A "New Year" ahead....

It's been a while and I've been thinking.
Another year has come and gone.
What have I accomplished???
Hmmm ...gonna take some serious rehashing on my part.
Over all no big changes. Life has.. just gone on.

New Years resolution....don't we set them all? Aren't they always the same...lol

First there is the diet,
then the need to exercise regularly.
After that the goal to save money instead of spend it.
Did I leave any thing out....?
Oh yeah... quit smoking and drinking...
and since I do neither,
I guess I passed that goal!

So for starters I'll keep last years list and add a few more .
Maybe this will be the year I find out what lies ahead of me.....
decide to pursue a career in something.
It's not that I can't... but more.... my lazy excuse of
"I'm too old".

How many of you can relate..hmmm?!? Not happy in that job but to lazy too try.
Or better yet...
maybe to scared to take that first step.

Well, I've got my list down...maybe something else will jump out.....
Oh wait I've already have a thought....
try something new....something different.
Lets see what that might be.

Might be a Fantasy...
or maybe pretend...
But lets all just wait and see.... where this "New" Year will end.

Is it over yet?

Twas almost the night before Christmas,

and looking around everything is still a big mess.

Oh... where do I start?

At this moment my head does smart.

Wrapping presents. Sitting on the floor.

All I really want to do is head out that front door!

Coming to my senses, for duty does call,

at least I've finished walking the mall.

Cleaning the house, dinner to fix,

maybe I'll play me some Christmas Dixie Chicks.

Many hours have now passed...

looking around me I do think I've finished at last!

No wait! One more snip here, one more tuck there.

Now all is done, with time to spare.

The final countdown has begun,

sixty hours then I'll truely be done.

~ SANTA'S COOKIES ~

There is "HOPE"......

Many things go through my mind...the Past..the Present...and alot of the Future.

What lies ahead of "ME"?
"MY" life?
The life of "MY" children?
The life of "MY" country?

First I should say that I do not like war....any war! However, there are times when a man/country must do what is in the best interest of the people. Right or wrong, I don't have an answer. I do know that I would never want to be in the shoes of those that have to make such difficult decisions. It takes a lot of courage and in the case of Pres. Bush a lot of heat.

YES, I am a Republican.....but don't label me as a "Redneck"....I would rather be known as a Beach Babe Alien.....I don't wear a cowboy hat, bandana or ride a horse out on the farm. I prefer driving a convertible, with the top down. Swimming in the ocean and ride a surfboard. Nothing wrong with the middle of the country, but I much prefer the sunnyside coastline.

We hear so many pros and cons that sometimes, we don't know what to believe anymore. If you critizes the left they think your "Stupid" but if you choice to be "Anti"-war your Un-American...well, there I need not fear for I am truly an Alien.

This war I do feel will help put the terrorists out to pasture. Destroy their camps for trainning and as more are captured the country that they use as base will have their own turning against them. Hanging them out to dry. It may take a little bit longer than many of us would like but it has already started and this gives me "HOPE"....

I came across this article today in the APnews...
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?tl=1&display=rednews/2004/11/21/build/world/55-cleric-vote.inc
...which has Al-Sistani (second head religious leader) issuing religious ruling requiring every man and woman to vote. It is almost at the same level of importtance as fasting during Ramadan. A very sacred obligation for religious Muslims. If they do not go out and do their duty they will surely go to Hell.

These are very strong words, and knowing that the Muslims people are strong in their faith, they will do what is required. This is the start of their freedom......a new beginning for them and their families. Their country, that has been oppressed for many, many years.
If it goes as planned "Our" troops will be able to come home soon. There will be more peace in the land.

This gives me "HOPE".....

"Our Tree"

Looking back some 29 odd years, I remember it well our "first" Christmas tree, as newlyweds. All week long I had looked forward to Friday night and going together and picking out just that perfect tree. But as luck had it he came home with the flu...Ah well we did have the whole weekend. Saturday still sick and Sunday too.

That evening he told me just to go and pick the one I wanted. Taking his truck I did just that. With great pride I brought home this full and fluffy and 7ft. tall tree, only to have my feelings crushed when he pulled it out of the truck.

He said... "What is this , a Pine tree bush?....Guess that's what I get if I don't help you pick one out. " Letting out a big sigh, I watched him set it up in the livingroom. Then he went and laid down again.

It was up to me to fix it and make it perfect.....I thought if I did it like my mom it then would be alright. Our tree, when she would decorate it had candle lights(electric of course, a very European custom) and then one color of ornaments and just the right amount of tinsel. I couldn't go wrong again. I had to make it right... it would just have to be perfect.

The lights had to be little white lights since candles wasn't something you found here in the States. The ornaments, all in blue and many different shapes, but I cheated too, I had to have white icicles , besides just tinsel. By the time I had my tree finished, is was well after midnight.... and when I stepped back, it looked to me as the best tree ever.

With that I snuggled into bed beside my Honey and as he stirred I said it was all done. "You will be pleasantly surprised!"

Was I ever "WRONG"...In the morning when he got up I pretended to be asleep...thinking he would come in all happy at the good job I'd done. HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I heard him come back from the livingroom and sat up in bed with a big smile. He just looked at me for a few seconds. My heart dropped...I knew he didn't like my masterpiece.....

"What's that sterile..Mono...looking tree in there? You haven't finished yet I hope?" he stated. My jaw just dropped and didn't know what to say.....except "I guess you don't like it. "

He left for work....first I cried then wanted to tear the whole thing down, but decided he could just fix it himself if he's so great at it. ...LOL It stayed as it was and Christmas eve everyone that saw it loved it. I did feel then that I wasn't such a failure.

But here is the real story.....we went to his parents house and of course I was expecting this "MOST" gorgeous tree. In the livingroom as my eye rested on "HIS" family Christmas tree my jaw dropped again...But this time it hit the floor. In front of me stood this 7 ft tree...."All" trunk and maybe, if that many, 20 branches....hideous large colored lights and if it had 30 ornaments on it, that was probably too many. I think that Charlie Browns Christmas trees would have won the oscars if it had of been a contest....hahaha!!!

That evening as we left his folks house, driving home I just looked at him....and he said.."Don't say a word....not even one!"... But of course being a woman that doesn't work..so I just said "Can I ask something?" His response, sure go ahead and my question was ..."Is this the kind of tree you always had?...LOL....but I already guessed the answer.

We drove home in silents the rest of the way, but I knew in my heart my Christmas Tree had been the best! After that Christmas we always went together....the following year we picked many colors all shapes and sizes....and started our collection of special ornaments.

We live and we learn and we have many memories to look back upon. Those are the things, the thoughts, that Christmas brings up.

And now, time to decorate "The Christmas Tree".........................

"The Beginning"

Who am "I"?
What am "I"?
Where am "I"?
Where am "I" going?
When will "I" know?

These are questions that "I" ponder daily....the list goes on......

Who am "I" to become?
What am "I" to be doing?
What is it that is expected of "ME" now that life is half way done?
Where does "MY" answer lie?
When will "I" know?

Living life as every one tells me too....doing the things that are required of me....going through the motion of "ALL" the emotions. Real or pretend?!?

Now I must stop...come to my senses...
Hormones are a muck....
and life...well
"I" could say,"Surely does suck.!"

But all in all,
"I " know,
that "I'm" not the only one out there in this universe....
that doesn't have a clue
on what to do.

When will "I" know?