The Dash

The Dash
copyright 1996 Linda Ellis

If you have never read the poem The Dash, or seen the short movie, you're in for a treat. Go to Linda Ellis' blog. This poem has been read by millions and has quite an impact. If only I could remember to live my life this way on a daily basis. If only the world could live like this.

"You cannot do a kindness too soon,
for you never know how soon it will be too late. "
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

I received this from my friend MJ who recently visited The National Memorial Sculpture Garden at the Springfield Museums. One of the memorials was The Storyteller: A Seussian storytelling chair, backed by a 10-foot-tall book with the text of Oh, the Places You'll Go! with Gertrude McFuzz perched on top and the Grinch and his dog, Max, peeking around the side. "Short of scripture and verse, this is about the most wisdom one could possibly need in a lifetime! And what fun to help all of us move onward and upward with the words from this timeless classic from Dr. Suess." Thanks MJ for sharing this inspiration.

Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy (girl) who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care. About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there.

"With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you'll want to go down. In that case, of course, you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener therein the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew. Just go right along. You'll start happening too.

OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up! You'll be seeing great sights! You'll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed. You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.

Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don' t. Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so but, sadly, it's true. Hang-ups and Bang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump.

And the chances are, then,that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump, you're not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?

How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused that you'll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place. The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting. Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or a No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

NO! That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape all that waiting and staying. You'll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping, once more you'll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't. Because, sometimes, they won't.

I'm afraid that some times you'll play lonely games too. Games you can't win 'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone! Whether you like it or not, alone will be something you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.

There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike and I know you'll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Brayor Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea, you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So . . . get on your way!

Contest - Week Three

Here's my layout for Memorable Season Spring Into Summer Mini Album Contest. We were challenged to use an ad from a magazine as our inspiration. This is my first time doing that. I thought it was fun, but I totally over analyzed it. I learned a lesson from that.

Here's the ad:

Homeopathy

Here's an interesting article on Jamin's Blog regarding Homeopathy. Just enough to peak one's interest. I used to be interested in homeopathy...specifically Essential Oils. I think I got lazy and put it all away. Thankfully, I don't get sick often, but I want to remember this site for future reference just in case. Thanks Jamin!

Contest - Week Two

Here are my two pages for the Memorable Seasons' Spring Into Summer Mini Album Contest.

I've Been Tagged

Wow! I have been tagged by Meloni. This is my first tag. I have to admit I'm a little excited.

Here's 7 Random Facts about me:


1. My favorite color is Purple...the color makes my eyes dance with delight. It's one of those smell the coffe things. If I look at purple, I'm happy.
2. My little Peggy Sue Pugster is truly my Pug Gift from God. Very long story.
3. I could eat Pizza every night for dinner.
4. I haven't eaten a banana since I was five.
5. I'm a second generation best friend. Our mothers have been and still are best friends since their high school days. MB and I have been best friends for 55 years.
6. I absolutely love to travel to far away places and simply can't wait to come home.
7. I can only do projects that take an hour or less or they will never get finished. Lost my attention span around the same time my metabolism became missing.

Now I will tag 7 others. You have been added to my blog and listed here. Come on ladies tell us a little about yourselves.

Florida Stamping with Vivian
Inking Addict

JoAnne

Angie Tieman
Kristie Steffens
Dawny P

The Life of a Dutch Scrapper

The Big Fall

I was locked out of the house on Tuesday. I had traded cars with T so I had her car keys and for some reason didn’t realize I didn’t have my own set of keys with my house key. I went to Costco and when I arrived home, I realized I didn’t have my keys…or my garage door opener, which was in my car, which T had. I jumped out of the car, leaving the car door open and the trunk open and ran aimlessly around the house checking all the doors in the front of the house…none of them open. Then I proceeded to check the locks on the gates to the backyard…nope, not open. Dave has this place locked up like a fortress. OK, so there is a chair with a plant on it in the front entryway to the house. I place that next to the gate to the backyard. Then I pulled my neighbor’s trashcan over to the gate. Next, I manage to hoist my chubby body up and somehow manage to swing my leg over so that I can stand on top of our own trashcan, which is just inside the gate. Good! Now, I am standing on top of the trashcan, which is about 4’ tall. I think, I’ll just hold onto the gate and drop down to the ground on to my feet and bounce back up to a standing position. Hmmmm! Needless to say, my short little plump body didn’t like that idea. It all happened so fast. When I jumped down to the ground, I landed on my feet all right…and then just kept right on going. The hand that was holding the gate was literally ripped off the gate completely bruising and scraping the skin off, not to mention tearing my nails to the quick. Thankfully, I landed on the largest, softest part of my body…my big butt, so no broken bones. Somehow, my other hand got in the mix…I think under my butt, and is quite bruised. I sat there for a minute and assessed the damage, thinking jeez what an idiot! Yep, you think the story is over…nope!

I spent about 10 minutes trying to get into the house from the backyard…again, total lockdown. Now I’m thinking I’ll try to go back over the fence, drive to where Taylor works and get her house key or the garage door opener. Right! I start piling things up in front of the gate to stand on so I can climb back over and easily set myself down on the chair that is still there. Problem is that I’m hurt from my fall and just a bit shell shocked from the jolt to my body. I can’t seem to gather the strength to hoist myself back up onto the gate to swing my leg over blab blab blab… Needless to say, I’m hanging over the gate looking at the car with the door and trunk wide open, my purse sitting in the front seat, wondering if the battery is going to go dead while I’m stuck in my backyard.

Right about that time, I see the mailman and start yelling at him. He’s looking at me like what is wrong with this crazy old lady. “Mr. Mailman, I’m stuck in the backyard. Will you please close my doors and my trunk so my battery won’t go dead?” Thankfully, he was kind of in the zone so he just closed the doors and kept on going…never asked a single question.

Thank you God, I had my phone in my pocket. I text T and asked her to come and rescue me. We texted back and forth and we both had a good laugh. I had about an hour to kill because I had to wait for her lunch break. So naturally, I did what any resourceful girl would do in a situation like this, I thanked God for helping me get through this ordeal, took off all my clothes, got in my comfy chaise, laid in the sun and tanned myself while I waited.

When D got home and I told him what happened, he was completely horrified and wondering, as I’m sure you are, why I didn’t call him. He reminded me that I’m 55 years old and could have broken a hip…Oh, thank you for that m’love! My hands and butt aren’t battered enough…now I have to be reminded that I’m too old to even try to solve my own problems. Well, I guess I won’t be trying that trick again. Besides, now I know that Mr. Paranoid has us living in a bastion. I’m thinking it’s time for a hide-a-key thingy.

I hope you’re having a great Thursday and I hope you’ll go right out and make yourself an extra key.

Blog Candy Alert

Woo Hoo...Another Blog Candy Alert. Go to Michelle's The Stamp Workshop. Great blog...lots of inspiration.

Jacob's Ladder Mini

OMGosh! You have to go to Hawt Mama Team Blog and check out this beautiful Hybrid Jacob's Ladder. There's a little video that shows how it works, as well as a great tutorial. Wow! What a talented lady. I would love to give this a try.

Dear Lord,

I thank You for this day, I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things that I have no control over. Let me give the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak... Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that don't believe.

I thank you that I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

I pray in Jesus name that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.

Amen

I received this today in an email and wanted to post it so that I can read it often. I don't know where it originated or who wrote it, but I think it's a wonderful prayer.

Blog Candy Alert - Yippee

Dawny p is offering some adorable stamps for her blog candy! Already over 5,000 hits on her site. Congrats Dawny! Pop over and take a peek!

My First Contest

I joined Memorable Seasons and entered a Spring/Summer themed mini album contest. It's the first time I've ever entered something on the web. I'm excited. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to get my pictures in the gallery. Everyone is so nice there, I'm sure someone will have a tip on how to do that. If you want to check it out for contests and challenges go to the forum. Here are my first 2 pages.

Purse Scrapbook

Wow! I was searching for a purse scrapbook template and found a treasure trove of tutorials and templates at Mel Stampz. Check it out. I can't wait to starting making some of these little purses.

LUKIE

This is my Mom's dog Lukie. He's a doll. I make this layout for mom to frame. The teal color is the color of her kitchen and the layout is going to be in the dining room. It's a little thank you for having me up to her house in Northern California. She and I had the best time together ever.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when she discovers that someone else believes in her and is willing to trust her with her friendship.

I love you Sis!