Tips For Fighting Common Fears...

1. Checking….and checking….and checking.

One day you notice an odd shaped mole on your leg for the first time and you think to yourself “I should get that checked in case it’s cancerous” and you make a mental note to book an appointment with your doctor. That is a sensible reaction. But what if you check it again an hour later and then an hour after that and then an hour after that? Every time you check that mole your brain registers that nothing has changed and therefore it must be all the checking that is keeping the potential cancer at bay. You need to retrain your brain by gradually cutting down your checking of anything – did you lock the door, did you switch the oven off, did you send that important email and so on. When you feel the urge yet again to check your “sent” folder, get up and do something else instead. At first, you may find it difficult but after a few days you will find you have less of a desire to “just make sure” so regularly. What will then happen in your brain is that the action of checking will no longer be connected to the positive result.

CONFIRM ONCE AND THEN MOVE ON………….

2. Putting things off .

Guess what? Procrastination is just another form of worrying. When you procrastinate, you put off doing things you don’t feel totally comfortable doing or are anxious about, instead of getting on with them. For example, you have overspent on your debit card but you are scared to check your bank balance; you put off looking until the very last minute and then get charged because you have gone over your overdraft. No one can blame you for not wanting to face a big overdraft but ignoring important issues just makes your anxiety worse. You need to ask yourself what the cost and benefit will be of facing what you dread now. It may be that you get some bad news but at least you will know what you are dealing with sooner rather than later, when the situation may be harder to change.

Another way to avoid procrastination is to tackle the things you hate to do first thing in the morning therefore leaving an entire worry-free day ahead of you!FACING YOUR FEARS HEAD-ON ALLOWS YOU TO STOP WORRYING…

3. Practice, practice and more practice .

Being well prepared is a good way to gain confidence before entering into any stressful situation. However, there is such a thing as trying to be too perfect. For example, if you hate speaking in public you rehearse your speech for hours. The good news is that your speech goes really well but the bad news is that you feel mentally drained afterwards! The point I am making here is that you could have been just as prepared after 3 hours practice instead of spending 10 hours practising. With those extra 7 hours you could have done something else which was a lot more relaxing.

To prevent yourself from overdoing it, set a limit from the beginning on how much time you are going to spend on a particular project. If you still feel the need to prepare more after your time limit, remind yourself of the work you have already done. Then, when you experience success without a huge investment of time you will begin to trust yourself and your strengths more.

LISTEN FOR, AND TRUST, THE INTERNAL CLUES THAT TELL YOU YOU HAVE PREPARED ENOUGH…..

4. Think it over….and over…..and over….

Ruminating or mulling over a problem or decision over and over again is something that women in particular are very good at (sorry ladies!). When you ruminate about something it is because there is some reality you just can’t swallow. For example, you hit if off with someone you’ve recently met and arrange to meet again but they never ring. Why not? You sit there going through all these different scenarios as to why they never rang, searching for a clear answer.

People who regularly ruminate believe that if they keep thinking things through, it will all eventually make sense. The reality is some things never make sense!! It is important to recognise and remind yourself that there is a limit to what you are able to know and understand or control.

I know people that say to me “I am a born worrier and will never change”. Believe me, if you genuinely want to stop spending your life worrying about everything, try out some of the advice in this post and I think you will see a difference!

Reiki Healing Spain says: There are people in this world who want to spend their lives worrying about everything... that is their choice so you need to respect it and let them get on with it…. after all WHY WORRY ABOUT IT?

Now what do you say to some fresh coffee ?

Gonna Be A Slow Start Day...

Sorry folks...but I'm gonna be a little late with everything today. I am running about a day behind schedule, so I'll have to play a little catch-up. I'll come back later on with something resembling an update, but until then...have a cup of coffee and enjoy a small dose of Willie Nelson. See ya in a bit, OK?

Hermit's Tips For Fighting Fear...

Most of us have experienced each of the fears mentioned yesterday, or have seen other people experience them. They can have a dramatic effect on individuals and the world in which we live…

Take some time to think about yourself and your life…what aspects are you unhappy with and would like to change? What fears lie behind these aspects? It is not always easy to identify fears as they can be subtle, persuasive or addictive silently directing your behaviour. Recognising them and their influence can be complex and may involve taking a long, hard look at your life.

Fear encourages us to stay stuck in one place and not to embrace change. The more you dislike or avoid change the greater your underlying fears. If the unexpected disturbs you, then fear is holding you in its grip.

For most of us overcoming our fears (of whatever) takes time and we also need a real desire to put the fear to rest.

The following sayings are ones that I have found useful... if any sound good to you, put them where you can refer to them regularly and keep repeating them to yourself.

Pushing through fear is less frightening than living with the underlying fear that comes from a feeling of helplessness.

Ships in harbour are safe but that is not what ships are for.

Security is not having things, it’s handling things.

Whenever you feel “I am afraid”, replace it with “ I am excited”.

Replace “I am vulnerable” with “I am protected”.

Meditate to help release your fears.

Here is a simple meditation which you can do to help release any fears you may have. Start by deciding which fear is the one you would most like to get rid of now…there is no need to rush the meditation, just go forward at your own most comfortable pace.

• Focus on the specific fear.

• Breathe slowly in and out, visualising your breath washing the fear until it is totally transparent.

• When you have done this, see the fear in your mind’s eye burst into flames and burn itself out.

• As it is burning, feel peaceful energy flow out of your heart and into the rest of your body, your mind and your daily life.

• As you practice, you will feel a weight being lifted from your shoulders and your fear will lose its sting.

• As you become aware of this, breathe slowly and see yourself covered in a halo of flames which cannot hurt you but which are just burning away all obstructions.

Reiki Healing Spain says: Remember, when you worry about things or are scared of something happening, you create negative energy and according to the spiritual law of attraction you will end up attracting the things you don’t want into your life…

Now...I think it is positively time to go get some fresh coffee. Want to join me?

Hermit's Thoughts On Fear...

There is an ancient Tibetan spiritual and religious discipline called Bon whose belief is that the way we think affects everything we do. They believe that to become emotionally and spiritually rich we need to learn how to think skilfully. They also believe that by understanding and transforming our thoughts it is the key to overcoming one of the biggest obstacles in our lives which is fear.

According to Bon there are 12 types of fear that dominate our lives. We may feel one, several or most of these fears and they can become part of our emotional reality from very early on. Yet we are all capable of living without fear, we just need to be careful with our thoughts and start to examine how we live our lives.

The 12 types of fear are divided into two categories... fears within our minds and fears that come about in the material world that we all experience. It can be difficult to separate one from the other as the two groups often overlap. With self-examination and careful thinking you can recognise your own particular fears and discover the extent to which each of them exists within you.

Fears of the mind

These can bring us confusion, pain and stop us from changing the way we think, feel and act.

1. Fear of being yourself .

All the following 11 fears originate from this one. The experience of truly knowing yourself is scary for some people... it is life-changing. By acknowledging and understanding this fear we heal all the others.

2. Fear of other people .

Most of us have experience being scared of another person at some point in our lives. Let’s face it, a lot of the violence, terrorism and evil in this world is as a result of countries and religions being scared of other countries and religions! When we are no longer afraid of others we gain love of ourselves and a love of all living creatures.

3. Fear of power & control .

All power and control which is not motivated by the best of intentions will always be artificial and this will be a burden to those who use it. Even power and control over yourself will hold you back if you don’t share it with others through lack of kindness and generosity.

4. Fear of love .

A lot of people are scared of falling in love, especially if they have had a previous bad experience. There are also people who long to be in love, yet are worried that they will be rejected once the other person discovers their shortcomings. It’s when you find the courage to love fully that you are participating in life completely.

5. Fear of loneliness.

If you are afraid of being on your own it means you have not yet discovered the joy of your own company. To be happy and content around other people you need to be happy and content with yourself first.

6. Fear of fear itself.

For some people their greatest fear is fear itself ! To avoid it they become isolated and lonely and hold back from taking part in life. The Tibetan Bon tradition states this fear of fear is not prompted by any outside factor even if you feel it is.

7. Fear of death & dying.

Life is fragile and we all know that nothing lives forever. What we need to change however is our perception that death is a bad thing.

Fears of the material world .

These are the fears that stop us from living successfully and harmoniously in our daily lives.

8. Fear of success & failure.

Some people are scared of success because not only have their dreams come true but they now have to take responsibility for their success. It is exactly the same for failure...when we fail we have to accept and take responsibility for the loss of our dreams. Some people never allow themselves to succeed or fail so great is their fear of both. The only way to overcome this fear is to try and understand why you need and deserve either your success or your failure. From this understanding comes serenity which is far more valuable than either success or failure.

9. Fear of poverty & wealth .

The desire to have a lot of money comes from feeling unsafe in the world, while the fear of poverty comes from feeling in constant danger. Both situations can create anger, for they come from the desire to control the material world. However, it is virtually impossible to change the material world when you are in a state of fear. To heal either fear it is important to understand what you have in the world and why and to learn how to use it skilfully. Poverty can be overcome but if your fear of poverty is driving you to make money, it will ultimately cause harm to your personality.

10. Fear of the future & what it will bring.

Most of us have moments when we are afraid of what the future may bring. This comes from dissatisfaction and the inability to be content with what we have emotionally and spiritually. We have this fear when we are not fully aware of the value of life that we have now. We need to take time to consider our current life or situation and accept it with all the good and bad aspects. The emotional and spiritual value in our present life is the catalyst for our connection to serenity and once we have this connection the future is nothing to be afraid of.

11. Fear of achievement & self esteem .

This fear comes about when we come to believe that achievement and a sense of self esteem are the same thing. People believe that if they achieve more they will raise their self-esteem but at the same time they fear achievement feeling they can’t manage it or cope with it because their self esteem is low. The trick is not to get caught up in this vicious circle. Self esteem is the benefit that you or others will gain from this achievement.

12. Fear of war & illness.

Throughout history there has always been war, but today the fear of war is more prevalent than it has ever been. This is mainly because TV, radio, newspapers etc. are able to bring war into our homes. Years ago this was not the case.

Notes from Holistic Therapies Spain ; The fear of illness is also on the increase as again we are made aware of the many threats of disease that exist. It's true that in the past people lived shorter lives, but they had fewer fears of illness or war because they were not forced to confront them on a daily basis via the media.

Tomorrow I'll tell you a few ways to help overcome some of these fears. But for now, I say that we should have a fresh cup of coffee, OK?

The Family Of Huggable People...

My Mom and Baby Sis are off to Georgetown, Texas this weekend for a family reunion. Actually, I should say THE Reunion. As far back as I can remember, that's how we always referred to it...THE Reunion! They are meeting Big Sis who is already there from North Carolina. Relatives come from all over to get together for this big family get-together. I am not going for several reasons, but I will be there in spirit .

Georgetown has been the home of The Reunion as long as I can recall and I remember it very fondly, but the town I remember is not the same today as the town I see in my memories. That is one of the reasons I won't be there.

Gone are the old wagon crossings that made great swimming holes and fishing spots, covered with a man made lake. Gone is the glorious spot by the dam in the city park where many a child learned to swim , where couples held hands as they walked carefully across the water swept stones and where countless hours were spent by the young and the young at heart in the wonderful art of fishing for fishing's sake. All done in by the careless acts of land grabbers and profit seekers that somehow are allowed to poison both the environment of today and the memories of yesterday .

Unless action is taken soon, all the small towns across our once great and beautiful country will suffer the same fate. The remaining grass in the parks where picnics used be held by families on Sunday and reunion memories were started and shared by generations will instead be landscaped by signs that read "No Walking On The Grass" and the park benches that used to be for the use of old men and young couples will be empty because of the signs that read " No Loitering" and the drugstore counter where you could sit for a couple of hours and talk will have been replaced by coffee shops with no redeeming character, signs hanging on the wall that say "Seating Limited To One Hour".

For now, I'll be content remembering all the cousins and aunts and uncles the way they have always been...huggable. I'm fortunate that most all my relatives are huggable and that for me, makes for a lot of good memories. I've never been to a family function of any kind where hugs were not a part of the whole process. Hugs are a natural human reaction to other people. Happy hugs, comforting hugs, friendly hugs, loving hugs, hugs from children and, of course, virtual hugs from all our virtual friends!

So let's all do our share to make today a better day by sharing a smile, holding somebody's hand and let's all give each other a big hug! Now...how about a fresh cup of coffee ?

Well...It's Saturday Again !!!

Saturday is here again and since I didn't put the cartoons on last weekend, I thought we would include them on this weeks Saturday post. However before we get into that I want to point out a couple of things to you, OK?

The first thing I wanted to show you is the "Then and Now" pictures of C.B.(cry-baby). He is, of course, one of the Roomies. As you can readily see, they have grown quite a lot. C.B. is the smallest of the two but take my word for it...they are both a LOT bigger than they used to be. They both eat like horses, but I have been assured that they are indeed cats!

Secondly, the blogs that you see on the left side of this page are both entertaining and informative. You can learn a lot by visiting them and you might just have some fun while reading as well.

Now the Roomies have requested Tom and Jerry as today's fun offering, so in order to keep the peace around the homestead that's what we have. I hope you enjoy it and remember...it takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown! So like my good friend and fellow blogger Meltcat says " Keep smiling!" After the cartoon, we'll all go out to the patio and share a cup of coffee, OK? OK !

The Hermit Says...Why Worry ?

Most of us get the occasional stomach-churning bout of worry, but just because we all get butterflies doesn’t mean worrying is a healthy habit... it isn’t! When you worry, you are living in a future world that may not ever happen. Also, just because you don’t know a future outcome it doesn’t mean it’s going to be negative.

Worry can motivate you to do things like warning your children not to talk to strangers or double-checking directions to get somewhere. Now these reactions are pretty normal. Worry only becomes ineffective when, for example, you are still contemplating getting lost even though you have mapped out your route and printed out the directions. In other words, you have taken steps to insure a positive outcome yet you still spend time and energy on expecting a negative result.

There are ways to reduce how much you worry about things. It takes practice but what it boils down to is changing how you think about the world and really believing that tomorrow is going to bring something great, not something awful.

Here are a few of the most common ways in which we worry along with simple advice to help put worry behind you.

1. Seeking constant reassurance

There is no harm in getting a second opinion about something, but asking for it repeatedly is not useful. That's because it’s easy to second-guess any answer you get, especially if you doubt yourself to begin with. For example, you are worried that your partner no longer finds you attractive so you ask them. They reply (hopefully!!) “Of course I find you attractive” but you’re not convinced, so you ask them again…and again…and again…

No reply they give provides you with the absolute certainty you need.What you need to do is stop and ask yourself why you are not taking the answer at face value. Are you hoping to validate your fears? At the end of the day the answer you've been given is the only one you are going to get, so accept it and then take steps that will help you believe in yourself... without having to rely on feedback from others.

ACCEPT WHAT YOU CAN’T CONTROL, AND WORK ON WHAT YOU CAN…..

2. Ignoring your worries

Maybe you fear losing your partner. When the thought pops up, you put it right out of your mind. By not allowing yourself to think about this fear for even a second you think you are not worrying about it. In reality what you are actually doing is reinforcing your fear by not facing it….

Instead try repeating to yourself “It is always possible that I may lose my partner”! Your anxiety levels will shoot up at first but, after a few minutes, you will calm down as the thought loses its power. By doing this you will discover that just because you are thinking about the worst-case scenario it doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen.

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEARS AND YOU WILL REDUCE THEIR POWER….

3. Arming yourself with irrelevant information

It’s a good idea to gather as much information as you can about something that is bothering you, but the value of it depends on the type of information you have collected. For example, if you are worried about flying and Google “plane crashes” you will find lots of information about terrible accidents. But what if you looked for “safe plane landings” instead? It is called Confirmation Bias... wanting to prove your fear is real and then finding information that confirms it. You need to ask yourself “Am I collecting useful information or am I just confirming my fear?”

Holistic Therapies Spain says: WEIGH UP THE VALUE OF YOUR SOURCES AND ALWAYS THINK ABOUT BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY….

Now how about a nice cup of coffee...? It's fresh, don't worry !!

Hermit And The Hurricane Update...

I wanted to take this chance to give everyone an update on the little storm that is hanging around the Texas coast right now. Here in Houston we missed most of the heavy wind but did manage to get a little rain out of the deal. I understand that we may get some more rain off and on for the next two days or so.

The area around the Corpus Christi and Brownsville area caught the major blow of the storm. The power was still out the last I heard, so we need to keep positive thoughts for all the folks living in that area, OK? The power went off at the Hermit's house for just a short time...but came on again before long. Then all I had to do was to reset the television, reset the cable controls, run several checks and reboots on my PC.

The Roomies decided that they did NOT like playing in the hard rain...although they did think that it was fun to play on the patio when it was just sprinkling outside. I had left the door cracked so that they could go in and out at their own pace...and then the yard guys came! A cute picture, two little Siamese kittens (?) sitting proud and unafraid on the patio just watching all the new people moving around. They felt safe enough, after all, it was their patio! Then the mowers fired up! So much for proud and unafraid! I was sitting here at my desk, working on the computer while everything was quiet. Then all of the sudden...POW! I'm wearing two cats as a vest over my t-shirt, and my vest was hanging on with razor sharp and needle pointed claws while hugging their adopted Daddy for comfort!

After the yard guys were gone, two little Siamese heads peered out the storm door to make sure the coast was clear. Then with small furry chest puffed out, the once again proud and unafraid Kitties from the Dark Regions were back outside, continuing with their game of knocking over all the potted plants and eating the flowers off the bushes.

I have to admit I like the attitude these two Roomies have about a storm. Every leave that gets blown into the yard is nothing more than just a free toy to be enjoyed. Playing chase on wet patio stones is really fun until someone slips and falls, and then it's nice to have a playmate run over to check on you and make sure all is well...just before he bites you right on the butt. Soft rain is a lot of fun to play in and is good to drink, even out of dirty plant saucers.But hard wind and sudden rain is a good reason to haul ass back into the house and become firmly attached to Daddy's chest, while waiting for the hug you know is coming.

In short, the kitties and I both feel that storms aren't too bad as long as you have someone to play with... a warm, dry spot to go when you need to get out of the rain...and a good friend to hug when comfort is needed.

It doesn't hurt to share a cup of coffee or two either, so...want to join me?

Computer Safety For The Summer...

#1 – Summer Vacation Travel

Holiday travelers should be on alert when arriving home from long weekends, such as the Fourth of July, a popular time for computer viruses to spread. Most computer users have a tendency to turn off their computers when away on trips, which means you’re not getting newly-released anti-virus patches or anti-spyware updates; the two most common areas that cause computers problems.

Before opening e-mail or going online after an extended absence, I recommend you update anti-virus and anti-spyware scans . There seems to consistently be an increase in virus related problems immediately following long weekends. Avoid the problems altogether by updating your security software before using your computer. A really good place to go for a free listing of viruses, spyware threats and trends, visit: www.VisitingGeeks.com/downloads.htm

#2 -- Should You Leave Your Computer Running?

One question people ask a lot is, "Should I leave my desktop computer on or turn it off?"
There are 2 schools of thought on this...Turning it on and off numerous times during the day subjects the microcircuits to flexing and fatigue due to change in temperatures. Over time this could lead to a break in the circuitry and result in system failure. However, leaving the computer on all the time puts excess wear on the mechanical components (the hard drive spindle motor and cooling fans). A good compromise is to leave the computer on if you are close or if you may be coming back to it before too long. Overnight, turn it off and let it rest.

I leave my desktop on all through the day allowing for scheduled utility tasks to run during less busy hours. I also restart the systems (to flush the RAM and reset the operating system) on a regular basis and ever so often use compressed air to clean out any dust that may have accumulated, especially around the fans and screens.

#3 -- Stop Pop ups!

Never click inside the window of a pop up. Instead, close it by clicking on the X in the upper right corner. Many people are fooled into installing spyware applications by pop ups that promise to clean their computer system. If you receive a message saying it can help, assume it’s spyware and don’t click!

These three tips may sound simple, but they are the easiest way to assure that your computer stays safe and fairly clean during the Summer months or after a long break.

Now...how about I buy you all a fresh cup of coffee...OK?

Monday Update On Tuesday...

Sorry for not getting an update out yesterday, but better late than never I guess! But I do have some good news for those of you who are still interested in making some extra money from home and finding a good place to advertise your opportunities at the same time.

I just joined ETXADS, owned by the SFIpay folks. This site is a sister site with and identical to DRW with the exception of earning 150% per Ad Pack Purchase (rather than 200%). This means your Ad Packs mature a little sooner. But also the "profit sharing" portion seems to be a little faster. They accept AlertPay, e-gold, PayPal and SFIPay. You can get started for as little as $5.00

10DW continues to be a paying and profit-making program that is very high on my list. I am so glad that this little gem continues to grow as it is certainly my favorite profit maker.

DRW is another program that just keeps on paying and paying, but if you aren't good at getting referrals it will just take a little longer to make your profit. You will, however, still make a fairly good profit faster than you think.

My best paying program without a doubt is the Private Program I am a member of. I have been paid once already and immediately put it right back in. I now have three different plans running and am a very happy camper indeed. I can't tell you about it here, as it is private. However if you want more information just send me an email and I will be more than happy to tell you about it.

Well, that's all I'm going to talk about today...unless I think of something else earthshaking. Now what do you say to a fresh cup of coffee?

A Garden For Good Daily Living...

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING...

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:

1. Peas of mind
2. Peas of heart
3. Peas of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:

1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE.

THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.- Unknown

I thought this would help to get everyone's day off to a good start. I found it at this great site for interesting sayings. You might want to take a look.

I'll be back later with a program update after I get back from the V.A., OK? OK ! In the mean time, let's have another cup of coffee.

Just Who The Heck Are "They" ...?

I have a question for you...who the heck are "They" anyway? I mean, I know that you have all heard the expression at least a hundred time that goes " Well, you know what They say..." or " That's what They tell me...". But who are "They"? How did this unknown group get so much control and what kind of influence are "They" inflicting on us?

Do we really care what "They" say? Should we continue to do what "They" tell us? What will happen if "They" find out that we are not going to follow their instructions any more? Do we really think that "They" will find out what we are doing, whatever it is?

Are "They" even real or are "They" just another reason we have created to get out of doing something or as an excuse to use for doing something because "They" expect it? In my opinion, it's time for you and I to start blazing our own trail and time to stop following the path "They" have marked for us.

So let's stop voting for the politicians "They" want in office, stop fighting the wars that "They" say are necessary, stop the practise of not telling it like it is just because "They" say it's not politically correct to do so.

I don't know about you, but I feel that we should start marching to the beat of our own drums. It's time to start following our own inner voice, start telling the truth to ourselves and to others, make our own decisions and live with the consequences, to start developing the values that we want to pass down, and to finally start using our own common sense instead of blindly listening to someone else!

Let's start being leaders instead of followers, teachers as well as students, positive influences instead of negative examples, seekers of the answers instead of just askers of the questions. It's time to break away from whoever or whatever "They" are, and I say if "They" don't like it...then "They" can go to the Devil!

Now, what do you say to a fresh cup of coffee...?

Has It Really Been 45 Years...?

Well, I got it in the mail today! The invitation to my 45th class reunion. That's right, dear readers, the hermit graduated high school in 1963 and it was a long, long time ago! I found this old picture of myself taken just before graduation and I can't even believe it myself.

I hadn't even thought about growing a beard back then, and can't imagine being without one now! Man...how innocent and naive I was back then. The world seemed so simple and life was good. The future looked so promising and we all thought we would live forever!

Fast forward to 2008. It's 45 years later, some of the innocence is lost, and we found out that the world isn't so simple. We also found out the hard way that we were not going to live forever...not even close.

Out of all the people that I graduated with...about 110 or so, the reunion committee could only not locate 5 of us. That's pretty good after all these years, I believe. I think that one of the ladies that sent out the letter and the invitations said it best. She said " We have lost 5 students and 40 have passed away-totaling 45- the same number as the reunion we are celebrating."

This is "The Class of 63 Reunion" and most of us are 63! It's the "45th Reunion" and most of us were born in 45!

You know what, my friends? All of the sudden, I feel the need for some good strong coffee. And I think I'll take a shot of whisky in mine...want to join me?

Let's Talk Coffee With The Hermit...

Being a coffee and caffeine addict, as many people (including the Hermit) claim themselves to be, often involves drinking many types of coffee products, such as espresso, cappuccino, regular coffee, as well as many other forms of the drink itself. However, one aspect of coffee that many people mistakenly get wrong is the fact that they think espresso and cappuccino are the same exact drink when in fact they are not. Even though espresso and cappuccino may look like the same drink and may be considered the same by the average coffee drinker, for true espresso fans espresso is a totally different drink altogether! Here are some of the main differences between the two drinks and perhaps some reasons why many people prefer one over the other:

Cappuccino is Generic!
Perhaps one of the reasons that many people consider cappuccino to be an espresso drink is because cappuccino has traditionally been a coffee drink that has had some espresso in it. Even though cappuccino is more of a regular coffee consistency, the first form of cappuccino was made partly from espresso. Nevertheless, though, since cappuccino isn't 100% espresso then they naturally have very different tastes. On the other hand many people who dislike regular espresso will often turn to cappuccino for a spruced up version of many of the coffee brands that they drink! For this reasons, though, some individuals may refer to cappuccino as a generic form of espresso considering the fact that it has much less espresso than the real thing!

Espresso Characteristics
When trying to distinguish between cappuccino and espresso, perhaps the most defining characteristic of espresso is the fact that the drink is much thicker than it's cappuccino or coffee counterpart! Much of this is due to the fact that espresso has to be made from an espresso machine, whereas coffee and other types of cappuccino can either be handmade or placed in a coffee percolator that will give them the desired result. Perhaps, however, this is one way that many people are able to distinguish between espresso and virtually every other type of coffee anyway. Espresso machines are typically depicted as large machines that have many parts to it, but there is a long process that the espresso goes through in order to be just right for the person drinking it!

Cappuccino and Espresso Lovers
What are some of the reasons, though, that espresso may be liked over cappuccino or vice versa? One of the reasons that many people like cappuccino is because it is less thick than regular espresso. Many people's stomachs may not be able to handle all types of espresso, which is the reason that cappuccino may be more readily available in restaurants and other coffee shops than espresso is.

Altogether, though, it's important to realize that there indeed is a difference between the two coffee drinks. Espresso and cappuccino are two very different drinks in nature and have very different defining characteristics, as well as attract two different types of coffee drinkers as well!

Man...all this talk of coffee has made me realize that our cups are empty. Want a fresh cup...? I'm afraid it's just regular, but for the Hermit and his friends, sometimes that works best, ya know?

Try And Relax, My Friend...

As the pace of life gets faster it is easy to start feeling the negative effects of stress taking its toll. Ongoing stress has been shown to have a negative effect on health and increase risk of some illnesses. Stress also affects sleep, concentration, mood and relationships. Using proven relaxation methods to combat stress can help you improve your health and well being. These three easy relaxation methods will get fast results and are easy to learn and use.

Learn Abdominal Breathing
Often when people feel tense or anxious they get told to "take a deep breath" and relax. Many people say that this does not help them to feel relaxed. Taking a deep breath can actually increase stress and make relaxation more difficult. The key is to learn a technique called abdominal breathing. Learning abdominal breathing when you feel calm is one of the most effective relaxation methods. Don't try and learn it when you are upset or stressed, it won’t work.

Place one hand on your chest and the other on your lower abdomen. Now take a deep breath in. Which hand moved? Concentrate on breathing in slowly so that your abdomen goes out with each inhalation and keeping your chest still. Practice this twice a day in front of a mirror and you will soon feel the positive relaxation effects. Just do a few breaths so you don't feel dizzy. When you feel stressed, use abdominal breathing to calm the mind and body.

Use Stretching Techniques
This is a very simple and fast relaxation technique. When you are feeling tense or anxious your body will send extra blood to the muscles which makes them tight and tense. You may feel your shoulders or head begin to ache, or your jaw clench as stress increases. The tense muscles in your chest may restrict your breathing.

A fast relaxation technique is to move your body and stretch out. This will relax the muscles and also allow you to breathe more deeply. Stretch muscles out regularly through the day to reduce stress. Yoga exercises include these types of relaxation techniques.

Use Relaxation Audios
Like any new skill, learning relaxation techniques takes some time and practice. One way to reduce the time it takes is to use audios each day for several weeks. Then you can use them once or twice a week to maintain the benefits. Relaxation audios work by helping you to concentrate on the sensations of relaxing your body and slowing down your busy mind.

Subliminal relaxation self help audios are very effective as they work at the pre-conscious level. Most people report that this is the fastest method for learning relaxation skills and reducing general feelings of stress. Set aside half an hour when you won't be disturbed, lie on a comfortable bed or chair and just listen. At first you may not feel very different but daily use for 2-3 weeks gets very good results for most people. Daily stress can quickly build up and cause health and relationship problems. Learning effective relaxation methods can help you to reduce stress and improve your health. Use these easy relaxation methods for fast stress relief.

Now that you are all relaxed...let's get some fresh coffee.

Do You Really Want To Live Forever...?

For some reason, I started thinking about my own mortality today. Just feeling my age, I guess. I got to wondering about people that say they want to live forever...and my question has to be, why? I mean, stop and think about it for a minute. Living forever would mean that you would just continue to get older and older.

The way that I see it, the main problem with living forever is that unless the quality of our lives gets better as we age, or at least stays the same... then what are we accomplishing by extending our stay here on this plane? And what about our friends and family? Are they going to live forever with us? Will we suddenly turn around some day and realise that no one that we know is here anymore?

I am in no hurry to pass on. I do wish that I could still do the things I could do as a younger man, but I accept the limitations that Father Time has bestowed upon me. I can accept the fact that I am limited in the gift of time that I was given, and I hope that I have the wisdom to use that time wisely. I hope that if I am remembered at all, it will be for good things other than bad. I can't really think of a nicer thing anyone could say after I'm gone than "Remember ole Jim? He was a funny guy!"

I've been really fortunate that the people I know that are older than I set a good example for me to follow. I hope to do as they have done. All I want to do is to live my life with a certain amount of grace and dignity, be filled with a generous helping of health and humor, and to do as little damage to Mother Earth and my fellow travelers as possible. I hope to spread more joy than sorrow, to offer more support than stumbling blocks, to share more love than hatred, to cause more smiles than frowns, to be more friend that enemy, to find the music hidden in a rainy day, and until the day that I pass I hope to never lose the appreciation for the sunset or the sunrise.

I hope to always have a happy heart, a handful of friends, and a full pot of coffee to share with them.

Tuesday Update...

If you thought that last one was silly...how about if I ran for President?? Now this is scary !!

Tuesday Silliness...!

Here is a little something someone sent me that is indisputable mathematical logic. It also made me Laugh Out Loud.

This is a strictly mathematical viewpoint...it goes like this:

What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But ,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And,

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.

A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty, that While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, its the Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top.

Now...if it's OK with you, I'd like to go and get some fresh coffee. Want to join me?

Importance Of Wishing Others Well...

I wanted to share with you part of an email I recieved from Dr. Eric Amidi (www.believeandmanifest.com). He explains Manifesting in such a way that it begins to make perfect sense to me. Interesting stuff, my friends!

"I am about to tell you the TRUE SECRET behind the law of KARMA.

Now, one of the things that I cover in my Programs is the unique qualities of The LOWER SELF (check out my TRINITY SYSTEM) or the subconscious mind.

These qualities are truly AMAZING !

One very important quality of The LOWER SELF is that it's not logical, it only understands FEELINGS and acts on them...

It's like a LOYAL servant to you, who is AMAZINGLY good at bringing you anything you ask him for...

That's why The LOWER SELF is such an important part of the manifestation process...

But, because this servant doesn't understand logic, it takes your FEELINGS as an order and brings the same to YOU!

If you wish something bad for someone, your LOWER SELF will say: "OK, is that what you want? I'll bring it to YOU !"

You see, The LOWER SELF can't tell that you are wishing that for someone else, because it's not logical.

It only acts on the FEELING, and makes it happen.

So, Never wish anyone, I mean Aboslutely No one, anything bad or harmful, because the LOWER SELF will manifest it for YOU...You will only end up hurting yourself.

Now that you know how the Law of KARMA works, you can use it to manifest great things in your life by...

Wishing great things for others..."

Now since I wish only the best of everything for all of you, my friends, may I suggest that we go get a fresh cup of coffee...?

Music And Your Health...

Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.
Plato

They say that music soothes the soul and for us music lovers, it seems that listening to music can also be good for our health. Music has been found to have stress-relieving benefits on the heart. Researchers have recently found that slow or meditative music has a calming, relaxing effect which in turn helps people slow their breathing and heart rate. Blood pressure normally rises during a surgical procedure, but listening to music helps minimise the rise in blood pressure.

Other research has found that music has stress relieving benefits, can enhance athletic performance and improve movement in neurologically impaired patients.

Its becoming quite popular for music to be played on sound systems in operating rooms during surgery. Some doctors believe that it relieves tension; and studies have shown that this practice can also benefit the patients.

Anaesthesiologist, Dr. Frank Gentile, believes that music helps make surgeons work more efficiently. If they're working faster and they're happy, the flow of the operating room is happier.
If I ever had to have surgery, my doctors are more than welcome to listen to music. Id rather have relaxed and happy doctors working on me. Wouldnt you?

Music helps patients relax too. Research has even shown that patients who listened to music before and during ambulatory surgery displayed lower stress levels. Ambulatory surgery is when you are admitted and discharged from the hospital on the same day.

The researchers found that the best results are likely to come from people being able to listen to the music of their choice rather than music thought to be soothing. So, it appears that listening to music not only relaxes the doctors, but also the patients.

Now you know that the Hermit wants you to be healthy, right? Don't I always give you healthy coffee, healthy programs, even health tips on thinking good thoughts? Well...in keeping with that way of thinking I am giving you a little healthy music. Hope you enjoy this piece by Glenn Miller.




Now let's get some fresh coffee, OK?

Saturday Morning Again...!

Well, it's Saturday morning and you know what that means! In keeping with the tradition started a while back, we'll start the day off with a little entertainment. Today we have another double feature starting with an Old classic...Jerry Lewis. In this one he is doing one of his best routines...the typewriter!



And now the most important part of any Saturday show...the CARTOON!! this time it's Tom and Jerry!! Enjoy!



Now I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some fresh coffee! Want some...?

Summertime Memories...

Today my two Siamese kittens went outside to play on the patio, so I went out with them for a few moments just to see how they were getting along. They have just started going out alone and I just want to make sure they know how to get back in, ya know? After all, I have allowed myself to become the Keeper of the Cats, the Filler of the Food Bowl, the Human Pet of these two Kittens from the Dark Regions.

Anyway, while I was outside, I noticed something that seemed strange...something foreign for this season. Something you wouldn't expect in this lull in the school year. What I noticed was silence. Most of all, the silence of children playing outside. No hollering, no ball games in the streets or yards, no endless games of chase or hide-and-go-seek, no small little groups of kids just walking down the sidewalk heading off to where ever it is that kids go when strolling down the sidewalk in their own neighborhood. There were no sounds of young boys and girls sitting out in the yards under the shade trees, talking loud like young people often do when they are engaging members of the opposite sex in awkward conversation.

Remembering back to when my sisters and I were kids, summertime meant playing outside with the other kids in the neighborhood, playing chase, playing ball, riding bikes, climbing trees, throwing china berries at one another, walking to the park, sitting in the shade talking and solving the problems of the world as we knew it, chasing fireflies in the evening, and sitting on the porch after dark talking some more.

There weren't even kids running out to meet the ice cream truck. Come to think of it, I don't even remember seeing or hearing an ice cream truck. Not enough business, I guess. I sort of miss the old time ice cream trucks coming through the neighborhood , playing the same old music over and over again. When I remember it now, it was a kind of soothing , solid sound like a signal that all was right with the world.

It's a shame, really, but I guess that those days are gone. No more simple summertime pleasures like watching for shooting stars at night, no more sleeping with the window open so the attic fan would pull in a breeze, no more looking forward to visiting the cousins in the country, or swimming in the river, or going to the drug store for a banana split. Seems like all the simple pleasures are gone and the children of today will never have fond memories like those. That to me is sad, really sad!

But...like so many other things in this world today, I can't do anything about it. So I will just take a fresh cup of coffee, go out to the patio, enjoy watching the kitties play tag and listen to the sad, sad sound of summer silence. Want to join me?

Laugh...It's Good For You !!

The idea that humor and laughter benefit health is not new; it has long been a part of folk wisdom. Shakespeare wrote in The Taming of the Shrew, "And frame your mind to mirth and merriment, which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life." And from Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

Laughing is good exercise, providing a workout for the diaphragm and increasing the body's ability to use oxygen.Laughter brings in positive emotions that can enhance – not replace --conventional treatments. Hence it is another tool available to help fight disease.

Experts believe that, when used as an addition to conventional care, laughter can reduce pain and aid the healing process. For one thing, laughter offers a powerful distraction from pain. Perhaps, the biggest benefit of laughter is that it is free and has no known negative side effects.

We all know that we feel better when we enjoy a good laugh, so why is it so hard to believe that laughter can affect our health for the better? All through time the wise men, the Shamans, the ancient teachers and elders, medicine men, witch doctors, most scholars and the like have all been aware of the fact that laughter is good.

So what's the lesson here...what does all this mean to us, the average Internet user and person next door? Simple !! The lesson for all of us is really very simple....enjoy yourself ! Laugh! Be happy and make others happy!

If we put aside all the medical talk, all the logical reasoning, all the mystical teachings and fall back on our common sense, we would understand !! Laughter makes us feel good, so it must be good for us. But we already knew that, right? Making others feel good makes us feel good, doesn't it? Makes us all warm and cozy on the inside, right? That means the medicine is working, the healing has started and the body and mind are responding to the positive energy.

Well, so much for the lesson of the day. In the end it's not hard to understand. Want to feel better? SMILE. Want to be really healthy? LAUGH OUT LOUD!

Speaking of smiling and feeling better...let's get some fresh coffee and share a good feeling, OK?

Time To Talk Business...!

OK...let's talk about business a little bit. Working at home is a hard way to make any money unless you have some good programs and some good mentors to follow into paying opportunities. I am lucky to have both. I have always had a lot of respect for people that can seek out and find good business opps, and then take the time to share these opps with the rest of us. They don't have to do this, and they don't just do it to get a few referrals. They genuinely care about helping other people make a little money!

I am going to mention two of the people that I pay close attention to, reading their blogs everyday, getting their alerts and studying what they say. I don't always join what they join, but I at least take a look. If you could only follow two leaders or home workers, I would suggest Blondie and J.S....if only for the fact that they have a lot of experience and are fairly successful at what they do. And just for the record, they didn't pay me to say this!

Now, for the programs! 10DW continues to be my favorite and most solid program to date. I have cycled a total of 2715 times since joining. In short, I have been earning money since I joined. If you are a member, you are earning money with us. If you are not a member, you are not! End of story.

Another great program as far as being solid for me and being a good earner is DRW. Once again, I have earned a profit sharing payment daily since joining. If you are a member, you are earning money with us. If you are not a member, you are not! Again, end of story.

Now I want to mention Clixsense again. This is a pay-to-click site that I have gotten a check from every month since joining. Not big checks, but still all money is appreciated. And I might mention that you can earn even as a free member, so that may be something for some of you to consider.

The Healthy Coffee business that I joined is doing well. Even by joining as a free affiliate, you can earn a whopping 20% commission on any and all sales you generate, including your own purchases. It's like buying coffee at a wholesale price. Check it out, as I am getting a check from them pretty regularly so far.

Now if you are interested, I am a member in a private program that so far, has proven to be a great profit earner for me. I was paid today and it was a nice payday which I put right back in the program. I can't say too much about this program because it is private, but if you are interested in a nice earner you can email me and I will discuss it with you. The returns are really outstanding, believe me!

Other programs can be found from time to time on the left hand side of this blog, and I invite you to take a look at them. If a program turns out not to be an earner, I remove it from this blog. Anything you get from me I am working myself. Otherwise I would not recommend it.

OK...enough work for this morning. Let's go get some fresh coffee, OK? After all...I get it at a discount!

Things My Mother Taught Me...

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
" Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"

15 My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home"

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.
" Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite: - My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

Now what do you say we get some fresh coffee...?

We Have To Have Some Fun...!!

I know we are all in the money making business, but I think it's important that we remember to have a little fun along the way! Life can get in the way of making money, but money should never get in the way of living our life! By that I mean, mix a little fun into your daily routine from time to time. Don't make the mistake of getting in such a rut that you can't see over the sides of it.

Even Mother Nature puts a little play in all her animal creatures, but Man with all his knowledge has seen fit to almost make having fun a crime. If you look around you in most public places, I can guarantee you that you'll see more frowns than smiles. That, my friends, is just not acceptable! We have to figure out some way to change all that.

Now I have a suggestion as just how to do that. It's a simple solution to a seemingly complicated problem. Just smile! That's it! Just smile...smile at everyone starting with the most important person in this scenario! Yourself!

When you get started in the morning, start things off by smiling at yourself in the mirror. I'm serious, just smile at yourself. In fact, to really get off to a great start, smile as big as you can, make a silly face, smile and raise your eyebrows at the same time, maybe even hum a little tune! I think you'll be surprised at how much better you'll start to feel.

Now when you get to work or the store, or when you see the neighbor, mailman, yard man, meter guy anybody...share that same smile or goofy face (depending on how well you know the person you're sharing with) and see if it doesn't cause a domino effect around the whole environment. Very few things can be as catching as a smile, a laugh, or even a giggle. Don't believe me? Have you ever been in a place, like a theatre, where the audience started laughing? Did you try and NOT join in? Ever seen a baby or a child laughing at nothing at all and not been able to join in? No, I'll bet you haven't! It's catching, believe me.

Now to help you get this project off to a great start...I'll make a fresh pot of coffee! Want to join me?

Sunday Insanity...!!

I agree that Sunday is normally a day of rest, so instead of talking business I thought I would share this little bit of craziness with you, my friends. So grab a fresh cup and enjoy this offering of absolutely useless bits of trivia, OK?

In the 1400's a law was set forth that a man was not allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have "the rule of thumb"

Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled
"Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S.Treasury.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coca-Cola was originally green.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is impossible to lick your elbow.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%

(now get this...)
----------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------

The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour: 61,000

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:

Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the
air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air
the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?

A. Their birthplace

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested?

A. Obsession

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"?

A. One thousand

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?

A. All were invented by women.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?

A. Honey
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?

A. Father's Day

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... "goodnight, sleep tight."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month .... which we know today as the honeymoon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down."

It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.

~~~~~~~~~~~AND FINALLY~~~~~~~~~~~~

At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!

Now let's get back to the important stuff !! Let's get some fresh coffee...OK?

Saturday Again...

Well...it's Saturday and I am running behind as usual. I will have an update on some programs a little later, but until then I am going to leave you with a little surprise! In keeping with the Saturday T.V. shows of the past, today I am showing some Road Runner cartoons. Remember them? I hope you enjoy the show and I'll be back later, OK?

Save me some popcorn, my friend!



Hey...look at this! A double feature!! Who said the Hermit was cheap?

Happy Independence Day...

I wanted to take time today to say "Thank You" to all the troops that make it possible for those of us at home to enjoy the freedoms that we have. We should always be thankful to the people who go where they don't want to go and do what they don't necessarily want to do just because it is their duty. I'm thankful that these men and women believe in words like honor, loyalty and duty.

My father was a veteran, as am I. My oldest is a vet as well. None of us wanted to go, none of us really believed in war or in fighting. But when we got the call, we felt honor bound to go. We didn't do it for the pay, didn't expect any thanks. We did it for the simple fact that we felt it was the thing to do.

To serve one's country is not just our duty, but an honor and a privilege. It's a shame that the governments of the world have to waste the proud and loyal men and women of our collective countries in fighting wars started by politicians, fueled by greed, misreported by the biased media, and controlled by the same industrial complex that controls all wars for the purpose of profiting from them.

However, we should be thankful to all of the heroes that serve for us. We should say a prayer for them every chance we get. It's like the saying goes...Freedom is not free! Many, far too many, have paid the ultimate price to make sure that we have the freedom that we enjoy today.

Happy Independence Day, everyone...!

Plan B...? What Plan B...?

My friend Blondie said something yesterday that got me to thinking. She said “Time for plan B”. Plan B ? Do I have a plan B? Do I even have a plan A? I mean, I must have a plan A! If you have any plan at all, then by default it must be plan A, right?

How many plans am I supposed to have, anyway? I mean, I plainly need a plan A and a plan B. Plan B must be very important because people are always talking about it. They say things like “Time for plan B” or “What's plan B?” or “ If something goes wrong, then we switch to plan B!”. I don't ever remember anyone saying anything about a plan C. Usually if plan B doesn't work out, then someone most likely says “ Now what?”...at least that's what they do in the movies!

And what about the Secret Plan? I get the impression that only the Bad Guys have a Secret Plan, as I only see Bad Guys ever talking about the Secret Plans. I guess the Good Guys are sticking with the plan A and plan B routine. Maybe that's what they teach in Good Guy School!

I get confused about the Secret Plan because if I have this figured right, the Bad Guys nearly always have a gang. At the very least, they seem to have a flunky or right hand man. Now if the Bad Guys share the Secret Plan with the other Bad Guys in their gang, then the plan can't be secret, right? I mean, the very act of sharing the plan seems to do away with the secret part. At least that's how it seems to me.

I'm pretty sure that I am a Good Guy, because I don't have a Secret Plan. If I do, it's so secret even I don't know about it! I think that I must have a plan A, even though I never really called it that. But the fact that most of the things I do in life seem to follow some sort of plan, then I must have plan A.

It's this plan B thing that has me baffled. I am determined to find out if I have a plan B, and if I have plan B where would I have put it? Do I have a file somewhere marked “Plan B”? I would think that plan B should be very easy to get to since it seems to be so important.

Do you see why I'm a little confused? I think I'll just get some fresh coffee, sit on the patio and enjoy the morning. Whadda ya think...sound like a plan?

Bad News For The Cookie Monster...

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I LOVE cookies. All kinds of cookies, but peanut butter is my favorite. I got to thinking about how great it would be to have fresh cookies delivered to my door all the time without having to go to the store, or bake them myself. If I had a steady Lady Friend then I would have someone to bake them for me...but being a Hermit, that's not an option.

Anyway, I decided to check and see if they had such a thing as a "Cookie of the Month Club". Off to Google I go, type in the request and PRESTO! A ton of sites come up! The offer of fresh cookies delivered to my house every month made my mouth water! I thought I had found the answer to my dreams! But when I started to read the fine print...I nearly fell out of my chair.

Here is the offer...every month you get two pounds of cookies delivered to your door for the low, low price of only $79.00 a month!! WHAT..?? That's right, $79.00 a month for two pounds of cookies! Plus freight! That's about $40.00 a pound for cookies! Now like I said, I love cookies but I'm NOT going to pay $40.00 a pound for them, delivered or not!

The local grocery store has a good cookie selection and I can buy a pound of really good ones for $1.39 a pound. A big difference from $40.00 a pound, huh? Now taking into account the shipping at the post office for up to three pounds is around $3.50 anywhere in the United States, somebody somewhere is making a HUGH profit!

So I figured we could start our own "Cookie Of The Month Club"! We could offer four pounds of cookies a month , shipped in a tin box ( I can get them at Wal-Mart for $1.50 each) and we can still make a tidy profit! The customer would be happier, we would be making money and everybody wins!! Even if we dropped the price to $59.00 a month, it still would mean a profit!

Check out this scenario...
1. 4 pounds of cookies @ $1.50 a pound= $6.00
2. 1 metal shipping box@ $1.50 each = $1.50
3. estimated shipping per order= $4.00
Total cost per order $11.50.....Total monthly charge for membership $59.00.....Profit per month @ one order per member $47.50.

Seems to me that this could get to be a good and profitable business. Of course, these figures are only for the sake of argument but you can see what I mean. We may be in the wrong business, my friend!

Let;s get some fresh coffee and talk this over...oh, and bring the cookies, OK?

Life Is Like The Litter Box...

As those of you that have cats know, one of the daily chores that go along with cats is cleaning out the litter box. Not a pleasant task, but necessary none the less. While there are many kinds of litter on the market, I use one that clumps up very nicely. Because it is quick to clump any waste, it is fairly easy to clean. All you have to do is to scoop out the clumps and you're done. Now after a while, it is necessary to empty the entire box and wash it, replacing all the litter with fresh.

While performing this task today, I was struck by the fact that life is a lot like the litter box. Almost on a daily basis, your life is being filled up with a lot of crap. Being around negative input throughout the day can fill your life with a lot of needless waste just like a litter box. And each and every day, this waste needs to be scooped out and the waste discarded. Only by this daily cleaning can we keep our minds and our lives clump free and fresh. Daily we can assure that the rest of our life stays unaffected .

So we need to take a small amount of time each day to clean your litter box. Remove the negative thoughts and feelings from your mind, replacing them with pleasant thoughts, pleasant memories. Think good thoughts, do good deeds, be pleasant in all you do. Try and surround yourself with joy and beauty. Smile at everyone, even to yourself in the mirror! You'll find that you will be better for it.

Speaking of pleasant thoughts, let's go get some fresh coffee...OK?