I am older the most of you people, so no smart remarks, okay?

Anyway, my first car was a turquoise 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.  I had worked for about six months and became aware of the ability to buy this type of a car because I was an employee.  I worked at General Motors.  The car was a used Executive Car and it was ‘loaded with extras' for the times.  Oh how I loved that car! 

The executives from GM would drive cars for about three months to ‘try them out' ~ that was ‘then' and doubt that it is done today.  Anyway my car had a little over 3,000 miles on it and had all the things we take for granted today.  Power ‘everything' ~ leather seats ~ don't remember now but I was in 7^th heaven. 

2) Do you wear any jewelry?
Currently on my left hand a blue sapphire birthstone ring gifted to me on my 16th birthday, and an antique engraved gold band on my right pinkie finger that belonged to my late mum.  I used to wear pierced earrings, but since surgery several years ago I seem to have an allergy to metal.

3) What do you have too much of?
Clothes of varying size ranges, excess paperwork, and 'misc' stuff; I need to purge my living space area ... soon!

4) Who is a fool?  
A jester, joker, fool, or buffoon are names of a profession that came into popularity in the Middle Ages.  Oh, that isn't what you wanted ~ what do you mean names?

5) What's your nickname?  Coni.
~ my name is Constance; however when I was little my dad used to call me ‘dolly' ~ I also answer to Connie, mom, ma, mother, sis, or grammy.  ~ and if I hear the word ‘chocolate' I quickly answer, "you called my name?" 

See y'all later!

My son's friend called me yesterday asking if I would remember his almost 2-y/o daughter Greta in my prayers ~ she was found to have a collapsed lung caused by a tumor and will be undergoing chemo. 

I reassured him I would do so!

I love this Doctor.

Q. I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life: is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it - don't waste them on exercise.  Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.


Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies.   What does a cow eat?  Hay and corn ~ and what are these?  Vegetables.   So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.  Need grain?  Eat chicken.   Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).   A pork chop can give you 100% of the RDA of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all.  Wine is made from fruit.  Brandy is distilled wine, that
    means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the
    goodness that way.  Beer is also made out of grain.  Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one.   If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry.  My philosophy is: No Pain ~ Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!   Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.
    In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely NOT!   When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger.  You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy?  HELLO!  Cocoa beans!  Another vegetable!!!   It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey!  'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.  

And remember:

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition
and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beer, and eat lots of sausages and fats
    and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION: 

Eat and drink what you like.  Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

I copied this from PirateGirl …

     copy and post to your site if ya wanna

What is your full name?   
auntconi ~ mom ~ or grammy

What are you most afraid of?
Falling and breaking something ~ as in leg, hip, etc.

What is the most recent movie that you have seen on bootleg?
Bootleg ~ what is that?

Place of birth?
Detroit city

Favorite food is?
Bread ~ of all kinds.
 
What is your natural hair color?
Brown ~ yes, that would be right ~ okay ‘some’ graying has occurred

Ever been to Freak Nick?

Huh?  What is that?
 
Ever been skinny-dipping?
Nope ~ Does when one is a baby count?

Love someone so much they made you cry?
Yes!

Been in a car accident?  
Unfortunately.

Croutons or bacon bits
Neither!

Favorite day of the week would be?
None is a favorite

Favorite restaurant
Depends on mood ~ Red Lobster, First Wok, Olive Garden, Sweet Tomatoes

Favorite Flower
Pansy

Favorite sport to watch
Don’t really watch sports, but used to watch what hubby watched.

Favorite drink
Diet Coke w/lime ~ whole milk ~ coffee with cream/sugar ~ sweet iced tea

Favorite ice cream
French Vanilla
 
Warner Brothers/Disney
Must I choose?

Ever been on a ship
yes

What color is your bedroom carpet 
Blue

How many times did you fail your driver's test
Never
 
Before this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail.
This was not an email … but my last email was from my sister.

What do you do when you are bored? 
Go for a walk if weather is conducive or otherwise play solitaire.

What time is bedtime?
Anytime I want it to be.

Who will respond to this the quickest?
Anyone who is bored!

Who will least likely respond?    ;
Anyone who has a real life!

Ahh, life is good!

The weather is perfect today in my neighborhood.  It is still 73 degrees F at 7:30 p.m.   The sun was shining all day with a gentle breeze and everything done today was such a joy.    After church my son and family invited me over for dinner.  It is always so nice to join them.  I feel so very fortunate in so many ways.

Now as I sit on my screened-in veranda I see a pair of mallard ducks across the yard at another area of shrubbery.  He is sitting and she seems to be preparing a nest.  I think there may be a family soon.  His color is so bright; hers is the dull brown that will blend in as she protects her young.

Oh, a bird just flitted up to the top of my light next to my porch.  There is a nest from last year and now I suppose someone else is moving in.  Of course this is just outside of the enclosure, next to the window and last year I could hear the babies chirp to the mother when they wanted more food. 

My hyacinths are in full bloom and have a lovely fragrance ~ they will be gone soon, but the tulips are ready to bloom as the hyacinths fade. 

Now I've got to see if I can get a camera and take some pictures ...

Nice if you to stop by ~ please do so again!

I made macaroni & cheese and hot dogs ‘n buns for dinner; a real hit for all of us. 

We went for a walk after dinner for a little bit.  The game plan was to run some of their energy down, but unfortunately this granny couldn't do as much walking as last fall and so we returned after about 15 or 20 minutes.  I need some serious walking time to build my strength up again, so I'm looking forward to the nicer weather to do just that. 

But in the short time we were out we saw two different pairs of mallards; one pair were drinking out of a dish a resident in the complex puts out under a big pine tree, for his cat I think, but perhaps also for the wildlife running around here.  His cat is only out briefly; and really shouldn't be out at all, according to the by-laws.  The grandson spotted the ducks drinking water and brought it to my attention.  He remembered seeing them at that same place from last year.  He asked me if they were the same ducks we saw last year; I didn't honestly know what to tell him.  Well what he said was, "Do they live there?" 

Anyway, there were so many different birds singing and chirping and it was very pleasant.  You could clearly see them in the trees, as the trees are still quite bare from the winter and leaves will start coming out soon.  The kids would point the birds out to me and we would comment on how nicely they were chirping.   A robin in a tree near to where we were standing was singing very loudly and when he stopped singing/chirping my grandson ‘chirped' at the bird ~ the robin responded.  So both kids ‘talked to the birds' the rest of the way home.  It was such a sweet time!

I hope y'all are having pleasant times also.

Oh, almost forgot ~

before the kidlets arrived I went to the post office to ‘mail my taxes.'   I don't know why but I am later each year in filing my taxes; haven't gotten to the point that I'm driving by the post office at 11:45 p.m. as postal workers are at the curb awaiting our arrival. 

Maybe next year!

:)

I had a glorious day on Sunday. 

The weather was so pleasant that one did not need to wear a jacket.  Finally the good weather shows up here in Michigan.

I had the pleasure of joining friends for dinner ~ and it was very delicious. The chef made pizza, and two choices at that ~ (spinach/feta/onion) and (sausage/tomato/cheese), and bruschetta.   For dessert we had homemade cheesecake w/assorted toppings if one wanted, and coffee!  I had never had feta cheese before and had been promised this spinach/feta pizza for some time and it was sooooo yummy ~ well worth the wait. 

Afterward we played a game of Sequence.  I had not played it before so required a briefing, and then we played a real game.  I was on the losing team, but we still had a good time.  There was a bit of story telling and laughter and all in all it was a glorious day!  I love days like this!  

I hope you all had a glorious Sunday as well. 

 ((hugs))

A man called home to his wife and said, 'Honey I have been asked to go fishing up in Canada with my boss & several of his Friends.  We'll be gone for a week.  This is a good opportunity for me to get that Promotion I've been wanting, so could you please pack enough clothes for a week and set out my rod and fishing box, we're leaving from the office and I will swing by the house to pick up my things.' ' Oh! Please pack my new blue silk pajamas.'

The wife thinks this sounds a bit fishy but being the good wife she is, did exa ctly what her husband asked.  The following weekend he came home a little tired but otherwise looking good.  The wife welcomed him home and asked if he caught many fish?  He said, 'Yes! Lots of Salmon, some Bluegill, and a few Swordfish.  But why didn't you pack my new blue silk pajamas like I asked you to Do?'

You'll love the answer....

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

The wife replied,

'I did...They're in your fishing box.....'

Want to give it a try...?

Back home again ~ in Michigan.  We had a nice time in sunny Florida but duty calls and we had to return to our  jobs back here.  But the sunshine was a nice treat, as well as our visits with friends along the way. 

I wanted to bring Skylar home with me but PastorDave wouldn't let me, so I thought I'd share her 'blink' photo again.  Isn't she a cutie?  When told to "smile" she blinks her eyes shut until the camera flashes.  A real sweetheart!

Have a good day y'all ~ see you soon!

Click here to create your own painting.

On The Road Again ... 

Here are a few pictures of  "friends are meeting friends"

Almsthvn ... auntconi ... surrogate ~

We had lunch at New Krishna Indian Restaurant.

Auntconi and Skylar

Skylar is PastorDave's granddaughter ~ she will be two on March 1st

When she was told to smile she 'blinks' her eyes shut ~ so cute!

Auntconi and PastorDave ~ we had lunch at Sweet Tomatoes Buffet!

... and the last one, for now, shows me with my eyes closed ~ argh!

Auntconi, Surrogate, and Mimi ~ we had the hotel clerk take our picture in the lobby ~ but alas, my eyes are closed.  

We stayed two nights in Altamonte Springs FL.  Surrogate had some work to do for a few clients. 

We were able to meet with mimi.  It is so nice to meet friends along the way!

From the minute mimi and I first met we hugged and never stopped talking for about three hours.  For real!  We went to dinner at the Longhorn Steak House across the street from the hotel so we didn't even waste time driving around.  We went back to the hotel and chatted some more.  Before we left we had the desk clerk take a picture of the three of us.  Surrogate will download them to his computer, send them to me, and if I can't figure out what to do, he will post the pictures. 

The next morning the fresh air was nice and it was sunshiny ~ this really is the ‘sunshine state' ~ and we headed south down the highway in the direction of Fort Lauderdale. 

We arrived in Fort Lauderdale FL about four o'clock!   Then we fill the car with gas, check into the hotel, and hook up the computers.  Then we might think of getting something to eat.  But of course it is first things first, we check in with family and friends to let them know all is well!  He has some work to do while he is here, and will meet with friends and go golfing. 

Me? ~ I'll walk on the beach and look for shells. 

... to be continued!

It was a gorgeous and sunshiny day of 63 degrees and a slight breeze when we met with PastorDave and his darling granddaughter for lunch.   We thought it was warm and had no jackets on; but PastorDave thought it was a little chilly.  You see, we had left the south Chicago area two days earlier at -9 degrees with wind chill factor of -45 and it was soooo cold.  So in comparison this felt heavenly!

Then after lunch we headed south for Florida.  I was going to meet with mimi for dinner, but we were doing some shopping (one of those outlet malls - fun place) and when we got on the road we realized we would not make it to Orlando in time for dinner and phoned mimi to advise her of the time factor.  She said that there was a 13-county tornado watch so to be on the lookout or we might be headed for Kansas.   I remembered to take my ruby red slippers along so I was prepared.   Surrogate said for me not to worry and that he had everything under control.   So I took a nap ~ Makes sense, right?

As we progressed into Florida he reminded me that ‘this is the sunshine state' and the temperature was rising and things were looking beautiful ~ however he said to look ahead to that thundercloud ... so I did ... and shortly it started to rain, and it rained, and rained, and rained.  It rained really hard.  But I put my ruby red slippers on and we forged through.  Finally we made it to Altamonte Springs and we are here at Best Western Hotel.

Since this is ‘the sunshine state' and it will be raining thru the night ~ to wash the cars, etc ~ tomorrow will be beautiful! 

... to be continued!

Well, in this case it is "Driving auntconi"

Auntconi loves it ~ without a doubt!  It is so nice to just relax and leave the driving to someone else.  I'm doing my best to not be a ‘backseat driver' ~ I don't think I'd look too cute traveling with a muzzle.  Seriously, this has not even been an issue ~ I was always asked by my ex if I had an official "BSDriver's license" ~ hmm, some people!  Perhaps this has something to do with ‘the driver' ~ me thinks that is the case!

Anyway, we left Grand Rapids a little after 2 o'clock and had a nice trip to Illinois arriving near Chicago.  Surrogate met with his sweetie.  I have a nephew living in Chicago.  So all is well!

Sunday we will head to Cincinnati to meet up with almsthvn ~ I can add her name to my list of ‘online friends I've met in real life' ~ ohhhh I love this!

... to be continued!

As you may or may not know, surrogate drove to Detroit Saturday and kindly asked me to ride along.   I was pleased not to have to drive in the winter weather.   We made it to Detroit and back ~ safe and sound!

I enjoyed a good time with my family for the birthday dinner of my niece, and 

was able to visit with my nephew who is home for a brief visit from California.  

As usual we had lots of laughs, hugs, and fellowship, and birthday cake, too. 

He is having so much fun ... wanna see ???

Just click and check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoiFGva_JoY" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoiFGva_JoY" target="_blank"http://www.youtube.com/watch?...

No one believes seniors ... everyone thinks they are senile.  

An  elderly couple was celebrating their sixtieth anniversary.  They had married as childhood sweethearts and now moved back to their old neighborhood after they retired.   Holding hands they walked back to their old school.  It was not locked, so they entered, and even found the old desk they'd shared where Andy had carved "I  love you, Sally."  

On their way back home, a bag of money fell out of an armored car, practically landing at their feet.  Sally quickly picked it up, but not sure what to do with it, they took it home.  There, she counted the money ~ fifty-thousand dolla rs.

Andy said, "We've got to give it  back."  

Sally said, "Finders keepers."  So she put the money back in the bag and hid it in their attic.  

The next day, two FBI men were canvassing the neighborhood looking for the money and knocked on their door.

"Pardon me, but did either of you find a bag that fell out of an armored car yesterday?"
 
Sally said, "No."

Andy said, "She's lying.  She hid it up in the attic."

Sally said, "Don't believe him, he's getting senile."

The agents turn to Andy and began to question him.

One says:  "Tell us the story from the beginning"  

Andy said, "Well, when Sally and I were walking home from  school yesterday ... "  

The first FBI guy turns to his partner and says, "We're outta here." 

Hmm ~ should have thought more about the woodpeckers! 

(hope y'all can see this)

Can you believe it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2KmzFABujM" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2KmzFABujM" target="_blank"http://www.youtube.com/watch?...

What did they do to the Old John Deere?

Cheers to all!