This was in my Suddenly Senior newsletter today, and it is so true that I had to share~
Please go to Judy Gruen's site to read the rest. It is so true, yet so funny, that I nearly fell out of my chair laughing~

I know. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen one other. Things were certainly strained between us when you finally left for leaner pastures.
But I am not too proud to admit that I (and several articles of clothing in my closet) still miss you, sometimes desperately.
Perhaps I should have seen the early warning signs when you were slipping away from me, one belt loop at a time. With every extra bite of brownie or serving of mashed potatoes, I must have been pushing you away from me. But must we be like so many other modern relationships, transient and shallow? Can we not begin again?

JUDY GRUEN is the syndicated columnist of “Off My Noodle” and a member of NSNC. Judy’s main occupation is lobbying the federal government to create a Division of Cellulite Studies at the Department of Health and Human Services. In her spare time, she writes books, humor columns, and complaint letters. She is the author of three award-winning humor books, including "The Women's Daily Irony Supplement," ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year for humor. Read more of her work on www.judygruen.com.

25 Reasons That I Love Crochet

25 Reasons I Love Crochet

1. Crocheting keeps me sane. (I am still sane, aren’t I?)

2. Crocheting helps keep my hands/fingers from “freezing up”

3. Crocheting will help me keep the use of my hands/fingers longer.

4. Crochet has been my first-craft-love since I was a child.

5. It makes me happy.

6. I love the expressions on children’s faces when I give them a finger puppet, Amigurumi, bloodshot eyeball hacky sack.

7. I love the happiness that some people express when I give them something crocheted.

8. Crocheted items that I give to charity helps those who are less fortunate keep warm in the colder times of the year.

9. It helps keep me from snacking so much~

10. Crocheting makes me happy.

11. It constantly amazes me that one can pick up a length of string and turn it into a useable, enjoyable work of art.

12. I love crochet because I can use a pattern, alter a pattern, or make up my own pattern to create something useful, funny, fun, and always beautiful.

13. It’s a good use of those plastic grocery bags, for WIP’s and to strip into Plarn and crochet with.

14. I am never bored.

15. Rainy days? Love ‘em. More time to create something with yarn~

16. Socks, lots and lots of lovely socks that FIT!

17. I love crochet because it gives me something useful to do now that my physical activities are so limited.

18. It makes me happy to know that after I am gone, a part of me will still be with my family and friends.

19. My cats love the beds and toys that I crochet for them.

20. My daughter’s cats and dogs love the beds and toys I’ve crocheted for them.

21. I love using and wearing the things that I’ve crochted.

22. I love crochet because it’s an art form that I can teach to others.

23. I love crocheting because it gives me a reason to buy more yarn, especially yarn that’s on sale!

24. I love knowing that I carried on a craft/art that women in my family have done for generations.

25. I love that my daughter crochets, and her daughter crochets. Two more generations of Hookers.

This is the last four generations of Hookers at a church sponsered Mother's Day Tea~

Kindle II - I'm in love!

This device looked and sounded nice, but I had severe doubts about buying one. It seemed a lot of money to spend on a "hand held electronic book reader". Hubby bought it for me, and I absolutely LOVE it!

I can take it with me anywhere waiting will be done, if I finish a book I can just choose another one to start reading, can purchase magazines and newspapers to read on it.

So far I've not found anything about it that I dislike~

Here is the blurb about it from Amazon:

It is just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines;

Lightweight - at 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback

Wireless 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots. This is true, we live in a rural county and we live out of town in the country, but can still download books in a snap!

Books in under 60 seconds - Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required (This I could not believe until my Kindle came in and I downloaded books onto it, and it really is this fast)

Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and even crisper images

Read for days without recharging (Yep, I've read for a week without having to recharge, and I read a lot each day)

Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books. (The new Kindle DX holds 3,500 books)

With the new text-to-speech feature, Kindle can read every newspaper, magazine, blog, and book out loud to you, unless the book is disabled by the rights holder

Over 275,000 books plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs availableNew York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise. And there are a LOT of classics to be found free of charge. So I'm getting to read old favorites at no cost, anytime I want to.

Swine Flu in Humans

Human Swine Influenza Investigation
April 25, 2009 17:30 EDT

Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the U.S. in San Diego County and Imperial County, California as well as in San Antonio, Texas. Internationally, human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in Mexico.

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection State # of laboratory confirmed cases
California 6 cases
Texas 2 cases

International Human Cases of Swine Flu InfectionSee: World Health Organization

As of April 25th, 2009 11:00 a.m. ET
Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with similar swine influenza viruses.
CDC is working very closely with state and local officials in California, Texas, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. On April 24th, CDC deployed 7 epidemiologists to San Diego County, California and Imperial County, California and 1 senior medical officer to Texas to provide guidance and technical support for the ongoing epidemiologic field investigations. CDC has also deployed to Mexico 1 medical officer and 1 senior expert who are part of a global team that is responding to the outbreak of respiratory illnesses in Mexico.

JoAnn Stores VS JoAnn Internet

Today I had a surprise . . . not neccesarily a good one. We had driven over to Albany (GA) to let me do a bit of craft/yarn store & book store cruising~ And it was a good time to return some horrible gritty blue, supposedly poly-filling that I had ordered from JoAnn's via the internet.

Per the store manager . . . . . . they could not take it back because they are not affiliated with JoAnn's on-line.

Huh?

After picking my jaw up from the floor, I told the lady at the register to use it, give it away, or throw it in the trash and left.

Just thought I'd tell y'all~

Scarfing Denver, Crochet that is~

While watching CNN Headline News this morning, we saw a video of women in Denver who were tagging Denver with crochet scarves. Lightposts, benches, anywhere they could put them.

Finally, crochet makes National News!

Scarfing Denver - AOL Video
Scarfing Denver Video on AOL Video - KUSA talks to a group of women in Denver who say it’s their duty to put crocheted skirts on the city.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/scarfing-denver/1037405830

More Amigurumi & Finger Puppets

You might notice that there are more Amigurumi and Finger Puppets on our entertainment center now. My daughter has chosen the 8 that will go to her grandchildren, so they are missing. Of course I've replaced them with more. Actually there are more now than when I snapped this photo~

If you are wondering why so many, they will be going to the local chapter of the Elks Club, to be distributed along with the Christmas Baskets that they give out at Christmas, to those families who cannot afford to buy gifts for their children, or food for their tables.

This is a photo of what makes up one Finger Puppet, except for the 'basket' with a handle. The little cup is one that holds Sugarless Crystal Light powder. It's rather obvious what the pill bottle is~:o) I crochet around the little cup, to make a sort of base for the FP, and slip the FP over the pill bottle, then sit it inside the base.

Here is the FP and its base;

And here is the finished project.

They are very easy to make, take very little yarn, and will make a child happy. Won't you join me in making them for children who need a tiny friend?