had to discontinue certain bad habits, but he never made right his wrongs. He did love God and therefore I believe he is fine now, but he suffered a long time in the end. And death was not in his sleep with a smile on his face. He had to live out his earthly life with all the pain that goes with it because he did not evolve (personally) on earth. He reaped what he sowed as we all do. Ever heard the phrase "only the good die young." I bet its because they completed their task here...their evolution of self.... A dear friend asked me to pray for a lady who had brain cancer and was going through allot of medical issues concerning. I did and I heard the spirit tell me that she was not finished yet, she had to go through some of what the earth offers, while she was finishing her tasks here. The earth carries many things we must ward off each day. The Bible speaks of standing up against the fiery darts of the "devil." The Secret gives us ways to do so....Churches give us ways to do so....music does, proper nutrition does, and love certainly ranks high on this list of standing tall while living...all help us stay on the good side of the fence so we have time to evolve. (No guilt) I am not saying everyone that is evolved dies, done, gone. I am saying it is very complex like much of life we don't understand. Some who are evolved stay here to teach. Some to help another, some to help nations and so on. Earth living is like college. Some go and learn and some drop out and some die trying. And it isn't easy, but it does come with a book of instructions and if followed the earth living while evolving is reasonably easier. Yes I know this was a choppy post...but I think you get it anyway. I was trying to bring forth into earth lingo what I heard in Spirit lingo. ha. Wake up each day not only to find something good for the self, but to offer something good to others which in turn you evolve. I personally will not die all un-evolved, mean with road rage while drinking and smoking and cussing and hissing and lying and blah blah blah, you get it. In other words, no cement "SHOES" for me! Rather a cement foundation I prefer. Then off to sleep with a smile on my face. Start watching for those who are evolved and those who aren't. You'll see what I mean. (And, make note evolved is not perfect) so don't go dying yet, unless you got evolved! I had to add some humor somewhere here before I quit.

I Ran Into a Breath of Fresh Air...by Diane Ogden

Sometimes our timing isn't that of the Universe's. That is even though we don't understand, which of course we don't. Accepting this fact is good for us and our blood pressure and anxiety levels, if we can learn to do so. I spent overtime looking for a particular person whose husband had passed away. The news did not reach me for months and then I couldn't find her hard as I tried. Nor could I recall where she worked even though she had worked in the same place all her life. Just wasn't in "the cards" as they say. Her and her husband were kinder to me than most anyone I ever knew in life. They were non judgemental, precious caring people. But he did die, and I missed saying goodbye and thank you. What's my point? It is fourteen months later and I stop at the grocery store in our large city, for a couple items and I see the back of a woman that is familiar. I say, "Vicki?" She continues on. I scurry past others, turn the corner and say "Vicki?" She turned around and we both embarrassed next to the bread and catsup. We never moved from that spot for approximately an hour.Not the embracing part of course! She told me "her story," of his death, and his spirit in after-life. My legs were shaking while listening to her story. I told her when my body shakes during a spiritual story, that means something more than the present conversation that is happening. I asked her if she had written the story. She told me no, but has recently been led to do so. She got a laptop and is now going to begin what I suspect will be a beautiful love and life story from beginning to end. I could synopsis it right here and now, but would not infringe upon the beauty it will offer many, in fact maybe millions. I suspect so. We exchanged emails and numbers and a second embrace of love and sharing of much. She told me, "I get up every morning (even though I may not want to) and look for ONE GOOD THING to happen. She was my breath of fresh air I needed so badly. She doesn't know this and doesn't need to. But I thank the Universe for its timing vs mine. I am sure it was perfect as usual.

dabchronicles.blogspot.com

The Big Blue Mug...by Diane Ogden

This is "The Mug!" The Mug is almost five years old. It has weathered much in its long cup life. I purchased it when I started drinking coffee and I chose it to match the new car my son "sort of" bought for me. I had relocated and was working on re-starting my business of fifteen years. Without writing or saying too much because we all know words come alive or can be re-birthed by our simple saying. Remember Simple Simon....wasn't so simple it seams. Back to point. The business did not re-start. I took a set back and so did "The Mug." The Mug has been on a long ride and it wasn't like Palisades Park. Now I am showing my age. I think that place is long gone.

I became a courier and drove all over the city. I loaded the car down like it was a ton truck. And it made it all the way through the tough times to the good times of now. "The Mug" endured snowstorms, blizzards to be exact, unbearable heat, a broken air conditioner, stranded in traffic when the steering went out, at least one wrecker ride, a flat tire, several bumper thumpers, a few curbs, allot of wonderful people, hail storms, some tears, much laughter, the sounds of zillion oil changes, the pain of over $7,000 in mechanic repair bills, the thrill of many mystery audio books, phone conversations on the road, some road rage on occasion, and allot of prayers because God can talk to people when their driving! The blue matching mug sailed along with that car and I for five years until today. It sprung a leak this morning. Or did my mug runneth over? That is the first and only thermal coffee cup I have ever purchased in my life. Either this will be a new exciting shopping experience or a dreadful one. Whichever I chose I suspect. I don't think I want blue again. Nor do I ever want a blue car again. I am a white or silver car person. So let's start with "The Mug" this time and get silver. Then will come the car......in silver? But for now, I love my sort of paid for blue chipped car.

My Passion...by Diane Ogden

I could certainly live this way. In fact I work at living this way very often whether that is because I lived before on this earth in a different time, or just because I like pink. And Creme. And roses. And beads. And frills too. I think I may have been born on lace too. My four boys grew up "dealing" with Pink. I honor them for never giving me any hoop la over all my pink and roses. Poor kids...and they are all straight that I am aware of anyway. The daughter dislikes anything crowded such as Victorian and Mom. Meaning I put something in every empty spot. She is rather ultra retro slash modern. I call it empty and cold. Silver and bright blue, red, and yellow.

My latest venture is our yearly deck/porch re-do contest at our complex. I win every year because I am old compared to the average age group here. They use red and blue and yellow. I come along with roses and lace curtains "outside" and fake chandeliers with pearls strewn about. And so on. This year I think I shall do Blue and Purple Hydrangea's. And that is where I am stuck about. I search the magazines, the Internet yet the plan is not appearing as it usually does for me. I would like a white wicker hanging double swing. But I am not sure I want it more than I want the $250 dollars it cost. I mean the contest winning is only $75. Duh. Not that I would buy the swing to win the contest of course not. It has a high back and I like to rest my head and swing. Rocking ones self is very calming. Too bad it has to cost $250. So far I haven't found anything similar at the flea markets. Well our closest flea market is at least an hour out but we do have many antique malls and garage sales. Maybe I will re-do my sunroom to match the photo above. Yes I will.

Our First Nice Day...by Diane Ogden

Seriously. For us Wisconsinites it has been a long winter. We started feeling like the Eskimos stuck in igloo's. Our

First day with temps over 60 degrees came yesterday and today. How wonderful we are feeling! SUNSHINE and warmth. Somehow that combination is like love. I took this picture and many others of the little blue flowers in one of my clients yards. We don't have many flowers blooming yet as it was 34 degrees over the night time hours. Go figure, this is Wisconsin. The saying is, "Just hang around, it will change by tomorrow." People are putting convertible tops down, running, riding bikes, motorcycles everywhere, the zoo opened, outside cafes, home windows open to let the build up of winter chemicals out, and dogs are getting walked more regularly. Along with much much more but you get it...we are happiness.

Grafitti...by Diane Ogden

The owners of this little coffee shop on Williamson Street in Madison Wisconsin allow people to paint their Graffiti on the side of his business. Each person can leave his art presented to the city for one month. At that time another artist may have his or her turn.

Isn't that an amazing idea. Personally I think Graffiti should be allowed on snow banks and on other designated areas of the city or country, like Barns and other buildings. I like Graffiti done well as it certainly adds pleasure for all of the drivers passing this building. I tried to make the picture larger but those skills seem to be on hold at this time. humm.

Don't Forget Your Bread...by Diane Ogden

This is what you do so you don't forget your bread after Easter Dinner! Great idea huh? Some might disagree considering there were no odor eaters in those shoes....but, let me say I wrapped the wheat french bread in plastic. And it went to a good home. We had non traditional spaghetti and cole slaw and fruit, and garlic bread and chocolate cake! Some took spaghetti, some took cake, one took wheat french bread home in his shoe.

There once was a kid with bread in his shoe, he ate some much today he didn't know what to do....So off he went to rest his tummy, he ate so much today he felt like a dummie. He's young and he could really eat more, but I am not going back to the store. Nope, Easter is done for one more year.... And I 'm going to bed after I have a beer. (Really I don't like beer, it just rhymed) ha... Happy Easter

Happy Resurrection Day..by Diane Ogden

Thanks to Kris de Curtis at http://www.flickr.com/ Check out his other fantastic photography

God Strikes Fern....by Diane Ogden

FERN STRIKES in the EARLY MORN.......or GOD STRIKES FERN!

I have a special friend and mentor in life I call Fern when she does something really odd (stupid : ) And vice versa she calls me Fern when I do. Like when she lost one of her fake fingernails in her ear and had to go to E.R. Or got in the shower with her bra on. Or pushed the old 1960's Triumph car out of the garage to "sun" the six ferns sitting atop it. (the car doesn't run) Yes they are Okies! Enough said but now you know where the name Fern derived. Or arrived from either way.
I purchase a cup of coffee a couple times a week from the local PDQ or Kwik Trip depending on what part of the USA one lives. Here its either one. Sort of like Walgreen's and Eckerds...same thing, different States, different name. Discount pharmacy is all. Back to the point. I buy that cup of coffee because it is better then my brew. So I add a small amount to my brew every day. Or like today I heat up a small amount of it while my brew is brewing. Do recall my visitor this morning, Mr. Muscle Spasm......I suppose I could blame him, notice he isn't a she! She would never be so bold and disrupting and painful! Because of said interruption, I heated the small amount of REAL coffee and sat down with it and my ice pack....later I decide it is time to make my two cup brewing machine go back to work for me. I put a new organic filter in the holder, add two scoops of fresh Starbucks grounds, turn the machine on, pour the water in with my blue coffee mug that I bought four years ago to match my car....and go back to my computer to read all about green makeup and linens and such. There was a still small voice that urged me to look back toward the kitchen.. That same one that tells you when you leave your apt. that you forgot something but you know not what until you are already in the car with no keys. Same scenario today. I looked back into that kitchen, heard that coffee machine, knew something was off, but didn't go check. I made coffee this morning for the counter top, the canisters, my box of band aides, you name it, it was coffee-ed! I forgot to put the pot back into the coffeemaker. Thank God it was only a two pot maker. And now I know this apt. building is leaning South. All the coffee ran in one direction, and that be south. I am sure it was God that stopped it just before it ran off the edge and down in between the cupboard and refrigerator. And I am sure it was God that told me to look back. Which he usually doesn't do, he says look forward or you'll turn to a pillar of salt. That means Make your coffee, drink it and don't think about your past or you'll be stuck like a statue, unable to see your future. Oh like I don't understand that one. Good parable God! Thanks, I shall now drink my coffee, a new brew by the way, and move forward. Thanks for the lesson thru spilt coffee.
photo from: zoesroom.typepad.com/

The Happy Naked News Lady...by Diane Ogden

This is just a test.... My son Cody told me to use the key word Naked to see how many hits I could get in one day. So I am. Suppose you want a picture huh? Well call Joan Rivers! Hey I found this one and its great....

This picture is of: Millie Smith, 93, known as

"Motorcycle Mamma." She's Miss August

You Know Your a RedNeck When.......by Diane Ogden

You know your a RedNeck when you buy a new car and "forget" to put insurance on it! I bet the bank would love this one....but then their just thieves like the insurance companies anyway... And we are working hard to save their sorry arses so this guy can buy duck tape while they live on millions free money. Cynical? Me? No way, I just think they should invent colored duck tape... starting out with RED!