The story of an old TV

Hollywood couldn't have written a more heartwarming script!

Last month I finally bought an HD TV. I thought I was the only one in the Universe that didn't have an HD TV.

I was with my good friends, Harold and Juanita, one evening and told them I bought the new HD TV and it would be installed within a few days. "What are you going to do with your old TV?" they asked.

"Oh, THAT thing? I'll just put it out for the garbage to haul off. It's old and there isn't a market for that kind of thing anymore."

Turns out they were looking for a used TV to put in their basement to connect Wii for their grandchildren when they came over.

I was thrilled to find a good home for an old relic and they were pleased to get a TV for the grandchildren to enjoy their Wii.

The day they came to my home to pick up the TV, they told me they didn't have an HD TV. "WHAT? Then let me show you what HD TV is all about!"

They were sold! Now they have an HD TV!

But wait! There is more to the story.

Their son-in-law took their old TV and put it in their basement for the children to have a place to enjoy Wii at home. The kids think Santa brought the two new Wii connections.

"See how much joy you spread!" Jaunita said to me in an e-mail.

Now who would ever imagine that an old, big, heavy TV could be the beginning of so much Christmas joy for three small children?

Comfort

The dictionary defines the word “comfort” as “to soothe, console, or reassure, to bring cheer to.” Being comfortable is important every day of our lives. But I think during the bleak winter, comfort is even more important.

What brings me comfort? First, and foremost, is my home. My home is my refuge from all the unpleasantness in the world, globally, nationally, and in my everyday life. Then there are the little things that I value. My flannel lined jeans. My morning coffee. A good book to read. One of my favorite winter things to do is going through my cookbooks to find a new recipe to try. It brings me joy and comfort to invite friends over for dinner and serve them a special meal I prepared.

My Labrador Retriever, Molly, is a tremendous sense of comfort. When I return home she is always glad to see me, with her tail wagging and that look of excitement in her eyes. She loves sitting in my lap licking my face, even when I don’t want her to do that.

And then there is my Bible. It is a source of strength and comfort when things just seem to get out of control.

Merry Christmas!

To all my readers, Merry Christmas! May the peace and joy of Christmas be with you now and all through the year.

I am very grateful for those who follow my blog both near and far. When you create a blog, you just never know who is reading it! It is not uncommon for someone to comment on something in my life and I will ask, "How did you know about that?"

Animal House, the movie

Anyone over 35 can remember the 1978 sleeper hit of the year, Animal House, the bold (for it's time!) story of two college fraternities, the Deltas - the party animals, and the Omegas - the goody-two-shoes crowd.






Babs as she looks today

Last night on the Biography Channel, I watched "Animal House, the Inside Story". It brought back a flood of memories of watching this movie over the years. I remember walking out of the theater, the first time I saw it back in 1978. Everyone leaving the theater was laughing hysterically. . . everyone! Those standing in line to see the movie watched those leaving in total wonder, as if they were thinking, "This must be SOME movie!"

Animal House can best be described as where excess meets insanity. It was racist and anti-semetic. It was raunchy and rowdy. But who can refrain from laughing at the infamous food fight or the Toga Party. . . "Toga!. . . Toga!" The Hollywood bosses of the time wanted nothing to do with this script. The producers had great difficulty finding a typical northeastern college campus to shoot the movie, which almost derailed the project. NO ONE wanted their school in this film. They finally settled on the University of Oregon for the filming. The Delta House fraternity building was torn down years ago and an office building now stands on the site.

The writers were total amateurs, the Director, a high school drop out. It was filmed in just 30 days.



I think everyone agrees, the reason for the tremendous popularity of this movie is the characters in the movie remind us all of real people in our young adult years.

Thanks for letting me share memories with you of a movie that will be around for generations!

Quote for the Day

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a dog licking your face.

My home in winter

As I pulled out of my driveway this morning on my way to work, this is what I saw! Yes, winter and snow can be a real nuisance. But I had to admit, this made a pretty scene with everything covered in snow.

Not a nice day to be on the road

From my desk at work, I overlook a stretch of I-390. At times today, it has been a parking lot. Earlier today, I was in a meeting over at the Medical Center. I took the shuttle bus that goes between Corporate Woods (an office building where I work) and the main campus of the Medical Center. I had no desire to drive my car, given the blowing snow and slick roads. One person, trying to get to our meeting, called in and said, "I'm on that parking lot known as Elmwood Avenue moving at a crawl!"

Two major roads today have been closed due to numerous accidents. Now I am looking at the southbound lane of 390 and it is almost at a standstill.

Welcome to winter in New York State!

Post Script! I made it home safely. Just as I got inside my warm home, I realized I haven't opened my mailbox in two days! It's out by the road, a long walk in this kind of weather!!!

What I'm reading now

Decision Points, by George W. Bush, is a good read. The book candidly focuses on the major decisions he has made throughout his life, both personally and professionally. I think those who are quick to find fault with him will find many of their feelings unfounded. You can't believe everything you hear in the liberal press!

Button up and hold onto your hat!

Whoa! If the weather forecasters are correct, this part of the country is in for a real pounding beginning Sunday. Thank goodness I have my snowblower back from the shop.

When the wind passes over the Great Lakes, the warm air from the water mixes with the wind and you end up with snow. The Great Lakes haven't frozen over yet.

Rochester had over a foot of snow over several days this week. Now we are in the calm before the storm!

Saturday will be my day to do errands. One of those errands will be to fill the gas can that I use to power the snowblower! Sunday will be a day to stay inside, read a good book and be thankful for a warm home!

A nice thought

This was on the front of a Christmas card I received yesterday. I wanted to share it with you:

May your walls know joy,
may every room hold laughter,
and every window open to great possibility.

Winter Wonderland

This was snapped from my front door just a few moments ago! Yes, it's beautiful, but how long before Spring???

How often does this happen???

Early this morning, as I was waiting for my coffee to brew, I checked my e-mails. There was an e-mail from Ginger, long time friend, from last night, with the subject line, "Guess what?" (I'm thinking, "Ginger, it's too early in the morning for guessing games!")

"Guess who I met today!" her note began. "Marisa"

Marisa, my daughter-in-law, was at a craft fair selling her own line of products, check out her website: http://www.scrubsandsoaks.com/

Along came Ginger and recognized the name. They struck up a conversation like two old friends, although they had never met. But both of them had heard me talk about each of them to the other!

Now, it's rare that I laugh uncontrollably before I have had my first cup of coffee in the morning. But this morning was an exception!

This was supposed to be rain!

We were supposed to get heavy rain today as part of that east coast storm creating havoc along the Atlantic coast. . .