Friday’s Feast has a new website, and it looks wonderful.  Click HERE to see it for yourself.  Now for this week’s feast:

Appetizer
What are you proud of?

My children.  They’re both adults now, and they’re both good, kind and successful in their chosen profession.  And they have such a fun sense of humor.  We laugh so much when we’re together.

Soup
What is the best thing you’ve ever won as a prize?

I was playing slot machines in a casino in Mississippi once when I was traveling with RT.  I had set aside $20 and vowed that was all I was going to spend on that kind of “entertainment.”  On the second time, I hit the jackpot, bells started clanging and lights flashing.  I won $250.  I stopped playing immediately because I figured I’d better stop while I was ahead.

Salad
Name something you do that is a waste of time.

Surf the internet too much.

Main Course
In what year of your life did you change the most?

1997 - at 48 years of age.

Dessert
Where is a place you consider to be very tranquil?

The beach - always.  I love watching the waves and walking along the beach.  (Later clarification:  When I think of the beach, I think of Santa Rosa Beach in Florida.  It’s near Destin, but away from the throngs of people.  I’ve stayed at a B&B there several times - Highlands House - that is right on the beach - and no crowds.  I love it.  Great place to stay - relaxing and peaceful - and great food, too.)

I’m jealous because yesterday Sweet Stuff and Sunshine were at RT’s office for a little while, and he got to play with them for about an hour while their mommy finished up her work - and I haven’t seen them in over a week!

Right before they left, RT asked them if they had a message for him to give Grandma Carol.  Very seriously, Sweet Stuff whispered, “Secret code!”   Then Sunshine chimed in with “Seven!”

I guess when he used the word “message” they thought it had to be something mysterious.  I have no idea what they meant, but I love their little cryptic messages to me!

Thirteen Poems That Are Great To Read With Children

(1) If You Should Meet a Crocodile (Anonymous)

If you should meet a Crocodile
Don’t take a stick and poke him;
Ignore the welcome in his smile,
Be careful not to stroke him.
For as he sleeps upon the Nile,
He thinner gets and thinner;
And whene’er you meet a Crocodile
He’s ready for his dinner.

(2) Fog (By Carl Sandburg)

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

(3) Drinking Fountain (By Marchette Chute)

When I climb up
To get a drink
It doesn’t work
The way you’d think.

I turn it up.
The water goes
And hits me right
Upon the nose.

I turn it down
To make it small
And don’t get any
Drink at all.

(4) Hey, Bug! (By Lilian Moore)

Hey, bug, stay!
Don’t run away.
I know a game that we can play.

I’ll hold my fingers very still
And you can climb a finger-hill.

No, no.
Don’t go.

Here’s a wall - a tower, too,
a tiny bug town, just for you.
I’ve a cookie. You have some.
Take this oatmeal cookie crumb.

Hey, bug, stay!
Hey, bug!
Hey!

(5) Sometimes (by Mary Ann Hoberman)

Sometimes I like to be alone
And look up at the sky
And think my thoughts inside my head -
Just me, myself, and I.

(6) Bird Carpenter (By Leland B. Jacobs)

Carpenters use nails and hammers,
Planes and levels,
Saws and rules.

Birds build houses so much simpler -
Beaks are all
They have for tools.

(7) About Feet (By Margaret Hillert)

The centipede is not complete
Unless he has one hundred feet.
Spiders must have eight for speed,
And six is what all insects need.
Other creatures by the score
Cannot do with less than four.
But two are quite enough, you know
To take me where I want to go.

(8) My Nose (By Dorothy Aldis)

It doesn’t breathe;
It doesn’t smell;
It doesn’t feel
So very well.

I am discouraged
With my nose;
The only thing it
Does is blows.

(9) I’m Glad The Sky is Painted Blue (Anonymous)

I’m glad the sky is painted blue,
And the earth is painted green,
With such a lot of nice fresh air
All sandwiched in between.

(10) Who Has Seen The Wind? (By Christina Rossetti)

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the leaves bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.

(11) Dreams (By Langston Hughes)

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

(12) Spaghetti! Spaghetti! (By Jack Prelutsky)

Spaghetti! Spaghetti!
you’re wonderful stuff.
I love you, spaghetti.
I can’t get enough.
You’re covered with sauce
and you’re sprinkled with cheese,
Spaghetti! Spaghetti!
Oh, give me some more please.

Spaghetti! Spaghetti!
piled high in a mound.
You wiggle, you wriggle,
you squiggle around.
There’s slurpy spaghetti
all over my plate.
Spaghetti! Spaghetti!
I think you are great.

Spaghetti! Spaghetti!
I love you a lot.
You’re slishy, you’re sloshy,
delicious and hot.
I gobble you down
Oh, I can’t get enough.
Spaghetti! Spaghetti!
you’re wonderful stuff.

(13) Books (By Arnold Lobel)

Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky.
My pile of books
Are a mile high.
How I love them!
How I need them!
I’ll have a long beard
By the time I read them!

Visit other Thursday Thirteeners HERE.

Once again I offer my prediction for who will go home tonight on American Idol.

First, though, I think Sanjaya was brilliant with the ponytail mohawk last night.  He’s making himself known for being quirky - and people like quirky - even if the vocals aren’t that strong.  And his vocals last night were definitely not strong.  What a weird song, too.  However, that’s part of his strategy, too — unusual, quirky songs and unusual, quirky outfits and hairstyles.

I was disappointed in Chris Sligh.  I thought he was better, but he hasn’t shown it the past few weeks - and that when it counts.  If he can’t come through with good enough vocals on American Idol, then he needs to go.

And I continue to be puzzled by people’s adoration of Blake Lewis.  He’s awful.  He’s mediocre at best.  He didn’t do any beat-boxing last night - at least I didn’t recognize it if he did.  He looks like a fish gasping for air when he sings - and his voice is WEAK!  What a pitiful song choice, too!  Who cares if he’s cute?  Well, obviously a lot of people do because they keep confusing good looks with good vocals.  I don’t think he’s that cute, but I can understand why some folks do.  But his singing?  Ouchers!

Jordin, once again, was wonderful.  She really has the total package - looks, stage presence, voice.   Lakisha was so-so.  Melinda was good.  I think both Lakisha and Melinda have the voice to be American Idol, but neither one has the personality for it.  Lakisha always acts so unemotional - rather like a robot.  And Melinda toned down the “I can’t believe you love little old ME?” act last night, and that was good.  

I thought Gina was fantastic!  Chris Richardson was so-so.  I just don’t care for his nasaly voice.  Haley was forgettable last night.  She’s got the sexy look down, though.  So she will probably get by another week or two on her sexy outfits.  And the bald guy - what’s his name?  Oh yes - Phil Stacey.  I didn’t like his song choice last night, although it suited his voice.  But I don’t like Phil Collins either.  So maybe that influenced my opinion.  But the bald head - which just doesn’t fit his features - and the hats — just don’t like him.

Who’s going home?  I think Chris Sligh has a good chance of being voted off.  However, I won’t be surprised if it’s Phil Stacey or Haley Scarnato.  I WISH it would be Sanjaya or Blake or Chris Richardson.  I think they each have a strong enough fan base to keep them awhile longer, though.  We’ll see tonight.

I’ve always wondered how liberals handle the inherent and basic conflicts in their beliefs.  They take two completely opposing beliefs and try to work out a rationale for believing both.  It’s crazy-making thinking. 

The anger and profanity that abundantly lace many liberal websites along with vile comments made by leftwingers on rightwing blogs provide more than enough evidence that there is a tremendous amount of anger among liberals. 

Now, via email today, there is a definitive explanation for this craziness.

18 ways to tell if you are a good liberal!

1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.

2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.

3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Iran or Chinese and North Korean communists.

4. You have to believe that there was no art before federal funding.

5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical changes in the earth’s climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUVs.

6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial, but being homosexual is natural.

7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.

8. You have to believe that the same teacher who supposedly can’t teach 4th-graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.

9. You have to believe that hunters don’t care about nature, but PETA activists do.

10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.

11. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make “The Passion of the Christ” for financial gain only.

12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.

13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.

14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Gen. Robert E. Lee, and Thomas Edison.

15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.

16. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn’t worked anywhere it’s been tried is because the right people haven’t been in charge.

17. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag queens and transvestites should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.

18. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right-wing conspiracy.

I could add others, but you get the idea.

Tiara-tip to Girl on the Right.

I think the first person eliminated will be the person whose name I’m not even sure of - she made THAT little of an impression on me.  Shandi, I think.  During her pre-dance clip, she talked about wearing the pants in the relationship with her instructor, and she was just generally negative.  I don’t know her, but her performance was forgettable, and her attitude stunk.  I hope she goes home.  Is she a former Miss America or something?  I didn’t pay any attention when they were introducing her last week or this week.  She’s just blah. . .   At least some of the others are interesting enough people that I WANT to listen when they talk about them.

The tall model with the dark hair - can’t remember her name either, but I like her attitude.  She’s taller than her partner, too, but she doesn’t act like an jerk about it.  And the really tall ball player.  He has class.  Again, it’s all about attitude, and the Shandi chick’s attitude is pathetic.

After reading about Heather Mill’s deman for $20,000 a DAY in her divorce settlement from Paul McCartney, I wasn’t prepared to like her.   And I don’t particularly like her.  However, I have to admit that she amazed me with her dancing this week.  If you didn’t know she had an artificial leg, you could sure not tell it from her dancing.

I really did not recognize most of the folks in this season’s show.  The guy from “Cheers” - I really like him.  Maybe it’s because he’s in my age group.  I like his attitude, though. 

I’m hoping old Shandi goes home.  I should look up her name to be sure I have it right - but I really don’t care whether or not I have it right.  Hopefully she’ll be gone after tonight and it won’t make a difference.

SUNDAY SEVEN is a weekly meme for giving thanks or for noting important events in our lives.

For more information or if you’d like to join, click HERE .

Sunday Seven - Edition #8

1.  I am thankful my youngest sister, Beth, is out of the hospital and feeling better.

2.  I am thankful for my older brother, Terry, who had a birthday on Thursday - thankful that I could drive to GA to help with the celebration.

3.  I am thankful for my younger sister, Debi, who is handling a lot in her life right now - thankful that she is so giving to others.

4.  I am thankful for my younger brother, David, who will be the father of the bride in just a few weeks - thankful that I have the opportunity to help plan a family bridal shower for my niece.

5.  I am thankful for my older sister, Joan, who is dealing with “crazy Charlie” too often these days - thankful that she lives close enough for me to visit anytime I’m in GA visiting my mother.

6.  I am thankful for my older sistest, Janice, who always replies to email so quickly - thankful that even though we don’t see each other often because we live so far apart, we still can communicate easily via email.

7.  I am thankful for my mother who I was able to visit for a couple days this week - thankful that she is doing well and does many good things for others.

Appetizer
Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?

I think Charlie Gibson is my favorite.  I don’t watch network news much, though.

Soup
Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.

An extra loaf of whole wheat bread, tilapia filets,  ground turkey.

Salad
If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?

I have no idea what I’d name a new town.  We’re building a new house out in the country, and we’re trying to come up with a name for it.  We’ve been working on a name for months, and we still don’t have one we both like.

Main Course
What will most likely be the next book you read?

Max Lucado’s In the Eye of the Storm.

Dessert
What’s the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?

Their general attitude - Are they happy? sad? angry? thoughtful?  A smile goes a long way!

I’m at my mother’s in Georgia, and RT sent me an email with a photo of the front door we’re getting for our new house. At the end of his email he wrote, “I adoor you.” It took me a few seconds to get it, but when I did I literally laughed out loud.  No wonder I love the man!

Today, March 22nd, is the birthday of my brother, Terry.  Here’s what I posted about Terry last year.

I can’t tease him too much about reaching the grand old age of 60 ’cause I’m only two years behind him.

I’m visiting my mother right now so I can be at Terry’s birthday party Thursday evening.  We’ll have a good time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TERRY!