I read a story on the Huffington Post today that said Ohio ranks 24 out of 50 in the list of the best and worst run states. As you can see below, it starts out referring to the year 2009 when Ted Strickland was Governor. I knew for sure they couldn't be talking about the state in the last 11 months, since the current Governor is trying to run the state further down the list of the worst states in America! We can look back at history and see where we used to be and band together as we did with the Repeal of SB5 and hope for a recall law to be passed early in 2012.
24. Ohio
> State debt per capita: $2,423 (17th lowest)
> Pct. without health insurance: 12.3% (17th lowest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 14.8% (17th highest)
> Unemployment: 9.1% (17th highest)
Ohio’s state revenue in the fiscal year of 2009 was the fourth-lowest in the country. In the same time period, the state spent $71 billion, nearly three times that amount per resident. Despite that fact, Ohio still has an AA+ credit rating and a below-average debt per capita. Ohio scores worse than average on unemployment, median income, foreclosures and poverty. The state does slightly better on graduation rates. Ohio also spends a higher portion of its budget on education than most states.
A class professor was giving a lecture on company slogans and was asking his students if they were familiar with them.
“Joe,” he asked, “which company has the slogan, ‘come fly the friendly skies’?”
Joe answered the correct airline.
“Brenda, can you tell me which company has the slogan, “Don’t leave home without it?”
Brenda answered the correct credit card company with no difficulty.
“Now John, Tell me which company bears the slogan, ‘Just do it’?”
And John answered, “Mom.”
It was a wonderful Thanksgiving day for me. I don't get a chance to cook for someone else very often, so it was very fulfilling to be able to prepare a meal that was so well received. The Cornish Game Hens were so tender they were falling apart when taken out of the roaster. The carrots, green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce were just delicious. The cherry pie with Cool Whip topping wasn't bad either!
One of the nicest things about the meal was that I have no leftovers. The spoonfuls of each item not consumed went into a "take home bowl" for John to reheat and savor tomorrow.
I am so thankful for the wonderful day and being able to spend it with someone very special to me.
Black Friday, as it's known, kicks off the Christmas shopping season with the major sales in all the stores. However, I will NOT be one of the crowd shoving and rushing to get those specials off the shelves. I have most of my shopping already done, and what has been ordered will be here by next week. I don't have that many people on my list this year, but I do plan early.
Good luck to all those "crowd fighters" out there who are rushing from one store to another for that ultimate bargain. My bargain was obtained today with the good meal and good company, and my savings will be less stress and calmer nerves as I sit home while others rush to spend their money in a hurry on the busiest shopping day of the year. I am so lucky and blessed; the year is too soon coming to an end, and a new year and new era of my life will begin in 2012.
The First Thanksgiving
The first American Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621, to commemorate the harvest reaped by the Plymouth Colony after a harsh winter. In that year Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving. The colonists celebrated it as a traditional English harvest feast, to which they invited the local Wampanoag Indians.
Days of thanksgiving were celebrated throughout the colonies after fall harvests. All thirteen colonies did not, however, celebrate Thanksgiving at the same time until October 1777. George Washington was the first president to declare the holiday, in 1789.
By the mid–1800s, many states observed a Thanksgiving holiday. During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was looking for ways to unite the nation. In 1863 he gave his Thanksgiving Proclamation, declaring the last Thursday in November a day of thanksgiving.
In 1939, 1940, and 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Thanksgiving the third Thursday in November. Congress passed a joint resolution in 1941 decreeing that Thanksgiving should fall on the fourth Thursday of November, where it remains.
A young doctor moved out to a small community to replace the aging doctor there. The older doctor suggested that the younger doctor accompany him as he made his house calls so that the people of the community could become accustomed to him.
At the first house they visited, the younger doctor listened intently as the older doctor and an older lady discussed the weather, their grandchildren and the latest church bulletin. After some time, the older doctor asked his patient how she had been feeling.
“I’ve been a little sick to my stomach,” she replied.
“Well,” said the older physician, “you’ve probably been over doing it a bit with the fresh fruit. Why don’t you cut back on the amount of fresh fruit you eat and see if that helps.”
As they left the house, the younger doctor asked how the older doctor had reached his diagnosis so quickly.
“You didn’t even examine that woman,” the younger doctor stated.
“I didn’t have to,” the elder physician explained. “You noticed I dropped my stethoscope on the floor in there. Well when I bent over to pick it up, I looked around and noticed a half dozen banana peels in the trash can. That is probably what has been making her ill.”
“That’s pretty sneaky,” commented the younger doctor. “Do you mind if I try it at the next house?”
“I don’t suppose it could hurt anything,” the elder physician replied.
At the next house, the two doctors visited with an elderly widow. They spent several minutes discussing the weather and grandchildren and the latest church bulletin. After several minutes, the younger doctor asked the widow how she had been feeling lately.
“I’ve felt terribly run down lately,” the widow replied. “I just don’t have as much energy as I used to.”
“You’ve probably been doing too much work for the church,” the younger doctor suggested without even examining his patient. “Perhaps you should ease up a bit and see if that helps.”
As they left, the elder physician said, “Your diagnosis is probably right, but do you mind telling me how you came to that conclusion?”
“Sure,” replied the younger doctor. “Just like you, I dropped my stethoscope on the floor. When I bent down to pick it up, I looked around and there was the preacher hiding under the bed!
A defendant was asked if he wanted a bench trial or a jury trial.
“Jury trial,” he replied.
“Do you understand the difference?” asked the judge.
“Sure,” replied the defendant. “That’s where twelve ignorant people decide my fate instead of one.”
Once upon a time a shepherd was herding his large flock of sheep just off of the edge of a deserted dirt road.
Suddenly a brand new Jeep Cherokee screeched to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man dressed in a Brioni suit, Cerrutti shoes, Ray-Ban glasses, and a YSL tie got out and said “If I guess how many sheep you do have, will you give me one of them?”
The shepherd looked at the young man, then at the sheep which grazed as far as he could see and said “OK.”
The young man re-entered his car, connected his laptop and the mobile, entered a NASA site; then scanned the ground using his GPS, opened a data base and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then printed a 5-page report on his high-tech mini-printer. After a quick scan of the report, he turned to the shepherd and said: “You have exactly 1586 sheep here.”
“That’s correct, you can have your sheep” answered the shepherd.
The young man picked up his choice and put in the back of his jeep.
The shepherd asked him “If I guess your profession, will you give it back to me?”
The young man smiled and said “Sure, why not?”
Without hesitating the shepherd said “You are a Price Waterhouse Coopers or KMPG consultant!”
“Price Waterhouse Coopers, but how did you know?” asked the young man.
“Very simple”, answered the shepherd. “First, you come here uninvited; second, you charged me to tell me something I already knew and third, you do not understand my business, because you just put my dog in your Jeep!”
Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a while they got to know each other so well, they decided to get married.
One broom was, of course, the bride broom and the other the groom broom. The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding
was lovely.
After the wedding at the wedding dinner, the bride broom leaned over and said to the groom broom “I think I am going to have a little whisk broom!!!”
“IMPOSSIBLE!!” said the groom broom. ” We haven’t even swept together!”
SHE IS SPOILED, like I would spoil grandchildren, if I had any. She gives unconditional love and never yells at me. She is always there when I need her. She sees my tears, and hears me cry. She comes to comfort me, as if she knows I'm in pain, and licks my hand as if to say "it's ok mommy, I'm here." I love her more than words can say. Sometimes dogs are better than humans, because they always watch over you and protect you. Mine dog sure does!
Computer cords can be hazardous to your health!
Thursday is just another day in the week. For me, it's usually house-cleaning day. But today, it turned out to be KISS THE CARPET DAY.
Once I got my morning started (well before noon for all those who think I sleep everyday NOT), I walked to the living room couch to turn on my computer. I was then going to get up to walk to another room. Instead, my foot got caught on the printer cable attached to my laptop and I found myself going forward, reaching my arms out to stop the thump, and ease myself to the floor as best I could.
In my head it was like slow motion, but I quickly found myself counting to ten, rolling over and getting back up. I put my slipper back on (which came off in the fall) and soon found myself being a couch-tater today due to some right hip and leg pain. I'm sure it will ease up and it has not stopped me in the past. About four years ago, I tripped over a vacuum cleaner cord and fell on that same hip.
Safety begins at home, make sure all cords are out of the way and you can't trip over them. MY NEW MESSAGE FOR THE DAY!
I'm fine and life goes on. Sometimes getting older is just a bitch!
A friend invited me to the Good Hope Lions Pancake and Sausage Supper at the Wayne Township Hall Saturday. It had been going on for quite a while when we got there at 5pm, and the room was still filled with people. I believe the ticket-taker at the door said over 700 people attended so far, and people were still coming in the door while we were there.
The pancakes were delicious; I didn't eat much of the sausage because it doesn't agree with me, but it was okay too. They offered milk and coffee to drink, and of course, I got milk (not a coffee drinker).
I saw several people I knew, some acquaintances, and one special person, Scott. We were close friends about 16 years ago and I have several photos of Scott and his son at my house for Christmas dinner from years ago.
In this small town, it is still possible to lose track of someone over the years, and I recently reconnected with him on Facebook. I visited his home a few months ago, but alas, he was at work, so I talked to his wife for a while. It was nice to see him again, and I hope we can visit again soon.
The only downside to the visit to the Wayne Township Hall was the restroom. I walked in and walked right back out. It was in terrible shape, a real turn-off.
I did have a once-in-a-lifetime experience, during my outing. My friend's husband usually puts the gas in her car for her. However, our first stop on our way to Good Hope was a gas station. I actually watched her pump her own gas. From what I know, that's a very rare thing to see. We women are strong creatures and WE CAN DO IT when we have to, no matter what the event. It was a good time and a good meal.
In the USA, Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended the World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. Veterans are thanked for their services to the United States on Veterans Day.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into effect. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time.
Today is the 11th day of the 11th month of 2011, and to all veterans, we thank you for your service to our country!
BE SURE TO GO VOTE TODAY - YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
This is a beautiful sight - to me. It means that I have accomplished much. I have cleaned out both my closets and have many empty hangers now.
I have room in both closets - it's such a good feeling. I had too many clothes. I got rid of everything that didn't fit, or that I haven't worn in six months to a year, or items I just didn't like anymore.
I filled three large white trash bags and took them to Goodwill. I gave certain items away to friends who could use them. I also put many things on the Facebook sites that offer items for sale - Fayette County Yard Sales, South Central Ohio Buy/Sell/Trade. Facebook now has a Greenfield Yard Sale site, and other surrounding areas.
The "cleaning-out" bug hit me and I have also cleaned out my tote of winter sweaters, which were included in the "sale site", and my purse tote, most of which went to Goodwill. I have seriously downsized my closet.
That "bug" that hit me is now being transferred to a neighbor, who also desires to clean-out her house. I have given her some tips and even offered to help. I already got her started on vitamin B12 daily since I take it and am feeling much better these days. I think she'll catch that "cleaning" bug any day now!
I have been cleaning out one room at a time, every nook and cranny, and have found many things to advertise for sale - just "stuff" I no longer use, no longer need, or new items never used. The downsizing is really making me feel good about my neat, clean house. It took two months to accomplish each room one at a time, but the feeling is overwhelmingly wonderful!
This tree reminds me so much of life. Life has its twists and turns, but somehow straightens to grow straight towards heaven. There may be many crooked paths, curved paths, or bends in the road of life, as in the tree, but somehow it keeps going and growing - spreading its limbs and leaves for all to see.
I have had many twists and turns in my life, but I overcame the obstacles put in my way, grown stronger as I aged and learned, and experience taught me well. If you can't stay on the straight and narrow road, and incur a curve, keep going, for you will eventually straighten out your life and your troubles as the tree continues to grow, always toward the heavens.
There is only one person who may recognize this specific tree, but that person is the one who was able to straighten out my curve in life and got me back on my path to growth and acceptance of life as it is now. Things happen, people change, but we must continue to grow and move on. Sometimes growth is painful, but those are the times when we get stronger - inside. Just like the tree, we extend our limbs and the elements make us grow in wisdom.
No matter how crooked or curved it may look, my tree of life is still beautiful to me.
