A New Beginning

Hello Friends!!

It's been quite a while since I've inflicted you with any of my thoughts or concerns so I think it's time again! This entry is sort of an 'off the cuff' rambling, though I suspect it will eventually make sense, it may be prone to not doing so initially. Fore warned is fore armed!!

A while back I put an entry on Facebook regarding a new vitamin supplement that I was involved with. Well, I will start today by saying how incredibly this is working for me! Many of you probably don't know that about 8 months ago I was diagnosed with spinal arthritis. At the time I went to the Dr. to discuss an uncomfortable 'twinge' in my chest. Being a practicing hypochondriac, I was sure I was dying of some disease. I am not! That's the good news. The bad news is that the arthritis will not get better, but in fact will get worse as time goes on. I was given exercises to do, (yeah right!) and also given some heavy duty pills to take once a day. I did some research on the meds and found that the side effects are MUCH worse than the arthritis symptoms, so I set about trying to find another option. Anyone who knows me knows that exercise will be the last resort. Besides, I'm proud of my 'Reuben-esque' figure!

Now about that time I met a wonderful doctor, (God does put people in your life when/if you need them), who I now refer to as "Dr. Paul". He's not only a great Dr., but also become a great friend. He is the one who introduced me to the vitamins and he took the time to explain to me how and why they will work. I thought to myself, "Taking vitamins is much better than any exercise I could do, because you don't sweat taking vitamins", so I started my daily regime. I purchased a month's supply at the time, fully expecting no results. People, sometimes being wrong is a WONDERFUL thing!!!! It's been about three months of vitamin therapy, (my definition and no one else's), and let me tell you, I FEEL GREAT!!!!! Dr. Paul told me it would take about three or four months before my body would reap the benefits of the vitamins. He was so right!! My flexibility is back. No aches or pains at all. Oh sure every once in a while if I turn wrong or bend weird I get a twinge, but nothing compared to before! This is not a sales pitch by any stretch, but if anyone out there reading this wants to benefit as I did, just drop me a note. I'll give you a phone number to call and you can purchase, (very inexpensively I might add), a monthly supply.

Now, onto another subject, which is sort of related, but not really.

I just lost a cousin of mine. He was a very wonderful man and friend. He went into the hospital for a relatively minor procedure and two days later, he was dead. They say it was a heart attack. I initially wasn't bothered by the information, but as I thought about it, it disturbed me.

It disturbed me that someone so young (in his sixties) could be taken, without notice or indication, in the blink of an eye. Heck, I'm almost there, (sixties I mean), and frankly it's a very sobering thought. It makes you take stock of your life and place more importance on family and friends, rather than material things and 'stuff'.

So, my request for all of you, (you didn't think that there would be homework, huh??), is to take stock of your life. Stop the petty, unimportant stuff and try to make a difference in your life by starting to treat the people you love and care about better. That includes you! By doing this it will make things a whole lot easier when you're gone for all the people that knew and loved you.

Get to work!! You have a task!

I'm outta here!!

Byeeeeeee

A Continuing Thread

Okay. I'm starting today without my normally cheery 'Hello' because I just read another person's blog, (yes you MMM), and it got me thinking and it actually made me mad. Well, truth be told it didn't make me mad, but it got me thinking and the thinking made me mad. Is anyone following here???? I think that this will make sense eventually, if you don't stop reading too soon. Hang in there people!

I agree with you MMM and your wonderfully written blog, http://hillishilarity.wordpress.com/.

What is with these intitutions that name themselves after something that doesn't or can't exist? I mean really, 5/3 bank? Shouldn't that be 1 2/3's???? I'm not good at math, but I think that that is correct. Why did they do that?? Perhaps that's the description of the interest on your savings? Sounds about right. And another thing, (you really got me going on this one), let's just for a minute analyze names like, Chucky Cheeze. Is that what you do about an hour after eating their disgusting pizza??? Or how about Taco Bell?? What's with that?? Wait, I know. After consuming four or five of their tacos, you run to the bathroom with a clenched buttocks and immediately upon finding relief (politely put, huh???), you hear bells. What is the sound of a Taco Bell?? Perhaps, "Crunch Dong", (which sounds pretty disgusting all by itself and takes my mind to the nasty place).

Okay. I feel better now. There are more names that are stupid and have no meaning, but I have to leave for work now. Aren't you glad?? More later people. I'm not done with this!!!

Byeeeeee

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

Greets!!!!

Well, today was a wonderful day!! Why you ask, (you did ask, didn't you???) Well, I decided to go to Disney's Animal Kingdom to take pictures. This, in and of itself is not a monumental happening, but it was an awesome experience today none the less. The animals were, well, just animals. Some didn't come out at all. Some stayed in the shade and some were seemingly ignorant of the weather. Note: Animal Kingdom is built in a bowl, (according to an administration big-wig we know). Because of this fact, if the temperature in Florid

a is 90 degrees, then in Animal Kingdom it will be a minimum of 97 - 100 degrees. And we think that animals aren't as smart as humans!! Boy do we have that wrong!!! I can prove it!!!!

Today there were a ton of people at Animal Kingdom. In fact, I had to park in the last parking lot. I do not know why, other than it was a Sunday. School has already started so maybe it was the last people heading home tomorrow for another year of homework and headaches?!? Anyway, there were a lot of people wandering about. Sunscreen was everywhere, as were the burnt little tourists, (those were the ones that didn't bring sunscreen). The sun was out all day and there were very few clouds. So, you see, the animals knew it was brutal in the sun, and the people didn't.

Animals - 1 People - 0.

My first stop is always the flamingo enclosure. Now, to be fair, it's really not an enclosure. The birds can fly in and out as they please. You see, many flamingos take residence in Florida year round, using Animal Kingdom as their home. In this enclosure there are many, many flamingos. As luck would have it, I was pretty much alone at the flamingo enclosure for the first ten or fifteen minutes, so I got to stand where I wanted and have conversations with the birds. Now I know what you're thinking. He's lost his mind. He's nuts. He talks to wild birds.

Well, ye of little faith, listen to what transpired...

There I was, looking around when I spotted this one flamingo standing all by himself. Bad breath, I wondered? Beak-a-tosis??? So I decided to take pity on him and make him famous (my little mind play on how jealous all the other birds would get, if they only knew

that he was on the internet and they weren't)!!! I first saw him peeking at me with one eye, with the rest of his head buried under one wing. "I see you", I said. "Take your head out and pose for me." He immediately took his head out from under his wing, stretched, flapped his wings a few times and then proceeded to run around waking up all the other flamingos. Did you know that flamingos don't wake up in a good mood??? Well, you do now. It got pretty noisy for a few moments, till many of them went back to sleep. My flamingo was now just standing there as if waiting for another command. "Pose for me", I said. The picture below is what he did. Not

only did he pose once, but twice and thrice and many more times after that! In my opinion he was the Fabio of flamingos, (no he wasn't gay, or at least I had no reason to believe he was). Besides, if he got hit in the face by a bird, it would be sort of expected,

right???

I go on...

After taking numerous flamingo pictures, I then moved on to my favorite place in the park, the Gorilla Compound. Why it's called a compound I don't know, but it's actually two enclosures separated by a walkway. The boys are kept on the left and the girls on the right. I think you can figure out all by yourselves just why they are separated. I will not take the time to explain.

At first I couldn't understand why there were no people on the walkway? This was quite strange. The gorillas usually draw a sizeable crowd and there were NO people. None! Nada. Zip. Just me. As one lone tourist strolled through I heard him ask the attendant, "Where are the gorillas?" The attendant stated that it was hot and the gorillas were probably in the

shade on the other side of the compound. She did mention that there was one gorilla sitting by a tree, way back away from the people, (you could barely see him, as the bushes concealed him pretty well). After the lone tourist left, I said, out loud, "Hey gorilla! Why don't you walk out here so I can take your picture?" Now I know you're thinking, this guy has lost his marbles! Talking to an ape? Clearly the sun has gotten to him!

Wait for it, ye of little faith...

HE GOT UP!! And not only did he get up, but he broke

a branch off a nearby tree, stuck it in his mouth and proceeded to walk slowly across the compound, out in the open. When the attendant said to me, "He's not going to stop, he's going to go lay in the shade on the other side of the wall", the gorilla immediately stopped. I said, outloud again, "Hey, drop that branch, look at me and pose so I can take your picture!" Immediately the gorilla spit out the branch and as if following a script, he turned and looked at me, (see the picture). Now if that isn't a look of disdain, I don't know what is?!? He stood there until I said, "Okay. Thank you. You can move now", (about 20 seconds). It was the last I saw of him.

Animals - 2 People - 0

It was time for me to move along. I was hot and thirsty. So, after a quick stop at the local canteen, (a tourist trap were a Diet Coke is $3.50), I was again on my way. The next stop was a small but crowded pond where numerous birds stop and do bird things, (you know, eat, sleep, poop, etc...). Today at the pond there were White Ibis, Little Blue Egrets, White Faced Ducks, (which are the cutest little ducks in the world), and Roseate Spoonbills, (one of God's more ugly creatures). At this pond there are numerous trees and branches, which are great roosts for many of the above mentioned birds. Today, the trees were empty. It was too hot. Even the birds knew. Meanwhile, the tourists wandered around and did touristy things, (more on that later).

I stopped and found my next subject, a lonely looking Roseate Spoonbill. He/she (my eyesight isn't that good!), sitting all alone. Again, being a person who doesn't embarrass easily, I said, "Hey little Spoonbill, stop preening and look at me." He/she, did. I was again encouraged. I felt for a brief moment like Tarzan; talk and they listen. I went on with my human/bird conversation. "Thank you for stopping. Now, pose for me. The picture attached is what he/she did.

Now please understand, this is not rehearsed. I have no magical powers over these animals, (except perhaps that I have about as much brain power, but that's another subject for another time).

Animals - 3 People - 0

Before I go, I would like to tell you about two things I heard humans say today. The first was a man at the flamingo enclosure. This gentleman (and I use the term VERY loosely), was with his rather large family. The son asked, "What is that" pointing to the flamigos? His answer, "Son, those are flamincos".

The second human brainiac was at the canteen. He was seated at the table in front of me. The performers were dressed in their African garb and beating drums, dancing and gyrating to the beat of their music, which, by the way, was quite loud. After a lot of beating and drumming there was a brief pause. This was when Captain Stupid uttered his immortal phrase. A phrase that needs no explanation: "When does the singing start?"

Animals -4 Humans - 0

I close now with this thought: Just how arrogant are we as humans to think that animals are not as smart as us?!? Many of the animals that we look down upon not only have brains many times larger than ours, but they do things that scientists have proven to be caused by cognitive and conscious thought. So, the next time you see a bird or animal, remember that he's probably thinking you're pretty stupid too!

Just a thought.....

Byeeeeeeeeee

Angry Kitties

Jambo!! (Swahili is not an easy language, by the way!!!! Try it sometime!)

I am perplexed!?!? Just what have I done to turn off my loyal three readers??? I mean, geez, the previous post has been up for a week and nothing! Not one commment!!! I'll bet it's the "fight or flight" syndrome that kicked in when I typed, "multi-level marketing" isn't it???? Well let me tell you peeps that not only am I not going to mention it again, I wouldn't sell you something if you wanted it!!! So there!!!! Though I would be happy to give you a sample to try, but beware, the stuff works and you'll feel better, with more energy and you'll also be more alert. Just let me know. That was the last time I'll mention it. Relax.

Well. Now that that is out of the way. GTB and J-Boo, whom I haven't blogged about in some time now, are finding life pretty tough these days. But DO NOT feel sorry for them! Don't you dare!! It's all their fault! If they weren't so darned stubborn and goofy, their lives would be a leisurely walk through the path of life.

Here's why:

Last week I requested that the Orkin guy spray the apartment for roaches and fleas. Now please understand that we don't live in squaller. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a crumb on any counter at any time. However, the neighbors don't hold themselves to the same living standard and when the apartment adjacent to use became more than the landlord could handle, they were booted out. Here's where the problem landed on our doorstep and therefore caused the cats great displeasure.

It seems that when someone is evicted for filth, the apartment is gutted and it gets new carpet, paint and anything else that was trashed by the previous tenants. One would think that this is a good thing, right? Nope. You are wrong! You see, the 5942594305643926502 (approximate) roaches that were having a party-type feast there night after night, are now about to be displaced. During the day, they hide. So, when the maintenance people spray pesticides as a precaution, (or in this case a correct assumption), the 8 legged lovelies travel through the walls to escape death and they wind up in the next apartment, ie: our humble abode. Here we were, living clean and pest free existance for 8 years and one night, a week ago, I killed two JUGUNDA roaches, (that's not Swahili but rather an accurate description of the American cockroach), and four German roaches. This to us is a freak-out moment!!! So the next day I called Orkin.

Now, back to the story of GTB and J-Boo. I digress.... GTB hates anything in his life that remotely resembles change. If you so much as move a chair, clutter a counter, (even momentarily), he just gets all squirrelly! He sulks. He attacks his sister. He meows loudly for no reason, (I mean, he's not like dying or being tortured or something). He just freaks! J-Boo on the other hand, just hides. She'll find a corner, under a chair, or even out on the patio. Somewhere where life is the same. Somewhere where she's comfortable.

So, the Orkin guy came today. But before he did, I spent all yesterday cleaning out all the cupboards in the kitchen and put all the dishes, pots and pans, in the den, on the dining room table and all over the counter in the kitchen. As you can imagine, GTB and J-Boo didn't take this well. (By the way, do you have any idea just how much CRAP you can save and not know it's there??? I found stuff I haven't seen in 8 years!! Frankly, I don't even remember some of it at all!!!)

Last night GTB spent most of the night on the patio. When he came in, you would have thought by his actions that there were two snarling, growling and barking pitbulls on the counter! He kept looking up at the clutter, fully expecting it to jump at him at any moment. Have you ever seen a cat eat with three feet off the floor, just in case he needed to bolt for the patio??? Now that's a funny sight! J-Boo spent all day yesterday and last night under a chair in the dining room. Her philosophy is "if you can't see it, it can't hurt you." She'd eat and then go back to the corner. She'd poop and then go right back to the corner. She loves safe places.

Today, while the Orkin guy was here and for three hours afterwards, GTB and J-Boo spent their time on the patio. They weren't pleased. When I finally opened the door, J-Boo had a few choice cat words for me, (good thing I don't speak cat), and GTB just laid there and glared. Jenny was the first cat in the apartment and ever so slowly she walked around making sure that no one that shouldn't be here was. GTB seemed to understand this and after a few moments, he also came in. Note: I'm firmly convinced that they communicate on a non-verbal level, but I can't prove it. I gave them about an hour to 'chill', then I did what any good parent would do.

I PUT ADVANTAGE ON THEM!!!!!!!

Now understand, this stuff totally pisses off both of them. Jenny got it first. She hissed when she finally figured out just what I did, (I'm nothing if not sneaky). I haven't seen her since. I'm pretty sure she swore at me as she was leaving. I know it wasn't nice, whatever she said!!! GTB got his when he was sleeping in the den. He's harder to sneak up on, so I had to pet him, then hold him by the nape of the neck, (which alerts him to what's about to happen), which turns him into a whirling dervish of pissed off cat!! I won though. It's on him and I escaped with only a glare. I don't trust him though. I'll probably wake up tomorrow with scratches. It's happened before. But the good news, no roaches. No fleas. Mad cats and peace and quiet.

Life is good.

Toodles....

The Start Of A Freakout

Uh Hi,

Today is the start of what could be a very tough year for us. I was just informed by my wonderful, yet freaking out wife, that her job could be in jeopardy in the coming fiscal year, (they are cutting 300 employees in her county, to the tune of $15 million dollars)!!!

Freaking out? Yes we are. Truthfully though, we don't know if this will or will not effect us, but there's nothing like the present to panic and worry till it does or does not happen. Seeing that my wife is the one that makes the substantial amount of money in our relationship, this could be a problem. However, being the worker bee that I am, I have today signed on for a 2nd job, (the wife doesn't know this yet, and when she does, she'll probably freak out even more, but what the hell, nothing ventured, nothing gained).

You see, I went out on a photo shoot today and the person needing the pictures taken is a doctor. He goes around the country on various speaking engagements talking about what we eat and don't eat, what value it is or is not giving our bodies, etc. When I got to his townhouse we talked about the shoot, what pictures he wanted and then after showing him what pictures I'd previously taken, (we'd talked earlier in the week and he put in a request for various photographs), he sat me down and told me a little story about a few nutritional drinks that he's been taking and recommending to his patients. These drinks are called Vibe and Ultra Shot. They are made by a company called Envira, (look it up and read about it, if you must). He explained about stuff that was way over my head, (electrolytes, glucosimines, etc...), and frankly he lost me in the middle of the whole thing. Then he did something that may just have changed my life completely; he gave me a sample in a glass of orange juice. He explained to me that in about ten or fifteen minutes I would start to feel better and it would last throughout the day and into the night. He said the drink had all the nutrients and even micro-nutrients, (whatever the heck they do), that we don't get in our regular food, due to over processing and such.

HOLY CRUD!!!!!!!!! Just like he said, I felt much better just like he said!! Now I know what you're thinking, "This is purely psychosomatic." Yeah, I thought so too, at first. As I sat there I tried to talk myself out of feeling good. I really can't explain the feeling adequately!? It was like a power came over me, (no not kryptonite or anything like that), but I really did feel better. I felt more energy. My joints didn't ache; first hardly at all, then not at all! THIS STUFF REALLY WORKS!!!!!

We talked about it for three hours. I was sold. I had to have more. Now I'm not a person who jumps on something where I have to put out cash and then wait for results that may or may not come. But I'm telling you people, this stuff really affected me!!

Now, as you all sit there and wonder, "What's the catch?", let me explain that the company is multi-level marketing. But, here's the catch........ There isn't one. No pressure. No hype. Nothing to remotely even request that I start immediately or sell, sell, sell, or anything!

In fact, he even bought me the first month's supply and just asked me to use it and give it away.

I asked if he wanted me to refer the people that asked about it to him? "No", he said. Just tell them about it. Hmmmmm, I thought. There has to be a catch. Well I'm here to tell you people, there isn't.

In fact, I'm going to start using it and if people see me using it, I'll tell them about it. I'm not going to start selling, pitching, or even talking about it, unless people ask. How do I make money, you might wonder??? Well, just like any other multi-level business, the more people buy, the more I make. So, the catch, if you will, is simple.

The stuff works and I feel great!! Here's the best part; you can too! I will in a short time have an adequate supply and I will give a sample to anyone who wants one. Try it or not. No pressure. No calls. No questions. Nothing.

I will use the stuff and talk about it when/if necessary. This product sells itself. I can't imagine how good I'm going to feel in a month of taking this. By the way, it's 100% natural, no chemicals or inert ingredients. Just plain old good vitamins and nutrients.

Here's the web address. Knock yourselves out: http://www.vibeforme.com/

I'm outta here. I'm going watch TV. Did I mention I feel great!!!!!!!!!!

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee