NOTE ABOUT MY BLOG: I write my blog in a down to earth manner as if I was sitting down talking with you in person. I like to ‘ramble’ as I call it about things that are going on at the moment or things going on in my life. This week I wrote about what it is like to travel these days with all our electronics.
Last Wednesday I packed for a four day trip that would be from Thursday to Sunday. I knew what items of clothing I needed to take but unsure of what else to included. The weather app on my IPhone gave me the five day forecast to pack accordingly. Wednesday evening I put my travel bag of clothes and shoes in the car. Thursday all I would need to place in the trunk my bag of toiletries and the tote bag with the must have electronic devices my husband and I need with us. For some they aren’t a must need, but to us these are essential. These must items for him includes his cell phone and his tablet which has his favorite games and the Kindle app with his library. My must have item is my Kindle Fire as my cell is always carried in my purse. I need my Kindle as I must read before falling asleep. At one time I have two or three books going (but that is another blog for another time). The tote bag I have is small but the Kindle fits inside perfectly as does hubby’s cell and tablet. What I realized is I may need another larger tote bag in the future. Why you ask? Answer is that one must also take the chargers for these items. Each device has its’ own charger and not one charger is compatible to use on more than one device. Four devices and four chargers needed to be packed.
I can not understand why there is not a universal charger that can work on all my devices. If most people are like me, they have a cell phone, perhaps a tablet or notebook or computer. Fortunate for me I did not travel this trip with the lap top. Now you not only have to make sure you have them but the charger as well. Of course you must also hope that the hotel has sufficient outlets to recharge all the items overnight. I found the hotel where I stayed did not have enough outlets so now I know on future trips I need to pack a power strip which can hold up to four tiems easily.
Since I am a list person, I generally make a list of what I need to pack Seems my list has gotten longer in the past few years. We live in a world of technology that can easily be carried where ever we go. It use to be said “American Express Card, don’t leave home without it.” Now it is our electronic devices we don’t leave home without.
Not to long ago a friend told me her grandchildren were visiting for the day. They arrived with their Ipads and spent quite a bit ot time using them. The batteries got quite low and needed to be recharged. Both of the children forgot to bring their charger. My friend did not have any type of charger for them to use as she does not own an Ipad, Ipod or notebook. The children got upset and said they were bored. She suggested they go ‘old school’ and play a board game which she pulled out of a storage area. An education indeed for these children who never played a board game prior. The children learned a lesson in making sure to always be prepared when traveling if only for a day; and secondly how to interact with another one on one in a game of Clue, Scrabble and Monopoly.
Since I have been there playing the old board games in my younger years, I feel I can now treat myself to Candy Crush, Cookie Jam, Pet Rescue and whatever game I can do before I go to sleep for the night.
Until next time….don’t leave home without your chargers.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
The New Year
Another year has come and gone. I wonder just where did 2014 go and what did I do? I always ponder this thought on New Year’s Evef while I have a celebratory drink. This year I did not ponder the thought until January 1st as I opened my new journal and began to write.
Each year we make resolutions to loose weight, eat healthy, exercise, to do volunteer work, give a little to charity and to become a better person. I have said it before, I don’t like to make a resolution as it makes me feel that I must resolve to complete what I began. A few years ago I wrote goals but like resolutions, they went by the wayside. This year I made a list of intentions I hope to accomplish. No doubt many would say it is the same as a goal or resolution, but to me I find it different. “I intend to do this; I intend to do that.” Perhaps by calling them ‘good intentions’ I won’t feel so bad if I fail to see them through.
A new year means a new slate. I read something on Facebook that a new year is like a blank journal of 365 pages, one for each day. How you fill those pages is up to you.
On January 1se as I began my new journal for the year, I wrote a list of my intentions. At the end of the month I will review the list to check if I am on track or if I failed at any time. The first of the following month, I will again make a list of my intentions; review the list at the end of the month. I plan to do this each month this year. My thought is that by doing it this way I should be able to fulfill my intentions for the year. Of course I will keep you all up to date on my progress.
As of today, the year is six days old. I find so far, I have been staying right on track with my intention list, but I am only human and know some how I will fall from grace. We all fail at times, but that does not mean we should give up. Making resolutions and keeping them is not easy. It seems once we fail, we give up. That does not have to be the way. If you find you have not keep one of your New Year goals, just begin again. It is the old saying “when at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” An old cliché but a truer one in my opinion.
So no matter what you make, goals, resolutions or intentions, only you can see them through and no one else.
Happy New Year to all….hope you make 2015 a stellar year.
Each year we make resolutions to loose weight, eat healthy, exercise, to do volunteer work, give a little to charity and to become a better person. I have said it before, I don’t like to make a resolution as it makes me feel that I must resolve to complete what I began. A few years ago I wrote goals but like resolutions, they went by the wayside. This year I made a list of intentions I hope to accomplish. No doubt many would say it is the same as a goal or resolution, but to me I find it different. “I intend to do this; I intend to do that.” Perhaps by calling them ‘good intentions’ I won’t feel so bad if I fail to see them through.
A new year means a new slate. I read something on Facebook that a new year is like a blank journal of 365 pages, one for each day. How you fill those pages is up to you.
On January 1se as I began my new journal for the year, I wrote a list of my intentions. At the end of the month I will review the list to check if I am on track or if I failed at any time. The first of the following month, I will again make a list of my intentions; review the list at the end of the month. I plan to do this each month this year. My thought is that by doing it this way I should be able to fulfill my intentions for the year. Of course I will keep you all up to date on my progress.
As of today, the year is six days old. I find so far, I have been staying right on track with my intention list, but I am only human and know some how I will fall from grace. We all fail at times, but that does not mean we should give up. Making resolutions and keeping them is not easy. It seems once we fail, we give up. That does not have to be the way. If you find you have not keep one of your New Year goals, just begin again. It is the old saying “when at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” An old cliché but a truer one in my opinion.
So no matter what you make, goals, resolutions or intentions, only you can see them through and no one else.
Happy New Year to all….hope you make 2015 a stellar year.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Tis The Season
Today I realized it is already December 7th and I ask myself where the year has gone. It seems as if it were just the first of January and now here it is only twenty-four days until another year begins. I thought about my goals for the year, one being to blog weekly. It appears I have not done so. My good intention fell by the wayside sometime I think in February. I don’t know why I did not keep my goal, but sure it had to do with other things going on in my life.
Today I realized not only is there twenty-four days left in the year but there is eighteen days until Christmas. Each year I embrace the Christmas season/holiday season. I love this time of year. I can not get enough of the music, the holiday themed movies on the Hallmark channel and of course the old stand-by animated shows like “Frosty” “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” and “Santa Claus is coming to Town”. There were the black years (as I call them) that I had no interest in Christmas (age seven to thirty-seven). A childhood event caused this, but it was the meeting of my second husband that brought back my spirit. Now it seems I can’t get enough of the holidays.
I play Ms. Santa and give out little items to people at the various clubs which I am a member such as the American Legion, VFW, Amvets, Moose Lodge and Elks Lodge. Sometimes the little item I give someone is the only thing they may get as a gift. What I enjoy most is seeing the look on the face of a person who I don’t know as I hand them a little package and say to them “Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays”. A little gesture can bring a bit of joy and gladness to a person who might be having a bad day or having feelings of being down.
During this season of hustle and bustle we should stop and take a moment to remember the real reason for the season. We should stop and smell the roses or this time of year the evergreen scent, eat a Christmas cookie, have a cup of hot chocolate or holiday favored coffee and think about what Christmas does mean. A few years ago I penned the poem at the end of this blog. It gives all something to think about during this season of good will and good cheer.
As I enjoy all my activities during this season, I am grateful for what I have in life; it may be as much as some, but possible more than others have. So until next time…..i wish each of you a blessed holiday season…Merry Christmas….Happy New Year; and don’t forget to hang your stocking for Santa to fill and leave him milk and cookies as well as carrot sticks for the reindeer.
A FEW SHORT WEEKS….ONCE A YEAR
What is Christmas?
A most wonderful time of the year!
Christmas is more than
The sights we see,
Sounds we hear
And activities we do
For a few short weeks
Once a year
It is more than
Tinsel lit evergreen trees
Holly wreaths and mistletoe
Decking the halls
And candles aglow
In the window panes
Christmas is more than
Cookies we bake,
The feast prepared for the day,
Stocking hung by the fireplace,
The jingle of bells
And carols we sing
It is more than
Gifts given or received,
Greeting cards we send
And the hustle
And bustle
Of crowds at the mall
What is Christmas?
A time to reflect
Why…..we celebrate the season
A joyous time to share with family and friends
Christmas is a feeling of love
Within our hearts
If only….a few short weeks
Once a year
Friday, September 26, 2014
HOLIDAYS FAST APPROACHING
The other day I noticed a posting as I read my news feed on Facebook. Someone posted that as of that day there is only three months till Christmas. OMG I thought to myself. Three months till Christmas.
It seemed like the year just sped by so quickly. Where has the time gone? Only three months till Christmas. I first need to get through Halloween, Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving.
As someone who enjoys the Christmas season, I have already ordered and received some of my Ms. Santa give-a-ways. This year I decided to order prior to November to ensure I have all I will need. At the moment the items sit in a box waiting to be put into a little bag with a cute message card about the holiday. I have time after all it is only September; but first I need to think about Halloween. I wonder how many mini Kit Kat bars and mini boxes of Milk Duds I should purchase as give-a-ways at parties as well as how many funny cards and book markers I should make.
My mind then jumps to Veteran’s Day. As a veteran, I have a few patriotic items I will be passing out (as long as my supply holds out) to those who proudly served our country.
Thanksgiving is the easiest of the holidays before Christmas. It is just having a wonderful turkey dinner and zoning out in front of the television watching football.
Three months till Christmas and I am already in a turmoil. I need to schedule my yearly visits to the veteran’s and fraternal organizations of which I am a dues paying member. My mind whirls with thoughts of what the Florida
As I think about it being late September, I realize hey I have October and November to get prepared for the Christmas season. Today my plans are Halloween (almost a month away); I plan to make a few funny cards, create a few Halloween book markers and think about my costume.
Until next time……Halloween is almost a month away; Veteran’s Day will arrive few weeks after, Thanksgiving the end of November and then Christmas. Where has the year gone?
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Pins and Diapers
My husband and I received great news a few months ago; we will be grandparents again come the end of October. We found out the baby will be a girl. We are nicknaming her Fiona (of course her parents will name her what they want). Since we will be visiting the family in August, the expectant mother is going to have a baby shower during our visit.
I found the cutest ‘thank-you’ for the baby shower gift on one of the baby shower web sites. I decided to make bookmarkers out of the little poem fo be given out at the shower. I had an idea I would attach a little charm to the bookmarker with a diaper pin. What I found was I could not do so.
It seems that like the dinosaur, the diaper pin, is also extinct. I searched stores in two counties trying to find them but none seem to carry them. In fact I did not even see cloth diapers. Perhaps I did not look hard enough for the diapers, but I must say I looked for the pins. In fact my husband also searched the stores for pins and he too came up empty handed. No doubt I could probably get them from some site on the internet but wanted to buy them in person.
I remember years ago baby sitting and having to secure diapers with those cute little pins that had a blue duck, pink duck, green or yellow duck on them. I knew those things could also be painful if the pin became unattached and stuck the baby. I was always careful to make sure the pin was closed securely before I would put the rubber pants over the diaper. Memories of long ago which I am sure parents today call the ‘stone age’.
As I looked for the last time at one of the stores for the diaper pins, I ran into a woman of thirty-something. She said she had diaper pins at home and I told her to hang onto them as they may become collector’s items.
As I shopped for baby shower items I thought about how no one even knits booties these days. Well a week ago, my husband found a pair of knitted booties on a white elephant table at a veterans club where we frequent. Of course we had to buy them; reason number one they were green and the new granddaughter could wear them for St. Patty’s day and reason number two the money we paid would be used for charity.
It appears we live in a disposal world anymore. Diapers are not the only items that are disposable. We throw away razors. I recall my husband having to put a new blade into one when the old got dull. I recall purchasing refills for pens instead of throwing one away once the ink went dry. I do try to recycle as much as possible and purchase ‘earth friendly’ items. The pens I currently am using were made from recycled materials. . Madonna sang a song about living in a material world….well we are living in a disposal world and unfortunately like everyone else I am a disposable individual.
Until next time, if you have any of those old fashion diaper pins lying around…keep them…they may be worth a dime or two.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
FOURTH OF JULY
It seems we just celebrated Memorial Day and now July 4th is upon us. We celebrate the birth of our nation born on July 4, 1776; it is now two hundred thirty eight years later.
This year Independence Day falls on a Friday giving us a three day weekend. Some will take a mini-vacation to enjoy the holiday. Parades will be held; many will enjoy a picnic or cook-out. Fireworks will light up the night sky in brilliant colors. We will “ooh and aah” at the sights of the rockets red glaring.
I always considered Memorial Day the beginning of the summer season; in my mind that would make July 4th the middle of the summer although technically summer only just began a few weeks prior.
I reflect on what Independence Day means to me; our forefathers molding a nation with freedom and justice for one and all. Also I think about those who are serving our nation and fighting for freedom in foreign countries. They can not be among their family and friends to celebrate the birthday of the U.S.A.
On July 4th I will don a patriotic hat I created a few years ago; wear the colors of the day, red, white and blue. As long as my supply holds out, I will pass out patriotic pins to all I meet.
Until next time….Happy Independence Day to one and all. Celebrate the freedom our forefathers fought and died to provide for us. Proudly display your flag; wear the colors of the day and enjoy watching the fireworks.
WE CELEBRATE OUR NATION’S BIRTH
(For Independence Day July 4, 2014)
©Scottie-ann Murphy
Two hundred thirty eight years ago on July 4, 1776
A nation had been born…The Unites States of American
Our forefathers bravely fought for our rights to be free
But freedom comes with a price….shedding of blood….loss of lives
We celebrate the day with parades, picnics and cook-outs
The flag flies proudly….fluttering in the summer breeze
Red, white and blue the colors of the day…worn by one and all
Fireworks explode lighting the night sky in blazing hues
Together we stand united as one through triumph and sorrow
Defiantly facing our adversaries who challenge our beliefs
Celebrating our freedom, we remember those who molded our nation
And those who are still fighting for freedom, liberty, justice and unity
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Memorial Day 2014
Memorial Day weekend will be upon us in a few days. I have always considered this the beginning of summer for some reason. As I think about it, possibly it could be that the color white is acceptable to be worn after Memorial Day. Memorial Day of course for some means a three day holiday weekend. It is the first mini-trip of the season, the first backyard cookout and picnic in the park. Children may see it as the holiday held right before the school season ends for the year.
Memorial Day weekend holds a special meaning for me. As a veteran, it is attending services honoring the men and women who gave their all so we could enjoy the freedoms we have today. Each year I attend a Memorial Day service held by a veteran’s organization. Years ago I had participated by reading a piece I had written for the day. Lately, I pass out the piece I composed for the current Memorial Day on a bookmarker to those attending the services. This year will be no exception for along with the bookmarker I will give away American flag pins (as long as my supply holds out).
I take a few moments each day of the three day weekend and do my own personal tribute to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice as well as remembering those who have returned after serving with pride and have passed on. I read one of my poems from years past, say a silent thank-you and drink a toast to their memory.
Please take a few moments out of the weekend to remember those who have died for our freedom. Attend a service in your community, fly your flag proudly, purchase a poppy from the local veteran’s organization and remember that freedom is not free….it comes with a price.
MEMORIAL DAY 2014 TRIBUTE
©Scottie-ann Murphy
Today we pay tribute to the brave sons and daughters of America
They answered the call to Uncle Sam to help defend our nation
Going off to war to fight for the cause of liberty and freedom
Upon foreign soils they made the ultimate sacrifice
The shedding of their blood….the giving of their lives
We should never forget that they did not search for glory
But for peace….to live free of tyranny and oppression
They served with pride….fought with valor and died heroically
We honor their memory with a silent prayer of thanks…..
The lowering of the flag to half-mast….firing of a twenty-one gun volley
And listen to the haunting melody as the bugler sounds “Taps”
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