1. I had to go up into Wisconsin last night, and I stopped at a gas station. I asked the clerk what kind of lottery they have up there and she told me that they have Power Ball, but it was only up to 28 million dollars. My first thought, of course, was “Wow! I used to be 28 years old! “ A clearer sign , one could not ask for. Then another realization – yesterday’s date was the 28th. I bought a ticket and went to my sister’s house to let her know that I would be wealthy by the weekend. The drawing was last night and I have not checked the numbers yet, but I’m sure they’re all good.

2. I do not have a fortune cookie today, but if I did have one, and if it was an amazingly magically accurate cookie, it would probably say, “You are falling head-over-heels, toe-curling, heart-thumping in love.” And “Those white sandals make your toes look fat.”

3. Jen had her first ultrasound the other day. She’s only 2 months in, so it wasn’t very clear, but we could see the heart moving! The baby is due the day after my birthday, and has my eyes! (I think)

4. I conducted an independent survey at work today. 32% of employees would eat Stove Top Stuffing if it was prepared for them and offered to them. 66% have inhaled a bug at some point in their lives. The other 2% could not be reached for questioning because they took a TWO HOUR LUNCH! (Way to go, Betsy and Jose… you messed up my survey.)

5. Lecturing Myself:

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” ~Buddah

“Don’t hold to anger, hurt or pain. They steal your energy and keep you from love.” ~Leo Buscaglia

“He who angers you conquers you.” ~Elizabeth Kenny

“He who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger.” ~Japanese Proverb

“Never does the human soul appear so strong and noble as when it forgoes revenge and dares to forgive injury.” ~Hubbel Edwin Chapin

“A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the full value of time and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain.” ~Rambler

(And that's all I that I have to say about that.)

Jennifer says that she won't name the baby Brett Favre, even though he/she IS due on Super Bowl Sunday... so I had to go to the local cat-search-and-rescue shelter. This little guy's such a trip. To a six-week old kitten, EVERYTHING is a toy (everyone, too!) The dogs love him, and he and Hobbes have been chasing each other around non-stop. Calvin whistles at him, but doesn't seem to want any further interaction. He won't drink his water out of a bowl.. he has to have a water glass, and he loves hanging upside-down from things. (He fits right in here.)

FFF

Two of my co-workers are currently writing a soap opera based on … the rest of my co-workers. They have renamed us, redressed us, and given us drama to spare. I don’t mind being (Jose’s version of me) Kitty, the wide-eyed, innocent, too-sweet-to-not-be-evil character, as long as there is humor involved, but I’m not willing to take on extra paperwork for the cause. (I know that you’re reading this, Jose and Betsey…. No more paperwork!)

*
This is one of my favorite poems… ever!
My Star
(By Robert Browning)

All that I know
Of a certain star
Is, it can throw
(Like the angled spar)
Now a dart of red,
Now a dart of blue;
Till my friends have said
They would fain see, too
My star that dartles the red and the blue;
Then it stops like a bird; like a flower, hangs furled;
They must solace themselves with the Saturn above it.
What matter to me if their star is a world?
Mine has opened its soul to me; therefore I love it.

*
I once saw a story about nude skydiving on “Real People”, that show back in the 80’s hosted by Byron Allen, funny man Skip Stevenson, and Sara Purcell, the woman who cried after every story… including the one about nude skydiving.

*
Toy Alert:
If your Bionic Bigfoot was purchased after 1988 you should be okay, but since the Bionic Man, for a mere $6 million, was built in 1974, he will likely explode into a million pieces within the next five years. I’m okay with this, as long as it doesn’t make the cable go out, and I do have a survival plan. First, I’m eating a lot of pizza and Chinese food and Cadbury Eggs so that I get fat and will have extra energy stored away incase the world shuts down. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it) Second, to insure a solid financial future, I’m investing in cats. Third, I’m taking the rest of my money out of the bank and inserting it into the slot on the front of my penny loafers. Forth, I’m stocking up on fire crackers.

*
I LOVE Steven Wright:

"I stayed up all night playing poker with tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died."

"I just got skylights put in my place. The people who live above me are furious."

"I went to a restaurant that serves, "breakfast at any time." So I ordered French toast during the Renaissance."

"While I was gone, someone stole everything in my apartment and replaced it with an exact replica. When I told my roommate, he said, "Do I know you?"

"When I woke up this morning my girlfriend asked me, "Did you sleep good?" I said, "No, I made a few mistakes."

"It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to have to paint it."

"When I was a little kid we had a sand box. It was a quicksand box. I was an only child... eventually."

Reality Is Something You Rise Above
(Max Stein)

You don't have to be a puppet manipulated by outside powerful forces;
you can become the powerful force yourself.
Don't make your thoughts your prison.

The obstacles you face are mental barriers
which can be broken by adopting a more positive approach.
Don't pray for tasks equal to your powers.
Pray for powers equal to your tasks.

You are bigger then anything that can happen to you.
This is where you will win the battle, in the playhouse of your mind.
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.

Courage is the capacity to confront what can be imagined.
You are more important than your problems.